Realty Line May 2019 by RealtyLine

Contents Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995™

MAY 2019 • VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 12

> BUILDER/REALTOR CRAWFISH BOIL

Home Builders Association of Greater Austin

> LAUNCH PARTY

Texas Loan Experts

> REALTOR DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Texas Association of REALTORS

> LEGAL UPDATE CE CLASS Lennar at Santa Rita Ranch > MONTHLY MEETING

Report shows Texas home buyer/seller statistics By Riki Markowitz

t the end of April, Texas REALTORS released its annual Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report. Statistics and trends were provided by the National Association of REALTORS’ 2018 Texas Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers, which analyzed data about Texas residents who purchased or sold a home between July 2017 and June 2018. While most of the findings from the Texas REALTORS’ report was more or less in-line with the previous year, there are a few standout stats that have made some local experts say, “hmm.” Take student debt. When it comes to states with the highest debt, Texas is actually pretty middle of the road, according to the 2016 Institute for College Access & Success report. Just over half of individuals with student loan debt across the state are looking at owing roughly $26,500. But the amount of debt owed by Texans who have purchased a home is more like $39,800 — which is nearly 100 percent higher than the same population from the previous year (they only owed $20k). By contrast, U.S. student loan debt among homebuyers also increased in the 2019 report over the pre-

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P. O. Box 81366, Austin, Texas 78708

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vious year, but it was a 40-point increase. While even that is considered a significant escalation, it’s still extraordinary that the median amount of student debt for Texas’ homebuyers was more than $11,000 higher than U.S. homebuyers with student loan debt. There are a couple questions one can ask about this statistic. For instance, does it mean that buyers with a lot of student loan debt are also high earners and have more education? Tray Bates, Texas REALTORS 2019 chairman, says it’s possible, but not necessarily so. What is safe to assume is that this population is at the beginning of their career and still on the lower end of their income capacity. Bates’ takeaway is that because this population has cash flow and income challenges, many are putting off buying a new home until later in life. Another striking difference was that in Texas, 29 percent of homebuyers purchased a new home and only 14 percent of U.S. buyers did the same. “Texas is seeing the greatest increase in new home construction in years,” says Bates. “This is data coming from other reports, but what

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

Austin Mortgage Bankers Association

> REALTOR APPRECIATION PARTY

Scott Felder Homes

Who Are Texas Home Buyers?

According to the

Texas Association of REALTORS® 2019 Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report

Texas Homebuyer Median Age

47 32%

$101,700 Median Household

Income

18%

First-Time Homebuyers

Homebuyer or Spouse is

29%

Active Duty Military or Veteran

New Home over Resale

Purchased a

we’re seeing is that Houston is number two in the country for new home permits, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. It’s great that our metro areas are finally starting to get new home construction after the 2008 recession when a lot of homebuilders went out of business.” The nearly 100 percent difference in Texas new homebuyers versus those buying resale has a few different driving motivations. A majority of homebuyers are “avoiding renovations or problems with plumbing or electricity,” and want “amenities of new home construction communities,” according to the Texas REALTORS survey. They’re also driven by the “ability to choose and customize design features.” Texans who purchased a previously owned home agreed that they were in the market for “better overall value,” as well as a house with “more charm and character.” Five

percent of new homebuyers in the state claimed they found a lack of inventory of previous owned homes (which is true), of those who purchased a previously owned home, though, 8 percent said new home inventory was lacking. As far as Texas sellers are concerned, the median age was 56 years and their median household income was just under $110k. For U.S. sellers, the median age was 55 years and their median income was $98.8k. Texas also has a smaller percentage of first-time home sellers (26 percent versus 32 percent nationwide). The median selling price over purchase was $70k in Texas and just $55.5k in the U.S. — which are numbers that are not too surprising to Central Texas REALTORS. In Texas, a home REPORT: Continued on page 28

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Think You Know Austin ? CHECK OUT OUR TRIVIA SERIES ON FACEBOOK TO FIND OUT! The Austin area has so many fun and odd things worth knowing, and the list keeps changing every day. Our weekly Think You Know Austin Trivia Series on Facebook® is designed as a fun approach to bring you closer to the heart of Central Texas with interesting and challenging trivia. Here’s how it works: Z

Like us to keep up with relevant real estate-related news and resources in your area. Stewart Title of Austin, LLC stewart.com/austin/relocation-guide

Each Thursday, we’ll post a question related to the area. Think you can figure it out? We want to hear your comments. Question got you stumped? No worries! We’ll post the answer on Friday, which will always coincide with a related location or upcoming event that you can explore. Want more trivia? Our answers will also include a link to the archive map, where you can navigate topics and locations from past weeks.

We want to bring you closer to your surroundings for a better experience, which is why this is the perfect extension of our Relocation Guides. To learn more about these, contact your sales executive or preview them on our website. © 2019 Stewart. All rights reserved.

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May 2019

LENNAR 1

BELLINGHAM MEADOWS 7509 Antrim Trail, Austin, TX 78754

12 MADSEN RANCH 1205 Chad Lane, Round Rock, TX 78665

BRADSHAW CROSSING 10416 Premier Park, Austin, TX 78747

13 MALONE PARK 10201 Buster Crabbe Drive Austin, TX 78748

BRYSON 2108 Abelia Lane, Leander, TX 78641

14 ORCHARD RIDGE 105 Wind Flower Lane, Liberty Hill, TX 78628

4 CARMEL CREEK 206 Simmental Loop, Hutto, TX 78634

15 RANCHO SIENNA 317 Rancho Sienna Loop, Georgetown, TX 78628

CARNEROS RANCH 204 Tinto Street, Leander, TX 78641

16 SANTA RITA 113 Civita Road, Leander, TX 78641

COLORADO CROSSING 3808 Breckenridge Drive Austin, TX 78744

17 SONTERRA 101 Circle Way, Jarrell, TX 76537

COMMONS AT ROWE LN 20812 Windmill Ranch Ave, Pflugerville, TX 78660

18 STILLWATER 812 Big Rocky Bend Georgetown, TX 78628

8 COOL SPRINGS 113 Juniper Springs Road, Kyle, TX 78640

19 STONEFIELD 466 Red Morganite Trail, Buda, TX 78610

20 SUN CHASE 15512 Cottage Orchid, Del Valle, TX 78617

CRESCENT BLUFF 1213 Horizon View Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628

10 ENCLAVE AT ESTANCIA 12400 Morelia Way, Austin, TX 78748

21 THE COLONY 119 Esparza Drive, Bastrop, TX 78602

11 HUTTO HIGHLANDS 610 Carol Drive, Hutto, TX 78634

Village Builders 22 AVAÑA 70’s 12508 Padua Drive, Austin, TX 78739

29 OAKS AT SAN GABRIEL 1221 Terrace View Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628

23 AVAÑA 50’s & 60’s 6325 Antigo Lane, Austin, TX 78739

30 PALMERA RIDGE 2517 Carretera Drive, Leander, TX 78641

24 CRESCENT BLUFF 1209 Horizon View Dr., Georgetown, TX 78628

31 PARTEN 396 Cistern Way, Austin, TX 78738

25 EAST VILLAGE 4306 Flameleaf Sumac, Bee Cave, TX 78738

32 ROUGH HOLLOW THE VINEYARDS 105 Beneteau Drive, Lakeway, TX 78738

26 GREYROCK RIDGE 5409 Allamanda Drive, Austin, TX 78739 27 LEGACY TRAILS 550 Goodnight Trail, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Homes from the $100s-$700s

