realtyline_july_09

—Associates In—PROGRESS

The topic of the speech, “How to Stay Out ofTrouble,” seemed like a useful one. What REALTORwants to deal with time guzzlers like lawsuits when heor she is busy trying to make a living? And the speak-er, with highly qualified credentials as the vice chair-man of the Texas Real Estate Commission, seemed likejust the right person to address such critical issues. But soon after Commissioner Avis Wukasch, who

is also a team leader at Keller Williams Realty,approached the podium at the Women’s Council ofREALTORS monthly networking meeting, itbecame clear that the title of the speech was a bit ofa misnomer.“You can’t stay out of trouble,” she says. “The only

way you can do that is to go home, don’t make anycalls, don’t show any houses and don’t answer thephone. The fact is, there are only two types of REAL-TORS—those who have been sued and those whohaven’t been sued yet.”Wukasch says most people think when REAL-

TORS are sued, it is over something serious andcomplicated but she says it is the simple things thattrip people up most often. She says the best strategyto avoid lawsuits is to focus on calm, clear andeffective communication. “If a client is on fire and you have the choice

to pour a bucket of gas or water on the situa-tion, which would you choose?” she says.“Proper communication is the best way todefuse a problem.”Another way REALTORS get into trouble

is by their tendency to be extra helpful, forexample by offering too much information to aseller even when they are in a non-appointedintermediary position, where they need to becareful to stay neutral. Wukaschdescribed a situation that seemed alltoo familiar to the audience.“We all know occasionally a seller

who is a jerk,” she says. “As REALTORSwe want to be helpful, so we give our buyer advice onhow to deal with the jerk. It is human nature, but bydoing that we have crossed the line. The jerk deserves

fair treatment, even if thebuyer is a cute couple witha baby.”Wukasch also urged

REALTORS to take care oftheir paperwork to avoidtrouble. “Don’t wait until your

license is about to expiretomorrow,” she says. “Youhave a BlackBerry, a blue-berry, or whatever, with allthat stuff in it. Find outwhen your license is aboutto expire, back up 60 days

and put it in your date book. Take care of business.”At the office, the first line of defense is to have a

good set of policies to protect against complaints.“Treat everyone consistently and enforce those

policies,” she says. “And readyour contracts. The para-graphs between the spots foryour signature—those havestuff in them that matters.”She also urged REALTORS

to remember that all compen-sation needs to go through their

broker. “So if you accept a $3,000 gift cardfrom a builder, what you have

done is illegal unless youare the broker or youhave your broker's per-mission to receive thismoney,” she says.

Wukasch also gave the audience a peek into whatis in the works at the Commission. A broker respon-sibility course is under development andCommissioners are considering a requirement forteam leaders to have a broker’s license and forbranch managers to be brokers. She says the Commission has found real estate

applications are down 25 percent and licenserenewals are down 7 percent, although they are upfor brokers. “The profession is shrinking,” she says. “We

expect to see our numbers down 30 percent over thenext three years.”And those who do get caught in a formal com-

plaint will have company and may have to waitawhile for it to be resolved. Wukasch says there aremore than 1,000 pending enforcement cases, one ofwhich is more than seven years old.

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDAustin, Texas

Paid Permit #715

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

By Linda McNabbCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com

Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.

Stay Out of Trouble With Communication, Organization

Upcoming Events:Nominees wanted for ABoR’s Annual Industry Awards

JULY 2009 • VOL. 14 • ISSUE 3

And the winner is…you! The Austin Board ofREALTORS® (ABoR) is currently accepting nom-inations for the 2009 Industry Awards. Everyyear, six dedicated ABoR members are recog-nized for their contributions to their industry andtheir community.Submit your nominations online at

https://www.abor.com/events/forms/indy_awards_form.cfm by Friday, Sept. 11.

Award winners will be honored atthe 2010 Installation and Awards

Celebration to be held on Friday, Dec. 11 from 6p.m. to midnight at the Renaissance AustinHotel.Awards will be distributed in the following

categories: REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate ofthe Year, REALTOR Community Service Award,Salesperson of the Year, Rookie of the Year andCultural Awareness Award. For more information on these awards or the

nomination process, contact Rita Barousse at 454-7636, ext. 1603 or [email protected].

JULY 23WCR Monthly NetworkingMeeting/Style ShowABoR Auditorium - 11 a.m.

JULY 25WCAoR Green Expo 2009Dell Diamond - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

AUGUST 5AMBA Monthly MeetingAustin Country Club - 11:30 a.m.

AUGUST 5HBA 2009 Mid-Year Housing ForecastPhillips Event Center - 11:30 a.m.

AUGUST 19CRS Quarterly MeetingWestwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m.

AUGUST 21WCAoR Tech Tune-upWingate Conference Center - 9 to 5 p.m.www.techtuneup.org

www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin July 20092

All photos, press releases or article submissions can besent to [email protected]

A PUBLICATION OF © CAXTON PUBLICATIONS, INC.

