RealtyLine_Sept_09

—Associates In—PROGRESS

The Austin Board of REALTORS® will presentRealty Round Up from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. onWednesday, Oct. 7 at the Austin Convention Center.To find out what’s in store this year, Realty Line vis-

ited with Committee Chair Leonard Guerrero of JBGoodwin REALTORS®. His answers will surely getindustry professionals primed for this highly antici-pated, annual event, which this year revolves aroundthe theme “Growing a Greener Austin.”

What is the most commonly asked question aboutRealty Round Up?People want to know what it is. Realty Round Up is

the Austin Board of REALTORS®’ annual trade show,now in its 29th year that showcases educationalopportunities, industry information, new technologyand networking with vendors and other REALTORS®.

What is the most compelling reason a personshould attend Realty Round Up?It’s the opportunity to take advantage of a pool of

resources as vendors showcase their products, newindustry trends are offered, timely educational sub-jects are presented and there are lots and lots of free-

bies from the vendors that REALTORS® can use intheir businesses.

How will this Realty Round Up be different fromprevious ones?We’ve lowered the admission price to $10 and

increased the educational opportunities for our mem-bers. We are offering our Broker members a specialopportunity to meet, in a casual atmosphere, withevent speaker Dr. Jim Gaines from the Real EstateCenter at Texas A&M University. Lastly, this years’event will not have an official after event party and alunch will not be included in the ticket price.

How would you convince someone to attend if theyhave been to Realty Round Up for years and may feellike they have been there, done that?Our industry is one of continuing education and

change. Realty Round Up offers the opportunity to seetrends and technology that might be just around thecorner. An attendee has a “hands on” opportunitywith vendors at our program to check many newofferings. One of our vendors, SUPRA, is using RealtyRound Up as an opportunity to have membersexchange their dKeys for the new ActiveKEY as part ofour system upgrades.

What are the top three “must see” or “must do”items at this year’s event?The first is this years’

keynote speaker, Dr. JimGaines from the RealEstate Center at TexasA&M University, whosepresentation is from 11a.m. until noon. Secondwould be to take advan-tage of the many educa-tional opportunities suchas offerings on green con-struction, risk manage-ment, social technologiesand green issues affectinghome ownership and the

real estate industry. The third “must” is to take advan-tage of the chance to exchange current dKeys for thenew ActiveKEY which equips agents with real-timealerts when iBoxes are opened without requiringREALTORS® to have cellular service.

Who has been instrumental in putting togetherthis event?Realty Round Up is the result of the combined

efforts of ABoR’s education and marketing depart-ments and the energies of dedicated REALTOR®and affiliate volunteers on the Realty Round Upcommittee.

How long does it take to plan an event like this?Many months or better yet, almost a full year. The

planning for next years’ event starts shortly after thecurrent event is completed.

How does ABoR come up with such great themeseach year?The themes are usually the result of the combined

efforts of ABoR’s education and marketing depart-ments and the Realty Round Up committee. Oftentimes, pertinent trends or subject matters influence theselection of our themes, for example, “green” equaledour “Growing A Greener Austin” title this year.

What is the best tip to give someone who will beattending Realty Round Up for the first time?Plan to be there the whole day. The day is full of

educational events and the exhibitors will haveservices and goods to help us be successful in ourbusiness. Be ready to meet people and expand yournetwork.

How does the number of exhibitors compare toyears past?We won’t have a final count until day of the

event, but our current exhibitor list is on par to have175 or so booths which offers a rich environment forour attendees and compares favorably to past years.We can accommodate around 200 exhibitors andthat is an ideal goal for our event.For more information, visit

www.abor.com/roundup.

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.

2009 Realty Round Up: Growing A Greener Austin

Upcoming Events:

SEPTEMBER 2009 • VOL. 14 • ISSUE 5

SEPTEMBER 18WCR Sock HopBHI Building Gym - 7 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 23WCR Golf TournamentStar Ranch Golf Club

OCTOBER 12AMBA Fall Golf TournamentGreat Hills Country Club - 10 a.m.

OCTOBER 14Independence Title Chili CookoffMore details soon!

OCTOBER 16NAHREP Real Estate OlympicsZilker Park - Noon to 6 p.m.

OCTOBER 20“Strike Against Hunger” Bowling tournamentShowplace Lanes - 1 to 5 p.m.

Glenn King of RE/MAX Round Rock was “flocked.” You could benext—do your part and contribute to TREPAC TODAY!

www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin September 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 the morethan 8,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS (ABoR),the more than 1,100 members of the Williamson CountyAssociation of REALTORS (WCAoR) and the Home BuildersAssociation (HBA) of Greater Austin.© Caxton Publications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is an

active member of the Austin Board of REALTORS, theWilliamson County Association of REALTORS and is a honorarymember 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 for errorsand any by-products in advertising or editorial copy. REAL-TOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR® some-times appears in this publication without the registered trade-mark symbol (®), for the purpose of saving space. Wherever theword REALTOR appears in this publication, the registeredtrademark should be assumed.

Gary Wakefield ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORShas been flocked!Contribute toTREPAC today oryou could be next!

JB Goodwin REAL-TORS Round Rockoffice was the site ofa recent flocking.You can avoid being“flocked” if you doyour part and makeyour TREPAC con-tribution TODAY!

Been Flocked?

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

from you!In addition to our members’ only learning communities,

ABoR has also made the leap to Facebook, Twitter andLinkedIn. We invite you to join us by visiting the Twitter andFacebook links found onwww.abor.com/about_abor/home.cfm.

