Monthly Archives: July 2018

Real Estate Professionals As Anchors To Clients

July 29, 2018

By Rey Post, Associate Broker, Sotheby’s International Realty & Host of the “All Things Real Estate” Radio Show

An anchor is defined as a reliable or principal support…a mainstay. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) advises, our clients depend on us for education and guidance from the first meeting until a sale closes.

We can reinforce our value and show our real estate expertise by offering objective information and informed opinions about local market conditions, being knowledgeable about the latest home trends and technologies, and understanding community issues. The buyers and sellers we work with expect honest and ethical treatment throughout the course of our business dealings. 

Purchasing real estate is likely to be the biggest and most complex financial transaction a person will make in their life. A trusted real estate professional is a strong advocate who understands the information and emotional support that buyers need throughout the process of finding and acquiring a home.  

As an expert with local market knowledge, real estate pros should be well prepared to guide buyers through all the practical details and potential obstacles that may occur during the purchase process.

On the other hand, selling a house requires not only getting a home into the possible shape to attract buyers, it means navigating through a myriad of forms, documents, and disclosure requirements. REALTORS® serve as trusted advisors through the listing and marketing stage and through the negotiating and closing process. They offer knowledge about comparable properties in the area and provide informed advice about needed improvements and staging that generates interest from consumers and maximizes sale price.

Finally, to make positive connections with our customers, it helps to know where they’re coming from—the generational and life experiences that influence their buying and selling decisions.

That doesn’t mean stereotyping: It means having the specialized knowledge to address their special needs, whether they’re in the middle of a military relocation, moving out of the home where they raised their children, or buying a home with an eye toward sustainability.

Among other things, having a source for demographic research and acquiring specialty education, can help to make us—as real estate professionals—the experts, whatever our client’s needs.

So “Rey’s Real Estate Recommendation” for this week, is to trust that your real estate professional—whether it is a licensed broker; homeowner association manager; lender; home inspector; or any other expert—is indeed be an anchor to count on. We are your reliable, or principal support in that home buying, or selling transaction.

For more information, always check out our blog at ATREradio.com/blog and also join us for the “All Things Real Estate” radio show, which airs each Sunday 12-2pm (Mountain Time) and can be heard at the “Listen Now” link at ATREradio.com.

Santa Fe’s Las Campanas Neighborhood

July 22, 2018

By Rey Post, Associate Broker, Sotheby’s International Realty & Host of the “All Things Real Estate” Radio Show

“Rey’s Real Estate Recommendation” during this week’s broadcast of the all things real estate radio show gave some relevance to why Santa Fe’s Las Campanas neighborhood is such a popular destination for home buying and construction. The statistics are pretty compelling.

Sotheby’s International Realty has always had a major presence in this part of the Santa Fe community.  

As of this date, our brokerage is realizing over 79% of all sales activity in Las Campanas and we currently represent a market share in Las Campanas, of 55% of active residential listings by dollar volume.  

The Tierra Concepts, Inc.  home builders—comprised of three associate brokers of Sotheby’s International Realty—advised recently that they are currently under contract to build 11 new    homes in Las Campanas with costs per square foot, exceeding $450.00, for high-end finishes.  

More broadly, the Las Campanas Homeowners Association advises that there are 34 homes currently under construction, plus another 14 homes are in preliminary design review.

Combining resales of current homes, Las Campanas is experiencing      activity in all sectors, including renewed interest in home building, which had been largely absent during the period immediately following the economic recession in 2008.

And lastly—as it ties in with our show theme today—the brokers of Sotheby’s International Realty work closely with The Club at Las Campanas to makes sure that home buyers—-whether they wish to live in Las Campanas, or elsewhere in Santa Fe, are aware of all the benefits there are to Club membership.

In fact—and in this spirit—on July 27, Sotheby’s International Realty and our Qualifying Broker Gregg Antonsen, are sponsoring a meeting for the members of The Club regarding the efforts of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation and the Santa Fe Airport Alliance about projects that they are pursuing to bring positive and meaningful impacts to the city and the Las Campanas neighborhood.

We are proud that Sotheby’s International Realty believes in supporting and endorsing all the areas of Santa Fe for home buying, including the special relationship that our brokers have with Las Campanas.

So “Rey’s Real Estate Recommendation” for this week, is to consider the neighborhood of Las Campanas.  

As a professional Realtor, not only have I done business in Las Campanas with both home buyers and sellers, but I have also hosted the radio show in the community—at both The Club at Las Campanas, as well as during multiple “Haciendas, A Parade of Homes” tours sponsored by the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association. It is a place in Santa Fe that is worthy of your consideration, whether you wish to buy, sell, or build a home.

