Tuesday, May 24, 2005

By Elwin Green, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Before Kilolo Luckett attends professional meetings in her field, she has to "gear myself up to smile."


Tony Tye, Post-Gazette
Kilolo Luckett sells real estate at Cool Space Locator.
Click photo for larger image.

Related coverage
Blacks not as scarce elsewhere in real estate

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Once there, people rarely introduce themselves, so she takes the initiative, introducing herself to them. Sometimes people seem uncertain about how to respond to her, so she uses humor to try to help them feel more at ease.

And sometimes, after returning home, she cries.

"It's extremely difficult to walk into situations time after time and be met with very cold interaction," she said.

For Luckett, 32, riding this emotional roller coaster is an unintended consequence of being a licensed real estate agent specializing in commercial property -- and being black. She works at Cool Space Locator, a Lawrenceville brokerage devoted to helping companies find urban office space.

By all accounts, Luckett is Pittsburgh's only African-American commercial real estate agent -- and an example of a national anomaly: After decades of affirmative action, the growth of the black middle class and the penetration of African-American executives into the highest ranks of corporate America, the world of commercial real estate remains, as one broker put it, "a white male bastion."

Numbers are hard to come by. The National Association of Realtors, with 1.2 million members, published a member profile in 2001 that showed its membership was 92 percent white, 5 percent Latino, Hispanic or Spanish, 2 percent black, 2 percent Asian and 1 percent American Indian.

The organization does not have a breakdown between commercial and residential practitioners. But the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute, a Realtors association affiliate group for commercial agents and brokers, has estimated that less than 1 percent of all commercial brokers are ethnic minorities.

The absence of blacks from the region's commercial real estate brokerages is all the more striking when compared with residential real estate, where blacks have been active locally since at the least the 1930s, when James Ramsey conducted his brokerage from a phone in his Brushton barber shop.

Back then, there were eight or 10 black brokers, said Robert R. Lavelle, who joined Ramsey's sales staff in 1949 and formed his own firm, Lavelle Real Estate Inc., in 1951.


Bill Wade, Post-Gazette
Michael Polite is president of Ralph A. Falbo Inc., a Downtown-based development firm.
Click photo for larger image.

"There was a pretty lively real estate market for blacks, but the problem was they were trading in the broken-down houses that blacks could get," he said. "The commercial market was a white market."

Little has changed in that regard.

"It's unbelievable how underrepresented minorities are" in the industry today, said Peter Sukernek, vice president and general manager at Howard Hanna Commercial Real Estate Services. He described the situation as "embarrassing."

It also is a situation that has been decades in the making and defies easy solution. At its core, local brokers say, is that the commercial real estate is a relationship-driven business that for much of its existence was represented by family firms, none of which was black.

"Up until very recently, (commercial real estate) tended to be dominated by families," said David W. Auel, naming several -- Arnheim, Neely, Oliver, Gold.

"Since they were family-run firms, not only did family [members] come into the firm, but also friends of sons and daughters, which is how family-run firms tend to hire."

Auel, owner of Griffon Realty Inc., Downtown, is a prime example of the sort of closed networking circle.

When he came out of college, he had never heard of a commercial real estate broker. But one day in 1985, when he was coaching a swim team, the father of two team members asked him if he was interested in commercial real estate.

It turned out that the questioner was chief financial officer for Oliver Realty Co., the family-owned precursor to Oliver Development Co., one of the leading commercial firms in the city. With his encouragement, Auel joined the firm and has been in the business ever since.

Because blacks and other people of color rarely have even casual relationships with someone in the business, most remain as unaware of the field as Auel was. That translates into a lack of candidates attempting to try their hands in the business.

During his 10 years as a district manager for Grubb & Ellis during the 1990s, only two black applicants for sales and marketing positions came his way, said Thomas B. McChesney, now senior vice president for the Downtown-based firm. "The applicant pool for diversity is few and far between in Pittsburgh," he said.

The dominance of family-owned firms did start to fade in the late 1980s as family firms began to merge with national and multinational firms. The change has led to a push to try and address the lack of blacks in the business.

For example, Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co., which has regional offices in Cranberry, has set diversity goals for 2005 that include "a formal mentoring program" and "targeted recruiting efforts." Other national firms have adopted similar efforts.

So far, however, the national objectives appear to be failing at the local level.

It doesn't help, McChesney said, that soft local market conditions have dampened hiring.

His firm hired three to four people during the 10 years he was district manager, and not much has changed since the '90s. "You get your staff built up, and because the market isn't growing, you don't add new people," he said. "That's a great barrier" to minorities.

McChesney and Jack Norris, president of CB Richard Ellis Pittsburgh, suggested that another reason for the lack of minorities seeking careers in commercial real estate sales is the pay structure, which is typically 100 percent commission. That means newcomers may have to wait a while before receiving their first paycheck.

Because the brokerage side of the business is commissioned while the property management and service side is salaried, "It's easier in our business for people to break into it on the property management and the professional support services staff side," Norris said.

While declining to provide specifics, Norris said CB Richard Ellis has "a number of black people with professional responsibilities" in the property management-services side. He expects several eventually will end up in the brokerage-sales side.

Luckett, of Cool Space Locator, has been spared from making the choice between sales and property management. She is salaried, and the nonprofit firm negotiates commissions with each client individually.

The pay structure allows her to operate differently from other commercial real estate agents. Indeed, if not for Cool Space, Luckett, with a background in arts management, might not have entered what she calls "a cutthroat profession."

But now that she is in the field, she is determined both to act -- and to be treated -- as a professional.

Which means that while being snubbed socially might evoke occasional tears in private, being slighted professionally might evoke a confrontation -- as when the listing agent on a property spoke to her client as if she weren't there. That agent got an angry phone call in which Luckett pledged never to work with him again.

But mostly, Luckett said, she relies on humor to get her through the day. She recalls, for example, arriving at an industry function and realizing that people were celebrating St. Patrick's Day by wearing green.

Not wearing green, she nevertheless claimed the holiday by telling a colleague, "I'm what you call Black Irish."


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Just read the article,kinda disappointing because I am an African American female hoping to get into commerical within the next year or so...ANY FEEDBACK

Well first off I am a white male,secondly this article is 2 years old.

There are stereotypes that we all have to overcome regardless of race.

There are people who might tell you to go to hell and then there are people who do business with you.If you can't handle rejection regardless of the reason you need to change careers,this is a tough business.

For commercial real estate you could find and alternate example in the number of white successful rappers compared to the black ones and how white people that want to be rappers are discrimiated against,ridiculed,and fight a long uphill battle,this still does not stop the people that want it bad enough to succeed.

I just get tired of people playing the race card.When I look at someone I see a person not a sex or a type of race.The bottom line is are they professional and can they get the job done.

You will run into racist people everyday,I run into blacks that believe because I am white I owe them something,I don't owe them anything just like they do not owe me anything.

Yes commercial is looked at as a man's business moreso than a women's so being black and a woman certainly does not help things.

Look ay oprah she was dirt poor started from nothing,and certainly faced more adversity than there is today and she is wildy successful.

People of any race can cry an make excuses about why they can or cannot do something,in the end there mindset and how the REACT to adverse situations will make them either fail or succeed.Some people are sexist,some ar racist and they will never change and you have to accept that and move on.

