RealtyLine April 2020 Issue by RealtyLine

APRIL 2020

Capturing REAL Moments in Real Estate since 1995

VOLUME 24 • ISSUE 12

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Transforming Yourself During the Ever-Evolving Digital Age of Real Estate written by RIKI MARKOWITZ

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he digital transformation of the real estate industry has already reshaped how agents and brokers do business. But REALTORS across the country have been especially slow to react to these changes, primarily because keeping up with new technology is a big challenge for a lot of agencies, large and small. According to Austin Board of REALTORS President Romeo Manzanilla, “The industry is adapting on a daily basis,” but there’s still some way to go.

they are already familiar with the neighborhood.”

For many clients, the first steps of the home buying process is fairly easy. “As far as doing everything virtually, every buyer has that ability as long as there‘s enough information for them to be able to digest and take in,” says Manzanilla. There’s an abundance of data showing that when buyers have access to photos, virtual tours and all of the proper disclosures a lot of the early footwork can and does occur digitally, especially for investors. But Manzanilla adds, “Any buyer who wants to can make a buying decision if

can be completed using a wide range of online applications and tools.

We all know about virtual tours. As far as marketing and operations are concerned, they’re one of the most successful digital tools agents have. But it’s not just the way REALTORS show properties that has been disrupted over the past decade. A large percentage of what occurs throughout the entire real estate transaction — from researching properties to closing — According to the National Association of REALTORS 2020 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, “Among all generations of home buyers, the first step taken in the home search process was to look online for properties.” Further, according to the report, 84% of buyers searched for homes on the internet. [Digital Age of Real Estate on page 14]

WE’RE REDEFINING THE CLOSING PROCESS WITH

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS Technological advances have drastically transformed the world around us and the real estate industry is no exception. As part of Stewart Title of Austin’s commitment to provide you with the most up-to-date tools in the industry, we would like to remind you of some of the options we have to offer. These are some of the key resources we have in place to better serve our community and facilitate working remotely with us: x x

ZOCCAM® – remote earnest money payments E-Closings – digital delivery of documents prior to closing (on qualified instances) Remote Online Notarizations – digital signing of documents for a 100% digital closing solution

Close your next transaction without ever stepping foot in a closing room. Contact your Stewart Title of Austin business development officer today for details. stewart.com/austin

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VillageBuilders.com Features, amenities, floor plans, elevations, and designs vary and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Items shown are artist’s renderings and may contain options that are not standard on all models or not included in the purchase price. Availability may vary. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2020 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Village Builders, and the Village Builders logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Date 02/20

REAL | LEADERS

AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS®

We’re in This Together, and We’ve Got Your Back

hen we embarked onto a new decade a few months ago, I don’t think anyone could have predicted we would be in the unprecedented situation we’re in today. At the time of writing this, Central Texans are sheltering-in-place to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. REALTORS® and brokers are figuring out how to continue operations safely (and virtually) as an essential business. While there’s no way of knowing where we’ll be when you read this, one thing is for certain — our industry and our community will never be the same.

ROMEO MANZANILLA

2020 PRESIDENT

REALTORS® are hardworking, caring and resourceful people. I have seen so many examples of this over the last few weeks as agents have pivoted to virtual operations practically overnight and found new, creative ways to market listings and stay connected to clients. This has been a disruptive and challenging time for our community, but it will inevitably lead to smarter, safer and innovative ways of doing business in the future. This is the case at the Austin Board of REALTORS® too. Within three weeks, the staff at ABoR transitioned to fully remote operations with minimal impact to services and zero impact to your member benefits. ABoR Academy classes, events and volunteer group meetings were reworked to be held virtually. This is all while posting real-time COVID-19 industry updates, expert interviews and resources on our COVID-19 Resources Page (ABoR.com/COVID19) on a daily basis. Since then, we have remained laser-focused on making sure you are kept informed, equipped and empowered during this difficult time. As we’ve had to pivot and shift operations, we’ve been constantly looking for ways to turn these changes into long-term member benefits for you.

