William Roberts-Denver Board of Realtors Offers Solid Benifits

BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with William Roberts, www.brokerfordenver.com the president, the elective of the Denver Board of Realtors and welcome to the show, glad you are here.

William Roberts: Great thank you.

BrokerIPTV : Let's talk about the DBR and how that stacks up against other boards?

William Roberts: Sure, absolutely. a DBR, which we really do not try to compare ourselves with the other local boards. We look at it really more as industry standard of professionalism, total ethics and so we recommend people to join a board regardless of any board, but I tell you, we are strategically located right here in Center of Denver, right underneath the shadow of the capital, as well as of course the senior county building. So, when we are see in different issues, whether the state issues or a local issues, those issues eventually affect the entire State of Colorado. So right in there I would say that the Denver Board is certainly has that advantage.

BrokerIPTV : How about members what do we looking at from members as if late?

William Roberts: Well, as September 2007, 4410 was on number 4,410 members. Now that is total members. That includes affiliates. That includes secondary membership. If you just look at pure members we are about 3800.

BrokerIPTV : And the largest board in the state now is who?

William Roberts: Largest board is Pikes Peak Board which is Denver Colo Springs.

BrokerIPTV : How many people?

William Roberts: I think they are just having a couple 100 over us.

BrokerIPTV : Really?

William Roberts: Yes.

BrokerIPTV : Alright. DBR members, if you went to regular agents and said "the benefits I receive from the Denver Board are..." and they would fill in blank how?

William Roberts: Absolutely education, networking. Different tools to strengthen your business in work with your clients. Protection of the market for this industries so they can continue practice, list goes on and on.

BrokerIPTV : Is there are rivalry between Denver Board and south suburban or is it I do not know, all fair in war, so to speak?

William Roberts: There is no rivalry what so ever. Do not try getting things started.

BrokerIPTV : Residential and commercial development. Where do you see that going in 08?

William Roberts: Residential and commercial development. Despite the market conditions with the new homes starts being at all time low right now. We still see a lot of positive right now in the market. 2008, 2009 will still be stronger as it relates to commercial and residential here in Colorado.

BrokerIPTV : Denver, Demacratic National Convention coming next summer?

William Roberts: Yes.

BrokerIPTV : Big things for the whole city. How is it impact realtors?

William Roberts: Well, I will tell you it is big thing for the whole state. There is exceptive 35,000 participants to arrive August 23^rd and 24^th, along with their family. So estimate is not including their family, along with the media, it is going to be a large spot light on the City of Denver, which would be very positive for our market. We are looking at people that may be willing to locate, relocate as well as second home, so is this the market that we can certainly capitalize on.

BrokerIPTV : Come on in, come on down to Denver?

William Roberts: Absolutely.

BrokerIPTV : We got a home for you?

William Roberts: Our you city is on sale, right now, great prices.

BrokerIPTV : We got a second home in mountains for you?

William Roberts: Absolutely.

BrokerIPTV : Fantastic, great talk with you.

William Roberts: Great, thank you.

BrokerIPTV : Appreciate it.

William Roberts: No problem.

BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Diane Czarkowski from Fourstar Realty. Diane thanks for being with us. Business in Boulder that is the area that you specialize in, what is happening up there versus what is happening in Denver?

Diane: I think Boulder is going pretty well. Boulder County has some parts that are a little bit sluggish, but overall I think it is doing pretty well.

BrokerIPTV : Now a lot of people think Boulder as a foreign land or foreign country and may be their buyers and sellers have similar preferences, any problems and tastes that we have down here?

Diane: Sure, to some degree I think, but I think Boulder is really looked at internationally as one of the fittest towns in the United States. 00:00:48 [Music] 00:00:53

Diane: I think a lot of people really have a lot of activities that they like to do outside, so it is really important for them to have a house that is close to trails or close to open space where they can go out and do the activities they like.

BrokerIPTV : Life style, yeah. Property Management that is the part of what Fourstar Realty does, I hear that business is doing well, am I right?

Diane: It is doing very well, yeah. We have six agents that work with property management and five are dedicated to student housing alone, we manage about 600 properties. 00:01:27 [Music] 00:01:31

BrokerIPTV : I am going to ask you about student housing next I mean with, CU Boulder out there, is that around the clock or around the calendar year type of business?

Diane: Actually, no. It has got definitely this is the off-season right now. Student housing really cycles around when campus is open. So, we are 100% leased right now and I think that we acquired 75 new listings just this year. It is goes along with the enrollment too and I know that the enrollment at CU has really been booming.

BrokerIPTV : Rentals, we know at least in Denver are in demand, are they in Boulder as well?

Diane: Yes, rentals are very much in demand and in particular there is a real big demand for furnished rentals as well in Boulder.

