Sarasota Young Realtors

Great Realtor Job Opportunity

2009-02-18T13:30:00.001-05:00

Please contact Fred Underwood for the brochure. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has partnered with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies to develop three real estate policy fellowships in Washington, DC. Each fellow works full time in the office of a Member of Congress for the academic year and receives a small stipend to help with living expenses. This year, fellows we fund are working in the offices of Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), Representative Al Green (D-TX), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). We would like to involve REALTORS® more in this program in two ways: 1). We would like to promote this program to young REALTORS® who may be interested in pursuing their interest in public policy, and 2). Promoting this program to local universities and colleges teaching real estate, urban planning and other fields can help build a local REALTOR® Association's relationships in the community. Last November, the Equal Opportunity Cultural Diversity Committee reviewed methods to promote this program. Discussions with each Caucus Institute or Foundation led to the development of the enclosed brochure. Each Caucus Foundation or Institute administers its program and selects fellows independently. Please note that the application deadline for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the earliest, March 6, one that we are unable to extend beyond that date. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation deadline is April 16 and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies deadline is May 31. Fellowships begin in late August and early September. We hope you will be able to use this brochure to promote the program in your communities. Please forward this brochure to any contacts you have that can help reach potential applicants. For example, colleges with real estate programs have students looking for fellowship opportunities for their graduate students. If your local association has a young professionals network, this information could be distributed to encourage REALTORS® to consider the program. If you have any questions please call me. I will also be happy to send you printed copies of the brochures later this week. Sincerely, Fred Underwood, RCE Director, Diversity and Community Outreach Programs Community and Political Affairs NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Phone: 202-383-1132 Cell phone: 202-320-5401 e-mail: funderwood@realtors.org

Young Professionals: Save the Date!

2008-10-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

Attention, young real estate professions: Don't miss out on this great event to expand your network and start raising your profile in the business. REALTOR magazine's Young Professionals Network will be hosting its third annual networking event on Nov. 9 during the REALTOR&#174 Conference & Expo in Orlando. RSVPs are required to attend this complimentary event. Visit the YPN Web site (www.realtor.org/ypn) for more information and to RSVP -- before it's sold out! This event is sponsored by NAR's Community Outreach & Diversity, Intel, the REALTORS&#174 Commercial Alliance, and the Center for REALTOR&#174 Technology. Read more...http://www.realtor.org/rmohome/ypnreception08?&WT.mc_id=LS100108&CAT=Sales

VOTE!

2008-08-26T07:26:00.002-05:00

My kids and I will be on the corner of 41 and Bee Ridge today to support Bill Furst for Sarasota County Property Appraiser! To learn more about Bill, visit: http://www.furstforfairness.com/. Remember to get out and VOTE! It's your right as a US citizen. Don't take it for granted.

Show You Care: Clean the Coast!

2008-08-25T12:50:00.001-05:00

Come clean up the coastline with me, my kids and a bunch of great volunteers from the Sarasota Association of Realtor's GRAS (Green Realtor Alliance of Sarasota) Saturday September 20 at 8 am around John Ringling Causeway. Follow this link for more details and the registration form: http://www.sarasotarealtors.com/about/event.cfm?eveID=74. Hope to see you there!

Shoes For Kids Please

2008-07-15T22:37:00.001-05:00

My office, RE/MAX Alliance Group, is collecting new shoes for school kids to distribute in the Charlotte County Public school system. Sizes 4 youth and 6 adult are needed the most but we have requests for 7 toddlers up to 11 adult female and 13 adult male. If you'd like to help out, drop the new shoes by our office on Webber and 41 or the ones located in Englewood and North Port--or email me at Christina@YourHometownConsultant.com and I'll pick them up and deliver them for you.

Sarasota Young Realtors® 2008 Schedule of Events

2008-07-11T12:16:00.005-05:00

MEETINGS - Location: SAR Auditorium - 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Friday, August 15 – Internet Marketing
Friday, September 26 - “2008 Economic Summit”
Friday, October 10- Short Sales – Bankruptcy, Foreclosure
Friday, November 14- Fraud in Real Estate

Method of registration and payment is to visit our website at www.sarasotarealtors.com, click on Education Registration, then Membership Meeting. Pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Debit Cards. SOCIAL EVENTS – 5:30 pm

Friday, July 25 – REALTOR DAY BOWLING - Sarasota Lanes
Wednesday, August 27- Evie’s
Wednesday, September 24 - Evie’s
Wednesday, October 22- Evie’s
Wednesday, November 26 – Evie’s
Wednesday, December 17 - Christmas Party - Evie’s

Evie’s Tavern is located at 1989 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota The social events are open to everyone, of all ages. No registration is required. For future Social Event locations or for more information, please watch for emails, check the SAR Magazine, or contact Peggy Beiling at the Association at peggy@sarasotarealtors.com.

