RealtyLine June 2020 by RealtyLine

RE JUNE 2020

D N e I u s W is

Capturing REAL Moments in Real Estate since 1995

2 VOL.

VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 2

Lead Generation FACEBOOK @myrealtyline TWITTER @RealtyLineATX INSTAGRAM @myrealtyline DIGITAL ISSUES Issuu.com/realtyline EVENT PHOTOS Archives SUBSCRIBE

Tools for harvesting prospects online to keep buyer leads coming in written by RIKI MARKOWITZ Leads are the lifeblood of an agent’s real estate business, says Texas REALTORS. In the olden days, generating leads meant hours on the phone cold calling prospects, dedicating weekends to open house events and placing print ads in local publications. The internet and social media have completely redefined the meaning of lead generation. Now, there are dozens of ways to find and attract new clients. And no matter an agent’s unique talents, there’s at least one that will play to his or her strengths, whether it’s schmoozing online, running a Facebook ad campaign or using predictive analytics software that identifies likely buyers or sellers. We checked out various lead-gen tools to see how brokerages and solo agents can harvest prospects online. One thing that a lot of platforms have in common is that they use customer relationship management technology. With a CRM, REALTORS can identify, track and manage interactions with clients. Some are designed for agencies to manage entire teams. Software developed for the real estate industry has features like MLS integration, transaction management tools and workflows custom-made for brokerages and solo agents. But to generate the actual leads that populate a platform’s CRM, agents have to know how to create and place pay-per-click (PPC) ads and understand how to improve their agency’s search engine rankings. Or, instead of learning the online-advertising and search-engine-optimization ropes, agents can subscribe to a platform that manages their lead harvesting strategy.

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Here are just a few lead-gen platforms that offer a unique value proposition for real estate industry professionals. BoldLeads (https://boldleads.com/), is a subscription platform for generating and managing real estate leads. In 2019, it was acquired by Propertybase, which solidified the company’s standing as a leader in targeting, capturing and converting real estate leads.

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BoldLeads operates almost like a marketing agency in that the company harvests high-value prospects from targeted pay-per-click ads they create and then place on social media sites and search engines. By the time potential buyers and sellers are added to an agent’s CRM, according to the platform, they’re vetted high-quality leads. There are a few ways for teams and solo agents to capture prospects with

BoldLeads. Subscribers can manually develop and manage their own PPC campaigns using the platform’s tools, or at a higher subscription tier, agents can just collect leads generated by the campaigns that BoldLeads runs and manages. One caveat with BoldLeads is that they offer area-exclusivity — one agent per zip code. Of course, for the REALTOR who lands his or her coveted zip code, it’s a pretty steep advantage. Real Geeks (realgeeks.com) is a subscription platform for generating and capturing leads via internet data exchange (IDX) websites. It works by using Facebook and Google Ads to drive traffic to the agency’s IDX website and landing pages. Agents can customize lead capture forms and collect the information they want, such as where a prospect is looking to purchase a home and how much money potential home buyers plan to spend. The platform also tracks information on prospects, like how often they visit an agent’s website and how much time they spend on the site. Real Geeks then displays prospects’ data on subscribers’ dashboards. For nurturing leads once they’re in an agent’s pipeline, the platform has a variety of tools. Agents can contact leads via automated text scripts and autoresponders and create one-off or longer email drip campaigns. BoomTown (boomtownroi.com) is also an IDX lead-gen platform, but one of its biggest selling points is that it’s specifically designed for managing teams. The platform employs content and SEO specialists who create and manage Facebook and Google Ads campaigns for subscribers. When prospects click on an ad, they’re taken to an agency’s IDX website and from there, filtered into an agency’s CRM along with data they reveal about their real estate needs. There, managers can distribute leads to the team. Agents use BoomTown tools like targeted SMS and email campaigns to nurture prospects. Meanwhile, every step is documented on a dashboard so that team leaders can track and view how leads are advancing through the funnel. REDX (theredx.com) is unique in that it doesn’t harvest leads from PPC ads or IDX websites. Rather, the platform scrapes expired real estate list[Lead Generation continues on page 16]