Nine-Hour MCE Technology Package for $60To learn how current technologies can help advance your

business, be sure to sign-up for Technology 101, 102 and 103 tobe held from October 21-23 at the ABoR Auditorium located at10900 Stonelake Blvd. Instructor and REALTOR® Chad Cardani will provide a comprehen-sive overview of technologies pertinent to real estate professionals and dive into howagents can incorporate social media into their business plans. Class participants will receivehands-on experience during the Technology 103 course. For details and to register, visitwww.abor.com/courses or contact ABoR’s Education Department at 454-7636 or [email protected]. MCE provider #0127.

TREC Announces Changes to Real Estate ExamsBeginning October 1, the national portion of the TREC-issued Real Estate Broker and

Salesperson exams will be updated to include an increased emphasis on questions thatrequire application of knowledge rather than simple recollection. Brokers can also expect agreater number of scenario-based questions on the exam. A revise Candidate InformationBrochure (CIB) is available at http://candidate.psiexams.com.

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

Dkey users will soon be celebrating a new technology that allows MLS subscribers toreceive real-time alerts each time an iBox is opened. From Monday, Oct. 5 through Friday,Oct. 9, REALTORS® will exchange dKeys for Supra’s ActiveKEY at ABoR offices located at10900 Stonelake Blvd., Austin, TX 78759. ActiveKEYS are expected to satisfy requests by dKey users to have a more technologi-

cally-advanced key system. The ActiveKEY’s cellular connection to the Supra networkrequires neither a cellular plan nor cellular service to open iBoxes. MLS subscribers who useeKeys will not be affected. For more information on alternative exchange locations, [email protected] or visit www.abor.com/mls/supra.cfm.

TAMU’s Jim Gaines Delivers Market Update at Realty Round Up on October 7Included with your $10 ticket to Realty Round Up—the most popular real estate indus-

try trade show in Central Texas—is one of the most significant real estate market updatesof the year. Dr. Jim Gaines, research economist at Texas A&M Real Estate Center, will deliv-er an economic overview and forecast from 10 to 11 a.m. that is sure to help you navigatethrough the coming year. In addition to the market update and vendor showcase, you can hear industry experts

discuss topics that include: best practices for reducing risk, time management, alternativehomes, LEED reconstruction and promoting a greener community. The event will be heldat the Austin Convention Center, located at 500 East Cesar Chavez. Purchase tickets orbooth space at www.abor.com/roundup or contact Gina Willemsen at 454-7636, ext 1601 [email protected].

ABoR Extends Social Media PresenceAs a REALTOR®, you are likely using social networking services to communicate more

than ever before. To better support our members, ABoR has developed an online learningcommunity that enables members to hold discussions and assist each other with business-related issues. Join a discussion today by visiting www.abor.com/ALC. We want to hear

Switch to ActiveKEYSSet for October 5-9

ABoR CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

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Stephanie Powell of Champions School of Real Estate invites you to one of the many classesnow being held at its campus in Round Rock. Stephanie was a model at the WCR Style Show.


Attorney Russ Hamm brings his guitar to the First American Title picnic,where Amber Klam, Ashlea Klam and Jason Klam of First American Title,enjoyed a day of fun games and good food at the Common’s Ford RanchHouse.

Sherry Stark andMalinda Matthews,both of One PercentRealty, cometogether for aPrivate Label Realtymeeting at theC o m m o n sConference Centeron the J.J. JakePickle ResearchCampus in northAustin.

Kathy Kelly, sec-ond from left, joinsDiana Mitchell,Krista Patrick andBarbara Preston,all of Keller WilliamsRealty, for a tour ofthe 50s style homeon Lake Travis thatis listed by Peg’sTeam.

Randy Molinare,Bill Bradshaw andDonna Simmons,all of Gracy Title,enjoy the serviceawards celebrationof their companywith other realestate professionalsat County Line onthe Hill.

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Introducing…

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

Frank Perdichizziof Private LabelRealty gathers withDiane Walters ofLand Mortgage atthe CommonsConference Center,where Private LabelRealty held a busi-ness meeting.

Lionel Laday, JoeMoreno and FranWeller, all of KellerWilliams Realty, findthere is still plenty ofwater to see on thislakefront listing at14732 Hornsby HillRoad during theLake Travis propertytour.

Danette Tidwell of Time Warner Cable was on hand at her booth during theWCAoR Tech Tune Up. Danette provided REALTORS with information on howteaming up with TWC could be advantageous to REALTORS.

The Perfect StormWith housing prices as low as they are likely going to get

here in the greater Austin area, interest rates for 30-year fixedrate mortgages at just above 5%, and the Fed’s $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, no other time has proven betterfor home buying. Let’s take a look at recent history. The market crash of the

