Two local brothers, Jordan and Joel Tampien, have bought the former Spokane Boxing Building at 1826 E. Sprague and plan to house their start-up real estate brokerage, 4 Degrees Real Estate, there after completing renovations.

The building has 6,000 square feet of commercial space on the street level and four residential units on a second story. The Tampiens say they expect to spend about $50,000 on renovations to give the office space a contemporary vibe.

They say the concept for their real estate brokerage has been in the works since April of 2014, and they launched it last June when Joel moved back to Spokane.

The brokerage currently has five real estate agents and three employees. Based on its growth this far, the brothers say they expect to add perhaps five more agents and three or four more employees within its first year.  

The brothers say 4 Degrees is built on four key areas of service: real estate sales, property management, investments, and community giving.

To distinguish themselves as real estate agents, the Tampiens say they will focus on client and agent education. They say they want to ensure smooth transactions and a clear understanding of real estate ownership so clients become knowledgeable and comfortable with the process. The brothers say they hope to work with experienced property owners, recent investors, and those interested in acquiring investment property.

Joel Tampien says the company currently is managing 52 living units and has more such contracts in the works. 

4 Degrees also will offer turnkey investment options for people who want to get into real estate but aren’t sure how, the brothers say. Investment consultation services are available and a big part of Jordan Tampien’s passion for education. 

 “We want to help people that have never invested in real estate learn what it takes, what is available to them from properties to funding. We would love to see nontraditional residents getting into the game and investing in their community,” Jordan Tampien says.

He adds, “I strongly believe in giving back to the community; it is Spokane and the residents that are our clients and have been the lifeblood of our businesses.  So it only seems right to reinvest in the community that we make a life in.”

The brothers have earmarked 1 percent of the company’s management fees toward charitable giving in the community.

“We are most interested in donating funds to projects that improve neighborhoods and have a correlation to increased property values,” Jordan Tampien says.

As their business grows, the two say they have plans to build a foundation that would manage the donation funds, but until then they will collaborate with local nonprofits that already are providing services in the East Central and West Central neighborhoods.

The brothers say their real estate brokerage is off to a quick start. In their first two months of business, they have completed six real estate transactions, with four more pending.  They say they’re pleased with the early success and feel that the business is falling into place as hoped.  

“It will, of course, be much easier to manage our success once the office is renovated, and we have a physical location,” Joel says.  “However, the plan, technology, and infrastructure are there so we are making it work.”

The brothers bring different expertise and experience to the table for their clients. Joel is primarily responsible for the property management services. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Whitworth University. He had been in the military for the past 6 1/2 years. He also owns rental properties in Spokane and the Seattle area. He says he’s looking forward to using the skills he acquired in the military to help make 4 Degrees a success.  

“In the military, you learn quickly how important planning, communication, implementation, and follow-through is,” he says. 

Jordan is the designated broker and in charge of the real estate sales and investment services. He and his wife, Whitney, also own Flat 4 Photography and Photobooth and are part owners of The Backyard Public House, near Kendall Yards.  

“All of our businesses are in Spokane, will grow in Spokane, and stay in Spokane,” he says.

Jordan says he got his start in property management working for a community action agency here managing a portfolio of more than 400 low-income rental units. He says his work in community asset development has given him a passion for neighborhood improvement, and has spurred his interest in starting businesses and renovating real estate in economically depressed areas. 

Jordan says he has bought, renovated and managed multiple properties here. He has four years of experience as a Realtor in Spokane, and has doubled his business volume year after year. Last year was his best to date, in which he closed 26 transactions.

The brothers say this first year for the real estate agency will be about networking, establishing a more formal education platform, and securing properties to manage, as well as purchasing properties to build a portfolio of turnkey investment opportunities for clients. 

The brokerage, 4 Degrees Real Estate, currently has five real estate agents and three employees.