Those numbers in that article are way off to me.I know plenty of minorities that own businesses and many,many real estate agents of varying races.

I would not focus on being a black,female commercial agent but instead focus on being the best commercial real estate agent you can be.You will eventually command respect and be accepted the ones that are racist you cannot change them.Look at it as paving the way for future generations to come.

good luck

First off, I have mad respect for you POWERMOVEBELVY for following your dream against all odds.

super realtor is naive but well-meaning. Not all of us are going to grow up to be Oprah or Bill Gates, no matter what. It's incredibly difficult to rise above circumstances and societal pressure. We do owe the blacks something. We owe it to them to educate ourselves about the racist enforcement of our laws where blacks are more likely to get arrested, more likely to get the death penalty and the mandatory sentencing for crack is higher than the sentencing for cocaine. We owe it to them to learn about the War on People of Color and we owe it to them to work to make our laws and our opportunities fair to everyone.

It's hard enough being a woman, much less a black woman who's entire cultural group has been persecuted from the day they stepped foot on American soil. The persecution still continues to this day but it's more subtle. (Oh, and heaven help you if you're a fat, black woman - now you have 3 strikes against you.)

The days of assinating black leaders is over (for now, until you get another Martin Luther threatening white man's privilege.) But they're still bringing in crack and arresting the small-time dealers and users while ignoring the kingpins who fly it in to our country. There's just as much cocaine use out in the gated communities as there is in the ghetto, but they target people of color, break up their families, arrest the parents, seize all their assets and put Dad to work in a private prison industry earning 40c an hour and a $40K/year contract to house him goes to their buddies who own the private prisons. And they say slavery is over. Not.

What's a bummer is that sometimes people of color mistake my actions as racist when they're nothing of the kind. I hope that you won't do this, but I understand why it's a common conclusion.

For example, one day a neighbor was blasting her hip hop music. I asked her to turn it down and she took attitude with me, thinking it was a color thing, not a volume thing. Luckily, my other neighbor was outside for a smoke and she asked him if I ever asked him to turn down his music (believing that I hadn't because he's white.) He said yes (cuz I'm a "shut up and stay off mah lawn" sorta cranky woman like that sometimes.) I was happy that it was proven that I'm cranky and not a racist. But for her, I know that she confuses people's motivations and finds racism where none exists. I'd be her best friend where it not for her behavior (she has screaming Jerry Springer fights with her hsb.) But she likely thinks I'm racist. I feel sorry for her. But who could blame her?

I could list example after example of times where things were misconstrued.

Like your article mentioned, a sense of humor is necessary. I'll add that an open-mind is also important. Lots of people grew up without the gov't sanctioned overt rascism of early times. Lots and lots of people grew up since then with Rainbow World and Big Blue Marble mentality. Thank God. Lots of people don't know there's still a War on People of Color, they just think y'all are more prone to crime when blacks are really more prone to being busted for crime and they have less opportunities to earn an income other than dealing.
Of course, White Collar crime seems to be ok and if it's not, at least their federal prisons are cush. Not like the rape rooms we have for the rest of the general population. Something wrong with that - seems the people who embezzle, steal pensions and ruin lives should go to the rape rooms and the addicted should play tennis, golf and plant flowers.

Racism does exist, but not on the extreme "get your drinking water over there" level that it was before. It exists, sadly, even in your community where young black kids are belittled for getting good grades - they're told that they're "acting white." Or perhaps their skin isn't dark enough, or too dark. Life's hard enough without your own brothers bringing you down and resenting you for your success.

Well, anyways, I've rambled enough. Mostly I want you to know that I wish you luck and am rooting for you.

Peace.

Power,

You are limited only as much as YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE... Don't ALLOW the miasma of a perceived "glass ceiling" be a deterrent to you...

Work hard and go for what you want...

Good Luck!

Are there a lot of female commercial brokers?

I know a lot of black commercial real estate agents in various parts of Texas. If we aren't selling commercial it's because we don't want to own that type of business. People said there was a glass ceiling in commercial real estate with women and minorities until strong people came along who wouldn't let those excuses stand in their way.

why does this even become an issue? If blacks are not in commercial real estate it is because they have not chosen to follow that path. I think that we waste so much time on looking into these issues of who is who and why don't these people hold this title, it is ridiculous.... we all can choose to go out and try to become what we want if some people shy away from doing so should we purposely give them jobs in such systems based on race and color, NO work at it and it will happen.

Your race or sex has nothing to do with your success in commercial real estate. If you fail and blame it on your race or sex then you are simply looking for an excuse to justify your failure. Place the blame where it belongs on you because you lacked the skills to do the job.
Sucess in commercial real estate is based on your area and market knowledge, investment property knowledge, sales skills and the ability to prospect and network. I work with many successful commercial agents of various races, both men and women!

Sharpen your knowledge & skills instead of looking for an outside source to blame should you fail.

There are no black women commercial brokers around here. Here In The south,it seems like black women face more challenges in the real estate field . Overcomming the challenges is possible. so far it has not happened around here. That article sounds like she was in my town.

(Mmmmm...do I chime in here? Racism is a sensitive topic for a lot of people and a lot of people misconstrue what is said or written....)

I don't think anyone is owed anything no matter what race they are. If a Black or Hispanic or any other race is going to do anything they have to work for it. Playing the race card in real estate or any other aspect in life doesn't cut it (and definitely won't make you money for the most part). You have to prove yourself before you are really given a chance or at the very least talk the talk. If you are a convincing speaker you can get just about anything done.

I'm Hispanic and proud of my heritage and family, and I don't use the race card for anything negative, I use it to my advantage. I've learned the prouder you are of yourself, the better you carry yourself and handle everything in life. Be proud of yourself no matter what your race, color, creed, religion, etc...Don't whine about what you don't have, think about what you are about to have, by thinking positively.

Of course there is racism everywhere, but the funny thing is you can change a lot of racists perceived thoughts of a particular race by showing them you are an intelligent person and can do things as well or better than others (remember when women in general were in this predicament? Now look at it as a race thing since racism is still here but hidden). The thing is you have to put the effort in and impress them (it's not hard, most racist people are uneducated). The smarter or better educated the person is the less racist they are is how I feel (of course there are exceptions to every rule). Racism of course comes in all shapes and forms, most people that are racist are only slightly racist and will have friends or acquaintances of other races, which technically I'd say they aren't racist (just have different opinions), but that's a topic for a different kind of forum.

Anyway back on topic, the article didn't only mention blacks, or black women, it mentioned minorities in general, if they don't want to get into commercial real estate, you can't force them. There are black and hispanic brokers around (matter of fact my brother in law who is also hispanic is a broker) and they chose the type of business they preferred. Just because they aren't commercial brokers doesn't mean they don't sell commercial real estate. Any broker or real estate agent can and will sell commercial real estate, it's just the commercial brokers only sell commercial properties (for the most part).

There is racism in the world and not everyone is racist (like some people think) the key is to do your job as a real estate agent and WOW!!! them. Impress them with your skills. I will sell a house to the Klan leader and impress him with the knowledge I have. Don't be the stereotype of your particular race no matter what race you are, do everything to impress no matter what race. I've sold houses to all races and everyone respects me when I talk, from poor to rich. Respect yourself and others will respect you.



