RealtyLine_Mar_10

By Linda McNabb

Buyers who are looking for smaller homes and possi-

bly lower prices should be pleased this year. Mem-

bers of the National Association of Home Builders

(NAHB) who were polled at the International Builders Show

say they will do one or the other, maybe both, in 2010.

“Austin buyers today are looking for a well-designed,

energy efficient home,” says Colette Fitzgerald of KB

Home. “In the past, large square footage was important,

but now buyers are looking for well-designed usable space,

with some flex-space included that can be used for what-

ever their specific needs are (i.e. office, media room, game

room, nursery, formal dining room, etc.).”

Builders were given a list of 40 features and asked which

ones they were likely to include in new homes this year, and it

quickly became clear what is hot. Luckily, it appears to reflect

what local buyers desire as well.

“The must haves are open great rooms with the kitchen

open to the family room, energy efficient features, and separate

tub and shower in the master bathroom,” Fitzgerald says.

Nancy Kearns, sales manager of Drees Custom Homes

Austin Division, says their clients are seeking outdoor space,

more bathrooms upstairs and larger kitchens. Buyers must also

be looking for storage, as Kearns says she sees many are seeking

three -car

garages, a

f e a t u r e

once found

only in

higher-end

homes.

Perhaps

the biggest

influence

comes from

utility costs.

"Builders

will focus

heavily on

energy-sav-

ing fea-

tures," says Rose Quint, assistant vice president for NAHB's

Survey Research Economics and Housing Policy Group.

"Things we thought were con-

sumer necessities—such as

granite countertops in the

kitchen or home offices—are not

on the list."

Also on the chopping block

this year are energy-guzzlers

like the high-ceiling entryways.

Builders hope nine-foot ceilings

will give the buyer a feeling of

more square footage, which has

been reduced.

Buyers will be looking for

ways to save money in bath-

rooms as well. For example,

water-saving toilets use an average of 39,000 fewer gallons of

water annually for a family of four. That's enough for a lifetime

of drinking water for three people, said Shane Judd, senior mar-

keting manager of

water conserva-

tion for Kohler.

As for aesthet-

ics, stainless steel

is still a very pop-

ular option for ap-

pliances, and

floors and walls

are mostly neutral

colors. “Darker

‘espresso’ colored

cabinets are a very

hot item now,”

Fitzgerald says

“Also darker, dis-

tressed wood

flooring is very popular.” Drees Custom Homes is seeing a

trend toward darker walls as well, Kearns says.

Buyers are expressing a preference for no carpet, or carpet

only in the bedrooms. “It gets too difficult to maintain in the

high traffic areas,” Fitzgerald says. “Plus many people have

pets and/or allergies, which causes them to prefer no carpet.”

Fitzgerald says she thinks formal living rooms are the fea-

ture that will be gone in the next decade. “Our culture has

evolved and there is not much of a need for formal living rooms

anymore,” she says. “It is typically wasted space.”

Exterior trends include lots of style and design appeal, with

mixed materials such as stucco and stone or brick.

One of the best places to check out the latest trends is the

New Home Tour sponsored by the Home Builders Association

of Greater Austin from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Apr. 10-11 and

Apr. 17-18 at scattered sites throughout West and Northwest

Austin. For more information, visit www.hbaaustin.com. [RL]

New Home Trends Reported; View Them On HBA’s Tour

—Associates—

In Progress

Upcoming Events:

March 17NAHREP Monthly LuncheonCool River Cafe - 11 a.m.

March 18WCAoR LuncheonWingate Hotel/Conference Ctr. - 11:30 a.m.

March 248th Annual St. Patti’s Day Golf TournamentForest Creek Golf Club - 11:30 a.m.

Power Luncheon with Sente Mortgage901 S. Mopac, Bldg. IV, Suite 125 - Noon

HBA Monthly Builder/Associate MixerArchitectural Granite and Marble - 5 p.m.

AYREP’s Bowling and Networking Happy HourThe Highball Bowling - 6 to 7:45 p.m.

March 25WCR Monthly LuncheonABoR Auditorium - 11 a.m.

March 27WCAoR: Every Drop Counts Blood Drive123. E. Old Settler’s Blvd. - 11 a.m.

enjoyable. entertaining. It’s all about you.March 2010 • Vol. 14 • Issue 11

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

Join the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) on May 3

for the annual Texas Real Estate Political Action Commit-

tee (TREPAC) golf tournament at the Avery Ranch Golf

Club located at 10500 Avery Club Drive, Austin, TX 78717. With

a registration fee of only $99 per player, this event is a great way

to show your support for TREPAC while enjoying a round of golf.

Registration for the tournament is now underway. Each reg-

istration fee includes 18 holes of golf, lunch, golf cart, entry to the

awards dinner and two drink tickets. Late registration for the

tournament begins Apr. 26 and concludes Apr. 30. The late regis-

tration fee is $110 per player. If golf isn’t your sport, purchase a

ticket to the awards dinner for $20.

The tournament will begin with check-in and practice at 11

a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Advertising opportu-

nities ranging from $200 to $1,000 are also available.

Last year’s tournament successfully raised more than $12,000

for TREPAC. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in this

year’s event by registering today. Registration forms can be found

online at http://www.abor.com/events/golf.cfm.

For more information and questions, contact Christina Ortiz

in ABoR’s Government Affairs Department by phone at 454-7636,

ext. 1501 or by e-mail at [email protected]. [RL]

Score Big on the Green at the Annual TREPAC Golf Tournament

Items “more likely” to be found

in new homes in 2010

1. walk-in closeT in masTer bedroom

2. separaTe laundry room

3. insulaTed fronT door

4. greaT room

5. low-e windows

6. linen closeT

7. programmable THermosTaT

8. energy-efficienT appliances and ligHTing

9. separaTe sHower and Tub in masTer baTHroom

10. nine-fooT ceilings on firsT floor

1. ouTdoor kiTcHen

2. ouTdoor fireplace

3. sun room

4. buTler’s panTry

5. media room

6. desk in kiTcHen

7. Two-sTory foyer

8. 8-fT ceiling on firsT floor

9. mulTiple sHower Heads in masTer

10. bigger baTHrooms

items homebuyers will “least likely”

find in new homes this year

Homebuyer Trends in 2010

www.realtylineonline.com realty line of austin March 20102

Seth Thompsonand AnthonyChambers, both ofZIP Realty, enjoysome karaoke at thesecond annualMardi Gras happyhour that AYREPhosted at CommonInterest on BurnetRoad.

Denise Moody ofGracy Title andNancy Russell ofWells Fargo HomeMortgage join Car-rie York and PatDukett, both ofAustin Real Pros, atthe annual forecastpresented by GracyTitle.

President’s Cres-cent award winnershonored at the JBGoodwin REAL-TORS awards cele-bration are StuartSutton, Erhard Su-dermann, AdrianGrabe, AshleyVavasour, SandyNelson, LyndaConway, LeisaOrmsbee and KimPerez.

Janet “MonopolyMan” Widmer, cen-ter, of WR StarkeyMortgage, recog-nizes top referralagents for mortgagelending at the KellerWilliams RealtyRound Rock officeawards luncheon.The top referralagents includedDiane Waters, left,and Kim Whitlock,both of KellerWilliams Realty.

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

Linda McNabbCONTrIBUTINg

edITOr/WrITer/PhOTOgrAPher

COLUMNISTSJohn Horton, ABoR ChairmanSteve Zbranek, HBA President

J. Rene Ward, WCAoR PresidentSusanna Boyer, WCR President

John McClellan, Supreme LendingLatra Szal, 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]

For Personalized Service, Call Me Today!

(512) [email protected]

www.austinhomeloans.info

8800 Business Park Drive, Suite 200

Austin, Texas 78759NMLS #200305

Do You KnowWhy FHA Financing

Is So Great?

