June 2021 by Real Estate Newsline

Articles In This Issue

S ERVING S OUTH T EXAS AND S URROUNDING A REAS F OR O VER 37 Y EARS Vol.XXXIX, No. 6

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Page 1: Pat Farrell Page 3: SABOR Page 7: The Way I See It Featuring: Cathey Meyer Page 10: Guest Column Featuring: Brad Smilgin Page 17: NARPM Article Featuring: Brenda Davila Page 15: WCR Article Featuring: Renae Pretty Page 23: News Flash

June 2021

Where Did That Originate? Pat Farrell / Contributing Writer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, Texas Permit #1416

We all grow up learning and using expressions and phrases that were either popular during our formative years or came from hearing our parents use them or maybe they came from our friends, then or even now. Regardless of their source we probably never thought about where the phrases got started but some expressions may just have quite an interesting historical background. Take, for example, the phrase “He got off Scott free.” Many believe that the phrase originated with Dred Scott, a Virginia slave, who sued for his freedom in all judicial courts possible, including the U. S. Supreme Court, but lost in all cases, yet he was eventually freed by his owners. It could then make sense that Scott was the source of the phrase. However, many other people, being aware of how frugal those from Scotland can be, believe it makes sense that the phrase “Scot free” refers to how the Scots are able, at times, to get away “Scot free,” when it comes to paying for some things. But it has been shown the phrase was actually in use as far back as the 10th century (very much ahead of Dred Scott’s time) when the word “scot,” an English language derivation of the Scandinavian word “skat,” which referred to any kind of tax, so that when one did not pay their taxes they “got off scot free.” Note the three spellings: Scott, Scot

and scot, but they all mean the same thing. Those who have ever watched old episodes of the comedy team, Laurel and Hardy, may remember that Stan Laurel was the inept one, always getting the duo into some predicament or ‘muddle,’ and Oliver Hardy would always say things like,“Now that’s a ‘fine, ‘pretty’ or ‘nice’ kettle of fish you’ve gotten me into!” It is thought that the kettle in ‘kettle of fish” may have come from England and refers to either the pan that was used to poach fish or to a “kiddle of fish” where the old word “kiddle” (later corrupted to “kettle”) referred to the baskets or nets in which fish were caught. Mention of the word “kiddle” dates back to the Magna Carta in 1215, whereas the earliest recorded use of "a pretty kettle of fish" occurs in Henry Fielding’s 1742 edition of The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, followed later by his use of "a rare kettle of fish" in The History of Tom Jones (1749). In any event the meaning of all these “kettle of fish” expressions just refer to an awkward or difficult predicament. Ever heard a policeman referred to as a “cop?”There are some general theories for why the police are called Cops, one of which is because it is an acronym for Constabulary of Police or for the Constable on Patrol, however, there is little to actually document that theory. The old Anglo-Saxon word “cop” was a verb meaning to catch, capture or grab and was derived from the noun “cop,” a word prevalent in the 12th century, and thought to be related to the Dutch word “kapen” which has the same meaning. It was in 1844 that some sources document the use of the verb “cop” to mean arrest from which it then referred to a “cop” as a law officer. There are also some who believe the term “copper” is in use because the police badges and uniform buttons are made from copper, however they are usually made from brass. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) documents that the first use of the term “copper” for police was in London in 1846 and most sources agree that the shortened form “cop” was in use by 1859. Ever had that euphoric feeling that everything is right in the world but most especially in your world? If so, you could

be described as being “on cloud nine.” But why nine – why not cloud eight or cloud ten? Even cloud seven might have been considered more appropriate as it fits right in with the idea of being in “Seventh Heaven.” Some sources believe nine was chosen because it is a “mystical number,” meaning that there are a limitless number of human and global things that can be reduced to nine. I am not sure who had the time to figure all this out, but the human birth gestation period is nine months, human mean respiration is 18/min., heartbeat is 72/min. and the average heart beats 4,320/hr., respirations 1080/hr. and 25,920 respirations/day with all numbers being divisible by nine. But wait, there’s more… there are 360o in a circle, it was tradition for the Romans to bury their dead on the ninth day of death, Catholic novenas last nine nights and the bells ring 3+3+3 times at the consecration during the Mass. And then there is the game of baseball where there are nine players, playing for nine innings on a field where the bases are 90 feet apart. When you were younger and not getting your homework done or your room cleaned, did your folks ever tell you to “quit dilly-dallying?”The key word form in the phrase is “dally,” thought to have come from the Old French verb “dalier” which, according to the OED, had its earliest use in the verb form in 1741 in Richardson’s, Pamela,“What you do, sir, do: don't stand dilly-dallying!” but as a noun there was a quotation in 1610,“Such dilly-dally is fitter for heathens that know not God.” It is also interesting to note that the original meaning of ”dalien” in the early 14th century was “to speak seriously or commune” but by later that century had changed to “play, sport, frolic or flirt” and by the 1530s had a general meaning of “to waste time.” Dilly-dally is a good example of the linguistic process of “reduplication” where the base word is either repeated or changed slightly and usually rhymes, ex. hocus-pocus, walkietalkie or flim-flam, along with general baby-talk as in tum-tum and ga-ga. And then there are the phrases “shiver me timbers” and “feeling under the weather,” both good examples of sailor speak. The word “shiver” was used

