Giving Back To The Community Is Important To The Corbin Real Estate Team
Jim Corbin is proud of his real estate career in Wellington, but just as proud of how he and his team have given back to the community.
Corbin started in the real estate business in Kansas City, Mo., at age 20, then brought his expertise to Wellington long before it was incorporated as a village.
“I’ve been selling real estate in Wellington for 39 years,” he said. “It’s hard to believe that the time has gone by so fast.”
Back in 1978, there was but a handful of agents serving the area, and most of those were having trouble locating anything west of Florida’s Turnpike. However, there’s much more competition now.
“Last time I checked, there were 18,000 Realtors in the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches, and 700 of those were in the 33414 ZIP code,” Corbin said.
David Corbin, Jim’s Realtor brother, is part of the Corbin team at Illustrated Properties, as are Nic Corbin and Miranda Culbert.
“We’re the ‘Four Cs.’ Although her last name isn’t Corbin, Miranda has been putting up with me for 17 years now,” Jim Corbin said. “We’ve been together longer than many people have been married.”
Active in community fundraisers and events since arriving in Florida, Corbin also bears another distinction.
“I think I can very safely say that I was the first equestrian Realtor in Wellington. My brother and I had an equestrian background and upbringing. We used to ride and show up north, and that’s part of the reason I moved here,” he said. “I even loaned one of my horses for the Munich Olympics — a lifetime ago — in 1972. In 1978, Bill Ylvisaker was bringing polo to Wellington, and then the horse shows started.”
At first, local officials seemed to be overlooking the potential of those in the equestrian industry, Corbin said.
“I begged the village to pay some attention to these horse-show people,” he continued. “Especially the hunters and jumpers — people did not pay much attention to them.”
Yet even as Corbin was breaking new ground with his expertise in equestrian real estate, he never made that his sole focus.
“All properties are important, and you need to cover all bases,” he said.
That has never been more true than today, with many people still skittish about purchasing a home. Fortunately for Corbin, his many contacts and open-minded philosophy have kept his business at the front of the pack.
“A friend of mine in Chukker Cove decided to sell her house in Palm Beach for $6 million,” Corbin said. “Little things can turn into big things.”
Sometimes friends, former clients or people he meets have properties outside the area, but they still want Corbin to handle the sale.
“They didn’t want to start over with someone else,” he explained. “It means more homework for me if I’m unfamiliar with the area, but I’ve lived in a hotel while I sold a home up in Hutchinson Island and down in Delray Beach. I’ve sold a condo on the ocean in Singer Island as well as a $3.75 million farm right here in Saddle Trail Park.”
Combining his equestrian and real estate interests has had another result: sponsorships.
“Illustrated Properties was one of the real estate sponsors at the Winter Equestrian Festival this year,” Corbin said, pointing out that this involved about a dozen agents in his office. “This division sponsorship included a jump with our name on it, banners and three months’ issues of magazines featuring all the properties we had for sale placed throughout the venues in boxes. We gave thermal mugs with our logo to each week’s riders, then presented the trophies and ribbons.”
Jim and David Corbin also sponsored a jump with their names and logo at the Ridge Farm horse shows at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.
“That’s a county facility with a covered arena and a new 13-week horse show series for people getting young horses started,” Jim Corbin said.
At the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Corbin and Illustrated Properties participated in some presentations. At Deeridge Farms, he also had a presence with a tent in which to showcase properties at the Palm Beach Masters and the Hunter Derby this season. He has also donated to a number of different organizations through Illustrated Properties Charities, the company’s charity division.
Meanwhile, the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center was a beneficiary of Corbin’s experience during the 12 years he served on its board. “Then it was time for new, fresh thinkers with new, fresh ideas,” he laughed.
Corbin is quick to point out that he is hardly alone with his giving, whether it’s a sponsorship, money or time.
“The equestrian community out here is hugely important to this community, and a lot of people don’t understand that. It’s global giving,” he said. “The foreign exhibitors just love it over here, especially when they’re preparing for the Olympics. Last year there were 27 different countries represented here. Wellington is a real international destination. And this community helps others.”
To reach any of the “Four Cs” — Jim, David, Nic or Miranda — call (561) 798-2224 or visit www.jimcorbin.com.