“I do! I can answer all your questions about the benefits

of financing your new home with an FHA Loan.”— Ann McKinley, your FHA Expert

March 2010 realty line of austin www.realtylineonline.com 3

Dust off your golf clubs and show

your support for the Texas Real

Estate Political Action Commit-

tee (TREPAC) by registering for ABoR’s an-

nual golf tournament on May 3 at the Avery

Ranch Golf Club located at 10500 Avery Club

Drive in northwest Austin. Registration is

only $99 per player and includes 18 holes of

golf, lunch and a ticket to the awards dinner.

Late registration will run Apr. 26-30 with a

registration fee of $110 per player. Individual

tickets are available for the awards dinner for

$20 and offer a great way for those who aren’t

interested in golfing to show their support for

TREPAC. Advertising opportunities ranging

from $200 to $1,000 are also available.

Last year’s golf tournament raised more

than $12,000 for TREPAC. Help make this

year’s event a success by registering today.

Registration forms can be downloaded at

www.abor.com/events/golf.cfm.

For more information, contact Christina

Ortiz in ABoR’s Government Affairs Depart-

ment by phone at 454-7636, ext. 1501 or by

email at [email protected].

NAR Launches HouseLogic.com

In February, the National Association of

REALTORS® (NAR) officially launched

www.HouseLogic.com, a new Web site that

contains valuable resources for both con-

sumers and REALTORS®. HouseLogic pro-

vides consumers with information on a

variety of topics, including home improve-

ment and maintenance, the housing market,

taxes and finances.

In addition to providing consumers with

a wealth of information, HouseLogic also

provides free content for REALTORS®

through the REALTOR® Content Resource

(RCR). With this tool, REALTORS® have ac-

cess to top-notch content written by profes-

sional writers for use in marketing efforts,

including on Web sites, blogs and newslet-

ters. To learn more about HouseLogic and to

sign up for RCR, visit

www.houselogic.com/members/.

ABoR Academy Offers Sales Workshop,

income Property Course in April

Gain valuable knowledge and the neces-

sary tools for success in the real estate busi-

ness by signing up for one of the many

relevant courses on real estate offered by the

ABoR Academy. This spring, a new Sales

Skills Workshop course will debut at ABoR,

along with the updated Income Property

Analysis course.

As real estate professionals, we know a va-

riety of skills are imperative to a real estate

sale. Knowing what these skills are and how

to utilize them can aid in the success of a

transaction. Set for Apr. 29, the fast-paced

Sales Skills Workshop will teach students

about handling objections, effective negotia-

tion communication, the sales and listing

process, overpriced listings and the triangle

of sales success. Not only will you gain valu-

able expertise in real estate sales, you will also

earn nine hours of mandatory continuing ed-

ucation (MCE) credit by taking this $99

course.

Have you struggled with how to accu-

rately define, discuss and calculate the differ-

ent methods of valuation for a property? If

your answer is yes, sign up for the Income

Property Analysis course on Apr. 28 to learn

about the 16 factors that contribute to value

and yield. This course will help you garner a

better understanding of the various methods

of valuation, including price per square foot

or unit, gross rent multiplier, equity rate of re-

turn, internal rate of return and the cash rate

of return.

Enhance your REALTOR® knowledge by

attending these and the many other courses

offered at the ABoR Academy. Register today

at www.Abor.com/Education.

forbes Ranks Austin as One of the

Best Housing Markets

A recent report by Forbes magazine has

drawn attention to the top 10 housing mar-

kets in America. To determine who made the

list, Forbes looked at the factors that influ-

ence the appeal of each housing market, in-

cluding price appreciation, affordability of

homes and the number of foreclosures.

Austin was ranked 10th on the list, joined by

Dallas and Houston who ranked ninth and

third, respectively. The report noted the sta-

bility of the job market in all three Texas

towns as an attribute that contributes to the

strength of their housing markets. Reports

such as this one help further attest to the sta-

bility of the housing market in Austin and

across the state of Texas. [RL]

Subscribe to our Calendar of Events

www.realtylineonline.com

HiT THE GREEN AT THEANNuAL ABOR TREPACGOLf TOuRNAMENT

John Horton n 2010 Chairman

Austin Board of REALTORS® Chairman’s Column

Check out our NEW SITE!

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For more information or locations contact your Business Development Representative:

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Angie Fernandesand Shelly Davis,both of KellerWilliams Realty,walk around theTreaty Oak Homesmodel in the southAustin communitywith sales represen-tative Johnny Myn-hier, who pointedout all the standardfeatures that areavailable to buyers.

Gracy Title’sMichelle Piperi di-rects SherriWilliams of KellerWilliams Realtywhere to signed in atthe annual forecast.Over 300 real estateindustry profession-als were eager tohear what is in storefor Austin real estatein the monthsahead.

The Judy CoppleGroup takes homemany awards, in-cluding one for thenumber one groupat the KellerWilliams RealtyRound Rock awardscelebration.

Gene Arant accepts the Eagle Award, voted on by his peers, and other awards for productionincluding top closed volume team, top gross commission team and top listing volume team atthe Keller Williams Realty Lake Travis awards ceremony.



Mark Hairston, right, of Mortgage IQ, shows Jerry Moore with the United States Departmentof Agriculture (USDA), his quick IQ checklist at the first annual Mortgage IQ Expo 2010.

Craig Smyser, left,and Bill Morris,both of RE/MAXCapital City, intro-duce themselves toAnn McKinley ofNetwork Funding atthe recent CRSluncheon. Ann wasa lunch sponsor.

The grand champi-ons of the ABoRTREPAC Chili Cook-off are Nick Nowak,Jason Nuval, LoriBolton and JoeCummings, all ofCentral Metro Re-alty.


like, trust and REMEMBER. The National

Association of REALTORS (NAR) 2007 pro-

file said only 62% of buyers used their REAL-

TOR again. What happened to the other

38%? I would suggest to you that they didn’t

remember their REALTOR. How often have

you had a friend or relative call to say they

just purchased a home? You think—didn’t

they know I’m a REALTOR? Yes, but they

didn’t remember. It’s not their job to remem-

ber, it’s our job to help people remember us.

People remember memorable experiences.

Think about the last salesperson you met,

that went above the call of duty, gave more

than you expected, treated you in a way that

made you feel special, anticipated your need,

and solved your problem in record time. Did

you get their name? Would you do business

with them again?

In Tom Peters’ book, “The Pursuit of

WOW,” he said, to succeed, individuals and

organizations must stand out from the grow-

ing crowd of lookalikes; in his words, "Being

average has never had much appeal. Better

fail with flair in pursuit of something great."

So what are you doing to stand out?

Below are three ideas to help you:

• Review your marketing. Regardless of

your budget, you can make your advertising

more memorable, interesting and eye-catch-

ing. Ask yourself: Does it break through all

the clutter? Does the headline stop traffic,

does the design cause the reader to pause, is

it easy to read, is there a call to action?

• Volunteer! Being involved with non-prof-

its is a great way to give you exposure and

meet potential clients. Most of the time all it

costs is your time and expertise. Attending

charity events is another easy way to network.

Find something you are passionate about and

meet like-minded professionals. You never

know who you will be rubbing elbows with!

• Say “Thank You.” In our busy world,

sometimes thank you is over looked. But

when a sincere thank you arrives, we enjoy

it. Pick a card that's eye-catching and artistic.

Put it in a brightly colored envelope. A good-

looking card is more likely to hang around

your client's desk or be displayed on a tack

board and not immediately thrown away as

other advertising. Handwritten cards are

best, as are hand addressed and stamped en-

velopes. Details like this tell your clients you

care and you create a memorable moment.

There are a lot of other ways to stand out.

