RealtyLine_Aug_09

—Associates In—PROGRESS

Social media sites such as facebook, Linkedin andtwitter, once thought of primarily as a way to con-nect with friends and family, are increasingly attract-ing an adult audience who want to use it as a meansto discuss their professions rather than their latestcrushes.So it’s no surprise that real estate professionals are

among those taking advantage of the latest network-ing trend. More than one third of REALTORS usesocial and professional networking sites as a vitalbusiness tool to better serve their clients, accordingto a recent survey by The National Association ofREALTORS. Even organizations are finding theyneed a social media presence on the web in additionto their corporate web sites. The Austin Board ofREALTORS, the National Women’s Council ofREALTORS and the Williamson County Associationof REALTORS as well as industry professionals suchas mortgage, title and builders have facebook pages. One of the reasons people use social tools for busi-

ness is because it is a great way to get referrals with-out acting too much like a sales person, says Lee Ann

McVay, general manager and marketing director forAustin City Living. Friend a person with similarinterests and pretty soon they will know someonewho needs help finding or buying a home.“Social actions are powerful

because they act as trustedreferrals and reinforce the factthat people influence people,”writes Mark Zuckerberg whocreated facebook and promotesit for business use.

“Advertising is no longerjust about messages that arebroadcasted out by companies,but increasingly about informa-tion that is shared betweenfriends.”Another reason the sites are

useful is because of the numberof eyeballs that can be reachedquickly. Facebook reaches 275 million users aroundthe world, according to research firm comScore. AndLinkedin reports it has over 38 million membersworldwide—including one real estate agent inMissouri who, days after getting a Linkedin profile,

connected with a clientwho ended up listing withthe agent twice in threeyears, and got $3 millionin referral sales just byhaving the profile.Chris Jacob of Metro

Living REALTORS sayshe recently got two refer-rals via networkingmedia. “One while onGoogle chat at my com-puter and one using face-book mobile apps becausethe client knew I checkedit from my BlackBerry,” he

said. Those new to social networking can find a multi-

tude of tips on the web as well as a variety of train-ing classes such as the one being offered on August

17 by ABoR and during TechTune Up August 21 offered byWCAoR. Individual training isavailable through consultantssuch as Will Staney of WJBradley Mortgage Capital, whorecently was a guest speaker atAmelia Bullock REALTORS. “Social media sites increase

your Google juice,” he says.“Include good, rich informa-tion on your site so that itshows you as an expert sowhen it is time to make a realestate transaction, they willchoose you.”

A quick perusal of a directory of “tweeple” inAustin using twitter shows many REALTORS areusing the site to post links to interesting real estatestories and/or listings and comment on real estatehappenings, while mixing in comments about whatthey are up to at the moment such as “eating sausagebiscuits and then doing yard work, yard work.”Some find they still want to draw a line between

business and pleasure and not share every detailwith past and potential clients. Laurie Nunnallee ofFirst American Title says she solves this dilemma bycreating a business page that is separate from herfriends and family page. In the end, social networks provide real estate

professionals with new ways to do what they havealways done: make connections, establish them-selves as experts, follow leads, develop clients and inthe end, close transactions. “Just be careful to shutyour phone and computer off at some point,” cau-tions Jacob. “Otherwise, real estate can become a 24-hour a day job.”

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDAustin, Texas

Paid Permit #715

P.O. Box 81366Austin, Texas 78708-1366

By Linda McNabbCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com

Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.

Add Social Media Networking to Your Business Toolbox

Upcoming Events:Get Uncorked at ABoR’s Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser

AUGUST 2009 • VOL. 14 • ISSUE 4

Don’t get stuck with sour grapes—protect your industry byattending the TREPAC Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on

Thursday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. atUncorked, a wine bar and tasting roomlocated at 900 E. 7th Street.

Join your fellow REALTORS® at thecity’s hottest new wine bar, where you canenjoy a wide selection of wines from acrossthe world and peruse the fine selection ofsilent auction items. All proceeds from this

event benefit the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee(TREPAC), which provides legislative representation to privateproperty owners and real estate professionals across Texas. To

learn more about how TREPAC works for you, visitww.abor.com/gov_affairs/home.cfm.

Tickets to the 2009 TREPAC Wine Tasting are $35 each andmay be purchased online athttps://www.abor.com/events/wine.cfm. For more informationon this event, including sponsorship opportunities, contact EmilyChenevert in ABoR’s Government and Community AffairsDepartment at [email protected] or 454-7636, ext. 1501.

TREPAC, the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, isyour profession's insurance policy that safeguards your interests.Invest in yourself and your profession—contribute to the PAC.For further information, contact the Government AffairsDepartment at 454-7636.

AUGUST 5AMBA Monthly MeetingAustin Country Club - 11:30 a.m.

AUGUST 19CRS Quarterly MeetingWestwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m.

AUGUST 21WCAoR Tech Tune-upWingate Conference Center - 9 to 5 p.m.SEPTEMBER 3HBA Golf ExtravaganzaAvery Ranch Golf Club - Noon

SEPTEMBER 3ABoR’s Wine Tasting FundraiserUncorked in downtown Austin - 6 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 23RECA Charity Golf TournamentAvery Ranch Golf Club - NoonSee page 30 for more details

www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin August 20092

All photos, press releases or article submissions can besent to [email protected]

A PUBLICATION OF © CAXTON PUBLICATIONS, INC.

P. O. Box 81366, Austin, Texas 78708Office: (512) 821-1900

www.realtylineonline.com

Doren L. CarverPUBLISHER

Tawanna K. CarverMANAGING EDITORLinda McNabbCONTRIBUTING

EDITOR/WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERCOLUMNISTS

Jay Gohil - ABoR ChairmanWes Peoples - HBA President

Barbara Wigginton - WCAoR PresidentDavid Tandy - Gracy Title

Realty Line of Austin is published monthly by ©CaxtonPublications, Inc., as a non-subscription publication for themore than 8,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS(ABoR), the more than 1,100 members of the WilliamsonCounty Association of REALTORS (WCAoR) and the HomeBuilders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin.© Caxton Publications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is anactive member of the Austin Board of REALTORS, theWilliamson County Association of REALTORS and is a hon-orary member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS. CaxtonPublications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is not responsiblefor opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or forerrors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy.REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR®sometimes appears in this publication without the registeredtrademark symbol (®), for the purpose of saving space.Wherever the word REALTOR appears in this publication, theregistered trademark should be assumed.

Juliana Brock ofPower Trainingshares informationabout her upcomingclasses with stu-dents DoliseMcClure of RealtyWorld, Neal Barnes& Associates, CathyMorris of KellerWilliams Realty andPatrick Dixson ofRE/MAX CapitalCity.