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

www.realtylineonline.com

Doren L. CarverPUBLISHER

Tawanna K. CarverMANAGING EDITORLinda McNabbCONTRIBUTING

EDITOR/WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERCOLUMNISTS

Jay Gohil - ABoR ChairmanWes Peoples - HBA President

Barbara Wigginton - WCAoR PresidentDavid Tandy - Gracy Title

NEWS NOTESSNIPPETS:

• The Home Resource Groupof Keller Williams RealtyCedar Park/Leander MarketCenter was recently namedone of the top teams in theUnited States by Real Trendsas reported in the Wall StreetJournal. Just this pastFebruary at the KellerWilliams Realty national con-vention, The Home ResourceGroup was the #1 Team inCentralTexasand #23national-ly forKellerWilliamsRealty for the 2008 year.• RE/MAX Austin Associatesagent Shara Parker isbecoming something of aveteran in the housing enter-tainment industry. This pastMay she assisted on theHGTV hit show HiddenPotential, wherehomebuyers (andviewers) are shownwhat their dreamhome could looklike before theybuy it. For a recentepisode in Austin,Shara provided two of thethree showcased homes.

Realty Line of Austin is published monthly by ©CaxtonPublications, Inc., as a non-subscription publication for themore than 8,000 members of the Austin Board of REALTORS(ABoR), the more than 1,100 members of the WilliamsonCounty Association of REALTORS (WCAoR) and the HomeBuilders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin.© Caxton Publications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is an

active member of the Austin Board of REALTORS, theWilliamson County Association of REALTORS and is a hon-orary member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS. CaxtonPublications, Inc. dba Realty Line of Austin is not responsiblefor opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or forerrors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy.REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR®sometimes appears in this publication without the registeredtrademark symbol (®), for the purpose of saving space.Wherever the word REALTOR appears in this publication, theregistered trademark should be assumed.

The HomeResource Group

KB Home sales counselors and REALTOR liason were on hand at the WilliamsonCounty Association of REALTORS meeting in Taylor. Eddie Gaw, Colette Fitzgeraldand Robert Rohaly. KB Home was a sponsor.

Parker

ABoR’s first graduating class of the Leadership Academy is honored at the LeadershipCouncil Recognition. It’s a step in the right direction for the future leadership of ABoR.

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

try.When adding a commercial listing to MLXchange, you will

now see a “Yes/No” field for placing your property onCommercialSource.com. Selecting “Yes” for this field willfeed your property’s information to CommercialSource.com,easily expanding your listing’s visibility. For more informa-tion on CommercialSource.com, visitwww.commercialsource.com/About/Default.aspx.

Let Your Business Bloom at Realty Round UpDon’t miss your chance to reserve a booth for the upcoming Realty Round Up trade

show, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Austin ConventionCenter. As the largest trade show in Central Texas, Realty Round Up draws thousands ofreal estate professionals each year, making this an excellent opportunity to reach a broadaudience.This year’s trade show, themed “Growing a Greener Austin,” will focus on the myri-

ad ways to embrace energy efficiency in the Austin real estate market. Dr. Jim Gaines,chief economist of the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, will deliver the keynote speech anda variety of educational courses will be offered.Booth pricing and a floor plan of the Convention Center may be found online at

www.abor.com/roundup. For more information on the event, contact Gina Willemsen,trade show coordinator, at 454-7636, ext. 1601 or [email protected].

Tap in to Social NetworkingThe National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that nearly half of all 2008

homebuyers used social media sites. Ensure you can effectively reach homebuyers byharnessing the marketing power of social media. The upcoming “Technology 102: SocialMedia for REALTORS®” course, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. will pro-vide you with the knowledge and skills needed to make an impact in the realm of socialnetworking.Course instructor Chad Cardani will introduce agents to current social networking

technologies such as Facebook and Twitter and explain how the NAR Code of Ethicsaffects social networking activities. He will then provide students with the resources andcase studies necessary to create a plan for incorporating social media in their businesspractices. This course carries 3 hours of Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) credit(TREC # 03-00-071-8212) and costs $27 for members and $33 for non-members. To regis-ter for “Technology 102: Social Networking for REALTORS®,” visitwww.abor.com/courses.

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

Time is running out to sign up for a 2010 ABoR committee. Applications are availableonline at https://www.abor.com/committees/abor_committee_form.cfm and must bereceived by Saturday, Aug. 15. With ten committees to choose from, including the Bylaws,Government Affairs, Grievance, Industry Awards, Installation and Awards, PoliticalAction, Professional Development and Education, Professional Development, RealtyRound Up and Scholarship committees, it is easy to get involved with your association ina way that is meaningful to you. All interested members, including those currently involved in 2009 committees, must

apply for 2010 committee assignments. Candidates must have valid e-mail addresses. Formore information, contact ABoR’s Executive Department at 454-7636 or [email protected].

A Toast to TREPAC!Raise a glass to your industry at the 2009 TREPAC Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on

Thursday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Uncorked, located at 900 E. 7th Street. Your $35 tick-et lets you sample fine wines from around the world. We will also provide a wide arrayof silent auction items, so don’t forget to bring your checkbook!All proceeds from this event benefit the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee

(TREPAC), which works to protect the rights of private property owners and real estateprofessionals. Tickets may be purchased online at www.abor.com/events/wine.cfm. Formore information or to sponsor this event, contact Emily Chenevert, government affairsrepresentative, at 454-7636, ext. 1501 or [email protected].

