With $100 million in sales for 2012, the year was highlighted by the sale of two Sunshine State conservation easements that totaled nearly $40 million combined. In addition, sales associate Jeff Cusson, CCIM, who has managed and sold agricultural properties along Florida’s Treasure Coast for over 25 years, was personally responsible for closing nearly $12.5 million in 2012. Cusson was highlighted in the CBCSRE entry for the 2012 list.

Contributing to CBCSRE’s recognition each year are our 16 land professionals who help us maintain our status as one of “America’s Best Brokerages.”

April 5, 2013

Taking Reservations Now at

LayOfTheLandConference.com.

Limited Seating!

Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate in Lakeland, FL resumes their popular Florida Land Conference series next month after a three-year hiatus. Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, owner and broker explains that his vision of a land market report based upon actual verified sales throughout Florida for targeted property types and been brought to realty during this time and is the core of the conference.

Titled “The Shifting Currents of Land Values,” The Lay of the Land Florida Land Conference 2013 will be held on April 5, 2013 at the luxury Streamsong Golf Resort in Polk County. Overlooking breathtaking views of award-winning golf courses, Saunders will present current Florida land values for specific property types and market analysis based on actual verified 2012 sales.

Speakers will round out the presentation of this important information for Florida landowners with topics, such as how and when population trends in Florida affect land values, the effects of commodity pricing on land values, the impact of recent and impeding changes in public policy, and more.

Speakers include Congressman Tom Rooney (Florida District 17 – US House of Representatives), Tom Sunnarborg, V.P. Land Development & Management (Mosaic Company/Streamsong Resort), Eric O’Keefe, Co-founder and Editor (The Land Report-The Magazine of the American Landowner), Karen Halliburton Barber, Asst. Vice President & Senior Agricultural Analyst (Rabobank/Rabo AgriFinance), and Brad O’Connor, Research Economist (Florida REALTORS®).

The half-day conference will start at 8 a.m. with continental breakfast and end at 12:00 with lunch. The conference fee is $75 per seat. Special reserved tee times at cost to the participant are available on a first-come; first-served basis.

If you are a Florida landowner
or are a Florida land buyer – this is the place to be!

For more information or to reserve your seat, go to

LayOfTheLandConference.com.

 The event is hosted, sponsored, and produced
by CBC Saunders Real Estate.

Sponsors are The Land Report and Rabobank.

The annual event was started by Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate eight years ago and the last two years, was co-hosted with Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty. The event, held in late October or first of November each year, brings in clients, friends, vendors, and elected officials for what is known as “just a get-together to have fun.”

Attendees kicked back in “The Barn,” of Leland and Wanda Young in Alturas, FL. Music and food were the agenda, along with the special announcement and unveiling of the 8th commissioned painting for 2012.

The pathway to conservation easements is not always a straight line but, more often than not, is worth the trip.  ~Dean Saunders

Do you know what a conservation easements is?

Conservation easements are available to landowners for the permanent conservation of private lands in the United States and can be and effective and powerful tool. Conservation easement options have protected millions of acres of sensitive natural lands and wildlife habitats by keeping land in private hands, while offering public benefits.

The primary purpose of a conservation easement is to protect natural lands from specific development or land use through the rights of the landowner.

Those who own undeveloped land that is agricultural, timberland, wildlife habitats, natural open space, and/or natural resources can take advantage of this opportunity.

Put simply, a conservation easement is a restriction on the use of property, similar to a deed restriction. The process is that it is recorded in public records and generally is in perpetuity. The government agency receives assurance that this valuable land will be protected from future development.

For more information on conservation easements, land, and land and resource management, please visit SaundersRealEstate.com or call Dean Saunders at 1-877-518-LAND.

Download Dean’s award-winning consumer publication: We Create Solutions, a Primer on Conservation Easements on our services page in the conservation easement section of the page.

~Dean Saunders, ALC (Accredited Land Consultant),CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), is a leader in conservation who understands the needs and processes of government agencies and private conservation organizations. The company, Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate, is located in Lakeland, FL and offers real estate services for land and conservation properties, as well as land and resource management.

The Saunders Collection, in its 8th year, unveiled the 2012 commissioned painting at the annual CBC Saunders Real Estate and CBC Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty BBQ event held in October 2012.

Michael J. Nowak
Nature and Wildlife Fine Artist
Lakeland, FL

The painting was created by Lakeland nature and wildlife fine artist, Mike J. Nowak and is the 8th commission, but only the second in the “Florida Agricultural Heritage” themed series.

Called “Cattle Pond,” the painting captures a warm, lazy day with grazing cattle on Florida’s natural pastureland landscape. “Capturing the beauty and essence…is the driving force to the soul of my painting and inspiration,” states Nowak.

The Saunders Collection started in 2004 with the first series theme, “Natural Lands of Florida,” portrays scenes of untouched Florida natural lands and “Old Florida” landscapes, all six created by well-known Florida wildlife artist Thomas Brooks.

Starting in 2011, a new series, “Florida Agricultural Heritage” began with the painting of Florida orange groves by fine artist David Escadero of New Mexico.

