Modern Market REALTORS®

What Modern Market REALTORS® does

Modern Market REALTORS® is an independent, privately-held residential real estate brokerage founded in 2012 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. The firm operates with two co-founder agents, Jim Christl and Shannon Barnum, who provide direct, one-on-one buyer and seller representation across the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, including communities in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN (Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace, Dilworth, Casselton, Kindred, Mapleton, and Barnesville). The company's core offerings are home buying services, home selling services, and relocation services, augmented by specialized programs for military/VA buyers, first-time buyers, move-up sellers, and luxury home sellers. The firm operates a commission-based transaction fee model with no publicly disclosed pricing.

The company's technology stack is built on standard industry tools: an IDX-powered consumer property search platform at fargohomesearch.com providing real-time access to Northstar MLS listings (1,152+ active in the metro), a separate service-oriented website at modernmarketrealtors.com, and integration with the Northstar MLS Broker Reciprocity program for listing syndication. Marketing is distributed across SEO-optimized websites, a blog, Facebook, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, email campaigns, and Google Reviews. The firm has registered the Modern Market REALTORS® trademark and has accumulated 20,000+ platform users over 13+ years of operation.

The go-to-market motion is a sales-led, direct-to-consumer model supplemented by event-driven activity (open houses and community events). The brokerage emphasizes personalized service from named agents rather than rotating teams, high-end photography and virtual tours for listings, and data-driven pricing analysis using comparable sales. There is no institutional investment, no parent company, no disclosed financial figures, and no evidence of AI/ML capabilities. The business is concentrated entirely in a single regional metro, with no franchising, licensing, or geographic expansion signals beyond the existing Cass County / Clay County footprint.

Name

Modern Market REALTORS®

Legal name

Modern Market REALTORS®

Website

https://fargohomesearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Modern Market REALTORS® is an independent two-agent residential real estate brokerage founded in 2012, serving buyers, sellers, and relocations across the Fargo-Moorhead metro area in North Dakota and Minnesota via Northstar MLS-powered listing platforms and direct agent representation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Real Estate Brokerage

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJAAAA

Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes)

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Residential Real Estate Brokerage

SECONDARYBPAJAAAJ

Buyer Representation Services

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Residential Real Estate Brokerage

SECONDARYFSAEAJAA

Residential Real Estate Brokerage (Buy/Sell)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Real Estate Advisory & Brokerage

SECONDARYFSAEAJAG

Real Estate Buyer Representation

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Real Estate Advisory & Brokerage

Keywords

• Residential real estate brokerage
• Home buyer representation
• Home seller services
• Relocation real estate services
• MLS property search

Headquarters

HQ city

Moorhead

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Commission - Seller Services: Commission-based fees from home sellers for listing services including marketing, staging guidance, negotiations, and transaction management
2. Real Estate Commission - Buyer Representation: Commission from buyer representation services including property search, showings, offer negotiation, and closing support
3. Relocation Services: Assistance for relocating clients including area orientation, home search, and settlement support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Modern Market REALTORS® is a residential real estate brokerage that represents home buyers and sellers throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area, including communities in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN. Services encompass agent-led buyer representation, full listing/seller representation including pricing, marketing, staging, and transaction management, and relocation assistance for clients moving into or out of the region. The brokerage is operated by two lead agents using MLS-powered property search tools, professional photography, virtual tours, and targeted digital marketing.

