RealtyLine_June_10

“If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved

the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve

the same results.”

— Self-help guru Tony Robbins

While that strategy may not be 100 percent

guaranteed, the idea of learning from the

expertise of others has long been proven

fruitful. With that maxim in mind, the Austin Young Real

Estate Professionals recently put together a panel of Top

Producers who shared what works—and doesn’t work—

for them in hopes of passing on these insights to others

who face the same challenges in the industry.

The panelists included Amber Hart and Kelvin Glover,

both of Keller Williams Realty, Kirk Lewis of Home City,

Drew Griffin of Goldwasser Real Estate and Kevin Mc-

Carthy of Zip Realty. All are relatively new to real estate,

having practiced from four to nine years, but quickly dis-

tinguished themselves by closing an impressive number

of transactions. Krisstina Wise of The Good Life Team

moderated the exchange. Realty Line sat in on the discus-

sion to be able to spread the words of wisdom to those

who could not attend. Some tidbits that may help invig-

orate summer sales and beyond:

Success Takes Time

Kirk - I worked as much as 80 hours a week during the

first few years of establishing my business. It dominated

my life.

Learn How to Talk to People

Drew - I secret shopped an open house recently and

the REALTOR spent the whole time sitting in front of the

computer. You have to learn how to engage people with-

out turning it into a car lot. I try to have two open houses

a week and I am constantly prospecting. They may not be

interested in this house, but I can tell them about others.

I focus on training myself on how to speak to clients. And

I put out 15 to 25 signs. I am annoying but it gets them in

the door.

Never Forget Your Old Customers

Amber - Talk to your cheerleaders. They will send you

business. Some customers buy a house and never hear

from their agent again. Be the

kind of REALTOR whose

clients never forget who sold

them their house.

Kirk - Phone calls are the

best. Find those few cus-

tomers who will refer you an

absurd amount of business. It

will keep you going forever.

Know the Market – All of It

Kelvin - You need to

know the market, from

Georgetown to Dripping

Springs. Do your homework

and work the Austin metro. And don’t turn leases down.

I got 11 deals from Dell.

Set a Schedule

Kevin - Get up and show up at 9 a.m. I use an auto-

matic dialer so I can get started right away by running

through my leads and replying to emails.

Drew - My goal is to make 30 calls and send 15 emails

every day.

Amber - I treat real estate like a job and I time block

my day. I am extremely focused and goal oriented.

Expect to Spend Money – But Do it Wisely

Kirk - I spent $7 grand for soccer uniforms and I don’t

think I got a single lead from it. You have to spend money,

but don’t kill your budget. I like to buy my clients lunch

because I love to get them indebted to me. And send flow-

ers. It pays off. Don’t be greedy. And take some people off

your list.

Amber - The biggest waste for me was spending

money for search engine optimization and Google ad

words. Instead, I spend 30 minutes on Facebook looking

for people making comments like “Gosh, I need a bigger

house,” or “I don’t want to mow the yard one more time,”

and I turn them into prospects. I get four leads a month

doing this.

Kelvin – Have a budget and stick to it. Know what it

is that you will spend at the beginning of each calendar

year. I also eat with at least two past or potential clients a

week.

Know When You Need Help

Amber - Pay for transactional help!

Drew - When your production starts to suffer and you

are struggling to get to listing presentations because you

Front page: Continued on page 2

Seasoned Agents Share Tips for Being Successful in the Real Estate World

—Associates—

In Progress

Upcoming Events:

June 16

NAHREP Monthly Meeting

Cool River Cafe - 11:30 a.m.

June 17

1st Annual HBA Chili Cookoff

Travis County EXPO Center - 5 p.m.

June 23

WCAoR Rookie Club Meeting

WCAoR Office - 11:30 a.m.

July 7

AMBA Monthly Luncheon

Austin Country Club - 11:30 a.m.

July 13

NAPMW General Meeting

Norris Conference Center - 11:30 a.m.

July 1 - 11

Realty Line’s office will be closed

Check out Savvy InspectionsCommentary on page 17enjoyable. entertaining. It’s all about you.June 2010 • Vol. 15 • Issue 2

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

You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com

Presorted Standard

U.S. Postage

PAID

Austin, Texas

Paid Permit #715

Exhibit space now available for annual

real estate trade show

Get ready to take your business to the next level at

the Austin Board of REALTORS®’ (ABoR) annual

trade show, Realty Round Up, set for Oct. 27 at the

Austin Convention Center. As the largest real estate-oriented

trade show in Central Texas, Realty Round Up provides busi-

nesses and individuals with a unique opportunity to market

their products and services directly to real estate professionals.

With booth prices starting as low as $400, exhibiting at Re-

alty Round Up is a cost-effective way for you to reach your tar-

get audience. To receive the best price for your exhibit space,

sign up by Jun. 30. After Jun. 30, prices will increase by $75.

In addition to the available exhibit space, partnership and

advertising opportunities can help you take your Realty Round

Up experience to the next level. Partnership opportunities range

from $300 to $2,500. Ready to take action? Visit

www.abor.com/roundup for show details, including which

booths are available. On the Web site, you will find the Exhibitor

Prospectus and contract, as well as partnership and advertiser

information in the “Media” Section. Contact Gina Willemsen,

Trade Show coordinator, by phone at 454-7636 ext. 1601 or by

e-mail at [email protected] for more information. RL

n

Spread Your Professional Wings at Realty Round Up 2010

www.realtylineonline.com Realty line of Austin June 20102

are doing paperwork, it is time to get an

assistant. That typically is at $5 million.

Budget for Lean Times

Kelvin - Get two banking accounts. I

set up a business account and I pay myself

out of that.

Kevin - A new agent should have six

months worth of reserves.

Use Technology

Amber - Put your listings on lots of dif-

ferent Web sites that aren’t just real estate

related. If you are selling waterfront prop-

erty, list it on a boating site.

Kirk - Have a successful web presence

but not for lead generation. Use it like an

online brochure to list your accolades and

make yourself look like a pro.

Kevin - A laptop air card is essential.

Get on the internet to set up an account for

send out cards that uses your own hand-

writing and you can easily set up a per-

sonalized email campaign.

Final Words

Kelvin - Ask for the business and don’t

give away your commission before being

asked to do it.

Drew - Don’t drive around unqualified

buyers and don’t take overpriced listings.

Kirk - Know so much about the indus-

try that your clients can’t stump you.

Amber - Listen to others who surround

you and keep learning.

Kevin - Get referrals from your clients

during the buying process because that is

when they are thinking about it. I once

sold to three ladies in one office in a three

month period. RL

Front page continued

Sissy White of JayPearce Real Estateand Keith Melton ofProperty Consult-ants of Austin headout to the tee atTwin Creeks GolfClub, where theWilliamson CountyAssociation of RE-ALTORS held its an-nual golftournament.

Mary Lynne Gibbs,Rise Johns and An-tonia Warren, all ofKeller Williams Re-alty Lakeway, partic-ipate in RED Day, tohelp rejuvenate thishome.

Ann McKinley, your Loan Expert

(512) 331-7292

Tired of Closing Delays?

48-hour In-House Processing, Underwriting & Closing

On-time Closings with

Personalized Service —

EvEry TimE!

[email protected]

www.austinhomeloans.info

8800 Business Park Drive, Suite 200

Austin, Texas 78759

NMLS #200305

Realty Line of Austin is published monthly by

Caxton Publications, Inc.© as a non-subscription pub-

lication for the more than 8,000 members of the Austin

Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), the more than 1,100

members of the Williamson County Association of RE-

ALTORS (WCAoR) and the Home Builders Association

(HBA) of Greater Austin.