AGENT COACHING RETURNS JOIN US FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF EXCELLENCE The Fall 2020 Agent Coaching for Excellence with business success coach Amy House begins July 6th. Presented via livestream, the five-month program will center on new topics to provide you with the tools to achieve your goals for the year. Each monthly component will start with a training session with Amy House. Over the next few weeks, the Business Development Officers will guide their groups in applying that training to each agentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily work life. If you are unable to join the full five-month program, the one-hour monthly presentations will be open for registration. For more details, visit: stewart.com/austin/ace

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VillageBuilders.com *Offer available on select to-be-built Village Builders homes in the greater Austin area (excluding The Overlook at The Ranch at Brushy Creek community) if 1) buyer signs and delivers a purchase agreement between 05/15/20 and 06/15/20 and closes and fully funds on or before the date specified in the purchase agreement and 2) completes the thirty (30) day design contract period. Offer includes up to $10,000 Design Center Credit to be used towards select options and upgrades. See a New Home Consultant for details. Offers, incentives and seller contributions are subject to certain terms, conditions and restrictions. Certain incentives could affect the loan amount. Lennar reserves the right to change or withdraw any offer at any time. Features, amenities, floor plans, elevations, and designs vary and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Items shown are artist’s renderings and may contain options that are not standard on all models or not included in the purchase price. Availability may vary. †Awarded by the Greater Austin Homebuilders Association Marketing and Excellence Awards 2016. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2020 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Village Builders, and the Village Builders logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Date 05/20

REAL | LEADERS

AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS®

Maximizing Data Integrity

ROMEO MANZANILLA

2020 PRESIDENT

Last year, the ACTRIS MLS began making some behind-the-scenes changes to our MLS. Today, our data is more malleable than ever. Despite unforeseen challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I am pleased to share that our MLS team has remained undeterred in updating Matrix based on feedback from last year’s focus groups. On Monday, July 27, subscribers will see an improved MLS system. These updates will enable us to be more agile in the way we interact with vendors, brokers and other data users to improve our system so that our MLS users can readily adapt to the future.

include a new “showing instructions” remarks field, so you can include additional information in your agent remarks not related to showing the property.

To get an idea of what to expect later this summer, get a sneak peek at how we are delivering unparalleled market data to our subscribers and helping the industry lead the charge on data standardization:

In addition, subscribers will be able to use an expanded geographical reach when performing a search in Matrix. Starting with input and extending to search, users will have the ability to select from all cities and counties throughout the state of Texas.

Cleaner, Easier Input The flow of MLS data starts from listing input, so we knew this was the time to not only clean up the data on the back end but also enhance the user experience on the front end by making your add/edit experience easier. Take, for example, the new “save as incomplete” button that will be on the bottom-left corner of every tab in the input form. This button lets you save your progress regularly while inputting a listing. You’ll no longer have to second-guess if clicking “submit listing” will make your listing active before you are ready. The most visual change on the input will be the removal of the scrolling boxes (for data input) that have up to a half dozen options to select. Instead, we are giving you the full list of options to view without any additional “in-box” scrolling. We realize that in some cases you do need more space to describe the context of your listing, so we’ve increased the character limit to 2,000 characters in each remarks field. These also

Simpler Searches Although search options will not change too much, there will still be some minor changes. The most noticeable will be the shift in our MLS statuses. We are taking the plunge to deliver higher-level data at a defined industry standard, so active-contingent (AC) and pending taking backups (PB) will now be combined into a new status: active under contract (AU). We’ve also edited labels to update sold (S)/leased (L) to closed (C) and temporarily off market (T) to hold (H). While the adjustments to these statuses may feel disruptive at first, rest assured that updates to the statuses will make it easier for the ACTRIS MLS to stay consistent with the defined industry standard in the long run.

Fresh Displays The display of the data you know will also have some slight stylistic changes but, overall, the experience should remain the same. The Agent 1 page will now be Agent Brief (and the default view), while the Agent 2 page will be Agent Full. I know we love our one-page printouts, so Agent Brief will include the data you need on just one page. Thanks to MLS user feedback we collected last year, we are changing the way Matrix works so that it works for all MLS subscribers and maximizes the integrity of our data. While these updates might seem like a lot on the surface, rest assured that most changes are on the back end of Matrix and will only require a slight learning curve. To help with that transition, we will provide training materials, live webinars, and exciting previews of what to expect. For more information on this update, visit ABoR.com/MatrixUpdate.

