ABoR’s heats up with annual TREPAC Chili Cook-off in February The time has come to pull out your famous chili recipe, heat
are a limited number of spots available. Don’t miss out on your chance
place on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from
the flavors of all of the delicious entries by purchasing an individual
up your pots and pans, and start cooking. Registration is now
open for the annual TREPAC Chili Cook-off, which will take
to participate in the competition by registering your team today.
Not up to cooking? Not a problem. Allow your taste buds to savor
5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the ABoR
ticket for $25. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. To pur-
Entries will be judged in both vegetar-
Sponsorships are also available for the event and provide a
Auditorium. All chili must arrive at
the competition ready to serve.
ian and meat categories by cook-off judges. Additionally, a
grand champion will be selected by “people’s choice.”
Team registration is only $99 and includes two event tickets and a
display table. The deadline to register is February 10. However, there
chase your ticket online, visit www.abor.com/events/chili.cfm or to purchase by phone, call 454-7636, ext. 1501.
great opportunity for businesses to shine the spotlight on themselves. Fore more information regarding the event, registration,
tickets and sponsorships, contact Christina Ortiz at govern-
ment@abor.com or by phone at 454-7636, ext. 1501.
Upcoming Events: JANUARY 21 WCAoR First Quarterly Luncheon Georgetown Community Ctr. - 11:30 a.m. 445 E. Morrow in San Gabriel Park
FEBRUARY 3 AMBA Monthly Meeting Austin Country Club - 11:30 a.m.
FEBRUARY 10 Mortgage IQ EXPO 2010 The Commons Conference Center - 8:30 a.m. FEBRUARY 17 CRS Meeting Westwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m. FEBRUARY 17 ABoR’s TREPAC Chili Cook-off ABoR Auditorium - 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
MARCH 11 8th Annual HBA Crawfish Boil Early bird discount tickets to be sold through Jan. 31 Teravista - 6 to 10 p.m.
—Associates In— PROGRESS
JANUARY 2010 • VOL. 14 • ISSUE 9
Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.
Attract More Buyers by Taking Eye-pleasing Listing Photos By Shannon Petrie Reprinted from FrontDoor.com Home sellers used to count on curb appeal to make a
good first impression on potential buyers. Now, with 80
percent of homebuyers starting their house hunt online, a home's "pix appeal," or how good it looks in photos
posted on the Internet, is taking over as the top way to impress buyers off the bat.
In a survey by the National Association of
REALTORS, homebuyers rated photos as the feature they use most when searching for a home on the web.
Online listings with bad pictures—or worse, no pic-
tures at all—can cause buyers to overlook your home from the get-go.
So how do you make a good impression with your
real estate photos? If you're selling through an agent, find out if they will be photographing your home. Some
agents, especially those representing pricier properties, opt to hire professional photographers to get the best
shots possible, while others choose to take photos them-
selves. Look at the agency's Web site for an idea of the quality of photos you can expect from them.
P.O. Box 81366 Austin, Texas 78708-1366
Before You Photograph
Invest in a decent camera. A cell-phone camera won't
cut it if you want quality shots, but top-of-the-line equipment isn't a necessity either. Any point-and-shoot
digital
camera
and compositions. The best way to show off a room is to
shoot from a corner or doorway to include as much of
the room as possible. This provides context and makes
the room look more spacious than a tight shot does. When photographing the home's
with five megapixels or more will
exterior, stand at an angle to the home rather
digital SLR offers more settings and
photographing objects that
produce good photos. If you're
willing to fork over more cash, a
allows you to use a variety of lens-
than straight-on, allowing buyers to see the
home's depth. As much as possible, avoid
obscure your home, like poles and wires.
es. A tripod is also a good invest-
Don't make the home
ment for taking sharp photos.
look like something it's
Stage the home. You want to show off the space,
not. While you want to
not what's in it. Make sure the home is clean, and clear from distracting items like
toys, refrigerator magnets and the like before taking photos. If this
leaves the home looking a little
dull, accents like a vase of fresh flowers can spice it up.
make your house look as
good as possible, don't
mislead buyers. For instance, a photo taken with a wide-angle lens can make a room
look deceptively large. Buyers will be disap-
pointed and irritated when
they view the home and
While You Photograph
see that the seemingly
Use as much natural lighting as possible. Open
huge bedrooms are actual-
the curtains and turn on all the lights to make a
ly quite small.
room look bright and
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Austin, Texas Paid Permit #715
era's built-in flash as lit-
tle as possible; it creates
unattractive shadows and
reflects off mirrors and win-
dows. You should also avoid taking photos on rainy days
or at night, as this will pro-
Digital cameras give you
the freedom to take as
many photos as you want, so experiment with lots of
angles and camera settings. Review the photos later and choose the ones that best represent the listing. After You Photograph
Touch up the photos. After you've chosen your best
duce gloomy photos. For
photos, you'll probably find that they need a bit of
sun doesn't cast dark shad-
Free online photo editing tools like Picnik and Snipshot
exterior shots, take pictures on an overcast day so the ows on the home.
Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com
Take lots of photos.
open. Rely on the cam-
Choose the best angles
tweaking. Maybe the living room looks too dark, or the
home's exterior is framed by distracting telephone wires.
are easy to use and allow you to crop your pictures, adjust brightness and contrast, and correct colors. [RL]
2
www.realtylineonline.com
Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
A PUBLICATION OF © CAXTON PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Austin Real Pros’ Bill Evans and Carrie York and their guests gather for a Happy New Year holiday party at Green Pastures.
Realty Line of 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. © Caxton Publications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is an active 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. Caxton Publications, Inc. dba Realty Line of 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.
Bill Bradshaw, seated, of Gracy Title and Ann McKinley, standing center, of Network Funding present a course for REALTORS on Understanding the New Settlement Statement.
