In this ever changing real estate market that currently exists it is more important than ever for agents to equip themselves with the most education ever to properly represent buyers and sellers in a competent, professional manner. I've had hundreds of discussions with agents who are complaining about the difficulties they are currently experiencing. My questions to them are these:

What are you doing to make yourself a better agent?

What training/education have you taken lately that will help you thrive in our shifting market?

Are you still doing business the same way you did 3 years ago?

Are you a real estate professional or just a real estate agent?

Is your broker doing anything to help you become a more knowledgeable, well-rounded agent who can better assist your clients in the current market?

Do you have a system for lead generation or are you just waiting for your broker or another middle-man to hand you a referral (at a 25%-35% fee)?

Having been on the "other side" I can tell you that the educational opportunities offered by Keller Williams Realty are unbelievable. Many of the real estate brokers claim to have the best training in town but in reality most of their education is based around new agents. Topics such as "how to fill out a contract" and "measuring a house" just don't excite an experienced agent. Many good, experienced agents quit going to sales meetings or broker-offered training because they simply dont get anything out of it.

Keller Williams reputation across the counrty is that of having the most experienced, educated, well-rounded agents in the business. Much of that reputation stems from the unequalled education that is offered at a local level, regional level, national level, and over the internet. The Keller Williams model is designed to best fit the learning-based agent that has a desire to be a real estate professional, not just a real estate agent.

When it comes right down to it...our clients are paying us for our knowledge. Knowing what to do when our listings are not selling, knowing what to do to attract more showings, knowing how to negotiate unreasonable offers, knowing how to help buyers make an informed decision, and much more.

Do you have the knowledge to survive in today's market? Are you a learning-based agent? Are you a real estate professional? If not, you may be losing clients to the agents that can say yes to these questions.

John Lorkovic, Keller Williams Greater Omaha

There is so much negativity in the national press lately that I have to say this:

Omaha is a thriving, growing, prosperous community!

With the arrival of the NCAA Basketball Regional playing this week at the Qwest Center, it has made me think about the progress that our community has made over the last 10 years. The Omaha metropolitan area is making great strides as a community. Take a look at some of the improvements that our city has enjoyed over the last 10 years.

• The opening of the Qwest Center Omaha
• The opening of the Holland Performing Arts Center
• The finishing of major infrastructure projects (N Freeway, Kennedy Freeway, Dodge Expressway)
• The Conagra campus & Heartland of America Park downtown
• The continual committment to retain the College World Series 
• The steady improvement of the local biking/walking trails throuout the area
• The constant upgrades & development of the Henry Doorly Zoo
• The blossoming of the Creighton Bluejays basketball program
• The development of local area damsite lakes.
• The retail growth with new malls, specialty shopping, and restraunts.

As a community we have alot to be proud of. With all of the negative national press regarding the fall of the real estate market and the so-called "recession" I think it is important to remember that there are many positive things happening in Omaha.

Without a doubt many out-of-towners who came to Omaha for the NCAA Regional will leave with a very positive opinion of our metropolitan area.

We are pleased to announce that Boyer Young Real Estate and Keller Williams Greater Omaha have combined forces and will now be doing business as Keller Williams Greater Omaha. In the 2 short months we have been in business we have become one of the larger real estate companies in the city. This truly is a testament to the strength and reputation of the Keller Williams Realty model.

Boyer Young Real Estate has been in business since 1999 and has built a successful team of 50+ quality agents. Many of the philosophies that Boyer Young Real Estate instituted are very similar to the Keller Williams model. Because of the similarities in business philosophy this merger is a natural fit. 

Boyer Young Land Development is the largest development company in the Omaha area and will continue to operate as an independent company. Keller Williams Realty will assist in marketing new subdivisions developed by Boyer Young Development. Visit www.BoyerYoung.com to see a list of subdivisions that will be marketed by Keller Williams Greater Omaha.

We will operate as Keller Williams Realty in 2 locations: 12720 I Street and 9719 Giles Rd.

This merger makes Keller Williams Greater Omaha one of the largest real estate companies in the Omaha area.

