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Press Releases
11/26/2008
TROOP FAMILY ‘STEPS UP HUGE’ TO PROVIDE THANKSGIVING
MEALS TO COUNTY’S NEEDY DURING TRYING TIMES FOR ALL
VENTURA COUNTY, CA -- Declaring that this year’s annual “Turkey-A-Thon” sponsored by Troop Real Estate to provide Thanksgiving meals to Ventura County’s needy “is having far greater impact than ever before,” Troop Agent and Event Director Alex Gandel said company agents, affiliates and clients “stepped up huge” to help feed over 5000 people this year.
Commenting during Troop’s 10th Annual “Turkey-A-Thon” held on Nov. 24, Gandel said: “We knew going in this year that it was going to be difficult to raise money because our event began as real estate agent-driven program, and the charitable groups told us their pantries were bare. With economic conditions and the real estate industry experiencing difficulty, not only are the recipients having a tough time, but those who have traditionally given are hurting.
“Despite this, “ Gandel said, “our agents stepped up big time, along with the entire community, so that we were able to provide turkey dinners and all the trimmings for over 5000 needy individuals throughout Ventura County this year. We are having greater impact this year because of conditions, and folks are making things go further.”
He added that Troop has now fed over 50,000 people during the “Turkey-A-Thon’s decade-long tenure.
Working with Care & Share, the Moorpark Food Pantry, Food Share and the Boys and Girls Club, Troop distributed Thanksgiving meals at their Simi Valley, Moorpark, Ventura, and Santa Paula/Fillmore offices. Bob Harrison, western regional manager, said Troop’s Ventura office distributed enough meals for some 1800 of the 5000 people fed. The company’s Santa Paula/Fillmore offices distributed enough for 200 people of the total throughout the Santa Clara Valley via the Boys and Girls Club, according to manager Scott Dunbar.
Along with 12-14 pound Turkeys, young and elderly alike received five-pound bags of potatoes, stuffing, canned goods, including cream of mushroom soup, green beans, cranberry sauce, plus a bag of rolls.
“Watching the massive effort of our Troop people and witnessing the joy on the faces of young families and the elderly alike, many of whom walked with the aid of walkers, I’m proud to say I’m part of the Troop family,” Gandel said.
Gandel paid special praise to agent Dedree Hoyt, event coordinator, for “her ongoing tireless efforts down to the last detail to make this program succeed. Without Dedree it never would have happened this year.”
He concluded by stating, “It’s truly amazing how one little idea can grow over the years to assure that those facing some of their darkest hours are going to enjoy a holiday meal,” said Gandel, who expressed appreciation to Albertson’s and Von’s markets in Simi Valley and Ventura, respectively, for their support.
11/5/2008
CONSISTENT HIGH PRODUCER SCOTT URQUHART
JOINS TROOP REAL ESTATE IN THOUSAND OAKS
THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Scott Urquhart, who received the highest sales award for an area national franchise residential real estate company for seven of eight years, has joined Troop Real Estate, Inc. in its Thousand Oaks office handling properties from Mission Oaks to Thousand Oaks, announces Kathy Quinn-Courter, manager of the office.
“We are delighted to have an agent of Scott’s consistent high production and professional representation as part of the Troop family, not only to further strengthen or position in the local market, but to enhance the quality of service to our clients,” Quinn-Courter said.
Urquhart, who has been active in residential real estate for 22 years, said he joined Troop because of its market strength.
“I moved to Troop Real Estate because I wanted to be associated with a great organization that has the most market share in Ventura County,” Urquhart said.
“Scott is often described by clients as the ‘go to’ agent when the market gets tough. His knowledge, experience, negotiating skills, and nice guy personality are real assets in today’s real estate market,” Quinn-Courter added.
10/29/2009
INDUSTRY LEADERS, TOP AREA TEAM OF STUART MONTEITH, DALE KING JOIN TROOP IN SANTA PAULA
SANTA PAULA, CA – Real estate industry leaders Stuart Monteith and Dale King, listing an aggregate of nearly a half century of experience in varied area markets while consistently producing in the multi-million range as a team, have joined Troop Real Estate, Inc. in the firm’s Santa Paula office, announces Scott Dunbar, manager of Troop’s Santa Paula and Fillmore offices.
“I am extremely pleased to have Stuart and Dale join our office. They bring a high level of professionalism to our talented team,” Dunbar said.
Monteith comes to Troop from the Santa Paula office of a national real estate firm where she served as manager. She has also been an agent in Santa Paula for over 30 years. Monteith serves as a state director of the California Association of Realtors and will be the regional chair in 2009 representing Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. She is also on the Board of the National Association of Realtors.
King comes to Troop after serving as a partner of a national real estate firm in Ventura. He later teamed with Monteith at another national firm in Santa Paula before joining Troop.
