S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Last edition, I wrote about being positive, communication with your lenders and partners, brainstorming at S.E.C. meetings and with your acquaintances, figuring out what works in a recession and upgrading your skills. This edition, I want to concentrate on personal development, focus, and time management.

Over the last several months, we have seen some of the most dramatic economic changes in many years. First the housing market fell apart. Then the big Wall Street firms started to drop like flies. The lenders, banks, and insurance companies all started having trouble. Now the auto manufacturers are going under. What’s next? I certainly don’t claim to know, but looking at our history might give us some direction — and some reason for optimism.

The Education Foundation is saddened to lose Jack Hunt, the man who single handedly took it upon himself to re-institute the Society of Exchange Counselor’s education programs. In 2000, Jack decided that S.E.C. education must rise like the phoenix from ashes and be started again. It was Jack’s vision — and determination — that formed the base for what the S.E.C. education program is today [...]

“The mission of the S.E.C. Education Foundation is to establish a fund to encourage and financially support education programs related to real estate, particularly in the area of creative transactions and professionally structured equity marketing techniques.” - What does this mean? [...]

Every good thing must come to an end, and my term as President of the Society of Exchange Counselors is no exception. So, I write my last President’s Message with both relief and, to some extent, a feeling of loss. [...]

“If you don’t know where you are going, you are certain to end up someplace else.”
- Phil Corso, a famous S.E.C. President
“If you don’t reinvent yourself every 3-4 years, someone else will.”
- anonymous business school professor
The S.E.C. is not a political group. Obviously, our members have political views and some of our members are very [...]

No matter which political party each of us favors, it is important that we know what changes might happen that could affect our and our clients’ financial positions. In my opinion, it is time to watch what our representatives in Washington may be about to do to our industry.
For instance, John Edwards has made no [...]

The February TREE meeting was held in Brownsville, Texas February 11 & 12. Mark & Diane Johnson were our gracious hosts for a Mexican Fiesta on Sunday evening. And after a full day of golf on Sunday, several of the TREE members participated in adult beverages. The food was great but the fellowship was even [...]

Photo Credits:
Fort Worth Business Press
(July 10, 2006);
Copyright © 2006
by Fort Worth Business Press.
by Jenny Eure
Fort Worth Business Press
July 10, 2006
Real estate guru Bill Stonaker is a warrior. The Vietnam vet recently battled cancer. Now, he is fighting for his right to develop a $300-million-dollar property northwest of Fort Worth.
Bill Stonaker goes 100 miles per hour, [...]

I have been to many self-help and time-management seminars over the years. Some are useful and some less so. One concept that sticks out in my mind was told to us by a former upper- middle manager who stated that he had so much paperwork hit his desk that he was completely overwhelmed. He advocated [...]