Contents Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995™
APRIL 2019 • VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 11
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With your support ABoR Foundation thrives By Riki Markowitz
I
t’s hard to believe that the Austin Board of REALTORS (ABoR) Foundation originated more than four decades ago in 1978. From day one, the organization’s primary focus was to connect Central Texas REALTORS to the community by supporting causes associated with education, housing and disaster relief. In fact, the scholarship fund is one of the Foundation’s most popular and longest-running programs. More than 300 scholarships have been awarded since the Foundation’s inception and more $300,000 in scholar-
ships have been awarded in the last six years. In 2014, ABoR’s board of directors introduced a key organizational change — they made the community relations committee part of the Foundation. “It provided a way to expand the Foundation’s scope of core activities,” says Theresa Brown, the 2019 chair of ABoR Foundation. The Foundation partners with several community organizations and sponsors at least two major projects per year. To get an idea how members participated last year, here is a brief rundown: • Scholarships, valued at nearly $60,000, were awarded to 23 high school students enrolling
in college in Texas, plus two alumni recipients. • Volunteers participated in a home repair day on a home occupied by an East Austin senior. • To help housebound seniors and adults with disabilities cope with Central Texas’ unrelenting summer temperatures, members donated money and fans. The Summer Fan Drive is an annual event for the community’s most at-risk individuals. The previous year, ABoR Foundation presented Family Eldercare with a $7,500 check and more than 100 fans.
• More than 180 volunteers built a home for a deserving Austin resident, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to 2018’s Holiday Blitz Build, an art teacher was presented with the keys to her own brand new home. Additional initiatives went toward ending homelessness in Austin and an annual awards presentation — “Most Worthy Citizen.” The yearly ceremony celebrates a Central Texas citizen who has made a meaningful impact on the community. THRIVES: Continued on page 20
YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!
Investing in our future
By Riki Markowitz
Important words that can set you free! RealtyLine's publisher Doren Carver, far right, and Associate Publisher Tawanna Verock, second from left, contributes to TREPAC as a Major Investor, Sterling R level. Bill Evans of Austin Real Pros and Tami Baker of Blue Line Realty accepted the contribution on behalf of TREPAC.
The Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) works to protect the livelihood and future earnings potential of Central Texas REALTORS®.
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Real estate can be a rough
career, no less, many agents allow
driving around town showing
industry. You can’t say it’s like
bad behaviors to go on entirely
properties, giving frequent up-
playing chess compared to the
too long. After spending dozens
dates on your work, plus the cost
other checkers-playing careers
of hours on schooling and train-
of gas and wear and tear on your
in the service industry because in
ing, and maybe even working
car, even if the relationship ends
chess, there’s no emotional body
more than
slamming. RealtyLine has spoken
one
with industry insiders who say
until real
the career is not exactly “worse”
estate can
than other service jobs. “Abusive
pay the bills,
is the word I’m looking for,” says
firing every
Eunice Garza, an agent with Resi-
client who
dent Realty.
has
“It’s an industry that is univer-
job
said
something
sally not respected,” she explains.
r ude
So like any self-respecting real
made you
in a closing, your fee actually gets
estate agent, she’s had to fire a
feel like an Uber driver/tour
smaller and smaller. Some clients
few clients over the course of her
guide doesn’t always seem very
have no problem pulling the rug
career. On average, Garza has
judicious. It’s hard to fire a client
out from under an agent's feet
only fired less than one client a
after you’ve invested so much
and deciding to go with someone
year, which is a pretty standard
time in them.
different, regardless of how much
or
number for experienced agent/
There are a few ways of look-
time or money you’ve invested
brokers. Those starting out in the
ing at this situation. On the one
in working together. It’s really
business, however, don’t know
hand, you can keep investing your
important for your career and
when it’s time to fire a client, or
time. But with each
how to do it. At the start of their
hour you spend
OUTTA HERE: Continued on page 28