Last year I was invited to participate in the newly forming Ventura chapter of the CMA Real Estate Networking Group.  CMA is a mutual benefit business league founded to provide high level professional real estate service providers an environment to network, exchange business opportunities, build relationships and create an advantage in the market with other CMA members who share common standards of integrity, excellence and accountability.  CMA has been in existence for more than seven years in other areas of the county and there are chapters in Camarillo and the Conejo Valley.  CMA stands for “Complete Marketing Advantage.”  We have members from many different Ventura real estate companies working together.  Our membership also includes many other real estate professionals; Escrow Officers, Title Insurance Representatives, Termite Companies, Insurance Agents, Natural Hazards Disclosure Companies, etc.  

With our combined resources we have been able to achieve some real benefits for our members and their clients.  One example is the ability to take out ads using joint resources to promote ourselves and our listings.  Recently we started running this full page ad in Ventana Magazine each month.  We also jointly promote our Broker Caravans of new listings in a unique fashion that guarantees more agents through our client’s homes.  (That’s a topic for a whole article in itself!)

There is also a huge advantage to surrounding one’s self with other positive, hardworking, and ethical people. 

Our current REALTOR members include:

Fernie Campos-Coldell Banker
Pearl Reyes-Coldwell Banker
Julie Taylor-Coldwell Banker
Joe Virnig-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Corina and Don Thoresen-Troop Real Estate
Cheryle Estes-Troop Real Estate
Brooke Smith-Coldwell Banker
Barbara Ashby-The Real Estate Company
Art Perez-Troop Real Estate
Veronica Licea-Coldwell Banker
Karen Campbell-Ventura Property Shoppe
Linda Ward-The Real Estate Company
Monica Hurtado-Select Properties
Lauren Lee Henry-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Monique Webster-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Lei Eberhardt-Coldwell Banker
Julie Zermeno-ERA Cusick Realty
Ellen Halverson-Coldwell Banker
Carolyn Herrera-Prudential

Our Affiliate members include:

Frank Acosta-StateFarm Insurance
Bob Curtis-Property ID
Joe Dotzler-United Title Company
Tress Golden-Aliso Escrow
Cheryle Hall-Aliso Escrow
Linda Hall-GMAC Mortgage
Pat O’Dell-BPC Pest Control
Vanessa Rice-Aliso Escrow
Tamara Rossie-First Amercian Home Buyers Warranty
Vicki Warren-BPC Pest Control
Rhonda Wharton-Aliso Escrow.

If you are a real estate professional in Ventura and are interested in getting by with “a little help from your friends”, contact one of the members of our group.  Any of us would be happy to tell you more.