Doren L. Carver PUBLISHER Tawanna K. Carver MANAGING EDITOR
Linda McNabb CONTRIBUTING EDITOR/WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER COLUMNISTS John Horton, ABoR Chairman Steve Zbranek, HBA President J. Rene Ward, WCAoR President Susanna Boyer, WCR President Bill Bradshaw, Gracy Title
All photos, press releases or article submissions can be sent to realtyline@austin.rr.com
P. O. Box 81366, Austin, Texas 78708 Office: (512) 821-1900 www.realtylineonline.com
Take your sales career to new heights with MetLife Home Loans. A move to MetLife Home Loans can be very rrewarding. ewarding. A division division o off M MetLife etLife Bank, Bank, N N.A., .A., MetLife MetLife H Home ome Loans Loans o offers ffers m mortgage ortgage ssales ales professionals p rofessionals a unique unique blend blend o off b benefits enefits a and nd o opportunities, pportunities, iincluding: ncluding: > Aw wide ide range range of of home home loan loan p products roducts > A comprehensive comprehensive b benefits enefits package package > T The he opportunity opportunity to to make make a rreal eal d difference ifference b by yh helping elping yyour our ccustomers ustomers b build uild fi financial nancial freedom freedom through through h home ome o ownership wnership FFor or m more ore d details etails of of career career opportunities opportunities w with ith M MetLife etLife H Home ome LLoans, oans, o orr tto oa apply, pply, ccontact: ontact: Chris Blevins Chris Blevins 901 9 01 S. S. M Mopac opac Expy Expy Bldg Bldg 2 Austin, A ustin, TX TX 78746 78746 Office: O ffice: 5 512-329-3541 12-329-3541 Cell: C ell: 512-632-6124 512-632-6124 ccblevins@metlife.com blevins@metlife.com llo.mlhl.com/austin o.mlhl.com/austin
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11335
January 2010
ABoR CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN
Social Media Courses Available to Guide You in the New Year By John Horton • John Horton Realty
2010 Chairman • Austin Board of REALTORS February is a jam-packed with a variety of mandatory continuing education
courses that will help steer your social media efforts down the right path. Take advantage of ABoR’s special package deal on social media policy classes by sign-
ing up for both When Article 12 and Web 2.0 Collide and Internet Policies for Brokerage Companies on Feb. 25. Together these courses will teach you how to
incorporate social media into your business and how improved policies related to social media can aid in protecting your business.
ABoR members will receive a special discounted rate of $100 if these courses
are taken together. Discounts are also available for non-members. Contact ABoR’s Education Department directly at education@abor.com or 454-7636 by Feb. 24 to
take advantage of this offer.
Annual Chili Cook-off Set for February 17
The time has come to put on your apron and start cooking. ABoR’s annual
TREPAC Chili Cook-off will take place on Feb. 17 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the
ABoR Auditorium. All members are welcome to participate. Team registration is $99 and includes two event tickets and a display table. The deadline to enter the
cook-off is Feb. 10. However, space is limited so don’t delay and reserve your spot today. Participants will be judged in both vegetarian and meat categories, and
your chili must arrive at the competition ready to serve. Individuals interested in
participating should contact Christina Ortiz in ABoR’s Government Affairs Department at 454-7636, ext. 1501 or by e-mail at government@abor.com.
If cooking isn’t your forte, purchase an individual ticket for $25 and sample the
many flavors of the competition. Tickets are available in advance and at the door
Realty Line of Austin the
day
of
the
www.realtylineonline.com event.
Visit
https://www.abor.com/events/chili.cfm to purchase
your ticket today. Sponsorship opportunities are also
available.
Learn Something New Over Lunch
Refresh your knowledge and start the year off right
by attending one of ABoR’s monthly Lunch and Learn sessions. These sessions focus on reviewing the ACTRIS
Rules and Regulations and the rationale behind them.
The class also explains the most common rule violations and how members can avoid them in the future. Eligible MLS fines can be waived by attending one of the
Lunch and Learn sessions within 90 days of the invoice date. Keep in mind that
you can only attend one Lunch and Learn session every six months to have a fine waived.
For more information on Lunch and Learn, contact the MLS support team at
454-7636 or mlssupport@abor.com. To find out when the next session will be
offered and to register online, visit the Education section of Abor.com. Lunch and
Learn sessions are listed under the MLS courses. You must be logged in to your account to view these classes.
The Time Has Come to Contribute to TREPAC
Have you been on the fence about whether or not you should contribute to the
Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC)? There has never been a
better time to act. TREPAC helps protect our interests as real estate professionals by safeguarding private property rights and fighting hard for the issues most rel-
evant to our industry. Every year, TREPAC works diligently to provide a strong
voice for REALTORS®. Make your investment in TREPAC today by visiting https://www.abor.com/gov_affairs/trepac/. Looking to the Year Ahead
It is an honor and privilege to serve as your elected 2010 Chairman of the
Board. I look forward to a prosperous year for each of us. Our industry is depend-
ent on the satisfaction of our customers; therefore, our number one goal this year should be to become trusted advisors for homebuyers and sellers. This goal can be
achieved by agents who are knowledgeable about their industry and communicate
the value of REALTORS® to consumers. Excellence takes hard work and high standards. Together, we can work diligently to ensure 2010 is a successful year. [RL]
e n o y r e v e g n i h Wis d n a s u o r e p s o r p a
! 0 1 0 2 l u f s s e succ Please welcome Kelley Murphy Westlake branch to our Westlake 1221 S. Mopac, Suite 150 | Austin, Texas Texas 78746 office cell 512.658.0068 | of fice 512.328.3794 | fax 512.328.1909 kemurphy@firstam.com
3
“Kelley has ear earned ned our trust...” Ask Kelley Murphy’s Murphy’s customers what separates her from from the competition, and they’ll tell you it’s it’s her honesty, honesty, enthusiasm, knowledge, and reliability. reliability. Kelley considers her customers to be business partners and takes a personal interest inter est in their success. She listens to each customer’s customer’s needs and finds solutions to the pr problems. oblems. Kelley keeps her promises, promises, and “she goes the extra mile –with a constant smile”
www.FirstAmAustin.com www .FirstAmAustin.com
4
www.realtylineonline.com
Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Singing Christmas carols at the Keller Williams Southwest Market Center’s Holiday Party are Caren Upshaw, Gwendolyn Watkin, Eric Copper, Jeff Hayenga, Knolly Williams and United Lending’s Shawn Haywood.
WCAoR executive director Marge Phillips tells Santa (Harry Gibbs) what the association needs for Christmas. She was among those in attendance at the o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s Christmas Tree Gala, which was held at the Buffington Signature Homes model. United Lending’s Tommy Nelms, standing, and David McMillan make Christmas come early by handing out profit-sharing checks to employees at the company’s Christmas luncheon.
