S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

In difficult economic times, when the economic news is mostly negative, different skill sets are necessary for commercial real estate brokers to successfully market commercial properties to users and investors. In troubled times, many potential buyers withdraw from the market to “wait and see” rather than risk a mistake, thus the pool of potential buyers for commercial property shrinks and deals are much harder to complete.

It was 1987. I had just completed a rather large multiple leg exchange involving 54 properties in 4 states and over 200 recordings. My client in the exchange was a lending institution based in Bismarck, North Dakota.

In over thirty years of the real estate business it becomes evident to me that sometimes we real estate professionals are the problem, not the solution. Many of us spend so much time on our real estate education that unintentionally we think we know everything. [...]

In regard to the pricing of real estate, many of us have heard the saying, “I’ll pay your price if you accept my terms.” Although in some situations, that statement may be true, and special terms may allow for the structuring of a successful transaction, it is equally important when preparing to market a property to have the property realistically valued [...]

I would like to share a few more lessons and thoughts that I picked up from my grandfather before his passing, which hopefully you can use in your business. [...]

G5 Enterprises, Inc. is a group of five former real estate brokers who have joined forces to develop residential projects, primarily new home construction and condominium conversions. Many readers have heard some G5 success stories and have chatted with Chet Allen, S.E.C., and Virgil Opfer, S.E.C., about forming their own partnership to take on development [...]

Much has been said over the last several years about the generation of Americans now commonly referred to as “The Greatest Generation.” Most of us have been fortunate enough to know one or more people from this generation and have been greatly influenced by them on a personal level. For me, the greatest of these [...]

I first started using the term “Notes in the Margins” one day as I rounded second and headed to third… I’ve always enjoyed writing notes to no one in particular about things on my mind. And since I already knew how to type, I started doing it more often.
A couple of years ago, I edited [...]

You open the door to the office, you sit down at your desk, and you begin to read yesterday’s mail. You notice that intermingled with the junk mail and the bills are the placards or other mail detailing the availability of the many education opportunities. You are now forced to make a decision; throw the [...]

As another year comes and goes, I reflect on the past, and look forward to the future. I remember attending a Chatham Counseling course almost 20 years ago. I went because an exchangor friend of mine coaxed me into it. I had taken many courses in numbers and rules and regulations. As I recall, the [...]