realtyline_oct_10

REALTORS may think they are in the business

of selling houses, but if keeping more of their

commissions is important, then politics is also

their business. The best way to make their voice heard in

that constantly competing arena is by contributing to the

Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC),

the non-partisan, voluntary, and non-profit political grass-

roots fundraising program which supports candidates for

federal, state and local elected office who create a favor-

able business environment where REALTORS can make a

profit, protect the rights of property and homeowners, and

enable the real estate industry to flourish.

In short, TREPAC protects pocketbooks. Proof of that

is seen in a long string of successes, including Prop 6,

which prevented an ad-valorem (property) tax on personal

vehicles. If left unchecked, this new tax could have spread

statewide to all Texas REALTORS® and other independent

contractors.

October is the time to take pride in having such an ef-

fective grassroots political program by investing back into

TREPAC because it marks the beginning of the TREPAC

calendar year when dues and pledges are solicited. Realty

Line asked Christy Gessler, TREPAC Trustee for Region 8

of the Texas Association of REALTORS, to deliver a mes-

sage to her colleagues to encourage them to “Do Your

Dues” and here is what she had to say:

When someone mentions TREPAC, what do you

think? Hopefully you think of a powerful force pro-

tecting private property rights and the real estate in-

dustry in Texas. Hopefully you think of a TREPAC

investment as insurance for your business.

You don’t? Well it’s time to change your

train of thought.

TREPAC is one of

the strongest political ac-

tion committees in the state.

Why? Members!! We have

strength in numbers but cur-

rently only have approxi-

mately 40 percent of

members participating (that means in-

vesting!) in TREPAC. Can you imag-

ine the benefit we would enjoy if

everyone invested their fair share?

We can get

there, but we need YOU! Let

me roll out a scenario for

you:

Every responsible person

insures their car, their home,

their lives, their health, even

their computer and smart

phone…. so, why wouldn’t

you insure your business?

For as little as $35 per year,

you can protect your interests

and those of private property

owners in Texas. Imagine

this….you are driving down

the road, fully insured and being cautious as you drive

along, then WHAM! Out of nowhere, you are broadsided

by another vehicle. After checking to make sure you are

okay and checking to see if anyone else was injured, you

check for damage to your vehicle and the other driver’s

vehicle. Then you attempt to exchange insurance in-

formation. You learn the other driver is not insured.

Now what? You have a big problem on your hands:

extra costs to have your vehicle repaired, pos-

sible costs to repair the other vehicle, and

increased rates for

your policy as soon as

you file the claim. Com-

pare this to investing in

TREPAC. If you are not con-

tributing, you are at risk. We

need to encourage all Texas

REALTORS® to do their

part and contribute. Again, our

strength lies in numbers and the more

we can spread the word about

TREPAC and the benefits of insur-

ing our business, the more our in-

dustry and the interests of private property owners in

Texas will be protected.

Another reason to invest: The Texas Legislature is fac-

ing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall and will be

searching for new sources of revenue, including taxes on

your commissions and sales taxes (i.e., transfer taxes) on

real estate transactions. Just include your TREPAC invest-

ment on the upcoming dues billing cycle. One time, once

a year, $35 fair share. Those funds are then re-invested

into candidates that support our issues and agree that

Texas real estate is one of the backbones of our local econ-

omy and should be carefully protected. It is so easy to “Do

Front page: Continued on page 2

October is Time to Invest in TREPAC; Calendar Year Begins this Month

—Associates—

In Progress

Upcoming Events:

October 16-31Parade of HomesThe Bluffs at Rough Hollow11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)

October 18ABoR TREPAC Golf TournamentGrey Rock Golf Club - 8 a.m.

October 20NAHREP Monthly LuncheonCool River Cafe - 11:30 a.m.

October 21REALTOR Day at Parade of HomesThe Bluffs at Rough Hollow - 11 a.m.

October 21SMC “Strike Against Hunger”Bowling TournamentShowplace Lanes - Noon to 5 p.m.

October 21NAPMW Austin Mortgage Monster MashBottle Auction BashNorris Conference Center - 5:30 p.m.

October 27Realty Round UpAustin Convention Center - 8:30 a.m.

enjoyable. entertaining. It’s all about you.october 2010 • Vol. 15 • Issue 6

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

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

Presorted Standard

U.S. Postage

PAID

Austin, Texas

Paid Permit #715

Licensed REALTORS get free admission into

Parade of HomesTM on REALTOR Day

For 57 years,

the Home

Builders As-

sociation of Greater

Austin has made

dream homes become

reality at its annual Pa-

rade of Homes™.

This year’s tour is at Rough Hollow’s Bluffs neighbor-

hood in Lakeway. REALTORS® are invited free of charge

on REALTOR® Day. REALTOR® Day is from 11 a.m. to 7

p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21. For free admission that day, a

REALTOR® must present his/her business card at the ticket

gate (does not include guests).

The tour features a stunning line-up of seven Tuscan and

Hill Country contemporary custom homes ranging in price

from $750,000 to $1.5 million.

Come explore “attainable luxury by the lake” right here

in Central Texas. Visit www.AustinHomeBuilders.com and

the “Greater Austin Parade of Homes™” on Facebook for

more info.

n

Attend REALTOR Day at the 57th Annual Parade of HomesTM

Your Dues!” If you want to learn more,

visit www.texasrealtors.com and click on

the TREPAC tab. You’ll see some great

new videos, filmed with local REALTORS,

emphasizing their commitment to “Do My

Dues!” You will also find other tools to

help you stay informed, including the free

Legislative Liaison.

Beyond investing, all local Associa-

tions are looking for more Texas REAL-

TORS to join in the process. There are

local TREPAC and Government Affairs

committees that would love your partic-

ipation, whether it is event planning and

fundraising, committee work, or inter-

viewing candidates.

Another thing REALTORS can do to

protect their interests is to register to vote.

An amazing 24 percent of Texas REAL-

TORS are not registered to vote. If you are

registered to vote, please encourage at least

one other REALTOR to register. We are

blessed to be in Texas and have a strong

real estate industry. But just like the exam-

ple of the car that got blindsided, all that

could change in an instant, if we don’t rally

together as Texas REALTORS.

Be sure to “Do Your Dues” and do the

best you can to encourage more Texas RE-

ALTORS to participate! RL

Front page continued

We appreciate your referrals and value our long-standing partnerships within the Austin real estate community.

Thanks Austin!

NMLS #305157

7000 North Mopac, Suite 305 Austin, TX 78731

(512) 531-1805 www.cameronbreed.com

SWBC Mortgage—The Breed Team

FHA | VA | Conventional Loans | Jumbo Loans

Connie Spelce ofWilson Goldrick andDenise Dyke of Pri-vate Label Realtysecure a great spotto take in importantinformation at theMCE class at Mis-sion Mortgage.

AYREP president Sumina Bhatti of Private Label Realty, Gwen Johansen of North American Titleand Gary Hoffarth of Austin Advantage Real Estate check out some models at Verdance Condo-miniums, which feature 16 luxury, eco-friendly units in Austin’s Central Heritage District.

Realty Line of Austin is published monthly by

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

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

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

members of the Williamson County Association of RE-

ALTORS (WCAoR) and the Home Builders Association

(HBA) of Greater Austin.

Caxton Publications, Inc.© dba Realty Line of

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

ALTORS®, the Williamson County Association of RE-

ALTORS® and is a honorary member of WCR. Caxton

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

sponsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff

writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising

or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark.

The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this pub-

lication without the registered trademark symbol (®),

for the purpose of saving space. Wherever the word

REALTOR® appears in this publication, the registered

trademark should be assumed.