Send me your best idea to [email protected]

and we’ll post it on the WCAoR Web site at

www.wcaor.org. [RL]

J. Rene Ward n 2010 President

The first quarter of 2010 is drawing

to a close and now is a good time

to assess how your business plan

is developing. Are you on target to meet your

goals? Is your plan helping you react to the

changes in the market? The leadership team

at the Williamson County Association of RE-

ALTORS is excited about the things going on

at our association.

We have a lot of new members that have

chosen to join, for which we are truly grate-

ful. We are visiting offices to get a pulse on

our members wants and needs. We are invit-

ing industry experts to each board of direc-

tors meeting to help us build a stronger

association. Members are discovering the re-

wards of volunteering and are engaged in

committees, events and fundraising.

The association has initiated a number of

new programs and committees this year. One

exciting new event from our education com-

mittee is the Rookie Club, chaired by Sonia

Guardado. It is designed for agents that have

been in the business for 24 months or less. Last

month’s premier session provided a wealth of

information to agents starting their new ca-

reer. Stacey Rider and Sonia Guardado,

WCAoR Rookies of the Year for 2008 and

2009, respectfully, generously shared what

made them successful in their first year.

What inspired me in this session was how

REALTORS masterfully compete and cooper-

ate. In what other industry would two profes-

sionals give a detailed plan to their competition

on how they can be successful, how to build a

brand, where to go for products, and provide

Web sites and services that worked for them?

They ended the session by giving out their

phone numbers, saying “if there is anything I

can do to help you be successful, please call. I’m

busy, but not too busy to help you.” I’m sure

this giving spirit has contributed to their real es-

tate success as well. They are creating a memo-

rable, lasting experience for this year’s Rookies.

We have all heard the saying, “people buy

from people they know, like and trust.” And

while that is true, let me add one more

thought—they buy from people they know,

Williamson County Assoc. of REALTORS®

A MESSAGE fROM YOuRASSOCiATiON PRESiDENT

President’s Column

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Subscribe to ourCalendar of Events Today.


Laura Larcom,Jeanne Ann Kleinand Rick Klein, allof Keller WilliamsRealty, place in thetop five for top grosscommission groupand top closed vol-ume group. Theywere recognized atthe Keller WilliamsRealty Round Rockawards luncheon.

Attending theCTCAR luncheon toget more informa-tion about how ap-praisal reform willaffect the real estateindustry was BrianPitman of Inde-pendence Title andJim Greenwood ofAustin Telco.

Susan Brown isgreeted by DorisStout and KristinaGold, both of DreesCustom Homes,when she arrives tothe model homegrand opening inSteiner Ranch’sSantaluz section.

Carol Baker, vice president of membership, HBA, and Colby Leigh of Service Tech havesome fun at the Fat Tuesday themed mixer for builders and associates.

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Max [email protected]

Cell: 512-293-1239www.MaxLeaman.com

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Cell: 512-797-5580www.CandyBuzan.com

Kim [email protected]

Cell: 512-825-2347

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Cell: 512-964-1864www.MissyCitzlerDriskell.com

Mary [email protected]

Cell: 512-750-7834

Brian [email protected]

Cell: 512-565-5852

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Cell: 512-716-3501www.TrudySavage.com

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Michael [email protected]

Cell: 512-784-8488

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Cell: 512-659-7043www.AntonioGarganta.com

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*Must have client sign a new home contract in Falcon Pointe between March 15, 2010 – May 31, 2010, and close escrow by December 31, 2010, to be eligible for the 5% broker co-op and $500 VISA gift card. 5% broker co-op and $500 VISA gift card paid upon verification of eligibility and, closing and funding of the new home. Contact a Falcon Pointe sales office to obtain a copy of the Terms & Conditions.

This is not intended to be an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in Falcon Pointe 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 Falcon Pointe community are constructed and sold by builders not affiliated with Newland Communities or Newland Communities’ affiliated companies. Prices, specifications and details are subject to change without notice. © 2010 Newland Communities. All rights reserved.

Kids love her.Mothers fi ght over her.

She even cleans the house before they return home.

Meet the world’s greatest babysitter.

Lisa is your bestsellingpoint.

When your clients learn the never ending stories of Falcon Pointe, it becomes more of a matter of “How soon can we move?”

Let us help you make the next sale an easy one. Find more stories and the perfect home for your clients at falcon-pointe.com.

Homes in Pfl ugerville from the $150s • 1,516 - 3,919 sq. ft.Centerra Homes • D.R. Horton • Lennar • Meritage Homes

New model homes debuting March 25, 11am - 1pm. RSVP to [email protected] receive $500 and a 5% broker co-op for any new home you sell between now and May 31.*

Newland Communities is a privately owned company that creates residential and urban mixed-use communities in 14 states from coast-to-coast. 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


Coldwell Banker United, REALTORSannounces Million Dollar Club agents

The Westlake office of Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS is proud to announce its

Million Dollar a Month Club for January 2010. They are Jana Birdwell, Brian Fahey, Ali Gars-

son, Barbara Gremillion, Tosca Gruber, Eve Kush and Pat Vincent.

Top 10 Selling Areas 2010 YTD Top 10 Selling Zip Codes 2010 YTD

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Real Estate News & Notes Better Homes Realty opens first office in AustinBetter Homes Realty (www.bhrtexas.com) Texas opened its first office in Texas in Feb-

ruary with a model of operation that allows agents to keep a majority of their commis-

sions, and provides agents with an opportunity to participate in a patented company

revenue sharing program.

The initial office of Better Homes Realty, Texas will serve Houston, Galveston and

Austin. Better Homes Realty, headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, has been a trusted name

since 1964.

The Texas growth strategy will focus on the new “hybrid agent,” the experienced agent

who believes in customer service principals, and who uses traditional business funda-

mentals coupled with cutting edge technology supplied by the broker. The office model

offers a unique combination for agents to prosper with both the attractive commission

split and the revenue share opportunity.

“We see home sellers putting pressure on the listing commissions, which in turn pushes

pressure inward on the brokerage. Agents have become intent on keeping more of their

income so they can invest more in their personal marketing. This model allows them to

do that,” stated Roger Sturgell, a 33-year real estate veteran and former Chairman of the

Austin Board of REALTORS.

Sturgell was inspired to make the new model a success after watching the changes in

the industry, "Partly due to technology, but also because of the dynamic of the “work at

home” agent who is able to take advantage of that technology to provide more information

and better service to his or her clients."

Burnam and Trantham join Leahy & Associates atCornerstone Mortgage Company

With more than 8 years of experience in mortgage lending, John W. Burnam, Jr., recently

joined Leahy & Associates at Cornerstone Mortgage Company as a Loan Officer. A graduate

of Texas Christian University, Burnam is also the president of the local Business Network In-

ternational chapter. As a Loan Officer, it is Burnam’s job to educate and help clients with their

home purchases and to assist with planning for the future with refinances and up-to-date

mortgage guidance. “John is committed to offering the best possible service to his clients,”

said Branch Manager Ryan Leahy. “He works diligently to find solutions to each client’s in-

dividual needs, and makes it his personal mission to over-deliver.”

A frustrating experience refinancing his own home loan led Sam Trantham to the mortgage

industry and to recently join Leahy &Associates as a Senior Loan Officer. “I believe that when

you put the client’s needs first in the decision-making process, everything else will fall into

place,” Trantham said. “My personal slogan has always been working for your best interest.”

Sam has worked in the financial and mortgage industries for many years, and has an expert

understanding of how best to help his clients plan for their future.

Trantham and Leahy also host a Sunday afternoon radio show, Mortgage Savvy, on Talk

Radio 1370 AM. Mortgage Savvy focuses on mortgage lending education through a lively

exchange between local experts and listeners of how mortgage lending affects real estate buy-

ing decisions. The show airs Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m.