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REAL | LEADERS

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN

A Tool for REALTOR Success This month, I’d like to tell you why REALTORS should join the HBA. If you are thinking “why is the Home Builders Association relevant to me?,” just stick with me, and I’ll explain more. As a licensed Real Estate Broker and ABoR member, in addition to a custom home builder, I can tell you that my HBA membership is a crucial part of my business. It helps me stay in the know on important industry legislation, gives me access to pertinent educational opportunities and offers numerous networking opportunities with all types of industry professionals in a supportive and welcoming community. Since I joined in 1998, I continue to rely on the HBA as the source for everything home building — and you should too.

JOE FOWLER

2020 PRESIDENT

You may not realize the HBA of Greater Austin was founded 66 years ago, and in that time has worked tirelessly to protect the interests of the home building industry at the city, county and state levels. In short, everything we do influences home building in our area, which trickles down ultimately to what you do — the buying and selling of properties. This critical advocacy work is just one example of how membership can benefit you. Read on and I’ll share the top three reasons we want you to join the HBA.

Make Local Industry Connections There is always something happening at the HBA. Whether it’s a large-scale event like our annual housing forecast, a more casual gathering like HBA social happy hours or an education course or speaker, there are a multitude of opportunities to build relationships with our 750+ member companies (approx. 250 builder and 500 associate members) from across the Austin metro area. Currently, a number of our events are being held virtually. We hope to host you inperson later in the year as Texas continues to re-open. The connections you make at HBA events are a great opportunity for referrals — to home buyers looking

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works to influence legislation that will benefit the home building industry by working closely with the city, counties and state on development codes, cently, the HBA successfully fought to ensure home

According to newhomesource.com, there are roughly 650 new home communities in Austin. Needless to say, if you are not in this market you are missing out on business. You may be thinking that new home buyers don’t need a REALTOR, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Having a dedicated agent, in addition to the developer’s new home sales agent, assures buyers that their best interests are represented.

builders and associated businesses were able to

Additionally, by building personal relationships with area builders and developers you can speak knowledgeably about this particular type of home sale and will always have your finger on the pulse of the new home market. For example:

in elections across Round Rock, Cedar Park, George-

operate in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, during the 2019 Legislature Session, the HBA worked with the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) and the National Association of Builders (NAHB) to pass or fight numerous bills with six out of seven key bills passing. Additionally, we identified and endorsed pro-housing candidates town, Leander, Hutto and Bastrop. The HBA offers many opportunities for members to get involved with our advocacy team by joining or being appointed to one of four committees —

The two largest new home buyer categories are young families (typically millennials) and mature couples. They typically purchase new homes that offer amenities designed to cater to their lifestyles.

government relations, developers council, infill

Over the last 10 years, the National Association of Builders (NAHB) reports that the percentage of young families who prefer new homes rose from 28% to 41%.

monthly advocacy forum meeting, which features

New-home sales are projected to total more than 700,000 in 2020. This would mark the first year sales would surpass 700,000 since 2007. According to HBA member, MetroStudy, the fastestgrowing Austin-metro areas are Pflugerville, Kyle/ Buda, Liberty Hill, Cedar Park/Leander and Manor.

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for an agent and for you to refer service providers to your clients when needed. Creating a ‘go-to’ list of service providers gives you the opportunity to stay connected to and continue to build relationships with your clients beyond the purchase of their home.

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builders council and volume builders council. Here you will have the opportunity to impact these important issues. We also recommend attending our speakers such as city and council officials, elected officials, state agency representatives and other public and private sector individuals involved with the development process. Networking, new home sales knowledge and advocacy are only a few benefits of an HBA membership. Come see for yourself all the reasons the HBA can be another tool in your REALTOR’s toolbox. We’d love to have you.