Free Education with ABoR On-Air In our unprecedented situation, professional development is more important than ever. In fact, the agents who use disruptive times like these to hone their skills and double-down on their education are those who come out ahead when market conditions return to normal. To that end, at the beginning of the month we launched ABoR On-Air, live, online courses that allow our members to experience the same benefits of our ABoR Academy classroom courses in the comfort of their own home for free through May 30. We’ve doubled our typical course schedule offered at the Academy,

including required license renewal courses, SAE, GRI, MLS training and more. And it’s not just ABoR Academy classes — we’ve begun to roll out memberfavorite events and programs virtually, such as our Small Broker Meetup and our Global Lunch and Learn (ABoR.com/GLL). Most all of the courses we had scheduled through May 30 sold out in the first few hours after the announcement, and since then we’ve been working hard to add additional courses as soon as we can schedule them. Learn more at ABoR.com/ Academy.

Stay Home, Work Safe Kit In addition to our COVID-19 Resource Center, we also launched a Stay Home, Work Safe Kit for members (ABoR.com/WorkSafe). It’s jam-packed with helpful videos, downloadable resources and tools to keep your clients informed and your business thriving during this season. This includes FAQ flyers for clients, a Business Planning Workbook, daily planners, virtual operations guides, coloring sheets for your kids, Spotify playlists and more!

Looking Ahead: Seek the Silver Lining I don’t know when things will return to “normal,” but for my family, my Realty Austin team and at ABoR, we are embracing this season as an opportunity to innovate our operations and double-down on what matters most in our business. While there’s no way to tell what market conditions will be like when this article runs in late April, economists believe that when COVID-19 is behind us, the Austin housing market is going to be hotter than ever. In all ways, Austin real estate is still open for business, but our business has changed. We’re in this together and ABoR has your back.

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Coming Soon Something great is just around the corner. We’re excited to announce that a brand-new community—with new homes, new streets, new everything—is coming soon to Georgetown. Stay tuned to see how you can own a home that’s as unique as you are. Valley View in Georgetown • 1,353–2,898 sq. ft., 3–5 bdrms., 2–3.5 baths • Convenient to IH-35, Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 130 for quick commutes to Georgetown and Austin-area employers Thunder Valley Trl., Georgetown, TX 78626 • 888-524-6637 From IH-35, head east on SE Inner Loop. Turn left on FM-1460, left on Old 1460 Trl. and left on Thunder Valley Trl. to community on the right.

888-KB-HOMES | kbhome.com Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2020 KB Home (KBH). Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specifications subject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Sq. footage is approximate. Photo may depict upgraded landscaping/options and may not represent lowest-priced homes. See sales counselor for details. AUS-280802

QUICK ACCESS LINKS for REALTORS, brokers and property managers Texas REALTORS® has several new forms, including COVID-19 Contract Addendums to protect you and your clients. Download them and add them to closing documents.

DOWNLOAD: Residential COVID-19 Contract Addendum (TXR-2520)  DOWNLOAD: Commercial COVID-19 Addendum (TXR-1952) DOWNLOAD: COVID-19 Lease Payment Plan Agreement (TXR-2227) DOWNLOAD: Commercial Lease Rent Forbearance Agreement (TXR-1952) DOWNLOAD: Model COVID-19 Certification for Property Access

HELPFUL RESOURCE LINKS CLICK HERE: Texas REALTORS CLICK HERE: National Association of REALTORS Austin Board of REALTORS: CLICK HERE Stay Home, Work Safe Kit

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REAL | LEADERS

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN

Advocacy + Safety = Keep Austin Building

JOE FOWLER

2020 PRESIDENT

uring these turbulent, complex and challenging times, we must all do our part. The HBA’s job is to educate and advocate on behalf of the 750+ HBA members to help protect the home building industry. Ever since the shocking orders issued by Travis County and the City of Austin excluding most construction from the list of essential services, we have worked 24/7 to advocate for our industry and associated trades and services at the local, state and national levels.

After numerous phone calls, emails and letters to local, state and national officials, working both alone and in conjunction with other national, state and local industry associations and stakeholders, we are happy to report that these efforts made a meaningful impact.

In case you weren’t aware, on March 19, 2020, the United States Department of Homeland Security Cyber Infrastructure Security Agency (US DHS CISA) issued a Guidance Memorandum outlining “essential critical infrastructure workforces” that should continue during COVID-19. Construction was included on that list, but several local jurisdictions chose to govern against the national guidance, the majority of Texas and the majority of the United States and to restrict construction to select projects and people.

The efforts of the HBA of Greater Austin have not gone unnoticed. Karl Eckhart, vice president of Intergovernmental Affairs at the National Association of Home Builders, shared that the HBA’s “advocacy tactics are being modeled in other cities and states already.”

