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• WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders • AYREP Happy Hour • NAPMW Casino Night • Brohn Homes MCE Class • and much, much more!
Associates in Progress
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Page 25 MARCH 2016 • VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 10
Helpful home staging tips you can use By Riki Markowitz
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eal estate home staging is not a new concept. Since at least the mid-20th century, it has always been part of an agent’s role to suggest ways to make a home more appealing to buyers, by removing clutter, at the very least, all the way up to an exterior power wash to costly renovations like new kitchen countertops. After the most recent housing bubble, real estate associations are taking the staging industry much more seriously and quantifying the benefits of selling a home as is versus hiring a staging professional. In 2015 the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) released a report about home staging in which nearly 2,500 REAL-
TOR members were surveyed. NAR set out to see if a cosmetic makeover results in higher home sale prices. The bottom line? It does. According to the report, about half of buyers’ agents say clients are affected positively by home staging. NAR concluded that “it is easier [for buyers] to visualize the property as a future home.” Survey takers agreed that buyers will overlook certain property faults and will even pay more for a house that is staged to their liking.
There are a few factors that can make home staging tricky. First, it’s impossible to predict a style that will be pleasing to the largest number of qualified home shoppers. Second, many sellers have an emotional attachment to their homes and can have substantial difficulty seeing their property as just another commodity. Brian David Morris, owner of Brian David Design, says that people are often selling their home for reasons that are upsetting – a divorce, job loss, or any number of other unforeseeable life events. “I have a degree in psychology and it’s more helpful than you can imagine,” says Morris. “It helps for me to meet people where they are emotionally.” This is one of the biggest reasons why it’s not in an agent’s best interest to take it upon him or herself to move around a client’s furniture or even personally suggest upgrading kitchen countertops. Amy George of Impact Interiors has been a professional real estate stager since 2009. In 2015, her company worked on 160 properties. She is known in the industry for her calm demeanor and specializes in helping emotional sellers understand the reason behind a suggestion like a countertop upgrade. “But just to be clear,” says George, “the REALTOR is truly our client. We come in as a third party – a neutral party.”
Upcoming Events Tuesday, March 22 HBA: ATX Real Estate Leaders Forum — Housing Affordability Phillips Event Center - 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. CCIM Networking Luncheon Westwood Country Club - 11:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 NAPMW: Personality Profiling ABoR - 9 to 11 a.m.
Pro Staging Tips Always be a professional. There are a lot of hobby stagers out there and while these individuals may offer a good deal on their services and have a knack for modernizing a room, they are actually cutting corners in some very critical ways. “We’re moving a lot of things around,” says George. “Whether we’re in a home that’s selling for under $500k or a luxury home, if we break a vase, guess what? I have to be insured.” It’s the business of a seasoned professional to understand buyer psychology. “Buyers don’t make rational decisions, they make emotional decisions and they justify their decisions with rationale,” says Morris. “We have about 10 or 15 seconds to get their emotions in our favor.” Have “curb appeal.” That moment when a potential buyer arrives at a home is what NAR calls “curb appeal,” or the “drive-up impression.” While it may be common sense to weed the garden and keep a manicured lawn, the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) also suggests eliminating those little annoyances that can get under a person’s skin, like maintaining bushes so they’re not scraping people as they approach the front door, replace outdoor light bulbs and be sure to eliminate corner cobwebs and the spiders that live there. Don’t interfere with your stager. One thing the stagers we spoke with could not
Front Page: Continued on page 28
AYREP March Happy Hour NXNW Brewery on Slaughter Lane 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2 HBA Marketing & Advertising Excellence (MAX) Awards Gala JW Marriott - 6:15pm Saturday, April 9 Bryson Crawfish Boil Bryson - 12 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 14 WCREALTORS: 2016 West Side Story Bus Tour - WCREALTORS Office & Bryson 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. HBA Sales & Marketing Council Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR Mixer Easton Park - 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 CRS Bi-Monthly Meeting Westwood Country Club 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. More at www.myRealtyLine.com
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President’s Column By Aaron Farmer • 2016 President
The importance of diversity
A
s we approach Fair Housing Month in April, it’s a great time to focus on the importance of a diverse community. This April 11th will mark the 48th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act—a fundamental step of progress we took as a country all of those years ago. While we should truly focus on diversity every day and month of the year, take this time to review the Fair Housing Declaration and discuss the topic among your peers and clients. As a reminder, Article 10 of the Code of Ethics includes the declaration that any REALTOR “shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” As community leaders, we can play a huge role in spreading this message.
ABoR Forum during Fair Housing Month We’ll be discussing diversity and our Central Texas community in-depth at our ABoR Forum on Wednesday, April 27. Lo-
cal leaders focused on improving both the community and housing through diversity will lead the discussion, which will serve as an excellent way to close out Fair Housing Month. As our city and the surrounding areas continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, diversity is too important of an issue to let slip by the wayside as we fight to build stronger neighborhoods and more stable communities. Stay tuned to ABoR.com/ Forum for more details on this imperative discussion.
