Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999
Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999
Publication: Bee
Author: JAN
Quick Words:
Weller-Board-of-Realtors
Full Text:
Weller Heads Bd of Realtors
BY JAN HOWARD
Kathi Weller of Newtown, one of five owners of Flagpole Realty on Main Street,
became the new president of the 115-member Newtown Board of Realtors on
January 1.
Mrs Weller has been a resident of Newtown since 1971, moving here from
Fairfield. Born in Manhassett, Long Island, she grew up in Westport and
Weston.
She has two children, Stephanie, 23, and Scott, 22 and has been married for 13
years to Gary Weller.
She has been a realtor for 21 years. She and four other corporate owners
formed Flagpole Realty five years ago.
"I can't believe it's been five years," Mrs Weller said this week, noting
Flagpole Realty "is doing a wonderful business."
Mrs Weller received a bachelor's degree in education, majoring in English,
from the University of Connecticut. She became a realtor after many years as a
teacher, including five years at Weston Middle School during which she was
head of the English Department for two years.
After taking three years off to begin her family, Mrs Weller took graduate
courses in psychology at Western Connecticut State University and a real
estate course.
"I found I loved real estate," Mrs Weller said. "I had always had a natural
interest in it and working with people."
She received her certification as a realtor in 1977 and is currently taking
courses for certification as a broker and accredited buyer representative.
As president of the Board of Realtors, she has numerous duties. She sets the
agenda for the local board of directors meetings and runs those meetings,
which focus on local issues for realtors. She also runs the general membership
meeting each month, appoints committee chairmen on the local and state level,
and sets up the year's program for the general membership meetings. She also
attends two to three Connecticut Association of Realtors meetings a month.
"It's fun and really interesting," Mrs Weller said of the state meetings,
adding she enjoys getting involved with legislation and statewide issues.
As president-elect of the local board, she was one of 16,000 realtors who
attended the National Association of Realtors convention in California last
year. "You get an overview of the real estate community and affairs
nationally," she said. "It's fascinating."
She also attends as many seminars as she can. "Spending a day at seminars is
phenomenal," she said.
"My biggest challenge is learning time management," Mrs Weller said in regard
to her now even busier schedule.
Prior to becoming president, Mrs Weller chaired various committees, including
grievance for three years, equal rights and opportunities for two years and
bylaws for two years.
The most significant changes she has seen since becoming a realtor, she noted,
are "the increasing professionalism of realtors, and legislative mandates and
changes that affect our business.
"Another change is the growth of the community and, therefore, the increase in
our business as a result," she said.
A major change in the real estate business was the computerization of multiple
listings services. "Going into a regional listing service has been good for
the sellers," she said.
Mrs Weller said real estate sales are "very brisk" in Newtown. "New business
is constantly coming through. Houses are selling very well across the board,
with new construction the strongest area," she said.
She said Newtown has a diverse price market for housing that keeps the market
stimulated. "We still have homes in the starter range around $100,000," she
said, and condominiums with and without age restrictions.
She sees her role as a realtor as facilitating her clients' moves to a new
home and taking out the hassles. "You have to give good service, make them
comfortable in their new area, and help them where they have a need," she
said.
Mrs Weller said she is so busy with her real estate career and her studies
that there is little time for other pursuits. "Trying to deal with a growing
market place is a seven-day job," she said.
"A lot of realtors, besides being very professional, love what they're doing,"
she said. "There is a sense of teamwork among all realtors. There's a lot of
good spirit."
Mrs Weller said though the Newtown board is small in membership, it is
recognized as a strong, professional board by the state.
"We welcome our competition because it brings more business into the
community," she said. "There's plenty of business to go around."