Visitors to the GreenExpo learn aboutthe energy savingfeatures of KBHome from ColetteFitzgerald andJ o s h u aWashabaugh.

For more information call us orvisit our Web site for a completelisting of courses and schedules.

CALL: 512-451-9112www.PowerTrain ingInc.com

8000 Anderson Square #103Aust in , Texas 78757

All courses, schedules and pricing are subject to change.

AnnouncesAPPROVAL THROUGH

National Mortgage Licensing System and RegistrationProvider #1400059

DID YOU KNOW A NEW GOOD FAITH AND HUD 1WILL BE REQUIRED JANUARY 1ST?

No Loan Officer, Processor, Real Estate Agent or Closerwill want to miss this one! Classes will be launched

in September, watch the website for details. Pending approvalfor 4 TREC Elective Hours and 4 TDSML Core Hours.

August 2009 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 3

To learn more about your ACTRIS subscription, contactour MLS Department at 454-7636 or [email protected].

Stay Safe this SummerWith the summer selling season in full swing, it’s worth

your while to take a few moments to assess your safetyhabits. As a real estate professional, you come into contactwith hundreds of consumers each year. Unfortunately,some of these people do not have your best interest atheart. Ensure your personal security by applying the following tips to your busi-ness.

• Hold all initial meetings with clients in your office, where you can photocopytheir driver ’s licenses and record their license plate numbers. This will provide arecord for authorities should an unfortunate event occur during your showing.

• When possible, avoid holding an open house alone. If you must go by yourself,have a colleague call or text you at pre-arranged intervals to ensure your safety.

• Keep a fully charged cell phone within reach at all times.• Maintain your control and security by driving your own vehicle rather than

traveling in a client’s vehicle. • Finally, never force yourself into a situation that makes you feel uneasy. In

many cases, your gut instinct is the most powerful resource you have in protectingyourself.

Investing in TREPAC Pays OffInvest in the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) in 2009 and

you will be entered for a chance to win a year ’s worth of ABoR dues and ACTRISparticipation fees. The winner will be announced at Realty Round Up, to be heldWednesday, October 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center. AllABoR members who have invested in TREPAC during the 2009 fiscal year will beentered to win. Those who contribute $1,000 or more will receive 10 raffle entries.

TREPAC works diligently to protect the rights of private property owners and realestate professionals. Over the past year, TREPAC has helped to achieve a number ofgoals for the real estate industry, including fighting for appraisal reform and haltingreal estate transfer taxes and mandatory sales price disclosure. However, TREPAC isonly as strong as the real estate professionals who support it. Invest online athttps://www.abor.com/gov_affairs/trepac/ or by contacting Emily Chenevert,Government Affairs representative, at 454-7636, ext. 1501 or [email protected].

By Jay Gohil • Jay Gohil Realty2009 Chairman • Austin Board of REALTORS

Celebrate the top performers in your industry by nominating a colleague for oneof ABoR’s illustrious industry awards. Categories include: REALTOR® of the Year;Affiliate of the Year; REALTOR® Community Service; Salesperson of the Year;Rookie of the Year; and Cultural Awareness. Full descriptions for each category maybe found at https://www.abor.com/events/forms/indy_awards_desc.cfm.

Nomination forms are located online athttps://www.abor.com/events/forms/indy_awards_form.cfm. All nominationsmust be received by Friday, Sept. 11. Winners will be honored at the 2010 InstallationCelebration on Friday, Dec. 11 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. For more informationon ABoR’s Industry Awards, contact Rita Barousse at 454-7636, ext. 1603 [email protected]

ACTRIS Participation Fees Due September 15Don’t miss a moment of the quality MLS service you enjoy with your ACTRIS

membership. Along with constant access to the MLXchange MLS system, yourACTRIS subscription delivers a host of products and services that make bringingquality information to your clients easy. Subscribers are also entitled to free MLSsupport from ABoR’s MLS Department, and you listings appear onAustinHomeSearch.com, our consumer search site that receives over 80,000 visitorseach month.

Semi-annual ACTRIS participation fees are due by Tuesday, Sept. 15. Paying yourfees on time ensures you will have uninterrupted access to the MLXchange system.Subscribers who delay paying their fees must pay a $50 reinstatement charge to reac-tivate their accounts after they have been terminated.

You may pay your participation fees online through the “My Account” section ofAbor.com or by mailing a check to the Austin Board of REALTORS®, 10900 StonelakeBlvd., Ste. 100, Austin, Texas 78759. Subscribers are also welcome to pay in person atthe ABoR offices.

We’re Looking for aFew Good REALTORS

ABoR CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

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ABoR members who were honored at the Profiles in Power luncheon areKrisstina Wise of the Goodlife Team, Jimmie Ann Vaughan of the JimmieAnn Vaughan Company, Christine Choate of Horizon Realty, Jan Witt ofRainbow Septic, Julie Potts of Hill Country Property Management, TaushaCarlson of Marathon Real Estate and Ashley Whittenberger of theInteriority Complex University. Not pictured: Aralyn Hughes.

Marty Kaye ofRE/MAX CapitalCity discusses utilitydiscounts withKeith Kauffmanand Rob Scott,both of Green CollarOperations whopresented informa-tion at a recentAustin Young RealEstate Professionalsgathering at theDesign Center ofAustin.

Ron “Bad to theBone” Urias, right,takes first prize atthe WCR styleshow, while Mary“Lorena” Mealy ofRealty Executivestook second. PhilipPense ofIndependence Titlewon votes by post-ing his phone num-ber on his back.

Gary “Bernie”Bernfeld of WellsFargo asks MartyHalseth of UnitedGuaranty about therecent charity workfor Sunshine Kidshe was involved in.With them were ToniVance Halseth ofIndependence Titleand Kenton Brownof Sente Mortgage.

Nick KoshellLoan Officer

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To Visit Spring Trails:From I-35 in Round Rock, take Exit 250/SH 45 heading east. Stay on frontage road, turn right on Schultz, left on New Meister and right on Springbrook to community.

If you would like to receive weekly updates from KB Home with our inventory

list, Realtor bonuses, and upcoming events, please email our Broker/Realtor

Liaison Colette Fitzgerald at cfi [email protected]

(Above) Zip Realty agents enjoy a KB Home community tour. � e group toured Lakes at Northtown in Pfl ugerville, Silverado Ranch in Cedar Park, and Westwood in Leander. � ey also enjoyed a “fun-struction” tour of a home under construction as well as a delicious lunch and refreshments. (Left) Colette Fitzgerald, KB Home Realtor

Liaison, and Juan Garcia, KB Home Studio Consultant, are ready to welcome guests to the KB Home Realtor Appreciation Luau, which was held at the KB Home Design Studio.

