Pierre Kennel, a real estate rookie with EXIT Exceptional Realty in Austin, TX went home $100,000 richer after winning the Grand Prize at the Gala President’s Ball finale to EXIT Realty Corp. International’s 10th Annual Convention held recently at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.  In a letter to EXIT Realty Founder and CEO, Steve Morris, Kennel describes his belief in the creative visualization that brought his good fortune to fruition.  Here’s an excerpt from that letter:

“One year ago I was jobless; I had no idea why the bad things in my life were happening.  I was focusing all of my energy on the negative things in my life, thus creating more of them.  I am blessed with a mother who never gave up on me, always saw the good, and believed I had, in her words “tremendous potential”.  She recommended I go to school and get my real estate license and as soon as I started classes I knew this was what I needed to be doing.  I was passionate for the opportunity to help other people, which is what this business is at the core. 

“The Law of Attraction is a very powerful and very real thing.  Across from my desk was one of the banners promoting the ’08 Convention.  At the bottom it said, “$100,000 drawing”.  I sat at my desk every day and visualized winning the money.  I included every detail I could think of from what I thought the experience would include.  Each morning I got up and the first thing I did was write affirmations.  It is amazing the joy it has brought into my life.

“I took a very clear picture of what was painted in my mind to the Convention, and although very excited to hear my name called, I was not surprised because I had already won in my mind.  This experience has opened new doors to the possibility of this power tool.  I believed in it before, but Saturday took it to an entirely new level.

“Steve, I want to thank you so much for the $100,000.  I have been truly touched and have shared this experience and the factors that made it possible with everyone I have come in contact with.”

For more information about EXIT Realty Corp. International, please click here.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports "With the help of his grandmother, Laura Jaramillo, Robert Jaramillo, 2, puts on a hard hat Monday before the groundbreaking ceremony for Laura's new Habitat for Humanity house, where she said she will often babysit Robert and his younger sister Adalayah."  Click here for the story.

There are those who make things happen, those who watch what is about to happen and the rest who wonder what happened. Some people instinctively know what to do next in order to progress and succeed, and yet the high majority has to be shown the way. The former are the leaders and the latter are the followers. Which one are you?

If timing is everything and being prepared is paramount, is now the right time for you to be readying yourself for an upward turn in the market? Let’s explore the patterns of the real estate market right back to the 1980’s.

Starting in 1985: we experienced the highest-rising, longest-lasting positive market in real estate, which lasted about six and a half years. This was then followed by a severe recession in the 90’s, lasting about the same period of time.

From 1999: the market climbed positively again for seven solid years, rising to even greater heights, which then took a nose-dive, triggered by the sub-prime mortgage debacle in the spring of 2006.

Presidential Election: On November 4^th, 2008, we will witness a Presidential Election in which will result in the new leader taking official office on January 21, 2009. Then the first 100 days in office will be assessed seriously at all levels of media.

Market flow: From now until then there will still be a tendency for the final stages of a downward trend. Once this is all complete however, “the bottom of the market” will be declared at all media outlets. At that point everyone will begin to look up. Then, slowly but surely, recovery will begin to transpire. Real estate markets usually fall fast and rise relatively slowly, certainly in the beginning. Then given about a three-year stretch, things would have returned to where they had been.

Result: What you would have witnessed is seven years up and seven years down.

It is imperative that those real estate professionals who have come through this challenging market be fully prepared to take advantage of the upward shift.  Sharpen your skills, position yourself with the right organization and align your systems and services.  You will be the leaders.  Timing is everything.   

Steve Morris, CEO & Founder, EXIT Realty Corp. International

For more information on the company that is reinventing real estate, click here.

EXIT Realty Corp. International recognizes the best in the industry in the EXIT system in Canada.  Special congratulations this year go out to Parise Cormier, Franchisee of EXIT Realty Associates in Moncton, New Brunswick (pictured left above) who has been named Canadian Broker Owner Of The Year.   Parise's  strong leadership and people skills are at the heart of her accomplishment of achieving top market share in her city.  Not surprisingly, two of the three awards in Canada for Rookie of the Year went to agents in her office.   Hubert Leblanc (pictured left bottom) was named Canadian Rookie of the Year, and Nicole Leblanc (no relation)  was named Second Runner Up for Rookie of the Year.   Shelley Skidd of EXIT Realty Advantage,  Fredericton, New Brunswick received the First Runner-Up Award for Rookie of the Year.    

"These are tremendous achievements.  It takes fortitude, focus and commitment to personal growth to be able to climb to the top of the competitive real estate mountain.  This is precisely why EXIT provides a myriad of professional training programs for both its franchisees and agents.  Proper education and direction gives EXIT Franchisees and agents a distinct advantage.", says Joyce Paron, President - Canada for EXIT.

