Page 1

Local REALTORS® Provide Children in Need Through Walk With Pride Campaign Insecurity abounds the first few weeks back to school for many children – but for those without, that insecurity can often leave lifetime scars.

Enter The Lubbock Association of REALTORS® (LAR) Walk With Pride campaign that works to give local children a reason to smile as they

start back to school with a new pair of shoes. LAR members last week fitted more than 350 children for shoes and socks, free of charge at

participating Lubbock Payless Shoesource locations.

Each year, the LAR budgets money for the Walk With Pride campaign to help families in need with new shoes for the school year. “This is a

great opportunity for us to give back to the community, and it’s great to see fellow Lubbock REALTORS® come out and help fit children with

shoes and see the smile on the kid's faces,” said LAR President Nancy Rawls.

LAR members show their support by volunteering their time to help fit children for shoes and pass out socks. Walk With Pride also is

generously supported by staff from the South Plains Food Bank who donate their free time each year, to locate families in need and

distributes vouchers for both shoes and socks.

“In addition to the tremendous support of the South Plains Food Bank, we greatly appreciate Payless Shoesource,” Rawls said. “I know I

personally look forward to this event each and every year.”

This year, the LAR also helped the Hutchison Middle School Dance group by donating ballet shoes. This campaign could not have been done

without Chair Melissa Smith and the many REALTOR® members and Business Partners who donated their time to help with fitting children

with shoes.

The association gained substantial coverage for the campaign, reaching over 104 news out-lets coast-to-coast, including a full article in the

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, which can be viewed here.

Phone (806) 795-9533 Fax (806) 791-6529 5015 Knoxville Avenue, Lubbock Texas 79413-4039

2014 Board Officers

Nancy Rawls, President

Rusty DeLoach, President Elect

Charles Kearney, Treasurer

Jef Conn, Secretary

Coby Crump,

Chairman of the Board

DIRECTORS

Cynthia Arriaga, 2013—2014

Leigh Anne Brozo, 2014—2015

Vanessa Dirks, 2014—2015

Frank Harmon, 2013—2014

Jacky Howard, 2013—2014

Larry Jones, 2014

Tara Newton, 2014—2015

Nathan Jordan, 2014—2015

Jeff Sellers, 2014—2015

Susan Shakespeare, 2014—2015

Dan Williams, 2013—2014

Jana Wuthrich, 2013—2014

EX OFFICIO DIRECTORS

Tim Garrett, 2014—2015 Regional

Vice President and TAR Director

Ann Kearney, 2014-2016 TAR

Director

John Walton, TAR Director Lifetime

REALTOR www.lubbockrealtors.com

L U B B O C K ®

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

AUGUST MONTHLY MARKET COMPARISON

Categories Aug 2013 Aug 2014 Percent Change

Total Residential Property Sales 368 358 -2.7%

Total Residential Dollar Volume $59,334,674 $58,286,281 -1.8%

Average Single-Family Sales Price $161,236 $162,812 1.0%

Median Single-Family Sales Price $132,000 $131,095 -0.7%

Total Active Residential Listings 1,224 1,113 -9.1%

Total Pending Residential Sales 303 252 -16.8%

Months Inventory* 3.8 3.5 -7.9%

*Months inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12

months sales activity.

Year-to-Date Comparison

Categories Jan-Aug 2013 Jan-Aug 2014 Percent Change

Total Residential Property Sales 2,956 2,777 -6.1%

Total Residential Dollar Volume $454,880,958 $453,529,693 -0.3%

Average Single-Family Sales Price $153,884 $163,316 6.1%

Median Single-Family Sales Price $125,000 $132,500 6.0%

Notice on this information: Multiple Listing Service data is reported to the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M and the Na-tional Association of REALTORS® on the eighth of each month. Year-to-date data may be corrected for information reported after the eighth. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all activity in the real estate market.

Page 2

Advice for

Texas REALTORS® 10 Ways to Get Sued

During the Risk Reduction Forum at the Texas

Association of REALTORS Annual Convention in San

Antonio, John Mondics of Mondics Insurance Group

and John Torvi of the Herbert H. Landy Insurance

Agency included 10 of the top reasons an agent or broker may be sued in the presentation “Avoiding the E&O Claims

Minefield.”