Doren L. CarverPUBLISher

Tawanna K. CarverMANAgINg edITOr

Stacy StroudCONTrIBUTINg wrITer

Linda McNabbCONTrIBUTINg

edITOr/wrITer/PhOTOgrAPher

COLUMNISTSJohn Horton, ABoR ChairmanSteve Zbranek, HBA President

J. Rene Ward, WCAoR PresidentCheryl Jenkins, WCR PresidentCassandra Majors, Gracy Title

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

www.realtylineonline.com

A PUBLICATION OF CAXTON PUBLICATIONS, INC.©

All photographs, press releases and

article submissions can be e-mailed to:

[email protected]

www.realtylineonline.com realty line of Austin October 20102

Are you ready to learn about the

latest tools in the real estate in-

dustry and attend exciting infor-

mational sessions on recent real estate trends?

Then don’t miss out on your opportunity to

attend this year’s Realty Round Up trade

show. Hosted by the Austin Board of REAL-

TORS® (ABoR), Realty Round Up will take

place on October 27 at the Austin Convention

Center, located at 500 East Cesar Chavez

Street.

Tickets for Realty Round Up can be pur-

chased online at

www.Abor.com/events/roundup.cfm until 5

p.m. on Oct. 25. After this time, tickets will

only be available at the door on the day of the

event. Costing $15 each, your ticket to Realty

Round Up will provide you access to all of the

day’s festivities, including admission to the

Exhibit Hall, educational sessions and the

After Party. Your ticket also comes with a $5

coupon that can be used at any of the Conven-

tion Center’s concession stands.

Featuring several educational sessions

throughout the day with topics ranging from

safety tips to an economic forecast, Realty

Round Up provides a great opportunity for

you to take flight and spread your profes-

sional wings. For more information and a

complete schedule of events, visit

www.Abor.com/roundup. Everyone at ABoR

looks forward to seeing you at the show on

Oct. 27. Don’t forget to wear your spookiest

Halloween costume, as prizes will be

awarded for the best costumes.

Contact Gina Willemsen, Trade Show co-

ordinator, by phone at 454-7636, ext. 1601 or

by e-mail at [email protected] for questions

regarding Realty Round Up.

2011 Housing Forecast Set for January 13

Mark your calendars as ABoR and the

Home Builders Association of Greater Austin

(HBA) will bring you the latest insights on the

housing market and economy at the 2011

Housing Forecast on January 13, 2011. The

forecast will take place at the Renaissance

Austin Hotel, located at 9721 Arboretum

Boulevard. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.,

and the program will officially run from 9 to

11:30 a.m.

Eldon Rude, Director of the Austin market

for Metrostudy, has been confirmed as the

moderator for the event and will also deliver

the Austin housing market forecast. Addition-

ally, John Duca, vice president and senior Pol-

icy Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of

Dallas, and Susan Davenport, vice president

of Business Retention and Expansion for the

Austin Chamber of Commerce, will present at

the event, discussing the national economy

and economic development in our region re-

spectively.

Advertising opportunities are available for

this event and range in price from $500 to

$5,000. Interested parties can select from a va-

riety of options to fit their budget. Contact

Shirley Williams in ABoR’s Education Depart-

ment by phone at 454-7636, ext. 1603 or by e-

mail at [email protected] for more details.

New South Location for ABoR

MLS Training Courses

Good news comes for ABoR’s MLS sub-

scribers, as ABoR began offering MLS training

courses in south Austin this September. These

courses provide the same educational experi-

ence you’d receive if you took a class at ABoR,

but now, these courses are offered at a conven-

ient south location. A variety of courses, free

to MLS subscribers, are available, including

MLX System Customization and MLX Web-

site Management on November 18 and Realist

Tax on December 16.

All south courses will be held at the Wyn-

dham Garden Hotel, located at 3401 South IH-

35. Registering for these courses is easy. Visit

www.Abor.com/education and log in to your

Abor.com account to view the available MLS

training courses. You will notice the south lo-

cation highlighted in each course title. For

questions regarding the MLS training courses,

contact ABoR’s MLS support team at mlssup-

[email protected].

Garner knowledge on the Latest

in Real Estate Technology

Speaking of educational offerings, ABoR is

now offering a new hands-on technology

course titled “What’s New and How Do I Use

it?” Join instructor Chad Cardani on Novem-

ber 12 to learn about the latest real estate soft-

ware, hardware and services available, and

how to put these tools to work for your busi-

ness. Students will earn three hours of manda-

tory continuing education (MCE) credit by

taking this course. Register today at

www.Abor.com/education. RL

Check out our Calendar of Events


LAST CALL: GET YOUR TICkET TOREALTY ROUND UP NOW

John Horton n 2010 Chairman

Austin Board of REALTORS® Chairman’s Column

October 2010 realty line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 3

Tiffany Stillwell ofPatten Law Firm andAmy Oehler ofPrimeLending chatbefore Tiffany intro-duces the top pro-ducers panel tomore than 200 RE-ALTORS who at-tended the SpotlightAustin event at theWestwood CountryClub.

Kevin Finch andJim Goldrick ofTexas American Titlerelax atop a picnictable outside theKinningham House,where WCAoR heldCheeseburgers inParadise, a TREPACfundraiser.

Jacob Youngbloodand StephaniePowell, both ofChampions Schoolof Real Estate, get aJedi welcome asLuke and PrincessLeia enter at thesecond annualcelebrity dinner thatWCAoR hosted atthe Wingate Center.

Jennifer Wells and Gary Warren mix with members of the Home Builders Association ofGreater Austin at the organization’s 5th annual BBQ Bash and Elected Officials night.


The KB KronicleOCTOBER 5, 2010 KBHOME.COM 512-651-8059

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

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

KB Home Appreciates YOU!

(Above) JB Goodwin new agents received training on how to sell new homes at the Lakes at Northtown KB Home community. We at KB Home look forward to working with you all!

(Right) Marcy Urban and Linda Morrison, both with Urban Homes & Land, enjoy a tour of the new KB model home in University Park in Georgetown. KB Home hosted a Realtor grand opening for the new model home to showcase the beautiful and functional Open Series floor plans offered at KB Home communities throughout the Greater Austin area.

TWO DAYS ONLY!SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17

BRING YOUR CLIENTS IN FOR THE BEST PRICES ON QUICK-MOVE-IN HOMES!

(Left) Colette Fitzgerald, with KB Home, chats with Tephanie Har-grove-Wilbur, with E-Infinity Realty, before the Staging class hosted by KB Home.

(Left) Colette Fitzgerald poses at the entrance of the Green Expo with Victoria Reviel, Broker/Owner of 98th Me-ridian and President Elect of WCAOR. KB Home was a Partner Sponsor for the event.

Get pumped up for sales with KB Home!With our Tanks-a-Lot program, you’ll earn valuable gas cards to keep you fueled all October. Simply visit ShadowGlen and earn a $20 gas card. Register a client at Shad-owGlen and receive an additional $10 Target gift card on top of the $20 gas card. Plus, you’ll be entered in a weekly drawing to win a $50 gas card.

Take Hwy. 290 East from Austin and pass SH-130 to community entrance 3 mi. ahead on left. Turn left on Shadow Glen Blvd. and right on Shadowglen Terrace to model homes on left. (512) 278-8815


WCR president Cheryl Jenkins keeps up with TREPAC events by visiting with Earl Hairston ofABoR’s governmental affairs department prior to the Women’s Council of REALTORS meeting.

Marshall Durretttakes some tipsfrom HBA presidentSteve Zbranek, ashe will be president-elect for 2010-2011.They were withSteve’s wife SusanZbranek at the or-ganization’s 5th An-nual BBQ Bash andElected Officials Ap-preciation Night.

Holly Rivers ofKeller Williams Re-alty and LindaSchulman of Inde-pendence Title use asunny day to checkout downtown prop-erties.


includes the state and federal income tax required)

which equates to an annual income of $72,000 per

year.

Now let's pick a conservative rate of return.5%

(you can change this as well; if you can get more

than 5%, you will need to accumulate less, but we

must make some assumptions or we remain stuck

in inaction).

The formula we use is one that is familiar to

most real estate professionals:

Income = Principal x Rate (x Time, Time being

1 year)

Our Financial Freedom Target is the amount of

money invested (Principal) at 5% (Rate) resulting

in $72,000 per year (Income).

