News
SHOW AND TELL AT BROKERPALOOZA
April 17, 2012
| What does CCIM stand for, anyway? We queried several people we met at the Washington State chapter's monthly luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club last week. Most got hung up on the "M." It's Certified Commercial Investment Member. And we hear if you pronounce it really fast, it sounds like you're saying "Sic 'em!" |
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| Here's Washington CCIM chapter prez Robert Messmer of Bellevue's RGM Commerical. He took over as head of the 200-person chapter from Port of Bellingham Real Estate director Lydia Bennett in January. Robert touted a new website (CCIMWA.com) and newly inaugurated pre-lunch marketing sessions that allow brokers to take the floor and present what they've been doing to a captive audience of colleagues (making it like show and tell). The emphasis is on dealmaking, and so far it has been successful—as a direct result of the first three marketing sessions of the year, two deals presented are now under contract. |
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| Derek Doke of Barclay's, shown above doing "visionary hands," tells us he loves the CCIM sessions to "get out from behind your desk." A self-proclaimed "recovering CPA," Derek joined CCIM for the camaraderie, adding also that it was 2008 and there wasn't too much going on. These days Derek has quite a bit going on, but we're saving the deets for a later issue. |
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| Sterling Savings Bank VP SBA business development officer Mike Esfeld says the deals he's seeing happen right now are $3M and under (he's also conducting a small symphony off-camera). The market may have a short-term memory, but business owners don't, and it's leading them to take caution when it comes to buying property. "I think one of the biggest challenges today is motivating buyers," Mike says. "A lot of business owners are sensing that real estate values are about as low as they will go. The timing is actually really good right now for business owners to start thinking about what they want." |
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| For years, Mike worked with Seacoast Commerce Bank SVP Tim Moriarty at The Money Store, and the two are still friendly when they meet at CCIM events. ("We're like divorcees," Mike jokes of their partnership.) During show and tell, Tim told everyone he recently did a deal for a Poulsbo salon and spa that closed in 35 days—er, that's 35 calendar days. To boot, the property used to be a gas station. How's that for speedy full-service? |
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| How important is CCIM to brokers? Coldwell Banker's Daniel Gase and Dick Pilling made the nearly three-hour trek from Port Angeles to Montlake for the marketing session. Dan is seeking a buyer for Armory Square, a 97%-occupied professional building in Port Angeles. While the Peninsula may be seen as quiet from this side of the Sound, Dan has noted an uptick in activity in the rural areas, partly thanks to industries like Westport Marine, Nippon Paper Mill, and, of course, lost teenage tourists carrying Twilight novels and asking how far it is to Forks. Dan forgot to wear his CCIM pin, but the group decided not to fine him when he explained that he'd inadvertently left it pinned to his pajamas that morning. |
