About the Community

The Real Estate Collaborative LLC facilitates a St. Louis-area community of exceptional, ethical real estate industry professionals and service providers who desire to share and help each other to prosper, grow professionally, and meet like-minded people. Our activities include:

QUARTERLY BREAKFAST SEMINARS – featuring valuable panel discussions and networking, are held at the Des Peres Lodge in Des Peres, MO, for Realtors and investors. These events have been moderated and hosted by Barry Russell since 2014.

FEATURED CHARITY - At each quarterly event, we raise money from the audience and matching donations, including from the Rotary Club of West St. Louis County.

Charities have included Feed My Starving Children, Altzheimers Association, The Assistance League, St. Louis Men's Group Against Cancer, Best Buddies, Circle of Concern, The Covering House, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Little Bit Foundation, Caring Solutions, and Burns Recovered.

THE SPONSOR DIRECTORIES – This verified resource comprises interactive listings by our Sponsors, - service providers, and other professionals who have demonstrated exceptional service and ethics in their respective fields. Our sponsors may be found through website links or their listed phone numbers.

About the Founder and Moderator

Barry Russell has over 40 years of experience in commercial development, finance, and residential brokerage, mostly in the Pacific Northwest. He received his real estate and finance MBA from The University of British Columbia. In his development career, he originated development volume in excess of $300 million. Through his company, Metro Property Advisors LLC, he is a licensed real estate broker in Missouri.

Since the peak of the real estate crisis in 2009-2010, Barry, through Metro Property Advisors LLC dba Short Sale Specialists USA, has provided contingent fee-based short sale negotiation services. He acts as a fiduciary, representing the Seller’s best interests. He has helped hundreds of clients gain their freedom from onerous financial and property entanglements.

Barry, who has lived in suburban St. Louis with his wife, Deborah, since 2005, is originally from Winnipeg, Canada. He is active in the Rotary Club of West St. Louis County, and the Rotary Motto of “Service Before Self” is his defining business motivation.

For a little more insight into Barry, please read: