Former Coldwell Banker Previews International President to give keynote at AREA Retreat

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May 5, 2014 – Through the good efforts of Ronna Brand, of Brand Realty, Beverly Hills, California, Betty Graham, immediate past president of Coldwell Banker Previews International, will head an all-star team of speakers and panelists that are to be featured at the 2014 AREA Retreat to be held on the 13-15th of October in Napa, California.

The event, which is the 7th annual AREA Retreat, is being held at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Napa and will also feature Gordon McDermott, President of Auracom International; known, world-wide, as America’s preeminent language, linguistic and cultural training consultation firm.

Napa AREA Retreat

Also attending the event, as a special guest, will be Monsieur Pierre S. Cargot, a noted French wine expert, a graduate of the Sorbet and a truffle cultivator. He will debate John Bergman on the relative merits of French vs. California wines. This event could be carried on the Food Network if they wish to pick it up. Negotiations are currently not underway.

Heading up panels will be Ken Libby of Stowe, Vermont; George Harvey, Jr. of Telluride, Colorado; Chris McElroy of Fort Collins, Colorado; Cynthia Carley of Lake Arrowhead, California and Gail Hartnett of Boise, Idaho. Topics will be specially created for audience participation as well as to be unique in nature.

Panelists will include Jay West of Los Cabos, Mexico; Cathy Travis of Victoria, British Columbia; Heidi Rickard-Rizzo of Marine County, California; John Bergman of the Wine Country; Ruth Kruger of Aspen, Colorado; Ron Phipps of Warwick, Rhode Island; Don Bullock of Orlando, Florida; Miriam Dunn of Scarsdale, New York; Susan Cohan of Naples, Florida; Iris Riley, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Ryan Asoa, Arcadia, California; Rod Woelfle, Aspen, Colorado; Laurie Wing; Park City, Utah; Jeanne Radsick, Bakersfield, California; Gary Brasher, Tubac, Arizona; Joe Malec, Waterdown, Ontario; Dave Pike, Denver, Colorado; Tom Wescott of Calgary, Alberta; Ellen Francisco of Malibu, California; Patricia Pipkin of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Meri Crandall of St. George, Utah; Steve Goddard of Los Angeles, California; and Hans Hansson of San Francisco.

Attendees will enjoy an extraordinary luncheon at Tra Vigne; St. Helena’s adventure in melding Tuscany with the wine country; a guided tour of the Culinary Institute of America, which is housed in the old Christian Brothers Winery; A wind tasting adventure at the world famous Chateau Montelena Winery and, the grand finale will be cocktails and dinner at the elegant Napa Country Club.

For information please contact Carl Bosse at Associated Realty of the Americas carl@areamericas.com or 1-520-625-9207.

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A Tour de Force

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By: Carl Bosse

I made a short trip on the 12th of April to visit some of our members in California, in order to do some planning with our Liaison Chair, Diana Bull and then to meet with Betty Graham, the immediate past president of Coldwell Banker Previews International who is to be the keynote speaker at our Retreat, which is coming up in October.

I began on Monday meeting with Bill Podley at his downtown Pasadena office which is housed in the location of one of Southern California’s former premier restaurants. Bill, dressed in a suit, met me in the front lobby and we spent time together in a conference room where we discussed AREA and his company, Podley Properties, which has 185 agents ranging to the east following the counter of the San Gabriel Mountains. Bill enjoys selling and told me that he is moving away from management to get back to his real passion, working with the public. He is a delightful man. One of his premier agents, Ryan Asao, who is also a member of AREA, was to join us but, at the last minute, had a conflict. Ryan will be a panelist on the international discussion group at our Retreat this coming October in Napa.

From there I met Cynthia Carley, who is our representative in Lake Arrowhead. She made the trek down from that beautiful spot in order to meet me for lunch. We had a grand time. Cynthia, like Bill and Ryan, is very active in the National Association of Realtors and it was really fun sharing time with her finding out the many things she does. I had invited her for lunch but, when the time came, she insisted on picking up the check. I only mention that because she is a sincere and dedicated person whose number one job is to bring excellence to any table she sits. It was a thoughtful gesture and very much appreciated. Cynthia will host a discussion on sharing special moments that served to make us who we are at the retreat. That should be very interesting and she will do a fine job.

