Austin TX Real Estate - Hill Country Austin Lakeway Homes for Sale: February 2010

Earlier this week, Austin TX Weather was crazy and we received a lot of snow on Tuesday.  We were able to make snowmen and have a lot of fun.

Here is what our big snowman looked like on Thursday morning, a couple of days later.

Here is what that same snowman looked like Thursday afternoon...

At least it came, we saw, and we had a lot of fun!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Austin TX Weather - After the Snow * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

A neighborhood's Home Owner's Association (HOA) is in place for a reason. I get many buyers asking specifically to look for houses that are not part of an HOA.  I always ask them why.

For the most part, they think HOA's are strict.  What is their definition of strict?  They just don't want to be told what to do.

Do you want your neighborhood to look like this?

This is one of the reasons there are Home Owner's Associations in place throughout Austin TX and the rest of the country.  Who wants to see their neighbor's weekend home?  Doesn't this look trashy?  There is even a cord coming from the garage to the trailer to charge it.

The funny thing is, this house is part of an HOA.  A Home Owner's Association is only as strong as the neighbors allow it to be.  Has anyone reported this neighbor?  I was in this neighborhood twice this week showing houses and it was there both times. I wonder how long it's been there...

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Neighborhoods Have Home Owner's Associations for a Reason * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

I am a TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) approved instructor and teach classes every so often on different real estate topics. About a month ago, I taught one of my classes, and oops, this lady didn't have her $20.  Being the nice person I am, I allowed her to pay me later...

Later hasn't arrived yet...

At the class, she gave me her business card, but I don't think she does business from it.  She has 3 phone numbers on her card, though two are scratched out.  She also has a Hotmail email address, not very professional.

After class, she asked me to email her immediately so she would remember, which I did.  I don't check my mail at my office very often, so it was a couple of weeks later that I noticed I didn't receive her check. I emailed her again, since she recommended email in the first place... no response, and no check...

Yesterday, I called her to remind her that I have not received my check yet.  Her response...

"Oh, I haven't checked that email account in weeks..."

Why do you have a Business card with an email address on it that you don't regularly check?  What if buyers and sellers were trying to get a hold of her?  What is she thinking??

Why can't there be a way to weed out agents who are running a circus instead of a business and just don't give a gosh-darn-it!!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Do You Run A Business or a Circus? * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Earlier, I posted the pictures of all the fun in the snow in Bee Cave TX.  Below is the video showing the making of the snowmen as well as a time lapse of the snow accumulating in the yard. It was amazing how fast it piled up!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Building a Family of Snowmen... the video * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

I can't believe it. I've never seen this much snow in my life!!  The flakes were bigger than silver dollars!!

Here are some pictures of fun in the snow with Alyssa and Mike.  We ended up with three snowmen and people keep stopping to take pictures.  I feel famous!  I'll post a video later.

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Lots of SNOW in Bee Cave Austin TX - Lots of Pictures * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

On Friday, I had to sit at the Texas Association of REALTORS' Winter session for the Professional Standards and Grievance Committee training class that is now mandatory each year instead of every two years.  Of course, since it's MCE credit, no external distractions, meaning no phone and no computer.

However, the multi-tasker that I am, right before it started, I checked my email and received a message from a buyer who found five properties she wanted to see and had already spoken with a mortgage person, yadda yadda.  I responded back immediately saying that I was at an all day seminar and could I call her that evening or over the weekend.

I was able to check my email a couple of more times during breaks, and conversed back and forth in addition to talking with her Friday evening.  We scheduled time on Sunday to view some houses.

We met and I asked how they found me.  The husband says, "My wife just really likes you."  Really??  Why?

The wife says, "My husband really likes the other Realtor."

WHOA!!!  What?  Other Realtor??

What happened with the other Realtor?  They had been looking at houses for a while, but the Realtor wouldn't show them houses in areas they wanted to be in. They found an area they loved, and even tried to get her to show them houses there, and she ignore the requests.  She kept showing them houses in a neighboring community.

The wife decided she needed to do further research, and when I responded immediately to her email, under 5 minutes, she was impressed and told her husband they had to work with me!

We saw five houses this morning, and we're going to write an offer on one tomorrow.

Note to the public:  If you're unhappy with the agent you're working with, you're allowed to make a change. You don't have to stay in an unhappy situation.

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* "My Husband Likes the Other Realtor..."  WHOA - WHAT?? * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Since Lake Travis in Austin TX was very low for several months, now that we've gotten rain, look at what has washed into the water.

It's not all over, mainly at the Jonestown section of Lake Travis.  Even my daughter pointed at it and said, "icky!"

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* 

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Speechless Sunday - Lake Travis is a little dirty... * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Falconhead West Bee Cave Austin TX is finally getting their community park and playground.  Back in November, I mentioned Falconhead West's playground was finally fully approved, but it sat as dirt for a long time.  It's more than three months later, and it looks like some fairly decent progress is being made.

Alyssa thinks the playground is being built just for her as she calls it "my playground".

This will be about a quarter mile from my house, so very convenient, and we'll be there all the time... if they ever finish it!

