Texas Housing Insight – March 2020 Summary

Here is the March 2020 Summary from Texas A&M Real Estate Center.

 



Please note this review does not account for the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak but reflects the market through March 2020.


With half the month affected by the domestic coronavirus outbreak, total Texas housing sales decreased 4 percent in March, but still resulted in moderate first quarter growth. This decline does not bode well for second quarter home sales, when shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders were implemented, increasing the reluctance of potential buyers and sellers to visit and show homes for sale. Supply-side activity decelerated amid uncertain economic conditions, but average days on market indicated steady demand. Median home-price appreciation remained stable, corroborated by the Texas Repeat Sales Home Price Index. The coronavirus outbreak is the greatest threat to the Texas housing market since the 1986-90 recession via disruptions to buyer and seller confidence, the negative income shock, and wariness of visiting and showing homes for sale. Preliminary effects showed in the March data with more significant impacts almost certain to appear during the second quarter of the year.

Supply*

Contemporaneous and anticipated construction levels took a step back in March after reaching post-recessionary highs the prior month, signaling a coronavirus-induced downturn. The Texas Residential Construction Cycle (Coincident) Index, which measures current construction levels, declined due to industry wage and employment cuts. Decreased building permits and housing starts offset falling interest rates, pulling the Residential Construction Leading Index down.

According to Metrostudy, activity at the earliest stage of the construction cycle cooled as the number of new vacant developed lots (VDLs) in the Texas Urban Triangle declined 5.4 percent quarter over quarter (QOQ) after reaching a post-recessionary high in 3Q2019. Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and San Antonio VDLs fell for the second straight quarter, most notably in the $300,000-$400,000 price range. On the other hand, Austin’s VDLs exceeded its average in 2019 while Houston lot development surged to a record-breaking 10,700 amid accelerated activity in the lowest-priced cohort (homes priced less than $200,000).

Quarterly fluctuations in the major metros’ single-family construction permits reflected movements in VDLs. On a month-over-month basis, issuance slowed across the board, although Texas continued to lead the nation in nonseasonally adjusted permits on both the state and metropolitan levels. Houston and DFW topped the list, issuing 4,116 and 3,506 monthly permits, respectively. Austin ranked fifth after Phoenix and Atlanta with 1,869 permits, while San Antonio permits numbered 966. Meanwhile, Texas’ multifamily permits fell about 5 percent QOQ despite monthly improvements in March.

Total Texas housing starts normalized after skyrocketing the previous month, decelerating to 4.6 percent QOQ growth. In the single-family sector, Metrostudy data confirmed strong supply-side activity in Houston with a post-crisis record 9,000 homes breaking ground in the first quarter. Dallas and San Antonio single-family starts flattened to start the year after reaching post-recessionary highs the previous quarter. In Austin, starts showed signs of normalizing after rapid growth during 2019.

Following solid improvement to start the year, single-family private construction values dropped nearly 6 percent in March to end the quarter with modest growth. San Antonio continued to correct downward after a rapid climb during the second half of 2019. Austin construction values decelerated in 1Q2020, while Houston’s showed signs of flattening. Values in North Texas, however, accelerated 6.4 percent QOQ.

Decreased sales slowed the decline in Texas’ months of inventory (MOI), which settled at 3.2 months. A total MOI around six months is considered a balanced housing market. Inventory for homes priced less than $300,000 (where four-fifths of total sales take place) held at 2.5 months as a sizeable reduction in sales offset a downtick in the supply of active listings. In the luxury home market (comprised of homes priced more than $500,000), the MOI fell below 7 months but remained elevated compared to the lower-priced cohorts.

Movements in inventory levels differed among the major metros. The San Antonio MOI dipped to an all-time low of 2.9 months, while North Texas inventory slid below 2.5 months in Dallas and 2.3 months in Fort Worth. On the other hand, Austin’s metric ticked up above 1.7 months as fluctuations in the metro’s inventory for homes priced under $300,000 mirrored the state’s change. Houston registered broader increases for an overall MOI of 3.7 months with only luxury home inventory shrinking (but still exceeding eight months).

Demand

As COVID-19 concerns affected the showing and visiting of homes for sale, particularly during the last half of the month, total housing sales fell 4 percent in March with decreases in every price cohort. The monthly decline, however, was more palatable than the 10.2 percent national plummet. Moreover, Texas sales increased 2.2 percent QOQ, exceeding the countrywide growth rate of 1.4 percent.

