The Bosshardt Blog

What's happening in real estate: The week in review

On Monday Bosshardt Property Management got eight of us back from the NARPM national convention. We started implementing our plans to further improve our organization and enhance our customer and client services. Settling back in from an event like this can be pretty tumultuous at best. Lots of changes in store!

On Tuesday, at the Bosshardt Realty Services Sales Meeting, we broke out into a raucous debate when Alarion Banker and Elite Gainesville Mortgage man Mike Jones told us that area appraisers are now using foreclosures in their appraisals where they previously would ignore them. "In the final analysis, foreclosure sales are driving market prices. Combined with short sales, they represent almost 40 percent of our deals now," said Jones. Look for real estate prices to fall. Jones also mentioned that Gainesville is one of the few areas left in the nation denoted as a "severely declining market." Only a month ago or so we asked how low will prices go.

Wednesday, the Gainesville Sun published an article that the "Big Chill" might be back in Real Estate. Based on Tuesday's discussion, this was no shock. "It's all about supply and demand," said Craig Wilburn. "We still have three times the supply we did back in 2002." Wilburn has moved his own personal forecast for a bottom and recovery out to 2011. Yikes!

Speaking of Craig Wilburn, it seems the marketing event has returned to Real Estate. On Thursday, Craig had all of us out to a new listing of his in Balmoral. The event was co-hosted by Two Men and a Truck, Aaron Bailey Photography, American First Mortgage, and Bosshardt Title.

   
I met the owners of Two Men and a Truck and the name should be Two Men, One Woman, Two Sweet Kids, and a Truck. Nice folks. I bet the most common question those kids hear is, "Do you get to drive the truck?"

Kim Bosshardt of Bosshardt Title had chocolate macaroons from Too-Jays there. Craig had a blackjack table manned by Gator voice-man Tom Collete. Wilburn gave away numerous door prizes. Harold Monk with Gator Wine and Spirits played bartender and served a fruity wine tasting. Wilburn called the event a "tremendous success. We had 50 to 60 people in attendance. Realtors in attendance said that the house was showcased well and would be the first home they showed to their buyers. Most people commented they couldn't believe the home was priced under one million."

On Friday, we awoke to see Realtor and Koppers Activist Cindy Harrington on Page 5A of the newspaper. The online article is here, but the black and white print photo is even more chilling I think. I've cut this one out and plan to frame it. My first thought was "Wouldn't you be afraid to tell this Realtor no deal? " Good for you, Cindy!

By the way, if you didn't believe that Google was now indexing Tweets in their searches, just Google "Bosshardt and NARPM" and see what comes up first. Have a great weekend and Go Gators!

Despite what skeptics thinks, Property Managers are leading the green movement

One of the interesting topics at the 2009 NARPM national convention was energy efficiency and emissions. Most property managers have already adopted green practices both for themselves and for educating their clients, but the perception may not meet the reality. I recently asked a local area green expert and contract worker for the Department of Energy if a few of my owners could hire him to do some energy evaluations of their properties. He just about flat out refused! He even went so far as to say that he worked on a municipal committee and they all agreed that landlords would be too cheap to make green improvements. Two days later, my owner just went ahead and put in an $8000 Energy Star 15 Seer AC unit without an energy study on his building. If he had an energy study would he have considered other improvements? Absolutely.

Bosshardt Property Management recently asked our landlords if they would be interested in some type of green evaluation or measurement of their property. Most replies were that they were in fact interested, but had already made substantial improvements to their homes. The reality of the situation is that it's often up to the tenants to make decisions and lifestyle changes that reduce energy usage. "Property Managers have to green the planet, one tenant at a time," said Sina Sheku, activist and founder of Propertyware.

The truth is there are a lot of things we can do to educate our tenants on how slight changes might just make a big impact. For years, we have pushed tenants to change air filters monthly from a maintenance aspect, which can increase the lifespan of A/C units and decrease costs. We haven't ever really pushed it from the perspective of saving energy, which feels good and should put more money in our tenants pocketbooks. 

