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2004 in Review
Wishing For Peace This Holiday Season!
Dear Friends, Clients and Prospects:
Without a lot of hoopla, I celebrated my 10th anniversary as a real estate agent on October 31, 2004. In view of this milestone, I thought it might be interesting to present some historical comparisons of how my business has grown and changed over the years. The volume of sales along with the median and average sale prices has risen due to inflation mostly (see Table of Sales Performance Results for that telling data). While the enclosed 2005 Calendar aptly puts a face on these statistics, here's a short synopsis of my client demographics for 2004 with comparisons to last year stats and my 10-year cumulative stats:
· In 2004 (like 2002), 35% of my clients were sellers and 65% were buyers. Over the past ten years, I've successfully closed 256 real estate transactions, representing 71 sellers (28%) and 185 buyers (72%). This data supports my overall preference for working with buyers, although I'll let you in on a little secret. This year, I've especially enjoyed marketing my listings due in part to a new partnership I formed with a past client to create and host virtual tours featuring dozens of interior and exterior photos for my listings (To see for yourself, click on the "Tour OUR Listings!" button at www.mavrikrealty.com). I've also effectively used a multi-media software program (Hot Marketer) to announce my new listings, agent open houses and price reductions to other top realtors that I routinely network with and received rave reviews:
o "Hi Ms. Ann! I just love the presentation you are doing. When I played the presentation and the lady screamed...you should have seen my dogs face and ears go up!! I played it twice and it just drove him crazy! I love it! What another good listing tool you use!!" Mark Connelly, Re/Max Results
o "Your clients must marvel at your tech savvy approach to marketing their homes. As Realtors we all see lots of promotional materials for various homes, and I can honestly say that everything that you have sent to me is of exceptional quality. You are a remarkable agent, and I am pleased to be able to share your high quality electronic home brochures with my buyer clients." Tim Goggin, Edina Realty
o "E-mail is the way to go and you are a leader keep it up…This will sale more listings." Barry Cavalancia, Realty Executives
· For the first-time, I assisted more repeat homebuyers then first-time homebuyers. In 2004, 11 out of 17 buyers I worked with were repeat buyers (65%), compared to 7 out of 18 in 2003 (39%). This dramatic shift is explained in part by the incidence of prior first-time buyers moving up (selling their starter homes and purchasing larger homes to accommodate growing families). Over the past ten years, I've assisted 185 buyers, of which 127 or 69% were first-time homebuyers. I hope to continue to successfully serve past clients as their housing needs change and work with first-time homebuyers.
· As the above data shows, 2004 was an unbelievable year for client loyalty, which by the way I never take for granted and genuinely appreciate. Half of my clients this year were past clients (13 out of 26). More than half of my repeat buyers were past clients (6 out of 11) and two-thirds of my sellers were past clients (6 out of 9).
· In 2004, 62% of my clients were gays or lesbians. Over the past ten years, gays and lesbians have accounted for more than half of my business (55%). The "fruits" of my niche marketing and advertising.
· In 2004, 27% of my clients were single women, 43% were same-sex couples, 27% were married or unmarried couples (opposite sex), and the remaining 4% were households of two or more related individuals. Single women and lesbian couples together accounted for 54% of my clientele in 2004, compared to 39% in 2003. Single men and gay couples together accounted for 8% of my clientele in 2004, compared to 34% in 2003.
· In 2004, 15% of my business originated from ad calls (compared to 27% in 2003), 19% from referrals (compared to 23% in 2003), 50% from repeat customers (compared to 23% in 2003), 12% from the Internet (compared to 23% in 2003), and 4% from other sources (about the same as in 2003). Over the past ten years, 30% of my business has originated from ads calls, 32% from referrals, 19% from repeat customers, 5% from the Internet and 16% from a variety of other sources (such as telemarketing, personal promotion, open houses, yard signs and classified ads).
· In 2004 (like 2003), 100% of my ad calls resulting in sales came from Lavender Magazine. Over the past 10 years, 51% of my ad calls came Lavender and 19% from the Minnesota Women's Press or annual Minnesota Women's Directory. What this tells me is that Lavender's readership loyally supports gay- and lesbian-owned businesses and advertisers.
· In 2004, 73% of my clients purchased or sold single family homes, 24% purchased or sold townhouses or condo/coop units, and the other 4% purchased or sold duplexes. Over the past ten years, 81% of my clients have purchased or sold single family homes, 11% have purchased or sold townhouses or condo/coop units, and 7% have purchased or sold duplexes.
· In 2004, 65% of my clients purchased or sold properties in Hennepin County, 15% in Ramsey County, 12% in Dakota County, 4% in Pine County, and 4% in Scott County. Over the past ten years, 66% of my clients have purchased or sold properties in Hennepin County, 21% in Ramsey County, 9% in Dakota County, 2% in Washington County, with the remaining 2% in Anoka, Isanti, Pine, Scott, and Sherburne counties.
· In 2004, I provided exclusive agency representation to all of my clients (as a Seller's Agent or Buyer's Agent), except in one transaction in which I served as a Dual Agent to the buyer and the seller (a past client). In my ten years as a Realtor®, I have served as a Dual Agent only 6 times. I'm proud of that stat and am pleased to say that Dual Agency for me (and Mavrik Realty) is the exception rather than the rule.