Caxton Publications, Inc.© dba Realty Line of

Austin is an active member of the Austin Board of RE-

ALTORS®, the Williamson County Association of RE-

ALTORS® and is a honorary member of WCR. Caxton

Publications, Inc.© dba Realty Line of Austin is not re-

sponsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff

writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising

or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark.

The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this pub-

lication without the registered trademark symbol (®),

for the purpose of saving space. Wherever the word

REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered

trademark should be assumed.

Doren L. CarverPUBLISher

Tawanna K. CarverMANAgINg edITOr

Linda McNabbCONTrIBUTINg

edITOr/WrITer/PhOTOgrAPher

COLUMNISTSJohn Horton, ABoR ChairmanSteve Zbranek, HBA President

J. Rene Ward, WCAoR PresidentSusanna Boyer, WCR President

Tom Berry, Gracy TitleSteve Medina, Savvy Inspections

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

www.realtylineonline.com

A PUBLICATION OF CAXTON PUBLICATIONS, INC.©

All photographs, press releases and

article submissions can be e-mailed to:

[email protected]

June 2010 Realty line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 3

You may already know that

Abor.com has a special section re-

served for local industry news.

However, you may not know that a new re-

source has been added to keep members in

the loop on the latest happenings in the real

estate industry. In May, an Inman News feed

was added to Abor.com, as an additional re-

source for members. Free on Abor.com, the

news provided by the feed would otherwise

only be available through a subscription with

Inman News. This is a great addition that can

help us, as REALTORS®, stay abreast of the

latest industry news.

The streaming news feed brings you up-

dated stories directly from the trustworthy

Inman News and supplies you with a wider

range of real estate news. Visit

www.abor.com and view the side bar on the

right to read your Inman News.

Ready, Set, Go: Volunteer for

a Committee Today!

Are you interested in becoming more in-

volved with ABoR? Volunteering on an

ABoR committee allows you the opportunity

to partake first hand in specific areas that im-

pact our association and industry. From Gov-

ernment Affairs to Realty Round Up,

REALTORS® are encouraged to apply for

ABoR committees that focus on their partic-

ular areas of interest. With so many choices,

there is bound to be a committee for you.

The open call for committee sign up

began in June, and you must apply by Jul. 15

to be considered. Once assigned to a commit-

tee, members are expected to serve for at

least one year. To learn more about the com-

mittees, their roles and meeting frequency,

visit www.abor.com/about_abor/commit-

tees.cfm.

You can sign up to be a part of a commit-

tee in 2011 by visiting www.abor.com/com-

mittees. Contact Vicki Harris in ABoR’s

Executive Department by phone at 454-7636

or by e-mail at [email protected] for fur-

ther information.

Save the Date for Realty Round Up 2010:

Spread Your Professional Wings

Have you been searching for ways to net-

work with your fellow real estate profession-

als? This year’s Realty Round Up trade show,

set to take place on Oct. 27 at the Austin Con-

vention Center, brings you the opportunity

to make valuable connections and have fun

along the way.

To prepare for the show, ABoR has

launched a Save the Date Sticker Contest. By

participating, you will enter yourself in the

running for a chance to win a free ticket to

the show. To take part, simply pick up a Re-

alty Round Up save the date promotional

card at the ABoR offices at 10900 Stonelake

Blvd, Suite A-100 or download a sticker on-

line by visiting the Media section of

www.abor.com/roundup. All you have to do

is find a fun place to stick your sticker, take a

picture and send the photo to

[email protected]. Pictures will be fea-

tured on ABoR’s Facebook fan page, and

fans, like you, can “like” their favorite pho-

tos. The photos with the most “likes” on Jun.

30 and Jul. 30 will win two lucky photogra-

phers a free ticket to Realty Round Up!

In addition to participating in the sticker

promotion, don’t forget to sign up for your

booth space at Realty Round Up. Signing up

by June 30 will ensure you receive the best

price for your exhibit space. With prices start-

ing at $400, Realty Round Up provides real

estate professionals with the opportunity to

market their businesses and services directly

to the real estate community. Booth space is

limited, and spots are assigned based on the

order in which contracts are received. Sign

up before the Jun. 30 deadline to ensure you

get the most for your money, as prices will

increase.

Visit www.abor.com/roundup for more

details on the show, including the Exhibitor

Prospectus and contract. Additional partner-

ship and advertising opportunities can also

help you showcase your business. More in-

formation on these opportunities is available

on the website. Contact Gina Willemsen,

Trade Show Coordinator, by phone at 454-

7636 ext. 1601 or by e-mail at

[email protected] with questions regard-

ing the trade show. RL

Subscribe to our Calendar of Events

www.realtylineonline.com

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John Horton n 2010 Chairman

Austin Board of REALTORS® Chairman’s Column


NAPMW officer Pa-tricia Wagner ofDHI Mortgage takestickets as membersfrom the organiza-tion’s national con-vention board theboat that will takethem to see Austin’sfamous bats.

Joan Klausner,Betty Landreth,Kathy Deeny andCarra Elkins, all ofAmelia Bullock RE-ALTORS join KaranKnippa of GracyTitle, Georgia Levinand Naomi Koury,both of Amelia Bul-lock REALTORS andShirley Renfro ofGracy Title at thetitle company’sopen house onNorth Mopac.

Robert Way,Heather Cooke andHil Stroup, all ofTexas AmericanTitle, join fellow as-sociates for someCinco de Mayo funat El Arbol.

Jim Clark of RE/MAX Round Rock wishes at least one of his shots goes in the hole at TwinCreeks Golf Club where WCAoR held its annual golf tournament.

Gabe CarvalloLoan Officer

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The KB KronicleJUNE 8, 2010 KBHOME.COM 512-651-8059

ShadowGlen in Manor - Coming Soon!

Spot

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of t

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onth

From the $120s• 1,315~2,038 sq. ft. • 2 model homes • 10 floor plans • 1~and 2~story homes • 3~6 bedrooms • 2~4 baths• ENERGY STAR qualified homes• Community park with playscape and pool • Manor ISD

ShadowGlen is conveniently located off of Hwy. 290 east of SH-130. The community recreation area features a 4-acre water park with a junior Olympic-size swimming pool, a splash pool, a giant slide pool with dual shoot slides, playscape and 4,300-sq. ft. air conditioned amenity center with fitness facility.

The community is adjacent to the ShadowGlen 18-hole public golf course which winds its way through the community.

Need a sponsor for an upcoming meeting or event? Need a space to hold your next meeting, class, or event? KB Home is always looking for opportunities to work together with our

local Realtor partners. Please contact Colette Fitzgerald, KB Home Broker/Realtor Liaison at c� [email protected], 512-651-8059, for more information!

KB Home Appreciates YOU!

(Above) Yvonne Apodaca, with Century 21 HSK, and Colette Fitzgerald, with KB Home, enjoy the Cinco de Mayo Realtor Appreciation Party held at the KB Home Design Studio.

To Visit KB Home at ShadowGlen:Take Hwy. 290 East from Austin and pass SH-130 to community entrance 3 mi. ahead on left. Turn left on Shadow Glen Blvd. and right on Shadow-glen Terrace to model homes on left. 888-KB-HOMES

(Above) Mary Mealy, Juan Escobar and Monica Pena were happy to join in the fun at the KB Home Realtor Appreciation Party.

