Ubertor Real Estate Blog

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My business partner and I took a quick day trip down to San Francisco for a few meetings today. We left from Vancouver early this morning and returned on the evening flight out of San Francisco. We had a few meetings scheduled throughout the day and had the opportunity to meet with a couple of real estate moguls.

I had the opportunity to have lunch with Pat Kitano of www.TransparentRE.com. He and I met up at Zuni Cafe in downtown San Francisco. Zuni is a hot San Francisco cafe overlooking Market Street. It was great to finally put a face to the guy on the other end of www.transparentre.com. Pat and I have emailed back and forth for a while now and I have enjoyed reading his blog. Pat runs free blogging seminars on “why blogging is the next generation real estate marketing tool for the Realtor’s online presence. With very pragmatic steps Realtors can create a successful, marketing-oriented, lead generating blog.” Anyone interested in reading a great real estate blog take a look at www.TransparentRE.com. (pictured on the right: myself, Pat Kitano)

Later that afternoon Mike and I had the opportunity of touring the Craigslist.org offices with a tour from Craig Newmark himself. Craig and I have emailed back and forth for a while but have never had the opportunity to meet in person. Craig was great to make some time for us in his busy schedule to show us around the Craigslist operation, meet some of his team and learn more about the inner workings on Craigslist. I did ask about their policy of adding more cities as I constantly get asked from Realtors about why Whistler is not included. I mentioned it to him and he said that it is up to Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of Craigslist.org, and when he wants to add more cities. He did suggest that the cities that get more attention are the ones that are discussed in the Craigslist.org forums. (pictured on the left: myself, Craig Newmark and Mike Stephenson)

It was interesting to see the Craigslist.org operation. They run out of a house that has been converted into offices in downtown San Francisco. The house for the most part looks like a house. The programmers are downstairs, the customer service team in the kitchen, Craig and Jim Buckmaster are in what could have been a bedroom and there were a few other staff members in rooms at the front of the home. (pictured on the right: Craigslist.org Offices)

All in all an excellent day.

John Scott has agreed to participate in my blog interview about the 2007 real estate market. John Scott is Chief Executive Officer of the Scott Construction Group. A professional engineer, John founded the company in 1984 and turned it into one of Western Canada’s largest and most respected construction firms. The company has distinguished itself through the construction of many Vancouver landmarks, including Waterfront Place, the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, and renovation of the Hotel Georgia. www.scottconstructiongroup.com

Q. How did you get into the real estate business?
A. I was trained as an engineer and started out in consulting and design. I found I preferred to be directly involved rather than providing advice and ended up gravitating to construction. I worked for a developer for 4 years and then started my own construction company in 1984. The construction business has been my first priority but I do some development when I see opportunities where I can afford the risk. I also invest in income property where I think I can add value because of my construction experience. Rather than say that I am in the real estate business I would say I am an active watcher.

Q. What are your thoughts about the 2007 real estate market?
A. The world is awash in money looking for a return. As a result the cap rates will trend down even further than they are now and the risks inherent in real estate will be ignored even more as time goes by. It has never been more important to do your homework: know your costs, understand the market, and make sure that the real estate you invest in is going up faster than your cost of borrowing money.

Q. What do you think the real estate market will be like in 2012? (2 years after the Olympics)
A. Cities will continue to attract people and therefore real estate will continue to go up in all vibrant cities. Vancouver is just getting started and over the long run, real estate here, will be a good investment. The winter Olympics will be great for Vancouver but there are so many other larger factors working in Vancouver’s and BC favour, such as the port expansion, oil and gas in the north, and the fact that Vancouver is a desirable place to live.

Q. The Environment and Energy Efficiency seem to be a big topics these days, is Scott doing anything unique in these areas? (ie. using rainwater within a building, etc)
A. We have put half a dozen of our people through LEEDS training and are working with Clients and designers to green building as much as possible. The most cost effective green system we have installed to date is geothermal heat for several high rises in down town Vancouver.

Q. What is your favorite source of real estate news? why?
A. Realtors, lawyers, mortgage brokers, and architects

Q. Do you read any real estate blogs? if so, who? why?
A. No but if you could recommend some I would be interested

Q. Any new projects coming up that we should know about?
A. We are finishing the first phase of Quest University in the fall this year. I think it’s presence in Squamish combined with the improved highway will increase the real estate values and have a very positive effect on the community.