In direct response to these restrictions, on Saturday, March 29, 2020, the US DHS CISA issued Guidance Memo 2.0, which specifically included residential construction as an essential critical infrastructure workforce that should be allowed to continue operations.

Functioning critical infrastructure is imperative during the response to the COVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Certain critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility in these times to continue operations… [including:] Workers performing housing construction related activities to ensure additional units can be made available to combat the nation’s existing housing supply shortage. See https://www.cisa.gov/publication/ guidance-essential-critical-infrastructureworkforce.

On March 31, 2020, Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order adopting DHS CISA Guidance Memo 2.0 as determinative of essential businesses in Texas.

However, we must continue to be vigilant.

We must lead by example regarding jobsite safety! Although construction job sites already have their own unique safety requirements built in, social distancing orders and safety rules MUST BE FOLLOWED. This is up to each builder, each crew member, each service technician and service provider. If you see something outside of these safety procedures, say something to your fellow builder. We must stay on top of this in order to keep Austin building and more importantly to keep Austin safe. Our area’s housing industry is among the strongest in the nation and we plan to do everything in our power to keep it that way. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the city and county officials in the greater Austin area to help ensure the safety of our workers and our community. For more tools and updates, we encourage you to sign up for HBA email blasts at HBAaustin.com and follow us on social media (@HBAGreaterAustin), Twitter (#hbaaustin) and LinkedIn (home-builders-association-of-greater-austin). The HBA will continue to work day and night to protect our industry and will continue to advise our Members to obey all laws and always keep safety first. Together we can stay healthy, ensure our infrastructure remains strong, keep essential industry moving and ensure we all emerge even better.

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REAL | LEADERS

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Achieving Our Goals in Unpredictable Times

”

“When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. — AUDRE LORDE

KRISTON WOOD

2020 PRESIDENT

E FIFTE

OOT F ’ 0 6 S LOTMAIN RE

Reading this quote, I couldn’t help to feel as if she was speaking to us, the thousands of entrepreneurs working to shift our mindset in uncertain times. We are accustomed to the seasonality of our business. Our 2020 vision was on point, with the first quarter bringing in robust numbers and we have been busy. Then the crisis hits. Are we prepared? What does our business plan look like in a slowdown? What about our finances? Who are the people that would help me push through a shift? Often, we begin our year with a business plan backed by an overall vision; simple, straight forward and focused. We work the plan, check the boxes and become busy. It becomes automatic. However, the past has proven that market slowdowns happen. Sometimes we are so busy we work ourselves out of work because our plans do not account for a shift. We need to be able to pivot to business plans that do account for market shifts, so that we can implement them with minimal confusion and maximum efficiency. In a slowdown you cannot continue to do what has been successful in your seasonal plan, you must adjust accordingly. Fear permeates a market that shifts suddenly. For a business owner, fear can cause immediate slowdown. Lorde speaks of this in her quote above. So how can we “use our strength in service of our vision and become less afraid?” When building our revised business plan, we must increase our efforts to continue to see

”

similar results. By increasing our focus on the most important aspects of our businesses — relationships and marketing — we will find that we continue to meet the planned goals, and our impact is far greater for those depending on us to be a resource while they, too, traverse this new terrain. When busy, we feel more successful and this ego boost deceives us into spending money on trade tools that are not as effective. Worse, we don’t inspect the return until much later. In a market slowdown, we don’t have the luxury of time. We will need our finances to stretch further, focusing only on the most important budget items and trimming the rest. If you have a line item that is not essential, cut it. We as business owners understand the value of our relationships. In a shifting market, our relationships are highlighted through communication and leverage opportunities. Leveraging the tasks that aren’t our most important business priorities is key to a quick pivot. We can leverage through hiring, through business affiliate partnerships and even our databases. Our customers know us and support us. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Show up for them and they will show up for us. The truth is our businesses don’t have to slow down, even if the market does. By having a focused plan, leveraging non-essential tasks and staying in communication, we move out of fear and stay in service to our vision.