(Right) Tara Knight, Kim Whitlock and Car-olina Aceituno, all with Keller Williams Realty in Round Rock, get ready for a day of hard work at a Habitat for Humanity project. KB Home spon-sored the KW “Red Day” and provided the agents withe Round Rock do-nuts and co� ee.

(Left) Diane Tran and Nohemi Ramirez, both with Prudential Texas Realty in Round Rock, attended the Mortgage Strategies MCE course taught by Mark Hair-ston at the KB Home Legends Village model home.

(Above) Chip Irving, with Zip Realty, enjoys the awesome Tex-Mex appetizer spread at the KB Home Realtor Appreciation Party.


Laura De Rosales makes it official to become president of NAPMW for 2010-2011 as she signsa note at the organization’s installation and awards banquet.

Marie Dang-Schwartz of RealtyExecutives andYvette Ochoa takesalsa lessons duringthe Cinco de Mayoevent that WCR andNAHREP hosted atThe Commons atRowe Lane club-house.

Independence Titlestaffers gatheraround the golf cartto celebrate the be-ginning of the com-pany’s charity golftournament at Crys-tal Falls Golf Club.


the business and WCAoR wants to ensure

your success. That’s why our Rookie Club

was created to assist agents that have been in

the business for less than two years, a critical

time when starting a new career.

7. We may be small in numbers, but the

WCAoR staff has 28 years of combined expe-

rience in working with non-profit associa-

tions. They know the importance of our

members and are here to listen and meet the

needs of our REALTORS and affiliates.

8. If you’re a member of our association

you can join any committee that is of interest

to you. We love our volunteers and volun-

teering helps us to identify strong future

leaders for our association.

9. WCAoR contracts with the Texas Asso-

ciation of REALTORS (TAR) for professional

dispute resolution services. Like most of the

other local associations, we believe this en-

sures consistent unbiased decisions. This

protects the consumer and our members.

10. WCAoR works to meet all of your real

estate needs and has done so since 1973. Our

new building has great parking, a huge RE-

ALTOR store and easy access from IH-35.

Stop by and check us out! We are located at

123 E. Old Settlers Blvd. in Round Rock. We

look forward to serving future generations of

REALTORS.

Come join us. WCAoR is the place to be if

you are interested in:

• Being a part of one of the top Associa-

tions in the real estate industry;

• Developing yourself as a REALTOR;

• Networking with top REALTORS and

market leaders;

• Benefiting from our training and educa-

tion as well as developing your own career

plan;

• Staying current in the industry.

New members welcomed daily. RL

J. Rene Ward n 2010 President

That’s right; it’s time for some

myth-busting, some balloon de-

flating, and some general setting-

the-record straight truths. As I have visited

sales offices this year, I realized that some

REALTORS don’t know why they should

join the Williamson County Association of

REALTORS (WCAoR). We know you have

choices and we want you to know why we

are so proud of our Association. As presi-

dent, I’m proud to be the one to set the record

straight. So for all the current and especially

for all the future members…Let’s go!

1. The Williamson County Association of

REALTORS is one of the 12 largest REAL-

TOR associations in the state of Texas, with

over 1,200 REALTOR and affiliate members.

2. If you do most of your business in the

Williamson County area, you do NOT have

to join WCAoR but why wouldn’t you join

an association where you do business? An as-

sociation that knows your business, cares

about your business and values your busi-

ness.

3. Williamson County is the second fastest

growing county in Texas (Rockwall County

is number one) according to the U.S. Census

Bureau estimates released in Mar. 2010.

Williamson County has been growing at an

increasing rate for several years now because

of its location just north of Austin. In fact,

parts of Austin's city limits extend into south-

ern Williamson County. Most of the growth

has been residential with large companies,

such as Dell, increasing the housing market

opportunities for many REALTORS.

4. Twenty-one percent of the members at

WCAoR have their GRI designation. This is

the highest percentage of any local board that

offers GRI. We value education and offer di-

verse courses monthly.

5. You can subscribe to MLS services right

here at WCAoR. ACTRIS, (MLS) is pur-

chased separately from your board member-

ship. Lockboxes and classes for MLX

Exchange are also available through

WCAoR.

6. You can be successful your first year in

Williamson County Assoc. of REALTORS®

WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS ONCETRUE MIGHT NOT BE

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Number of offices

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Number of Agents

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6.5 117,196 46 2,600 29,562

5.9 318,600 7 1,885 55,700

5.6 438,422 67 7,711 116,985

5.1 385,005 2 697 76,688

3.5 33,949 38 500 10,641

2.3 9,704 1 103 4,290

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Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events

today.


Terri Wood, stand-ing, of United Lend-ing, gives MelanieDamron and RoseLand, both of KellerWilliams Realty, apreview of what toexpect at the lunchand learn event,which addressedcreative financing.

Harry Pokorny ofLonestar Propertiesand Bill Stanberryof Stanberry & As-sociates make theirway around to all thebooths at theCTCAR Expo afterattending informa-tive classes all day.

Stacey Rider ofKeller Williams Re-alty, Jimmy Goff ofGoff Properties andVictoria Reviel of98th Meridian getready to learn aboutluxury home mar-keting at theWCAoR luncheon.

Master of ceremonies Randy Rollo presents Gayle Berkbigler of Sotheby’s International Realtywith the REALTOR of the Year award at the Home Builders Association MAX Awards Gala.

Ellen’s Staging Tip:

Picture Hanging 101

Do your sellers need professional staging?

Call me today for a“MAKE A DIFFERENCE” consultation.

Ellen is ready to help you set the stage forprofessional results.

Ellen Boettcher, [email protected]

Wall art should be at eye level on walls so that one can view the space without raising orlowering their gaze and insures that the perception of the space as large and open. Here aresuggestions I give to homeowners:

• Framed artwork and photos are hung at eye level for a person 5’6” to 5’8” tall. Hold the piece infront of yourself so that your face is centered in the frame and hang it at that level.

• For Perfectionists: hang so that the center of the art work is 66” to 68” from the floor.

• When grouping wall art, the space between the pieces should be 1/3 the width of the smallest piece. Use a laser level for precision hanging of groupings.

• Ideally any artwork hung will be larger than 18” X 20”, but several 8” X 10” pieces can be hung as agrouping if larger pieces aren’t available.

• Artwork hung above a fireplace mantel should be hung with the bottom of the frame no more than 6” to 8” above the mantel.

• Remove artwork from all walls that are less than 36” wide.

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Guests Joe Longrro and Lynna Longrro enjoy live music and shade outside during an openhouse to show off the new Fine Austin Living office in Westlake.

Chris Rodriguez ofRealty Executivesencourages gueststo vote for his salsaduring the Cinco deMayo salsa-tastingcontest at The Com-mons at Rowe Laneclubhouse. WCRand NAHREPhosted the event.

Krisstina Wise ofThe Good Life Teammoderates a discus-sion by a panel oftop producers whowere invited to sharetheir tips for successwith members of theAustin Young RealEstate Profession-als.

Jim Goldrick ofTexas AmericanTitle, Kevin Finch ofTeam Mortgage andDavid Matthys ofRE/MAX Capital Cityhelp organize theWCAoR golf tourna-ment at Twin CreeksGolf Club.

