Tracy Brister - About Me

Industry News

House Extends Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline

The House of Representatives introduced and passed a proposal to extend the original June 30 closing deadline for home buyers who want to get up to $8,000 in tax credits.
Read more...

Austin Ranks 3rd most recession-proof

In April of 2008, Austin was ranked the third most recession proof city by Forbes because of a lack of a housing bubble, low median home price, low unemployment, and strong job growth segments that would recover more quickly. Plus, Austin was known as “Silicon Hills” for its growing tech sector industries.

Now, over two years later, the Brookings Institute has released their quarterly in-depth analysis which also ranks Austin the third most recession proof city in the U.S.

The Brookings Institute analyzes the health of America’s 100 largest metropolitan economies. It examines trends in metropolitan-level employment, output, and housing conditions to look “beneath the hood” of national economic statistics to portray the diverse metropolitan trajectories of recession and recovery across the country. MetroMonitor looks at the particular industries that drive national economic trends, and takes into account metro areas’ unique starting points for eventual recovery.

Click here for the full report. You can also view many interactive reports for employment, REO properties and other economic measurements.

4 Things First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know About Home Inspections

RISMEDIA, April 21, 2010 -
A professional home inspection can not only provide a great education about the home’s systems, but also be a crucial tool in negotiating the most equitable price on the home, according to HouseMaster, one of the first and largest home inspection franchisors in North America. "Our experience and research shows that approximately 40% of resale homes have at least one defect that can cost a home buyer a minimum of $500 to repair," ... Read More

About Me

Hello and welcome to my web site. I'm so blessed to be a Realtor in the Austin metropolitan area. I love Austin and I love being able to help buyers find the perfect home to begin raising families and making memories, as well as providing guidance and assistance for sellers who are relocating, upsizing or downsizing.

I moved to Austin in 1979 and have witnessed our community grow and develop from a small town to one of the country's 16th largest cities. I grew up along the Texas coast in the small refinery town of Texas City near Galveston. It was there that I developed a passion for salt-water fishing and, still to this day, I try to get to the coastal area to go fishing with my Dad several times a year. I have two wonderful daughters who are now adults have moved out on their own to begin their own paths in the Austin and Round Rock area. I have two dogs and a cat, and my hobbies, in addition to fishing, include everything from riding my bicycle along the trails at Zilker Park or the Walnut Creek trails, playing tennis, Frisbee, watching UT sports events, hiking, boating, reading, working out, traveling, and hanging out with my wonderful friends and family. One of my biggest passions these days is real estate. I went into the real estate business about 8 years ago and absolutely love it! If you want a Realtor who is interested in helping you with your real estate needs, in your time frame, in your price range, then you have come to the right place. Call me, I'm ready to go to work for YOU.

Client and Customer Testimonials
Click here to see what others have to say about working with me. I look forward to hearing from you on how I can help you with your real estate needs. Call me at 512.636.8488.

Code of Ethics

When I first entered into the real estate profession, I was fortunate to have two really fantastic mentors. Probably the most important concept that I heard over and over was: DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING! I believe in doing the right thing, not occasionally, but always! It’s how I practice real estate, and it’s how I live my life. Below is a brief explanation of the Code of Ethics.

REALTOR® Ethics

Under All is the Land

The Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS® was first adopted on July 29, 1913, and it has changed many times since then. The Code was known then as “Rules of Conduct” to be recommended to real estate boards for voluntary adoption. Compliance with the Code was made a condition of membership in the National Association of REALTORS® in 1924, and has remained so until now.

All REALTORS® take a pledge to adhere to the following:

Duties to Clients and Customers

Protect and promote your client’s interests, but be honest with ALL parties.
Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentations, and concealment of pertinent facts. Do not reveal facts that are confidential under the scope of the Agency Relationship.
Cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance the client’s best interests.
When buying or selling, make your position in the transaction or interest known.
Disclose your own present or contemplated interest in any property to all parties.
Do not participate in any side deals without the client’s informed consent.
Accept compensation from only one party, except with full disclosure and informed consent.
Keep the funds of clients and customers in escrow, separate from your own funds.
Assure, whenever possible, that ALL transactional details are in writing.

Duties to the Public

Provide equal service to ALL clients and customers.
Be knowledgeable and competent in the fields of practice in which you ordinarily engage. Obtain assistance or disclose lack of experience if necessary.
Present a true picture in your advertising and other public representations.
Do not engage in the unauthorized practice of Law.
Be a willing participant in code enforcement procedures.

Duties to REALTORS®

Ensure that your comments about other real estate professionals are truthful, and not misleading.
Respect the exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS® have with their clients.
Arbitrate contractual and specific non-contractual disputes with other REALTORS® and with your clients.

If you would like to see the entire 2009 Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, this is a link to the National Association of Realtors® website