Personal thoughts from within the Luxury Real Estate network
By Kim Briscoe of Mason Morse Real Estate
Aspen, Colorado. Mason Morse Real Estate announces some exciting changes to reposition the company for the future. In 48 years, Mason Morse has evolved with the ever-present changes in the Roaring Fork Valley, changes within the industry, changes within the economy, and within the organization. Today, Mason Morse faces another opportunity to evolve and better serve the people and communities in which we all live.
Bob Starodoj, Owner/CEO of Mason Morse Real Estate announced internal changes and the appointment of a new team to lead Mason Morse Real Estate. The new leadership team for Mason Morse is comprised of Will Herndon, President, John Wendt III, Employing and Managing Broker, and Kim Briscoe, Vice President of Marketing.
“After almost 5 years of working with these individuals on the Mason Morse leadership team, I am confident in their ability,” said Bob Starodoj, CEO of Mason Morse Real Estate. “This team is experienced, passionate, and dedicated. Collectively, they will position this company for the future.”
This leaner organization will enable Mason Morse to be a stronger, more responsive and more financially sound organization while staying true to their mission and core values, supporting clients, and remaining visible in the communities.
Mason Morse Real Estate is an established leader in real estate in the Roaring Fork Valley. Established in 1961 with over 70 sales professionals, Mason Morse has been bringing buyers and sellers together for almost fifty years. Mason Morse is the exclusive Regent in Aspen and Snowmass to LuxuryRealEstate.com. Mason Morse has five offices from Aspen to Glenwood, including the Ranch Company recognized as one of the leading ranch real estate sales teams.
By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty
For the past fourteen years Luxury Real Estate, and John Brian Losh – President and CEO, have produced an opportunity in the Fall for member-Brokers to gather in various luxury locations throughout the United States to share best practices and to expand relationships with the elite Realtors from around the world. This year’s Fall Conference was held in Bachelor Gulch, Colorado at the Ritz Carlton with the entire Luxury Real Estate staff creating an unforgettable experience for the attendees. Jim Walberg has participated in the last five Luxury Real Estate conferences and has found them to be an invaluable contribution to the growth of his real estate companies.
The four day conference held from September 13th to September 16th welcomed Brokers from around the world – from New Zealand to Spain. The focus of the best practice seminars included;
- Media Fragmentation: In the age of the internet, where does print fit into your marketing plans – hosted by Nick Antonicello from Unique Homes Magazine.
- The Mechanics Of Creative Listening: How to listen better, hear more, and find what matters most! – hosted by Matt Smith, improv actor and corporate trainer.
- The Unabashed Pursuit Of Market Leadership: How to become the Break-Away brand in your marketplace – hosted by Ron and Alexandra Seigel from Napa Consultants.
- The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Real estate evolution; How to get through today and prepare for the future – hosted by Liz Christoffersen Empowering Consulting Group
- Changing Realtor Roles In A Changing Environment: Tracking Realtor involvement on a National and Global level – hosted by Bonnie Smith Allen from Exclusive Mountain Retreats Real Estate.
- The Virtual Luxury Real Estate Office: How to create and Implement your very own profit center – an international luxury real estate office! Hosted by Michael Marquette from Marquette Turner Luxury Homes, and Jim Walberg from Caribbean Islands Realty.
- Redefining The New Luxury: What the new definition of today’s Luxury means to you and your customers. Hosted by Dan McCarthy from Network Communications, Inc.
Besides the daily high level seminars, the annual Luxury Real Estate Awards banquet is held at each of the Fall conferences. Each year Luxury Real Estate honors their top members in various categories. The highest award is the Lifetime Achievement Award given to the member who has set the example of excellence for the real estate industry, their career, and is truly a legend within our industry. This year’s award was given to Tom Anderson from Washington Fine Properties, which he founded in 1999 and is currently the president.
There were several other significant awards presented, with one of them being received by Jim Walberg – the 2009 Global Real Estate Networking Award. This award is presented to the individual who has created the largest real estate network within the luxury real estate world.
Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate (LuxuryRealEstate.com) is a global network of over 1,500 luxury real estate brokerages that is by invitation only. It provides an annual reference guide for luxury real estate agents worldwide to connect their practices, their Buyers and Sellers, and it is made easy because of this member-directory that is published each year. Each member is carefully selected based on the company’s established reputation for performance, experience with high-end properties, and quality service. We are very fortunate that The Bay Area Team and Caribbean Islands Realty were invited three years ago to be members of this prestigious group. Click here for more information about LuxuryRealEstate.com and how it can benefit your real estate needs.