For more information on how you can become an EXIT Realty Franchisee in Canada, contact Ed Martens, Senior VP Franchise Sales, Canada emartens@exitrealty.com. 

North East, MD (Grassroots Newswire) October 10, 2008 – EXIT Mid-Atlantic, the EXIT Realty franchisor for Delaware, DC, and Maryland, acquired the rights to West Virginia beginning September 2008. The region is owned by Rick McDaniel, Carol McDaniel, and Don Kane.

“We are excited to take on the responsibility of developing EXIT Realty in West Virginia and to give the brokers and agents the same level of award-winning support that earned us recognition as Region of the Year by EXIT Realty Corp International,” states Rick McDaniel.

EXIT Mid-Atlantic attributes the honor of being named the best of the best due to the great EXIT brokers and agents in their region. A local broker, “Special” Ed Haraway of EXIT First Realty in Bowie, MD, was named EXIT International Broker of the Year.

“Among the brokers and agents are board presidents and million dollar producers. When you meet them, you’ll know why we have experienced such explosive quality growth,” continues McDaniel.

Included in the acquisition was EXIT Lane Realty Group located in Morgantown, West Virginia, owned by Darby Lane and Gail Hartley. The duo purchased the EXIT Realty franchise in November of 2007. They are the first EXIT Realty office in West Virginia and proud to be so.

“We are thrilled to now be on board with EXIT Mid-Atlantic and for the renewed support. They are just the support we need in this down market. It has been a tough time for most in real estate and a tougher time opening a new office in this market. I have recruited two new agents in October, which gives me hope that the market will continue to correct itself,” exclaims Lane.

EXIT Realty is a proven full-service real estate business model with new additional income and retirement security for REALTORS® and their families. Their effective and quality training programs helped make them the fastest growing company in real estate history.

EXIT Realty is now the #1 "new" national franchise brand according to the 2007 edition of the Swanepoel Trends Report.

For more information on how to join the EXIT Mid-Atlantic family, or to start your own EXIT franchise, please visit www.ExitMidAtlantic.com.

Rick Frey, Franchisee of EXIT IH-10 Realty in San Antonio Texas, will tell you it's having a second source of income.

EXIT Realty Corp. International's unique Formula of single-level residuals fills the gaps between closings and helps to provide financial stability and a future where there wasn't one before.

Click here to read the lastest edition of the EXIT Entrepreneur newsletter and find out more.

In "A Monthly Touchpoint" for RISMedia, Stephanie Andre describes the success enjoyed by EXIT Realty Group Associate Broker, Richard Price, with the Lowe's Program for REALTORS^®. 

“I thought the entire marketing platform was a fabulous tool that would give my clients some value along with my information,” says Price, an agent with Exit Realty Group in Sioux Falls, North Dakota. “I’ve had tremendous success with it thus far.”  Read the full article here. 

EXIT Realty Corp. International is proud to offer the Lowe's Program for REALTORS^® as part of its Approved Supplier Program.  Signing up is easier than ever through the EXIT Resource Center.  Contact your local EXIT office for details or click here. 

In times of uncertainty, you must turn to the one thing you can truly count on; yourself. You chose a career in real estate, in part, to be an independent business person, so take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves and get to work investing in that business.

The key asset of the business is you. An asset, by definition, is a useful and desirable thing or quality. Are you useful now and making yourself more useful all the time? Are you attending every teaching, training and coaching opportunity that comes your way? News flash - you may be a real estate veteran but you don't know everything! I've been in the business 20+ years and still learn something new every day. The more knowledge you obtain, the more useful you will become to the public. Your goal is to become the first name people think of when they think of real estate and the only person to whom they would entrust their home purchase and sale. So how do you get there from here? By investing in yourself.

Image - Do you present a professional image to the public? Do you carry business cards with you always? Do you wear your company logo proudly? Those who do, have stories to tell of the deal that resulted from the stranger who struck up a conversation because they recognized the logo.

Training - Sit down with your manager and discuss in-house training opportunities. Then branch out - what does your franchise organization offer? Are there conference calls you can attend? Grab onto any free opportunities with both hands, but also budget any costs - just do it - it is NEVER money wasted. Old sayings become old sayings for a reason and yes, it takes money to make money. Find it - you won't regret it.

Networking - Are you involved in your chamber of commerce? Your neighborhood committee? Are you participating in every office meeting and group activity? Are you attending your franchisor's annual convention? Making yourself known to the public through networking is important, but equally so is surrounding yourself with like-minded, innovative and positive-thinking real estate agents.

