It was a series of life events that brought me to the real estate industry. Growing up, I thought I’d be a teacher, then a psychiatrist, then a counselor. Instead, my BS degree is in accounting – about as far as you can get from the people-focused career visions of my younger self. I held positions with titles like Accounting Manager and Controller and picked up a variety of new skills along the way, including managing a team of people, writing policies and guidelines, making effective presentations, planning and budgeting, managing communication and more. This newly expanded combination of skills led to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Realtor® Association of the Sioux Empire, Inc. (RASE) for nearly 10 years.
In 2005, I finally caved in to my husband Jim’s request that I join his commercial real estate team. I haven’t looked back since. Commercial real estate offers me the people-centric career I crave while still utilizing the skills I’ve spent a lifetime acquiring. Nothing happens in real estate without people – a property owner, investment buyer, prospective tenant, cooperating broker, a vendor – each encounter provides me an opportunity to be helpful in some way, whether that be to complete a financial analysis of a property, conduct a market search, research opportunities, tour properties, review financial reports, analyze property tax assessments, or just brainstorm ideas. If the agent with the most listings wins, I’ll lose every time! My focus is on providing a deep level of service to the clients I’m working with and creating lasting professional relationships, not on constantly building my deal pipeline. I like going home at night knowing that people are counting on me, and that I am going to help them achieve a milestone in their lives. Ready for your next milestone? Let’s talk – I’d love to hear about your commercial real estate goals! If my team isn’t the right fit for your needs, I’ll let you know – and I’ll provide next steps or recommendations for you whenever I can, so you’ll have a take-away from our time together.
To your continued success!
One of the most frequent deal-killers for prospective Tenants is the Personal Guarantee, which is why we discuss it at the beginning, not the end, of the site selection process. While not all Landlords require a personal guaranty, the vast majority do, so it’s something prospective tenants should be prepared for well in advance of submitting an Letter of Intent to Lease (LOI).
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When it’s time to move your equity from a real estate investment, there are typically three paths to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. It’s critical that you consider all options and consult with your tax and other advisors before deciding which path makes the most sense for you and your specific situation. However, a brief overview of the three directions will get you started on your journey.
Read moreWhen it comes to commercial real estate, what does love have to do with it? Often times, more than you’d think!
When representing a client, I focus on occupancy costs, traffic counts, co-tenancies, lease terms, demographics, financial performance, etc. Let’s be honest…all the boring stuff.
Read moreMany of the experienced investors we work with struggle with the hold/sell decision, so we created a simple calculator that quickly provides the financial information they need so that they can make a decision that will yield them the greatest financial results.
Read moreA new year is here and if you’re similar to the majority of the world’s population, you’ve identified some area in which you want to make a change or start a new journey towards.
Merriam Webster defines the word new as ‘having recently come into existence.’ With this definition in mind, I’d love to begin a new project and get to know how I could better assist you in achieving not only your commercial real estate goals, but your overall financial goals.
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The holiday season is in full swing and every year we tend to hear the same marketing language in the countless television, radio and print ads we hear or see. Each of these communications seem centered around finding that “perfect” material object for everyone on your holiday list. Over the years, my experience as a real estate agent shaped my view on finding that “perfect” gift, and oddly enough my thoughts are similar to that of the Grinch.
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Most of us know Labor Day was created to pay tribute to contributions and achievements of American workers. Since becoming a federal holiday in 1894, Labor Day has served as the unofficial end of Summer marked with parades and various celebrations around the country.
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Perhaps you have heard the expression that your future can best be determined by the last five major decisions you’ve made. Did you know that one of those major decisions involves finance and investing? Procrastination rarely produces fruitful rewards, but planning and preparation seldom result in a bare tree. Let the newness of the budding flowers and trees of Spring serve as a reminder that now is the perfect time to either start or continue investing in your future!
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Change is difficult for most people. Whether large or small, change takes us out of our comfort level and into new territory, and adds to the complexity of life, at least for a while.
Think about it – a replacement credit card in the mail means you have to change all of your information on any accounts that may be automatically paid by that card. Insignificant change, right?
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My father-in-law, founder of the Dunham Company, died yesterday.
I know some people have tenacious relationships with their in-laws, but that was not the case between Don (Donald Dunham, Jr.) and I. Don was a second father to me. I respected him. I admired him. I trusted him. I loved him. And I cannot believe he is gone.
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