as far back as the 16th century and described the shattering and splintering of wood (timber) on land as the result of an earthquake but by 1795 was being used to emphasize the truth of what one was saying as in “may my ship’s timber be shivered if what I say is not the truth.”The meaning later became a phrase expressing surprise as in “well, shiver my timbers, that was a good one.” It was certainly a favorite for Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Today we understand when one says,“I am feeling under the weather” they mean they feel ill. On a ship, the rail that is “up wind,” i.e., facing into the wind, is called the “weather rail,” directly below which was usually the spot that was rocking the least and therefore the best place to rest. In his 1840 book, Two Years Before the Mast, Richard Henry Dana, Jr. records, “we stowed ourselves away upon the rigging under the weather rail ………… …. And we were glad to get this rest.” Along with phrases there are a number of words that have interesting origins and different meanings as opposed to how they are used today. Ever thought that you were a diehard fan of someone or something? Well, you need to think about the origin of the word “diehard” as it once was used to describe how one chose to die when they were being hanged – once the noose was applied one could ask that their legs be pulled to expedite death or they could choose to just wait until the noose created a lack of air flow to the brain and thus they would “die hard!” And we all use the word “goodbye,” probably everyday, without ever thinking of or even knowing its origin. During the 16th century people would politely end their letters with “God be with you,” until someone decided that was too long and shortened it to “god b w ye.” Eventually, probably because of all the other greetings like good day and good afternoon,“God” was replaced by “good” and it became “goodbye.” Or did you know that the words merry, bra and pretzel are all derived from the same source? It can be very interesting to see how many words now common to our language today had some very unusual beginnings. But that is a subject for another day!

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R E A LTO RS d a o R e h On T

June 2021

A PUBLICATION OF JDC3 ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS LLC

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Managing Editor...........Courtney Smith Contributing Writers:......Cathey Meyer ..................................................Pat Farrell Columnists............................Brian Paris ...........................................Brenda Davila Business Development .......Joyce Orts Area Sales Director..........Rose Stewart .............................................210.386.6544 Real Estate Newsline is not responsible for the opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or for errors and any byproducts in advertising or editorial copy. Real Estate Newsline takes the pandemic situation very seriously, we do not endorse or condone any behavior contrary to current CDC guidelines. To that end, please be aware, some pictures in this issue may have been taken pre-covid and should not be considered to represent anyone being irresponsible or careless in any shape or form. 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 space, the registered trademark should be assumed.

We welcome submissions of photos, press releases or articles. Email to: editor@realestatenewsline.com

June 2021

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Commitment to Excellence Program The National Association of REALTORS®’ Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) is a program that empowers REALTORS® to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to conducting business at the highest standards. REALTORS® defined professionalism in this industry more than 100 years ago when they created the Code of Ethics. C2EX takes professionalism to the next level by enabling NAR members to assess their expertise in 10 (11 for brokers) elements of professionalism ranging from customer service to use of technology. This innovative engagement tool encourages participation in all levels

of the REALTOR® organization. It’s not a designation or a course. It’s not a requirement, but a benefit available to all NAR members at no additional cost. To get started, log in to www.C2EX.realtor and take the self-assessment that measures your proficiency in each of the elements of professionalism, known as the C2EX Competencies. Based on your results, the platform will generate customized learning paths, recommend experiences, and provide tools and resources to increase your knowledge and enhance your skillsets. Source: National Association of REALTORS®

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June 2021

Realtor Happy Hour at Esperanza

Connie Hentosh, Esperanza, James Moore, Select Custom Homes and Nova Stephenson, Lone Star Properties

Debbie Snelling and Yvonne Meza, both Keller Williams Heritage

Sara Baird, Lone Star Properties, Michael Carpenter, Scott Felder Homes and Lora Carlisle, Lone Star Properties.

Christina Buck and Lisa Pastrano, both Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper REALTORS

Stacie Clem, Esperanza and Karen Murphy, Esperanza HOA manager

Roland Flores and Maryna Miller, both BHGRE homecity

Be sure to see and download more pictures from this event and others online:

Evan Guzman, REAL Broker and Victor Yong, Home Team of America

Karen Murphy, Esperanza HOA manager, James Moore, Select Custom Homes and Kevin McDaniel, Northpointe Bank

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June 2021

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THE WAY I SEE IT Cathey Meyer / Contributing Writer

A Shot in the Arm The occasion is rare that someone suggests an idea for a column. Since 1995, I have successfully created ideas just living life. Rarely does a week go by that I do not note an idea for future writing. These days I usually forget where I put the note and yes, I know I could put it in the Notes app on my phone, but I usually forget where I put my phone. When the phone stops ringing, I will be in trouble, but so far, the ideas and the phone find their way to me. January 2021 started a new trend: folks were asking when I would make an observation about all these television shots showing COVID shots in the arm. Not one, not two, not three—you get the drift, everyone was sick of the anti-sick shot in January. My first thought was to ignore the whiners and look away when the shot shots came on television. In February, when I was still too young and healthy to scam a shot, I looked away each time the shot shots were

leading news. In March, it was just a given every news story would open with a shot shot and then another shot shot and finally make-the-point shot shot. By April, I was annoyed so many were getting their shots and I STILL was not eligible for anything but a tetanus shot. I was continually watching the shots and no one was smiling. No one seemed relieved or grateful. There were reports of people crying from relief, ecstatic with joy, but we rarely saw those faces. We only saw the wincing, crying, anguished faces of needles puncturing epidermises and no post puncture encouragement. I have witnessed way too many upper arms in need of a makeover. There is a sentence I never saw coming . . .. but let us get real, if you are going to show off not only your eligibility to receive the most significant inoculation in modern history, would we not seek out the best of the best upper arms? Where are the beefcake arms? Where are the cool tattooed epidermises?

