Thanksgiving has a lot to do with eating, overeating and spending quality time with family. But it’s also a time to step back and evaluate all the things in our lives for which we give thanks. The real estate industry has a lot to be grateful for: another year of rock-bottom low interest rates, record-setting home sales and a steadily increasing national home-ownership rate, to name a few. Inman News asked some of the hardworking individuals in real estate to name what they are thankful for in their professional lives this year.
Dusty Showers
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty
Palm Harbor, Fla.
“I am thankful for being in a profession that offers me the ability to earn as much or as little as I want. I get to control the direction of my life. I am thankful I can go to school and eat lunch with my little girls. I am thankful that their classmates argue over who got more of my business cards! I am grateful that enough of us believe that real estate is more than making money – it is about service to others. This goes far beyond selling a house.”
Bob Hale
President, CEO
Houston Association of Realtors
“The visionary elected leaders and awesome staff team that I have the privilege of working with at the Houston Association of Realtors.”
Harold Van Woeart
Regional general manager, Crossroads Realty
Manasquan, N.J.
“I am thankful that I can share in the joy, excitement and rush of positive feelings my clients experience each time I am able to help them realize their dreams of owning a home of their choice. Meeting and helping people at a critical stage of their lives, being a positive influence for them on an important life event and seeing real results with long lasting benefits to my clients is truly rewarding for me.”
Bret Violette
President, Weichert Lead Network
Morris Plains, N.J.
“Professionally, I’m very thankful for being a part of the best industry in America, and for another phenomenal year in real estate. I’m also thankful for our passionate, smart and dedicated team, including our excellent network of sales associates.”
Greg Rand
Associate broker, Prudential Rand Realty
White Plains, N.Y.
“I’m thankful that housing saved the economy – the government and the public know it – and that fact will drive demand for our product well into the future.”
Steve Glisan
Realtor, RE/MAX Properties
Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I am thankful for the true professional agents I get to work with each year–the people in our business who truly treat this as a business make my job easier and more enjoyable. They work hard on education and improving business for each of us every year and I am thankful for them.”
John Mudd
Realtor, Exit Realty Suncoast
Largo, Fla.
“I’m thankful that after four hurricanes, my real estate market is still standing. I’m also thankful that in spite of those four hurricanes my area is still a hot sellers’ market.
“I’m thankful that as of Dec. 1, I will have made over $42,000 in commissions from my Web site and blogging combined. It’s a lot better than cold calling.
“Thankful that rates are still low–even though most of my buyers pay with cash.
“I’m thankful that there’s a big push from people from outside the real estate industry to share information.
“A couple of other things I’m thankful for: (1) Over the next 20-25 years baby boomers are projected to move to Florida in large numbers, which will keep the Tampa Bay real estate market strong, and property appreciation increasing. (2) Waterfront property is expected to be a good investment in Tampa Bay over the next 15-20 years, which is good for me, since it’s my specialization area.”
Gregg Larson
President, CEO
Clareity Consulting and Clareity Security
“I am thankful for two things in my professional life in 2004.
“The first is my wonderful employees. 2004 was a great year and Clareity added six full-time consultants this year: Kevin Hughes, Troy Rech, Nikki Baldwin, Amy Geddes, Marty Reed, and Rick Bengtson. Our newly expanded team is so full of positive energy that it is a pleasure to be the head ‘coach’ at Clareity, and we all have a blast working together.
“The second thing I am thankful for in 2004 is Clareity’s new Conference Center and Dude Ranch. My partners and I acquired a very special property in Scottsdale (and a horse named Barney) in October and we are just completing the renovations of a state-of-the-art conference room that has high-tech features that will amaze our visitors and clients…I am extremely thankful that this facility should enable me to spend more days at home in 2005 than I did in 2004.”
Glenda Towe
Realtor, RE/MAX Foothills
Clemson, S.C.
“I am so thankful to be able to live and work in this beautiful United States of America! We are truly blessed in this country. From the mountains to the sea, we have so much to offer. It is a pleasure helping people with the American dream. It becomes a part of your life, being a servant to people who need our services. May God continue to bless America.”
Bart Allen Wilson
Chief marketing officer
Voyager360.com
“I am thankful for all of my clients in real estate. I enjoy hearing from everyone. I wish all of our clients a very safe and happy holiday season.”
Eric H. Wong
Realtor, Prudential California Realty
Berkeley, Calif.
“I am thankful that owning a home is still the American Dream. I am thankful for low interest rates that have allowed so many to realize those dreams. I am thankful for the trust my clients give me, in letting me help them realize their dreams. And, I am thankful for all the wonderful, warm and loving people I have met through Real Estate.”
Christopher Cagan
Director of research and analytics
First American Real Estate Solutions
Anaheim, Calif.
“I am very professionally thankful for the company and the people at First American Real Estate Solutions because not only did they give me a job doing something I very much enjoy, but the corporate culture is supportive and friendly and gentlemanly. People are interested in my work and I really appreciate that a great deal. I’m also professionally thankful for the interest of the community, lenders, media and everybody that has shown interest in my work.”
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