PORT ANGELES — Carroll Realty, possibly the oldest realty office on the North Olympic Peninsula, will close its doors for good at the end of the year.
The 72-year-old firm will merge with Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty, located at 1115 E. Front St., on Jan. 1, said Carroll Realty owner Dick Pilling.
Pilling, who has owned the firm since 2006, said he made the decision to merge because he is no longer interested in running an office.
Continue in real estate
“I am a small outfit, and I think that it’s time for me to consider what I want to do in my future,” said Pilling, 65.
“I hope to continue selling real estate.
“I don’t especially want to be involved in all the administrative stuff.”
Pilling said he plans to move to the Coldwell office, and each of the other four Realtors at Carroll Realty have been invited to join him there.
Asked if the poor housing market weighed into his decision, he said “not so much.”
“I was keeping my head above water,” Pilling said.
“I feel I could have easily stayed in business for the foreseeable future.”
H.J. Carroll founded Carroll Realty in Port Towsend in 1938.
Today, its only office is at 809 E. First St. in Port Angeles.
The merger is the second involving real estate companies in Clallam County this fall.
The Port Angeles offices of RE/Max and Windermere Real Estate merged Nov. 1.
Jace moving
A third office in Port Angeles, Jace The Real Estate Co., is moving into two smaller locations.
The main sales office at 933 E. First St., including 12 Realtors and staff, will move to the old Susan Parr Travel location at 1234 E. Front St.
The second new location, at 3430 E. U.S. Highway 101, across from the new Walmart, will house the Jace Better Rentals property-management division, the relocation department and the corporate accounting office.
The Sequim office of Jace The Real Estate Co., 761 N. Sequim Ave., will absorb five Realtors and staff from the Port Angeles office.
Jim Wahlsten, owner of the Coldwell Banker office, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