28 LOS SENDEROS AT SERENE HILLS 602 Sweet Grass Lane, Lakeway, TX 78738

33 THE RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK 75’S 4103 Brady Ridge Drive, Cedar Park, TX 78613 34 THE RESERVE AT CABALLO RANCH 103 CR 180, Unit 84, Cedar Park, TX 78684

CalAtlantic Homes 35 MUELLER 4401 Berkman, Austin,TX 78723

Lennar.com/Austin I 512-489-6838 All maps are not to scale, and are for relative location purposes only. Price subject to change without notice. Visit Lennar.com or see a Lennar New Home Consultant for further details and disclaimers. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2018 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, the Village Builders logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Date 04/2019 LNAUS242 May

Coming Soon 36 Siena

38 The Retreat at Steiner

37 Stoney Ridge

39 Whisper

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

Austin Board of REALTORS®

President’s Column By Kevin Scanlan • 2019 President

A new way of engagement at ABoR

ow is one-third of 2019 already behind us? Since January, Austin Board of REALTORS staff and volunteers have been running at top-speed, making strong progress on the 10 ambitious “big rocks” goals that the ABoR and ACTRIS Board of Directors set for the year. As your president, I’m proud of all we have accomplished in just a few months. Here are a few highlights:

A new way of engagement Our “Be Member” campaign this spring proved to be the most successful membership initiative ABoR has ever undertaken. We shook things up with a more approachable voice and tone, gave away 2,000 bestselling professional development books and launched a series of exclusive videos and downloads, weekly micro-events, polls and off-site happy hours. This included our new Speaker Series (ABoR.com/SpeakerSeries) and our ScratchThat podcast, which is now 10 episodes deep (ABoR.com/ScratchThat). Emerging from the fog of all of this beta-

testing, we’re now seeing the results of what’s been working and what hasn’t by tracking our engagement and surveying our members. Here’s what we learned: • A campaign-focused marketing approach is not only effective, it means we're always delivering something new for you. • Weekly sign-ups, downloads and informal volunteer opportunities mean that whether you have five hours or five minutes for us, we have a way for you to plug in. • Targeted content, micro-learning and niche events acknowledge that our offerings are valuable to the extent that they are useful to your business. In this new way of engagement, ABoR is not the star, our members are. As a result of this campaign, we have received calls and kudos from local and state REALTOR associations from all around the country (and Canada!) seeking to apply this new way of engagement in their own organizations. I’m thrilled to see ABoR leading the

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

way on what it means to be a REALTOR association today. Learn more at Build.ABoR.com.

Doubling down on diversity The ABoR Board has made increasing the diversity among ABoR’s volunteer and leadership base a priority goal for 2019. So far, we’ve restructured our Diversity Council to include dedicated seats for our Strategic Partners and hosted a sold-out Diversity Mixer that brought out a lot of new faces. We’re also planning a first-ever training for ABoR Board of Directors candidates, with the goal of capturing a more diverse pool of candidates for REALTOR leadership positions. We seek to create an inclusive community where all of our members are engaged and hear their voice in the industry. Will you speak up and share yours? If you’re thinking about taking the next step in your leadership career, I personally invite you to apply for our Board of Directors by May 31 at ABoR.com/ Leadership.

Doubling up on ABoR North In case you missed it, ABoR North is moving to a new location in Cedar Park. The new

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

office is twice as big with two classrooms, an expanded REALTOR store and the same member services support and Saturday hours you’re used to. Starting next month, you can find us at 1500 Arrow Point Dr., Suite. 711, Cedar Park, Texas, 78613. Our current location will close on Monday, May 20 and after a two-week move, we’ll re-open at our new location on Tuesday, June 4. Learn more at ABoR.com/ Move and save the date for our Grand Opening on July 18!.

Looking ahead We’re not done shaking things up. This new engagement structure is a process that will be continually built upon and honed as we strive to be an ever-greater resource for your business and career. And if you haven’t had a chance to get engaged in ABoR, we’d love for you to get plugged in. We’re launching a new member engagement campaign Memorial Day weekend and you won’t want to miss out on this next chance to opt-in…which will hit your inbox any day now! Keep an eye on your email and at Build.ABoR.com. RL

ABoR Foundation 2019 Fan Drive The ABoR Foundation is teaming up again with Family Eldercare to collect as many fans as possible for the vulnerable in our community. Donate a new 20" box fan or a new 12" oscillating fan. You can drop off fans through June 15 to our headquarters or south location or to one of these AMLI properties: AMLI Eastside (1000 San Marcos St.), AMLI South Shore (1620 Riverside Dr.), AMLI Downtown (201 Lavaca St.), AMLI Covered Bridge (8715 W. Highway 71), AMLI 300 (300 N. Lamar Blvd.), AMLI at Mueller (1900 Simond Ave.), AMLI 5350 (5350 Burnet Rd.), AMLI on 2nd (421 W. 3rd St.), and AMLI on Aldrich (2401 Aldrich St.) Learn more at Abor.com/fandrive.

Welcomes Rochelle Lam and Shannon Davidson to the WESTLAKE branch!

Rochelle Lam AVP / Escrow Officer Rochelle.Lam@CTT.com

Shannon Davidson Escrow Assistant Shannon.Davidson@CTT.com

S. MOPAC

GREAT HILLS

BEE CAVE

WESTLAKE

CEDAR PARK

1501 S. Mopac

8911 N. Capital of Texas Hwy.

13215 Bee Cave Pkwy.

4301 Westbank Dr.

1335 E. Whitestone Blvd.

Ste. 130

Bldg. 2, Ste. 2120

Bldg. B, Ste. 100

Bldg. A, Ste. 100

Ste. Z-100

Austin, TX 78746

Austin, TX 78759

Bee Cave, TX 78738

Austin, TX 78746

Cedar Park, TX 78613

(512) 480-8353

(512) 345-6525

(512) 840-5290

(512) 691-7668

(512) 690-9490

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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May 2019

888-KB-HOMES | kbhome.com

New Homes Coming Soon Something great is just around the corner. We’re excited to announce that a brand new community—with new homes, new streets, new everything—is coming soon to Georgetown. Stay tuned to see how you can own a home that’s as unique as you are. Oakmont in Georgetown • 1,491–3,125 sq. ft., 3–6 bdrms., 2–4 baths • Highly desirable Georgetown ISD schools • Near historic Georgetown Square, Wolf Ranch Town Center, The Summit at Rivery Park and Round Rock Premium Outlets®

Join the interest list by calling 888-524-6637

Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2019 KB Home (KBH). Placement on interest list does not guarantee qualification for a loan, lot location or purchase of a KB home. No affiliation or sponsorship is intended or implied with Wolf Ranch Town Center, The Summit at Rivery Park or Round Rock Premium Outlets®, and all trademarks are owned by the respective trademark owners. Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specifications subject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Sq. footage is approximate. Photo may depict upgraded landscaping/options and may not represent lowest-priced homes. See sales counselor for details. AUS-213923

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL Advertising Partner: Lennar Candy Krohmer Cooke of Real Property Counselors, Inc. teaches a CE course at the Austin Board of REALTORS. Check out their course schedule at abor.com/ courses.