Colette Fitzgerald & Josh Washabaugh, both with KB Home, demonstrate KB Home’s green features at the WCAOR GREEN Expo. KB Home strives to be a leader among home builders in the area of energy effi ciency and environmental sustainability.

KB Home ’s REALTORS!

6 www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin August 2009

Local real estateprofessionals headout to preview list-ings in WilliamsonCounty during theCedar Park propertytour.

Kathy Mayer andJim Plasek, both ofS t e i n e rR a n c h / T a y l o rMorrison, try to fig-ure out “who doneit” at the dinnermystery theater atDave and Busters,where the companyhosted a social.

Neal Barnes of Realty World, Neal Barnes and Associates walks down therunway to help raise funds for the Women’s Council of REALTORS during theannual style show.

sell. Smaller entry level homes will be the trend until mortgagestandards loosen up.

Finally, Americans are becoming more focused on energyconservation. A smaller new home will cost less to heat and coolthan a larger home with similar energy-efficient features, andwill leave a smaller carbon footprint on the environment.

In addition, family size has been decreasing over the years.The average household in 1960 had 3.3 people, while in 2008 itis 2.5. Families don’t need to build homes with a lot of bed-rooms if they aren’t planning to have as many kids as previousgenerations.

So, does this mean that every builder should begin building 1,600-square-foot houses?Certainly not. Buyers will continue to buy at different price levels and want different

sized homes. Whatever your preference—size, features, price, or something else—newhome builders today are providing homes that will appeal to a wide range of tastes andbudgets, with more customization choices for your lifestyle than ever before.

So the “perfect” home for your family may be a showstopper such as the 2009 NewAmerican Home, a nearly 9,000 square foot contemporary home in Las Vegas that incorpo-rates the latest in sustainable design, or it may be something very different. The good newsis that you have a wide variety of choices for your new home.

To learn more about how to choose a builder or buy a new home, visit the HomeBuilder’s Association of Greater Austin’s Web site at www.AustinHomeBuilders.com.

7August 2009 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com

By Wes Peoples • WP Investments2008-2009 President • Home Builders Association of Greater Austin

Can you imagine living in a 175,000 square foot home? That’s how large GeorgeVanderbilt built his North Carolina home, the Biltmore, in 1895. With 250 rooms and 43bathrooms, the home had more space than his family, or quite possibly anyone’s family,could ever hope to use.

Even though the average home in the United States is far smaller than the Biltmore, it isa fact that Americans have tended to build larger and larger homes over the years. In 1973,the typical newly-built home was 1,660 square feet. Near the end of 2008, the average sizehad grown to more than 2,500 square feet.

But lately, that trend has changed. Builders are now seeing demand for smaller homes.By early 2009, according to federal government data on new housing starts, the average sizeof homes had decreased to 2,400 square feet.

Jerry Howard, president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, said,“Our latest surveys show nearly 60 percent of our members are building smaller homes anda similar number are putting more emphasis on lower-priced models.”

But a closer look at the data shows that this trend has not held steady throughout fromyear to year. Decreases occurred in 1981-1982, 1995, 2003 and 2007-2008.

A number of factors are most likely the reason for this new trend. First, around a third of new homes are typically purchased by first-time buyers, who can

often only afford smaller homes. These buyers are looking to take advantage of the $8,000first-time home buyer federal tax credit before it expires November 30, 2009, so builders arebuilding to meet the demand from this group. For more information about the first-timehome buyer tax credit, go to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

Second, the economy is also impacting new home buyers’ decisions. Cost-conscioushome buyers are choosing to include more and higher-quality features in their new homesrather than add square footage. For example, a family may prefer to have high-end appli-ances and granite countertops in their kitchen rather than larger rooms.

Third, according to local firm Residential Strategies, Inc., with the lack of jumbo loanprograms available in today’s lending market, any home priced above $417,000 is harder to

New Homes Built toFit New Priorities

HBA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

AMBA officers Mike Carroll, treasurer, Eddie Rinehart, president, of Treaty Oak Mortgageand Doug Scott, vice president, get ready to enjoy some refreshments with members atthe organization’s happy hour at Third Base.

Each office independently owned and operated.

See any of our 29 Austin area RE/MAX offices to learn how to increase your production.

With robust lead generation and incubation technologies capturing the lion’s share of Texas Buyers, remax.com is the world’s most utilized real estate company Website working for you.


WCAoR director Chris Sachs of JB Goodwin REALTORS and associationexecutive Marge Phillips talk about how the Green Expo is progressing atthe Heritage Center at the Dell Diamond. The organization hosted the com-munity outreach event.

Aletha Smith ofProgressive RealEstate Group andLaura Ortiz ofSchaible Realtyknow that by sittingup front they will notmiss a thing at theeducational seminarwhere ChadGoldwasser ofGoldwasser RealEstate was a pan-elist.

Juliana Brock, center, ofPower Training keeps herstudents informed on allregulations and changeswithin their industry.Eddie Rinehart, TreatyOak Mortgage; JasonGarza; Heath Hanson;Dolise McClure, RealtyWorld, Neal Barnes &Associates; LeslieBrvenik and BeckyHopkins, both of AustinTitle; Patrick Dixson ofRE/MAX Capital City andCathy Morris of KellerWilliams Realty.

Scott Norman ofthe Texas MortgageBankers Associationdiscusses businesswith David Cook ofSWBC Mortgageand Steve Builta ofH o m e t r u s tMortgage at anAMBA happy hour.


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Janis Arteaga, standing, of Mortgage IQ, helps Amanda Secor of HorizonRealty with a little one on one instruction at an MCE course at Cover 3 onAnderson Lane.

Louis El-Deir tellsGena Hammondsof Highland LakesReal Estate, hermother GloriaHammonds andAmy Kobza ofAustin Title aboutthe discount pro-grams he can offer.He was one of thepresenters at theAYREP meeting atthe Design Center ofAustin.

Aralyn Hughes,right, of Aralyn &Company was hon-ored along withmany ABoR mem-bers at the Profilesin Power luncheon.With Aralyn is AnnaMaria Garcia, anagent with Aralyn &Company.

Austin Area Market Updatefrom your friends at Gracy Title

www.gracytitle.com

For more market information, please contact one of our sales executives.

Source: Texas A&M Real Estate Center

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We’ve Got Your Back!

Visit us at Booth #200 at Realty Roundup The Susan G. KomenFor The Cure Austin


Patricia Wagner of DHI Mortgage encourages applause from the audiencefor her Texas flair at the Women’s Council of REALTORS style show.

