Partnership: The Key to CIHA Success
Mark Korting: CIHA's New Partner in Real Estate Services
Cook Inlet Housing Authority is fortunate to have many invaluable partners who, when the efforts of all are combined, make it possible for CIHA to build the buildings and offer the programs and services that we do.
As we move forward, we will periodically feature these various partners in issues of CIHA's newsletter, Breaking Ground. We're launching this effort by featuring RE/MAX Properties Inc. President and Owner Mark Korting, CIHA's partner in the creation of a new social enterprise, Cook Inlet Real Estate Services (CIRES).
In an effort to live by our own vision of "independence through housing," CIHA has set-out to develop "social enterprise" activities to generate revenue in support of our affordable housing activities. We figured if we're going to expand our services and launch into the profit-making world, it made sense to stick with what we know.
CIHA has a great deal of experience managing our own properties; we know the business and we know we're good at it. We also recognized that many of our new homebuyers could really use some extra special attention as they search for their first home. Thus the idea for CIRES was born.
CIHA was qualified to offer property management services but didn't have the broker's license necessary to allow expansion into residential and commercial real estate purchasing or sales. In steps Mark Korting.
As a former chairman of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Board, CIHA knew Mark Korting to be community-minded and supportive of affordable housing. This, combined with the obvious success of his business, made him the perfect person for CIHA to partner with.
"When CIHA approached me about partnering with them and creating a new branch office specifically dedicated to creating revenue for their affordable housing activities, I jumped at the chance," said Korting. "I was excited by the opportunity to support all the great work they're doing in the community."
Korting has been selected as REALTOR of the year at both the Anchorage and State level, and is the past President of the Anchorage Board of REALTORS and Alaska Association of REALTORS. Korting has also served as a past Director of the National Association of REALTORS.
Korting opened RE/MAX Properties, Inc. in 1980. He is also owner of RE/MAX of Alaska which has franchised offices throughout Alaska, from Fairbanks to Sitka, with over 170 Realtors working under the RE/MAX trademark.
Korting is a visionary and is dedicated to serving his community. During the 1980s, when the real estate market crashed, Korting was one of the few Brokers able to withstand the fallout. Korting's philosophy is "keep it simple" and "do the right thing" – words that have guided his associates for many years.
Korting is passionately involved with helping to raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network through the Providence Alaska Medical center.
Korting is a member of the Deans Advisory Council/University of Alaska Anchorage School of Business, Commonwealth North, Providence Hospital Advisory Board and Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce as well as the Anchorage Platting Board, Municipality of Anchorage Board of Equalization and, as mentioned previously he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
As the President and Owner of RE/MAX Properties Inc., Korting is responsible for oversight of the CIRES office. Korting is a wealth of knowledge and a valued CIHA partner. Thanks for all of your effort, Mark, and thanks for your faith in our ability to represent your business well.
Cook Inlet Real Estate Services (CIRES), a RE/MAX Properties, Inc. branch office, is a social enterprise providing niche real estate consulting, property management services and real estate sales and acquisitions while generating revenues that will be used to further the affordable housing mission of parent company Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA). For more information visit the CIRES website at http://www.cookinletrealestate.com.