Mentoring - They say the teacher learns the most. If you mentor someone else, it reminds you to cross your T's and dot your I's. Sometimes "fresh eyes" on a problem can bring about fresh thinking - you'll be surprised what the student will bring to the relationship.

Personally - As they say on an aircraft - put on your own mask before you attempt to help others. You must look after yourself first or you won't be any good to you or the people you love and you certainly won't be useful to your business. Are you getting enough sleep? According to the National Sleep Foundation as quoted in USA Today nearly 70 million Americans have trouble sleeping. Are you eating right and exercising? Your car isn't a dining room. And always remember to replenish your spirit.

So, if you don't know where to focus your investments these days, look in the mirror - it's a sure thing.

Susan Harrison
Sr. VP Web Development
EXIT Realty Corp. International
online@exitrealty.com
888-668-3948

Joyce Paron, President of EXIT Realty Corp. International's Canadian Organization was the guest speaker recently at three "60 Minutes with EXIT" presentations in Nova Scotia. Hundreds of real estate agents and industry leaders were on hand to hear Ms Paron talk about solutions to the problems facing the real estate industry today.

"Special thanks to Franchisees Jon Walker, Mark Seamone, Valerie Connell, Kim Connell, Jeremy Cowan, John Dulong and everyone who worked so hard to make each event a resounding success", she commented.

For more information on real estate franchise ownership with EXIT Realty in Canada, please contact:
Quebec - Chantal Desharnais
Canada excluding Quebec - Ed Martens

Sharron Richardson, Manager of Franchise Support for EXIT Realty Corp. International is passionate about the quality of EXIT’s office administration across North America.  Her team of experts trains and supports franchisees and their administrators in all things “EXIT”. 

Sharron hosts a monthly Administrator Conference Call where she imparts the latest information and invites questions and comments.  The call is followed up with the department’s newsletter, FS Extras.  This month, Sharron focuses on EXIT’s Resources.  She says, “As an EXIT Administrator, you are one of the conduits of information from Head Office to EXIT Associates. You are the “go to” person in your brokerage and as such need to be very familiar with our programs and resources. You truly know a thing when you can teach it and that should be your goal. During the New Agent Orientation process in your brokerage, Associates should be made aware of our programs and resources as another example of how EXIT takes the real estate industry to the next level.”

EXIT Realty franchisees and administrators can read the entire newsletter by logging into the EXIT Resource Center.

For more information regarding franchise opportunities with the company that’s reinventing real estate by recognizing and rewarding the contributions of its support teams, please contact us today. 

Kim Jones, EXIT REALTOR® with EXIT Generations Realty and member of the Real Estate Million Dollar Association (REMDA), was chosen as the Maryland Association of REALTORS'® Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, September 9, 2008.

Rookie of the Year is awarded to a REALTOR® who has been in the business for no more than 4 years and is based upon the following criteria: Community Service, Charitable and Civic Activity (10%), Attendance at MAR Rookie REALTOR® Seminars (10%), Productivity (20%), Education (25%), Participation in Local Board/Association, State (MAR) and National (NAR) Activities (35%).

According to Kim, education is of utmost importance to any REALTOR®, but it is crucial for a newer agent. "How would I have known anything about real estate if it weren't for EXIT Realty's FAStTRAC? Having passed my state's REALTOR® licensing exam in no way prepared me to actually practice Real Estate. For experienced REALTORS®, FAStTRAC provides a revitalization and refreshment to your perspective, enabling you to go forward with increased vigor, not to mention the Specialty Workshops and Coaching that is available to take our businesses to the next level."

Kim has over 70 hours of Continuing Education (CE) under her belt and at least 9 designations: Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI), Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), Workforce Housing Certified (WHC), At Home with Diversity, One America, is an Employer Assisted Housing Program Representative, Credit Smart Trainer and a Live Baltimore Preferred REALTOR®. In addition, she has also participated in the MAR Rookie REALTOR® Society and the Education Committee of the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS®.

"The only way I felt I could be a benefit to my clients, as a newer REALTOR®, was to get all the education that I could," said Kim.

She has charitably served Junior Achievement, the American Cancer Society, and is a frequent volunteer in her local church, Greater Grace World Outreach and her children's school, Greater Grace Christian Academy.

By the end of the year, Kim will have completed her Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation and her next step will be to obtain her Associate Broker's License.

"I am fortunate to have my big brother, Bob Gauger of EXIT First Realty in Waldorf, MD, as my mentor, from whom I glean all the wisdom possible. Learning from the experience of seasoned veterans of this industry is invaluable and then it becomes our responsibility to pay it forward and share what we have learned with others."

