Young Realtors Serve Generation X and Y Consumers by Bringing Special Skills to Buyers and Sellers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 2006--More homebuyers than ever are 30 years old or younger, and a record number of Realtors (R) under 30 -- nearly 150,000 -- are connecting with the Generation X and Y markets. Thirty of these young Realtors(R) are being recognized in the June issue of REALTOR(R) Magazine's "30 under 30" -- Realtors(R) who have made their mark in the industry and their communities while still in their 20s.

"As new generations enter the housing market, the real estate industry must adapt to meet changing needs and ways of doing business," said Thomas M. Stevens, 2006 National Association of Realtors(R) president from Vienna, Va., and senior vice president of NRT Inc. "Many of our younger members add value to their clients' real estate transactions through their generational sensitivities and diverse skill sets. They don't know a real estate industry without the Internet, technology is second-nature to them, and they speak their clients' language, often both literally and figuratively."

“Younger home buyers and sellers are already having a big impact on real estate markets across the country”

According to data from the U.S. Census, more immigrants are becoming homeowners than ever before, and seven of this year's Realtors(R) under 30 are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants. Jose Rivera Sinclair, from Northfield, N.J., is a native of Honduras, and Latino homebuyers compose 80 percent of his business. Penny Liu moved to California from Taiwan as a child and works with U.S. buyers purchasing property in Shanghai, Beijing, and Nanjing. Tempe, Ariz.'s Steven Haddad, the youngest professional on the list at age 20, speaks fluent Arabic -- his father emigrated from Jordan.

Another trend affecting real estate is the growing influence of the Internet as a resource in the home search. According to the 2005 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 42 percent of buyers who used the Internet to search for a home were 34 or younger. Realtors(R) of this generation have embraced new technologies -- 28 of the "30 under 30" operate Web sites for their business -- and many of them go beyond this basic technology. David Scher from Boston used the skills he developed in his previous career in information technology to customize an MLS listing feed to 20 different sites for his customers. Jessica Horton from Griffin, Ga., wasn't satisfied with video home tours -- she markets properties with video tours of entire communities.

"Younger home buyers and sellers are already having a big impact on real estate markets across the country," said Stevens. "Our Realtor(R) members, whether they grew up watching I Love Lucy or IMing their friends, are honored to be bringing the American dream of homeownership to the next generation and beyond."

This year's award recipients were selected from the largest applicant pool ever. Winners of the 2006 "30 under 30" award are:

   Ben Babazadeh,
   Prudential Transact Commercial Realty,
   Daytona Beach, Fla.

   Harold Bagwell,
   Coldwell Banker Ozark Real Estate Co.,
   Pocahontas, Ark.

   Dayna Blumel,
   Long & Foster, REALTORS(R), Inc.,
   Alexandria, Va.

   Jessica Kelly Bruehl,
   Keller Williams Realty-Lakeway,
   Austin, Texas

   Jason Buckner,
   Surf or Sound Realty,
   Avon, N.C.

   Amie Chilson,
   Keller Williams-Silicon Valley,
   Campbell, Calif.

   Rob Clapp,
   RE/MAX Results,
   St. Paul, Minn.

   Steven Haddad,
   Liberty Properties & Associates Inc.,
   Tempe, Ariz.

   Kirk Hansen,
   Century 21 Homes First,
   San Marcos, Calif.

   Jennifer Heinzen,
   WineryX Real Estate,
   St. Helena, Calif.

   Jennifer Hibbard,
   RE/MAX 2000 Phoenix Metro Area,
   Phoenix, Ariz.

   Jessica Horton,
   RE/MAX Standard,
   Griffin, Ga.

   Katie Johnson,
   Assist2Sell Hometowne River Realty LLC,
   Onalaska, Wis.

   Christie Lee Kinchen,
   RE/MAX 2000 Phoenix Metro Area,
   Phoenix, Ariz.

   Mike Korin,
   Long & Foster, REALTORS(R),
   Falls Church, Va.

   Penny Liu,
   RE/MAX 2000 Realty,
   Rowland Heights, Calif.

   Grant Manning,
   Century 21 Homes First,
   San Marcos, Calif.

   Cara Mantovani,
   Mantovani Real Estate,
   Miami

   Bo Menkiti,
   Keller Williams Capitol Properties,
   The Menkiti Group,
   Washington, D.C.

   Amsi Morales,
   RE/MAX Prestige,
   Lowell, Mass.

   Stacy Peardon,
   Keller Williams Realty Great Lakes,
   St. Clair Shores, Mich.

   Matt R. Powell,
   Windermere Real Estate/Lane County,
   Eugene, Ore.

   Jose Rivera Sinclair,
   Net Realty Group LLC,
   Northfield, N.J.

   Shontell Rucker,
   Rekcur Properties,
   Houston

   David Scher,
   First Step Realty,
   Boston

   Jason Shoaf,
   Shoaf Real Estate Group,
   Tallahassee, Fla.

   Viktoria Telek,
   ComReal,
   Miami

   Rustan Tongg,
   Hawaii Realty Associates LLC,
   Honolulu

   Alex Wang,
   RE/MAX, Santa Clara Valley,
   San Jose, Calif.

   Michelle Westford,
   John L. Scott Real Estate,
   Everett, Wash.

The National Association of Realtors(R), "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at http://www.REALTOR.org. This and other news releases are posted in the Web site's "News Media" section in the NAR Media Center. REALTOR(R) is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.