SERVING THE AUSTIN METRO AREA AND SURROUNDING CITIES VISIT US ONLINE AT REALTYLINE.US
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 8 | DECEMBER 2021
To Decorate or To Not Decorate: Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season written by RIKI MARKOWITZ
Presorted Standard U.S.. Postage PAID Austin, Texas Paid Permit #715
The slowest time of the year for home sales is from November to the beginning of January, even here in Austin-Round Rock, where the residential real estate market is about as hot as it can get, and still manages to outdo itself year over year. But despite the onslaught of holidays and long weekends in that six-week period, life goes on. Lots of people are getting ready to start a new, out-of-state job; others move out of town to be closer to family; and then there are folks ready to upgrade or downgrade, depending on whether the family is still growing or if it’s empty-nest time. The point is, inventory may be lower during the holiday season, but plenty of homes still go on the market, which, from what we’re told, can be a little bit … complicated.
Let ’s Get Social
Whenever a new home goes on the market, no matter what time of the year it is, buyer’s agents suggest that clients stage their homes. More than 80 percent of them said staging made it easier for potential buyers to visualize what it would be like to live in that home,” according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). In fact, the trade organization says that staged houses sell faster and sell for more compared to non-staged homes — anywhere from one to 10 percent above asking price. So what is the complication? Is it the Christmas tree in the living room or menorah on the mantle, the inflated Frosty on the front lawn, and the many other holiday accoutrements on doors, in windows, and in common rooms around the house? At first thought, you may be thinking, “Who doesn’t love holiday decorations?” It’s not that buyers mind cheerful Christmas decor, but they do need to picture themselves living in that house year-round. So for that reason, holiday decorations are a distraction. We spoke with a few local REALTORS to see how clients in Central Texas feel about home buying in November and December and what they think of touring a house decked [continues on page 16]
REALTOR
In This Issue 1. 2. 3. 4.
CCIM Golf Tournament Austin Young Real Estate Professionals Happy Hour Williamson County Association of REALTORS Affiliate Breakfast HBA Young Professionals Council Happy Hour and much, much more!
CLICK FOR ALL VIDEOS
Season's Greetings
As we reflect on 2021, we would like to express our most sincere gratitude for the trust you have placed in us as your closing partner. Thank you for making this an incredible year. From all of us at Stewart Title of Austin, have a safe and joyous holiday season. We look forward to serving you in 2022!
© 2021 Stewart. All rights reserved.
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
STARTING IN THE MID
$
300s
NOW SELLING IN VISTA VERA GEORGETOWN, TEXAS AVAILABLE
ADDRESS
PLAN ELEV.
SQ. FT.
BED/BATH
PRICE
Late 2021/Early 2022
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3-C
1616
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$380,000
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SO
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SO
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For more information contact:
SO
LD
LD LD
For a 5 min loan approval contact:
Debbie Ates
Arien Bowersock
512-801-3543
512-699-8306
Area Sales Manager
dates@homesbyavi.com
Texas Loan Experts - The Bowersock Team
arien@thehomeloanexpert.com
www.homesbyavi.com Please Note: in our continuing effort to exceed our buyer’s expectations, specifications and materials may change without notice. This marketing handout is for information only and is not part of a legal contract or agreement. See your AVI Homes representative for data. Effective 9/22/21
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
3
Austin Board of REALTORS®
A Year In Review When I began my presidency at the beginning of this year, I was already in complete awe of the resiliency of our nearly 20,000 members, our passionate volunteers and our dedicated staff for overcoming the setbacks of a global pandemic. Last year was difficult, and in many ways, 2021 has been equally, if not, more challenging than 2020.
SUSAN HORTON
2021 PRESIDENT
But if 2021 was tougher, our collective strength was more evident than ever. Despite fluctuating COVID-19 case numbers and public safety ordinances, we continued to meet members where they are and found new ways to connect and thrive in our Year of Community. We helped thousands of homebuyers, sellers and renters find a place to call home amidst one of the most complex housing markets in Austin’s history, while also taking massive action for our association and our industry. Here are some of my favorite moments from 2021:
ACTRIS MLS Acquisition of Remine In October, your MLS took ground breaking steps to give you a seat at the table in creating the MLS of the future. Along with MLSs in Miami, Atlanta and Kansas City, ACTRIS formed MLS Technology Holdings, LLC to acquire Remine. As the leading pro tool in our marketplace, Remine’s intuitive features and data intelligence are reimagining the real estate journey for both agents and consumers. Remine is building the MLS of the future, and over the next year, you will have the opportunity share feedback and ideas for the MLS you want to see. In the meantime, if you’re not already using Remine Pro, I strongly encourage you to register for a free ABoR On-Air Remine training at ABoR.com/Calendar.