1) Failing to Disclose

2) Failing to recommend inspections

3) Failing to identify potential issues

4) Failing to properly advise on the terms of a contract

5) Exaggerating features of a contract

6) Failing to explain the significance of a disclosure to buyers

7) Making promises you cannot or do not keep

8) Failing to explain the significance of a disclosure issue to a seller

9) Failing to comply with the time frame in the contract

10) Representing clients in unfamiliar geographic areas

MEMBER NEWS Total Members 889 ( ↑ 11% from projected 2014 membership)

177 Companies │ 712 Salespersons

New REALTOR Members

Designated REALTORS / Companies

None

Salespersons

Landon Brown M. Edwards, REALTORS®

Brice Kelly Egenbacher Real Estate

Mike Brown Legendary Dreams Realty

Angela Simek Keller Williams Realty

Jardon Powell Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, REALTORS®

Lacey Hegi Keller Williams Realty

Susan Price Exit Realty of Lubbock

Carol Matticks Keller Williams Realty

Jeff Gilliam The WestMark Companies

Taylor Koontz Keller Williams Realty

Travis Ellington Exit Realty of Lubbock

Dustin Stone Keller Williams Realty

Larissa Cable Keller Williams Realty

Molly Montgomery Keller Williams Realty

Bobby Davidson Keller Williams Realty

Joanna Cunningham Exit Realty of Lubbock

Angie Long Keller Williams Realty

Ramzi Fakhreddine New Home Brokers, LTD

Marcia Valencia Lyons Realty

Adam Wright Lyons Realty

Terry Patel The WestMark Companies

Shirley Robinson Exit Realty of Lubbock

(continued on page 3)

Education Offerings MCE Courses & Other Classes

October 8—9 CRS Technology Course

16 hours MCE credit

October 15 9:00 AM—1:00 PM “Rapattoni New User

Training”

9:00 AM “Be Your Buyers Advocate”

1 hour MCE credit

10:00 AM “Budgeting & Planning for

Emergencies”

2 hours MCE credit

1:00 PM “Credit, Debt and Your Customer”

MCE pending

October 22 10:00 AM “Property Manager & Investors

Webinar”

1 hour MCE credit

October 29 9:00 AM—1:00 PM “Rapattoni New User

Training”

October 30—31 8:30 AM “Sellers Representative Specialist” -

taught by Pat Strong

14 hours MCE credit

Page 3

Biggest Issues for Title

Companies, Mortgage

Companies and Other Groups

The Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) conducted

focus groups during their visit to the sixteen different

regions in Texas. These focus groups were comprised

of industry groups beyond real estate agents, but that

play a critical part of the home buying and selling

process. These groups consisted of title companies,

mortgage lenders, appraisers, inspectors, attorneys,

home builders and home warranty companies, with the

goal of compiling the biggest concerns these groups

face while working with agents.

One of the biggest issues is understanding

promulgated contracts. Often, many key areas of the

contract are not completed, such as identifying the

broker, but excluding the company on the signature

section and leaving out buyer/seller contact

information.

Another issue is non-realty item addenda. For example,

not including that all the furniture and home theater

equipment will convey, causing increased problems for

appraisers and lenders.

Shockingly, the report states that 30% of contracts

submitted to the title company do not have the

effective date filled in. Obviously, this creates a host of

problems for all involved, and can have substantial

legal ramifications. It’s worth noting that according to

the Mondics Insurance Group, one of the top ten reasons an agent or broker may be sued

is failure to comply with the time frames in the contract.

Download the full report here, located in the Member Center of lubbockrealtors.com (log-

in required).

Brokers Should Take Advantage of the Big

Consumer Trends of 2014 by Jeremy Conaway

Last month’s Brokerage Design article advocated that brokers manage the consumer

relationship as theirs to cherish, promote and add value to. It went on to point out that all

too many residential real estate service providers were unaware that they were being

targeted by digital disruption and that not only were these providers (read agents) not

taking the steps necessary to capture and harvest effective consumer relationships but,

more importantly, that some relatively competent third parties, such as portals, are

actively counseling consumers that there was no need to have an early on relationship

with real estate service providers at all.

