The WCAoR Quarterly Luncheon is Going Green!
Come hear Rick von Schnier, Austin’s Green Guru, speak on energy saving green techniques every home owner should know at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS 3rd Quarterly Luncheon of 2008. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 7 at the Star Ranch clubhouse FM 685 in Hutto, TX. Tickets are $12 in advance. Register online at wcaor.org or by phone at 255-6211.
ABoR TREPAC Wine Tasting to be held on August 21
Get ready for a change of pace. This year, the popular TREPAC Wine Tasting fundraiser will be held at Crú, an upscale wine bar in the Domain shopping center, located at 11410 Century Oaks Terrance, Ste. 104. The TREPAC Wine Tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21. Tickets are $40. See ABoR Chairman’s column on page 3 for more information.
Upcoming Events: JULY 24 WCR Networking Luncheon ABoR auditorium - 11:30 a.m.
AUGUST 6 Austin Mortgage Bankers Luncheon Austin Country Club - 11:30 a.m. AUGUST 7 WCAoR Luncheon at Star Ranch Star Ranch Clubhouse - 11:30 a.m.
AUGUST 20 CRS Membership Luncheon Westwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m.
AUGUST 21 ABoR Wine Tasting Cru @ The Domain - 6 to 8 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 5 WCAoR 2nd Annual Tech Tune-Up Texas State Univ. Round Rock - All day OCTOBER 22 ABoR’s Realty Roundup Austin Convention Center - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
s s e r g pro
associ ates i n JULY 2008 • VOL. 13 • ISSUE 3
Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.
Independence Title Kellywood Estates • Reytex Homes
Gas prices hitting pockets; planning trips important Sytha Minter of Horizon Realty said she is more apt to plan her outings now than in the past. CONTRIBUTING WRITER “I live southwest and my Real estate professionals are getting hit with a office is north,” she says, double whammy this summer — a slowing econo- “so I am diligent planning my and skyrocketing gasoline prices. But rather out my tours — and I drive than feeling glum, many are using the opportunity a hybrid.” to streamline their business practices to ensure their Minter says she likes continued success in these challenging times. the mapping tools with They might not be going as far as Colorado agent the MLXchange and also Matt Kolb, who decided with gas prices around $4 a uses Yahoo maps to plan gallon that it doesn't make much sense to roam var- her trips. In addition, ious neighborhoods in an SUV anymore and started she drives five miles conducting home tours by bike through his busi- per hour slower and ness, Pedal to Pedal Properties, but every bit helps. uses cruise control, “I am having buyers preview more themselves,” even in the city, to says Cheryl Jenkins of Coldwell Banker United save on gasoline. REALTORS. “I tell them to drive the neighborhood Kay Cobb of and take and look at it and then later I can meet with HouseMaster says she has them. been trying to limit her driving by sending more “I am also less likely to go look at a house, say in notes to clients. And she is less likely to go back to Lakeway,” says Jenkins, who is based in Round the office between appointments. Rock. “I am now more stringent about getting to “I got here early,” she says at a recent Women’s know my buyers first.” Council of REALTORS meeting, “and so I sat on the couch for awhile.” Susan Brown of Realty Presorted Standard World, John Horton and U.S. Postage PAID Associates says she is Austin, Texas employing similar tactics. Paid Permit #715 “There isn’t too much P.O. Box 81366 you can change but I do Austin, Texas 78708-1366 find that I am keeping in touch more by e-mail and all my trips are in one swoop,” she says. “Plus I am trying to focus more of my business near my Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com office.”
By Linda McNabb
Ron Urias of Farmers Insurance also is paying more attention to the miles he logs. “I am in South Austin but 80 percent of my business is north,” he says. “So rather than make three trips into town, I will try to make one. Between appointments I try to find a hotel lobby where I can use my wireless laptop to conduct business.” Then there are hypermilers, a looseknit legion of commuters who rack up to 100 miles per gallon using unorthodox techniques as coasting for blocks with their car's engine turned off, driving far below speed limits on the freeway, pumping up tire pressure far beyond car and tire makers' recommendations and carefully manipulating the gas pedal to avoid fuel-burning excess. They don’t use air conditioning and park in the boondocks at shopping centers so they can motor head-first toward the exit rather than backing out of a space. Aralyn Hughes of Aralyn & Company doesn’t have to worry about those things— she got rid of her car years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “I don’t get into hot cars or pay for insurance, tune ups or tires. I am so happy with this choice. Most people want to drive their own car and meet me there. I can rent a car at a moment’s notice if I need to, but it’s so rare that I have to. I do Austin Car Share and people Gas prices Continued on page 2