My friend Lynn asked "What's on the Menu?" for today.                                     We are having Hotdogs grilled on the grill and covered with caramelized onions and sauerkraut with spicy brown mustard.  A real taste treat if you like hotdogs. If you don't, try one of the hamburgers topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo.  Some potato salad, baked beans, and watermelon round out the meal. Don't forget homemade ice cream!  Fortunately, my sister in law is making this and bringing it over. Are we eating good?  Oh yes!  Then after a swim, we are off to see the fireworks display at the local park by the river.  Do I live in Paradise?  Oh yes!                             I hope your Fourth of July is spent having fun too and enjoying good food with friends and family. So ... 07/04/2011

In spite of the recession, the drought, and the nay sayers, the Texas real estate market continues to flourish.  Here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, there are buyers calling, looking and buying homes and land.          Our phones are ringing and the emails keep coming in.  Thank God!  We are so happy and feel very blessed that people have the confidence in us and in the investment of home ownership and land to make the move.  We have investors seeking income producing properties, and even looking to buy businesses already established. Things have really picked up and as I talk with agents from other offices, they are saying the same thing.  Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country is a great place to buy real estate.  Obviously, the word has gotten out!  I can't believe how many peopl... 06/19/2011

This weekend is National Open House Weekend.  Across the country, REALTORS® will hold open houses.  If you are looking to buy any time soon, this is your opportunity to view hundreds of open houses.  In Kerrville, we are one of 12 offices holding open houses this weekend.  Get out, drive around and stop at the open house signs.  See what kind of homes are available in Kerrville and shop to your hearts' content.                     This lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath is located just up the street from the neighborhood pool and tennis courts.  It has a separate formal dining room, fireplace in living room and a fabulous master bath anyone would love!     124 Fannin Dr                $238,500   Saturday 10-2 and Sunday 1-4    Come to the Open Houses!  Doesn't hurt to look, right? This home is lo... 06/02/2011

Years ago, when I worked for a newspaper, I would occasionally do a "Shop at Home" tabloid.  All my advertisers would run specials in the tab and the customers would get a bargain.  The real winner though, was our small town.  Local businesses would reap the benefits of the citizens buying in our town and not going to the big city to buy their groceries, hardware, furniture, clothing and everything else. Car dealers, office supply stores, and restaurants loved these twice a year tabloids.  It meant lots of business and the excitement to see what was going to be on sale had people watching and waiting for the day it was printed.  It was a large tabloid and many businesses participated.  Everyone won! Today, I think we should go back to this sort of thinking.  Let's buy at home!  I mean, ... 05/30/2011

I worked last night until 10 pm with buyers.  We found the home of their dreams and went back to the office to write the contract.  We gathered all the information.  Wrote the offer after discussing financing options, strategizing the amount we should offer, studying the survey, deciding on the home warranty, the option period, the closing date and everything else. We wrote the offer, printed and signed it, closed up and went home just in time for the news. This morning was a run, run morning preparing food for two open houses for REALTORS®.  We sponsored a broker open house with five homes open and two of them were ours.  I was responsible for the food.  The homemade soup I had planned to add to the sandwiches went bye-bye, needless to say.  The sandwiches were wonderful!  Thank you Su... 05/18/2011

Ours is going great guns.  Things have really picked up here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.  People are calling from Florida to California inquiring about individual properties and real estate in general. People are walking through the doors without appointments wanting to see property.  Our agents are trying to call back everyone who is requesting information.  We are BUSY!  Is your office experiencing the same rush on property?  We advertise a lot but we have been doing the same thing for some time.  It really feels like things are picking up.  We need more listings! If you need to sell a home in our area, give us a call!  We'd love to help you sell your property. Hoping your May is as great as ours! :) Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection               ... 05/10/2011

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3rd I will be getting the honor to speak to sixth graders about real estate.  Why would I want to do that, you ask?  They are the future homebuyers in Kerrville, my future clients and their parents.  We, as REALTORS® are always wanting to improve our image in the community.  We want people to more fully understand what we do.  What better way than to teach children about our profession.  Let them grow up having an understanding of the benefits of using a professional REALTOR®.  They will see their need for our services easier and not be afraid to approach us for help, when they know who we are and what we can do for them. I love children and I love teaching them too.  I am so looking forward to explaining the home buying process to them.  I have photos of various ... 05/02/2011