WCR to award Educational ScholarshipsThe Women's Council of REALTORS® (WCR), Austin Chapter, is committed to pro-

viding educational opportunities for its members. Each year in March, five $200 scholar-

ships are awarded to individuals who are members of the Austin Board of REALTORS®,

the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® or National members of the WCR

Austin Chapter who have contributed to the success of the organization. You must have

renewed your membership prior to the Mar. 25 luncheon. The awarding of these scholar-

ships is just one of the many member benefits provided by the Austin Chapter of WCR.

The deadline for submitting applications is Mar. 18. Contact Jeanne Butterfield at

[email protected]

S u b s c r i b e t o R e a l t y L i n e ’ sO n l i n e C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s a t

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

March 2010 Realty Line of Austin www.realtylineonline.com 11


Kay DaSilva of Avalar Austin, CRS president Fred Norton and Avis Wukasch of Keller Williams Realtyare pleased with the number of attendees at the Westwood Country Club for the CRS meeting.

Scott Fehr of Keller Williams Realty, Jean Rude of First American Title, Russ Eitel of Keller WilliamsRealty, and Melinda Carroll of First American Title thank Leigh Ann McCoy of Mission Mortgage forsponsoring the economic forecast at the Lakeway Activity Center.

Cindy Dietz and Wendy Feeley, both of MileStone Community Builders, welcome broker Arnold Tije-rina to the grand opening of Paradiso Villas, and to Austin. He just relocated from San Antonio.

A fundraiser was held for Lynsey Thurman, center, as she is in desperate need of a life-saving kidneytransplant. Lynsey is the daughter of Coldwell Banker United agents Ed and Becky Thurman. All dona-tions will be used for transplant related expenses. To donate, visit www.COTAforLynseyT.com.

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.


ucts, and builders discounting all of their costs.

When it is all complete, the cost of these homes

is going to be substantially under—not just

other new homes; but price competitive with

so called “distressed” properties.

This is a great opportunity for REAL-

TORS® in this area to bring potential cus-

tomers to large lots with trees near City Park

and Lake Austin. To sweeten the deal, many

of the builders have already agreed to advance

REALTOR® commissions so that you can get

paid much earlier in the building process.

It is a common occurrence for a home

owner to call the HBA office to inquire about

a past Parade of Homes™. There should be

no doubt that a home that has been in a past

Parade of Homes™ retains prestige for life.

For a REALTOR®, participation in the Pa-

rade of Homes™ should also be a source of

pride, and more importantly, future referrals.

The choice for today’s buyers is clear, do

they want a home where someone else did all

of the selections, carried the interest, let the

house sit idle, and had the warranty period

clock tick? Or, do they want a brand new

house with their own floor plan and selections,

fresh landscaping, upgrades, and the value

that comes with having been one of the pre-

mier houses in Austin constructed in 2011?

A custom home sale in Green Shores is good

for the HBA, it is good for the builder, it is good

for the buyer and it is great for the REALTOR®.

For information, you can contact me or

Harry Savio at the HBA at 454-5588. [RL]

Steve Zbranek n 2009-10 President

Builders to Advance REALTOR

Commissions on new home

construction in the 2011 Parade

of Homes TourTM

With all of the chatter on the

rough economy this year,

many buyers are thinking

they can get a great value in buying a house

that is distressed. They may be looking for a

house that the builder has had to hold too

long or that the bank has taken back. What I

always ask is, “Why would you do that

when you can have exactly the house you

want, with the exact floor plan, and precise

exterior you want built to your specifications

for the same cost or even less?”

Each year, the Home Builders Association

(HBA) of Greater Austin presents the presti-

gious Parade of Homes™ where dream

homes become reality. The tour showcases

some of the best our regional builder mem-

bers have to offer. Exquisite architectural

trends, the latest in home technologies and

interior design trends are all on display at

each and every event.

Rough Hollow Lakeway has already been

chosen for 2010. The HBA is currently work-

ing with the developer of Green Shores to

kick off the Parade of Homes™ for 2011.

However, with the current crunch in the

financial markets, to make a 2011 Parade of

Homes™ possible, builders need buyers in

advance. Simply put, banks are not loaning

money for homes that are not pre-sold. Even

though inventory levels are dropping dra-

matically, and construction costs are escalat-

ing; conventional lenders shy away from

unsold housing stock right now. And while

2011 seems far off to most of us, the time to

get construction started is drawing very near.

The good news for potential buyers is our

developer and builders are willing to pass

along their discounts in order to showcase

houses in the 2011 Parade of Homes™. A buyer

will be able to purchase a home customized for

them, with a lot discount, upgrades that the

HBA members donate to advertise their prod-

HBA of Greater Austin

ATTENTiON REALTORS: YOuR BuYERS

COuLD BuiLD CuSTOM fOR 2011

PARADE Of HOMES WiTH HuGE

DiSCOuNTS AND uPGRADES

President’s Column

n

These 100% Club members accept their awards at the Stanberry & Associates awards breakfast.Seated: Janet Wise, Jennifer Long and Kristi Hayes. Standing: Cathy Coneway, Annie Bright, AnnDaughety, Mark Clausen, Carolyn Parobek, Jeff Stewart and Rick Schulte.

8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, Texas 78759512.592.5400 - unitedlendingusa.com512.592.5400 - 512.592.5400 - 8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, T8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, T512.592.5400 - unitedlendingusa.com512.592.5400 - 8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, Texas 787598303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, T8303 Mopac, Suite A-201 - Austin, Texas 78759exas 78759

unitedlendingusa.comexas 78759


Information is for real estate professionals only and is not intended for distribution toconsumers.Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.© 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A .All rights reserved. #67954 12/09-3/10.

Renovation Financing

Help your remodel customersmaximize their renovation dollarsRecognized as the nation's #1 originator of renovation financing, our renovationloan options may provide your customers financing power to remodel, repair,improve and bring out the most in their home.

• Fixer-uppers, rehabs, and properties in any condition are eligible•Provide your customers a loan amount that is based on thecompleted value of the home after improvements with ourPurchase & RenovateSM program

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To learn how your buyersmay benefit from renovation financing, call today!

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seeing business evolve over sev-

eral generations. “Many of our

referrals come from real estate

agents we have done business

with, and now their children are

in real estate. It is priceless to

know that our clients trust us to

not only do business with them,

but to also do business with

their children.”

A home economics major

who switched to real estate

upon graduation because of the

possible income opportunities,

Komm says she still enjoys the

business because it is always

changing. “There is nothing

about this industry that stays

the same,” she says. “It is either

expanding or shrinking. It gets

in your blood.”

SWBC Mortgage Corporation is a full

service mortgage banking company with a

wide array of products and services, in-

cluding: in-house underwriting, closing,

and funding; aggressively priced portfolio

jumbo loans; and an extensive menu of

government loan products including

USDA, FHA, VA, and TX VET loans.

SWBC Mortgage also offers traditional

agency loan products, such as conforming

fixed-rate mortgages with multiple op-

tions. All of SWBC's programs are de-

signed to help borrowers select a loan

program suited to help their personal fi-

nancial plan.

Headquartered in San Antonio, SWBC be-

lieves in giving back to people and commu-

nities in which its staff lives and works. In

addition to sponsoring hundreds of sporting,

nonprofit, civic, and leadership events,

SWBC has been instrumental in developing

Credit Unions for Kids, a grass-roots pro-

gram comprised of credit unions that raises

money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

SWBC is also a partner in Junior Achieve-

ment, United Way, and the March of Dimes.

For more information, visit SWBC's Web

site at www.swbc.com. [RL]

SWBC is a recognized leader in the

financial services industry. Char-

lie Amato and Gary Dudley,

grade school friends who met again in col-

lege, began the company in 1976 to pro-

vide insurance and financial services to

lending institutions. Today, SWBC is a di-

versified financial services company pro-

viding a wide range of insurance,

mortgage, and investment services to fi-

nancial institutions, businesses, and indi-

viduals. With offices across the country, it

has more than 1,400 employees.

