Womens Council of Realtors

Women’s Council Of Realtors – 2009 Top Producers Panel

Today Women’s Council Of Realtors  hosted their annual Top Producers Panel in the East Bay.  Jim Walberg was asked to be a part of the four-person panel.

The 2009 Women’s Council Of Realtors  Top Producers panel was a standing room only event in the East Bay.  It is their annual event when the state of the real estate market is discussed with some of the best minds in real estate.  Jim Walberg (YouTube link)  was invited as one of the four panel members.  The other three panelists were Georgia Butterfield - Legacy Real Estate, Jennifer Griessel - Prudential California Realty, and Chuck Edell - Realty Experts.

David Stark, from Bay East Board Of Realtors,  was the moderator.  WCR had presented the questions to the panel several days before the event in order for them to give some serious thought to their answers.  Here are a few of the questions that were presented and Jim Walberg’s answers.

How do you motivate Buyers to take action given the current market conditions?  And, how do address the Buyer mind-set that home prices may decline even more?  A Buyer is going to take action for a home purchase because they need to Buy.  There may be more price declines in 2009.  And, whether one buys today or in six months the price reductions in the past two years have brought prices to mid-2004 levels.  Again, if they need a home they will buy today.  There is no “convincing” allowed in a discussion regarding the biggest financial decision in their life.

What are you doing differently this year to adjust to our current market which will increase production?  The changes we have made in the last six months are regarding leading with revenue = return on investment of our marketing dollars.  And, we have committed to be even more visible within our market areas since we have noticed so many Realtors have become invisible.  We are not “secret agents”, and it has paid off with our business continuing to thrive.

What is the single best piece of advice you can offer to another Realtor as they continue to grow their business?  The business we are in is lead generation.  There is no other activity or diversion that is acceptable if I do not have enough leads to serve, PERIOD!

Has there been a benefit to your real estate practice to be involved in Realtor and/or community networking groups?  Absolutely!  I facilitate a quarterly mastermind group that creates an invaluable accountability of our business plan versus our results.  The Valley Marketing Association in Pleasanton,  and Realtors Marketing Association in San Ramon are critical parts of our “positioning plan” in the minds eye of the real estate community.  Over 30% of the buyers for our listings come from our personal relationships with our community of Realtors. Plus, I am very active in my local Rotary Club.

Do you specialize in any specific facet of the real estate market?  Our average sales price is $1.3 million.  The challenge is that to identify this as the luxury market given our geographic markets is a bit confusing.  We typically focus on executives and business owners in the East Bay, and equestrian properties.  These have been our target markets for 25+ years and almost 100% of our real estate sales come from referrals and past clients within these markets.  In addition, we continue to focus on securing listings no matter what the market conditions are.  It appears that many Realtors are focusing on Buyers.  When you have listings you also have the opportunity to find buyers for them.  So, we have both sides of the East Bay real estate markets.

In the packed luncheon, Cathy Lee, from CL Designs, our staging partner, commented that it was one of the best WCR events in many months. The luncheon was another example of the commitment that WCR makes to non-stop learning within our industry.  Until next time.  Contact me for any of your real estate needs.

Womens Council of Realtors

Women’s Council Of Realtor’s East Bay 2008 Fashion Show

WCR is committed to serving the needs of woman in the East Bay real estate community - both Realtors and those women at risk!

For the 24^th year Women’s Council of Realtor’s  Bay Area chapter produced and hosted their annual “Enchanted Nights” Fashion Show.  This year’s elegant show was held at the Palm Event Center  in the heart of the Livermore Valley wine region.  The event is one of the many that WCR hosts during the year as they support the needs of women.  Karen Kohne,  the current president of the Southern Alameda chapter, shared their Mission Statement. “We are a network of successful Realtors empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.  Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in the real estate profession and within the broader community we serve.”

The Fashion Show models are all local Realtors and service providers.  WOW!  There were some beautiful people who volunteered to be the models!!!  They even invited me as the token “old guy”.  All of the women and men’s outfits were donated by Helen Lyall’s  elegant women’s boutique, and the Men’s Warehouse  in Pleasanton.  This event would not be possible without the direct support of these gracious and professional merchants.  Sue Evans Photography  also provided many of the photos for the models.  The Fashion Show was in at the same level of excellence that we have seen at the Luxury Real Estate conferences. In fact, it may be a GREAT idea for LRE to start an international Fashion Show supporting community needs.  I will report back on that idea.

WCR’s members live their Mission/Vision each day with this group of professionals – both women and men, serve their community in very significant ways.  For example, one of the organizations they support is Shepard’s Gate  in Livermore.  Shepherd’s Gate has earned the reputation for rebuilding shattered lives. Since 1984,  they have helped over 8,700 battered and homeless women and children. They provide a safe haven for women and their children who are homeless because of abusive relationships, addictions, loss of financial support and other factors.  Our real estate community has GIVING BACK as a key value statement.

In addition to their work in supporting community needs, they sponsor a monthly educational seminar for the real estate industry.  WCR is one of the key organizations that focus on life long learning for our industry.  Some of the presenters that have been a part of the 2008 education programs have been California Associate of Realtor’s leadership team, real estate attorneys sharing key legal issues regarding Realtors and consumers, and even a panel of Realtors sharing their best ideas for a market that is in midst of one of the most dramatic shifts in past 20 years.

Again, this is not a group just for women.  Even the leadership teams of many of the WCR chapters include men who recognize the benefits of being a part of this dedicated group of professionals.  I have been a member of WCR for years.  Contact me  if you want more information about this group, or if you just want to buyer or sell real estate.  Our team is standing ready to serve.  Until next time…your East Bay life style detective remains on duty.