New Venue for Promoting Commercial ListingsAttention commercial REALTORS®! ACTRIS is pleased to announce a new solution

for boosting the visibility of your listings. CommercialSource.com, a commercial realestate Web site, was launched by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) in 2008.This site allows consumers to browse commercial real estate listings from across the coun-

Last Call forCommittee Assignments

ABoR CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

www.FirstAmAustin.com

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Introducing…

Caroline Carver, daughter of Realty Line’s owners, helps put cherries onthe 30-foot sundae with friend Kylie Nothnagel at the annual JB GoodwinREALTORS Company Picnic.

Jim Craig Hess andBrian Hurd, both ofSente Mortgage,check out the exten-sive arrowhead col-lection during thetour of homes inBarton Creek host-ed by the ABoRFoundation.

Becky Hopkins ofAustin Title cheerson Linda Hall ofRealty Executivesas she grabs thedice to gain evenmore points after abunco—three sixes.They were partici-pating in WCR’s firstbunco night at theWilshire Homesmodel at TheCommons at RoweLane.

Linda Knowles-Katz of LandMortgage attendsthe NAPMW 15thannual bottle auc-tion. With her wasNAPMW presidentGinny Miller alongwith honorary mem-ber John Harris.


The KB KronicleJULY 7, 2009 KBHOME.COM 512-651-8059

Come visit the KB Home booth at the Green Expo 2009

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To Visit � e Oak at Twin Creeks:Take I-35 to South Austin and exit Slaughter Ln. head-ing west. Turn left on S. 1st St. to community on right.

If you would like to receive weekly updates from KB Home with our inventory

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• KB Home proudly offers Shaw flooring because it is environmentally friendly, with low VOC for bet-ter indoor air quality. It’s also 100% recyclable.• Carrier programmable thermostats can reduce unnecessary energy usage by controlling temperatures even when you’re away from home.• KB Home was named the #1 Green Homebuilder by the prestigious investment firm, Calvert As-set Management. Calvert stated “KB Home leads the pack because of its comprehensive approach to sustainability.”

Visit the KB Home booth at Expo Tu Casa and speak with one of our bilingual sales coun-selors about special programs for Realtors, our a� ordable new home communities, and our energy e� cient features built into every home.

Expo Tu CasaSaturday, July 25

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

Juliana Brock of Power Training helps out the auctioneer at the NAPMW’sbottle auction.

Tommy Holmes,second from right,of IndependenceTitle, greets col-leagues at theCentral TexasC o m m e r c i a lAssociation ofREALTORS show-case expo. ChuckScott, JessicaDuarte and ColinParker, all ofIndependence Title.

Ryan Rogers ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORSand MelindaCarroll of FirstAmerican Title mix itup at the WestlakeOpen House thatFirst American Titlehosted at its MoPacoffice.

bad as the problem being addressed in the first place. What should you do? We must assume at this point that the

system is going to remain, essentially unchanged. As a result,the primary source for sales data is going to be the MultipleListing Service (MLS). Therefore, report all of your sales,including pre-sales. Appraisers are going to use this as theirprimary data source and the only way to ensure that futuresales make is to provide the data on the most current sales. Second, if you are a builder or a Realtor®, when your indus-

try association issues a call for action, it will be important thatyou respond with your own examples and directly to your con-gressional representative. Third, encourage the buyer when selecting their lender to make sure the firm has a list

of local appraisers that they are allowed to use. Last, if you or a friend has a personal experience with this problem, contact your con-

gressman to let them know the Federal Housing Finance Agency has a problem in this area. Because a number of folks defrauded banks and Wall Street buyers of packaged loans,

we now have new rules. The perceived cure looks good on paper, but the practical effecthas had unintended consequences on more normal markets like ours. It is now our respon-sibility to work through solutions.

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

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

As if selling in the current rush of bad national economic numbers wasn’t hard enough,the real estate business is facing challenges from an out of control appraisal industry. It isnot enough to market a home, qualify the buyer, and then submit the loan for processing.Now we are faced with a new appraisal challenge. Just what is the problem? The Federal Housing Finance Agency established new rules

for appraisals that went into effect May 1. Member firms of the Home Builders Association(HBA) of Greater Austin are frequently reporting that values established by supposedlyqualified appraisers are being reported significantly below the sales price established byevaluating the price of similar product in the region. Of course, if the value set by theappraiser is lower than the sales price, the buyer has to come “out of pocket” for the differ-ence. If the buyer is forced to make up the difference, the sale is likely to fall apart. At best,another appraisal has to be ordered costing the buyer more money in fees and delays.Needless to say, in either case both the seller and the buyer are unhappy. We have reports of appraisal firms from as far away as Ohio and California being used

for valuations here in Austin of both new and existing homes. While perhaps being quali-fied in their market, they obviously lack the knowledge of the nuances of the Austin neigh-borhoods, schools, views, and prestige. And while this is extremely important to me asPresident of the association representing new home builders, the impact on existing home-owners and the vast majority of area residents are the ones who will be most negativelyimpacted. This is not just a threat in Texas. The National Association of Mortgage Brokers recog-

nized that the threat was great enough to issue a “Call to Action” on the new “HomeValuation Code of Conduct” HVCC. Now, it appears that lenders are prohibited from “fir-ing” poor appraisers who often are not even familiar with the region, much less the devel-opment or submarket. No doubt the problem regulators tried to fix was improper pressureby lenders to set values that might not reflect market basis. Now, however, appraisers maywell refuse to even consider how upgrades or other recently sold and comparable homes inthe neighborhood affect the market value of a home. It seems that the cure is every bit as