The subject of the next painting and the selected artist is a closely held secret by those involved. The unveling of both painting and announcement of artist is saved for the annual BBQ event each year. The fine artist is in attendance to visit with attendees and talk about the creative process.

Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 at 5-7 p.m.

Join us at the Tennessee Carriage Lofts, one of the first residential/office/retail projects in downtown. The Tennessee Carriage Lofts is proud to host this inaugural event. La Porta Rossa will provide yummy servings along with beer and wine. Enjoy live music by Seth Rollins! Embrace the vibrant social atmosphere known for downtown.

While at the Tennessee Carriage Lofts, tour the office space on the ground floor, visit Pumpernaks’ retail space in Traders Alley, and view one of the cool urban loft apartments.

To RSVP, go to the event’s Facebook page and we will see you there!

Tennessee Carriage Lofts is located at 229 N. Tennessee Ave. between Pine Street and Bay Street. Free parking is available after 5pm in all city-permitted and -metered spaces in the Bay Street parking lot, as well as the Oak Street free parking lot.

We thank the following sponsors for their participation and support:
• Allen & Company
• Dixie Signs
• Miller Construction
• Swan Advisors
• La Porta Rossa
• CBC Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty
• BB&T
• N3 Construction
• Staff Builders
• Avon Leasing
• Regal Auto
• Lunz Prebor Fowler
• C.I.D.
• The Terrace Hotel
• Pennsylvania Financial Group
 
For more information about how you can participate in an upcoming Downtown on the Move, contact Julie Townsend at JTownsend@srdcommercial.com or call 863-288-031

Awards season bring additional sales awards from Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors (CFCAR) and Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors (FGCAR).

The company is honored to be on the list, long with 73 land brokerage firms nationwide that represent the best from across America.

Hosted by the Florida Realtors®, the panel discussion included representative sectors of Florida’s real estate market featured leading US economists and real estate experts.

Dean presented that there are land deals being made every month. The typical land buyers have money, are cash buyers, and buy land because they want it, as land is perceived as a hedge against inflation by institutional investors and wealthy Americans.

• Farmland values are being impacted by strong commodity pricing and institutional investors are flocking to farmland under the notion that farmland is a safe investment.
• But, there is a slow decline in ranch, recreational, and timber land values.
• Conservation easements are helping to ease the pain in this sector, but bank-owned distressed properties are now coming onto the market and will slow it down even more.
• There is no growth in development land. Finished lots are selling for 50% of the cost of actual lot development and the lack of economic expansion in the development market impacts transitional land and infill development land. There are so many lots in inventory that it will be a long time before single-family development will have any significant impact on the market
• New alternative energy and biomass projects are bringing to the market a lot of ideas, but no money has been put into the market yet. It will be an influence for future buying and renting of land.

The $107.2 MM year-end total represents 79 transactions, of which 95% were land properties. A total of 22,771 acres were sold by CBCSRE real estate brokers and agents in 2011.

The top producing CBCSRE licensed real estate brokers and sales associates for 2011 are as follows:

Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM                             $49.148 MM

Richard Dempsey, ALC                                     $  7.324 MM

Ben Gibson                                                             $  7.135 MM

Jeff Cusson, CCIM                                               $  5.748 MM

David Goodlett                                                     $  4.400 MM

Team ClayTaylor, ALC-David Hitchock, ALC   $  8,106 MM

The 2011 Realtor® of the Year award is the highest honor given to any LAR member. It recognizes members who are active in the association and who inspires the profession through service and integrity. They must be faithful to laws and regulations, and the Realtor® Code of Ethics.

Richard Dempsey has given years of service to the association and is the Immediate Past President of LAR and the current chairman of the RPAC Committee. He is also the incoming Florida Realtors® District 10 Vice President. Richard serves as the Federal Political Coordinator for U.S. Congressman Dennis Ross.

At the 2011 LAR annual Installation & Awards Banquet held in December 2011, the award was bestowed upon two outstanding Realtor® members, Richard Dempsey and Matt Ruthven.

Dempsey specializes in land, large acreage tracts, citrus groves, and development properties.

The conference will be held next Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Florida Realtors® headquarters, 7025 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822.

Economic forecasters will speak and a panel of Florida real estate professionals will discuss the outlook for several sectors of the real estate market in Florida. Saunders will be speaking on the market for land and undeveloped property.

Florida Realtors® is formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®.

For more information, read full press release from Florida REALTORS®….

Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate hosted their annual BBQ held in the locally famous antique barn of Wanda and Leland Young in Alturas, FL. For the first time, the company also hosted a pre-event “meet and greet” for Coldwell Banker Commercial corporate executives and Florida CBC brokers. Obie Walli, executive management and Coldwell Banker Commercial Vice President of Operations, attended from Parsippany, New Jersey, and represented the CBC corporate team. Seventeen Florida CBC brokers and agents traveled from as far as Jacksonville to attend the meet and greet portion of the event.