By: Laurie Peter of Colorado Group Realty
Proceeds from event will go to the Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO—The 2009 Steamboat Springs Parade of Homes, presented by Colorado Group Realty, will take place Saturday, August 1. The self-guided tour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. provides an opportunity to visit stunning mountain properties located in six different Steamboat neighborhoods. Tickets are $20 per person with proceeds benefiting the Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation.
“These homes, each distinguished from another, represent a variety of styles exhibited in mountain homebuilding,” said Annamarie Shunny, board member of the Charitable Foundation. “Participants will experience a slice of mountain living not usually seen by the public.”
The seven homes ranging from 3,700 to 8,500 square feet will also showcase six different Steamboat Springs areas: Downtown, The Sanctuary, Burgess Creek, Ski Trails, Catamount Ranch and Fox Estates. Downtown, the heart of the city, offers an eclectic mix of residences. The Sanctuary, located at the mouth of lower Fish Creek Canyon, also encircles the back nine of the Rollingstone Ranch Golf Course. Burgess Creek sits high above Ski Time Square with unobstructed views of the ski mountain. Ski Trails is poised to take advantage of the South Valley views and offers some residences ski in access. Catamount Ranch is located on the private greens at Catamount Ranch & Golf Club. Fox Estates sits at the base of Rabbit Ears Pass.
Sponsors presenting homes this year include: Amaron-Folkestad General Contractors, GreenBuilt Home Design, Habitat Construction, Mountain Log Homes, Inc., Tilton Builders & Woodworkers Inc. and Woodhouse. “We value our sponsors; with their commitment and generosity this event not only supports the Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation, but the local community as well. We are honored to showcase
the work of Steamboat’s fine local craftsman,” said Penny Fletcher, Broker/Owner and Parade of Homes committee member.
The Steamboat Springs Parade of Homes is scheduled to coincide with one of the most anticipated events of the summer, The Wine Festival at Steamboat. The Wine Festival at Steamboat features several events throughout the weekend including a Grand Tasting, wine seminars, wine maker’s dinner and the “Stroll of Steamboat” where patrons swirl over 800 wines at a variety of locations downtown.
In addition to The Wine Festival at Steamboat, Parade of Homes participants can also enjoy a variety of summer events and activities that exemplify the Steamboat Springs lifestyle including hiking, biking, fly fishing, shopping, art galleries, music concerts, rodeo and much more.
“The Steamboat Springs Parade of Homes will be a treat, and perhaps even the highlight of the weekend,” said Shunny. “It’s also money well spent as the proceeds will go back to this beautiful community.”
About Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation:
In 2006 the owners of Colorado Group Realty established a Charitable Foundation in order to support a wide range of community-based programs throughout the Yampa Valley related to human services, the arts, education, Western Heritage, the environment and recreation.
About Colorado Group Realty:
Colorado Group Realty, the largest 100% locally owned real estate firm in Steamboat Springs, has a deep commitment to improve the quality of life in the Yampa Valley.
By Andrew Kirk of The Park City Record
It's hard to find things to celebrate in tough times, but Jess Reid Real Estate marked its 25th anniversary earlier this year. While the party wasn't as big as it was for the company's 20th year which happened to fall in an incredible era of boom the firm still celebrated the occasion.
But Reid's milestone just happens to be in a year that is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in his industry's history.
"We're certainly juggling a lot of things here," he said rubbing his forehead.
Reid shared mixed emotions about reaching a quarter century in the depths of a recession. What is there to say about such a big achievement at such a bad time?
For starters, he said, he is fortunate that his company is in such a great position to weather it out. After all, Jess Reid Real Estate started in a recession.
Educated in Alabama, Reid moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, as a young man and loved the skiing and mountain life. In 1975, he began a career in real estate in Salt Lake City to be near Utah's mountains.
People usually say they came to Summit County to vacation then wanted to live and work here. Reid jokes that work brought him to Park City, but it was exactly the kind of place he wanted to spend his life.
Reid said he loves it when people compliment his foresight and timing in establishing himself in Park City in the mid-1980s. The truth is much simpler: He liked it, he stayed, it's worked out.
"It was not strategic, it was a lifestyle decision. I thought that it'd work, but I was too young to realize how it would come together," he said.
Reid attributes his success not to a crystal ball in his drawer, but to loving what he does and where he does it.
"Living where you want is an important thing," he said.
He's also enjoyed being a broker. Great agents often strive for that, he explained, then find managing a business is not what they wanted.
Reid said he doesn't fear the challenges. A lot can happen before a deal actually closes. That means real estate is more than sales, and that's a principle he emphasizes with his team.
"You must be a good salesperson, but also need to be real smart and a problem solver it's half of what we do," he said.