Monthly resale transactions contracted in each of the major metros for a statewide drop of 3.3 percent, but changes in quarterly sales volumes differed. Dallas and San Antonio existing-home sales rose 4.9 and 3.5 percent QOQ, respectively, with the latter maintaining positive momentum. Houston also exhibited an upward trend albeit at a more moderate rate, increasing 1 percent QOQ. In Austin and Fort Worth, quarterly resale volumes fell flat.

In the new-home market, homes priced more than $300,000 accounted for the 2.1 percent QOQ increase in the Texas Urban Triangle. North Texas and Houston new-home sales surged 7.8 and 5.2 percent, respectively, with the latter recording improvement five quarters in a row. Momentum in Central Texas faltered as sales declined 1.5 and 7.2 percent in Austin and San Antonio, respectively, from post-crisis records at year end.

Ahead of the most serious coronavirus impacts, Texas’ homeownership rate rose to its greatest level since 2012 at 64.4 percent in 1Q2020, just one percentage point less than the U.S. rate. On the metropolitan level, all four major metros registered an increase in homeownership. Houston reached a post-recessionary high of 65.5 percent, while the San Antonio metric also exceeded the statewide average with 66.1 percent homeownership. In Dallas and Austin, homeownership was slightly lower at 62.6 and 58.9 percent, respectively. Homeownership rates could suffer as COVID-19 foreclosure-protection policies expire later this year.

Texas’ average days on market (DOM) flattened at 59 days, indicating still-healthy demand. Houston’s and Fort Worth’s DOMs steadied at their yearlong averages of 58 and 44 days, respectively. The San Antonio metric ticked up slightly to 62 days, but the average home sold after only 50 days in Austin and 51 days in Dallas. The downward trends confirmed robust demand despite falling sales.

The domestic coronavirus outbreak and falling oil prices pulled interest rates down in March. The ten-year U.S. Treasury bond yield dropped to 0.9 percent, while the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation’s 30-year fixed-rate remained less than 3.5 percent. While applications to refinance home loans doubled in the first quarter, mortgage applications for home purchases fell 11.3 percent in March amid reduced showing and visiting of houses and an uncertain economic climate. Decreased home purchase mortgage applications may indicate a slowdown in sales in the coming months.

Prices

The Texas median home price rose to $249,000, a 5.8 percent YOY increase. Austin pushed the statewide metric upward, posting double-digit home-price appreciation for the second straight month as the median home price reached $337,200. In San Antonio, the median price accelerated 6.6 percent YOY to $241,000. However, home-price appreciation moderated in North Texas and Houston where the median prices remained below record highs. The Dallas metric hovered at $298,100 as Fort Worth’s and Houston’s declined to $249,000 and $249,400, respectively.

The Texas Repeat Sales Home Price Index, a better measure of changes in single-family home values, provides insight into how Texas home prices evolve. The index indicated more moderate annual home price appreciation of 3.8 percent, but the rate of change steadied, similar to the median home price. The same phenomenon was observed on the metropolitan level (growth rates for each metro’s median home price exceeded its respective index, but the pace trended in the same direction). Austin’s index maintained a rapid clip, rising 5.9 percent YOY. The Dallas and Houston indices also picked up, increasing 2.5 and 3.0 percent, respectively. Growth in Fort Worth’s and San Antonio’s indexes slowed but remained slightly elevated at 3.6 and 3.4 percent, respectively. Favorable housing affordability relative to other parts of the country supported the Lone Star State’s economic growth in the years following the burst of the housing bubble a decade ago. Texas needs to maintain affordability for the housing market to remain a stalwart in the impending recession and subsequent recovery.  

The data reported here reflect only preliminary COVID-19 impacts on the Texas housing market, although the Saudi-Russian oil price war greatly affected the energy commodities and related employment in March. The anticipated events of the next few months and the revised economic expectations for the second half of the year will overshadow recent optimistic conditions. The government stimulus bill signed late in March allowing forbearances on federally backed mortgage loans, moratoriums on evictions, and direct financial payments to Americans earning within an income threshold will aid current homeowners, but is unlikely to spur additional, immediate-home sales.

