Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® has appointed Keith Newman sales manager of its Plano/Willow Bend Office. Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer, recently made the announcement.

“Keith brings extensive real estate sales experience, as well as a strong desire to assist our Plano/Willow Bend agents in taking their careers to the next level,” Burleson says. “Intensely focused on education, Keith truly appreciates the wide-ranging educational opportunities available to new and seasoned agents at Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®.”

Newman will report to Betty Misko, executive vice president and director of sales offices.

“Recognized as a Top Producer at his previous brokerage, Keith often served as a mentor to other agents,” Misko says. “I am confident his background and sales experience will benefit the Plano/Willow Bend Office in many ways.”

A native of Dallas, Newman has been in real estate sales since 2001 and has extensive experience representing buyers and sellers in a variety of Dallas neighborhoods. Recognized as a D Best real estate agent multiple times by D magazine, he enjoys exploring new and innovative ways to be successful in real estate.

“I am passionate about technology, particularly mobile technology and the opportunities it offers today’s buyers and sellers,” Newman says.

“One of the reasons I chose Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® is the company’s appreciation for both new-agent education and continuing education for seasoned agents,” Newman says. “I really look forward to helping our Plano/Willow Bend agents develop successful business plans to take their business to the next level.”

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®’ affiliation with Luxury Portfolio International®, the luxury division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® — the largest global network of premier independent luxury brokerages — is another reason Newman chose Ebby Halliday. The 48-year-old network is responsible for more transactions than any other real estate network. Its website, LuxuryPortfolio.com, markets more than 25,000 of the world’s most remarkable homes annually and attracts more than 1.2 million high-net-worth visitors a year.

“I am truly excited about my move to Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® and the future of the Plano/Willow Bend Office,” Newman says. “My door will always be open for my agents, and our valued clients will reap the benefits.” 

For more information on Ebby’s Plano/Willow Bend, visit planowillowbend.ebby.com.

The National Association of Realtors has designated this weekend, April 28-29, National Open House Weekend. If you’re considering buying a home the large number of open houses this weekend in North Texas offers an ideal opportunity to tour available properties.

From urban to suburban, large to small, there’s something for everyone – and the best place to start your search for a home is the award-winning website ebby.com, where you can search all the open houses in the North Texas MLS.   

The site offers two exceptional ways to search for your dream home: the Ebby Open House Tour and the new, state-of-the-art Proximity Search.

The Ebby Open House Tour feature allows users to create their own custom open house tour, complete with turn-by-turn driving directions. Visitors may browse all open houses for a specific day or time period based on their criteria. Properties of interest are added to a cart, which is used to generate a tour map. To create an Open House Tour, visit ebbyopenhouses.com.

The Proximity Search feature is perfect for finding homes within a certain distance of a specific location or landmark. Users may search by proximity to jobs, schools, parks, entertainment centers, medical care, or just about anything they choose.  Additional fields are available to further narrow your search. To use the Proximity Search, visit proximity.ebby.com.      

“Best of all, these features are available for all open houses in the Multiple Listing Service, not just properties listed by Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®,” says June Feltman, Director of Special Projects for The Ebby Halliday Companies.

The National Association of Realtors estimates 90 percent of today’s buyers use the Internet in their home searches.

“At Ebby Halliday we are constantly focused on innovation, and to do that in today’s market, you must be focused online,” Feltman says. “We are actively pursuing online features that will continue to make ebby.com the go-to source for North Texas real estate.”

Ebby.com recently added another award to its long list of accolades. The Website Quality Certification (WQC) is presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the ebby.com site was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in numerous key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search-engine optimization.

“It is vital for a real estate firm to have a current, easy-to-use and relevant website,” says Pam O’Connor, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “By earning the Website Quality Certification, Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® has demonstrated that it offers fundamental online resources to home buyers and sellers, which are further supported by the expertise that only a dedicated real estate professional can provide.”

For more information about Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®, visit ebby.com.

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS has appointed Sylvia Sotelo Kidd sales manager of its Rockwall Office. Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer, recently made the announcement.

“Always energetic and a proven Top Producer, Sylvia will undoubtedly bring the already very successful and well-known Rockwall Office to the next level,” Burleson says.

Sotelo Kidd will report to Betty Misko, vice president and director of sales offices.

“I have great confidence in Sylvia,” Misko says. “With her successful real estate background, I know that she will continue to perform with distinction.”                            

For the past 10 years Sotelo Kidd has been a top agent in the White Rock/Lake Highlands Office of Ebby Halliday, REALTORS. She was the first recipient of the “Yellow Rose of Distinction” Award, a companywide award for her numerous and significant contributions to the community and her positive impact on the lives of others.

“Among the reasons for my success are the extensive training and tools that come with being a member of the Ebby Halliday Family of Companies,” Sotelo Kidd says. “The Ebby Rockwall Office has long been No. 1 in Rockwall County. My job is to keep it the leader — and make it even better.”