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Where are the fashionably forward cute tops with the arm sleeve ever so delicately rolled? Where is the tanned bicep with the ever so slight cut muscle? These wincing, haggard faces with decades old tee shirts are not selling the shot in the arm. Show a Bravo Housewife or two getting the designer shot in the arm. Tempt me to join the line! Just when I thought the shot was old news and it was safe to watch the news or buzz through the newspaper, we are now inoculating the young. Today’s front page had a photograph of a lovely young lady, sans her hoody tensing up for the big poke. Again, sell it folks. Where is the hip hop kid with rainbow hair and an all-knowing smirk acting all cool in a seated position? Where is the sports hero with the team jersey throwing a hand sign and using those pearly whites to melt your heart? Where is the adorable 12-year-old who does not have a clue the shot was shot? Not to miss a good party, a group of neighbors got together to have a shot party. They all had been shot, I was still waiting my farewell to arms. We are retired folks with not much to do, so we invented the News Shots game. We gathered for the AARP seating of the 4 PM news and committed to sit through the 5:30 national news, more 6 PM local news, and if we were still standing, we would take a shot at the later cable news. The rule was simple: we each had a shot

glass and our favorite adult beverage set out. Each time the news showed a shot-in-the-arm, we took a shot of good cheer. Fortunately, none of us were driving anywhere as it did not take long to be buzzed beyond operating heavy equipment. The game was fun for a few evenings, then we decided to not watch the news and sober up. Finally, in early May, my shot at the shot materialized. Not to be a hypocrite, I gussied up for the occasion. I was attending the drive through event at the prestigious Alamodome location. Much like a ZOOM meeting, I knew I only needed to dress up my top half, but this was an occasion, so I put together my best top and bottom church outfit with suitable upper arm exposure. I had my niece create a small temporary (naturally) THANK YOU! Tattoo for the shot surface. I really wanted a bullseye, but she was not amused by that effort. Did my hair and make-up and set out for the inoculation of the century. With apologies for my winter white upper arm, the rest of me came to show the shot whose boss. I am officially shot times two. Both times the hunky fire folks (first one was female; second one was male) commented on my stellar ‘look’ and grateful tattoo. I told them it was the least I could offer for their efforts to herd us to immunity. No photos, no news people, no show me your shot. I am confident the message is delivered . . .Please, please news people, give us a break and shoot something else.

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June 2021

Replacing Your Garage Door is the #1 Rated Home Improvement Project both Nationally and in San Antonio According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 Cost Versus Value Report!

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June 2021

Guest Column Brad Smilgin / GRI Immediate Past President

HOA Legislative Updates Disclaimer: By the time this article publishes, these bills will have been voted on. Spoiler alert: HB 3367 did not make it. I am not an attorney. I just want you to have an informed perspective. As a licensed Realtor for the past 15 years and the owner of a company where the primary function is managing HOAs, I’d like to think I can offer a unique perspective from these cousins of industry. My precarious position comes from the feedback I get: Real estate industry wanting to vote in favor of House Bill 3367 and Senate Bill 1588 and community associations industry sending TAKE ACTION NOW! emails to vote against these bills. We have a real fight on our hands here, folks. Continue reading for a peek into the opposition….From an email received from the Texas Community Association Advocates (TCAA): “The most problematic legislation continues to be HB 3367 (Turner) and the identical SB 1588 (Hughes), which are overly broad bills that make substantial and ill-advised changes to multiple provisions of the Texas Property Code relevant to property owners’ associations. Proposed changes include restricted service on association committees, increased fees for resale certificates, new requirements for association websites and publicly available documents, new requirements for management certificates and liens, and more regulation of association hearings. CAI-TCAA has serious concerns that HB 3367 and SB 1588 will increase liability for association volunteers, raise costs for homeowners, and greatly increase unwanted intervention by attorneys and government officials.” An email from the Community Associations Institute notes that these bills will • “raise costs for all residents • disincentivize volunteerism in HOAs by exposing volunteers and HOAs to significant liability and creating mountains of red tape • affect millions of Texas residents and was drafted with no input whatsoever from the voice of HOA homeowners. The bill is being pushed by Texas Realtors who presumably see HOAs and the protection they bring to property values and quality of life as an impediment to the next closing.” (Insert sound of bobcats fighting) Before we go any further, just going to throw this out there: buying a home in a mandatory HOA community is