Q. What was your favorite project you worked on? why?
A. Our family cabin at Whistler because it was fun to build and we enjoy it so much now.

Q. What area within BC do you think is the next “hot” area? why?
A. Residential real estate in Vancouver is slowing down which is healthy and not surprising given the price escalation over the last few years. Industrial will be steady and we might even see an office building announced this year. Commercial is doing better and we are seeing major chains positioning themselves to take advantage of the exposure and tourist visits generated by the Olympics. Recreational real estate will continue to be hot as a result of Alberta money and foreign buyers. Whistler real estate has gone no where in 5 years and could be an Olympic champion by 2010.

More Blog Interviews:
Blog Interview: Colin Bosa, President of Bosa Properties Ltd.

Jordan Behan the President of TellTenFriends.com posted a list of tasks you can do to create some buzz marketing around your business. He has even promised to complete the list personally for his business. Here is the list from Jordan’s site (via Ron McDaniel):

1. Email an Old Friend or Acquaintance
2. Contact a Stale Connection
3. Email Extended Family
4. Call Someone You Have Never Talked To
5. Congratulations Call or Note
6. Send a Surprise Letter
7. Any Day Card
8. Mail a News Clipping
9. Social Networking
10. Online Directory
11. Squidoo Expert Lens
12. Tag Your Website or Blog
13. Blog/Message Board Comment
14. Join/Participate in an Online Group
15. Talk to a New Person in Person
16. Contact a Reporter or Writer
17. Contact an Old Employer/Employee
18. Customer Follow-up
19. Call/Email a Person You Respect
20. Mini Announcements
21. Digg Your Site
22. Flickr Fun
23. Personal Success Email List
24. Did You Know? - Trivia
25. Instant Messaging
26. Text Messaging
27. Email a Useful Link to Someone
28. Testimonials
29. Celebrate Success
30. Write a Blog
31. Have a “Get To Know You” Meal
32. Host a Dinner Party
33. Arrange a Networking Lunch
34. Publish an Article
35. Meet More Neighbors
36. Send a Press Release
37. Give a Speech
38. Volunteer
39. Online Interview/Podcast
40. Conduct a Survey
41. Local Government Involvement
42. Open House
43. Interview a Leader
44. YouTube.com
45. Meet Business Neighbors
46. eNewsletter or Newsletter
47. Produce an eBook
48. Nominate an Organization
49. Challenge a Coworker to a Buzz-Off
50. Podcast Show
51. Host a Seminar or Training Session
52. Unexpected Booth
53. Organize a Group
54. Become a Board Member
55. Conduct a Focus Group/Roundtable
56. Conduct a Customer Contest
57. Organize a Charitable Event

For more information feel free to contact Jordan directly as I’m sure he would be pleased to speak with you about buzz marketing and how you can take it to the next level for your business.

Jordan Behan
778-840-TELL(8355)
jordan[at]telltenfriends.com
www.telltenfriends.com

Colin Bosa, President of Bosa Properties Ltd. has agreed to answer some questions about the 2007 real estate market. This will be the first of a few blog interviews to come with real estate power players. Thanks to Colin for agreeing to participate! www.bosaproperties.com

Q. How did you get into the real estate business?
A. I was fortunate to be exposed to the real estate business at a very young age. I can remember listening to my father and my uncles talk about the projects they were working on. I could sit and listen to them for hours I knew then that real estate would always be apart of my life. I started working my summer job at the age of 11. I, along with my cousins would work on site, sweeping, and cleaning up suites, and over the years progressed to carpenter, and then helping out the superintendents. After graduating from BCIT I joined the family business full time, first spending a couple of years in the construction department mostly doing estimation. I got my start in development after that, when I developed some houses on Parksville.

Q. What are your thoughts about the 2007 real estate market?
A. I believe that 2007 is going to be another strong year for the real estate market in BC. The year has already gotten off to a good start, as we have seen good sales across all our projects this year. My sense is that interest rates will stay where they are and probably will come down, projects are taking longer and longer to get to market, which is limiting supply and incomes are rising in the Province. If you add up these factors, consumer confidence is still strong which will mean another good year.