Falconhead West Bee Cave Austin TX is growing fast with construction all over the place. Come make Falconhead West your home!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Falconhead West Bee Cave Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Falconhead West - Bee Cave - Austin TX - Community Park and Playground * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

This is from the 42nd Floor of Cityplace in Dallas TX where Raincamp Dallas 2010 was held.

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Foto Friday - Dallas TX from the 42nd Floor * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

What is your Klout?  Do you know?  I thought my Klout was strong...

At Raincamp Dallas TX 2010, one of the tools we learned about was Klout.com.  Your Klout score can range from 1-100 and it uses your Twitter username to look you up.  It's a calculation of someone's sphere of influence and how much interaction there is between you and your followers on Twitter.

Yikes... I'm not following many people, but I have a lot of followers.  I thought this was a good strategy because I didn't want to try to follow too many conversations at once.  Well, my Klout score is a 10.  Yes, only TEN!

I have started adding new people to follow, and I'll be sure to start participating in conversation more, and let's see if I can get to a 25 by the end of the month!

What is your Klout score?
**graphic courtesy of Klout's website

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* A Tool from RainCamp - What is Your Klout Score?  * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Raincamp, Raincamp... What can be said about ActiveRain's Raincamp that was put on in Dallas TX a couple of days ago?

WOW!!

I was blown away, and I'm not one to get blown away with things like this.  I usually like to sit with my arms crossed saying, "What an idiot!  No one does that these days to help their real estate businesses..." as that's exactly what was I saying when I stupidly sat at a Craig Proctor seminar for two hours the day before. I figured I was in Dallas, what the heck.  HUGE waste of time.  Raincamp, not a waste of time at all!!

I learned so many things, that I can't wait to have a few minutes to implement ideas. As I check things out and implement, I'll be checking back with my opinions.  I did start three Fan pages on Facebook and took some pictures in between appointments yesterday.  Now, I just have to load them and get some fans!!

The best compliment I received (besides ActiveBrad personally asking my opinion about the day) was when I was approached by a friend saying that she was sitting next to someone from Austin, and while we were discussing Long Tailed Keywords and how to use them, he got excited about an area he wanted to target, Googled those words, and MY blog popped up!!  He told her something to the effect of, "I'm never gonna be able to beat that Donna Homes person, she's everywhere!"

Here are some random pictures of some faces you'll recognize. I won't name everyone because as soon as I try, I'll forget someone and I'll never hear the end of it.

Thanks to Bob, Brad, and Ben... The three B's had it together and did a great job!!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* ActiveRain RainCamp - Dallas TX - WOW!! * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

I'm more than speechless...

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Speechless Sunday - Our First 50s Sock Hop * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Ring Ring... Hello?

Hi, Donna, you have some Flowers that were just delivered to you up here at the office.

Flowers?  For me?  From Whom?  Is there a card?

You want me to read the card?

Well, They're not from my Husband, so yes, please read it...

Back in August, I wrote a blog post about Flowers by Nancy, too, a local flower store in Lakeway TX.  When I moved here, to Falconhead West in Bee Cave TX, I was sent a welcome package with coupons for different things. One of the coupons was a house-warming plant from Flowers by Nancy, too.

When I went to pick it up, I spoke with the lady there, and decided to write a post about the store and its history. 

Low and behold, it's six months later and the store owner found my post.  She sent me flowers as a thank you!  I called her to thank her for her thank you. She was very excited to hear from me. She explained that her son is just getting her into the "Internet thing" and she has a lot to learn, but she thought it was really cool to see my write-up.

Just another example of how your writings can catch the eyes of the people who really need/want to see your writings.  Maybe the extra exposure to her company has drummed up business as this is a very busy weekend for the store, with it being Valentine's Day and all.

Stop by Flowers by Nancy, too and tell them you saw the blog post about them!! They'll love it!!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Real Estate - Austin TX Homes for Sale are Selling Strong * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Lake Travis Austin TX is currently ABOVE its average lake level!!  Austin TX, along with Central Texas Hill Country as a whole, has been in a two year drought.  Lake Travis sustained at the beginning, but the Summer of 2009 was hard.  By early September, this is what Lake Travis looked like at my family's cove.  Absolutely NO water, as levels were around 625 feet!

It is just a few months later, and as of this past weekend, Lake Travis is now over 670 feet!!  And the better news?  It's raining today, and will rain most of the week!!  This will bring Lake Travis up even further to help ensure lake levels will be perfect for AquaPalooza 2010 on Lake Travis.

**When you get $erious about $elling, you get Top Dollar... Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Lake Travis - Austin TX - Two Year Drought is Over * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Senna Hills in Austin TX is showing an interesting trend right now.  Look at the chart below.

The bars on the far right are sold properties, showing their listing price compared to their sales price.  The bars on the far left are active properties.  As you can clearly see, the active properties have significantly higher asking prices than what their neighbors have sold for just in the past three months.

Why are Senna Hills Home Owners doing this?  Earlier, I compared the community Lake Pointe in much this same way.  Lake Pointe is just down the street off Bee Caves Rd.  In that comparison, I cheered saying,

YEAH!!!  Sellers are getting it!!

