President’s Perspective
BILL BOATMAN, CRB
It’s good to be able to write that all Georgia real estate indicators are improving. The most recent Georgia REALTOR statewide statistics show a year to date increase of 15 percent for closings and 21 percent for pendings when compared to the same period last year. Inventory levels are shrinking and the number of new listings and days on the market are declining as well. As a result of this good news, median home prices have shown the first monthly increase in a very long time!
During the NAR Midyear meeting I attended several meetings and symposiums where leading economists and industry analysts all agreed that the real estate downturn has ended and we are now in a recovery period. From the positive attitudes exhibited and the comments received from you, it seems that all Georgia REALTORS are feeling the effects of the recovery. Before leaving this great news, I would like to share a comment I noted at a recent conference. Richard A. Smith, President and CEO of Realogy (the largest real estate company in the world), warned that while we should celebrate the beginning of the recovery, we should not return to some of our business practices and spending habits of the past. The real estate world has changed! I see this as being true for real estate and for the REALTOR organization. What an exciting time to be in real estate!
Georgia REALTORS had great representation at the NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Thank you to all who traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in this historic meeting. The Rally to Protect the American Dream was beyond all expectations. Nearly 14,000 REALTORS, all dressed in blue, assembled at the Washington Monument for the simple purpose of letting our lawmakers know that homeownership indeed matters to America and the health of our economy. Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson provided the keynote. The Rally was an incredible event that attendees will remember forever.
Georgia REALTORS clearly communicated our housing priorities to our Congressmen during the Capitol Hill visits and enjoyed lunch and heartfelt talks from both Senators Chambliss and Isakson. At the well-attended luncheon, Senator Isakson was honored for being part of the inaugural class of GAR’s newly created Hall of Fame. Many thanks to Jennifer Lundy, Leslie Kopel, John Barbour, and Keith Hatcher for the hard work and preparation it took to make our day on the Hill a success.
Also during the Midyear Meeting, Jan Baker, 2005 GAR President, entered the RPAC Hall of Fame and our State Women’s Council Chapter was named Chapter of the Year … congratulations to both Jan and the WCR!
Our 2012 summer meetings have full agendas and we are looking forward to being with you in New Orleans for the 2012 Annual Convention and Trade Expo. I promise you good content, education, hospitality, and lots of fun. Please call our leadership team anytime! We want to come to your membership or directors meetings to communicate all the happenings of Georgia REALTORS. Being a part of the Best of the Best is a great story that we want to tell!
We hope this is a great summer for you and your business!
Your Leadership Team,
Bill Boatman
Jim Smith
Robin Lance
Ryan Brashear
Anne Gault
Sheila Brower
Linda Carol Porterfield
www.garealtor.com GEORGIA REALTOR I 7
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