Realty Line March 2012 Issue by RealtyLine

in this issue…

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995™

• ABoR TREPAC Chili Cook-Off • Stanberry Awards Breakfast • Milestone Community Builders The Ranch at Brushy Creek Groundbreaking • and much, much more!

Associates in Progress

5 Reasons to Sell KB Home

page 25

page 5 TM

MARCH 2012 • VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 11

Be prepared when competing with a foreclosure close to your listing First, get a clear picture of your reality

by Stacy Hale

Printed on recycled paper.

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Austin, Texas Paid Permit #715

hile foreclosures—about one in every 1,098 home sales in Texas— have been known to cast a pall over the market values of a neighborhood, that isn’t always the case. The presence of a few distressed homes in your sellers’ vicinity need not launch a Wal-Mart style price war. When your seller asks you, “How can I even hope to compete with prices that low?”, the answers might be simpler than you think.

If there are just one or two foreclosures within a half-mile of your listing, there’s no cause for panic. How saturated is the neighborhood with distressed properties? Remember, it isn’t just current foreclosure listings you have to think about. It’s the entire “shadow inventory”—the number of properties owned by banks, those that have foreclosed but are not yet on the market, and properties likely to foreclose soon. The

bank is selling some of these, but others are foreclosures that have been purchased at auction by investors who have updated them and are hoping to make a profit. So how do you determine if the shadow inventory will seriously impact your sale? The answer is that a lot depends on the neighborhood. When doing your market analysis, think about what you consider to be

Front Page: Continued on page 14

Builders can prepare for non-inspection days on City of Austin's 2012 calendar

ecently, the City of Austin released a training schedule that impacts residential building inspectors. The

schedule shows various days throughout 2012 where building inspections from various departments will not be performed. Builders are encouraged to mark their calendars and schedules so building projects are not delayed.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 all inspectors will be in training Monday, Aug. 20, 2012 all inspectors and some plan reviewers will be in training September 2012 (date to be determined) all residential and commercial plumbers will be in training RL

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P. O. Box 81366, Austin, Texas 78708

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Upcoming Events Wednesday, March 21 HBA Georgetown Chapter St. Patti's Day Golf Tournament Forest Creek Golf Club - 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, March 27 CCIM 12th Annual Power Luncheon Four Seasons Hotel - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, April 18 CRS Luncheon Westwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

HBA Networking Social BMC Select Showroom - 5 to 7 p.m.

NAHREP Monthly Luncheon Cool River Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ABoR PAC Spelling Bee Word Hunt The Park at the Domain - 4 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 12 WCR Business Resource Luncheon Cool River Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday, April 19 NARI General Membership Meeting Dave & Busters - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, March 23 AREP: Feng Shui for the Home ABoR Office - 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 14 HBA MAX Awards Gala The Oasis on Lake Travis - 6 to 10 p.m.

More at www.myRealtyLine.com

NAHREP Monthly Luncheon Cool River Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Discovering Belterra is like Discovering a four-leaf clover unique, Beautiful anD stanDs out among all the rest. It’s not about luck, it’s about making the right choice...

Belterra, located just minutes from downtown Austin, offers a lifestyle like no other. With miles of hike & bike trails, over a dozen parks, resort-style pool complex, state-of-the-art fitness center and an on-site elementary school in the highly acclaimed Dripping Springs Independent School District. Visit the Belterra Welcome Center for more information.

151 Trinity Hills Drive • Austin, TX 78737 • 512.301.5000 • BelterraTexas.com

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Austin Board of REALTORS®

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Chairman’s Column By Leonard Guerrero • 2012 Chairman

Thank you for participating in the MLS vendor review

ince early 2011, the ACTRIS Advisory Committee has conducted a thorough review of potential MLS platforms to guarantee that we deliver a system that effectively meets the needs of our members. Thank you to everyone who attended a system demonstration, submitted a survey and participated in the review. Your input is vital to the success of a new MLS system integration, and we wouldn’t be able to make this important decision without you. The ACTRIS Advisory Committee will be reviewing your survey feedback and is expected to make a final recommendation to the board of directors this month. The board of directors and the ACTRIS Advisory Committee look forward to presenting a final decision to the membership in the coming months.

Mercedes-Benz raffle tickets on sale to benefit ABoR Foundation Scholarship Program While the deadline for partnerships has passed, there is still plenty of time to purchase

your ticket for the Austin Board of REALTORS Foundation 2012 Mercedes-Benz Raffle. A chance at luxury costs only $100 dollars per ticket with proceeds going towards the annual ABoR Foundation Scholarship Program. The program has helped more than 300 local graduating seniors achieve their goals of higher education for years and is made possible through fundraising events such as the Mercedes‑Benz Raffle. One lucky winner will win a brand new Mercedes C-250 or GLK350 and a grand prize package that includes: • a trip to Germany, including five nights’ accommodations at any of the selected first class hotels; • a full tour of the Mercedes-Benz factory; • a self-guided rally that takes you through the iconic Black Forest and Austrian Alps and into Munich, Germany. I highly recommend that you purchase a ticket and spread the word to your fellow REALTORS about participating in this worthy cause. All of you contribute to the success of

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March 2012

the program. Purchase your raffle ticket today at www.abor.com/Foundation/Benz or inperson in ABoR’s education department. Act quickly because only 1,000 tickets will be sold. The winner of the raffle will be announced at the Mercedes and Martinis Finale Raffle Event on June 7. Contact Rita Barousse at rbarousse@abor.com or 454-7636, ext. 1602 for more information.

Buzz around town at the Spelling Bee Word Hunt Get your swarm of two ready for TREPAC’s first Spelling Bee Word Hunt from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21. The hunt for 10 words hidden throughout the Domain will begin at The Park at the Domain. The first swarm to return is entered twice for the chance to win the iPad sweepstakes, while the winning team’s grand prize is an iPad, courtesy of Alterra Home Loans. Tickets for this exciting event are available for purchase at www.abor.com/ SpellingBee. Ticket proceeds benefit TREPAC and will go towards your 2012 TREPAC investment. Advertising opportunities are also available. For details about promoting your company at this REALTOR-packed event, contact ABoR’s TREPAC Coordinator Anna Kong at pac@abor.com or 454-7636, ext. 1502. I hope to see you down at the hive for one sweet event.

Take an active role in our community ABoR is gearing up for the annual open call for 2013 leadership nominations and committee volunteers this summer. If you are looking for a chance to use your leadership skills within a thriving community of your peers, this is the opportunity for you! The leadership nominations run from May 15 ‒ June 30, while the call for committee volunteers is June 15 ‒ Aug. 1. ABoR is seeking dedicated individuals to aid the association in effectively and successfully directing our committees. The committees range in specialization from government affairs, education, political action and professional standards to name a few. With so many options, you are bound to find a committee that interests you. To view fact sheets and rosters of current participants, visit www.abor.com/about_abor/committees.cfm. I encourage you to take this time to learn more about the volunteer options available at ABoR. Stay tuned for more details as leadership nominations and committee volunteer details become available for opportunities beginning January 2013. Volunteering shows a commitment and dedication to the larger ABoR community. I hope you’ll consider joining approximately 300 of your fellow real estate professionals this year in guiding the direction of this organization. RL

March Educational Courses March 19 - 20: Seniors RE Specialist Designation March 20: All MLS Products and Services Open Lab March 20: Fusion Listing Maintenance/Lab March 20: NEW! MLS Document Manager Lab

More at www.ABoR.org

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March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Marie DangSchwartz of Realty Austin and Karen Williams of North American Title put their team building skills into action at the North American Title Real Men Wear Pink fourth annual bowling tournament.

Buy photo: RL_031412_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Jacque Smith, left, and Ann Carson, right, both of Independence Title, show their team spirit at the WCAoR Super Bowl of Builders where they met Cindy Tauer-Eckcart and Lindy Tauer-Sullivan, both of Keller Williams Realty.

Buy photo: RL_030312_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Mark Hall of Keller Williams Realty and his wife Mary Beth are poised to save lots of money with their coupons in hand. The two attended the Keller Williams Realty BUNDLE with effective and extreme couponing seminar at the company’s Cedar Park office.

Buy photo: RL_030712_J.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Buy photo: RL_030112_A.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Congratulations to our Agents! The Market is Turning... Keller Williams Realty (Our 5 Austin Area Offices)

There’s nothing like a surprise flash mob to get things rolling. Paula Gold of Stanberry and Associates springs a surprise on Bill Stanberry during his annual forecast speech at the company’s awards breakfast where she won awards for President's Club and North Office Top Listing and Sales Agent. Agents from the company’s north office put together a flash mob song and dance routine.

Trust: A Foundation for Your Business

TREC MCE Elective Course #: 01-00-123-23721 Register today for Sente’s

April

MCE Power Lunch

Thursday, April 19th 12 Noon – 1PM

Cost: $10 for One MCE Elective Credit Hour (Cash or Check only, payable at the door)

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Closed Volume for 2011

We live in an interdependent world where trust is abundant. So why is real estate so often at the bottom of the list when surveys report the results of “trusted professions”? How can you create a “practice of trust” that sets you apart?

