Colleen Badagliacco

How An Association Leader Keeps Her Business in Focus  

By Karen M. Kroll

Colleen Badagliacco has been an influential leader in the real estate industry for decades, first with the California Association of REALTORS® and then NAR. Today, she's a major donor for RPAC and also works with calREDD, an initiative to pull together all California real property records regardless of status. This month, she shares her tips for success in real estate with eConnect.

Although Badagliacco started her professional life teaching gifted and talented students, she found her true calling in real estate. Over the past 30-plus years, Badagliacco has advanced steadily through the profession. Since co-founding the Altera Real Estate Network in 2008, she and husband Dennis have grown the firm to 21 offices and 700-some agents throughout California, Hawaii and Oregon.

Colleen's Background

Badagliacco was a teacher when Proposition 13 passed in California. Among other changes, the legislation capped property taxes and limited the rate at which schools' and municipalities' budgets could grow. With its passage, "the whole educational establishment panicked and slashed programs," Badagliacco says. Just two days after the election, Badagliacco's job was gone.

Her father, who was a real estate broker, suggested she give the profession a try. Badagliacco agreed and earned her real estate license over the summer. That was in 1978, and Badagliacco hasn’t turned back. "I enjoyed the flexibility and not having a salary cap," she says.

Initially, Badagliacco worked as an agent with Century 21, where she remained for several years before moving to a broker cooperative. In 1991, she was named "REALTOR® of the Year" by the San Jose Real Estate Board. Eight years later, she and Dennis were RE/MAX of California and Hawaii broker/owners of the year.

Industry Leadership

Throughout her career, Badagliacco has been active in several associations. As a long-time member of the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, she served as president in 1992. Badagliacco has also served as a director with the California Association of REALTORS® since 1985, and served as the CAR president in 2007.

She's also been a director with NAR since 1994. Currently, Badagliacco works as a director with calREDD, the initiative to pull together California property records.

Continue to page 2 for Colleen's tips for success.