This year’s event included the newly formed commercial real estate firm, Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty. CBC Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty launched in the first quarter of 2011 as the only commercial real estate firm in Polk County with a national and global presence. Since 2006, CBC Saunders Real Estate remains the only land brokerage in the county with a national and global presence.

In attendance were several county commissioners, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, and other elected officials.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the next in a series of paintings commissioned by Saunders each year. This was a special unveiling as it marked a series theme change to The Saunders Collection, Natural Lands of Florida. Last year’s painting concluded six years of the “Wildlife Series” all by well-known wildlife artist Thomas Brooks (www.thomasbrooks.com). This year starts the new “Agricultural Series” by known artist David Escudero (InArtSantaFeGallery) who came from Santa Fe, New Mexico to attend the event. Mike McKosky, the artist’s representative and gallery owner attended with Escudero.

Congratulations go to Richard Dempsey, ALC, REALTOR®, and sales associate at Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate. Richard has been elected to serve as the 2012 District 10 Vice President of Florida REALTORS®, the Florida chapter of the National Association of Realtors®. Headquartered in Orlando, FL, 13 vice presidents were named for the 13 districts in the state of Florida.

Richard has been associated with Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate for over eleven years and specializes in large acreage tracts, citrus groves, and development properties. Previously an appraiser for the Polk County Property Appraiser’s Office and then thirteen years as a state certified general appraiser with an agricultural lender appraising a wide variety of properties, Richard has strong experience in small residential tracts up to 25,000-acre groves and various types of commercial properties all over the state.

Earning numerous industry awards for outstanding sales in real estate, he has twice placed in the top 25 worldwide among all associates in the Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC) affiliate network. He has also taken the top #2 rank in the region for sales performance by FGCAR (Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of REALTORS®), among many other awards.

Richard is very active in the real estate industry and has served as the 2010 President of the Lakeland Association of REALTORS® (LAR). He has been a member of the LAR Board of Directors since February 2007. He has also served as LAR Treasurer, Secretary, and is past Chairman of the LAR Commercial Investment Division. In addition, he has served on the corporate Coldwell Banker Commercial technology council.

Jeff is a 40-year resident of Vero Beach, Florida and serves real estate clients throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast. He specializes in agricultural, transition, industrial, and general commercial real estate.

He is a University of Florida graduate and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture/Fruit Crops. In addition, he holds the Master of Science degree in Business/Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida, where he was honored as an inductee into Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He is a licensed real estate sales associate affiliated with Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate, a real estate brokerage firm specializing in large land transactions throughout the state of Florida

The CCIM designation distinguishes Jeff as an expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate, where he was required to complete a designation curriculum that covers ethics, interest-based negotiation, financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis for commercial investment real estate. He also was required to complete a portfolio demonstrating the depth of his commercial real estate experience, along with successfully completed a comprehensive examination.

The ALC designation is given to land specialists who complete a rigorous, 100+-hour education curriculum and have demonstrated a successful track record of performance and professionalism in the land business.

David is A thirty-year veteran of the Florida Agribusiness industry and has a strong background in citrus, industrial, and agricultural businesses. Congratulations, David!

The new office quarters are located in the BB&T Bank building, across from the central square of Munn Park, in the heart of Lakeland. The company occupies the entire third floor, where the space offers four times the size of the previously office.

With this move, Dean talks about the opportunity to add many new services and associates to the companies that will support landowner clients and the sale of land in Florida.

The new location retains the same phone number and also houses two other companies, CBC Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty, LLC (commercial real estate), and Saunders Property Management, LLC (land and resource management).

Being in downtown Lakeland’s central business district has a certain excitement and revitalization. The close proximity to Munn Park is a convenient way to meet with new clients, while enjoying all that the downtown area has to offer.

The “Magazine of the American Landowner” presented the very first survey of the nation-wide leading real estate firms that specialize in land. Their criteria for selection included land specialization, reputation, principles, and sales volume.

The list included only 55 land brokerage firms across the nation that represented the best in land.

Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM announces a new partnership with Gary Ralston, CCIM, SIOR, SRS, CPM, CRE, SCLS and R. Todd Dantzler, CCIM, sitting Polk County Commissioner, to form Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty, a commercial real estate firm.

The CCIM’s (Certified Commercial Investment Member’s) Florida real estate brokers come together to focus on commercial real estate in Polk County, Central Florida, and the entire state.

Gary is a respected retail and commercial real estate authority in Central Florida and Todd is a commercial property and land use expert in Polk County, Central Florida, focusing on East Central Florida. Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM is president of Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate, a land real estate brokerage, and is a former Florida legislator, land, conservation easement authority.

Together, the two companies will offer a broad base of property for sale, such as Florida land for sale, citrus groves, ranches for sale, and other properties through the land brokerage. The new firm will offer Polk County buildings for lease, buildings for sale, Polk County warehouse space for lease, Polk County warehouses for sale, and much more in the way of commercial properties.

Together they offer over 70 years of collective real estate experience to clients that will provide a comprehensive range of real estate services based upon their unique contributions to the real estate industry.

Both companies, Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty are located in the same office space in downtown Lakeland, FL.

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