Calling Our Bluff

2008-07-03T07:58:00.003-05:00

\(;harles added a post to the Sarasota County Voices blog late last night titled, "Where Are Those 'Young Professionals' When You Need Them?" in which he challenges young professionals to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty--and even provided a list of opportunities through Habitat For Humanity Sarasota. I just signed up for the Habitat email newsletter and plan to see you at a construction site nearby soon. Young professionals, are you with me? For more details, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SarasotaVoices/message/12273.

Green Features on MFRMLS

2008-07-01T06:02:00.004-05:00

SAR's Green Realtor Alliance of Sarasota was amazingly able to have 4 green features added to our new MFRMLS system's listing form. Yet another achievement to set us apart of most Realtor Association and MLS systems across the country! Check it out at www.mfrmls.com. Under the tab “Resources,” then Listing Forms, then check out Residential Listing form. You will not need to log in to see the form. It’s on page one on the left hand side towards the bottom. Thanks for all the hard work, GRAS!

Diversity Certification

2008-06-26T11:47:00.003-05:00

The At Home With Diversity certification course is coming to SAR August 20th from 9 to 4 pm.

Created by NAR in collaboration with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the goal of the course upon completion is for you to develop and implement at least one new diversity-based strategy for your business plan that will increase your profit! The course costs $75 and will provide you with 6 continuing education credits. Charles S Bonamer CRB will be the instructor.

"As America becomes more diverse, the top goal of immigrants is to own their own home. REALTORS® can help buyers of any cultural background achieve the American dream of homeownership. Knowing how to work effectively with diverse populations can help you build business success in today's multicultural real estate market." NAR

To learn more about NAR's Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity Program, visit http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/diversity.

To learn more about why "Diversity Is Good Business," visit http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/diversity/divgood.

To register for the local At Home With Diversity course, visit https://ecom.director.firstamericanmls.com/sarasotass/edu/scripts/itemlookup.pl.

A great way to spend the day: better yourself, your purse or pocket, your community and the world!

Get Involved, Get Experience

2008-06-26T11:12:00.004-05:00

The Florida Association of Realtors is currently accepting applications for committee involvement through July 31st. Word on the street is that volunteering on the state level is a mind-opening experience you'll never forget--and a great way to network outside of your sphere of influence and comfort zone.

To learn more and register, visit http://www.floridarealtors.org/FARBusiness/FARDocuments/Comm-Request-form.cfm.

June 13th Meeting

2008-06-02T09:54:00.005-05:00

International Marketing by Pat Tan

The Sarasota Young Realtors welcome Patricia Tan for their June meeting on the topic of International Marketing. Patricia Tan has teamed up with Carla Rayman to head a team of experienced professionals qualified to conduct international business, listing and selling commercial properties, land and residential homes.

The team already represents international listings here and in other countries, including Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Argentina, the Caribbean and Malaysia. They have also been recognized in the United Kingdom and have been quoted in various real estate publications.

For the past three years, the pair has attended international property shows, and held real estate seminars locally and in other countries that target end users as well as other real estate professionals.

Join Us Friday, June 13th

DATE: 6/13/2008
TIME: 12:00pm - 12:30pm -- Luncheon
12:30pm - 1:30pm -- Meeting
COST: $5.00
LOCATION: Conference Room A
RSVP: RSVP with teri@sarasotarealtors.com

Please pre-register online at www.sarasotarealtors.com, click on Education, then register for classes.

or email your credit card information, expiration date, along with the name(s) of people attending to teri@sarasotarealtors.com.

Sincerely,
Anthony Homer

Friday March 7th, Personal Marketing Strategies

2008-03-05T14:00:00.005-05:00

SARASOTA YOUNG REALTORS present Personal Marketing for You & Your Business

24hr Marketing

Christina Pitchford eats, sleeps and breathes her business and it shows. Opportunities come up at different times, be ready to take them with this crash course in 24 hr marketing.