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RealtyLine is published monthly by Caxton Publications, Inc.™ as a non-subscription publication for the more than 15k+ members of the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), the more than 1,800+ members of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCREALTORS) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin. RealtyLine is a proud member of ABoR, WCREALTORS, HBA and an honorary member of WCR Austin Chapter. We are equally proud to be a Major Investor in TREPAC (2019). RealtyLine is not responsible for opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers or for errors and any by-products in advertising or editorial copy. REALTOR® is a registered trademark. The word REALTOR® sometimes appears in this publication without the registered trademark symbol (®) to save space. Wherever the word REALTOR® appears in

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Contact us to learn about our communities in Georgetown, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Manor, Buda, Hutto and throughout greater Austin. DOREN CARVER

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contributors Riki Markowitz Katie Agness 2019 Presidents Romeo Manzanilla, Austin Board of REALTORS Becky Grimes, Home Builders Association of Greater Austin Kriston Wood, Williamson County Association of REALTORS Aaron Lee, Women's Council of REALTORS® Austin Chapter

REAL | LEADERS

WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS®

Hello, Austin! I hope you are all navigating through our ”temporary” normal as well as you can. If you are like me, you have never had so much open time on your calendar. At moments, I find myself wondering what to do next. I decided to use this newfound time by focusing on a strategic list. First, I am focused on staying connected with my client and referral base to check in and say “how are you and can I help you in this crazy time?” It may be as simple as supply delivery or just talking on the phone to break up the isolation.

AARON LEE

2020 PRESIDENT

Next, I am catching up on all the projects that I usually don’t have time to conquer. Cleaning up lists and marketing to be ready for when the world is back to work. High on my list is time hiking to get outdoors and take care of me for a change. I’ve added to my list a few unfinished books and audibles, too. What is Women’s Council up to these days? Planning our next meetings. If all goes well, please plan to join us. So for the next few weeks take care of you and get ready to come out better than ever.

April 22 - Member Orientation via Zoom May 6 @ 11 a.m. - Luncheon at Maggiano’s at the Domain June 17 - Annual Ron King Salon Mixer with blowouts and makeup July 1 @ 11 a.m. - Luncheon at Maggiano’s at the Domain

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[Digital Age of Real Estate continued from front page] So before clients ever reach out to a single agent, they have already browsed listings, virtually toured home and narrowed their search to certain neighborhoods or even a specific property. With all of the information that‘s out there, buyers across generations are doing the majority of their search on their own and can get pretty far into the process, but there are some exceptions. “First-time home buyers find the process a little more challenging,” says Manzanilla. When Keller Davis and John Baxa decided to buy a home, they did what most millennials do. They went online to browse “well over 100 listings” and favorited dozens of properties in neighborhoods they liked. Then they reached out to Karen Derr REALTORS. At that point, their agent had a pretty good idea what to show the first-time buyers. “I would say only about 30 percent of the process was in person with our real estate team,” said Davis, owner of Createscape Coworking in East Austin. “And that was mostly just checking out houses.” The fact that many buyers are more independent now than ever doesn’t mean REALTORS are less relevant, though not for lack of trying by the tech industry. But many agents are stepping up and meeting real estate clients where they are. Bryan Hutchinson, CEO of Williamson County Board of REALTORS said, “We have been working on our ability to be agile in relation to professional development. I am proud of the way Debby Moran, our education director, and Julie Jones, our professional development committee chair, responded to the changing environment…and how they assist our brokers, team leaders and agents in adopting and thriving in the digital world we now live in.” A survey conducted by Meredith Corporation found that more than any other generation, millennials use social media throughout the homebuying process. And according to NAR, agents and brokers said that social media was the best tool they have for generating high-quality leads. So that’s obviously a platform agents should invest in, especially since the newest wave of clients are young millennials, which are soon to be followed by Gen Z, who are just now coming into their 20s. Both of these generations are accustomed to completing most tasks online from paying bills to making purchases. They expect the same service and convenience when purchasing a home. But last year, only 23 percent of real estate agents used social networking sites to market a home, according to NAR. It’s not nearly enough. Facebook has one of the largest and most diverse user bases of all the platforms. It also has tools agents can use to target neighborhoods and demographics. Instagram is the best platform for posting images and video content. And for professional purposes, REALTORS use LinkedIn for networking, posting business content and establishing their brand.