Don’t forget your MLS benefits As the housing market picks up once again into the busy summer season, I’d like to remind you of the powerful tools your ABoR MLS subscription contains. These tools are designed to help you work faster and smarter for your clients. Just a few of the products at your fingertips include: CSS Scheduler with the new “Courtesy Notice” setting—similar to the popular “Show and Go,” and will actually allow you and/or
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your client know when an interested party is going to view a property, and still doesn’t require an official approval by the listing agent or seller. Down Payment Resource (DPR) is another free MLS-integrated program that ties in well with Fair Housing Month. This innovative product quickly and easily shows clients what their down payment options could be for qualifying listings. Since down payments are one of the biggest hurdles to climb for homebuyers, and particularly first-time homebuyers, DPR boosts your value by giving you easy access to potential assistance programs they can trust. I encourage all of you to give these tools and all of the other benefits and discounts included
in your ABoR MLS subscription a try next time you log in. Also not to be forgotten is the time-saving INRIX Drive Time to accurately predict traffic commute times directly in the MLS. Thank you again for helping us grow more diverse in our communities. If you’re looking for more ways to get involved, there are a wide range of local, diverse REALTORaffiliated groups always looking for more members. I encourage you to find a group that interests you and stay tuned to more opportunities to spread this message. As REALTORS, we can have a profound impact on shaping Central Texas, so let’s continue to work towards a more diverse and inclusive community! RL
ABoR Academy Educational Courses Mar 21: Know Your Code: Article 1 (TREC# 01-00-117-29849) Mar 21: REALTOR Code of Ethics (TREC# 03-00-057-28953) Mar 21: Realist Tax 2.0 (TREC# 02-00-067-28919) Mar 22-23: Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (TREC# 15-00-027-28190) Mar 22: Adding & Editing Listings – South Office (TREC# 02-00-067-28920) Mar 22: Guerilla Marketing for Real Estate Pros (TREC# 03-00-117-29749) Mar 22: TREC Legal Update I (TREC# 04-04-127-29622) Mar 22: Video Broadcast: The Basics of Agent and Consumer Advocacy (TREC# 02-00-107-29536) Mar 23: Introduction to Matrix (TREC# 03-00-057-28941)
More at www.ABoR.com/courses
Experience the First American Title Difference See what our employees are saying: “First American Title allows me the opportunity to grow my career, gives me the support to achieve my goals and provides helpful tools and resources to my clients. The strength and longevity of the company provides the consumer security and protection. We have a national presence but provide a personalized boutique feeling to our clients and the consumer. I have had the opportunity to develop my skills that have propelled me to succeed in what I love to do. I appreciate a company that puts their people first.” - Kierstin McBride, Sr. Escrow Officer, Lakeway Branch
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Connie Wooster of Independence Title welcomes Mohammad-Ali Tukdi of Dash Realty to the company’s new Pflugerville office. The powerhouse title company celebrated with a special “Between a Rock and a Weird Place” grand opening event.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_Q.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
While at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders, Ashley Anyankor of Brohn Homes tells Mary Kelley King of Keller Williams Realty that the builder has new communities opening soon.
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Debra Godwin of AmeriPro Home Loans lands a “21” — the Big Win in a game of Black Jack at the NAPMW Casino Night at Dave & Buster’s.
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BE READY
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Rose Herron, David and Lisa Noriega, all of Keller Williams Realty, have a chance to win anything from gift cards to body produåcts to their own radio spot at the Travisso Model home Tour.
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Phyllis Avery of Independence Title shows Sandy Roy of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty around the Lakeway office during the company’s Open House event.
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Rich Daugherty and Ashley Anyankor, both of Brohn Homes, give Kendra Johnson and Allegra Archer, both of Keller Williams Realty, a tour of the model home in Edgewater before heading over to pick a key to see if they won!
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Lynda Parker and Alisha Austin, both of Austin Options Realty, pick up builder incentives and inventory at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders event.
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President’s Column
people,” says Dr. Jim Gaines, Chief Economist
pass prices. Many potential homebuyers are
By Shavonne Martin • 2016 President
with The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M
feeling the pain from constant rent increases,
University. “A 3:1 or 3.5:1 ratio of home price
which in many cases are higher than what a
to salary is optimal, desirable, and sustain-
mortgage payment would be. Buyers realize
able.” With approximately 30 percent of the
the benefits homeownership, and with interest
homes sold in Williamson County priced un-
rates still below 5 percent, home buyers find
der $200,000, this is a cause for concern.
it very affordable to buy a home in William-
Setting the stage for affordable housing or many listing agents, staging is an integral part of their marketing plan to get a home sold. According to the most recent Profile of Homes Staging, released by the National Association of REALTORS, 47 percent of buyers are positively affected by home staging. Among listing agents, NAR reports that 34 percent stage all their homes, 13 percent stage homes that are difficult to sell, and only four percent stage “high-priced” homes. Why do agents stage homes? 81 percent of agents interviewed believe that it helps potential buyers visualize the property as “their home”; 28 percent believe that it helps buyers overlook property faults. According to the same report however, 19 percent of agents who work with buyers, and 10 percent of agents who work with sellers believe that staging has no effect on the price of a home. WCREALTORS understands the importance of home staging and the affect it has on the real estate market. The Association hosts a staging course annually to help REALTORS obtain their ASP Certification and for those
interested in making staging a profession. StagedHomes.com, the provider of the WCREALTORS Staging Course, states that staged homes sell on average 83 percent faster than non-staged homes. With the price of homes increasing yearover-year and the DOM decreasing, it begs the question, “Is staging the most important thing for the market right now?” An issue that keeps being brought up is affordability; while Williamson County is still more affordable than Travis County ($241,000 median price vs. $299,000 median price for 2015, respectively) there are still concerns about how fast home prices are rising in comparison to salaries. According to the US Census Bureau, the average salary of a resident of the Austin-Round Rock MSA is $63,600; however, the median price of a home in Williamson County during 2015 was $241,000. “We’ve had five years of boom, over 10 percent appreciation yearover-year and home prices around four times an annual salary, which is a stretch for many
WCREALTORS has established an Afford-
son County. The Association has compiled
able Housing Committee, which will focus
a resource of down payment assistance pro-
on solutions to help keep housing affordable
grams on the recently relaunched WCLife.org
within Williamson County, while still main-
website to assist potential buyers. Always have
taining the values of the neighboring proper-
your clients check with their lender for special
ties. This committee is also looking into grants
programs, or possible USDA Financing.
and classes to help educate the membership
For more information about the Affordable
about affordable housing, and how to help cli-
Housing Committee, please visit www.WC-
ents with lower than median price ranges.
REALTORS.org and visit the Blog for updates
Affordable housing does not just encom-
from Association leadership. RL
LEARN MORE AT WCAOR.ORG
YOU HEARD IT THEY SAID RE/MAX
Your career makes sense at RE/MAX. *Source: MMR Strategy Group study of buyers and sellers, asked if there is one real estate brand they would be most likely to recommend to a friend or relative, and if so which one. ©2016 RE/MAX, LLC. Each RE/MAX® office is independently owned and operated. 16_78024
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David Johnsmiller, Teresa Quinn and Dan Smith, all of Keller Williams Realty, take advantage of the company’s continuing education program at the Keller Williams Lake Travis office where they attended a lunch and learn.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_D.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Alfredo Guerrero of Rising Point Solutions welcomes Tim Dockery of Willow Bend Mortgage to the RPS Mixer at Brickhouse Tavern.
Buy Photo: RL_030216_G.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com Buy Photo: RL_030916_B.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Brian Pitman and Jodi Gregg, both of Independence Title, welcome guests to the company’s Lakeway office Open House event.
