About Bill Evans, CRS, GRI, ABR/M, SRES

A real estate transaction should be a painless, and even a pleasant event. Buying or selling real estate is a cumulative process; one step leads to the next in an orderly fashion. A real estate professional is dedicated to making sure you understand the whole process while guiding you through each step as pleasantly as possible. Sometimes your Realtor may not have all the answers, but he or she should know where to find them.

I have lived in Austin since 1985, when I, like so many of you, transferred here with my job. At the time, I was working for a major Hotel chain, and thought Austin was just a little bit of heaven. After sixteen years in the industry, and tired of transferring to a new city every year or so, I decided this would be a great place to be fired in! And so it was!

In 1988 I opened my own small business, and I played an active role in it until 1995. I sold the last equity interest in that business in 1998. In 1994 I began studying for my Texas Real Estate License, and I earned the license in February of 1995.

I am an independent Broker/Owner with Austin REAL Pros, Inc., and I am partnered in the agency with Carrie York, CRS. Carrie and I have over twenty years combined experience in Property Leasing, Sales and Management. As an independent Broker/Owner, I do not receive a paycheck if I do not produce results for my clients.

As an independent contractor, I think it is important for me to enjoy the people I am working with. That is one of the most pleasant aspects of this profession. As a REALTOR®, I will spend a great deal of time with my clients, and it is very important that we trust one another, and that we have respect and confidence in each other. I build a partnership with my clients, and it is a rewarding and mutually beneficial one.

That doesn't mean that this is not a fun process. I like to have a good time, and I like to look at houses! Once you have endured the mortgage process, where you bear your soul to a loan officer, it is my privilege to take you to homes that meet your specified criteria. One of the most important things I can do for you is to listen to what you tell me. When that happens, we will both be saved from wasting time and energy in the home finding process.

I am a member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, where I serve on both the Professional Development Committee and the By-Laws Committee. I have also served on the Nominating Committee for Board Members. I am a member of the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®. I have earned the CRS, ABR, and GRI designations, and continue my real estate education as the opportunities present themselves. I have been a volunteer driver for the local Meals on Wheels program since 1995, and continue to participate in long-distance bicycle rides, benefiting a variety of charitable causes.

Thanks for taking the time to read this information, and I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future. Let's begin the process as soon as you are ready, and let me share my resources with you!

My Credentials

Have you ever noticed those mysterious letters after REALTORS® names? There is really no mystery to it.  Those initials are professional designations the REALTOR® has earned through continuing education. No more mystery.

Here is information about the designations held by REALTOR®/Brokers here at Austin REAL Pros, Inc.

 What is CRS?

The Council of Residential Specialists is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. It is composed of over 40,000 Certified Residential Specialists and general members and was created to provide superior member benefits which enable residential specialists to maximize their professional performance. The Council was founded in 1976 and has four objectives:

• To enhance members' continuing competence through providing superior educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner.
• To provide and promote benefits which enhance the economic value of membership in the Council.
• To create and maintain organizational systems to ensure the integrity of the Council.
• To create and maintain procedures to ensure a standard of excellence that is required for earning and maintaining the CRS Designation.

Only 5% of REALTORS® have the Certified Residential Specialist designation.

The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® who met the specified educational and practical experience criteria. The criteria are:

• Completed the comprehensive REBAC course in buyer representation
• Successfully passed a written examination
• Demonstrated a practical experience of having completed real estate transactions in the field of buyer representation
• Received recommendations from the real estate practitioners buyer clients.
• Be a member in good standing with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 What is GRI?

GRI stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. GRI is one of the most widely recognized designations available to real estate professionals nationwide, and only those REALTORS® who successfully complete GRI courses 1, 2 and 3 have the privilege of joining the prestigious group of REALTOR® Institute graduates.

What is SRES?

SRES® is a designation awarded by the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council®, and is the only designation and marketing program specifically designed to serve senior property owners.  SRES® designees demonstrate requisite knowledge and expertise to counsel senior clients through the major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing or selling a home.

 What is NARPM?

NARPM is an association of real estate professionals who know first-hand the unique problems and challenges of managing single-family and small residential properties.It offers an effective, professional learning environment for owners of property management companies, property managers, and their support staff.