January 2010
Realty Line of Austin
www.realtylineonline.com
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Ralph Bell, second from right, of ZIP Realty learns firsthand information about the new KB Home model in Legends Village in Round Rock from company associates Scott Fallowfield, Colette Fitzgerald and Scott Taylor.
Bette Cook, right, of North American Title thanks Linda Komm of SWBC Mortgage for sponsoring an educational seminar at Cover 3 about the new RESPA Regulations.
Brad Brown of RE/MAX Austin Skyline shares some holiday cheer with First American Title representatives Kristy Miller, Kelley Murphy and Julie Pierro at the RE/MAX Austin Skyline office on Bee Caves Road.
Celebrating the end of the year and the holidays at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse are Doris Stout of Drees Custom Homes and Dusty Rhodes of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS.
January 2010
Realty Line of Austin
HBA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
www.realtylineonline.com
7
You’re Invited to the 8th annual Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR Mixer By Steve Zbranek • Zbranek Custom Homes
2009-2010 President • Home Builders Association of Greater Austin Purchase Tickets by January 31 to receive Discount
Spring is coming, and we’re hoping it’s going to be a busy season for both builders and
REALTORS®. But before the spring fever begins, we’d like to invite REALTORS out to kick
back, enjoy the good weather and some good conversation at our old-fashioned crawfish boil. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin will host the annual Crawfish Boil
Builder/REALTOR mixer on Mar. 11 from 6 to 10 p.m., and we’d love to see you there.
Tickets are $20 through the end of January (buy 10 or more for an additional 10% dis-
Dan Campbell of Texas Open Door Realty, Lorrie Westberry of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS and Glyn Kennedy of TLC Carpet Care share holiday sentiments at the Ranch at Brushy Creek model during the 2009 Christmas Tree Gala.
count) and include crawfish with “all the fixins” and live entertainment (tickets go up to
$25 each in Feb. and $30 in Mar.). A cash bar will be available. It’s the perfect opportunity
to mingle with builders, build relationships, and take a fun, personal approach to growing
your business.
We’re hosting this year’s event at Teravista in Round Rock, so in addition to spending
time with your friends in the HBA, you can get a firsthand look at this beautiful communi-
ty being built by Newland Communities. Homes at Teravista start at $169,000 and include homes built by Meritage Homes Corporation, Spicewood Communities, Buffington
Signature Homes, Centex Homes, Lennar, DR Horton, CastleRock, Ryland Homes and
Wilshire Homes.
Come to the Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR Mixer on Mar. 11 and show your support
for the beautiful friendship that HBA of Greater Austin members and REALTORS have
built together. We’ll do a prize drawing just for REALTORS—and we promise great net-
working opportunities, lots of fun, and some darn good food.
To learn more about how to choose a builder or buy a new home, visit the Home
Builder’s Association of Greater Austin’s Web site at www.AustinHomeBuilders.com; then click on consumer resources. [RL]
Sheri Mitchell of Southern Exposure REALTORS gets her palm read at the 15th annual holiday party hosted by RE/MAX Austin Skyline.
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Best-selling author Andy Andrews (The Traveler’s Gift, The Noticer) Dr. Ted Jones, Senior Vice PresidentChief Economist, Stewart Title Guaranty Company RFC (Residential Finance Consultant) and MCE designation courses Timely, relevant breakouts on technology, social media, short sales, & more Texas Sentinels Foundation Fun Night Fundraiser at Billy Bob’s Grand Awards Celebration and Casino Party Charity Fundraiser Networking with 700 of Texas’ top real estate sales professionals
Each office independently owned and operated.
8
www.realtylineonline.com
Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Rudy Hopkins and Becky Hopkins, both of Austin Title, enjoy attending the ABoR Installation and Awards Gala together.
Ricky Cain of Keller Williams Realty tries his best to get into the picture with his fiance, Kodi McCrary, and J a y m e s Willoughby during the Keller Williams Realty Southwest Market Center’s Holiday Party. Ricky and Jaymes are both with Keller Williams Realty. RE/MAX Austin Skyline’s Linda Schneider, far right, joins Louis Canales, and Sandi Gillis of Austin Title for a fun shot in the photo booth at the 15th annual holiday party hosted by RE/MAX Austin Skyline.
January 2010
Realty Line of Austin
www.realtylineonline.com
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Christina Bull, Yvette Boatwright and Lisa Hill, all of Realty Austin, chat about what they want for Christmas at the Realty Austin agent appreciation party held before Christmas.
Bob O’Reilly, far left, and Chris Blevins, far right, both of MetLife Home Loans, enjoy the good company of Joe Roach and Robin Lyons at the AMBA Holiday Party and Installation held at the UT Club.
Broker/owner Doug Land, right, of Capital Sotheby’s International Realty w e l c o m e s Jonathan Creath and Lauren Powell as they arrived to the company’s holiday celebration.
Wayne Richardson of Buffington Signature Homes and Lyn Blankholm of Highland Homes tell Santa (Harry Gibbs) what they want for Christmas at the 2009 WCAoR Christmas Tree Gala held at the Buffington Signature Homes model in the Ranch at Brushy Creek.
January 2010
Realty Line of Austin
www.realtylineonline.com
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www.realtylineonline.com
Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Norm Adams and Donna Bergstrom, both of Keller Williams Realty, start the holidays off with U.C. Ukaoma of Drees Custom Homes at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse.
United Lending’s Diane Rendon and Sandra Martinez get ready to exchange presents at the United Lending Christmas luncheon.
Mark Hairston of Mortgage IQ surrounds himself with his wife Shara Parker, left, of Austin REPS and Donna Yoste of RE/MAX Austin Associates at the end of the ABoR Installation and Awards Gala.
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
WCAoR PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
2010— A New Year, A New Start! By J. Rene Ward • Best Agents in Texas
2010 President • Williamson County Association of REALTORS
Isn’t it great to turn the page on 2009 and start fresh with a whole new decade?
A lot of us would agree that we or someone we know hit a few bumps in the road last
year. How many of us would say we were responsible for at least some of it?
The choices we made, the words we said, and the actions we took not only impacted our
www.realtylineonline.com
13
sure that our volunteers feel appreciated for the work they do
for our association and in our community. I want us to give
back, to our community and to fellow REALTORS, some of which are hurting right now.
So you ask how are we going to achieve this. It’s a fair ques-
tion. No one can do everything, but everyone can do some-
thing. Before we can “empty the tank” we have to fill it with fuel that will sustain us in 2010. Hopefully it is premium fuel
for optimum performance. The kind that takes you further
than you imagined and to places you didn’t even think you
could go to. That kind of fuel becomes contagious. It infects everyone around you. It
encourages you to do better, be better, have more, give more and make a difference.
We hope that every one of you will be fully engaged, giving your talents, participating
with your passion and contributing your time and resources where necessary.
Here’s our promise to you: We will put your interest above our interest. That we will
lead the way we would want to be lead; and that we will serve with a servant’s heart.
The future of Williamson County Association of REALTORS is shining bright. We know
lives, but also the lives of those around us. Whether as an individual, family, organization,
the challenges, but the opportunities are as endless as the stars in the sky. Join us…I hope
The good news is... it’s not too late!
Upcoming Events
or societal level, it is clear that we could have done some things better.
Last month, one of the Kennedy Center Honors went to singer and songwriter Bruce
Springsteen. His award was presented by political satirist, television host, and stand-up
comedian, Jon Stewart.
In Jon’s delivery, he said “Bruce ‘empties the tank’ every performance.”
I like the phrase “empties the tank.” It means he gave all he had, did the best he could
and provided the best performance he was capable of.
That’s my wish for you and the Williamson County Association of REALTORS in 2010—
that we “empty the tank.” When we look back at this year we have no regrets. That we have given all we had and done the best we could.
I have some big and lofty goals; they still need some work, commitment and the kind of
passion which will come from our leadership team. I want us to have an association that is
relevant to its current and future members. I want to see us grow our membership in 2010 by 20%. I want us to raise $100,000 above our dues revenue. I want us to have a strategic
plan that prepares us for the next generation of REALTORS. I want to see more of us par-
ticipate in TREPAC. I want us to provide educational opportunities to our members that are world class. I want to see our events draw on the communities we serve. I want to make
together we will end 2010 with empty tanks.
Based on your feedback, we are trying some new ideas. We will offer Graduate
REALTOR Institute (GRI) classes two days at a time in two separate weeks. You will
still have to take all four days to complete a GRI class, but the classes will be spread out so you can sell more houses in between!
Our February GRI-3 class will be held Feb. 3-4 and Feb. 11-12. Our GRI-2 class will
be held Jun. 10-11 and Jun. 17-18 and finally, our GRI-1 class will be held Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 14-15.
Additional classes coming in February include: • Feb. 10 - DocuSign (Electronic Signature)
• Feb. 8 - TREC Ethics and Legal at our Cedar Park location • Feb. 18 - Bottom Line Business Basics (BBB)
Learn what is required at tax time and learn how to put together a business plan.
• Feb. 19 - Fundamentals of Foreclosure Auctions
Learn how to bid on foreclosures as investments or for clients.
Mark your calendars for an exciting 2010. See you at our next luncheon! [RL]
14
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
Matt Ditlow, right, of Capital City S o t h e b y ’ s International Realty brought his client, Bill LaRosa, to the company’s holiday celebration held at the available listing at 1157 The High Road.
Incoming AMBA President Doug Scott of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage presents a plaque to Eddie Rinehart of Treaty Oak Mortgage in recognition of his service as the 2009 AMBA President. Also looking on was Kenton Brown of Sente Mortgage.
Ann McKinley, second from left, of Network Funding helps (from left) Shelly Grissom, Vicki Garritano and Heather Brennan, all of Gracy Title, set up for a program on the new HUD forms.
Renovation Financing
Help your remodel customers maximize their renovation dollars Recognized as the nation's #1 originator of renovation financing, our renovation loan options may provide your customers financing power to remodel, repair, improve and bring out the most in their home. • Fixer-uppers, rehabs, and properties in any condition are eligible • Provide your customers a loan amount that is based on the completed value of the home after improvements with our Purchase & RenovateSM program • Qualified customers can transform a “before” with a loan based on the upgraded “after” • We can lend up to 110% of the after-improved value To learn how your buyers may benefit from renovation financing, call today!
Annie Fojtik Renovation Specialist 3601 Far West Blvd. Austin, TX 78731 Phone: (512) 344-7887 Cell: (512) 633-2883 Annie.L.Fojtik@WellsFargo.com www.wfhm.com/annie-fojtik Information is for real estate professionals only and is not intended for distribution to consumers. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A .All rights reserved. #67954 12/09-3/10.
Faith Staires, center, of RE/MAX Austin Skyline enjoys the holiday party with granddaughter Caydence and daughter Rebekah at the RE/MAX Austin Skyline office on Bee Caves Road.
January 2010
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January 2010
Austin Mortgage Bankers Association members David Reed and Steve Builta of Hometrust Mortgage sit back and relax at the annual holiday party and installation.
Having a splendid time partaking in holiday cheer at the Keller Williams Realty Southwest Market Center party are Judy Green and guest, and Carmen Nichols. Judy and Carmen are both agents with Keller Williams Realty.
Stephanie Powell of Champions School of Real Estate, with guest Jay Tankersley, arrives at the ABoR Installation and Awards Gala at the Renaissance Austin Hotel.
January 2010
WCR PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
2010 and WCR— A Fabulous Year Ahead By Susanna Boyer • Sellstate Classic Realty
2010 President • Women’s Council of REALTORS Welcome to 2010! We have a fabulous year planned for the Austin Chapter of the Women’s
Council of REALTORS®. I challenge you to make joining WCR one of your New Year’s reso-
lutions. Join us at our membership meetings each month, sit in on our Governing Board meetings, or join one of our many committees and get involved.
My passion and my calling has always been to serve. In the years that I have been in the
real estate profession, I have had the opportunity to serve along side some very strong lead-
ers in numerous organizations. Now, I have been chosen to be one of those leaders. I have
been elected to serve as this year’s president. Our members have put their faith in me to lead this chapter and I take this very seriously. I look at it as a privilege and honor.
In 2010, we are budgeting for scholarships to help more of our members attend state,
regional and national meetings. We are also forming a Strategic Planning committee that will consist of the executive board, past presidents and general members that have positive ideas for the direction that the Austin Chapter should take over the next three to five years to con-
tinue to be an “ongoing, viable and vibrant organization.” One that REALTORS and affiliates
from the Central Texas area will know is the professional organization that they should be
Realty Line of Austin
4% COMMISSION ON THE FIRST SALE OF A NEW MILESTONE HOME!
GRAND
OPENING At Paradiso Villas!
11400 W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Wed., February 17th • 11am-3pm Great Food! • Door Prizes! • Giveaways! Grand Opening Specials!
RSVP to 512-215-3424.
members of and be involved in. We want WCR to be “top of mind” and one of the steps in their business plan that will help them achieve their goals of success.
I see WCR as a vehicle that can help and guide our members through leadership roles at
productive, successful and fun year in WCR. Come and join us!
Our first luncheon of the year was held on January 12, with incoming ABoR chairman John
spoke about what was happening at their respective board/association and what their goals for the year are. If you missed it you missed an exciting and informative luncheon.
Our next luncheon will be on Thursday, Feb. 18, in the auditorium at ABoR. We will be fea-
turing a Rookie Panel, moderated by WCR’s state president Deborah Spangler. We’ve invit-
ed the 2009 Rookie’s of the Year from WCAoR and ABoR, as well as from a few of the com-
L North 183A TOLL
• New Homes from the $150’s
183
• Private Community Pool • Included Yard Maintenance • Close to Shopping & Major Highways
Cedar Par k
• 90-acre Brushy Creek Lake Park next door
1431
35 Brushy
Round Rock
Creek Lane
Horton and J. Rene Ward, 2010 president of WCAoR, as our special guest speakers. They
Paradiso Villas
er Parm
local, state and national levels—in the real estate industry and beyond. I look forward to a
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620
45
TOLL
Call 512-215-3424 for details.
1
panies in our area. We’ll learn how, even in a down market, and being new in the business,
how they still closed millions of dollars in transactions. Bring your notepad and pen to take notes and rev up your business in 2010. Come see what WCR is all about.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all again and meeting lots of new people. I would love
to receive suggestions for different types of real estate related/business building programs that you would like to see us present. And, if you have heard speakers that you thought were
phenomenal and think that we could possibly use them, please, send us their contact information. We are very open to suggestions. [RL]
Meet MileStone Community Builders – Austin’s dynamic new homebuilder. For special incentives look for us online at www.MyMileStone.com
Paradiso Villas – From the $150’s Discover the only new home community priced from the $150’s along west Parmer Lane.
Great homes in great locations. L
Cypress Creek Townhomes
North
• New Homes from the $130’s
• Included Dwelling Insurance • ACC and Milburn Park within minutes • Close to Lakeline Mall & Major Highways
Call 512-215-5220 for details.
Reba Saxon of Keller Williams Realty keeps the bidding active at the 2009 Christmas Tree Gala that WCAoR hosted at the Buffington Signature Homes model in the Ranch at Brushy Creek.
sC
e re
d kR
pr Cy
• Included Yard & Exterior Maintenance, Water and Trash
es
• Private Community Pool
Juliette Blvd Lakeline Blvd
45
TOLL
Travel 183A North to Cypress Creek Blvd. Take a Left on Cypress Creek Blvd. Travel 1 mile and take a Left on Juliette Blvd.
For The MileStones In Your Life...
Offer cannot be combined with any other available offers. Realtor commission of 4% is applicable, but only if realtor accompanies buyer on Buyer’s initial trip to the Community. Commission program may be cancelled at any time without notice. Actual terms of sale may vary. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new contracts only. Buyers must contract no later than January 31, 2010 to qualify. Actual terms of sale may vary. Additional restrictions may apply and incentives are subject to change without notice. Please contact a community sales representative for additional information and/or requirements.
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January 2010
Gwen Johansen of North American Title and David Starry of Real Vision Properties catch up before a class on new RESPA Regulations held at Cover 3.
Leonard Guerrero of JB Goodwin REALTORS gives his time during the holidays to help out worthy causes. Leonard is an annual participant in Coats for Kids.
RE/MAX Capital City agents help collect food to distribute to families in need during the holidays. Joel Nugent, Nora Wall, Gladys Ramos, Caroline Tontini and Steve Heagerty.
January 2010
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January 2010
Antonia Warren, center, of Keller Williams Realty is part of a local show called "Austin Real Estate Experts." It features a group of industry professionals who discuss Real Estate topics in Central Texas, and fields calls from viewers live on the air. The show airs at 9 p.m. every Monday on Channel Austin 10.
Anney Rehm and Capital City S o t h e b y ’ s International Realty agents Lynn Robin and Adele Waring tour the home listing were Capital City S o t h e b y ’ s International Realty hosted its annual holiday party.
The 2010 Austin Mortgage Bankers Association officers are GayLynn Cuming (Secretary) and Doug Scott (President), both of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Kenton Brown (Treasurer) of Sente Mortgage and Mike Carroll (Vice President) of MGIC.
RE/MAX Austin Skyline’s broker/owner Ron Binkley enjoys talking with Jeanine O’Neall and guests at the company’s 15th annual holiday party.
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
www.realtylineonline.com
Dear Friends, I’m pleased to announce that Integrity Home Mortgage is merging with Land Mortgage effective January 1, 2010. Land Mortgage, the retail division of Ameripro Funding, is an Austin-based residential mortgage lender. Founded in 2003, the company has continued to grow inside of a turbulent market by continually providing value to its customers, referral partners and employees. Integrity Home Mortgage will begin to operate under the Land Mortgage title effective January 1st. Integrity Home Mortgage finished 2009 with one of the best years ever in production. This merger will help us move thrive mo ve fforward orward and ccontinue ontinue tto o thr ive in a vvery ery challenging market. Ameripro ipr Funding unding offers an incredible mortgage mor tgage bank banking ing platform platform with the capital, capital, technology, technology, and operational operational capacity capacity to to deliver deliver the best best quality quality to to clients our clien ts and rreferral efer ef erral partners. partners. Overall, Overall, this merger merger will give give us an incredible incredible boost boost of strength strength while maintaining great culture thatt In Integrity main taining the gr eat cultur e tha tegrity has always always represented. represented. great thatt has always served TThe he same gr eat tteam eam tha always ser ved your your needs remains remains unchanged at at the same Loop Loop 360 location. location. Our passion is still tto o give give our clients clients the best best experience experience and terms terms available. available. Please Please continue continue to to remember remember us ffor or mortgage journey. Come yyour our mor tgage needs and referrals. ref efer errals. Come Come by by and see us as we we embark embark on this new stage in our jour ney. C ome sayy hello tto Mortgage! sa o Land M ortgage! We W e wish yyou ou man manyy blessings in 2010! SSincerely, incerely ely,, SSonny onny A llen Allen Land M ortgage fformerly ormerly Int egrit ityy H ome Mor tgage Mortgage Integrity Home Mortgage
We are pleased to announce our new south Austin location: 1705 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. ,Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746 • 512.458.6979
The Right R Lending Partner P Every business is unique and tto Every o ha have ve yyour our business gr grow ow yyou ou need a str strategic ategic par partner tner who ccan an handle an anyy situation. Mortgage grown way great people, situa tion. SSince ince 2003 the aaward ward winning team team at at Land M ortgage has gr own the rright ight w ay - gr eat p eople, sound principles. We execute fundamentals exceed expectations Byy simply doing wha whatt w we best pr inciples. W ee xecute the fundamen tals and e xceed e xpectations everyday. everyday. B e do b est experienced ensures learn close & fund loans - our e xperienced tteam eam ensur es your your business can can succeed. succeed. To To lear n more more call call today. today.
AN New ew EEra ra In M Mortgage ortgage B Banking anking An A nA AmeriPro meriPro FFunding unding C Company ompany
www.landmtg.com www .landmtg.com
8300 N. MOPAC MOPA MOP AC • Suit Suite e 225 • Austin, Austin, TX TX • 78759 • 512.335.5300 • M Mor Mortgage tgage B Banker anker N No. o. 43954
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January 2010
Realty Austin’s broker/owner Yvette Boatright and her h u s b a n d , Jonathan, host their annual Christmas party to spread good cheer with friends and associates. Joining them were agent Dori Garner and her husband, Bryan.
Jim Erdeljac of RE/MAX River City, Sheila Hilts, REALTOR, and Craig McMenamy enjoy food and friendship at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse at the Drees Custom Homes Christmas party.
J. Rene Ward, left, of Best Agents in Texas finds Susanna Boyer of Sellstate Realty in the crowd of 400 industry professionals during the Austin Board of REALTORS Installation and Awards Gala. J. Rene is the 2010 president of WCAoR and Susanna is the 2010 president of the Women’s Council of REALTORS.
January 2010
ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS
Champions School of Real Estate By Linda McNabb
CONTRIBUTING WRITER "The more you learn, the more you earn." Champions School of Real Estate has built a rep-
utation on that simple principle and opened an Austin/Round Rock campus just last year to help area real estate professionals excel through high-quality education and instruction.
Conveniently located in a shopping center off Interstate 35 and the new 45 Toll Road,
Champions makes it easy to suit even the busiest schedule with classes seven days a week
including daytime, evening, and weekend options. And with courses offered online and via correspondence, there's a learning style for everyone.
"Our focus has always been on giving our students the 'total learning experience' by
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Or if you are interested in becoming an
Accredited Buyer’s Representative, a
Certified Home Marketing Specialist or an Accredited
Luxury
Home
Specialist,
Champions School of Real Estate also
offers these designations to further your career and to better serve your clients.”
Champions School of Real Estate also
reaches out to the wide range of profes-
sionals in the real estate industry through loan origination, home inspection, real
estate appraisal education.
“Available in a variety of convenient
study formats, our comprehensive edu-
cation is created to ensure you receive the
most accurate and up-to-date informa-
tion to help you become a Champion!”
Stephanie Powell
Powell says.
Austin Regional Manager
The winter course catalog has just been
released and includes a new offering called “The Three T’s to Success in Today's
Marketplace: Tools, Trends and Technology.” That course and many others are sure to
offering the most current and relevant information, taught by the most qualified instructors
attract the attention of area professionals who come from as far away as Killeen, Waco,
career, continuing education to keep you informed on the latest trends, or designations to
“Just because education is mandatory does not mean it can’t be rewarding,” Powell says.
and delivered in the format that suits each individual student’s needs," says Stephanie
Powell, Austin regional manager. "Whether you need pre-license education to start your
build your career, Champions School of Real Estate offers the best educational experience
to help you in your real estate career. Our motto over the past 26 years has been 'You Can
Elgin and Buda. Powell says many students find the atmosphere and instructors so enjoyable they become loyal Champion followers.
“One of the benefits of taking courses here is our warm environment and talented instruc-
tors make classes fun and present valuable information in an interactive format which
Do It, We Can Help!'"
allows students to retain the information better. As a result, students look forward to the
has since spread to two locations in Dallas and one location in San Antonio. Course offerings
quite visible in the local real estate community by sponsoring various events and becoming
Champions School of Real Estate has been providing quality real estate training since 1983
to all of Texas. The company started in Houston, where there are now three campuses, and
are broad, including real estate salesperson and broker education, plus plenty of opportunities to earn a variety of special designations.
“The road to real estate success doesn't stop with becoming a licensed real estate salesper-
son,” Powell says. “Continue your education with one of the many advanced designations
that we offer. For many agents who have two years experience in the real estate industry, it generally only takes two more 30-hour courses to obtain your broker associate designation.
next class and are happy to refer others.”
To help spread the word about Champions’ great offerings, the school has also been
involved in a variety of real estate organizations.
“We believe very strongly in contributing to the success of the real estate community,”
Powell says. "They're the reason we've been in business so long!" For
more
information
about
Champions
School
of
Real
Estate,
visit
www.ChampionsSchool.com or contact Stephanie Powell at 244-3545 or spowell@ChampionsSchool.com. [RL]
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January 2010
Sharing in the spirit of the holidays at the Realty Austin Agent Appreciation Party are Lacey Warren of Gracy Title, Todd Grossman of Realty Austin and his wife, Nina, and Ashby McDonald.
Jason Klam, president of First American Title, leads a Lunch and Learn session about the new HUD forms at Goldwasser Real Estate.
Barbara Ditlow, left, and Gretchen Janzow, right, mingle with Stephanie Nick and Janet Burgess at City S o t h e b y ’ s International Realty’s holiday celebration which was held at their listing. All are agents with Capital City S o t h e b y ’ s International Realty.
Cody Julian of Keller Williams Realty and guest Lindsey Miyatake mingle with members of AYREP and Realm Real Estate at the 3rd annual holiday gala, which helped raise funds for disabled veterans.
January 2010
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January 2010
Colette Fitzgerald of KB Home shows J o h n n y Washington and M o n i c a Washington, both of Washington H o u s i n g Consultants, around the new model at Legends Village in Round Rock.
Enjoying the Realty Austin Appreciation Party during Christmas are Carolyn Watts and Courtney Lepore, both of Realty Austin.
Helen Thomas and Norma Sizemore, both agents with RE/MAX Austin Skyline, and office manager Sylvia Pack get in the Christmas spirit at the company’s 15th annual holiday party.
January 2010
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The RE/MAX Capital City committee members collect items for donation and present them to families in need. Darnel Casper, Beth Cummins, Debbie Kelsey, Patrick Dickson, and Caroline Tontini.
JB Goodwin REALTORS’ Leisa Ormsbee, kneeling, and Kim Perez, Stacy Amezquita, Louise Peach, Gail McClanahan, Karen McGrath, Kaira Kelleher and Lee Bauermeister, are proud of the tree they donated to the WCAoR Christmas Tree Gala. Proceeds from the auction go toward scholarships for area high school seniors. Les Sherman of RE/MAX Austin Associates and his guest Ann Dugal check each piece of paper that fell during the balloon drop at the ABoR Installation and Awards Gala to see if they were winners of cash.
4.5% FFixed ixed Rate Interest
$8,000 Tax Tax Credit $30,000 in FFree ree Upgr Upgrades ades A limited opportunity with great incenti incentives, ves, y you ou simply can’tt afford to pass up. can’
Your Y our clients simply simply can’t can’t afford wait! to wait!
>P[O [OL YLJLU[ ÄYZ[ [PTL > P[O [OL YLJLU[ ÄYZ[ [PTL OVTLI\` LY [H_ JYLKP[ L_[LUZPVU HUK [OL OVTLI\`LY [H_ JYLKP[ L_[LUZPVU HUK [OL JYLKP[ MVY J\YYLU[ OVTLV ^ULYZ JYLKP[ MVY J\YYLU[ OVTLV^ULYZ [OL [PTL PZ UV ^ [V ÄUK `V\Y KYLHT OVTL [OL [PTL PZ UV^ [V ÄUK `V\Y KYLHT OVTL +YLLZ OHZ H ] +YLLZ OHZ H ]HYPL[` VM OVTLZ YLHK HYPL[` VM OVTLZ YLHK` UV HYPL[` VM OVTLZ YLHK ` UV^ VMMLYPUN `V\ [OL +YLLZ OHZ H ]HYPL[` VM OVTLZ YLHK` UV^ VMMLYPUN `V\ [OL VWWVY[\UP[` [V Z[PSS LHYU [OL [H_ JYLKP[ I` [OL (WYPS KLHKSPUL VWWVY[\UP[` [V Z[PSS LHYU [OL [H_ JYLKP[ I ` [OL (WYPS KLHKSPUL
Homes from the $280’s $280’s to $600’s $600’s www.DreesHomes.com www .DreesHomes.com *4.50% 30-year fixed conventional financing (4.637% APR based upon a 80% LLTV TV and a minimum credit score of 740) offered through First Equity Mortgage, Inc., Equal Housing Lender. Lender. Licensed by the TTexas exas Department of Savings & Mortgage Lending, License #44405. Maximum loan amount $417,000 with a 5% down payment. Requires 1.0% origination fee paid by borrower. borrower. Offer available on firm non-contingent Pur Purchase chase Agreements written and accepted for select market homes only in Austin, TX; must close by Februar Februaryy 28, 2010. Subject to underwriting underwriting approval. Prices, programs, and rates are subject to change or withdrawl without notice. Other restrictions may apply. apply. First Equity Mortgage, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiar subsidiaryy of The Drees Company. Company.
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January 2010
REAL ESTATE NEWS & NOTES
JB Goodwin REALTOR named “Citizen of the Year”
For her long-standing membership and participation in the Oak Hill Business and
Professional Association (OHBPA) and service to her community, Juanita Jackson of JB
Goodwin REALTORS was selected to receive the 2009 Oak Hill Business and Professional Association’s “Citizen of the Year” award.
Jackson
Steering Toward Success, RE/MAX Convention Returns to Forth Worth
The RE/MAX of Texas Statewide Convention returns to Fort Worth for its 33rd annual celebra-
tion of RE/MAX accomplishment. Taking place at the Fort Worth Omni Hotel this coming Feb. 8 and
9, the convention, entitled “Steering Toward Success” in honor of its host city features educational breakouts sessions, networking, awards & recognition and fabulous keynote speakers, including
best-selling author Andy Andrews and Texas marketing guru Ted Jones. For more information, visit www.remaxtexas.com/convention.
Why Are You A Champion?
YouTube contest offers Texas real estate professionals time in the spotlight
Champions School of Real Estate will sponsor a YouTube video contest "Why are you a Champion?"
open to anyone in or entering the real estate profession. The contest kicked off on Jan. 4 and will run
through Feb. 26 and will culminate in a viewing party and awards ceremony. Full details, rules, regu-
lations
and
link
to
the
Champions
www.ChampionsSchool.com/youtube.
Visit
YouTube
Champions
channel
School
www.ChampionsSchool.com for all your real estate education needs.
can
of
be
Real
found
Estate
at
at
Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS Announces Million Dollar a Month Club Members
The Westlake office of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS is proud to announce their Million
Dollar a Month Club for November 2009: They are Sue Barrilleaux, Jana Birdwell, Barbara Gremillion, Tosca Gruber, Roselind Hejl, Eve Kush and Tonya Nieto.
Amy Keilor, center, of Goldwasser Real Estate, joins Kyle Nunnallee and Laurie Nunnallee of First American Title at AYREP’s 3rd annual gala at the Elk Lodge.