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REAL | LEADERS

WILLIAMSON COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Adapting in Our Ever-Evolving Business REALTORS, keep up the good work! The numbers continue to show how well we have shifted our efforts in the past few months. With focus and perspective, we continue to serve customers, clients and our industry. We have and continue to be proactive at adapting our processes. While we are still not back to the way things were before March 15, each day offers us a little more freedom and we are slowly moving the needle back to normal. One thing that really stands out to me during COVID-19 is people’s ability to pivot and adapt to the current situation. Let’s be honest, curbside cocktails were a hit and saving grace for most of Texas! Specifically, in the real estate industry, we have seen REALTORS pivot their business plans, find new ways to lead generate and become social marketing gurus. Per dictionary.com, to adapt is to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc.. From virtual open houses to drive-thru closings, the entire industry has found ways to adapt.

KRISTON WOOD

2020 PRESIDENT

Now, as we enter the third and fourth quarters, we must continue to find ways to provide efficient and effective service. Lead generation tools will be one way to thrive through 2020. We might ask ourselves, “what tool can I use to best assist me in my lead generation efforts?” or “are my lead generation methods effective?” We already have the answer. So, if the answer is yes, congratulations! We are on track to meet or beat our goals set forth in our business plan. If not, know that we are not alone. This is an age-old question that every agent needs to ask ourselves every quarter, maybe even every month. Here are some things to consider when adapting our lead generation strategies to our current climate:

Can my lead generation method be duplicated? Is my lead generation method measurable? Do I have my lead generation method written down? Am I using my lead generation method as it is written, consistently? Is this method the best and highest use of my lead generation time?

ing to meet the needs of our industry. Kudos to Texas REALTORS and NAR for adapting and serving their members; the legislative teams have been hard at work at both our state and national capitols. There was a record attendance for the 2020 NAR Legislative Meetings and NAR relaunched its “Right Tools, Right Now” program which offers many services and benefits at little to no cost. WCREALTORS has been adapting too! We have continued to serve our members by offering top-notch education via Zoom, keeping the REALTOR store open with safety guidelines and social distancing protocol, holding committee meetings virtually and more. As we slowly open our office back up, we understand that virtual CE might be our “new normal”; we have made technical updates to accommodate hybrid (live, in person & virtual) classes. In addition, we are looking for fun, new and creative ways to interact with our members while still being respectful of social distancing. We are excited to host our first member mixer post-COVID-19 in our own parking lot; think of it as a REALTOR tailgate with food, games and fellowship. Beginning this month and into July, our community service committee will hold its annual food drive. This year is more critical than ever as food pantries have been busy this spring. The committee pivoted and in addition to accepting non-perishable food items, we will also accept cash donations for the food drive. Cash donations will allow the food pantries to get what they need at better and lower costs and give another option to members and clients to give back. Be sure to continue to follow WCREALTORS on Facebook, check your email and browse our website for education class offerings, events and more. As an industry and even more as a community, we have come together to support each other, to meet the needs of the public and adapt our practices to serve at our highest level. I, like you, am looking forward to what the remainder of what 2020 holds for us and the real estate industry.

Here is the secret: the best lead generation tool is the one we will use! That’s it. It must be something we will use, track and be held accountable. It does not have to cost us anything but time and effort. In this market, the best way to adapt a lead generation tool is to double up on our efforts. If you revisit these questions quarterly or more often, and inspect the results, we will be able to adjust and thrive through 2020. In partnership with us, our local, state and national associations are adapt-

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BUILDER INVENTORY UP-TO-DATE DAILY EVENTS

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). 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

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Find out the latest updates and join the V.I.P 512.253.7338 or SalesAustin@mihomes.com Sign up for the latest updates, visit mihomes.com/Estancia

2020 Presidents Romeo Manzanilla, Austin Board of REALTORS Joe Fowler, Home Builders Association of Greater Austin Kriston Wood, Williamson County Association of REALTORS Aaron Lee, Women's Council of REALTORS® Austin Chapter Susanna Boyer, Residential REALTOR Specialist

REAL | LEADERS

WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS®

From all of us at Women’s Council of REALTORS Austin Chapter, happy Summer! I think we are all adjusting to school being out early and less travel.

June Happy Hour Our Ron King event on June 17 will move to a zoom happy hour with our team. We will have a guest speaker and a chance to catch up.

July Monthly Membership Meeting

AARON LEE

2020 PRESIDENT

On July 1, we will have our regular lunch meeting at 11:30 a.m. at Maggiano’s in the Domain. Depending on the current restrictions, space may at that event.

