A real estate transaction should be a painless, and even a pleasant event. Buying or selling real estate is a cumulative process; one step leads to the next in an orderly fashion. A real estate professional is dedicated to making sure you understand the whole process while guiding you through each step as pleasantly as possible. Sometimes your Realtor may not have all the answers, but he or she should know where to find them.
I have lived in Austin since 1985, when I, like so many of you, transferred here with my job. At the time, I was working for a major Hotel chain, and thought Austin was just a little bit of heaven. After sixteen years in that industry, and tired of transferring to a new city every year or so, I decided this would be a great place to be fired in! And so I was and it was!
In 1988 I opened my own small business, and I played an active role in it until 1995. I sold the last equity interest in that business in 1998. In 1994 I began studying for my Texas Real Estate License, and I earned the license in February of 1995.
I am an independent Broker/Owner with Austin REAL Pros, Inc., (dba Austin REAL Pros, REALTORS®) and I am partnered in the agency with Carrie York, CRS. Carrie and I have over twenty years combined experience in Sales, Leasing and Property Management. As an independent Broker/Owner, I do not receive a paycheck if I do not produce results for my clients.
As an independent contractor, I think it is important for me to enjoy the people I am working with. That is one of the best aspects of this profession. As a REALTOR®, I will spend a great deal of time with my clients, and it is very important that we trust one another, and that we have respect and confidence in each other. I build partnerships with my clients, and it is a rewarding and mutually beneficial relationship.
That doesn't mean that this is not a fun process. I like to have a good time, and I like to look at houses! Once you have endured the mortgage process, where you bear your soul to a loan officer, it is my privilege to take you to homes that meet your specified criteria. One of the most important things I can do for you is to listen to what you tell me. When that happens, we will both be saved from wasting time and energy in the home finding process.
I am a member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of Residential Property Managers. Over the years I have served in a variety of committees, task forces, advisory committees and planning groups. I received the President’s Distinguished Service award in 2010 at the Austin Board of REALTORS®, served as President of the Austin Board of REALTORS® in 2014, and received the REALTOR® of the Year Award in 2016.
The real estate profession is an ever changing one, and I truly believe in keeping current with trends and changes within the profession. Education is one way to stay informed about the real estate profession, and I significantly exceed the required hours of mandatory continuing education each license renewal period. I have earned several professional certifications and designations over the years, including ABR, ABRM, CRS, e-PRO, GREEN, GRI, SRES, TRLP, MPM and RMP. I continue my real estate education as the opportunities present themselves.
I volunteer for many local non-profits, including Meals-On-Wheels, The Austin Empty Bowl Project, The ABoR Foundation and others. I am a very lucky man in many ways, and I think it is very important to give back to our community.
My Credentials
Have you ever noticed the alphabet soup of initials after REALTORS® names? We don’t really do a very good job of informing our clients about what all those letters mean. Those letters represent professional designations the REALTOR® has earned through continuing education. No more mystery.
Here is information about some of the designations held by me and other REALTOR®/Brokers here at Austin REAL Pros, Inc.
ABR
The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® who met the specified educational and practical experience criteria. The criteria are:
- Completed the comprehensive REBAC course in buyer representation
- Successfully passed a written examination
- Demonstrated a practical experience of having completed real estate transactions in the field of buyer representation
- Received recommendations from the real estate practitioners buyer clients.
- Be a member in good standing with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
CRS
The Council of Residential Specialists is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. It is composed of over 40,000 Certified Residential Specialists and general members and was created to provide superior member benefits which enable residential specialists to maximize their professional performance. The Council was founded in 1976 and has four objectives:
- To enhance members' continuing competence through providing superior educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner.
- To provide and promote benefits which enhance the economic value of membership in the Council.
- To create and maintain organizational systems to ensure the integrity of the Council.
- To create and maintain procedures to ensure a standard of excellence that is required for earning and maintaining the CRS Designation.
Only 5% of REALTORS® have the Certified Residential Specialist designation.
e-PRO
e-PRO is an Internet professional certification program approved by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) for its members. An e-Pro is a REALTOR® who has successfully completed the e-PRO training program for real estate professionals, which covers the nuts and bolts of working with real estate on-line, including web sites, e-mail, on-line tools, and working with consumers in the information age.
GREEN
NAR’s GREEN designation is the only NAR conferred real estate designation designed for agents to learn about issues of energy efficiency and sustainability in the various facets of real estate. It provides REALTORS® with advanced training in green building and sustainable business practices and to work with consumers to seek out, understand and market properties with green features.
GRI
GRI stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. GRI is one of the most widely recognized designations available to real estate professionals nationwide, and only those REALTORS® who successfully complete GRI courses 1, 2 and 3 have the privilege of joining the prestigious group of REALTOR® Institute graduates.
SRES
SRES® is a designation awarded by the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council®, and is the only designation and marketing program specifically designed to serve senior property owners. SRES® designees demonstrate requisite knowledge and expertise to counsel senior clients through the major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing or selling a home.
TRLP
The Texas REALTOR® Leadership Program educates participants and shows them how to use their talents to make a difference in their professional and personal areas of interest. The program develops a community of selected participants who transform the power of knowledge into volunteer service. Its core values include community, service, integrity and commitment. I was a member of the first graduating class of the TRLP at the Austin Board of REALTORS®.
NARPM
NARPM is an association of real estate professionals who know first-hand the unique problems and challenges of managing single-family and small residential properties.It offers an effective, professional learning environment for owners of property management companies, property managers, and their support staff. Property management certificates earned through the National Association of Residential Property Managers give some assurance that the property manager they hire to care for their rental property has received focused training beyond the minimum required to prove competence in that niche market.
RMP
The NARPM Residential Management Professional is the first NARPM certification in a series of designations for those managing single family and multi-family properties. As of January, 2014 (the last date that information was available), there were 411 RMP designees.
MPM
The NARPM Master Property Manager certification is earned by someone that has been a licensed real estate agent for at least five years and must have achieved the RMP designation. The power that comes with increased knowledge and confidence from on-going education and training is a tangible benefit to property owners. This advanced education and training has an impact on my staff, my agents and my customers and clients, and many times those benefits translate directly to the bottom line.
My Mission
I am in the opportunity business, creating positive real estate experiences by doing the right thing, even when no one is looking; We Are The Company You'll Keep!
