The Group, Inc., Real Estate, announced that Emily Moore has joined as a Broker Associate/Partner and can be reached at 5401 Stone Creek Circle, Loveland, 970-613-0700.  Prior to joining The Group, Inc. Ms. Moore worked in the hospitality industry as a manager of operation, and in sales and marketing for 12 years.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Colorado.

The Group, Inc. is Northern Colorado’s leading real estate company with six locations in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley.  www.thegroupinc.com

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

• 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.

The Group, Inc., Real Estate, announced that Seth Hanson has joined as a Broker Associate/Partner. Hardy holds an MBA from the University of Kentucky. He has been a licensed broker since 2004 and has experience in real estate development and residential real estate sales. Prior to joining The Group he was a Broker Associate with First Colorado Realty in Estes Park. He can be reached at 2803 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, 970-229-0700.

The Group, Inc. is Northern Colorado’s leading real estate company with six locations in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley. www.thegroupinc.com

On February 14, 1976, our founders created The Group with the mission of helping people get where they want to go on time. Thirty-five years later we are thankful for the phenomenal success we have experienced and look forward to the future as we continue with the vision of of our founders.

The real estate business is ever evolving and The Group is committed to being on the leading edge of the industry. Ninja Selling, our family of affiliated businesses, our state-of-the-art pricing tools, and The Real Estate Source are just a few examples of innovations in our market. All of our programs are created to make the real estate process easier for our customers.

We celebrate our founders, visionaries who had the dream of building a great company, and we look forward to another exciting year in real estate.

Eric Thompson, President of The Group, Inc. Real Estate, has announced the launch of The Group University. The Group University offers educational opportunities for Group Realtors and support staff in the areas of Sales Skills and Tools, Technology Skills, Life Skills, and Builder Services. Sessions, held on a weekly basis, are taught by experts in various fields as well as by Group Partners and staff.

“Learning is an important part of The Group’s culture and our people are highly skilled and experienced in many areas. The Group University provides an opportunity for Group Partners and others to share their expertise with everyone at The Group which ultimately benefits our customers,” said Thompson.

Amy Hoback coordinates The Group University and is the administrator for its website, www.thegroupuniversity.com. She can be reached at 970-223-0700.

Stu Hoime, Venture Manager for The Group Guaranteed Mortage, submitted the following report for the week:

National average rate for the week ending November 20th:

30 year fixed:  4.83%
15 year fixed:  4.32%

Market Commentary:
A highly anticipated speech on Monday by Fed Chief Bernanke on the economic outlook revealed no change in the Fed’s stance on short-term monetary policy. There were also few surprises in the economic data released during the week. The monthly inflation readings continued to show that inflation is not a cause for concern in the short-term. As a result, mortgage rates barely moved during the week, remaining at historically low levels.

The decline in the value of the dollar has received a great deal of attention lately. While Fed officials rarely discuss the value of the dollar, Bernanke assured investors that the Fed is closely watching exchange rates. However, he then reminded investors that the Fed’s dual mandate is to promote full employment and to keep prices stable. According to Bernanke, the value of the dollar is just one of many factors affecting inflation, and the Fed is not concerned by the movement in the dollar so far. With a fragile economy and high a unemployment rate, he suggested that the Fed intends to keep the fed funds rate at very low levels. Tightening monetary policy to strengthen the dollar would hurt the economic recovery and slow job creation. After the speech, the value of the dollar fell to the lowest level since August 2008.

If foreign investors expect the value of the dollar to continue to fall, it may pose a risk for mortgage rates in the future. Foreign investors historically have been major buyers of mortgage-backed securities (MBS). When the dollar falls, the value of US assets to foreign investors in their own currency declines, making US investments less rewarding. With the Fed scaling back its MBS purchases over the next few months, a drop in foreign demand would further pressure yields higher to fill the void left by the Fed.

A wide range of economic data will be released during the holiday-shortened week ahead. Existing Home Sales will come out on Monday. GDP, Consumer Confidence, and the ! FOMC Minutes from the November 4th Fed meeting will be released on Tuesday. Durable Orders, Personal Income, Core PCE inflation, New Home Sales, and Consumer Sentiment will all be packed in on Wednesday. In addition, there will be Treasury auctions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Mortgage markets will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving.Copyright @ 2009 MBSQuoteline

Stu Hoime
Venture Manager
The Group Guaranteed Mortgage
Together with Bank of America
2803 East Harmony Road
Fort Collins, CO. 80528
970-229-2512
stu.hoime@thegroupmortgage.com

A recent article written by Inman News had the following information:

“The top seven sites on the list were unchanged from September, with No. 1 Realtor.com growing its U.S. market share of online visits to real estate-related sites from 6.86 percent in September to 7.1 percent in October.”

The research was done by Hitwise who monitors and analyzes thousands of websites on the Internet.

The Group, Inc. has enhanced all of our listings on Realtor.com.  The extra investment we have made allows us to provide more photos and information about our listings with an easy way for the customer to get in touch with our listing Realtors.  Based on the number of potential buyers who look at Realtor.com every month, this is an important feature for our customers.

Fort Collins, CO – Chuck McNeal, Chairman and CEO of The Group, Inc. Real Estate announced today that Eric Thompson has been hired as President of the company.Thompson has been the Managing Broker of the Summit County operations of Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate in Breckenridge, Colorado since 2004.McNeal has served as interim President since November 2008.

During his tenure with Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, Thompson led the company from no.5 in local market share to no.1 in local market share.He has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate brokerage including sales, recruiting, training, managing, marketing, and new construction and development.In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Colorado.

McNeal said, “Eric’s values and beliefs are in perfect alignment with the culture of The Group.His vision for the future of our company as well as the broad experience he brings is nearly impossible to find in this business.We are very excited to have someone of this caliber as President of The Group and I am confident he will become an important part of the Northern Colorado real estate and business community.”

The Group, Inc. Real Estate is the largest real estate company in northern Colorado and was founded in 1976. Its family of companies is independently owned by Realtors, managers and staff.Over 300 people work in The Group’s six real estate offices in Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland.The Group has been the market leader since its inception in 1976 and has been named the most productive firm in the country by Realtor Magazine and RealTrends.