My latest blog "Best Friends or Family Make the Worst Clients" received a lot of attention and a lot of excellent comments.  This is a discussiion that affects all of us.  "Will I work with family or friends?"   This is a question we all have to answer.  Of course, we want to help those we love.  Our desire to help people is one of the reasons we entered into the real estate profession.  We are people persons or we would not have chosen a job that deals with the public on such a personal level. There are those who have exceptional family and friends' working relationships, but I think they are definitely in the minority.  That is not how our business model is set up.  We just don't barter like some do in other countries. With that said, the big name trainers and companies who are teachi... 04/25/2011

We are a full service real estate company selling homes, land, even commercial properties but we also sell manufactured homes in parks. Kerrville has many adult parks with nice manufactured homes.  Many have garages, large carports, fenced yards, waterfrontage, clubhouses, swimming pools, activities, walking trails and other amenities. I believe everyone should be able to afford a special place in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and not everyone can pay several hundred thousand dollars for a retirement home or a get-a-way. There are lots of options for those looking for lesser priced homes and Hill Country retreats.  You may never have considered a manufactured home in an adult park but look at these. Want a view?  The hills, the valley, the creek all come with this manufactured home l... 04/13/2011

Texas Historical Markers- Captain Joseph A. Tivy   In 1837 Joseph A. Tivy and his two sisters came to Texas from Canada. After serving as a Texas Ranger, Tivy joined his sisters in the California Gold Rush of 1849. There they operated a hotel and he later served in the State Legislature. After returning to Texas in the late 1850s, Tivy fought in the Civil War, attaining the rank of Captain. A surveyor, rancher, and Texas Legislator, he served as the first Kerrville Mayor in 1889. During his term of office he gave land for the city schools. He and his wife Ella and his sister Susan are buried on nearby Tivy Mountain.   Tivy Mountain- Kerrville, Texas View of Kerrville from Tivy Mountain. 04/13/2011

Today, Tuesday April 12th,  was REALTORS® Day at the Capitol. We had the pleasure of meeting with our congressman Harvey Hilderbran and our senator Troy Fraser. The day is meant for us to be able to tell our elected officials how Realtors stand on issues that affect private property rights and our profession in general. We wanted to hear where they stood on the bills that have been recently introduced. Our meetings went well and both Harvey Hilderbran and Troy Fraser were gracious and gave of their time to us to explain their positions and to listen to their constituents. After our meetings, we enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch at the Texas Association of Realtors building. The meal was superb! The best part of the day came immediately thereafter, when I was able to meet up with a very dear... 04/13/2011

"It is more blessed to give than to receive"   Ever heard that statement?  Do you believe it is true? Good question.  Think about it for a while.  There is another saying that goes like "the more you give, the more you receive".  Do you believe that?  I do. It was when I forgot about myself and my circumstances and began to think of others first, that my life transformed.  I had never had many material blessings in my life and to give away what I did have was hard.  I had thought of myself as a giver and not a taker but there were limits...in my mind...in my heart. Following the teachings of the Bible, one knows God is our provider and in Psalms it says, the blessed will not be begging bread.  Taking the Lord at His Word is a test of faith.  I have tested and do attest to it.  Giving br... 04/02/2011

The city of Kerrville in conjunction with Texas Department of Transportation(TxDOT) and Ti-Zack Concrete Inc. have started construction of sidewalks on local streets near elementary and middle schools. This is part of the state's Safe Routes to School(SRTS) program. The purpose of the SRTS program is to encourage children to walk and bicycle to school as a healthy and safe alternative to vehicular travel. The areas across town that will be affected are Tally Elementary area, Starkey Elementary area, Tom Daniels Elementary area, and BT Wilson area. Please use caution while traveling in these areas and remember that the workers are present to complete a project intended to benefit us and our children. 03/23/2011