And there's the curveball thrown in so you can see it's not a racism thing. A broker will hire just about anyone, and if one won't (because some brokers are selective, although most of the time it's not a race thing), there definitely is another one close by that will. Looking at a 2005 census here's the breakdown by race (in the US) mentioned above White 80.2%, Hispanic or Latino 14.4%, Black 12.8%, Asian 4.3%, Native American and Alaskan Native 1%. What does this tell you? More whites get licensed than anyone else because of course that's the predominant race. Look at the percentage of Asians and American Indians, in those census numbers it's higher up there than the other races in signing up (even than whites). That tells us that blacks and hispanics are less likely to become licensed for real estate in the first place and of course the less people there are signing up the less people succeeding, equals the less people becoming brokers which also equals even less people of any race becoming commercial brokers because the vast majority of brokers become residential (and some commercial when the opportunity hits) brokers.

And the funny thing is I've had a racist friend for the last 6 years (since I moved to New Jersey) and I've been teaching him tolerance and that not everyone of any particular race is bad. He's come along so well in the years I've known him, he has a black roommate now and is becoming kinder and more acceptable to new things to him. When I met this guy the only reason why we hit it off is because we were both the punchline after punchline guy and we were similar in a lot of ways. Racism is learned and you can teach people out of it.

I was not implying racism. I agree with many of the posts on this particular article, however the South is STILL very much different than New York, California and many other places where there is more diversity. Everyone can overcome diversity and to me diveristy is a good thing. deu12000 your post was nice. I don't think that you would be able to write what you wrote and experience your experiences the same way if you were in my neck of the woods. I am sure that you would be successful wherever you go but honestly, Everyone is discriminated against somewere, sometime for some silly reason. So I guess that we all are right based on our OWN personal experiences. It will all work out for everyone eventually.

I'm a 30 year old black male. Pretty new to the industry. I have a pretty outgoing personality that helps me interact with people. I used to be the total opposite. I think that over the years I realized that if you can "hit it off" with someone then that makes me happy because I was ultimately a people person. But as a youngster I was turned off because of racism and the like, it made me really shy. Even today I still think, well, I wouldnt mind trying that restaraunt but I dont know... I'm overcoming it slowly but surely. But until you've felt those prying eyes, judging you, whispering, etc., its just hard to totally blow off the effects of racism. I'm in South Carolina and It still abounds. Getting better, but getting is still getting and there are lots of room for improvement. I do know that I wont let a race issue control my earning power or success. Its not really that bad, I dont know about other places but not here at least. However, It can affect people, and does.

I don't know here? Here we are back here again.
We all are discriminated against, just some more than others....Is it racism or is memo(rex)ry of days of old?
Life is just plain old hard. Just like "super realtor" stated we all have to overcome. Which coined the phrase....."We shall over come"
I wonder who started that phrase?

Then I became troubled with his statement regarding the part about "playing the race card"
Don't you realize that those that use the race card, get tire of using the race card???
An article being 2yrs old, is sufficient enough for "Powermovebelvy" purposes.
I think possibly this career area has change a smigeon. Not as it should be though.

But I know a lot of women in California Commercial real estate. Met a 70yr old woman yesterday I didn't know it was "Male based"
Well surprise surprise to me.....
Explains why back in the late 80's I saw all males in Marcus and Millichap.

I also believe that further gripping about "oh poor me, I'm being discriminated against" is a waste of time.
A waste of time, unless you have a forcible move to make only!
Don't you guys know that people like "super realtor" exists and they want you to go away, so they can keep their blinders on?

deu12000 mentioned "racism is learned and can be teached out"?
Charles Turner once said "There is nothing wrong in associating with what you are familiar with. Like tends to stay with like. There is nothing wrong with this" Cultures, ways of life. Tolerence is the answer.

Then well meaning "super realtor" takes a page out "Stephen Colbert Report" (cable comedy) "When I look at someone I see a person not a sex or a type of race"...LOL..Stephen Colbert goes on to say "I only know that I am white, because everyone tells me that I am"

Equivacating White Rappers being discriminated against! There are more White people #1 and more White children buying Black Rappers music.....White Rappers, they just arent that good.

Oprah making it is one of a few in a population of 13%.
Let's use "The Donald" Commercial Guru. One of his Apprentice's was African American, wow.
This past season choices of African Americans on the Apprentice show was an embarrassment. And Donald's children kept re-itterating "Whose going to fit into our company" OPENLY.
They seem to like crazy Frank. Which didn't hurt my feelings. Compared to Corey who was black, trotting around in tight Pink swim wear he designed!

I've bought and sold real estate all over the country and in different markets. Yes, there are agents who have felt that they have something better to do, than relate to me. But unless they own the property, they are not the last word!
If that doesn' work "Next property please" their loss.
Bottom line. The property will stay on the market longer and probably get less money, as more time goes by!

The days of this form of discrimination is waning down. Reason being, the white side availability of climbing the money making ladder is growing ever more so ruthless.

I've had other agents tell me that sellers refuse to accept an offer from them, solely because of their skin color(Louisiana).
I've had the police called on me, entering properties twice (California)I turned my lemons into lemonade and passed my cards out to half the force that showed up Made 2 sells.

According to the Real Estate Dept. it may be morally wrong to approach the seller, but not illegal

Do I believe that racism is alive and well. Yes I do.
Do I believe there is racism in Commercial Real Estate, probably so. Is it a blanketed effort or subliminal blue code of silence? In some cases yes.

The question is "Why aren't more blacks selling Commercial Real Estate" Could it be that they are keeping a low profile. Maybe where you are, they don't understand the market yet. Maybe they have tried and failed (I know of one black person that tried years ago)This older black broker got out because the market was bad. But he had no trouble relating. He belong to the NAACP.

I'm at this point. You know what the game is. If you feel that your efforts are being thorted by the color of your skin. There are a thousand avenues to travel, learn them! The world is changing and getting smaller.

Racism is a walking talking breathing source. It hurts everyone. Which no one disputes.
It has come to bite some in the behind and it hurt them. Cause but no effect.
I was told by a Hispanic client "I never had to learn to speak english coming from Mexico to El Paso, because everyone there spoke spanish" Cause and effect. Because he left, it effected him, so he learned english....

So those of you that stay within your warm cozy cocoons and keep thinking "I like traditional things, I want things to stay the old way"....."I like my foot on your neck, keep quiet and stop whining and justifying and just lay there"
And them old freakin' "race cards" well we've changed the rules, they are ours now. Get over it!

My hopes rest in as the "Big Boys" get bigger, racisms seems to take on the color of green!.....(not the little big boys), there's a difference.

People need to quit using race as an excuse to fail and for handouts.

We are all dealt a deck of cards,we can make success happen or cry about why life isn't fair and create our own failures.

Success can happen for all of us just probably isn't going to happen exactly like we envisioned it.

I don't care who the agent is as long as they are competent and know what they are doing.I still have people call people the "N" word and I don't like it.Unfortuneately you come across people that you don't like.You keep it professional and move on.

We agree on one basic fact. If you are competent you will possibly have successes. Depending on your drive, determination and education.
No one should expect to jump from high school to CEO........
unless you are a legal entity like a "Rapper"
McDonald's, KFC is where my children started, while in college.

