Christy Staruk at RE/MAX New Beginnings in Baltimore: A Listing Agent for Waterfront and Inner Harbor Moves
Christy Staruk operates as a listing agent with RE/MAX New Beginnings, a franchise brokerage serving the Baltimore metro area with particular strength in waterfront and downtown residential sales. She works on commission tied to sale price and handles the marketing, showing, and negotiation side of transactions, meaning she represents sellers or works with buyers who need agent representation.
How listing agents work and what Staruk's role includes
A listing agent like Staruk enters a contract with a property owner to market and sell that home. Her compensation comes from the commission split at closing, typically 5 to 6 percent of the sale price divided between listing and buyer's agent. She is responsible for listing photography and description, scheduling open houses, advertising on local MLS systems and national portals like Zillow and Realtor.com, hosting showings, and negotiating offers on behalf of the seller.
RE/MAX New Beginnings, her brokerage, operates multiple offices across Maryland and is licensed by the Maryland Real Estate Commission. As part of a franchise, Staruk gains access to RE/MAX's national marketing platform and training infrastructure but maintains her own client book and reputation.
Services Staruk offers and pricing structure
Staruk lists residential properties in Baltimore and surrounding counties. Her compensation is paid at closing and is not a flat fee; rather, it depends on sale price and the final negotiated commission. Standard practice in Baltimore runs 5 to 6 percent total commission split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent, though rates are always negotiable and depend on local market conditions.
She does not charge upfront marketing fees, photography fees, or monthly holding costs. Commission is only due if and when the property sells. For sellers uncertain about pricing, she can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) showing recent sales of similar homes in the same neighborhood, which informs the initial list price.
Comparing listing agents in Baltimore
Baltimore has hundreds of licensed agents spread across major brokerages (Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, Compass) and smaller independent firms. The choice between Staruk and a competing agent typically hinges on neighborhood expertise, transaction volume, and personal fit rather than pricing, since commission rates are regulated and standard.
Staruk's affiliation with RE/MAX gives her access to a national referral network useful for relocating buyers, whereas a smaller local brokerage may offer deeper ties to specific neighborhoods. An agent with very high transaction volume in Canton or Fells Point may move inventory faster there than a generalist; Staruk's track record in waterfront areas makes her more relevant for sellers in Harbor East or Federal Hill. Buyer's agents, who represent the purchaser, work off the same commission pool and cannot shop for lower rates, so the choice of listing agent does not directly affect buyer costs.
Who Staruk suits and who should look elsewhere
Staruk is the right fit for a seller of a waterfront or downtown Baltimore home who wants professional photography, broad MLS exposure, and someone familiar with the particular buyer pool in those neighborhoods. She works well for sellers ready to negotiate and close within a standard 30 to 45 day window.
She is not the right choice for a seller seeking a flat fee or discount brokerage model (which operate differently and require the seller to self-market or hire marketing separately), or for an owner planning to sell without an agent (a for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, approach). An investor buying multiple rental properties at speed might prefer an agent or team with high commercial transaction volume.
What a first conversation involves
An initial consultation with Staruk typically starts with a property walk-through, during which she assesses condition, updates, and comparable sales. She prepares a CMA showing sold prices for similar homes in the area within the past three to six months. From that analysis, she recommends an opening list price. The seller can accept, counter, or ask for staging advice before listing.
Once terms are agreed, she prepares the MLS listing description, schedules professional photography, and uploads to the Multiple Listing Service used by all Baltimore agents and major national sites. Open houses or broker open house events follow, and she manages all showing requests and buyer inquiries.
Hours, contact, and logistics
RE/MAX New Beginnings operates during standard business hours, though agents often show and negotiate outside those hours to meet client schedules. Staruk works by appointment; there is no walk-in expectation. Contact information can be found through the RE/MAX website or local MLS directories. Verify current cell or office number directly with RE/MAX or through Realtor.com.
Staruk's value to Baltimore sellers lies in waterfront market knowledge and RE/MAX's listing visibility, both practical assets in a market where buyer search patterns and neighborhood reputation matter more than aggressive negotiation tactics alone.