The Real Estate Center forecasted single-family housing sales using monthly pending listings from the preceding period (see table). The Center projected only one month in advance due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of reliable and timely data. In April, statewide sales are expected to fall by more than three times as much as during March, plummeting 14.4 percent. Austin and North Texas activity may act similarly. Houston and San Antonio single-family sales, however, are predicted to nosedive around 17.4 and 12.2 percent next month after relatively moderate decreases of 3.0 and 3.5 percent, respectively, in March.

________________

All measurements are calculated using seasonally adjusted data, and percentage changes are calculated month over month, unless stated otherwise.

Source – James P. Gaines, Luis B. Torres, Wesley Miller, Paige Silva, and Griffin Carter (May 11, 2020)

https://www.recenter.tamu.edu/articles/technical-report/Texas-Housing-Insight

 

Spotlight On: Texas Escrow Company

If you have real property for sale, which is used in your trade or business, or is held for investment, you may be eligible to defer the capital gains tax when the property is sold by utilizing a deferred 1031 Exchange. In order to receive this tax treatment, you should contact a Qualified Intermediary, like Texas Escrow Company, a subsidiary of Republic Title of Texas, Inc., and complete the documentation necessary to create your exchange before you close the sale of your property.

The property sold needs to be real estate that you have held for investment or used in your trade or business, such as an office building or rent house. Vacation homes for your personal use, or your personal residence, do not qualify for this tax treatment. You should consult your accountant or attorney for advice on the utilization of a 1031 Exchange, especially if your accountant files your income tax return. It is important that the person filing your income tax return agrees that the exchange achieves the tax deferral you want. Your accountant can also estimate the tax payable on your sale so you can evaluate whether you want to do a 1031 Exchange. The 1031 Exchange only defers the capital gains tax (long or short term) on the sale of real property by purchasing replacement real property of an equal or greater value than the property sold.

Using exchange funds to purchase like-kind replacement real property for an investment, or use in your trade or business, and then later selling that replacement property in another 1031 Exchange to purchase other replacement property, will continue to defer the capital gains tax, plus any additional gain that might accrue by virtue of an increased value of the replacement property. In many cases, once you start exchanging real property, you need to continue using 1031 Exchanges to purchase real property if you wish to continue deferring the capital gains tax. When you sell the replacement property without using a 1031 Exchange, capital gains taxes will be due.

We suggest that you review the supplemental Definitions and Rules of a Deferred 1031 Exchange which is written in easy to understand language to familiarize yourself with some of the terms and rules, that are involved in a 1031 Exchange. All the definitions and rules of a deferred 1031 Exchange should be discussed with your tax advisor, accountant, attorney and a Qualified Intermediary before you do any exchange transaction. The rules encompass all kinds of situations and we repeat that it is imperative to consult with your tax advisors and a Qualified Intermediary about the transaction you have in mind before you sell and, in some cases, before you even contract to sell.

For more information on 1031 Exchange, please reach out to our Texas Escrow Company team:

Bill Kramer
Executive Chairman
214.855.8850
[email protected]

Carla Janousek
Sr. Vice President, CES®
214.855.8879
[email protected]

Helen Wooten
Exchange Assistant
214.855.8879
[email protected]

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Taking Fear Out of a Fearful Market

As business continues to shift each day and we are all working in this new normal, we asked Shaun Neidigh, Vice President/Business Development for a sneak peek at his new Mind Over Market class where he discusses fears in the market and how to overcome the six roadblocks that might be holding you back.

Mind Over Market with Shaun Neidigh

Real Estate can be a rollercoaster for many of the people that call it their career. For many of us, the rollercoaster ride does not come from the market itself but rather how we adapt to the changes it brings. As we all know, there are many reasons why change happens in the real estate market. When talking to our peers in real estate, one major theme that came up repeatedly when discussing change was the element of fear.

Let’s start by identifying what fear really is. According to Dictionary.com, fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Many people believe there are two distinct types for fears, real fear and physiological fears also known as phobias. Specifically for this article we are focusing on physiological fears and how they can control the decisions and direction of our real estate career.

While researching this topic to develop our Mind Over Market class, we interviewed several Realtors and were able to come up with six specific areas, or roadblocks, that agents seemed to struggle with that had a direct impact on their business.

