Heidi Kasama is president of the statewide Nevada Realtors organization.
Heidi Kasama
She started her professional career as a Certified Public Accountant and later expanded it as a Licensed Real Estate agent in Washington State. Heidi has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Central Washington University. Her accounting career began working for insurance and energy companies. She went into public accounting and ran the audit department for Kasama and Company. Heidi was involved with auditing major educational institutions as well as many non-profit organizations in the Seattle area.
She obtained her real estate license in 1990, was an active real estate agent, and also kept up with the demanding workloads of running audit engagements. After the sale of Kasama & Company in 2001, Heidi successfully worked her real estate career full time.
In 2002, her family moved to Las Vegas. Heidi obtained her Nevada real estate license and in January 2004 opened her own real estate brokerage which grew to approximately 80 agents. Heidi merged her company with Prudential, then became managing broker of the Prudential Summerlin office (now BHHS Nevada Properties) and is responsible for more than 160 agents. She has her broker’s license, business broker and property management permits. Heidi enjoys the “art” of real estate and the negotiations in our business.
Heidi has served for years on the GLVAR and Nevada Realtors Boards of Directors. She has also served on the Grievance Committee, Quality Control, Professional Standards, and Forms committees. Heidi looks forward to serving the association again and to helping Realtors and Nevadans navigate through the improving but sometimes still-challenging times we face in the industry and throughout Nevada.
She recently answered five questions from The Complete Nevadan.
1. You’ve been in Las Vegas since 2002, so you’ve obviously seen the ups and downs of the real estate market here. What was your biggest takeaway from the downturn?
People became “overnight investors” with no planning for what that means. Loans were granted without making a buyer qualify for the payments or ability to repay the loan. Buyers entered the market with no money down loans. As the market turned down, there was no “skin in the game “ and too easy for buyers to walk away from homes.
2. You’ve also been a CPA. Is there any similarities between the two fields?
CPA is a numbers business. It has helped me Immensely in the real estate business. I work with investors as well as home buyers and being able to explain the “numbers” in the transaction is invaluable.
3. You’ve recently taken the helm as president of the statewide Nevada Association of Realtors. What are your responsibilities in this role?
As President for the Nevada Realtors we are the organization that supports the local Realtor boards of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR), Reno Sparks Association, Sierra Nevada Association, Incline Village Board or Realtors and Elko Association of Realtors. We also direct all of our advocacy efforts on behalf of REALTORS and homeowners to protect our industry and homeowner rights in regards to legislative efforts.
4. Is there really a boost in real estate values based on the Raiders’ decision to relocate to Las Vegas?
The Raiders moving here is a great energy for our Southern Nevada economy. The growth in construction jobs to build the main stadium, the practice stadium and the management offices are great business builders. Many of the players themselves will probably look to rent first. As we know many of the players can be traded and move between teams. I believe we will see housing needs from management and employees that will move her permanently.
5. What do you like most about living in Nevada?
I had no idea until I moved here how great it is in Las Vegas. Beautiful weather most of the year ( yes I know a few hot months but worth it for rest of the year!). We have the best dining, shows and shopping 20 minutes from my house. I have been hiking in the Red Rock canyons, skiing at Mt. Charleston, and sailing on Lake Mead. What more do you want?
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