Dividing $72,000 by 5% (.05) results in

$1,440,000.

To generate $72,000 in income from capital in-

vested at 5%, you need to accumulate $1,440,000

over your working career. You must accumulate

this money from the money you earn and from the

money your invested money earns.

How is that possible you might ask? If you are

like most people, there is too much month at the

end of the money.

Simply stated you must:

1. Increase savings; 2. Reduce taxes 3. Reduce

luxuries (for the time being); 4. Live more effi-

ciently (financially); and 5. Make your invested

dollars work harder.

Of all the areas we consider in financial plan-

ning, effective month-to-month cash management

can contribute most to your goal of increasing your

net worth and gaining control over your financial

affairs. It doesn't matter how complex your finan-

cial situation is, it all boils down to this: you earn

money on one hand and spend it on the other.

What remains before investment spending is

"gross cash flow." This is the amount you can ma-

nipulate to increase your net worth.

If you haven't read Clauson's "The Richest Man

in Babylon," I highly recommend it. In it Clauson

gives us the "Seven Cures of a Lean Purse."

1. 10% of all I earn is mine to keep. I will learn

to live comfortably on 90% of my income.

2. Put my money to work earning more money,

and that money to work in turn.

(Saul's note: Invest it in assets that: a. Increase

in value; b. Earn income; and c. Increase in value

and earn income)

4. Guard my money from loss. Know about

what I do. (Knowledge)

5. Own my house.

6. Provide in advance for my old age and the

needs of my family.

7. Cultivate my own powers. Become wiser

and more skilled.

Pay Yourself First

Pay the most important person in your life,

you, first. You pay yourself 10% of what you earn

before you pay anyone else. You then discipline

yourself to live on the other 90%. Master this and

you are on your way to Financial Freedom.

Financial Success Secret: Small amounts of

money accumulated and compounded over long

periods of time really add up. The real magic is

time and consistency.

If you were to save 10% of your annual income

for 16 years, earning an average of 16% com-

pounded annually, you could replicate that income

forever on the interest earned on the accumulated

capital!

Of critical importance to achieving Financial

Freedom is the magic of compound interest. Let us

know what you think of my friend Saul Klein’s ad-

vice. Send your response to [email protected].

Looking for more info on Tax deductions,

budgeting, etc. Sign up for the BBB on Wednesday,

Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. Call 255-6211 to register or check

the Web site for more info at www.wcaor.org. RL

J. Rene Ward n 2010 President

Several years ago, Lexus had an ad that

said "Whoever said money can't buy

happiness isn't spending it right."

In these challenging times, money may not buy

happiness but it is sure hard to manage without it.

Many people (REALTORS included) are trying to

put food on the table, keep the electricity on, or

prevent the bank from repossessing the car; and

making ends meet would make them very happy.

My friend Saul Klein, had some wise words of

advice for REALTORS and with his permission, I

thought they would be good to share with you.

“When you mention retirement to many peo-

ple in the real estate business they will tell you that

they "never want to retire." If selling real estate for-

ever is your idea of a good time, then you are re-

tired right now and you still need a reserve fund

for those slow periods in the economic cycle so

you can do "whatever you want to do, whenever

you want to do it, with whomever you want to do

it with."

One of the reasons so few people achieve Fi-

nancial Freedom is that they fail to quantify their

objectives. How can you get to where you want to

go if you don't know where it is? You must have a

target. From there you can develop a planning

horizon and a savings and investment strategy.

The methodology is the same for any of your spe-

cific funding objectives.

Consider there are 3 primary methods

of generating income:

1. You at work - slavery; 2. Others working for

you — slave owner; and 3. Your asset at work —

Money is the best employee; money never sleeps,

money never gets sick, money never takes a vaca-

tion. Ultimately, you want the bulk of your income

derived from this income generating method.

Your goal is less of 1 and 2 above and more of

number 3.

To arrive at this point in your life (some call this

retirement), you must increase your net worth over

your working career, saving what you can to get

to a point where your financial needs are met by

the money you have accumulated, suitably in-

vested (suitability is a conversation for another

time).

So how much money must you accumulate,

and how do you accumulate what will no doubt

be a substantial sum? Let's tackle the amount first.

You begin by deciding how much money per

month you require to maintain the standard of liv-

ing you are looking forward to in retirement. You

can change this number anytime you like, it is your

retirement, but we need to start somewhere. Let's

assume that number is $6,000 per month (and that

Williamson County Assoc. of REALTORS®

CAN MONEY BUY YOUHAPPINESS?

President’s Column


Texas American Title Company

Summer Pavliska - Account ExecutiveCedar Park Office

715 Discovery Blvd., Suite 205Cedar Park, Texas 78613

Office 512-259-5950Fax 512-259-0540

Mobile [email protected]

TEXAS FRIENDLY. AMERICAN PROUD. WE KNOW TEXAS.TM

Jim Goldrick - Account ExecutiveRound Rock Office

1001 South MaysRound Rock, Texas 78664

Office 512-255-1550Fax 512-255-2329

Mobile [email protected]

“Texas American Title closed my last deal that could have turned into a night-mare. Summer Pavliska and Krystal Watts from the Cedar Park office went aboveand beyond their jobs and helped do their parts to save the deal. They have thebest professionalism and kindness you could ever ask for. I can’t wait to havemore closings with Texas American Title.”- Kari Bradfield - JBGoodwin Realtors

“ I have been utilizing services from Texas American Title for over 10 years, and Ifeel that I am appreciated and my business is important to them. The service isTexas friendly, accurate, and I have always gotten quick answers to difficult ques-tions! I will keep bringing my business to Texas American Title!”- Marianne Iamele - Coldwell Banker

See what our clients are saying about Texas AmericanSee what our clients are saying about Texas AmericanSee what our clients are saying about Texas AmericanSee what our clients are saying about Texas AmericanSee what our clients are saying about Texas AmericanTitle’s professional experience, knowledge and going theTitle’s professional experience, knowledge and going theTitle’s professional experience, knowledge and going theTitle’s professional experience, knowledge and going theTitle’s professional experience, knowledge and going theextra mile to get the job done for you and your clients.extra mile to get the job done for you and your clients.extra mile to get the job done for you and your clients.extra mile to get the job done for you and your clients.extra mile to get the job done for you and your clients.

Your Williamson County Team!Your Williamson County Team!

Colette Fitzgeraldof KB Home edu-cates Stacy AdamsMansoor and An-gela Osborne, bothof JB Goodwin RE-ALTORS, about theadvantages at thecompany’s Univer-sity Park commu-nity.

Speaker RandySmith gets ready todiscuss “MarketingToward Possibilitiesand Opportunities”at ChampionsSchool of Real Es-tate. With him areStephanie Powellof ChampionsSchool of Real Es-tate, Rodney Ro-driguez of KellerWilliams Realty andSam Wigginton.

NAHREP membersSteve Gangey andKamryn Waldentake the opportunityto network at theNAHREP meeting atCool River Cafe.

RE/MAX Austin Associates’ Mark Minchew, a certified mentor of Brian Buffini, teaches the five-day course called 100 Days to Greatness.


At RE/MAX, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

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Bambi Watson of Coldwell Banker United REALTORS brings her dog Chasey to WCAoR’sCheeseburgers in Paradise, which was a dog-friendly event since it was outdoors at the Kin-ningham House in Round Rock.

Melinda Carroll ofIndependence Titlemakes introductionsat the MCE class,“Linking Your List-ing,” at KellerWilliams Lakeway.

Jon Offord, RandyMaley and GilAlires, all of RealtyExecutives, getready to enjoy a nicebreakfast at MarieCallender’s andlearn about owner fi-nancing during thecompany’s regionalmeeting.

Puttin’ on the Ritz atWCAoR’s secondannual celebrity din-ner are these JBGoodwin agents.

