Justine Pompei at RE/MAX 100 in Baltimore: Residential Agent Focused on Waterfront and Canton

Justine Pompei is a residential real estate agent at RE/MAX 100, the franchise office located in downtown Baltimore, working primarily with buyers and sellers in neighborhoods including Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and along Baltimore's inner harbor. She operates on the standard commission structure that defines residential real estate in Maryland: the seller typically pays a combined commission (split between listing and buyer's agents, usually 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price), while buyers do not pay out of pocket, though the buyer's agent commission comes from the seller's proceeds. Her focus on waterfront and established urban neighborhoods positions her in a segment of Baltimore's market where price points and buyer sophistication differ markedly from suburban or developing areas.

What RE/MAX 100 Actually Is

RE/MAX 100 is a franchise location of the national RE/MAX brand, operating in Baltimore since the early 2000s. Unlike some independent brokerages or larger national chains, RE/MAX offices operate on an agent-centric model: agents pay monthly desk fees and commission splits rather than drawing a salary, which means individual agents build their own client bases and control their marketing spend. This structure tends to attract agents who have been in the business for several years or who specialize in specific neighborhoods or buyer profiles. Justine Pompei fits that profile as someone who has concentrated on Baltimore's inner-city waterfront and adjacent historic neighborhoods rather than spreading across the entire metro region.

How Buyer and Listing Agents Work

When buying a home, a buyer can work with an agent like Pompei under a non-binding relationship (no contract required) or sign a buyer's agent agreement that commits the buyer to working with that agent for a set period, typically 90 days to six months. If you sign a buyer's agent agreement, you are legally bound not to work with another agent during that term, even if you find a property on your own. A buyer's agent represents your interests: they show properties, negotiate offers, arrange inspections, and communicate with the listing agent. If you do not sign an agreement, you can walk away and use another agent at any time, but the listing agent (the seller's representative) has no obligation to show you homes or facilitate showings.

When selling, the listing agent sets the asking price, stages the home for sale, lists it on the multiple listing service (MLS), markets it, shows it to other agents and buyers, and negotiates on behalf of the seller. The seller pays a combined commission, typically 5 to 6 percent, which the listing agent splits with the buyer's agent. If no buyer's agent is involved, the listing agent may keep the full commission or the seller saves nothing (the split is determined by what the listing agent agrees to offer).

Pompei's Approach vs. Other Baltimore Agents

Baltimore's real estate market splits roughly into three agent profiles: generalists who handle any property anywhere in the metro area, neighborhood specialists who concentrate on one or two blocks or districts, and investor-focused agents who work with house-flippers and rental-property buyers. Pompei operates as a neighborhood specialist. Her concentration on Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and harbor-adjacent properties means she likely knows block-level price trends, which renovations add resale value in these specific areas, and which brokers typically represent competing listings. A generalist agent at Compass or Sotheby's International Realty might have deeper resources, a larger team, and connections to luxury buyers outside Maryland; a house-flipper agent at a firm like Keller Williams might better understand renovation timelines and exit strategies for investors. If you are buying or selling a condo at Harbor East or a rowhouse on Clement Street, a specialist is advantageous. If you are relocating to Baltimore from out of state and unsure which neighborhood fits your needs, a generalist with broader market knowledge may be more useful.

How to Evaluate an Agent Before Hiring

Ask a prospective agent for a recent comparable market analysis (CMA), which shows the asking prices, sale prices, and days-on-market for similar homes in the neighborhood within the past 90 days. A credible agent will provide detailed data, not round estimates. Request references from two or three recent clients (both buyers and sellers if possible) and actually contact them, asking specifically whether the agent returned calls within 24 hours, whether they explained costs and timelines upfront, and whether they negotiated aggressively or passively. Check the agent's sales history on the Maryland Real Estate Commission website, where you can verify their license status and any disciplinary actions. Do not sign a buyer's agent agreement or listing agreement without reading the entire contract; these are often one or two pages and spell out cancellation terms, commission amounts, and agent responsibilities.

First Steps in Buying or Selling

If you contact Pompei to buy, expect an initial conversation about your budget, timeline, neighborhood preferences, and the types of homes you want to see (new construction, historic, condo, rowhouse). She will likely ask whether you are pre-approved for a mortgage; without pre-approval, most sellers will not negotiate seriously with you. If you contact her to sell, she will request access to your home to conduct a comparative market analysis and provide a recommended listing price. This visit typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes. She will then outline marketing strategy, closing timeline, and the commission split.

Hours and Contact

RE/MAX 100 offices in Baltimore typically operate Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though individual agents often meet clients outside these hours. Confirm specific availability and preferred contact method (phone, email, text) directly with Pompei.

Justine Pompei's specialization in Baltimore's waterfront neighborhoods and established city districts makes her most useful for buyers or sellers already committed to that geography and willing to work with an agent who knows those streets intimately.