1980s created all-time lows for housing prices. At the sametime, interest rates for 30-year fixed rate mortgage loans wereat all time highs of near 18%. So while the price was right,many families still could not afford to buy a home since the interest rates pushed month-ly payments through the proverbial roof. We found ourselves in a very different situation earlier this decade. Folks were rush-

ing out to buy homes because interest rates were at all time lows (between 5% and 6%for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage) yet demand was so high that it pushed home pricesup. Once again, many people found their home buying dreams remained elusive.As we approach the end of the first decade of the new millennium, the perfect storm

has now brewed. While we find our country is facing the most challenging economicdecline in recent memory, the situation has opened doors and created opportunity forpotential home buyers. Now buyers can get a great price on a new home and buy intohistorically low interest rates on the largest purchase most people will ever undertake.Now is the time to buy a new homeEconomists are predicting an end to the recession as early as the end of 2009. With the

region’s low unemployment rate and continued job growth, Austin (and Texas for thatmatter) is poised to bounce back faster than a large majority of other cities nationwide.Relocations to the state and our beautiful city continue to grow at a rapid pace. No doubtmany are moving here to find jobs they’ve lost in their home towns. These factors cou-pled with the fact that the Federal Reserve will eventually lift its artificial hold on inter-est rates when the economy begins to turn around, homes will soon be more expensive. The bottom is here and the bottom is now. Don’t miss your chance to invest in your

family’s future. It’s time to jump on the home buying train before it leaves the station.To learn more about how to choose a builder or buy a new home, visit the Home

Builder’s Association of Greater Austin’s Web site at www.AustinHomeBuilders.com;then click on consumer resources.

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

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

The constant media buzz of job layoffs, foreclosures and decreased consumer confi-dence are keeping many American’s home buying urges at bay. We’ve all heard theheart-wrenching stories of families who have felt the brunt of the country’s recessionwoes. But it’s important to remember that a large majority of Americans, and especiallycentral Texans, still have jobs, continue to pay their bills on time and are even increasingtheir savings. In fact, the Austin American-Statesman reported just last month that theAustin region’s unemployment rate was 7.3%. While that seems like a high numbercompared to years past, the optimist in me sees this glass more than half full—almost93% of the area’s workforce still has jobs.So why are so many people sitting on the fence? Perhaps they believe that somehow

the housing market in the greater Austin region has yet to hit bottom. Everyone seemsto be waiting in the hopes of perfectly timing the market to get the best deal possible. Ican certainly understand the desire to get the best deal, but the facts just don’t supportthe idea that prices will drop. Recent reports even show that in August the median priceof an existing home in the area was unchanged from last year and is still $191,000. Buthow can that be? According to many real estate reports from national media outlets,home values continue to fall at double-digit percentage points, right? While that may betrue in places like California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida, the truth is that the GreaterAustin real estate market has remained healthy with a balance between supply anddemand. Currently, the Austin region has roughly seven months supply of existinghome inventory and six months supply of new homes. These levels are well below theaverage of approximately 10 months supply nationally. Couple that with the TravisCounty demographer’s estimate that the County will add 30,000 new residents this yearalone and it’s easy to see that soon demand will surpass supply and prices willinevitably go up.

Record Low Interest Rates andHome Prices Create Perfect

Storm for Home Buying

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Victoria Reviel and Shannon Powers, both of ZIP Realty, help WCAoR pres-ident-elect J. Rene Ward of Best Agents in Texas sign up new members atthe AYREP happy hour at Cover 3 on Anderson Lane.

John Horton ofJohn Horton Realty,Socar ChatmonThomas of ElegantEstates by Auctionand FrankPerdichizzi ofPirvate Label Realtyand Drew Tate ofTate Property cometogether for a busi-ness meeting.

Dance into the WCR SockHop on Friday, Sept. 18

On Friday, Sept. 18, the Women’s Council of REALTORS will open the doors of Builder’sHomesite in the BHI Building (formerly the Full Court Building) and take you back to the1950’s! The Sock Hop, which will be from 7 to 10 pm and will be held in the gymnasium at11900 RR620, offers FREE admission to all.Attendees can expect to find a variety of food and throwback snacks such as Cracker

Jacks, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Moon Pies, Hot Dogs, and more all provided by 14 buildersin the Austin area. The first 100 people dancing through the door will receive a free drinkticket (compliments of Mitch Wilhite of CapitalOne Bank), and there will be a cash bar avail-able throughout the night serving wine, beer, soft drinks and water.One of the best DJ’s in Austin will provide the music. Take part in the dance contest, cos-

tume contest and hula hoop contest for a chance to win one of many door prizes. DorenCarver of Realty Line will display his 1957 Chevy!Poodle skirts, Elvis or Fonzi Costumes are optional, but boots and heels will be traded in

for socks provided by Main Event to protect the gym floor. Drawings will be throughout theevening for numerous other door prizes, so bring your business cards!Committee members are Chairman Becky Hopkins of Austin Title, Ali Valentine with

New Home Source Professional, Amy Kobza of Austin Title, Alfred Engstrand of Alfred'sCatering, Chris Rodriguez of Realty Executives, Meredith Cain of Supreme Lending andSusan Spence of HWA Home Warranty. Come out dancing on the 18th and mix and mingle with the builders—Happy Days are

here again! RSVP to [email protected] and we’ll see you there!


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Christy Weeks and her son Jet enjoy snow cones at the First American Titlecompany picnic near Lake Austin.

Wyndham Boulter,second from left, ofDrees CustomHomes welcomesDiana Mitchell,Barbara Preston,Frank West andKrista Patrick, all ofKeller WilliamsRealty, to the modelhome during aREALTOR openhouse at SteinerRanch.

Pictured with theState Farm Bear isRebecca Panacci,and JessicaBullock, both of A-TX PropertyManagement. Thecompany recentlysponsored a “Backto School Bash” andgave out free schoolsupplies to all chil-dren as well as pro-vided free eyescreenings.

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Kevin Bierwirth of Realtron and Aletha Bierwirth check out the refrigeratoroptions at the KB Home design studio during the homebuilder’s luau styleREALTOR appreciation party that featured Hawaiian food and decorations.