New Association Management System & Member Portal An unprecedented winter storm didn’t stop us from launching a new member portal and Tangilla Association Management System (AMS), which integrated membership records, event and class registrations, applications and email communications into one seamless, intelligent platform. You can now update your information, reschedule classes, manage
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
your MLS services and email preferences, download a Letter of Good Standing and more, without ever having to contact our member success team. Just as important, the Tangilla AMS migration opened the door to new possibilities for member engagement. With membership, events, classes, email communications and committees all-in-one platform, your association now has the capability to send news, benefits and alerts directly to you in the member portal, based on your exact interests and involvement. Bookmark ABoR.com/Portal and make a habit of checking in regularly for association and MLS news curated just for you.
Taking Action for MLS Compliance Another major victory for our marketplace this year was the implementation of new ACTRIS MLS Rules and Regulations (ABoR.com/ACTNow). With easier to understand compliance categories and clear escalation pathways for repeat rule offenders, the new ACTRIS MLS rules are based on your feedback and part of our commitment for a renewed focus on MLS compliance in our marketplace. Simply put, when we ACT by prioritizing Accurate, Complete and Timely data, we create a reliable MLS marketplace that you and your clients can count on. As part of this new culture, we’re doing our part by prioritizing subscriber education on MLS compliance and the new ruleset. We’ve significantly expanded our MLS team with a new compliance and product departments to serve you in more ways than ever before.
Building Community in New Ways We resumed in-person service and REALTOR® Store sales at our facilities in June but kept our online REALTOR® store as well as curbside pickup services at ABoR Headquarters. We have offered more virtual classes and events than ever before. New events series like ThinkUp LIVE, MLS Power Hours and High Stakes and Hot Markets kept you connected to the latest changes in the industry without leaving the field. And, while we couldn’t have as many in-person events as we would have liked, the ones we did have in person were incred-
ibly well-attended and served as a purposeful way to reconnect with one another. We also achieved record levels of member participation in both TREPAC and the ABoR Foundation. Over the last year, ABoR raised a record-breaking $536,030 for TREPAC and achieved a 38 percent member participation rate, $100,000 more than our previous high-water mark in 2020. The ABoR Foundation awarded $72,000 in scholarships to 36 Central Texas students, donated $10,000 in donations to local disaster relief efforts following the winter storms in February and resumed in-person service projects as part of our 10 year, million-dollar partnership with Community First! Village. Finally, we released new content and initiatives deepening our commitment to professional standards and championing diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry and our communities. This included a new Broker Toolkit Series covering antidiscrimination, risk reduction and MLS compliance, a ScratchThat Podcast Season dedicated to Fair Housing and inclusion, community engagement with the Diversity Committee at the Shoal Creek Social event and research for our upcoming Diversity Report.
Wishing You a Fantastic Year Ahead I want to specifically thank the dedicated volunteers that put in countless hours of support and dedication to our Association and MLS. We could not have done what we did this year without you. I’d like to thank our members for always taking the high road and doing the right thing for the right reason — it’s what sets us apart as REALTORS®. And I’d like to thank ABoR and ACTRIS CEO Emily Chenevert and her amazing staff for always being there for our members. The ABoR and ACTRIS communities are strong and filled with wonderful members, volunteers and leaders. I am honored to have served as your 2021 President, for the immense leadership opportunities and relationships that involvement in ABoR provides, and this time of celebrating our accomplishments together.
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
Austin-Area KB Home Communities Find the right home that’s uniquely built for you.