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The Texas Loan Experts team couldn't look any better and they'll make sure you and your clients will look good too! The company celebrated its launch and is ready to serve you. Check them out at texasloanexperts.com.

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RL Advertising Partner: Drees Custom Homes

Doris Stout, Julie Hauge, Shar Fletcher, all of Drees Custom Homes, along with Lauren Hauge meet and mingle with REALTORS at the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin's annual Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR Mixer. The event was hosted this year by Sweetwater in Bee Cave.

Debbie Jewell, Lennar's new home consultant in Rancho Sienna, is proud that the company was named 2018 Builder of the Year. Stop in for a visit and she'll show you all the builder has to offer in the community located off Ronald Reagan Boulevard between Liberty Hill and Georgetown.

Get that Felder Feeling when you sell a new Scott Felder Home! With the Scott Felder Homes 2019 Realtor Loyalty Program, your buyers will quickly embrace our “Choose It. Love It. Live It.” promotion that allows them to enjoy the best we have to offer. CHOOSE from a variety of excellent new home locations and prices. LOVE all our award-winning home designs and interior options. And they LIVE in a home built just for them that will provide value for years to come.

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*All qualified sales must be original Scott Felder Homes (“SFH”) contracts written between January 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019. Sell ONE home and you’re enrolled in SFH’s Co-Broker Loyalty Program! Sell TWO homes between 1/1/19 and 11/30/19 and qualify for a 1% bonus on your 2nd SFH closing. Sell THREE homes between 1/1/19 and 11/30/19 and qualify for a 2% bonus, entitling you to a 5% total commission on your third, and all subsequent closings for the remainder of 2019! Bonus Percentage will be dictated by order of closing: 3% upon first closing, 4% upon 2nd closing, and 5% upon third closing and thereafter between 1/1/2019 and 12/31/2019. All bonuses will be noted on the Closing Disclosure (“CD”) and will be paid at closing. Payments of commissions and bonuses will only be made to actively licensed Texas Brokers. Broker’s commission cannot be used to reduce the price of the home and is only valid if Broker accompanies and registers its client on the first visit to any SFH Austin Division Community during the bonus promotion period AND Broker’s client enters into a new sales agreement for an eligible available home during the bonus promotion period. Bonus paid to Broker upon client’s successful closing and funding and is based on the ORIGINAL contract price as stated in the Sales Agreement, excluding any Seller incentives, subsequent change orders, re-writes, or upgrades. While commission bonuses cannot be used to reduce sales price, Broker may elect to waive participation in the 3%-4%-5% bonus program and apply its Broker bonus, in all or part, towards purchaser’s closing costs. May not be combined with any other Broker bonuses or offers. No team sales: only individual selling agent may qualify. Broker is responsible for all applicable taxes. Please see a SFH Sales Associate for complete details.

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Williamson County Association of REALTORS®

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

President’s Column By Cyndi Bell • 2019 President

How to find and serve your next client

he National Association of REALTORS publishes a homebuyer and home seller profile each year. As a dues paying REALTOR, this is a benefit to you. So, let’s take a quick look at who we serve in our real estate practice.

Characteristics of home buyers Of all the homes purchased nationwide, firsttime buyers made up 33 percent of all home buyers, a decrease from last year’s 34 percent. The typical buyer was 46 years old, and the median household income for 2017 rose again this year to $91,600. What kind of homes are these buyers snapping up? Twelve percent of homebuyers purchased a multi-generational home, to take care of aging parents or children over the age of 18 moving back home and for cost-saving. A big take away with Fort Hood on our northern border, 18 percent of recent homebuyers were veterans and 3 percent were active-duty service members. Consider investing your CE dollars on the MRP [Military Relocation Professional] designation to service this community of buyers.

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May 2019

builder’s agent. What is most important to your homebuyer? They want an agent to help them find the right home and negotiate a great price. Ninety percent of buyers would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others; that is great news. Maintain your database and build your referral business. To better serve your buyers, consider expanding your education and secure your "Accredited Buyer Representative Designation." It will be held in September at WCAoR.

Home Sellers and Their Selling Experience

Home prices nationally increased slightly this year to a median of $250,000 among all buyers. Buyers typically purchased their homes for 99 percent of the asking price. In Williamson County, the median sales price for 2018 is slightly higher than the national average at $283,743 and 98.97 percent of the asking price.

The Home Search Process It’s no surprise that the average homebuyer starts the homebuying process online and makes up 44 percent of recent buyers. With buyers starting their search on third-party marketing sites such as REALTOR.com and Zillow, consider how you choose to get in front of these buyers. And when you finally convert that buyer lead to a client, the typical buyer searched for 10 weeks and visited 10 homes.

Homebuying and Real Estate Professionals On average, 87 percent of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent, and six percent purchased directly from a builder or

It is not surprising sellers move for very specific reasons, the most commonly cited reason for selling: home too small (15 percent), followed by the desire to move closer to friends and family (14 percent) and employment relocation (13 percent). Ninety-one percent of home sellers worked with a real estate agent to sell their home and of that 75 percent contacted only one agent before ﬁnding the right agent they worked with to sell

their home. To better serve your sellers, consider taking the "Seller Representative Specialist" designation available in September at WCAoR.

For Sale by Owner (FSBO) Sellers Let’s not forget our For Sale By Owners aka FSBO’s. FSBOs typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $200,000 last year (up from $190,000 the year prior) and significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $264,900. That’s a lot of money left on the table for FSBO’s and is a conversation starter for sure.

In the end… Seller and buyer profiles change year-to-year. What is important to remember is to keep in touch with your database and look to meet new customers with whom you can show your value. For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest financial transaction they will ever make. You, as a REALTOR, are a trusted advisor in the process. Know your clients and their needs and the business will come. RL

Events & Education May 2019

June 2019

Rent vs. Own Tax Benefits 10-Year Happy Hour Business Principles & Strategies New Home Construction Specialist 30 New Member Orientation 30 NAR Code of Ethics

5 Credit 101 for Real Estate 6 Firm Rules: Policies to Mitigate Risk 7 Legal Update I 13 East Side Bus Tour 21 Legal Update II

28 29 29 29

wcaor.org

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

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RL Advertising Partner: Keller Williams Realty

Casey Carr of Allure Real Estate tours Texas REALTORS' headquarters downtown on REALTOR Day where agents from across the state rallied for the industry at the Texas State Capitol.

RL Advertising Partners: Texas Loan Experts, Keller Williams Realty

Look out mortgage loan world, the Texas Loan Experts team is here to shake things up with unbelievable service and great rates. CEO Ryan Kelley, Laura Ivy Blessing of Keller Williams Realty, Rafe Beeson and Texas Loan Experts' John Schutze toasted to great things to come at the company's grand opening launch party.

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Kristin Bullard of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS and Lisa Hall of Keller Williams Realty join in on the festivities at the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin's annual Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR mixer hosted at Sweetwater in Bee Cave.