Traci Smith, KimJohnson and KristaSpring, all of KellerWilliams Realty,have a great time atrecent lunch at themodel home byDrees CustomHomes in SteinerRanch.

Aaron Page of LandMortgage movesaround the room andspoke to manyincluding RichieRodriguez, SteveBuilta and RickBaron, all ofH o m e t r u s tMortgage, at theAYREP happy hourat Cover 3.Hometrust Mortgagewas a sponsor of theevent.

Suzanne Jacobs ofGracy Title reroutesher computercables during anMCE class at thecompany’s office.

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any outside influences that would improperly influencethe appraisal procedure. Wigginton says there are certainmeasures that can strengthen the process. “Allowing other parties involved in the transaction to

ask the appraiser to consider additional property infor-mation and provide further detail can help isolate theappraiser from improper influence,” Wigginton said. “Inaddition, buyers and sellers should discuss the uniqueconditions of a home and its neighborhood with theappraiser if he or she is not familiar with the area.”The Federal Housing Finance Agency recently took a step forward in dealing

with the issue when mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac clarified twoimportant guidelines. The government-sponsored enterprises stated that lendersshould use appraisers with clear experience in the geographic area they areappraising and explained that appraisers are not prohibited from talking to realestate agents. “REALTORS share unparalleled knowledge of local markets,” Wigginton said,

“They are a trusted and valuable resource for consumers and are ready to helpappraisers determine accurate property values.”While pleased with this first step, Wigginton believes Congress and the FHFA

need to do more. “The Williamson County Association of REALTORS® supports the implementa-

tion of an 18-month moratorium on the new HVCC rules for further inspection forunintended consequences,” Wigginton said. “We don’t want the appraisal processpreventing families from the achieving the dream of homeownership.”Cheeseburgers in ParadiseJoin WCAoR from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Rabb House in Round

Rock for plenty of food, games and old fashioned camaraderie. Organized byWCAoR, and benefitting TREPAC, tickets are on sale now for $35. Contact WCAoRat 255-6211 or online at www.wcaor.org for more information.20th Annual WCAoR Golf TournamentOn Monday, Oct. 12, WCAoR will host its 20th Annual Golf Tournament at Twin

Creeks Golf Club in Cedar Park, TX. Event information and team registration isavailable online at www.wcaor.org.


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

A home appraisal is a vital part of a real estate transaction. Appraisals help sell-ers list their homes appropriately and assure lenders and buyers of a home’sworth. Unfortunately, REALTORS® across the country are reporting unusuallylow home appraisals, including some homes estimated to be worth less thanreplacement construction costs. Many have even experienced delayed and lost sales due to poor appraisals con-

ducted by inexperienced appraisers not familiar with the area. These reportsseemed to intensify after the new Home Valuation Code of Conduct was imple-mented on May 1. The HVCC establishes standards for solicitation, selection, compensation, con-

flicts of interest and appraiser independence. In many cases however, the HVCC hasslowed the appraisal process and increased the use of out-of-area appraisers whomay not be familiar with the local real estate market. According to Williamson County Association of REALTORS®, determining cor-

rect property value is a difficult task in today’s market. “Buyers are purchasing more foreclosed homes and short sales that typically sell

for 20 percent less than traditional homes in the same area,” Barbara Wigginton,president of WCAoR Board of Directors said. “This makes it challenging for apprais-ers to identify comparable homes and make appropriate value adjustments.”Appraisers are also concerned about the issue. According to a recent survey by

the National Association of REALTORS®, 70 percent of appraisers have noticed anincrease in the amount of fees paid by consumers. It doesn’t stop there. A reported36 percent saw a severe decrease in appraisal quality. Although the reason for thisdecrease has yet to be identified, it is essential that appraisers are fully qualified andexperienced with the areas in which they work. They must also be independent of

Appraising Appraisals

WCAoR PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

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Jay Miller and Kristy Miller of First American Title pick a spot in the shadeto enjoy the company picnic at the Common’s Ford Ranch House.

AYREP presidentSumina Bhatti,center, is pleased tosee familiar faces.David Burton, left,of Home Team ofAmerica and TexMeazell of KellerWilliams Realty atthe organization’shappy hour at Cover3.

Susan Spence ofHWA HomeWarranty, CorrineCostabile of KellerWilliams Realty,Chris Rodriguez ofRealty Executives,Marie Dang-Schwartz of RealtyExecutives andBecky Hopkins ofAustin Title enjoythemselves and themodel home showerat the latest WCRBUNCO night.

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Jack Stapleton of Sky Realty shares the top 20 free or almost free real estatetools with attendees at a seminar at the Williamson County Association ofREALTORS Tech Tune Up.


Ernie Hatton andJoanne Hatton,both of RE/MAXAbout Austin, tellNeal Barnes ofRealty World, NealBarnes &Associates aboutsome acreage theyhave listed. Theywere attending aluau at KB Home’sdesign studio inappreciation ofREALTORS whohave sold one of thecompany’s homesthis year.

WCAoR Tech TuneUp committeemember SuzanneGantner preparesto reap the rewardsof her hard work atone of the eventseminars. She wastelling BeverlyHanson about thedangers of owning acat. Both are withSky Realty.


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Gaye Pierce, Gracy Title’s senior vice president and chief operating officer,welcomes longtime friend Kim Minks of DHI Title to County Line on the Hill,where the company celebrated an anniversary milestone.