Kim's advice to all her fellow REALTORS® is to, "keep an open mind about learning new things and to never think we know it all, no matter how long we have been in the business. Above all, treat and care for others as you would like to be cared for."

EXIT Mid-Atlantic is taking home all the awards! Leon Bailey of EXIT PowerHouse Realty was also honored as Rookie of the Year 2008 for Prince Georges County, Maryland.

For information on franchise ownership opportunities in West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington DC, contact:
EXIT Mid-Atlantic
410.287.9000
Rick McDaniel
Carol McDaniel
Don Kane

The most anticipated event, bar none, at all EXIT Realty Corp. International Conventions is the President's Ball to be held on Saturday, October 18th at the luxurious Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.  It is the peak of the crescendo of this experience of a lifetime.  Guests dressed in their finest attire gather not only for an evening of fine dining and dancing, but in hopes of being the big winner of the coveted Grand Prize Draw*.  The anticipation builds with every hour as the contestants are narrowed down to only three finalists.  In Cinderella-like fashion, and at the stroke of midnight...

...someone becomes $100,000 richer!

For more information on becoming an EXIT Realty Associate, please contact us. 

*details to follow

The EXIT Realty Corp. International 10th Annual Convention is only a week away, and this year we've planned something extra special for the exhibit hall. 

"We always have a great turn-out of Approved Suppliers exhibiting at our Convention", says Amy Youngren, EXIT's Manager of Ancillary Services and the force behind the exhibit hall.  "This year, we're featuring some extra treats."

Convention attendees will be able to relax in the spa lounge set up with 10 massage chairs and 10 professional massage therapists and enjoy a 5-minute neck and shoulder massage free of charge.  Also featured are "Dance Heads";  not just lip-syncing, not just karaoke!  Dance Heads superimposes participants' heads onto the bodies of professional dancers, while they sing along to some of the greatest hits of all times. Each participant will receive a copy of their "performance" to enjoy at home.  It's truly a sight to be seen! 

This fabulous event, to be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN will crescendo to the President's Ball, where one lucky EXIT Associate will win $100,000*. EXIT Realty Associates can still register for convention online until October 9th.  Log into the EXIT Resource Center for details.

*details to follow

This week, EXIT Realty Corp. International announces the release of a new version of EXIT Shoptok, its online public relations press release software, available to EXIT Realty Franchisees and Regional Owners at no cost to them.

Through EXIT Shoptok, which is accessed through the EXIT Resource Center:

• Media lists are automatically created and maintained for each Franchise and Region
• Several press release templates are available with fill-in-the-blank press release creation
• Franchises and Regions have the flexibility to create and send their own press releases, "non-template"
• Copies of local clips provided to their offices
• A support desk and hot line is available

And now the new EXIT Shoptok offers even more:

• New Dashboard – More intuitive, easy to use layout
• My Private List – Franchises and Regions can create a list of personal contacts to distribute copies of their press releases. Private lists are dynamic and can be edited on the fly
• Up to 5 photos can be included with each release
• Expanded reporting including copies of completed press releases, number of media outlets who received the press releases and a detailed list of those media outlets

Dion McCormick, Regional Owner of EXIT Realty Central Texas, has this to say about EXIT Shoptok:

EXIT Shoptok is an integral part of our region's success. We have seen great success on placement of our press releases using the EXIT Shoptok system. EXIT Shoptok is helping our regional team build EXIT's awareness in the Central Texas region. The combination of low cost and high impact makes this an ideal tool for region development.

If you're looking for an real estate franchise that provides specialized technology you can actually use to help to grow your business, you owe it to yourself to take a second look at EXIT Realty.

For more information on real estate franchise opportunities in Central Texas, contact:

Dion McCormick, Regional Owner
EXIT Realty Central Texas
512-203-7801
dion@exitcentraltexas.com

"There are those who make things happen, those who watch what is about to happen and the rest who wonder what happened," says Steve Morris, Founder & CEO of EXIT Realty Corp. International in his October Real Estate Magazine cover story. 

Morris goes on to say, "Change is in the air in real estate. It’s occurring at every level of what we do and what we stand for. For instance, the approach used by many top producers over the last 25 years has been customer-driven, not client-driven. The “Do Not Call List” is starting to change all that. Hunting over the telephone is going to become a thing of the past in real estate, and because of this, the modus operandi of taking listings is going to have to be rearranged accordingly."

Read the entire story here.

For more information on joining the company that has paid out over $150 Million in single-level residuals to its associates all over North America, click here.