Good things are happening in the Omaha real estate market!

www.OmahaKellerWilliams.com

In times of slowdown in the real estate market many agents begin to ask themselves questions that eventually lead to a change. What can I do differently this year? Is my current office environment helping or hindering my attempts to stay positive in this difficult market that we are enduring?  For the amount of $$$ that my broker makes off my production am I receiving any benefit to justify it? Do I need to focus more on education and training to make myself more "recession proof"? Should I start looking around to see if there is a better opportunity with other brokers?

A great place to start would be to read the book "Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Gary Keller and Dave Jenks. It is one of the best-selling real estate books ever written and has helped many agents transform their real estate careers and their lives. This book is not a Keller Williams marketing piece....It is a book that really breaks down the real estate sales profession and offers great insight into building your real estate career with a solid foundation. The book is sold at every major bookstore or I would be happy to give you a free copy.

In times of slowdown, markets shift. We've seen a huge shift in the past year in the Omaha real estate market. Agents are moving to new brokers, to new offices, and some are just quitting the business. The current real estate "climate" that we've seen in Omaha is unlike any that I've ever seen. Agents are frustated with the traditional real estate model that has been provided by the traditional brokers in town. Many are just moving to other traditional companies just for a change of scenery or because of some short-term financial incentives. Others are opening themselves up to a new, innovative way of viewing their real estate career...they are looking at Keller Williams.

Keller Williams Greater Omaha opened less than 30 days ago and has already established a group of about 25 quality agents that are excited to be a part of the fastest growing real estate company in the country and in Omaha. The energy associated with being part of a team concept is contagious and new productive agents are joining us each week. The Omaha area real estate community is realizing that this new company, Keller Williams, is for real. We are the innovative, new-generation real estate company in the Omaha area.

Times are changing...Is it time for you to make a change in your career? 

We're proud to announce the opening of our new Keller Williams Realty office in Omaha NE on Jan. 4, 2008. We are very excited to be a part of the fastest growing real estate company in the industry. With 650+ offices and over 77,000 agents, Keller Williams Realty is bringing Omaha into the next generation of real estate sales.

Our mission: To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning, and lives worth living.

Our vision is to be the company of choice for the new generation of professional real estate agents.

There have been rumors around for years that KW was coming to town, now it is for real. You'll start to see our new red signs popping up around Omaha this week. You'll also start to see many quality agents making the move to join our team. You'll start to hear terms like "Profit Sharing", "Learning-based", commission "Caps", and "Culture" that have never really been spoken here before. This truly will be a dramatic change for the agents of Omaha, NE.

There is a buzz going on in the Omaha real estate community and it all revolves around this new broker in town.....

Keller Williams Greater Omaha

12720 I Street, Suite 100

Omaha, NE 68137

John Lorkovic 402-598-4287

Ever since we've made the commitment to start a Keller Williams franchise in Omaha, NE I've heard the same question many times: Why do you think Omaha needs another real estate company, aren't there enough choices already?

Well my answer to this is that "Omaha doesn't need another real estate company, Omaha needs a DIFFERENT Real Estate company." After spending my entire 13 year career as a sales associate at one of the top brokers in town I came across a nationwide Real Estate franchise that had an awesome business philosophy.  Keller Williams was founded on the belief that real estate is a local business and the agents businesses are built on the strength of their local reputation, not the company or the brand the agent is affiliated with. Finally there is a broker that understands that the AGENT is the reason that the broker is in business. The traditional real estate model in Omaha seems to be that the agent works for the broker....at Keller Williams the company works for its agents.

Here are a few examples of this philosophy:

• Aggressive industry leading commission plan with a limit on commissions paid to the broker.
• A share in the monthly profits. A unique program that enables you to build a retirement program.
• A say in how the business is run.
• World Class training unequalled in the Omaha market.
• A team atmosphere where all agents are valued equally regardless of production.

Keller Williams Realty has become the fourth largest and fastest growing real estate agency in North America by building a culture that rewards its agents as partners through its profit sharing program and by empowering its agents to fulfill the company mission of "building careers worth having, businesses worth owning, and lives worth living".

Omaha doesn't need ANOTHER real estate company, Omaha needs a DIFFERENT real estate company!