As with many agents, real estate wasn’t Jim Smith’s initial career choice. Initially a newspaper reporter, trained on the Washington Post city desk, he subsequently published his own community newspapers in New York City and created Journal Graphics, the nation’s largest producer of printed transcripts for TV news programs and National Public Radio. He got interested in real estate when he purchased an office building for Journal Graphics in downtown Denver.

After shutting down that company in the late 1990’s, he initially considered investing in more commercial real estate but “quickly realized that I was more suited to residential brokerage. I started with Coldwell Banker, partnering up with another newbie, and our business just took off.”

After five years becoming one of Jefferson County’s most respected agents, three of them as a RE/MAX agent, Jim decided to open his own company, Golden Real Estate, which quickly became the premier brokerage in the area. Golden Real Estate serves the Denver metro area but specializes in Golden and other western suburbs.

Jim credits his background as a journalist with much of his success. “Early on, I decided to apply my journalism skills to building my real estate business. About 14 years ago I began writing a ‘Real Estate Today’ column which I pay to appear in a localized section of the Denver Post.

Writing that column not only brings me about 90% of my business without prospecting, but it serves as a continuing education program for me. That’s because I research every topic I write about. I’ve written over 500 columns by now, and it has given me a real competitive edge. It keeps me at the forefront of every trend in the industry and I can pass that knowledge on to my clients.”

Jim’s reputation as the real estate expert in his marketplace has given him a large following (including among fellow Realtors) and has allowed him to bond with new clients, since he’s been a trusted advisor to them for many years. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a listing appointment, and the client pulls out a folder with my clippings in it. It not only has built my expertise, but

I’m touching my sphere of influence every week in a way that offers them important and valuable information. I take great pride in the fact that I’m educating the public. When they need a Real Estate Agent, they think of me.”

Jim is very active in his community and has been a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity, working on five Jimmy Carter Work Projects around the country and chairing the local affiliate’s speakers bureau.. He served two terms on his local Real Estate Agent association board of directors, is currently a director of the Golden Chamber of Commerce, and is an active Rotarian and Lion. Jim has been honored for his contributions by Family Promise of Greater Denver, as well as Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.

Jim is especially passionate about sustainability, and both his home and office are solar powered. An “evangelist” for electric cars, he has put 100,000 miles on his two Teslas.  Visit www.GasCarsAreObsolete.info to view a 35-minute presentation he has delivered widely. Jim created a “Styrofoam Corral” behind Golden Real Estate’s office, which keeps 200 cubic yards of that material out of landfills every year. “I do everything I can think of to leave this planet a better place than I found it,” Jim says.

Jim couldn’t be more thrilled with where he’s at in his career, and is considering what he wants for his future. Possible plans include branching out into Aspen or one of the other ski towns, and transitioning out of his management role. “I love what I do. From the real estate to the writing, it’s been a very gratifying career. It has allowed me to really promote sustainability and saving the planet. I look forward to many more years of helping and educating people.”

To learn more about Jim Smith, call 303-525-1851, ​email Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com, or visitwww.GoldenRealEstate.com