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

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Kent Prickett of WCAoR arrives as Chris Farley from Saturday Night Live, dressed as a Chip-pendale dancer. He was among the “famous” models who participated in WCAoR’s second an-nual celebrity dinner.

Kindra Zepeda Ro-driguez and KimKeighley, both ofIndependence Titleand Lacey Warren,far right, of GracyTitle, check out theVerdance Condoswith Chris Brown atthe AYREP sneakpreview event.

Rick Ebert, AustinNARPM chapterpresident EricPesek of SiennaProperties and KarlJennings of SmartSource Realty enjoythemselves on deckduring the AustinNational Associationof Residential Prop-erty Managers an-nual bat cruise onLady Bird Lake.


booth # 700 Visit us at booth # 700at Realty Roundup

This year more than ever, Gracy Title is looking forward to the Race for the Cure to support and commemorate the survivors and �ghters of breast cancer. This is our 8th consecutive year to participate as a team and we’re looking forward to the support and

company of our friends and family for this worthwhile cause.

We are encouraging our employees to participate in the $125.00 personal challenge. A $125 donation will fund 1 mammogram, so if you are unable to join us on race day consider making a donation to one of our team members to help meet their goal. With your help we hope to make this the most successful year ever and make a great impact

contributing in the �ght against breast cancer, raise awareness and �nd a cure!

Trick or treat over to booth #700 during Realty Roundup to register with Gracy Title for the Race for the Cure or to Sleep in for the Cure, Sunday, November 7th. Gracy will match the entry fee of participants who join our team at Realty Roundup and provide you with a team t-shirt to wear the day of the race. Shirt size and availability is

determined on a �rst come �rst serve basis.

Partnerships Built on Trust

October 27thOctober 27th10 a.m. _ 4 p.m.10 a.m. _ 4 p.m.

Register for the race anytime online at:http://austin.info-komen.org/goto/gracy

You may also �nd the link to our team from our home page at:www.gracytitle.com


Realty Round Up 2010

®

®

Dr. Jim Gaines

ABoR president andCEO David Foster,second from right, getsready to moderate thispanel of top producersat the Spotlight Austinevent at WestwoodCountry Club. Fromleft: Trey Garrison ofAvenueOne Properties,Kathryn ScarboroughBechtol of TurnquistPartners, Dave Murrayof Coldwell BankerUnited REALTORS,Laura Gottesman ofGottesman Residentialand Kirk Lewis ofHomeCity.

Mike Coy, instruc-tor, and MissionMortgage team upto provide an MCEclass to a full housein the new eventroom at MissionMortgage.

Jasper Augustine,David Matthys andCraig Smyser ofRE/MAX Capital Cityattend a two-dayninja selling class inColorado with Ninjamaster LarryKendall.

Lisa Ormsby of JB Goodwin REALTORS gets in the tropical spirit at Cheeseburgers in Paradise,a TREPAC fundraising event that the Williamson County Association of REALTORS hosted atthe Kinningham House.


• $10 for active military (with I.D.)

• Free for children three and under

Free parking and shuttle service is also

available.

I am also proud that a portion of this

year’s proceeds benefit the Lake Travis Ed-

ucation Foundation (LTEF). The LTEF is a

non-profit organization whose mission is to

develop financial resources to promote and

support an exemplary education for all stu-

dents in the Lake Travis Independent School

District. The contribution will further Rough

Hollow developer Haythem Dawlett’s ongo-

ing financial commitment to education in

the Lakeway community.

For more information about the 2010 Pa-

rade of Homes™, visit www.AustinHome-

Builders.com and the “Greater Austin

Parade of Homes™” on Facebook. RL

Steve Zbranek n 2009-10 President

For 57 years, the Home Builders As-

sociation (HBA) of Greater Austin

has had a rich history in hosting its

annual Parade of Homes™. Besides being a

great opportunity for a builder to showcase

his or her talents to a large number of peo-

ple, the home tour is an excellent way for Re-

altors® to showcase a builder’s finest

product to clients.

I am pleased to be one of the seven

builders in this year’s 57th annual Parade of

Homes™ at Rough Hollow’s Bluffs neigh-

borhood in Lakeway. The tour is from Satur-

day, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 31. Come

and view exquisite homes built by Zbranek

Custom Homes, Triton Custom Homes,

Masters Touch Custom Homes, Jenkins Cus-

tom Homes, VII Custom Homes, Stonewood

Homes and Rostrata Builders, Inc.

Many of you attended the HBA’s Real-

tor® Preview Party at the 2010 Parade of

Homes™ in August. The HBA appreciated

your compliments and now encourages you

to bring your clients to see the final prod-

ucts, a stunning line-up of Tuscan and Hill

Country contemporary custom home de-

signs with the latest in architectural, interior

design and landscaping trends.

The luxury homes span in size from 3,500

to 4,900 square feet and are priced from the

$750s to $1.5 million. The best news? Three

of the seven residences on display at the Pa-

rade of Homes™ have already been sold.

Those who wish to tour their “dream

home” have an excellent opportunity to ex-

plore “attainable luxury by the lake” right

here in Central Texas. Here are the details:

• Event hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday through Monday (closed Tues-

days). The event will close in case of bad

weather. To check the status, call the HBA at

454-5588 and press one for an update.

• Tickets are available at the gate, cash

only. They are good only on the day of pur-

chase and are non refundable. The cost is:

• $15 for adults 18 and over

• $12 for seniors 62 and better and chil-

dren 3 to 17 years

HBA of Greater Austin

VISIT THE 57TH ANNUAL

PARADE OF HOMES AT ROUGH

HOLLOW OCTOBER 16-31

President’s Column

Mark Hairston of Mortgage IQ takes a moment to address Women’s Council of REALTORS mem-bers prior to their meeting. Mark’s company was one of the luncheon’s sponsors.

w w w. r e a l t y l i n e o n l i n e . c o m

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Glenn King of RE/MAX Round Rock got a special treat at Cheeseburgers in Paradise when hisname was drawn as one of the door prize winners at the WCAoR event that helped raise fundsfor TREPAC.

Anna Flores andDebbie Horridgealways keep thingsrunning smoothly atthe Home BuildersAssociation ofGreater Austin, in-cluding the 5th An-nual BBQ Bash andElected Officials Ap-preciation Nightwhere several dozenelected officials fromthe five-county areamade a record ap-pearance.

Manny Alarcon ofKB Home tells TerryGraf of J. PaulAubin Real Estateabout the amenitiesoffered in UniversityPark, where KBHome held a pizzapreview party.


Austin Title: Receiving standing ovations for over 57 years.

Sheri Davis andDonna Wallace,both of ColdwellBanker United RE-ALTORS, enjoy theperfect Austinweather during tehdowntown propertytour.

Corrine Costabile,right, of KellerWilliams Realty sellsraffle tickets at theWomen’s Council ofREALTORS meetingto Cathy Conewayof Stanberry & As-sociates and CarolMedley Parker,ABoR Foundationchair.

WCAoR’s MargePhillips enjoyssome time outsideof the office withHarry Pokorny ofLone Star Propertiesat the organization’sTREPAC fundraiser,Cheeseburgers inParadise.

Chris Ott of Keller Williams Realty and Ann Carson of Independence Title, as John Kennedy andJackie O, wave to the crowd who gathered at the second annual celebrity dinner. The WilliamsonCounty Association of REALTORS hosted the event.


nity, and their wide-

spread involvement

within the community is

one reason North Ameri-

can Title is so well known

in Central Texas. North

American Title profes-

sionals actively partici-

pate in professional and

nonprofit organizations

such as: Austin Young

Real Estate Professionals,

ABoR, WCAoR, Austin

Centennial Rotary Club,

Helping Hand Home for

Children, Central Texas

Commercial Association of REALTORS

(CTCAR), TLTA, CREW, RECA, investment

groups, and even the local PTAs—to name

just a few.

