Buying or selling a home is one of the largest and most important financial transactions many people will ever experience. It can be an exhausting process wrought with potential pitfalls and overlooked details. “There are many lenses you need to look through in order to truly evaluate a real estate transaction,” noted Aeri Chang, longtime client of Alaris Properties, LLC. “Not only do you need to know the latest market trends, but also the legal pitfalls and potential financial implications. That’s why we will only work with Alaris. To have a resource with in-depth knowledge of the industry, a strong legal background, and significant investment experience means that no stone is ever left unturned. It gives us the peace of mind to focus on the big picture and the areas that matter most to us.”
Leveraging sophisticated legal knowledge, the brokers at Alaris Properties are able to ensure clients are well informed and protected throughout the real estate transaction process. Jon Terry, managing broker for Alaris earned his law degree from Northwestern University and has practiced law for nearly 30 years. “Clients love that I have experience in both law and real estate,” noted Jon. “While I cannot serve as both their lawyer and their real estate agent, I can alert them when I see a red flag and send them to an attorney when appropriate. Oftentimes, I can help a client avoid a problem altogether by teaching them how to ask the right questions.” It’s an invaluable resource and a rare skillset to find in a real estate brokerage. “As a lawyer you learn to issue spot, to absorb lots of information in a very quick fashion, and to protect your clients,” Jon commented. “Now, with nearly 30 years of experience as an attorney and 14 years as a Realtor®, I have honed my skills and love helping my clients achieve their goals and objectives. As we have long said at Alaris, in real estate, there are a lot of balls to drop, and we specialize in not dropping them.”
Jon Terry is also a recognized authority among the real estate community, helping educate brokers across the state. He teaches the mandatory Annual Commission Update course for the Colorado Real Estate Commission and also teaches classes for the Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI) designation as well as the mandatory Ethics class for the National Association of Realtors. “I enjoy teaching other real estate brokers and attorneys,” said Jon. “It’s a great way to share knowledge with the rest of the community and it keeps me informed of current and cutting-edge issues and concepts on a regular basis.” He has also been called upon to serve as an expert witness in a number of trials. “Those experiences truly deepened my knowledge and understanding of real estate,” Jon noted. “When one sees what others have done incorrectly, he learns potently what not to do. I know how to protect my clients’ interests and guide them through all the issues.”
In addition to being a lawyer and teacher, Jon is also a real estate investor, managing a diverse portfolio of homes, rental properties, and land using his own independently developed systems. He invests in both residential and commercial development land, a practice known as “land banking”. This experience with real estate transactions at all levels and eye for investment opportunities is put to work directly for clients and truly gives Alaris clients an edge when it comes to real estate investment. “Clients appreciate someone who can see things from their perspective and who has been through the same experiences they have,” Jon said. “At Alaris, our broad spectrum of experience means that no matter what our client is going through, we’ve already been through it and can provide the guidance and protection they need. At the end of the day, one of the best compliments I receive from my clients is that I made the process seem very easy. No one wants to buy problems, but we also want to be sure we have avoided the pitfalls. From the beginning of Alaris, we all have this expression on our business cards: “Going beyond the call of duty, doing more than others expect… this defines excellence. It comes from striving and maintaining the highest standards. It comes from looking after the smallest details and going the extra mile. Excellence means doing your very best in everything, in every way.”
