Get to Know 2017 President, Cotty Lowry
Cotty was recently inducted as the 2017 MAAR President. He is ready to represent the real estate community and govern the association as President. Here is your chance to get to know Cotty.
What are some of your goals as President?
The MAAR mission statement is to provide resources and leadership for our members to succeed. I think we do that quite well, but amazingly, many of our members are not aware of the huge scope of work we do for them. In fact, most don’t even know that together, MAAR and SPAAR own the MLS! I want to spread the word about the value MAAR creates, both for our members and the public with our research, our government affairs advocacy on property rights, and work on diversity issues for example. I also want to grow the MAAR Foundation’s reach so we can contribute more money and support to housing related organizations to ensure safe and supportive housing solutions and sustainable homeownership.
What advice would you give to a brand new agent?
Focus on a specific geographic micro area, learn the stories and history, preview everything that’s for sale and know what has sold recently. Become an expert. Meet as many people you can in that area by doing open houses and door knock to announce the open. It’s free, great exercise and gives you face time in the neighborhood. As your career grows, then expand your geographic reach.
How do you meet clients for your business?
Since I’ve been in the business for so many years, most of my clients come as referrals. However, being an extrovert, I still love to do open houses on a consistent basis. Nothing revs me up more than doing a good open. I always tell the ones with no last name that I feel sorry for them. Also, over the last 23 years, almost everyone in south Minneapolis has seen my billboard at Franklin and Hennepin. I meet a couple of new folks every week who want to talk about the billboard and the graffiti. It gives me a chance to show them that I don’t really have a beard, scars or tattoos on my face. | Color Cotty
What is your life motto?
One of my favorite sayings is: “Luck favors the prepared mind.” I think if you are always curious and learning-based, then you will always be preparing yourself for lucky things that are just waiting to come your way. The problem with the future is you can’t know what it holds, so you must be constantly reading, learning, and asking questions. Having a prepared mind ensures that lucky things will just “accidentally” happen to you.
Do you have someone you really admire? If so, tell us about him/her!
My dad, who was always fighting for a cause. When he was quite young, he became a local legend while sticking up for his rights by beating up the police force of St Maries, Idaho. (There were only 3 guys on the force.) Because of the notoriety, he was asked to run for office and spent 3 terms fighting for the people of Idaho in the state legislature. Luckily, I didn’t have to do that to become president of MAAR!
What are some of the most adventurous things you have done?
Probably the most dangerous thing I have done is sail a 22-foot boat from the Bahamas to St. Petersburg in fairly heavy seas. We forgot to take a life raft and were woefully under equipped. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of long distance trekking. My favorites are the Haute Route and the Tour du Mont Blanc in Switzerland and the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. These 130 mile hikes take about two weeks and get to elevations as high as 18,000 feet. The pain is worth it because they wind through some of the most beautiful places on earth.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Keep moving. There is nothing I value more than my time and I try never to let any slip away unused. I think it’s very important to stay in good physical shape. One of my friends, Prudy Brooks, tells me how hard it is to get her 92 year old husband back out on the tennis court after they have been on vacation. She gave me this sage advice a few years ago, “once you stop, it becomes increasingly difficult to restart as you get older.” I know she’s right on that one! The next day I signed up for my first trip to the Himalayas.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
I am deeply humbled by being chosen to lead MAAR. It truly is one of the greatest honors of my life. After many years in this career I feel so lucky to have found a wonderful life in real estate, and now, to give a little back. I am already seeing how leadership opens doors enabling me to meet amazing people like Bill George of Medtronic, Richard Leider the author of “The Power of Purpose”, and other leaders in our community. I certainly encourage all our members to consider a path in leadership.
This business allows us to create our own worlds with as much income and work and play time as we want. It’s a challenge that takes persistence, but as I said at the MAAR Installation and Awards event, all you have to do is tell yourself to Go Make Something Happen, and it will. Do this and you will be incredibly successful and happy in the world this business allows us to create.