S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Welcome to the 2009 Autumn Issue of the S.E.C. Observer. Tom Langel, S.E.C. President, encourages us to “Mine Our Resources” and tap into the talent available today to take advantage of the opportunities in our current market. Stephen D. Barker, S.E.C., CCIM, has written another episode in the life of “Harry the Hustler”, and Doug […]

Opportunity is only possible when we identify something within a property, problem, or situation that others cannot see. How do we do that? There are many ways to solve a problem and locate the opportunity without knowing how to do it ourselves. We do that by collaborating with others.

With the success of Harry Hustler’s debut as a speaker at a recent state NAR meeting, which he was invited to share and impart his long tenure real estate wisdom, Harry was asked to remain for a more e intimate round table discussion after the main festivities. Harry, uncomfortable with the modest notoriety, was however heartened that this extension and further definition of his business philosophy in the hope that it may help some looking for a new and different perspective to incorporate into their brokerage and real estate repertoire.

If you research real estate websites you will find that some are pretty good. Others are not so good, and almost every site could do more to improve search engine visibility. Everyone should care about their website because it is a reflection on you. It works for you 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Hosting costs are minimal. Once the site is up and running, incremental costs are low. For a potential client, it may be the first impression they have of you. The impression your website makes is under your control and direction.

I was thinking the other day. …Has today’s challenging and volatile real estate market taken the wind out of your sails? Do you know of someone involved with a “Problem Property”? Are you not making any money and starting to tap into your reserves? Are you starting to wonder why your bank might be calling every other day to check up on you and how you are feeling? Remember the loan you took out a couple of years ago with a “Lender’s Insecurity” provision that says that any time the lender feels insecure it may call the loan due?

My Dad, a depression baby, used to tell me, “Boy, if you are not moving forward, you are backing up.” At no time in my life has this been truer than the last two years. The capital markets are in a shambles, residential real estate values have gone down by up to 50% in parts of the country and commercial real estate is about to realize huge resets.

The S.E.C. Education Foundation Board continues efforts to promote and deliver quality creative real estate education. A large database of prospective audiences has been assembled and preliminary course information has been provided to them. The next task is to work with instructors to create more effective marketing materials. A meeting to organize this effort with the instructors is planned in conjunction with the upcoming Las Vegas Marketing Meeting.

The S.E.C. National Invitational Marketing Session will be held at the Riviera Resort & Spa • 1600 North Indian Canyon Road • Palm Springs • California • 92264.

The S.E.C. Education Foundation is pleased to announce that Doug Devitre will present “Power Prospecting with Social Media,” on November 15, 2009, in Palm Springs, California.

The S.E.C. National Invitational Marketing Session will be held at the Planet Hollywood • 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South • Las Vegas, NV • 89109.