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May 2019

SEVEN NEW TITLE PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS

DOWNTOWN OFFICE

ROUND ROCK OFFICE

BRANDI FLEMING

VP/ESCROW OFFICER BRANDI.FLEMING@AUSTINTITLE.COM

THERESA WILCOX

DOWNTOWN OFFICE

ESCROW OFFICER THERESA.WILCOX@AUSTINTITLE.COM

STEPHANIE FARBER

ESCROW OFFICER STEPHANIE.FARBER@AUSTINTITLE.COM

BASTROP OFFICE

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ESCROW OFFICER BRITTNEY.DAVIS@AUSTINTITLE.COM

SOUTH MOPAC OFFICE

NORTH MOPAC OFFICE

CRYSTAL SANDOVAL

JULIE GLIDEWELL

ESCROW OFFICER CRYSTAL.SANDOVAL@AUSTINTITLE.COM

Cedar Park

901 Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 104 Cedar Park, Tx 78613 512-823-2800

Northwest

3708 Spicewood Springs Rd. Ste. 100 Austin, Tx 78759 512-346-4020

North

9600 N. MoPac Expwy. Ste. 125 Austin, Tx 78759 512-459-7222

KELLEY MURPHY

AVP/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT KELLEY.MURPHY@AUSTINTITLE.COM

ESCROW OFFICER JULIE.GLIDEWELL@AUSTINTITLE.COM

Downtown

1717 W. 6th Street Ste. 102 Austin, Tx 78703 512-329-0777

South MoPac

1601 S. MoPac Expwy Ste. C-120 Austin, Tx 78746 512-306-0988

Round Rock

810 Hesters Crossing Ste. 155 Round Rock, Tx 78681 512-244-2266

Bastrop

815 Hwy 71 West Bldg. 1, Ste. 1100 Bastrop, Tx 78602 512-303-9633

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â„¢

RL Advertising Partners: Lennar, Keller Williams Realty

RL Advertising Partner: Texas Loan Experts

Jane Sissons of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS and Malinda Vinklarek of Keller Williams Realty chit chat before the Legal Update CE class offered by Lennar at the beautiful model home in Rancho Sienna in Georgetown.

AMBA members Scott Williams and Angela Bujnoch have lunch while hearing from REALTORS on the Top REALTOR Panel at the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association luncheon. If you're looking for a super good deal on a mortgage loan for your clients, Scott can help! Download Photo: RL_MM_050819_D.jpg for FREE at myrealtyline.com

Jodi Gregg of Independence Title, Scott Bullard of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS, Sherri Williams and Angie Groves, both of Keller Williams, Kristin Bullard of Coldwell Banker, Sean and Pam Sutton of both Keller Williams Realty, head out to see some live music and eat mud bugs at the HBA of Greater Austin's annual Crawfish Boil.

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RL Advertising Partner: Independence Title, Keller Williams Realty

Matt Presley of Presley Property Group could not say enough good things about Arien Bowersock and Texas Loan Experts. The company just recently celebrated its grand opening at Tiny Boxwoods on 35th Street in downtown Austin.

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Graphics, photographs and maps shown are representational only and should not be relied upon as depictions of existing or proposed community improvements. Final development may differ from these representations. Subject to change without notice.

512-434-0532 NORTHGATERANCH.COM

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RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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May 2019

PERFECTING THE HOMEBUYING EXPERIENCE SINCE 1993 Empire Communities is one of North America’s largest integrated master-planned community homebuilders, having built over 20,000 homes to date. With over 25 years’ experience in homebuilding, we recently entered the Austin market through our acquisition of Centerra Homes. Since 1993, we have been committed to building inspiring new places to live with functional home designs and quality finishes for every style and budget. We’re excited to work with talented and knowledgeable Austin Realtors to find their clients the perfect Empire home.

See where we build and get to know us better at empireinaustin.com

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL Advertising Partner: RE/MAX

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Yeehaw! Spencer Wheelwright of RE/MAX 1 gets his share of the BBQ as a reward after a hard day's work corralling elected officials to talk about saving your commission from being taxed. He attended the Texas Association of REALTORS' REALTOR Day at the Texas State Capitol.

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050219 RealtyLine ad -1995.™ May (TVHSB) Putting a Face on Real Estate since

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3:47 PM

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May 2019

Free Event

55+ Resort -Style Community

Grand Opening Saturday, May 18th • 1 - 4 PM 311 Mayapple Rd Horseshoe Bay, Texas 78657

Bring Your

55+ Clients For

Live Entertainment • Italian Cuisine • Wine & Signature Cocktails Giveaways • Model Home Tours Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of Horseshoe Bay’s premier 55+ resort-style community in Summit Rock. Tuscan Village has recently completed construction on model homes and invites you to be among the first to tour them. Explore the community and learn about the resort-style amenities that truly define The Good Life.

830.201.3046 • TuscanVillage.com

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Austin

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

President’s Column By Becky Collins • 2019 President

HBA donates more than $100k to HomeAid Austin

very year, the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin manages the construction of a home built primarily (if not entirely) via donations of construction management, materials, labor and monies from our members. We call this project our Benefit Home. A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of this home are donated to local charities that are making a significant and positive impact on our communities. This enables our members to come together and make a direct and positive impact on our communities through worthy initiatives. Our 2019 Benefit Home was built by Chesmar Homes in Sweetwater, a Newland Communities master-planned community nestled in the Hill Country of the Southwest Austin/Bee Cave area. The 1.5 story home features five bedrooms, 4.5 baths, a three-car garage, a study and a game room in 3,656 square feet of spacious living. A few of our favorite features are the home's two granite kitchen islands, the master bath with both a mud set shower and a free-standing tub and an outdoor living area complete with fireplace and

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gorgeous views. Chesmar broke ground in September of 2018 and we celebrated the sale of the home in April 2019 with a Vendor Appreciation event at the Sweetwater clubhouse. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with music, food, networking and a presentation of our donation to HomeAid Austin, the 501c3 charity partner of the HBA. HomeAid established its 18th chapter in Austin about a year ago with the full support of the HBA to help alleviate the high levels of homelessness occurring within the community. Throughout the course of a year, there will be an estimated 7,000 people experiencing some level of homelessness. HomeAid has completed one project already and will continue to work with the building industry and other charity partners to develop, build and maintain housing for non-profits serving those at risk. I would like to thank all our members and vendors that made the construction and sale of the 2019 Benefit Home possible, with a special shout out to Chesmar Homes, Sweetwater Liv-

ing, Newland Communities and our amazing Benefit Home Committee. You are the ones

that turn projects like this into a reality…and a record breaking one at that! It was an absolute honor to present HomeAid Austin with a check for $100,157. Be on the lookout for announcements regarding our next Benefit Home and reach out if you’d like info on how to help. It’s amazing what we can do when we come together. RL

Just 15 minutes south of downtown Austin, Sunﬁeld oﬀers homeowners a break from the daily grind. Enjoy the miles

live bright side on the

of hike and bike trails, catch and release ponds, the dog park or the amazing Sunbright Amenity Center with a Junior Olympic Pool and plenty of shade – plus the Lazy River Amenity Center opening in 2019!

master-planned living on the south side of austin from the $190s CASTLEROCK • CENTEX • CHESMAR HOMES GEHAN HOMES • PULTE HOMES • WILLIAM LYON HOMES

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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May 2019

Lower Rates & Close In 14 Days NMLS #208548

NMLS #218700

John Schutze

Arien Bowersock

(512) 755-6820

(512) 699-8306

Senior Loan Officer

John@TexasLoanExperts.com

Senior Loan Officer

Arien@TexasLoanExperts.com

Our Launch Party Was A Huge Success!