For more information on any of our MCE Classes and to register visit:

FIND OUT WHY… Contact us Today! Gene Frederick Team Leader

Keller Williams Austin Northwest 512-637-8221 703-338-1515 genefrederick@kw.com

Tony Brodie Team Leader

Keller Williams Austin Northwest 512-637-8425 214-460-4300 tonybrodie@kw.com

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Click on Real Estate Power Lunches at the bottom of our homepage or call 512-637-9900 • Sente Mortgage, Inc. MCE Provider #9841

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

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Discover the value of selling Built to Order. Crystal Crossing in Leander • From the $150s • 1,582–3,728 sq. ft., 3–6 bedrooms, 2–4 bathrooms • community park with walking trail, swings and pavilion • 15 minutes from Austin, with easy access to 183/Bell St. and 183-A • on-site scenic pond Take toll road 183-A North, turn left on Crystal Falls Pkwy. to community on the right. OR: From Hwy. 183 (Bell St.) North, turn right on Crystal Falls Pkwy. to community on left. (512) 259-0171

Agent Happy Hour • Thursday, March 22, 5–7pm Come enjoy drinks and giveaways at The Park at The Domain—on the ground ﬂoor of the Aloft™ Hotel at 11601 Domain Drive— compliments of KB Home. RSVPs appreciated, but not required, to cbrown@kbhome.com.

Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2012 KB Home (KBH). Drinks and giveaways available while supplies last. For giveaways (ARV $10): no rain checks, not exchangeable for cash, limit one per Broker. No affiliation or sponsorship is intended or implied with The Park at The Domain and Aloft™ Hotels, and all trademarks are owned by the trademark owners. ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered U.S. trademarks. KB Home reserves the right to change or discontinue features, options, products, materials and suppliers at any time without notice. Nothing herein shall be deemed an irrevocable guarantee or commitment that the home will be built with specific products or with products from any specific manufacturers. Payment of Broker Co-op requires Broker or agent to accompany and register buyer on first visit and comply with Broker Co-op Agreement. See Built to Order™ options and upgrades offered at KB Home Studio. All options/ upgrades require additional charges, may require ordering at predetermined stages of construction and are subject to change/discontinuation anytime by KB Home. KB Home is not a custom homebuilder and Built to Order only applies to appliances/options available at KB Home Studio. Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specifications subject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Additional charges apply for lot premiums, options/upgrades. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Sq. footage is approximate. HOA applies. Photo shows upgraded landscaping/options and may not represent community’s lowest-priced homes. Photo does not depict racial preference. See sales representative for details. AUS-101302

March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Gwen Johansen of North American Title thanks Tony Romero, left, Mike Cusimano, Mike Hill and David Zampa, all of Premiere Team, for participating in her company’s Real Men Wear Pink fourth annual bowling tournament.

Buy photo: RL_031412_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Frank Perdichizzi, second from left, of Private Label Realty hosts associates and friends at the new Real Estate Home Center built by Tenura Holdings and open to everyone in the real estate community.

Buy photo: RL_030512_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Chelsea Brown, right, of KB Home tells Pam Flitton and Colleen Sellars, both of RE/ MAX 1, how big the builder’s Big Deal Sale is at her company’s Let’s Mix It Up Agent Happy Hour.

Buy photo: RL_031612_A.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Aye aye captain! Terry Godbold of Reliable Property Management sailed the seven seas for the seven secret spices. Of course, he’s not telling Dolise McClure of Realty World, Neal Barnes and Associates what they are. Both took part in the annual ABoR Chili Cook-Off benefitting TREPAC.

Buy photo: RL_030212_D.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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Williamson County Assoc. of REALTORS®

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

President’s Column By Christy Gessler • 2012 President

Competing with foreclosures starts with education

here is one constant in real estate—and that is change. Our February luncheon at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS featured Doug Oldmixon of the Texas Real Estate Commission. What a treat. Mr. Oldmixon emphasized the changes taking place at TREC and how promising many of these appear to be for our industry. There are so many improvements on the horizon, from education basics, to licensing, to instructor requirements. I was most excited to learn about the changes in broker licensing and broker responsibility. At WCAoR, education is at the forefront of our mission statement. We embrace the new broker responsibility guidelines and will be looking at many new and innovative opportunities for brokers to receive this required education. In addition, we will all be networking to learn about and fully understand the changes that are coming our way. The theme of this Realty Line is the issue of foreclosures and how REALTORS and sellers of resale properties can compete with

them. We are very fortunate in most areas of Central Texas in that we have a relatively low foreclosure inventory. Even the allusive “shadow foreclosure inventory” seems to be low in Williamson County when you look at the overall market. There are several market forecast seminars taking place throughout the area, so I strongly encourage you to attend these seminars and garner the wealth of positive information being presented. However, there are still foreclosure inventory properties that we need to sell and work to protect the seller in good standing to market and to sell their property with minimal adverse affect from a foreclosure inventory. How do we do that? It’s pretty easy and starts with education. Knowing the market in the property’s immediate area is critical. Take time to research the neighborhood and understand the amount of foreclosed homes and the impact that they may be having on the comparable sales. Also, you must carefully interview your prospective seller and be sure that you have all of the data you need about the property as well as their

Helping hands, tender hearts O

financial situation so there are no surprises. Beyond that, it’s time to go back to the basics of marketing. So, what does that mean? Beyond understanding the market influences on the property, it is equally as critical to know whom you need to work with in order to prepare the home for sale. Do you work with a staging professional for every listing? You should. Do you contact an appraiser up front for an independent assessment of the property’s value while listing the home? Many appraisers will assess a property even though it is not directly tied to a loan. Do you consult with a landscaping firm to address challenges that many lawns face due to last summer’s extreme drought conditions? Think about the added value that you can bring your clients when you have a team of professionals such as home staging professionals, appraisers, and landscapers on board to give you and your client that all important edge. Where do you meet these professionals? They are at our association’s events, listed on our website, serving on our committees, speaking at classes, and advertising on our website and in our newsletters. If you are a professional in these areas looking to grow your business, consider joining the WCAoR to meet productive agents in our region. I have the pleasure of calling each new REALTOR

March 2012

Upcoming Events March 22 - 23: 15 hours of MCE Credit in 2 days: Seller Beware (9 Hours) and TREC Ethics and Legal (6 Hours) – all for $99!! April 12-13 & April 16-17: GRI 3 - Brokerage April 13: TREC Ethics and Legal in Cedar Park April 19: West Side Story Bus Tour

Details at www.wcaor.org

Raising $107 Million for children’s healthcare and facilities such as our own Dell Children’s Hospital, building debt-free homes for severely wounded U.S. Military Veterans, supporting the fight against breast cancer, and giving children from abused backgrounds a second chance in life.

Because it takes more than houses to make a community feel like home.

www.joinremax.com N

501(c)(3) Founded by RE/MAX of Texas 2007 Each office independently owned and operated.

and affiliate member of our association to welcome everyone to WCAoR. I always tell everyone to review our website, www.wcaor. org for the latest information on events, classes and industry news. I encourage you to add a quick review of our website to your weekly schedule planning routine. Keeping with the idea of change, please take note that new TREC forms are ready for mandatory use effective March 1. Here are some of the changes highlighted: • New language requiring a seller to notify a buyer that, if the property is subject to a private transfer fee, the fee may be governed by the Texas Property Code. • Language was added regarding a buyer's options if a seller doesn't complete agreed repairs before the closing date. • The seller is required to have the utilities on while the property is under contract. • Language was added about a property owner's right to information from a homeowners association. The language also explains resale certificates and what information the HOA must share with the property owner. I thank you for your involvement in our industry and I appreciate the opportunity to serve you. Keep up the great work—our sales numbers are looking amazing for 2012. RL

For nearly 40 years RE/MAX agents have given of themselves to strengthen the communities where they live and work.

TEXAS SENTINELS F

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March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Win! Tom Polk of Stanberry and Associates takes home an award for making it into the company’s 100% Club. Company founder Bill Stanberry and fellow agent Ryan Rosshirt congratulate him for his accomplishment at the annual awards breakfast. Buy photo: RL_030712_R.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

There’s nothing like fresh faces! Debbie Kelsey, right, of RE/MAX Capital City brings Robyn Mosner, Cathie Ward and Jasper Augustine from her office to the monthly CRS meeting at the Westwood Country Club. All three are new members of the CRS Austin Chapter. Buy photo: RL_031312_F.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

John Simpson of AmeriPro Funding and Theresa Seibold of Seibold Properties, a Private Label Realty company, check out the new Tenura Holdings Real Estate Center at its grand opening.

Buy photo: RL_031112_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Buy photo: RL_030512_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Belinda Araguz of Milestone Community Builders shows Grant Whittenberger of Outlaw Real Estate Group, a Private Label Realty company, around the builder’s model at the West Cypress Hills community in Spicewood. The builder hosted a Progressive Tour where Grant later won an Apple iPad.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â&#x201E;˘

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

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March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Starting her out early, Laurie Stiewert, right, of Keller Williams Realty and her daughter Holly Matlock, an extreme couponer, teach Laurie’s granddaughter JoJo a thing or two about saving some cash. Holly gave agents at the Keller Williams Realty Cedar Park office some tips on saving money with coupons.

Buy photo: RL_030112_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

A little sibling rivalry taken to a new level— Shannon Powers of Lennar Homes takes the opportunity to rile up her brother, Cameron Thomsen of Pulte Homes as they compete for business at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS Super Bowl of Builders.