Do you know of someone personally that has used the race card as an excuse?
Or are these individuals simply items that you have seen in the news? Or are these people that you just don't agree with possibly?

How did you come to your conclusion?

How did you jump to hand-outs? Do you know of a certain part of this society that hasn't received a hand out?

Look. By your own admission you stated that you are white. You stated that you have heard people call others the "N" word???
Then what the hell is wrong with using the invisible "race card"
When you have earned something....Oh that's right "keep it professional and move on".....leave your money at the door and just move on "it's not really yours, you're just a "N".."

Don't you realize that, not everyone uses the race card?
James Brown's lawyers(white) wanted to use it and James wouldn't let them.

James Brown sung a song, singing "Don't give me nothing. Open up the door, I'll get it myself"

1. Not every minority is on the Welfare wagon.
2. Not every black uses the race card.
3. Not every black is poor. (and not by Rapping)
4. Not every minority knows what you are talking about.

And forget about people moving on. The minute you think you have moved on..........one of your friends (by your own admission)
Messes up and turns La La Land into Messapotamia.

Until Bad behavior is corrected. The "race card" remains.
And no they will not go away, just because it irritates, those not affected.

no matter what color race or creed. If you need assistance financing any transactions feel free to email me at spinchem@midacap.com

They aren't my friends,if I am assembling 20 properties and one is racist I don't like it but I still have to negotiate the contract for my developer to purchase the property.

We all have beliefs,my PERSONAL belief is when I see everyone on TV playing the race card it is hurting the nation not helping it.Martin Luther King talked about a nation of one.I see many more Malcom x's than Martin Luther Kings these days and that's the problem.

I wish we could see people talking about on TV how everyone comes together in harmony as one,instead of political bull%^$& and blaming other races that we owe them for the past.That does nothing but divide a nation instead of bringing it together.

At the end of the day everybody has an opinion and this is just mine and it doesn't make me better than you or vice versa just different that's all.

Ok, I am not sure if people are still coming into this post and whatnot, but I'll take a stab at it.

I understand one's opnion and not fully understanding the gist of the article, but the whole "You are playing the racecard, and I don't like it" is a definate knee jerk reaction, the article in question and the subject are not warranting that type of response. Again, not trying to start anything negative, but it's responses like the initial one citing Oprah and whatnot that make it abundantly clear, one does not have a true understanding of what the article was stating...there is obviously an issue of African Americans in the Commercial Real Estate industry, thus the inspiration of the article....nobody said the commercial real estate industry as a whole or that whites working in that aspect are all racist.


It's only when the whole "let's join hands and sing we are the world" sentiment is brought up, that tells me you don't really absorb the issue at hand that the article is speaking of...

Hi im new to the forum but not new to the buisness(residential) I was also looking in to getting involved in commercial real estate but was told that I would be wasting my time. I think its sad the nonsense we have to put up with, especially in the residential market. Here in NY I just received a flier about top commercial realtors speaking, most of them to my surprise where of asian and indian decent, I dont have anything against these people but when I read there bio's many of them have not been doing real estate that long. As an african american born and raised in this country one would have to ask "what boat did I miss" RACECARD ? im afraid you are absolutly 100% incorrect .

You can't be serious... Here in SoCal I don't see a dominat race in the commercial market! Sounds like you need something to blame. Have you looked into the CMPS classes? Have you met with a commercial broker and expressed a want to get on the industry? Have you researched how commercial properties are listed, advertised, and sold? Have you looked into the law that governs a commercial transaction? Have you talked to your local board to see if they have resources for you to pursue?

Bottom line, have you taken the time to educate yourself on how to become a commercial real estate agent?

Nobody is going to see you on the street and say, "Hmm, that guy looks like he would really do well in the commercial real estate industry. I should hold his hand and walk him through the process". Somebody on the street is certainly not going to say, "Hmm, that guy looks like he would really do well in the commercial real estate industry. I should hold his hand and walk him through the process, oh wait he's black, never mind". Give me a break...

The best way to answer such a question is to take a sample of the target population and survey them.

Yes, african-americans have been oppressed and demonized for a long time in this country. At one time in this country, blacks and native indians were considered less than human.

Maybe a more current question is...why aren't more MUSLIMS in commercial real estate? Since a certain branch of our federal government has a very clear political agenda to demonize Islam (the religion of Satan), this is a fair question.

An interesting side note. Barack Obama apparently was raised a Muslim, but he later "converted" to Christianity. Do you think he would have any chance of a political career in this country if he had remained Muslim?

Wonder when he converted...

What was his reason for conversion would interest me more.

He's a smart person. I would guess he realized he would be accepted far better as a Christian, in a Christian-dominated culture.

"He's a smart person. I would guess he realized he would be accepted far better as a Christian, in a Christian-dominated culture."

I don't think that's his answer.

There seem to be several observations about his "conversion" (if there was one):

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/us/politics/30obama.html?ex=1187064000&en=fc56d04f577916b4&ei=5070

Pretty scary...

I have a recent story to share that I found quite alarming.

The other day I met a friend that was signing a contract for an assemblage I was putting together for a developer.We sat in a Mcdonald's and were talking about the project.

There were 3 black men sitting in another booth eating.While we were talking the 3 blacks guys started for the exist door and one of them interuppted us without even being polite and said "ya'll hiring?" I said no we are not hiring which is true because I am a real estate broker and have no employees.

The other 2 kept on walking through the door.The third black guy had the nerve to say "I guess I am not the right color huh!?"

He had a smug look on his face and walked out the door.We were still sitting down and I told my client friend that was difinitely uncalled for and he agreed.

I get tired of lazy people playing the RACE card!

I wish people would change there ignorant mindset!

Thats what I'm talking 'bout!

Of course, this is a common attitude among whites. Blacks born in lower economic class environments have a very different perspective.

I have acquaintances that are black, and I discuss these issues with them. There is no question that blacks are harrassed, targeted and profiled by law enforcement on the streets, despite the offical policy prohibiting racial discrimination. I've seen some of these abuses personally.

Beat it... Are you in commercial real estate? There is no question that there are still racist bigots out there, but come on. Being lazy or ignorant is the culprit, not the color of your skin.

I guess I'm not a hip hop celebrity because I'm not black. Just the man trying to keep me down...

I am very disturbed by what I have read here.
Prodigy, you work in a field that is bound by law to obide by fair housing laws, yet you are posting comments that could easily be interpreted as racist. Don't be stupid! You could be Googled at any second! You even have your picture up!
As for Super Realtor's comment that those men at McDonalds were just lazy, they were asking for a job! Anyone who would ask a random person at a fast food restaurant for work is desperate, but far from lazy! They were wrong for giving you a hard time but come on, lazy?
By the way, commercial real estate is tough for most white realtors to break into, real estate in general is tough to break into, so this topic is pointless.

Where exactly were my comments even slightly racist? Lazy people, regardless of color, blame whatever they can rather than deal with and fix the truth. I asked "Traco" some questions that he didn't answer, probably couldn't find the time...

Get a life Steph, if I was worried about what people thought of me personally I wouldn't have said half the things I have on this board. I'm not a racist, I just hate stupid people.

I am not racist. I'm also 22, racism is lost on me because I grew up with a melting pot of culture. Don't insinuate it again.