吀栀攀 伀渀氀礀 䄀瀀瀀 夀漀甀ᤠ氀氀 一攀攀搀 ⸀ ⸀ ⸀
吀漀 匀椀洀瀀氀椀昀礀 吀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 䈀甀礀椀渀最 倀爀漀挀攀猀猀 䌀漀渀渀攀挀琀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀爀 洀漀爀琀最愀最攀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀椀漀渀愀氀Ⰰ 漀爀 刀攀愀氀琀漀爀Ⰰ 椀猀 洀漀爀攀 挀漀渀瘀攀渀椀攀渀琀 琀栀愀渀 攀瘀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 漀甀爀 攀愀猀礀ⴀ琀漀ⴀ甀猀攀 愀瀀瀀⸀ 䘀爀漀洀 猀攀挀甀爀攀氀礀 猀甀戀洀椀琀琀椀渀最 礀漀甀爀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 搀漀挀甀洀攀渀琀愀琀椀漀渀 搀椀爀攀挀琀氀礀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 氀漀愀渀 漀昀昀椀挀攀爀 琀漀 甀猀椀渀最 漀甀爀 挀愀氀挀甀氀愀琀漀爀猀 琀漀 愀挀挀甀爀愀琀攀氀礀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀 礀漀甀爀 洀漀爀琀最愀最攀 瀀愀礀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 愀瀀瀀 欀攀攀瀀猀 愀瀀瀀 欀攀攀瀀猀 礀漀甀 洀漀瘀椀渀最 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 愀渀搀 攀愀猀椀氀礀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 礀漀甀爀 渀攀眀 栀漀洀攀⸀ 䐀漀眀渀氀漀愀搀 琀栀攀 䰀攀最愀挀礀 䴀甀琀甀愀氀 䄀瀀瀀 吀漀搀愀礀℀
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䘀椀渀搀 甀猀 漀渀㨀 䰀攀最愀挀礀 䴀甀琀甀愀氀 䴀漀爀琀最愀最攀 䄀瀀瀀 椀猀 愀 昀爀攀攀 搀漀眀渀氀漀愀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䄀瀀瀀 匀琀漀爀攀 愀渀搀 挀漀洀瀀愀琀椀戀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 䄀瀀瀀氀攀 ☀ 䄀渀搀爀漀椀搀 搀攀瘀椀挀攀猀⸀ 䤀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 爀攀瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀攀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䄀瀀瀀 椀猀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 愀挀挀甀爀愀琀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 瘀椀攀眀椀渀最⸀ 䘀漀爀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 甀瀀 琀漀 搀愀琀攀 猀琀愀琀甀猀 愀渀搀 氀漀愀渀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀 礀漀甀爀 䰀攀最愀挀礀 䰀漀愀渀 伀û椀挀攀爀⸀
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AUSTIN TITLE PLEASE THINK OF MY TEAM WHEN IT IS TIME TO CLOSE
WELCOMES
SARAH SCHOLWINSKI TO THE HARTLAND PLAZA CLOSING OFFICE
YOUR NEXT TRANSACTION.
Sarah Scholwinski Escrow Officer sarah@austintitle.com
1717 West 6th Street, Suite 105 Austin, TX 78703 P: 512-329-0777 • www.austintitle.com
Where Austin Closes
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Debbie Crowe, Erin Turley, Claudia Verastegul, Kim Kahle and Susie Adams have some fun in the photo booth at the Independence Title Lakeway office Open House.
Buy Photo: RL_030216_K.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Lauryl Kays of Keller Williams Realty and Marie Reed of RE/MAX 1 and Mike Luscier of DEN Realty get a lesson in Facebook 101 at Blackburn Communities’ The Preserve at Mayfield Ranch.
Buy Photo: RL_030816_E.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Kevin Arfa of KB Home, assures Mary Boatright of RE/MAX 1 and Sharon Moss of Sky Realty that they have plenty of homes for their clients to choose from. Kevin meets dozens of REALTORS at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders. Buy Photo: RL_031216_I.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com Buy Photo: RL_030716_C.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Dallas Courville of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS picks out her gift at the Travisso Model Home tour. Nice!
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h s i f t a w a r l i C Bo Austin’s Largest Builder / Realtor Mixer
APRIL 14 from 6 ¯ 9 PM
Easton Park: 7100 Cardinal Bloom Loop • Austin 78744
Live Music
· Crawfish
Purchase Before April 2 and Save!
· Drinks HOSTED BY:
Tickets: $25 each **Purchase 10 OR MORE for $20 each
After April 2:
Tickets: $30 each **Purchase 10 OR MORE for $25 each For more information and to register visit www.hbaaustin.com/event/crawfish2016
d u o r P SPONSORS Builders FirstSource
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Eric Love of Jet Linxf, Jill Love and Cherie Rood, both of Radian, play a hand of Black Jack at the NAPMW Casino Night at Dave and Buster’s.
Submitted Photo
Debbie Stevenson, Steve Marcyes, Kim Smith, Steve Robertson, Robin Rhoads, Walter Horton, Connie Coley, and Tonna Marcyes, all of JB Goodwin, REALTORS, earn their way to the company's $3 Million Dollar Club.
Buy Photo: RL_031216_D.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Buy Photo: RL_030716_N.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Brittney Heffernan, left, of Highland Homes, shows Amy Kramer, Rick Luisi and Tamara Moritz, all of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS, where to pick up their special gifts for attending the Travisso Model Home Tour.
Nancy Sawyer, left, of Bryson, a new master-planned community in Leander, and Kandis Rushing, right, of Crescent Communities, Bryson’s developer, give out awesome swag bags to REALTORS like Laura Unnasch of Keller Williams Realty at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders event.
Buy Photo: RL_031116_C.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com Buy Photo: RL_030216_A.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Jennifer Hunter, left, and Courtney Bishop, right, both of Independence Title, offer Clarissa McGougan of Reilly REALTORS a glass of wine at the company’s Open House event in Lakeway.
Amy Erwin of McLaren-Hill, Aleata Oeser of RE/MAX Capital City, Toni Bolton of Central Metro REALTORS and Mike Luscier of DEN Realty get a lesson in Facebook 101 at Blackburn Communities’ The Preserve at Mayfield Ranch.
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Alex Marek, left, Sandy Rios, second from left, and Michelle Sheehan, right, all of Gaston & Sheehan Realty, are glad to see Independence Title in Pflugerville. Heather Gaddes, second from right, thanks them for coming to the company’s “Between a Rock and a Weird Place” Party.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_P.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Congratulations to Mike Easter, Barbara McLaughlin, Martha StClair, Linda Burns, and Jeremy Larsen, all of JB Goodwin, REALTORS, for earning their way into the company's $4 Million Dollar Club. Winning!