Firms should also see how platforms like Zillow, Trulia and Nextdoor can help generate leads and increase engagement. In fact, Zillow was one of the platforms Davis and Baxa used to find properties prior to meeting in person with their REALTOR. But their early online search gave their agent, Jonathan Ryan, an idea of what the couple was looking for, then found even more properties in the MLS that Davis and Baxa missed online, including the Dove Springs ranch the couple closed on and moved into at the end of March. Some of the most difficult steps in the home buying process for up to one in five buyers, according to NAR, are understanding the transaction and navigating paperwork. But ever since the mortgage and title industries have brought the application and closing processes into the digital age, transaction participants have more options and flexibility. These changes really demonstrate how, across the real estate industry, experts are meeting customers needs more and more. Specifically, by enabling clients to sign documents digitally, accepting and securing payments via mobile app and offering remote online notarization (RON). Feeling like you’re falling behind? No problem. According to Manzanilla, ABoR has doubled down on its online education. “We offer training on how to work virtually, including the do’s and don‘ts for marketing your property.” The organization also compiles resources that agents can access on how to create virtual tours and how to design presentations. “We are in constant communication with our brokers, finding out from them what sort of resources they need that ABoR can provide.” Manzanilla adds, “Agents just have to get out of their comfort zone and look to see what are the emerging technologies, tools and resources that would best serve their clients in this digital age.” There are other sources out there for agents who are looking to put one or both feet more firmly into the digital world and get continuing education credits at that same time. Real estate schools offer courses on social media marketing, live streaming, cloud storage, document sharing, electronic signatures, online risk management and transaction management technologies. “Many agents in Central Texas are eager to take advantage of these opportunities,” says Hutchinson. “I am experiencing firsthand the resilient nature of our members. They have adapted platforms such as Facebook Live, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and turned them into high-performance marketing tools. Agents are sharing information through virtual tours on Facebook Live, for example, and have written full price offers on listings. The ability to bring clients, along with generations of their families, into Zoom-based showings is giving clients the ability to get the experience of the family and REALTOR, all in one platform.”

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John Schutze REGIONAL DIRECTOR NMLS #208548

(512) 775-6820

John@TexasLoanExperts.com

Give your clients the best mortgage experience. “John and his team are great to work with! We have used John on 7 home loans since 2006. He is professional, knowledgeable, and moves quickly!” - The Fishers

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

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NEW HOMES FROM THE

•

$280’S

800 acres of dedicated open space and park land Close proximity to Texas State University, business, shopping and entertainment 45-acre Central Park recreation space Desirable location off IH-35 between Austin and San Antonio Resort-caliber amenities and playgrounds 10+ miles of trails

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REAL | PEOPLE

KB Home Oakmont: Sales Counselor Monika Leandry of KB Home

HBA Be Social Happy Hour: Debbie Horrige and HBA 2020 President Joe Fowler

Santa Rita Ranch Realtor Rodeo: Ed Horne and Regina Spurlock with REALTORS competing for big bucks. Orange is it!

Trinity Texas Builders Groundbreaking: Sijo Vadakkan of Trinity Texas Realty and Independence Title‘s President Chad Decker

Hometrust Mortgage has been helping people buy, reﬁnance and construct homes in the Austin area for 32 years. We offer a full array of home mortgage products and your loan is processed and underwritten locally. Contact Hometrust Mortgage today for a free consultation or to get started on your home purchase or reﬁnance.

www.HomeTrust.com

Richie Rodriguez Bradley Rife Branch Manager NMLS #222698 rrodriguez@ hometrust.com

Bryson Reid

Hometrust Mortgage Company, NMLS# 149932

Lynn Edgar

Catherine Darwin

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

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

NORTHWEST OFFICE

WESTLAKE OFFICE

Two Locations to Serve You

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

Anila Cardyn

Brooke Payne Angela Dean

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

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

REAL | STORIES

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Life Inspired Homes.

TRENDMAKER HOMES

or nearly 50 years, Trendmaker Homes has been providing a premium homebuilding experiences throughout Texas. When Trendmaker Homes expanded into Austin in 2015, the company brought a commitment to its people, culture and premium home plans to Central Texas.

“The people that build our homes and service our customers are the best in the industry, and this translates into our product and our communities,” says Mark Heidmann, director of Sales and Marketing for Trendmaker Homes. “We want our customers to love the way they live in our homes and in turn love their home.” Part of the TRI Pointe Group family of builders, Trendmaker Homes’ local division office and 4,500-square-foot Design Studio are located in Northwest Austin. “All of the Trendmaker Homes properties here in Austin have been designed within the past five years, and our Design Studio ensures the homes are specific to the customer’s

wants and needs depending on the submarket they live in,” Heidmann says.

