The real estate market is showing signs of picking up again after a slow start to the year.That is according to Frederica Forth-Anglies, president of Century 21 Bermuda Properties, who won a Centurion 2010 award from the parent company in recognition of the number of sales, commissions and listings that her business made.Ms Forth-Anglies said that despite the recession, her company had managed to take advantage of several opportunities in the market and had expanded from two staff to six sales persons during its first two years in business.She said that providing the best customer service and being creative were key to the success of the company and she has some exciting new ideas to develop the business planned for the future.“The beginning if the year was quite slow in terms of the real estate market,” she said.“The first quarter after Christmas is when people tend to ‘hibernate’ as I say, and then they come out more in April.“The indications from the other real estate companies is that there is more activity - people are getting pre-approved, properties are selling, if maybe not as quick as we would like them to be, and there are a lot of listings available.”Ms Forth-Anglies said that the global economic crisis allied to banks tightening up their lending had resulted in more foreclosures than previously and she encouraged those struggling to meet their mortgage payments to contact the bank as early as possible to discuss the issue with them.She said it was not in the interests of the bank to foreclose on its clients as the value of the property would diminish the longer it remained vacant.As a result of the amount of people leaving the Island in recent years, Ms Forth-Anglies said there were lots of rentals on the market and rents had come down significantly, while there was also plenty of commercial space available.She said one of the benefits of falling prices had been that locals could afford some of the properties previously out of their reach, particularly one-bedrooms, with tenants in a strong position to negotiate more favourable rents. Other trends have been a move by banks from 100 percent to 95 percent financing and 20 percent downpayments, making it very difficult for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder with the average cost of a home at $1.4 million.Ms Forth-Anglies, who admitted to being surprised but excited about receiving the award, coming second out of 17 countries in the Caribbean, sandwiched between the Cayman Island in first place and Aruba in third, said that she viewed it as quite an achievement given that her company had only been in business for less than two years.“Given the economic situation in Bermuda and across the world it has been a very challenging yet rewarding experience,” she said.“I had to work very hard as the head of a new company wearing several different hats from sales to mortgage advice and just keeping the business afloat and maintain our competitive edge.“Also, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my team of whom we have a number of agents who are experts in different fields, which I believe really sets ourselves apart from the competition.”Ms Forth-Anglies, who herself specialises in mortgage consultancy, has made her offices as warm and inviting to the customer as possible to make them feel comfortable. To help get that first foot hold or move up the ladder, she has produced an eight-step guide to home ownership.“Rather than just selling them something, it is about listening to and meeting their needs and making sure that they fully understand the process,” she said.“Coming in new to the industry I had to be a little bit creative to obtain leads, so I went out and participated in the Wedding Show and the C-Travel Show last year to get our name known, as well as offering a seminar to the community in which I spoke about finding the right property.“Starting out in the middle of a recession, I just had to roll up my sleeves and do what I do best, and that is to talk with people, and find new ways to reach them.”Ably assisted by her administrator, Sue-Ann Smith, Ms Forth-Anglies, said that that focus on the individual had enabled Century 21 to build up a strong client base already using her extensive contacts book.On the board of the real estate division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and teaches the real estate course at Bermuda College, she also works on collaboration with the other real estate companies, sharing commissions for referrals and the like.Adding that she had learned more in the past two years during a downturn than during 10 years in a boom, Ms Forth-Anglies, who worked for Sir John Swan’s mortgage and deposit business before joining the Bank of Bermuda, plans to expand her team to 10 people as well as her offices while continuing to keep the overheads low. She also has some small group meetings lined up to talk with customers about real estate and available properties on the market, in addition to covering matters such as interest rates, mortgages and legal issues.Meanwhile with the backing of its parent company, Century 21 has been able to establish an easy to use and interactive website.“In these times it is all about being innovative and thinking outside the box,” said Ms Forth-Anglies.“This year I am going to aim for first place internationally and in Bermuda - that’s my goal.”