Written by Steve Raabe for the Denver Post

Like soon-to-be- emergent spring crocuses, good deeds are busting out all over in the real estate industry.

That's no misprint. Actual good deeds, as in acts of kindness and charity.

You don't see that very often in an industry that seems to value closing the deal and collecting the commission above all else...

It's enough to make a cynical journalist search for ulterior motives. But before that happens, take a look at a sampling of recent good deeds:

The Salvation Army stands to be the beneficiary of about $17,000 in charity, thanks to broker Sonja Leonard Leonard (again, not a misprint. Sonja Leonard married a fellow named Leonard) of (it's true) Leonard Leonard & Associates.

Leonard's longtime friend and neighbor, Marilyn Massey, died recently and willed her North Country Club home at 724 Franklin St to the Salvation Army.

Leonard learned that the Salvation Army was planning to sell the home for around $190,000. Leonard was pretty sure she could get more for the house. So she convinced the Salvation Army to let her have the sale listing, commission free.

If she can sell it for about $240,000, as she expects, the Salvation Army will not only get an extra $50,000 in sale proceeds, but will also have saved the $16,800 that would be Leonard's 7 percent commission.

Leonard held a well-attended open house last Sunday and will do it again this Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Sealed bids on the property - which needs extensive renovation - will be accepted through Feb. 28.