King currently serves as president of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors. Monteith served in the same position in 2005. King and Monteith were recognized as “Realtor of the Year” for VCCAR in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
“We came to Troop to enhance our Santa Paula presence which we’ve cherished for decades. Troop has tremendous tools available to us; we are very impressed with the organization.,” Monteith said.
Commenting on the current market, she added: “We have long experience in every facet of real estate and have helped our clients through a variety of real estate cycles. As a team, we are interchangeable and our clients can always reach us. We believe in this industry and in real estate”. As for her unusual female name, Monteith said: “I’ve had fun with it, and people remember it., My full name is Claudia Stuart. My mother didn’t like Claudia, and called me Stuart from birth.”
Monteith and King reside in upper Ojai. Montieth can be reached at (805) 218-7242; King at (805) 340-3670
10/24/2008
SUCCESSFUL HOME DECOR CONSULTANT LISA SMITHSON JOINS
TROOP REAL ESTATE’S VENTURA OFFICE AS AGENT
VENTURA, CA – Lisa Smithson, who has enjoyed success in sales, marketing and customer service involving home entertaining products and decorating services for the past eight years in this region, has joined the Ventura office of Troop Real Estate, Inc. as an agent, announces Bob Harrison, western regional manager for Troop.
“Lisa brings to Troop a distinctive set of skills that will be invaluable in assisting clients from our Ventura office. Her customer service talents and independent motivation will be vital to her success,” Harrison said.
Smithson, who was a department manager for the Nordstrom department store with special training in customer service, has worked in direct sales for most of the last decade. This period includes operating out of Santa Barbara and Ventura as an independent consultant selling home décor products, decorating tips and entertaining ideas nationally. Her decorating expertise will be an asset to her clients in staging their homes for prospective buyers, Harrison noted.
“I chose Troop to advance my home marketing career because I connected with the company’s emphasis on customer service and the professionalism of Bob Harrison,” said Smithson, who is a member of the Ventura and Santa Barbara MLS, Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors, CAR, Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, and the National Association of Professional Women.
Smithson grew up in Santa Barbara, graduated from Santa Barbara High School, and attended Santa Barbara City College. She was a teacher at Ventura Missionary Preschool where she still is a substitute. Smithson is currently collecting food for the Ventura County Food Share and sponsors different youth sports organizations. She can be reached at (805) 901-4022.
Smithson and her husband, Sebastian, a general contractor, and their children, Tyler, 12, and Will, 8, reside in Ventura.
08/22/2008
Troop Real Estate Team Named
PRIVACY OF CUSTOM ESTATES, COMMUNITY AMENITIES
RARE BLEND AT FINAL 18 ‘BIG SKY’ LOT OFFERINGS
SIMI VALLEY, CA – Privacy synonymous with custom estate living, coupled with a sense of community and its numerous amenities. That’s the “best of both worlds” opportunity being offered by Shea Homes with the announcement that Troop Real Estate, Inc., has been selected to market the final 18 estate lots at its master planned Big Sky community in Simi Valley.
Strategically located north of the Simi Valley Freeway (118) via the Erringer Rd. exit and immediately east of Lost Canyons Dr. and Young Wolf Dr., the estate lots range from .5 acres to 11.2 acres and represent the last phase of the Big Sky community that will ultimately comprise 775 homes.
The 18 available lots, most featuring panoramic views of Simi Valley, are the last estate parcels of 44 originally set aside throughout the community. Builder “closeout” prices range from $415,000 to $675,000 for sites with varying ready-to-build pad sizes.
Tina Hare and Chris Garvin of Troop’s Simi Valley office form the marketing team for the estate lots. They can be reached at (805) 990-7580 and (805) 551-5959, respectively.
“Purchasing an estate lot in Big Sky’s planned community versus in an isolated area is a rare opportunity for people to design their own dream home. Not only will they enjoy the privacy, but they and their families will have the opportunity to be part of a community and enjoy nearby parks, schools, shopping areas, restaurants, golfing, and hiking trails sprinkled throughout Big Sky,” Hare said. “I don’t know many areas of Ventura County where you can achieve this; it’s the best of both worlds,” she said.
Hare added that the estate lots enable a diversity of home sizes, ranging from approximately 2500 square feet to 6000 square feet and more.
“Additionally, residents who are avid golfers, but who choose not to live right on a golf course, will enjoy easy access to the nearby Lost Canyons Golf Course,” Hare said. Simi Valley Town Center is immediately west of Erringer and the 118 Freeway.
David Lauletta, vice president and regional manager of Shea Homes LP, Southern California Division, emphasized that the estate home lots are ready for home development with graded building pads and utility services stubbed to the curb.
