 Alexander's enthusiasm isn't just based on the merger. "Business is
good in Lincoln," she said. "Last year was a great year, and we are
really looking forward to this year with CBDR."
Alexander wanted to dispel all the negative stories in the press
regarding the mortgage and equity crisis in much of America. "People
need to understand real estate is always local," she said. "What is
happening somewhere else doesn't mean it is happening here.We have a
stable economy, good financing and good lenders in this area, and
business is good. Property values in Lincoln are up because this
area isn't overbuilt. We always see the bad news about the housing
market but rarely see the good news, and there is good news in our
community."
Alexander knows what she is talking about, having started in the
real estate business in Decatur in 1972. She came to Lincoln in 1979
and opened her own office soon after. She has been located in
downtown Lincoln from the beginning, first on Pulaski Street and now
at the new location in the Regions Bank building.
The offices on both the first and second floor of the building
showcase an exceptionally attractive realty office here in Lincoln.
The well-dressed staff, tasteful furnishings and decor provide a
sense of professionalism in the office that most observers would
expect to see in much larger metropolitan areas.
The realty firm currently has 16 associates, including their own
closing officer, which helps both the realtors and clients stay on
track during the buying and selling process.
Several times during the interview, Alexander stressed the
training her associates receive on a constant basis. While she was
explaining the importance of being knowledgeable in the realty
business, a lecture for prospective realtors was going on in the
main area. "We don't train people to be slick sales people," she
said. "We train them to be facilitators. We help them with their
goals and commitment to professional service. Our staff is here to
help people with their needs and their questions, whether they are
buyers or sellers or both."
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Besides courses for prospective realtors, the firm offers courses on
credit repair and helps people who have disabilities receive grant
money to become homeowners. Alexander was very proud to state that
her firm has assisted several disabled area residents in receiving
grants of $19,000 each to help with the purchase of a home.
Alexander's husband, David, joined her in the business five years
ago. They each saw that same commitment to client needs and service
with the much larger Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty, and that is
why they are enthused about the future.
CBDR has 17 offices serving central Illinois and Florida. Located
in Champaign, the group has seven companies providing extensive
expertise in the interrelated fields of real estate, including
engineering and architectural services, mortgage and title services,
residential and commercial brokerage, as well as property
management.
Coldwell Banker has been in business since 1906, has 3,800
residential real estate offices and nearly 117,000 sales associates
in 47 different countries.
Alexander wanted everyone in the community to know that her
company is hosting an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The
location again is the Regions Bank building at 303 S. Kickapoo in
downtown Lincoln.
[By MIKE FAK]
Readers can find more of Mike Fak's writing at
www.searchwarp.com
and www.problogs.com.
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