Patrick Foley

Let's face it, even in a weak market, businesses still need space. Sometimes it's a laid off worker that has a new great idea, and they are at the stage where they need office or warehouse. Sometimes it's a business that needs to downsize, so they want to sublease their existing space and find something smaller, and sometimes (believe it or not) a company actually benefits from a weaker economy and they need to expand.

I've posted in the past about Executive Suites, and their benefits. Well, I credit the executive suites that I list with keeping my phone ringing. Tons of companies are either looking to move out of the garage, or are in need of smaller office space.

I know that it isn't the most glamarous duty, but for the amount of work, the commissions are decent. The landlords are very happy because of the price/sf they get, and the tenants are happy because they find what they've been searching for. Sounds like a win-win for everyone.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about my experience with executive suites.

Hi All,

I'm curious to hear everyone's opinion about the value of joining a social club for real estate networking. Though I live and work here in Austin, I'm a member of the Petroleum Club of Houston www.pcoh.com (I'm happy to talk to anybody about the Petroleum Club, or membership if you're interested). I decided this week to check out the reciprocal club here in Austin, the Austin Club. So on Friday I'm going to lunch, and will see how things are there.

I was browsing their newsletter and saw a list of some new members, it definitely seems like a breeding ground of contacts that may be interested in tenant or buyer representation services. I imagine the same is true for residential brokers.

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

I hate to whine, but it sure does seem like the Texas Longhorns got screwed by the BCS, in what will surely cause even greater hatred of the BCS system. I know that I'm biased, but I fail to see how you can say that Oklahoma deserves to be in the Big XII championship, and on the way to Miami (barring any unforseen circumstances).

I for one am rooting for Mizzou this weekend, and a small Florida win, in which Texas may not be jumped by the Gators. Likely? No. But it is the holiday season, and we are all allowed to have hope, right?

I was reading a real estate publication the other day, and it had a little blurb about commercial brokerage. Naturally, I was immediately drawn to it, as the majority of real estate writings tend to focus on the residential side of the business. In the rather short blurb it said that commercial agents often cut their commissions in the negotation process in order to get a deal closed.

I have never done this, and I haven't talked to anyone who has specifically mentioned that they have (of course maybe we wouldn't want to admit to it). That being said, there was a deal I worked earlier in the year where the other agent and I discussed using some of our commission dollars to fund some improvements in order to appease all parties. Fortunately, it didn't come down to that.

I'm curious, have you ever cut some of your commisison to close a transaction? If not, would you consider it?