Product overview

Modern Market REALTORS® operates as a real estate services company with two primary digital platforms: the consumer-facing fargohomesearch.com listing portal and the service-oriented modernmarketrealtors.com website. The core offering centers on home buying and selling services in the Fargo-Moorhead region, with agent representation provided by Jim Christl and Shannon Barnum. The service portfolio spans three main areas: Home Selling Services (data-driven pricing, staging, photography, virtual tours, digital marketing, negotiations, and transaction management), Home Buying Services (buyer representation, property search, financing guidance, and closing support), and Relocation Services (area orientation, virtual tours, and local referrals). Add-on modules include pre-listing packages, move-up seller coordination with bridge loan options, VA/military relocation support, first-time buyer programs, and luxury home marketing. The platforms leverage IDX connectivity to Northstar MLS for real-time listing data, professional photography, and virtual tour capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Selling Services Full-service home seller representation for homeowners in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and Horace, including data-driven pricing, strategic home prep, professional staging, high-end photography, virtual tours, targeted digital marketing, expert negotiations, and transaction management from listing through closing.
• Home Buying Services Dedicated buyer representation providing personalized property search assistance, neighborhood insights, financing guidance, offer negotiation, inspection management, and closing support for home buyers in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.
• Relocation Services Comprehensive relocation assistance for individuals and families moving to the Fargo-Moorhead region, including virtual tours, customized home searches, neighborhood and school information, utility setup guidance, and trusted local referrals.
• VA Buyer & Military Relocation Services Specialized home buying assistance for military personnel, connecting VA home buyers with VA-approved homes, VA loan specialists, and military-friendly communities near Fargo Air National Guard Base and Grand Forks AFB.
• First-Time Home Buyer Programs Guidance for entry-level buyers including first-time home buyer classes, FHA home loans, down payment assistance programs, and financing options for those with no down payment or rebuilding credit.
• Pre-Listing Package Pre-listing preparation service including professional home staging, market-driven pricing analysis, high-impact photography, and targeted digital marketing to enhance curb appeal and maximize sale price.
• Move-Up Seller Services Specialized services for homeowners selling to purchase a larger home, including timing coordination, bridge loan options, trade-up real estate strategies, and dual-transaction management.
• Luxury Home Selling Services High-end real estate services for luxury properties including specialized marketing strategies, premium property positioning, and access to exclusive luxury listings in Cass and Clay County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ users trust the platform for their real estate needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Northstar MLScoreTechnology or IntegrationFull membership and access to the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, providing comprehensive property listing database, broker reciprocity, and market data for the Fargo-Moorhead region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• RE/MAX: RE/MAX is a global real estate franchise with significant market share in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. It offers residential brokerage services, technology tools, and brand recognition that compete directly with Modern Market REALTORS® for agent-attached and consumer-attached transaction flow.
• Coldwell Banker: Coldwell Banker is a national residential real estate franchise with established presence in the Fargo-Moorhead region. It competes with Modern Market REALTORS® for the same pool of residential buyers and sellers, offering greater brand recognition and franchise support.
• Compass: Compass is a technology-enabled national real estate brokerage offering buyer and seller representation with proprietary platform tools. While it operates at a much larger scale, it competes for the same residential buyer and seller clients as Modern Market REALTORS® in markets where it has presence.
• Century 21: Century 21 is a global real estate franchise with residential brokerage presence in the Fargo-Moorhead region. It competes for the same residential transaction flow as Modern Market REALTORS® and offers franchise-level marketing and brand advantages.
• Keller Williams Realty: Keller Williams is the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the US with active operations in Fargo-Moorhead. It competes with Modern Market REALTORS® for both agent recruitment and consumer mindshare, leveraging its training platform and technology ecosystem.
• Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is a national franchise network with Midwest presence, offering residential brokerage services. It competes with Modern Market REALTORS® for franchise agent recruitment and consumer-facing transaction volume in the broader Midwest market.
• eXp Realty: eXp Realty is a cloud-based national brokerage with a low-overhead agent-centric model that competes directly with independent brokerages by offering attractive commission splits and agent support. It represents a modern alternative to traditional independent brokerage models like Modern Market REALTORS®.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a national real estate franchise network with residential brokerage operations in North Dakota and Minnesota. It competes with Modern Market REALTORS® for premium and luxury market segments through its premium brand association.

Direct peers

• Park Company Realtors: Park Company Realtors is a longstanding Fargo-based independent real estate brokerage serving the same Fargo-Moorhead metro area as Modern Market REALTORS®. As a similarly sized local independent competitor, it represents the closest direct peer in terms of business model, geographic focus, and target customer base.

Regional players

• Howard Hanna Real Estate: Howard Hanna is a regional brokerage primarily serving the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic US. While it does not have a strong presence in Fargo-Moorhead specifically, it represents the regional independent-firm model that Modern Market REALTORS® could evolve into if it expanded beyond its current metro footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/modernmarket
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ModernMarketRealtors
• Facebookfacebook.com/mnmrealtors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jim-christl-9301b7165
• Pinterestpinterest.com/barnum0317

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Modern Market REALTORS®