When Condominiums were a new idea...

TBT - How big is your "Niche?"

In 1963, California passed a "Horizontal Property Act" which changed the concept of traditional real estate ownership, "from the center of the earth to the heavens above, except as limited by law," adding a horizonal division which in multi-story buildings created "pockets of airspace."

In early1977, when I began to sell real estate full time, I worked at a firm that specialized in Common Interest Subdivisions (condos, PUD/PRDs, Community Apartments and Stock Cooperatives). At the time, there were only about 60 condo and Planned Developments in San Diego County.

CODC Condominium Owner's Display Center. The name was later changed to The Condo Center. All we sold were "Condos." We were not allowed to list or sell Single Family Residences.

The sales concept was a "Show Room" with a large aerial and topographical map of San Diego County, with the 60 common interest subdivisions market on the map.

Around the perimeter of the Show Room, were beautiful oak cabinets with color photos, floor plans, and the appropriate documentation: Articles of Incorporation, CC&Rs, and By-laws.

We called our Sales Agents "Community Counselors."

I started in Sales, then Assistant Sales Manager, and then Sales Manager. I left about a year after I became Sales Manager to open my own brokerage with my real estate business partner, Francisco Herrera (Tony), who turned 93 years old this week.