That piece pointed out that there are currently several digital disruptors engaging the real

estate consumer. Without question, the one creating the most impact and buzz is the

third party listing portal. In every marketplace there are brokerages and agents who are expressing outrage and fear regarding

what they claim are inappropriate and unethical practices being engaged in by these not so new entities.

While only history will be able to judge whether the alleged wounds and expressions of pain being communicated by these

folks are, or were, appropriate. Some aspects of their behavior can be evaluated even now. The industry must understand that

neither the strategies, nor the tactics being utilized by portals, reflect being mean spirited or unethical but rather that they are

Business Partners (Affiliate Members)

Right Way Home Protection Eve Darling, representative

Family Title Lubbock Kim Kruse, representative

CMG Financial Jana Longbotham, representative

Membership Cancellations

Salespersons

Frankie Justice Keller Williams Realty

Nathan Gilliam The WestMark Companies

Maria Fernandez Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, REALTORS®

David Garza (deceased) Lubbock Discount Realty

Jamie Petmecky Exit Realty of Lubbock

Chis Pollock Keller Williams Realty

Sheryl Buchanan The WestMark Companies

Mike Torres Ultima Real Estate

Chris Carpenter Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, REALTORS®

Pam Benedum Exit Realty of Lubbock

Morgan Harder Keller Williams Realty

Justin Cloud Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

(continued on page 4)

Page 4

absolutely and near perfectly tuned to the demands

and expectations of the contemporary real estate

consumer. This understanding might also be

extended to the fact that even years after learning

about the importance of consumer relationships,

many real estate professionals and their

associations refused to change their approach and

attitude regarding consumers.

This article assumes for a moment that one or more

of our readers might have been convinced that

consumer relationship migration was indeed being

practiced within the industry, and that perhaps they

should begin the journey of creating consumer

centricity and a consumer experience within their

firm’s sphere of influence. While the overall effort of

facilitating these challenges can be complex many of

their elements are, in fact, quite simple. Common

sense can serve well to provide a cost effective soft

start to such an initiative.

An appropriate starting point for creating a consumer

centric environment is to examine how your

brokerage’s attitudes about consumers and their

issues are actually communicated to the firm’s

customers. The favored methodology for meeting

this challenge is creating training programs that

impact the attitudes of agents, managers and

support staff relative to great consumer

communications experiences and service.

The second step is to research, group study, and create an actual

consumer centricity policy with associated best practices within

your firm.

The third step, and by far the easiest of these recommendations,

is to assist your brokerage and its personnel and procedures to be

sensitive to the needs and expectations of the current consumer.

The theory here is, while you may not be ready to promote what

you absolutely want the consumer to think about the real estate

experience your firm is offering, you certainly don’t want to

sabotage the consumer relationship by simply not knowing what

the real estate consumer is thinking themselves. If, by way of

example only, you know that many consumers within your market are sensitive to issues of water scarcity and waste, you may

want to be sure that your organization is demonstrating a similar sensitivity. An errant irrigation system that leaves puddles on

the pavement that consumers have to walk through may say more about you than whatever greets them at the front door.

In other words, you might want to be sure that, while in the presence of your firm and staff, consumers are not subjected to

circumstances that demonstrate, without even trying, that your firm is completely insensitive to current consumer attitudes.

Why lose the consumer relationship battle without even trying?

Some clients, when faced with this challenge, immediately throw up their arms and wonder how their firm could ever know

such things about people they don’t know exist? The answer to that question has never been simpler. There is more consumer

related information being captured, stored and analyzed in today’s business environment than ever before. Virtually every

factor imaginable regarding the expectations and demands of today’s consumer is readily available. There are dozens of

vendors who will provide this information in many formats.

One of better of these sources is trendwatching.com. This highly rated website provides a great deal of very valuable

information in formats and batches that are easily understood and relevant to the real estate industry. The following factors

were taken from their current discussion.

