Harris garners national award
The National Association of Realtors has recognized Lynn S. Harris CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), of Century 21 Sweyer & Associates in Wilmington, for excellence in commercial real estate with a National Commercial award.

Each year NAR honors accomplished Realtors in commercial real estate by celebrating their local achievement through such recognition, according to a news release from Century 21 Sweyer & Associates. Harris received her award during NAR’s recent convention in New Orleans.
 
Baker joins Nest
Wilmington real estate attorney Jeff Baker has joined Nest Realty, a full-service, independent real estate brokerage with operations in Virginia and North Carolina.

Baker, a founding partner of Baker & Colby PLLC, brings with him 12 years’ experience in local real estate law, according to a news release from Nest. He became licensed in real estate in 2014.

During Baker’s nine years in his own law firm, Baker & Colby grew to three locations.
“While Jeff was abundantly successful within his law career, he looks forward to cultivating his existing relationships with the builder and development community,” the release stated.
“ . . . He enjoys putting his education and experience to work for home buyers, sellers, builders, and developers at a level beyond that which he was afforded as a high-volume closing attorney.”
 
Just For Buyers brokers earn designation
Five Just For Buyers Realty brokers have earned their Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) designation, the firm announced recently in a news release. David Chiprut, Kathy Greer, Doug Harrington, Ellen Jo Kraemer and Peggy Singer successfully completed formal negotiation training over two days at the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, making all brokers at the Wilmington exclusive buyers agency CNEs.

With professional negotiation skills, agents are able to help clients obtain better results in home purchases, according to the release.

“CNE agents have the tools necessary to communicate more effectively to uncover information, help clients understand their options, work collaboratively with others, and resolve deadlocks. Fewer than 1 percent of all real estate agents are Certified Negotiation Experts,” the release stated.

“Agents who receive this certification are among the top agents in the country in negotiation skills,” Just For Buyers Realty broker-in-charge Kathleen Baylies said in the release. “Most real estate agents have never studied negotiation techniques, yet it’s one of the most valuable services we offer. These negotiation skills bring superior results for our clients, making our brokers even more capable of serving our clients’ best interests.”

As the name implies, Just For Buyers Realty works only with buyers and never accepts listings nor represents sellers.

WRAR, RCASENC install officers, bestow honors
Sherri Pickard of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage was installed earlier this year as the 2015 president of the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors (WRAR). Accompanying Pickard in this year’s leadership team, according to a news release, are Don Harris as president-elect, Ryan Crecelius as vice president, Jody Wainio as past president and Elise Rocks as president of the Realtors Commercial Alliance of Southeastern North Carolina (RCASENC). 

Also taking the oath to serve as directors were Clinton Howlett, Chris Livengood, Sherri Pridgen, Patrice Willetts, Shari Cutting, Debbie Lariviere, Jeff Lesley and Lori Speight. 

Other officers for the RCASENC are Hank Adams, president-elect; Tyler Pegg, secretary/treasurer; and Steve Hall, past president. The RCASENC directors are P.J. Doherty, Eric Johnson, Henry Nadeau, Patrick Riley, Lon Edwards and Lee Weedle.

Neal Johnson of Network Real Estate was honored as the 2014 Realtor of the Year. Johnson earned this highest award because of his outstanding service to WRAR, his profession, the state and national associations and his local community, the release stated. He is currently the broker-in-charge at Network’s Carolina Beach office and has served on WRAR’s board of directors and has graduated from the WRAR Leadership Academy.

Joyce Barnwell of Intracoastal Realty was selected as the WRAR 2014 Salesperson of the Year because of her closed transactions and dollar volume, along with her active participation in the association and the community. Barnwell closed 26 transactions within the past year totaling more than $8.6 million in sales volume, “while exemplifying team spirit, leadership, loyalty and cooperation with peers,” according to the release.