It was the 26th iteration of the Gathering of Eagles. The conference, a Real Trends ‘by invitation only’ conclave, is generally recognized as the premiere learning and networking event for those within the top 250 North American real estate brokerages. Real Trends entrepreneur and “Gathering” impresario Steve Murray set the tone during his opening. “We [...]
Yesterday I had an intense telephone call with a client who had recently come to realize that his cable, wireless and telephone company, financially flush from the mobile communications boom of the past few years, was about to become a major competitor. Assuming he was just being his usual high energy animated self I made [...]
One of the real joys of being engaged with the real estate industry, at this particular moment in its history, is the opportunity to understand the course of the industry’s current migration while, at the same time, being able to identify the behaviors and adaptations that will allow certain of its present brokers and practitioners [...]
It was really a great session. While the fog swept across the harbor in San Diego 35 industry executives from across the country spent the afternoon sharing and assessing the current realities of their markets. Area after area reported healthy increases in sales volumes and prices. Inventory figures sounded like science fiction stories and the [...]
It happened towards the end of a business lunch at a popular lunch spot. There it sat, hidden from view between a glass of Diet Pepsi and a bowl of salsa, a small printed note on a card in a plastic stand. A simple question; “How are we doing?” Every one at the table immediately [...]
February 19, 2013 – 5:16 PM
They call it Family Reunion and for 2013 it was Dallas, Texas that played host to over 11,000 raving Keller Williams Real Estate participants from all over North America and nine overseas markets who gathered to celebrate the company’s 30th birthday party. For those who made an appearance at CEO Mark Willis’s State of the [...]
February 8, 2013 – 3:09 PM
Our firm is in the process of completing a survey of 35 leading brokerages across the country and as of the twenty fifth interview one could not help but be concerned about the results to date. Some thoughts by way of laying a foundation. The issue of recovery is a ticklish one in economic circles. [...]
January 16, 2013 – 1:12 PM
One of the joys of my world is to encounter the similarities of opportunity and challenge facing clients within the three industries in which we are currently engaged. Our thoughts trace back to a recent meeting in the Wexford County Road Commission garage in central Michigan. In attendance were twenty some county road superintendents each [...]
January 10, 2013 – 3:15 PM
Some of the most creative and stimulating writing environments in the country can be found on the beaches of Southern California. The salt air keeps the mind sharp and each wave brings a new idea or a great connection with the last one. The only morning distraction is the ubiquitous surfer whose skills, screw-ups and [...]
December 18, 2012 – 3:38 PM
Without question both the challenges and opportunities for the North American real estate broker have increased significantly over the past five years. What is not so clear is the effort brokers must expend to identify, monitor and track the events that have, over this period, and are even now molding the current industry operations and [...]
