Keller donates $5 million to establish research center
Studies to explore issues that are important to agents
Nothing is more important to Keller Williams Realty Inc. Chairman Gary Keller than helping real estate agents thrive in their careers. His agent-centric business philosophy has attracted more than 77,000 associates and catapulted Keller Williams Realty to the fourth-largest residential real estate franchise company in North America.
In February, Keller reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the careers of real estate agents by donating $5 million to his alma mater, Baylor University in Waco, Texas to establish the Keller Center of Research.
“The goal of the Keller Center will be to study the issues that are pressing for real estate companies and agents in today’s marketplace,” Keller says. “For all the awesome research that is already out there, there is an equal amount that is still not being done.”
Keller explains that when he was pursuing a marketing degree with a real estate specialization at Baylor University, his professors focused mainly on commercial development. Residential real estate wasn’t really discussed.
“I don’t think that the rest of the world sees real estate agents the same as we at Keller Williams Realty do — as business owners,” he says. “I hope the Keller Center for Research, with the support of Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, will change that.”
Terry Maness, dean of Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, says: “We have conducted literature reviews of academic work in real estate marketing, and very little of it has dealt with buyer-seller relationships. That is, why do people really buy? How do they consider the role of the agent? What influence does the Internet have on information search processes and subsequent purchase decisions? These are the kinds of questions we will be answering.”
“The buyer-seller issues in real estate are important not only for agents at real estate agencies, but also on a broader scale for marketers and salespeople in a variety of settings,” he says.
Keller says he commends the real estate studies being conducted at institutions such as the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, the National Association of REALTORS® and REAL Trends Inc.; however, he says the Keller Center will explore the industry through both the eyes of the agent and the consumer.
“The research that is being done by these groups is phenomenal,” he says. “We only want to add more depth to the research and information that is out there and explore areas where these organizations can’t go.”
02.26.2007 Time to get the Mower Ready
Proper mowing plays a significant role in the health of your lawn. Mowing often enough at the right height encourages deeper roots that can better withstand drought, pests, and weed invasions.
The most critical tip: Avoid mowing off more than one-third of a grass blade’s height at once. For example, if you want a 3-inch mowed height, mow when the grass is just over 4 inches tall.
How often. Mowing once each week may be easiest for most homeowners. But doing it every 4 to 5 days during peak growth and every 8 to 10 days during slower growth reduces stress on your lawn and helps keep it at its peak. Cool-season grasses grow fastest in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, when they need more frequent mowing. Warm-season grasses grow fastest during midsummer and need more mowing then.
Real Estate vs. the Stock Market, is there a clear winner, sure, you can make a mint from either stocks or real estate, but that doesn’t make deciding where to invest any easier. And while all investments are cyclical, there’s a reason sophisticated investors are becoming increasingly more comfortable with owning property.
Everyone knows someone who has made a good investment in property - someone who got in at the right time and bought low and sold high. However, the same can be said for stocks and bonds. It’s not unusual for those in the financial services industry to have reports with “documented results” or testimonials from investors who have reaped significant gains through strategic planning and fortuitous market-timing. Still, there’s an inherently large amount of risk associated with investing in the stock market and as smart investors will tell you, real estate, by contrast, provides a controllable, predictable source of wealth generation that affords a certain, well…comfort. That’s because the stock market is a fickle thing unpredictable, intangible asset that has little, if any, tax benefits. Real estate, on the other hand, is far less volatile, has superior tax benefits, significant cash flow and a high degree of leverage. The comfort that comes from these attributes gives those investors whose comfort level lies somewhere between low and no risk an ideal investment vehicle.
02.09.2007 City Council to discuss loan for Aura Tower
Wow, the news just keeps on going for issues with various Sacramento tower projects scheduled for downtown Sacramento.
Reported recently is the Aura Condominiums http://www.auracondos.com/home.html, a 39-story tower, with 328 parking spaces and ground floor retail at 601 Capitol Mall is seeking a 10 million, three year loan from the city.
01.24.2007 Property Tax Transfer, Prop 60
Are you aware of the current state tax code, Proposition 60 that allows you to Transfer your current property tax into a new purchase? Many people we speak with either aren’t aware of the tax law or are confused with the definition. We have found many CPA’s are confused with this tax code. Let us try and define this very interesting law.
First and foremost, Prop 60 is mainly geared for a one time transfer of property taxes with a family member aged 55 or older. There are some exceptions, including health, but they are very limited. It is also intended for a inner-county transfer. For example, current home in Sacramento, buy new home in Sacramento. Currently, there are seven other counties that will participate in a outside county transfer, but as you will notice on the list below, they are generally expensive median price areas. Keeping in mind that the replacement property can’t be of more value than the sold property, a down grade of home is likely in order.
01.19.2007 Do not Call Update
The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry
If you’ve received an e-mail telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database, rest assured that this is not the case. Telemarketing to cell phone numbers has always been illegal in most cases and will continue to be so. In response to recent e-mail campaigns urging consumers to place their cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission issue this advisory to give consumers the facts.
01.15.2007 Trouble for the Sacramento Twin Towers?
Construction has stopped at the not yet built, but already locally famous, John Saca “Towers” project in downtown Sacramento.
Recently reported, several key sub contractors, including the original general contractor, Turner Construction has filed liens on the project totally 7.3 million, reported recently in the Sac Bee. Contractors include, general contractor, Turner Construction, the architectural work and the pile driving contractor.