The boss of Bermuda's newest real estate agency believes that now is the perfect opportunity to get into the property market business.

Frederica Forth-Anglies, president of Century 21 Bermuda Properties, will officially launch the new company at the grand opening tonight, with the likes of MPs Terry Lister and Dale Butler in attendance.

And Ms Forth-Anglies, who has been working at the Bank of Bermuda for the past 35 years, reckons the new venture, which is the latest part of the international Century 21 business, will provide a fresh perspective in today's highly competitive property sector.

Despite setting up in the midst of a global economic downturn and facing stuff competition from a number of realtors, including Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty and Rego Sotheby's International Realty to name but a few, Ms Forth-Anglies views the current climate as the ideal time to build up a strong client base and be ready for when the market turns.

Ms Forth-Anglies, who moved into her new premises at The Stables in Reid Street, Hamilton in March along with office manager Annmarie Malcolm, to set up the company offices and build its website, said that it is a buyer's market out there at the moment.

"This is the best point to come out because in fact it is a buyer's market and the property values have come down as much as 30 percent and the bank rates are as low as they have ever been," she said.

"The difference I will bring to this industry is my banking experience, consultation and advice, and I am extremely passionate about educating the community about how to own real estate."

She thinks that with a low unemployment rate, there are a lot of people on the Island with a stable income who would be able to 'own a piece of the rock', but added that many of them just needed to be educated how to go about doing it.

"Knowledge is power and when people have this knowledge about real estate they feel more comfortable meeting with banks to get financing and other services," she said.

"It is about the customer being able to come in here and get advice on mortgages and how to go about acquiring property, doing consultancy with my banking experience and knowing what their needs are and what they can afford.

"I believe there is a need in the community for that particular service."

In fact, Ms Forth-Anglies will be will be holding a series of seminars about making the first step onto the property ladder, in addition to going out to meet clients at their place of business and meeting with them on a one-to-one basis. She plans to host a seminar for 20 people in October, covering a range of issues, such as the legal and insurance side of home ownership, with a legal counsel on hand to offer advice on their field of expertise, while several companies and churches have called for her to present a talk to them. The parent company, Century 21, is based in 8,000 locations in about 60 countries worldwide, and Ms Forth-Anglies believes that will prove to be an invaluable resource to tap into, having already linked up and networked with her peers from The Cayman Islands and The Dominican Republic in the Caribbean region at a company training session held in Cayman on understanding the brand and how it does business.

Ms Forth-Anglies said the real beauty of her service was it offers the complete package from buying a property to making a will and even getting insurance, with a focus on customer service.

"To me, no matter what industry you are in, in today's world people are looking for get customer service," she said.

"When you deliver that good quality of customer service, you will be surprised how many people will follow you, so as a result I have had quite a few people who have reached out to me because they liked the experience they had that I gave to them at the bank."

Having started her career at the age of 21 working for John Swan Ltd. before its was sold to Challenger Banks Ltd., Ms Forth-Anglies joined the Bank of Bermuda, where she held a number of posts, including head of personal lending and senior business development manager, assisting clients seeking financing to purchase properties, while building relationships with real estate companies, and she reckons that experience will stand her in good stead for the task ahead.

"I have always been involved in the real estate in some way, shape or form," she said. "And I have always had the desire to be doing what I do today.

"There is nothing like being your own boss and make your own improvements and see the business changing and evolving."

The company will offer everything from sales and rentals to surveying and property management services, and Ms Forth-Anglies, who enjoyed a three-month career break after leaving the bank in November, views exciting times ahead for the Island's real estate market.

Meanwhile, the history of the site itself has gone full circle, with the new offices returning to their roots, having previously housed Rego Ltd. a number of years ago.

The grand opening to officially welcome Century 21 Bermuda Properties into the Caribbean region will be held at the company's offices at 91 Reid St. between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Horst Finkbeiner, regional director of Century 21 Caribbean Bermuda and Bahamas, will be present at the event, along with representatives from the Bank of Bermuda, Butterfield Bank, Capital G Bank and Bermuda Commercial Bank, law firms, real estate agents and construction develops, as well as family and friends.

Century 21 Bermuda Properties is on the lookout for new sales representatives - to apply for the positions or for more information contact 293-2121, email fforth-anglies@century21bda.com or amalcolm@century21bda.com or visit the website at www.century21bermudaproperties.com