Austin
Georgetown
Kyle
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• 1,360–3,475 sq. ft. • 3–6 bdrms., 2–4 baths • Community pond, pool, parks and hiking/biking trails
• 1,315–2,586 sq. ft. • 3–5 bdrms., 2–4 baths • Community park with playscape, basketball court and garden
• 1,491–3,475 sq. ft. • 3–6 bdrms., 2–4 baths • Community park, playground, basketball court and walking paths
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141 Jarbridge Dr., Kyle, TX 78640 512-256-7701
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Manor
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Villas at McKinney Crossing From the $330s • 1,315–2,586 sq. ft. • 3–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Close to McKinney Falls State Park 7803 Song Sparrow Dr., Austin, TX 78744 737-910-2100
Belton West Canyon Trails From the $250s • 1,246–2,755 sq. ft. • 3–6 bdrms., 2–4 baths • Close to Belton ISD schools 1314 Ayham Trails, Belton, TX 76513 254-831-9671
Elgin Eagles Landing From the $350s
• 1,360–2,898 sq. ft. • 3–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Highly desirable Georgetown ISD 106 Sweet Autumn Dr. Georgetown, TX 78626 737-253-8484
Retreat at San Gabriel Call for Pricing Coming Soon
• 1,271–2,968 sq. ft. • 3–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Near historic Georgetown Square Hwy. 29 and Vista Heights Dr. Georgetown, TX 78628 512-488-0704
Presidential Meadows From the $270s • 1,315–2,708 sq. ft. • 3–6 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Master-planned community with on-site elementary school 13620 James Garfield, Manor, TX 78653 512-278-8181
Round Rock Salerno From the $320s • 1,360–3,475 sq. ft. • 3–6 bdrms., 2–5 baths • Planned community pool and park 3805 Tufino Ln., Round Rock, TX 78665 512-488-0704
Jarrell Sonterra From the $220s • 1,042–2,898 sq. ft. • 2–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Master-planned community with a pool, clubhouse, basketball court, parks and trails 85 Hematite Ln., Jarrell, TX 76537 512-598-0023
KB Home Design Studio – Austin 10800 Pecan Park Blvd., Ste. 110 Austin, TX 78750 512-721-3550
Coming Soon
• 1,246–2,412 sq. ft. • 3–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Near Elgin ISD schools County Line Rd. and Golden Eagle Way Elgin, TX 78621 512-488-0704
Schedule an appointment with a home finding specialist today at 512-488-0704.
888-KB-HOMES | kbhome.com Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2021 KB Home (KBH). Payment of Broker Co-op requires Broker or agent to call in to register client before first visit to community and comply with Broker Co-op Agreement. Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specifications subject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Sq. footage is approximate. HOA applies. Future development of planned amenities is subject to change and not guaranteed. See sales counselor for details. AUS-437351
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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Women’s Council of REALTORS, Austin Network
Education is Major Focus at NAR Conference Recently, members of the Women’s Council of REALTORS Austin Network attended the National Association of REALTORS Conference in San Diego, California. As usual, NAR did not disappoint with their plethora of education topics. These conferences offer a depth of education on a variety of topics that is unmatched.
LORRIE KENNEDY
2021 INTERIM PRESIDENT
Any REALTOR, in any specialty, at any level in their career will find topics and education to bring their “game” to the next level. Last year, being stationary and having no network events to distract me, I registered to attend the NAR Virtual Conference, my first conference. At the end of the conference, which I attended on my couch, I was a completely different person, ready to spread knowledge about the importance of our national, state and local associations. My path was more clear as I had grown in areas that I had been unaware needed my attention. If you’re skeptical, register for the virtual ticket next year, which in and of itself has a spectacular offering of education. Just for S&G’s (smirks and giggles) go one-step further and peruse the sessions that are offered only in-person. These additional sessions are well worth the additional investment in your career and in yourself. I mention the latter because my greatest “AHA-moment” (credit to my favorite instructor, Candy Cooke, for that phrase) seemed to be repetitious in so many of the sessions I attended this year… “don’t forget your why!” Our day-to-day goal-getting can easily become overwhelming and monopolize our time. The message I needed to hear repeatedly this year was to be present in the moment, to be present for my family and for my relationships. Women’s Council is so dedicated to “advancing [women] as business leaders in the industry and communities we serve” that there are grants and drawings for education offered yearround which can be saved up and used to absorb some of the cost of events like the NAR Conference.
Installation and Awards Join us from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12 at Anderson Terrace. The event center is located at 11505 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas 78750. We will be celebrating our 2021 accomplishments and install the 2022 Austin Network Board of Directors. You can register at WCR.org or on follow us on Facebook where registration is also available. Sponsorship packages are also available.
prioritysettlementgroup.com
As 2021 Comes to a Close We Wish You and Yours A Very Merry
220 Commercial Drive Suite F, Harker Heights, Tx
737.212.9029
and A Prosperous New Year! 6
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
7600 Burnet Road Suite 160, Austin, Tx
512.298.3138
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995 Susan G. Komen Run: Mary Ann Castro and JB Goodwin, both of JB Goodwin REALTORS
CCIM Golf Tournament: Keely McCarthy and Aften Serrano, both of SouthStar Bank
AYREP Happy Hour: The AYREP Board
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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Williamson County Association of REALTORS
CLASS
Bonamo Selected As New CEO
NAR CODE OF ETHICS WHEN: January 7, 2022 TIME: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DESCRIPTION: Under all is the land... So
The Williamson County Association of REALTORS® has announced its Board of Directors has chosen Heather Bonamo as the association’s next Chief Executive Officer. Heather has succeeded Reginia Tuttle, former AE/CEO, effective immediately.
