Author Profile: Stephen R. England, S.E.C., ALC

Biography »

Stephen R. England, S.E.C., ALC lives in Kearney, Nebraska and is past President of the Society of Exchange Counselors (S.E.C.) in 2006 and past President of the REALTORS Land Institute (RLI) in 1994. Steve has taught national real estate courses for both RLI and S.E.C. Steve works in all types of investment real estate with special expertise in agricultural properties. Steve’s primary practice in recent years has been a client focused approach that develops solutions to complicated problems through exchanging or other creative techniques. Steve is an active investor and consultant working in multiple states. Currently Steve is available to present his most recent course, "Marketing that Difficult Investment Property in any Economy."©2009-2023 The S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Publications »

Outside the Room
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Posted in Formulas and Strategies, Spring 2021 on 27 February 2021
Stats: 1,173 views and Comments Off on Outside the Room

When you participate in a Society of Exchange Counselor marketing session, there is a trove of creative ideas and advice you can take home, all given freely by Society Counselors at the session to assist any guests or Counselor attendees. Sometimes a creative solution is not immediately endorsed by your client, banker, or managing broker. […]

How to Strategize Important Meetings
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Posted in Formulas and Strategies, Winter 2020-2021 on 15 December 2020
Stats: 878 views and Comments Off on How to Strategize Important Meetings

One of my most memorable master’s degree classes was instructed by a retired corporate executive. He taught his students to plan meetings so they turn out successfully for your leadership goals and to avoid unanticipated detours. I have used these skills throughout my real estate career. We all have important meetings that sometimes do not […]

Reporting: How to Keep Your Investors Happy
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Posted in Society Columns, Spring 2020 on 5 March 2020
Stats: 1,346 views and Comments Off on Reporting: How to Keep Your Investors Happy

Many of us have managed properties that involved investors we recruited to a project. Let’s face it: not every investment goes perfectly as planned. Problems arise, and enthusiasm dissolves. As the manager, it is always your responsibility to keep every investor fully informed on both good and bad news. I have learned these things in […]

What is the Vision?
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Posted in Society Columns, Summer 2016 on 10 June 2016
Stats: 1,971 views and Comments Off on What is the Vision?

Does our organization or our business have a good vision? I listened to a speaker this week who used an illustration for all organizations and businesses.  He told us to think about our business or group as a rope circle with all of our employees or members inside, but holding on to the rope.  The […]

My Most Challenging Transaction – the One that Taught Me the Most!
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Posted in Society Columns, Summer 2015 on 2 August 2015
Stats: 2,051 views and Comments Off on My Most Challenging Transaction – the One that Taught Me the Most!

In the late 1970s, I was a farm specialist and received a call from a former client. Pat then worked for a small-town feed company that was owner and manager of a 640-sow farrow-to-finish hog operation that he wanted to sell. Being a young broker, I was really proud of my new listing but never expected it to be as challenging as it was.

Social Media—To Use or Ignore?
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Posted in Society Columns, Spring 2014 on 7 April 2014
Stats: 13,040 views and 2 Comments

It is hard to believe that some of us can visualize a world without television. I remember that our farm family drove to a neighbor’s farm to see their new TV set. It was about 1958; there was only one black-and-white channel and we watched professional wrestling!

Climb, Conserve, Confess!
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Posted in Fall 2013, Formulas and Strategies on 17 October 2013
Stats: 13,704 views and Comments Off on Climb, Conserve, Confess!

Recently I read Rumsfeld’s Rules by Donald Rumsfeld. One of the primary rules he learned in pilot training is that if you are in an airplane and get lost, you need to “Climb, Conserve, and Confess.” I have been thinking that this rule could easily apply to our business and our daily lives.

Lack of Entrepreneurs Revisited
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Posted in Formulas and Strategies, Summer 2013 on 10 August 2013
Stats: 3,162 views and 1 Comment

I wrote an article for the Observer in 2010 entitled “Where Have All of the Young Entrepreneurs Gone?” It identified my observation that it seemed the younger generation lacks interest in becoming entrepreneurs. Folks, this trend has not improved. Recent headlines like “Fewer US Entrepreneurs Willing to Create New Businesses” and “Three-Month Average of Job Creation Plummets” illustrate my worry because everyone knows that small businesses historically create the most jobs and build wealth for our nation.

Should One Invest Now or Wait for Better Times?
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Posted in Formulas and Strategies, Summer 2012 on 16 July 2012
Stats: 2,719 views and Comments Off on Should One Invest Now or Wait for Better Times?

I talk to many business people regularly. What is their perspective? What are they doing in today’s times? Currently, in my central Nebraska area, there are many good things going on.

Why is it so Hard to Ask Financial Questions?
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Posted in Formulas and Strategies, Spring 2012 on 29 April 2012
Stats: 3,003 views and Comments Off on Why is it so Hard to Ask Financial Questions?

When moderating new attendees at our national marketing sessions and teaching classes, I see client financial details listed as “unknown” by a huge amount of our attendees. I remember when I regularly failed to ask for this also.