Q. What do you think the real estate market will be like in 2012? (2 years after the Olympics)
A. This is a tough question to answer. Where the market will be in any given year is any bodies guess, I couldn’t tell you. There are so many factors that affect real estate in the short run. However and more importantly in the long run, I can tell you that real estate prices will go up. British Columbia is too desirable of a province for prices not to go up.

Q. The Environment and Energy Efficiency seem to be a big topics these days, is Bosa doing anything unique in these areas? (ie. using rainwater within a building, etc)
A. This is something that is very important to our industry and something that as developers we need to understand. We can choose to be reactive or proactive, but in either case we will be building energy efficient and sustainable developments, because this is the future. We are choosing to be proactive, and we our in the process of designing a LEED Certified building. In addition I do think the nature of our mixed-use projects our sustainable. For example, we are building homes close to where people work, and close to public transit, promoting less car travel. We are building retail next to our condominiums, and building higher densities, allows for more park space and green space. However, we understand that we can and will do more.

Q. What is your favorite source of real estate news? why?
A. My favorite source for real estate info is word of mouth. I stay in close contact with the Realtor network, as well as all my friends who also happen to be my competition.

Q. Any new projects coming up that we should know about?
A. We are very excited to launch the third phase of our Westwood Village development, called Edgemont, this February. This is just a spectacular project nestled in the beautiful area of Coquitlam town centre. We are very proud of the way our Westwood Village community is coming together.

Q. What was your favorite project you worked on? why?
A. I am very proud of all our projects. Everyone is unique and special in its own way. Some of the projects that stand out our Mondrian, and Highgate Village, both for the same reason. At the time we started both projects they were in parts of town, which weren’t developed (Mondrian in Yaletown [pictured above], and Highgate in Edmonds town centre), and as a result of our developments both areas changed almost over night. It is gratifying to drive by these projects today and see what the areas have become, both lively livable neighborhoods.

Q. What area within BC do you think is the next “hot” area? why?
A. I believe within the lower mainland, projects which have a close proximity to rapid transit are going to become more and more popular. Also, as attractive as downtown is, I think the suburbs are becoming more and more attractive, simply because of the price differential between downtown condominiums, and what someone could buy in Burnaby or Coquitlam.

February 5th 2007 is shaping up to be a great day.

Ubertor Training - 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For those that want to learn more about their Ubertor websites, meet other agents using the Ubertor system and take their existing web presence to the next level then attending the Ubertor training session on Monday, February 5th 2007 is a must. Complete details here (be sure to RSVP)

Real Estate Tech February Meetup - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
- The 4th Real Estate Tech Meetup is shaping up to be a great one. Leon Ng President of RealEstateChannel.ca and Dara Sklar the founder of RealtySupport.ca will both be in attendance. Complete details here (be sure to RSVP)

I received a great email just now from Mike Andruff a Vancouver real estate agent that has been an Ubertor client for quite some time. It is always great to get emails like this… makes writing the blog that much more rewarding. Thanks Mike.

Hi Steve,

Kudos to you for your inspirational e-blogs. Last December as real estate slowed down at the end of the year, I actually took time to read your material and WOW! GENIUS!

Your material covers wide ranges of real estate and in my view is cutting edge. In one email I significantly alter my view of my website, how important blogging is, what a great resource I have in Ubertor.

I don’t pass on the e-blogs anymore, they have tons of value. All I can say is THANKS and keep doing what you are doing.

Wishing you every success in 2007,

Mike Andruff
www.teamandruff.ca

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I attended the Provident Security home security seminar tonight. It was an excellent presentation on how the security business works, what service the Police provide when it comes to alarm response and what you can do to 5 minute proof your home. Vancouver Police Constable Ray Gardner, from the Kerrisdale, Oakridge, Marpole Community Policing Office had some interesting things to say about how low a priority alarm response is for the police. He said that they must obey all traffic signs and follow all traffic laws when driving to an alarm. It was quite an interesting presentation. Here are a couple pictures from the event:

Vancouver Police Constable Ray Gardner

Mike Jagger of Provident Security

Redfin.com points out the dos and don’ts of real estate listing descriptions. Articles in the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post give a few examples as well.

Worth taking a look at these articles especially if you have ever written “must see!”, “an overabundance of exclamation points” or “new paint” within your listing description.

Over the weekend Dave Liniger, founder of RE/MAX, bought CNN’s Warrior One Hummer which was used by CNN to cover the Iraq war. Complete details here.