Vice President Linda Komm says she

has seen much growth just in the few years

she has been with the company, which is

starting its eighth year in Austin. “Since I

came here in 2002 we have gone from just

three branches to 34 branches nationally,”

she says. “Now three of them are right

here in Austin.”

She says one factor that contributes to the

company’s growth is that the parent com-

pany is an insurance and financial services

company. “We have always operated on a

conservative basis and did not get caught in

the mortgage meltdown. That enabled us to

buy companies that were shifting down or

going out of business.”

The ability to grow into a respected

leader in the industry while still offering

friendly, personal service also sets SWBC

apart. The employees at SWBC are top-

quality, with a solid education, and a

strong work ethic. One of the things often

noted about SWBC’s employees is their

outstanding customer service and team

spirit that comes from working for years in

the industry.

“Experience. Period. Is really the only

thing that counts in this market,” Komm

says. “It is a shrinking market and you have

to keep up with the changes. You have to

know what you can and cannot do.”

Because SWBC is well known for qual-

ity work, most of the company’s business

is generated by referrals and apparently

they are plentiful. Komm says the three

Austin branches generated $150 million

last year. “You can’t generate that much

production in this market unless you have

a good solid base and expertise in your

staff,” Komm says. “In this market, you

need to come to someone who can get the

transaction closed.”

Komm says it is particularly rewarding

Linda KommVice President - Austin

SWBC MOrTgAge

By Linda McNabb

Associates In Progress Advertiser Profile

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Garrett Martin of MileStone Community Builders welcomes Matthew Brunty of New HomeLocators to the company’s grand opening of Paradiso Villas on Parmer Lane.

Realty Line’sTawanna Carvercongratulates TishDarey, who alongwith her husband,Jeff, was honored atthe JB GoodwinREALTORS awardsbreakfast forachieveing morethan $10 million inproduction in 2009.

Peg Braxton andDiana Mitchell,seated, and DanyleCupp, Krista Kinsand Barbara Pre-ston, all of the PegBraxton Group, arethe overall winnersin group categoriesat the KellerWilliams Realty LakeTravis awards cere-mony, taking awardsfor Top GCI, TopClosed Volume andUnits Taken ListingVolume.


honor of our Texas state President Deborah

Spangler moderate our Rookie Panel. This

panel was highly anticipated and our audi-

ence was totally engrossed in everything

they had to say. They discussed how, even in

a down market, and being new in the busi-

ness, they still closed millions of dollars in

transactions. They shared personal triumphs

and defeats. Our panel members were ABoR

Rookie of the Year Anna Marie Garcia of Ar-

alyn & Company Real Estate; WCAoR

Rookie of the Year Sonia Guardado of JB

Goodwin REALTORS; Top Producing Rookie

Teresa Roberson of Coldwell Banker United

REALTORS; Top Producing Rookie Tim Heyl

of Keller Williams Realty; and AYREP Presi-

dent Sumina Bhatti of Keller Williams Realty.

Our next meeting will be held on Thurs-

day, Mar. 25, at 11 a.m. at the ABoR audito-

rium. Our speaker will be Lani Rosales. Lani

won the Texas Social Media Award as named

by the Austin American-Statesman, named in

the Top 50 Influential Bloggers, the Top 12

Women in Blogging, and won the Inman In-

novator Award. She will present Social

Media—“Truly simplified for the real estate

community.”

A REALTOR Variety Show is in the plan-

ning stages. If you or a REALTOR you know

would like to share their

talents/acts/singing/dancing and be eligible

for prizes, please send an e-mail to

[email protected]. More informa-

tion coming soon.

We are nearing the end of our

Retention/Recruiting contest. Deadline to

renew is Mar. 31. Have you renewed for 2010?

If not, please give Susan Brown, vice president

of Membership, a call and she can help you

renew online. If you would like to join, Susan

can help you do that too. Our contact infor-

mation can be found on the Austin Chapter’s

Web site at www.AustinWCR.org. [RL}

February has come and gone, and if

you missed the Texas Association of

REALTORS®-Women’s Council of

REALTORS® Winter meeting in Austin, you

truly missed out on some wonderful free ed-

ucation, industry updates and some good old-

fashioned fun. Friday was filled with

committee meetings where many WCR mem-

bers met, reviewed their individual commit-

tee charges and set action plans into motion.

On Friday night, the WCR Texas chapter

sponsored the 3rd Annual Celebrity Waiter

Dinner, and with the help of trustees and

other dignitaries from around the state, in

Mardi Gras costume, raised over $13,000 for

TREPAC. We got an early start on Saturday

with our Governing Board meeting and after

that business was taken care of, we went into

our WCR Awards Luncheon where some

pretty special people were recognized for the

accomplishments for 2009. Texas state “Affil-

iate of the Year” was presented to Connie Par-

sons, a member of the Houston chapter. The

“Member of the Year” was awarded to Carol

Reynolds from our El Paso Del Norte chapter

and last, but certainly not least, was our very

own Avis Wukasch being awarded the “En-

trepreneur of the Year.” Congratulations to all

of these fabulous volunteer leaders.

Following the luncheon, WCR sponsored

a very informative discussion with a panel of

leaders in Texas real estate (TREC Adminis-

trator Douglas Oldmixon, HBA Greater

Austin President Steve Zbranek, Texas Mort-

gage Bankers Association President-elect Scott

Norman, NAR Appraisal Committee Member

Candace Cooke, and 20-year real estate vet-

eran Helen Edwards) led by TREC Commis-

sioner and TAR past chairman Avis Wukasch.

The discussion was very timely with “The

new realities of real estate in Texas.”

As you explore opportunities to build

your business, we would like to invite you to

network with some of the most experienced

and successful REALTORS and affiliates in

the industry and attend the upcoming

Women's Council of REALTORS Business

Resource Meetings. In February, we had the

A MESSAGE fROM YOuRCHAPTER PRESiDENT

Bill Stanberry, far right, presents listing agents Damon Doss, Laura Nye, Carolyn Parobek, AnnDaughety and Terese Peabody with awards at the company’s awards breakfast.

Susanna Boyer n 2010 President

Women’s Council of REALTORS® President’s Column

6% commission is only available on homes closing within 30 days at MileStone Community Builders’ Cypress Creek Townhomes project. Other inventory and to be built homes (including those at Paradiso Villas) may qualify for 4% commission. Limited time offer available on new contracts only on select inventory homes; cannot be combined with other offers. Realtor must accompany buyer on initial visit to community. Homes subject to prior sale. All incentives and commission programs may be changed or canceled at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply; see sales consultant for details.

www.MyMileStone.com

AffordableLOW-MAINTENANCE

LIFESTYLE, LAWNCARE INCLUDED

PRIVATECOMMUNITY POOL& WALKING PATHS

Comfortable

EnjoyableSHOP, DINE &PLAY nearby

Available23 Homes

30 day closings

Townhomes from the $130’s 512-215-5220

1900 Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park

Garden Homes from the $150’s 512-215-3424

11400 West Parmer Lane, Cedar Park

From Hwy 183/Toll Road 183A, head East on Brushy Creek Road, turn left on Parmer Lane. Paradiso Villas is 1/4 mile on the right.

Take 183A North to the Brushy Creek/Cypress Creek Exit. Turn left at light & travel 1.7 miles on Cypress Creek Rd., then left on Juliette Way & left on Little Elm Trail. Cypress Creek Townhomes are just ahead on the right.

6% COMMISSIONon inventory homes at Cypress Creek Townhomes!


Instructor Bill Evansof Austin Real Proskeeps the subjectentertaining during arecent propertymanagement class.

Carolina Aceitunoand Kim Whitlock,seated, join T.Trevino, DonnaWebster, DebbieFontenette, KarenHalsema and DonDungan at the DellDiamond for theKeller Williams Re-alty Round Rockawards ceremony,where they werehonored as top indi-viduals for 2009.