Buy Photo: RL_031216_E.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Submitted Photo
Karen Sawyer, right, of Drees Custom Homes shows Teresa Stamper of Keller Williams Realty the builder’s available homes in Travisso. The community, located off RM 1431 between Cedar Park and Lago Vista, recently held a Model Home Tour for REALTORS.
PRIDE In ouR woRk “My job is to demystify the process for you while properly handling your mortgage loan request in a professional, respectful, and timely manner.” Jon “Chris” Baker
Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #641681
www.dhimortgage.com
Call DHI Mortgage today!
512-502-0545
Financing offered by DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd. Branch NMLS #38686. 10700 Pecan Park Blvd., Suite 120, Austin, TX 78750. Company NMLS #14622. For information on DHI Mortgage licensing, please visit www.dhimortgage.com/otherpages/licensing. Provided for informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend. Not all borrowers will qualify. REV: 02/24/16 / EXP: 02/24/17
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Elzie Felton, Vicki Jones-Jennings, Mary Jack, Otis Fields and Donna McKay, all of Keller Williams Realty, "talk shop" at the company's Awards Banquet.
Submitted Photo
Debra Godwin of AmeriPro Home Loans, Kristin Clardy of Security National Mortgage and Susan Rosen of Stewart Lender Services, chat business while attending the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association’s Installation event at the Renaissance Hotel.
Buy Photo: RL_031216_C.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Deborah DeBona and Adrienne Hughes of Hughes & Company Real Estate see if they have the winning key at the Brohn Homes Key Party at Edgewater.
Buy Photo: RL_030616_C.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Continuing Education Courses (CE) NEW
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Online Campus 8310 N Capital of Texas Hwy Bldg 1, Ste 215, Austin, TX 78731 phone: 512-246-2773
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As a Texas leader in real estate education, Champions School of Real Estate has been providing quality education since 1983 and has become a leading school in the industry. Our Texas pre-licensing and continuing education courses are offered in the classroom, by correspondence home study and online for real estate, loan originator, appraiser and inspector professionals. We offer Texas real estate classes seven days a week with day, evening and weekend schedules available.
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Texas Complete with Broker Responsibility addresses the regulatory aspects of the management, operation and supervision of a real estate brokerage firm in Texas. The course provides an understanding and working knowledge of a broker’s responsibilities and obligations under the laws laying out specific requirements and best practices for brokers.
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Regulatory Aspects of Management How to Supervise Sales Agents How to Operate a Brokerage Firm Records Organization and Retention 8-hour TREC Legal Update I & II
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Open to the Public; TREC #0005; Broker Responsibility #27767; Legal I #29622; Legal II #29623; Texaplex #30042; Contracts #29904; Strategies for Career Excellence #29975;
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Steven Franks Band Bindlestick Brewery 800 Lbs. Of Crawfish Flat Creek Estates Winery Armadillo Races Face Painting Watermelon Bowling Water Balloon Toss Live Cooking Demo
LIVE AT YOUR PERFECT PACE Saturday, April 9th, Noon to 4 pm 501 Chitalpa St., Leander, TX 78641 512.259.1035
HOMES FROM THE $300s TO $500s | WWW.LIVEATBRYSON.COM
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GRAND HAVEN HOMES
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NEW & RESALE HOMES FROM THE $300s
Join us for breakfast & our
M O N T H LY H O M E TO U R
2016 Stop by the welcome center for breakfast
T H I R D W E D N E S D A Y S 9 : 0 0 A M
Download the Belterra App (with the latest Belterra Inventory)
Start the Home Tour!
Tour Dates to save to your calendar January 20
May 18
September 21
February 17
June 15
October 19
March 16
July 20
November 16
April 20
August 17
December 21
Belterra Welcome Center 151 Trinity Hills Drive Austin, TX 78737
(512) 301-5000
Live the Best of Both Worlds.
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Congratulations
Luke Leslie of Nations Lending and Tiffany Ontiveros of Austin Real Estate Experts enjoy meeting other real estate professionals at the AYREP mixer at J. Black’s.
February
Top Producer Cameron Phelps
Loan Officer NMLSR # 1381594 Mobile: 909-921-5712 Office: 512-334-1083 (81092) Cphelps@starkeymtg.com
A Solid, Proven, and Committed Lender! Since 1976
WR Starkey Mortgage, LLP NMLSR# 2146 | 12301 Research Blvd., Suite 150, Austin, TX 78759 | This is not a guarantee of financing. All borrowers must meet certain underwriting guidelines and credit criteria. Rules and Regulations may apply.
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H E L LO, AU ST I N ! what you see
is what you get
After 45 years as Houston’s leading homebuilder, Trendmaker Homes is bringing its signature homebuilding model to Austin. What’s so different about Trendmaker Homes? What other builders call “upgrades,” we deliver with every home. The high-end, designerselected finishes your clients see in our models—features like premier countertops, flooring, cabinets and more—are built right
CO M I N G S O O N TO B E LTE R R A ! ■
■
■
■
■
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One- and two-story homes 3-4 bedrooms
into the home and the price. A few of our unstandard standards:
Up to 4 baths
■
Silestone® kitchen countertops
■
ClareHome automation
Up to 3.5-bay garages
■
Hidden storage (per plan)
■
Four-panel sliding glass doors
8 open floor plans
■
Decked attic storage in garage
■
Designer lighting/plumbing fixtures
Approx. 3,404-3,935 square feet
■
Whole-house surge protection
■
In-wall pest control
Fully appointed homes from the $500s
And what comes standard for you? Great incentives and rewards, full communication and transparency and excellent care for your clients.
Learn more, and sign up for special Realtor® offers at TrendmakerHomes.com/vip-realtors. Floorplans, square footage, specifications, prices, and available options may vary by elevation and/or community and are subject to change without prior notice. Images are an artist’s conception and not a guarantee of final specifications. Please see your Trendmaker New Home Advisor for details and additional information.
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Amanda Gerhart, left, and Mary Lewis, right, both of Keller Williams Realty, and Jodi Blynn of Newland Communities show their Broncos team spirit at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_F.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Queens for a day! Leisa Ormsbee and Karen McGrath, both of JB Goodwin, REALTORS, have a good time at the at the Williamson County office Awards event.