Buy photo: RL_031412_A.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Joy Herring of Realty Austin shows us her super cool strike at the North American Title Real Men Wear Pink Annual Bowling Tournament. We won’t mention she had the bumpers up. That’s just between us!

Buy photo: RL_030312_E.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Austin Area Market Update Texas Employment

Millions of Jobs

Total Nonfarm

12.0

11.5

Partnerships Built on Trust

11.0

10.5

10.0

9.5

For more information, please contact one of our sales executives. www.gracytitle.com

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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March 2012

Escrow Certification Program Gracy Title

Superstars

Shelley Hill

Branch Manager / Escrow Officer Dripping Springs

Phyllis Blackwell Sr. Escrow Officer North Mopac

Tamara Saldivar Jr. Escrow Officer South Mopac

Ryan Rogers Escrow Assistant 183 North

Jennifer Tate

Escrow Assistant Cedar Park - Cypress Creek

We’re Setting the Bar High with Certifiable Title Industry Excellence Q: What does it take to reach “Superstar” status? A: The completion of 75 continually updated courses comprised from over 90 hours of studying and testing. We’ve developed the first ever truly standardized escrow education curriculum launched to formalize what was once on-the-job learning into a core set of competencies with the highest standards in the industry. We truly support and applaud our associates’ dedication to continuing education and are happy to feature the five employees above, who are leading the way in the greater Austin area real estate industry with the highest honors in Gracy Title Escrow Certification.

www.gracytitle.com

March 2012

HBA of Greater Austin

President’s Column By Marshall Durrett • 2012 President

Homeownership tax benefits in danger

s the April federal income tax filing deadline approaches, millions of Americans are sitting down and sorting through dozens of forms to determine how much money they owe Uncle Sam or how much of a refund they will get this year. One of those forms, the Mortgage Interest Statement Form 1098, can mean big savings for home owners at tax time. Form 1098, which homeowners receive from their lenders, shows the total amount of home mortgage interest paid during the year. Homeowners who itemize their federal income tax deductions can deduct 100 percent of their mortgage interest payments on a first or second home for up to $1 million of mortgage debt. They can also deduct the interest paid on up to $100,000 of home equity loans. For most homeowners, this means they can deduct all of the mortgage interest they’ve paid on their home each year. The ability to deduct home mortgage and home equity loan interest isn’t the only tax benefit for homeowners. The three most important sources of tax savings for homeowners are:

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• Deductions for mortgage interest • Deductions for real estate taxes • The capital gains exclusion for the sale of a principal residence Homeowners are also able to deduct the state and local real estate taxes they pay each year on an owner-occupied home. When it is time to sell a home, in many cases homeowners don’t have to pay capital gains tax on the profit from the sale. Under present law, married couples who have owned and occupied their principal residence for at least two of the past five years do not have to pay any taxes on the first $500,000 in profits from the sale of their home. Single filers earn up to $250,000 tax free. Another deduction homeowners may be able to take is for mortgage insurance premiums. Generally, people who purchase a home without putting 20 percent down have to buy mortgage insurance, and those premiums can also be deducted from taxable income. Even homeowners who don’t use the home as their principal residence and rent it out may

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

be able to enjoy some tax benefits, including interest and depreciation deductions. Buying a home offers tax savings that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over several years. Homeowners rely on the mortgage interest deduction each year to help offset the costs of homeownership and prospective buyers take the deduction into consideration when choosing homeownership over renting. But the mortgage interest deduction, which has been included in the tax code for about 100 years, is in danger. A national deficit commission has proposed reducing or eliminating the deduction as part of a restructuring of the tax code. Find out more about the threat to the mortgage interest deduction. Visit www. SaveMyMortgageInterestDeduction.com and read “The Tax Benefits of Homeownership,” a study from economists at the National Association of Home Builders. It provides specific examples of savings for a variety of income levels and ownership situations. Your help is needed to help save the mortgage interest deduction. When you visit

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

www.SaveMyMortgageInterestDeduction. com, click on “Take Action and Stay Connected.” That’s where you can get information on how to contact elected officials to share your concerns as well as stay informed via Twitter and Facebook.

Updates for Upcoming HBA Events Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Sales and Marketing Excellence (MAX) Awards. The gala is Saturday, April 14, at The Oasis on Lake Travis. Tickets are $75 each or $650 per table of 10. The HBA’s Third Annual Chili Cook-off, Horseshoe Tournament and Silent Auction is Friday, May 4, at the Travis County Expo Center. Enter a chili cook off or horseshoe pitching team. Presale tickets are $15 each or 10 for $125. The date for the 2012 HBA Tour of Homes has changed. Central Texas’ ultimate open house is now Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13. Tickets are now on sale. Visit www.AustinHomebuilders.com for more information on all of these events and to buy tickets. RL

Property Tours at

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Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Apr 26 - 27

Thurs/Fri

8:30am - 5:15pm

199

CHAMPIONS SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE

www.ChampionsSchool.com

ABR #15-00-053-22956; SFR #09-00-012-8950; SRES #15-00-122-17703; CHMS #09-00-082-9562; ALHS #15-00-032-9111; Insider’s Guide #09-00-062-9414 Ethics #03-03-123-23556; Legal #03-03-123-23555; Farm & Ranch #09-00-063-23070; BPOR #07-00-014-23969; Game Changers #09-00-123-23783

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

Experienced. Reliable. Excellence.

Linda Komm A seasoned mortgage veteran with 30 years of experience and committed to excellence.

lkomm@swbc.com 512-531-1807

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Lisa Stephens, developer of West Cypress Hills and Tim Stegall of Milestone Community Builders welcome agents to their Progressive Tour at the West Cypress Hills community.

The Komm Team Linda Komm, VP NMLS #219050

Emily Franke NMLS #223977

Rhona Bogie NMLS #222089

Kathleen Condry NMLS #214903

Ann Jones

NMLS #221084

The Avallon Building, Building 1 10415 Morado Circle, Ste. 100 Austin, TX 78759 866-766-5252 512-531-1800 swbcmortgage.com

Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Construction, HELOC

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Tiesa Hollaway of North American Title shows her spirit at the WCAoR Super Bowl of Builders where she meets up with Bruce Jones and John Henion, both of Taylor Morrison.

Buy Photos + Find Events + View Archives

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IN RHYTHM WITH AUSTIN

March 2012 Front Page: Continued

the local market for your listing. As a starting point, look at properties within a quarter to a half-mile and within 10 percent of the square footage of your listing. How are homes selling here this quarter compared to the last three quarters? What is the absorption rate and inventory? If most of the recent sales in the area were foreclosures or short sales, the market value of your listing could be adversely affected. Foreclosed homes and investor-owned homes are normally priced a little below market value. Here’s where you’ll really have to coach your seller, factoring into account how badly they need to sell and how soon, and preparing them, if necessary, to play the price game.

Not all foreclosures are a steal Here is the good news. Not every foreclosure comes with a rock-bottom price tag. Banks will normally try to price foreclosures close to appraised value, unless it’s a real problem property. “People have the erroneous mindset that all foreclosures are giveaway properties. Not the case,” says Rise´ Johns of Keller Williams Realty. Banks have guidelines to cover their losses, so prices can sometimes be high in the current market, Johns explains. And banks don’t always take into account the so-so condition of the property. In the majority of cases, a bank-owned property will be sold “as is.” The buyer has the right to inspect the property, but the bank is probably not going to do much to fix what needs to be repaired. When you account for the expense of materials and labor on repairs and updates needed to bring the house up to par, in many cases, it doesn’t take long to get back up to the price of a move-in ready home.

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Find your buyer Typically, the buyer who rushes to purchase a distressed home is a different kind of buyer than the one your seller’s home will appeal to anyway. They tend to know what they’re getting into. These price shoppers could be stretching to get into a particular neighborhood, an investor looking to turn the property around for a property, someone looking for a second home for the lowest price, or someone who’s just trying to get the best price per square foot and are either handy or have the time and money to take the trouble. In other words, they usually aren’t the traditional buyer who wants to find the home they want to call their primary residence, close on it without too much hassle, and move in shortly thereafter. Fortunately Austin has a higher percentage of traditional buyers. We are experiencing employment growth and that means people moving to the area looking to buy homes. In some ZIP codes around town, it’s even a seller’s market. Around half of all homebuyers are first-time buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS. With that in mind, the art of competing with foreclosures becomes less about price and more about value—more about figuring out whom the ideal buyer is for your seller’s home and working to make the house and its marketing materials say “this is your home.” If the home is in decent shape already, Johns recommends walking through it to imagine that buyer. What would they want? What is here that they don’t want to see?

Out-market and out-present An agent listing a foreclosure typically will not put the same effort into marketing that property as an owner-occupied home. So here’s

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

your edge. Fix up the yard, put on a fresh coat of paint, do a pre-listing inspection and repair anything that needs fixing. “We try to out-market and out-present the home compared to the distressed properties,” says Grant Whittenberger, a real estate consultant and partner with Outlaw Real Estate Group. “If someone is trying to compare the distressed property to one of our listings, we’ll be occupied and staged, with professional photos and a much better overall physical condition. It makes a big difference.” Don’t underestimate the power of psychology. Remove family photos; get rid of the dark carpet. Make it very easy for your buyer to picture himself or herself in the home. Appeal to as wide of an audience as possible—and this is where hiring a good staging company will come in handy, especially if the home is vacant. Don’t be shy in your listing. If you can honestly include any of the following in the MLS, do it: original owner, move-in ready, modern, updated, all new appliances with warrantees, shows like a model, pristine condition, etc.