Debbie Ates ofWilshire Homes,David Burton ofHome Team ofAmerica and DonnaYoste of RE/MAXAustin Associatesget ready to enjoythe style show andvote for new officersat the Women’sCouncil of REAL-TORS.

Michael Lindermanand Mark Berman,both of TaylorMorrison, attend adinner mystery the-ater the home-builder hosted atDave and Busters.

Mary Lou York,office manager ofthe Amelia BullockREALTORS northoffice, listens asKaren Knippa andShirley Renfro,both of Gracy Title,remind the staff ofthe services theircompany can pro-vide.

up is your solution.Are you ready for the infusion of business altering information

that tech tune-up will provide? The Tech Tune-Up will prove to beone of the hottest events you will attend this year. Mark your cal-endars for August 21, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day long con-ference will be held at the Wingate Hotel Conference Center, locat-ed at 1209 N IH 35, in Round Rock. For more information aboutTECH TUNE UP, visit us online at www.techtuneup.org.

Cheeseburgers In ParadiseJoin us Thursday, Sept. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Rabb House

for plenty of food, games and old fashioned camaraderie. Organized by WCAoR, and benefit-ting TREPAC, tickets are on sale now for $35. Rabb House is located at 2009 E Palm Valley Blvd.,Round Rock.

WCAoR Education SchedulingAs always, don’t forget to visit us online to check out the WCAoR Education Schedule. Keep

current with your MCE training, the latest in best practices and industry trends or merely as arefresher course. For details about WCAoR’s education scheduling, contact Jackie Woodfin,director of Professional Development, at 255-6211 or on the Web at www.wcaor.org.


By Barbara Wigginton • Realty Executives Excellence2009 President • Williamson County Association of REALTORS

This is an all-in-one, non-stop, all-day infusion of techie, geeky, mind blowing, and worldaltering information that will thrust your business into the new millennium.

Still doing business in the dark ages? Come learn what the technology pros are doing thatYOU ARE NOT. Don't be left in the dust!

Are you spending inordinate amounts of time trying to make your database, advertising, Website, or marketing plan? The tools are there! Come check it out!

Here's what to expect during the day. There will be 20 different classes, all involving today'stechnology in some form or fashion. There will be many topics available to you so that you canpick your own schedule. Classes will be about, but not limited to (because we will be adding newsubjects daily), the following: Blogging, Search Engine Optimization, Web Lead Generation,Twitter, Facebook, Social Networking, Social Media and Web site generation.

And the latest tools to enhance your business are: Google Ad words, Top Producer, Drive ByTechnology, Photography class, Virtual Tours, MLX exchange and Supra.

Come for the technology classes, come for the MCE classes or come for Thom Singer, thekeynote speaker. The Peer Panel was a big hit last year and this year will prove to be even morestimulating.

Panel members include Avis Wukasch (to speak about TREC rules/regulations regardingtoday's REALTORmarketing requirements), J. Rene Ward, Curtis Reddehase and Jack Stapleton.This exciting portion of the day will provide insight on how to use technology to improve yourbusiness.

What... there's more? We will also have exhibitors showing off the latest and greatest productsand services. There will be a continental breakfast served in the morning, with snacks and drinksthroughout the day. There will be a food vendor providing lunch, which is on your own.

There will be prizes, guest appearances, food, fun and loads of information. Come win a Wiior one of the other varieties of prizes our wonderful sponsors will be providing.

The world of technology changes daily. How is it possible for a full-time REALTOR tofocus on their business and stay abreast of the changing world? The 3rd annual Tech Tune-

3rd Annual Tech Tuneupis just around the corner

WCAoR PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

New officers for WCR are announced after election results are tabulated. Susanna Boyerof Sellstate Classic Realty is president, Cheryl Jenkins is president-elect, Susan Brownof Realty Executives is vice president of membership and Chris Rodriguez of RealtyExecutives is treasurer. Anita Farrell (not pictured) of Keller Williams Realty is secretary.

8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, Texas 78759512.592.5400 - unitedlendingusa.com

Flexibility

Austin | Houston | San Antonio | Waco

In-house underwriting, processing and closing Operations manager that is second to none - she keeps that department on track Fully experienced processing staff - some of these people have been with us 10 to 15 years Correspondent, broker & portfolio lending - if we can't get your deal done it can't get done Realtor and condo relationships and MSA’s

StrengthEverything you need in the mortgage industry to take your business to the next level,you name it, we have it all. We close and fund over 95 percent of our loans through our warehouse, that means pricing is great and service is even better.

At United Lending we have it ALL under one roof. Try us, we’ll not only get them closed but we’ll do it with professionalism, speed, accuracy - and fun!

Call Kevin Ginsburg for employment opportunities.


in its recently released 2009 “Best Places to Live” report.This year’s report emphasized the best cities for work—looking for cities that have stable employment rates in keyjob areas as well as providing new career opportunities.The report placed a premium on places that will lead thecountry in employment growth when the recovery takesoff. Entrepreneur magazine’s August issue ranks Austinthe tenth-best start-up city in America and Forbes rankedAustin number one for economic recovery! The Forbesanalysis highlighted the diverse base of business in Austinand projected that the Austin economy will grow by $5 bil-lion by the end of 2010. The Austin Chamber of Commercehas seen a spike in inquiries and company visits.According to the chamber’s data from January 1 throughMay 31, the Austin region has seen 76 site visits in that time frame from companieslooking to relocate. During the same period last year, there were 54 site visits, and in2007, there were 43. Austin also benefits from the favorable business climate of Texas.No large state

compares when it comes to being business-friendly. Texas was recently named thecountry's Number One state for business by Directorship, a publication that caters tocorporate boardroom leaders. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commercenamed Texas the top exporting state in the nation for the seventh year in a row basedon 2008 export data. Fiscal responsibility. The Economist recently ran a series of articles comparing

Texas and California, noting among other things the favorable business climate andlow tax rates in Texas. Even more critical was the difference in the budgets of the twostates. Of course, California is not the only state running out of money and slashingeducation and other budgets. The National Conference of State Legislatures recentlyreported that 11 states raised taxes this year, eight tapped into “Rainy Day” funds andtwo states relied solely on spending cuts to balance their budgets. Texas was notincluded in any of these categories. While many large population states were unableto balance their budget this year, Texas remains economically healthy with a balancedbudget—an amazing accomplishment in this economic recession. For these reasons and many more, Austin and Texas are in an excellent position to

do well when the overall economy begins to recover.