Trendmaker Homes offers a variety of pricing levels in the Austin area, from the $200s to more than $1 million. Currently, they are building homes in communities in Westlake, Leander, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Kyle and New Braunfels. “We have recently started development within the Meyer Ranch master-planned community in New Braunfels,” Heidmann says. “We will be building homes in our own Trendmaker exclusive enclave of this popular community beginning with our first 47 families in this new neighborhood.” Heidmann adds that in addition to its new development in New Braunfels, Trendmaker is planning several new communities in Northwest, Northeast, and South Austin that are slated for 2021 and 2022. Trendmaker Homes has been a leader in green building for nearly 20 years and all homes are part of their

written by KATIE AGNESS

LivingSmart® Program, which focuses on health and well-being for Trendmaker Homes customers and the planet. While all homes offer green features and amenities, homebuyers can choose from a variety of exterior styles and elevations, including Hill Country Contemporary, Farmhouse, Hill Country Transitional, Ranch, Updated Traditional and more. “Our homes bring a premium feel at numerous price points and are designed to be thoughtful, contemporary, open-concept living spaces with plenty of natural light with lots of large windows,” Heidmann says. For Trendmaker Homes, their biggest sign of success are happy customers. “We are always committed to providing a premium experience and product to our customers, so when homeowners recommend us to their friends and family, that lets us know we are on the right track,” Heidmann says. “We want to work to create raving fans within the individuals and families that entrust us to build their home.”

REAL | PEOPLE

M/I Homes Legal Update I: Esther Mata of M/I Homes and new homeowners Olivia and Eric Villanueva

Williamson County Association of REALTORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; East Side Bus Tour: John Arleth and King Bravo, both of Nextage Lone Star Realty

Santa Rita Ranch REALTOR Rodeo: Suzette Whitehead and son, Jack Palmer, both with Realty Texas

STRENGTH EXPERTISE SERVICE

LOCALLY STRONG NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

BEE CAVE

austin.ctic.com

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

CEDAR PARK

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

GREAT HILLS

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

S. MOPAC

1501 S. Mopac Ste. 130 Austin, TX 78746

WESTLAKE

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

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YOU COULD BE THE NEXT

Superstar Realtor IN

2020

$4 MILLION I N C OM M I S S I O N S STEP ON STAGE – IT’S YOURS FOR THE TAKING!

175 ELIZABETH PARK BLVD. LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS 78642 | 512.688.5080 | SANTARITARANCHAUSTIN.COM/REALTOR

REAL | PEOPLE

Austin Title Cash Flow Planning: Instructor Matthew Posey and attendees

HBA Be Social Happy Hour: Carrie Moorman, Erin Scott and Miranda Hardin, all with the HBA

Affordable Lending and Access to Credit: Mary Boatwright of All City Real Estate and Damian Squires of Security National Mortgage

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

CLOSINGS THAT MOVE YOU.

STRESS-FREE TRANSACTIONS

“

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

”

JENNIFER RHODES

LORI WILLIAMS

SHEILA BALAGIA

Escrow Officer

Business Development

Office Manager/Escrow Officer

jrhodes@swtatx.com

lori@swtatx.com

sbalagia@swtatx.com

REAL | PEOPLE

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 | MY REA LTY L I N E .COM Williamson County Association of REALTORS‘ East Side Bus Tour: Loran Duncan and Lauren Andrews, both with 512-Society

M/I Homes Legal Update I: Esther Mata and Angie Barnes, both of M/I Homes

AMBA Coaching Series: Janelle Landry and Brooke Heinsohn, both of Independence Title

TOP

Austin

awesome

amenities amazing

Community *

lifestyle

*2019 RCLCO

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

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SunfieldTX.com

Sunbright Activity Center has a splash park and lap pool, with AMPLE shade for all. Visit us online today to see our community amenities, amazing builders and a list of Available Quick Move In Homes!

master-planned living south of austin from $200s CASTLEROCK • CENTEX • CHESMAR HOMES GEHAN HOMES • PULTE HOMES • TAYLOR MORRISON

REAL | PEOPLE

Williamson County Association of REALTORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; East Side Bus Tour: RealtyLine Publisher Doren Carver gives it a thumbs up

Affordable Lending and Access to Credit: Travis Jenkins and Rhonda Jenkins, both of Security National Mortgage, and Inelda Brown of International Realty Brokers

