One of the few effects the local mini-recession has had on Ms. Shamis is apparently to cut into her tennis time, since she admittedly has dropped leisure time to keep up what some might mistake for a life of leisure.

She still views Dallas from behind the wheel of a white Excalibur--usually purchased new every year-and she sees sunrises "and sunsets through the 52 windows of her penthouse.

Realtor Takes High Road On Hi-Rise Condos

From the penthouses of their high-rise, Turtle Creek-area condos, Realtor Carolyn Shamis and neighbors receive an unusually inspiring view--and vision--of a Dallas seen from a 360-degree vista.

It's also a Dallas that is coming full circle in many other ways, claims Ms. Shamis, founder and owner of Carsha, Inc., the Dallas real estate brokerage whose name is formed from elements of her name. That company name has placed several of her neighbors in their penthouses--at outright purchases in the$1 million, to $2 million area or at leases typically ranging from $1,500 to $10,000per month. Shamis is not typically one to nickel-and-dime in her specialty, which is leasing or selling high-rise, high-ticket condominiums.

Not too long ago, she signed Isaac Tigrett, former owner of the Hard Rock Cafe, to a lease taking the top floor of the Stoneleigh Hotel. More recently, she's matched seven buyers with condos at The Claridge on Turtle Creek for prices ranging from $450,000 to $1.5 million. From her perspective there's been little diminution of the high-dollar residential market by falling real estate values. However, there's been another house cleaning, of sorts.

"We've eliminated in this; market all of those people (brokers) who couldn't make it in the first place. God pulled all of our strings, and it's the best thing that could have happened to us. It got us back to basics--being kinder, nicer, and more respectful; that is what it's all about. Negativity is not what it's all about right now.

"One of the few effects the local mini-recession has had on Ms. Shamis is apparently to cut into her tennis time, since she admittedly has dropped leisure time to keep up what some might mistake for a life of leisure. She still views Dallas from behind the wheel of a white Excalibur--usually purchased new every year-and she sees sunrises "and sunsets through the 52 windows of her penthouse.

Like the ample glass adorning her offices, they have- dark drapes or shades. The view is apparently more agreeable than that of the Arlington storage room he was assigned 15 year ago, when she became one of the first women involved in the office leasing industry in North Texas.

She also became one of its most aggressively successful, outlasting seven men in her drive to lease North Dallas Office space in behalf of a particular company. She worked longer and harder than most co-workers (her last real vacation was for three weeks, 10 year ago),and the payoff was in establishing a high profile among friends who also had residential properties to move.

They moved faster, more profitably, than certain of the office leasing assignments--particularly under the auspices of her own company. Shamis gradually grew to millionaire stature by assuming a work attitude aimed in that direction.

"I think I'm wealthy in thought and mind and spirit, " she says. "I'm always thinking poor, or else I'll wonder why I keep working. "

Business is an attitude, and if you don't have a good one, you might as well close shop. Nobody wants to go around with someone who is not successful, doesn't act successful or doesn't think success.

Born of Lebanese parents in McComb, Mississippi, Ms. Shamis grew up mowing her family name meant "sunshine" in Arabic. More than a name, it's also an attitude she brings to the office and to her perspective on Dallas. "The deal, not the money, is what you should remember. Anytime you think of money first, you're going to confuse the issue and the wrong thing is going to come out.

"Fortunately, our market is good and coming back. Pretty much, all of the desperate sales have stopped Truth is prevailing, a lot of hype has stopped and the real values have returned to our business. Demand exceeds supply for quality leased residential properties.

"Finally, those of us brokers who are left are being listened to and believed we're working together better than ever, and we need and utilize one another better. The backstabbing in this business has virtually ceased

"There's a lot of money-a lot of cash buyers--in Dallas right now. Now we can start over and make it all happen again in Dallas."