Opendoor’s Charlotte GM on what it’s like to break ground in a hot real estate market

Charlotte is called the “Queen City”, and it currently holds the crown as one of America’s most popular and thriving cities. As a result, dozens of people move there a day, and the city’s red-hot real estate market is making it challenging for residents and transplants to consider or make a move.

In early 2018, Opendoor launched in Charlotte and brought the city a technology-enabled solution that completely simplifies the home buying and selling process.

At the helm of Opendoor Charlotte is General Manager Mike Henry. When Mike first heard about Opendoor, he was immediately convinced that this was the future of real estate.

Before Mike joined the team at Opendoor, he ran the Midwest region for DoorDash and launched and managed DoorDash Canada. He also worked at Wells Fargo’s Global Banking division and spent time in consulting at Huron Consulting Group after getting an MBA from Northwestern.

We talked with Mike about what it was like to break ground for Opendoor in the Charlotte market, how he is inspired by our customers and got the scoop on the best spot for BBQ in North Carolina.

Q: What attracted you to Opendoor?

A: When I first heard about Opendoor’s mission to empower everyone with the freedom to move, I was immediately convinced of the potential this company has to change millions of people’s lives.

After meeting the team and understanding how truly customer-centric the organization is, I was inspired to join. Plus, the talent pool here is off the charts, and everyone shares the same desire to positively change the lives of our customers. I’m humbled each and every day to get to work with such a smart, passionate, and empathetic group of people.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a General Manager (GM) at Opendoor?

A: It’s exhilarating to be part of a business that is building a brand new, simplified experience for home buying and selling.

As the leader of the Charlotte market, it’s my responsibility to strategize on how we can bring this service to life in our community. Success means getting involved in all parts of the business, which ultimately means that my days are wildly different from each other, and there are constantly new challenges to solve.

Q: What was your most memorable customer experience?

A: As an Uncle to three little nephews, I can appreciate the importance of being close to family. One of our customers had recently lost her husband of 40+ years and was hoping to relocate to Texas to be closer to her grandchildren. She wasn’t able to accommodate multiple open-house showings or arrange the necessary maintenance repairs to bring up her home to the standard of today’s buyer.

Selling her home to Opendoor was a perfect solution. She was able to easily sell, skip the hassle of open houses and maintenance, and ultimately have the freedom to be closer to her family.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’re looking forward to solving over the next 6-12 months?

A: The biggest challenge we’re facing is balancing the needs of the marketplace – between sellers, buyers, contractors, agents, employees, and other stakeholders. It’s important to me to manage all the elements to ensure our customers have the seamless experience they deserve. This will be an ever-evolving challenge over the next year.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

A: I really enjoy the local craft breweries in North Carolina. My favorite is Catawba Brewing. I’m also up in Asheville frequently, enjoying incredible outdoor adventures like hiking, stand up paddle-boarding, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Q: How has working at Opendoor provided you with the freedom to pursue your hobbies and work/life balance?

A: Growing a business in Charlotte from scratch is both intellectually stimulating and extremely challenging. We have a major opportunity to simplify the lives of our customers and meaningfully change real estate so there is less stress and hassle in the process.

Opendoor is, however, steadfastly focused on ensuring a rewarding employee experience and maintaining a sustainable work environment. I’ve been able to take advantage of our unlimited vacation policy and have the flexibility I need to find balance in my life.

Q: What is your favorite local restaurant and why?

A: I just can’t get over Midwood Smokehouse – there’s nothing like some Carolina BBQ!

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

A: Teleportation, hands-down! Morning coffee at the top of Everest, lunch in Rio, siesta in Spain, and sunset dinner in Fiji? Yeah, I’d take that.

Check out our conversations with General Managers of other Opendoor markets:

• Rocking into Music City: Chat with Opendoor’s Nashville Head of Homes, Ruth Franczyk

• Talent, tech & time travel: Q&A with General Manager Amit Arora

Further reading