Adam sent me an email and this is my response:

I stated that you should be careful about what you post on those forums, and I stand behind my opinion. Your picture is even posted, so you cant say that it wasn’t you. You have to be smart. You are a lender, don’t you think a past disgruntled mortgage applicant to use your comments to make you miserable by claiming that you probably had some ill intentions where they were concerned? You can’t use that use that forum to express any views that could be taken of context. The guy from the real estate blog at about.com has already posted some of our comments on his site, and his intent was to humiliate us. Search the forum for James Timmons. You have to be careful. I don’t know you, but I actually would not say you were racist based on your comments. I have seen worse.

Be smart and be careful!

Steph

Interesting discussion I happened upon by chance. WOW, I am female, black and foreign; so what does that make me? I was never thought limits to what I can accomplish by my parents, mentors, teachers, etc so to hell with everyone and their limiting thoughts, keep it to yourself. For those of you who really want to excel "what stopping you", like Nike says " just do it". Dance to your own music and beat your own drum, no one said it would be easy but do it anyway.Become the "colour of water" , read the book by James McBride, it's a lesson.

Would you be so kind as to provide a link to the about.com referenced site? Also, search this forum or about.com for that James Timmons guy?

Someone opened a Pandora's Box in this thread.

If that's how Mr.Timmons get's his jollies that must be a sad existence indeed.

It's kind of like a powermonger hoa president that everyone can't stand.

Taking words and turining them around or omitting certain parts of the posts is slander and defamation of character and I would caution Mr.Timmons whoever he is and what he posts as he could be SUED for that.

Stupidity is born on inadequate knowledge.

Let's just let this topic die,it's getting really old.

Steph,
Seems that you need to work on your reading comprehension skills.
It was not Adam that originally commented that he was tired of LAZY people playing the Race card, It was Super Realtor! Adam just agreed with him as do I. Just because you "stand behind your opinion" does not make it any more correct. In this you are WRONG!

And it is not James Timmons, it is James Kimmons and he is an blogger that never tires of hearing his own voice or his words on paper or webpage. It also appears he has an affinity for taking what people say out of context.

Real Estate is a business for people with determination not for those that whine and blame others for their failure! Blaming Race for lack of sucess in Commercial Real Estate is just plain STUPID.

Talking about a deficiency of minorities in the work place, the legal profession seems to be right up there.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/companies_25988___article.html/among_based.html

Pikes,
How about Hockey? Definately a deficiency of minorities there!

Paul, you can say that again, here are some interesting stats:

According to League reports, only 18 black players reached the NHL between 1958 and 1991
Of the notables are the retired goaltender Grant Fuhr (Oilers).
Anson Carter (Canucks) was one of 17 black athletes in the NHL in 2004. There are other notables such as Jarome Iginla (Calgary), Kevin Weekes (Rangers), Mike Grier (Buffalo) etc.
Here is another interesting statistic:
The United States, with a much higher black population than Canada, now contributes approximately 15% of all NHL players while Canada produces just over 60%.

When looking for black Polo players, I was not able to come up with any (I guess that's for another topic), but than again, I might not have looked deep enough.
http://www.us-polo.org/index.htm

When exactly are the Avalanche going to get off their a$$es and take the Stanley home again? You are are closer than I am Pikes, will you please tell them to get it going this year?

well I'm brown and i plan....PLAN on going to CCIM classes. Not sure if I'd want to pursue it solely but I love real estate education. We'll see where it takes me.

I won't insult any minority by saying that I am a white male and I face discrimination also. That would be crazy of me to compare my situation to a minority person's. Racism exist and is alive and kicking. The problem is that most folks who are not minorities don't think they are racist, so in their minds they don't think racism exists. Oprah is the poster child for those who think we don't live in a racist society. Wow, one billionairess out of 10 million blacks, what a ratio.

But getting to the topic at hand. Commercial real estate is similar to a slaughter house, there is no room for the weary or weak. The bottom line is, recognize the obstacles you are dealing with and beat them, if you can't get of the business. This business is tough for most folks, but there are minorities who have succeeded. It's incumbent upon individuals to devise a strategy for success and be proactive with it. If you are one to allow people and situations to define you, then find another occupation.

JimmyTee

Oops, did I miss something ?
Did somebody say something ?
I guess I am too busy, too busy selling Real Estate or trying.

You see sir or youngster I speak from experience. I have a son your age. You said you grew up around culture ? well guess what ? youre still growing up ? Did you learn about all those things ? Or did daddy help you out ? I work in one of the most segregated communities in this country (Long Island NY). And the work we do here is not based on statistics, you know :

Give your card out to 100 people, 10 will respond, 7 will say no, 3 you will sell. Remember that ? Well if your black, how about 10 saying no.-You have to try all over again with 100 people.

What we are talking about here is representaion, Realtors are like attorneys, they represent people. And very few folks want to be represented by blacks. Not even black people.

So we dont need your little remarks about how things are fair, obviously according to the first post these are real situations that folks have to deal with. This forum (Commercial Real Estate)
serves as a good tool for people who dont know, and can somehow find away to the 100's of thousands of dollars that you're making. Maybe millions.

cc Rev Al sharpton
cc Rev Jesse Jackson
cc NAACP
cc National Urban League
cc Borack Obama (if he becomes president) I doubt it.

I think you need to cool your jets pal. I don't really care how old your son is. You're showing the same kind of ignorance in your post that you say blacks are a victim of. I'm young so that must mean I have no idea what I'm talking about. I don't care how old you are, you need to grow up.

I know you didn't care CLOWN you need to keep your mouth shut and listen to people talk about real life experiences and not the fantasy land your pops created for you .

You are about as ignorant as they come. You also need to learn proper ? punc ? tuati ? on....

Let me put this in laymen terms you might understand;

You say that blacks are a victim of ignorance and intolerance. Well, are you not guilty of showing that same intolerance to someone who is young? I must not know anything because I am young and that must give you a right to tell me to keep my mouth shut and put me down. I have news for you bud, you are the reason that blacks have difficulty with intolerance. Your mentality is the same one that causes grief for some people of other cultures and backgrounds. Keep quiet and learn some respect.

Why don't you answer the questions Traco?

It appears that you are the CLOWN. Suck It Up and stop making excuses for you lack of Drive, Ambition and Talent!

O look, another clown joins the discussion. I have nothing but drive and ambition. And i'll add one more thing to that , COMMON SENSE. I dont need you jacks telling me what I need to get. Especially a 22 year old. Your true colors or rather color are starting to shine through boy's, as always.

O well, honey I hopes this answers your question on why more blacks are not involved in commercial real estate.

We have a lack of drive, a lack of ambition and a lack of talent.
O, I almost forgot, the most important thing. The right color.

Typical!!

You just keep up blaming others for your lack of success in commercial real estate. What you should be blaming is your lack of professionalism after all it was you that started calling people clowns.

The answer to this question is the same answer to the question "Why aren't there more Whites Playing Professional Basketball?"

The answer is...."Talent!"

Still waiting Traco.

Im busy pro, hey listen I got your pic as a screen saver

Go back to selling cars, it's probably your true calling...

And keep making excuses, I'm sure you will go far.

Oh Jesus....


