Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes! Looking back over my 11-year career in real estate

This month marks my eleven-year anniversary in full-time Austin real estate. When I started in January 1997, things were far different.

Here are some of the key differences, both in our market and in my life:

THEN: We about 2,700 agents in our local board.

NOW: There are over 9,700 agents in Austin.

THEN: The average price in the Austin MLS was just $135,000, and the median price was $110,000.

NOW: Current average sales price in our market is $249,300, and the median is $182,000.

THEN: In 1997, there were only 13 homes that sold for over $1 million in Austin.

NOW: For 2007, there were 372 home sales in that range.

THEN: Overall, there were only 12,439 home sales in 1997.

NOW: In 2007, this number swelled to 28,687, even in a "down" market.

THEN: I was just beginning my sales career, coming from a retail and restaurant management background.

NOW: I am the broker/owner of Austin Texas Homes, LLC, a brokerage in west Austin with about 15 agents and growing. Also, to reiterate from one of my recent posts, I now possess the ability to emanate light from my chest (see photo at left).

THEN: My wife and I had been married for four years, and we had no children.

NOW: We are still happily married, and we now have three wonderful kids, ages 9, 6, and 21 months. January 2nd was our fifteenth wedding anniversary.

Please enjoy the David Bowie "Changes" video below (why the heck not?):

Times change, and we must continually adapt in our business. I look forward to a strong sales year in 2008!

Thanks for your continued support of my blog!

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