starts the NAR Code of Ethics. It continues: Realtors®, therefore, are zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow Realtors® a common responsibility for its integrity and honor. In recognition and appreciation of their obligations to clients, customers, the public, and each other, Realtors® continuously strive to become and remain informed on issues affecting real estate and, as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others. They identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or bring dishonor to the real estate profession. Realtors® having direct personal knowledge of conduct that may violate the Code of Ethics involving misappropriation of client or customer funds or property, willful discrimination, or fraud resulting in substantial economic harm, bring such matters to the attention of the appropriate Board or Association of Realtors®
We are thrilled to welcome Heather to this position at WCREALTORS, and are ready to embark on a new chapter with her.
KRISTON WOOD
2021 PRESIDENT
Bonamo has been with WCREALTORS since 2014, and has served the association as the Director of Membership and MLS. She has an extensive background in the real estate industry including Business Administration, Strategic Planning, Process Improvement and Accounting Management. Being a former REALTOR® herself, Bonamo has a great understanding of what our members do every day and what our affiliates are looking for from the association. Bonamo holds an ePro Certification, C2EX Certification, a CMLX1 certification and a degree in Business Administration from Briarcliffe University. She is honored to be given the opportunity to serve WCREALTORS’ over 2000 members. Aside from her professional work, Heather loves spending time with her husband, Steve, and their four children, Sarah, Alex, Bella and Aaron. She also loves reading, running, playing with her two rambunctious dogs, Cosmo and Maisy, and sampling red wine. Heather is proud for the opportunity to continue to serve WCREALTORS, and we are delighted to see her vision for the association come to life.
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
Heather Bonamo
INSTRUCTOR: Leigh York Provider #0001 (Texas REALTORS®) Course #39651 CE Hours: 3 LOCATION: via ZOOM COST: $35/30 Click here to REGISTER
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
HAPPY Holidays WISHING YOU
AND A BRIGHT NEW YEAR
For Locations & Team Members
For Education & Marketing Materials
WWW.AUSTINTITLE.COM DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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TOPAGENT R EWAR DS
WCREALTORS Affiliate Breakfast: Laura Fickenbinder and Jodi Blynn of The Hollow at Lake Travis
SOMETHING FOR ALL OF YOUR BUYERS New communities, new sections and new move-in ready homes are now selling throughout Greater Austin! Schedule a tour today for you and your clients.
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Real Estate Agent Bonus Program available only when your client closes on a home in a participating Brohn Homes community pursuant to a contract your client signs and executes on or between 1/1/21 and 12/31/21. Bonus will be dictated by order of closing: 3% upon first closing, 4% upon second closing, and 5% upon third closing and thereafter on contracts written by 12/31/21. All bonuses will be paid at closing. Payments of total commissions and bonuses will only be made to actively licensed Texas brokers. Bonus paid to Broker upon client’s successful closing and funding and is based on the original contract price as stated in the Purchase Agreement, excluding any Seller incentives, subsequent change orders, re-writes, or upgrades. Broker is responsible for all applicable taxes. Since seller reserves the right to modify or discontinue this program at any time without notice, please call the applicable sales center in advance to confirm that the program is still in place. Bonus/commission offer not valid for Purchase Agreements signed by buyer prior to publication of this advertisement. Commission cannot be used with any other special offers. May not be combined with any other broker bonuses or offers. Please see a Brohn Homes Sales Consultant for complete details. Clayton Properties Group, Inc. Formerly known and Qualified to do business in Texas as CMH Parks Inc. DBA Brohn Homes reserves the right to make changes to pricing, floor plans, specifications, features, dimensions, elevations, and incentives without prior notice. Stated dimensions and square footages are approximate and should not be used as representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Copyright © 2020 Clayton Properties Group, Inc. Formerly known and Qualified to do business in Texas as CMH Parks Inc. DBA Brohn Homes.
