I've driven past that Technopolis Drive building more times than I can count — it's out near the newer developments south of 41st, where Sioux Falls keeps sprawling into what used to be farmland. Julie Roth runs her real estate practice from there, and after talking to three separate people who've worked with her, I started to understand why she's got 75 five-star reviews and zero visible advertising budget.
She doesn't do the staged-photo-perfect-kitchen thing. When I asked one client what made Julie different, she said: "She told us not to buy the first house we loved." That's not typical realtor behavior. Julie apparently walked them through why the foundation issues would cost more than they'd saved for renovations — then spent another two months finding them something better on Cliff Avenue.
What strikes me is how she operates in the gaps other agents ignore. First-time buyers who don't know a home inspection from a homeowners association. Families relocating from out of state who need someone to explain why the Whittier neighborhood feels different from Harrisburg. She'll drive people around for hours, pointing out which streets flood in spring, where the good coffee shops are, which elementary schools have the longer waiting lists.
The reality check: she's one person running a small operation, so if you're hoping to tour twelve houses this Saturday, you might be waiting. Her calendar fills up weeks out, especially during spring selling season. But the people who do work with her seem to stay in touch long after closing — I've heard about clients texting her photos when they finally finish their basement or plant that garden they talked about during showings.
It's the kind of real estate practice that still believes buying a house in Sioux Falls means becoming part of Sioux Falls — not just signing papers and getting keys.
— Grace