Look...I do agree with traco to some extent. Its gonna be harder for most blacks to get an equal look because it IS about representation. Hell I'm down here in South Carolina. You think I dont experience freakin' racism?

But at the same time, I'm not gonna let that deter me...at least not more than a few minutes. I like getting education and communicating in a way that just might make someone, regardless of color say, "hey, this guy is bright, educated and seems to know what he's doing...Hmmm, I dont care that he's black, he seems like he can get the job done"

My sis works with a lady that was gonna let me list her
acreage worth about 450,000 or so. Well I didnt get a chance, and it seems like she kinda made excuses and went with a white guy, all be it the one that built her house, the second agent after the first couldnt get it done. The first agent, a white lady friend of the seller, had two or three offers come in that she didnt even tell the sellers about! The sellers thought they didnt get any offers on the property. Now whoever has the listing, must be trying to pocket it because its not on the mls. She said if she doesnt get it sold then she'll use me. So hey I'm getting ready to take some Land courses to up my game and use it to increase my marketability. ((Before I'm done I'd like to be ...at least: Realtor, CRS,GRI,ABR(currently taking),E-Pro(currently taking),CCIM,RLI(about to register for classes soon) I dont care what people say about you should do this or that or only do commercial or blah blah)). The seller has confederate flags on her car. Does she want a black person working the listing, is she racist...? I dont know but If I get a chance to get in front of her at least she will say dam he knows his sht, and maybe feel like she might lose out by using joe blow white guy just because he's white.

We really dont need the name calling. Thats just uncalled for. Its just alot that goes on that most white people will never be able to experience and no matter how much we try to talk about it and make it understandable its just not gonna be the same as being black. So with that said, the only person you can control is yourself. You can only try to control yourself enough so that others would want to be influenced by you(isnt that what an agent does?)...be it in real estate, relationships, business, home, work, or play.

So I beseech you, Traco, to stop making other black people look bad by your behavior. Its not going to help ANYTHING positively. You gotta know that. If you want to vent, then do it objectively and state your purpose. Youre embarrassing me, and adding nothing of substance to a thread that could be viable. I wonder how you are on your listing presentations or when someone has objections or when things go wrong in your transactions....???

Youre not gonna get any respect by being disrespectful, regardless of color.

Thank you so much for understanding what I was trying to portray. Merkaba, I respect you a lot for this post. I agree that there is racism in the workplace, I think that in my generation and the next it will be more and more frowned upon though. I just don't think that race is an excuse for being lazy.

Well I'm 31, and I must say that i have seen general progress over my own lifetime, or it seems. Every generation should, hopefully, continue to move towards a more understanding view point.

In my experience, race is more of a general excuse, not just for laziness. I think that it bothers most black people when someone says "an excuse for laziness" because, although that term is popular, it denotes a default of laziness or lack of trying hard. in my experience I've known many a hard working black person, trying as hard as they think they can or should. Granted sometimes its not as hard as they were capable, though many times they genuinely don't know this, but as soon as something goes wrong, it goes back to race. Kinda like this endless roll of "give me sympathy" tickets, a cloud of sorts that hangs around ready to rain. And this just feeds the issue whenever something goes wrong. Yes, many black people still feel that they are owed something. I think half of the issues between whites and blacks would dissapear if black people said, screw it, and started with a clean slate of the mind. But as I said before, the other half would have to be white people willing to do the same and say, maybe he failed because he didnt KNOW what it took to succeed, and not just a reference to laziness, as is often the case.

I see as many black people being racist just as much as white or other races. The thing is that its this type of thing always in the back of the mind...kinda like a warped prejudice, united in brotherhood, ready to strike. So that race is always an issue in many black peoples minds, easy to relate to so that a common social bond is easily formed.... Like the other day with some people at lunch,(and this type of thing is very prevalent, not just the other day but many days) discussing a recent robbery..." Who did that?..was it a black person or white person...aw dang a black person!"...or "were they black or white...white, sheew...good" When a black person says this it pisses me off. Not only is it dumb its just the same mindframe that sets up any other typical racist attitude. Why not be concerned about the crime and not the race and who wins or loses so to speak...?? It takes a genuine moving to another level of understanding.

So although I generally agree with you prodigy, you could see how offering laziness is kinda a fuel for the fire, even if its in the context of reminding someone not to be lazy. I think we need to be careful not to really use this unless it is obvious the subject is showing signs of laziness. Its not always laziness, in this case i don't think traco said enough, that I read, to show that he was lazy. (although his first post in February made it sound like he wasnt gonng try) Its just too close to the stereotype that he must be lazy since he's complaining about work, all be it in a very immature way that totally negates his/her original purposes/motivations...if there were any....!!

:D... makes me laugh everytime I've read it!

Merkaba, dont let these people fool you, they try to come off as being politically correct, they have too. ON NO, NOT ME, I WOULD NOT DO THAT.

Then all of a sudden they meet someone like me, who say's knock it off. They Know it's the truth. If commercial real estate was such a big deal they would have issued 2 different licenses.

It comes down to opportunity, and we don't get much of that. Do you really think that all the people involved in commercial real estate have those designations. Off course not.

Pro your comments are young and dumb. Typical coming from a child. How can anybody take you seriously. O I forgot, dad is standing behind you.

"Up until very recently, (commercial real estate) tended to be dominated by families," said David W. Auel, naming several -- Arnheim, Neely, Oliver, Gold.

"Since they were family-run firms, not only did family [members] come into the firm, but also friends of sons and daughters, which is how family-run firms tend to hire."


But maybe, just maybe. if I take a CCIM class I could be a part of somebody's family

If there ever was someone who wanted to succeed, this sure was an inspiring story, showing what is possible:
The Pursuit of Happyness (maybe starting ones own business is not such a bad idea, the only person standing in your way is you)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/10/DDGVLF4AI81.DTL&type=printable

Each time you open your mouth you continue to show everyone how little you know about commercial real estate.

As I said before you are someone that needs the racism crutch to fall back on should you fail. This way you can blame others for your failure instead of yourself.

While there are not two seperate licenses there should be! Commercial & Residential Real Estate are two totally different fields with different knowledge required for each.

Paul, can I be a part of your family ?

Darn, I just missed TOP DOGS, no one told me he was coming to Jersey.

I wish you lots of luck Traco, I'm done with this conversation, but feel free to use the links in the resources post in the commercial real estate section to get your career off the ground.

what ever

Of course everyone in commercial doesnt have those designations. My point was that I want them because of the education and marketability of the designation. If there weren't designations I would still want the education to 1. Have it so that I can know my sht ...and 2. to be able to say I have such and such education and expertise. I want the education for land, commercial, and residential. Those are my goals not contingent on what other people have or say I need.

It does come down to opportunity and educational courses give you a chance to network and show your seriousness while getting a better opportunity via the education. Thats just one avenue. The one I've been focused on. Its still gonna be hard competing against local commercial...almost seems daunting and impossible. But If I get out and meet people, become friends with business owners, your chances increase.

But it just ills me to see you say stuff like "these people" and "they"...Thats generalization, the ultimate root of racism. Stop it! And saying that "someone like me comes along " like youre doing something new!