August Field Trip On August 19, we will have our field trip to Natural Bridge Caverns with a panel on what happens when you find caves on your property. At the end of August, our State Council is having our State event and we are hoping to meet in San Antonio for that. We are also planning a make up event for our TREPAC Cake Auction, so please stay tuned. For now have a great month and wash your hands!

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Lynn Edgar

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NMLS #221487 NMLS #1411621 NMLS #221412 NMLS #1606718 brife@ breid@ ledgar@ cdarwin@ hometrust.com hometrust.com hometrust.com hometrust.com

(512) 450-1222 | 4301 Westbank Dr. Escalade B Suite 150 Austin, TX 78746

NORTHWEST OFFICE

WESTLAKE OFFICE

Two Locations to Serve You

Ashley Matthews Scott Sewell Branch Manager NMLS #1185441 amatthews@ hometrust.com

Anila Cardyn

Brooke Payne Angela Dean

Regional Prod. Mgr. NMLS #1160250 NMLS #977110 NMLS #1557358 NMLS #211987 acardyn@ bpayne@ adean@ ssewell@ hometrust.com hometrust.com hometrust.com hometrust.com

(737) 209-6740 | 7804 Bell Mountain Drive, Suite 101 Austin, TX 78730

[Lead Generation continued from front page] ings. According to REDX, about 75 percent of expired listings will eventually relist with a new REALTOR. The thinking goes that working these prospects is a guaranteed way for agents to capture new clients and referrals. The platform’s lead management system (LMS) lists hundreds of prospects, including their contact information. Agents can subscribe to different categories of expired listings, like for sale by owner (FSBO), pre-foreclosures, and expired MLS listings. REDX’s LMS is also populated with information about the property, from list price to days on market and listing agent. The phone numbers associated with leads are verified against the National Do Not Call Registry and listings are checked daily and updated if the property gets re-listed. The next step is for agents to select prospects who seem promising and personally reach out, but with a 21st-century twist. Using REDX tools, agents create and blast out automated SMS scripts to batches of leads. Before a live call is ever scheduled, agents will have conversed with potential clients about their buying or selling needs. And for the most part, prospects don’t even know they corresponded with an autoresponder. Placester (placester.com) is similar to other lead-gen tools in the way it helps agents capture leads using an IDX website. The way this platform stands out, though, is that it also helps REALTORS promote their brand. Placester specializes in a lead harvesting via SEO strategy. Posting search-engine optimized content online makes it easier to rank higher on search engine results pages. Subscribers can create original content or use professionally written blog posts from the platform’s content library. According to Hubspot, “companies that blog have far better marketing results.” They can grow website visitors by 55 percent and increase inbound links by 97 percent. The more inbound links a site has, the more it can move up in search engine rankings. And the higher a brokerage can appear in Google searches, the more website visits and emails from high-quality leads they’ll get. With Autopilot Content, agents can choose and personalize professionally written blog posts from the site’s content library and then just schedule articles for publication. And agencies that publish original content can upload images and videos to their blog posts and write SEO meta titles and meta descriptions, all of which help the agency’s website rise higher in search engine results. The more content a subscriber publishes, the more they can boost their agency’s search rankings and, ultimately, increase website visits and conversions.

1111 N. IH 35, Suite 102 Round Rock, Texas 78664 (512) 273-7767

CLOSINGS THAT MOVE YOU.

STRESS-FREE TRANSACTIONS

“

The settlement process is where your total experience comes together. It unites the buyer and seller, the real estate professionals and lenders. The process does not have to be stressful and we do everything possible to make sure each detail is handled in a timely fashion.

”

JENNIFER RHODES

LORI WILLIAMS

SHEILA BALAGIA

Escrow Officer

Business Development

Office Manager/Escrow Officer

jrhodes@swtatx.com

lori@swtatx.com

sbalagia@swtatx.com

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REAL | LEADERS

THE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE COUNCIL

Who We Are The Residential Real Estate Council (RRC) was established in 1976 to provide real estate brokers and agents with shared knowledge and tools. Recognizing the need for advanced education, the council developed training courses and established the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation.