 

For more information, always check out our blog at ATREradio.com/blog and also join us for the “All Things Real Estate” radio show, which airs each Sunday 12-2pm (Mountain Time) and can be heard at the “Listen Now” link at ATREradio.com.

Leadership In Real Estate

July 15, 2018

By Rey Post, Associate Broker, Sotheby’s International Realty & Host of the “All Things Real Estate” Radio Show

During this Sunday’s second hour of the “All Things Real Estate” radio show, I will have the honor to interview former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, who was elected to office in 2002, serving until January 2011. Among other accomplishments, Governor Douglas served as Chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA) from 2009 to 2010.

The NGA is staging its annual 2018 Summer Meeting in Santa Fe, July 19-21. As reported by The Santa Fe New Mexican on June 13: “the conference will make Santa Fe the epicenter of American politics for a mid-July weekend, as many of the nation’s governors and perhaps some foreign leaders and White House representatives descend on the New Mexico capital for meetings, panels, parties and more.”

Given the significance of this gathering, Governor Douglas and I will discuss—since he is a former chairman of the NGA—the importance of the event coming to Santa Fe.

As a leader in government work, Governor Douglas, among other activities, is currently serving as executive in residence at Middlebury College in Vermont, as well as a member of the Governors’ Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The Governor also served as the president of the Council of State Governments, and was also a member of Vermont House of Representatives, elected to be Vermont Secretary of State, as well as State Treasurer.

I have known Governor Douglas for many years and interacted with him when I worked for Vermont’s U.S. Congressman; Senior U.S. Senator; and another former Governor of the state.

Real estate professionals also wish to be leaders in their own work. Here are some thoughts on what you need to acquire to be an effective leader, as adopted from the article “Shape of A Leader” by Christine Hartelt from Credit Union Management and offered in an article in Realtors Magazine.

First of all, leaders are both born and made. Managers don’t become leaders overnight. Even “born” leaders don’t start out possessing all these skills. To be a strong leader, you need to:

  1. Have vision. Leaders have a clear sense of where they want to go and how they intend to get there. They see the big picture, then create a strategic plan for achieving their goals.

Learn how to develop your vision: Befriend top business leaders in your community (not necessarily just those in real estate), read new and classic business books and great leaders’ biographies, and formulate a mission statement for your company.

  1. Make decisions. Leaders aren’t afraid to make difficult or unpopular decisions because they have confidence in themselves and in their abilities. They know that indecision wastes resources and opportunities.

Learn to hone your decision-making skills: Practice making decisions in areas where failure isn’t critical to increase your confidence. If a decision turns out to be wrong, learn from it and move on.

  1. Take risks. Leaders have the courage to act in situations where results aren’t assured. They’re willing to risk failure.

Learn how to take risks: Analyze the situation, listing pros and cons for each option, then assign each choice a risk factor rating from 1 to 5. Next determine the likelihood that each outcome will occur. This will help you determine how much risk you want to take.

TIP: Don’t expect perfection. No one wins all the time. Leaders grow by making mistakes.

  1. Motivate others. Leaders can articulate their vision and ideals to others, convincing them of the value of their ideas. They can inspire people to work toward common goals and to achieve things they never thought they could do.

Learn how to motivate people: Explore the different needs that motivate people and recognize that the same rewards don’t motivate everyone. Listen carefully to others to learn what motivates them.

TIP: Motivate employees by making sure they understand how their work contributes to a larger goal.

  1. Build teams. Leaders create productive teams that draw the best from people. They effectively coach teams in collaboration, consensus building, and conflict resolution.

Learn how to improve your teambuilding skills: Avoid preconceived answers to every question. Concentrate on appreciating different points of view during discussions rather than just trying to prove your point. This same willingness to include others is the key to successful teambuilding.

  1. Possess self-knowledge. Leaders know their own strengths and weaknesses and are able to view their behavior objectively. They recognize their shortcomings, open themselves to feedback, and are willing to make changes when necessary.

Learn how to expand your self-knowledge: Study yourself closely and practice self-assessment techniques to learn how you behave and the effects you have on others. Ask others for their opinions or criticisms and what you can do to become a better leader.

TIP: Keep a journal of critical incidents; look back and learn what you did well and what you might have done better.

  1. Display integrity. Leaders must be trustworthy before others will follow them. Warren Bennis, The Leadership Institute, University of Southern California, says qualities that establish trust are competence, constancy, caring, candor, and congruity, which he defines as authenticity, reliability, and feeling comfortable with oneself.

Learn how to assess your integrity: Actively seek feedback from others friends, co-workers, and even employees to determine if your values and sense of responsibility coincide with those of your peer group.