David Tandy President

Gracy Title Company

As the Austin Chamber of Commerce recently noted, even though Austin showeda slight job loss in June, compared to other cities, we continue to be the number onecity in year-over-year job growth of the Top 50 Metro Areas. Even with Austin’s sub-stantial increase to a 7.1% unemployment rate, we still ranked number three for thelowest unemployment in the Top 50. Austin has several factors which provide astrong foundation for job creation and long-term economic strength.Highly educated workforce.Not only does Austin and the surrounding area have

an amazing 122,000 students enrolled in colleges and universities, but graduateswant to stay in the Austin area. The Chamber lists another 300,000 college studentswithin 200 miles of Austin, most of whom also would love to live in Austin whenthey graduate. In the world of “knowledge workers,” businesses increasingly relo-cate where they can find a highly educated workforce, or at least companies will cre-ate satellite divisions in those markets. Population growth. The Perryman Group’s latest forecast indicates that the

Austin-Round Rock MSA will gain about 75,400 new wage and salary jobs from 2008to 2013. In June, Bizjournals published their analysis of county-by-county growthpatterns within each state, and used that information to predict metropolitan growthat five-year intervals between 2005 and 2025. During this 20-year span, Austin is pro-jected to climb 13 notches from 38th to become the 25th largest metro area in the U.S.Stable home prices. Despite the drop in the number of MLS transactions, home

prices remain strong. While most large markets in the U.S. experienced a substantialincrease in home prices from 2001 to 2006, and therefore a substantial decline from2006 to present (some by as much as 50%), Austin’s single-family median home pricehas remained amazingly stable. Austin ranks high as a place to relocate and expand a business.Kiplinger, a D.C.-

based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, ranked Austin 8th

Why Austin RemainsStrong and Will Recover Earlyas the Economy Improves

COMMENTARY

Donna Ciccarelliworking on a newcontract with herT r a n s a c t i o nCoordinator, NicoleParayno, atGoldwasser RealEstate.

Chad Goldwasser,far left, teaching atthe weekly Lunchand Learn sessionat Goldwasser Real Estate.

Ryan Matthews,center, working withthe August ‘09 classof new team mem-bers, JustinGonzalez, DianneBartlett, AmyBallinger andTravis Kenne, atGoldwasser RealEstate.

Stop working alone! Plug into the Total Agent BusinessSolution, a turnkey organization of support staff andsystems that will take the lid off your production.

Call now to find out why the Real Estate Professionalsat Goldwasser Real Estate do five to six times moreproduction than traditional agents.

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Earn 3 MCE credits at one ofour upcoming valuable seminars.

“I would give your credit scoring class a 10! I think this course is a MUST!”— Vickie Boozer, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-Pro, REALM Professionals

Register Today...All 3-hour MCE courses are FREE!

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Mary Lou York of Amelia Bullock REALTORS introduces representatives fromBuffington Signature Homes at a recent staff meeting: John Onken, GaryWarren, Catherine Weems, Tom Harmon and Susan Bailey (not pictured).


D.A. Henry of TheAldion Group waitswhile John Schutzeof MondayMortgage LIVE andTodd Lessig ofSWBC Mortgagecount votes for newofficers at theWomen’s Council ofREALTORS elec-tions.

Becky Hopkins ofAustin Title, whileparticipating as astyle show contest-ant, encourages theaudience to attendthe Women’sCouncil of REAL-TORS sock hop thathas been resched-uled for September17. Poodle skirtsand Elvis costumesare optional.


Carol Medley Parker of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS wins a basket oftreats at the Women’s Council of REALTORS style show.

Chad Goldwasser,center, ofGoldwasser RealEstate, joins ThomSinger, left, andHarold Ware at theNorris ConferenceCenter where theywere panelists at aneducational semi-nar.

Guest AndreaJohnson and LeslieGawthorp of JBGoodwin REAL-TORS join GlennKing of RE/MAXRound Rock for atour of more than 10properties in RoundRock.

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Tune in Saturdays at noon.

Call in number 512.836.0590


TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

* Federal tax credit of up to $8,000 available to first-time homebuyers who close escrow on or before November 30, 2009. Income limitations apply. Amount of tax credit, if any, is not paid to buyer upon close of escrow.Buyer must claim the tax credit on buyer’s federal income tax return. Not all buyers will qualify. This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute tax advice. Please consult an accountant orattorney for your particular situation. Visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com for complete details. Prices, plans, features, options, availability and co-broke are subject to change without notice. Additional restrictionsmay apply. Square footages are approximate.

No other builder has as much move-in ready inventory -so buying an available home from D.R.Horton gives you great options!

Move fast to benefit from this unbelievable government windfall!Hurry, drop by, call us or log on to www.drhorton.com/austin

D.R. Horton has the largest selection ofready-to-move-in homes of any new home builder in Austinplus $8,000* as a housewarming gift from Washington D.C.!

18 www. realtylineonline. com Realty Line of Austin July 2009

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Keep 100% of your CommissionLess a $295 transaction fee (includes E&O / Admin)•Full Broker Support•Build and leverage your name, brand and team your way.•Integrated, one-stop shopping provides a superior customer experience.•Unique ownership opportunity - producing agents earn stock options in a diversified real estate holding company.•

© 2009 Private Label Realty ™, All Rights Reserved7719 Wood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 • Austin, TX • 78731

brokerage redefined...Visit our booth (#216) at Realty Round Up on October 7th


Marsha Mitchell of Gardner-Mitchell REALTORS enjoys Music Under theStar at the Bob Bullock State History Museum with her grandchildren Hankand Molly.

Judges Michael“Dog” Sedigh ofSellstate ClassicRealty, Sheila “PaulaAbdul” Hawkins-Bucklew ofHawkins-BucklewInternational andJohn “Simon”Offord of RealtyExecutives check outthe 22 contestantsduring the Women’sCouncil of REAL-TORS style show.

Theresa Seiboldand son TimSeibold of SeiboldProperties talkabout listings on theRound Rock proper-ty tour.

Former KVUE newsanchor Jason Hill,now with Austin CityLiving, hangs outwith MadelineHollern and JohnHafner at a recentcondo grand open-ing in South Austin.


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ADVANCING THE FIRST-TIME

HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT

HARPER RAYSenior Loan Offi cer

Direct: 512.314.7333 [email protected]

TDHCA offers two programs that advance a portion of the $8,000 fi rst-time homebuyer federal tax credit to qualifi ed buyers. The advance can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance. The programs are available only through TDHCA-approved lenders. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply.

Contact TDHCA-approved lender Harper Ray to learn how these programs may fulfi ll your homebuyers’ needs.

www.HarperRay.com

Approved Lender

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HITTIng THE BullsEYE

Do You Want to Become anExpert in Your Market?

There is an old saying, “You can’t hit a moving target.” Manyagents in their first few years of business still have not nar-rowed down their best target. In other words, who is the best customer for you? What niche market interests you the most?How can you be the “go-to” agent for that demographic?We know that having the right tools is the best way to ensureforward momentum.When you’re ready to find your bullseye, call us. We can helpyou be a sharp shooter!