This buyer would rather work with you A foreclosure home isn’t always an easy purchase. You need to be pre-qualified before even making an offer and you need a lot of patience. Because of the volume of foreclosures, banks typically have longer lead times for offers, counter-offers, and even answering questions. When working with you and your seller, buyers can move on a more reasonable timeline and your seller can stand behind the home, making the post-inspection repairs needed to close the sale. Banks normally won’t. Most buyers would rather work with you than a bank, so do whatever you can to make purchasing the home as simple as possible for buyers.

Lastly, things are looking up That’s because foreclosures are down. According to RealtyTrac’s latest analysis, foreclosure postings in Texas fell 39 percent between January 2010 and January 2011. During the same period, RealtyTrac reported a 19 percent decline in foreclosures nationwide. And it’s a good time to buy. Interest rates can’t go much lower without banks forfeiting a chunk of their profits. In neighborhoods where shadow inventory is prevalent, where many homes are distressed or investor-owned rental properties, competing on price is unavoidable. That doesn’t mean your listing won’t sell or that it won’t sell within a reasonable amount of time. But you’ll need to work with your seller to make the home as competitive as possible, and prepare them that they may have to accept a smaller profit. RL

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P. O. Box 81366 • Austin, Texas 78708-1366 (512) 821-1900 www.myRealtyLine.com E-mail: info@myRealtyLine.com Publisher: Doren L. Carver doren@myRealtyLine.com Associate Publisher: Tawanna K. Carver tawanna@myRealtyLine.com Managing Editor: Naomi Bludworth naomi@myRealtyLine.com Contributing Editor: Linda McNabb Contributing Writers: Stacy Hale, Marilyn McCray, Naomi Bludworth, Linda McNabb Contributing Photographers: Doren L. Carver, Naomi Bludworth, Linda McNabb Columnists: Leonard Guerrero, Marshall Durrett, Christy Gessler, David Tandy, Anita Farrell, Risé Johns, Vaike O'Grady Submission Guidelines: Submit photos, press releases and calendar items to naomi@myrealtyline.com. All photos must be at least 300 dpi and include a caption with first/last name and company affiliation. Press releases must be fewer than 300 words. Non-advertisers submitting calendar items will be charged $25 per submission. All submissions must be received at least seven calendar days prior to ad copy deadlines published at www. myrealtyline.com/advertise.html. Submission items will be included as space allows. Realty Line Austin is published monthly by Caxton Publications, Inc.© as a non-subscription publication for the more than 8,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS®(ABoR), the more than 1,100 members of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCAoR) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin. Realty Line Austin is printed on recycled paper. Realty Line Austin is a proud member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® and is a honorary member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS. Realty Line Austin is not responsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this publication without the registered trademark symbol (®) for the purpose of saving space. Wherever the word REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered trademark should be assumed.

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NAPMW Past president Laura Rosales and Austin Title’s Becky Hopkins say they will be friends forever. They were glad to check out the Shoal Crossing Event Center together, where the organization held its Valentine wine tasting.

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

A New Era In Mortgage Banking

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March 2012

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8300 N. MOPAC • Suite 225 • Austin, TX • 78759 • 512.335.5300 • NMLS #131699

March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

IN MEMORIAM

Kenton Keith Brown 1958 – 2012 On February 23, the Austin real estate community lost a dear friend, Kenton Brown. Kenton was President of the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association (AMBA) and one of its

Submitted photo

Bill Shaddock, left, of Capital Title, Eric Visser, second to left, JP Newman, second from right, and Stacy Mock of Capital Title are star struck when they see local celebrity Red McCombs, center. at the CCIM Symposium.

founding members and Vice President of Sente Mortgage. Kenton’s professional achievements are too numerous to mention. However, the lives he touched and the friends he mentored is an even longer list. Those who had the good fortune of knowing Kenton will remember his passion for life and his curiosity which drove both his search for personal improvement and his desire to do good in this world. On behalf of the AMBA board and its many members, we

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Beth Gatlin of ABoR and ABoR Chairman of the Board Leonard Guerrero of JB Goodwin REALTORS congratulates Kim Smith, also of JB Goodwin REALTORS, on her award for Lease Listing Agent of the Year. JB Goodwin REALTORS held its 40th Anniversary and Awards Banquet at the Austin Country Club.

wish to express our deepest condolences and sympathies to his extended family, especially his loving wife Gabriele, and his stepsons, Kiff and Dominik. Our prayers are lifted up for his colleagues at Sente Mortgage as well who have lost an irreplaceable friend. Kenton— good luck on that next adventure. Buy photo: RL_030812_A.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

AYREP past president Alisa Stubbs and Susan Spence of North American Title admire the Mercedes that will be given away in June. The money raised will benefit the ABoR Foundation’s scholarship funds for Central Texas students.

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Flooded with awards at his company’s awards breakfast, Bill Flood of Stanberry and Associates grins from ear to ear as he accepts recognition for his membership in the company’s President’s Club and Top Sales Agent for the company’s Westlake office from company founder Bill Stanberry and Bill's grandson ,Ryan Rosshirt. Buy photo: RL_030712_BC.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Friends and co-workers gather to wish Suzanne Jacobs, center in white shirt, of Gracy Title all the best as she prepares to enjoy her retirement.

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Mark Murrell, left, and Tammy Gardner, both of JB Goodwin REALTORS, thank Dow Wright, center, of Buffington Homes for sponsoring the company’s 40th Anniversary and Awards Banquet at the Austin Country Club.

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Diane Kostiuk of Affordable Home Protection Service snags one of the front entrance booths at the WCAoR Super Bowl of Builders event where she met Leisa Ormsbee of JB Goodwin REALTORS.

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Candy Buzan

Max Leaman

Kim Nielsen

Amy Oehler

Janet Widmer

Branch Manager Sr. Loan Officer

Sr. Loan Officer

Trudy Savage

Mary Kennedy

Missy Driskell

Sr. Loan Officer

GREAT RATES LOW FEES

Diane M. Clark

Eiric Smith Mark Hoffman

Sr. Loan Officer

COMMUNICATION CALL (512) 238- 7888 Amanda Stewart

Misty Lynch

Jori Stern

Sherri Eckert

Loan Officer

Sr. Loan Officer

Loan Officer

810 HESTER’S CROSSING, STE 150 | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS 78681

Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, HomePath & Jumbo just to name a few loan products! © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (NMLS #: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in TX. Texas Regulated Loan License-license #7293. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS #: Buzan 179412, Leaman 151263, Nielsen 180307, Oehler 225339, Smith 176530, Savage 180854, Kennedy 179666, Driskell 180066, Clark 268025, Hoffman 171464, Stewart 292478, Lynch 280093, Stern 177299, Eckert 357516, Widmer 232054 .

Sr. Loan Officer

LivinLargerealtyline030112.pdf Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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March 2012

Stretching Out 22 Counties Strong

Austin Business Journal's #1 Title Company Largest Independent Title Agent in Texas

Collin Tarrant

Burnet Llano

Williamson

Blanco Kendall

Medina

Travis

Jefferson

Hays Comal

Bexar

Montgomery

Caldwell

Guadalupe Gonzales

Harris Fort Bend Brazoria

Galveston

Atascosa Bexar Blanco Brazoria Burnet Caldwell Collin Comal Denton Fort Bend Galveston Guadalupe Harris Hays Jefferson Kendall Llano Medina Montgomery Tarrant Travis Williamson

County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County County

Atascosa

Independence Title E x p l o r e w w w. I n d e p e n d e n c e T i t l e . c o m Administration Office 9442 Capital of TX Hwy., Bldg. II, #200 • Austin, TX 78759 Office: 512/372-8455 • Fax: 512/767-6388 Alamo Heights Office 2120 E. Hildebrand Avenue • San Antonio, TX 78209 Office: 210/237-4660 • Fax: 210/237-4560 Arboretum Office 9442 Capital of TX Hwy., Bldg. I, #100 • Austin, TX 78759 Office: 512/372-8455 • Fax: 512/372-8577 Balcones Office 5503 Balcones Drive • Austin Texas 78731 Phone: 512/814-2038 • Fax: 512/814-2041 Barton Oaks Office 901 S. Mopac, Plaza II, Suite 150 • Austin, TX 78746 Office: 512/329-5299 • Fax: 512/329-0379 BoatnerHamad Law & Title Office 26605 Bulverde Rd. • San Antonio, TX 78260 Office: 830/980-5575 • Fax: 830/980-5574 BoatnerHamad Law & Title Houston Office 2603 Augusta, Suite 810 • Houston, Texas 77057 Office: 713/965-7640 • Fax: 713/965-7648 Buda Office 251 North FM 1626 #1A • Buda, TX 78610 Office: 512/523-3204 • Fax: 512/852-3594 Buda Fee Office 317 North Railroad Street • Buda, TX 78610 Office: 512/312-2999 • Fax: 512/295-4773 Commercial Services Office 9442 Capital of TX Hwy., Bldg. II, #200 • Austin, TX 78759 Office: 512/454-4500 • Fax: 512/454-4559 Dripping Springs Office 310 W. US-290, Suite A • Dripping Springs, TX 78620 Office: 512/894-3860 • Fax: 512/894-3861 Dripping Springs Fee Office 1220 US Hwy. 290 West • Dripping Springs, TX 78620 Office: 512/894-0775 • Fax: 512/894-3838

