The Group University will host a free class, Wake-Up Money, Wednesday, October 19, at The Group’s office at 2803 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins. Registration begins at 5:00 pm with the presentation beginning at 5:30 pm.

Current market conditions have created an environment for real estate investors that are unique in the history of Northern Colorado. Larry Kendall will discuss the benefits of residential real estate investment, how to build wealth through real estate investment, how to set investment goals, and the step-by-step process for purchasing investment property.

Register at www.thegroupinc.com, or by calling Rachel Bomgaars at 970-377-6068 or 970-223-0700.

The Group University will host a class, Homebuyer Basics, for first-time home buyers on Wednesday, September 14, at The Group’s office at 2803 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins. Registration begins at 5:00 pm with the presentation beginning at 5:30 pm. Information will include current local market trends, the steps in buying a home, how to increase your odds of success, current loan options, and the advantages of owning versus renting. A question and answer session will follow. Attendees will receive a First Time Home Buyer Kit.

Register at www.thegroupinc.com, or by calling Rachel Bomgaars at 970-377-6068 or 970-223-0700.

Forbes magazine ranks the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area, basically Larimer County,  5^th in the nation as the Best Place for Business and Careers. 

Colorado had 5 communities in the top 50. Others included: Denver – 9, Colorado Springs – 30, Greeley – 42 and Boulder – 44.

Among the other things Forbes says about the area are:

• #67 in Cost of Doing Business
• #31 in Job Growth
• #12 in Education with 41% having a college degree
• Unemployment: 6.7%
• Job Growth (2010): 0.3%
• Cost of Living: -6.2% below nat’l avg
• Net Migration (2010): 2,170

The Group, Inc. Real Estate is the leading real estate company in Northern Colorado.  We have six offices in Greeley, Fort Collins, and Loveland and are celebrating our 35th year in business.

The National Association of Realtors conducted a study that was released earlier this year about the benefits of homeownership. The report, Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing, cite the following results:

• Higher educational performance and better behavior of children
• Lower community crime rates
• Lessened welfare dependency among households
• More household participation in civic affairs
• Better household health

Of course there are many economic benefits as well:

• For every two homes sold, one job is created
• Each home purchased pumps up to $60,000 into the economy
• Home ownership accounts for over $2 trillion of the U.S. GDP

The Wall Street Journal reported the following this week, “The long-term benefits of homeownership remain very much intact. For now, at least, you can deduct the mortgage interest on your taxes—a big perk for people in higher tax brackets. You get to paint your walls any color you wish, without having to clear it with a landlord. And assuming you can buy a home for about the same price as you can rent one, buying will give you the ability one day to live rent-free. Come retirement time, a paid-off mortgage means your monthly expenses are significantly reduced, and you have a chunk of equity to play with.”

Interest rates are at a 50 year low.  Don’t wait….there are many reasons why homeownership ( and expecially Northern Colorado real estate) will benefit you and your family.

http://www.realtor.org/research/research/homeownershipbenefits

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576361522020024248.html#project%3Dhomepriceindexapril20110603%26articleTabs%3Darticle

The Group, Inc. received several awards at the Fort Collins Board of Realtors annual Community Affairs and Awards event held Tuesday, May 17. 

Earth Day Recycling Challenge Winner

Green Realtor Office of the Year

CARHOF Major Supporter in 2010

Former Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson received the Citizen of the Year award at the luncheon.  Keynote speaker was U.S. Representative Cory Gardner.

The Group, Inc. Real Estate announced that Emily Sockler, Relocation Director, has been accepted for membership in the Relocation Directors Council.  Members are recognized leaders in the relocation industry and are known for their delivery of comprehensive service to corporate clients, transferees, and industry partners.  They are highly qualified individuals who are selectively chosen for their dedication, expertise, and position in the industry. 

As Relocation Director, Ms. Sockler is responsible for assisting corporations and their relocating employees by providing community information, and coordinating house hunting trips, moving of household goods, and other related services required for a cross-country move. 

Ms. Sockler earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Colorado State University College of Business and joined The Group, Inc. in 2008.  She can be reached at 375 E. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, 970-377-6059, esockler@thegroupinc.com

RIS Media 23rd Annual Power Broker Report

The Group Real Estate is ranked 3^rd in the nation in sales volume per sales associate for the year 2010 in the 2011 Power Broker Report compiled by RIS Media.  The magazine’s 23^rd Annual Report gave a detailed break-down of year-end production numbers for the 300 most successful real estate companies nationwide.  Nearly 1000 companies responded to the survey. 