Santa BarbaraThe next morning I met Diana Bull in Santa Barbara at the offices of Sterling Properties on de la Vina, in the heart of town. Diana and Ken Libby have both been very instrumental in helping AREA move forward and we missed not having Ken with us. Diana and I spent an intense 2 hours 45 minutes discussing AREA issues and she and I were both astonished as it was already time to meet our luncheon guests, Betty Graham and Ellen Francisco when we first questioned the time. Diana is a dynamo! And I am forever grateful for the good counsel she gives. So, we quickly packed and rushed down for our meeting.

It was at Ralph’s, one of Santa Barbara’s restaurant institutions, where all kinds of celebrities, politicians and other notables are memorialized by having their photos hung on the walls. Diana was quick to point out the photo of this very handsome dude, who also happens to be her husband, hanging next to John Wayne, President Reagan etc. (If you have not heard how they met, well, ask Diana. It is quite a story.)

Shortly after our arrival we were joined, first by Betty Graham and soon thereafter, Ellen Francisco. Ellen, a former physical education instructor, gave up teaching after marrying her husband and settling in Malibu, where they raise horses, and she pursued a career in real estate. She has known Betty for 30 years and when she learned that, through the efforts of Ronna Brand, we had secured Betty to be our keynote, she reached out and told me what a truly wonderful and remarkable person, she is. So, I was excited and anxious to meet her.

Betty is, among many other traits, a humble person. She is also gracious, warm and kind. And, as Ellen had told me, she is loyal having won the minds and hearts of the huge Coldwell Banker team through the shear persona of her individual sense of fair play coupled with a standard of excellence that shaped so many lives and created so many individual successes.

Lunch was pure joy. Those who attend the Retreat will have a full three days to share time with Betty, so I will not borrow any of her thunder. Ellen has also agreed to be a panelist and members are in for a double treat because of that.

It was after 2 when I excused myself in order to drive over to Bakersfield and meet up with my last appointment of the day, Jeanne Radsick. There was no time to take the scenic route, so I doubled back to Santa Clarita and then took the 5 north arriving in Bakersfield around 4:30.

Jeanne and Cynthia Carley could have been twins. I was to learn that they are also best friends. We spent a delightful hour or so in the late afternoon and I thoroughly our brief encounter. But, I had come late and she had a client waiting. (Later she told me they wrote a contract.) So, I left. I really look forward to renewing our relationship in Napa.

I had spent two very fine days meeting with great people. It was another grand experience as a member of AREA.

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A Kind Word

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AREA Member, Ron Phipps of Warwick, Rhode Island recently posted some comments on Facebook that I believe share repeating.

“I was in Atlanta at a service counter for missed flight. A young person in front of me was having a meltdown because he had missed his flight to Los Angeles for his Acting Audition. He had just let go on the service rep… I tapped him on the shoulder; and calmly suggested he start over. Because, Evelyn, the service rep could help him, if he was polite and respectful.

He interrupted… concluding with “How?” Directly across from service counter was a flight leaving for Orange County in one hour… He turned around and began with an apology. Explained his need to get to the audition, and asked for her help… She said that would not be a problem; She smiled gave him his new ticket; he thanked her and thanked me.

I began by apologizing to her; which she interrupted and said that she owed me a thank you for a teaching moment. We talked some more and she got me on the next flight to Providence, and Upgraded me to first class…”

Atlanta Airport

Ron, who is a nationally known speaker and former President of the National Association of Realtors®, is the President of Phipps Realty, a long time staple in Rhode Island real estate, can be reached at ron@phippsrealty.com. His office phone number is 401-884-1030.

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MY Point Of View: There is more to Business than Hi-Tech!

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By: Betsy Bradley
Vail, CO

Betsy Bradley is a member of AREA, she can be reached at vailbetsy@aol.com 1-970-376-2555.

High tech in BusinessKeller Williams has recently spent a good bit of time and effort trying to understand the real impact and effect of high tech on the real estate business. We all know how important it is, just read Dana Harris’s commentary. But if the truth be known, one of the keys to building a strong real estate business is to build strong relationships based on good rapport and mutual trust. I ran across this short piece and thought you might enjoy it.

 

Melissa M. Garcia | Monday, January 27, 2014 | Community Associations Miscellaneous

Last week at the 2014 CAI Law Seminar, I had the pleasure of teaching with Jeffrey Kaman on the subject of maximizing technology for community associations. We discussed the benefits of technology, as well as the risks, proactive ways of addressing those risks and available protections. What was most interesting, however, was our discussion on the downsides of technology: Loss of personal touch, becoming too automated and overly dependent, carelessness, etc.