Carlos Cruz, Pure Realty; Alicia Kelley, Realty

Paths to Success All paths lead to the CRS designation. Depending on your years of experience, and the production level

SUSANNA BOYER

2020 DIRECTOR

Nicole Cooper, NBC Realty; and Tamara Nelson, Shepherd Nelson Realty. We are hoping that you are all staying healthy and safe during this unprecedented time in history.

The council is recognized as the leading provider of real estate education and networking for residential real estate agents, and the CRS designation is considered the most prestigious designation a real estate agent can achieve.

Mission: To train and empower ethical, efficient, and successful real estate professionals. Vision: To be the premier education, business and networking resource to REALTORS and international real estate professionals.

Austin; Christy Gessler, Freedom 512 Realty Group;

Your leadership team is working to bring you education and speakers to fill in for the unfortunate absence of our quarterly luncheons with our (volume of transactions) that you can demonstrate, you may qualify for the CRS designation through either of our two current programs: the 60/30/30 Program or the Pro Program. Are you a manager? Contact us to learn more about our Manager’s Path.

Join the Best of the Best! As a member of the Residential Real Estate Council, with more than 29,000 strong, you are immediately connected to a professional network of top producers, best-in-class education, networking, valuable referrals and more.

Since January 1, our Central Texas region has gained 15 new members and 13 REALTORS have achieved their CRS designation. We would like to welcome them all and congratulate these new Designees:

When you earn your CRS designation, you gain the credentials and advanced professional knowledge that commands the trust and attention of your clients and peers. You also join ranks with the most accomplished agents and brokers in the United States, setting yourself on the path and investment of lifelong learning and professional development.

Debbie Marett, Coldwell Banker United REALTORS®; Laura Deyo, RE/MAX Bastrop Area; Kimberly Wilson, All City Real Estate; Toni Bondonzi, Sienna Properties; Andrew Fisher, The AF Team Powered by Keller Williams Realty; Lisa Waltke, Pure Realty; Marisol Giron, RE/MAX Ideal Realty; Kacy Dolce, Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty;

prominent speakers. We still want you to be able to see the value that the CRS designation offers through education and networking. On June 17, we will have a Zoom meeting featuring the dynamic Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Stewart Title Ted C. Jones, Ph. D. from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We also have more education, speakers and virtual networking happy hours coming throughout the summer months. 2020 Central Texas Leadership Team: Susanna Boyer, director; Cathy Ryden, membership; Lynda Welsh, speakers; Lili Maliner, advertisers; Tracey Guttes, treasurer; Sonia Guardado, education; Mary Miner, trusted advisor; and Mary Lynne Gibbs, special advisor. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact any of our leadership team for help.

to the Austin and Round Rock area has remained steadfast for over Our team of escrow and marketing professionals are dedicated to providing you and your clients a safe and easy closing experience. We look forward to partnering with you as we look to better days ahead. CHRISTINA ISAAC

cisaac@nat.com

NORTH AUSTIN BRANCH 5608 Parkcrest Drive | Suite 150 Austin, TX 78731

512.302.3892 18

BETTE COOK

bcook@nat.com

ROUND ROCK BRANCH 1 Chisholm Trail | Suite 3100 Round Rock, TX 78681

512.255.6550

REAL | PEOPLE

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2009: Juliana Brock, Dolise McClure, Cathy Morris, Patrick Dixson 2009: Becky Hopkins, Chris Rodriguez, Rudi Rosengarten

2008: Bob Almand, Eddie Rinehart, Doug Scott

2010: Christy Gessler

2007: David McMillan, David Raesz

virtually the

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Congrats to Caliterra for being named a finalist for Master-Planned Community of the Year! The Cove Pool Complex

Onion Creek to the Adirondack chairs overlooking acres of natural open space â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything at Caliterra in Dripping Springs has been developed (or left undeveloped) to make you feel at home with family, friends and nature.

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TOP 10 MORTGAGE COMPANIES FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION by SocialSurvey! Apply online in 15 minutes and see why we’ve earned all 5 stars.

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Kim GHANEM

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NMLS #191143

NMLS #217124

(512) 743-8609

(512) 590-0075

WALLS CAN’T TALK Call the experts before you buy.

