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Resume
of Qualifications OBJECTIVE My objective is to assist my clients understand the aspects of the real estate industry that most influence their unique situation. I will provide guidance; including letting you know my preference so that you are better able to make an informed decision. My extensive and diversified background gives me a unique ability to evaluate many different and sometimes opposing points of view and often come up with creative solution based on thinking outside the box. REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND It was the high cost of housing back in 1981 that is responsible for my being in the real estate profession today. I was working as an Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center. Trying to purchase a house with a gross monthly salary of $1,632 with only $16,500 (the majority of which I saved from a newspaper route in New York prior to 1971) was a challenge. In desperation I signed up to take the state real estate licensing exam to save the buyer’s side commission dollar in order to help squeeze into something. But prior to taking the exam I purchased a house that left me with only $22.43 to my name and 13 days until my next paycheck. The monthly payment was $1,275 or 78% of my gross income. I immediately rented out a room to help. Within days after closing I took and passed the state real estate exam. With no money for fun things I got into real estate part time. Within 2 years I left NASA and the rest as they say is history. I passed the California real estate brokers license in 1986. During 1987 I managed three offices with 75 agents. In 1988, I opened my own real estate brokerage, Creekside Realty at 1030 Piedmont Rd #A San Jose CA. I moved to the present location at 3750 McKee Rd #F San Jose CA 95127 in 1993. The Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS honored me as the 1995 REALTOR of the Year. This award is not base on volume of sales, but instead awarded for exemplifying high ethical standards, valuable service to the community, and outstanding contributions to the real estate industry. Clearly an honor I am very proud of. I have also been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the California Association of REALTORS, the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS, and MLSlistings.com which provides MLS service and consumer access to 5 Bay Area Counties. I am widely recognized as the real estate market expert. I am regularly quoted by numerous media sources. I’m also the author of the Bay Area Real Estate Market Newsletter (http://www.creeksiderealty.com/market). My clients have regularly benefited from this detailed understanding of the current market conditions. I enjoy converting renters into owners. This is the main reason that after nearly 30 years, I continue to service both buyers and sellers. Most agents in the business this long migrate and focus mostly on working with sellers. This gives you the advantage of working with an agent that full understands both sides of the transaction. The most rewarding transaction was a purchase a lower priced condo. The buyer was able to secure 100% financing and a grant for closing costs. The buyer actually got $9,100 (the $5K initial deposit plus an extra $4,100) refund check at closing. The purchase price was more than 5 times her annual salary. I also have 6 years of purchasing foreclosure properties at Trustee Sales held in front of the courthouse. This is a great adjunct to traditional real estate sales as the skill set is similar and in order to make the snap decisions required, I must be extremely familiar with the details of the market place. MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE BACKGROUND My extensive background and knowledge on how the MLS functions allow me to use the system to give your property maximum exposure. As concerns of dual agency continue to increase marketing the properties to other agents becomes more critical. When a problem develops in a transaction how can one agent represent both the buyer and the seller give complete and through advise to both parties? Over the years I've subscribed to many MLS Systems including: Real Estate InfoLink (REIL); Santa Clara County MLS (SCCMLS); San Jose Real Estate Board (SJREB-MLS); Peninsula Regional Data Service; Mid-Peninsula MLS; Regional Data Service; Southern Alameda County; Contra Costa County; and Solona County. In addition to utilizing numerous MLS systems, I provided volunteer leadership in operating some of these MLS's. I was a REIL Director for five years, a member of their Operations Board for several years. I was very active in the SCCMLS and actively participated in all major MLS decisions from 1988 to 1994 when REIL began operations. I was asked to serve on the SJREB MLS Committee 1988-1994; I was the SJREB MLS User Group Coordinator since inception in 1989 through March 1996. This was a monthly meeting with the users of the MLS System. I would hear directly from the users what problems they were experiencing and then showed them the best way to solve those problems; I contributed significantly to the writing of the 1989 SCCMLS Computer Reference Guide; and was a member of the MLS Public Access Task Force and IBM Series 1 computer replacement Task Force. REAL ESTATE EMPLOYMENT CREEKSIDE REALTY, Broker/Owner 8/88 - Present Small independent-with 2 REALTORS SILVER PROPERTIES, Broker/Owner 5/87 - 7/88 Responsible for 75 agents in three offices (San Jose, Los Altos, Menlo Park) in a local chain of five offices. WYATT, LITLE, & NEAL, Broker Associate 5/86 - 4/87 Modern, computerized, large independent single office operation with an aggressive management style. CONTEMPO
REALTY, Sales Associate 10/81 - 5/86 REALTY WORLD-NUMBER TEN, Sales Associate 6/81 -10/81 National franchise with associated training. OTHER EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION Extensive background debugging, using, programming, & designing computers with NASA-Ames Research Center, Martin-Marietta, Burroughs Corp. & MiniCars Inc. This gave me a solid background in troubleshooting, design and analysis, which regularly required developing creative solutions . I am a Honors graduate from University of California with Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering & Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, yielding a blend of both analytical and business skills. Although clearly not directly related to real estate, these comments give you an insight into my work ethics. My last Employment Performance Appraisal, which was from NASA, states "...His highly competent performance as a Shift Leader resulted in his being assigned as a Project Engineer on two investigations...All of Mr. Calhoun's assignments were completed in a highly commendable manner. He has demonstrated an intense interest and a high degree of initiative in pursuing his assigned tasks. He is consistently searching for ways of enhancing operations and productivity, and is typically very aggressive in conducting his test." CLIENT RECOMMENDATION Richard
accurately pinpointed the impending rise in housing prices at the end
of 1998. (details) Richard
never steered us wrong. We never knew someone could gather and analyze
so much data. (details) Richard
advised me to wait in June 2001. I was impressed that he told me that
waiting to buy would be better for me financially. In November 2001
he told me the market had bottomed out and to buy ASAP. As a result
of followings his advice I’m in a house that has appreciated 10%
in just two months. (details) Richard’s
integrity, patience and knowledge set you far apart from any other agents.
(details) Richard
always amazes me with the information and knowledge he has about the
markets. If anything I have a hard time toning down my praise for you,
so it doesn't scare people off, because "no one can be that good."
(details) The
advice in-between transactions, has been of a value that we can't capture.
Meaning it's HUGE!!!! If we had not stayed on top of the real estate
market together over the past 12 years I would not own 3 houses today
:-) You have made my dreams come true more than once how about times
3. (details) |