In Senna Hills, I'll have to go back the other direction and say,

"Come on Sellers, why don't you get it?!"

The Homes are not selling as high as you think they are. And if you're being told by a professional that your house is worth more, you need to  be getting a second or third opinion, or you're going to be like that green bar in the middle of the chart that is currently the only property in the community that is pending, but has its blue dot way up at almost 300 days on the market!!

If you're in Senna Hills Austin TX and are thinking about putting your house on the market, please call me TODAY to get more detailed information.  If you're looking to buy a house in the Senna Hills Bee Cave Austin TX area, also call me TODAY and let's schedule an appointment to view some homes.  The tax credits are still in full effect, so why not take advantage?

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Senna Hills - Austin TX - Homes for Sale - Market Report * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Lake Pointe - Bee Cave Austin TX - Market Report looks a little different than a couple of weeks ago.  Just a couple of weeks ago, the Lake Pointe chart didn't show any "pending" sales.  If you look at the chart below, after the big spike at the top, the next few bars are properties under contract. 

You'll also notice that the blue line is very low on the pendings.  These are houses that went under contract within just a few days!!  Those properties are also priced right in line with the bars to their right that show the sold properties.

YEAH!!!  Sellers are getting it!!

Here's another chart making it easier to see the current activity within Lake Pointe in Bee Cave Austin TX.

The chart is a little unbalanced, but overall, telling a nice story.  Even though there are quite a few properties that have been on the market for well over 6 months, the sellers just entering the market will be able to make a splash, as they're priced more competitively.

If you're in Lake Pointe Bee Cave Austin TX and are thinking about putting your house on the market, please call me TODAY to get more detailed information.  If you're looking to buy a house in the Lake Pointe Bee Cave Austin TX area, also call me TODAY and let's schedule an appointment to view some homes.  The tax credits are still in full effect, so why not take advantage?

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Lake Pointe - Bee Cave Austin TX - Market Report * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

Alyssa went and found her princess shoes, her bracelet, and crown, came walking into the living room and said, "Mommy, I'm fancy!"  It was the cutest thing ever... since the last cutest thing she did...

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Wordless Wednesday - Mommy, I'm Fancy! * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

If you're in the North or Central Texas area and would like me to bring my classes to your area, please have your favorite Broker or Title Company Rep contact me for further details.

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Painless Prospecting - 2 Hours MCE - Trinity Title Austin TX - February 10 * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

The Power of Active Rain is a very strong power, indeed.  What do I mean by Active Rain having a Power?  I mean that blog posts that I've written over the years get ranked high in searches as Google juice loves Active Rain.

I'm not exactly sure what the Power of Active Rain formula is, as it's a well-hidden secret to some, but the basic formula is known by many.  An example of the Power of Active Rain is after only 3 weeks of blogging, back in the summer of 2006, I had a listing appointment. I asked how they found me and what keywords they used.  I duplicated their results when I got home that day!

The Power of Active Rain also brings in buyers, not just sellers.  I've received calls and emails over the years from people reading anything from a market report to a trip to the zoo.  You never know what people are interested in, so I write about lots of different topics, and the Power of Active Rain has taught me to write about hyper-local events and places, so I make sure to incorporate those aspects.

I received a free dinner at a restaurant here in Bee Cave TX because of a blog post I wrote about receiving bad service at this restaurant. The COO contacted me saying he saw my post, was concerned, and could he make it up to me.  The Power of Active Rain got me and my family a free meal!!

Bottom line is that because of the Power of Active Rain, I have closed 20 transactions and put about $150k in my pockets!  I have learned to utilize the Power of Active Rain and not just let it work in the background.  Active Rain is a huge part of my prospecting day in and day out, and as long as the Power of Active Rain continues, I will continue as well.

Even smaller cities across the country can benefit just as much as larger cities, like this Grace Idaho Real Estate Agent who is just learning about the Power of Active Rain and will probably grow her business exponentially this year.

My husband thinks I spend too much time here on Active Rain, but he sure doesn't mind when the money hits the bank. My priorities are in place, and utilizing the Power of Active Rain is high up on the list!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

For real time Austin TX listings, click here.

** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* The Power of Active Rain * was first published on donnahomesblog.com

The brownies are staring at me so I have to eat them... the cake is right there calling my name so I have to eat it...

I love the Food Saver.  Why?  Because it makes me eat less of the good stuff.  How?  Because every time I open the container, I have to reseal the vaccuum, and it's LOUD.  This means everyone in the house can hear it... I don't like to "sneak" brownies if my husband can hear me every time I get one.

Why am I trying to sneak them?  Because that's the fun part of being bad, not letting people know about it, right!!??

Since we started using the Food Saver containers several years ago, I've probably saved millions of calories...

Go Food Saver!!  I wonder if they could create a Fridge Saver so it makes noise every time it's opened!!  I've got dibs on that patent!!

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

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** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

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* Keep the Brownies Away!! * was first published on donnahomesblog.com