License #3304/TDA

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2020 REALTOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM

with Highland homes Sell two highland homes between january 1 - september 30, 2020

AND YOU’RE GUARANTEED TO WIN plus, the chance to win our GRAND PRIZE, a brand new

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thousands in prizes, the more you sell the more you win

512-458-6666 info@austininspectionservices.com

Serving Austin, Central Texas and Surrounding Areas Since 1989 State of Texas Certified Real Estate Inspector

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Eligibility requirements: All qualified sales must be original contracts written between January 1 - September 30, 2020. One entry per TWO (2) qualified realtor sales. Each entry is guaranteed a prize of $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000 and a chance to win the grand prize, a Tesla Model 3. Participation is non-transferable. Highland Homes LTD has sole discretion in determining whether the eligibility requirements are met. Only one realtor name recognized per sale. Valid on Austin Highland Homes only. See a Sales Counselor for more details.

E Q UA L H O U S I N G OPPORTUNITY

REAL | STORIES

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produces more energy (BTUs) than natural gas.” The Sharp Propane team is made of professionals who provide more than propane. They are dedicated to customers’ safety, peace of mind and total satisfaction. “We’re passionate about delivering propane to our customers’ homes with accuracy, integrity and

Ismael Ortiz, general manager Central Texas

“Texans want something better and we want to deliver it. That’s why service at Sharp Propane is about stepping up to deliver on a promise,” says Ismael Ortiz, Central Texas General Manager for Sharp Propane. “No matter the volume, frequency, or distance, we view each customer relationship as a contract for superior service and an opportunity to deliver more than just propane.” Sharp Propane offers propane system review, customization and design services for both residential and commercial properties. Other services include propane system installation, testing, safety orientations,

maintenance and more. “We work with new developments and preexisting homes, providing builders, REALTORS and homeowners with all the information and services needed to run their propane system,” Ortiz says. “We want our customers to think about propane once and let us do the rest. When a homeowner or a business owner chooses Sharp Propane, we are a partner for life.”

“

expect professionalism and a friendly voice on the other line and view each fill as an opportunity to deliver excellent service.”

We work with new developments and pre-existing homes, providing builders, REALTORS and homeowners with all the information and services needed to run their propane system.

Because propane is a clean and efficient energy source, it is a popular alternative to natural gas. “Many home appliances perform more efficiently using propane as their energy source, which represents cost savings for homeowners,” Ortiz says. “Propane actually

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customers don’t have to think about the logistics of propane. “We monitor, route and deliver economically and efficiently, so our customers get deliveries only when they need it — accurately and on time,” Ortiz says. “We maintain respect for their property, their budgets and their changing energy needs. After all, we’re a Texas-based business, we’re propane users and we’d expect nothing less for ourselves.”

With offices located in the Lakeway/Hudson Bend and La Grange areas, Sharp Propane delivers throughout Texas, including Georgetown, Spicewood, Bastrop, Hearne, South Austin, Lakeway, Hudson Bend and La Grange. For more information, call 800-932-4315 or visit SharpPropane.com.

LOCALLY STRONG NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

13215 Bee Cave Pkwy. Bldg. B, Ste. 100 Bee Cave, TX 78738

Ultimately, it’s their goal to ensure their

“

For the past 70 years, Sharp Propane has been providing safe, reliable and convenient propane energy solutions throughout Texas. Through a commitment to customer service, Sharp Propane strives to stay one step ahead of the market, setting the highest safety standards while also providing its customers with a quality, affordable product and total satisfaction.

service-oriented attitude,” Ortiz says. “Our customers can always

STRENGTH EXPERTISE SERVICE

CEDAR PARK

1335 E. Whitestone Blvd. Ste. Z-100 Cedar Park, TX 78613

GREAT HILLS

8911 N. Cap. of TX Hwy. Bldg. 2, Ste. 2120 Austin, TX 78759

S. MOPAC

1501 S. Mopac Ste. 130 Austin, TX 78746

WESTLAKE

4301 Westbank Dr. Bldg. A, Ste. 100 Austin, TX 78746

REAL | PEOPLE

2010: Nancy Southworth, Jay Southworth 2007: Joe Stewart, Tawanna Verock, Alfred Engstrand, Doren Carver

2009: Randy Rollo, Harry Savio

2009: Avis Wukasch, Suzie Gole

2008: Sheila Hawkins-Bucklew, Ann Marie Sandlin, Mary Mealy, Jeanne Butterfield

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TOP

Austin

awesome

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Community *

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Unplug and get outside on miles of walking trails that meander past catch and release ponds, play areas and dog parks. Our one-of-a-kind Lazy River Amenity Center features a 1,000 foot lazy river and the Sunbright Activity Center has a splash park and lap pool, with AMPLE

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SunfieldTX.com

First Responders Program

happy4 July TH

You have the freedom to chose your title company. We hope you chose Succession Title in Leander.

