AYREP’s March Coffee Talk and Mentor Program

Come talk to seasoned professionals in an intimate setting and get some ‘real’ advice on how to make it in this business. They will be talking in detail about networking and other topics to help hone your skills. We will also have an open forum between the Lenders and Agents to discuss individual processes to better understand everyone’s role in transactions. Limited seats are available, so hurry and reserve your spot! This event is for Realtors and Loan Officers that have been in the business 5 years or less.

You MUST RSVP to AustinYREP@yahoo.com with ‘Coffee Talk – Realtor‘ or ‘Coffee Talk – Lender‘ to reserve your space.

Friday . March 26th . 9-10:30 am . Maudie’s Milagro . Davenport Village . 3801 N. Capitol of Texas Hwy. . 78746

Sponsored by:

AYREP’s Bowling Tournament and Networking Happy Hour at The HighBall

Join us for a rolling good time at The HighBall, Austin’s new hip and unique hang out. Bowling, lounge area, event rooms, karaoke, food, drinks, you name it, HighBall has it. We’ll have multiple bowling lanes and a section reserved for our group! Come out and show your skillz and have a great night with all your AYREP pals. Drink tickets for those that come early and door prizes from Milestone Homes. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss!

Wednesday . March 24th, 6-8 pm . The HighBall . 1142 S. Lamar . 78704 . 512-383-8309

Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors, without which this would not be possible!

A special note from our friends at The HighBall:

Have an event coming up? Need a venue? With an experienced team of event planners and caterers on staff – let The Highball Venue Rental Department help you plan your next meeting or event. Types of events we specialize in include corporate daytime meetings and team building outings, customer appreciation events, holiday parties and more! The Highball is also available for weddings, rehearsal dinners, receptions, fundraising events, fraternity and sorority events and for any type of event you’d like our assistance in planning and coordinating!

AYREP’s Second Annual Mardi Gras & Karaoke Party

Join us for a rocking good time at Austin’s own Common Interest for our 2nd Annual Mardi Gras & Karaoke Party. We’ll have a section of the bar reserved especially for our group so the drinks will be super cheap and singin’ is always free! Come belt out your favorite 80’s ballad or banging metal song and have a laugh with all your AYREP pals. They also have pool tables and a DJ so there will be plenty of activities to enjoy. We’ll have a Bingo mingle game and loads of great door prizes as well. It’s free and it’s fun so come on out! This is definitely one you don’t want to miss!

February 17th- 7-9 pm – Common Interest – 8440 Burnet Road 78757

Increase your commission by adding Staging to your selling system!

At an event with Realtors last week, I was floored when an agent told me that they would call me if they ever get a listing for the "right house for staging".  What the heck does that mean?  Sad thing is, as owner of Studio 12 and an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) I hear this ALL the time.  Realtors (and others) have a false understanding about Staging and how to properly prepare a home for market right down to using their own (many times, lousy) photos for the MLS listing.  

The misconception out there is that only higher priced homes need staging. What Realtors don’t understand is they are failing their clients when they do not recommend a Staging Consultation by an ASP Stager to their client prior to going on the market regardless of the list price of the property.  It is a small investment (starting around $150) for a substantial return (343%).  Additionally,  homes that are Staged by an ASP Stager sell for 8% more and in half the time (37 days in comparison to the national average of 212 days). 

And, the real kicker? Realtors who have EVERY home they list go through at minimum a Staging Consultant actually INCREASE their commission!

Are you recommending a ASP Staging Consultation to every house that you list??

AYREP’s 2010 kickoff party was a huge success!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out last night to Firehouse Lounge to meet the 2010 AYREP Board members and to network with your fellow real estate professionals! We had over 120 people show up for the event and we raised $275 in donations for Haiti relief. We are proud to bring you such fun and worthwhile functions and we look forward to seeing you at all our future events! Take a moment to look at the online photos courtesy of Lone Star Image Design located on the News tab of our website.

An extra special thank you to our sponsors Sky Realty and Nunnallee Inspections and to our door prize donors KB Homes, Home Warranty of America, Pulte Homes and Treaty Oak Homes. We couldn’t do it without your support and we appreciate you!

First Coffee Talk of 2010 – Chad Goldwasser and John McCully

RSVP TODAY!

Send RSVP to austinyrep@yahoo.com

This event is for Realtors and Loan Officers that have been in the business 5 years or less.

Come talk to seasoned professionals in an intimate setting and get some ‘real’ advice on how to make it in this business. You MUST RSVP to AustinYREP@yahoo.com with ‘Coffee Talk – Realtor‘ or ‘Coffee Talk – Lender‘ to reserve your space.

