The summer WMRA meeting will be held on Wednesday June 16, 2010 in Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Nevada. This is in conjunction with NAR's Resort and Second Home Symposium being held June 13-15, 2010. Held every 18 months, the symposium is a can't-miss networking and educational event for REALTORS®. REALTORS® attendees either already have their Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) certification or are attending the symposium to earn their certification. The symposium offers all attendees a variety of educational events, seminars, property tours and social gatherings.

Symposium attendees come from across the United States and worldwide to get the latest information on economic issues, learn about marketing trends and new products, discuss the process of marketing of luxury homes, and to connect with clients and other REALTORS®. Details of the symposium can be found at www.resortsymposium.com

The highly acclaimed WMRA panel discussion will be held on the morning of Wednesday, June 16. This is a highlight of each WMRA event. A representative from each of the member boards delivers data and advises us what is going on in each of their markets. This is a great opportunity to know your competing markets. Since It is a membership benefit, there is no cost of attending this panel discussion. The WMRA board of directors meeting will be held on Wednesday afternoon. All members of WMRA are invited to attend. Yes, you are a member!

In addition to the formal events at both the WMRA conference & the Resort Symposium, networking opportunities abound with lunches, dinners and cocktail parties. If you are looking to increase your referral business with other resort brokers, this is a must attend event!

What is the Western Mountain Resort Alliance (WMRA)?

The Western Mountain Resort Alliance is composed of boards REALTORS® of destination ski resorts in western North America. The alliance was formed in January of 1996 at a meeting in Vail. The alliance realizes that the marketing and selling of resort real estate is very different from the traditional models of residential real estate sales. Our buyers and sellers have different expectations and goals and are looking for a REALTOR® with knowledge of the resort markets. Frequently, buyers for a vacation home in one resort are comparing similar properties in neighboring resorts. From this realization came the idea of sharing sales information from the various resorts as well as pressing issues the resorts are facing.

The Western Mountain Resort Alliance began with six boards of REALTORS® in six states. Since that beginning, it has expanded to thirteen boards in four states and British Columbia, Canada. The member boards are, Park City UT, Sun Valley and Mc Call in ID, Jackson Hole WY, Steamboat Springs, Summit County, Vail, Winter Park, Crested Butte and Telluride in Colorado, Sierra Tahoe in California, Big Sky in Montana and Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada. The alliance meets three times a year in the various resorts where sales and resort information is shared between the members and resort specific education classes are held.

Reasons to be involved with WMRA

• Your dues are automatically included in your SAR dues ($5.00 per year). Therefore, as a member of SAR, you are automatically a member of WMRA. Go and get your moneys worth!

• I have been participating in WMRA events for over 10 years. I attend the meetings, market panel discussions, education classes and all the social networking events. If my business did not receive a substantial benefit, I would not have been involved on a personal level for so long. I can assure you, it has been worth it.

• WMRA gives you the opportunity to know your competing markets. Our clients are often looking in other ski resorts around the west. It is great to be knowledgeable about each resort and discuss them with your clients.

• Build your referral business. By engaging in the social networking events, you will not only get to personally know one agent from each area, you will get to know several. That way you can actually match the personality & market niche of the referral agent with your client-thus increasing the chance of a successful referral.

• Before I began participating with WMRA, I used to try to talk my clients out of purchasing at our competing resorts. I was often unsuccessful. They purchased elsewhere & I didn't get paid. Now I discuss the pros and cons of each resort area with them. I am their resource for all areas. Wherever they choose to buy, I refer them to an agent I know, & I get paid.

• Make a lot of friends in world class ski areas. If increasing your income isn't a big enough benefit how about the benefits of having friends in these ski areas? Over the years, I have developed friendships in almost every member board of WMRA. We now visit each other, stay in each others homes, & ski with each other. Usually, I get setup with all the insider “locals” benefits like free passes, local knowledge of the mountain and the local hotspots around town. Sure beats visiting as a tourist and the price is right!

As always, if you would like further information about WMRA and how it will increase your business, please contact me at 453-0765 or rodney@exclusivemountainretreats.com.