OUR PRIORITYBEST RATESLOWEST FEESCOMMUNICATIONYOUR MORTGAGES

FIXED & ADJUSTABLE RATE FHA & VA - JUMBO - PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION - REFINANCE - RELOCATION -- JUST TO NAME A FEW.Capital City PrimeLending is dedicated to making your homebuying or selling experience as seamless as possible. We are friendly, communicate effectively, and we consider you a client for life.T 512.238.7888 810 Hester’s Crossing, Suite 150 | Round Rock, Texas 78681

Max [email protected]

Cell: 512-293-1239www.MaxLeaman.com

Candy [email protected]

Cell: 512-797-5580www.CandyBuzan.com

Kim [email protected]

Cell: 512-825-2347

Missy [email protected]

Cell: 512-964-1864www.MissyCitzlerDriskell.com

Mary [email protected]

Cell: 512-750-7834

Brian [email protected]

Cell: 512-565-5852

Trudy [email protected]

Cell: 512-716-3501www.TrudySavage.com

Mark [email protected]

Cell: 512-785-3279www.MortgagesByMarkHoffman.com

Shannon [email protected]

Cell: 512-560-4590www.ShannonSmithMortgage.com

Not Pictured:

Michael [email protected]

Cell: 512-784-8488

Antonio [email protected]

Cell: 512-659-7043www.AntonioGarganta.com

© 2010 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in AR, LA, OK, and TX. Licensed by New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Dept., Financial Institutions Division-license #01890; Texas Regulated Loan License-license #7293. NMLS #: 179412, 184179, 171464, 184148, 180066, 180854, 179666, 179814, 184147, 176505, 180307, 202510

Amy [email protected]

Cell: 512-733-3210www.AmyOehler.com

Diane M. [email protected]

Cell: 512-657-7338www.DianeClarkMortgage.com

OUR PRIORITYOUR PRIORITY

YOUR MORTGAGESCOMMUNICALOWEST FEESBEST RAOUR PRIORITY

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Kevin Ginsburg of United Lending and daughter, Savannah, help pick up around the propertywith the Lakeway Keller Williams Realty team during RED Day, a community service project.

David Davidson ofRE/MAX Heart ofTexas and Hem Ra-machandran ofIndus Realty stop byto visit the KB HomeStudio during a RE-ALTOR appreciationhappy hour.

Ann Carson of In-dependence Titleand Gwen Jo-hansen of NorthAmerican Title try toovertake each otherso they can be thefirst one to sign up anew CTCAR mem-ber at the Expo2010 at the WestinHotel in the Domain.


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Ellen Boettcher of Staging By Design makes a toast with Todd Smith and Shaunna Terry, both ofFine Austin Living, at the company’s open house. Ellen helped design the elegant atmosphere for thenew office.

Melinda Carroll of First American Title conducts a training session on critical contract timelines atAvalar Austin.

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Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events

today.

pendable, customer service driven solution

to homebuilding. Triton focuses on pre-sold

custom homes from Central Austin to the

Texas Hill Country, many of which are de-

signed and built utilizing the latest in green

and sustainable technologies.

VII Custom Homes

VII Custom Homes practices the art of

building dream homes for their clients. They

continually strive to raise the standards in

custom building through the use of natural

products, building healthy homes, wide

open living spaces, unique outdoor living,

and homes that are wired for the 21st cen-

tury. While many of their primary goals are

the same as other notable builders, their most

important purpose is to ensure that each

home genuinely reflects their clients’ style

and personality.

Rostrata Builders, Inc.

Rostrata Builders has over 100 years of

combined experience creating custom homes

in Central Texas. The company’s values of

trust, integrity and performance help it to

focus on creating homes that exceed a cus-

tomer’s expectations technically, functionally

and aesthetically while adhering to a budget.

Stonewood Homes

Stonewood Homes, Ltd. is an Austin-

based custom home-building company ded-

icated to quality construction with excellent

craftsmanship, contemporary construction

processes, classic features and service be-

yond the sale. With Stonewood’s discrimi-

nating supervision, each home built becomes

distinctively special creation in stone and

wood.

The HBA’s 2010 Parade of Homes™ at

Rough Hollow Lakeway is scheduled to take

place Oct. 16-31, 2010. Visit www.Austin-

HomeBuilders.com and www.roughhol-

lowlakeway.com frequent updates and

community details. You can also follow the

progress of the Parade Homes™ on the Pa-

rade channel at LakeTravisTv.com. RL

Steve Zbranek n 2009-10 President

Visit www.AustinHomeBuilders.com

to find learn about Parade of Home

details.

Annually since 1953, the Home Builders

Association of Greater Austin prepares to

showcase the prestigious Parade of

Homes™. The tour features some of the best

our region’s builders have to offer as well as

the latest interior design and architectural

trends of the year. No other home tour offers

the general public the chance to visit several

top-of-the-line, fully furnished, award win-

ning homes where they can generate ideas

for their own home building and improve-

ment projects…and it’s back for another

round Oct. 2010.

Selected for the second time in the last

three years, the 2010 Parade of Homes™,

where dream homes become reality, will take

place at Rough Hollow Lakeway. Rough

Hollow’s Bluffs neighborhood was selected

to showcase seven exquisite homes built by

Zbranek Custom Homes, Triton Custom

Homes, Masters Touch Custom Homes,

Jenkins Custom Homes, VII Custom Homes,

Stonewood Homes and Rostrata Builders,

Inc. The HBA’s exclusive Parade of Homes™

at Rough Hollow offers thousands of

prospective homebuyers and Realtors the

opportunity to see firsthand the stunning

line-up of Tuscan and Hill Country contem-

porary custom home designs available for

purchase. Three of the seven residences to be

on display at the Parade of Homes‘, which

span 3,500 to 4,900 square feet and are priced

from the $750’s to $1.5 million, have already

been sold.

These builders are building homes still

available for sale:

Triton Custom Homes

Founded in 2006 by Tommy Roberts, a li-

censed Professional Engineer, Triton Custom

Homes has quickly solidified a position in

the upper tier of the Austin home building

industry. Triton is an award winning, family

based company established to provide a de-

HBA of Greater Austin

HOME FOR 2010 PARADE OF HOMES

AT ROUGH HOLLOW LAKEWAY NOW

TAKING SHAPE; FOUR HOME STILL

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

President’s Column

We’re local.

Our clients jump for our in-house processing, underwriting and closing!

Talk to the professionals at United Lending about financing your pad.

in-house processing, Our clients jump for our

e’re local.W

in-house processing, Our clients jump for our

e’re local.

your pad.United Lending about financing alk to the professionals at TTalk to the professionals at

writing and closing!under

United Lending about financing alk to the professionals at

writing and closing!

United Lending about financing

n


Candace Smith ofWR Starkey Mort-gage installs the2010-2011 execu-tive board at the Na-tional Association ofProfessional Mort-gage Women’s in-stallation andawards banquet.

Associates DeboraFlores and GerryVanover spend themorning at the Cold-well Banker of TexasState Rally in SanMarcos learning thelatest industrytrends and informa-tion from top Cold-well Bankerleadership.

The 2010 ABoRFoundation Direc-tors and Friendsgather at a recentappreciation lunch-eon. From left:Leonard Guerrero,Sandy Battise,Alisa LeBlanc,Cathy Coneway,Carol MedleyParker, CarolDochen, TerriRomere, LauraPagnozzi, KaraMcGregor andBuck Sandlin.

Keith Husbands of The Husbands Company grabs a cold drink to keep cool on the course. Hewas a participant in ABoR’s golf tournament at Avery Ranch to help raise funds for TREPAC.