HBA Executive Offi-cer Harry Saviowelcomes GenaHammonds, left, ofAustin Title, andPenny Green ofWillow Bend Mort-gage to thebuilder/associatehappy hour at Har-way Supply.

TREPAC chair Susan Horton, center, gives a thumbs up to Joy Herring and Marie DangSchwartz, both of Realty Executives, and their entry at ABoR’s TREPAC Chili Cookoff.

Looking to hang your hat elsewhere?

Supreme Lending of Austin is looking forwell-qualified 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 find out

more information about this opportunity,

call 512-279-1150 or e-mail

[email protected]

Listen to the radioshow “The real

estate Zone” everySunday 11 to Noon onNews radio 590 KLBJ

and 99.7 FM

F h A • V A • C o n v e n t i o n a l • U S d A



Danette Tidwell of Time Warner Cable gets ready to bowl a strike as her family looks on frombehind at North American Title’s second annual Bowling & Beer tournament.

Lisa Altamirano,right, of Gracy Titlewelcomes invitedguest Cathi Boortzof Pohl, Braaschand Associates tothe annual forecasthosted by GracyTitle.

Terry Godbold ofRPM Reliable Prop-erty Managementserves up somegood ol’ fashionedchili to SandyDochen and CarolDochen, both ofCarol Dochen RE-ALTORS at ABoR’sChili Cookoff whichhas become an an-ticipated event.Pleased that every-one is having a fan-tastic time is ABoR’sGovernmental Af-fairs Director EarlHairston, far back,center.


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

For an appointment to discuss your

qualifications call 512-524-8880

Dawn Krantz

I am so excited to be part of Private Label Realty. By bringing my business to this innovative brokerage I’m able to maintain my own business identity as a Luxury Brand Real Estate Company while keeping 100% of my commissions. Plus I have the opportunity to be an owner in the companies I support and do business with everyday. I don't know of another company that offers this outstanding business opportunity.

Top 15Residential Real Estate Top ProducerAustin Business Journal - 2004 to 2009

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Ranked 2Residential Real Estate Top ProducerAustin Business Journal - 2007

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Mark Hairston ofMortgage IQ startsthe first ever Expo2010 by introducinga host of speakerswho were on handto empower REAL-TORS with new so-lutions andstrategies.

Enjoying a lightlunch at the DreesCustom Homesmodel grand open-ing are REALTORSKris Aitala, broker,and Cindy Dennisof Quigley Team Re-alty. Take yourclients soon to seeeverything DreesCustom Homes hasto offer in SteinerRanch’s Santaluzsection.

Bette Cook, backrow, pink shirt, ofNorth American Titlegathers a team fromAmelia Bullock RE-ALTORS to show offall the fun they hadat the company’ssecond annualbowling and beertournament.

Mary Hickey and Amber Hart, both of Keller Williams Realty Lake Travis, are recognized forbeing in the top listing volume by individual category at the awards breakfast. Mary ranks firstand Amber ranks second in their category.

Power Lunch at Sente MortgageMarch 24th – 12 noon“Power Up Your Database ”

The Sente Business Building Tip of the Month:

To register, go towww.SenteLearning.comand click on Austin Power Lunches

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Ellen’s Staging Tip:

Yes, you can!Cleaning a fiberglass tub or shower floor is achallenge. The icky, dirty residue is almost im-possible to clean. Here is the process that turns a“no way” response to “Yes, I can” action!

• Open the window or turn on exhaust fan in the bathroom• Purchase rubber gloves, Magic Erasers® and CLR®• Gather will power.• Spray CLR® on tub and scrub with a Magic Eraser®• Repeat until all traces of gunk are gone!

Do your sellers need professional staging?

Call me today for a“MAKE A DIFFERENCE” consultation.

Ellen is ready to help you set the stage forprofessional results.

Ellen Boettcher, [email protected]


floors, garden tubs, arched openings,

vaulted ceilings, media rooms, game

rooms, and attached two-car

garages.

Located on Little Elm

Trail, just off Cypress Creek

Boulevard between Lakeline

Boulevard and Hwy 183,

Cypress Creek Townhomes

offers the benefits of home

o w n e r -

s h i p

c o m -

b i n e d

with a

l o w

m a i n t e -

n a n c e

lifestyle,

p r o v i d -

ing time

to enjoy nearby shopping, dining, and

entertainment. Also located in LISD,

Cypress Creek offers a private commu-

nity pool, expertly maintained lawns,

and all exterior home maintenance pro-

vided by the homeowner ’s association.

Affordably priced from the $130s, Cy-

press Creek townhomes range in size

from 1,282 sq ft to 1,939 sq ft, and in-

clude attached garages, lofts and tile

entryways along with numerous other

distinctive features.

“As REALTORS get to know Mile-

Stone, they will notice that we do

things a little differently,” Martin says.

“When we save money, we pass those

savings on to your clients. For example,

the MileStone

Choice Bun-

dles combine

the most de-

sirable op-

tions, making them available to every

buyer at an affordable price.”

Garrett and Jimmy are both focused

on providing a better home buying ex-

perience, from start to finish. They

make and stand by their commitments

not only throughout the process, but

throughout the many MileStones in a

client’s life. Thanks to MileStone, get-

ting more no longer means paying

more. And that’s a MileStone REAL-

TORS and their prospective home buy-

ers can count on.

For additional information about

these communities, visit www.MyMile-

Stone.com.

MileStone Community Builders, LLC

has entered the market in two new

Cedar Park communities, with plans for

aggressive growth throughout Metro

Austin. Founders Garrett Martin and

Jimmy Dimanoff have built their com-

pany the same way they build their

homes: with experience, honesty, an eye

for detail, and a dedication to outstand-

ing value. REALTORS can be sure that

when they turn over the keys to their

client, they’re handing over years of

hard work, dedication, and an un-

matched commitment to quality.

Their background includes a com-

bined 30 years of real estate experience,

ensuring that they choose the very best

locations for each community. That is

evident in their two communities that

recently had grand opening celebra-

tions, which are Paradiso Villas and Cy-

press Creek Townhomes. Both are

found in prime locations in Cedar Park,

offering easy access to major highways

and employers such as Dell and Cedar

Park Medical Center.

“We are delighted to have found

such exceptional sites in such a vibrant,

growing community,” says Martin,

MileStone’s president and CEO. “We

believe our product fills a tremendous

need for low-maintenance living at a

very affordable price point.”

Located on West Parmer Lane adja-

cent to the acclaimed Brushy Creek

Park, Paradiso Villas offers a low-main-

tenance lifestyle, providing time to

enjoy nearby nature trails, cycling, ca-

noeing, shopping, dining, entertain-

ment, and more. Located in the

award-winning Leander Independent

School District (LISD), Paradiso Villas

includes a private community pool and

expertly manicured outdoor spaces.

One and two story garden homes range

in size from 1,203 sq ft to over 2,000 sq

ft, with prices starting in the $150s.

With beautiful stone and brick exteri-

ors, these architecturally distinctive

homes include granite countertops, tile

Paradiso VillasLocated off Parmer Lane

between 620 and 1431

By Linda McNabb

Associates In Progress Advertiser Profile

www.realtylineonline.com Realty Line of Austin March 201024

Janis Arteaga of Mortgage IQ welcomes Jim Schlegel of Avalar 360 Realty to the first annualMortgage IQ Expo held recently at The Commons Conference Center.

Don Harvey, TeresePeabody, BillFlood, Kathy Ful-ton and SharonRosshirt acceptPresidents Clubawards at the Stan-berry & Associatescompany awardscelebration held atthe Phillips EventsCenter.

Laura Brown con-gratulates JessicaBruehl for being thetop closed volumewinner. It was an-nounce at the KellerWilliams Realty LakeTravis awardsbreakfast.


