In the Fall 2019 issue of Austin REALTOR®, we highlight three of our Board of Directors: Charlotte Lipscomb, Brian Talley, and Shay Millheiser. Cozy up, get to know them better, and learn how they’re leading your Association!
Charlotte Lipscomb, Compass
2018-2020 ABoR, ACTRIS Director
Tell us a little about your day job.
I have sold Austin real estate for a very long time, and I love it. I often say, “I don’t know any better,” because it’s been such a big part of my life. I have worked in many different areas of Austin, but particularly in Central Austin and the Eanes ISD area, as well as along Lake Austin and Lake Travis.
Where is your go-to meeting place or coffee shop?
Naming my favorite meeting place is very difficult because I have so many, but Cafe Medici, Summer Moon, Trianon, Starbucks, Merit Coffee, and Upper Crust Bakery are some of my favorites.
What’s your favorite thing about Austin?
My favorite things about Austin are the people, the entrepreneurial business environment, the beautiful settings and, of course, the Austin skyline.
What is your advice for new REALTORS® just beginning their career?
Know the inventory and the market. Notice what properties close for once they are sold. Doing this will help you build a database in your mind that will serve you throughout your entire career. I’ve sold one property as many as six times. Historical knowledge and a broad understanding of values, properties, and area nuances is very valuable information to have.
What industry trends should our members be paying attention to?
I would tell other ABoR members to stay as informed as possible about the ever-changing technology and integrate it into their business as best as they can, without forgetting the importance of personal service.
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I grew up in a wonderful “Leave it to Beaver” type family, and we moved seven times throughout my youth due to my father’s work. I understand and appreciate the hard work involved in moving to a new city and making it feel like home. I wanted my own family to be settled and stay in one place, so I’ve lived in Austin longer than any other place in my life, and I feel fortunate to have been able to raise my children here. I realized as an adult what a gift it was to have developed the skills required to reestablish myself in a new community. Still, I can certainly empathize with families that frequently relocate and the struggles they undergo.
What are you most proud of accomplishing on the Board, so far?
I am thrilled to be a part of a diverse and super-smart group of people who are full of exciting ideas and who value the members and transparency in leadership. I sincerely believe one of the best things the Board has done has been to acknowledge and support the incredible staff at ABoR. I find myself amazed at the creativity and extreme level of professionalism they bring to the table. I feel like I’m holding onto Superman’s cape as they all fly into the rapidly changing future of real estate, and it’s a LOT OF FUN!
Brian Talley, Regent Property Group, LLC
2018-2020 ABoR, ACTRIS Director
Tell us a little about your day job.
I spent nine years in commercial and corporate real estate before starting Regent Property Group in 2007, when I started selling homes and training agents. I sell around 20 homes a year and continue to sponsor a handful of agents. I sell homes all over Austin, but primarily in Central Austin and in areas west of Mopac.
What’s your favorite thing about Austin?
There is a lot I love about the area: water sports on Lake Austin, Texas Longhorns and Westlake football, the amazing food and drink scene, and festivals like ACL. I also like living in the capital and knowing that our elected officials are nearby.
What is your advice for new REALTORS® just beginning their career?
This is a great career for those who are willing to do whatever it takes to provide excellent customer service. Getting the business is the hardest part but tracking the details of a transaction is the best way to protect your client and get referrals. My advice would be to accept help; that’s how you succeed.
What industry trends should our members be paying attention to?
I recommend keeping an eye on the companies with deep pockets to see if they continue to substantially increase market share and their level of customer service. Progressive companies are losing millions to secure a competitive advantage and shift the industry to rely on their business model. On one hand, it’s great that this is fueling a lot of activity where companies and agents are trying to improve. On the other hand, however, I can see this resulting in a more corporate industry where deep pockets pay salaried agents as little as possible for maximum individual performance. Ultimately, my hope is that the industry improves service and processes while increasing individuals’ profits.
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I played Division 3 college football, lived in Spain for a semester, and was baptized on a mission trip to Guatemala. I’ve been skydiving nine times, rode a bull once, and my wife and I took seminary courses in Israel in the early 2000s.
What are you most proud of accomplishing on the Board so far?
I once read that wealthy and highly successful individuals often get involved in their industry or trade organizations because it gives them purpose and satisfaction in their lives by helping others. I like living a purposeful life, so I decided to get involved sooner rather than waiting to become a billionaire! Once involved, it became clear to me that there was a lot of room for improvement at the Association. Fortunately, there were other members who, along with the overwhelming support of our members, we were able to steer the ship in a different direction. ABoR now has laser-focused transparency, diversity, engagement with our membership, and provides value to members beyond access to the MLS.
How can ABOR improve moving forward?
I would dare to guess that ABOR is now performing as one of the top associations for its size in the country but there is always room for improvement. During 2018 ABOR was the #1 political contributor to candidates in the City of Austin. I believe we will improve by better defining our core standards relating to political affairs and holding elected officials accountable towards those measures. We already use some of these standards from the NAR Code of Ethics Preamble as outlined in the bullets below. This isn’t to exclude supporting affordability both in terms of housing costs and property taxes all over Central Texas.
- Highest and best use of land
- Widest distribution of land ownership
- Create adequate housing
- Build functional cities
- Develop productive industries & farms
- Preservation of a healthful environment
- Eliminate practices which may damage the public
Shay Millheiser, Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty
2019-2021 ABoR, ACTRIS Director
Tell us a little about your day job.
I am a REALTOR® with Kuper Sotheby’s, and I help clients with the purchase, sale, and renovation of properties in the Central Texas area. I specialize in working with first-time home buyers and any properties that require creative marketing or renovation.
Where is your go-to meeting place?
Epoch Coffee on Far West Blvd.
What’s your favorite thing about Austin?
I love the people–everyone is so friendly and active.
What is your advice for new REALTORS® just beginning their career?
For agents, I recommend not getting into real estate without some kind of alternative cash flow for the first year or so. Deals don’t just start coming in once you’re licensed, and it takes time to learn the areas, build up your list of clients, and get your name out there. In short, you should be prepared to hustle your butt off.
What industry trends should our members be paying attention to?
Our members should pay attention to the role of technology in this industry. Efficiency is key to growing your business and knowing where and how to integrate technology to maximize that efficiency can make a huge difference.
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I dropped out of a PhD program to focus on real estate.
What are you most proud of accomplishing on the Board so far?
I’m proud of the Board for engaging so many members through thoughtful actions and intentional communications. I have always felt that ABoR was valuable to its membership but never to this degree. It’s been an honor to be a small part of that process.