Dale Beede believes his Grand Junction real estate firm remains well-positioned to take advantage of what he expects will be improving commercial and residential markets in 2011.

A number of changes will help, Beede said, including a new management structure.

Olan Clark has become the adminstrative broker for Coldwell Banker Home Owners Realty as well as Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties. Beede remains the broker of record for Commercial Prime Properties and becomes sales manager. His brother, Ross Beede, becomes sales manager for Home Owners Realty.

The administrative changes follow a slight change in ownership after John Huff, broker owner of Home Owners Realty, retired.

Ben Carnes remains majority owner of the firm. Other owners include Dale Beede, Margaret Lange, Paul Nelson and Larry and Sharon Vaugh.

Dale Beede said the management team draws on a collective 70 years of experience in the Grand Valley real estate market. Dale Beede, Ross Beede and Clark each have worked in the market for more than 20 years.

The firm itself is more than 60 years old. Home Owners Realty was founded in 1948 and joined the Coldwell Banker network in 1982. Today, a total of nearly 50 agents broker associates work at the two Coldwell Banker offices in Grand Junction.

Dale Beede said the firm isn’t the largest in the market, but strives to offer the best customer service. “We’d love to be No. 1 in customer service.”

The administrative changes, the ongoing commitment to customer service and the fact the firm remains debt-free position Coldwell Banker to continue to fare well, he said.

While 2009 was a difficult year, the company returned to profitability in 2010 and should perform the same or better in 2011, Beede said.
An increase in energy exploration and production in Western Colorado should bolster the regional economy and real estate market, he said. So should the continued expansion of Mesa State College in Grand Junction and the ongoing contributions of the tourism and health care sectors.

In the commercial real estate market, Beede said sales and leasing activity picked somewhat up in 2010, a trend that should continue in 2011. While properties remain available in all sectors, vacancy rates have dropped, he said.