Internet Do's and Dont's

The internet is a tool like everything else and some things work and others can be a nuisance or worse. Kevin Milner and Cor Donovan talk about internet marketing strategies that work and others to avoid.

Building Your Network

A personal network can be the most valuable thing you cultivate in any career, see how Brad Kayser uses networking to increase his circle of influence and how it's making him money.

Property Pitch

Bring your flyers, we will have a property pitch session at the end, be sure to sign up for it at the door! In 60 seconds, tell us why your property is priced right, presents a great value and we should sell it to our clients.

Friday, March 7th

DATE: 3/7/2008

TIME: 12:00pm - 12:30pm -- Luncheon

12:30pm - 1:30pm -- Meeting

COST: $5.00

LOCATION: Conference Room A

RSVP: RSVP with teri@sarasotarealtors.com

Please pre-register online at www.sarasotarealtors.com, click on Education, then register for classes or email your credit card information, expiration date, along with the name(s) of people attending to teri@sarasotarealtors.com.

New Find: YPN Lounge

2008-01-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

Check out Realtor Magazine's Young Professional Network Blog: http://narblog1.realtors.org/mvtype/ypn/. New as of December, some pretty pertinent topics have already been posted--and you can find links to register for the 30 Under 30. Anyone who's eligible should apply. You never know unless you try....

SYR: A Reason To Believe

2007-12-10T16:20:00.000-05:00

The Sarasota Young Realtors gladly added another first to their list of achievements this year: a charitable donation to Agape Corner Boarding School, a safe home and school for 16 kids who are always in need. The Sarasota Young Realtors, receiving no funding from SAR's budget, successfully raised almost $2,000 through monthly educational luncheons held at SAR. 100% of the funds raised by the group were donated right back to the community.

On Friday, December 7th, a 21.8 cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator with an in-door water and ice dispenser was delivered amid much excitement, and then the Young Realtors handed out to each child Christmas gift bags, including candy canes, chocolates, holiday cakes, Santa hats and $20 gift cards for each child, aged 18 months to 16 years, to spend as they wish. In addition, Pastor Marko, the director of Agape Corner, was given $250 to spend on meats, cheese and other nutritious but perishable items typically not found in the donation boxes they rely on from All Faiths Food Bank.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit AgapeCornerFlorida.com. The next big wish for Agape Corner is a 10,000 square foot house, large enough to care for 30 children; however, they are always in need of day-to-day essentials. Please contact Christina Pitchford Perez, 941-350-4411, for a list of clothing and shoes sizes or more information.

2007 Christmas Party

2007-11-29T11:36:00.001-05:00

Music, Drinks & Appetizers December 12th at 5:30 PM Siesta Key Oyster Bar Call Teri Hartley to register: 941.923.2315 Or register online View Larger Map

State of the Market: Economic Summit

2007-09-07T13:22:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our very first annual Economic Summit at the Sarasota Board of Realtors today. A special "Thank You" to all of our panelists for participating in the discussion today. Your input made the conversation valuable and insightful and we couldn't have done it without you! We certainly look forward to building off of the momentum created here and hope to have an even bigger and better event next year. Please be sure to join us for our next social at Cafe Bacci for drinks and deals.

Valuing Property

2007-08-20T12:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out last Friday for our Sarasota Young Realtors group meeting. We talked about the pressure to value property accurately from both the listing and buying perspective. I appreciated the great feedback and for the couple of brave Realtors who let me use their work as an example!

I hope everyone came away with at least one helpful insight, and I’ve uploaded the Powerpoint if you’d like to have it. Here’s the Powerpoint for Office 97-2003 Versions and here’s the Outline for Valuing Properties.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments, I hope to see you at our next social. Wednesday, 8/22/7, at the Cork on St. Armand’s Cirlce. (www.corkonthecircle.com )

First Annual 2007 Economic Summit

2007-06-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

The Sarasota Young Realtors is proud to announce it’s First Annual Economic Summit. Slated for September 7th, the event will be hosted at the SAR Auditorium at 3590 S. Tuttle Ave. Our committee is assembling a panel of market leaders who are thriving in this market to gain long range perspective on changes in our economy and their impact on real estate. We are going to have developers, bankers, brokers, politicians and the movers and shakers all together. Don’t miss this chance to pick their brains and network with some of Sarasota’s movers and shakers.