“The location of the estate lots provides for incredible views of the valley and some of the lots are adjacent to protected open space. In addition, the estate lots are located within the Big Sky master plan community and share in the communities’ new street improvements, parks and other amenities.” Lauletta said.
Commenting on Troop’s appointment, Lauletta added: “Troop is one of the most experienced real estate companies in this area. They have shown tremendous resilience in a challenging market.”
Noting that buyers can save up to $400,000 on lot purchases during the builder closeout, Garvin pointed out that the Big Sky estate lots can have special appeal to buyers who have built up considerable equity, but don’t want to live in a tract home. “They also have the opportunity to design and build a custom estate home of a size that is appropriate for their budget and needs,” he said. He added that custom home builders seeking to build their own “spec” home, families and retired people are others likely to be attracted to the Big Sky estate lots.
7/10/08
‘3S’s’ Are Key Factors
BUSINESS PURCHASE, SALE OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN
CHANGED ECONOMY, TROOP BUSINESS BROKERAGE EXEC. SAYS
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA – In a rapidly changing economy, two powerful forces – mid-management corporate professionals caught in downsizing seeking cash flow, and business owners burdened by the fiscal strains of their companies – are converging to present unprecedented small to mid-size business opportunities, an area business brokerage specialist reports.
Randall J. Barondess, director of Troop Business Brokerage/Commercial Real Estate in Westlake Village, CA, says objectively evaluating the prospects for the sale or purchase of a business is critical to this process. Troop Business Brokerage helps companies package themselves for sale, and assists potential buyers find the right company to fit their needs.
“In the past year, there has been a major increase in mid-management corporate professionals who have lost jobs because of the economic downturn and need cash flow. Concurrently, there are numerous people who own businesses, are having trouble, or are burned out, many facing long leases. Acquiring businesses that are objectively evaluated can be a viable alternative for both parties,” Barondess said. He added that the influx of immigrants has intensified this demand.
Barondess emphasized that there are three key factors he uses to evaluate businesses. He calls them the “Three S’s’. They are:
° STEADY – Those businesses reflecting no more than 7%-10% variance in fiscal quarters from year-to-year, with no more than a 10%-12% annualized change of gross revenue.
° SUBSTANTIAL - Changes in business conditions, employees, equipment, other hard assets, lease or options, cost of goods, and comparatives to industry standards. Abnormalities in these areas must be viewed as red flag for further due diligence.
° SUSTAINED – Market share, continuity of product or services, personnel, methods of accounting, inventories, condition of premises and equipment are all essential in establishing realistic values for a business.
Another area where Barondess helps small to mid-size businesses is realizing “phantom assets”. “These include under market rate leases, goodwill, location and pass-by traffic,” he said. He noted that if business real estate is part of a company’s assets, Troop Business Brokerage/Commercial Real Estate will handle the disposition or re-lease of the property to the new business owner.
“People need to understand that they need an objective view of their property. Many of them don’t realize that if they run their business to live on, the business is running them. But, if they run it to capitalize on it for retirement or to make money, then they’re running the business for the right reason. We analyze businesses in this light before we market them,” Barondess concluded.
He concluded by noting that Troop Business Brokerage represents many businesses in the small to mid-market arena. EBITDA and SDE (Sellers Discretionary Earnings) analysis “is part of our service and essential to successful transactions,” Barondess said. Troop also represents many qualified investors seeking good cash flow opportunities, he added. Barondess can be reached at (805) 990-9940.
About Troop Real Estate, Inc.
6/25/08
‘IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, YOU HELP THEM;
A NOTION TROOP’S CORINA THORESEN LIVES BY
VENTURA, CA – “If someone needs help, you help them. It’s just the thing to do”.
That’s how Corina Thoresen views her career as a leading agent in the Ventura office of Troop Real Estate, Inc. It’s an outlook, in fact, that has earned her “Agent of the Year” honors for 2007 in that office, announces Bob Harrison, Troop’s regional manager for Western Ventura County.
“Corina’s award is in appreciation of her dedication, support and willingness to go the extra mile for the benefit of her clients and fellow agents. Her positive attitude and devotion to the real estate business has propelled her into Troop’s award winners circle repeatedly,” said Harrison.
He noted that Thoresen has been previously recognized with Captain’s Club sales status, Colonel’s Club closed dollar production and Multi Million Dollar Club.
“Teaming with husband, Don, their combined efforts have previously earned them President’s Club and President’s Elite recognition, Troop’s highest production award, while Corina was honored in March as top sales associate in the Ventura office,” Harrison added.
Commenting on her “Agent of the Year” award, Thoresen said:
“I believe if an individual needs help, it’s just the thing to do. I never hesitate when giving assistance. I enjoy being a Realtor and would like to see everyone succeed.”
Thoresen, who focuses on the West Ventura County market, can be reached at (805) 415-8849 or (805) 415-8850.