  • Fear of the contract
  • Fear of talking to people
  • Fear of no business
  • Fear of too much business
  • Fear of competition
  • Fear of having a difficult decision

In our class Mind over Market, we go into great detail on these six roadblocks and how each one can impact all levels of experience for both individual real estate agents and large teams. We look at how developing daily task regiments and the idea of “living by your calendar” can help organize your mind and take some of the anxiety out of the things we can and can’t control. We highlight the use of your relationships (especially when you are new to the business) and how those relationships can blossom into partnerships for a long career in real estate. Finally, we discuss the tools available to real estate agents that if put into practice can set the stage for true success no matter what type of market is given to us.

At Republic Title, we want to be a resource for your success. Our Mind Over Market class is one of many educational opportunities that we provide to help you take your business to the next level. To learn more about this class or any others, please reach out to Republic Title’s Education Department at [email protected].

Republic Title completes their 100th RON in 2020

Republic Title is proud to announce that we have completed 100 Remote Online eClosings in 2020.

What is a Remote Online eClosing and how does it work? 

Remote Online eClosing takes place…wait for it…online! The signer and the notary need not be in the same room, or even in the same state!

This type of eClosing allows all parties to be remote and perform the closing through videoconference via a webcam. All documents are signed and notarized electronically during the videoconference. This is the most highly regulated type of eClosing, and special commissions are required to electronically notarize documents. Remote online eClosings are very popular and useful for the seller side of the transaction since, in most cases, there are no loan documents involved for the seller.

Republic Title has completed these 100 Remote Online eClosing through eVolve, our newest digital settlement and signing services division, which provides an alternative closing experience for sellers, buyers and real estate agents.  eVolve’s approach is to provide a completely digital real estate closing process from start to finish, through the delivery of title and escrow services by way of secure collaboration and Remote Online eClosings.

eVolve has been operating in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas market for the past 12 months and will allow Republic Title to handle digital transactions in every major market in Texas (including Austin, San Antonio and Houston).

Top COVID-19 Contract Questions and Answers

Title companies are, by definition, an “Essential Business.” We are open for business, processing and conducting closings. At Republic Title, we are offering many low-contact and no-contact closing options to help our customers continue to close real estate transactions, while also supporting the health of our customers, our employees and the communities in which we operate, including Remote Online Notarization, drive-up signings and regular mail and expedited delivery services. We have taken a number of other steps as well, including:

  • Conducting most closings and/or meetings by appointment only
  • Asking that non-essential parties refrain from attending closings and/or meetings
  • Making hand sanitizer available in our branch offices
  • Wiping down our closing room tables and chairs after each closing
  • Providing new pens for each signing and encouraging clients to keep the pens once the closing is completed
  • Providing separate closing rooms, if available
  • Promoting best practices for personal hygiene and workplace cleanliness to employees
  • Restricting non-essential travel as well as employee attendance at industry conferences and events
  • Directing any employee with symptoms of illness to stay home.

Question: Is there a termination provision in the TREC 1-4 contract that covers the COVID-19 pandemic?

Answer: No. There is not a provision that covers a pandemic. We received a few inquiries asking about paragraph 14 of the TREC 1-4 contract and if that paragraph covers the current pandemic situation, and the answer is no – paragraph 14 contemplates storm or fire related damage to the property, not a pandemic. If a client has any questions as to what constitutes a casualty loss, they should speak to their own attorney.

Question: There is now a COVID-19 Addendum issued by TXR, can you give us the highlights?

Answer:  In short, the COVID-19 Addendum outlines certain contingency plans to either extend the closing date or terminate the contract. If it appears that the closing date is not feasible because of voluntary or mandatory quarantine or there is a closure, the parties can extend the closing date for a period of 30 days.

Question: Can the COVID-19 Addendum be attached to existing contract or does it only apply to new contracts?

Answer: The Covid-19 Addendum can be added to an existing contract and to a new contract. A party, however, cannot unilaterally add the amendment, both parties have to agree and execute the addendum.

Question: Does the 30 day extension for closing in the COVID-19 Addendum relate to other deadlines in the contract?

Answer: No, the other critical dates are still in effect unless amended by the parties. The COVID-19 Addendum only changes the closing date in paragraph 9 of the Contract.