Buy Photo: RL_030916_E.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Natalie Nicholson and Carl Stanley of Rising Point Solutions host the RPS Mixer at Brick House Tavern
Submitted Photo
How will your listings compete with new construction? Austin’s 2016 housing market will be another incredibly active year for new construction, desirable resale listings … and listings that linger far too long. Your resale home sellers may not be able to compete with new homes for stunning finishes, furnishings and designer touches. However, the National Association of
REALTORS® recommends four minimum steps to ensure a home shows best to prospective buyers: Conduct a thorough cleaning Haul out clutter Make sure the home is well lit Fix any major aesthetic issues
For other easy-to-follow seller recommendations, ask your North American Title Company representative for the flyer, What Is Home Staging?, or the complete NATC Texas Seller’s Resource Guide. Best wishes for a successful 2016 selling season!
RESEARCH 11044 Research Blvd. Bldg. D, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78759 t: 512.249.0576
NORTH AUSTIN 5608 Parkcrest Drive Suite 150 Austin, TX 78731 t: 512.302.3892
ROUND ROCK 1 Chisholm Trail Suite 3100 Round Rock, TX 78681 t: 512.255.6550
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.nat.com/Texas www.facebook.com/Austin.nat
©2016 North American Title Group and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. | TX16-8770 R 2-29-16
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congratulations 2015 Award Winners
Company Sales & Listing Agent of the Year Williamson County Office Listing Agent of the Year Leasing & Lease Listing Agent of the Year
Company Listing Volume Team of the Year
The Everett Team Dylan Everett with Mark Murrell
Company Sales & Listing Transaction Team of the Year Westlake Office Leasing & Listing Team of the Year Company Sales & The “A” Team Listing Team with Melissa Garcia, Shelly Grabe, Peggy Fulmer, 2 Members or Less Adrian Grabe. Not Pictured: Phil Barton, Northwest Office Leasing & Jon Chambers, Lease Listing Team of the Year Alaina Jones, Aubrey Shaw
Westlake Office Sales Agent of the Year
Leslie Kasen
Gay Puckett Team
Leisa Orsmbee
with Byron “Buddy” Schilling
with J.B. Goodwin and Tammy Gardner
Westlake Office Sales & Listing Team of the Year Westlake Office Sales Listing Agent of the Year
The Womack Team Prima & Wes Womack with J.B. Goodwin & Mark Murrell
Northwest Office Sales & Listing Agent of the Year
Northwest Office Sales & Listing Team of the Year
Allison Dady
The Darey Team
Alice Niven
Jeff & Tish Darey
Westlake & Lakeway - (512) 502-7600 Williamson County - (512) 502-7705 Northwest - (512) 502-7800 Relocation - (800) 531-5207
Williamson County Office Sales Agent of the Year
Jack Stapleton
Williamson County Office Sales & Listing Team of the year
The Mantz Team Norma Mantz & Kim Shelton
Commercial Team of the Year
The Commercial Team Andrea Curry & David Huffaker with J.B. Goodwin
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Dan Diepenhorst, president of Legacy Mutual Mortgage, thanks Natalie Jack for all her hard work for the company. As Austin Production Manager, Natalie works to recruit the right people for the Austin branch. Judging by the company’s growth, she’s doing a great job! The two networked while attending the AMBA Installation event at the Renaissance Hotel.
Submitted Photo
JJ Kennemer, Lauri Schroeder, Carolyn Saathoff, Tonya Barlow, all of JB Goodwin, REALTOR's Westlake Office get a little quirky with photo booth props at the recent company awards program.
Submitted Photo
Keller Williams Realty Round Rock Productivity Coach Rachel Dunn celebrates with P.C. winners, Kriston Wood, Kathy Armstrong, Michele Sherwood, Mandi Weller and Donna McKay as they proudly display their certificates of achievement at the Keller Williams Realty Round Rock Office Awards program.
Buy Photo: RL_030116_A.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
AYREP membership chair Daniel Topolski of Better Homes and Gardens, event chair Marley Ketchum of Trinity Title and Michael McSpadden of Supreme Lending Texas Team greet guests as they arrive at J. Black’s downtown to the organization’s first networking event of the year.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_M.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Submitted Photo
Carlos Flores and Gina Gelner, both of RE/MAX Round Rock, make their way through the crowd at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders.
May the force be with you in 2016. Christine Whetstone, Mariella Rivero, Buster and Frances Crossley, and K.C. Whestone celebrate Star Wars style at the Keller Williams Realty Round Rock Awards program.
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President ‘s Column By Mary Miner • 2016 President Paceseter Homes celebrates the success of its sales agents at the HBA Sales & Marketing Council's Million Dollar Club Awards Networking Happy Hour at The Roosevelt Room.
Submitted Photo
Here they come!
W
e have people relocating from all parts of the country. As such, we need to understand the power of networking and the importance of education to assist both buyers and sellers. Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is all about networking, education and becoming successful. Throughout the state, we will have luncheons, happy hours and educational classes to support our local area agents. Here are a few reminders a Certified Residential Specialist should focus on while selling a home. One of the most important aspects of selling a home is the price point and how the property is presented. When a homeowner puts his or her home on the market, it becomes a product. A REALTOR assesses a sales price, devises a marketing plan and prepares to list in the MLS. Homes will compete against a small inventory of available homes. Now more than ever, it’s extremely important to make a listing stand out in the marketplace so the owner can get the highest and best offer in a limited amount of time. So what can consumers and their REALTORS do to catch the attention of homebuyers? They need to:
• Make the first impression of the home positive and inviting • Enable buyers to envision themselves living in the home • Show the full potential of the home • Make the home visually appealing for online listings • Make sure there are professional photos Home Stagers can help! Home Staging is professionally preparing homes for sale, so that they appeal to the most amount of buyers and generate the highest price in the least amount of time on market. Staged homes present themselves better by being clean, clutter-free, and ready to show to prospective buyers. Home staging is not decorating, fluffing, interior design or redesign. Instead, home staging is detailing, de-cluttering, depersonalizing and preparing a seller's home to give it a "model home" appearance so that the potential buyer can "see" themselves living in the home. Join us at our next lunch and education class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 20 at the Westwood Country Club. We hope to see you there!
Diane Christy of Diane Christy REALTORS, Dianne Lee, Corrine Costabile of Cavalier Real Estate and Mark Bennett of Robinson Co. REALTORS, attend Brohn Home’s Key Party at Edgewater — do they have the winning key?
Buy Photo: RL_031216_A.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Fawn Crosby of Cornerstone Lending knows it’s always “good” to attend AYREP mixers, especially at J. Black’s with Travis Benford of Zip Realty and Michael Donegan of Century Communities
Buy Photo: RL_030116_L.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
PrimeLending Capital City Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, & Jumbo to name only a few loan products!
