There are approximately 8,000 realtors in the Denver metro area. In a red hot market where properties listed in the morning are sold within a few days, or even by mid-afternoon, these realtors scramble for an edge.
Michael Marcus thinks he has found one.
He’s becoming a TV personality.
Marcus, who moved from Connecticut to Colorado in 2000, is a well-known realtor in Denver. Marcus is collaborating with nationwide television producer American Dream TV to air “Selling Denver,” produced during the week and aired the third Saturday of each month on KDVR-TV at 8:30 a.m.
Marcus co-hosts the half-hour show with his son Yaron. American Dream markets the Selling” franchise in other cities around the country, including San Diego, San Francisco and St. Louis.
“It’s a real show, not a reality show. We are niched around real estate, lifestyle and culture,” says American Dream TV’s Craig Sewing. “And we choose realtors that are top producers in their market to be the voice of the neighborhoods.”
A significant industry of locally focused home listing shows exist nationwide, including the likes of “Hot On!” (Texas), “Real Estate Showcase TV” (Ohio) and “Open House NYC” (New York City). What makes the “Selling” franchise different is that focus on lifestyle and cultural attractions.
“I spoke to some agents in other markets who have been doing this for a couple years or more,” says Marcus.
“They told me it’s had a very dramatic impact on their business with a large increase in the number of incoming calls from people they didn’t know or had never heard of.”
“We’re in a content driven world,” adds Sewing. “So after each show airs we give them all the shows and segments and sizzle reels so they can repurpose it.
“For the agents, it really moves the needle. It’s a really good opportunity for them.”
“Selling Denver” is in its third month of existence.
In previous episodes, Michael and Yaron visited Union Station, Greenwood Village and the Denver Tech Center. The presentation has a cinematic feel, and the Marcus duo appear as good ambassadors for the city.
“The number one thing that we liked about American Dream TV was that while they gave us ideas for our segments, we’re totally in charge of doing what we want to do,” says Marcus “They don’t script us. They don’t direct us to do a show about this or that. It’s our show.”
Aside from the lifestyle segments, the core of each program includes video listings of properties for sale. The fast-paced dynamic of the Denver housing market has been well documented, with the reality that inventory of available homes does not match the need of the buying market.
“We hear all the time that there is low inventory,” Marcus says. “In a typical year in metro Denver, there will be give or take 60,000 real estate transactions. As a market, we are selling roughly 5,000 homes a month. We set up our buyers with an instant alert system, and if a home comes on the market, they need to jump.”
While the television show cannot magically produce more homes, it does raise Marcus’ ability to attract new clients. At the very least, it helps make current clients feel a bit more enlightened.
“It’s another tool so clients can make an informed, intelligent decision on a property,” says Marcus.
One hint: after watching the television show, don’t wait too long to call the realtor/television host.
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