Question: Assuming the parties have a COVID-19 Addendum as part of the contract, what if the contract also contains a third-party financing addendum and the buyer is past the approval period in paragraph 2A and the buyer loses their job – can the buyer still terminate and receive the earnest money?

Answer: Yes, if the buyer’s loss of income is due to COVID-19 related issues, then either party may terminate and the earnest money will be refunded to the buyer.

Question: What if the seller or someone in the seller’s family has tested positive for COVID-19, do they need to disclose?

Answer: Yes.  Section 9 of the Seller’s Disclosure Notice asks if the seller is aware of “any condition on the property which materially affects the health or safety of an individual.” Testing positive for COVID-19 is most certainly a condition on the property because of the contagiousness of the virus and the fact that it can live on surfaces in the property which can materially affect the health of an individual.

Question: Can the buyer demand that the seller deep clean and sanitize the house?

Answer: TREC 1-4 contract paragraph 7 d2 states, “Buyer accepts the Property As Is provided Seller, at Seller’s expense, shall complete the following specific repairs and treatments: __________.” This provides a buyer the opportunity to make a demand on the seller to deep clean and sanitize the house.

 

This video is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing contained in this video should be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific cases, and viewers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel.

How to Host an Open House Using Facebook Live

Open Houses are a vital part of buying a home. For agents who have had to cancel all their open houses due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this can impact your ability to sell properties. Thankfully, Facebook LIVE offers agents the opportunity to tour clients through a listing during a real-time, interactive broadcast – a Virtual Open House. The best part is that you don’t need any fancy equipment or a huge crew, just your smartphone and a Facebook page. In this post, we discuss everything you need to know about using Facebook live to tour your clients through a listing. Don’t let this COVID-19 pandemic prevent you from hosting an open house.

What is Facebook Live?

Facebook Live allows you to broadcast a conversation, performance, Q&A or virtual event. You can go live on a Page, in a group or an event, and your live videos will also appear in people’s New Feed. For more information on Facebook Live, visit: https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/solutions/facebook-live

How to Set Up Your Facebook Live Open House

Now that we’ve discussed what Facebook live is, it is now time to talk about how to set it up. Below are some practical steps/directions to make going LIVE easy.

How to Create an Event from Your Page:

  • Go to your Business Profile Page (or your personal page-but remember FB rules-if your advertising you should be doing this on your FB Business page).
  • Tape to “Create” a post and choose “Event” from the list.
  • Add an event photo, perhaps the front of the house, then enter your event’s title, location, date, and time.
  • Save the event, then post a link to your listing, and send to your clients!

How to go LIVE from your Page:

  • Go to your Business Profile Page (or your personal).
  • Tap “Create a Post” and choose “LIVE” from the list.
  • Make sure the app has access to your camera and microphone.
  • Set permissions to “Public”.
  • Add a description to the video – highlight the house information.
  • Tap “Start Live Video” to being your Open House Live!

Useful Links:

Below are some useful links that explain how to go live on Facebook

How to Properly Advertise Your Facebook Live Open House

To ensure people show up, think about the strategies you use to generate awareness for your actual open house. People need to know when and where. That is why it is so important to properly advertise your open house. If you don’t properly advertise it, people won’t know about it and as a result won’t show up. Below are some things that you should do to advertise your Facebook live open house.

Use Facebook Events

You can use Facebook Events to get your Open House on their calendar, send updates and reminders. You can create an event on Facebook by navigating to your News Feed, clicking on Events and then Create Event.

Send Out Email Blasts

Send an email blast to your network letting them know when to tune in to your Facebook Page for the LIVE; include a link to your Facebook Page. Post those same details on your website, and your listings. There are many email marketing programs online that you can use including Constant Contact, Mail Chimp, and iContact.

Use Direct Outreach

Directly reach out to potential buyers from your cancelled Open House and invite them – this will make them feel like a VIP. Maybe you already advertised this Open House prior to the shutdown or have advertised it via Social Media.  Contact those leads and invite them to your virtual open house.  You could also personally invite all the neighbors in a 10-20 house radius.

How to Host an Open House Using Facebook Live

Your first time broadcasting live can be a little intimidating, but if you do some pre work, things can run rather smoothly. Your audience expects information and authenticity over production quality. Below are some tips on how to host an open house using Facebook live.

