When Murphy Brown steps into a house, she sees so much more than walls and furniture. She sees a lifestyle, a household in harmony, a private place of refuge, and a personal island in a sea of community. Beyond that she also sees the financial investment to purchase and maintain it. Most importantly, when she joins a home buyer or seller, she shares this vision with them.

As a licensed Realtor® with The Real Estate Group, Murphy has years of experience with seeing the invisible. She's encountered innumerable devastations, overcome indescribable obstacles, and learned to expect the unexpected. Now she enjoys putting that knowledge to work to help families across Hampton Roads.

"No one can ever say they've seen it all in real estate, but I've seen quite a bit," Murphy says with a chuckle. "I've been there for clients through the highs of financial success and the lows of foreclosure or assisted living. Every client is unique. That's what makes my job so interesting."




Murphy recently had the privilege to help a single mother purchase a home in Chesapeake. Although Chelsea started the process feeling nervous, Murphy's sensitive compassion and skillful work allowed her to be confident.

"The thought of buying my first home as a single mother was terrifying, but as soon as Murphy Brown and I stepped out on the hunt for the perfect home for me and my boys, I began to be more excited and less terrified," Chelsea relays. "Murphy had it all in order. On everything I could possibly be concerned about, she was already a step ahead of me and taking care of it.

"The process of buying my first home might have been nerve-wracking since I had little to no idea what I was doing, but there right beside me was Murphy explaining every little detail to me so patiently. Now I'm a first-time homeowner, and I couldn't have done it without the best Realtor® around!"

For Murphy, this job was instilled as a passion during her childhood. Her mother, looking for fun and safe ways to spend time together, often took her to new home shows. They routinely visited nearby open houses and discussed their thoughts on what the home was worth. At a young age, Murphy developed an ability to analyze how pleasant it would be to live in a particular house.

After growing up in a Navy family, she married U.S. Marine Major Nathan Brown. Murphy still vividly remembers their first home buying experience. A terrified Nathan relied on her expertise as they navigated the intimidating world of mortgages, inspections, building codes, and negotiations. Murphy kept her poise through it all, and a potential career path was born.

When Nathan passed away in a helicopter crash, Murphy moved to Hampton Roads to settle down. She was a young widow searching for ways to stay upbeat. The real estate profession came calling. She earned her license in 2003, and soon she was making quite a name for herself.

She founded a networking group for women in business. At home, she even found the time to host foreign exchange students.

The Real Estate Group was founded in 2003, and Murphy was among the first Realtors® invited. She was drawn to a firm with high ethical standards and a true sense of teamwork. Since then, the firm has earned respect among its peers, even branching out with a property management division. Murphy says she's always able to introduce herself with confidence, knowing other agents hold her firm in high regard.

She works out of the firm's office in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, but she represents buyers and sellers across Hampton Roads. Thanks to her experience in handling countless transactions throughout various cities, she's able to work with other agents from diverse backgrounds. This has propelled her to the top of her field.

"I've never been too concerned with sales numbers. I measure my success by the number of happy clients, and I always figure the money will show up," Murphy describes.

Since so many emotional situations are involved in real estate transactions, Murphy insists that caring is an essential quality in a good Realtor®. A widow or widower forced to sell the place where they last lived with their spouse, for example, will handle the entire process, even responding to offers, differently from someone more prepared to move on.




Realtors® can work with sellers to set a realistic asking price, budget for appropriate repairs, and respond to offers in a calm, rational way. In cases of bankruptcy or major income loss, Realtors® can help clients find a path forward.

Buyers also benefit from staying under the watchful eye of a Realtor®. Offers are more competitive, needed repairs are better negotiated, inspections are better understood, and referrals to trusted contractors are easier to come by. Also, since Realtors® like Murphy observe buyers' lending terms, they learn the inside scoop on which financial products work best for various families.

"I get calls from people not using a Realtor® all the time who encountered a brick wall they didn't expect," Murphy says. "They don't understand why their offer was rejected, or why some repair is such a problem, or why their lender won't approve a house they fell in love with. Realtors® know how to look behind the scenes."

Murphy explains that this is a common lesson young people have to learn. While the internet can provide a great deal of information, it won't teach buyers or sellers how to navigate complex situations. And while educational blogs can offer insight on national trends, they won't reveal much about the inner workings of Hampton Roads.

"Even in this modern digital age, nothing can replace a skillful, compassionate Realtor® who takes the time to listen," Murphy insists. "We represent buyers and sellers to reach the fairest deal in the shortest amount of time. That way, buyers can focus on the excitement of moving into their dream home. Rates are still historically low, making it a great time to buy!"