“We are our customers’ biggest cheerlead-

ers,” says Tiesa Hollaway, Round Rock sales

and marketing representative and 2009

Williamson County Association of REAL-

TORS (WCAoR) Affiliate of the Year. The

North American Title team holds a commit-

ment to helping clients build their book of

business by tailoring a program for each

agent based on personality, style, networking

interests, and property preferences. And the

proof, as they say, is in the pudding:

"North American Title set the standard for ex-

cellence in the title industry by providing profes-

sionalism, attention to detail and impeccable

service in every transaction."

– Jackie Good, Moreland Properties

Over the past 15 years and through hundreds

of transactions with North American Title, I have

continued to be impressed. The staff have become

trusted allies and made my business life so much

simpler, and my clients always tell me later how

impressed they were. In my book anyone who that

can pull that off is top notch!"

– Peach Reynolds, Kaleido Properties

North American Title operates locations

across the Austin area covering Travis,

Williamson, and Hays County, with in-house

examiners and proactive escrow officers who

personally read every line of each file.

Whether their client is a residential or com-

mercial real estate agent, custom or volume

homebuilder, investor, or lender, this locally

grown, nationally owned company delivers

quick turnaround on title commitments,

careful troubleshooting and a personalized

approach to serve clients with care in every

transaction. RL

North American Title’s Austin

branch began 28 years ago as

Texas Professional Title, Inc.

and was the very first female-owned title

company in Texas. Though the company be-

came part of nationally owned North Amer-

ican Title in 2000, many of the original team

members, including its two principals, Geor-

gia Duke and Jeanine West, are still with the

company today. Since Texas Professional

Title opened its doors in 1983, it has weath-

ered cultural shifts in Texas business, seen

laws change, and adapted to drastic changes

in the landscape of the industry. Yet while

this Austin-grown family of professionals

still maintains close ties to its roots, it has

grown into one of the most diverse and

multi-talented firms on the scene.

Residential, refinance, commercial trans-

actions—you name it, they do it.

“And with a touch of sass,” adds Gwen

Johansen, sales and marketing director. With

seven underwriters to choose from, a team of

in-house examiners, and an expert on hand

for just about anything a client might need,

North American Title is well known for its

proactive, hands-on way of doing business

and a diversity of experience that sets it apart

from other title companies. The 24-member

Austin team includes ex-real estate agents,

investment professionals, social media ex-

perts, hands-on escrow officers, closers and

title professionals with backgrounds in

everything from corporate global communi-

cations to high tech. “Adapting our styles to

match each client’s preferred customer serv-

ice needs is our specialty,” says Alisa

LeBlanc, sales and marketing representative

for Central and Northwest Austin—who also

happens to be the company’s IT and social

media guru.

The supportive company culture at North

American Title means that each client bene-

fits from the experience of every professional

on the team. “You don’t just get one of us;

you get us all,” jokes Bette Cook, sales and

marketing representative for North Austin.

While certainly not interchangeable, each

professional on the team has a specialty

that’s complemented by a willingness to pick

up the phone and reach out to a colleague to

provide whatever the client needs. They be-

lieve that real success comes from supporting

one another, REALTORS, and the commu-

Alisa LeBlanc, Bette Cook, gwen Johansen and Tiesa hollaway

[email protected] | m: 512.619.9050 | d: 512.592.5391

Janet Widmer

NMLS #232054

Welcome

We’re rolling out the red carpet!

I’m delighted to join the team at United Lending!

I have access to great marketing tools, incredible service, and unparalleled support. I know the support I receive from United Lending will be evident in my career and with my clients.


North American TitleLocally Grown, Nationally Owned

By Stacy Stroud

Associates In Progress Advertiser Profile

Amanda Matragrano, Kyle Grace of Parrish and Associates, REALTORS, and Kylie Lynchpass out their materials at Verdance Condos, where the Austin Young Real Estate Professionalsheld a sneak preview party.

Chris Rodriguez ofRealty Executivesassists attorneyTerry Belt before hegets ready to ad-dress owner financ-ing, wrap notes andlease purchasing atthe Realty Execu-tives regional meet-ing.

Diane Acuna ofA m e r i P r oFunding/Land Mort-gage and Jo Hall ofCentury 21 HSK &Associates glean in-sights from mem-bers of the topproducers panel atthe WestwoodCountry Club, wherethe Patten Law Firmhosted its recentSpotlight Austinevent.


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Real Estate News & Notes Berkbigler earns CGA designationGayle Berkbigler of Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty recently became one of

the select group of building industry professionals nationwide who have earned the Certi-

fied Graduate Associate (CGA) designation, identifying her as one of the

building industry’s top professionals. Gayle is the only REALTOR in

Austin that holds this designation and one of two REALTORS in the State

of Texas holding this designation.

CGAs earn the building industry’s premier professional designation by

successfully completing an intensive series of four six-hour courses. The

CGA curriculum incorporates training by leading building industry prac-

titioners and academics on a range of topics, including business manage-

ment, emerging technologies and market trends. After earning the CGA designation,

program graduates are required to maintain their designation through completion of an ad-

ditional 12 hours of training every three years.

Independent Bank welcomes Stone,Borders and rinehart

McKinney-based Independent Bank Group announced an agreement with principals Jim

Stone, Josh Borders and Eddie Rinehart, formerly of Austin-based Treaty Oak Mortgage, to

join Independent Bank’s mortgage team effective immediately. This transaction comes on the

heels of the recent announcement of Independent Bank’s

acquisition of Town Center Bank (Coppell, TX) and im-

pending acquisition of First Bank (Farmersville, TX).

Johnny Galyean, senior vice president of Independent

Bank’s mortgage team said, “We are extremely pleased to

welcome Jim, Josh and Eddie as we enlarge our footprint

across Texas. This dynamic team has a proven reputation

for delivering a level of service that is indisputably excep-

tional. We share a common commitment to excellence and

to providing highly personalized customer care…and we feel privileged that their entire

mortgage team has joined the Independent Bank family!”

Local real estate firms announce merger plansLocal real estate firms ERA Star of Texas of Austin and ERA Colonial Real Estate of

Harker Heights have announced plans to merge operations, effective October 1. The com-

bined firm will conduct business as ERA Colonial Real Estate with main offices located at

777 Indian Trail, Harker Heights, Texas 76548, according to Charles Bujan, broker/owner

of ERA Star of Texas.

“For the last nine years, we have been serving the Williamson County/North Austin

areas from our Georgetown location near Sun City. Our merger with ERA Star of Texas al-

lows ERA Colonial Real Estate to cover our so called “donut hole” between Georgetown

and San Antonio from our newest location on 5818 Balcones Drive at RM 2222,” says Den-

nis DeWine, Broker/Owner of ERA Colonial Real Estate. "With growth and service pro-

ductivity as company priorities, we're pleased to have our newest location in Travis

County.”

“By expanding our company’s reach and resources for our sales associates, we are able

to provide additional real estate services to more Austin Area consumers," says Bujan.

MileStone Community Builders, LLC introduces

its newest community: Southbridge VillasMileStone makes the move to South Austin with the opening of its newest community,

Southbridge Villas. This incredible location provides easy access to downtown, plus a vast

array of entertainment, shopping and dining alternatives, all just minutes away.

Southbridge Villas offers a carefree, low-maintenance lifestyle in an architecturally dis-

tinctive setting with professionally maintained outdoor spaces.

Each of the six one-and two-story garden homes includes a spacious first floor owners’

retreat and attached 1- or 2-car garage, plus many luxury features and finishes rarely

found at such an affordable price point, like granite countertops, tile floors, garden tubs,

arched openings, vaulted ceilings, media and game rooms.

Homes from the $180s. Visit our newest community at 7233 Manchaca Road. For more

information, please call our associates at 804-2605.

Rinehart, Borders, Stone

Berkbigler



You are invited to join the Austin Board of REALTORS®

Annual Installation and Awards Brunch

Friday, December 3, 2010Austin Country Club

4408 Long Champ Drive, Austin8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Tickets $25

Buy tickets online atwww.abor.com/events/installation.cfm.Tickets will be mailed out in November.