REALTORS® on the Move

Joe Hall—correction

Did not transfer to Jerry Kitten Broker from

Century 21 John Walton, REALTORS®

Karolyn Davis-Gass

The WestMark Companies to Exit Realty of

Lubbock

Janis Rothwell

J. Rothwell Real Estate to Keller Williams

Realty

Mike Terry Ultima Real Estate to Haveli Realty, LLC

Amy Furst

Keller Williams Realty to Today in Lubbock

Real Estate

Natalie Day

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services,

Anderson Properties to Day & Co.

Shawna Gibbons Keller Williams Realty to Red Label Realty

Dick Van Hoose McDougal, REALTORS® to Lyons Realty

Other Changes

Traci Young (Exit Realty of Lubbock), cancelled MLS membership

Meagan Thompson (Exit Realty of Lubbock), name change to Meagan

Ethridge

Page 5

In the 3rd Quarter 2014, what issues should brokerages be sensitive to relative to interacting with consumers and pursuing

excellent consumer experiences? Consider the following:

More and more consumers, especially trailing X’ers and Generation Y folks are acquiring a sense of guilt regarding their

consumption patterns. This is not to say that they are changing their consumption patterns but it is to observe that they are

feeling guilty and will respond gratefully to any effort by vendors to moderate that guilt. This factor is referred to as “guilt free

consumption.”

More than ever before consumers are conscious of how their fellow consumers are making decisions in the marketplace

and want to mimic that behavior. This behavior is called “crowd shaping.”

Today’s consumer is increasingly aware of the fact that China is not only emerging as an economic leaders but is also

demonstrating leadership tendencies in the area of environmental sensitivity and product quality. Comments inconsistent

with these positions are noticed.

The X’ers focus on healthy bodies is being matched by the Y Generation’s interest in healthy and well-functioning minds.

Consumers are relating a great many architectural features to their impact on mental health.

It should come as no surprise that consumers are beginning to form negative attitudes about “too much data.” Delivering

the right data in a minimized format is good business.

“Caring,” in all of its iterations, is becoming a primary consumer focus. Residential real estate offers a virtual goldmine

with respect to all of the ways that caring can be demonstrated.

Take the time to read and learn about the details regarding the above trends. Discuss these trends with your team and identify

how they will apply to the

consumer’s real estate

experience. Ensure that the

agent panel is informed

regarding how they can use

these trends to be more

effective with consumers.

These simple activities are the

foundation of what those third

party portals are doing. We

need to do this. We can do

this.

-—Jeremy Conaway is a keynote

speaker, conference facilitator,

and consultant to the real estate

industry. He is President and CEO

of RECON Intelligence Services,

and can be reached at

jeremy.conaway@reconis.com.

JULY MONTHLY MARKET COMPARISON

Categories July 2013 July 2014 Percent Change

Total Residential Property Sales 468 391 -16.5%

Total Residential Dollar Volume $72,213,666 $65,793,023 -8.9%

Average Single-Family Sales Price $154,303 $168,269 9.1%

Median Single-Family Sales Price $127,500 $135,000 5.9%

Total Active Residential Listings 1,193 1,136 -4.8%

Total Pending Residential Sales 262 549 109.5%

Months Inventory* 3.8 3.5 -7.9%

*Months inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12

months sales activity.

Year-to-Date Comparison

Categories Jan-July 2013 Jan-July 2014 Percent Change

Total Residential Property Sales 2,578 2,381 -7.6%

Total Residential Dollar Volume $394,163,584 $386,421,722 -2.0%

Average Single-Family Sales Price $152,895 $162,294 6.1%

Median Single-Family Sales Price $123,350 $132,500 7.4%

Notice on this information: Multiple Listing Service data is reported to the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M and the Na-tional Association of REALTORS® on the eighth of each month. Year-to-date data may be corrected for information reported after the eighth. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all activity in the real estate market.

• Election Day is Nov. 4 • Register to vote by Oct. 6 • Early voting days: Oct. 20-31

Proposition 1 gives Texans a unique opportunity

to provide billions more in reliable transportation

funding – an estimated $1.7 billion in the first

year alone – with no new taxes, fees, or debt.

