RE/MAX CEO Plans Round-the-World Balloon Flight
NRT Incorporated Acquires Coker & Cook Real Estate
Prudential's Cyber Cafe Hits the Road
Henry S. Miller's N. Dallas Office Celebrates 27 years of Success
Alper Realtors Exclusive Agent For 690 Acre Atlantic City Business Park

RE/MAX CEO Plans Round-the-World Balloon Flight

The indelible logo, RE/MAX's vertically striped hot air balloon, will come to life this December when the company's thrill-seeking CEO attempts a round-the-world flight across the Tropic of Capricorn.

Dave Liniger is the 52-year-old founder and chairman of RE/MAX, the international real estate brokerage firm based in Colorado. He will make the voyage in a high-altitude balloon in December, along with two other experienced balloonists. The trip is expected to take 16 to 18 days, proceeding at an average speed of 70 knots and slowing to 30 knots at night.

The balloon will measure 460 feet in diameter and 700 feet in height and will feature an aluminum gondola emblazoned witht the TEAM RE/MAX logo.

The flight will originate in Australia and will climb into the earth's stratosphere at an altitude of more than 130,000 feet. Commercial jets cruise between 32,000 ft and 39,000 ft.

NRT Incorporated Acquires Coker & Cook Real Estate

NRT Incorporated, the parent company of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (CBRB), announced today that it has acquired Coker & Cook Real Estate, one of California's most respected brokerages.

With the addition of Coker & Cook's six offices and 240-plus sales associates, NRT's COLDWELL BANKER operation has significantly bolstered its leading position in the Northern California region while elevating itself to the top spot in the Greater Sacramento marketplace. "California is a key state in our campaign to build the nation's premiere real estate organization," says Bob Becker, NRT's President and CEO. "I'm extremely pleased to welcome such a fine Northern California company into the NRT network."

The product of a 1995 merger between Coker Ewing and Cook & Cook, Coker & Cook has primarily focused on servicing El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento Counties and enjoys a particularly strong presence in Eldorado and Placer Counties. The company, which also services parts of Nevada and Yolo Counties, posted $518 million in gross transaction volume in 1997.

Combining Coker & Cook's and CBRB's first half 1998 transaction volumes for Greater Sacramento, the resulting organization now boasts the number one market position with $495 million in sales for the six month period.

Prudential's Cyber Cafe Hits the Road

The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., (PREA) in cooperation with Prudential California Realty, will showcase the latest in technology applications for the real estate professional when its traveling Cyber Café arrives in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Claremont Resort and Spa, 41 Tunnel Road.

More than 300 real estate brokers, managers and sales associates, all members of the Prudential Real Estate Network, will attend the event to get "hands-on" experience with the most up-to-date computers, mobile technologies, digital cameras and an array of other tools that are helping to make real estate a more effective and efficient business, and streamline the transaction process for home buyers and sellers.

"Ultimately, it is consumers who are driving the change in how real estate transactions are being completed. Consumers, especially in high-tech mecca's like the Bay Area, are highly in tune with newer technology that will save them time and frustration. Consumers will benefit from the increased technological 'know-how' of Prudential Real Estate professionals as they look to purchase and sell homes through the Internet and desire electronic updates on the status of their real estate transaction.

Prudential Real Estate's Cyber Café travels around North America, reaching thousands of brokers and sales associates who are often too busy to attend technology training, or keep informed about the latest technology for real estate.

On-site staff at Prudential Real Estate Affiliates' Cyber Café will work one-on-one with participants, giving them the opportunity to surf the Internet and explore electronic commerce options such as e-mail, virtual home tours and PREA CENTER, Prudential Real Estate's private extranet site which features business marketing and communication tools. Top industry vendors, including IPIX, Intel, Microsoft Sidewalk, Top Producer’, IBM and CompUSA, will display their technology and educate attendees on the business application of technology.

Henry S. Miller's N. Dallas Office Celebrates 27 years of Success

The founding office of Henry S. Miller, Realtors has been waving the flag of success since opening 27 years ago. Under the constant leadership of Vice President Sheila Rice, the North Dallas office of Henry S. Miller, Realtors has ranked among the top three offices in the company every year since 1971.

"The North Dallas office, our very first to open its doors for residential business, has set the standards which all 30 of our offices now uphold," says Virginia E. Cook. "These professionals embody all that the Miller Companies stand forincluding integrity, commitment, experience, a desire to continue learning, and service to the industry and the community."

Mrs. Cook credits the office's success to Mrs. Rice's leadership during the past 27 years. "While other offices and managers have come and gone in this area, Sheila has remained a constant," she says.

According to Mrs. Cook, the average number of years in business for the North Dallas agents is over 10, with many having more than 20 years of experience. Additionally, the average business conducted each year per agent, including rookies, exceeds $3 million.

"We take our work very seriously, and we each do whatever is necessary to provide excellent service and expertise," says Mrs. Rice, who continuously helps her agents further their education, stay abreast of legal and legislative changes, embrace the latest in technology, and serve their community and industry.

Alper Realtors Exclusive Agent For 690 Acre Atlantic City Business Park

The Hamilton Industrial Commission has named NAI/Alper Commercial Realtors its exclusive agent for Hamilton Business Park in Atlantic City, New Jersey. An agreement was signed by Robert Ravell, Sr., Chairman, and Lawrence Alper, Broker and President.

The Park's light manufacturing and industrial zoning has attracted a variety of users, including Met Life; Pepsi Cola; New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles; Bell Atlantic; Internal Revenue Service; and, the United States Postal Service.

Hamilton Business Park consists of 690 acres, located on U.S. Route 40, and is ideally situated to provide easy access to the entire northeast corridor.

Published: August 11, 1998

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