MEMBERS FIRSTMEMBER-DRIVEN

Annual InstAnnual Insted tvitou are inYYou are in

tion and Aallaallation and AAnnual InstAnnual Installaustin Boaro join the Aed t

ards Brunchwwards Brunchtion and Ation and Awd of REALustin Boarards Brunch

®ORSTd of REALd of REALT

MEMBERS FIRSTMEMBER-DRIVENMEMBERS FIRSTMEMBER-DRIVENMEMBERS FIRSTMEMBER-DRIVEN ts will be mailed out in NoeTick

ents/installation.cfmv.com/e.aborwwwts online ateBuy tick

ts $25eTick1:30 a.m.8:30 - 1

408 Long Cham4ustin CountrAy, December 3, 2010FridaFriday, December 3, 2010

.embervts will be mailed out in No.ents/installation.cfm

ts online at

ts $251:30 a.m.

ustine, Ap Driv408 Long Chamy Clubustin Countr

y, December 3, 2010

Audree Bohm ofCentury 21 West-bank Summit, ViAtchison, REAL-TOR, and DavidGarcia of The EliteGroup Real Estate,share the couchduring the Big DealSale Preview at KBHome in McKinneyHeights.

Speaker RandySmith introduceshimself before aMCE class aboutmarketing possibili-ties and opportuni-ties at ChampionsSchool of Real Es-tate.

Joe “Condo Joe”Bryson of Real Es-tate Alliance,Megan Gattis ofAvenue One Proper-ties and DeniseMoody of GracyTitle get ready tocheck out down-town properties bygathering at 616Ranch Restaurant.

Anita Spadaro, as Marilyn Monroe, sings happy birthday to David Schneider, seated, and GregCooper and Amy Keillor, all of Goldwasser Real Estate, at WCAoR’s second annual CelebrityDinner.


7719 Wood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 • Austin, TX • 78731 • 512.524.8880 © 2010 Private Label Realty ®, All Rights Reserved

• 200% Growth Since 2009

• No Hidden Fees Ever

Once our Agents reach a new program level they are guaranteed that fee schedule for the remainder of that year and the entire next year. We value our Agent production, and we want our Agents to keep more when they sell more.

• 100% CommissionLess your Progressive Transaction Program fee

• Full Broker Support

• Build Value in Your Brand

To join the fastest growing brokerage

in Austin visit booth 300 at

Realty Round Up or call us to discuss your qualifications.512-524-8880




9• 200% Growth Since 200








o join the fastest TTo join the fastest growing brokerage

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• 100% Commission

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our value e WWe . year when they sell more.

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ood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 • 7719 W7719 Wood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 •

ood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 •

TX • 78731 • 512.524.8880Austin, ood Hollow Drive • Suite 102 •

TX • 78731 • 512.524.8880

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101 E. Old Settlers Blvd • Suite 140 • Round Rock, Texas • 78664 • 512. 524.8850 • 512.646.7335 fax

When You Need It To Close

Phillip PenseEscrow Officer

[email protected]

Sheila BalagiaEscrow Officer

[email protected]

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At Reliant Title, we have grown Year-Over-Year by 300% since 2008. With a superior team of Escrow Closers, your clients receive the full benefit of their expertise while realizing a significant savings on their Escrow Fee.

Open Title TodayCall 512.524.8850

[email protected]

101 E. Old Settlers Blvd • Suite 140 • Round Rock, Texas • 78664 • 512. 524.8850 • 512.646.7335 fax

When You Need It To Close

Cutting Client Costs

Escrow Fees for all new Williamson County orders sent to the new Reliant Title Round Rock Office. Times are tough and we want help clients save money on their closings. Any new Williamson County order brought to the Round Rock Office from now until the end of the November 2010 will have a $5 charge for Escrow Fees.


The Perfect Fit for Your Clients’ Home Purchase Needs

Harper Ray

www.HarperRay.com

ormaor inff

on-time closings.our clients’ pury

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In this bus

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Susan Patterson of Independence Title and Ruby Johnson of Realty Executives check outthe silent auction items, especially the dinner for six, at Cheeseburgers in Paradise. TheWilliamson County Association of REALTORS hosted the event at the Kinningham House toraise funds for TREPAC.

Allison Ullrich ofPatten Law Firmthanks Josh Pen-land, left, andPatrick Odom, bothof Sente Mortgage,for being a platinumsponsor at the re-cent SpotlightAustin event.

Michael Ikeya andTerri Miles, both ofMission Mortgage,proudly show off artwork from variouslocal artists during arecent MCE classheld in the com-pany’s new eventroom.


www.MyMileStone.comat

From Mo-Pac, take Hwy 71 West to 620. Travel 7 miles from 620 & turn left on Cypress Ranch Blvd. into West Cypress Hills. The Sales Center is on the right.

You’re Invitedto a Grand Opening Preview

G O

Single Family Homes from the low $200’sMark Lee 512-567-3669

5200 Cypress Ranch Blvd, Spicewood

Be among the first to preview MileStone’s luxurious new Pinnacle Collection at West Cypress Hills.

Enjoy a delicious lunch from Gumbo’s restaurant.

Tour our new designer-decorated model home.

Preview homes at different levels of construction and explore our beautiful greenbelt homesites.

Register to win an iPad and Lake Austin Spa Get Away.

Space is limited, so call or email [email protected] or 512-264-0900


THE PSYCHOLOGY OFREAL ESTATE

Cassandra Majors n Gracy Title

Experts Speak Out Commentary

Some of the latest psychological

research can be used to draw in-

teresting and sometimes surpris-

ing conclusions about human behavior

when it comes to real estate. Below are

several concepts from recent studies that

can help you better understand your

clients and sell smarter.

Anchoring

Research shows that out of town buyers

are psychologically “anchored” to the

prices of their current market and have

difficulty adjusting to the new market as

they relocate. Buyers moving from higher

to lower-priced markets often move into

much larger houses, rather than finding a

property more comparable to their current

home. Conversely, buyers moving in the

other price direction will have difficulty

accepting that they cannot afford as much

house as they used to. Agents can handle

both situations when they know up front

that their out-of-town clients are often psy-

chologically mired in the mindset of an en-

tirely different market.

(You may be interested to learn that

out-of-town buyers pay, on average, 5%

more for a home than locals do. It’s not a

bad idea to market your listing to out-

siders relocating to Austin—you may just

get a better price for your sellers!)

Optimism and Pessimism

Polls show that homeowners are tena-

ciously optimistic when it comes to their

belief that their homes will increase in

value over time, even in a softening mar-

ket. While an agent should never appear

to be pessimistic, it’s good to be aware that

too much optimism can blind sellers to the

vicissitudes of the market. Buyers and sell-

ers benefit most when they work with an

agent who is both optimistic AND realis-

tic.

Psychological Pricing

The New York Times recently published

Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events

an article called “The Psychology of Pric-

ing,” which draws on data to show that

there are very clear psychological break-

points when it comes to the price of a

home. The difference between a home

priced at $201,000 and one priced at

$199,000 is only $2,000, but the first price

seems much higher. Pricing your listing

just underneath a breakpoint increases the

number of buyers who will find it, since

most buyers have a maximum price in

mind. Check out the NYT article for more

details on where the breakpoints fall. (Fun

fact: in Australia, it is typical for agents to

list a price range instead of a specific sell-

ing price, e.g. $148,000 - $151,000, because

the range will reach those potential buyers

who have set a limit at $150,000 and would

never have otherwise seen the home in a

web search.)

Relativity

The human mind draws on compar-

isons to make decisions, and it may sur-

prise you to learn how our

decision-making process can be affected

by the choices in front of us. Experiments

have shown that when faced with two

equal but distinct choices, a surefire way

to influence the choice is by introducing a

third element similar to one choice but not

quite as desirable. Put more simply, if you

have Choice A and Choice B, very different

from one another but neither clearly supe-

rior to the other, the mind has trouble de-

ciding. But if you introduce Choice A-, a

choice similar but slightly inferior to A,

most people will choose A instead of B, be-

cause they can easily contrast it with

Choice A-.

