The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Until last week the nationally ranked Fathom Realty was not a brand force in Sisters, or even Central Oregon. That all changed when Mark and Pam Ossinger hung out the Fathom shingle at 311 E. Cascade Ave. at the corner of Spruce in the former Antler Arts building.

The building's design is distinctive with its log-style architecture, and is prominent when entering downtown from the east. The Fathom Realty logo is prominently displayed perpendicularly to the street, making the office easy to spot. Plentiful street parking is available on two sides of the business.

Fathom is one of the fastest growing realtors in the country. The RealTrends 500, a leading industry report of the performance of the top residential brokerages, has named Fathom as an industry Top Mover for 2023. Fathom jumped six places to rank second among the leading firms that reported the largest growth in transaction sides from 2021 to 2022. The company also placed fourth overall in sales volume growth for the year among the Top Movers.

Fathom Realty is included in the T3 Sixty MEGA 1000, the most comprehensive ranking of the largest residential real estate brokerages in the United States. According to the recently released 2023 report, Fathom Realty is ranked as the No. 8 largest brokerage by agent count, No. 10 by transaction sides, and No. 15 by sales volume, increasing from #20 in 2022. This achievement is a testament to Fathom Realty's commitment to providing top-notch services and support to its agents and clients and its ability to adapt and thrive in the rapidly evolving real estate industry.

Mark Ossinger has been selling real estate since 1987 in Washington and Oregon, based in Sisters and operating from his home. With the new 1,100-square-foot office downtown he will be better able to manage the 270-plus agents he leads in the Pacific Northwest.

He's a natural born marketer who quickly grasped the changing dynamics of the market. That led him to North Carolina-based Fathom.

Ossinger told The Nugget, "Our team is rooted in the Pacific Northwest, and serve clients throughout Western Washington and Western and Central Oregon. Years of experience, unique skills, and a deep understanding of the market in the areas where they serve is the best description of the agents on our team. Each agent shares their knowledge in which every aspect of the process, which imparts the trust built during our service to buyers, and thereby the confidence you want in what is often considered the largest purchase most people will make in life."

Pam Ossinger helps to mange the buinsess. Between them they have nine children, the youngest at Sisters High School, and eight grandchildren. They are active in their church. Corporately, Fathom embraces biblical principles in its business model.

Fathom has a culture of "A Difference That Makes No Difference is No Difference!" When dealing with agents, their ethos is one of servant leadership.

The Ossingers are inveterate entrepreneurs who are facile with the technology of real estate, which Mark claims is a strength of Fathom. At the same time, he and Pam have made furniture building by hand their primary hobby. The enthusiasm has grown to the point where they sell their red cedar creations locally.

When asked what sets Fathom apart from other agencies, Mark pointed to how agents are compensated as the prime example. The Fathom formula allows agents to keep more of the commission proceeds. "It's their hard work and relationships that are the core of the sale. It's only natural that they enjoy the biggest reward," he said.

"Buyers and sellers only see the agent but in most agencies there is an often complex back office structure with whom agents must share," he said.

The Ossingers find a lot of personal satisfaction in recruiting and training agents to the Fathom team. Most join Fathom for better incomes but soon adopt the broader satisfaction Fathom promises.

Like many of the national realty networks, Fathom is positioned to provide key ancillary services. They are partnered with Dagley Insurance and Encompass Lending Group.

The office on East Cascade is undergoing some renovation, and Pam and Mark expect to be fully operational in a week or two with a starting staff of three that will grow to five or more.

Mark is a prolific writer and talented wordsmith who produces a monthly blog with subjects ranging from house colors to correct pricing in a down market.

(Editor's note: This story has been edited to correct the description of Pam Ossinger's role in the business).