Information is for real estate professionals only and is not intended for distribution toconsumers.Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.© 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A .All rights reserved. #67954 12/09-3/10.

Renovation Financing

Help your remodel customersmaximize their renovation dollarsRecognized as the nation's #1 originator of renovation financing, our renovationloan options may provide your customers financing power to remodel, repair,improve and bring out the most in their home.

• Fixer-uppers, rehabs, and properties in any condition are eligible•Provide your customers a loan amount that is based on thecompleted value of the home after improvements with ourPurchase & RenovateSM program

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At the Women’s Council of RE-

ALTORS® (WCR), when our

members invest their valuable

time with us, we know they expect that in-

vestment to payoff. That’s why WCR deliv-

ers the kind of information, resources and

networking opportunities that help our

members stay on top and out front of the

real estate business. Join us and you’ll dis-

cover an environment that makes the most

of your skills, talents and ambitions. We

are a community that both supports and

encourages your success. In short, you’ll

find a place where it all comes together.

The best way to get the most out of your

WCR membership is to get involved. We

have many opportunities for you to join a

committee, volunteer to assist us at the

reservations table, or share an inspiration.

We recently sent out a survey to our

members to ask their opinion of how we

are doing as an organization. We also

asked members what types of speakers

and/or programs give the most benefit to

help in their business. These are just a cou-

ple of the things we would like to know, to

make your WCR experience the best it can

be. If you’ve not yet taken the survey,

please do so. We really would like to know

what you think. We will be sending it out

again, for those that missed it…so watch

your inbox.

In case you missed the 4th annual WCR

BAKE OFF for TREPAC on May 27, at the

Austin Board of REALTORS®, let me

recap: as the auctioneer, Socar Chatmon-

Thomas did a fabulous job at getting the

bids going and David Burton did a super

job at organizing and getting all the bakers

together. Fun was had by all and over

$3,280 was raised. Mike Barnett, from TAR

was our speaker, and he gave an update on

Hill visits in Washington D.C. He gave us

an insight into what these TREPAC dollars

are used for. We want to thank all of the

wonderful people that participated in this

awesome event.

Nominations are open for the 2011 offi-

DISCOVER THE WCR DIFFERENCE!

Susanna Boyer n 2010 President

Women’s Council of REALTORS® President’s Column cers for WCR Austin Chapter. The positions

that are open are President-elect, Vice Pres-

ident of Membership, Secretary and Treas-

urer. Please send your nominations to the

Nomination Committee chair, Marie Dang-

Schwartz at [email protected]. If

you have any questions regarding nominat-

ing someone or self nomination, please con-

tact Marie at 431-5365.

Join us Thursday, Jun. 24, at Austin

Board of REALTORS® for our regularly

scheduled Business Resource Meeting and

Networking luncheon. Our speaker this

month will be Ashley Whittenberger, prin-

cipal/owner of Interiority Complex, LLC.

Ashley started the Interiority Complex, a

Texas-based staging and design firm in

2002. Prior to launching Interiority Com-

plex, Ashley was an award winning top

producer with two national home builders,

as well as a licensed REALTOR who served

as the Director of Sales and Marketing for

an urban luxury development in down-

town Austin. Ashley has been featured on

Fox 7’s Good Day Austin and on The

Austin Real Estate Experts, a local televi-

sion show featuring the hottest topics,

trends and tips in the Austin real estate

market. Come out and meet Ashley and get

a few tips on affordable design assistance.

Networking starts at 11 a.m. and lunch will

be served at 11:30 a.m. Make your reserva-

tions now at www.AustinWCR.org.

Elections

Elections will be held Thursday, Jul. 29,

at Austin Board of REALTORS®. This will

be our Annual Business Meeting.

“BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND…” SO

YOU THINK YOU CAN MODEL contest

returns and will be the entertainment held

during the July luncheon.

Contact Susan Brown, Fashion Show

chair at 844-5553 or by e-mail at Susan-

[email protected]. We will

have a silent auction and there will also be

a drawing for an I-Pad, an I-Pod Touch and

an I-Pod Nano.

If you have an item you would like to

donate for the silent auction, or have ques-

tions, please contact Anita Farrell at 448-

4111 or e-mail her at

[email protected]. “Let WCR be

the APPLE of your Eye!” For tickets or in-

formation about the Apple drawing, please

contact Cheryl Jenkins at 699-6530 or e-

mail at [email protected].

We’re having a membership drive to co-

incide with the Texas state membership

contest, “Born to be Wild.” The contest

started May 1 and will run through Aug.

24. Everyone who brings a REALTOR that

joins WCR will get special, reserved seat-

ing at the luncheon, and will have their

name placed in a drawing for a prize to be

awarded at the September luncheon.

I look forward to meeting lots of new

REALTORS and affiliates at our upcoming

events. Until then, go out and make it a

great day! RL

Instructor

Mark hairston

Certified Mortgage PlannerProvider #0606

Direct [email protected]

earn 3 MCe credits at one ofour upcoming valuable seminars.

“Exceptionally good class.On topic and very well presented.”

— Don Gross, broker

“Your class was very organized and thematerial given was excellent!”

— Rosemary Follis, Rosemary Follis Real Estate

“Outstanding presentation.Excellent materials – easy & useful references.”

— Garreth Ellzey, Century 21

“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

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


AYREP’s Alisa LeBlanc, right, of North American Title, shows her new engagement ring to Cyn-thia Mattiza of JB Goodwin REALTORS, who offered to give her tips on great wedding vendors.They were attending AYREP’s Top Producers Panel at the Hyatt Regency.

Kara McGregor,second from right,of IndependenceTitle, welcomesDonald Degollado,Joyce McDonaldand Christa Nolandto the company’scharity golf tourna-ment at Crystal FallsGolf Club.

WCAoR membersget ready to work forHabitat for Human-ity at a home inRound Rock.

June 2010 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 17

Mandatory EnErgy auditscElEbratEs 1st annivErsary

least 90 percent efficient. As an ex-contractor,

10 percent was a "just in case" amount added

to a construction estimate to leave room for

error. It's easy to fail with so many factors,

one of which, keeping a plastic tight seal over

several ceiling and wall vents. Another is the

old closet the furnace sits in might leak air

too when pressurized, but that lost air pres-

sure is lost at the closet return vent where the

analyzer is plugged into, not necessarily

from the attic ductwork. There's a line on the

audit report where the auditor is supposed

to insert the leakage percentage number, but

it's been known to have the word "inconclu-

sive," which means there was so much leak-

age, the machine could not get a reading.

Could be a leaky closet or improper sealing.

So, when the seller receives a failed audit, he

or she might mistakenly assume their attic

ducts need replacing. Ask any energy auditor

how many homes fail the pressure test, and

they'll say more than 85 percent.

Just like home inspectors, auditors eval-

uate the age of the HVAC, thickness of insu-

lation and leakage of air ducts, except the

insulation standards set forth by the City is

different than the inspectors' set by the state

of Texas. So, what happens when an energy

auditor recommends more insulation, and

the inspector doesn't? What happens when

the buyer sees the audit after their option pe-

riod lapses and discover they don't want the

house after all? Although the City calls it a

disclosure, nowhere in the ordinance does it

say the audit needs to be disclosed upon list-

ing or even during the option period, only

"before the time of sale." Does that mean that

the buyer could conceivably receive the audit

report seconds before closing escrow?

