I was on the panel about Agent Courtesy. We talked about communication with other agents and negotiating offers with each other. We talked about being consistant and doing what you say you're going to do. If you say all offers will be presented on Sunday at 6pm, don't accept one on Saturday before all the offers come in, and don't keep holding them thru … (8 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Does the Listing Agent Need to Disclose if There are Multiple Offers?
- 08/26/14 06:16 AM
If there are multiple offers on a property, does the listing agent have to disclose this information? The Austin market, in many ways, is a very hot market. There are some people who would disagree, but those people are not currently in the buying world with multiple offers that can go over $50,000 above the asking price. These areas, for the most part, are in South and East Austin. Most of the suburbs are less competetive, and aren't seeing such drastic over asking offers. Last year, I wrote about how I sold 14 houses to one couple, and never got paid. … (10 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Donna Harris Officially Creates Donna Homes
- 08/16/14 11:43 PM
I've known many of you following my blog for years. I apologize for being sporatic with my postings the past couple of years. I'm going to get back to it as I get messages all the time from people asking how I've been. Many of you know me as Donna Homes because that's what my website address is as well as my email address. Over the years, I've walked into real estate seminars and gatherings and people shout out, "Hey, Donna Homes!"
Well, after almost 14 years as a Realtor®, I am now the proud owner of Donna Homes, a … (8 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Platinum Top 50 Awards Ceremony - Austin TX at Shoal Crossing
- 12/12/13 02:41 AM
I was announced as a Platinum Top 50 Finalist a couple of months ago and the award ceremony was yesterday at Shoal Crossing in Austin. There are over 9000 Realtors in the Austin, TX area. To be a PT50 Finalist, they pick the top 150 agents. They don't just look at production of sales. They also look at your contribution to the real estate community and civil service in our community. They are looking for top people, not just top agents. To make the Finalist group, it's a great honor! At the ceremony to see if I made the top 50, … (3 comments)
I've been chosen as a Platinum Top 50 semi-finalist!! It's so exciting! This is a list of 150 agents in the Austin real estate market and the final 50 will be announced in December. A PT50 finalist is not just an agent with large production, or I would not be on the list. My "well above average" production does not compare to some of these agents who sell multi-million dollar properties on Lake Austin or Barton Creek or Rob Roy or all the other high-end neighborhoods through out … (3 comments)
Change can be good. I’m excited about this change. My big news announcement is that I have changed brokers and have aligned myself up with a local Austin company called Regent Property Group. The broker, Brian Talley, started Regent back in 2007. Just as I have felt it was time to grow further, he … (8 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Frustrating Describes the Austin Real Estate Market Right Now
- 03/28/13 09:10 AM
Austin Texas real estate is actually very frustrating right now. Yes, I've posted about how Austin is in a H-O-T market right now, and how listings are selling so fast and so much above asking price... but these are some of the reasons why it's frustrating. The Austin real estate market is more than 20% below on inventory from last year, and last year was low also. That means buyers have less of a selection to pick from, and if you continue the cause and effect, that means there are multiple buyers fighting over one house.
It's frustrating because you … (29 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Should I get Licensed Just to Sell my Own House and Save Money?
- 02/18/13 09:49 AM
A couple of months ago, I was asked if it was worth getting a real estate license to sell your own house. The short answer? NO! This person's theory was they had a $500k house and commissions would be upwards of $30,000. What this person wasn't thinking about was that fee is, in some way, split with a buyer's agent who brings a buyer to her, so say that number goes to $15,000. Now, to get licensed, you have to spend about $1000 to take the courses for the licensing exam. You have to spend a couple more just to register … (30 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: ActiveRain Meetup Dec 5 - Maudies Davenport Village
- 11/24/12 11:37 AM
The Austin TX RainCamp Meetup has been scheduled! We will be meeting at Maudie's at Davenport Village near the 360 Bridge for Breakfast Tacos (or whatever else you like for breakfast)!! We will meet on Wednesday, December 5 from 8:30-10am. This will give you enough time to get back to your desk for the actual online RainCamp that starts at 11am Central.
Maudie's MilagroDavenport Village3801 N Capital of Texas HighwayAustin, TX 78746 I look forward to seeing you there!! **Graphic courtesy of Maudie's website **Are You Packed Yet?**
Donna Harris, REALTOR®RE/MAX Austin Skylinewww.DonnaHomes.comDonna@DonnaHomes.comaustin-texas-homes-for-sale.com Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding … (4 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: The Art of the Multiple Offer Situation
- 11/13/12 04:39 AM
Writing an offer on a house for sale in Austin Texas is an Art. If you're working with the wrong agent, you might lose out on the house of your dreams. Why is that? Offers aren't just about the price, but about terms as well. For example, take a house listed at $300,000. Comparable sales are looked at, and the house is priced very competetively at that $300,000. Because of that, there are multiple offers. YIKES! As a Home Buyer in the Austin Texas real estate market, you really want that house as you've seen a couple of others and you … (13 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Not Working with Agent, But Want Services of Agent - Real Estate Q & A
- 08/13/12 05:59 AM
You know how sometimes you hear something or read something and it makes you chuckle, and you keep going back to those thoughts and you laugh out loud? I had a moment this morning like that, and I keep reading the article and laughing out loud. TexasRealEstate.com has an "Ask George & Chuck" section. The public or agents can write in questions and George & Chuck will answer them, to the best of their ability. Here is a posting from Aug 6, 2012. "Dear George: My wife and I are selling our home. We chose not to list it in the … (36 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Donna Harris - Ranked #18 of All RE/MAX agents in the Austin Market!!
