A real estate company that cares about Bermudians and has as one of its aims to upgrade Court Street is in the process of being incorporated.

Smithbridge Realtors has been formed by Denton Outerbridge and Harold Smith who have over 20 years of experience in the business.

"Our main strength is personalised service,'' said Mr. Outerbridge, "We won't let our clients get lost in the mix. We offer them sound information on how to buy a house and to upgrade a property. In fact we get a lot of people just asking us how to own a home.'' And Mr. Outerbridge said he answers their queries and "turns no-one away''.

"Our foundation here, of everything we do, is with honour and praise to God,'' he said. "We tell everyone the truth and we know when someone comes through that door, that God has sent them to us.

"We don't deal on a human level, we deal on a spiritual level,'' he added.

"It's a matter of having joy in your heart when you do things.

"Some other agents send away people that don't have the money but we really care and we never do that. Our motto is `your dream is our business and we make it happen',''.

Smithbridge Realtors is a full service real estate company offering expertise in rentals, sales, financing and insurance. But the partners also aim to be property developers and upgrading Court Street is one of their first priorities.

Not surprisingly the project has begun close to home, with the two men improving the face of their own building.

Mr. Smith is the owner of two pink buildings on Court Street just near the junction with Victoria Street.

"I grew up in the house next door,'' said Mr. Smith as he sat in his newly renovated office, "and I can vividly remember riding down this street on my tricycle. There were no drug problems here then.

"We are really looking to upgrade Court Street,'' he continued, "Downstairs we have made major renovations and have given the building a new face. There were two green garage doors down there, but we've changed the look and rented it out as good quality retail space.'' And Mr. Outerbridge said the two have also joined meetings with the Corporation of Hamilton to improve the look and quality of Court Street, renovating buildings in need of repair and dealing with the drug abuse problem.

Himself a rehabilitated drug abuser, Mr. Outerbridge said he wants to make a difference to the drug addicts on Court Street.

"Right now I go to church on Angle Street and they are formulating a plan to help with the problem. I understand the frustration of the people (the drug addicts). Ninety percent don't want to be there and it is important that we don't look down on them. They are people too,'' he said.

Admitting his presence serves as an inspiration to many on the street, Mr.

Outerbridge says he always tries to be encouraging.

But the property development plans of Smithbridge Realtors are not confined to Court Street and the partners expressed concern about the housing problems.

"Condo prices are outrageous because for the property developers out there its all about profit,'' said Mr. Smith.

"When we start our developments our clients will recognise that they are getting good value for their dollar,'' said Mr. Outterbridge.

Asked if he felt the new 95 percent financing offered by the Bank of Butterfield would help ease the housing problem, Mr. Outerbridge said that with the debt ratio left unchanged, the new financing offered little in the way of real help to families experiencing difficulties.

"The average working class person will not benefit from that,'' he said, "I think clients should be looked at on an individual basis.'' In praise of the screening used at Capital G, both Mr. Outerbridge and Mr.

Smith felt the Island's two major banks could make a more positive impact if they followed suit.

"There are many people who if you look at their situation on paper, they do not meet the requirements, but if you take into account their history and the reality, they are able to make the mortgage payments,'' they said.

"We're impressed with Capital G because they do take each client on their own merits.''