Are you ready to take control over your real estate career? Are you looking for a real estate brokeragewith the flexibility required for agents to become successful, independent, and to find their own niche?

At REALTY WORLD Neal Barnes & Associates you will receive the tools and systems you need to helpbuild your business. We will provide answers, education, leads, lead generating systems, and marketingtools to ensure your success.

At REALTY WORLD Neal Barnes & Associates we have designed commission structures to benefit you.Our 100% commission plan is $3000/year or $250/month and is one of the favorites. However, you maylike our company splits which allow the agent to have no monthly fees. You may like the 80/20 split upto $4500 or the 70/30 up to $4000 or even our 60/40 up to $3500, and then the remainder of your con-tracts for the year at 100% commission. We have structured our plans this way because our goal is yoursuccess.

REALTY WORLD is one of the top recognized national franchises. REALTY WORLD Neal Barnes &Associates has commission structures that are hard to beat. With national advertising, lead generationand marketing systems, real estate training and education, free yard signs and business cards, annualbonuses up to $10,000, and a life-time income recruiting program, you owe it to yourself to take a goodlook at REALTY WORLD.

“The Right Agent Makes All The Difference In The World”

For more details— Call for yourappointment today.

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Invest in your profession... INVEST in TREPAC! Don’t wait— Do It Today!


Amelia Bullock enjoys hearing her staff sing happy birthday to her duringa recent office meeting.

Katie Osborne ofFull Moon Designtells Janie Miller ofSky Realty aboutthe services hercompany offerswhile sharingrefreshments atOpal Divines at ahappy hour organ-ized by the AustinYoung Real EstateProfessionals.

Douglas Craig,Reba Saxon andCindy McIntyremake sure to stayvisible at the GreenExpo by wearinggreen shirts thatpromoted theWilliamson CountyAssociation ofREALTORS, whichsponsored the com-munity event at theHeritage Center atthe Dell Diamond.

Contestants at theWomen’s Council ofREALTORS styleshow appear on therunway one lasttime to vie for theaudience vote.

Keep Up On the Latest Mortgage News & Hot Real Estate Topics Impacting Your Business.

Join Monday Mortgage Live with John Schutze and Sandy Battise

To Register For the Call Contact: [email protected]

For more info visit: www.mondaymortgagelive.com

Get The Scoop Every Week

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A New Era In Mortgage Banking www.landmtg.com

The Right Lending Partner

About Land Mortgage

8300 N. MOPAC • Suite 225 • Austin, TX • 78759 • 512.335.5300 • Mortgage Banker No. 43954

Every transaction is unique and to have your business grow you need a strategic partner who can handle any situation. Since 2003 Land Mortgage has grown the right way - great people, sound principles. We execute the fundamentals and exceed expectations everyday. By simply doing what we do best - close & fund loans - our experienced team of professionals ensure your business stays on track. To learn more call today.

We are a local mortgage bank with competitive loan programs, reasonable closing costs, and a full range of in-house services. There are no surprises here. We communicate every step of the way to ensure everyone is up-to-date on where financing stands for the transaction. As your preferred lender, we allow you to confidently do what you do best - Sell more homes.

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WCR style show contestant David Pavliska of RE/MAX Round Rock has somuch fun making it clear he is ready for the lake that judge Sheila Hawkins-Bucklew of Hawkins-Bucklew International decides to join in.

Cari Bieter ofPrudential TexasRealty stops by theOncor booth at theGreen Expo to getsome tips on energyconservation thatshe can share withhomebuyers.

D Jenette Williams,left, and MarianWilliams, both ofExit Realty, chatwith Mark Hairstonof Mortgage IQ afterthe class on creditscoring, an MCEclass held at Cover3 on AndersonLane.

Drees Announces a NEW PHASE Now Open in CRYSTAL FALLS. Lots with trees, lots with views, cul de sacs and lots of green! Crystal Falls, located in Austin’s booming northwest corridor, is surrounded by everything you need…

Lake Travis, shopping, major employers and acclaimed schools within minutes of the community.

Now, Drees offers a new phase with spectacular Hill Country views and heavily treed homesites plus

new home incentives and the DreeSmart Green Program. Homeowners can see green and save green

at Crystal Falls. See a Drees Market Manager today for details... it’s in your future!

Kirk Sebastian | (512) 259-1824 | From the $270’s | wwww.DreesHomes.com

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Homes from the $250’s to $3+ millionWelcome Center: 512-266-5833 or 800-783-4640

For more information, visit www.steinerranch.com


2009 Realty Round Up

Growing a Greener Austin

Turn over a new, energy-efficient leaf at Realty Round Up 2009: Growing a Greener Austin. The Austin Board of REALTORS® will showcase ways to conserve energy and preserve resources in style. Hop in your hybrid, grab a few friends and get ready to go green!

October 7, 2009Austin Convention Center

Booth Space and Sponsorships Still Available at www.abor.com/roundup or e-mail [email protected].

2009200920092009 Realty

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aAustinAustinAustinAustinAustin

Laura Caffey, Laurie Nunnallee of First American Title and Stephanie Parker learn how tosurvive and thrive with lifelong, prosperous careers by participating in an educational semi-nar at the Norris Conference Center. This event was hosted by Goldwasser Real Estate.

Sharon Smith, Lilla Ezell, Jeanne White and Shirley Prudhomme discuss what will bethe first stop on the property tour, following an office meeting at Amelia Bullock REALTORS.

WCAoR vice president Elaine Bryne, right, of Elaine Byrne Realty along with other volun-teers welcome guests to the Green Expo, a community event the organization sponsoredat the Heritage Center at the Dell Diamond.


The newestcommunity isFalconhead Westand DreesCustom Homesalso has opened anew phase inCrystal Falls.Other neighbor-hoods includeBerry CreekReserve, ForestCreek, HiddenGlen, LakeForest, PalomaLake, Ranch atBrushy Creek, Senna Hills, Steiner Ranch and Walsh Ranch. Prices range from the$260s to the $670s, with square footage ranging from 2,400 to 5,090.

In thanks for the support it receives from the REALTOR community, DreesCustom Homes would like REALTORS to know about two great programs under-way, the Relo Reimbursement Program and the 3-4-5 Program.

“We will help reimburse your relocation fees when you move your client into aDrees Custom Home,” Kearns says. “This is an exclusive program offered by Dreesto help REALTORS recover costs associated with client relocation, up to 40 percent.”

The second program rewards Realtors who are loyal to Drees Custom Homes,which has been in Austin for 10 years and has 45 local employees. .

