Cyber Professionals
I’ve just returned from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I spent 2 solid days with associates from around the
country. The Cyber Professional group meets twice a year to discuss real estate issues and network among industry professionals.
My experience with this group tends to enhance my business perspective. When I return home, I have a briefcase full of new ideas that will help my buyers and sellers.
Communicating with brokers from other parts of the country only substantiates how much better off we are in this Denver real estate market. Yes, I know we have some very difficult spots, but in comparison to other areas, we have very little to complain about.
Wynnea Achatz from the Michigan area told us her market has a 17 YEAR absorption rate! Astounding! She is selling homes in the $40,000 range. My first thought was to trot to Michigan and buy a few. Problem is, the taxes are so high the area probably won’t even attract the retirees.
To compare Denver, our absorption rate is 29.81 weeks as of last month. That figure is even down from last year when it was 36.15 weeks!
Colorado also enjoys one of the lowest property tax rates around. In fact a few weeks ago I quoted the taxes to a buyer from Texas. He thought I was quoting the monthly taxes when I was actually quoting the yearly. Need I say he was happy to learn he was wrong?
On the national scale Colorado rates at #46 for taxes. That number is like a bowling score not a golf score. We want a high number not a low one!
Margaret Rome who sells Baltimore real estate has added a new department to her company. She is helping her sellers move properties by doing real estate auctions. Now you are probably saying auctions are nothing new and that’s true, but historically Realtors didn’t do auctions. Margaret has found a niche market and combined the two with her TRAC company. The Realtors Auction Company.
Margaret has had several very successful auctions for her sellers, so her enthusiasm is expected.
St. Petersburg Realtors in Florida, Sharon Simms and her lovely daughter, Tami Simms-Powel are adapting to a slow market by renting some of their luxury homes. They are finding new and resourceful ways to market Florida properties. Sharon had the geek toy to die for. As a reader I’ve collected more than my share of books. Sharon showed us her amazing wireless reading device . It downloads entire books from the Internet faster than you can whip out the plastic! Is it ok to say I WANT ONE?
A moving presentation was delivered by Boca Raton Realtor, Tim Kinzler. Tim shared with us his transformation into a new slender self. Tim is a stellar guy with a positive attitude that catches on. His customers are so lucky to have him on their side! I must admit, we did want Tim to leave the room when dessert arrived! We want to join in the transformation, but tomorrow is soon enough when there’s chocolate fondue steaming on the table!
Les Sulgrove from RE/MAX in Des Moines was my photo buddy. He had the tripod that helped me shoot a super picture of Pittsburgh’s three rivers at night. It’s my favorite composite of the trip.
Linda Davis is my buddy who writes The Eastern Connecticut Real Estate Blog. Linda and I both loved the new "politically correct" term for nasty people. They are no longer nasty they are "kindness challenged." This lovely euphemism was shared with us by Deb Alderson also from Connecticut.
OK folks, here’s wishing you a day filled with people who are not kindness challenged!
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6 Responses to “ Cyber Professionals ”
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This site brought to you by Kristal Kraft, a licensed Colorado Real Estate Broker
Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun and learned something. I should take time off to do these things but always have something to keep me busy here. Now I am getting Katrina fatigue so I should look for something like this. Let me know what is a good thing to go. I am not a geek but work at it.
Eric ~ Whether it be “Katrina Fatigue” or fatigue of another nature, we all need to get out of our area and open our minds to new concepts. It was refreshing to attend the CyberPros meeting and mix with others who have their own stories to tell.
You don’t have to be a geek to join, you need to be willing to share and show up! Our next meeting will be in November just before the N.A.R. Convention in Orlando.
Hope you will consider coming…
Hi KK, as always, it’s great to see what you’ve been up to. This sounds like an interesting group and I agree that getting out of your area and meeting other RE pros can really bring new enthusiasm to your own practice. I’ll be off to NAR in DC next week, can’t wait!
Gretchen ~ Thanks for stopping by. Yes, it’s been a busy spring so far. I will be at NAR also. Perhaps we shall run into each other!
Pittsburgh is my home town and I appreciated seeing the pic of downtown on your blog. In addition to the convention I hope you enjoyed the city, Kristal.
David ~ I wish I would have had more time to enjoy the city. It is a wonderful place rich in photogenic subjects!
The view from Mt. Washington is well worth the trip!