Despite the explosion in foreclosed residential properties in Idaho, the state’s commercial real estate holds steady and is anticipated to continue to grow during 2008.

An experienced financial planner, John Hancock saw Idaho’s strong commercial real estate market as an investment opportunity. Since he had never invested in out-of-state real estate, he enrolled in Trump University’s Real Estate Investor’s Training Program to learn the skills he needed to select the right properties for short- and long-term investments. Trump University’s training and support and his financial planning skills helped Hancock net over $50,000 in his first commercial property deals.

“As the son of a successful real estate investor, I knew wisely investing in property could lead to early retirement,” Hancock said. “I had prospered in equity, but was finding it difficult to exact a positive monthly cash flow from my current properties, so I turned to the Trump University Real Estate Investor’s Training Program for help.” With Trump University’s guidance, Hancock learned to research markets analytically, look for and evaluate properties and how to contact agents. He also received guidance on interviewing agents and developing other needed resources. Within just three weeks of completing the coursework, Hancock was ready to apply the lessons learned, with the first step being to find other investors.

“When John came to us, he was already a savvy financial planner. But with the skills and training he received from Trump University, he was able to round out his personal investment portfolio with real estate,” said Josef Katz, Vice President of Marketing for Trump University. “Using the skills he learned in our Real Estate Investor’s Training Program, John knew exactly what to look for when he went to Boise to investigate its commercial real estate market and was able to orchestrate a financially sound deal.”

Hancock found Boise’s commercial market strong and growing with excellent rent-to-price ratios. “I found the property I wanted to invest in, made the decision to move forward with a partner, and netted $15,000 on that first deal without investing a dime,” said Hancock.

Now a licensed California real estate agent, Hancock has gone on to purchase and resell a seven-unit condominium property at one-week’s net gain of $14,000..

Due to Hancock’s great success in the Idaho real estate market, he has become the California sponsor of radio spots promoting Idaho real estate development and will be featured on upcoming Trump University Real Estate Investor’s Training Program tele-seminars.

Posted: February 21st, 2008 under Investing, Real Estate.
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Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., the franchise arm of Weichert, Realtors®, recently announced the launch of Weichert OTC (On Track Coach), a personalized coaching program for sales associates. The new system is available to the company’s network of more than 330 franchise offices in 35 states.

Weichert OTC is the result of more than four years of meticulous development by two Weichert, Realtors brokers, Fred Kijak, Ph.D and Bob Delle Donne in conjunction with Weichert Real Estate Affiliates. The program is designed to empower sales associates with the focus, preparation and accountability necessary to achieve consistent results in the dynamic real estate industry.

“As coaching in real estate has evolved, many companies have elected to hire professional coaches from outside their staff,” said Rueter. “Kijak and Delle Donne, however, have opted for a different approach, amassing coaching credentials while continuing to lead Weichert® franchised offices.”

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates brokers, or their appointed trainers, who enroll to be trained as an On Track Coach will be able to learn the methods for success used by both Kijak and Delle Donne. To implement the program and provide a valuable coaching resource to their sales associates, each coach on the staff is uniquely qualified through a commitment to the Weichert learning systems and sales tools.

The pilot, 8-Week Essential Coaching Program, is being rolled out “right now,” Rueter said. Franchise brokers/owners are invited to visit www.WeichertOTC.com for registration forms, FAQs and additional information.

The initial program is designed for newer sales associates, Kijak said. A separate program, yet to be rolled out, will focus on associates who have been in the business for longer time periods or with higher than average production levels. It is anticipated that the full proposed package—Personalized Premium Coaching program, Office Site Pass and Broker Exclusive content— will make its debut prior to the annual national convention for Weichert affiliates, set for March 31-April 2 in Atlanta.

Dr. Fred J. Kijak has 27 years of experience in real estate. He has served on the Board of Directors of a real estate holding company in New York and as a governor-appointed consumer specialist in Florida.

Bob Delle Donne, broker, is educated in sales, business management, finance, and business consulting. He is the founder of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates’ 10th location in Florida.

Posted: February 5th, 2008 under Real Estate.
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Media Blasters leases distribution and office space at 210 Meadowlands Parkway, in Secaucus, New Jersey. The transaction was announced today by Andrew B. Zezas, SIOR, President & CEO of Real Estate Strategies Corporation, the Kenilworth, New Jersey based corporate real estate advisory and transaction services firm that advised Media Blasters, in conjunction with Media Blasters’ New York real estate advisor, and negotiated the transaction on their behalf. Media Blasters will use the space for the distribution of its DVD and movie products throughout North America.