There is no question energy audits are

useful and beneficial. Energy conservation

puts people to work and helps save on utility

bills, but it was not invented by the govern-

ment. Forcing property owners to pay for and

report to the City the anatomy and condition

of their private property is a violation of con-

stitutional and property rights in my opinion.

Micromanaging of citizens' private property

in the guise of conservation is not efficient

when regulated by the ones who can't man-

age efficiency themselves. Education and

awareness grows naturally as does supply

and demand when the economy allows it.

Austin property owners aren't ignorant peas-

ant villagers that toil aimlessly while fer-

vently awaiting the Sheriff's new taxes.

They'll rise up or move to another kingdom.

RL

About three years ago, former

mayor Will Wynn proposed the

Climate Protection Plan which

included mandatory energy audits to home

sellers as a form of "disclosure" for would-be

buyers, and required efficiency upgrades by

the buyer after one year of home ownership.

The community and real estate industry did-

n't accept it, so a compromise was made

which only included the energy audit, thus,

the Energy Conservation And Disclosure

(ECAD) ordinance was born. Once the audit

was conducted, the report would be filed

and recorded by Austin Energy. The ordi-

nance went into effect June 2009. With a bad

economy and people hurting for work, teach-

ers, engineers, truck drivers, and of course

contractors and home inspectors took a

week-long course and became certified

Building Performance Professionals.

The City ordinance is for the good of the

home buyer and to aid in energy conserva-

tion with no strings attached. If mandatory

upgrades are not included in the ordinance,

why does the report get filed by the utility

company? Austin Energy is managed by the

City and paid by taxpayers. Is it possible that

they use the audits for subsidies from the

federal government? That of which is also

paid by taxpayers. Is this a stepping stone for

the next mayor or politician to mandate effi-

ciency upgrades to your property? After all,

they have your energy audit on file now. A

standard seller's disclosure does not cost

money. The ECAD, on the other hand, does.

Does it make sense for a home seller to pay a

service to benefit a perfect stranger? If you

sold your car to a stranger, should you pay a

mechanic to inspect your car for him? Would

you want the mechanic to perform an honest

inspection?

Home inspectors already perform similar

inspections as the energy auditor except for

the use of a duct flow analyzer machine. This

machine measures air leakage percentage of

ductwork, and anything over 10% is sub-

standard according to Austin Energy. In

other words, your older home needs to be at

Steve Medina n Savvy Inspections

Experts Speak Out Commentary


Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events today.

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www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin June 201018

Masters of Cere-monies RandyRollo of Rollo Cus-tom Homes andFrank Perdichizziof Private Label Re-alty talk with JohnHorton of John Hor-ton Realty beforetaking the stage atthe HBA MAXAwards Gala.

Keller Williams Re-alty Lakeway fin-ishes theircommunity serviceproject as part ofRED Day.

Shaunna Terry ofFine Austin Livingwelcomes guestsJean Barrieiro,Erica Thornhill andFred Thornhill tothe company’s newoffice in Westlake.

Derrick Jones of Austin City Living takes aim at Avery Ranch, where he was participating inABoR’s TREPAC golf tournament.

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Lili Maliner of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS visits with Jean Marie Ficken and Rainer Fickenof Newland Communities at the MAX Awards Gala hosted by the Home Builders Association of GreaterAustin. Newland Communities was a platinum sponsor and also won in several categories.

Tish Darey and Jeff Darey, both of JB Goodwin REALTORS, make their way to the first green as theyhave fun helping to raise funds for TREPAC at ABoR’s golf tournament.

Art Lish of Linsalata Realty Services, Avis Wukasch of Keller Williams Realty and Harry Gibbs of KellerWilliams Commercial attend the CTCAR Expo at the Westin Hotel in The Domain.

Mary Fisher of RE/MAX Greater Austin and Denise Whiteside-Pugh of JB Goodwin REALTORS finda comfortable spot in the KB Home studio to relax during a recent REALTOR appreciation happy hour.


ABoR president David Foster lines one up to send it into next week at the organization’s golftournament at Avery Ranch, which helped raise funds for TREPAC.

Steve Crawfordand Cindy Craw-ford of KellerWilliams Realty askChris Keefer ofUnited Lendingabout how they canexpand their optionswith creative financ-ing. They were at-tending a lunch andlearn in Lakeway.

All the salsas weregreat, but only onewould win whenJudy Massouh andNichole Johnson,mother of AmyKobza of AustinTitle, tabulated thevoting at the WCRand NAHREP Cincode Mayo event.

Ryan Rogers ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORS,HBA presidentSteve Zbranek andHBA past presidentGary Henley dressfor success at theMAX Awards.

www.IndependenceTitle.com

HappyIndependence Day!

Your IndependenceCelebrate


Ben Buckman draws attention with his checkerboard shorts at the charity golf tournament atCrystal Falls Golf Club. With him were Tommy Holmes and Brian Pitman. All are with Inde-pendence Title, which sponsored the event.

David Tandy ofGracy Title and JoeBrown of SenteMortgage ask ToddSmith of Fine AustinLiving to show themaround the new of-fice in Westlake dur-ing a recent openhouse.

Linda Knowles-Katz of Land Mort-gage, JohnSchutze of Corner-stone Mortgage andBecky Hopkins ofAustin Title attendthe recent top pro-ducers panel andnetworking happyhour hosted by theAustin Young RealEstate Profession-als.

Jody Wiltsey

Tracey Hendrix

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Colette Fitzgeraldof KB Home makesa few announce-ments during a re-cent happy hour andthanks REALTORSfor all the sales theymade together inApril.

Heather Cooke ofTexas American Titleand Paula Longsport facial adorn-ments at the Cincode Mayo celebrationwith Randy Chupikat El Arbol.

Many REALTORSfrom Austin enjoy avisit to Washington,D.C., where they gotto meet with U.S.C o n g r e s s m a nMichael McCaul(standing center)and thank him forbeing supportive ofREALTORS.

John Onken of Buffington Signature Homes wins best salesperson of the year in the $250,001to $350,000 price point at the HBA MAX Awards.

John SimpsonTREC InstructorProvider: Mortgage AcuityProvider No. [email protected] Direct

The Inside Line To Clear Buying Power

EARN 3-HOURS MCE CREDIT AT AN UPCOMING SEMINAR • ALL SEMINARS ARE FREE

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uct or program to fit your

clients needs, and they tend

to ask a lot of questions.

They want to get to know

you and your client and to

understand their transac-

tion, circumstances, and

goals—partnering with you

to educate them so they can

make their decision with

confidence. “It’s simple: we

treat our clients the way

we’d treat our grandmoth-

ers—with respect,” says

Barton. “We see you and

your clients as people, not

deals.”

With a motto of “We

don’t make excuses, we

make it happen,” DHI is on

a mission to simplify the

closing process. October

2009 brought them one step

closer with a paperless file

policy. This enhancement has

not only helped the company be more envi-

ronmentally conscious, but has also stream-

lined the lending process and made it even

easier to close transactions.

Brandy Barton and DHI Title welcome

the opportunity to be your title insurance

provider. Their goal is to make you look

good, resulting in repeat business for you

and DHI. The DHI team is active in industry

professional organizations and involved in

discussion and debate about industry stan-

dards and best practices, in a continuing ef-

fort to offer your clients the best value and

service. With every transaction, and every

customer relationship, the DHI team strives

to make sure that all parties are actively in-

volved and kept informed, updated, and

made comfortable with the entire closing

process.

