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Photograph by Paul Myers
Members of the 2002 board of directors of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors are (from left) Jeff Barnett, David Walsh, Ron Gates and Shauna Manning.
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New year will find Realtors cooperating more
By Jean Newton
While the real estate market looks promising as the new year unfolds, the newly appointed Silicon Valley Association of Realtors district chairman for the Los Gatos and Saratoga region, Dave Walsh of Windermere Silicon Valley Properties, is adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Whether the housing market is hot or not, he predicts this is the year that the industry will make a strategic change in how real estate business is conducted between Realtors.
"The market looks really hot right now. It's an energetic time and there are lots of open houses. We had a healthy month in December, almost stronger than other Decembers. The market seems to be going on all cylinders, but whether it will be sustained remains to be seen," Walsh said.
The recent rise in the NASDAQ was a good indicator, since Walsh believes the housing market goes hand in hand with portfolio value, especially in Silicon Valley. Although he isn't certain about where the market is headed, one thing Walsh does know for sure is that in the coming year increased cooperation among Realtors will be important.
"In the past, buyers were there to buy, sellers were there to sell, and it almost happened in spite of the agent due to the booming market. This is a year where the professionalism of agents is going to become an even more important part of the real estate transaction," Walsh said. "It will be crucial for Realtors to work together to help clients face the reality of the market, whether it is good or bad."
Walsh believes Realtors need to interact with each other to put deals together and make things happen for their clients instead of being isolated. He hopes Realtors will join together on marketing efforts and that the synergy generated will overcome any market obstacles in what he thinks may be a "make or break" year. In his role as district chair, he is actively motivating Realtors to adopt a cooperative attitude during the coming year.
For Jeff Barnett, former president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, the market is shaping up nicely and he is looking forward to a good year in the industry. Barnett will continue to serve on the association's board and he will remain actively involved at both the state and local level in the real estate industry. "It's important to me to bring representation from Silicon Valley forward and to keep tabs on industry happenings to better serve our local communities," said Barnett, who is vice president of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos.
Newly elected Silicon Valley Association of Realtors President Alicia Tuvell, of Coldwell Banker in Los Altos, views the new year as a time to renew commitments within the industry and concentrate on efforts to protect property rights for consumers. She also believes it's a time to continue to lead the way in technology and promote the professionalism of Realtors as a core importance in the industry.
"Protection of property rights is vital. The general public doesn't understand how important the lobbying function of the Realtor associations can be in guarding property rights. Once you spend any time at the state or national level, you realize how much Realtors mold the law to protect property rights to benefit agents and consumers," Tuvell said.
Some property rights issues on the docket today include wood burning stoves, septic tanks, historical home designations, building restrictions, point of sale requirements and even rent control issues. Director of Government Affairs for the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Steve Blanton works closely with local government affairs committees to monitor and respond to all issues within Silicon Valley cities.
"We have established solid relationships locally, and in the corridors of Sacramento and Washington, as an effective voice for the concerns of all of California homeowners and Realtors. Working cooperatively with a broad cross section of our membership, I am a vigilant proponent of private property rights," Blanton said. "This often takes the form of public testimony in civic or community meetings, legislative meetings or congressional hearings," he said.
In addition to government affairs, technology will again play a pivotal role in the coming year in the real estate industry. As an industry, Realtors have traditionally embraced technology from the very beginning, effectively using cell phones, pagers, websites, laptop computers and other tools, said Tuvell. The next wave of technology will focus on the implementation of the electronic platform as part of the transaction process. This year all Realtors in California will have access to the same forms available online for easy downloading.
"Technology has become an essential part of the real estate transaction. As a non-tech industry, we've not only embraced technology but are effectively using it," said Tuvell. With the legislation already on the books, California is leading the way in moving toward electronic transactions. The process is currently in the beta test process, and all the pieces are currently being put together.
While technology plays an integral part in the real estate transaction, Tuvell believes the professional knowledge provided by a Realtor is the most important component. Some people think they will save money if they do it on their own, said Tuvell, but the intricacies of the transaction are so complex only a trained professional can understand all the complications.
"A Realtor not only is there to negotiate the best price, but also helps clients get through the tangled web of the transaction without exposure. When you hire a professional to help guide you through the transaction, the commission becomes a minimal cost for the amount of money it could save you in the long run," said Tuvell.
As the real estate market moves up and down in the coming year, the real estate industry is moving forward to enhance services with an increased focus on professionalism, utilizing breakthroughs in the use of technology and acting as a watchdog to protect agent and consumer property rights.
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