Four white guys going after a listing...its still not gonna be handed over to one of them. They'll have to claw it out. First we have to have black people in the game busting azz to even have an opportunity for an opportunity. Its like voting. It seems like it doesnt make a difference but you can't complain if you don't get out and try.

Realistically what would you like to see happen? Make a list...instead of wasting bandwidth internet sht talking and calling names.

You must be kidding, But OK

Not kidding...I'm waiting.

You have to remember one thing...."some will and some won't!"

That means...some people will work with you and some won't. This is a fact of life...no matter what color your skin.

Most of our limitations come from our thinking....this, more than race creed color or religion.

First: people judge you first by your appearance. Dress, physical shaped, attractiveness (no matter what race).

Second: they judge you by what you say!

HERE'S A real live discrimination case for you.

A friend of mine (white) is a convicted felon. He went to jail...did his time...came out...went to school full time for 5 years....got his BSci degree in accounting....14 years had past since his conviction...and the state will not let him sit for his CPA exam? This guy graduated with a 3.9 GPA...one of the top in his class.

The state says he committed a crime of "moral turpitude!"

"Moral Turpitude?"

Guy gets convicted for "possession"....does his time....now can't get a second chance....SAD...VERY SAD SYSTEM we live in.

How's that for discrimination?

Guess what he was Possessing?

Moral Turpitude
(n) Moral Turpitude is the gross disregarding of moral standards expected of a human being while doing some activity or crime. Eg. Raping in front of the parents.

"Possession" does not sound like moral terpitude to me.

This is a really BIZARRE thread.

I'za know miss ericka, I'za know mam

ericka, its not really bizarre at all.

Traco, lets get on with that list man.

Tracos responses sound juvenile and not at all like comming from an adult.

Wow what an immature bickerfest. I find it hard to believe anyone here is actually participating in any meaningful commercial business.

Let me just start off by saying I work in a realm of commercial RE that involves a great deal of patience, professionalism, knowledge, and integrity. All virtues that are lacking from the discussion at hand. My business consists of large resort properties, projects, hotels, etc as well as mines, green technologies, etc in excess of billions.

I am far from being a middle aged white man. I am of mixxed ethnic backgrounds. Not once have I had a hard time closing a deal. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Put your money where your mouth is and prove yourself. Make the right connections. that's what really counts. Plenty of my counterparts ARE black. They don't seem to be phased by it and are some of the wealthiest people I've met from being GOOD at what they do.

Quit feeling sorry for yourselves. This business has no time for whiners or crybabies. If my assistants acted like this I would fire them in a heartbeat--I don't even know how I'd respond if an associate, co-broker, or peer acted in this manner.

Another thing--many of my contacts didn't meet me until after many many phone conversations and emails. I've closed deals without even having met several of the parties involved. Tell me how race makes a difference. Ridiculous.

True, when first starting out and hitting the streets your appearance means alot, and perhaps in some of the more old fashioned communities even more so, but I've met too many successful ethnic people to truely believe that. I sympathize with some of your hardships, but at the same time, I don't. I've dealt with racism my whole life, but in a business of dollars and cents, there is no time or room for such idiocracy. Hard work ethic and a strong education are much stronger than any race card. (Military experience helps too).

Look...I'm not trying to kick anyone while they're down, but I am saying that feeling sorry for yourself or blaming your own shortcomings on the color of your skin won't get you very far. Chances are, when you get to the big deals that really matter, biggots won't be involved. For obvious reasons, big business ventures and projects would not be headed by people of ignorance.

Thanks for a tad bit of inspiration there Vegas!

Lordy!



I am not going to sift through all the replies once again. But it's still apparent some people are not getting it. Nobody is blaming the color of their skin for their own shortcomings. I hope some of you can manage to remove the blinders you have on and not allow the fact that you see successful black people or have black freinds or work with black people make you think/believe that this article has no merit or that when somone makes such an observation, that your personal experiences with these sucessful black people alone is enough to make their arguments not true...


That being said, if you are going to respond to my reply...I would appreciate you not get defensive, and just ask....don't assume because you have black freinds (co-workers you only have drinks with every once and awhile don't count for the sake of this argument)....

Let's stop the bickering. If you have not read the entire thread, please do not post comments. Above all, name calling and insults are not allowed as per forum rules.

Continued bickering will result in a thread lock.

Thanks,

Scott

Good response Vegas. People who discriminate, aren't as successful as those who don't. Often those who do, are uneducated, inexperienced, members of small communities; which have very little interaction or understanding of the world functioning around them.
The only discriminating I encourage, is towards Spurs fans! JK!

I can't believe this discussion is going on because of a juveniles comments.

What make the comments so juvenile Mr. Pikes ? You seem to be a little frustrated.
A question was ask and a opinion was given. We do have a right to our opinion don't we ? So what's the problem ? Like I said before and I stand by my comments 100%. Blacks are not selling commercial real estate because it is mostly a family run business, and our families ain't in it. If you want to call our comments juvenile well knock yourself out pal, what ever floats your boat. But it is fact sir.

If they shut down the thread, so what. Why hide from the truth ?

Warning #2

Continued bickering will result in a thread lock.

Traco,
Did you bookmark or download the commercial valuation spreadsheet? Or were you waiting until you needed it and couldn't find it so you could blame someone for keeping you down? Just curious.

Gulf,
Please shut this down, I can't take the stupidity any longer!

No need to shut the thread down because of one bad apple. Traco, wheres your list?

Mr. Pro welcome back, sir my apologies for calling you a clown, it was in appropriate.

Friends I'm trying to avoid the tazer. Someone called the cops.

A question was asked and my honest opinion was given. Of course there are resources available for those who want to try their hand in commercial real estate. But the article is a testament to the problems that an African American person might face if doing so. Why is that so hard for you guys to understand ? would that not be the case ? The article even tells you why its like that.

All you have to do is go on their web sites and check, I did. And here in NY most of the commercial real estate companies are family owned and operated. It does not mean that you will never be able to become successful, but the playing field is not level.

In order to solve a problem, you have to first admit that one exist. Or the problem will never be solved.

Its basically the same way in resi. Its not level there either! Nothing is level as far as race and business goes, but yelling and screaming is just yelling and screaming. Traco do you work for a commercial broker?

Yea your right Merkaba, it is the same way in resi-I've been doing residential for 10 years, and I've seen a lot of things. I also had a business for 7 years that dealt directly with commercial property's owners, And their management companies. So I know what I'm talking about. I'm not screaming and yelling (now that the cops are here). There are just some folks here who do not want to admit to the truth. And really most of them don't care. But they will respect my opinion.

You've been following the post just like I have-look at some of their comments. Lazy, failure, falling back on their color. These are stereos types AKA racist comments.
How did Pro know I was a failure, a failure at what ? Me and the guys in this office got a good laugh out of this thread, and I owe some of them some money.

The truth hurts, but sometimes you need to feel the pain in order to become successful in life. Pro said I should sell cars, well I have a friend that has 4 car dealerships, maybe I should give him a call. It would be just another notch in my belt, along with my 15 rental investment properties. My wife and 3 kids, 1 whom just graduated from college which I paid for and 1 about to enter. So I don't know, you tell me. What did I fail at ? Where did I go wrong ? Maybe I was too opinionated.

Traco is a realist.