So this morning, as I was still pondering the lessons learned in that and the other classes presented, I came upon this timely blog by social media strategist Jarred Wilson, which provides us with the following 2014 challenge:

“Divorce your phone, your apps, your social-feeds, and engage in relationship with people that actually matter. Vow to spend significant time off your mobile-devices, unplugged, and instead get back to making personal relationships that will stand the test of time.”

As community association leaders we are always turning to technology for ways to be more efficient, accessible, flexible, and in general make the lives of our clients and business partners (and in turn our lives) easier. But we must not forget that smart phones, social media, texts and the like, should not replace the true encounters and relationships we create with people. Technology may make the connection, but it does not foster the people. The personal relationship is what is real, and what will last.

In AREA we are separated by distances that make it very difficult, outside of the annual retreat, to really get to know one another. So, wherever you are, pick up the phone and give me or another AREA member a call. Tell me what’s happening with you and I’ll share with you what’s happening with me. This could be the start of a great relationship!

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Knowing Your Online Reputation

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By: Dana Harris
Del Mar, California

Dana is AREA’s resident Guru on the practical use of the internet. He can be reached at dana@danaharrishomes.com 1-858-442-5423.

1408755246_04496427ef_mOver 95% of buyers and sellers start their search efforts on the internet. Almost 65% work with the first agent they meet. If they are meeting us on-line we want to make sure we are putting our real face on and that is one of quality, competence and character.

We’ve all done it: signed up on a website and created a profile with the intention of promoting ourselves in the best possible light. There are countless sites: Google, Yahoo, Realtor.Com, Active Rain, Post-let’s, your broker’s site, your personal site(s), all the consumer portals (i.e. Trulia, Zillow, Yelp, etc.) we use to accomplish this very serious and important task.

(How many on-line accounts do you have? Do you know them and manage them all? Have you changed companies in the last year or two? Do you know the passwords?)

These accounts become our on-line reputation and if they contain reviews or testimonials (Trulia, Zillow and Yelp), they can make or break us. Someone once said there is no such thing as bad press. That is just not true when it comes to the internet, especially in our business. Just ask any agent who has discovered something inaccurate or untrue published about themselves on the web.

The growing trend of rating brokers and agents makes this topic even more relevant as consumers have a chance to weigh in on your internet reputation with such ease. Just check out sites like Brokur, Mountain of Agents or Home Thinking.

So what do we do about it?

To begin, it can be as simple as seeing what others find by typing your name in Google and observing what comes up. (Please make sure you consider variations so you may have to add “real estate”, “agent” or your town at the end of the search string (i.e. Dana Harris Real Estate Agent Del Mar). Be thorough, and leave no stone unturned. Then consider ways to fix the problem(s)!

This topic was just covered recently in Inman News, which I highly recommend as an on-going source of information for helping all us navigate in this technical world that requires our utmost personal attention seven days a week.

Next time: “Fixing the Problem.”

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Some important issues for U.S. real estate agents

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By Dennis Badagliacco

Dennis Badagliacco, is a member of AREA and a National Association of Realtors® Legal Action Fund Trustee 2013-2015 and the NAR Liaison with California Association of REALTORS®. He is on the cutting edge of legal matters affecting real estate and doubles as a commercial real estate broker in Silicon Valley, California and may be reached via email dennisb@legacyrea.com.

Potential Agent Liability for use of a broker’s trademark: A large company in Southern California, RE/MAX All Cities, was sued by a brokerage of 2 people who claimed they had the trademark to “All Cities”. RE/MAX had paid an attorney to research the availability of the trademark. Subsequently, the RE/MAX All Cites brokerage filed bankruptcy. The case of the two person All Cities Realty was thrown out of court. The small brokerage appealed claiming that EACH of the 1700 agents in RE/MAX All Cities is liable for use of the trademark. The case is on appeal and in order to be dismissed from the legal action the small brokerage is basically black-mailing the agents to settle for fees up to $5000 each. A few agents have settled. NAR and CAR are backing the agents in the appeal. Should the small brokerage win, the case would have huge ramifications nationwide. The small brokerage is owned by a Nevada Corporation and the agents practiced real estate in Southern California.

Flood Insurance: The National Flood Insurance program has never been financially based on an actuary table (as most insurance is). Congress passed a law to make the program self-sustaining. All properties in a 100 year flood plain now need an elevation “statement” in order to be sold. The current owner of the property is grandfathered (for a period of time) with the old rate. The new owner may have a huge rate increase. In some cases, the rate increase could be a 500% increase! NAR is sponsoring legislation to stop/delay the implementation of the new law. NAR has a form available for agents to use discussing the new flood insurance fees. If allowed to stand, many properties will be almost unsalable.