New Federal Appraisal Rules ThreatenCentral Texas’ Healthy Real Estate Market

HBA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

A v e r a g e A n n u a l T r a n s a c t i o n s

12RE/MAX

6.6Coldwell Banker

5.3Century 21

5.1Keller

Williams

5.4Prudential

6.1ERA

9.1Realty Execs

12RE/MAX

6.6Coldwell Banker

5.3Century 21

5.1Keller

Williams

5.4Prudential

6.1ERA

9.1Realty Execs

A v e r a g e A n n u a l T r a n s a c t i o n s

23%

Coldwell Banker

77%RE/MAX

From January through May,

RE/MAX practically owned real estate advertising on

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why RE/MAX agents close-on average-more

deals than any competitor.Each office independently owned and operated.

Based on Information from Realogy and Real Trends

On Spanish language TV, RE/MAX has 100% Share of Voice.

January – May, 2009

Attend the FREE RE/MAX Power Start class August 5th to learn how our technology, training and advertising clout can improve your transaction numbers. Write [email protected] to register anonymously

Brian Pitman, right, of Independence Title welcomes John Doucet and Adeline Rem tothe CTCAR Showcase Expo at the Omni Hotel.


• Call for $79 code

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For more information call us orvisit our Web site for a completelisting of courses and schedules.

CALL: 512-451-9112www.PowerTrainingInc.com8000 Anderson Square #103

Aust in, Texas 78757

15 Hour Online Renewal $79

S.A.F.E. Actrules are in place.Start bookingyour requiredclasses.

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All courses, schedules and pricing are subject to change.

Don Rogers of The Scheffe Group helps Tava Patterson and Lonny VanValkenburgh, both of HvacMasters, promote the benefits of membershipin the Central Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS organization atthe group’s showcase expo at the Omni Hotel.

Jon Offord, GilbertAlires and RandyMaley, all RealtyExecutives, havecoffee in prepara-tion for the corpora-tion meeting atMarie Callender’s.

Join CRS and enjoynetworking and afree lunch with topassociates likeDephanie Catesand LindaHolmbeck, both ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORS,shown here at arecent meeting atWestwood CountryClub.

Zana King, AnnCarson andJennifer Goodrum,all of IndependenceTitle, attend the firstannual charity golftournament atCrystal Falls GolfClub.


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Deborah Toodle of JB Goodwin REALTORS takes the opportunity to joinWCAoR at the Austin Young Real Estate Professionals happy hour at Doc’s.

Mary Ann Castro,third from left, of JBGoodwin REAL-TORS makes nohaste in finding acool spot withfriends by the lakeat the company pic-nic at JB Goodwin’shouse on LakeAustin.

D e w a y n eNaumann of FirstAmerican Title andJohn Bradford ofTexas A & M RealEstate Developmentgive the thumbs upat the FirstAmerican Title’sremodel celebrationat the company’sWestlake office onMoPac.


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Patten Law FirmA Closing Office for Texas American Title Company

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VISIT WWW.PATTENTITLE.COM/SPOTLIGHTAUSTIN TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT. FULL HOUSE EXPECTED.

ABoR Director D.A. Henry of The Aldion Group Realty checks in at theWomen’s Council of REALTORS monthly networking meeting.

Noble Davis ofLakeline Realty andNell Hanson on JBGoodwin REAL-TORS enjoy thebeautiful view fromthe boat dock over-looking Lake Austinat JB Goodwin’shome during theannual companypicnic.

Several REALTORShelp event sponsorDanette Tidwell ofTime Warner Cable,center, set up for theWilliamson CountyAssociation ofREALTORS’ quar-terly luncheon inTaylor.

CTCAR presidentJoe Linsalata ofLinsalata RealtyServices thanksDan Steakley ofS t a n b e r r yCommercial forhosting a booth atthe organization’sthird annual show-case expo at theOmni Hotel.

of those with very specific short-term interest in your market andservices. Provide timely information and insight on trends thatbenefit buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants, and they’llremember you as the local expert long after the transaction.Still unsure about how to implement all this technology and

what’s right for you and your business? Then be sure to attend the3rd annual Tech Tune-Up on August 21.

Tech Tune-UpThe Williamson County Association of REALTORS will be

holding the 3rd annual Tech Tune-Up on August 21 at WingateConference Center, 2019 IH-35, Round Rock, Texas. Tech Tune-Up is an educational/conventioncentered on technology for all real estate professionals. Back by popular demand, our peer panelof local experts, will speak on various technology topics and give audience members the oppor-tunity to have a live Q & A with the panel. We have increased the number of technology relatedbreak out rooms where attendees can learn everything from social networking to how to utilizethe free tools offered by Google. We have increased the technology courses that offer MCE cred-it as well as increasing the number and variety of vendor booths. There are more prizes, moregiveaways and more opportunities to learn how you can use technology to enhance your busi-ness! Registration is now open for Tech Tune-Up at www.TechTuneUp.org.


