Neighborhood specialists have always existed. More recently, agents began marketing themselves as “experts” in certain architectural styles — be they Victorians, brownstones or green housing. Others have developed an expertise in a process — such as remodeling or re-zoning. But increasingly, niches have taken a turn toward the personal by defining the very essence of the client. Broad generic categories that the U.S. Census might measure — gay, black, Christian — have long formed the basis for real estate networks.

Katharine Holland of Coldwell Banker in San Francisco has set her sights on single women (a growing sector of first-time home buyers), offering classes which teach them the home buying process. But now the niches are becoming more narrow and in some cases, downright eccentric. Catherine Aubale Epstein, of Paris Immo Realty, specializes in Americans who don’t speak French or know French real estate laws but who nevertheless want their own pied-à-terre in Paris. Jackie Youngblood, a Florida agent, has uncovered a niche for nudists in the Tampa Bay area. (Her tagline: “Skip the outfit, wear the lifestyle.”)

Woods’ dog-friendly niche epitomizes the trend in real estate agents tapping into the culture’s deeper lifestyle biorhythms. Her Web site and blog, Peninsula Househound explore intersections between real estate and Fido, including profiles of unofficial as well as official dog parks, a search engine that helps find dog-friendly homes for sale, and advice on how to ready a home for market when it’s still occupied by your beloved furry friend. Her Yahoo Group for Peninsula dog owners allows local dog owners to trade tips and meet each other. “It’s really a quality of life issue to have a home that makes sense for your dog,” she says.

Being close to a dog park is especially important.” Woods enumerates other factors attractive to families with four-legged members, include having hardwood floors (instead of carpet), a fenced yard, a pet-friendly neighborhood (filled with neither anti-pet people nor violent fight dogs) and a place to separate the dog from guests or workers. In shopping for condos, she adds, owning a dog can be a deal buster because many new condo projects restrict pets, but don’t advertise this in their marketing materials. “I’ve heard about clients falling in love with a condo, putting an offer down and then reading the CC&Rs and discovering that no pets are allowed,” Woods explains. “It’s really about understanding your clients and how they live.” She says that most of her clients are “just starting families — and have gotten a dog to test their parenting skills.” Source:SAn Francisco Chronicle

But 2007 paints a very different picture and one I am positive will continue to develop in the years ahead,” Swanepoel says. Take a look at this partial list of women in top positions as published in the Swanepoel Trends Report 2008 (page 21).

Mo Anderson – President, Keller Williams Real Estate · Shelia Bair – Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. · Tami Bonnell – President EXIT USA · Lorna Borenstein – President, Move, Inc. · Debbie Campagnola – CEO, ARELLO · Brenda Casserly – President, ERA Real Estate · Shari Chase – President , Chase International · Sherry Chris – CEO, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate · Beverly Faull – General Manager, Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions · Helen Hanna Casey – President, Howard Hanna Real Estate · Dottie Herman – CEO, Prudential Douglas Elliman · Laurie Janick – General Counsel, NAR · Susan Johnson – President , Real Estate Settlement Providers Council · Laurie Keenan – President, Prudential Real Estate Affiliates · Margaret Kelly – COO, REMAX International · Pamela Leibman – CEO, The Corcoran Group · Gail Liniger – Vice Chairman, REMAX International · Pam O’Connor – CEO, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World · Joyce Paron – President, EXIT Canada · Kaira Rouda – COO, Real Living · Brenda Shipplett – COO, Long & Foster Companies · Sarah Shoemaker – COO, Real Living · Pat Vredevoogd Combs –NAR President 2007

“Women are more confident and financially savvy than ever before.” Echoing the sentiment is outgoing 2007 NAR President, Pat Vredevoogd Combs, herself an excellent example of a woman achieving the highest elected position in the largest trade association in the world. Rounding out Trend #10, “Shattered Glass” as the trend is listed in the Report, is an evaluation of the important impact of the Youth and Minorities in real estate. In total, there are another nine key business real estate trends incorporated in the impressive 170-page 2008 Swanepoel Trends Report that was just released by RealSure Publishing. source:Transworldnews.com