Realtor Mentor: Chad Goldwasser owner of Goldwasser Real Estate

He will be talking in detail about networking and other topics to help hone your skills.

Lender Mentor: John McCully with Flagstar

He will be covering details on the new RESPA & GFEs.

Limited seats are available, so hurry and reserve your spot!

When: Friday September 25th – 9:00 to 10:30am

Where: Maudies Milagro – Davenport Village, 3801 N. Capitol of Texas Hwy

Studio 12 gives a high five to AYREP members!

Studio 12 wants to thank the handful of AYREP members who joined in helping our service project last Saturday!  Kris Rodriguez, AYREP 2010 Board Member, Ryan Matthews, Sponsorship Committee Member, and Dean Pickard, member, along with Studio 12 (Stephanie, co-owner of the company is an AYREP 2010 Board Member as well) and 30+ other volunteers helped with a Makeover-to-sell for a deserving Austin homeowner!  The day went smoothly and the owner was amazed at the work that was completed!   A huge THANK YOU goes out to all who volunteered their time and donated their services (including JunkBusters, another AYREP member) to make this event a success!!  You all ROCK and we are so excited to start 2010 off with a bang!!

Kris, Dean, Stephanie and Bryan (co-owners of Studio 12)

Celebrating real estate with AYREP: kicking off 2010 right!

We are so proud to introduce to you AYREP’s 2010 board and to share with you the exciting things we have planned for you this year. Our commitment is to continuing your education with fun events and great people. To start that off, we have our first event at Firehouse Lounge at 605 Brazos Street on January 20th from 6-8 pm. We’ll have lots of door prizes, great drinks and interesting folks so put on your networking hat and join us for a great time. Our sponsors and our team are excited to meet you and to help you make 2010 the best year for your business it can possibly be. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to kick off your new year right and we’ll see you there!

Thank you to the following sponsors for making our events so fun and worthwhile. We couldn’t do it without you and we appreciate you!

  and    and  

and for the amazing door prizes:

  Thanks to Colette Clowdus cfitzgerald@kbhome.com for donating a Flip video cam AND a $100 gift card!

  Thanks to Susan Spence sspence@hwahomewarranty.com for donating a $100 gift card!

 Thanks to Cameron Thomsen Cameron.thomsen@pultehomes.com for donating a $100 gift card!

 Thanks to Wendy Feeley wendyf@treatyoakhomes.com for donating a $100 gift card!

Special thanks to Thomas Soliz at Lone Star Image Design for  photographing our event! Look for the photos online following the event or email Thomas at LoneStarImageDesign@gmail.com for more information on how to get your own great looking headshots.

AYREP Shout Out at WCR Luncheon

Post by Alisa LeBlanc 2010 AYREP Event Coordinator and North American Title Marketing Rep.

Special thanks to the Susanna Boyer and Women’s Council of Realtors for recognizing Austin Young Real Estate Professionals today at the WCR Luncheon.  The featured speakers were John Horton, Austin Board of Realtors 2010 President and J. Rene Ward, Williamson County Association of Realtors 2010 President. These two are a breath of fresh air. Not only are they vibrant, inspiring and full of great wisdom and knowledge, they care and it shows!! I attended along with my North American Title Branch Manager, Dawn Schweter, and AYREP’s 2010 Membership Chair – Meredith Cain of Supreme Lending. The overall message of today’s speakers was to encourage Real Estate Agents and affiliates to get involved and make sure that everyone is working to raise the bar in 2010. We all need to work harder and smarter. Also, be sure to hold yourself accountable as well as your peers and competition. Get the education that you need to be a master of your craft. John touched on the 2010 economic direction as being positive with only opportunity to grow. Rene seconded that and stated that one thing we should all make sure we do is keep our personal goals positive in both attitude and professionalism. Be aware of what you are doing, saying and where you are participating. Challenge yourself to raise your personal goals as well as expectations. With all of these goals 2010 will be a fantastic growing opportunity individually and professionally. As I have heard Rene say at a few functions and love “Stand for something or fall for anything!” Everyone needs to have goals and passion. Find what makes you passionate and apply yourself! 

Jenny Carroll is ready to make AYREP shine in 2010!

The year 2010 is destined to be dynamic and productive for Austin’s real estate industry and I am doing my part. I signed up to be a part of Austin’s Young Real Estate Professionals again as a board member and will be heading the marketing branch of our group. I am excited to take our online presence and blow it up to reach as many folks as possible. You’re going to see us on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube and more! Our goal is to let the online community know how we are helping build professionalism in our industry and to highlight our membership’s successes and activities. Check back here often to see how we’re making real estate better in Austin for you!