 

Pictured above is our complimentary tenant move in package. We've added a CFL light bulb to illustrate the point that reducing energy use can be easy, cheap, and fun for all of our tenants. In the very near future, we will have our properties categorized by their level of green improvements. "We are making improvements to both our tenant education and marketing efforts. This is really a two pronged effort from our owners and our tenants," said General Manager Ashley Morrell.

 

Bosshardt Property Management sends eight to NARPM Annual Convention

Capitalizing on the proximity of NARPM's 21st Annual Convention, Bosshardt Property Management sent eight employees from Gainesville and Ocala to this year's convention in Orlando, Florida. "The number of employees that went shows how comitted we are to being the best trained and educated management force in our area," said Daisy Leal, Portfolio Manager. "We have a group of people that are passionate about property management. When you want to be the best you have to be willing to do what it takes to get there," added Garry Griffin, who manages the Ocala Property and CAM divison.

From left to right: Denise Furlong, Brenda Prater, Daisy Leal, Garry Griffin

On tap for the convention are a variety of courses directed towards owning, running. and operating a Property Mangement company efficently: Paperless office, Going Green, Social media for property mangagers, maximizing the bottom line, understanding people, etc. For live updates check out NARPM's webblog at http://www.propertymanager.com/2009/10/live-from-2009-narpm-21st-annual-convention-trade-show/

Eileen Spinosa and Paula Jones From the Ocala Office

Scarborough Insurance Company is the 2009 Scott Loeffler Memorial Sustaining PALS Partnership

Scarborough Company Insurance, Inc.(SCI) has generously decided to support the PALS program by become the Scott Loeffler Memorial sustaining PALS Partner for the 2009 Cadillac invitational. The Cadillac Invitational is set to tee off October 23, 2009. There will be prizes from Callaway Golf and Greg Norman apparel along with a silent auction event with various exclusive items donated by local retailers.

For over 40 years, SCI has enjoyed providing knowledgeable insurance advice to the Gainesville community. Their motto, "Look forward to a bright future of superior products and new friends while remaining true to our foundation: capable and friendly service to our customers. Our family's business is protecting your family and business."

"As a customer of their's, we've been extremely happy with the level of service Brian Scarborough provides. He works harder then any insurance person I've ever met in my 30 years of real estate experience," says CEO Carol Bosshardt.

The 2009 Cadillac Invitational marks the 11th year that Bosshardt has drawn on local area supporters to champion the cause of protecting our schools and youth. The charity is unique in that it is proactive and 100 percent local. In 2007, PALS received the Blue Foundation's prestigious Sapphire Award for the top health program in the state of Florida.

  "Every kid deserves the chance to succeed."
 
   - Terry Jackson



The PALS (Partners in Adolescent Lifestyle Support) program, overseen by professionals at Shands at Vista, provides peer support and therapeutic intervention to troubled students as well as enhancing leadership skills for teen leaders. This is achieved through peer counseling classes, therapeutic groups led by professionals and peers, and programs that provide an altruistic, tolerant, and nonviolent atmosphere in the school where diversity is welcome.

PALS aims to improve the school environment's acceptance of diversity and provide an atmosphere of
non-violence and inclusion. Teen leaders improve their leadership skills and compassion for others. Also, they gain enhancement of character attributes such as empathy and compassion. Troubled teens gain an
enhanced sense of self-esteem and a feeling of belonging.

PALS FACTS

o 75 percent of peer mentors trained in the PALS mentoring program have mentored teens in the value
of rejecting substance abuse utilizing techniques from their training.

 

o Over 75 percent of teens surveyed stated PALS made a positive difference in their lives.

 

o Over 80 percent of youth indicate that violence is an unacceptable solution after the PALS anti-violence training.

 

o Over 70 percent of youth stated that PALS changed their behaviors and attitudes toward substance abuse, making them less likely to abuse substances.

 

o PALS is established in Eastside High School, Buchholz High School, Gainesville High School, A. Quinn Jones Center, and Ft. Clarke Middle School.

For more information on the Cadillac Invitational, click here.

For more information on the PALS program itself click here.