 The Group closed 3,523 transactions, averaging over 22 transactions per associate in 2010, and totaling $922,339,823 in sales volume.  The company ranked 105^th in the nation for total transactions and 95^th for total sales volume.

 President, Eric Thompson responded to the recognition by saying, “The customer has never needed the assistance of a true real estate professional more than today. Customers today deserve to work with the very best- someone who will help them achieve their goal in the time frame that they need. The Group is the home of some of the most productive Realtors in the country and I believe our customers find value in that.”

The Group, Inc. Real Estate from Northern Colorado is locally owned by its sales associates and managers.  It has 6 offices in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley.   www.thegroupinc.com

In 2011 there has been a significant decrease in the number of properties for sale in our region.  Compared to 2008, there are 31% fewer single family homes available in the Northern Colorado market.  Some property types in specific price ranges are now under-supplied.

The decreased inventory has caused the months of supply to also decrease.  For most markets, the months of supply of single family homes is the lowest it has been in the last five years.  This has caused home prices across our region to remain stable.

All markets are local and months of supply can vary a great deal depending on the specific area and price range.  Contact The Group Real Estate to see a detailed breakdown of months of supply for each market.

• The Group Inc. is marking 35 years in business this year. How does that compare to the average lifespan for real estate companies?
  It’s rare for a real estate company to remain in business for as long as we have. Of all the real estate companies that existed in Northern Colorado when we were founded in 1976, we are the only one still in business. More important than just being in business, we have been the market leader for that entire time.
  
•  If you could identify three key reasons for The Group’s longevity, what would they be?
  We have always put the focus on the customer; to make the process easier and faster and to provide valuable insight to them about our market. Our partnership model creates a very unique culture that benefits the customer. Instead of 180 Realtors working independently, we have 180 sales partners working together to create a great experience for all of our customers. The other key to success is our focus on giving back. We have strong ties in our communities because our people give their time, energy and money to the important causes in our region.
  
•  How do you expect The Group to look different five years from now?   We’re in an environment of increasing regulation and increasing complexity. This will cause the real estate customer to look for the assistance of a professional to help them through the process. In many ways, we’ll look very much the same in that we will be famous for sales partners who are committed to producing valuable results for our customers. Technology will evolve, of course, and I believe the growth of smart phone technology will drastically change how information is delivered to real estate buyers. As time goes on, real estate customers will demand both high-tech and high-touch.

• How does The Group access potential customers across the state, country and internationally?   The Group is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a global network of 600 premier real estate firms with 150,000 sales associates around the world. These companies are independently owned and are generally the top company in their respective markets. Properties listed by The Group appear on the websites of these companies who attract over 150 million unique visitors annually. That collective traffic is about 5 times the amount of the largest real estate franchise. In addition, after 35 years of innovative real estate practices, The Group has earned a reputation as a leader in the industry throughout the United States and Canada. Realtors in other locations think of The Group when referring their customers to Northern Colorado.
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• In 2009, you came to Fort Collins from Summit County which specialized in the resort community. What differences have you found along the Front Range?
I’ve been in real estate for 17 years- the first six in the front range and then 10 years in Summit County. Real estate in resort communities is certainly exciting given the types of properties that are for sale there. It is refreshing to be back in a primary home market where much of our focus is helping customers who really need our help to understand the process.
• How has your family adjusted to life in the city? People My wife and kids love it here. We have two young daughters- one of whom was born at Poudre Valley Hospital last summer. I can’t think of a better place to raise a family.
• What will it take for The Group to remain successful for another 35 years?    To remain successful we simply will keep our focus on the customer. I believe that the customer has never needed the assistance of a true real estate professional more than today. Customers today deserve to work with the very best- someone who will help them achieve their goal in the time frame that they need. The Group is the home of the most productive Realtors in the country and I think our customers find value in that.

Real estate agents in Colorado are licensed to serve, not just sell.  A new ruling by the Colorado Real Estate Commission declared that licensees in the state must provide licensed services – such as property presentation, negotiation of offers, and communications through the transaction process – if they intend to list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service.  This ruling is intended to stop the practice of agents who might sell access to the MLS to other sellers – such as “For Sale by Owner” – then not take part in any service that supports the transacation.

By working with a Group Realtor, you can be confident you are working with a true real estate professional who adheres to the Real Estate Commission’s principles.