Even in boom times, like the one Park City was in when his company celebrated two decades in 2004, real estate agents must work hard, he said. The area hit $1 billion in year-end sales for the first time that year, but the success attracted a lot of part-time agents. His people had to work just as hard to get their share of the market as they're working now.
The longevity of the company, he said, is largely due to the success of his team.
"The group I have now, they've earned everything they have. They're recession hardened," he said.
In fact, after counting, 2009 is his company's fourth recession. Thinking back to how they partied at the 20th anniversary, Reid couldn't help but ponder what the future will hold. He calls himself an "undying optimist," but he admitted no one knows "when this thing will bottom out."
He said he has some recovering he'll need to do with his own finances, but expects Jess Reid Real Estate to be around another 25 years as a proudly independent firm.
In the end, that's what Reid believes is most worth celebrating.
"We're the only company here that's not been merged or renamed numerous times That means we're doing something right," he said. "We know what we're doing. We can navigate up times as well as down."
Reid doesn't really wax poetic or philosophical about what the anniversary means to him.
He said he loves his job, he loves the community, and both have been good to him.
"I've been fortunate that way," he said.
By Lance Smith of The Kentwood Company
Rollie Jordan, an award-winning real estate professional with The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, has garnered top sales production honors for 2008 among the 60 leading broker associates at the high profile office. Rollie has also been a member of the Denver Board of Realtors’ Million Dollar Roundtable each year since 1992 and a Top Five producer in Denver on several occasions. An expert in the luxury home segment of the market, she is widely known for her market knowledge, marketing skills, dedication to superior customer service, and her tenacity during difficult market conditions.
Rollie started her Colorado real estate career in 1990. She is a member of the Denver Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. She currently serves the diverse real estate needs of clients throughout Denver’s finest communities from “Cherry Hills to the Foothills,” including Denver Country Club, Cherry Creek, Castle Pines, Genesee, Evergreen, and many other premier neighborhoods in the region. Rollie is a member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and is listed in the Denver Social Record and Register.
Rollie’s professional background includes several years in the wholesale and retail business in Denver, including ownership of two clothing stores. She has been active with numerous charities in the Denver area, including board memberships with the National Jewish Medical Research Center, Volunteers of American, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, and the Kempe Foundation.
“My real estate business has always been based on integrity, trust, and loyalty,” said Rollie. “To succeed in this highly competitive business, you must also be consistent and work with discretion to assure that the needs and privacy of your clients are maintained while providing the highest level of customer service imaginable. My goal is to make each real estate transaction enjoyable, satisfying, and as stress free as possible and have fun in the process.”
For more information on real estate services from Rollie Jordan, please contact her at 303-601-9055, or via email at rollie@rolliejordan.com. Additional information is available on her website at www.luxuryrealestate.com/rolliejordan.
The Kentwood Companies are comprised of The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and Kentwood City Properties in downtown Denver.
The Kentwood Companies are dedicated to its legacy of being “Colorado’s Premier Real Estate Company” through the highest producing, most knowledgeable, caring and experienced sales team in the country, offering the highest quality customer service experience. The Kentwood Companies are innovators known for unparalleled marketing strategies and superior Internet technology that places its clients in the best possible position.
For more information, visit The Kentwood Companies online at www.KentwoodRealEstate.com.
Congratulations to Crissy Rumford of Slifer, Smith and Frampton Real Estate in Vail, Colorado, USA. The following video was featured in The Vail Daily, it was a recipient of two prestigious Telly Awards (In the world of marketing and advertising, the Telly Award is a nod to the quality of the ad, as is an Academy Award or Emmy to an actor.)
By Brian Langhorst
Rollie Jordan, our longtime member in Cherry Creek, Colorado is hosting an open-house charity cocktail reception at one of her listings in the Denver Country Club. All of the proceeds, including a suggested donation, benefit TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (www.TAPS.org). Please contact Rollie Jordan at rolliejordan@aol.com or 303.336.0336 for more information. Click the link below to view the full invitation in a PDF.
By Brian Langhorst
Rollie Jordan of The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, Colorado was recently awarded 5th place among all Denver REALTORS® for total sales volume in 2008! This award was presented by the Denver Board of REALTORS® at their annual roundtable awards luncheon.
Rollie is a long-standing member of LuxuryRealEstate.com and Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. She has listed many of the landmark listings in the greater Denver Metropolitan area. She is currently one of the listing agents for Greystone Manor in Evergreen, Colo. listed for $24,000,000 USD. This listing is truly one of a kind in the state of Colorado. The listing is set upon 57 acres with seven outbuildings, including an entertainment pavilion.
Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Membership Manager. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. This is wonderful news. Congratulations, Rollie!
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