We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering men and women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

We provide an environment of collaboration and positive energy focused on helping each other be more successful.

We are established career professionals who value integrity, respect for each other and continuous development. We are committed to excellence and bringing excellence out in each other.

We believe that business success brings influence, credibility and greater opportunity. More, it leads to financial security, greater independence and more quality of life choices.

We advocate involvement in the real estate industry, and in the broader community, believing that it helps us grow individually at the same time as our involvement brings about positive change.

 What We Do

We provide education, business tools and support that meet the distinct needs of women entrepreneurs.

We strive to be a career partner—a valuable resource no matter what stage of development you are at currently.

We help members meet their business goals and develop their leadership potential.

We lay aside competitive differences in favor of collaboration and camaraderie.

 The Benefits of Belonging

We are a business resource through regular membership meetings, every one of which has an educational component.

We help you acquire new skills, solve business problems and make business contacts.

We facilitate leadership development, referral opportunities and enhanced confidence as you get involved and participate.

These are just some of the reasons why you should join and become a part of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®.

Applications can be faxed to 888-943-4452  or sign up online at http://www.wcr.org/NewMember/.

 Please remember to select Bonita-Estero when signing up online.  http://www.wcrbonitaestero.com/.

These potential home buyers are most likely to think it’s a good time to get off the fence—and have strong opinions about the design features their new homes will include.

At 32% of the population of home-buying age—generally defined as those who are at least 30 years old, the Gen X population cohort isn’t the largest, but it’s the most mobile, said presenter Mollie Carmichael, principal of John Burns Real Estate Consulting in Irvine, Calif. “They are in full force with their careers and they need to accommodate growing families,” she said.

In sharp contrast, even though they constitute 41% of prospective home buyers, Baby Boomers continue to wait for the market to improve, and their decisions to delay retirement also delay their decisions to downsize into a smaller home, Carmichael said.

Most of the 10,000 buyers and potential buyers in 27 metro areas that the consulting company surveyed were optimistic about a new home purchase, with between 85% and 89% saying that it was a good time to buy a home. Only 13% said they thought home prices would continue to fall, further evidence that it’s “not all about price,” she said. “They want something compelling, from a design or personalization standpoint,” said Carmichael.

In addition, though the average home size is shrinking, a majority of prospective buyers said they would like a bigger home than the one they have. “These are first-time buyers or younger families looking for more room to grow,” she said.

Seventy percent said that they were willing to pay $5,000 more for a green home, but those responding to the survey said that they expected new homes to already have many green technology features. They also said they would pay a premium for dark wood cabinets, a separate tub and shower and a fireplace in the living room, and more preferred a great room over formal spaces.

And while community amenities are important to Gen X buyers, 46% said they prefer a home in a large-lot, suburban development, versus the 21% looking for a traditional or “walkable” neighborhood.

Webinar panelist Heather McCune, director of marketing at Bassenian/Lagoni Architects in Newport Beach, Calif., also emphasized that design will be important in generating sales in the emerging marketplace. “The notion of ‘build it and they will come’ no longer works. Design matters,” she said.

McCune said buyers are looking for homes with a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, even in colder climates, to create the perception of greater home size, even if the space is only usable for part of the year. They also want more storage, an open floor plan and flexibility in the garage.

“While Gen X numbers are smaller than the birth cohorts before and after them, their numbers have been enlarged by steady immigration,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Gen X may wait longer than their predecessors to establish their own household or buy a home because of the recent recession impacts, but the trends are still likely to occur as they have for past generations.”

This webinar was one in a four part series entitled New Horizons: Setting a Course for Success in the New Market. The series was sponsored by Simonton Windows and ThermaTru.

For more information, visit www.nahb.org.

Likewise, before you can expect your prospect to buy your products or services, he or she must first like and trust you as a person.

There is no actual set amount of time for the warm up phase of the appointment, because some prospects naturally warm up faster than others. Said differently, the warm up period is not determined by a length of time, but rather by the level of rapport established. Your prospect will literally show you—through his or her body language—when rapport has been established and the moment is right for you to smoothly transition into the sales presentation. Make note of your prospect’s body language gestures when you first begin talking and watch for the flow of gestures to move from closed to open. For example, if your prospect begins the appointment by sitting back in his or her chair with folded arms and crossed legs, you must continue the warm up until he or she shows open gestures and leans forward towards you.

Here are 7 proven tips to help you build rapport and quickly warm up your next prospect:

1. Make your prospect feel comfortable by offering him or her something to drink—tea, water, soft drink or coffee.

2. Look for common ground and points of mutual interest. Good topics include children’s activities, sporting events, hobbies, vacation plans and the old standby—the weather. Obviously, you want to stay away from any topics that might be controversial or polarizing, such as politics or religion.

3. Pay attention and listen closely. Take notes and ask open-ended questions to gain information and get your prospect talking.

4. Use open body language, smile frequently and maintain good eye contact.

5. Listen more than you talk. Keep the focus of attention on your prospect and not on yourself.

6. Avoid the temptation of interrupting your prospect when he or she is speaking.

7. Match your prospect’s rate of speech and voice tone. If you speak quickly and your prospect speaks slowly, it’s up to you to make the adjustment.

By focusing on these seven rapport-building tips, you will dramatically increase your sales effectiveness and strengthen all of your client relationships.

Courtesy of RISMedia

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Networking, with lunch and industry-related educational speakers, begins at 11:30 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m.  The cost per person for lunch is $20. Educational speakers and networking opportunities are free. Guests are welcome to attend by registering online.

The next business luncheon is taking place on January 14 and new construction communities will be the topic of discussion.

The next special event will be the new member orientation and social taking place on January 24th at Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club in Estero from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

R.S.V.P. is available online at www.wcrbonitaestero.com or contact Debra Morris at 239.357.6794.

The WCR Bonita Springs-Estero Chapter has 170 members and is growing. “The whole basis of our organization is networking, education and referrals,” said Heather Wightman, 2011 President.  WCR promotes industry integrity, commitment, respect and consistency, providing its members with the education and business tools needed to develop successful careers.

The Bonita-Estero Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® is dedicated to being the premier business presence, providing leadership opportunities, and helping all members to acquire new skills to meet the challenges of the future with success.

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PRESIDENT-ELECT
JUDITH GIETZEN

VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP
DEBRA MCALISTER-BROWN

TREASURER
KAREN BORING

SECRETARY
DODONA ROBOCI

BYLAWS
SHARON ZUCCARO

EDUCATION/PROGRAMS
CINDY KRUESI

BUDGET/FINANCIAL PLANNINT
CATHY BARTLETT

NOMINATING
RHONDA DINER

WAYS AND MEANS
APRIL RITCHIE & GINNY NOBBE

MARKETING/NEWSLETTER/PUBLIC RELATIONS
MICHAEL JACKSON & ALYSIA SHIVERS

AUDIT
CATHY HAMILTON

AWARDS & RECOGNITION
MARIAN ROSENCRANS & CAROL BIRON

BUSINESS RESOURCE & STATE FOCUS
ELIZABETH MANCINI

SPONSORSHIP
JOE TAYLOR