FEATURE STORY

In the battle to counteract misinformation in the media, the Las Vegas Real Estate community is pulling out its big guns. Southern Nevada’s Grand Matriarch of Real Estate, Irene Vogel, says that despite the occasional cyclic downturn in the market, “buying a home is still the best investment you can make.” She is therefore spearheading the publication Greater Living, a venue for Real Estate professionals to share their knowledge with more than 200,000 suburban households.

Greater Living is the result of a creative partnership between the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS^®(GLVAR) and Greenspun Media Group. The magazine will be distributed as a newspaper insert to homes in Summerlin, Green Valley, Henderson, and other areas with high rates of homeownership.

The publication is designed to address an ongoing problem of information flow in the mainstream media. If a market is booming, the media speak as though the boom will be eternal. On the other hand, if a market is backsliding, the media spark the fear of a never-ending downward spiral. Irene, on the other hand, knows better. She points out that the market numbers for February are similar to the numbers for January, which indicates that the cycle has reached its lowest point. As a result, she says, “in 2008 the pendulum is swinging back to normalcy.”

Irene notes that new construction along the Strip and elsewhere is driving the market recovery. Tens of thousands of rooms are being built. “Each room is two and a half jobs,” she says, “and those workers need someplace to live.”

In addition to teaching consumers about the cyclic market, Irene hopes to show them how to see beyond the month’s statistics. “Statistics don’t tell the whole story,” she says. For example, “if new home sale inventory is down, that means there’s a good resale market.”

Not only does Greater Living provide consumers with a realistic market analysis, but it also provides sellers with useful tips. For instance, readers may learn how to make their house environmentally sustainable, how to prepare their homes for sale or auction, or how to close a sale.

Additionally, Greater Living highlights the Real Estate community’s commitment to making Las Vegas a better place to live. Each year REALTORS® contribute time and resources to worthy charities such as Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelters and children’s charities.

The publication’s nod to Real Estate professionals who support children’s organizations is consistent with Irene Vogel’s personal philosophy. Helping people is a major part of Irene’s life, as evidenced by her involvement in children’s charities. She says that the community has helped her to succeed in her profession. “If you don’t give back,” she says, “then you’re selfish.”

Irene puts her money where her mouth is, and she encourages others to do the same. For instance, Variety Early Learning Center, a daycare center for low-income families, recently named a playground for Irene because of the enormous support she has given. Variety Early Learning Center’s executive director, Ruby Collins, applauds both Irene and GLVAR. She says, “[Irene and GLVAR] are friends in the community… they have done a lot for our children.”

Variety Early Learning Center was formerly affiliated with Variety: The Children’s Charity, an organization that Irene and GLVAR also support. Variety provides mobility equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetic limbs, and communication devices for children in need. Jason Smith, executive director of Variety, says that Irene and GLVAR are directly responsible for providing adaptive tricycles to the children of John F. Miller School. In addition, Irene’s fundraising team has provided Sunshine Coaches—large passenger vans with handicap-accessible ramps—which Variety distributes to children’s organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Boy Scouts of America, and The Salvation Army. There are more than 50 Sunshine Coaches on the road today. In 2007 Variety presented Irene with the Gold Heart Medal. Jason says that Irene and GLVAR “give children freedom.”

Many organizations benefit from Irene’s philosophy of giving. She supports public television by serving on the board of Friends of Channel 10. She supports higher education by serving on the board of the College of Southern Nevada Foundation. Her support for children extends beyond Variety and includes organizations such as Ronald McDonald House and Frontier Girl Scouts Council.

Irene’s involvement in the community includes not only charitable organizations, but also the political process. Irene supports political candidates who can demonstrate an interest in property rights. Jack Woodcock, Founder/Broker of Prudential Americana Group, says that Irene recognizes the importance of politics in Real Estate. He explains, “If Real Estate is your profession, then politics is your business.” Jack attributes GLVAR’s political strength to Irene’s insistence on political autonomy. In other words, GLVAR supports candidates who are beneficial to the Real Estate industry and profession, independent of the candidates’ connections to individual members.

Irene’s ability to lead and communicate stems in part from her teaching background. Irene earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from City College of New York.

As executive vice president of GLVAR, Irene believes that education is essential not only for children but also Real Estate professionals. She explains, “Education can ensure success. The more educated you are, the better you’re going to serve your client.” In keeping with this belief, she has provided a continuous flow of certification courses for GLVAR members. One recent addition to the curriculum is Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR). Other additions include Seller Representative Specialist (SRS), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and Risk Reduction Graduate (RRG). Moreover, Irene and GLVAR worked with professors at University of Nevada, Las Vegas to found the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies. Thanks to generous donations and intense planning, the university now offers degrees in Real Estate studies.

Irene has been GLVAR’s executive vice president since 1974, excluding a brief flirtation with retirement. During her retirement period she sold homes as a REALTOR^®. Her experience in the field gives her an extra layer of credibility among the membership. The association’s 2008 president, Patty Kelley, describes Irene’s influence on GLVAR as “immense.” Patty adds, “Irene is the driving force behind the success of GLVAR. I don’t know what [the association] would do without her.”

Patty’s admiration of Irene is echoed by the 2008 Nevada Association of REALTORS^® (NVAR) treasurer and 2006 GLVAR president, Linda Rheinberger. Linda says that Irene is an inspiration to women of all professions. “Irene is 10 feet tall to me,” Linda says. “She taught me that you can be a professional, a sister, a mother and a mentor, all at the same time.”

Many GLVAR members count Irene as a mentor. The Association’s 1998 president, Donna Ruthe, says of Irene, “She leads with kindness and friendship, like a mother and protector.” Donna adds, “When she looks you in the eye—and she always looks you in the eye—then you know she cares.”

GLVAR presidents have learned to make the most of Irene’s knowledge and wisdom. She never sugarcoats the truth, but prefers to lay all the facts on the table. 2005 GLVAR president and 2007 NVAR president Myrna Kingham says, “I can always call Irene to get a straightforward answer.”

Irene’s long history of leadership has made her a grand figure in Las Vegas Real Estate. “I love our industry,” she says, “and I love our association. Every day is a new challenge for me.”

Not only has GLVAR benefited from Irene’s influence, but Las Vegas itself is a better place to live. 2007 GLVAR president Devin Reiss says, “Irene is a mainstay… a stabilizing force in Las Vegas.” He cites her service to the association, her charity work, her role as a mentor, and her recent publication of Greater Living as examples. “If you took all that away,” he says, “you’d see a completely different Las Vegas landscape.”

Photography: Britt Pierson