Resume for Steve Westmark

Real Estate Experience

• Counselor Realty, Inc. 1985 to Present, Real Estate Sales, Broker, Owner, Nearly 3000 homes sold, President 2004-2006
• Real Estate Plus 1973-1985, #1 Salesperson in Company 1977-1985
• Midwest Finance 1972, Property Management Professional Accomplishments
• BS in Business Administration, University of Minnesota, 1971
• Realtor Designation 1976
• Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI) 1975
• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 1978
• Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) 1983
• Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) 1998
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) 1999
• Real Estate Cyberspace Society (RECS) 2002
• Alpha Tau Omega Award - Minnesota Association of Realtors

Professional Associations

• Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors
  Realtor Salesperson Advisory - Chair
  Education Committee - Chair
  MLS Committee - Chair
  Arbitration Committee
  Legislative/Political Issues Committee
  Board of Directors
• Minnesota CRS Chapter - Past President
• Regional Multiple Listing Service - Governor (1998 to Present)
• Bill Barrett's Super Star Affiliation - Real Estate's Top 100 (1988-Present)

Real Estate Sales Honors

• Sales Person of the Year, Counselor Realty 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
• Sales Person of the Year, Real Estate Plus 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984,1985
• Pinnacle Marketing Award - Certified Residential Specialist
• Howard Brinton "Star of the Month 1989", "Time for Assistants" and "Marketing Scrapbook"
• Continuing Education Teacher by State of Minnesota on Technology, Teams, & Service
• Super Star Panels for National Association of Realtors and CRS Sellabration
• Published in over 30 real estate periodicals.
• Minnesota's #1 Homeseller with nearly 3000 homes SOLD, ˝ Billion in Sales

Family and Personal Interests

• Married Marilyn Wynia of Golden Valley, MN in 1976
• Three Children; Michelle 1978, Kathryn 1983, Jonathan 1986
• Live in Minnetonka, MN - Steve was raised in Minnetonka and his dad lives on part of his grandfather's farm.
• Family attends Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie
• Active Participant in Promise Keepers since 1994.
• Enjoys golf, snowmobiling, water skiing, downhill skiing, playing & coaching basketball, wilderness canoeing, wind sailing, playing saxophone & piano, water sports, sports cars and reading
• Involved in Youth Investment Foundation Board of Advisors
• Habitat for Humanity - Steve sponsored a Habitat House in 2000 on his 2000th sale, co-sponsors one home a year in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 - 3 homes

Tax Considerations >New 1031 Exchange Rules One of the most popular "tax deferring" strategies for real estate owners who are selling one property and acquiring another is the use of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. It is an effective way to defer paying income tax on capital gain generated by the sale of a property when you intend to reinvest the proceeds in a similar, "like-kind" property. Almost any kind of real property is considered "like-kind" with any other real property. A recently enacted law closes what was considered a loophole in the Section 1031 rules. In some cases, owners of investment real estate have used the 1031 Exchange to swap their investment property for real estate that could be readily converted to an owner-occupied residential property. After the exchange, they made the property into their principal residence, lived in it for a couple of years, then sold it. Now the American Job Creation Act of 2004 has ruled that properties converted from a 1031 exchange property into a residence must be held and used as a principal residence for at least five years to qualify for the tax exemption. Otherwise, the basic tax-deferring benefits of 1031 exchanges remain the same. Consult your tax advisor for more detailed information. See All Tips In The "Tax Considerations" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  What 45,000 sq.ft. home on 5-acres on Lake Washington is described as an 'adventurous house' by its owner? A  The home of Microsoft's Bill Gates ($40+ million) has a wall of 24 video monitors featuring art and film and a 60-foot pool. See More Real Estate Trivia >

See the nation's top rated reports for Schools in Minneapolis, Twin Cities and Eden Prairie >

Get Our Latest Listings Before Anyone Else! As soon as we list another home for sale, we'll email you. You'll know first. Name: Email: Find Out More >

Media Express Max Woelm Find Out More > View All Affiliates >

Get the Latest Real Estate News, Hot Off the Presses! If you are buying or selling a home, you need our eNewsletter. Name: Email: Why Sign Up? > Go To eNewsletter > See Today's News >