a matter of choice. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy a house in an HOA community. If your client does not want to be in an HOA, give them other options. If they insist on buying a home in an HOA, I implore you to make sure that they are fully aware of the restrictions of the community. It is your duty as a Realtor to make sure your client is aware of what they are getting into. Really push your clients to actually read the HOA documents before buying the home. I am also asking you to learn more about homeowner associations and how they operate. Your clients will thank you for it. In my previous article here about HOAs (a few years back), I supplied some statistics from The Foundation for Community Association Research, which I will again share for some perspective: Regardless of what you have heard: • 89% of HOA residents rate their community positively. (down from 2018 at 92%) • 89% say they are on good terms with their Board (down from 2018 at 90%) • 89% say that “their elected governing boards strive to serve the best interests of the community” (same as 2018) • 94% say their association’s rules protect and enhance property values • 24% have had a disagreement with their HOA Also, an important note before going any further: The HOA’s money is actually the homeowners’ money. So any item aimed at increasing the responsibility of what the HOA needs to pay can result in the HOA needing to increase assessments in order for the association to remain fiscally solvent, thereby directly affecting the individual homeowner. The article on texasrealestate.com titled “Realtors Support Bringing Balance to HOAs” posted on 4/16/21 that attempts to sum up the two bills previously mentioned. Another article “State lawmakers looking to rein in abusive HOAs” posted at KPRC Houston (click2houston.com) on 4/6/21 written by a self-proclaimed “passionate consumer advocate, mom of 3, addicted to coffee, hairspray, and pastries” that runs through a good number of the bills before the legislature, but doesn’t really supply much detail while deftly mis-representing the purpose of an HOA board in the first sentence of the article. Grrr, those pesky, “corrupt HOA boards that are frustrating hardworking homeowners”. Before we jump in with

Follow Us @renewsline both feet to vilify all board members, just know that most of those board members are also hardworking homeowners that go a step above and volunteer their time to try to help maintain the property values of the community. That said, this author takes no responsibility for the power-trippers and control freaks who do not play by the rules. I’m not saying that there aren’t mini-mayor wannabes or retired busybodies out there ruining it for everybody. I’m saying it’s not that simple. It’s really difficult to balance the needs of the community vs. the wants of an individual homeowner, as per Texas Realtors. Especially if that homeowner is a consistent rule-abuser who likes to claim harassment because someone asked them to not park their car on the sidewalk, maybe paint that peeling trim, and mow their lawn or at least make sure there is actually grass in the yard in the first place (and put your trash cans away!). It is written into law (various Federal laws, Texas Property Code 209, Condo Code 81 and 82, Business Organizations codes, Non-profit Organizations codes, Texas Open Meetings Act, etc.) that HOA board members act responsibly and have a fiduciary duty to the association. So when the Texas Realtors article says “HOAs are increasingly taking on functions that local governments traditionally provide.” They need to go read Texas Property Code 209, where it outlines board member conduct and duties. HOA Boards are essentially de facto governing bodies per state law OR local governments need to step it up a notch with Code enforcement and help the boards maintain property values. In general, what I have seen in these bills so far is over-reach by the legislature, supported by TAR. What the Texas Realtors article neglects to mention is that also part of these bills is that the HOAs would have to file information and pay filing fees to TREC so that TREC can post the already publicly available information to the TREC website. (Don’t know about you but I have never told a client to the TREC website for HOA information.) This is repeating a process that HOAs are already required to do with the Secretary of State and local county clerks, including paying filing fees for both. So on one hand, we have people decrying the fees HOAs charge while simultaneously requiring more fees to be charged for information that is already publicly available to publish. Isn’t there a way for TREC to just import the data from the Secretary of State and/or the counties? Those fees for redundant information filing will be passed down to the homeowner as part of their HOA dues but as long as they get to say it’s the HOA that is charging the fees, its ok or something. Plus, HOAs now have to track the document processing times of yet another government agency. Moving on to another feat of overreach in the name of “increasing transparency” is the requirement that HOAs post a bunch of their documents online,

which also means they are required to operate and maintain a website. Keep in mind, people are complaining about fees charged by the HOA. It costs roughly $300 to maintain a website, beyond the $1,200 it can take to develop a website depending on your resources. Who do you think ends up paying for the website? What if your community association is a small, 12-unit condo complex? Is a website really necessary for that? Also, since these board members are volunteers, often with limited web programming skills, who is posting this stuff? I’m not saying it can’t be done. I’m saying it ends up costing the homeowners money to do it. Still another bit of over-reach is proposing to tell private business owners, like myself, how much we can charge for a service, like the processing of a resale certificate. Boooo….While, yes, there is no standard and that cost ranges from $75 up to $400 depending on the company, I don’t see the legislature capping what a brokerage can charge for individual services or real estate commissions, yet… Who’s ears just perked up? There are other issues that are not a big deal in writing but problematic in practice. For example, a homeowner being able to appeal an improvement application denial from an HOA’s Architectural Control Committee (ACC) to the board. A good majority of the time the ACC is actually the board of directors due to lack of volunteers from the neighborhood. SB 1588 “prohibits a person from being appointed or elected to serve on an architectural review authority if the person is a current association board member” Now what? The board of directors has the ultimate responsibility of the integrity of the neighborhood, so what is the remedy there? In many neighborhoods, it’s hard enough to find volunteers to fill the board spots, let alone the various committees. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad. There are a few procedural items that I am either indifferent to or actually agree with, such as giving a delinquent owner (more) notice prior to submitting their information to a credit reporting service or extending the amount of time needed to notify homeowners of a meeting (144 hours instead of 72 hours), or even that the association is entitled the contact information of who is leasing a home in the neighborhood and for how long. There are so many other items in these bills that are problematic in many practical and fiscal ways for associations that operate in the real world, aren’t a neighborhood of 250+ homes, or have been mis-managed in the past. As much as TAR/TREC are aiming to “protect homeowners against HOAs” they are inadvertently causing more harm than good in some ways. They have to realize that the associations are made up of the homeowner members and there really is not any daylight between them. The boards are the elected representatives that are given the authority (by virtue of an

