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Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate recognizes eight high-performing associates with ‘Bonus Agent’ status

By Cindy Hodnett
HomePlace Writer

In a year that had many national real-estate agents longing for a stronger market, eight Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate agents exceeded their yearly sales goals and were recently named "Bonus Agents." Leonard Ryden Burr sales associates who achieve Bonus Agent status receive a financial award along with the prestigious designation, and the company named Ginger Baldwin, Jeff Norris, Chris Ritchie, Kim Mitchell, Wendy Butler, Kristin Wooten, Debbie Burns and Don Jones as its 2007 Bonus Agents.

"Bonus agents will be rewarded with a percent of the entire company's sales income for 2007," said LRBRE partner Greg White. "We believe this is a great incentive for our sales associates to help them achieve success. Leonard Ryden Burr is composed of individual sales associates that foster ongoing success for our firm, so it's befitting that we in turn share the entire company's earnings with the agents that make it happen."

Leonard Ryden Burr plans to expand the Bonus Agents program in 2008 with a "Quick Start" benefit that rewards agents throughout the year as they reach specific sales plateaus. The company reported a 9.1 percent increase in sales over 2006, selling houses ranging from $22,000 to more than $2 million.

"Last year was another strong year for our firm," said LRB partner Curtis Leonard. "We attribute much of that success to the stability of the Winston-Salem market in general and to the desirability of many of the neighborhoods and new developments that we represent.

"Local consumers are sometimes influenced by the negative news they hear from the national media about the housing market," Leonard said. "It's true that the average number of days homes stayed on the market increased slightly last year, but in general, the Winston-Salem market remains very strong over a wide range of home prices, even when compared to Greensboro and other parts of the Triad."

Leonard Ryden Burr is planning to add sales agents to the company roster in 2008, and expansion efforts at the West End office will create additional space. Partner Brooke Burr said that the expansion will allow all LRB agents to be part of a successful team.

"Within a couple of weeks, we will begin a renovation to our building that will create space for an additional 15 sales associates," Burr said. "We hear time and time again from agents who have joined us that Leonard Ryden Burr has the professional atmosphere they've been seeking. We reward our agents with a share of profits through the Bonus Agent and Quick Start programs, and at the same time, have office space available for our agents to work as a team under one roof."

Leonard Ryden Burr is an active partner with many nonprofit agencies and is a consistent 100-percent annual participation United Way company. Partner Michael Ryden said that he expects the philanthropic traditions already established at Leonard Ryden Burr to continue in 2008.

"January was very busy, which is usually a good indicator that the entire year will be strong," he said. "In addition to rewarding our agents based on the successes of our firm, we also strongly believe in giving back to the community that has been so good to all of us."

In 2007, Leonard Ryden Burr created a company fundraising event to support Industries for the Blind. In addition, the company supported The Arts Council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Special Children's School, SCAN, Senior Services, Family Services, YMCA Chairman's Roundtable for Partner with Youth, YWCA, Victory Junction and Crisis Control Ministry. The company is also a major sponsor of Hope du Jour, a citywide event that raises money to feed the hungry, and was the lead sponsor for the West End Arts Festival.

"It's an honor for us to support these wonderful local organizations," Ryden said. "But we know that there is much more we can do to help local nonprofits, schools and events, and we intend to expand our community outreach efforts during 2008."

For more information on Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate, call 336-779-9200.