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Duane & Karen Smith – Realtor & Investor
Philippine Trip Report & Brochure (Dec 2-12, 06)
Newsletter Article on Duane's Trip to India
Report on the India Trip May 6, 06
Personal
How it started: Duane met the Lord in college and began his career surveying timber lands in Oregon. He got into timber management, buying and selling timber, and in 1993 he started his own business brokering timber and timber lands. One year later, to meet his commitments to the lumber mill, Duane started his own logging company. As the logging industry in Oregon declined he used his profits to buy and develop investment property. In 1998, Duane got his general contractors license and began building custom and spec homes on the property he had developed. Duane became increasingly interested in missions and a ministry focus. He and his wife went to Southern India and helped with crusade meetings in rural villages. He subsequently took a year off from business to give a year to missions work. He organized the construction a church building in Central Mexico and helped re-start a church in Richland, WA with both his construction and ministry skills. From there Duane planted a church in Bend, Oregon and became a licensed real estate agent for income. His church eventually merged with another and Duane and Karen moved to the Tri-Cities to be close to family and continue his real estate, land development, and investing.
Personal Passion: Duane’s personal passion is to influence others to reach their potential (spiritually, vocationally and financially). Duane is committed to helping people step out of a poverty mentality into a more Kingdom perspective. He enjoys encouraging, counseling and teaching others how to see potential for investments to create cash flow and an estate that can be used for ministry and passed on as an inheritance.
Personal Benefit: Duane earned enough in one year to donate the following year entirely to the Lord. He’s used his time for missions and has been personally involved in several church plants. Their mission to Mexico was directed (providentially) toward a congregation praying for a building. They were given some land and Duane transported building materials from the states and organized 3 shifts of workers to erect the building to completion in 3 weeks. They held services attended by 300 people on the last day of construction. The congregation started with over 200 people. It was one of the most fulfilling events of Duane’s business/ministry career. Duane has also mentored young couples through purchasing apartments as their first residence. He is currently working with individual investors and investment networks to make real estate investments in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
Value to others: People that have been touched by Duane’s real estate background and pastoral gifting are blessed. He has connected an active faith for the blessings of God with a practical knowledge of real estate. IN practical application, he has developed cash flow analysis worksheets and investment portfolio strategies for first time and experienced investors.
Business Potential (upside): Realtor: A real estate agent usually has about $1,500 start-up costs with first commission sales coming in 3-4 months. A good first year may net $15-25,000. Nationally, 80% of first year realtors don’t make it past the first year. If they stick with it, a good realtor can earn $50,000 to $200,000 per year. About 90% of sales are done by 10% of the realtors.
Duane’s investment properties account for about half his income. He currently owns 10 rentals and several development properties. His goal is to become financially independent of direct earned income. He is currently pursuing more commercial real estate ventures.
Complexities, failures (downside): Real estate brokerage is 100% commission income. Income projections are difficult in view of changing economic conditions.
Vision for the Kingdom: Duane believes a generation of baby boomers is looking for purpose in life that can only be found in the Kingdom. Many are disillusioned with church but are candidates to be drawn back to the Lord through marketplace ministry. They need to get involved in something bigger than themselves that has visible fruit. Duane has a desire to provide opportunities for group investors to accomplish Kingdom goals. Duane has a heart for planting churches in places like Mexico and he has the background to build both the natural and the spiritual house.
Impact from Releasing Kings: Releasing Kings put into words thoughts and motivations Duane already experience but hadn’t expressed before. The theme of Kings ministering in the marketplace is very close to Duane’s heart and calling. His hope is that the networking of like minded businessmen will produce eternal benefits and leave a heritage for those to build upon after us.
Duane and Karen baptizing a new convert in the Philippines. |