June 2021

www.realestatenewsline.com election) to conduct the day-today operations of the association. The easiest way for homeowners to change how their board acts is to actually volunteer to participate and/or cast a vote at their board election. There are remedies for removing bad board members in almost all of the governing documents of every HOA. Board members have a duty to all the homeowner members and cannot always put the needs of a single owner above the needs of the community. They have to consistently enforce the covenants equally or risk legal action against the HOA. If it affects the HOA financially, it will affect the homeowner financially. It just seems so odd that in its quest to stand for individuals, Texas Realtors is blind to the effects these bills have on the communities these individuals voluntarily and knowingly bought into. These bills are a great example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. My opinion is to move forward with the items that will limit the ability of individual board members to step outside their purview or use their position for favoritism or personal gain. Move forward on the procedural items that will tighten up boundaries or allow for increased participation. Maybe make it mandatory for HOAs to update their documents every 10 years instead of never. Just understand that imposing more fees

or imposing processes that boards have to hire out for or limiting an association’s ability to recoup attorney costs ultimately affects everyone in the neighborhood negatively financially. As a Realtor, I’m not against TREC/TAR having purview over an industry directly tied to residential issues. Let’s not forget that there is not requirement to be licensed in managing an HOA. I also see, as an HOA manager, why the community associations industry is opposed to what can be seen as TAR/TREC nosing into “their” industry. It’s just not as easy as what has been presented in these bills. I just want all the information to be out there and the impacts of the legislation to be known. If you are interested, I highly suggest you do your own research to find out more. Make up your own mind and be an informed voter. Brad Smilgin - CMCA, GRI, TRLP has been a licensed Realtor for over 15 years and is the owner of REPM Association Management. He is passionate about real estate, dad of 2, doesn’t have enough hair for hairspray, drinks healthy shakes for breakfast, and sometimes forgets his coffee on the kitchen counter. Feel free to contact him with any HOA questions. Call me at: (210) 775-8234 or email me at: Brad.Smilgin@sa-repm.com

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June 2021

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June 2021

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$$ Picture Challenge Starts $$ As we all anticipate more events to take place in the coming months, we decided it would be a great time to empty the picture vault and run some pictures* that have never been in the publication before. AND to add some fun, we are going to run them cut line free and turn it into a challenge!

The challenge includes this issue and June. All pictures* with no cutlines and a number on them are a part of the fun. For complete rules go to https://realestatenewsline.com/giveaway

$100 First Place $50 Second Place $25 Third Place The rules are simple: Make a word file and type up as many people as you can identify. Submit your entry online at https://realestatenewsline.com/newsflash-submission before the deadline. Top three with most correct names will win. We will publish the winners in the July Issue.

GOOD LUCK! * Note, MANY of these pictures are from previous years. Please refer to disclosure on page 2 before passing judgement or commenting on fellow colleagues not following proper protocols.

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June 2021

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Renae Pretty / President San Antonio Women’s Council Network

Women’s Council Of Realtors Happenings Happy middle of the year check-in to everyone! For those of you who may be unaware, the local Network of t h e Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l o f R E A LT O R S ® i n S a n A n t o n i o was founded in 1983, when it became a part of the National Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l o f R E A L TORS®, the twelfth largest U . S . w o m e n ’s p r o f e s s i o n a l organization with one of the most successful communication networks in the National A s s o c i a t i o n o f R E A LT O R S ® f a m i l y. I a m s o h a p p y t o s h a r e with you the scoop on our amazing organization so far in 2021 and also what is to come in the next few months. We i n s t a l l e d t h e n e w Board on 8 December 2020 at S c u z z i ’s I t a l i a n R e s t a u r a n t and it was a beautiful event

attended by almost 70 people. Sylvia Seabolt, 2021 National Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l P r e s i d e n t E l e c t a n d Pe g g i e Pe n t e c o s t , 2 0 2 1 P r e s i d e n t Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l Te x a s d i d t h e h o n o r s of installing us, to include me a s P r e s i d e n t , K i m M i l l e r Pe r r y as President Elect, Adriana G a r z a , a s S e c r e t a r y, A n d r e w I b a r r a a s Tr e a s u r e r, Va l e r i e Wi l s h i r e a s D i r e c t o r o f M e m b e r s h i p a n d O j a s Ta s k e r Director of Programs. Marquis Wi l l i a m s , B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s m e m b e r a n d T R E PAC Tr u s t e e , was the Master of Ceremonies. From there, we held a Board Retreat at the end of December to discuss personality tests and working together as a team. It was very successful as we moved f o r w a r d i n t o t h e n e w y e a r.