Winifred Harrisonof Coldwell BankerUnited REALTORSand Linda McNabbof Realty Lineinspect the selec-tion of entry doorsat the KB Homedesign studio duringthe homebuilder’sREALTOR apprecia-tion party.

Jason Klam, farright, balancing anegg on a spoon inhis mouth, racesagainst his childrenand staff membersat the FirstAmerican Title fami-ly picnic. The dayfeatured lots of funactivities and foodat the Common’sFord Ranch House.

Matthew Bowmanand SethThompson, both ofZIP Realty, shareinformation abouttheir latest listingswith GenaHammonds ofHighland Lakes RealEstate at the AustinYoung Real EstateProfessionals happyhour at Cover 3.


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.

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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.!

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Congressman Michael McCaul addresses some of ABoR’s TREPAC trustees SheriBrummett, Richard Ryon, and Leonard Guerrero after a check presentation that was pre-sented to his upcoming campaign.

Dave Matthys of RE/MAX Capital City gives WCAoR executive officer Marjorie Phillips,left, and Jacci Anders of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS a tour of the new building onSam Bass Road.

ABoR staff members Sylvia Medrano and Leslie Van Burkleo are eager to greet and helpmembers as they arrive for the monthly broker network meeting.


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Carol Mangum and Barbara Preston, both of Keller Williams Realty, enjoythe benefits of being among the REALTORS to recently sell a KB Home, asthey were invited to the homebuilder’s luau at the design studio, where therewas plenty of tasty tropical food.

The Gracy Title salesteam celebrates thecompany’s serviceawards at CountyLine on the Hill. Fromleft: Audrey Gavin,Amy Triesch, LisaAltamirano, TomBerry, DeniseMoody, BobRoberts, MichellePiperi, HollySchuler, AllisonCraig and TracyBlair.

Fred Ormand ofFred Ormand Realtyasks WyndhamBoulter of DreesCustom Homesabout some of thespecial features inthe company’smodel home atSteiner Ranch.

Donna Yoste ofRE/MAX AustinAssociates, AnnBanos of RealLiving LifestylesRealty and SheilaHawkins-Bucklewof Hawkins BucklewI n t e r n a t i o n a lREALTORS attendthe broker networkmeeting at theABoR auditorium.


Vicki Crouch of Allstate, Cynthia Reeder of RE/MAX Capital City and JennyNewman of Austin Title help raise funds for Any Baby Can at the quarterlymeeting of Certified Residential Specialists at the Westwood Country Club.

Christy Weekstosses a water bal-loon to her son Jetat the FirstAmerican Title fami-ly picnic. The staffalso celebratedChristy’s birthday atthe event.

Custom homebuilder Randy Rolloand HBA executiveofficer Harry Savioponder the indus-try’s direction beforehearing the mid-year housing fore-cast presentation byMark Sprague ofR e s i d e n t i a lStrategies.


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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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ABoR Chairman Jay Gohil, right, of Jay Gohil Realty talks with CongressmanMichael McCaul before a check presentation.

TREC commissionerAvis Wukasch ofKeller WilliamsRealty learns fromBrandon Alderetteof the TexasAssociation ofREALTORS aboutthe many ways totwitter at theWCAoR Tech TuneUp.

Keller WilliamsRealty agents checkout the Peg’s Teamlisting on HornsbyHill Road during theLake Travis propertytour. The waterfrontacreage is currentlydeeded to allow afour-slip boat dock.

Debbie Horridge ofthe Home BuildersAssociation ofGreater Austinthanks RyanRogers of ColdwellBanker UnitedREALTORS for sell-ing the HBA benefithome last year. Theywere attending themid-year housingforecast.


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

For more information, visit www.steinerranch.com


Doris Stouts of Drees Custom Homes tells Sam Mehra, REALTOR, about all the amenitiesin the builder’s model home at Steiner Ranch.

Faye Davidson of Davison Properties, Sandy Bednar of Distinct Austin Properties and VanDavison of Davison Properties share the latest on their families as they wait for the CRSmeeting to begin.

Laurie Nunnallee and Melinda Carroll of First American Title sit by the pool with JasonEaster at the First American Title family picnic at Common’s Ford Ranch House in WestAustin.

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!

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conditions, as well as informa-tion for individual MLS areas.We also have numerous calcula-tors, from calculating taxes andpremiums to property invest-ments. Most recently, we beganoffering a suite of calculators formobile devices, called AustinTitle Agent. Austin Title Agent isa downloadable applicationsuite that is available for many3G network device platforms,including Blackberry, WindowsMobile, and now, iPhone.Austin Title is also a leader in

real estate education, bringingin top instructors and MCEclasses and in excess of 20 class-es per month to the variousAustin Title locations. To furtherdevelop our educational programs, we began offering a service called "Ask anExpert," which allows interested parties to request additional information aboutthe real estate industry from our panel of experts. We then remove any personalinformation and post the answers to our website to help visitors who later havethe same questions. We believe that both "Ask an Expert" and our educationalofferings help us better understand how to deliver value to the people with whomwe sit at the transaction table.Today's marketplace demands that companies deliver an increasing amount of

value to customers. At Austin Title, we respond to this by leveraging technologyand education to better engage real estate agents and consumers directly, becausewe succeed when agents and consumers have the best tools to make the best deci-sions. That, and, of course, our people. We are thankful to our staff for making usa force in the marketplace and for the skills and hard work of our support peoplewho keep us moving forward. We are also thankful to central Texans who contin-ue to entrust their business to us.

