Victoria Doran has been named president of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors. Doran has been a licensed real estate agent for 23 years and is a designated broker for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Doran is co-chair of the Board’s Cultural Diversity Committee and currently serves on the Executive, Finance and Nominating Committees.
PBN: What initiatives are you looking forward to as the new president of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors?
DORAN: I have three initiatives I would like to accomplish during my tenure: broaden communication with our members, stress the value of community service and open up the opportunity for our members to share their talents on our various committees. Committee involvement is the key to our success, and I would like to encourage our members to become involved with their local board.
PBN: As co-chair, can you explain how does the Cultural Diversity Committee of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors ensures cultural diversity?
DORAN: Recently, the board received a $5,000 grant from the National Association of Realtors cultural diversity grant initiative to reach out to those affected by the predatory lending practices here in Rhode Island. In partnership with the Rhode Island Association of Realtors and other local boards, we are exploring meaningful ways to combat this crisis, which reaches across many cultural boundaries.
Our board of directors itself is a diverse group. I believe that we reflect a wide range of cultures, age, business models and interests. As our communities become more diverse, and our membership reflects that, I hope that we can attract more of the Realtor talent we are seeing in the field.
PBN: How do you acclimate to fluctuations in the market, and what can you share about the current state of real estate?
DORAN: I think that the secret of success in this market, or any market, is to be customer-focused. As a Realtor, my advice to other agents is to be aware of your client’s expectations while being their best source of information about what the local market is doing. As inventory of homes on the market has increased over the past year, it is critical that sellers price their homes competitively. As for buyers, interest rates are still at historic lows and the selection of properties is abundant. Now is a great time to make that purchase. •