To speak with Brandy Barton and get ac-

quainted with the professionals at DHI Title,

call (512) 533-1616 or visit

www.DHItitle.com. RL

For over 25 years, DHI Title has

been focused on making the

dream of homeownership a reality.

The company was created to provide one-

stop home closings for customers of Milburn

Homes which is now owned by D.R. Hor-

ton, the nation’s largest homebuilder. The

company has expanded to include residen-

tial customers from across Texas as well as

Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Louisiana and

Minnesota. DHI Title fulfills the escrow and

title insurance needs for both new homebuy-

ers with D.R. Horton, and works with indi-

viduals in the resale marketplace handling

both purchase and refinance transactions.

DHI’s philosophy centers on earning cus-

tomers’ confidence, not just their business.

It’s this commitment to a relationship of

service and trust that led repeat customers

to refer their families and friends. Real estate

professionals that once represented D.R.

Horton customers now refer customers to

DHI Title directly, and the company—which

goes beyond closing builder transactions

with an entire Retail department specializ-

ing in resale and refinance closings—offers

services to an increasing number of home-

buyers every day.

Brandy Barton manages the Austin

branch of DHI Title. Her office is located in

Northwest Austin near the Arboretum, but

closes in a number of counties where DHI

offices are located, including Dallas, Fort

Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Pearland.

According to Barton, it’s DHI’s uncommon

approach to title insurance that has made

them so successful. “We care deeply about

the relationship with our customers and in-

dividual agents,” she says. “We treat your

customer with respect and courtesy and

have a daily focus on doing things the right

way.”

All of DHI’s closers are highly knowl-

edgeable, most with more than 20 years ex-

perience. The company offers a more

personal relationship with their clients to

deliver fast, friendly and efficient services,

understanding that REALTORS are trusting

them with their clients’ most important in-

vestment. Barton’s goal is a closing transac-

tion that is stress free and enjoyable, and she

and her team members pride themselves on

making closings convenient.

DHI’s closers want to find the best prod-

DHI Title

By Stacy Stroud

Associates In Progress Advertiser Profile

Brandy BartonAustin Branch Manager


NAPMW president Ginny Miller, second from left, arrives at the Boat and Bat Tour with Amy Ellmore,Bobby Bryant, Angela Bujnoch, Cathy Carosone-Lynn and Murielle Barnes to relax after a long dayat the organization’s national convention.

Mark Hairston of Mortgage IQ, Dwight McDuffie of John Horton Realty and Jay Gohil of Jay GohilRealty enjoy the TREPAC tournament at Avery Ranch Golf Club.

Pam Jenkins, right, of Land Mortgage accepts the employer of the year award from NAPMW presidentGinny Miller at the association’s installation and awards banquet.

Sadie Corrie, Pat Vincent, Sue Barrilleaux and Valerie Lyday, all of Coldwell Banker United REAL-TORS, enjoy a networking event at the Embassy Suites the evening before the Coldwell Banker TexasState Rally in San Marcos.

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June 2010 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 29May 2010 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 29

coldwell banker united, rEaltors

recognized as the #1 company nationally

Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS, an independently-owned company, was named

the Number One Company nationally in Closed Adjusted Gross Commission Income and

Total Units for the Coldwell Banker® system in 2009, among independently owned and

operated Coldwell Banker companies.

“Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS embodies the unparalleled level of customer

service and integrity that exists as a central part of the Coldwell Banker brand,” said Jim

Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Even

in a challenging year for the real estate market, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors suc-

ceeded in dedicating its time and energy to quality customer commitment and service.”

This year was undoubtedly challenging for real estate, as it was for many sectors of

the economy. “While news headlines shook customer confidence we are still seeing pos-

itive signs that that the housing market is improving,” notes Gillespie.

“We dedicate this honor to our outstanding team of sales professionals,” said Helen

Edwards, President/COO of Coldwell Banker United, Realtors’ Austin division. “It is

their integrity, focus and unwavering commitment to their clients that has enabled us to

stayed at the top of the Coldwell Banker network year after year.”

Real Estate News & Notes berkbigler honored with highly coveted MaX

award for “rEaltor of the year” by the HbaOn Saturday, May 1, the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin awarded

Gayle Berkbigler of Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty with the

MAX Award for Realtor of the Year at their 19th annual Marketing and

Advertising Excellence (MAX) Awards and Gala at the Austin Country

Club.

“Gayle gives 110% to everything she does and is a consistent top pro-

ducer at Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty,” says Mary Land,

co-owner of Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty. “She is a success-

ful commercial and residential agent with extensive knowledge about new home con-

struction. I am so proud of her accomplishments and honored to be associated with her.”

Newland Communities names Vaike O’Grady asMarketing Director for Austin

Newland Communities has named Vaike O’Grady as Marketing Director for Austin, where

the company’s active communities include award-winning Teravista and Falcon Pointe.

O’Grady has been with Newland Communities for 10 years, holding a variety of positions

in the company’s Southeast region, where she oversaw marketing for communities in Florida

and Georgia.

Prior to joining Newland Communities, O’Grady served in sales and marketing positions

with homebuilders including American Heritage Homes and Ryland

Homes.

She was also vice president of brand/marketing at the Tampa chapter of

the American Marketing Association, a volunteer position. She is a graduate

of Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Vaike has accomplished great things during her career with Newland,

and we are very excited to welcome her to Austin, especially at a time when

many important developments are taking place in Teravista and Falcon Pointe,” said Jennifer

Taylor, central region vice president of marketing for Newland Communities. “Teravista

ranked among the top 15 communities in the United States for new home sales in 2009, and

Falcon Pointe reported a first-quarter 2010 sales increase exceeding 300 percent.”

98th Meridian welcomes Haladyna and SullivanBroker/owner Victoria Reviel is pleased to announce and welcome its new team mem-

bers Christina Haladyna and Jamie Sullivan.

Christina has been licensed for several years and covers Bastrop and surrounding cities

while Jamie is new to the real estate industry and will cover Leander and North Austin.

subscribe to realty l ine’sonl ine calendar of Events at

www.realty l ineonl ine.com

rE/MaX agent beth oliver recognized as top

Producer for May 2010Beth Oliver, with RE/MAX Heart of Texas REALTORS, is recognized as the Top Pro-

ducer for total sales volume for May 2010.

Oliver has been working in the real estate industry for more than 20 years and has ex-

tensive experience in residential real estate sales and relocations. “Beth has consistently

been a top producing agent for our office and we are very proud of her accomplishments,”

said David Davidson, owner/broker, of RE/MAX Heart of Texas REALTORS.

Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS, announces

Million Dollar a Month Club membersThe Westlake office of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS, is proud to announce their

Million Dollar a Month Club for April 2010. They are Sue Barrilleaux, Jana Birdwell, Leslie

Crider, Brian Fahey, Tosca Gruber, Eve Kush, Tonya Nieto, Ryan Rogers, Pat Vincent and

Linda Wisthuff.

MileStone Community Builders, LLC expands in

Lakeway area at West Cypress HillsConstruction is now underway at West Cypress Hills, as MileStone Community

Builders, LLC expands its presence into the Lakeway area and continues with plans for

aggressive growth throughout Metro Austin.

“We are delighted to have found such an exceptional site in scenic Texas hill country,

where every home site in the master plan backs up to greenbelt,” MileStone president &

CEO Garrett Martin said. MileStone has secured 60’, 70’ and 90’ lots in the first section

of the community, with plans to build eight single family plans, priced from the low $200s.