Relative value also comes into play in

the market. For example, Williams-

Sonoma did not do well with the first

bread machine they put on the market, but

as soon as they created a more expensive

“deluxe” version, sales of the original ma-

chine skyrocketed. The first machine was-

n’t any cheaper, but it seemed like a good

deal because there was another, more ex-

pensive choice.

What does this mean for real estate? If

your buyers are having a hard time decid-

ing between two houses, introducing an-

other house similar to one or the other can

help them draw a comparison and make a

decision. If your buyers aren’t sure that a

home is worth the asking price, showing a

similar more expensive property can make

them realize they’re getting a good deal

(just like the bread machine). On the list-

ing side, sellers may have a hard time ac-

cepting your recommended listing price.

Showing your sellers a list of similar prop-

erties that have sold in recent months will

make it easier for them to understand the

market value of their home. Without a

comparison, human beings are more hesi-

tant to make choices, and your market ex-

pertise can be invaluable in helping your

clients move forward. RL

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

The Inside Line To Clear Buying Power

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

Nov. 2nd

Nov. 9th

Nov. 12th

Nov. 16th

9:30am to 12:30pm

11:00am to 2:00pm

9:30am to 12:30pm

9:30am to 12:30pm

Dewayne Naumann ofFirst American Titlemingles with incomingHBA president HankSmith, Austin CityCouncilman Bill Spel-man and Robert Klee-man, HBA’s vicepresident of govern-ment relations at theHBA’s Elected OfficialsAppreciation Night,where officials fromcity, county, state andfederal governmentvisited with membersand enjoyed a deliciousBBQ dinner.

David Pavliska ofRE/MAX RoundRock signals his un-wavering support ofthe Longhorns atWCAoR’s Cheese-burgers in Paradiseevent. This was be-fore the OU game,but we bet he is stilla fan.

Amy Keillor, KiffenDeLeon, RachelTempleton, GregCooper, TerriCooper, SamanthaConkey and MattConkey enjoy theGoldwasser BoatCruise. Amy andGreg are with Gold-wasser Real Estateand Kiffen, Racheland Samantha arewith First AmericanTitle.

Colette Fitzgerald of KB Home and Estrella Cudmore of Keller Williams Realty check out theopen spaces at McKinney Heights, where KB Home hosted the Big Deal Sale Preview.


You are invited to see the seven most infl uential new homes in Central Texas. The 2010 Parade of Homes™ is showcasing these exquisite dream homes in The Bluffs at Rough Hollow Lakeway, the premier lakefront community on Lake Travis. Priced from

$800,000 to $1.4 million, three homes are sold but this is your chance to tour all seven. See the very latest design trends and architectural features from some of Austin’s fi nest builders.

For directions, visit our website www. AustinHomeBuilders.com or follow the signs in Lakeway to Rough Hollow.

Benefi ting the Lake Travis Education Foundation.

ROUGH HOLLOW LAKEWAYOctober 16–31, 11 AM to 7 PM. Closed Tuesdays.

Tickets available at gate for $15, $12 for seniors 62 and over and kids 3 to 17. With a military ID, tickets are just $10. Cash only please.

If you can dream it, we are building it by the lake.

Realtor® DayThursday, October 21st

Tour all homes free with

your business card.

(Offer valid for active, licensed realtors only.)


The Komm TeamLinda Komm, VP—NMLS #219050

James Barnes—NMLS #215987

Rhona Bogie—NMLS #222089

Emily Franke—NMLS #223977

Ann Jones—NMLS #221084

Danielle Norris—NMLS #221829

The Palmer TeamJim Palmer, VP—NMLS #216331

Jeff Engeling—NMLS #222024

Terry Ripperda—NMLS #218625

Todd Lessig—NMLS #221302

866-766-5252 | 512-531-1800swbcmortgage.com

If you or your family needs any help with mortgage financing, please call or come see us at our new location:

The Avallon, Building 1 10415 Morado Circle, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78758

The ABoR Foundation and theABoR Education Committee partners

in support of the

24th Annual Coats for KidsThe Coats for Kids program, lead by The Junior League of Austin, collects

and distributes warm winter coats to eligible children and teenagers inCentral Texas each year.

When: Monday, Nov. 15 - Tuesday, Nov. 30

What: New or gently used coats

Where: Visit www.abor.com/foundation/home.cfmfor a drop off location nearest you, or

Make a monetary donation: Make check payableto “Coats for Kids”

Laura Pagnozzi Independence Title 512.567.5491

Alisa LeBlanc North American Title 512.923.0191

Mary Ellen Schmidt American Home Shield 512.784.8919

April Downey Independence Title 512.658.0660

Sandy Mann Keller Williams Realty 512.496.9640

Diana Taber Keller Williams Realty 512.657.8367

Linda Schulman Independence Title 512.940.2376

Vicky Gouge Full Moon Design Group 512.428.9072

Shelly Roark National Reliable Lending 512.470.4808

Lilli Dominy Quick Assist Services 512.940.9818

Meredith Cain Team West Real Estate 512.906.7884

Cindy Mims Envoy Mortgage 512.529.9288

Crystal Smith David Weekley Homes 512.563.2536

Leslie Brvenik Austin Title 512.415.6706

Kylie Lynch Austin Inspectors Exchange 512.458.6666

Melissa Mandry Austin American-Statesman 512.296.4714

Lynn Bates Patten Law Firm 512.797.7972

All proceeds from this event will benefit the ABoR Foundation 501 3 (c). The ABOR Foundationis a non-profit charitable organization promoting Realtor/community relationships by providingscholarships to graduating high school seniors from the Central Texas Area and helpingREALTORS during catastrophic time such as Katrina, Rita, and the Memphis Flood this past spring.

“Friends of the Foundation”

Amy Kobza of Austin Title, Sandy Battise of AmeriPro Funding/Land Mortgage and Chris Rodriquezof Realty Executives discuss the merits of the Verdance Condos at the sneak preview party that theAustin Young Real Estate Professionals hosted.


Explore

in 2010our closing power

w w w . r e a l t y l i n e o n l i n e . c o m

Find out what’s happening in real estate.Visit our online calendar.

Vivian Daywood of RE/MAX Austin Skyline keeps up with her professional educational requirementsby attending an MCE class at Mission Mortgage.


SHOW OUR NEW HOMES AND YOU’LL

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT.

Now, each time you register a new, qualified prospect at the

Steiner Ranch Welcome Center, you will receive a $20 Gift Card

to Nordstrom.

The more you show, the more you collect! And the best part of

all, these cards never expire. Call or visit the Welcome Center

for details and start eyeing that new pair of shoes! Showing your

clients new construction in Steiner Ranch is always in style.

Homes from the $250’s to $3+ million

Welcome Center: 512-266-5833 or 800-783-4640

For more information, visit www.steinerranch.com

Builders: Taylor Morrison, Drees Custom Homes, Highland Homes, Monterey Homes, Sendero Homes, Partners In Building

Custom Homes: Affinity Homes, Randy Rollo Homes, Echelon Homes. Information contained within this advertisement

is correct at the time of publication and subject to change. In order to receive gift card, Realtor must accompany

prospect into the Welcome Center on first visit.

JOHN MCCLELLAN

Branch ManagerSupreme Lending - Austin

NMLS #207768 3420 Executive Center Dr. #300

Austin, TX 78731

Supreme Lending is an equal opportunity employer and does not practice discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, national origin, as well as any other rights afforded to applicants under state and federal law.

Supreme Lending in Austin is looking

Mortgage Professionals.

Supreme Lending has all the tools that you will need to be successful in today’s changing market place!

On-site Underwriting and Processing

If you want to join a winning team and

opportunity call 512-279-1150 or [email protected]

Listen to the radio show “The Real Estate Zone”

every Sunday 11 to Noon on News Radio 590 KLBJ and 99.7 FM

NAPMW president Laura Rosales is pleased to have Bob Burton, a licensed attorney, who specializesin condominium developments address the organization about condo rules and changes.

