Hart Summeier is currently taking flying lessons at Indianapolis Regional Airport. At 30, Summeier has created an independent real estate brokerage that made $54 million last year. He’s also active in local civic organizations and is a member of this year’s Leadership Hancock County class.
GREENFIELD — Hart Summeier has been a go-getter for as long as he can remember.
At the age of 18, he graduated a semester early from Greenfield-Central High School to run for a seat on the Greenfield city council.
While he didn’t win, his tenacity has led him down other successful paths, including the creation of a highly successful real estate start-up.
“I like to be busy. I perform well under stress … I love stress,” said Summeier, who turned 30 at the end of last year.
That attitude has served him well in running his real estate business, Level Up Real Estate Group, which employs 11 agents and four staff members who operate out of a strip mall in Greenfield just off Ind. 9.
“Level Up is kind of like a tagline for us,” he said. “You can level up with life by getting a promotion. You can level up your house by moving into that five bedroom, three bathroom house, or level up on your time spent with family by downsizing and doing less yard work … It’s applicable to everything.”
Summeier makes no apologies for his abundance of confidence, which he considers to be among his best assets.
“If anybody gets anything from me, it’s that their voice matters,” said the successful broker.
“I’m 30 and my company did $54 million last year — a non-franchised agency built from scratch. If I can do it, anybody can,” he said.
Summeier grew up on the east side of Indianapolis, where he attended Warren Central High School until moving to Greenfield as a freshman.
He graduated mid-term his senior year at Greenfield-Central, devoting all his energies that spring semester to campaigning for city council.
“I was on the ballot May 3, then walked in commencement two weeks later,” he said.
While disappointed to lose the election, Summeier didn’t let it keep him down for long.
“You realize there’s higher power, a higher calling out there,” he said.
Summeier promptly joined the Navy, a move that would lead him to a future career in real estate.
He worked for the National Security Agency from 2012-15, and was preparing to be deployed to Italy when he found out he was being sent to Norfolk, Va. instead.
“I had a quick timeline to move, so I reached out to an agent — a friend in the Navy’s friend in Virginia Beach — who helped me buy a house,” he recalled.
Summeier took one look at the amount of commission the Realtor made from the sale and knew he wanted to give real estate a try.
“I started classes that night and got my (Realtor’s) license three months later,” he said.
Never one to shy away from diving in headfirst, Summeier went all-in on his real estate career while serving in the Navy. He even moved his mom to Norfolk to help with business transactions while he was away.
While stationed in Norfolk, Summeier served aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).
As a tribute to that time in his life, he now lists nearly every house he sells at a price ending with 77.
“That number is my good luck charm. If you see a listing ending with that number, it’s probably one of mine,” he said.
Summeier’s real estate income soon exceeded what he was making in the military, so he opted to leave the Navy when his time was up and focus on real estate full-time. He earned his Military Relocation Professional certification earlier this year.
“I like being a small business owner. I like providing different opportunities for myself,” said the entrepreneur, who moved back to Greenfield in the fall of 2020.
He spent a year working as a general manager for RE/MAX before branching out on his own, creating Level Up last year.
Overseeing 11 agents in addition to his own sales, Summeier has found a passion for leading others toward success.
“I always say that Hart is one of the smartest people I know,” said Melissa Ewald, who switched real estate companies to start working for him at Level Up last year.
“What makes him an effective leader is his ability to really listen to others and recognize their knowledge and skills as well. In doing so, he can then guide them to not only achieve their goals but to confidently shine on their own.”
Ewald, who is director of Leadership Hancock County, has seen Summeier’s leadership skills shine as a member of this year’s leadership class, which is designed to connect local leaders with civic groups, government agencies and nonprofits for the betterment of the community.
Through the class, he’s part of a small group tasked with bringing a free bicycle ride share program to Greenfield, something Ewald has no doubt will succeed.
“Everything Hart commits to, he gives 100% of his effort. His mission seems to always be centered on serving others and our community,” she said.
Summeier is vice-president of the Rotary Club of Greenfield as well as the Hancock Hope House board of directors.
He’s also president of the Fortville Economic Development Commission and a member of the Fortville Redevelopment Commission. He’s a trustee for MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors), serving as the Hancock County lobbyist for municipal elections, and a board member for Veterans Park in downtown Greenfield.
Summeier also recently started a small business coaching series through the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce, focusing on different topics each quarter.
“I think that being a part of organizations allows me to truly influence and have an impact,” said Summeier, who considers local politics and civic boards to be a community’s “first line of defense.”
“I went from the front lines in the Navy to front lines in the community, where lives are impacted and businesses and jobs are created,” he said. “That’s why I volunteer everywhere. I want to make as much of an impact on as many lives as I can.”