This event is sponsored by the Entrust of Tampa Bay. They are providing lunch at 12 pm, with the panel discussion going from 12:30 - 1:30.

The event costs $15, and you can register online at sarasotarealtors.com. Click on Education Registration, log in and then follow the links from Register/View Education Course to Membership Meeting and select Sarasota Young Realtors Meeting. Or email your credit card # and expiration date to Teri@SarasotaRealtors.com.

Best In Client Satisfaction!

2007-06-26T06:32:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Dave Beachy, Ryan Billib and Christina Pitchford Perez for winning Sarasota Magazine's coveted Five Star Real Estate Agents Best In Client Satisfaction Award!!!

If you were a winner too, please add your name via a comment to this blog and let us know.

Good job, y'all!

Young Realtors Serve Generation X and Y Consumers by Bringing SPECIAL skills to Buyers and Sellers

2007-06-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

I just happened to come across this awesome editorial while visiting REALTOR.org.

"As new generations enter the housing market, the real estate industry must adapt to meet changing needs and ways of doing business," said Thomas M. Stevens, 2006 National Association of Realtors® president from Vienna, Va., and senior vice president of NRT Inc.

"Many of our younger members add value to their clients' real estate transactions through their generational sensitivities and diverse skill sets. They don't know a real estate industry without the Internet, technology is second-nature to them, and they speak their clients' language, often both literally and figuratively."

To read the rest of this article by Stephanie Singer, please visit:

www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2006/youngrealtorsservegenxandy.html

SYR Social..

2007-06-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

Big thanks for those who joined us at the Table Wednesday evening. Don’t forget Realtor Bowling Day!! Register now and sign up for sponsorships for the Realtor® Day Bowling event, set for Friday, July 13th at Sarasota Lanes. Also, our next social event will be at the Rustic Grill on July 25th.

It's A New Day For Real Estate

2007-06-11T11:43:00.000-05:00

The recent improvements in new home sales, on top of March and April's state-topping existing home sales increases of 16 percent, have real estate agents and developers in a better mood. But before summer doldrums and hurricane season set in, many agents are trying to keep the pace up by attracting other agents and potential buyers to events and seminars, which are usually held in properties that sponsors are trying to move.

For Gen X and Gen Y agents, the newly formed group Sarasota Young Realtors has a long schedule of networking and social activities planned....

For the full article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune, visit http://heraldtribune.com/article/20070611/REALESTATE/706110317/1439.

Friday's Topic: Down Payment Assistance

2007-06-04T11:48:00.000-05:00

Debbie Sykes, from the Sarasota Down Payment Assistance Program, will provide general information about Sarasota County's most popular housing assistance program--and the future of this very helpful resource for first-time home buyers.

Debbie began her career with the Office of Housing & Community Development 12 years ago and is currently the Senior Loan Development Officer. Prior to her employment with the City of Sarasota, she spent many years in banking with a main focus on mortgages. She truly enjoys administering the Down Payment Assistance Program. Of course, it is rewarding, and at times frustrating but it allows her the opportunity to share her knowledge and gain so much more in the process.

Denise Godwin has a variety of loan options available for both experienced homeowners and first-time home buyers. She handles property purchases, re-finances, and guides first-time homeuyers through the maze that includes what type of first mortgage, from FHA, VA, and conventional financing, through the first time homebuyer program that best fits the borrower's situation and needs.

Denise has lived in and around the Englewood area since 1969. She has been a local Banker for over 20 years, and most recently has been involved in the mortgage lending aspect of banking. She is currently a mortgage loan officer with Liberty Savings Bank at the Shamrock Office in Venice.

New Social Location!

2007-05-21T13:14:00.000-05:00

Sarasota Young Realtors is having another social this Wednesday at Rustic Grill. For directions: www.RusticGrillSarasota.com. See you there at 5:30!

In case you missed last month's social, SAR's President Joe Hembree brought a cane (hilarious!) which encouraged the exchange of stories describing the "old days" of real estate sales in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Thanks to Joe Hembree, Nick Figlow, Erick Shumway and Kathy Roberts for putting the business in perspective.

For further details on SYR's monthly educational networking luncheons and socials, and to read SAR's article on SYR, visit www.sarasotayoungrealtors.blogspot.com.