“Sell two or more Drees Custom Homes in the Austin area between April 1, 2009and March 31, 2010 and you will receive an additional reward for each closing,”Kearns says. “See your market manager for rules and guidelines.”

Drees Custom Homes also is offering half off options, up to $50,000, through theend of August and customers can lock in interest rates for up to 210 days with theDrees Freeze program on to be built homes.

So in more ways than one, it appears clients have many reasons to “Make DreesCustom Homes Your Destination.”

Drees is headquartered in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and in addition to Austin hasoperations in Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Nashville, Raleigh,Frederick, MD., Washington D.C., Jacksonville and Dallas.

In an unstable economy, stability may be one of the qualities clients look for mostwhen choosing a home builder—and Drees Custom Homes certainly can deliverthat—the company has been building homes for more than 80 years.

“Drees Custom Homes is one of the top 30 builders in the nation and is knownthroughout the industry for providing excellent quality and value to the homebuyer,” says Nancy Kearns, sales manager.

Not only can the family run company boast longevity, but it also has garnerednational attention for excellence in quality. This year, Drees Custom Homes washonored with two major awards: The Leadership in Housing Award, which theEnvironmental Protection Agency bestows upon homebuilders that achieve specificlevels of accomplishment pertaining to energy conservation in homes, and theExcellence in Energy Performance Award, which recognizes homebuilders who con-struct highly energy efficient homes that exceed Energy Star specifications.

“Our homes are easy on the environment and help put money back in your wal-let,” Kearns says. “It's no wonder we're one of the nation's top builders and also thewinner of the 2008 America's Best Builder award from BUILDER Magazine.”

In addition to energy efficiency, Drees Custom Homes prides itself on being cus-tomer focused. Evidence of this can be found in its “Designed for Life” initiative,which offers custom features buyers desire such as outstanding elevations andcurved staircases in neighborhoods with excellent locations and schools.

“Our floor plans are award-winning,” says Kearns. “Our innovations in homedesign, construction and technology are legendary. Our homes are designed forlife—your life. It's the perfect marriage of form and function; we give your newhome a dazzling sense of design while giving you all the flexibility you need fortoday's lifestyle.”


ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS

All services may not be available in all areas. Some restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. ©2009 Time Warner Cable, Inc. All rights reserved. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (s09) All other corporate brands and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. ©2009 CableQuest TWTR-5016

For Details Contact Danette Tidwell, Account Executive, at 512-486-0357 or [email protected]

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Time Warner Cable is partnering with local RealEstate Agents to begin REALTOR Incentive Program

Time Warner Cable, Austin’s leader in providing the most advanced cable television network is unveiling a new REALTOR Incentive Programthat introduces additional revenue into their business while helping their clients create a Total Digital Home.

Time Warner Cable’s Total Digital Home is powered by our Advanced Fiber Network and provides the best in commu-nication and entertainment services for every room in the house. Digital Cable with FREE HD, Video On Demand, RoadRunner™ High Speed Online, Digital Phone service and more, work together to transform a house into a Total Digital Home.

The Total Digital Home program is based on the successful association between Time Warner Cable and localbuilders/developers in the Austin area. The program, now in its fourth year, creates a link between local builders and TimeWarner Cable to pre-wire new homes for customer entertainment and communication needs with the added benefit of an

additional revenue stream for local builders and developers. The REALTOR Incentive Program creates a similar partnership with local Real EstateAgents. Participating agents will earn commissions, have access to Time Warner Cable’s Five Star Sales Support Team and enable their clients toreceive special package rates on their television, Internet and home phone services. “This new incentive program creates a positive experience forthe Real Estate Agent and maintains their high standards of customer service. We are excited to provide the same level of outstanding serviceand exceeding customer expectations,” said Melissa Robledo, vice president of Marketing Communications for Time Warner Cable.

If you are interested in learning more about the REALTOR Incentive Program or about how Time Warner Cable can partner with you or yourbusiness, please contact Danette Tidwell, account executive at 486-0357 or [email protected].

REAL ESTATE NEWSNOTES

Heather Brown Named RE/MAXAgent of the Quarter

RE/MAX of Texas has announcedthat Heather Brown of RE/MAX AustinSkyline has been named as an “Agent ofthe Quarter” for the second quarter of2009 by the RE/MAX ReporterMagazine. Brown

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Sanford joins Land Mortgage asBanker/Loan OfficerGlen Sanford joins the Land

Mortgage team in Austin as a MortgageBanker/Loan Officer. Glen has an exten-sive background in new home sales as aSales Consultant/Manager for TollBrothers and Gehan Homes Austin.Glen can be reached at 917-3030 or byemail at [email protected]. Sanford

RECA Charity Golf Classic to Benefit Hill Country Conservancy~ Individual Player Spots on Sale NOW~

Austin’s premier golf tournament, the RECA Charity Golf Classic, will celebrate its 14th year of raising money for Austin charities onWednesday Sept. 23, at Avery Ranch Golf Club. Individual player spots are on sale now for $275 each. The RECA Charity Golf Classichas grown increasingly popular with members of the commercial real estate industry since its debut in 1995.

“Everyone looks forward to this tourney. It’s a beautiful course and Avery Ranch Club is just a great venue for the awards dinner,”said Doug Cotner, of Texas Capital Bank, who co-chairs the event along with Corby Jastrow of Prominent Title.

Proceeds from this year’s RECA Charity Golf Classic will go to the Hill Country Conservancy (HCC), a non-profit land trust thatworks to marshal public and private resources to preserve the natural areas and scenic vistas, rivers and streams, working farms andranches, and the rural heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country for people to enjoy and cherish for generations to come.

“Participants in this tournament include some of the most prominent commercial real estate developers/professionals in Austin whocome together to raise money for HCC. It is a great way to demonstrate that our industry is about more than developing real estate, weare also committed to appropriate and meaningful land conservation,” said Cotner.

The individual player fee of $275 includes green fees and cart, driving range, box lunch, beer, water, soft drinks, dinner buffet, andcocktails. The format is scramble teams of four and golfers do not need a full four-player team to register.

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Fred Meyers of Austin City Living shows David Sundt and Justina Limonaround the condominiums during the Summer Solstice Party he organizedalong with several sponsors including PrimeLending.

Mike Jones of JBGoodwin REALTORSdiscusses the newincentives he learnedabout at the AYREPmeeting at the DesignCenter with CynthiaRiley Loera ofRocket ScienceRealty, Laurel LeeHale of KellerWilliams Realty andHelen Thomas ofRE/MAX AustinSkyline.

Kelley Menefee ofKeller WilliamsRealty and JenniferEntner of TexasAmerican Title enjoysome coffee andmorning cheerbefore checking outCedar Park proper-ties.