Austin Title is known for its products, services, education and marketing support andfor puting a premium on hiring, training and retaining the most qualified professionals towork with real estate professionals since entering the title business in 1953. Companypresident Mickey Blissit shared with Realty Line many of the reasons his staff is commit-ted to providing superior customer service so that REALTORS will continue having con-fidence in placing their transactions in Austin Title’s hands. Austin Title has a strong history of delivering high value and satisfaction to its

clientele during challenging and changing marketplace conditions. Our philoso-phy has been to let highly experienced professionals handle transactions efficient-ly and effectively, with customer service in mind and with best practice standards.Like many in the real estate industry, Austin Title serves an increasingly sophis-

ticated and technologically savvy user base. On the one hand are consumers whohave begun taking more proactive roles in managing their personal information.On the other hand are real estate industry professionals who leverage the powerof the Internet and wish to know more about transactions, more easily, during theprocess. One solution to both of these scenarios is Austin Title's DocStop—a sim-ple and passive communication platform that notifies transaction parties whendocuments become available throughout the settlement process. Along with thedocument, consumers will receive links that explain transaction details, so theycan learn more about their own home sales and purchases. For added value,Austin Title allows consumers to order Just Moved cards. To help agents betterleverage their own technology tools, Austin Title provides anniversary reminders.Also for our real estate agent customers, we provide other tools, such as

AustinTitle.com Red Carpet Member Services, where agents can keep up with cur-rent statistical information using our reports and graphs that detail marketwide


ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS

Mickey BlissitPresident


Larry Shumake of Shumake Group Properties tells Denise Moody of GracyTitle that he has branched out on his own. They were attending the downtownproperty tour.

Mary Torres andRichard Torres ofGold Realty, center,get some ideas fortheir own homewhile attending theKB Home REALTORappreciation partyat the DesignStudio. REALTORliaison ColetteFitzgerald, left, andNayeli Garza, right,both of KB Home,show them some ofthe latest trends.

HBA president WesPeoples gets a pre-view from guestspeaker MarkSprague ofR e s i d e n t i a lStrategies, whodelivered the mid-year housing fore-cast to members ofthe home builders’organization.


Newland Communities is a privately owned company that creates residential and urban mixed-use communities in 14 states from coast-to-coast. We believe it is

our responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. www.newlandcommunities.com

Get your clients to move here.New friends will make them stay.

Newland Communities is a privately owned company that creates residential and urban mixed-use communities in 14 states from coast-to-coast. We believe it is

our responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. www.newlandcommunities.com

This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in Teravista or to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Homes within the Teravista community are constructed and sold by builders not affiliated with Newland Communities or Newland Communities’ affiliated companies. Prices, speci�cations and details are subject to change without notice. © 2009 Newland Communities. All rights reserved.

Visit teravista.com/agents

When you show clients the real Teravista, helping them to move here becomes less

of a decision and more of a foregone conclusion. Round Rock has become a vital part

of the cultural capital of Texas. And Teravista’s Golf Club, with the breathtaking homes,

make it impossible not to love. This makes your next sell a lot easier. Because the

feeling your clients have is something they’ll share with all of their friends, especially

the ones who don’t live here. Yet.

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Diane Franks cools off with her daughter Madison at the First AmericanTitle summer picnic at the Common’s Ford Ranch House.

Gloria Ward andMark Griffiths, bothof Best Agents inTexas, relax atRanch 616 beforeparticipating in thedowntown propertytour.

WCAoR presidentBarbara Wigginton,Edmond McEnanyof Realty ExecutivesCedar Park andGreg Hodge ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORSget ready to learnabout the mentoringprogram at the orga-nization’s third quar-terly luncheon at theSan Gabriel Center.

TREPAC Flockersget ready to “flock”another house.Don’t forget to con-tribute to TREPACtoday and protectyour profession!

ROBERT GUNNAH2008: $21 million in sales

KATHLEEN BUCHER2008: $20 million in sales

SOUTHWESTEric Copper - 448-4111

NORTHWESTLinda Bartlett - 346-3550

LAKE TRAVISMary Lynne Gibbs - 263-9090

WILLIAMSON COUNTYAvis Wukasch - 255-5050

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Robert and Kathleen made the change.

Find out why.Call Eric Copper 794-6694

Robert and Kathleenmade the change.

Find out why.“You Owe It To Yourself!”


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

of traditional methods. At about the same time that the survey was being con-

ducted, several of us had an opportunity to attend apanel discussion of top producers from around thenation sponsored by a large national real estate compa-ny. The topic discussed by each speaker was how theygenerated leads. The answers ranged from calling onexpired listings and FSBOS to writing a blog for threehours a day. By the end of the discussion, it was obviousthat once again, it did not matter what type of lead gen-eration efforts the agent uses but how much time eachday those efforts are pursued. The one correlation orcommon theme of all agents on the panel was blockingtheir time to perform their lead generation efforts forthree to four hours per day, four to five days per week. In the survey, we failed to ask how much time was spent on lead generation,

whether using Facebook or working leads from a Web site or blog or calling onexpired listings. Based on the panel discussion (and the lack of correlation withinour survey to income), this is the one question that would probably have shownwhat results in the most gross commission income.

