(openPR) - SCOTTSDALE, AZ (April 3, 2009) – The message that resounded during the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® annual conference March 26-29 was the tremendous window of opportunity that exists to turn around the housing market in the next 90 days. With record-low interest rates, bargain prices, increased affordability, declining inventory, mortgage money availability, and tax incentives for first-time buyers, there has perhaps never been a better time to buy a home.

As awards lunch keynote speaker Steve Harney noted, “The world economy is looking to the U.S. to bring us out of this recession, and this country is looking to the real estate industry to lead the way. It’s on us.”

Despite the challenging economy, nearly 600 real estate brokers, managers, relocation professionals, sponsors and guests from the U.S. and 10 countries around the world participated in the LeadingRE conference at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Integrated with the LeadingRE conference was the Luxury Portfolio workshop, which focused on trends in luxury homes and lifestyles, with an emphasis on how even high-end markets are adapting in today’s economy.

The mood at both conferences was upbeat, with programming emphasis on paradigm changes in the industry, encompassing social media, the brokerage of the future, and client generation, as well as strategies for dealing with pricing, financing, foreclosures and short sales, and other products of this housing market.

“We were pleasantly surprised that, in this tough environment, many members labeled this conference ‘the best ever’ because of the creative and provocative dialogue,” comments President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Ironically, circumstances are forcing all of us to embrace new ideas that would not even have been considered when the business came easily.”

An impressive line-up of speakers included guest speakers Ken Lowe, founder of HGTV and current CEO of Scripps Interactive; Steve Harney of Keeping Current Matters; Mike Staver of The Staver Group; Matt Ferrara of Matthew Ferrara & Company; and a number of other experts from the interactive marketing space.

The opening session also featured three member speakers on the topic of inspiring the three key stakeholder audiences of consumers, managers and sales associates – Ron Shuffield of EWM Realtors, Miami, FL; Martha Turner of Martha Turner Properties, Houston, TX; and John Reinhardt of Fillmore Real Estate, Brooklyn, NY.

In addition to various referral, advertising, and web-related awards, special Director Emeritus honors were presented to Allen Tate of Charlotte-based Allen Tate Company for his instrumental role in establishing the LeadingRE network.

The network’s premier honor, The Diamond, was also awarded to the Allen Tate Company. Receiving the prestigious Crown of Excellence for their respective company-size categories were Allen Tate Company (NC & SC), Fonville Morisey Realty (NC), Beverly-Hanks & Associates-Asheville (NC), Kentwood Companies-Greenwood Village (CO), Dickens-Mitchener & Associates-Charlotte (NC), Barrett & Co. (MA) and Cam Taylor Realtors (OH).

LeadingRE will host its 2010 annual conference April 14-17, 2010 at the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, Florida

# # #

About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (www.LeadingRE.com) is a global real estate network comprised of nearly 700 of the best-known local and regional real estate firms. With more than 5,000 offices and 145,000 sales associates in the United States and 35 countries abroad, LeadingRE affiliates sell over $400 billion in home sales representing more than 1.3 million transactions annually, outselling any national franchise and leading the nation in the sales of $1 million-plus homes. Seven of the United States’ top 10 real estate firms are LeadingRE affiliates.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World
161 N Clark Street, Ste 1250
Chicago IL 60601
Contact: Robin LaSure, 312.424.0436