Prepare Beforehand

Plan your tour the same as you would with a live client. Where are you going first, what are you highlighting in each room? It never hurts to rehearse. Making a good first impression is important.  Declutter the home, make sure it is clean, remove as much personal items as possible, etc.

Be Sure to Introduce Yourself

You should always begin your Facebook live open house by introducing yourself, sharing your credentials, and top lining what’s great about the home. Building trust with your audience is key to success. Introduce yourself with confidence and grow your personal brand. Potential buyers, on the other hand, get to know  you before ever meeting.   Agents are encouraged to show their personality on camera, be memorable, and most of all – be honest and bring value to the audience.

Remind People Who You are and What Property You’re Touring

Introducing yourself just once at the beginning of your Facebook live tour is not good enough. This is because people may come in and out while you’re LIVE. Therefore, it is critical that you periodically remind them who you are and what property you’re touring.

Interact with Your Audience

Interact with your audience; build in time for each room to pause and answer questions from the comments. If you know your audience well enough, you can engage them by spending extra time on the parts of the property that matter most. If they have pets, show them the ample yard and the fencing. If they are interested in the appliances, go in for a close-up of the high-end appliances, etc.  Personalization is essential to success.

What to do After You Go Live on Facebook

After the LIVE stream is over, the video becomes on-demand content, which can then be shared, downloaded, edited, and re-purposed. It is highly likely that even more people will see your LIVE tour AFTER you’re finished. Here are some things to do after you go live on Facebook.

Send the Link of The Live Stream Your Clients

You can use links to the “Live After” video on your listings and send to clients who missed the tour. To help boost your viewership among people who didn’t join you for the live show, try sharing a quick post thanking people for watching.

You can also ask for new questions and comments to generate additional engagement. The people who view your videos like to feel appreciated, so show them some love wherever you can.

Save and Edit Your Video

Save your live video to edit. You can use a shorter clip to post on your page. Think of these as house highlights.The agent now has video content that can be shared on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or even email.

Read Comments from Your Audience

Use comments from the audience to gauge what type of information they are looking for about the property and tailor your future ad to these comments. 

Follow Up with Prospects

Follow up with your prospects on Messenger, they may eventually be interested in putting in an offer. The fact is, your prospects are on Facebook already if they are commenting on your video while it’s live.  After guests leave your virtual open house, use messenger to interact, engage and ask questions.  Nurture those leads now even if they choose not to buy.

PRO Tips:

You don’t need a whole crew to have a decent production. Here are some tips to help you feel like a Pro:

  • Test your connection throughout the house so you know if there will be any connectivity issues.
  • Turn off notifications before you begin your broadcast!
  • When you’re in rooms, consider placing the phone on a tripod for stability while you speak.
  • As you are walking or panning through a room, go SLOWLY – slower than you think necessary, as fast jerky actions can be disorienting. Consider using a stabilizer.
  • Have the listing information handy in case you get a question.
  • Watch some other home tour videos – note what you like and what you think doesn’t work.

March 2020 DFW Area Real Estate Stats

The March 2020 DFW area real estate statistics are in and we’ve got the numbers! Take a look at our stats infographics, separated by county, with MLS area stats on each county report as well! These infographics and video are perfect for social sharing so feel free to post them!

To see past month’s reports, please visit our resources section here.

For the full report from the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center, click here. For NTREIS County reports click here.

Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Everyday Real Estate Tools

With social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place, now is the perfect time to do a little spring cleaning to the programs you use on a regular basis. We asked Annette-Carvalho Jordan, V.P., Republic Title’s Real Estate Technology Trainer, for some tips to maximize this time and get you set up for success.

We hope you find these tips helpful so you can work smarter and more efficiently during this time and hit the ground running when we return back to a normal working environment.

Matrix:

  • Turn off Auto-emails to your clients that have already bought or have fallen through.
  • Delete “Saved Searches” you no longer need.
  • Clean up your Contacts.  Matrix allows you to change “Active” contacts to “Inactive” which cleans your contact list and allows you to focus on current transactions.  All of your clients will still remain in Matrix, but you can filter them from Active to Inactive.  You can also “Delete” contacts if you wish.
  • Check all your contact information in Matrix through “My Information”.  Update any new phone numbers, emails, etc.  Be sure to visit all the tabs in “My Information” such as Information, Header & Footer, CMA Cover Sheet, Email Signature, Agent Webpage & Portal Information.