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

Technology is continuing to change the face of real estate. As REALTORS, it is important toremember that as technology changes how we do business, it is also changing the way our cus-tomers communicate, do business and spend their time. They can pay bills, shop, watch a movie,write a letter, view family photos, and even search for a new job all online! It is no wonder thataccording to NAR, over 80% of all new home buyers start their home search online. With all ofthe constant changes and gadgets appearing on the market, it can be easy to find yourself beinga little scared of the pace of technology. It is important to remember that real estate technologiesare simply tools to improve your business. With that in mind, here are three ways you can imple-ment technology into your business:

1. Video toursVideo tours are becoming a marketing-must. By the end of next year, if you do not offer vir-

tual tours, you’ll miss out on winning some listings, especially of better homes and properties.Keep videos brief, highlight only the most salient features, and capture footage throughout thehome, moving around to provide some sense of being there. Just get those camcorders rolling!

2. Advertise onlineWith buyers headed to the web first in their quest for real estate, you’re challenged to do some

real soul searching about conventional advertising, especially print. While you may recognizewhy print dollars will be better spent on brand building than individual listings, it’s a tough sellto home owners who expect to see that tiny picture of their house in the newspaper.They’ll be more receptive to online advertising of their home if you can demonstrate how a

campaign to drive consumers to your Web site actually increases exposure to qualified buyers.

3. Build your social networksMany of the same sites that accept listing information invite real estate professionals to par-

ticipate in community forums, or establish themselves as local experts by responding to queriesfrom buyers or sellers. A well-done blog helps attract people interested in an area. Unlike othertypes of social networking, however, the community you want to create is primarily composed

The Changing Faceof Real Estate

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WR Starkey Mortgage representatives Cindy Musslewhite, Fabi Guitierrez, and JulieBlack get ready for the bidding action to begin so they can have a chance on winning oneof the fabulous bottles at the NAPMW bottle auction at the Holiday Inn Northwest.

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Suzanne Bergmann and Kari Christ, both of C & G Summit Realty, maketheir way down the street to see the next home in the Parade of Homes atMueller Development.


Susanna Boyer,right, of SellstateClassic Realty,arrives at the sametime as guestspeaker and TRECCommissioner AvisWukasch to theWomen’s Council ofREALTORS meet-ing. Avis gave mem-bers advice on howto stay out of trou-ble.

Realty Line’s DorenCarver takes amoment in front ofthe camera, insteadof behind it, withwife TawannaCarver and busi-ness partner at theJB Goodwin REAL-TORS family picnic.


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Lynda Conway of JB Goodwin REALTORS gives David Burton of TexasHometown Realty a pin in recognition of his graduation from ABoR’sLeadership Academy.

HBA’s DebbieHorridge and AnnaFlores sell ticketsand hand out infor-mation at theParade of Homesduring REALTORDay at the MuellerDevelopment.

Corrine Costabileof Keller WilliamsRealty checks outinformation aboutthe upcoming WCRfashion show at aWCR mixer at TheThird Base in RoundRock.

18 www. realtylineonline. com Realty Line of Austin July 2009

Chris Rodriguez of Realty Executives helps meeting sponsor ColetteFitzgerald of KB Home get her information ready on the computer. Shepresented it at the Realty Executives’ region meeting at Marie Callender’s.

Susan Horton andJohn Horton ofJohn Horton Realtyattend the Women’sCouncil of REAL-TORS meetingwhere TRECCommissioner AvisWukasch informedmembers “How toStay Out ofTrouble.”

Marie DangSchwartz, WCRpresident, thanksDebbie Ates ofWilshire Homes forhosting the firstbunco night at hermodel at TheCommons at RoweLane. Mary Mealytook the opportunityto let those in atten-dance know aboutthe opening of hernew RealtyExecutives office.

Meri Krause ofCount on Us Realtyand Sue Kaligian ofConsider it ClosedRealty check out thezero edge blackpool at the ABoRFoundation’s tour ofhomes in BartonCreek.


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Susan Brown, seated, of Realty Executives lets Mary Ann Nations, standingleft, of Keller Williams Realty and others know about the raffle details at theWomen’s Council of REALTORS monthly networking meeting.

Glenn King ofRE/MAX RoundRock and JimGoldrick of TexasAmerican Titleattend the quarterlyWCAoR meeting inTaylor, where repre-sentatives from theChamber ofCommerce gaveupdates about thecity’s growth.

Diane Christy ofDiane Christy REAL-TORS sells raffletickets at theCertified ResidentialSpecialists meetingto benefit Any BabyCan.