Fulshear Fee Office 1575 South Grand Parkway, Suite 100 • Katy, Texas 77494 Phone: 281/395-4993 • Fax: 281/395-5055 Georgetown Office 1103 Rivery Blvd., Bldg. I, #110 • Georgetown, TX 78628 Office: 512/931-2126 • Fax: 512/931-2361 Hancock & McGill Fee Office 6010 Balcones Dr., Suite 100 • Austin, TX 78747 Phone: 512/459-6010 • Fax: 512/459-9175 Katy Fee Office 1575 South Grand Parkway, Suite 100 • Katy, Texas 77494 Phone: 281/395-4993 • Fax: 281/395-5055 Kyle Fee Office 107 South Main Street, Suite B • Kyle, Texas 78640 Office: 512/757-3309 • Fax: 512/216-2299 La Cantera Office 7575 North Loop 1604 W, #105 • San Antonio, TX 78249 Office: 210/237-4620 • Fax: 210/237-4520 Lago Vista Office 6300 Lohman Ford Road, Suite A • Lago Vista, TX 78645 Office: 512/267-9797 • Fax: 512/267-7979 Lakeway Office 1213 RR 620 S., Suite 101 • Austin, TX 78734 Office: 512/263-1703 • Fax: 512/263-1706 Liberty Hill Office 101 Jonathan Drive, Suite 2 • Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Office: 512/515-0110 • Fax: 512/515-0115 Lincoln Center Office 7800 IH 10 West, Suite 100 • San Antonio, TX 78230 Office: 210/237-4600 • Fax 210/237-4500 McMahan Group Fee Office 1515 Capital of Texas Hwy. S., Suite 415 • Austin, TX 78746 Office: 512/306-8521 • Fax: 512/306-8531 Midtown Fee Office 3009 North Lamar • Austin, Texas 78705 Office: 512/459-1110 • Fax: 512/459-1114

New Braunfels Office 1000 North Walnut, Suite 200 • New Braunfels, TX 78130 Office: 830/629-8100 • Fax: 830/629-8111 Onion Creek Office 11215 S. IH-35, Suite 114 • Austin, TX 78747 Office: 512/279-1988 • Fax: 512/279-1888 Pflugerville Office 203 West Main Street, Suite A • Pflugerville, TX 78660 Phone: 512/990-8050 • Fax: 512/990-9217 Research Fee Office 12710 Research Blvd., Suite 130 • Austin, TX 78759 Office: 512/249-1112 • Fax: 512/249-1051 Round Rock Office 101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., #110 • Round Rock, TX 78664 Office: 512/255-9593 • Fax: 512/255-9853 San Marcos Office 113 North Guadalupe Street • San Marcos, TX 78666 Office: 512/392-1271 • Fax: 512/392-1671 Schertz Office 4917 FM 3009, Suite 100 • Schertz, TX 78154 Office: 210/651-4171 • Fax: 210/651-4249 Seguin Office 109 South River Street • Seguin, TX 78155 Office: 830/433-4824 • Fax: 830/433-4868 Stone Oak Office 18615 Tuscany Stone, #150 • San Antonio, TX 78258 Office: 210/237-4640 • Fax: 210/237-4540 Tower of the Hills Office 13809 N. Hwy 183, Suite 125 • Austin, TX 78750 Office: 512/249-9320 • Fax: 512/249-8470 Wilson, Sterling & Russell Fee Office 9951 Anderson Mill Road, Suite 200 • Austin, Texas 78750 Office: 512/336-1100 • Fax: 512/335-4400 Wimberley Office 150 RR 3237, P.O. Box 727 • Wimberley, TX 78676 Office: 512/847-2278 • Fax: 512/847-5131

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March 2012

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Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

President’s Column By Anita Farrell • 2012 President

Sheila Balagia and Paula Bacon, both of Reliant Title, check out the Tenura Holdings Home Center at its grand opening. The center is open to the real estate community.

WCR offers networking opportunities for REALTORS

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Diane Christy of Diane Christy REALTORS, Gilbert Gonzalez of Keller Williams Realty and Doug Smithe of United Lending are surprised to see such a big crowd at the KB Home Let’s Mix it Up Agent Happy Hour at The Park at the Domain where there was standing room only.

A Buy photo: RL_030212_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Cheering on fellow JB Goodwin REALTOR agents at the company’s 40th Anniversary and Awards Banquet are Christina Gulla, Leslie Kasen, Steve Lurdy and Linda Hinshaw.

Buy photo: RL_031212_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Dreaming of a home in the country?

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Real Estate Appraisal Services Agribusiness Financing Leasing

Austin Credit Office, 5900 SW Pkwy., Ste. 501 Contact Mark Rutledge or Rob Randig

512.892.4425

T E X A S ’

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CapitalFarmCredit.com R U R A L

L E N D E R

ustin REALTORS had a wonderful opportunity for education, networking, and fun events right here in our hometown when the Texas Association of REALTORS held its winter meeting at the Hyatt Regency downtown last month. The Women’s Council of REALTORS also held its Texas State Chapter meeting on Feb. 23. The WCR Austin Chapter hosted the WCR District “A” meeting which includes our Austin chapter. WCR members from the Austin, Brownsville, El Paso, Highland Lakes, Hill Country, McAllen, and San Antonio chapters came together to share ideas and discuss current issues in real estate. It was a wonderful opportunity to network and share referrals with each other. WCR University followed on the morning of Feb. 24 with training sessions, committee meetings, and interactive sessions. That evening a Celebrity Waiter event was held with

WCR and TREPAC trustees from around the state—everyone had a fantastic time. The event raised a record amount of cash for TREPAC. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the awards lunch was a great success with awards going to people from around the state. Shortly after lunch, a free MCE class was held on “Technology Trends to Launch You into the Next Decade.” The class was taught by real estate expert Allan Hancock. The Texas State Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS and Champions School of Real Estate presented this course. Join WCR now during our spring membership drive. There will be another opportunity to participate in September when the Texas REALTORS’ Conference is held in San Antonio Sept. 7-11. It will be another chance to reconnect with friends and meet new ones. You will have a wonderful time, learn a lot, and increase business. RL

www.austinwcr.org

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

4 new neighborhoods 9 model homes

1 incredible community The greatest luxury of all. A choice. Choosing Teravista is easy. The rest is up to you. With the opening of 4 new neighborhoods, your clients can enjoy an even greater luxury of choice. From the elegant custom homes of Fairway Estates to homes for those just starting out, we’ve never offered a wider selection. Come discover the home that’s just right for your client.

Discover more at teravista.com/choice New homes from the upper $100,000s to over $600,000 CastleRock Communities • Centerra Homes • D.R. Horton • Lennar • Partners in Building Ryland Homes • Spicewood Communities • Village Builders • Wilshire Homes

Newland Communities is the largest private developer of planned residential and urban mixed-use communities in the United States. We believe it is our responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. www.newlandcommunities.com NNP-Teravista, LP (‘Fee Owner’) is the creator of the Teravista Community (‘Community’). Certain home builders unaffiliated with the Fee Owner or its related entities (collectively ‘Newland’) are building homes in the Community (‘Builder(s)’). Newland is not co-developing, co-building or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders, and Newland shall have no obligations to any buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Purchasers of homes from any of the Builders waive any claims against Newland arising out of their purchase transaction. No guarantee can be made that completion of the Teravista community will proceed as described. Prices, specifications, details, and availability of a builder’s new homes are subject to change without notice. All square footage is approximate. © 2012 Newland Real Estate Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

March 2012

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Austin CRS Chapter Jazz Lough, right, of Champions School of Real Estate shows her support of JB Goodwin REALTORS by sponsoring the company’s 40th Anniversary and Awards Banquet where she chats with Lilli Dominy of JB Goodwin REALTORS.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

President ‘s Column By Risé Johns • 2012 President

Buy photo: RL_031212_A.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Jerry Seay of Keller Williams Realty Commercial makes his rounds at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS Super Bowl of Builders. Vaike O’Grady and Kathy Meyer, both of Newland Communities, grab his attention with their wheel of prizes. Buy photo: RL_030312_H.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Tiffany Hyland, Matt Posey, Cindy Blow, Damian Squires and Paula Bacon create an impromptu lending and title team at the NAPMW Valentine wine tasting. Matt and Damian are with AmeriPro Funding and Tiffany, Cindy and Paula are with Reliant Title. Buy photo: RL_030912_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Know your options when competing with foreclosures

hile the rest of the country is dealing with thousands of foreclosures, fortunately the Central Texas area is somewhat protected. Yes, we do have foreclosures for sale in this area. Yes, we have sellers doing short sales while they race to get their property under contract before being foreclosed upon. And, yes, as agents we must prepare our sellers that some of their competition will come from foreclosed properties. The question sellers often ask is “How can I compete with the banks? Do I, basically, have to give away my house in order to get it sold?” An informed seller is a prepared seller and preparation takes time. It is important for a seller to know how many homes are on the market in the area. A seller needs to know how many are foreclosures and if those properties are priced below market. Just because a property is a foreclosure doesn’t mean it is priced right. A seller needs to know the absorption rate in the area so he understands the time it could take to sell. As agents, we need to understand the seller’s motivation, to

know if they are testing the market or truly need to sell. If your property is in an area where there are many foreclosures, the options are price, condition, location, and appeal. Appeal is the unique thing that will entice a buyer to purchase one property over another. One aspect of the marketing I do is to “feel” the property. I walk through the house deciding who the buyer is; whom the property will appeal to. Then, I go find that buyer. As a seller’s agent, you must understand the market and help the seller to understand the market. If you need some additional knowledge for listing properties, I encourage you to attend CRS 201: Listing Strategies, offered by the Austin Area CRS Chapter and ABoR May 3-4. The course will help you identify the concerns and motivations of today’s sellers and will help your sellers close the deal. Find out what works for other professionals and stop re-inventing the wheel. To register, call Rita Barousse at the Austin Board of REALTORS at 454-7636. RL

Texas American Title Company Texas American Title is one of the WCAoR 2011 Nominated Companies of the Year and Summer Pavliska is the recipient of the 2011 President’s Award for dedication and service to the WCAoR!

