2003 was a fine year for H.G. Christie in Abaco. We have sold
many of our fabulous exclusive listings. Most of these properties
were so special that we are almost sorry to see them go. They
were always a joy to show, and no longer having them on the
on the market is like the departure of a close friend.
The combination of a decrease in concerns regarding security
in international travel and the promotion of our islands as
a safe-haven seems to be the main contributors to our success.
The recent upsurge in the U.S. economy also has helped greatly.
Now in early January, we are experiencing an unusual phenomenon.
Previously this period has been extremely slow, but this year
we are experiencing activity that is generally seen only in
the spring and early summer, if even at that time. If this
trend continues, and all signs seem to indicate that it should,
we are looking forward to a great 2004.
Abaco Realtors
In 1996 when I first had the honor of hanging
up the H.G. Christie shingle in Abaco, there were only six
full time
realtors working
with five companies. They rarely spoke with each other, much
less worked together. Today, there are forty-five licensed
brokers and agents working for sixteen companies. More people
are registering to take the exam all the time and we have no
idea where it will stop.
I prefer to look upon these
other company’s agents as colleagues.
HGChristie is blessed
with the largest collection of exclusive listings in Abaco,
and it didn’t just happen by accident. We make every
effort to make it as easy as possible for other companies to
work with our product. In this process, we have more than our
five realtors working for us, we have all
forty-five in the market.
MLS is so present in larger markets because
it works for the real estate client. It seems that our clients
are embracing our
company's encouragement of heightened relationships among
all brokers. As a result, this last year we have greatly
increased our ability to secure exclusive listings with complete
confidence - and to
service
them to our clients' total satisfaction. Hope Town Office
One area of Abaco where real estate sales
have been continuously vigorous is Hope Town, Elbow Cay. For
a long time, we have been looking for an opportunity to
increase our presence in this area of Abaco. Early in 2004,
we will be opening a full service office in the community.
Of
course, the key to success in any aspect of real estate,
is location, location, location. We have found the perfect
situation that we consider to be absolutely
the finest site for a real estate office on the cay.
It is
an adorable
one hundred-year old cottage, named “Wee House”,
in the very center of the settlement of Hope Town. We are
now in the process of arranging for renovations of the
property and hope to be open for business in late March.
We must give
our deepest thanks to Michael Albury, H.G. Christie Estate
Agent in Freeport, Grand, Bahama. He and his family own
the property and his cooperation and assistance has made
this
wonderful
opportunity possible.
The Abaco Report
Derek Lee, B.R.I.
Abaco District Managing Broker
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