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January started off with a bang as we held our first Membership Orientation at Everview Homes corporate o f f i c e o n 1 2 J a n u a r y. I t w a s well attended with 37 guests present and we gained 3 new members from this orientation. Our next Membership Orientation will be held on 10 June from 11AM to 1PM. February was a whirlwind of a month with the snow storm happening and a pivot on our first industry event. We w e n t f r o m h a v i n g a live/hybrid event to a zoom event with less than 1 week of notice to the members, but everyone rallied to turn out in force for the event. Michael G u e r t i n f r o m A p e r t o , C PA , a l o n g t i m e S t r a t e g i c Pa r t n e r o f Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l S a n Antonio, shared tax tips for this unprecedented season that we have been in. More than 60 people were in attend a n c e f o r t h i s . We h a v e h a d 2 more zoom industry events, in March and in April, since then. Both of those were in collaboration with other N e t w o r k s i n t h e S t a t e o f Te x a s and a lot of fun! March was our first networking event and we held it in the Medical Center district a t L i t t l e Wo o d r o w ’s o n

Babcock. It was also very well attended and a lot of fun for everyone who came. Our next networking event will be on 8 July from 4:30-6:30PM at Ta n d e m i n S o u t h t o w n . We h e l d o u r f i r s t i n - p e rson industry event on 22 April at Stonewerks in Lincoln Heights. This was a cap-off to our clothing drive and a way to give back to those organiz a t i o n s . We h a d a r e p r e s e n t a tive from each one speak to o u r m e m b e r s a n d Wa l t e r Pe r r y, f o u n d e r o f S u i t U p, e v e n shared an economic update on the East Side of San Antonio. We w i l l h o l d o u r n e x t i n - p e rson industry event on 9 O c t o b e r. Look for even more comi n g f r o m Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l o f R E A LT O R S S a n A n t o n i o o v e r t h e n e x t s e v e r a l m o n t h s . We are hoping to be back at SABOR New Member Orientations very soon, among other pop-up education events we plan to do. For updates, follow us on F a c e b o o k . We h o p e t o s e e y o u all there! For any questions about membership or joining Wo m e n ’s C o u n c i l S a n Antonio, please go to WCR.org and join now or reach out to Renae Pretty at renae.pretty@gmail.com .

Real Estate Newsline

June 2021

Jul 1

Patricia Israel

Kimberly Howell Properties

Bil Trodlier

Jul 2

Marcus Jones

RE/MAX Corridor

Phyllis Teer

Home Team of America

Brenda Malcolm

All in Real Estate

Sara McCaffrey

R.J. Reyes

Keller Williams Heritage

Denver Lambuth Jul 11

George Julian

Jul 12

Susan Gross

Nikki Diamond-Jones Bonnie Wilson

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Bonnie L. Wilson

Keller Williams City View

Donna Fremin

Century 21 Scott Myers

Michael Daniels

King Realtors

Southern Style Hospitality

Rita Stanley

Town & Country Real Estate

Home Team of America

Mike Daniell

Century 21 Scott Myers

RE/MAX Preferred

J.C. Rubiola

Rubiola Realty

Phyllis Browning Company

Carolyn Hernandez BHHS Pen Fed Realty

Monette Kroeger

Phyllis Browning Company

Steve Bennet

BHGRE homecity

Steve Short

Misty Wood

Keller Williams City View

Andrew Morin

Yvonne Kall

RE/MAX Preferred

Rick Acosta

RE/MAX Associates Boerne

Wiley Cloud

Texas Hill Country Realty

Michelle Perez

Jakey Weilbacher

Kuper Sotheby's International

Jennifer Duaine

Stephanie Kelley

Brigette Neal

Janie Thelen

RE/MAX Associates

Robert Collins

Cypress Wind Real Estate

Jul 15

Jim Concannon

ERA Troy Realtors

Jul 16

Art Martinez

Texas Land 4 You

Kathleen Nelson

Uownit Realty

Rose Garcia Kent Ransdell Jul 6 Jul 7

Jul 3

Jul 4

Jul 5

Jul 8

Jul 9

Jul 10

Jul 22

Faith Palacios

SABOR

Toni Smart

Smart Group Realtors

Icon Realty

Rick Jorgensen

Alamo Top Realty

eXp Realty

Claudia Escobedo

Vortex Realty

Judy Dunlap

Phyllis Browning Company

Realty Executives of S.A.

Frank Bailey

Keller Williams Heritage

eXp Realty

Janet Heydenreich Phyllis Browning Company

Hank Macias

Old Republic Title

Cathy Cole

RE/MAX North-San Antonio

Darryl Clinton

3 D Realty & Property Mgt.

Jul 25

Lindsay Blodgett

Auction Caddy

Edward Greene

BHHS Don Johnson Realtors

Jul 26

Matt Troy

ERA Troy Realtors

Michael King

Realty Executives of S.A.