The Right Lending PartnerEvery business is unique. To have your business grow you need a strategic partner who can handle any situation. Since 2003 the award winning team at Land Mortgage has grown the right way - great people, sound principles. We execute the fundamentals and exceed expectations everyday. By simply doing what we do best close & fund loans - our experienced team ensures your transaction closes on time. To learn more call today.

We are a local mortgage bank with competitive loan programs, reasonable closing costs, and a full range of in-house services. There are no surprises here. We communicate every step of the way to ensure everyone is up-to-date on where financing stands for your transaction. As your preferred lender, we allow you to confidently do what you do best - Sell more homes.

8300 N. MOPAC • Suite 225 • Austin, TX • 78759 • 512.335.5300 • Mortgage Banker No. 43954

A New Era In Mortgage Bankingwww.landmtg.com

About Land Mortgage

An AmeriPro Funding Company

Ranked #5 by ABJ2009 Residential Mortgage Companies

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TWO PREDiCTiONS fOR THEfuTuRE MORTGAGE RATEMOVEMENT— iS iT TiME TO “RiPTHE BAND-AiD” Off?

John McClellan n Supreme Lending

Experts Speak Out Commentary uidity. Investors stopped buying MBS, which

cut off the flow of new money with which to

fund new loans.

We know that the Fed is exiting its buying

side and that demand should fall for MBS;

but, if the Mortgage Bankers Association is

correct that mortgage applications (closings)

are going to be down for 2010, doesn’t it

stand to reason that the supply of MBS for

purchase will also fall? If supply falls in step

with or right behind the fall in demand, we

may not see such a huge increase in rates as

first blush would have us think.

Now, let’s throw into the mix some of the

other government incentives and look at the

resulting timeline. Here is the way I see it

panning out over the next 12 months: Be-

cause the homebuyer tax credit is set to ex-

pire this year on Jun. 30, I believe that anyone

who is thinking of buying a home in the next

12 months will use this window of opportu-

nity to close before the tax credit expires. This

means that any transactions that would nor-

mally happen in the later part of the summer

and early part of the fall will move forward

into late spring and early summer. Basically,

we will be borrowing against future sales,

which means that demand between now and

Jun. 30 will be inflated and that demand in

the fall will be down.

What does this mean for the second half

of the year? In my opinion, it means a huge

decrease in demand for housing and a de-

crease in the supply of available MBS for pur-

chase by investors. On a relevant note, most

homeowners who could qualify for refinanc-

ing have already done so, which will lead to

a large decrease in the number of refinance

transactions for the year and, once again, re-

duce the supply of MBS for purchase.

The Fed is going to exit its program for

buying mortgage-backed securities; and, as

soon as this happens, we will see rates in-

crease. However, once all the government in-

centives are gone from the market, we may

see a rebound in mortgage rates to the lower

side as supply comes into balance with de-

mand. There are a couple of wild cards, how-

ever, that could derail my theory: (1) The Fed

has left the window open to getting back into

the market by making provisions that it may

from time to time as the market warrants

purchase more MBS to keep the market sta-

bilized. (2) (This may be the biggest threat.)

With the midterm elections this November

and as the bad news on the housing front

reaches the media, the administration may

create some other non-organic incentive to

help spur housing once again.

In this humble loan originator’s opinion,

it is time to “yank the Band-Aid off” and let

the market take care of itself. The longer the

government tries to control the economy, the

longer our healing time will be. As we can

see, there are already fundamentals in place

to, at the least, keep volatility both low and

non-threatening. This is the question: Will

they or won’t they?

Time will tell . . . [RL}

Ihave been talking a great deal lately

about the Fed’s exit from its program

of buying mortgage-backed securities

(MBS). Over the last 13 months the Fed has

spent more than one trillion dollars—that’s

$1,000,000,000,000—to buy these securities in

order to drive up their price, thereby artifi-

cially keeping interest rates low. This pro-

gram has succeeded in keeping mortgage

rates in a tight spread between 4.5 percent

and 5.25 percent. The classic supply-and-de-

mand formula is to drive higher demand for

anything and the price will go up. (Price and

yield are the inverse of each other, which is

how mortgage rates are determined.)

Since the Fed is the biggest buyer of these

securities, it constitutes a majority of demand

for them. However, by the end of March the

Fed will exit this program, leaving the de-

mand to organic buyers in the market. If the

classic law of supply and demand holds true,

we should see the price of these securities fall

when the Fed exits and demand falls. This

fall in price will result in an increase on the

yield side, thereby raising mortgage rates.

So, what does all this mean? Is it a truly

black-and-white issue? Will rates jump one

to two points in response to the Fed’s exit?

Well, let’s look at it from an alternative per-

spective. Yes, it is true that rates will increase

with the Fed’s exit; however, we may see or-

ganic market forces keeping those rates in

check.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has

predicted that mortgage applications will be

down 40 percent for 2010. If we understand

the purpose of MBS, we will have a better

understanding of what may happen in the

next 12 to 18 months to keep mortgage rates

low.

The purpose of MBS is to help refund the

market: Banks close on home loans with

available cash, convert these loans into MBS,

and sell them to investors, thereby re-fund-

ing their coffers so that they can fund more

home loans. In fact, one of the main problems

that mortgage banks had at the onset of the

Great Mortgage Meltdown was a lack of liq-


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Wendy Feeley of MileStone Community Builders gives Kevin Karos of RE/MAX Capital City a personaltour of the model at Paradiso Villas during the community grand opening.

Priya Ram, Susan Jones, Peggy Sue Fuller and Link Fuller find a spot to have breakfast and supporttheir fellow agents at the JB Goodwin REALTORS awards ceremony.

John Squires of Keller Williams Realty and Donna Simmons of Gracy Title find there is standing roomonly at the annual Gracy Title forecast.

Susan Carter and Terri Romere take home the award for number one team at the Keller Williams RealtyRound Rock awards banquet.

4TH ANNUAL BARTON CREEK TOUR OF HOMES

PARTNERPROGRAM

4TH ANNUCREEK TOUR OF HOMES

Tour will feature 6 multi-million dollar

AL BA4TH ANNUCREEK TOUR OF HOMES


RTON CREEK TOUR OF HOMES


Tour will feature 6 multi-million dollar homes hursday, April 8, 2010T11:30 a.m - 2:00 p.m.

Catered by Alfred’s


hursday, April 8, 2010including pocket listings.

11:30 a.m - 2:00 p.m.Catered by Alfred’s

Tickets: $15Door Prizes


hursday, April 8, 2010including pocket listings.

11:30 a.m - 2:00 p.m.Catered by Alfred’s

Mary Lindenberg, Keller Williams Realty, 8210 Chalk Knoll DriveLisa Foster & Susan DoyleDee Shultz, Keller Williams Realty, 2700 Maravillas Cove

, Amelia Bullock Realtors, 8027 Chalk Knoll Drive David Pimentel, Susan Anderson Properties, 8837 Chalk Knoll Drive

Eve Kush, Coldwell Banker United Realtors, 8637 Navidad

Door Prizes

, Keller Williams Realty, 8210 Chalk Knoll DriveLisa Foster & Susan Doyle, Avalon Realty, 4800 Mirador

, Keller Williams Realty, 2700 Maravillas Cove, Amelia Bullock Realtors, 8027 Chalk Knoll Drive

, Susan Anderson Properties, 8837 Chalk Knoll Drive , Coldwell Banker United Realtors, 8637 Navidad

, Keller Williams Realty, 8210 Chalk Knoll Drive, Avalon Realty, 4800 Mirador

, Keller Williams Realty, 2700 Maravillas Cove, Amelia Bullock Realtors, 8027 Chalk Knoll Drive

, Susan Anderson Properties, 8837 Chalk Knoll Drive , Coldwell Banker United Realtors, 8637 Navidad

PONSORS:SNK YOU AHT

APPA NTRRT RE ORP

PONSORS:NK YOU

OGR MA

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htmorfsdeecorpllAelbatirahca,)c(3105-etatselaersetomorp

Tickets can be purchased online www.abor.com

F’s “ORAB

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oundation”Friends of the F or Contact one of

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e Best the Best in 2009

Congratulations to the “Stuart Sutton Team” on being

named the “Company Sales and Listing Team of the

Year.” Kevin McCauley and Stuart Sutton accept the

Gold Platter award from J.B. Goodwin, right, at the

company awards breakfast.