ZipForm:

  • Clean up your transactions in zipForm® Plus –change status of transactions to Closed, Inactive, Fell Through, Prospect, etc. to clean up your Transaction desktop.  Use the filters later to find those transactions such as Closed, etc.
  • Clean up those drop down boxes in zipForm® Plus that appear when filling out contracts.  To do this, go to “Txn (Transaction) Tools & Lookup Field Manager.

  • Create time saving templates.  Clean up old templates so your transactions run smoother.
  • Move transaction documents from your work laptop to your zipForm® transaction (including photos).  Use the “Add a Doc” button in the Documents tab to add these to your transactions.  This is a great way to free up precious memory and space on your hard drive, and utilize 5 years of free storage in zipForm® Plus.

DocuSign®:

  • Create new folders so you can “move” completed transactions into Folders you recognize and can find easier later.  Delete or Void outstanding envelopes you don’t need (Important: You will have to include a statement as to why you are deleting or voiding those envelopes, so be professional –all recipients will receive this notification).
  • Create time saving templates in DocuSign so you can automatically apply initials and signatures to all your pdf’s.

If you would like to learn more about these “Spring Cleaning” tips and many other time saving features, please contact  Annette Carvalho-Jordan, Vice President of Real Estate Technology at [email protected].

Best-Practices-blog-graphic

Best Practices

Best Practices for buyers visiting listings for sale and for sellers opening their homes to REALTORS & buyers

  • Stay home if you don’t feel well or if you have been exposed to someone ill. Don’t worry about missing a showing; chances are your REALTOR® can show your home or the home you want to view virtually!
  • Don’t greet your REALTOR®, client or anyone with a hug or handshake. It is second nature to extend a welcoming hand, however this contact can spread the virus, so a simple hello or smile will suffice instead.
  • Be sure you are keeping a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and anyone who
    is not a resident of your household at all times.
  • Cover your face with a mask to keep yourself and others protected. Also remember to cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue away immediately after.
  • void touching anything in the home you are showing or viewing. It is normal for buyers to want to peek into every cabinet or drawer, but right now we should limit our touching as much as possible.

Republic Title advises that all REALTORS and their clients follow all MLS, CDC, state, local and national guidelines
regarding COVID-19. The above are best practices and tips from the CDC and NAR and is not intended to be an exclusive list. Republic Title does not guarantee the prevention of any virus or illness if these measures are followed.

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Supporting Local: Non-Profits

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has brought big changes to day-to-day life. Even though many of us are working from home and practicing social distancing, there are still many ways that we can give back to our North Texas community.  Many local non-profits have stepped up their efforts to give back to those in need and we want to highlight the good works they are doing in our community. Together, we will get through this, while helping our communities at the same time.

North Texas Food Bank: https://ntfb.org/
Founded in 1982, the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of more than 200 Partners Agencies in 13 counties.

Meals on Wheels Collin County: https://mowcc.com/
The goal of our organization is to assist area seniors in remaining independent in their homes, to promote socialization, and to prevent premature institutionalization. To accomplish this mission, we provide resources and assistance far beyond a meal.

Meals on Wheels Dallas County: https://vnatexas.org/get-involved
VNA Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious, freshly prepared meals five days a week to Dallas County residents who can’t provide for themselves due to illness, advanced age or disability.

Austin Street Center: https://www.austinstreet.org/give/needs/
For over 30 years, Austin Street Center has specialized in caring for the most vulnerable homeless men and women in Dallas. Beyond meeting basic needs, Austin Street is committed to individualized care for each person who comes to us for help.

Carter Blood Care:  http://www.carterbloodcare.org/
Carter BloodCare is dedicated to giving life to the community. Throughout North, Central, and East Texas, we provide life-saving blood components and transfusion services that give hope to people in need.

City Square: https://www.citysquare.org/
CitySquare offers a comprehensive array of social services that address four key areas related to the persistence of poverty: Hunger, Health, Housing, Hope.

Feed the Front Lines (Texas): https://www.ftfltexas.org/
Feed the Front Lines is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting hospital workers with fresh food from local restaurants.

Tarrant Area Food Bank: https://tafb.org/donate/
This mission of Tarrant Area Food Bank is empowering communities to eliminate hunger by providing food, education and resources through innovation and collaboration.