Real Estate Articles
Jeff Bell Takes the Reins as SILVAR's 2010 President
As we head into 2010, Silicon Valley's local REALTOR® trade association will be led by someone who has built strong relationships with colleagues, people of the community, and clients based on ethics, honesty, and integrity. Jeff Bell's successful career in real estate is proof that knowledge, expertise, hard work and ethics are important to his clients and his peers.
Born and raised in San Jose, Bell definitely knows the area. He attended De Anza College and San Jose State University and worked in sales and marketing in the wholesale luxury travel industry before he decided to venture into real estate as a full-time agent for Coldwell Banker in Cupertino.
Even after nearly 12 years, real estate, with its ups and downs, continues to excite Bell. "It's an ever-changing market, with new government-imposed rules and regulations, new and different lender rules, new and better technology," he said. "You have to keep on top of things."
Bell likes the independence and meeting new people that a career in real estate offers. He said he receives the greatest satisfaction helping people – buyers and sellers - meet their goals. "The historically record low loan rates, lower home prices, and government incentives such as the tax credit have opened up the opportunities for many home buyers and investors to purchase real estate," Bell said. "It's great especially working with first-time home buyers. There's a lot of satisfaction and emotions."
His greatest peeve? Unethical agents. "It hurts everyone - agents, sellers, buyers, and all involved with the sale when other agents behave in an unprofessional and unethical manner," Bell said.
With the challenging market, Bell observed many such agents have been weeded out of the business. He believes this is a good thing. "We have seen more agents drop out of the profession and the better, more serious and experienced ones remaining," he explained. "While this creates tougher competition for those remaining, it forces us all to do better."
What makes a good agent? Bell said, "Someone once told me 'It's not about how hard you work; it's about how smart you work.' I believe this to be true."
Working smart means being well-organized, good planning and continually attending education courses and self-development seminars and back to basics, which includes knowing the market statistics, knowing your inventory, going on tours and meetings, building good relationships, intensive networking, keeping up with current technology, continuing education and training. That, according to Bell, is working smart!
Bell, who lives in San Jose with his wife Nicole and children Lauren, 4, and Maya, 3, is a also a member and director of the California Association of REALTORS® and a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. He has served on the RE Infolink (Multiple Listing Service) Board of Directors. He also belongs to the International President's Circle (Top 2 percent of Coldwell Banker agents internationally) and is a USAA certified relocation specialist and Cartus certified specialist for Northern California.
Bell, who is bilingual, is also a licensed commercial pilot. His hobbies include traveling, skiing, flying, boating and camping.
SILVAR's 2010 president is looking forward to an exciting year. There will certainly be challenges, but as agents, you have to get in the game, he noted.
"You can't win if you don't play," Bell smiled.
Bell and SILVAR's 2010 Board of Directors and officers will be installed on Thursday, Jan. 14 at The Fairmont San Jose.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.