January 2010
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January 2010
Jason Stubbs guest, Alisa LeBlanc of North American Title, Chance Henderson of Andrews International, guest Jessica Mouravieff and Kory Moye of Realm Real Estate gather for fun and friendship at the Elk Lodge where AYREP held its holiday party.
Amber Klam of Avalar Austin, guest Angela Phares and Paula Greenfield of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS enjoy holiday spirit at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse at an event organized by Drees Custom Homes.
Ending the year at the annual AMBA Holiday Party and Installation and looking forward to the new year are SueAnn Roller of Land Mortgage, Angela Bujnoch, Juliana Brock of Power Training, Beverly Kerbow and Michael Neiman.
Anna Maria Garcia of Aralyn and Associates, The Art of Real Estate, has a new award to show what a great first year she had in real estate. She was named “Rookie of the Year” at the ABoR Installation and Awards gala.
Ellen’s Staging Tip: No-See-’M Paint Touch Ups • Clean dirt and smudges before getting out the paint can. ~ Clorox cleaning cloths will remove an amazing amount of grime. • Mr. Clean ERASER is magic on doors and woodwork. • A little spackling compound goes a long way! ~ Place a bit of Spackle then wipe away excess with a damp sponge to avoid covering the texture of the wall. • Don’t use a paintbrush for touch ups! ~ Use a Q-tip dipped in a bit of diluted paint. Precision is the key.
Do your sellers need professional staging? Call me today for a “MAKE A DIFFERENCE” consultation. Ellen is ready to help you set the stage for professional results. Ellen Boettcher, president 512.751.1756 Ellen@StagingByDesign.com
January 2010
COMMENTARY
Short Sales Part 1 By Bill Bradshaw Vice President Legal Gracy Title Company We hear a lot about short sales and we will hear a lot more in 2010 and beyond. A
cottage industry for REALTORS and CPA’s, non profits and private companies has grown up in the last year to deal with and to represent people wishing to sell proper-
ties in which they owe more than the property is worth. The road to a successful short sale is long and made more difficult by misconceptions, miscommunication and mis-
understanding.
Short sales occur in a situation where the lender decides the loan loss occasioned by
the short sale is less than the prospective loss represented by acquisition of the prop-
erty by collection and foreclosure, the costs of making the property ready for sale, and all marketing expenses.
While mortgage fraud clearly played a part in the decline of values, the larger cul-
prit was mostly the lender’s side of the desk. Practices such as sub-prime loans, stated income loans, and allowing borrowers to buy homes in some areas that cost, on
average, 10 or even 12 times their annual income added more to the decline.
So now we want some of the same lenders, and their investors, who aided and abet-
ted in their own demise, to help us out? Why would they want to do this? Two words:
Loss Mitigation. According to a report compiled by the Joint Economic Committee of
Congress, the average foreclosure costs $77,935. However, not all of this loss goes to
the lender. After excluding the losses to the borrower, community and local govern-
ment (for lost tax revenue), we are left with about $50,000 for the lender which
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financial situation, and (3) the property in question.
With respect to the borrowers, the lender will have to understand what has hap-
pened that caused the borrowers to fall into default. Certainly, we all know that bad
things do happen to good people. So, has there been an illness, death, divorce, job loss? Explain in detail the circumstances documenting as much as you can.
Given the hardships that have befallen the borrowers, explain the borrower’s cur-
rent financial situation. This hardship letter should include as much detail and docu-
mentation as possible. Send bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns, etc. Anything to demonstrate that the borrower is unable to make the payments as originally agreed.
Next, provide details about the value of the property and the current state of the
market. Explain why the value of the property decreased. Further, you will be required
to provide information as to the current value of the property. Ask for the lender’s
requirements in this regard. Will a new appraisal be required or will a market analysis
by a broker suffice? Know that this answer will change from lender to lender. You should also include with this section of the submittal, information, with pictures if pos-
sible, concerning the condition of the property. The purpose is to demonstrate what the
lender, if they became the owner, would have to do to the property to make it ready for
resale. If substantial remedial work is required, include bids or estimates of these expenses.
Lastly, you will have to show the lender a real estimate of what they will realize out
of the short sale proposed. For this you will need a contract (few lenders will work with
you unless there is a contract signed and escrowed) and a net sheet or a suggested set-
tlement statement from your title company. Lenders may also require agents reduce their commission.
Lenders are swamped with hundreds of requests for short sales. Short sale propos-
als that are incomplete or missing information go to the bottom of the stack. Therefore,
the best approach is to send your short sale proposal only once, with no omissions.
Also, if an agent, lawyer or other representative is going to negotiate on behalf of a bor-
rower, authorization to the lender to discuss the file with that third party will be required from the borrowers.
This is a complicated topic and this short article is by no means exhaustive of all the
issues presented by short sales. But as the numbers of short sales increase, and it seems
includes such items as loan loss, costs of maintenance, appraisal, collection and, of
likely that they will, those of us in residential real estate will be exposed to more and
a story about three things: (1) the borrower’s personal situation, (2) the borrower’s
the tax ramifications for the seller. [RL]
course, insurance premiums and marketing.
That’s the case for short sales. So, what is the process? The process involves telling
more information about this type of transaction.
In next month’s RealtyLine I will cover other issues regarding short sales including
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Realty Line of Austin
January 2010
The Austin Board of REALTORS速
2010 Installation & Awards Gala honoring
John Horton Socar Chatmon-Thomas, right, accepting 2009 Chairman Award
Corrine Costabile, Michael Neuman, Joy Herring, Marie Dang-Schwartz
John Horton of John Horton Realty being sworn in as Chairman during 2010 Installation & Awards Gala.
Robert Wright, Earl Hairston, David Pavliska
Lisa Payne, Tom Ellis, Toni Malott, Carrie York, Marshall Davis
2010 Officers and Directors taking the oath.
Susan Horton, John Horton, Frank Perdichizzi
Charles Porter - REALTOR of the Year award winner
Mini Leah, Rita Barousse, Hessie Brawley, Sally Yaryan
Debbie Novelli Farrell - Community Service award winner
Sandy Battise and Sumina Bhatti
Jay Gohil hands over the gavel to incoming Chairman John Horton
The Warren C. Marshall Endowment Scholarship was dedicated to Warren Marshall in honor of his lifelong commitment and service to others.
Bill Stanberry, Martha Stanberry, JB Goodwin