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By David Tandy • Gracy Title

The National Association of REALTORS® has recently released its 2009Member Profile results. The results are published in an 84 page report thatprovides insight into the challenges facing brokers and agents. Not surpris-ingly, NAR membership declined 10.5% from Dec 2007 to Dec 2008 and it hasdropped another 6.4% so far through April 2009. With membership duescoming up for payment in June, there will most likely be a further drop inmembership. INCOME. The median gross income (MGI) of REALTORS® fell 14% to

$36,700 in 2008. For REALTORS® with 2 years or less experience, the MGIwas $8,600. For REALTORS® with 16 years or more experience, it was$53,900. When reading about income, it’s important to remember the largemajority of REALTORS® are self-employed. All expenses for medical insur-ance, marketing, equipment, office supplies and professional dues are usual-ly paid by the REALTOR®. Agents also pay monthly fees to their broker forbeing associated with them in addition to splitting their commissions whena home sells. REALTORS® also pay FICA tax since there’s no employer. EXPERIENCE. 73% of REALTORS® reported being “very certain” they’ll

remain in the business for at least two more years which means 27% weren’t“very certain” they will remain. 60% of all REALTORS® are female and themedian age of a REALTOR® increased from 52 to 54 years old. According tothe NAR survey, 75% of REALTORS® don’t have a second job. Regarding different brokerage models: • 72% of REALTORS® receive no benefits through their firm;• 50% of REALTORS® are affiliated with an independent, non-fran-chised brokerage;• 12% of REALTORS® worked for a firm that was bought or mergedin the past 24 months;• 25% of REALTORS® have spent 11 or more years with their currentbrokerageTECHNOLOGY USE. Regarding technology, only 42% use a smart phone

(phones with email & Internet ability). Based on purely anecdotal observa-tions, I would expect that number to be much higher for REALTORS® inAustin. According to the survey, agents with less experience in the businesswere more likely to use smart phones. 7% of the agents have a blog but 35%are involved in social networking (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.),although years of service had little bearing on the adoption of social net-working. I would also expect the adoption rate to be higher in Austin for useof social networking sites. As to their listings, 81% put their listings on theirbroker’s site; 80% on REALTOR.com; 66% on their MLS; 46% on their ownWeb site; and 16% put listings on other broker’s sites (via reciprocity). SOURCE OF REFERRALS. 90% of the agents get less than 10% of their

business from open houses while 61% of the agents say they get no businessfrom open houses. 23% of business of REALTORS® licensed 16+ years orig-inated with referrals from past clients. Distressed property transactions havea significant impact on how business is done with agents with 40% ofREALTORS® closing at least one property in foreclosure. EDUCATION. Education and designations continue to grow in impor-

tance for successful REALTORS®. 35% of REALTORS® hold a minimum ofone professional designation, up 3% from last year. 20% have a GRI(Graduate, REALTOR Institute), 13% have an ABR (Accredited BuyerRepresentative), 10% have a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), and 5%have a SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). 16% of REALTORS® hold a spe-cialized training certification. The full report is available on the NAR site:

www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/products/186-12-09?OpenDocument.

Observationsfrom the 2009 NARMember Survey

COMMENTARY

��

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Make extra money while saving your clients some serious green during The PUT THEIR DREAMS ON COURSE sale. Right now there are added incentives available for your buyers on a special collection of homes ready to start building today with award-winning ame-nities such as the Residents’ Club, The Teravista Golf Club, miles of walking trails and a real community atmosphere sure to make your clients’ lives take a huge upswing.

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*The builder incentives described in the “Put Your Dreams On Course” are offered only by certain participating builders to homebuyers executing new homes sales contracts between May 29 – July 31, 2009 and closed by March 31, 2010 in the Teravista community and are sponsored exclusively by such builders, who are solely responsible for the content and operation of the builder incentives offered in the promotion. Newland has neither any affiliation nor any obligations or liabilities relating to the builder incentives offered in the Promotion. Information regarding tax credits, interest rates, and FHA loans are provided for general guidance only, and no representation or warranty is made that you will quality for a tax credit, interest rates and FHA loans as described above. The information provided does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, �nancial, investment, or other professional, advice, services or consulting of any kind. Please consult with your quali�ed real estate, �nancial, accounting, and legal advisors regarding your speci�c circumstances and your purchase. Must sign a new home contract in Teravista between May 29 – July 31, 2009, and close escrow by March 31, 2010, to be eligible for the HOA dues paid for one year and golf rounds at the Teravista Golf Club. Golf rounds will be delivered and HOA dues paid upon veri�cation of eligibility and closing and funding of the new home. Contact a Teravista builder sales office to obtain a copy of the Terms & Conditions for this promotion, or visit our website at www.teravista.com/500. Void where prohibited. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in Teravista or to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Homes within the Teravista community are constructed and sold by builders not affiliated with Newland Communities or Newland Communities’ affiliated companies. Prices, speci�cations and details are subject to change without notice. ©2009 Newland Communities. All rights reserved.

Put their dreams on course.


Steve Amezquita of United Lending catches up with J.B. Goodwin at hislakeside home during the JB Goodwin REALTORS company picnic.

Derrick Miller ofRE/MAX AustinSkyline greets LettyHoman of DHIMortgage on hisway to a businessappointment at theDHI Mortgageoffice.

Eddie Rinehart,seated, of TreatyOak Mortgage sitswith John McCully,Michelle Goldberg,(standing) AmandaEckhardt Mika, andRachelle Rowan atthe 15th annualN A PMW B o t t l eAuction.

