Service 1st Real Estate — Local services in Baton Rouge

This review is for anyone nervous or intimidated by the homebuying process. If you have ever felt insecure about all the things you don't know, continue reading. I will explain why you NEED to retain Antonio (or anyone in his brokerage - Service 1st Real Estate) as your realtor.

My husband, Jacob, and I got married in February 2024 and set a goal to begin the homebuying process at some point during the year. I honestly assumed that we'd get our ducks in a row and maybe start casually looking in 2024. But, in my mind, it would take several months to find a house we like, let alone close on one. We began speaking with lenders early in the year and even took a first time homebuyers course. But, with competing priorities, we decided to postpone house hunting and happily did life in our tiny one bedroom loft.

By October 2024, we were ready to resume our conversations with lenders and get tee'd up for the very long and tough homebuying process. We interviewed a number of lenders and then began interviewing realtors. Everyone we spoke with was great and knowledgeable (even our friends!), but we knew the right fit would be a realtor who had a wealth of knowledge and experience with both the homebuying process AND investment properties, as this would be our first home and we wanted a multiple family unit.

By interview #7, we spoke with Antonio, who came as a referral from Jacob's work colleague. To say the conversation was an interview took Antonio by surprise (as the owner of a brokerage - mentoring other realtors - and someone with 14+ years of experience in real estate!!). He assumed it was a typical intro call with a new client. When we said we'd spoken with a number of realtors prior to speaking with him, he laughed. In his words, "I haven't been interviewed in YEARS." We were all tickled by this. It just went to show the due diligence we were putting into the process.

After that hour long conversation, my husband and I knew that Antonio was the right fit for us. He offered so much value in that one conversation alone. And, he proved that he was the right fit for us time and time again.

He immediately got to work. Educated us every step of the way. Communicated timely when we had questions or concerns. Was PROACTIVE at every turn, thinking of solutions for problems. He knew the things we should be thinking about and considering. And, even when we had concerns about skyrocketing home processes and high interest rates, he came up with creative solutions that were instrumental in getting us a great deal overall.

It was 51 days from the day of our intro call to date we sat down at that closing table. What I thought would take months and months of arduous work, less than 2 months from start to finish. We closed on our home December 30, 2024, starting 2025 as homeowners!

If you told skeptical me this at the start of the year, I would have laughed in your face. I say all that to say…."make the call." Antonio is personable. He cares about his clients. He's honest when something seems off. He won't just tell you what you want to hear, but will give you the feedback you need to hear so that you make the best decision for your wants, needs, and circumstances. This comes from years of experience. Trust me, you want a person with integrity who is not just hungry for a sale, but who puts the clients' needs first.

I unequivocally recommend Antonio and Service 1st Real Estate. It's...

My husband and I recently sold our 1st home and purchased the home of our dreams! Antonio Cousin of Service 1st Real Estate made both processes so much easier than we expected. Not only is he an experienced Realtor and Broker, he goes over and beyond to ensure his clients get the best deal no matter their financial situation. He made us feel like we were his only clients, as he made sure to reply to every email and text, following up with loads of pertinent information and valuable resources. We are very satisfied with Service 1st Real Estate and highly recommended Antonio Cousin as an Agent.

Oh I almost forgot…..he buys the best new homeowner gifts for his clients! Gotta...

If you are looking to buy a home, I highly recommend that you work with Service 1st Real Estate! As a first time homebuyer, I had a lot of questions about the process and a delay with the construction of my home. However, Antonio Cousin was there every step of the way and served as my liaison to solve problems with the builders/lender. I appreciate him for going over and beyond to make this process as smooth as possible! He is definitely a man of his word and truly cares about...