Two factors impacting brokers in 2024 With last year in the rearview mirror, most brokers are looking forward to 2024. I especially appreciate the observation of real estate author, philosopher and mentor to many, Mathew Ferrara, who said, “If last year had a theme, it was “caution ahead.” As always, Read more…
There’s a dirty little secret in the world of real estate brokerages that few people talk about. It’s a disturbing trend that we’re seeing more frequently in small and mid-sized firms: Many brokerages today are just not very profitable. In 35+ years, I’ve looked at 1,000’s of financial statements. What Read more…
The logistics for planning in a changing market Baseball Hall of Fame legend, Yogi Berra was one of the greatest players of all time, but he was also known for his way with words referred to as Yogi-isims. Often, his unintended and twisted misuse of words reflected an underlying wisdom. Read more…
I live on a coastal island where sailing is a favorite past time. Here, “doldrums” is a nautical term for poor wind conditions requiring sailors to motor through under power. Are the winds changing in real estate and will brokers have to alter their course? Let’s be clear: the market Read more…
Getting a bigger slice of the pie It’s no secret; the big ARE getting bigger. Brokerage consolidation is rapidly moving throughout the industry fueled by the recognition that with size comes economies of scale. Many feel larger brokerages are often able to provide more, reduce costs and be more competitive Read more…
One of my favorite quotes is from famed Greek storyteller Aesop who wrote “be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.” I was reminded of this by three separate conversations recently with brokers from different areas of the U.S. who had met their growth targets but were questioning Read more…
“The worth of a thing is what it will bring,” states the old English proverb. Many brokers have had a spectacular year and they’re taking personal stock. The question of value, while it seems simple enough, is quite complicated. There are many reasons for establishing a brokerage’s value such as Read more…
J. P. Morgan, the famous Wall Street banker and financier, was a driving force behind the wave of business growth in the U.S. in the early 20th century. However, he could have easily been describing the real estate market of 100+ years later when he said, “the first step towards Read more…
As the strangest of years comes to a wrap, it is amazing that after taking such a sideways turn early on, 2020 became an unexpected frenzy of activity for most in the industry. Nine months ago, few would have predicted the level of business real estate companies would see in Read more…