Candy Buzan Branch Manager The Candy Buzan Team
Max Leaman Branch Manager Leaman Team
Kim Nielsen Production Manager The Candy Buzan Team
Amy Bailey Oehler Production Manager Leaman Team
Daniel Hyzak Team Loan Officer The Candy Buzan Team
Marie Cyr
Diane M. Clark
Jori Stern
Amanda Stewart
Adam Biehler
Leaman Team
Leaman Team
Leaman Team
Missy Driskell
Eiric Smith
Trudy Savage
Mark Hoffman
Mary Kennedy
Two Great Locations! © 2016 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (NMLS: 13649) is a wholly owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender TX V121013. 1450002 (Hyzak), NMLS 268025 (Clark), NMLS 179666 (Kennedy), NMLS 180066 (Driskell), NMLS 180854 (Savage), NMLS 151263 (Leaman), NMLS 225339 (Bailey), NMLS 177299 (Stern), 208244 (Biehler).
810 Hester’s Crossing, Suite 150 Round Rock, TX 78681 3724 Executive Center Drive, Suite 110 Austin, TX 78731
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Texas Mortgage Bankers Association President Tom Tallent, CMB, AMP installs Kathie Thomas, treasurer, and Dan Rushing, vice president, to the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association board of directors at the group’s Installation event at the Renaissance Hotel.
Buy Photo: RL_030616_F.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
John McCarthy discusses new real estate opportunities with Glenn Allen and Meagan Allen, both of Spyglass Realty, at AYREP’s mixer at J. Blacks.
Buy Photo: RL_020216_G.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
NAPMW President George Light hopes the numbers he picks are the lucky ones. He took a little gamble at the NAPMW Casino Night.
Buy Photo: RL_030116_J.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
2016 R E A LT O R R E WA R D S
Mercedes
drivehome in a new
from highland homes !
Patten Law Firm is looking for driven individuals to join the team!
ESCROW OFFICERS | ESCROW ASSISTANTS | MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES
Sell 2 Highland homes between
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For inquiries please contact Tiffany Stillwell: Tiffany@plfpc.com 512.241.1818 www.PLFPC.com
Patten Law Firm
A Closing Office For Texas American Title Company
Raising the Bar for Closing Services
• Great, Team-Like Atmosphere • Profit Sharing • 401K Employer Matching • Excellent Benefits • No Quotas • We have a Book of Business waiting for you
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estate issues, we try to assist by directing them
North American Title
to an appropriate professional or resource,” Liebes notes. In addition to working with the real estate industry and agents, National American Title also provides services directly to the buyer and
A S S O C I AT E S I N P R O G R E S S - A d v e r t i s e r P r o f i l e b y K a t i e B r o w n
O
ne of the largest real estate settlement service providers in the United States, North American Title pro-
says. “We are always looking for professional
vides title insurance services for both residen-
Additionally, National American Title
tial and commercial transactions. Working with both agents and underwriters, the team at North American Title can address every type of real estate transaction. “We partner with all segments of the real estate industry including real estate agents, lenders, homebuilders and developers to coordinate timely closings,” says Margaret Liebes, executive vice president and Austin division manager, for National American
associates to join our team, and we keep our options open for new locations.” and its associates are involved in local communities by supporting organizations such as Austin Board of REALTORS, Central Texas
American Title has grown to over 1,000 associates in branches across the United States.
provide a professional but relaxed closing atmosphere with flexible locations and times for closings,” Liebes says. One way North American Title ensures a professional, quality experience is through its team members. “We have several ‘veteran’ title officers with at least 25 years of experience and some over 30 years,” Liebes says. “For cli-
We have several ‘veteran’ title officers with at least 25 years of experience and some over 30 years.
Title. Established in 1953, National
seller. “North American Title and our agents
ents and agents, this means we have experience with many situations that go beyond the norm.” North
Ameri-
can Title is also an
Margaret Liebes, Executive Vice Presient & Austin Division Manager
American Title’s website contains many tools for real estate agents, lenders, buyers and sellers to use, such as compute net sheets, esti-
agent for most of
mate fees or access to information about title
the nation’s largest Commercial Association of Real Estate Pro-
insurance and the Texas transaction. National
title insurance underwriters, offering flexible
fessionals, CREW Austin, Real Estate Coun-
American Title’s marketing team also facili-
underwriting solutions to close even the most
tates educational classes for the industry.
cil of Austin, Texas Land Title Association,
As part of its nationwide expansion, National
complex transactions. “Most title companies
At North American Title Company, associ-
Williams County Association of Realtors and
American Title made its way into Texas in
only have one underwriter for decisions on
ates strive to ensure a quality experience for
Women’s Council of REALTORS.
whether they can or cannot insure the trans-
real estate clients and agents alike through its
1996 and purchased Texas Professional Title,
For real estates agents, National American
action, while National American Title can
experienced team members, expansive under-
an all women-owned local title company in
Title provides a variety of services, including
consult with numerous underwriters for in-
writing network, online tools and much more.
Austin, in 2001.
real property title insurance, closing services
surability and options,” Liebes says.
“Every transaction has its unique differences,
“Today, we currently have three offices and 15 associates in the Central Texas area,” Liebes
and ownership and lien searches. “If a lender
In addition to its experienced associates
or real estate agent needs help with other real
and flexible underwriting solutions, North
and our associates at North American Title know how to handle them,” Liebes says. RL
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NAPMW members have a blast playing craps at the group’s annual Casino Night event at Dave and Buster’s.
Buy Photo: RL_031016_D.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Michelle Scott, Kate Price, Christy Monfort, Erin Jones, Erika Levack, and Heather Puckett, all of JB Goodwin, REALTORS, are recognized as Rising Stars at the JB Goodwin, REALTORS Northwest Office Awards event by Byron “Buddy” Schilling, center, president of JB Goodwin, REA. LTORS. Submitted Photo
Chelsea Timmons, left, and Danille Lipari-Mareth, right, both of Pacesetter Homes, pull off a wildly susccessful Million Dollar Club Awards Happy Hour for the HBA's Sales and Marketing Council. Kandis Rushing, center, of Crescent Communities thanks them for their hard work. Kandis serves as the HBA's VP of Communications.
Buy Photo: RL_110615_I.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Elizabeth Schneider of the Texas Association of REALTORS makes sure that King Bravo of Nextage Loan Star Realty does not forget to vote for Proposition 1, i which helps to reduce property taxes, in the state’s constitutional election,
Submitted Photo
Catalina Ranch Homes from the $270s
• French country architecture • 1,596 to 3,899 sq. ft. • Walking distance to Leander ISD schools • Easy access to downtown Austin • Limited availability!
