Accelerated Marketing (auctions)

August 27, 2007. Our resident auctioneer, Joseph Merkel, secured an auction contract for a 156 acre farm in Clinton, Michigan. This farm is to be sold “ABSOLUTE.” That means there will be no minimum, or reserve, price. The auction will take place Saturday, November 3 at Noon.

The farm has an old home, that may be a tear-down, or it may be restorable. The interesting feature is there are four buildings, totaling 40,000 square feet, that were once used for chicken production. These buildings could once again be used for farming purposes, or they would make great storage buildings for a contractor.

The seller of the farm is a company that for various reasons simply wants to move the property and will let it go at whatever the high bid is. If you think you are lucky, show up with your $25,000 earnest money deposit and make your bids. You could end up with a farm at yesteryear’s price.

There are compelling reasons why the auction method of selling real estate is not merely for distressed sales – the auction method is perhaps even more valuable when selling highly-prized properties. That’s because the bidding process tends to cause buyers to want to “win.” Human nature.

Several years ago the National Association of Realtors engaged a consulting firm, The Gwent Group, to do a study on the future of the auction method of selling real estate in the United States. Their prediction is that by the year 2010 one of every three sales will take place using the auction method.

For more information on how this method might be just right for you, call our office and ask for Joseph Merkel. You can learn more about Joseph by going to the Our Advisors tab on the SVNLillie home page.

To learn more about the auction method of selling real estate go to the Services tab on the SVNLillie home page. Follow that up by going to the Sperry Van Ness corporate web site www.svn.com then to the Our Services tab and then Auctions. We will be happy to discuss your property and whether it is a good candidate for the Accelerated Marketing method of selling it. Just give us a call at (800) 345.6694.

Respecting the viewpoint of others

August 20, 2007. Gary just received a referral from a top union leader. The AFL/CIO has an affiliate known as Working America and they needed office space in Ann Arbor, near the University of Michigan campus. 

Gary found space in the offices of a local CPA firm. The only stipulation from the landlord was, “As long as they don’t try to convert us.”

Gary is politically conservative and receives referrals from conservative Republicans, but he also receives numerous referrals from union members and Democrat Party leaders.

Gary was once asked by the president of a council of unions to introduce Representative John Dingell to the Ann Arbor VFW Post, where Gary is a life member. He was warned that the congressman had a tight schedule so when Mr. Dingell arrived Gary started walking to the post at a fast clip, briefing the congressman on the issues veterans consider important – mainly health care, both for past and current military personnel, especially those returning from war zones.

Congressman Dingell said, “Hold on – don’t be in such a hurry,” and the two of them stood outside and ended up talking for an hour and a half, while the congressman’s aide nervously paced nearby. When they finally went in to the meeting the congressman spoke to the membership about health care, plus some other issues of the day. Afterwards, Gary and the congressman stood alongside Representative Dingell’s car and spoke for another half-hour. Gary said, “You know – I disagree with nearly everything you said in there, but we need to listen to each other – it’s a trait we’re losing.”

Congressman Dingell stood looking at Gary for a few moments and said, “You’re right – we do need to listen to each other.”  After that evening, when Congressman Dingell spots Gary in a crowd he always lights up with a smile, walks over with his hand extended and the greeting “Hello, my friend.”

And it all comes from listening. That is, after all, what sales is all about. 

Is it land you want?

August 13, 2007. Part of Sperry Van Ness’ extensive range of services is land investment.

Sperry Van Ness Advisors are expert at facilitating the exchange of land on behalf of buyers and sellers.

Sperry Van Ness features a team of land experts that are dedicated to client representation and owners of redevelopment, agricultural, brown-field and other land property types.

This highly-qualified senior-level team recognizes that land properties are not merely real estate, but unique assets that require an equally unique approach.

Sperry Van Ness provides specific knowledge of the factors that impact land investors such as location, development opportunities, cycles of consumer taste, and regional and population shifts, bringing the highest value proposition for its clients.

Gary Lillie has specialized in vacant land since he entered the real estate profession in 1967, and he has sold a lot of land! Even in a year when land sales were as small as a couple of acres Gary sold enough land that if put together would measure one mile by two and a half miles. That’s a lot of land.

If you have land to sell, give us a call at (800) 345.6694 and ask for Gary Lillie.

Investing in residential rentals

 August 6, 2007. Are you considering selling your multifamily real estate? We are your source to achieve the best price for your property.

Sperry Van Ness remains one of the nation’s top performing investment real estate firms in multifamily. For investors focused on this asset class, the Sperry Van Ness Advisors who specialize in multifamily are known for outperforming the market by achieving, on average, significantly lower cap rates [higher prices] per transaction. This is due to an aggressive marketing program that quickly and effectively reaches more buyers, whether they are in the same market or across the nation.

Sperry Van Ness Advisors are also known for their expertise across all aspects of multifamily. Whether handling senior housing, garden apartment or student housing, as well as single-building or multi-property portfolios and development opportunities, clients benefit from a national level of aggressive marketing expertise with local market experience, right from the beginning.

Even when compared to principal-to-principal transactions, Sperry Van Ness has a record that outperforms in achieving greater return on investment for the client.

What does that mean to you? Our sales do not just come from buyers within this community, or even from within the state of Michigan. There is a lot of east coast and west coast money coming into the Midwest because our investment real estate is a bargain compared to what is available out there on the coasts.

Sperry Van Ness advisors often work as a team across state lines to sell properties ranging from a few hundred thousand dollars to as much as $200,000.000. es, that is $200,000,000. So when you want to sell your multifamily real estate, no matter the size, call Sperry Van Ness | Lillie & Associates. Ask for Bob Hobbs or Keith Pratt. We want to break the record.