Thank you to all our real estate partners for attending! We’ll be throwing a few parties every year, we hope to see you at our next one!

(Pictured Above: Texas Loan Experts Team & Family)

Exclusive 5-min Loan Application only at TexasLoanExperts.com Texas Loan Experts | 10000 Research Blvd, Suite 252 Austin, Texas 78759 Corporate Office: The Home Loan Expert, LLC 1600 S. Brentwood Blvd. Ste 700 St. Louis, MO NMLS #1326241

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Hometrust Mortgage has been helping people buy, refinance and construct homes in the Austin area for 32 years. We offer a full array of home mortgage products and your loan is processed and underwritten locally. Contact Hometrust Mortgage today for a free consultation or to get started on your home purchase or refinance.

www.HomeTrust.com Now with Two Locations to Serve You

Bryson Reid

Bradley Rife

Branch Manager NMLS# 222698 rrodriguez@hometrust.com

NMLS# 221487 brife@hometrust.com

Lynn Edgar

Catherine Darwin

Northwest Oﬃce

Richie Rodriguez

NMLS# 1411621 breid@hometrust.com

Welcome

Westlake Oﬃce

Welcome Back

Hometrust Mortgage Company, NMLS# 149932

NMLS# 221412 ledgar@hometrust.com

NMLS# 1606718 cdarwin@hometrust.com

Angela Dean

Ashley Matthews

Regional Production Manager NMLS# 1411621 ssewell@hometrust.com

Anila Cardyn

Brooke Payne

NMLS# 1160250 acardin@hometrust.com

NMLS# 1557358 adean@hometrust.com

(512) 450-1222 | 4301 Westbank Dr. Escalade B Suite 150 Austin, TX 78746

Scott Sewell

Branch Manager NMLS# 1185441 amathews@hometrust.com

NMLS# 977110 BPayne@hometrust.com

(737) 209-6740 | 7804 Bell Mountain Drive, Suite 101 Austin, TX 78730

Welcome Spring At North American Title, we are ready and eager to assist you with all your Spring closings.

You will love the NEW North American Title! Same experienced team empowered by cuttingedge technology to create a truly transformative experience for our customers. ®

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©2019 States Title Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. North American Title Company and related design are registered Service Marks of States Title Holding, Inc. or its subsidiaries. | TX 19-14876 R 03.28.19

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â„¢

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

May 2019

MODELS OPEN DAILY! LaCimaTX.com

CECI BURKLOW | 512-667-7300

104 TULIP GARDEN TRL

117 TULIP GARDEN TRAIL

ADDRESS

516 ACADEMY OAKS

NOW

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STORY

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MLS #

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$325,000

ASHERTON

2,113

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MLS 5407732

117 TULIP GARDEN TRAIL

$315,000

CALDWELL

1,884

3/2/2

MLS 2195753

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CALVERT

2,535

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TODD HAYS | 512-834-9294

105 EMERALD GARDEN

117 EMERALD GARDEN

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113 TULIP GARDEN TR

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DORCHESTER

2,229

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$352,944

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GLENHURST

1,868

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OFFICE | 512-686-4507

SF MODEL HOME

504 ACADEMY OAKS DR

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PARMER

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MLS 7386533

CECI BURKLOW | 512-667-7300

TODD HAYS | 512-834-9294

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

OFFICE | 512-686-4507

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL Advertising Partner: Keller Williams Realty These seasoned professionals in real estate are an essential component to making REALTOR Day at the Capitol a success. Mark Lehman and Mike Barnett, both of Texas REALTORS, TREC Chairperson Avis Wukasch and Harry Gibbs, both of Keller Williams Realty, serve as key resources to help the group carry the message to state legislators.

RL Advertising Partner: Scott Felder Homes

Scott Felder Homes has a dream team that provides the best information, services, quality and experience for REALTORS and their buyers. Pictured left to right are VP of Sales Greg Smith, Regional Marketing Manager Liz Don Carlos, Internet Sales Manager Allie Wasilko and Sales Associate James Castillo.

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RL Advertising Partner: Champions School of Real Estate Champions School of Real Estate staff from all the school's campuses joined in for the new Grand Opening of the new Champions School of Real Estate campus off RM 620 in Northwest Austin.

Build a home

IN DRIPPING SPRINGS. Now building in 3 Dripping Springs communities or on your lot. Belterra – from the $570s Caliterra – from the $450s Headwaters – from the $490s CONTACT Anita Kosco (512) 960-1960 akosco@dreeshomes.com

dreeshomes.com

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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May 2019

C lose on a custom Acreage Home in ClearWater Ranch and receive a $1,000 VISA Gift Card. It’s pure “Mad Money” and our way of saying THANKS for making ClearWater Ranch the #1 Acreage Estate Community in Liberty Hill. ›

Exemplary Rated Liberty Hill Schools

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From The Developers Of The #1 Master Plan in Austin – Crystal Falls

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May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

Jack McDonald of RE/ MAX Posh Properties catches up with Scott Felder Homes' sales associate Greg Weeks at the builder's VIP REALTOR Appreciation party at Maggiano's Little Italy. The builder makes it easy for REALTORS to do their job by offering quality homes and top notch service experience for agents.

austin

Women's Council of REALTORS®

RL Advertising Partner: Scott Felder Homes & RE/MAX

RL Advertising Partner: Independence Title

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The Lennar crew are having way too much fun at the annual Home Builders Association of Greater Austin Crawfish Boil at Sweetwater. Maria Martinez, Courtney Reasor, Johnny Arguello and Stephanie Saenz gave out fun koozies and invited guests to learn more about the homes that will be offered in the community.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

President’s Column By Jennifer Lish • 2019 President

Know where to look to learn about Texas homebuyers

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Cody Mitchell of Independence Title helps Barbara Hollingsworth and April Downey of Independence Title find a spot where they'll be able to see and hear from the Top REALTOR Panel at the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association luncheon at Maggiano's Little Italy at The Domain.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

RL Advertising Partner: Lennar Download Photo: RL_MM_051519_H.jpg for FREE at myrealtyline.com

t is hard to believe that we are already in May of 2019. This year is flying by. While we are keeping busy in this spring selling season, let’s remember that it is our job to educate clients about the market and give our professional advice to help them through the process. You’ll find interesting stats in the Texas Association of REALTOR’s Texas Homebuyers & Sellers Report. I found these to be helpful: Fifty percent of buyers owned a home, 40 percent rented, five percent lived with parents or friends and paid rent and five percent lived with parents, relatives or friends and did not pay rent. • One-third are first-time buyers • 47 is the median age for Texas homebuyers • Median household income of $101,700 • Nearly 70 percent of homebuyers are married couples • 15 percent of single homebuyers are women • 9 percent are single males • 5 percent are unmarried couples Thirty-six percent say they want an exist-