David Tandy CEO

Gracy Title Company

Last month, Gracy Title surveyed over 2,500 agents in Austin to discover whattools agents use most for lead generation. The survey was prompted by interviewswith top producers about the impact of social media and smart phone devices. Thesurvey not only covered emerging trends such as iPhones and social media, butalso traditional lead generation methods such as direct mail and cold calling. Theresults and trends were interesting and, to some degree, surprising. About 70% of agents currently use smartphones (a phone with e-mail and inter-

net access) and, of those using smartphones, the iPhone is the most popular with29%. Over the next 12 months, agents will be turning in their Treos and Palms foran iPhone with 36% saying they will be on an iPhone within the year. With thegrowth of iPhone applications for social media including Facebook, LinkedIn andothers, it is reasonable to project an even higher increase in agents using theiPhone. A whopping 42% of agents are currently using some form of social media to

generate sales leads. Of those agents using social media, 50% are using Facebook,followed by 13% using a personal blog to generate leads. For those agents notusing social media, the reason given was not that they believe it to be ineffectivebut that they do not yet know enough about how to use social media for lead gen-eration. Some agents who do not use social media cite wanting to have a distinc-tion between their professional and personal lives. When asked about what database tools agents use to track contacts, agents were

three times more likely to use Outlook than Top Producer or some other type oftool. The biggest surprise was the lack of correlation between the type of lead gener-

ation and the agent’s gross commission income. Of those agents responding to thesurvey, use of social media or smart phones did not result in more income than use

The Surprising FactsAbout Lead Generation

COMMENTARY

Ryan McGahey and Greg Petrosewicz, both of RE/MAX Capital City, check out thecompany’s new, upscale office on Sam Bass Road.


Ronda Reagan of Ronda Reagan Properties studies one of the useful hand-outs at the Tech Tune Up at the Wingate Center that the Williamson CountyAssociation of REALTORS hosted.

Richard Chesebroand Judy Moss,both of PrudentialTexas Realty, teamup to preview thelistings on thedowntown propertytour.

Jacque Smith ofIndependence Titleattends the thirdquarterly luncheonof the WilliamsonCounty Associationof REALTORS at theSan Gabriel Centerwith Rita Snyderand Lisa Bonnett,both of KellerWilliams Realty.They learned aboutarea economicdevelopment from apanel of city leadersfrom Round Rock,Georgetown, CedarPark, Leander,Taylor and Hutto.


��

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When you enter into a contingency contract with WilshireHomes, we’ll soon give you and your realtor a call and ourteam of experienced real estate professionals will come to your home, provide a “quick sale” analysis, and help you WOW shoppers from the moment they lay eyes on your home.

Let us free you up to concentrate on your new home. Here’s just a few of the ways we can help you out:

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www.Wilshire-Homes.com

Lorena strutted her stuff on the runway at WCR’s annual style show. Lorena is the alter egoof Mary Mealy of Realty Executives.

Robert Isaacson of Round Rock Remodel shares a beverage with Robin Gulledge andJanet Snow, both of RE/MAX Capital City, at the grand opening of the RE/MAX and GracyTitle offices on Sam Bass Road.

Emma Polk of Coldwell Banker S.G. Billings and Sherri Teepen, CRS regional director, goover the meeting agenda prior to the Austin chapter’s quarterly meeting.


Champions School of Real Estate – Austin/Round Rock Campus!Over 26 years providing award-winning education across Texas and now conveniently located in the Austin/Round Rock Area! Providing Classroom, Correspondence and Online Courses for Brokers License, SAE, MCE and Designations.

Upcoming MCE Classes: 15 hours (includes Legal and Ethics) - $99!Prospering with Trends and Strategies - Taught by Allan Hancock!Sept 22 & 23 Oct 12-13Nov 2-3 Nov 19-20Dec 1-2 Dec 28-29

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Champions also offers all of the courses needed to get a Broker License. For most agents with two years experiencein real estate, it generally takes only two more 30-hour coursesto get your Broker License. Call a Career Counselor today foryour “Personal Plan of Attack!”

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Jon Kasner of Kasner and Associates REALTORS and Robert Wright ofRL Wright REALTORS confer at the broker network meeting in the audito-rium at the Austin Board of REALTORS.

ABoR TREPACt r u s t e e sC o n g r e s s m a n(District 10) MichaelMcCaul, center, witha $1,000 checktoward his upcomingcampaign.

Jennifer Emkenand Julie Javorsky,both of KB Home,present REALTORSwith a colorful lei atthe homebuilder’sluau style apprecia-tion party at thedesign studio.

Jeff Osborne ofRE/MAX CapitalCity gets a little helpfrom Gracy Title asthe companies joint-ly open their newoffices in RoundRock.


footprint.” Plum Creek is the

company’s newest com-munity, however;Duesing encouragesREALTORS to revisit allof the company’s neigh-borhoods, which rangein price from $100,000to $500,000 with squarefootage ranging from974 to 5,368.“Based on market

research we have goneinto several of ourexisting communitiesand given them a faceliftwith new product thatyou ordinarily wouldn’tsee in an entry-level price point,” he says. “We offer awide variety of floorplans and price points throughoutthe Central market—stop by and see.”KB Home is the fifth largest homebuilder and is

consistently ranked in the top three in Austin based on new home deliveries. TheCentral Texas Division has two offices—one located in Austin and one in San Antonio. To stay on top of the latest of what KB Home has to offer, REALTORS are encour-

aged to log onto www.kbhome.com and sign up for exclusive e-mail updates. “You’ll get the latest news including community sneak previews, VIP parties, grand

opening dates, pricing and more,” Duesing says. REALTORS can also are encouraged to take the time to find out why partnering

with KB Home makes good sense. Colette Fitzgerald is the dedicated Real EstateAgent/Broker Liaison and is available to meet with REALTORS at their convenience.She can be reached at 294-1781 or by email: [email protected].“We strongly rely on our real estate agents to continue to bring us business as well

as our other marketing efforts,” Duesing says. “We are on track to increase our busi-ness over last year and look forward to an even more successful 2010 with the help ofour real estate professionals.”