Linda Berban

SABOR

James Rodgers

eXp Realty

Carol Levandoski

SABOR

Dianne Garibay

Keller Williams City View

Pat Howell

Phyllis Browning Company

Home Team of America

Kathy Ripps

Kuper Sotheby's International

Cheryl Julian

RE/MAX Preferred

Keller Williams Legacy

Pepa Thomas

RE/MAX North-San Antonio

Jene Rand

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Ted York

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Pat Busby

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Laura Whitehead

Delise Realty

Jason Johnson

RE/MAX Preferred

Parisa Sanchez

BHGRE homecity

Delaine Gaston

EXIT Premier Realty

Bertha Soraiz

Truman & Saenz Realty

Jane Baker

Premier Realty Group

Linda Stevens

Lea Rongey

JB Goodwin Realtors

Laura Wing

Re/Max Associates

Mini Varghese

BHHS PenFed Realty

Andre Dade

Keller Williams Heritage

Loretta Baeza

Landlord Property Mgt,

Charles Jeffers III

DH Realty Partners

Shelly Jeffries

Phyllis Browning Company

Brenda Escobedo

Full Spectrum Realty

Kate Crone

Phyllis Browning Company

Kevin Fenno

Home Team of America

Colleen Sherwood

eXp Realty

Barbara Ayala

Texas Listing Agents

Lynnette Boyd

Judy Crawford

Kuper Sotheby's International

Jul 20

Sheryl Sepulveda

Dorothy Ybarra

Century 21 Scott Myers

Jul 21

Lisa Bates

eXp Realty

Dave Munro

RE/MAX Preferred

Debra Perez

JB Goodwin

April Frazee

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Lauren Denman

Dos Lunas Realty

Bruce Osborne

JB Goodwin Realtors

Jul 13

Jul 14

Jul 17

Jul 18

Jul19

Jul 23

Jul 24

Jul 27

Mary Ann Sisneros Home Team of America Jeffrey Bradley

Patriot Realty

Barbara Kressin

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Betty Herring

JB Goodwin Realtors

Arnold Rodriguez

Premier Properties

Jacque Klatt

Jacque Klatt, Broker

Homebuying Homeselling Realty

David Gullo

Home Team of America

Brigette Neal

Alison Heft

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Fran Stankovich

Century 21 Scott Myers

Adrian Moreno

All City Real Estate

Becky Hicks

Old Republic Title

Jeff Pozzi

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper

Joel "Jerry" Porras eXp Realty Jul 28

Jul 29

Jul 30

Jul 31

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June 2021

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NARPM Brenda Davila / SAMAC, NARPM Secretary

There’s Still Time To Start A Good Habit June is here and who is ready for summer? If you have not already made an appointment to have your AC serviced; now is a good time. Call up your favorite AC vendor and have them inspect your unit inside and out and make any necessary adjustments needed to guarantee a clean and healthy AC system that will get you through the Texas heat. Now if you have a home warranty, even better. Reach out to your home warranty company, pay your deductible, and have the vendor check out your system. Depending on your coverage there may be a reasonable cost or no cost at all. Call now and do not wait until your unit starts running rough, that could cost you a pretty penny. June is also a great time to move forward with joining the organization you have been contemplating and for some reason got past you. It’s okay if you didn’t join in January; you still have 6 months to follow through, learn the process and get ready for the new year. Utilize those 6 months to start and build a new habit. That new habit may lead to a better understanding of your industry, new business opportunities and

making connections. Speaking of making connections, SAMAC’s chapter meeting and education event took place at the Norris Center on May 12th. John Israel, better known as “Mr. Thank you”, was our keynote speaker and shared a great presentation on gratitude. John received his “AKA” by writing daily thank you cards showing his gratitude for people around him. He has genuinely made so many connections that his thank you cards have made their way around the globe. People noticed this and followed his lead by being intentional and thanking people for being great and letting them know they are valued. Those letters continue today and have brought many people closer together in life and business. If you could do one thing these last six months of 2021 that would bring so much value to your life with minimal money and just a small genuine effort, this should be it. Let these last few months be your best! And lastly, if you missed the NARPM Broker/Owner Conference Expo, you really missed out. This year Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, CT hosted the con-

ference from April 19-21, 2021. One of the best parts of the conference this year was it was available in person and online. It was very professionally done, the content was valuable and if you weren’t in person you still benefited from all the great information that was being taught and shared. Each educational class included an online room where members were able to interact with each other to discuss the session topic. The online feature also hosted a virtual vendor floor to get acquainted with and learn of all the industry products. As you can see it’s not only fun, it’s beneficial to you and your business and I highly recommend not missing the next one; as it will be held in our very own backyard at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort on March 28-30, 2022. So there you have it, no excuses. There’s still time to start a good habit, so start now. June 11 Community Service Opportunity- SA Food Bank June 16 SAMAC Executive Board Meeting June 17 SABOR Leasing and Property Management Committee Meeting *2021 will be filled with new educational classes, speakers, and more opportunities for charitable events. To accommodate our members and affiliates, educational classes will be available both hybrid and in person. Do not miss your opportunity to serve, gain industry knowledge, and make new friendships. If you are interested in joining or would like to discuss; do not hesitate to reach out to us. For membership information or our calendar of events, please visit: http://www.sanarpm.wildapricot.org/

