CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 

Ready, Set, Go!! 

By Randy Martin, GRI 

From the Desk of President Martin

Welcome to 2007, and as another year begins, another one has passed. First, I want to thank the staff at the association for outdoing themselves with two major events in December: the Orlando International Council’s (OIC) holiday reception and the annual ORRA Holiday Open House.

Lisa Templin-Rayborn and her staff, along with Carlos ThurdeKoos, OIC chairman, worked long and hard to create an international holiday program spotlighting holiday customs from around the world. OIC members and guests filled the ORRA Conference Center to capacity, and it was exciting to see just how many different nationalities are represented locally and as members of the council.

All ORRA members need to consider representing themselves in this global market, or risk missing an opportunity to assist foreign investors in the Orlando area. An excellent way to embrace this opportunity is to get involved in OIC and, through ORRA’s professional development department, obtain the coveted CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation. The CIPS program offers insight into the different cultures and customs found throughout the world plus instruction on how to apply this insight to the real estate business.

And as for the ORRA Holiday Open House, it should make everyone proud to be part of an association that coordinated the donation of children’s gifts given by you, the members, so that young people in our community did not go forgotten during the holiday season. We partnered with radio station XL106.7 and its Baby DJ Fund, and I had the privilege of delivering the presents.

I also want to thank you one and all for the conversations and suggestions I received during the open house. I can assure you that your suggestions are always important to me and will be reviewed during executive committee and/or board of directors meetings to see how they may be used productively.

And another major event that happened toward the end of 2006 was the creation of the Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors® (CFCAR). ORRA member Tom Hankins, CCIM, along with our own Belton Jennings, CAE, CIPS, RCE, APR, and many others spent countless hours working through a sea of paperwork, required approvals, and meetings to gain acceptance of the concept from the 11 local Realtor® associations involved with CFCAR’s overlay board. Then when that was all agreed to and reviewed, the application was submitted to the Florida Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Realtors® for their approval. What a monumental task this turned out to be, and Hankins went above and beyond to ensure that it would succeed.

I would also like to congratulate Jon Crossman, CCIM, as the newly elected president of CFCAR. I know he will lead the effort to take the association to the next level. Remember, CFCAR members are our partners in Central Florida real estate and many of its members are also ORRA members.

Now for the ready, set, go. January is always a refreshing time of the year in our business. The success or shortcomings of 2006 are behind us, and everyone starts the new year at zero.

With a concise business plan in place, 2007 has the potential to be your greatest year ever. To be a concise business plan, it must contain definite goals, specific tasks, and accountability.

As we all have come to recognize, the only thing constant in our profession is change. As a wise man once said, “The market is the market.” It is our job to adjust to it.

All indications are that the local real estate market will continue to offer buyers a choice of homes. And with approximately 20,000 residential properties on the market in the Central Florida area, buyers will have 10 houses to choose from (that means one sold and nine unsold).

It is important now to be honest with sellers’ expectations regarding our current market. Don’t get too excited though, because as soon as we adjust to this market, something new will come along. Right now the new-home builders are offering many incentives to buyers of their inventory homes. This situation forces resales to step up and compete or be left behind. However, I can assure you, as soon as the new construction adjusts to the slower building trend, the incentives will end and our market will shift again. Look for that to happen around mid-2007.

Another part of the puzzle is the commercial real estate market. I heard a commercial Realtor® say that for every 10,000 people there is a need for retail development. This formula adds to the economy and creates jobs for our community, thereby generating a need for more housing. And the cycle goes on.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your president, and my e-mail is always open for your comments and suggestions. As a final thought, it is important to never forget that a rut is a grave open on both ends. Now get out there and sell something.

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