Roe Leer to lead REALTOR® Association

PALMDALE – An eclectic background has led Realtor Roe Leer to the presidency of the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS®.  Born in Germany to an American serviceman, Leer’s childhood went from Army brat to Panama golfer to skeet shooting referee.  High school brought baseball, choir and theater to his previous interest in science and math.  College was Baylor University, where he earned his BFA in Theater.

Moving to California, Leer met and married the love of his life, Diana.  He shared, “we’ve just celebrated our ‘unofficial’ anniversary of 33 years”, referring to when they ‘fell in love’, rather than when they married.  Both secured their real estate licenses in the late‘80’s, after buying their first home in Palmdale.

Leer’s career in real estate really took off in 1989, as he and his wife started their own company called REALTEAM.  The husband and wife team ultimately joined their current firm, HomeBased Realty.

From the beginning of his real estate career, Leer undertook leadership assignments, culminating in his role as president of the Palmdale Association of Realtors® (PAR) where he served as a California Association of Realtors® (CAR) state director and National Association of Realtors® (NAR) delegate.  Subsequent to the merger of PAR and the Antelope Valley Board of Realtors® in 1998 to form GAVAR, Leer continued to serve as an Association director, secretary, treasurer, president-elect and now…president.

Since 2007, Leer has been an adjunct professor at Antelope Valley College where he teaches Real Estate Practices and Principles.  He notes that probably a dozen or more of his students are now local Realtors® and GAVAR members.

Leer’s view toward real estate, and life, is Libertarian, a philosophy that encourages freedom and liberty.  With a passing of the gavel, Leer now leads the largest trade organization in the Antelope Valley.  He views the lack of available homes for buyers to purchase as the major issue of 2013.

Addressing this “shadow inventory” and encouraging banks to release these homes to market is one that Leer says he will champion. He and GAVAR are also committed to the defense of mortgage interest deductions and Prop 13 protections. Issues of excessive regulation and re-zoning of properties in outlying area will also be closely monitored during his term of office.

Leer readily repeats this mantra learned from a former broker: “We don’t sell houses, we help buyers and sellers.”  Leer credits many mentors and continues to solicit their guidance.  He sees collaboration with the community as that intangible ingredient that leads to success.

And at day’s end, this eclectic still finds time to help others with his knowledge of food science, self-improvement, hypnotherapy, mediation and a host of other life-acquired skills.

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