As we all celebrate the start of a new year, many people are looking forward to the beginning of this new decade to set a clear picture for what they hope to achieve over the next 365 days and beyond. From healthy eating habits and fitness goals to financial dreams and professional aspirations, each of us have an opportunity to think about a vision we have to be better this year and this decade than we have ever been.

As a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, even as a young boy growing up in “The Glen” on the South Side of Youngstown, I always wanted to do something that made our community better for everyone who worked hard to proudly call this place “home.” Now, as the president of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors, I am lucky enough to have been afforded the opportunity to serve YOU in helping make the greatest asset of living the “American Dream” — owning a home — a reality for everyone. But tackling that in 2020 requires a clear vision.

As I begin to serve my one-year term with YCAR, I am excited about the opportunity to continue to follow in the footsteps of my father, John Burgan, who not only served as the president of this organization in 1981, but founded Burgan Real Estate in 1977 with three basic principles: whatever you do, do it with integrity, honesty and transparency. As I, along with my co-broker and fellow second generation owner of Burgan Real Estate, Sue Filipovich, who also held this office in 2016, continue to open doors to better lives for people in the area as real estate agents, I know the role I have filled needs to be conducted with the same principles that has made Burgan Real Estate the area’s most trusted and fastest growing real estate company in the Mahoning Valley. To ensure that, I hope this article offers the same integrity, honesty and transparency in how I will serve you and, all the real estate agents in the area, as the YCAR president.

Everything I do this year with this office will be dedicated to having a positive impact on increasing professionalism in our industry, protecting the property rights of homeowners in our area and ensuring that everyone in our area has an equal opportunity and clear path to owning their own home.

I am not only honored to assume this role, but realize that with this role comes great responsibility to make sure we, as real estate professionals, are conducting ourselves in the best interest of you. To ensure this, I look forward to the opportunity of implementing opportunities for all Realtors to grow professionally to better provide the service our residents rely on us to deliver. As real estate agents, we know that nothing goes smoothly when buying or selling a home. There are obstacles that come up throughout the process. As a Realtor, it is up to us to navigate you through those minefields and getting to the finish line with confidence.

Continuing education programs, especially increasing awareness about cyber-fraud, will help ensure all of you are protected in an ever-increasing digital world where financial transactions and documentation are becoming the new norm. The idea of protection also will extend into the most important part of the process — your rights as a homeowner.

Regardless of whether you are the buyer or seller in a real estate transaction process, you have rights. For most first time homebuyers, the process of buying your first home is intimidating and stressful. With all of the nuances that are required for a home purchase or sale, the most important piece to the transaction are the people involved. As President, I look forward to the opportunity of making a positive impact in strengthening and protecting the rights you have in the process. From security in wire transfers, identifying liens or issues with a property or just simply knowing your rights to choose who you can work with, the process can be better with more transparent and integrity in order to ensure you are protected. But while protecting your rights is important, it is not as important as you having the right and opportunity to purchase the home you deserve.

The final piece to the clear path I hope to take in 2020 as the YCAR president is the one I am most passionate about. As a company that brands itself on making everything we are involved with, “better,” I am committed to making decisions, implementing strategies and performing the duties of this office with one simple goal: ensuring the opportunity to purchase a home is available to EVERYONE. There is a better life waiting for everyone and no one should be turned away or declined the opportunity to experience that part of the American Dream. From financing options to equal opportunities for individuals regardless of race, gender or nationality, the area we live in is a melting pot of individuality who deserve a chance to unlock a better life with a better place to call home.

I have been fortunate enough to watch some of the most influential people in my life hold this office before me, to show me what the expectations of the office truly is. However, I am also approaching this role with my own vision for how we all can work together in the real estate industry to do one thing and one thing only: make the lives, the process and the experience of buying or selling a home better.