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June 2021

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June 2021

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June 2021

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June 2021

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Real Estate Newsline

June 2021

Your Voice Counts

Texas REALTORS® is stronger when members work together. With your voice and expertise, the association can better shape the future of Texas real estate. Serving on committees at your local, state and national associations is a great way to engage with others and positively influence the real estate industry. Texas REALTORS®

invites you to participate in committees which cover a wide range of topics, including public policy, technology, legal issues, real estate specialties, and many more. Please consider applying for a committee at: www.texasrealstate.com/committees. We need you! The application deadline for 2022 committees is June 18.

www.realestatenewsline.com

June 2021

Real Estate Newsline

Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 Cost Vs. Value Report shows garage doors have the best resale value among home improvements. Among the many home improvement projects that homeowners can undertake, one stands apart for its relatively low cost, instant boost in curb appeal and great return on investment at resale: new garage doors. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement has the highest return on investment of any home improvement project nationwide, recouping an average 93.8 percent of costs. In an analysis of various markets, the garage door was also the top rated project in San Antonio with an average 95 percent of costs recouped, and also number one in the West South Central Region, which includes all of Texas, recouping an average 93.2%. The report analyzed the cost of an upscale garage door in San Antonio priced at $3,812, with a resale value of $3,622. Rankings are based on the value that real estate professionals in more than 100 U.S. markets say those projects would add to a home’s price. Each year Remodeling Magazine compares average costs for popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in various U.S. markets. More information on the report is available at www.costvsvalue.com. “A new garage door

is one of the best and quickest ways to boost a home’s exterior appeal at a modest cost,” said Randy Oliver, president of HollywoodCrawford Garage Door Company. “Their outstanding return on investment is great

news for those thinking about selling their homes and anyone who just wants to enjoy their home more.” Garage doors are finally receiving the respect and attention they deserve, Oliver said. Garage doors are often used as the primary entrance into most homes, and they can be up to 40% of the front elevation of some homes, which allows homeowners to greatly improve the value and curb appeal of their home by just replacing their garage door. Homeowners can choose from an almost endless variety of garage door styles, colors, materials, and insulation values, with

price ranges for every budget. Today’s garage doors come in exciting new looks with features that enhance any home’s style, including Modern Contemporary, Craftsman, Tuscany, Ranch, Farmhouse, Colonial, and more. A variety of materials are available, such as aluminum, glass, faux wood, real wood, steel with a stained wood look, insulated steel, fiberglass, and even vinyl garage doors for harsh environments. Hollywood-Crawford also furnishes doors made with specialty materials, including reclaimed barn wood, Corten steel, composite faux wood materials and fullview aluminum garage doors with a variety of insulated and non-insulated glass panels. Homeowners can visualize the possibilities of various garage doors using virtual tools online at www.HollywoodCrawford.com. Simply upload a photo of your home or choose a house with similar structure and style, and select from many styles, materials, finishes and accessories to build a door unique to your needs. Garage doors also play a role in other trends that can help boost a home’s comfort, function and style:

Money-saving insulation. Here in South Texas, insulated garage doors are increasingly popular. Insulation not only helps keep garages more comfortable but also helps prevent harsh temperatures from getting into homes – another money saver for homeowners. Lighting up the Man Cave. Garages are no longer just for storing cars. They can be “man caves,” rec rooms, workshops or other additional living spaces. Many homeowners look for windows in their garage doors to bring extra sunlight and outside views to the space. Controlling the opener by smartphone. Technology is allowing homeowners to control their garage door opening systems with their smartphones, eliminating the worry of wondering if the garage door is closed. Homeowners can make sure they remembered to close their garage doors with a few taps on their phones, and even let delivery drivers open the garage door and place packages safely inside the garage before closing it. To learn more about how a garage door can quickly, easily and affordably boost any home’s curb appeal, visit online at www.hollywoodcrawford.com or call 210-494-3434.

Real Estate Newsline

June 2021

AREAA 2021 Board Installation

Pat Farrell, Real Estate Newlsine and Neelam Kinger, Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Houston AREAA Chapter members

Fashion show models

Yen Yan, SA AREAA Vice President, Quynh Nguyen, SA AREAA President, Neelam Kinger, SA AREAA Treasurer, Ron Nierenberg, Mayor, Ojas Tasker, SA AREAA Founding President, Samantha Nguyen, Event coordinator and Elvia Williams, SA AREAA Secretar

Cher Miculka, EXIT Premier Realty, Marty Hutchison Property Management Services and Ojas Tasker, Caballero and Associates

Quynh Nguyen, SA AREAA President, Cher Mikulka, SABOR President, Manny Paelez, District 8 Councilman and Yen Yan, SA AREAA Vice President

Be sure to see and download more pictures from this event and others online:

Zarah Garza, EX. Dir. University Health and Quynh Nguyen, SA AREAA President

Marty Hutchison, Property Management Services, Renae Pretty, Keller Williams Heritage Ojas Tasker, Caballero and Associates, Cher Miculka, EXIT Premier Realty and Navhoni Wyss, Guest.