Sean LeGrant,Brian Bruce andJack Jones, all ofTaylor MorrisonHomes, have anopportunity to solvea crime at Dave andBusters dinner mys-tery theater, wherethe homebuilderheld a fun corporateevent.


How are your classes different from other training opportunities?Power Training believes that a loan officer candidate applying

for licensing should know more than just the laws. PowerTraining realizes that we are in a different lending environmentand success starts with the details. Our trainers have a minimumof 15 years of mortgage experience individually and most areactive loan officers, processors or underwriters. Power Training is known for consistently creating and updating

courses that are on the cutting edge of today’s technology. What isthe topic of your newest class?

First class out of the gate in September will be on the changes for theGood Faith Estimate and new HUD1 that are effective Jan. 1, 2010. Thechanges will set our industry on fire and our “comfort” in the HUD1 and the itemization of fees willbe drastically changed. This class will be a must for all originators, loan processors, escrow officersand real estate agents, basically anyone who needs to read and understand a HUD1 or a Good Faith. You say there are no shortcuts to becoming a successful loan officer. What are some of the

ways that Power Training helps a real estate professional chart a winning path?A winning path requires constant knowledge. What you learned in the past the 10 years

no longer applies. A whole new set of rules are in place and if you don’t know what theyare you’re in trouble. Regardless of whether you are looking to enter into the industry,move to the next level or take it to stardom, Power Training has the courses you need. Weeven offer classes for the pros that have been in the industry for years. Remember, it is whatyou learn after you think you know it all that counts.You have served as a top expert witness and consultant for various entities and agencies, rang-

ing from the FBI to the District Attorney’s office. Have these experiences helped in your training?In 2007, Power Training did a road show in Texas titled “Fraud—Stop it Before it Starts.”

The course material stemmed from the case I was working on at the time where a borrow-er, broker, real estate agent and closing attorney were accused, convicted and served timefor mortgage fraud. Absolutely an eye-opening experience! I never thought I would receivemail from jail. In today’s lending climate, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated andsometimes still make it through the system.What else would you like people in the real estate community to know about you or

Power Training? Power Training is very involved in the lending community. We are proud members of many

industry related organizations, associations and councils. We have had the honor to serve onboards in the past and currently enjoy being a member and on committees. We support ourindustry through sponsorships on a regular basis. Power Training attends legislative events atthe State and Federal levels to stay on top of changes affecting the industry as a whole.

Realty Line recently visited with Juliana Brock of Power Training to find out why real estate profession-als are flocking to her classes—not to satisfy hours, but to learn. Whether they seek to enter the field or areseasoned and want to refine their skills, they all seem to have fun doing it. Here are some of the secrets toPower Training’s success:Juliana: I have learned that humor is an integral part of the adult learning process.

Knowing how each student learns differently is the first step to presenting the material cou-pled with “real life” stories that bring the career to life. You have to be able to tell when astudent doesn’t understand and be able to walk them through it. I tease my students, “Iknow what you’re thinking. I’m worse than your mom!”When and why did you start Power Training?Power Training started under the name of Power Processing in 1999 after I discovered a niche

in processor training that just wasn’t being tapped by any other companies. Being local and hav-ing a reputation as a successful and efficient processor, companies trusted me to teach theiremployees how to do what I did in an adult learning environment. With the passage of the TexasMortgage Broker Act requiring licensing for all mortgage brokers and loan officers, we added toour menu of educational offerings and the name was changed in 2003 to Power Training.What other kinds of training do you offer?Power Training offers pre-licensing and renewal classes for Loan Officers and live

Processing/Jr. Underwriting classes. Through a partnership Power Training can also pro-vide online renewal for Real Estate Agents and licensed loan officers and mortgage brokers.Power Training also offers industry related specifics such as training for FHA/VA/SelfEmployed, Credit Scoring, Ethics and Reading Appraisals. In addition, we offer forensicunderwriting services and offer expert testimony in mortgage fraud cases. We help brokersprepare for their State Audit and consult with companies setting up shop or taking theircompany to the next level. Power Training is proud to announce we have just received ourapproval from the National Mortgage Licensing System & Registry to provide education ona national level to bring loan officers and companies in compliance with the SAFE Act.


ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS

Juliana Brock

candy Buzan797-5580

Max Leaman293-1239

Kim Nielsen825-2347

Melissa driskell964-1864

rhonda Neeley560-3429

Mary Kennedy750-7834

Brian patschke565-5852

trudy Savage965-5017

Mark Hoffman785-3279

Shannon Smith560-4590

Not pictured: Michael ray, 784-8488 • terry Weber, 554-4013


Douglas Craig of Keller Williams Realty gets risky at the Women’s Council ofREALTORS style show, a highly anticipated fundraiser for the organization.

Harold Ware, cen-ter, of MaxAvenueprepares his presen-tation on how toturn one-time cus-tomers into lifetimechampions at theGoldwasser RealEstate educationalseminar held at theNorris ConferenceCenter.

Danette Tidwell ofTime Warner Cableintroduces herself toTony Droubi ofDrees CustomHomes as she pass-es out movie DVD’sat the recentAY R E P /WC A o Rhappy hour held atDoc’s Backyard inPflugerville.


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Mark Hairston of Mortgage IQ leads the “Insiders Guide to Credit Scoring/Restoration”class at Cover 3 on Anderson Lane.

Marty Kaye and Susan Alonso, both of RE/MAX Capital City, enjoy refreshments withGene Dietrich and Robert George Dietrich, both of Dietrich Quality Design, after hearingseveral presentations at the Austin Young Real Estate Professionals event at the DesignCenter of Austin.

AMBA president Eddie Rinehart of Treaty Oak Mortgage helps Trey Showwalter ofFarmers Insurance check in at the organization’s happy hour at Third Base.


Bring clients to Buffington Signature Homes in South Austin and Katherine Weems will besure to show you the beautiful homes in the Bridges of Bear Creek.

Women’s Council of REALTORS president Marie Dang-Schwartz is appreciative of JoeStewart of John Horton Realty for his support, as she gets ready to open the monthlymeeting.

AYREP president Sumina Bhatti of Keller Williams Realty draws a card for another doorprize while secretary/treasurer Lili Dominy announces the current winner at the happy hourfollowing a presentation at the Design Center of Austin.

Lacey Warren and Leslie Brvenik, both of Austin Title, catch up with Kristin Carroll ofSente Mortgage at the Austin Mortgage Bankers Association happy hour at Third Base.

Volunteers from The Williamson County Association of REALTORS collect old cell phonesat the recycling booth at the Green Expo. Stacey Hurley-Rider and Leisa Ormsbee, withdaughters Molly and Lauren.

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