Sotelo Kidd, who is bilingual, has extensive experience in management, operations and human resources for both corporate and non-profit organizations. She is well known for her significant service in a variety of community activities.

Sotelo Kidd has served as a board member or officer with the Dallas Zoo, YWCA, Center for Non-Profit Management, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas – Dallas Chapter, Dallas Summit for local businesswomen and AVANCE for at-risk Hispanic children. She has served as a member of the DISD Superintendents Advisory Council, Women’s Museum Board and SMU Meadows School of Art Executive Board.

She also has served as chair of the Mental Health Association of Metropolitan Dallas and chair of the Hispanic 100, a group of senior executive Hispanic women. She currently is on the Parkland Foundation Board, is the Chair of MomentumTexas and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Theater Center. Sotelo Kidd was 1 of only 20 women nationwide selected to the National Latina Leadership Institute to participate in an intensive leadership program.

“I very much look forward to using my executive management and community experience as resources to support the Rockwall office’s agents, our buyers and our sellers,” Sotelo Kidd says. “My door will always be open.”

For more information on Ebby’s Rockwall office, visit rockwall.ebby.com.

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® has appointed Van Vanaman sales manager of its Arlington and Mansfield offices. Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer, recently made the announcement.

“Van brings an in-depth knowledge of the real estate industry as an accomplished veteran sales associate, and he has a complete understanding of the strength of the Ebby Halliday name and brand in North Texas,” Burleson says. “Van is widely known for always going above and beyond to provide truly exceptional customer service.”

Vanaman will report to Betty Misko, vice president and director of sales offices.

“Through the years, Van has earned the highest respect and admiration of his clients and fellow Realtors,” Misko says. “His background and experience will be invaluable assets to the clients and Associates of the Arlington and Mansfield offices.”

For the past 16 years Vanaman has been a top agent in the Irving /Las Colinas office of Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®. He has been the recipient of the Ebby Halliday companywide Excellence In Customer Service Award 10 times. The award is based on ratings from past clients, making it truly a people’s choice award. In 1998, Vanaman received the companywide Rookie of the Year award.

“My primary focus has always been the same as Ebby Halliday REALTORS®: excellent customer service and client satisfaction,” Vanaman says. “The Arlington and Mansfield offices will continue to uphold these pillars upon which our company has built its sterling reputation.”

Prior to joining Ebby Halliday REALTORS® Vanaman was in the homebuilding business. Experience as a builder, home-building manager and sales counselor provides him with unique insight into each phase of the home-sale transaction, he says.

“My background in all facets of the residential real estate business, from building to closing, will bring a high level of experience to the Arlington and Mansfield offices,” Vanaman says. “I look forward to being a resource and to providing support where needed for the agents, our buyers and our sellers. Customer satisfaction is the No. 1 goal of the Arlington and Mansfield offices and Ebby Halliday REALTORS®.”

Vanaman, a graduate of Abilene Christian University, enjoys bicycling and scuba diving and has run two marathons and several half-marathons. The father of two children and grandfather of six grandchildren, Vanaman lives in Arlington, and is actively engaged in community service and particularly enjoys working with the deaf.  

For more information on Ebby’s Arlington and Mansfield offices, visit arlington.ebby.com and mansfield.ebby.com.

Cody

If you missed yesterday’s Home Center section of The Dallas Morning News, we again congratulated our Companywide Top Associates for the past year.  Our President & CEO Mary Frances Burleson was quoted:

“These Associates exemplify the utmost in professionalism, having established themselves as leaders in our industry. For over 65 years Ebby Halliday, REALTORS has been in the forefront of the area’s real estate market, setting the standard for customer service and building a name that is synonymous with trust. Today, our company continues to be focused on innovation, growth and people. It is those people that we honor today. We applaud their accomplishments and join in celebrating their success.”

In addition to yesterday’s front page story, the 2011 Companywide Honor Roll was featured in a full page ad on the back cover of the main section of The Dallas Morning News on Sunday, February 25, on the home page of the award-winning Ebby.com, as the header of our Sunday property ad in TDMN for the past three weeks and in various print media mentions and social media outlets. 

The following Associates were named to the top of their categories:

To see our full Honor Roll featuring all of our 2011 Companywide Top Associates, visit applause.ebby.com.

Congratulations again to you all!

Cody

Ebby Halliday, one of Texas’ most outstanding businesswomen, will celebrate her 101^st birthday on Friday, March 9. 

