S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Determining the “value” of real estate is akin to predicting US. Gross National Product for 1978. So many variables affect it (each of which demands a subjective value judgment) that appraisal is more state-of-the-art than a science.

Diamond merchants have promoted diamonds as the greatest gift to show true love. Many great “love of life” relationships have been cemented with Zircons without anyone knowing the difference. A few might wonder where a guy with such short supply could find the where-with-all to produce a 1 1/2 carat stone [...]

A brochure for the first EXCHANGE COUNSELING one-day seminar given reminded me of a couple of cheerleading concepts we proffered upon the “great unwashed” [...]

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the November 1973 issue of the Real Estate News Observer.
Since 1966, the real estate industry seems to be facing trends in supply, demand, and availability of loans that change more rapidly and more drastically than before. Changing our approach to brokerage to compensate for or benefit from each [...]

I have been railing at meetings that not enough COAGULATION thinking is used in creating transactions. So… I guess I’d better tell you what I mean so you can utilize the strategy.
The concept is simply combining more than one person’s transaction desires and capabilities to cause the required benefits to go to all involved. (It’s [...]

When I was first into investment real estate brokerage (having taken all the numbers courses before CCIM was invented), I would find what I thought was a really good buying opportunity, make a list of my 10 best clients/investors, and present my analysis. The usual response was, “Let me mull it over,” or some such [...]

* Car dealer “take any trade, running or not”
* Lot dealer “property in foreclosure can be used as down payment”
* “No down payment” house buyer comes into the brokerage to see if the TV ads for “No Down” classes are really possible. R.E. salesman Cliff Weaver says, “Not often, but what is possible is to [...]

In 1961 I showed a home to a family at 1:00 p.m.; wrote up a proposal on a paper bag on the hood of my car; presented it that afternoon, got accepted, and opened escrow that day (Sonoma Title Guaranty - Denny Daw.) It closed with title insurance the next afternoon and they moved in [...]

Most regular real estate brokerages use multiple systems to find clients:

A sign on prominent office and on listed properties
Ads in media
Direct mail
House calls
Seminars conducted for the public
Personal contacts thru social clubs
Brochures distributed
Etc.

My personal preference has always been “Find a need and fill it,” (found printed on pink dump trucks by Henry J. Kaiser in the [...]

An S.E.C. guest requested counsel with regard to an aging couple/prospective client, who had a gaggle of properties in a remote town. He wanted help on valuing so as to take a salable listing - a standard MLS broker’s approach.
He really liked the couple, and was stymied on how to proceed and was newly open [...]