  1. Pursue lifelong learning. Leaders have a desire to continually learn and grow and are open to new ideas.

Learn how to expand your knowledge: Maintain a broad focus. Look beyond your colleagues and your own industry for ideas and inspiration and read books on new management theories and ideas.

TIP: Wise managers look for support staff or partners who complement their weaknesses.

  1. Communicate effectively. Leaders can convey their ideas to diverse individuals and adjust their styles to meet the needs of the people they lead.

Learn how to improve communication skills: Practice communications skills such as active listening. Read between the lines during conversations, especially when dealing with subordinates who may be reluctant to say what they think. Restate important points in several ways or ask listeners to reiterate your point to you to ensure that your meaning is clear.

  1. Help others succeed. Leaders empower others and go out of their way to help them achieve their full potential, thereby benefiting the organization.

Give a boost to others: Mentor individuals you feel are able to assume leadership roles.

So “Rey’s Real Estate Recommendation” for this week, is to consider applying some of these attributes to the development of your own leadership skills. Many of us start out with a base of leadership qualities that can be matured and ultimately will aid you in becoming a better real estate professional for your buyer and seller clients.

 

For more information, always check out our blog at ATREradio.com/blog and also join us for the “All Things Real Estate” radio show, which airs each Sunday 12-2pm (Mountain Time) and can be heard at the “Listen Now” link at ATREradio.com.

 

 

 

Having The Wall Street Journal As A Business Partner

July 8, 2018

By Rey Post, Associate Broker, Sotheby’s International Realty & Host of the “All Things Real Estate” Radio Show

This Sunday, July 8-on the “All Things Real Estate” radio show—my guests and I will apply a special historic event to help frame the discussion of “how real estate professionals work with home buyers, owners and sellers.”

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)—the winner of 40 Pulitzer Prizes through 2017—is the most-circulated newspaper in the United States (2,378,827 average circulation). It began publishing exactly 129 years ago on July 8 (1889) and is recognized by home owners, buyers, sellers and real estate professionals for offering highly-regarded real estate and other property related reporting. As a prestigious news publication—with a wide circulation—its home listing advertising is pursued by many real estate brokerages across the country.

Besides marking the anniversary of the WSJ‘s first publication on July 8 (and its value to real estate), it’s important to note that Sotheby’s International Realty has partnered and has a proprietary relationship with the WSJ. This translates into some significant marketing and advertising value for our brand and the listings we market for our seller clients.

Our marketing department has shard with me some interesting elements about his special relationship with the WSJ:

ONLINEOur listings are featured on both of these sites:

The Wall Street Journal Digital Network receives 25 million monthly visitors to the U.S. edition, 3.1 million monthly visitors to Europe, and 4.8 million to Asia. All three editions have dedicated real estate channels with focused editorial which is relevant to the respective location. 

“Mansion Global” is the new standalone luxury real estate site presented by the WSJ and News Corp. “Mansion Global” connects wealthy global buyers with extraordinary homes, while presenting insightful real estate content and market data. Sotheby’s International Realty® listings above 1m+ are fed and featured on mansionglobal.com in three languages; English, Chinese and Spanish. With new and exciting content alignment opportunities in “Mansion Global,” Sotheby’s International Realty® is able to further strengthen our brand, expand visibility and deliver our message with more resounding results than ever before.

PRINT

The WSJ also advertises our listings regularly in the print edition of the newspaper. The WSJ is known for representing credibility and influence and continues to be the leading environment for luxury real estate clients to connect with the world’s most affluent home-buying audience.

Circulation: 1.1 million
• Readership: 4.5 million
• Male / Female: 66% Male / 34% Female
• Average HHI – US: $347K
• Average age: 50
• Number of listings per page: 35

VIDEO

The “LIVE” video series presented by the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand is an exclusive collaboration with the Wall Street Journal Custom Studios. This engaging series follows influential people as they seek inspiration and live their passions in an extraordinary home, represented by the Sotheby’s International Realty network.

The Sotheby’s International Realty® brand is the first real estate partner to develop this type of custom content with the WSJ. “LIVE” will be featured in Sotheby’s International Realty® brand media units and social platforms.

PR

Sotheby’s International Realty® also has a strong relationship with the WSJ through our company’s PR department, so our listings are featured in special articles regularly.

So “Rey’s Real Estate Recommendation” for this week, is to carefully review the marketing options you have as a home seller. You not only want to have a great chemistry with the real estate broker you enlist to sell your home, but you also make sure that he, or she brings a strong portfolio of marketing tools to help you achieve the goal of closing on the sale of your home at the highest price possible and as quickly as the calendar allows.

 

For more information, always check out our blog at ATREradio.com/blog and also join us for the “All Things Real Estate” radio show, which airs each Sunday 12-2pm (Mountain Time) and can be heard at the “Listen Now” link at ATREradio.com.