Eric Bullard • 512.645.5665 • ericb@brohnhomes.com
The Grove Homes from the $300s
• Modern architecture and urban living • Townhomes on E. 51st Street • 1,334 to 1,965 sq. ft. • Private yard with each unit • Individual one-car garages • Gated, pet-friendly community • Minutes to Mueller
Anne Ford • 512.554.5198 • annef@brohnhomes.com ECAD_realtorThankYouAd_0116.indd 1
1/22/16 3:17 PM
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Larry Carter of Highland Homes welcomes guests to the Model Home Tour at Travisso where he talks about all the amenities available to homeowners there.
Buy Photo: RL_031216_G.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Vanessa Power of Keller Williams Realty talks with Ron Mitchell and Matt Denison, both of Steve Klein Custom Builder, about the benefits of working with reputable custom builders while at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_H.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Nancy Hurd of Sente Mortgage teaches a free MCE class for REALTORS at the Century Communities model home at Reagan’s Overlook. Buy Photo: RL_110115_D.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Melinda Carroll of Independence Title, Ross Frie and Jeanne Anne Klein of Keller Williams Realty mingle at the Independence Title Lakeway office Open House.
Buy Photo: RL_030816_A.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
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March 2016 Front Page: Continued
emphasize enough was how emotional this process is for sellers. Noleen Bester, owner of the award-winning staging company, NB Designs, explains that it’s only natural that a seller believes she knows what is best for marketing her home. In actuality, professional stagers are not styling a home based simply on the location of the fireplace and how the sun hits the north wall. Morris considers several factors, from the neighborhood to the part of town the house is in. He is always anticipating what type of person is more likely to buy that particular property. For instance, he would not stage a downtown loft for a young family, just like he wouldn’t stage a single home with four-bedrooms, two-car-garage and big yard for a bachelor. One way to weed out those who approach staging from a one-size-fits-all perspective is by doing a little background reconnaissance. “Check out a stager’s portfolio and make sure the photos are authentic because any-
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one can copy an image online and claim it as their own,” says Morris. But also ask a lot of questions, including something as seemingly trivial as why the stager chose to move a piece of furniture. “When your home is priced by square footage and there’s a huge armoire in the living room, that’s potentially thousands of dollars you’re covering up,” explains George.
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Managing Editor: Naomi Bludworth naomi@myRealtyLine.com
Contributing Editor: Linda McNabb
Contributing Writers: Riki Markowitz, Katie Brown, Linda McNabb, Naomi Bludworth
Contributing Photographers: Doren L. Carver, Naomi Bludworth, Linda McNabb
Bottom line According to RESA, professionally staged properties spend 73 percent less time on the market and can capture 1-5 percent more than asking price – and in some cases up to 20 percent more. With those results, for the paltry 4 percent of agents who claim that home staging has “no impact” on buyers, is it worth it to risk having a home on the market more days and also leaving additional dollars on the table? Absolutely not, say a large number of REALTORS. Today, more than a third of seller agents believe all homes should have a professional stager. RL
STAGED HOMES =
73%
Less Time on Market
Columnists: Aaron Farmer, Shavonne Martin, Wes Wigginton, Mary Miner Submission Guidelines: Submit photos, press releases and calendar items to naomi@myrealtyline.com. All photos must be at least 300 dpi and include a caption with first/last name and company affiliation. Press releases must be fewer than 300 words. Non-advertisers submitting calendar items will be charged $25 per submission. All submissions must be received at least seven calendar days prior to ad copy deadlines published at www.myrealtyline.com/blog/advertise.html. Submission items will be included as space allows. Realty Line Austin is published monthly by Caxton Publications, Inc.© as a non-subscription publication for the more than 8,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS®(ABoR), the more than 1,500 members of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCREALTORS) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin. Realty Line Austin is printed on recycled paper. Realty Line Austin is a proud member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the Williamson County Association of REALTORS®, the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin and is a honorary member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS. Realty Line Austin is not responsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this publication without the registered trademark symbol (®) for the purpose of saving space. Wherever the word REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered trademark should be assumed.
Hilltop perches. Immersive days. Celestial observations. Altered course.
Begin anew, come to the source.
Opening Summer 2016 An amazing collection of neighborhoods, amenities and scenic expanses with something close to every home. LiveHeadwaters.com
DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES | DREES CUSTOM HOMES | TRENDMAKER HOMES 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 Freehold Communities 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 Headwaters. Models do not reflect racial preference.
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Great Things are Happening at
David Burton
joins as the Sales Manager - Austin
We Added Great New Agents in 2015
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Kristin Carroll of Sente Mortgage and Kevin Bendy of Grand Haven Homes hit targets at TopGolf.
We Launched The Most Powerful Search Site in Central Texas
We Won Platinum Award - Cartus
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We Were Named A Top 20 Trendsetting Brokerage 20 0
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Melanie Townsend and Chris Krueger, both of Scott Felder Homes, show off the builder’s model at the WCREALTORS Super Bowl of Builders event.
Trendsetters of Residential Real Estate
We Opened New Regions Corpus Christi Temple/Belton
Find out how you can BE BETTER today Call David Burton - 512.507.6382 Call Greg Cooper - 512.565.0499 Buy Photo: RL_030816_D.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Nancy Hurd, left, of Sente Mortgage, put on a great MCE class for REALTORS. Sean Motalebi of Century Communities thanks her for teaching the class along with Deborah DeBona of Hughes & Company Real Estate.
