Candy’s Letter To Steve Brown

Dear Steve,

I read your piece in Friday’s paper. It took me all weekend to gather my five thousand thoughts. Wow, so Realtors are getting creative in their attempts to move properties? More than just a sign in the yard? They are throwing parties with food, wine, maybe even models showing off great jewelry?
Gosh, Steve, you’d better sit down. Maybe grab a drink because I have something to tell you: this is old news. For years, in fact ever since Dallas Realtors ceased to be bored housewives in St. Johns suits with a lot of selling chutzpah, the shining stars of Dallas Real Estate have been grabbing the limelight by wining and dining both clients and other Realtors. Honey, that’s how Dallas sells dirt….

Case in point: last Friday, Frank Purcell held a fabulous party at one of his UP listings complete with Martinis and great catered food — unfortunately, I was not there. I am with Harry Morgan of Ellen Terry Realtors here in Chicago –I met Harry at a party given by Karen Fry. I have been invited to movies at the Studio Movie Grill more times than I can recall, all hosted by agents hoping to stay in the limelight. Hec, tonight I was even invited to the Dominican Republic along with 200 other agents. That’s what it’s all about for agents these days: limelight. See me, know me, buy from me. Agents are not only hosting great parties, they have super websites and blogs. They want to position themselves not only as great hosts (hostesses) but as the definitive authority on every piece of dirt that can be exchanged for a title policy. And given today’s competitive market, with the top 5% of buyers controlling $32 TRILLION in buying dollars, every smart agent I know is vying for that ever so juicy, could-care-less-about-sub-prime market. These buyers were not born yesterday, although they may have been born middle class. (More on that later.) So be it a movie, a Christofle sterling silver eyeglass case, or a South African wine tasting, today’s agents are more cleverly creative than ever. They’ve been creative for years… and about those signs: not only are today’s super brokers tech savvy, they are hooking up with technology that will have all the info a buyer wants and needs on the internet and even on their I Phone. Imagine that!