AMBA Coaching Series: Bette Gould Cook of North American Title; Lauren Schuler and Michelle Schuler

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COMING SOON

Meyer Ranch NEW BRAUNFELS, TX

Your Peace of the Hill Country

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

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

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

TrendmakerHomes.com

REAL | PEOPLE

AMBA Coaching Series: Kimberly Watson of SouthStar Bank and Brook-lyn Hibbs

Williamson County Association of REALTORS‘ East Side Bus Tour: Gracie Roberts of Amazing Realty and Alicia Wehr of Texas National Title

M/I Homes Legal Update I: Lindsay Royal of Team Price Real Estate, Patrick Connell of Realty Solutions and Leslie Hernandez of Apartment Solutions

Santa Rita Ranch REALTOR Rodeo: Cathy Sanders of Scott Felder Homes and Ruth McCarthy

PURCHASE A HIGHLAND INVENTORY HOME PURCHASE A HIGHLAND INVENTORY HOME BETWEEN MARCH TH - JUNE TH AND RECEIVE UP TO BETWEEN MARCH TH - JUNE TH AND RECEIVE UP TO

1310 S 1st Street, Suite 100, Austin TX 78704 512-458-3730 ofc / 512-458-3736 fax info@austinrealpros.com www.austinrealpros.com

TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS* WHEN YOU TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS* WHEN YOU FINANCE THROUGH HIGHLAND HOMELOANS FINANCE THROUGH HIGHLAND HOMELOANS

P LU $ 3 REA ,0 S LTO 00 RB ON

US *

VISIT HIGHLANDHOMES.COM/AUSTIN TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! All qualified sales must be original contracts on inventory Highland Homes in Austin contracted between March 20, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Home must close and fund by December 31, 2020 to qualify. Builder contribute up to $6,000, can be used towards titleMarch policy,20, closing pre-paids. Amounts will be All qualified sales must be original contracts ontoinventory Highland Homeswhich in Austin contracted between 2020cost and and/or June 30, 2020. Home must close and reflected on the Closing Disclosure. Must finance through Highland HomeLoans. Thisbe is used not atowards commitment to lend, availability subjectpre-paids. to changeAmounts without notice fund by December 31, 2020 to qualify. Builder to contribute up to $6,000, which can title policy, closing cost and/or will be or prior obligation. Cannot Disclosure. be combined with any other offer.Highland Exclusions apply. See This SalesisCounselor for details. Homes and Huntington Homes reserve reflected on the Closing Must finance through HomeLoans. not a commitment toHighland lend, availability subject to change without noticethe or right to change or cancelbe this promotion at any any other time. All rights reserved, Highland Homes, LLC. © 2020 Highland HomeLoans℠ (NMLS: 124684).Homes All loans subject prior obligation. Cannot combined with offer. Exclusions apply. See Sales Counselor for details. Highland Homes and Huntington reserve the to credit approval. Rates and subjectattoany change. Equal Housing Lender. Highland HomeLoans is a Highland subsidiaryHomeLoans℠ of PlainsCapital Bank124684). and exempt fromsubject right to change or cancel this fees promotion time. All rights reserved, Highland Homes, LLC. © 2020 (NMLS: All loans mortgage banker licensing in TX. Highland HomeLoans is an affiliated business arrangement between Highland HomeLoans Ventures, LLC (HHLV), and to credit approval. Rates and fees subject to change. Equal Housing Lender. Highland HomeLoans is a subsidiary of PlainsCapital Bank and exempt from PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC. HomeLoans HHLV is affiliated with Highland Homes, LLC. mortgage banker licensing in TX. Highland is an affiliated business arrangement between Highland HomeLoans Ventures, LLC (HHLV), and PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC. HHLV is affiliated with Highland Homes, LLC.

• • • • • • •

You receive ﬁrst month’s management fee for your referral Your clients are returned when it’s time for you to sell their property Your client gets a professional team to care for their investment Over 60 years of combined experience in real estate Refer your clients to a company you’ve come to know and trust Commercial, Apartment, and HOA Management Services Ask us about our parallel marketing program

Sales • Leasing • Property Management Agents! We have great opportunities to advance your career. Give us a call today!

512-458-3730

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real estate

Community Connection

the best industry network of closers, knowledge, experience, Tools, service, Training, and marketing.

New! TNT companion App

www.TexasNationalTitle.com

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