Join us in 2012 as we continue to make a difference in Williamson County! Cedar Park Office 715 Discovery Blvd. Suite 205 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Office: 512-259-5950

Round Rock Office 1001 S. Mays Suite 103 Round Rock, TX 78664 Office: 512-255-1550

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March 2012

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Connie Hentosh and Mary Templemeyer, both of Bellaheim Homes (the new kid on the block) visit with Elaine Byrne of Elaine Byrne Realty at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS Super Bowl of Builders.

Buy photo: RL_030312_J.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

ABoR President Matt Maire, center, confers with John Horton, left, of John Horton Realty, a Private Label Realty company, and Brandon Alderete, of the Texas Association of REALTORS at AYREP’s Mercedes Kick-Off Party.

Buy photo: RL_030812_M.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Rob Randig of Capital Farm Credit and Judy Kempf od DHI Mortgage have a good laugh after listening to a joke by Judy’s husband Hubertus Kempf at the NAPMW Valentine wine tasting at the Shoal Crossing Event Center.

Buy photo: RL_031612_F.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Aaron Farmer of Texas Discount Realty and Christina Ortiz of ABoR are on the hunt for the winning chili recipe at the ABoR annual Chili Cook-Off benefitting TREPAC.

Buy photo: RL_030912_H.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS

CRS COMING TO YOU!

LAND...LAND...LAND • Ranch Management • Oil and Gas Management Services • Farm and Ranch Brokerage • Land and Livestock Consultation • Live and Timed Land Auctions

The Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) and ABoR are hosting three strategic classes during the week of April 30 – May 4 that will help you earn a CRS certification in just five days. Hear first-hand accounts of what REALTORS® have taken away from these classes at www.crs.com/Marketing/2044 by clicking on videos “201” or “204,” then register online at www.abor.com/education.

Monty Meusch • Area Sales Manager, Auctioneer When:

April 30, 2012 – May 4, 2012

Where:

Austin Board of REALTORS

Cost:

$500 for all 3 courses

Courses:

CRS 204: Wealth Building

Phone: (817) 600-9485

CRS 103: Maximize Your Potential, Personally and Professionally CRS 201: Listing Strategies

11933 Palisades Parkway Austin, Texas 78732 MMeusch@FarmersNational.com Serving America’s Landowners Since 1929

www.FarmersNational.com A C A D E MY

Real Estate Sales • Auctions • Farm and Ranch Management Appraisal • Insurance • Consultation • Oil and Gas Management Lake Management • National Hunting Leases

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

austin

Texas American Title A S S O C I AT E S I N P R O G R E S S - A d v e r t i s e r P r o f i l e b y M a r i l y n M c C r a y

exas American Title has been a leader in the title and settlement business for 33 years with 37 offices located throughout Houston and Austin. The team of attorneys, examiners, escrow officers and closers boasts an unmatched understanding of the title business offering Texans unparalleled real estate services. For Texas American Title, being local matters. The first Austin office opened 16 years ago. The company has grown to 39 employees in the headquarters located on Barton Springs Road and five offices located around the area to be closer to their customers. Many of the staff members hail from Central Texas. They are well versed in the intricacies and diverse conditions of the local real estate market because they live in the communities they serve. Bringing a unique understanding of the area’s business climate, the knowledgeable professionals at Texas American Title can provide an insider’s prospective on transactions. They are armed with resources from some of the top national underwriters. With a wealth of expertise in settlement services, they can promote quick solutions to speed up the closing process. Working with all the major REALTORS in the Austin area, these experts in the residential department specialize in higher-

end properties. For commercial customers, they offer the option to close transactions in various counties with a specialized closer and a team that can travel when necessary.

people we know, trust and respect. Essentially, we take the extra steps for them. Regardless of the industry, it's always about service.” Being local extends beyond the office for the employees at Texas American Title who are active in numerous professional organizations that include the Real Estate Council of Austin, the Mortgage Bankers of Austin, and Texas Land and Title Association. Employees are encouraged to give back to the community by serving on the boards of nonprofit organizations that range from the Junior League to Foundation Communities. Hil Stroup has served as president and a board member of the Star of Texas Rodeo for many years and the company supports the mission of promoting youth education and preserving Western heritage. Texas American Title employees can be found serving on the Dell Children's Hospital Gala Committee, Austin Heart Foundation board of directors, Coats for Kids and the Cattle Baron's Ball Committee, to mention just a few of the local charitable causes. Another local advantage Texas American Title brings to the table is its abstract plant. Unlike many other companies who have taken this important service out of Austin, the company has assembled and maintained records for the purpose of issuing title insurance right here. Staffed with nine examiners, the local abstract plant helps in expediting title examinations, providing copies of previous attorneys' opinions, abstracts, tax searches and copies creating a

We subscribe to a different set of guiding principles. These principles are directly influenced by the people we serve.

“We are dedicated to providing exceptional settlement and real estate experiences,” says Hil Stroup, Austin president. “We subscribe to a different set of guiding principles. These principles are directly influenced by the people we serve.” The employees take pride in getting to know each customer’s needs to ensure a smooth transaction. Providing personalized service is one of the key guiding principles that guide the business. “At Texas American Title, we do not cast a wide net,” says Heather Cooke Johnson, senior account executive. “It is not just about closing a transaction. Our customers are

March 2012

greater level of trust, speed and convenience that prevent delays in closing. Texas American Title is also committed to empowering its customers by improving their understanding of real estate process for buying and selling homes. The company has embraced technology to provide a comprehensive resource on their website for customer education. Visitors to txamtitle. com can find a wealth of useful business tools like the title insurance calculator, real estate dictionary and the video library. Other online resources include information on local school districts, laws and even a listing of tax offices and appraisal districts. To learn more about the exceptional real estate experiences at Texas American Title advantage, visit www.txamtitle.com or call (512) 479-7887. RL

http://www.mymilestone.com/realtor-registration/ As our preferred VIP Realtor ®, MileStone will honor

an additional 1% on every sale by June 30, 2012.

1 sid

i ve

1 west cypress hills

E. R

11 10

The Pinnacle Collection

Greenbelt Homes from the $230’s-$400’s 512-264-0900 5200 Cypress Ranch Blvd. • Spicewood

7 001 FM-2

9 ill Windy H

Rd.

*Coming soon

cypress creek

Townhomes from the $130’s 512-215-5220 1900 Little Elm Trail • Cedar Park

THE reserve at BRUSHY CREEK

The Pinnacle Collection

Single Family Homes 512-961-5556 Breakway Rd. & Brushy Creek Rd. • Cedar Park

4 5

paradiso villas

Garden Homes from the $160’s 512-215-3424 11400 West Parmer Lane • Cedar Park

silver leaf

Garden Homes from the $300’s 512-410-7683 2602 Del Curto Rd. • Downtown Austin

6 southbridge villas Garden Homes from the $180’s 512-804-2605 7233 Manchaca Rd. • South Austin

SOUTHPARK MEADOWS*

Garden Homes • South Austin

8 9 10

ravenscroft

Townhomes from the $130’s 512 410-7790 11309 Lost Maples Trail • South Austin

shadow creek

Single Family Homes from the low $100’s 512-619-3538 273 Shadow Creek Blvd. • Buda

ARBOR RIDGE*

Garden Homes from the $100’s Southeast Austin

11 RIVERSIDE villas

Garden Homes from the mid $100’s 512-410-0899 2001 Faro Drive • Downtown Austin

Hil Stroup Austin President

Learn how you can earn MORE with MileStone’sVIP Realtor ® program!

www.myRealtyLine.com

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.MyMileStone.com

877-676-9622

March 2012 Experts Speak Out

www.myRealtyLine.com

Commentary By David Tandy • Gracy Title

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

standard census metric for the size of a household of 2.6 residents per household and assume an average of two cars per household. The result is that we are adding 40,000 cars per year or over a 100 cars per day to our roadway system.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

While growth is the foundation of our economic success as a real estate community, we all need to be more involved in promoting solutions to Austin’s growing traffic challenges. Doing so not only helps those of us already here, but also improves the quality of life for those that are Central Texas bound. RL