www.bradfieldproperties.com/careers
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Real Estate News & Notes customers and partners has always been the basis of our core values,” said Jean Ann Brock. “The ESOP ensures Highland Homes remains privately held, so we can continue to honor our commitments.” Formed in 1985 by brother and sister team Rod Sanders and Jean Ann Brock, Highland is currently the sixth largest privately held homebuilding company in the U.S. and the largest private builder Texas. Highland builds homes in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio under the brand names Highland Homes, Horizon Homes, Huntington Homes and Sanders Custom Builder. In 2015, Highland sold over 2,400 homes and had over $1 billion in revenue. Highland also celebrated its 30th year as a homebuilder in 2015 and has built more than 50,000 homes to date. RL
Michelle Hall to now Marketing Manager at Sweetwater Newland Communities has promoted Michelle Hall to the position of marketing manager for Sweetwater on SH 71. In her new position, Hall will manage all marketing efforts for Sweetwater, including relations with homebuilders, prospective homebuyers and residents. She will also work with external and internal marketing agencies for Newland. Hall joined Newland Communities in 2014
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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995
M/I Homes: 40 years, 100,000 homes and still growing
Highland Homes now 100 percent employee owned Highland Homes announced today that the company has converted to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The new entity will be 100% employee owned. Highland employs more than 600 people. “We made this move to ensure Highland’s long-term future and to maintain the unique culture of our commitment to homeowners and employees,” said Rod Sanders, co-founder of Highland Homes. “We can now continue to provide the best possible customer experience and honor the employees who have built this company.” Sanders said the current owners and management team will remain with Highland in their existing roles. There will be no change in how the company is operated and all current policies will remain in place. “Doing the right thing for our employees,
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as a community representative, working at the Sweetwater Welcome Center. “This will be a very important year for Sweetwater, with new choices in homebuilders, price ranges and new-home styles coming in 2016. We are very excited to have such a knowledgeable and experienced professional as Michelle Hall managing the marketing activities for Sweetwater during this exciting time,” says Kayla Webb, marketing director for Newland Communities. Hall has a Master of Arts degree in psychology from City University of New York. RL
In 1976, Melvin and Irving Schottenstein founded M/I Homes on a very simple premise: if you take care of the customer, everything else will take care of itself. Today, on the company’s 40th anniversary, it’s been proven beyond a doubt. The founder’s idea of customer care permeates everything that M/I does. “Taking care of the customer means designing homes that fit the way people really live today,” said Bill Peckman, M/I Area President. “We build our homes using the latest techniques in building science to deliver a better-built, energy efficient home with lasting value.” Mr. Peckman also shared that, “We’ve developed our own, exclusive Whole Home Building Standards. Building homes that we’d be proud to live in ourselves is another way we treat our customers right.” What started as a family business in central Ohio has grown to include 17 markets in nine states in just a single generation. Austin was M/I Homes’ third expansion market in Texas, coming in after Houston and San Antonio. It was followed by operations
expanding into Dallas/Fort Worth. The company broke ground on its first Austin home in 2013 in the North Austin community of Caballo Ranch. “We never take a minute to rest on our laurels. We never stop refining our processes. We’re always searching for the latest innovations to make our homes even better,” Peckman continued. “We may be 40 years old, but we’re just getting started.” M/I Homes, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality single-family homes, having delivered more than 100,000 homes. The Company’s innovative, award-winning homes are marketed and sold under the trade names M/I Homes and Showcase Homes. In addition to Columbus, the company has homebuilding operations in Chicago, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Indianapolis, Indiana; Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Minnesota and Houston, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio in Texas. RL
Submission Guidelines: Submit photos, press releases and calendar items to naomi@myrealtyline.com. All photos must be at least 300 dpi and include a caption with first/last name, company affiliation and a short description. Press releases must be fewer than 300 words. Calendar items are free to advertisers and $25 per submission for others. All submissions must be received at least seven calendar days prior to ad copy deadlines published at www.myrealtyline.com/advertise.html. Submission items will be included as space allows.
NMLS #149932
Put your Trust in our Experience bout Ask A or Realt
Host an Open House in our Community 1-844-MY-CENTURY
S INCENTIVE
With over 100 years of combined industry experience, our executive team continues to take aggressive steps to innovate and improve the industry.
WeLoveRealtors@CenturyCommunities.com
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1. Woodland Park $410s 101 W. Red Bud Meadow Georgetown, TX 78633 (512) 930-4043
7. Siena $230s 7021 Leonardo Drive Round Rock, TX 78665 (512) 271-3785
2. Heritage Oaks $290s 4805 Big Bend Trail Georgetown, TX 78633 (512) 930-4005
8. Rough Hollow $420s 303 Borgo Allegri Cove Lakeway, TX 78738 (512) 271-3823
3. Crystal Falls $540s 3203 Crystal Falls Parkway Leander, TX 78641 (512) 931-2800
9. Reagan’s Overlook $540s 2900 Vista Heights Drive Leander, TX 78641 (512) 271-3787
4. Rim Rock $470s 1043 Arbor Canyon Pass Driftwood, TX 78619 (512) 354-1940
10. Blackhawk $340s 20425 Martin Lane Pflugerville, TX 78660 (512) 271-3790
5. Avalon $310s 3705 Gildas Path Pflugerville, TX 78660 (512) 271-3884
11. Pearson Place $420s at Avery Ranch 10105 Double Eagle Pass Austin, TX 78717 (512) 271-3855
(512) 450-1222
4807 Spicewood Springs Rd., Bldg. 1, Ste 1100
Liberty Hill Georgetown
195
24 FM 2
FM 14
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Cedar Park
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Crystal Falls Pkwy
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Scott Sewell
rrodriguez@ hometrust.com
ssewell@ hometrust.com
sales manager
Michael Snyder msnyder@ hometrust.com
vp production
NMLS #222698
NMLS #211987
Kyle Bierschwale kbierschwale@ hometrust.com
Bradley Rife
NMLS #1102707
Parmer Ln
Lake Austin
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Pflugerville
Lake Travis
Lakeway
Rowe Lane
Richie Rodriguez
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Home, pricing, features, and community information is subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Images are conceptual and may depict or contain floor plans, square footages, elevations, options, upgrades, decorations, landscaping, pool, spa, furnishings, appliances, and other design features and amenities that are not included as part of the home and/or may not be available in all communities. © 2016 Century Communities. All Rights Reserved. 02.17.2016
NMLS #1150439
sales manager
brife@ hometrust.com
Lynn Edgar ledgar@hometrust.com NMLS #221412
NMLS #221487
6. Butler Ranch $430s 145 Lloyd Lane Dripping Springs, TX (512) 271-3784
www.hometrust.com
ITChomestead030116RL.pdf Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™1
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Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995
Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995.™
The “Nun of Your Business” team prays for first place at the TREPAC Bowling Tournament at Uncle Buck’s Fish & Bowl.
Buy Photo: RL_030716_O.jpg at www.myrealtyline.com
Obi-Wu Kenobi aka Avis Wukasch, Darth Vadar, Chewbacca aka Steve Schlueter, Han Solo Don Johnson and Han Solo Bruce Rodden, make an appearance at Keller Williams Realty's Round Rock Office Awards banquet.
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Submitted Photo
The Austin Young Real Estate Professionals board gathers outside J. Black’s, the location for the organization’s first networking event of 2016. From left: Oscar Velasquez, Jacy Reidmann, Daniel Topolski, Andrew Thurston, Marley Ketchum, Marie Lynn Dunn, President Stephanie Winans, Alani Rondon, Amanda Beck and Will Burnham.