As always, the young at heart are always welcome....

GENERATION R® Sarasota Young Realtors: The Future Is Now

2007-05-16T13:10:00.001-05:00

One crucial element of any successful organization is to ensure younger members are prepared and educated to assume leadership roles. This was the basic premise behind the formation of the Sarasota Young Realtors® group in January 2007.

The SAR Strategic Plan lists as Goal 2 the creation of a program “to identify and train new leaders,” and establishes as one of the strategies to “establish a Young Realtors® group within SAR.”

Thanks to SAR members Dave Beachy and Anthony Homer, chair and vice-chair of the newly formed Sarasota Young Realtors® group, that strategy has been enacted. The group has now met several times and held a few successful social gatherings and networking sessions, designed to grow and promote the group. So far, their efforts appear to be paying off.

“We are proud that our younger members have taken such a strong interest in accepting this responsibility,” said Joe Hembree, 2007 SAR President. “Our youthful members definitely need to be given an opportunity to make their voice heard in the SAR direction and initiatives. We want to be a balanced organization, and strive to bring new faces, voices and opinions to the mix. This is a big part of the reason for the formation of the Sarasota Young Realtors® group, and they’ve taken the ball and run with it.”

The mission statement created by the group’s leadership provides a good testament to their goals and strategies: “The mission of the Sarasota Young Realtors® is to support and advocate the interest of the young Sarasota real estate professionals. The Sarasota Young Realtors® will be an organization of advocacy that utilizes the strengths, talents, and leadership of its members to build value and lasting relationships with our community through professional development, networking and sharing of information.”

Anthony Homer of Hembree & Associates, vice-chair of the organization, said the impetus for creating the group was “to identify and promote the young people in our area who will lead the Sarasota Association of Realtors® in the next five to 10 years.” Chair Dave Beachy of Beachy Properties noted the Young Realtors® group believes networking is key to establishing a presence in the area and creating relationships that help further the overall mission.

“Our meetings and events are designed to get people together to establish vital contacts and business relationships,” said Beachy. “The social gatherings are also a lot of fun, but there is definitely a business motivation behind them.”

“We represent a group of hungry, energetic professionals in our industry, and we’re ready to make our mark,” said Shannon Rogers, also of Beachy Properties.

Establishing credibility and gaining a solid track record of experience is also important to the next generation of local real estate professionals. Through the creation of the new group and its strong ties to the SAR and the current leadership of the Association, the Sarasota Young Realtors® are bridging the generations. The knowledge and insights they are gaining from the older, more established Realtors®, plus the ongoing professional development courses ensure that the future will be bright for local real estate.

Of course, overcoming one hurdle is crucial to achieving success – the built-in bias against youth.

“I’ve had a few potential clients ask me if I was really old enough to have a real estate license,” said Christina Pitchford Perez. “I take it in stride and it motivates me to prove that I have the knowledge and skills to walk people through a transaction.”

In fact, Perez noted, those who have questioned her age have all become her most valued clients. One even nominated her for the prestigious Sarasota Magazine FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction 2007 award, based on his impression of her dedication, market and procedural knowledge, and negotiation skills.

What has been the feedback from the group’s formation?

“It's been very positive,” said Anthony Homer. “We had a great turn-out for the kick-off and are using the momentum to build the group and make it very member-centric. We try to make every decision in the light of the impact it’s going to have on the individual Realtor®. “ Jenny Alday, another member of the SYR committee, noted the group is already a viable and vibrant element of the SAR.

“I feel that the young Realtor® group will be a success because our committee is very motivated and committed. We are all striving for success and we want to help others achieve that goal too.”

One big advantage many of the younger members of SAR have is their familiarity with the latest, greatest technological tools so prevalent in today’s industry. Having grown up with more advanced computers, the Internet, cell phones and PDAs, the younger Realtors® are comfortable and highly capable. In fact, many of them find themselves acting as their office IT person when the IT person is away. Helping to train other, older real estate professionals in the new technologies comes with the territory, the SYR leadership noted.

“It really pays off to be on the cutting edge of technology,” explained Anthony Homer. “That’s where the future of business is, and it’s where you need to be in order to be successful.” And that’s where the Sarasota Young Realtors® group is – on the cutting edge, aimed at success, and always striving to gain the experience so necessary for effective leadership.