Austin’s population growth—both a blessing and a challenge

rom 1990 to 2000, Austin grew 47 percent and added 403,500 residents expanding from 846,000 to 1.25 million. Since 2000, we added another 463,000 residents for our current population of just over 1.7 million. By 2020, we are projected to grow another 34 percent; adding another 580,000 residents to the Austin area, bringing our population to a staggering 2.3 million. Few, if any, metropolitan areas in the U.S. have experienced such sustained growth rates. Even more amazing is Austin’s job growth has kept pace with the population growth. According to a recent report by Angelos Angelou, Austin’s job growth will continue and is projected to add 45,000 jobs over the next two years. Certainly this type of population growth has fueled steady and consistent resale and new home activity, notwithstanding a national recession. The huge increase in population has also driven a bountiful increase in the overall economic activity in Austin—generating an increase in retail, office, industrial and multi-

family transactions. All in all, Austin has had quite a ride with only a few bumps in the road. However, this population growth presents many challenges—from maintaining affordable housing options as occupancy rates soar to insuring we have sufficient electrical capacity and water reserves. The biggest challenge may be providing enough freeway capacity to carry the expanding number of vehicles. According to the Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Studies, if we look at the ratio of freeway lane miles to population, Houston has 60 percent more freeway lane miles per capita than Austin. To state the obvious, and certainly what everyone who commutes in Austin already knows, we are behind the curve in building freeway lanes. We need to be expanding our freeway system now and put plans in place to address the future traffic needs for our city. Failure to invest in more freeways will eventually impact both population and job growth. To better understand the population growth’s impact on traffic, we can use the

Buy photo: RL_030912_L.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Dan Rushing and Susan Peck, both of iMortgage, congratulate Shoal Crossing Event Center owner Larry Kille, for opening a fine new venue and thank former NAPMW president Juliana Brock for her efforts in putting the event together there.

Buy photo: RL_030812_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Devona Groneck of Capital Title asks WCR president Anita Farrell about the progress of her new home. They were attending the Mercedes Kick-Off Party at the Shoal Crossing Event Center.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

Walk. Sprint.

March 2012

Trot.

Run. Stay.

Jog.

Come to Falcon Pointe. With new neighborhoods to choose from, acres of recreation, and the area’s first bark park, there’s something for every member of your client’s family. (Two legs and four legs alike.)

3 new neighborhoods • 4 new model homes 11 miles of trails • 1st dog park in Pflugerville

FalconPointeTX.com/home New homes in Pflugerville from the high $100,000s to the mid $300,000s Centerra Homes • Lennar • Ryland Homes

This is not intended to be an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in the Falcon Pointe community to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. All square footage is approximate. Prices, specifications, details and availability of builder’s homes are subject to change without notice. Terrabrook Falcon Pointe, LP (‘Fee Owner’) is the creator of the Falcon Pointe Community (‘Community’). Certain home builders unaffiliated with the Fee Owner or its related entities (collectively ‘Newland’) are building homes in the Community (‘Builder(s)’). Newland is not co-developing, co-building or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders, and Newland shall have no obligations to any buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Purchasers of homes from any of the Builders waive any claims against Newland arising out of their purchase transaction. © 2012 Newland Real Estate Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

FPt_Stay_RL_MAR15.indd 1

3/5/12 10:36 AM

March 2012

www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

And that’s how you make a successful chapter, so says CRS Austin Chapter President Risé Johns of Keller Williams Realty, national CRS President Mark Minchew of RE/ MAX Austin Associates and Les Sherman of Austin Reps, LLC.

Buy photo: RL_031312_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Marek Wojtya of e-Executive Realty finds out more about KB Home’s Big Deal Sale from Danielle Archambault of KB Home at the builder’s Agent Happy Hour.

Buy photo: RL_030212_E.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

A diamond in the rough, Jimmy Dimanoff, Garrett Martin and Alan Topfer, all of Milestone Community Builders, celebrate the groundbreaking of The Reserve at Brushy Creek. Submitted Photo Buy photo: RL_031012_D.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Mary Ann Castro of JB Goodwin REALTORS presents a 40-year plaque to company founder J.B. Goodwin at the company's 40th anniversary and awards banquet.

25 Years of Service Arboretum Branch 4807 Spicewood Springs Rd., Bldg. 1, Ste 1100

(512) 450-1222 Steve Builta Martin Ochs Branch Manager Mortgage Planner Kat Carter Mortgage Banker

Rick Baron Mortgage Banker

Lisa Forte Loan Officer

Lynn Edgar Mortgage Consultant

Kimberly Altier Rosemary Jennings Sr. Loan Officer Loan Officer Westlake Branch 950 Westbank Drive, Suite 104

(512) 615-6499 Bradley Rife Cindy Fenley Branch Manager Senior Loan Originator

Treat Yourself. With the $300 we pay you for referring investors who sign a management agreement with us, you can treat yourself to something nice... because you deserve it!

No Risk

We keep you informed over the life of the agreement and refer the listing back to you when the investor is ready to sell.

Call 512-732-8388.

RELIABLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. Terry Godbold, MPM® RMP® ARM® GRI® TRLP® www.LandLordAustin.com • www.ReliableTeamHome.com

Hometrust Mortgage Company

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

March 2012

Grand Haven Homes at Crystal Falls

YOUR

Dream Neighborhood HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

EAST RIM

WEST WING Featuring spacious Hill Country Contemporary Designs that showcase innovative concepts, to maximize smart living for the entire family.

TWO DISTINCT OFFERINGS ONE AMAZING COMMUNITY FROM THE $290’S

Visit us at WWW.GRANDHAVENHOMES.NET 1853 Harvest Dance Drive, Leander, TX 78641 // 512-610-6800

Featuring the luxurious Portocasa Collection, influenced by Tuscan and Mediterranean architecture, combining authentic exteriors with highly appointed interiors to capture flow, function, and originality.

lifezones EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY OF GRAND HAVEN’S LIFEZONES

March 2012

www.myRealtyLine.com

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Warren Marshall of John Horton Realty, a Private Label Realty company, and Fred Norton of Prudential Texas Realty discuss membership building strategies for CRS at the group’s luncheon at the Westwood Country Club.

Buy photo: RL_031312_G.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Congratulations to Terese Peabody of Stanberry and Associates for rounding up awards from her company for President’s Club, Dripping Springs office Top Listing Agent and Company Top Sales agent. Company founder, Bill Stanberry and his grandson Ryan Rosshirt recognize her at the annual company awards breakfast. Buy photo: RL_030812_H.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Bonnie Barrera of Independence Title will be enjoying some coffee or other treats because she was smart to attend AYREP’s Mercedes Kick-Off Party and won a gift card to Starbucks.

Buy photo: RL_030712_Z.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

North American Title Provides Superior Service.

DHI Mortgage

rolls out the welcome mat for...

Our Austin Team is ready to go beyond the expected to provide peace of mind. We will help you get the deal closed...Like Clockwork® .

Darrin Roush

Just one more reason why DHI Mortgage should be your preferred mortgage lender! Gwen Johansen

Bette Gould Cook

Susan D. Spence

Tiesa Hollaway

Downtown Austin

North Austin

Research

Round Rock

Marketing Director 512.539.7746

823 Congress Ave., Suite1400 Austin, TX 78701 512.482.0851

NORTH AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY Like Clockwork ®

Marketing Director 512.965.9856

5608 Parkcrest Drive Suite 150 Austin, TX 78731 512.302.3892

Marketing Director 512.964.8950

12301 Research Blvd. Bldg. 4, Suite 120 Austin, TX 78759 512.249.0576

Marketing Director 512.964.8950

1Chisholm Trail Suite 3100 Round Rock, TX 78681 512.255.6550

www.nat.com www.facebook.com/Austin.NAT

DHI Mortgage 12554 Riata Vista Circle 1st Floor Austin, TX 78727 Phone: 512-257-5526 E-Fax: 866-801-3271 Email: dbroush@dhimortgage.com NMLS #619474

www.dhimortgage.com

Provided for informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend; not all borrowers and/or properties will qualify. DHI Mortgage Company, LTD, NMLS# 14622, 12554 Riata Vista Circle, First Floor, Austin, TX 78727. NMLS #38686.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Forty Years

www.myRealtyLine.com

March 2012

JB Goodwin REALTORS® since 1972

Helping People

Company Awards

Company Sales Team of the Year Special Recognition Company Leasing

Company Sales and Listing Agent of the Year

Peggy Little

with V.P. of Westlake office Mark Murnell and President Byron “Buddy” Schilling

Company Leasing Agent of the Year also 4 Million Dollar Club Award

Mike Easter

Westlake

Sales and Listing Agent of the Year Leasing Agent of the Year

with J.B. Goodwin

Gay Puckett

with J.B. Goodwin Not Pictured: Codi Freeman

Northwest

Sales and Listing Agent of the Year

Sales Team of the Year

Chuck Jenner

The Darey Team

with J.B. Goodwin

Tish and Jeff Darey

Company Listing Team of the Year Company Leasing and Lease Listing Team of the Year Westlake Office Sales and Leasing Team of the Year

The “A” Team

Aubrey Shaw and Adrian Grabe Not Pictured: Shelley Grabe, Jon Chambers, Alaina Jones, Philip Barton, Steve Fohl

Listing Team of the Year Company Leasing Team of the Year

The Turner Team Bettye Turner and Lynda Conway

Not Pictured: Janet Murdock, Karen Martin, Jeanette Leeb, Daniela Collins, Manda Mafi, Jessica Cain, Barry Adelman

Dylan Everett with J.B. Goodwin

WilliamsonCounty Sales and Listing Agents of the Year

Karen McGrath and Leisa Ormsbee with V.P. of Williamson County Division Tammy Gardner (center)

Westlake - (512) 502-7600 Williamson County - (512) 502-7705 Northwest - (512) 502-7800 Relocation - (800) 531-5207

Sales and Listing Team of the Year Leasing Team of the Year

Constancio Team

Molly Avila, Susan Cheatham and Andrew Constancio with J.B. Goodwin (left). Not Pictured: Sandra Topete, Karen Thomas

Mike Jones was the Westlake Lease Listing Agent of the Year, Dellene Davis was the Williamson County Lease Listing Agent of the Year, Kim Perez was the Williamson County Leasing Agent of the Year, the Scott Team was the Northwest Lease Listing Team of the Year, Kim Smith was the Northwest Lease Listing Agent of the Year, and Cynthia Mattiza was the Northwest Leasing Agent of the Year

March 2012

www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Experts Speak Out

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Commentary By Vaike O’Grady • Newland Communities

Tereso Jasso and Manny Alarcon, both of KB Home, welcome attendees as they arrive to the KB Home Let’s Mix it Up Agent Happy Hour at The Park at the Domain.