NEW INVENTORY AVAILABLE

ing home for better overall value, better pricing and more charm and character. Nearly twice as many buyers in Texas want a new home compared to homebuyers nationwide. Of those clients who are motivated to buy a new home: 35 percent want to avoid renovations or major problems, 34 percent want to choose and customize their future home from the beginning and 15 percent do so for the new home amenities. Given these stats, it’s a good thing we have several great builders in the Austin area to help our clients. Among sellers, 22 percent sell to move closer to friends or family, 17 percent are due to job relocations and 8 percent want to move closer to a current job. I invite you to visit our Facebook page, Women's Council of REALTORS Austin. Join us at our next business meeting on May 21. Our speaker will be speaker Michael Maher. Be watching for save the date invitations to be inspired by John Harrell and Sandra Dee Robinson. For more information, call me at 512296-8187 or Lishjennifer@gmail.com. RL

1310 S 1st Street, Suite 100, Austin TX 78704 512-458-3730 ofc / 512-458-3736 fax info@austinrealpros.com www.austinrealpros.com

More Options For Your Buyers-Now, Spring, or Early Summer

BLACKBURN BUILDS HOMES FOR EVERY SEASON OF LIFE DIAMOND OAKS A gated luxury new home community in the heart of Round Rock 512-341-9212 THE GARDENS AT MAYFIELD A secluded and gated luxury home community in Round Rock 512-733-2222 THE CROSSING AT WELLS BRANCH A new North Austin community just 15 minutes from Downtown 512-989-9977 TRAILS AT BLACKHAWKS A gated boutique community in Pfluverville 512-251-3443

VISIT BLACKBURNCOMMUNITIES.COM

WORLD PEACE through Property Management

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You receive first month’s management fee for your referral Your clients are returned when it’s time for you to sell their property Your client gets a professional team to care for their investment Over 60 years of combined experience in real estate Refer your clients to a company you’ve come to know and trust Commercial, Apartment, and HOA Management Services Ask us about our parallel marketing program

512-458-3730

Sales • Leasing • Property Management Agents! We have great opportunities to advance your career. Give us a call today!

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FROM THE $ 300s

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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

MONTICELLO HOMES

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

May 2019

ATTENTION AGENTS — LIMITED TIME OFFER, MAY 1 – JUNE 1:

BE ENTERED TO WIN $5,000 IN CASH* IT’S AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE.

1. STOP BY DEERBROOKE TO TOUR OUR FOUR MODELS AND 15+ INVENTORY HOMES. 2. COMPLETE REGISTRATION CARD FOR AMOUNT OF HOMES TOURED. 3. BE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $5,000 CASH!* FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MOVE-IN-READY HOMES:

DEERBROOKETX.COM/AVAILABLE-HOMES OR EMAIL DEVELOPER@RANDOLPHTODDCOMPANY.COM

PURCHASE A DEERBROOKE HOME BETWEEN APRIL 15 & JUNE 1, 2019 TO RECEIVE A $1,000 VISA GIFT CARD. GIFT CARD TO BE PRESENTED AT CLOSING.* 929 DEER RIM RD. | LEANDER, TX 78641

DEERBROOKETX.COM

512-387-8632

Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. All rights in these materials are reserved. All products and company names marked as trademarked (™) or registered (®) are trademarks of their respective holders. Copying, reproduction and distribution of materials without prior written consent of Deerbrooke is strictly prohibited. All information, plans, and pricing are subject to change without notice. This information does not represent a speciﬁc offer of sale or solicitation to purchase property within Deerbrooke. Models do not reﬂect racial preference. *Closing timeline may vary due to buyer or seller factors. A Randolph Todd Development and Crown Community Development. $1000 Visa gift card promotion subject to change or be ended without notice. The incentive is only valid for homes purchased between 4/15/19 and 6/1/19. Restrictions may apply. $5000 agent incentive promotion subject to change or be ended without notice. Incentives is only valid through 5/31/19 and a physical card with a number must be turned in to quality. Additional restrictions may apply.

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Local VA Loan Experts at Your Service Veterans United Home Loans in Austin oﬀers: Specializing in VA and VLB Loans Complimentary credit consulting No lender fees (except with VLB Loans) VA Loan classes at ABoR (2-hour CE)

Get more info and reach your local VA Loan expert at (512) 646-0800 or AustinVALoans.com!

3415 Greystone Dr, Ste 301, Austin, TX 78731. Licensed by the Texas Dept. of Savings and Mortgage Lending, Mortgage Company License #1907; 77193 Servicer License - Corporate (Missouri) Oﬃce: Texas-SML Residential Mortgage Loan Servicer Registration #1907. VA approved lender; Not a gov’t agency. NMLS #1907 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Chad Bowman

U.S. Marine Veteran Branch Manager, NMLS 191475

CHAMPIONS SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE

CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) SUCCESSFUL TENDENCIES OF REAL ESTATE CHAMPIONS Interviews with Real Estate Industry Top Producers

VOLUME I

ON SALE NOW 14.

Introducing Rita Santamaria's New Book Series Each volume is a collection of sales tips, networking advice, and success stories from Top Producing Texas Real Estate Agents and Brokers in a very readable and compact hardcover book. When it comes to real estate I know what works! The Top Producers in this book share their secret sauce to success. “Successful Tendencies of Real Estate Champions” by Rita Santamaria is a must read for anyone who wants to be in the know about real estate and increase their overall sales. - Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul, Author, Shark Tank Investor

Rita D. Santamaria Interviews with CEO and Founder of Champions School of Real Estate

Purchase Your Copy at www.ChampionsSchool.com/Success

www.ChampionsSchool.com/Austin

Strategies for Career Excellence

Farm and Ranch Real Estate 119 | 18-HOUR CE PROGRAM

119 | 18-HOUR CE PROGRAM

Designed to meet TREC Continuing Education requirements, this program covers a myriad of topics, including TREC legal updates, current and emerging technologies and their eﬀect on business, and tips on how to make your business more successful in a changing world.

JUN 13 - 14 Thursday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Legal Update I 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Legal Update II

5:30 PM - 6:45 PM

Tech Update

Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Strategies

Texas Complete with Broker Responsibility 119 | 18-HOUR CE PROGRAM

Open to the Public

This course is perfect for the Commercial Real Estate agent and covers all the areas a Farm and Ranch Real Estate agent needs to know. Farm and Ranch contracts, mineral rights, reservations in water rights and how they work with the State of Texas are all topics that are covered. Also covered are environmental issues concerning ranch land.

JUN 12 - 13 Wednesday 8:30 AM - 6:45 PM

Farm & Ranch

Thursday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Legal Update I 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Legal Update II

TREC Legal Update I &II 80 | 8-HOUR CE PROGRAM

Brokers who sponsor sales agents, broker of an entity or those authorized to supervise other licensees are required to take a 6-hour course on broker responsibility. In addition to the Broker Responsibility course, this program includes TREC Legal Update I & II, Tech Update, and the very informative elective How to Write and Understand a Policies and Procedures Manual.

512-244-3545

JUN 13 - 14 Thursday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Legal Update I 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Legal Update II

5:30 PM - 6:45 PM

Tech Update

Friday 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Broker Responsibility

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Policies & Procedures

TREC Legal Update I & II covers various topics related to changes in regulation, forms and standards of practice including legislative changes aﬀecting property management and disclosures. Topics also include ethics requirements, fair housing, agency laws and DTPA. This 8-Hour Program is mandatory.