- 07/27/12 06:49 AM
I'm so excited!! I received an email yesterday congratulating me on my award. I had no idea what the person was talking about. Come to find out that out of all the RE/MAX agents in the Austin area, including all 25 offices, I was ranked #18 for the 2nd quarter! I've never won any type of regional production award like this before. Office awards, yes, but not regional awards.
As I've been telling everyone these days, I might be busy, but I'm never too busy for your referrals. Help me grow even more and maybe by this time next year, … (13 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Can I Back Out of My Contract? Texas and the Disclosure Notice Period
- 06/01/12 08:15 AM
Can I back out of my contract? If you read my post about the "Termination Option Period", you already know one way out of the contract. Another way a buyer can terminate the Texas Residential Real Estate contract is because of the Seller's Disclosure Notice. In every residential real estate transaction in Texas, with few exceptions, the seller must give written notice to the buyer about the condition of the home to the best of their knowledge. For the most part, we try to obtain the Disclosure Notice prior to submitting an offer so the buyer can determine if they want … (4 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: What Are We Looking for During an Austin TX Home Inspection?
- 05/29/12 08:01 AM
With every contract comes the discussion with my Austin TX home buyers about the inspection. What are we looking for in the inspection?To me, this is a simple answer, but other agents don't see it the same way... or other agents don't explain to their buyers what the inspection is for. I think it's the latter as the buyers are looking for direction from their agents.When my buyers are getting an inspection, I remind them that all contracts in Texas are "as is". This means you are agreeing to buy the house in it's present condition for the agreed upon price. … (8 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Making Real Estate a Personal Transaction
- 05/23/12 11:19 AM
For the most part, and for many people, Real Estate is a business transaction, especially for a property in Foreclosure. The banks just want to get rid of them, but they don't usually work at a speed that shows they're eager to get rid of them. They have their process and no matter how long it takes, they usually won't budge from their process. And why should they? The employees don't get paid per file. They just get paid to come to work every day. There is no "reason" for a bank's employee to "rush" a file or mark something as … (27 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: The Fast Short Sale - Closed in 2 1/2 Months!
- 03/16/12 11:07 AM
I had a closing yesterday, and the title company was in a temporary spot in a hidden location, so it was hard to locate. I decided to stand outside the building so I could help flag my clients in. As I was standing on the curb, I thought to myself, though actually saying it out loud because I do actually talk to myself, "I have never met my clients before and I have no idea what kind of car they're driving, so how am I supposed to flag anyone down?"I met my clients for the first time at the closing table … (10 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Is Austin TX Going Through a Real Estate Recovery or Not?
- 03/13/12 12:39 AM
Is there a Real Estate Recovery going on in Austin TX? As I've said many times, Austin never saw a big boom like other parts of the country. Because of this, there wasn't/isn't much to recover from. Currently, Austin TX is seeing very low inventory, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of buyers out there wanting to buy a house. To an extent, in many communities throughout Austin and its suburbs, there is a supply and demand issue going on. And what happens with Supply and Demand? As supply goes down, and demand goes up, prices go up. Prices aren't … (4 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: 2012 is More Efficient and Effective
- 03/12/12 09:35 AM
2012 has been about working smarter and more efficiently. I made a few changed to help run my business a little better, since it is a business and not a hobby. One change is that I hired an assistant again. She used to work for a couple different National Builders on the Internet sales team, so she knows a thing or two about following up with internet leads. That's exactly what she's doing. She's going through my database(s) of hundreds and thousands of leads and finding the gold! It was so inefficient for me to do all that follow up when … (6 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Donna Harris - Austin Tx Real Estate Agent and REALTOR®
- 10/31/11 08:11 AM
What do you do? is probably one of the most asked questions of people when they meet. Many times it's just a few words of description, and then a smile and nod. Not many people elaborate on their jobs. However, whenever I tell someone I'm in real estate, all of a sudden, people find their voice. How's the market? Rates are low? Is this a good time to sell/buy? Call me today, and I'll answer all your questions: **Are You Packed Yet?**
Donna Harris, REALTOR®RE/MAX Austin Skylinewww.DonnaHomes.comDonna@DonnaHomes.comaustin-texas-homes-for-sale.com Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake … (4 comments)
austin tx real estate agent: Platinum Top 50 Realtors - Austin TX - Donna Harris is Named as a Semi-Finalists
- 10/13/11 09:44 AM
Real estate in Austin TX can be very competetive, like in other parts of the country as well. There are almost 9000 members of the Austin Board of Realtors. Of those members, 150 agents have been chosen as semi-finalists for the Platinum Top 50 Realtors in Austin TX, and I'm one of them!! I received my notice this afternoon that I must attend the Breakfast Awards Ceremony at the Austin Music Hall on December 1, 2011 where they'll announce the PT50. Platinum Top 50 has been in San Antonio for several years, but they just decided to branch out to Austin. … (19 comments)
This blog is to help educate Buyers, Sellers and even other Realtors across the country. Each market is different and the way Real Estate is done is different. Austin Real Estate is completely different than Dallas, California and Florida and everywhere else in between. Some times there will be other things besides real estate as I like to rant and rave as much as the next!! Come back often!
Yesterday, I had the honor of being part of a Realtor panel for the Platinum Top 5 group at the Austin Board of Realtors. There were four different panels, about varying parts of the business.
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