For more information on issues directly affecting you, Dennis suggests Real Estate Professionals consult with the appropriate legal and/or accounting professional.

Chapter of AREA to open in Spain

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December 12, 2013 – A group of highly regarded REALTORS® headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, who attended the National Association of Realtors® Convention in San Francisco, California during November, have been invited to create a Spanish version of AREA, according to Carl A. Bosse, Chief Executive Officer of the firm.

“AREA is delighted that the group, headed up by Avenir Real Estate of Barcelona, has taken the initiative to expand its international affiliates by creating a chapter of AREA in Spain”, stated Bosse.

Avenir’s Montse Moreno (CIPS) and Daniel Gamariz (CIPS, FIABCI,) head up the group and hope to have it in place within the next few months.

“I hope that is the beginning of a long collaboration!” noted Senora Moreno who, together with three other associates attended the five day Convention. “Several of us attended a very informative Seminar for international commercial brokers attending the convention jointly held by Starboard TCN and Associated Realty of the Americas. That is where the concept of creating the Spanish Chapter came about.”

The seminar focused on the marketing aspects of Starboard TCN, headed up by its president, Hans Hansson, on how those aspects could be used by international companies in their local markets. Hansson, who is also a member of AREA, later hosted the group for dinner and a tour of San Francisco.

The Chapter will be an affiliate of AREA and will use many of its tools and procedures which will be modified to conform to Spanish real estate practices. It is hoped that through this alliance a new bridge for international cooperation will be established on a formal basis.

Associated Realty of the Americas in a by invitation only referral network located in Canada, the United States and Mexico. It only seeks members who have proven their ability to serve, lead and share within the real estate community.

For information: carl@areamericas.com.

1031 Exchanges – USA Tax Rules

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By: Mark Casey
Boulder/Denver AREA Commercial Member

As AREA members we need to be aware of the benefits of the Tax-Deferred Exchange, under IRS Code 1031. The IRS Code allows an investor to exchange one real estate investment asset for another while deferring the gain and depreciation recapture on the sale of the first property. With 15% federal capital gains tax, plus the applicable state tax rate, plus the recapture of depreciation at your ordinary income tax rate, the potential for deferring taxes is huge… particularly if you have held the property for many years. On the sale of  an investment property that has been held long enough to generate significant appreciation while a significant amount of depreciation has been taken, it is not unusual for 30% to 40% of the proceeds from the sale to be paid in taxes if the seller does not 1031 exchange into another property.

The IRS Code stipulates properties eligible for a tax-deferred exchange must be like-kind. For real estate held for investment, that gives you a lot of latitude. An investment home owned in California can be exchanged for an office building in Colorado. Raw land can be exchanged for a fully-developed building. Your 100% ownership in the building you are selling can be divided into two or three properties to create diversification. Even foreign to foreign investment properties may qualify for 1031 Exchange treatment. As long as the exchange is done properly the options for tax-deferred investments are virtually limitless.

The key to a successful exchange is planning ahead. Please feel free to contact me: Mark Casey at mark@TenantWisdom.com or call me at 303-665-6000.

Invest in America, Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Darryl Baskin, with eXp Realty in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was one of the attendees at the annual convention of AREA – Associated Realty of the Americas – at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans.

Darryl heads up The Baskin Real Estate Specialists in the Tulsa Metropolitan area. On the Luxury Real Estate Board of Regents, he also serves on the Northeastern Oklahoma Real Estate Services Rules and Regulations Committee, and the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS(R) Grievance Committee. He is a past recipient of the Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS(R)’ Sales Associate of the Year award.

eXp Realty
11719 S. Memorial Drive
Bixby, OK  74008
918-258-2600
Website: http://www.darrylbaskin.com
Email: info@darrylbaskin.com

Invest in America, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

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Iris Riley, Broker/Owner of Trans State Commercial Realty in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was one of the attendees at the annual convention of AREA – Associated Realty of the Americas – held at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans.

Iris has been in business for more than 25 years, and she and her team have completed sales and leasing of a wide variety of Commercial Real Estate – motel, marina, office, warehouse, medical, retirement home, industrial, restaurant, hospital, etc. Trans State Commercial Realty serves the South Florida market of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties.

Contact information for Iris:

Trans State Commercial Realty
150 SE 12th Street (Davie Blvd.), Suite 101W
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-760-7006
Website: http://www.transstatecommercial.com
Email: ladybroker@bellsouth.net