JUN 13 Thu: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

JUN 28 Fri: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Online course options availabe at www.ChampionsSchool.com/real-estate/online

Broker #06-06-128-31450; Policies #02-00-060-34738; Strategies #08-00-129-33534; Tech Update #02-00-129-33533 Legal I #04-04-129-33197; Legal II #04-04-129-33198; Farm: #10-00-119-33503;

TREC #0005

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

May 2019

Danny Wilson, Keller Williams

2018 REALTORS OF THE YEAR!

Mark Pearce, Realty Austin

WHO WILL BE

2018 was a great year at Santa Rita Ranch & 2019 will be even better!

The Realtor who sells the most

homes at Santa Rita Ranch will be awarded 2019 Santa Rita Ranch Realtor of the Year and win $10,000 in cash.

SANTA RITA RANCH

REALTOR OF THE

YEAR? IT PAYS TO SELL

We have more than just a grand prize up our sleeve – in 2019 at The Ranch, we will be giving away over $40,000 in cash prizes to our Realtors! IT PAYS TO SELL AT THE RANCH. Ranch Rewards program effective Jan. 1, 2019. Previous Ranch Style Reward program and Cash Cow Rewards program participants will now adhere to the Ranch Rewards program guidelines & rules starting Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019. Ranch Rewards program is subject to change without notice.

SANTA RITA RANCH

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

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austin

HOME with

F RIENDLY

NEIGHBORS

WCREALTORS make their presence known on The Hill!

At Caliterra, in Dripping Springs, we make it easy to feel at home. From our neighborhood fire pit behind the Front Porch coffee lounge to the fishing dock and trails that meander along Onion Creek to the Adirondack chairs overlooking acres of natural open space – everything here has been developed (or left undeveloped) to make

Submitted Photo

you feel at home with family, friends and nature.

Homes from $300s - $800s

290

Drees Custom Homes • Brookﬁeld Residential • Scott Felder Homes

Gated Custom Homes from $900s+

RL Advertising Partner: Stewart Title

Stewart Title announces the addition of Kathryn McCurry to its team. Now in title sales, Kathryn calls upon her experience as both a REALTOR and a vendor to facilitate custom business solutions for her clients. She prides herself on helping clients find their pathway to success by providing not just title services, but also innovative market resources that add value to their business.

Alkire Construction • Arbogast Custom Homes • Lake Travis Builders Sommerfeld Construction • Sterling Custom Homes

Check out CaliterraLiving.com for current inventory!

SHEILA BALAGIA Office Manager/ Escrow Officer sbalagia@swtatx.com

The Area's Best Builders

Southwestern Title Agency a dba of New Braunfels Title

512-273-7767 SUMMER PAVLISKA

1111 N. IH-35, #102 Round Rock, Texas 78664

Business Development summer@swtatx.com Onion Creek Trails

Kayak on Onion Creek

JENNIFER RHODES Escrow Officer jrhodes@swtatx.com

ADVERTISER PROFILE

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Get to know... austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

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May 2019

Lennar and Village Builders by KATIE AGNESS

ne of the nation’s leading homebuilders, Lennar, offers highquality homes in thoughtfully designed communities across the country. Since its founding in 1954, Lennar has focused on building homes for the way people want to live with the features they desire. "We build homes to meet the desires of customers across the home buying spectrum including entry-level, move-up, active adult homes and multi-generational," says Charlie Coleman, division president. "Lennar is actively selling homes in over 1,300 communities across 21 states." Lennar and Village Builders, a luxury homebuilder within the Lennar family of businesses, operates throughout the Austin Metro area. Currently, they build beautiful new homes in Jarrell, Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Buda, Kyle, Lakeway, Bee Cave and Bastrop, but have plans for expanding into new markets. "We have some exciting new community announcements coming soon," Coleman says. "You’ll be able to find us in San Marcos, Elgin, Spicewood and some other great areas. These are highly-desirable locations where people want to live." In addition to expansive locations throughout the Greater Austin area, Lennar and Village Builders offer a variety of floorplans and styles, including Craftsman, Traditional, Farmhouse

and Contemporary. "One of the great things about Lennar and Village Builders is we have something for everyone," Coleman says. "With the wide array of floorplans, locations and features we offer, it’s truly possible to find a good fit for just about anyone. We have 36 home collections, all with thoughtfully deCharlie Coleman, division president signed floorplans." With a laser focus on designing innovative homes for the way people live today, Lennar has created multiple programs to ensure homebuyers’ needs are always met. "This thought process has led to programs such as Everything’s Included, which offers features and upgrades in the price of the home; the fully Connected Home, which ensures no dead spots throughout the home; and Next Gen floorplans, which is the home within a home offered throughout the city," Coleman says. Built upon the foundations of quality, value and integrity, this commitment continues to guide Lennar forward more than half of a century later. "Our core principles help us stand out," Coleman says. At Lennar, we hold ourselves to the utmost standards in caring for our customers, associates, shareholders and community. RL

We have some exciting new community announcements coming soon!

Floorplan Highlight

Floorplan: Square Feet: Community: Priced from:

The Conner 2,802 Sun Chase in Del Valle $306,990

Rosso 2,372 Santa Rita Ranch $306,990

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

to move into their v

NEW Home in Georgetown

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It’s time for your clients

austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL Advertising Partner: North American Title

Christina Isaac of North American Title chats with the company's President, Laurie Leenhouts, who is pleased to see the great turnout at the monthly Thrive at Five networking event where REALTORS gathered to share information on listings.

MorningStar

Now Open & Selling! From the $240’s • 10 Different Floorplans Liberty Hill ISD • 1,545 - 2,830 sq. ft. Amenity Filled Community 132 Landry St • Georgetown TX, 78628

For more info, contact Adrienne at 512-253-7338 or salesaustin@mihomes.com Visit us at mihomes.com today!

Download: RL_MM_051019_K.jpg for FREE at myrealtyline.com

RL Advertising Partners: Scott Felder Homes, Keller Williams Realty Scott Felder Homes shows appreciation for the many REALTORS the company works with to make the dream of home ownership come true with a special VIP happy hour at Maggiano's Little Italy at The Domain. Sandy Cary of Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, Jessica Tram Nguyen and Pei Tsai, both of Keller Williams Realty, grabbed a bite while meeting new people at the event.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

May 2019

NOW SELLING AT RANCHO SIENNA FROM THE HIGH $200Ks

Since 1971, Trendmaker Homes has built homes Texans love and trust. And now, Trendmaker is bringing that same quality and design to Rancho Sienna in Georgetown! Your clients will fall in love with the gorgeous homes, nature-centric amenities and exceptional schools— all set against a peaceful Hill Country backdrop. Quick move-in opportunities are available throughout the Austin area.

COMING SOON

Highlands at Mayfield Ranch Round Rock From the high $200Ks 1,600-3,192 sq. ft.

Palmera Ridge Leander From the high $200Ks 1,601-2,550 sq. ft.

6 Creeks Kyle From the mid $200Ks 1,579-3,121 sq. ft.

Contact our New Home Specialist, Kim Bennett, at (512) 575-4714 to learn more.