Curle Premier Team“Sales Team of the Year”

Robin Curle and Terry Hoff

Janet Dean“Sales Agent of the Year”with JB Goodwin and Buddy Schilling

Turner Team“Listing Team of the Year”

Bettye Turner and Lynda Conway

Northwest office

The “A” Team“Sales Team of the Year”

Adrian Grabe and Aubrey Shawproudly show off the “Sales Team ofthe Year” award they received fromJB Goodwin at the awards breakfast.

Dylan Everett“Sales Agent of the Year”and “Listing Agent of the

Year”

The Bishop Team“Listing Team of the Year”Jennifer Korba presents Linda Bishopwith the “Listing Team of the Year”

award at the annual awardsbreakfast. Not pictured: Matt Harris.

Westlake office

Leslie & Monte Gawthorp“Sales Team of the Year”

Karen McGrath“Listing Agent of the Year”

Norma Mantz Team“Listing Team of the Year”

Chris Sachs presents Norma Mantzwith the Silver Platter award.

Williamson County officeLeisa Ormsbee was named the

“Company Listing Agent of the Year.” She was

also recognized as the “Sales Agent of the Year” in

the Williamson County office.

Gay Puckett was named the “Company Sales Agent

of the Year” and she was also the “Listing Agent

of the Year” in the Northwest office.

Company awards

NoRtHWeSt(512) 502-7800

WeStLake(512) 502-7600

WiLLiaMSoN CouNty(512) 502-7705


AYREP’s ShannonPowers of ZIP Re-alty, second fromleft, welcomesSusan Spence, left,and Becky Hopkinsand Amy Kobza,both of Austin Title,to the AYREP happyhour at the CommonInterest.

Nelda Rodriguezand Thomas Can-talini, both of Cen-tury 21 First PlaceRealty, keep up withthe changes in themortgage industryby attending Expo2010 hosted byMortgage IQ.

The Keller WilliamsRealty Round Rockagents and staffpass go and havefun Monopoly-styleat the awards ban-quet were they rec-ognized top agents.

Kent Riddle of JB Goodwin REALTORS still makes it to the top of his class at the company’s2009 awards breakfast.

SUPPORT

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fREquENTLY ASkEDquESTiONS

PArT 1 OF 2

A: If the borrower requests an enhanced

owner‘s title insurance policy or an endorse-

ment to an owner‘s title insurance policy

after the loan originator issues the GFE, the

loan originator may choose to treat such a

request by the borrower as a changed cir-

cumstance. The loan originator may then

choose to provide a revised GFE to the bor-

rower to disclose the increased charges. If

the increased charges do not exceed toler-

ances, the loan originator may opt not to

issue a revised GFE.

Q: What fees are to be recorded in the 800 se-

ries of the HUD-1, beginning on Line 804?

A: When the loan originator selects the

settlement service provider, fees for third

party settlement services that are required

by the loan originator are recorded in the

800 series beginning on Line 804. These

third party services and fees most often in-

clude appraisals, credit reports, flood

searches, tax service, and governmental

loan program charges, such as VA, FHA,

Rural Housing Service, or state bond loan

programs. Processing or administrative

services are part of “our origination charge”

and may not be separately itemized. The

HUD-1 instructions for the 800 series ex-

plain which fees go on which lines.

Proper disclosure of the GFE up front has

become a critical component of getting buy-

ers to closing on time. Last minute issues

with disclosure can lead to upset and con-

fused buyers. As long as the loan officers ac-

curately disclose on their Good Faith

Estimates, closing delays should not occur.

As a tip to REALTORS, it is a good idea to

contact the buyer’s lender the week before

closing to make sure all of the proper disclo-

sures have been made to the buyer. Not only

does this help take care of the new GFE re-

quirements, it also helps make sure that the

Truth-In-Lending law does not create any is-

sues for closing. [RL]

With the new Settlement State-

ments and Good Faith Esti-

mates in full force now, there

are still many questions about how to prop-

erly disclose buyer costs. Often it takes time

to resolve these issues, which can delay

closings. Below, please see the top five Fre-

quently Asked Questions that have been

asked of our escrow associates since we

began to use the new forms. Thankfully,

HUD has answered these questions and

their exact answers are shown below.

Q: Do loan originators have to provide a

price for Owner‘s title insurance on the GFE?

A: Loan originators must provide an es-

timate of the charge for an Owner‘s title in-

surance policy in Block 5, (Owner‘s title

insurance) on the GFE on all purchase trans-

actions. For non-purchase transactions, the

loan originator may enter _NA or _Not Ap-

plicable in this Block.

Q: What if at closing the seller is paying for

a settlement service that was listed on the GFE,

such as the Owner‘s title insurance policy? How

is this shown on the HUD-1?

A: If the seller is paying for a service that

was on the GFE, such as Owner‘s title insur-

ance, the charge remains in the borrower‘s

column on the HUD-1. A credit from the

seller to the borrower to offset the charge

should be listed on the first page of the

HUD-1 in Lines 204-209 and Lines 506-509,

respectively.

Q: If an attorney prepares loan documents

for a lender, where does that charge go on the

HUD-1?

A: Loan document preparation done on

behalf of the loan originator is a processing

and administrative service in the origina-

tion of a loan and is included in the charge

on Line 801 of the HUD-1, and may not be

separately itemized. See 24 CFR §

3500.8(b)(1).

Q: If a borrower was quoted a basic owner‘s

title insurance policy, but requests an enhanced

owner‘s title insurance policy or an endorsement

to the owner‘s title insurance policy, should the

loan originator issue a revised GFE?

Find out what’s happeningin real estate.

Visit our Calendar of Eventspage on our Web site.

www.realtylineonline.com.

Latra Szal n Gracy title

Experts Speak Out Commentary


ABoR chairman-elect Judith Bundschuh congratulates Sandy Bednar of Distinct Austin Prop-erties for earning the people’s choice award for the third year in a row at the ABoR Chili Cookoff,a TREPAC fundraiser.

Johnny Mynhier,far right, of TreatyOak Homes gives anin-depth tour fromthe inside to the out-side to agents whoattended the recentREALTOR lunch atthe south Austincommunity, CentralPark.

Stephanie Powell,center, of Champi-ons School of RealEstate, greets JanaMcCool and LesSherman, both ofRE/MAX Austin As-sociates, as she ar-rives at the CRSmeeting.

Susan Hershey andPat Zahasky, bothof Keller WilliamsRealty, and CandyBuzan of Prime-Lending line up onBoardwalk at theMonopoly-themedawards banquetwhere top KellerWilliams Realtyagents were recog-nized for theirachievements.

Tommy Nelms ofUnited Lending,Byron “Buddy”Schilling of JBGoodwin REAL-TORS, DavidMcMillan of UnitedLending and J.B.Goodwin of JBGoodwin REAL-TORS congratulateall the winners at theannual JB GoodwinREALTORS awardsbreakfast after theconclusion of theawards announce-ments.

Phyllis Avery ofFirst American Title,Brad Fulks of Capi-tal City Sotheby’s In-ternational Realty,Tony Holt ofZbranek CustomHomes and MelindaCarroll of FirstAmerican Title getthe low down on theLakeway housingmarket at a recenteconomic forecast.

Gutter Girls Tiesa Hollaway and Bette Cook, both of North American Title, await their turn tobowl at the company’s second annual bowling and beer tournament.

RealtyLine_Mar_10

Documents

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