Always committed to following one of her founding principles – service to the community – she celebrated a century of life in 2011 with a whirlwind of events benefitting various organizations, including The Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Now in her 101^st year, she will again use her birthday as a way to benefit others. On Wednesday, March 7, sales associates and staff of Ebby Halliday, REALTORS and Dave Perry-Miller & Associates gathered at Eddie Deen’s Ranch in downtown Dallas for a pancake breakfast. Proceeds from the celebratory event benefitted the 600 students at Ebby’s namesake school, Ebby Halliday Elementary School. On March 9, Ebby Halliday, along with community members and company management, will attend an official dedication ceremony and birthday celebration at the elementary school.

Ebby founded Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® in 1945, and has seen it grow to become the largest independently owned residential real estate firm in Texas and one of the largest in the country. Even at 101 years old, she maintains her position of Chairman of the Board of Ebby Halliday, Inc. and regularly appears in the corporate office for work.

Ebby is well known for following the Golden Rule and a favorite saying by her late husband, Maurice Acers, “Do something for someone every day.”  Education has always been important to Ebby, in fact, she considers it a privilege. Growing up on a farm did not always leave much time for studies. Ebby believes in excellence through education and adds, “Keep learning. Make the most of opportunities to learn.  Go to college, take special courses, read, listen, observe, and get out there and participate!”

Numerous milestones have been reached in her incredible career, including her 2009 published biography, Ebby Halliday: The First Lady of Real Estate. She has spent her life involved in community affairs and is a moving force in efforts to better the lifestyle of her city and her state.  Ebby has received more awards than can be counted over the years for both her professional accomplishments and work in the community, including being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and being named to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, NFL Hall of Famer, and real estate entrepreneur Roger Staubach put it best in his foreword to Ebby’s biography,

“Ebby and I have several things in common. We both got to Dallas as soon as we could, albeit years apart.  Neither of us arrived with plans for starting real estate companies, but good fortune, good friends, and good economic conditions attracted us to the real estate business. And we were both blessed with great teams.”

To leave a birthday message for Ebby, click here.

Cody

Ebby.com, The Best Address In Real Estate, just added another award to its long list of accolades.  This time it’s the Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World! 

Read the entire press release below.  And then, for fun, check out the great video at the end of this post which gives some history of LeadingRE, particularly Ebby Halliday’s role in its creation.  Needless to say, we’re very proud of this honor:

PRESS RELEASE:

Ebby Halliday, Realtors has earned the 2011 Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the site, ebby.com, was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in six key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search engine optimization.  The WQC was introduced in 2009 to recognize and encourage superior websites among Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s 550 member firms.  

“With so many people going online to obtain information on homes, communities and everything relating to home buying and selling, it is vital for a real estate firm to have a current, easy-to-use and relevant website,” notes Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®.  “By earning the Website Quality Certification, Ebby Halliday, Realtors has demonstrated that it offers fundamental online resources to home buyers and sellers, which are further supported by the expertise only a dedicated real estate professional can provide.”     

For more information about Ebby Halliday, Realtors, please visit ebby.com.

Kendall

It’s an exciting week for Preston Hollow residents as Central Market prepares to open their ninth location this Wednesday at the Preston Oaks shopping center on the corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane.

The grocer will go into the old Borders Books space. It’s reported that this Central Market will be much smaller than the Greenville and Lovers Lane locations, but will still have a full-service sandwich bar, exotic bakery and New York-style deli.

We know there are some die hard Central Market fans out there, so for those of you who are, can you imagine living nearby?  With the new Ebby Proximity Search feature, you can see all homes currently for sale within a set distance from the new Central Market, or any point of interest for that matter.  Think schools, work, or even your favorite restaurant.  To start your proximity search, click here.

And, if you’re debating where to shop now that this stretch of Preston Road has three different grocery stores, check out the Friday, Feb. 10th edition of Preston Hollow People for price comparisons between Central Market, Tom Thumb and Whole Foods.

Kendall

An Ebby Halliday-listed home garnered national attention Friday morning when it was featured  on The Today Show segment, “Charming Homes Under $250,000″, hosted by real estate expert Barbara Corcoran. The first home featured in the segment was 18565 Vista Del Sol, listed by Anne Westphal of our Campbell/Coit office. The video highlights some great features of the home including the bright and sunny kitchen (pictured above), open living room and available tennis club membership!

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home sits in a quiet subdivision with a community lake and is offered for $199,900.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

To see the full video clip featuring the home, click here. For more information on 18565 Vista Del Sol, visit the website or contact Anne Westphal.

Kendall

Sherry Smith, manager of the Ebby Halliday Sherman office, was recently recognized as the Devoted Service Award recipient by The Greater Texoma Association of Realtors. This marks the second year in a row that Sherry was honored by the association, as last year she was a Distinguished Leadership awardee.

Sherry, who began her real estate career in 1998 after retiring from a successful 20-year career as a Contracting Officer in United States Air Force, and has been recognized numerous times with sales and service awards.

She perpetuates the Ebby Halliday belief of the founding principles of service; service to the industry, service to the client and service to the communities in which we serve.

Congratulations Sherry!