“The constitutional amendment providing for the use and dedication of certain money transferred to the state highway fund to assist in the completion of transportation construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation projects, not to include toll roads.”

Page 6

Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) Investors—Levels Reached as of September 24, 2014

Total Year-to-Date Investments: $93,015 with 60% participation

Crystal R ($2,500) Coby Crump

Lisa Sellers

Cade Fowler

Sterling R ($1,000) Karleen Boyd

Jef Conn

Carolyn Crowson

Joy Daniel

Kathy Davis

Rusty DeLoach

Bill deTournillon

Norma Edwards

Linda Ferguson

Tim Futrell

Linda Gaither

Tim Garrett

Fred Hardin

Jay Herrin

Cheryl Isaacs

Nathan Jordan

Ann Kearney

Charles Kearney

Rob Leatherwood

Tony Lloyd

Mark McMillan

Joe L. Murfee, III

Vickie Noyola

Nancy Rawls

Jerod Reep

Jeff Sellers

Dorinda Sherwood

Winn Sikes

Pam Titzell

John Walton

Dan Williams

Jana Wuthrich

110 Club ($110) Courtney Allen

Stephanie Allison

Tricia Anderson

Lindsey Bartley

David Bloodworth

John Bost

Leigh Anne Brozo

June Burks

Kim Burrous

Rick Canup

Julie Childs

Mary Cleckler

Bobbe Crawford

John Darden

Donna Dubose

Brian Duncan

Darlene Fillman

Rick Fowler

Greg Garrett

Paul Garrett

Chip Gilmour

Mary Ann Grafft

Ken Harlan

Lanny Harris

David Haymes

Becky Householder

Gwen Jackson

Doug Jordan

Nita Kiesling

Sharon Lee

Larry Leivas

Don Lynn

Terry Manz

Mike McCarty

Russell McGuire

Trina Meadows

Velma Medina

David Myers

Jimmy Noland

Cami Paston

Rita Paxton

David Pritchett

Chris Raney

Emily Ratcliff

Rod Reynolds

Jim Rosson

Ruan Samuels

Johnny Stringer

Lela Tackitt

Gary Tapp

David Terry

Debby Tullis

Donna Westfall

La Donna Wichern

Cindy Wilkinson

Jon Willey

Thank You Investors! As REALTORS® and private property owners, you know the value

of protecting the real estate industry. That’s why TREPAC is so important. Not only is it an insurance policy

on your career, but it makes you the ultimate advocate for your clients, friends and family. Every legislative

session, TREPAC fights to protect the interests of home owners a the local, state, and national level

including protecting homeowner’s equity, requiring the licensing of mortgage brokers for consumer

protection and stopping additional taxes on the sale of real property.

For every TREPAC event you attend, like the upcoming Golf Tournament, Casino Night, Bingo Night, etc.

your registration goes towards your overall TREPAC investment. So invest today and not only will you save

money by defeating fees that take away from your income, but you also show your clients another reason

why using a REALTOR® is so important. Invest on-line—log-in to www.texasrealestate.com.

Capital Club ($500) Brian Aycock

Brenda Bennett

Michael Berg

Bob Brandt

Lisa Carswell

Judy Cato

Vanessa Dirks

Kelley Elliott

Tim Grissom

Steve Gwinn

Renessa Knowles

Greg Luman

Josh Putman

Ginger Robertson

Kirk Schneider

Lone Star Statesmen ($250) Cynthia Arriaga

Wayne Backus

Joe Bellar

Doug Davis

Michael Divin

Curt Douglass

Casey Doyle

Doug Duncan

Brad Elder

Kent Gamble

Beth Garrett

Ella Glover

Pat Ham

Kendra Harris

Larry Jones

Cindi Lea

Jana Longbotham

Kathy Marable

Chase Marberry

Brett Paxton

Jeremy Pool

Jack Robnett

Susan Shakespeare

Steve Shanklin

Liz Smart

Beverly Sowell

Shari Straley

Gary Tapp