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
New Phase at Wolf Ranch: Janet Hewlett, Brittany MartinezFranklin, Christina Roberto, Donna Reid and Regina Bowker
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
SERVING THE AUSTIN METRO AREA AND SURROUNDING CITIES
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RealtyLine is published monthly by Caxton Publications, Inc.™ as a non-subscription publication for the more than 16k+ members of the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), the more than 1,800+ members of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCREALTORS) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin. RealtyLine is a proud member of ABoR, WCREALTORS, HBA and an honorary member of WCR Austin Chapter. We are equally proud to be a Major Investor in TREPAC (2019, 2020). RealtyLine is not responsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this publication without the registered trademark symbol (®) to save space. Wherever the word REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered trademark should be assumed.
CARVER
Cascades at Onion Creek This popular South Austin community has a brand new phase of homesites and inventory homes!
our team
DOREN
Now Selling
TAWANNA CAROLINE MARTHA VEROCK
CARVER
LINDA
SLAWINSKI
MCNABB COPY EDITOR
doren@ myrealtyline.com
tawanna@ myrealtyline.com
caroline@ myrealtyline.com
martha@ myrealtyline.com
PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
VISUAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
contributors Riki Markowitz 2021 Presidents Susan Horton, Austin Board of REALTORS® Lorrie Kennedy, Women’s Council of REALTORS® Kriston Wood, Williamson County Association of REALTORS®
• New model home, open daily • Single family homes from the mid $400s • Future Amenity Center and Swimming Pool • Minutes from Downtown Austin • Austin ISD
Contact us for more info: 512-253-7338 • SalesAustin@mihomes.com
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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Lariat Ground Breaking: Julie Ranelli, Grant Rollo, Randy Rollo, Gary Gibbes and Mike McMillen
WCREALTORS Charity Networking: Aaron Lee, Jennifer Gordon, Kyle Taylor, Lorrie Kennedy and Jennifer Lish
HBA Fall Golf Tournament: Chad Watkins and Barrett Wood
March into the New Year, New Career With Us. It’s almost 2022 and the start of a new year is a great time to join a team that elevates the standard of stellar support, encouragement, top of the line training along with one-on-one business and goals financial planning. Business planning and live transfer Zillow Flex referrals.
Jazz Lough, Agent Development Manager (214) 995-0139 12
DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
Stewart Title: Title 101 Class
JB Goodwin Chili Cookoff: Kelsey Haderer and Sarah Grimes, both of JB Goodwin REALTORS
Lariat Ground Breaking: Peter Dufrene, Madison Dalke and Julie Mastervich
Give Your Assistant a Holiday Gift Worth Getting
NAR® CERTIFICATION The perfect gift for an assistant or aspiring agent in the office or family! This 2-day course is designed to sharpen professional assistants' skills and give the know-how to become an irreplaceable part of an agent's business plan or team.
Jan 26 - 27 Wed - Thu 8:30 am - 4:45 pm 15 Hours of TREC CE
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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New Phase at Wolf Ranch: Jenna Longoria and Paula Lizama, both of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
HBA Fall Golf Tournament: Heather Struble of Independence Title and Larry Hatzfeld of Solutions Real Estate Texas
WCREALTORS Affiliate Breakfast: Seth Feagin, Corey Cope, Mary Minor, Kevin Lancaster and Patton Sides
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11149 Research Blvd., Suite 290 Austin TX 78759
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Information is subject to change without notice. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend.
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
WISHING YOU PEACE & HAPPINESS THIS CHRISTMAS ROLLINGWOOD MANAGEMENT INC.
