Homeless survey in Albuquerque – Day 1

(c) KRQE

This morning starting at 4am, hundreds of volunteers, including Mayor Barry and his wife, scoured the city looking to survey the homeless and put a face with the statistics of being without a home.

As part of the 100khomes project, Albuquerque has created ABQheadinghome or Twitter

KRQE ran a full story this morning which can be found here.

I surveyed one individual who has been living in a makeshift tent in an arroyo on the west mesa. He has been homeless 7 months, and was recently attacked by three individuals who wanted his possessions. The attack was so brutal he was hospitalized and ended up receiving titanium plates in his head.

There has to be a better way to take care of all people who live here…this group seems determined to find it.

Update: Day 2– below freezing temperatures, blanked of snow on the westside, I was fortunate to be put on good friend (and City Councilor) Trudy Jones team – we introduced “Mike” who spent the night tented in highway culdesac.

The people on our Day 2 team were simply amazing – they knew the people we interviewed on a first name basis and made the process very comfortable for everyone.

Update: Day 3– the Mayor has announced that this survey has turned into a rescue misssion and the city is workign with APS to open up high school gyms for shelter from the unsually cold winter. Councilor Jones is raising money to feed the homeless, and United Way (and others) have raised over $50,000 in less than 48 hours.

It is one of the few times I’ve been speechless by the giving of others and honored to be a small part of the process.

CCIM announces new technology and social networking course


Technology and Social Networking Tools for Today’s Real Estate Professional
This 1-day course, taught by Todd Clarke, CCIM, teaches how to implement the latest technology and social networking tools into a real estate professional’s day-to-day business and add value to clients. Participants will review the latest hardware available, including smart phones, iPads and netbooks, and find software and data storage solutions. In addition, develop a business strategy for using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, through hands-on exercises.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Make an informed decision on hardware and software solutions for your business
  • Determine which social networking sites are best suited to expand your business and inform your clients
  • Communicate to existing and potential clients through blogs, tweets and other social media
  • Learn how to add value to your clients’ needs and NOT become a spammer
  • Course location and pricing
    Chicago, IL ~ April 5, 2011 ~ 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
    Levine Learning Center
    430 N. Michigan Ave Suite 800 ~ Chicago, IL 60611

    Members $295 Non-members $395
    Instructor: Todd Clarke, CCIM

    Click here to register

    Apartment update/forecast – ULI Dec. 2010

    % of inventory turn every year - Albuquerque Apartments

    The New Mexico ULI chapter December meeting was a commercial real estate update that included Steve Maestas from NAI Maestas/Ward, John Ransom from Grubb & Ellis NM, Jim Folkman from the Home Builders of Central NM, and myself, Todd Clarke from NM Apartment Advisors Inc.

    Our presentation can be viewed here.

    CCIM Success Profiles – one of my mentors, John Henderson III CCIM

    As you may know, the NM CCIM chapter #10 is collecting a series of stories about some of their most successful members – a task called “profiles in success”.

    Many of us have had people in our lives who we are grateful for – persons who show up at the right time and point us in a new direction, or people that provide invaluable insight that changes our course for the better.

    I am a 4th generation Commercial Realtor, and both of my parents were in the business and provided that role for me.

    In addition to that, I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up in a business and community of individuals that lean towards sharing, supporting, who focus on growing the pie instead of figuring out how to make their own piece larger.

    In turns out that isn’t by accident, but was by design. Over 30 years ago, a handful of commercial brokers assembled at one of the earliest meetings of the Leasing Information Network (now known as LIN). Like our country’s founding fathers, these brokers set down their ideals of how people in our business would interact. Cooperation was the key word of the day, with the idea that fees and information would be pulled out of individual silos and shared by all.

    One of those leaders, John Henderson III CCIM, was an early mentor for me. I remember when I was a teenager John tactfully informed me that my personality could be improved by attending a Dale Carnegie course (he was right). When I started commercial real estate in 1989, John encouraged me to take a CCIM intro course as soon as possible, and like him, once I had the knowledge, I couldn’t stop. John went on to write a letter of support that helped me secure a CCIM 101 scholarship, and for me, the rest is history as CCIM has done more for my business than any other aspect of my life.

    With that thought in mind, it is my pleasure to share this video about John’s start in the business – some 40 years ago, John Henderson was a successfully residential Realtor, whose own life would be changed by a mentor to him.

    More on John’s beginning in commercial real estate can be found here at his video – http://www.nmcomreal.com/ccimintro2 .

    If after hearing these stories, you believe you might benefit from taking a CCIM course – the local chapter has an intro course this on February 7th and 8th – for $245, a 43% discount over the national rate. You can register for the course at www.nmcomreal.com/ccim .
    Thanks,
    Todd

    Are you an owner occupant in a Bernalillo County apartment building?

    If so – you might be able to get your 2010 property taxes reduced (for free).

    According to the Bernalillo County Assessor, Karen Montoya, if you owner occupy an apartment (you will need proof in the form of a drivers license or utility bill), you can call the assessor’s office at 222-3700 to seek a reduction in your 2010 property tax bill.

    The assessor’s office will “correct this error through an administrative change”.