The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/incentives, neighborhood build-out and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions, square footage and acreage are approximate and should not be used as a representation of any home’s or homesite’s precise or actual size, location or orientation. There is no guarantee that any particular homesite or home will be available. A Broker/Agent must register their client in person on client’s first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a commission or referral fee, if available. Any photographs or renderings used herein reflect artists’ conceptions and are for illustrative purposes only. No warranty or guarantee is made regarding any particular area public school/school district or that any particular public school/school district will service any given community. Schools/school districts may change over time. Our name and the logos contained herein are registered trademarks of TRI Pointe Group, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. © 2019 Trendmaker Homes, Inc., a member of the TRI Pointe Group. All rights reserved.

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

austin

REPORT: Continued from front page

will be on the market for about four weeks before it sells and just three weeks in the U.S. But remember, these numbers represent all home sales. According to Bates, there’s a sweet spot at $150k to $300k. In Central Texas — especially Austin metro — those homes can sell in a day or two. Homes that start at around $700k spend more time on the market. Bates was also pleased to point out that nearly a third of homebuyers in the state are purchasing their first home. The median age of first-time buyers here was 32. The majority of first-time buyers in the state (59 percent) were between the ages of 25 to 34. Interestingly, only 23 percent of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. were between 35 to 44 years of age and in Texas, only 14 percent were in that age range. Compared to nationwide stats, Texas also has higher numbers of first-time buyers in the next three age catego-

ries over 44 years old, including 75 years and older. Bates surmises that the reason Texas has a lower percentage of buyers over 50 might have something to do with the price of appreciation. “At this age, you may not need to move, and while you’ll profit from selling your home, you’ll have to use that earned amount on a replacement home.” Overall, says Bates, “the market in Texas is driven by younger buyers and multi-family.” Some of the best news to come out of the report regards REALTOR satisfaction. Nearly 90 percent of Texas homebuyers and 85 percent of sellers “would definitely or probably recommend their agent to others or use their agent again.” In this age of computers and bots, it’s nice to see that people still love working with experienced agents. RL

Who Are Texas Home Sellers?

Texas Home Seller Median Age

56 26%

$109,400 Median Household

Income

Would

85%

Recommend or Work with their REALTOR® Again

First-Time Home Sellers

Want to move

Closer to Family & Friends

Home Loans

3.78

22%

as low as

% APR

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

P. O. Box 81366 • Austin, Texas 78708-1366 • (512) 514-3141 www.myRealtyLine.com Publisher: Doren L. Carver doren@myRealtyLine.com 512-514-3141

Associate Publisher: Tawanna K. Verock tawanna@myRealtyLine.com 512-965-0057

Managing Editor: Contributing Editor: Naomi Bludworth Linda McNabb naomi@myRealtyLine.com Contributing Writers: Photographer Riki Markowitz, Katie Agness, Melanie Mitchell Naomi Bludworth melanie@myRealtyLine.com 512-413-1706 ADVERTISING SALES: Columnists: Doren L. Carver Kevin Scanlan, Cyndi Bell, Becky (512) 514-3141 Collins, Jennifer Lish SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: ubmit photos, press releases and calendar items to naomi@myrealtyline.com. All S images 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 before ad copy deadlines. Submission items will be included as space allows. RealtyLine is published monthly by Caxton Publications, Inc.© as a non-subscription publication for the more than 12,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), the more than 1,800 members of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCREALTORS) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin. RealtyLine is a proud member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the Williamson County Association of REALTORS®, the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin and is an honorary member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS. RealtyLine 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 (®) to save space. Wherever the word REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered trademark should be assumed.

Auto Loans

2.89 as low as

% APR

Visit uhcu.org/realtyline for more information. Home Loans and Auto Loans: APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Limited time offer. United Heritage policies, terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Existing United Heritage loans not eligible. Rates & fees subject to change without notice. Membership required. APR is subject to underwriting approval and may increase depending on borrower qualification, applicable finance charges or repayment term. Federally Insured by NCUA. Home Loans: Cash out is a 50(a)(6) first lien only. Closing costs apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS #630601.

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â„¢

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

May 2019

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Real Estate News & Notes

& Music Model homes May

LIVE

MUSIC UNDER THE TENT

by Nu

Standard

30th

11:30 to 1:3oPM

Model Park

VIP TOUR OF 12

MODEL

HOMES 4 BRAND NEW MODEL HOMES

GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS & DOOR PRIZES

FOOD and refreshments

PROVIDED BY: Pok-e-Jo’s & Amy’s Ice Creams NEW MODELS : WATERLOO HOMES BY BROHN SARATOGA HOMES | M/I HOMES DREAM FINDERS HOMES

MERITAGE HOMES | KB HOME | GFO HOME WESTIN HOMES | VINTAGE ESTATE HOMES CAROTHERS EXECUTIVE HOMES

RSVP:events@livingmorningstarevent.com 105 Landry Street, Georgetown TX

From $190s: Sunfield offers master-planned living in Buda Located just outside of Austin in Buda, Texas, Sunfield is a 2,400-acre master-planned community with new homes priced from the $190s. Served by six of the area’s top builders, Sunfield embodies the Austin spirit of the laid-back lifestyle with a number of resort-style amenities, beautiful parks and open spaces. New this year, Sunfield will open the Lazy River Amenity Center, the community’s second amenity center featuring a pool and lazy river for family fun all summer long. The centerpiece of the community is the Sunbright Activity Center which features a junior Olympic swimming pool, spray park and an 8,000-square-foot covered pavilion with picnic tables and BBQ grills. Residents often gather at Sunbright Activity Center for social events planned throughout the year by the homeowner’s association. Other amenities include a fenced dog park with an obstacle course, a frisbee golf course and fishing ponds. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the five-mile mountain bike trail through the South Austin Hill Country, along with miles of hiking trails that meander throughout the community past various pocket

parks, picnic areas and open spaces. Leading Austin-area builders Centex, CastleRock Communities, Chesmar Homes, Gehan Homes, Pulte Homes and William Lyon Homes offer a number of home designs and price ranges to fit any homebuyer’s needs. Come tour the furnished model homes and learn about the open floor plans with spacious kitchens, media rooms and play spaces. Students will be served by the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, offering outstanding academics, sports and a wealth of extracurricular activities. Sunfield is ideally situated at the summit of the Austin-San Antonio corridor. Just 15 miles from both Austin and San Marcos and 25 miles from New Braunfels, Sunfield offers convenient area access via highways I-35, Hwy 120 and 45. To reach Sunfield from downtown Austin, take I-35 south just 15 miles and exit FM 2001. Turn east and go straight. The community will be straight ahead on your left. For more information, visit SunfieldTX.com. RL

Realty Austin opens North office at Lakeline Realty Austin officially unveiled its new North Office located on the northwest corner of Lakeline Mall Drive and Highway 183. Realty Austin’s North office is led by John Coake, Agent Success Manager, who brings a solid reputation and over 17 years of experience to the manager role. RL

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â„˘

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

www.myRealtyLine.com

Our Website Has Grown! Introducing the NEW TNT

Customer

Services Page https://texasnationaltitle.com/node/269/tools/customer-services At TNT, weâ€™re always thinking of new ways to streamline title services. A new website section has been developed to host some of our special NEW and old favorite agent services offered by TNT:

Zonability info Request Form Property Profile Request Form Zoccam User Guide and Info HOA Reseale Certificate Payment

May 2019

May 2019 www.myRealtyLine.com

RL austin

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995

Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.â„¢