“We believe our product fills a tremendous need for hill country living with quality

and opulence that has not been achieved at this price point,” Martin said. “Our home-

owners will enjoy an outstanding array of community amenities on over 1,000 acres of

ruggedly- handsome terrain at West Cypress Hills.”

combining nature and neighborhood

Resting on a high bluff overlooking an expansive valley, The West Cypress Hills

amenity center includes a pool complex with gently sloping shoreline, a lap pool, shaded

viewing area and baby pool. A playground, sport court and ball field are adjacent to the

pool area, while a several mile-long nature trail runs along a scenic spring-fed creek with

shaded picnic areas nearby.

West Cypress Hills’ location combines the best of both worlds: urban amenities amid

the natural beauty of the hill country. Less than 30 minutes to downtown Austin, West

Cypress Hills is conveniently located 7 miles west of the Hill Country Galleria on Hwy

71 and is in the acclaimed Lake Travis ISD. Homeowners will find a host of shopping,

dining and entertainment options nearby, with the Village of Bee Cave, Shops at The Gal-

leria and HEB just minutes away.

a sneak Preview is scheduled for summer 2010

MileStone is building 1- and 2-story homes ranging in size from 1950 sq. ft. to over

3,700 sq. ft., with prices starting in the low $200s. With beautiful native stone and stucco

exteriors, these architecturally distinctive homes offer attached 2- and 3-car garages as

well as casitas, courtyards and outdoor kitchens. The MileStone homes include media or

game rooms, as well as granite countertops, tile floors, garden tubs and other luxury fin-

ishes.

o’grady

Phillips honored by NAR with REALTOR Association

Certified Executive (RCE) DesignationMarjorie Phillips, association executive of WCAoR, was honored by the National Associ-

ation of REALTORS® with the REALTOR® Association Certified Executive

(RCE) designation, which recognizes exceptional efforts made by REAL-

TOR® association executives. This designation signifies accomplishment,

initiative and professional development.

Phillips is one of over 400 REALTOR® association executives who have

achieved this mark of excellence. Local and state AE’s who hold the RCE

designation represent more than three-quarters of a million REALTORS® in

50 states. This designation exemplifies goal-orientated AE’s with drive, experience and com-

mitment to professional growth.

Phillips

berkbigler


Suzanne Gantner of Sky Realty and Danette Tidwell of Time Warner Cable give a helping handat the WCAoR luncheon at the Cedar Park Town Center.

Marilyn Taylor andAustin Title’s KayMilligan make aplan for hitting thegreen at theWilliamson CountyAssociation of RE-ALTORS golf tour-nament at TwinCreeks Golf Club.

John McClellan ofSupreme Lendingbroadcasts an in-formative real estateshow from 11 a.m.until noon everySunday on NewsRadio 590 KLBJ and99.7 FM.

multi-Family

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Repair Cost Estimates

inspection services For many needs

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CALL (512) 573-8303TREC #8213

Power Lunch at Sente MortgageAugust 18th – 12 noon“Service Second to None”

The Sente Business Building Tip of the Month:

To register, go towww.SenteLearning.comand click on Austin Power Lunches

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Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events Today.

EPa institutEs nEw rulEsrElating to lEad Paint inEXisting ProjEcts

Tom Berry n Gracy Title Company

Experts Speak Out Commentary help clients make purchase decisions that

may involve renovation.

One of the major concerns coming out of

these rules changes are the increases in over-

all costs for renovation, and while opinions

differ over how much additional cost will be

incurred, the industry consensus is there will

be cost increases, and those increases will be

passed through to homeowners. Some indus-

try experts predict 10% surcharges on all ren-

ovation projects impacted by the rules, but

with little hard data yet available, the actual

cost remains to be seen.

Additionally, there appears to be signifi-

cant concern over how many contractors are

aware of the new rules requirements. As of

Apr. 22, approximately 10% of the estimated

200,000 contractors requiring certification

had been certified, according to EPA esti-

mates.

Real Estate professionals can access addi-

tional information, both on the EPA’s Web

site at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renova-

tion.htm, and through NAR at

www.realtor.org/government_affairs/lead_

paint_realtors . RLAs of Apr. 22, 2010, the Environ-

mental Protection Agency (EPA)

instituted new rules relating to

how contractors and renovation profession-

als must deal with lead paint in existing proj-

ects.

Dubbed Renovation, Repair and Painting

rules, or RRP, these new rules come out of re-

cent amendments to the Toxic Substance

Control Act, and specifically place new re-

quirements on any contractor making

changes to more than six square feet of a res-

idence built prior to 1978, where lead paint

may be present.

Included changes require contractors to

pay $300 and register their company with the

EPA, have at least one employee train to be-

come an EPA certified renovator, employ

lead-safe work practices (LSWP), which in-

cludes purchasing HEPA filter vacuums and

body suits, and provide additional disclo-

sures to homeowners before beginning work.

Additionally, homeowners can no longer

sign a waiver allowing a contractor to pro-

ceed on a job without implementing LSWP,

which had been common practice prior to

these changes. These additional required dis-

closures also come with new mandates on

how long contractors must keep records for

each project completed, and now generally

require complete records to be kept for three

years from time of completion.

Certain states have instituted their own

requirements, and the EPA is allowing those

requirements to preside, if they meet the

minimum standards of the federal rule. To

date, Texas has not instituted its own rules,

and therefore all contractors in Texas are sub-

ject to EPA regulation. Contractors ignore

these rules at their own risk, as the penalties

can exceed $32,000/day/violation.

While these new requirements are mainly

the responsibility of the contractors hired to

do the work, understanding these changes is

critically important for real estate profession-

als, both as they recommend contractors

(since they will need to be sure they are rec-

ommending certified professionals), and

YMCA Hays County Golf Tournament committee members Jim Pacey, Marc Goebler, Jason Tarr, Mar-ilyn Van Uum of Gracy Title and Brent Barrett are happy to see a great turnout at the fundraiser forYMCA Partners in Youth.

Down Payment Assistance Grants Available

HARPER RAYSenior Loan Offi cer

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Direct: 512.314.7333 [email protected]

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Please contact Harper Ray for unmatched expertise with bond money programs and

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Austin Title’s Amy Kobza (standing center) announces the winners of the salsa contest at theWCR and NAHREP hosted Cinco de Mayo themed mixer which was held at the Commons atRowe Lane.

Jennifer Smith,Todd Smith,Shaunna Terry andMarcy Colunga, allof Fine Austin Living,officially open thecompany’s doors onBee Caves Road inWestlake.

Steve Medina,Mike Camacho,Chris Garcia andJose Vera, all ofSavvy Property In-spections take firstplace at ABoR’sTREPAC golf tour-nament at AveryRanch.

Tiffany Harris andChris Dodd, both ofBuffington SignatureHomes, are allsmiles after seeingtheir company winbest product designfor a volume builder( $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 1 -$350,000) and bestinterior merchandis-ing ($150,001 to$175,000) at thisyear’s MAX Awards.

AYREP presidentSumina Bhatti andABoR ChairmanJohn Horton ofJohn Horton Realtythank Amber Hartof Keller WilliamsRealty and KirkLewis of Home Cityfor participating inthe Top ProducersPanel at the HyattRegency.

David Tandy of Gracy Title accepts the community service award from WCAoR president J.Rene Ward at the organization’s luncheon which was held at the Cedar Park Town Center.

RealtyLine_June_10

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