Alisa LeBlanc ofNorth American Titlechecks out thegame room alongwith EricSutherland ofProdigy Mortgageand Rod Morgan ofL a n d m a r kProperties at theAYREP happy hourat Doc’s inPflugerville.


petitive price point.”Nalle says REALTORS can feel free to continue their relationships with other

custom home builders because it is not necessary for Nalle Custom Homes to bethe only builder that REALTORS introduce to their clients—they just want tomake sure they are among a REALTOR’S resources.“We are confident in our product and feel like the opportunity is all we need,”

Nalle says. “We currently have built homes for more than 95 percent of the clientsthat we have hadthe opportunity tobid the project.”Some clients

build on a site theyhave alreadyacquired while oth-ers choose fromavailable lots.Currently, those arelocated in TheColony, GranadaOaks, Rim Rockand The Arbors atDogwood Creek inElgin. Projects are also underway in Central Austin, Tarrytown and Westlake.“Once a home site has been selected, we can then sit down with your buyer and

help them fill out an entire set of specifications which allows us to come up witha preliminary budget,” Nalle says. “This is a popular concept as it allows ourclients to have a firm bid for the cost of their project before they have spent anytime or money on the design.” With the varying topographies in the Austin area, Nalle Custom Homes also

works diligently to ensure that the design fits perfectly on the selected home siteand blends well within its surrounding environment.“We offer the ability to work with our personal designer to help develop their

architectural plans,” he says.It is assurances like these that mean your buyers will always be in good hands

and be satisfied with the craftsmanship of their Nalle Custom Home.“Exceptional service and quality is what sets our home building experience

apart,” says Nalle. “Our building process will help ensure that your client's expe-rience is both exciting and pleasurable.”

Nalle Custom Homes is proud to be a leading custom home builder in CentralTexas. It is a family owned operation that has closed more than 100 homes sincestarting in 2003, averaging about 30 to 40 homes per year, while remaining com-petitive in many price points. “We have created a system that allows us to have the buying power of a large

company but also the necessary individual attention to detail, quality and flexibil-ity that you would expect in a first-class, custom home,” says Tilghman Nalle. With a full time staff of 11 employees, Nalle Custom Homes can build from a

custom home plan that a buyer has already acquired or they can sit down withtheir design team and come up with a fully custom plan that suits a buyer’s needs. “Understanding each customer's desires and building it efficiently allows us to

construct each home with the utmost craftsmanship and value,” Nalle says. The company looks at custom home building with a systematic approach that

helps ensure that they keep home projects on track without limiting flexibility andcustomization.“We provide a very detailed schedule and timeline for our clients,” Nalle says. “We also have an experienced staff that is always available. We do not try to bal-

ance our office work and field work. We have a separate staff for each.Homeowners who have worked with other builders often complain that they werenot able to get in touch with the builder and they were never at the house. Our sys-tem allows for us to have qualified personnel available at all locations and times.” The company does not have a sales staff, so a large percentage of its business

comes from referrals, making the REALTOR role an important key to the compa-ny’s continued success. “We would like REALTORS to realize how much we rely on them for our busi-

ness,” Nalle says. “We hope this gives us an opportunity let them know that it ispossible for a custom builder to achieve quality and service and still deliver a com-

By Linda McNabbCONTRIBUTING WRITER

ASSOCIATES IN PROGRESS

Nalle Custom Homes

“Exceptional service and qualityis what sets our home buildingexperience apart. Our building

process will help ensure thatyour client's experience is both

exciting and pleasurable.”

candy Buzan797-5580

Max Leaman293-1239

Kim Nielsen825-2347

Melissa driskell964-1864

terrie doggett415-0212

rhonda Neeley560-3429

Mary Kennedy750-7834

Brian patschke565-5852

trudy Savage965-5017

Mark Hoffman785-3279

Shannon Smith560-4590

Not pictured: Michael ray, 784-8488 • terry Weber, 554-4013


Alice Ann Newman and Mike Newman, both of Keller Williams Realty, meetand talk with Rita Santamaria of Champions School of Real Estate at theWCR mixer held at Third Base in Round Rock.

Douglas Crain ofWCAoR wishesTiesa Hollaway ofNorth American Titlewell on the upcom-ing birth of her baby.They were at theAYREP happy hourat Doc’s inPflugerville.

Lisa Owens-Psencik, seated, ofJohn Horton Realtyjoins Karen Curryand April CampbellLaird, both ofSunny Lane Realty,at REALTOR Day atthe MuellerDevelopment duringthe Parade ofHomes.

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Michelle Burch, Diana Barton and Shirra Hanna, all of Dywer Realty,share information about their company to commercial REALTORS at theCTCAR Showcase Expo at the Omni Hotel.

Amy Kozba takesthe opportunity at aWCR happy hour totell David Pavliskaof RE/MAX RoundRock and NealBarnes of NealBarnes &Associates that sheis now with AustinTitle.

United Lending’sDavid McMillanenjoys some familytime with his wifeSheryl and theirchildren Lauren,Samantha andJack at the JBGoodwin REAL-TORS company pic-nic by the lake.

CTCAR presidentJoe Linsalata,Cathy Conway andHarry Gibbs displaythe RCAA c c r e d i t a t i o nreceived at theNational Associationof REALTORS con-vention inWashington, D.C.


DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS!DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS!

Now is the time for your clients to buy!

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FREECREDITREPAIR

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ClosingCosts

HISTORICALLY

LOWRATES

$8K

DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS!DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS!

