In 2019, the RealMarkets Team, led by Stephen Karbelk, was the #1 Century 21 Team in Virginia and the #5 Century 21 Team in the United States. Please be sure to contact us if we can assist you with your residential or commercial real estate needs.
Starting in the real estate business in 1990, Stephen Karbelk has had the opportunity to sell nearly every type of property that can be sold. Whether it’s a hotel, a luxury home, valuable personal property or a business, he has sold it before. Stephen has published more than a dozen articles, authored industry white papers and has been a featured speaker at numerous professional conferences.
- Experience with selling residential and commercial real estate
- Managed the sale of real estate in over 35 states
- Focused on delivering the best solutions to his clients
- Extensive experience with selling high-value properties
- Comprehensive marketing platform for promoting his listings
- Full-time in the real estate industry since 1990
- Significant notable transactions as high as $28.7 million
- Real Estate Licenses in Virginia, Maryland Washington, DC as well as an auctioneers license in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Past speaking engagements, publications, conferences and classes
- “Big Deal Hunting”, PodCast on Fast Talking Podcast hosted by Andy Imholte, January 2016
- “TRID: How Real Estate Closings Will Never Be The Same”, submitted for publication in the December 2015 edition of NABTalk, January 2016
- Graduate, Auction Technology Specialist (ATS), National Auctioneers Association, Charlottesville, Va., January 2015
- Published Author, “Effectively Leveraging the Auction Process”, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Winter 2014
- Speaker, “Commercial Real Estate Auctions”, Virginia Auctioneers Association, Williamsburg, Va., January 2014
- Speaker, “Commercial Real Estate Auctions”, Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association, Harrisburg, Pa., January 2014
- Speaker, “Using Auctions to Make More Money”, Coldwell Banker Real Estate in the Round, November 2013
- “Advanced Education Session: Ethical Dilemmas in Insolvency”, Turnaround Management Association, October 2013
- Attendee, Turnaround Management Association Annual Convention, Washington, D.C., October 2013
- Speaker, “Understanding Bankruptcy Auctions”, Ohio Auctioneers Association, Winter Convention, January 2013
- Speaker, “Winning Elephant Deals”, Ohio Auctioneers Association, Winter Convention, January 2013
- Panelist, “How to Work with Institutional Sellers”, Ohio Auctioneers Association, Winter Convention, January 2013
- Candidate for Director, National Auctioneers Association, July 2012 Election held at Conference & Show, Spokane, Wash.
- Staff Instructor, Worldwide College of Auctioneering, Mason City, Iowa (2008-Current)
- Committee Member, Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) Designation Management Committee, National Auctioneers Association (2011 to Current)
- Committee Member, Auction Industry Reporting Committee, National Auctioneers Association, a new committee tasked with developing industry reporting standards for real estate auctioneers (2012 to Current)
- Competitor, Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association, Open Division, Auctioneer Competition, Finished in Top 10 (2012)
- Judge, International Auctioneers Competition (IAC), National Auctioneers Association, Orlando, Fla. (2011)
- Committee Member, Council on Future Practices, National Auctioneers Association (2010 – 2011)
- Leading Co-Author, “Give Me Five, Now Ten…Years into the Future”, the National Auctioneers Association Industry White Paper on the future of the auction industry. (2010 – 2011)
- Committee Member, 2012 Real Estate Summit, National Auctioneers Association
- Presenter, 2012 Real Estate Summit, National Auctioneers Association
- Presenter, 2012 Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Convention
- Instructor, Certified Auctioneers Institute, Bloomington, Ind. (2009)
- Presenter, National Auctioneers Association Annual Conference & Show (2007 – 2012)
- Committee Member, TMA Southwest Regional Conference (2009 – 2012)
- Board of Directors, Turnaround Management Association, Oklahoma Chapter (2009 to Current)
- Presenter, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Convention (2009)
- Presenter, Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association Convention (2009)
- Founding Member and President, Turnaround Management Association, Oklahoma Chapter (2008 – 2009)
- Author, “De-Mystifying the Auction Process”, Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, April 26 – May 9, 2013
- The Nuts & Bolts of Selling Commercial Real Estate at Auction”, National Auctioneers Association Conference & Show, Kansas City, Mo. (2009)
- Moderator, “The Great Debates – Multi-Par vs. Bidders Choice – Which Auction Method is in the Best Interest of the Seller?” National Auctioneers Association Conference & Show, Kansas City, Mo. (2009)
- Committee Member, CRRC, Turnaround Management Association (2006 – 2008)
- President, Turnaround Management Association, Chesapeake Chapter (2005 -2007)
- Vice President, Programs, Turnaround Management Association, Chesapeake Chapter (2004)
- Vice President, Membership, Turnaround Management Association, Chesapeake Chapter (2003)
- Chair, Editorial Board, The Auctioneer, an international publication servicing the National Auctioneers Association (2007-09)
- Co-Chair, ABI/NAA Joint Committee (2008-09)
- Co-Author, “Making Sense of CMBS in a Loan Workout Environment”, Institutional Investor, Spring 2006
- Panelist, “Strategies for Understanding and Selling Weird Real Estate in Bankruptcy”, 24th Annual Spring American Bankruptcy Institute Conference, Real Estate Committee, Washington, D.C., April 2006
- Co-Author, “Auctions: Resolving the “Distressed Receiver’s” Dilemma”, Receivership News, Winter 2006
- Alumni of the Year, History and Art History Department, George Mason University (2005)
- Co-Presenter and Author, “Bankruptcy Sales – A Legal and Practical Primer”, approved for Continuing Legal Education in Virginia, presented to the Richmond Bankruptcy Bar Association (February 2004), Northern Virginia Bankruptcy Bar Association (April 2004), and Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association (May 2004).
- Panelist, “Maximizing the Value of Commercial Real Estate, Machinery & Equipment, and Intellectual Property through the Auction Process”, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Conference, Washington, D.C. (2009)
- Panelist, “Weathering the Storm: Bankers’ Strategies for Managing Distressed Loans”, Florida Bankers Association, Orlando, Fla., January 2009
- Multiple quotes and contributing writer concerning the sale of real estate at auction, “The Idiot’s Guide to Auctions”. Published April 2008
- Author, “Defining the “Successful Auctioneer” in the Transforming Auction Industry”, The Auctioneer, July 2008
- Attendee, “Buying and Selling Distressed Businesses”, TMA Chicago Chapter, April 2007