“When Media Blasters’ New York real estate representative approached us to assist them in the search for a distribution center, we were very excited” said Andrew B. Zezas, SIOR. He went on “Media Blasters had a very specific requirement for distribution facilities that could service their customers while remaining in close proximity to the company’s New York headquarters. We are very pleased to have represented the real estate interests of Media Blasters.”

Andrew B. Zezas, SIOR, is Relationship Manager, Strategist, and President & CEO of Real Estate Strategies Corporation, Publisher of “Business, Profits and Strategy”, a monthly online publication read by thousands of business, financial, and real estate executives nationally, and, is the author of two new real estate books, The CFO’s Guide to Understanding Corporate Real Estate Transactions and The CFO’s Guide to Hiring the “Right” Real Estate Service Provider, both of which are available at no cost to financial executives at www.TheCFOsGuide.com.

Real Estate Strategies Corporation is a New Jersey-based advisory and transaction services firm that helps companies achieve greater operational and financial performance by creating and executing Business Driven Real Estate Solutions…and Uncovering Hidden Opportunities. “RealStrat’s” advisory, acquisition, and disposition services promote intelligent business decision-making, while achieving the operational and financial objectives of public, private, and global companies, not-for-profit organizations, and the executives who lead them. Real Estate Strategies Corporation can be reached at 908-245-5999, or online at: www.RealStrat.com or at www.CFORealEstate.com.

The CFO’s Guide to Understanding Corporate Real Estate Transactions, published by Real Estate Strategies Corporation, is available to corporate and financial executives at www.TheCFOsGuide.com.

Posted: February 5th, 2008 under Real Estate.
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Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust today announced that it had completed the sale of two separate forty per cent (40%) interests in Scotia Place, a 560,000 square foot Class A
office building located in Edmonton, Alberta. The purchasers were two major
Canadian pension fund organizations.
The Trust also announced that it had completed the sale of a 50%
ownership interest in 505-3rd Street SW., a 140,000 square foot office
building located in Calgary, Alberta. The purchaser was a major Canadian
pension fund organization.

Posted: February 1st, 2008 under Real Estate.
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While sunshine states such as Florida and Arizona have long enticed Canadians to purchase their winter retreats in warmer-weather American cities, the uncertainty clouding the U.S. housing market now has many Canadians favouring properties north of the border. And the mountain resort of Canmore is a “coveted recreational destination,” says a report released today by Royal LePage.

In fact, 36 per cent of Canadians who own a winter recreational property or who are considering purchasing one cite they are more inclined to buy a property in Canada than in the U.S. because of the economic uncertainty plaguing our southern neighbours, says the 2008 Royal LePage Winter Recreational Property Report.

The report says Canmore’s ideal location on the eastern slopes of the Rockies surrounded by the mountains and a multitude of recreational activities “continue to make the area a coveted recreational destination.”
Prices of a standard condominium in Canmore within 30 minutes of the mountain range from $390,000 to $425,000 compared with $235,000 to $300,000 last year, says the report. A standard chalet within 30 minutes of the mountain ranges from $660,000 to $725,000 compared with $485,000 to $540,000 in 2006.

The report says that in Canmore there is a growing trend of buyers purchasing a second or third recreational property, one that is designed for winter.

“We expect to see strong demand from three types of purchasers over the next few years - baby boomers approaching retirement or inheriting wealth, professionals who are able to work from satellite or home offices and foreign visitors looking to get away from crowded cities,” said Brad Hawker, broker/owner with Royal LePage Rocky Mountain Realty.

“Our buyers have been predominantly from Canada for the most part over the last few years. We’ve seen a stronger international contingent made up of a lot of people from the UK concerned about the overcrowding of the cities and the changes that they see within their country. And those people are moving here for recreational interests and either using the property as a vacation home or as full-time residence or as a transition from a vacation home to a full-time residence at some point in the future when they’re looking at retiring.”

Hawker said the community is also seeing many Canadian buyers, baby boomers, looking to position themselves for retirement and concerned that in the future it will be too expensive.

“They may not be buying the property they want to retire to right now in Canmore but they’re buying something that either they can use themselves from time to time if they live in close proximity or they might be buying something just as an investment property to rent out long-term with the expectation of selling it and buying something probably larger when the time comes for them to retire,” said Hawker.

Posted: January 31st, 2008 under Real Estate.
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