"Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial slugs…

By: Brad Nix, Managing Broker
Posted: February 28th, 2006
Discussion: Comments



I told you I’d outrun them.” - Han Solo

As reported by the NAR, the typical Realtor is 52 years old, has had a website for business use for 2 years, and communicates with their client via email half of the time. The scary part is, most of them are proud of these numbers.

We are in the middle of the most innovative industry changes to real estate in history. Technology is changing our industry faster than any other external force has ever affected change upon us Realtors. Real Estate agents have historically succeeded in hording information from the public to keep our jobs critical to the masses. Today, information is abundant and our roles are changing, rapidly.

Tax records are posted online by local governments, new national sites are providing property estimates, mortgage interest rates are posted online, home searches are nationwide at realtor.com, cities are compared with ease, school reports are one click away, and maps now include aerial images…information is abundant indeed. And yes, most agents have a website (regardless of how bad it is) and they do put an email address on their business card, but most agents are just Imperial Slugs when it comes to adapting to the new era of real estate.

As agents we should be embracing these changes, not fighting against them. The more educated the consumer, the easier it is to assist them effectively. Buyers and Sellers are not trying to find a way to eliminate agents, they just want someone they can trust. Real Estate is a relationship industry. As agents, we need to become the most knowledgable expert in an area and strive to fill in the gaps of public information. By clarifying contridicting data, correlating meaning to the numbers, and applying expertise to the specific transaction we will succeed where the Slugs are failing.

Blogs, RSS Feeds, SMS Messaging, GPS Mapping, and Video On Demand will all be expected in the real estate future. My point is they will not replace quality service providers. Top agents will embrace the change and excel at implementing service around the technology.

The troubles in our industry are being caused by Imperial Slugs resisting change. Well, you can forget your troubles…

I told you I’d outrun them.

To Own or Lease your Place of Business?

By: Brad Nix, Managing Broker
Posted: February 25th, 2006
Discussion: Comments



Atlanta Business Chronicle recently hosted a Broker Round Table discussion to cover business owners buying versus leasing their buildings. The participants were: Ken Ashley, Cushman & Wakefield; Alan Joel, Alan Joel Partners; and Kirk Demetrops, The Griffin Co. The discussion included the following quotes:

“We see probably triple the interest in buying, from owner/users, small, medium-sized tenants right now. Interest rates are low. Banks are wanting to lend them money. The can usually get in somewhere in between, on the high end, 10 percent down and 20 percent down. And it’s a great investment for them.” - Joel

“If you have a growing dynaminc company, that entrepreneur has excessive returns probably, so he’s going to put his own capital into his business to grow.” - Demetrops

“…nonprofits. They know what their growth is and they’re very sensitive to rental rate increases, and it’s very important for them to have their own facility to keep that stable.” - Joel

“…owning real estate can be a very good edge for your own personal portfolio.” - Ashley

These quotes reaffirm the position that it’s a good idea to invest in yourself. No one knows your company’s future potential better than you do. By owning the real estate that your company operates out of allows you to diversify your personal investments, avoid fluctuations in the rental market, and take annual depreciation adjustment on taxes on an owned investment.

Current market conditions are creating great opportunities for tenants to become owners. Interest rates have remained low, banks are aggressive to make loans to company owners and the office market sales prices are still low. The local (Cherokee & neighboring counties) market was saturated with office product a few years ago and absorption has been slow due to excess supply. Thus, prices have remained low as new product enters the market to compete with existing office buildings. Business owners can purchase space between $120 and $140 per square foot in Woodstock. At these prices, monthly payments are about the same as rent.

Office space will be absorbed more rapidly in the coming months and years as population growth continues at a steady pace. Plus, new office developments will slowly raise the price point. I expect interest rates to continue a slow rise over the next few years, but remain low enough to make owning your place of business a smart financial decision for you and your company.

Maxsell Real Estate - Office Location

By: Brad Nix, Managing Broker
Posted: February 21st, 2006
Discussion: Comments




MaxsellOffice
Originally uploaded by maxsellrealestate.

I-575 to Exit 7. Take Hwy 92 East to Right on S. Cherokee Lane. Right into Weatherstone Office Park. Building 900 in back left corner of office park.

Welcome to the Maxsell Real Estate Weblog

By: Brad Nix, Managing Broker
Posted: February 21st, 2006
Discussion: Comments



Who is Maxsell Real Estate?
We are a local real estate company based in Woodstock, Georgia. We provide Residential, Commercial, Acreage and Invesment services for buyers and sellers of Cherokee County and neighboring Cobb, Pickens, Bartow, Forsyth and Gilmer county areas. Our agents have been top producers in North Metro Atlanta for over 20+ years. My partner and I left our previous company and started Maxsell Real Estate in June of 2005 so that we can focus our efforts on the community we grew up in and the quality of it’s future growth.

Who am I?
I am Brad Nix, Managing Broker and Co-Owner of Maxsell Real Estate. I was born and raised in Cherokee County and began my real estate career here in 1997. I earned my brokers license in 2003 and am currenty pursuing the CCIM designation. I am a mutli-million dollar producer and an Active Life Member of the Million Dollar Club for the Cherokee Association of Realtors. I also serve as Local Director for the Cherokee Association of Realtors, as well as, maintain membership with the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. I am a member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Woodstock Community Business Association, and PowerCore Woodstock Team. I also serve as Director of Marketing for Beverly’s Day Spa and Grace to the Nations, non-profit ministry.

Why start a real estate blog?
I believe that the community of Cherokee County, and surrounding counties, needs a local voice to discuss issues, ideas, and developments in the real estate industry. My background in residential, acreage, investment and commercial real estate combined with my current affiliations with various associations allows me to provide insight that will prove valuable to anyone interested in staying up-to-date with the ever-changing real estate market of North Metro Atlanta. I will also post listings that me or my associates are working on that may be of interest to the general readership.

How often will the blog be updated?
My goal is to post on a weekly basis, and sometimes more frequently, as news develops. This blog is an expirement with the local real estate market and I will change the format and forumn to fit the needs of the community.

Thanks for checking it out and I look forward to interacting with you about the local real estate market and the goings-on at Maxsell Real Estate.