Now is the time for your clients to buy!All signs indicate there’s never been a more opportune time for your clients to buy a new Meritage, Legacy or Monterey

home. Don’t miss out! Bring your clients to one of our Austin area neighborhoods today before many ofthese special savings opportunities are in your rear view mirror.

MeritageHomes.com(512) 627-9619 Legacy Homes

Meritage Homes

Monterey Homes

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MANOR

PFLUGERVILLE

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KYLE

BUDA

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Promotion available for a limited time only. Prices, rates, terms, programs and availability subject to change or revocation without prior notice or obligation. Offers and availability, including amount, duration and particular home/plan, vary. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or incentives unless approved by Meritage Management. Job Loss Protection Program is not a commitment to lend. Loans subject to underwriting, credit, and property approval. Loan products and coverage terms and limits may vary by state. Not all borrowers will qualify. Maximum benefit of up to $2,500 per month for up to six months, subject to involuntary unemployment insurance policy terms, restrictions, and conditions, vesting and waiting periods, claim filing requirements, and certificate of coverage

issuance. Valid for eligible buyers only and does not apply to self-employed or 1099 contracts. Other restrictions may apply. Terms, policy, and programs may be changed or cancelled at any time without notice. Assistance with closing costs is available with allocated Meritage Money through their preferred lender affiliate. $8,000 Federal tax credit available to qualified first-time homebuyers. Limitations apply. Please see your tax advisor for details or visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. Lease buyouts are available to qualified buyers and vary depending on lease amount, duration and other applicable lease terms. Certain restrictions apply. See sales agent for details. Free Credit Repair program is available to help educate and inform you about credit related issues. Such information is not intended to serve as legal advice. We do not promise or guarantee your credit score will be increased or restored. Other restrictions may apply to programs. Please see sales agent for details. Broker Co-op paid at closing; Broker MUST accompany buyer on 1st sales office visit. Photographs are representative of a Meritage Homes design, but not necessarily offered at the advertised communities.

home. Don t miss out! Bring your clients to othese special savings opp

QUICK MOVE-INS

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Quick move-in homes provide a quick realtor payday! See our current selection online at


Mike Siriboone of Avalar Real Estate and Patrick Smith of SpencerProperties check out another great outdoor living space complete with awaterfall, while participating in the Parade of Homes at Mueller Development.

Cheryl Jenkins ofColdwell BankerUnited REALTORSrings the bell to starta round of bunco atthe Women’sCouncil of REAL-TORS event at theWilshire Homesmodel at TheCommons at RoweLane.

Fran Pullin of FirstAmerican Title wel-comes Kay DaSilvaof Avalar Realty tothe office remodelcelebration of thetitle company’sWestlake office.

Keep Up On the Latest Mortgage News & Hot Real Estate Topics Impacting Your Business.

Join Monday Mortgage Live with John Schutze and Sandy Battise

To Register For the Call Contact: [email protected]

For more info visit: www.mondaymortgagelive.com

Get The Scoop Every Week

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Mondays

10 am to 10:30 am


Drees Announces a NEW PHASE Now Open in CRYSTAL FALLS. Lots with trees, lots with views, cul de sacs and lots of green! Crystal Falls, located in Austin’s booming northwest corridor, is surrounded by everything you need…

Lake Travis, shopping, major employers and acclaimed schools within minutes of the community.

Now, Drees offers a new phase with spectacular Hill Country views and heavily treed homesites plus

new home incentives and the DreeSmart Green Program. Homeowners can see green and save green

at Crystal Falls. See a Drees Market Manager today for details... it’s in your future!

Kirk Sebastian | (512) 259-1824 | From the $270’s | wwww.DreesHomes.com

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Pam Jenkins of Land Mortgage accepts the award for Employer of the Yearat the NAPMW bottle auction.

Kim Miller of theDecorating Den andJennifer Semler ofKeller WilliamsRealty get ready tocheck out the elabo-rate iron gates onone of the homes inBarton Creek, wherethe ABoRFoundation hosteda Tour of Homes.

If you don’tk n o w G e n eHammonds ofHighland Lakes RealEstate and BettyeTurner of JBGoodwin REAL-TORS, joining theCertified ResidentialSpecialists is a greatway to meet themand others.


Enjoying happy hour after the Insiders Guide to Credit Scoring class were Sam Mehra,REALTOR, Mark Hairston of Mortgage IQ (instructor), Shara Parker of RE/MAX AustinAssociates and Rebecca Ponder of Edward Jones. The course was held at Cover 3.

Bill Evans of Austin Real Pros, ABoR’s director of education Sally Yaryan and ChadCardani of Austin Real Pros are pleased to have graduated from the first LeadershipAcademy.

Patricia Wagner of DHI Mortgage models the basket of bottles her company donated forthe National Association of Professional Mortgage Women’s bottle auction.

Lisa Foster-Sixton of Avalon Realty, Linda Schulman of Independence Title, KentonBrown of Sente Mortgage, Laura Pagnozzi of Independence Title and Crystal Kilpatrickof Homes ATX enjoyed the Barton Creek Tour of Homes sponsored by the ABoRFoundation. Sente Mortgage was a sponsor of the Tour of Homes.

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