BrokerIPTV : All right, how about areas that are hot in Boulder and areas that are not?

Diane: Really don't think there is area that is not so hot, but there is definitely a lot of demand for homes that are in-town or the downtown area around Pearl Street and anything west cost closest to the mountains and again by the open space trails and stuff are very popular.

BrokerIPTV : So some of those properties in your Pearl Street still getting the premium?

Diane: Oh, definitely yes.

BrokerIPTV : Diane, thanks for being with us great talking with you, I appreciate it.

Diane: Me too, thanks.

BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Diane Czarkowski from Fourstar Realty in Boulder. Diane, thanks for being with us.

Diane: Thanks for having me.

BrokerIPTV : We called this gEn X, gEn Y interview. We like talking with younger practitioners, because the demo of the average real estates agent is a little bit older, but do you feel being a younger person in real estate is an advantage for you?

Diane: I am not sure it is really my age per say, but I think that I have a unique situations where I can identify very easily with my clients. I have kids. They range in age from 2 to 20. So, I know pretty much about every kind of school and after activities and extra curricular activities that they do. I have siblings and older parents, so definitely know all about the emptiness that down sizing type of market, people they are interested in low maintenance homes. 00:01:09 [Music] 00:01:13

BrokerIPTV : Now, how about the mentor was it someone who can help you gets started in the business?

Diane: Well, I guess the way I got started in the business is this my love for the real estate market not just as a real estate agent, but as an investor I truly believe that a lot of the most successful people that around, specially been on states, have invested in real estate and I really believe in that.

BrokerIPTV : How about technology, are you a tech geek?

Diane: Yeah, I rely a lot on technology, I think especially with just all the task they are associated with doing real estate transactions, the computer is essential in gathering data and billing contracts, scheduling showings.

BrokerIPTV : What do you think the industry is going?

Diane: I think that they will be using technology even more so to like I said to accomplish their tasks and make us more able to be sufficient with our time and productive, but I think that there is also always going to be a demand for personal service and just the knowledge that comes from interactive with the person when you are in a home. It is been statistically proven that staging helps several home and keeps it off the market for as long as it is were in empty house and that certainly involves being there and getting to know the property.

BrokerIPTV : Your goals, future plans?

Diane: I think is to really continuing to build my client base and work with more clients. I am always working and continue my education. So, probably getting as couple of designations in some specialty areas would be great.

BrokerIPTV : Diane, thanks, great talk with you.

Diane: Me too.

BrokerIPTV : Appreciate it.

Diane: Thanks.

Market Conditions Make Using A Experienced Broker Critical

BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with George Leonard, Managing Broker from Fuller Towne & Country Properties at Cherry Creek. George thanks for being with us. Why don't you if can tell us a little bit about some of the challenges that large traditional brokerage firms are facing these days?

George Leonard: Well, these days this is a transactional market. Actually it is just a tough market and one of the things that we need to do is convince the general public that this is absolutely the time they need a professional to take care them during the transactions. People that do this part-time or this is not their career, may not be able to handle all the issues that come up and they deal in this market.

BrokerIPTV : Now I heard other managing brokers say something to the affect, that this year has been seem like the year of the corky or difficult deal, is that been the case?

George Leonard: Absolutely, there is a lot riding on all the transactions that get a contract right now, like I said earlier this is such a tough market. When we finally do get something under contract, the buyers have so much to choose from out there, that if they do not get their inspection issues handled or get the right price that they want, they are just willing to go on to the next property. So, once you get it under contract, it isn't always going to close. 00:01:27 [Music] 00:01:33

BrokerIPTV : And I guess with that you get more arbitration, more litigation and more things of that nature, so is that been up?

George Leonard: Yes, there has been increasing, it is part of the cortex of the market and it is just one of those things that come along with it.

BrokerIPTV : George, profit margins. I have to imagine that they are beginning to get slimmer, tighter and so forth given the current market?

George Leonard: They are. Running a large real estate firm such as Fuller Towne Country is very expensive. Our brokers are some of the best in the business and the expectations of their clients is that we are going to give them the best services, the best marketing, the best advertising as possible. That could be very expensive, so the profit margin is getting smaller and smaller.

BrokerIPTV : Where is the growth area in your company?

George Leonard: The growth area in our company is we are always looking for good, experience, confident brokers. That is were we looking at to bring in the next generation of brokers that fits the criteria of the high standards of Fuller Towne Country.

BrokerIPTV : How about plans for the company in a way?

George Leonard: Plans in a way is to provide lot of training. During that transitional market one of the things it is very important is to get back to the basics, because the basics have always work in any kind of market and so what we probably doing is supporting our brokers in the markets that is can be tough.

BrokerIPTV : George, thanks, great very informative, really appreciated.

George Leonard: Thank you very much, pleasure.