We are enjoying our new offices very much.  Everyone has plenty of room to stretch out now and a place to put everything.  It is so different from the place we were.  The office is beautiful with wood walls and new carpeting and wood in the entrance and hall.  We worked so hard to get moved earlier than expected and it is a good thing.  We have been so busy with customers and clients.           It's Spring Break and our little town is buzzing with visitors from out of town.  Many of them want to buy homes or second homes while in town.  We've been working late to accommodate many of them.             If you have ever thought of owning a getaway in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, right now might be an excellent time for you to buy.  Stop by our new office and let us show you what is on... 03/16/2011

Yes, we have moved to 953 Main, Kerrville, TX.   It is only a little ways down the street from where we were.  It's the same street, just a different section.  That's right, Hwy 27 that runs through Kerrville east and west, is called Junction Hwy where we were and Main Street where we are now. Our move was planned to be complete by the end of the month but we finished moving everything today, a lot sooner.  We are all exhausted but it is done.  The computers, the phones are all hooked up.  The files are still a little disorganized but all the desks are in place and tomorrow will be a normal workday with clients coming in and looking at property. We are so excited, can't wait to show off our new office. I'm sure you've seen our sign at 511 Junction Hwy.  Get ready to see it at 953 Main. ... 03/10/2011

Guess I'm feeling silly tonight.  I told my husband I couldn't get anyone to email me, so I needed to write a blog post. So, here it is.  A Lonely Heart's Letter. There she sat quietly upon the chair looking out the window.  Her gaze was straight ahead, her eyes rarely even blinked.  Her breathing was shallow.  She did not move. As I tiptoed into the room, I could smell the freshness of her bath.  Her short black hair neatly groomed.  A princess by the window; elegant she was.  Always with such grace she walked and communicated with ease and confidence. I had known her to be a loving creature.  She was always ready to give of herself and thought of others first.  Now, here she sat, a tear in the corner of her eye.  Motionless.  She seemed fixed like a statue by the window.  For hours sh... 02/26/2011

The Power of Teamwork can never be emphasized enough in your organization.  The strength of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  Individually we can accomplish a lot but when two or more are united, their strength is increased. The power of unity, the power of teamwork is underestimated today.  Everyone is reaching out to be the best.  Consumed with individuality.   Many businesses fail because there is no common goal.  A common purpose that brings unity to the indiviual agents will bring success.  When several work together to accomplish a like goal, power is unleashed. If I never teach my agents another technique, another law, another system; let me teach them Teamwork! Together we can go places we cannot go by ourselves. (Training Friday morning 9:30) Are you an agent, lo... 02/24/2011

How Much Is Too Much?  I'm talking about real estate information for our potential buyers.  Isn't our advertising enough?  Isn't IDX searches enough?  Aren't our websites doing enough?  Don't you have telephones at the office, in your pocket, in your car, isn't email everywhere?  And texting?  HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? I'm not happy about our MLS being able to launch our listings onto our Facebook pages too.  Yes, I have a business page on Facebook.  Will I really need it anymore? After they install the Facebook button on MLS, it will be so easy for every agent to send their listings to Facebook. There is some information I would not want on Facebook if it were my listing or my house.  What do your sellers want?  Make sure you only publish the "Public" info or the public will see the agent re... 02/12/2011

I'm tired of seeing ice and snow on TV and in person.  I'm tired of feeling cold winds on my face and blistering my hands.  I don't like the sound of the howling wind.  I don't like holding the door firmly so it doesn't fly out of my hand when I'm coming or going.  I feel sorry for my friends further north that have to shovel snow just to get out of their driveways or take a chance driving on slick streets. So for all of us who are weary of these scenes, take a moment to relax and imagine the warm sun on your face, the soothing calls of song birds, the smell of barbecue on the grill, the splash of the pool and the gentle breeze of evening falling.                                       Are you relaxing?                                                                                      ... 02/04/2011

Occassionally I will write a blog that is inspirational in nature rather than about the real estate business.  I know people like to get to know their real estate agents in a personal way, to know what is important to the person that is helping them with their important decisions in buying and selling properties.   So I want to share with you some observations I made today. I had the privelege of singing with my brother at a church service in a nursing home.  There were only 18 people there.  A very small group with great enthusiasm.  Most of the attendees were dressed in very casual clothes, some even wore their pajamas.  One tall, thin lady actually had on a nice dress, stockings and dress shoes.  I watched this lady yesterday and today as she helped others that could not walk as well... 01/30/2011