Barbara Wigginton and Edmond McEnany (both standing) of Central Texas Realty Experts are greetedwith smiles from WCAoR’s Kent Prickett, Linda Hall and Christy Gessler as they and others arrive forthe Cheeseburgers in Paradise event at the Kinningham House that helped raise funds for TREPAC.


North American Title’s Research Branch Team

Your Closing Professionals.We are your escrow team in the closing process, providing solutions to the complicated procedure of buying and selling real estate. We go above and beyond to provide peace of mind to all parties involved.

AUSTIN RESEARCH12301 Research Blvd.Bldg. 4, Suite 120Austin, TX 78759512.249.0576

ROUND ROCK1Chisholm TrailSuite 3100Round Rock, TX 78681512.255.6550

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN

823 Congress Ave., #1400Austin, TX 78701512.482.0851

NORTH AUSTIN5608 Parkcrest DriveSuite 150Austin, TX 78731 512.302.3892www.nat.com

Alisa LeBlancMarketing Director

Central, Northwest Austin

Sharon Keller Dawn SchweterBranch Manager

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John Glenn dis-cusses membershipopportunities withNAPMW officerswhile checking in atthe organization’smonthly meeting atthe Norris Confer-ence Center.

Sytha Minter ofHorizon Realty isglad to see AnnMarie Sandlin ofReta Kays REAL-TORS back at theWomen’s Council ofREALTORS meet-ings and lookingwell.

Michael Clawsoncoordinates thedowntown propertytour by checkingwith Roland Galangand Will Steakley,both of UrbanSpace REALTORS,who have a listingon the tour.

Cynthia Mattiza of JB Goodwin REALTORS, Steve Myers and Nicole Cooke of Schmooze Net-working attend a marketing class at Champions School of Real Estate.


Newland Communities is the largest private developer of planned residential and urban mixed-use communities in the United States. 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.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 sale 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.

teravista.com/tryit

New homes from the $150,000s to the $350,000s • 1,534 - 4,570 sq. ft.

CastleRock Communities • Centex Homes • D.R. Horton • LennarMeritage Homes • Ryland Homes • Spicewood Communities • Wilshire Homes

Your clients can try Teravista on for size and live as a Teravista resident for a day.Golf, lunch, swim. Visit Teravista.com/tryit for details.

*Access to, and use of, the Teravista Golf Club is not included in the purchase of homes or homesites and requires separate membership and membership requirements. NNP-Teravista, LP (‘Fee Owner’) is the creator of the Teravista Community (‘Community’). Certain home builders unaffiliated with the Fee Owner or its related entities (collectively ‘Newland’) are building homes in the Community (‘Builder(s)’). Newland is not co-developing, co-building or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders, and Newland shall have no obligations to any buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Purchasers of homes from any of the Builders waive any claims against Newland arising out of their purchase transaction. No guarantee can be made that completion of the Teravista community will proceed as described. Prices, speci�cations, details, and availability of a builder’s new homes are subject to change without notice. All square footage is approximate. © 2010 Newland. All rights reserved.


Patten Law FirmA Closing Office for Texas American Title Company

Raising the Bar for Closing Services

Your solution to RESPA’S new Good Faith Disclosures has arrived!Introducing our new web application:

It’s easy to use. Visit www.pattentitle.com and click on:

You’re Invited to...

Thursday, Oct. 21st

5:30pm - 7:30pm

The Enclave at Hudson Bend4000 Ranch Road 620, 78734

*We'll have free food, drinks, and live music by Voices! Valet parking is also complimentary. *

RSVP at www.pattentitle.com/spotlightaustin.

Development issues, water rights, and more!"The Future of Lake Travis Real Estate"

Laura Fraunhofer and NAHREP president Olivia Lerma sign in new members at the organiza-tion’s monthly meeting at Cool River Cafe.

Colette Fitzgeraldof KB Home showsSung Cho of KellerWilliams Realty andSteve Zalewski ofAustin’s Home Re-alty a cozy spot toenjoy refreshmentsat the Big Deal SalePreview in McKin-ney Heights.

Karen Ebert andRick Ebert, bothfrom Austin Land-mark Property Serv-ices, enjoy the topdeck views of LadyBird Lake during therecent NARPM an-nual bat cruise.


MICHAEL NEUMAN CCIM, CRS, CRI, RPA

REGIONAL BROKER, OWNER

KEITH STEWARTCOMMERCIAL DIVISION

CHRIS RODRIGUEZAUSTIN NORTH(512) 921-1431

MARIE DANG-SCHWARTZAUSTIN NORTH(512) 431-5365

ROBERT ABBOTTAUSTIN NORTH(512) 627-3711

SUSAN BROWNAUSTIN NORTH(512) 844-5553

JON OFFORDWESTLAKE

(512) 659-7318

CHERYL JENKINSAUSTIN NORTH(512) 699-6530

MELINDA DE ROECKMARKETING

(512) 716-0300

RUBY JOHNSONAUSTIN NORTH(512) 215-1737

DIANA KROPKAAUSTIN NORTH(512) 292-6476

GILBERT ALIRESWESTLAKE

(512) 636-1019

MARY MEALYAUSTIN NORTH(512) 554-8335

SUE BARNESWESTLAKE

(512) 300-5527

LINDA TODDAUSTIN NORTH(512) 785-8303

LEE BAUERMEISTERAUSTIN NORTH(512) 470-4390

DONNA DOBBSAUSTIN NORTH(512) 689-1732

SCOTT CUNNINGHAMAUSTIN NORTH(512) 497-6116

RANDY MALEYWESTLAKE

(512) 569-1978

GARY FRAMEAUSTIN NORTH(512) 249-8046

JOYCE SHORTERAUSTIN NORTH(512) 255-8940

LARRY SAULSAUSTIN NORTH(512) 585-3830

BOB INZANOAUSTIN NORTH(512) 423-3398

LINDA HALLAUSTIN NORTH(512) 250-0909

Residential, Commercial, Farm and RanchProperty Management

www.REXAustin.com(512) 716-0300

Central TexasAustin North

13740 Research Blvd #D-2Austin, Texas 78750

Downtown Austin801 W. 5th Street #2003

Austin, Texas 78703

Westlake5524 Bee Cave Road #F-2

Austin, Texas 78746

• Original 100% Commission Company• Company Founded in 1965 in Phoenix, Az• 700 Offices in 23 Countries• Promote Yourself From Agent to Executive• Team Concepts Available• Franchises Available in Protected Territories• Call For a Confidential Conversation

EXPERIENCE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN EXECUTIVE

www.AustinHomeRealEstate.com

(512) 745-7777

ROMAN C. ESPARZABROKER, ABR, GRI, RSPS

DOWNTOWN & SOUTH PADRE ISLAND(512) 745-7777

CAROLYN ABBOTTAUSTIN NORTH(512) 633-7080

JOY HERRINGAUSTIN NORTH(512) 659-2386

Come see us at Realty Round Up!


Victoria Reviel of98th Meridian,Shannon Powers,Jamie Sullivan of98th Meridian andAlisa LeBlanc ofNorth American Titledraw looks from thecrowd — or was itthe red Ferrari theywere standing infront of — at thesneak preview partythat the AYREP heldat Verdance Con-dos.

Michael Ikeya ofMission Mortgageshares relevant in-formation withagents who were at-tending a class inthe company’s newevent room.

Matt Stillwell andPatten Law Firm’sNatasha Puccioand Ashley Pattenmove around theroom during the re-cent educational topproducers panelwhere more than200 guests attendedat the WestwoodCountry Club.

Christy Gessler of RE/MAX Capital City brings back high school memories as Britney Spearsduring the Williamson County Association of REALTORS’ second annual celebrity dinner.


realtyline_oct_10

Documents

texas realtors

trepac trustee

texas association of

alsotheir business

rights of property

real estate industry

advalorem property tax

private propertyowners