At JohnSchutze.com, we love our first responders, nurses, and hospital/clinic staff and give back to them any way we can. We appreciate everything you do to keep our communities safe. Any first responder that purchases or refinances a home with The John Schutze Team will receive FREE Appraisal, FREE Loan Check-Up, and I will donate to a first responder charity.

John Schutze REGIONAL DIRECTOR NMLS #208548

(512) 775-6820

John@TexasLoanExperts.com

Succession Title MELIA GARDNER VP of Sales

KIM CORREA Branch Manager/ Escrow Officer

ALICIA TEAGUE Escrow Assistant

www.successiontitle.com

706 Leander Drive, Suite 504 Leander, Texas 78641

(512) 986-5036

Exclusive 5-min Loan Application only at JohnSchutze.com Texas Loan Experts | 10000 Research Blvd, Suite 252 Austin, Texas 78759 Corporate Office: The Home Loan Expert, LLC 1600 S. Brentwood Blvd. Ste 700 St. Louis, MO NMLS #1326241

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NOW SELLING

Meyer Ranch NEW BRAUNFELS, TX

Your Peace of the Hill Country

Dreaming of living in the heart of the beautiful Hill Country? Make your dream come true with a light and airy Trendmaker home at Meyer Ranch, in picturesque New Braunfels. • Priced from the high $200s • 1- and 2-story homes • Wide open, flexible floor plans • The Meyer Ranch House clubhouse with pool and splash pad • Easy access to major employers in San Antonio via Loop 1604 Find the comfort you need to breathe easy under the Texas sky at Meyer Ranch.

C O N TA C T O U R N E W H O M E S P E C I A L I S T, J E N N H I C K M A N , AT ( 8 3 0 ) 4 0 6 - 6 1 5 6 T O L E A R N M O R E !

The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/incentives, and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions and square footage are approximate and should not be used as a representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Please see the actual purchase agreement for additional information, disclosures, and disclaimers relating to a home and its features. Any photographs or renderings in these materials are for illustrative purposes only. Marketing promotions/incentives may be subject to conditions or restrictions. You must visit a Trendmaker Model Home to purchase a home. Please consult a New Home Advisor for specific price and other information for each community. A Broker/Agent must register their client in person on client’s first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a commission. Our name and logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of TRI Pointe Group, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. © 2020 Trendmaker Homes, Inc.

TrendmakerHomes.com

REAL | PEOPLE

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2010: David Pavliska 2009: Anita Farrell, Sonia Guardado 2009: David Durham, Holly Schuler

2007: Susan Horton, John Horton

2008: Dennis Ciani, Jamie Lamprecht, Oscar Saenz

2010: Kent Prickett

WE APPRECIATE OUR REALTORS! Connect with our dedicated online sales consultant to find out more information on inventory homes, our seamless process and our dedication to quality construction. Or visit us online to view videos, virtual tours and interactive floorplans! At Scott Felder Homes,

New homes from the $200-$600s ScottFelderHomes.com

we focus on building award-winning home designs in prime communities throughout Central Texas.

AUSTIN • BASTROP • BOERNE • NEW BRAUNFELS • SAN ANTONIO

REAL | PEOPLE

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Rest assure that your real estate deals are in good hands at TNT. Since safety and attention to detail are essential priorities,

TNT is waiving third party notary fees through June 30th, 2020.

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GRADUATE CAROLINE MCKANE CARVER

BACHELOR OF ARTS

M ASS COMMUNICATIONS

CL AS S OF TW E N TY TW E N TY

Caroline graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations, and a minor in Social Media. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and University Scholar. She has accepted a full-time position as an Assistant Editor for RealtyLine.