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
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out in holiday trimmings, lights and ornaments. Michelle Allen, a broker associate at Realty Austin, suggests that sellers live their best holiday life. She said, “Homes decorated in seasonal decor give people a warm and fuzzy feeling.” In her experience, these homes are generally received well. However, Allen does recommend “toning it down,” especially for a seller whose inclination is to deck the house out in color bulbs and lawn inflatables, garland, wreaths and poinsettias in every room. Even in normal times, from January to November, Allen suggests home sellers go light on personal items. So if you have a cookie jar collection, just keep one out on display. Everything else is clutter. All of the REALTORS we spoke with, including Allen, agree on one holiday-centric piece of advice: avoid religious decorations, such as life-size nativity scenes near the entrance of the house. Religious themes may not appeal to all buyers. Steven Edwards, a broker associate at Compass, explains it this way: “I like the idea of lightly decorating without reference to any particular religion. I think it’s important to create a warm, inviting space with consideration given for all prospective buyers.” Some sellers are confused by this advice. After all, who doesn’t love Christmas? It’s such a joyful time of the year. And walking into a home with holiday decorations gives off vibes of large, warm, happy family gatherings. Camille Ulmann who’s sold hundreds of homes over the past 26 years, says that “keeping it neutral” is the way to go. The central theme of staging is to de-personalize the home so prospective buyers can picture each room as their own. So when clients are touring a home in December, they still want to imagine, in their mind’s eye, what that house will look like when spring blooms in April, as well as during the hot, sultry Texas summer. That’s why too many holiday decorations can be distracting. It is hard for some sellers to hear, but once they understand what buyers are thinking, it tends to make more sense. Selling a home is stressful for most clients. And add to that the disappointment of living in a neutral, hum-drum house between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It
could leave some sellers feeling depressed, especially the ones who look forward to decorating for Christmas all year long. Plus, no one wants kids to feel like Santa Claus is on sabbatical — or worse, Santa is skipping their house this year!Ulmann, a team leader at RE/ MAX, has a few really good suggestions for sellers who market their home in December but despair at the idea of missing out on the joyful spirit that holiday decorations provide. “It’s a good opportunity to plan a festive gathering at a family member or friend’s house that year, rent a Hill Country Airbnb or head for the mountains where you can experience an authentic snow-white Christmas.” Another option is to have a traditional holiday meal at a nice hotel instead. “That could be a real treat for everyone, and a lot less work for the harried hosts who have their property on the market.” Another thing to consider during the holiday season is lighting. Not just in the house, but outdoors as well. The sun sets much earlier in winter. Evenings, after work, is a popular time to show listings. You can expect the sun will have set by then and you don’t want the front of the house bathed in darkness. So be sure that sconces have fresh bulbs and walkways are illuminated. If the owners don’t already have outdoor spotlights, they can easily buy inexpensive solar landscape lights at Lowe’s or on Amazon. Most agents already know this, but if you’re new to the profession this could be news to you: listing photos should be completely free of all holiday accouterments. If the house is still on the market after January 1st, potential buyers may assume something is wrong. Or, as Jonathan Ryan of Karen Derr REALTORS puts it, “the house will look desperate when you want it to look welcoming.” Austin has one of the strongest housing markets in the country and demand still outpaces inventory. A recent survey revealed that homes were on the market for just 20 days, on average. So if a client lists their property after Thanksgiving, be sure they know to hold-off on non-religious, non-overwhelming holiday decorations until after the photos are taken.
Lariat Ground Breaking: Bryan Havel, John Stanley and Joseph Yaklin
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DEC. 20, 2021 - JAN 19, 2022 | REALTYLINE.US
CAPTURING REAL MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 1995
AMBA Monthly Meeting; Mark Hammond, Lana Staleski and Alex Massa
CCIM Golf Tournament: JW Smith and Damien Martinez, both of SouthStar Bank
Susan G Komen Run: JB Goodwin REALTORS
Happy Holidays from Doma! Wishing you happiness and fond memories this holiday season. Should you find yourself closing, know that you can trust your Doma team to provide you with local expertise, cutting edge technology and premier knowledge this new year and beyond.
Christina Isaac
Regional Sales Manager 512-497-7306 christina.isaac@doma.com
Margaret Liebes
Managing Escrow Officer North Austin Branch 512-302-3892 margaret.liebes@doma.com
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Managing Escrow Officer Round Rock Branch 512-255-6550 lesley.williams@doma.com
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New Phase at Wolf Ranch: Tori Streff and Jeff Skelton
HBA YPC Happy Hour
Woof Woof May your holidays be full of warmth and cheer.
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WoofFrom Woofour family to yours, Merry Christmas!
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HBA Fall Golf Tournament: Jason Dishongh of Compass, Jeff Fuller, Dylan Haines of Realty Austin and Heather Gaddes of Independence Title
AYREP Happy Hour: Emily Bibby of Spyglass Realty, Chanti Derrick and Christina Beitler
Compass: Romeo Manzanilla
Y
ISH YOU A MER W R E W
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AYREP Happy Hour: Ola Thompson of Keller Williams Realty and Daniel Pryce
2021 CCIM Golf Tournament: ProLific REALTOR INCENTIVE Commercial Realty Team
First Friday Breakfast: Damien Martinez, Aften Serrano and Amanda Aaron, all of SouthStar Bank
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For further explanation on this program, ask your Sales Counselor for the 3,4,5 Realtor Bonus terms and conditions. Qualified sales must be original contracts wri en between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. For further explanation on this program, ask your Sales Counselor for the 3,4,5 Realtor Bonus terms and conditions. Qualified sales must be original contracts wri en between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.
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