S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

The Society of Exchange Counselors has announced its education calendar for the first quarter of 2003. Sponsored by the S.E.C. Education Foundation and several local real estate organizations, these programs are offered to licensed real estate brokers interested in expanding their knowledge base in creative real estate, counseling and development. The following courses are currently […]

The journey begins with a 1974 article entitled “Teach to Learn,” by Bob Steele, S.E.C., one of the founders of the S.E.C. Observer and perhaps one of the Society’s most respected teachers and authors, who wrote these words: “It seems that the modern commercial and investment broker is on an endless educational cycle… In addition […]

Little research has been done in the field of “How a Broker Can Build a Conservative and Diversified Real Estate Portfolio.” Perhaps the long-range objective for a real estate practitioner is to attain “financial security” through real estate ownership. Our minds have a difficult time grasping the concept of “financial security.” It is a term […]

As 2003 S.E.C. President, I had the honor of presiding over the Society of Exchange Counselors 41st annual Members Dinner and Awards Banquet on January 21st in Scottsdale Arizona. Attended by more than 100 members and guests, the dinner was the highlight of the Scottsdale marketing meeting. Harry Kennerk served as Master of Ceremonies for […]

Madge Davis, known to close friends as “Mudgie”, was born and raised near Lola, Kansas, in southwestern part of the state. She grew up on a farm and did all the work and chores required of a farmer. In her early teenage years, at the end of the depression, her family owned and operated a […]

Since I’m traveling in our motor home all year, I am often asked what its like doing deals while always on the road. Communications and information are the keys. Of course the cell phone, national plan (no long distance or roaming charges) and a notebook computer are a must. The computer is my free fax […]

2002 S.E.C. Most Creative Transaction Never Quit: Edgar Lopez, S.E.C. (Las Cruces, New Mexico) and Ed Killian, S.E.C. (Reno, Nevada) As a result of our commercial and retail brokerage experience, we were contacted by a retail developer of Texarkana, Texas to sell three stores that they built and leased to a national publicly traded company […]

Found Money I received a K-1 this morning and decided that the General Partner of our little group was a genius. Not only did we have good cash flow, but also we have a reportable loss for income tax purposes. After the euphoria subsided, I began to worry. Was this some accounting error? No, the […]

One of the major problem areas, which permeate all real estate marketing groups, is-“How do we achieve good moderating at our meeting?” Often it is assumed that qualified Moderators will ensure quality production when in actuality, it is the relationship between the Moderator and Presenter that is crucial to achieve the desired results. If there […]

Don’t assume I spent several sessions counseling a new couple. They inherited a good deal of money, were of retirement age and they wanted income from these funds to provide comfort in their evening years. We talked about representation, agency, and they decided that they wanted me to be a Buyer’s Broker and signed an […]