In its 50 year history, KB Home has earned a reputation for building quality homes,providing superior value and offering homebuyers an abundance of choices. In recentyears, the company has built innovative communities, expanded into new markets,earned countless industry awards and built a reputation as the most recognizednational brand in homebuilding. But perhaps most importantly to those in the indus-try may be the value the company places on its partnership with local real estate pro-fessionals.“We’re committed to helping you find the ideal home for your clients,” says Matt

Duesing, director of sales for KB Austin. “From a variety floor plans, home site choic-es and amenities to personal design options that create the perfect home, your clientswill find everything they want in a wonderful KB Home neighborhood.”KB Home is able to offer great selections through its Built to Order business model

by using extensive market research to identify buyers’ wants and needs and thenbuilding communities with the right product, in the right location, with the right price. “We are the only homebuilder offering first time homebuyers a level of choice that

allows them to truly personalize their home without paying custom home prices,”Duesing says. “Homebuyers select their homesite, floorplan – including flex room fea-tures, as well as interior and exterior design features. We support the purchase with acommitment to Quality, Choice, and Service. We are also an Energy Star Builder.”As part of the company’s My Home, My Earth energy efficiency campaign, builder

included items feature Low-E windows, electronic thermostats, and Energy StarWhirlpool appliances. Homebuyers can also choose radiant barrier roofing, low flowtoilets, and HVAC packages to increase their home’s energy efficiency.“KB Home’s goal is to be a leading environmentally friendly national home-

builder,” Duesing says. “We are committed to sustainability and decreasing our carbon


ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS

Colette FitzgeraldReal Estate Agent/

Broker Liaison


Michele Gonzalez and Phyllis Avery, both of First American Title, enjoy acasual outing at the Common’s Ford Ranch House during the First AmericanTitle’s summer picnic.

Barbara Preston,Krista Spring andFrank West, all ofKeller WilliamsRealty, get a chanceto hear from theowner of this 50sstyle lake housewho was on hand atthe Lake Travisproperty tour.

Tara Kessler of DRHorton America’sBuilder tells LesSherman ofRE/MAX AustinAssociates thatParmer Village is agreat place to take afamily. They wereattending the quar-terly meeting ofCertified ResidentialSpecialists.

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“I came to Goldwasser Real Estate because I knew I needed marketing, systems, and support to reach my career goals. In a very short period of time, I have greatly benefited from the well-executed marketing program that Goldwasser Real Estate offers.

I helped a client who is a VP at a Fortune 500 company. His home was in an area where the average days on market was 210 days. With Goldwasser Real Estate’s plan, they were able to sell in 40 days. Consequently, I have secured a ‘corporate account’ with his company, and I’m receiving referrals to high-level executives.”

Donna CiccarelliREALTOR®, 20 Years of Experience

“I began my career with Goldwasser Real Estate more than two years ago with no real estate experience. I sold four homes during my second month as an agent, and closed $6.5 million in volume my first year. I’m on track to increase that by 30% this year in a down market.

Goldwasser Real Estate provides you the tools, people, and systems you need to be successful in this business, along with a supportive team atmosphere; the rest is up to you.”

Brandon FaughtREALTOR®, 2 Years of Experience

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Jacque Smith of Independence Title shows Mary Miner of M.E. “Gene”Johnson REALTORS one of the publications about area schools at theWilliamson County Association of REALTORS Tech Tune Up.

CRS treasurer KayDaSilva of AvalarAustin tells JonKasner of Kasnerand AssociatesREALTORS andEdie Finch of EdieFinch Propertiesabout what is instore at the organi-zation’s quarterlyluncheon.

Radio personalityDavid McMillan ofUnited Lendinggives a thumbs upto Gracy Title’s CEODavid Tandy at thegrand opening ofthe new Gracy Titleand RE/MAX CapitalCity offices inRound Rock.


How precious is this baby boy? Congratulations to Tiesa Carroll Hollaway of NorthAmerican Title and her husband, Michael, on the recent birth of son Cristian Elliott whoarrived on July 7. Cristian weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz.

David Durham of Keller Williams Realty and Holly Schuler of Gracy Title have fun gettingtheir caricatures made at the grand opening of the RE/MAX Capital City and Gracy Titleoffices on Sam Bass Road.

Carrie Rendon, Sal Silva and Katrina McCormick, all of Wilshire Homes, get ready topresent information on the builder’s new communities to associates attending a salesmeeting for Avalar Realty at Waterloo 360.

Chi Dinh, left, of Avignon Realty and Karen Buerkle, right, of Keller Williams Realty, kickback at happy hour at Cover 3 after taking an MCE Course offered by Mark Hairston andJanis Arteaga, both of Mortgage IQ.

Real estate super duo Lynda Conway and Bettye Turner, both of JB GoodwinREALTORS, are a familiar sight at the quarterly Certified Residential Specialists meetingsat Westwood Country Club.

RealtyLine_Sept_09

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