Try this on for size:

If Hurricane Katrina had destroyed an affluent town and displaced mostly upper-class white property owners, do you think the emergency response (or lack of response) would have been different? Be honest.

Traco, I don't think I called you a failure. For reference, though I know you don't care, I am not a racist. I am 22 and part of Gen Y. Do a little research and you will see that the majority of my generation does not see race the same way you do. The same way we do not see boundaries or limitation. That is the reason I was licensed as young as I was and the reason the others my age around me succeed like we do. This is why I have little respect for people who are lazy or let obstacles stand in their way. Do it or don't the ability is yours. Maybe it is tougher for you than a white counterpart, I don't know. Even if it is though, it is is just a little harder for you to make it. Doesn't mean you can't.

If America hates black people so much why do we send as much aid to Africa as we do? Your probably right, it was all planned. George W. even steered the hurricane into La. I don't care where the hurricane hits, the federal government was just poorly prepared. Another thing you need to remember is that it was a dangerous area. That is part of the reason it took so long. If you want to be mad, be mad that we were unprepared for something like this.

Well traco, respect is not something you can command. It has to be earned. We've all heard some version of that saying before. Although you may have some valid points, you tarnished your image by expressing them immaturely.

Ericka.... I think she just trolls the board for opportunities to make snide remarks. I still don't recall if you've ever answered what your profession was. Maybe I missed it....??

That's were you are wrong Mr. Merkaba, and you are missing the entire point. You have to command or rather demand respect. Or you will never get it. This country was built on that very principle. I don't know what type of master plan you have Merkaba. But you better wake up and smell the coffee. Education and opportunity walks hand in hand. You cant have one without the other. You can have all the education you want, but if the opurtunity for you to get involved in Commercial Real Estate is not there because of a closed family circle affair, it will make it that much harder. That's all I'm saying, the article reflects that.

Pro you seem to have life all summed up at 22, good for you.

You see Merkaba, Pro demands respect, and he gets it. He has all the answers to our problems, our being me and you.
I find him to be hilarious. My grand father used to have a saying and evertime he got upset with his friends. He used to say "damn, you can tell a black person anything" substitute black for the N word.

Merkaba don't be that person, I want to see you succeed, demand respect, you have a realtors license just like they do, and in all 50 states, not 1 has issued a dual license for commercial, do you want to know why ? Because if they did, it would create more of an opportunity for us, you see this way they can still keep it a closed circle, a family affair.

As far as my image being tarnished, who care's. It was already tarnished when I mentioned I was black.

Ericka !!!, I Love you Baby!!!!

Racial Opportunist...

Pro, I thought you said you was from outer space or something ?

Hey Merkaba, try this on for size.
True story
Back in the late 90’s when I first obtained my license, I joined a small real estate office in Brooklyn. The office was owned by a well known neighborhood guy who had been in the neighborhood for many years, And handled mostly all residential business. About a month after I joined him, another young guy joined the office as well.
This guy just received his license and after 1 week he landed a listing, it was a commercial property, an old funeral parlor. The building was huge, around 15 to 20k sq ft and located about a block away from the office. He received the listing by way of his mother’s friend. The property was listed on the mls, and I suggested that he try some local news papers. The property was listed for $850k, the owner wanted a quick sale. She actually acquired the property through an estate. (uncle passing) 1 week after the property was listed, he get’s a telephone call from another realtor who ask to see the property. They agree to meet.
The guy pulls up in his Mercedes and gets out, folks I tell you, this was the sharpest looking white guy I have ever meet in my life. He had money written all over him. They go see the property and the next day he comes back with 2 more people. The 2 other people were from a major telephone company and they were interested I purchasing the property, to store equipment and a cell tower. They go see the property again, and I tag along with them. The telephone guys started asking all types of questions regarding zoning and other commercial related items. We both looked at each other. Anyway the commercial realtor started to get belligerent and started talking down to the listing agent, because he just simple did not have the answers to the questions. The broker by the way was always out of the office and left us to fend for ourselves. He was a nice guy though.
The listing agent called the seller to tell her the exciting news, and home girl got smart. If 1 cellular company was interested , what about the others ? She started making some calls and sure enough, the others were interested as well. An 850k deal turned into a bidding war. Before it was said and done it ended with 1.7 mil.( the beginning of the cellular wars) Not bad for your first deal. The agent went to the seller and told her he was having a problem understanding how to do this deal. He also explained the problem he was having with the commercial realtors. He got little help from our broker who was always out of the office (he had other businesses). She simply replied, it doesn’t make a difference. I’m gonna get paid and your gonna get paid too. She came to the office and order the agent to call the buyer’s agent who so happen to be the original realtor. She told him that if he didn’t help this agent with this deal that he and his client can take a hike. He complied.

In this case opportunity out weighed education, and if you ask me, I think opportunity is more important than education.
Do you really think that it would have been in this agents best interest to wait to be respected ?


Man !!, the Jets are losing

The largest part of real estate is turning lemons into lemonade....another sad cliche but....there are opportunities out there for everyone.I have been discriminated against for many reasons...could give a list but if youre persistent and show your"stuff" enough you can burst thru sometimes( and people forget about age,sex,race,sexual orientation,creed yadda yadda yadda)....and sometimes its a lost cause.But the bottom line is hard work pays off and theres work out there for everyone,the learning curve is finding it and knowing what to do with it when its in front of you!
Peace

But HOW....HOW are you going to TRY to command that respect? Your tactics thus far on this board prove to be lacking, and i guarantee you youre not gonna gain respect by what you've shown. Thats All I was saying! I don't have a master plan. But whats your plan? My plan is to get education and TRY to get business by getting in peoples faces. What are your plans? What are you gonna try to pass some law to break up hiring tactics of brokers? Are you going to make remarks similar to these on this board as you go about in the business world, in an attempt to change things? So whats your plan, and you still havent given a list of things to change.

As far as the 90's deal...so what? Youre always gonna get lucky here and there and have a big deal fall in your lap. Anything can outweigh anything else in the right circumstance. A guy in my office got a 2.5 million commercial listing dropped in his lap by a new agent that actually had the lead but referred it to him due to experience. Getting a deal to fall in your lap is luck. Getting a deal based on legwork is another thing. And if youre complaining about having opportunities, then you might have to go out and create some instead of waiting on them to fall in your lap. Whats your point? Anyone will tell you that a referral based RE business is a long shot for ANY realtor.

Oh my god.

Merkaba, Merkaba, Merkaba my brother, I love you man.

So whats your solution, Traco? Instead of the hodge podge of two liners? Contribute something of substance to the thread. Hell, I know of at least one black man that has done a commercial deal locally. There's black people doing commercial deals. Might not be a majority....oh well. So whats your solution to the problem? give us some ideas. Youre complaining about what you think others are REALLY thinking. What are you thinking can be done?

Wow. I probably should not have but I actually took the 10 minutes to read this entire thread.

Merkaba, if you really feel that all I have said on this forum is "hodge podge" and two liners. I will say no more regarding this subject. You can end it here, right now.

I Value your opinion, the others I dont care. But you, your a black man just like me.

Professionals,

Please use good judgment in your responses.

Thank You,

how many blows are you all going to give to this dead and very beat horse? Really- this has nothing to do with commercial real estate. I know I am new here but seriously...not really the trademark discussion of licensed professionals.