Sales Performance Results
| Year |
Total Volume |
Transactions |
Average Price |
Median Price |
| 1994 |
$83,500 |
1 |
$83,500 |
$83,500 |
| 1995 |
$1,036,681 |
14 |
$74,049 |
$68,750 |
| 1996 |
$1,976,600 |
22 |
$88,845 |
$88,550 |
| 1997 |
$1,909,975 |
21 |
$90,951 |
$87,900 |
| 1998 |
$2,113,870 |
18 |
$117,437 |
$110,950 |
| 1999 |
$3,413,682 |
32 |
$106,678 |
$106,700 |
| 2000 |
$4,265,212 |
33 |
$129,249 |
$119,900 |
| 2001 |
$4,752,777 |
29 |
$163,889 |
$156,000 |
| 2002 |
$6,538,534 |
37 |
$176,717 |
$157,000 |
| 2003 |
$4,362,700 |
23 |
$189,683 |
$190,000 |
| 2004 |
$5,775,106 |
26 |
$222,119 |
$209,900 |
| Cumulative Results |
$36,228,637 |
256 |
$141,518 |
$130,000 |
More 2004 Highlights
In May, I completed a 2-day real estate continuing education course on "Houses: Twenty Cost-Effective Improvements." In June, I took another 2-day course on "Houses: What's New in Kitchens and Baths." On an aside, I just completed the remodeling of my main floor bath. It's loverly!
In July, I took 3 past clients to see Mary Chapin Carpenter perform outdoors at the MN Zoo.
In August, I took a 10-day vacation with my mother to Aspen, CO.
In September, I enjoyed a visit with my sister, her husband, and my nephew. I introduced them to the Great Minnesota State Fair experience and they'll be back for more pork chops on a stick.
Also in September, I finally got around to redoing and reprinting my promotional tee shirts ("Buying a Home Should Be Fun" and "The Real Estate Fairy"), which I give to my clients as closing gifts. I also added to my inventory a 3rd tee ("Baby Ann") and a Mavrik Realty logo denim shirt featuring my infamous slogan "We're Not Number One. YOU ARE." In 2003, I introduced the Real Estate Fairy logo cap. I am positively shameless when it comes to self-promotion. In early 2005, look for a link to the MAVRIK REALTY POSSE GIFTSHOP on my company website. In the meantime, here are 3 surefire ways to get your paws on one or more of these nifty items.
They are FREE at closing when you purchase or sell a property using a Mavrik Realty agent.
They are FREE to you when someone you have referred to us closes on the purchase or sale a property using a Mavrik Realty agent.
They may also be purchased. Clients of Mavrik Realty will receive a 20% discount. Non-clients will have to full price (sorry).
In October, I was selected to serve on the Minnesota Association of Realtors 2005 Professional Standards Committee. On an aside, I was unsuccessful in my bid to serve of the Southern Twin Cities Association of Realtors Board of Directors, but I likely try again.
Wishing you and your family peace, happiness and love this holiday season!
Ann Leviton (aka the real estate fairy)
Broker/Owner – MAVRIK REALTY
December 20, 2002
In Remembrance
My father, Dr. Lawrence R. Leviton, to quote one of the many poignant entries in his online Obituary Guest Book "was the world's GREATEST PEDIATRICIAN. He was caring, compassionate, and gentle and he loved all his children. His patients were his children." Today marks the first anniversary of his death and so it is bittersweet with memories. I would like to thank each of you who expressed your condolences. I didn't expect such an outpouring of love and kindness. It was truly amazing and I feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and clients. I also want to wholeheartedly, albeit belatedly, thank the two elves who took responsibility for getting my annual calendar and greeting out to everyone last year when I had to dash down to Florida for my dad's funeral. Kudos to Nona and Stephanie! You're the greatest friends anyone could have.
Your 2005 Calendar
I'd like to tell you a bit more about your complimentary 2005 calendar. It features the people I helped in 2004, the homes they bought or sold, lots of photos from my annual BBQ Customer Appreciation Party, wonderful photos of "family" home additions submitted by past clients, and new this year, a few home improvement projects submitted by past clients (one is featured on this year's cover). Speaking of the cover, the quote is taken from a recently published book by Jim Wooten, "We Are All The Same, A story of a Boy's Courage and a Mother's Love." "It's the extraordinary story of Nkosi Johnson, the South African boy born with AIDS, whose stouthearted insistence that every child's life is important brought great change to his country and made Nkosi, in Nelson Mandela's words, 'an icon of the struggle for life' for millions of people in Africa and around the world."
Warmest wishes for a happy holiday season!
~ Ann Leviton (aka the real estate fairy)
Broker/Owner - MAVRIK REALTY
In My House
By Ann Leviton (Nov 2004)
I'm at home in my house
I'm safe and secure
Surrounded by loved ones
Four-legged with fur.
They think it's their house
Though I pay the bills
Provide them with treats
When they beg at my feet.
I'm at home in my house
It's quiet and still
An occasional mouse
Provides a cheap thrill.
The cats bring them in
The dog takes them out
Unless mousie, as it were
Hides in places obscure.
I'm at home in my house
Here I rest and relax
Except when I'm working
Or receiving a fax.
I'm at home in my house
Also dubbed my home-office
Scanning spam in my PJs
While I sip my hot coffee.
I'm at home in my house
Here I conceive and create
Simple prose, complex deals
Catchy ads to publish of late.
I'm at home in my house
Except when I'm not
Then I'm out in the field
Showing homes quite a lot.
I'm at home in my house
I'm content, I'm at peace
No matter the season, the weather outside
In my house, it's comfy and cozy within.
So, make a home of your house
Gather round family and friends
"Do all you can, with what you have
In the time you have, in the place you are."
© 2004. Spiritwood Music Inc
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