Focus on the “new” to sell against foreclosures

Buy photo: RL_030212_C.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Rene Esacobe of Buffington Homes displays the gift certificate she won to a local restaurant while attending the Mercedes Kick-Off Party at the new Shoal Crossing Event Center that AYREP hosted.

Buy photo: RL_030812_I.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Heather Price of AmeriPro Funding, Alan Price and Steve Builta of Hometrust Mortgage, along with Eddie Rinehart of Starkey Mortgage, share lending tales and wine tips at the NAPMW Valentine Wine Tasting at the Shoal Crossing Event Center. Buy photo: RL_030912_I.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

hile trending downward, Austin's residential foreclosures continue to capture the attention of uninformed buyers who think they can get one of these properties for a “steal.” Wise real estate professionals can educate them about how a new home can actually be a better buy. Technology is one of a new home’s biggest advantages—and energy efficiency is a big part of today’s new-home technology. Many new homes are Energy Star qualified, meaning that they are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30 percent more efficient than standard homes. The list of typical Energy Star features is lengthy, with new Energy Star appliances, high SEER air conditioning units, and Low-e (low emissivity) windows being just a few examples. These windows include a high-tech film that prevents heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Some builders are even

upping the ante well above Energy Star, and including rooftop solar panels as standard or as available upgrades. Beyond efficiency, the typical list of standard features offered by many of today’s top builders include “quiet” plumbing systems, upper-floor construction designed to eliminate creaking and squeaking, and features designed to enhance indoor air quality. Many builders also include structured wiring systems, which helps to “future proof ” homes and allows residents take full advantage of the latest home automation and networking technologies. Add to this the newest floor plan designs, which emphasize open living areas as well as outdoor living spaces. And ironically, the newest architecture has never been more timeless, with builders increasingly incorporating stone, timber and other classic elements into their designs. When you add up all the advantages of new homes, very few (if any) foreclosures can even come close. RL

NOW OPEN, SARITA VALLEY SARITA VALLEY, newest community in the Leander Cedar Park area. This long awaited community touts homes from the mid $200’s. Among the spectacular features Sarita Valley has to offer: Community amenities:

• 50, 60, 70 ft. Lots • Future pool and playground • Green space • Creeks • Cul de sac homesites • Leander ISD Call Today,

(512)789-5586 Bill CozarT www.DreesHomes.com

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â&#x201E;˘

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

We build lasting relationships with our real estate partners. We focus on delivering results with every transaction. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our goal to meet time sensitive deadlines, exceed expectations and earn your business.

March 2012

Real Estate News & Notes RE/MAX Austin Skyline welcomes three new agents RE/MAX Austin Skyline would like to welcome Russell Martinez, Brandon Martinez and John Olmstead. They will be involved with the dynamic TMM Group led by Mark Martin. RL

RE/MAX Austin Skyline earns 2011 Top Sales Volume and Top Commissions Paid Awards at RE/MAX convention Congratulations go out to Craig Noling and Ron Binkley, broker/wwners of RE/MAX Austin Skyline. The office earned the 2011 Top Sales Volume Award and the 2011 Top Commissions Paid Award at the recent RE/ MAX Statewide Convention in Galveston, Texas. RL

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

REALTOR foundation scholarship application now available The Austin Board of REALTORS (ABoR) Foundation is thrilled to announce that applications are now available for the annual scholarship program. Graduating high school seniors and home-schooled students are encouraged to apply to help offset the cost of higher education. To be eligible for consideration, students must be citizens of the United States; planning to pursue higher education at a Texas college, university, technical or trade school; and a resident of one of the following counties: Travis,

Williamson, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco or Burnet. Applications are available online at www.abor.com/pdf/ScholarshipApp. pdf and must be mailed or hand delivered in person by 5 p.m. on March 16. to Shirley Williams in the ABoR education department. Scholarships will be presented at the ABoR Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9 at the Shoal Crossing Event Center. For more information, contact Shirley at swilliams@ abor.com or 454-7636, ext. 1603. RL

The Austin Board of REALTORS Foundation raffles MercedesBenz to benefit scholarship program

Coldwell Banker, United REALTORS in Georgetown welcomes Steve McVean and Mike Ogden Coldwell Banker Commercial United, REALTORS Georgetown office is pleased to announce that Steve McVean and Mike Ogden have joined the firm as Broker Associates. Steve McVean brings to Coldwell Banker Commercial United a wide array of knowledge and experience in real estate and business development. In 2005 Steve was recruited by IF Marketing and Advertising to assist in developing a real estate division inside of the agency. It was here that Steve set up IF Realty. “Steve’s knowledge of the market, his expertise in the industry and his ability to grow and maintain relationships serves him well as he works to continue to build and strengthen

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our reputation, throughout Central Texas and statewide”, says Cecilia Roberts, vice president of sales. Mike Ogden brings more than 13 years of real estate experience and over $100 million in closed transactions. He specializes in land development and tenant representation. He has extensive knowledge with the city development processes and has assisted his clients with feasibility investigations, zoning changes and just “making problems go away”. “What drives Mike is finding a way to help his clients find a solution when they have appeared to have hit a dead end,” says Cecilia Roberts, Vice President of Sales. RL

The ABoR Foundation is selling tickets and partnerships for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Raffle, which will award one lucky winner with a new Mercedes C-250 or GLK350. Purchase your ticket today at www.abor.com/Foundation/ Benz. Raffle tickets cost $100. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. The grand-prize package includes: • a trip to Germany • Mercedes-Benz 90-minute factory tour • a self-guided Black Forest-Alps Rally The winner of the raffle will be selected at the

Mercedes and Martini’s Finale Raffle Event from 5 to 9 p.m. on June 7 at the Shoal Crossing Event Center. You don't need to be present to win. Proceeds from the Mercedes-Benz Raffle will benefit the ABoR Foundation’s Scholarship Fund, which provides graduating seniors in the Central Texas area with scholarships to attend Texas colleges, universities and trade schools. Tickets purchased online must be picked up in-person in ABoR’s education department. For more information, contact Rita Barousse at rbarousse@abor.com or 454-7636, ext. 1602. RL

Submission Guidelines:

Submit photos, press releases and calendar items to naomi@myrealtyline.com. All photos must be at least 300 dpi and include a caption with first/last name, company affiliation and a short description. Press releases must be fewer than 300 words. Calendar items are free to advertisers and $25 per submission for others. All submissions must be received at least seven calendar days prior to ad copy deadlines published at www.myrealtyline.com/advertise.html. Submission items will be included as space allows.

WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED As Austin’s #3 Mortgage Company, we are constantly sharpening our tools. We offer top notch technology, administrative support, and more than 20 years of experience you can trust. Find out how our tools can help you build a better future.

For more information contact: Kevin A. Gingsburg (NMLS # 218826) 512-632-7971

United Lending, a division of Network Funding LP #2297

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â&#x201E;˘

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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March 2012

"No officer, I won't give you my secret recipe!" says TREPAC Chairman Bill Evans of Austin Real Pros as Travis County Sherriff Greg Hamilton “arrests” him at the ABoR TREPAC Chili Cook Off at the Mueller Hanger.

Buy photo: RL_031612_I.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Funny man Larry Molinare gives Suzanne Jacobs a clock without an alarm since she won’t need one during her retirement years. Both are with Gracy Title.

Buy photo: RL_030412_B.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

A little recognition goes a long way … literally! Lt. Colonel Devries, left, and Major Luis Delgado, right, of the 36th Infantry Division present Bill Stanberry of Stanberry and Associates with the Operation New Dawn combat flag and a plaque to say thanks for all of the care packages the company sent to troops in Iraq.

Buy photo: RL_031112_O.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com Buy photo: RL_030712_I.JPG at www.myRealtyLine.com

Nichole Burse and Mark Griffiths, both of Best Agents in Texas, clean house when they each win one of the Neiman Marcus and Tiffany gifts at the Milestone Community Builders West Cypress Hills Progressive Tour.