6/25/2008
DARRELL BRADBROOK JOINS TROOP/WESTLAKE AS ASSISTANT MANAGER; CONTRIBUTES DIVERSE INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA – Darrell Bradbrook, who has enjoyed a successful and diverse 23-year career bridging the mortgage, brokerage, consulting and real estate law arenas in both management and broker capacities, has joined Troop Real Estate, Inc. as assistant manager of the company’s Westlake Village office, announces Patti Hepple, manager of the office.
Bradbrook comes to Troop after having served as branch manager for the North Ranch office of a major national brokerage company where he culminated 12 years in management capacities.
“Troop Real Estate is honored to have Darrell become part of our expanding presence in Westlake and the Conejo Valley. His breadth of real estate and executive experience is an invaluable addition to the growing range of services we provide both our brokers and their clients,” Hepple said.
Entering real estate in 1984, Bradbrook began as an owner and agent of Calwest Executive Finance in Woodland Hills, a firm specializing in commercial and high-end residential loans. Subsequently, he became a real estate consultant and expediter for a medium-sized development firm in Ventura County where he was the liaison to all the governmental agencies for the development of real property.
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Bradbrook then moved to the law firm of Wikle & Henry in Woodland Hills, where he served as the senior executive administrator in the firm’s asset and real estate liquidation department.
Active in industry affairs, Bradbrook has served as vice chairman and chairman of Professional Standards Committees at neighborhood boards and at the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors. Additionally, he has been membership committee chairman, a Professional Standards Committee member, a member of the board of Directors and currently holds an officer position.
Bradbrook earned an Associate of Science degree from Pacific Union College in St. Helena, CA. He has a son, Spencer, 9. Bradbrook resides in Westlake Village.
6/10/08
BLAKE MASHBURN, LEADING FIRST-TIME BUYER, HILLSIDE PROPERTY SPECIALIST, JOINS TROOP’s VENTURA OFFICE
VENTURA, CA – Blake Mashburn, a top producing 18-year veteran of residential real estate in West Ventura County with special expertise in marketing hillside/estate properties and assisting first-time buyers, has joined Troop Real Estate, Inc. in the frm’s Ventura office, announces Bob Harrison, west county regional manager for Troop.
Mashburn comes to Troop after serving 15 years with a private real estate company in Ventura where he was consistently recognized as a top producer.
“We are delighted to have Blake become part of the Troop team. He is clearly one of west county’s top agents, and has a long and respected pedigree in area real estate, which helps him serve his clients more effectively. Blake’s grandfather owned and operated Mashburn Real Estate in Ojai,” Harrison said.
Mashburn brings a rare combination of real estate expertise to Troop, Harrison said. He pointed out that the new Troop agent specializes in listing and sales of Ventura hillside and estate homes, while taking special interest in first-time buyers.
“I enjoy assisting first-time home buyers and offer an extensive knowledge of numerous first-time home buyer loan and grant programs to assist these consumers obtain the American dream of home ownership,” Mashburn said, noting that some 80 percent of his business is by referral.
Stating that he takes special satisfaction out of giving back to the community, Mashburn said his interests dovetail with Troop’s. “I like the fact that Troop is independently owned and operated with deep roots in the community. At the same time, the company offers the marketing tools of larger companies,” Mashburn said.
Born and raised in Ventura County, Mashburn and his life-partner reside in Ventura. Mashburn can be reached at (805) 856-9350.
5/28/08
TROOP’S JEAN WARNKE LOVES WORKING
WITH SELLERS, TOP LISTING AWARD SHOWS
VENTURA, CA – Jean Warnke believes in presenting things in their best light. She also understands how that comes back to you in more referrals.
That, in part, explains why Warnke, a veteran real estate agent in the Ventura office of Troop Real Estate, Inc., was recently recognized by Bob Harrison, west Ventura County regional manager for Troop, as the top listing agent in the firm’s Ventura office for all of 2007.
“Jean is no novice when it comes to award winning results,” Harrison said. “A veteran of 13 years as a licensed Realtor, Jean has received many accolades from her long list of satisfied clients.”
Harrison added that Warnke came to Troop Real Estate in Ventura already a top producer and has continued her award winning ways. This includes previous recognition as top volume agent, top selling agent, President’s Club Elite, Captains Club, Colonels Club , and Troop’s coveted office “Agent of the Year” as voted by her peers for 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
It all goes back to Warnke’s passion for working with sellers.
“I just really like working with sellers. They’re stationary, so it gives you the opportunity to build trust, confidence and a reputation. In the process it demands that you be realistic with sellers and be a good negotiator,” Warnke, a six-year member of the Troop team, said.
Call Jean Warnke, the “Real Estate Doctor”, for all your real estate needs. She can be reached at (805) 218-0118.
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