Keith L. Barnes
Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner

Keith’s has been involved in the real estate business for approximately 30 years. Throughout this time a focus has been placed on affordable housing to help assist those most in need of sound professional advice. Keith started his career as a part-time agent at Metro Cutting Real Estate, where he learned the fundamentals of real estate sales from David Cutting Jr. The early years were challenging, but during this time Keith succeeded in getting his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Daemen College and then later getting his broker’s license at age 24, but most importantly, he continued to learn the business.
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Fast forward some years and Keith considered relocating down south to take advantage of their growing economy and record growth. While starting the necessary research for a potential move Keith had his first new construction deal. During that transaction Keith met Dennis Penman, then Executive Vice President of MJ Peterson Real Estate, and after the deal closed Penman expressed an interest in Keith joining their company. After some discussion and a lunch or two, Keith accepted the position as Sales & Marketing Manager for the newly created joint venture between MJ Peterson Real Estate and Forbes Housing. This company’s specific mission was to assist the City of Buffalo in rebuilding its housing stock in the federally designated Home Ownership Zone (HOZO), located within the Ellicott District of the city. The partnership had some successes, but didn’t reach its full potential with the city, and after approximately 5 years the federal designation was no longer in place, and the MJ Peterson/Forbes Housing joint venture ceased operations. Though seen as a setback, Keith gained an immeasurable amount of experience in community development, land acquisition and usage, subsidized housing, and community engagement.
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After being off some months Keith realized the only logical option for him was to start his own brokerage, so Barnes Real Estate Group was formed. The mission was to continue serving the underserved market with an emphasis on quality customer service and knowledge. Keith soon became a “Trusted Advisor” to many, representing both customers and affordable housing developers for years to come.
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During this current chapter Keith is stepping back from the field to focus on the growth and management of the company. Keith plans on growing the company by recruiting new agents for the residential division, creating a commercial division, and establishing strategic partnerships for the company’s rehab and development division. 
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Outside of work, Keith is an old fashion type of guy, HE LIKES SPORTS!! In addition to SPORTS he enjoys spending time with family, and has a passion for cooking, spending time in the yard gardening, and traveling.