Last year my broker Kim Galvan showed us a video titled Gary in A Box. When Gary Keller the founder of Keller Williams first started in real estate in the early 1980’s, the market was bad, much like it is now. Interst rates were almost 20%. He didn’t have money for a contact management system. I don’t think Top Producer had been invented yet. Computers were still a novelty.

So Gary came up with a contact management system using index cards. I thought that’s easy, I should try that. But I was never able to find the video again.

A few weeks ago I was reading the latest issue of the Keller Williams company magazine UPFRONT. There was an article by Gary Keller which gave his email address. I decided to email him and ask him where I could find it on the Keller Williams Corporate web site. Since I am one of over 70,000 agents and am not some hot shot top producer and have never met him, I didn’t think he would answer. But what the heck. You don’t get if you don’t ask.

I emailed him late on Saturday afternoon. About an hour later I got a reply from an auto responder that Gary was out of the office and traveling for the next three week. Some one would get back to me. I thought maybe one of his assistants would get in touch with me the next week.

Imagine my happy surprise when 5 hours later I received an e-mail from Gary personally, explaining the system to me and telling me where it could be found on the web site and encouraging me to “Go get ‘em.”

Now there is no doubt in my mind how Gary and his company has been so successful. He leads by setting a good example of service.

If you interested in the Gary in a Box system:

Use a recipe card size file box. When you meet someone make 2 cards. One is their contact info and goes behind a-z cards. The other goes behind Jan-Dec. Each month work the cards in that month and move them to the next month. That will tell you when to contact them next.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/WacoTexas365?ref=nf

We will be posting about local events and attractions. Here is a list of what we have come up with so far:

#16 Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place

#15 Fuzzy Friends Animal Rescue  http://fuzzyfriendsrescue.com/

#14Mclennan Community College http://www.mclennan.edu/

#13The Texas Ranger Museum http://www.texasranger.org/

#12 Chuy’s restaurant http://www.chuys.com/#/waco

#11Mayborn Museum http://www.baylor.edu/mayborn/index.php?id=15536

#10Cameron Park http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-parksandrecreation/page.aspx?id=47

#9Texas Sports Hall of Fame http://www.tshof.org/

#8Waco Suspension Bridge

#7Lake Waco

#6Mcallister’s Deli
#5 Dr Pepper Museum http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waco-TX/Dr-Pepper-Museum-and-Free-Enterprise-Institute/20802717687

#4Cameron Park Zoo http://www.cameronparkzoo.com/index.html

#3Waco Water Park

#2The Shops at River Square Center http://www.shopsofriversquarecenter.com/shops.html#jump1

#1Pictures of Bluebonnets

We have just begun to scratch the surface. There are still movie theaters, shopping malls, skate centers, colleges, and museums. So “friend” us and see how long it takes us to get to three hundred and sixty five things. Can we do it without repeating anything? I think so. And let us know if there are any great places you want us to post about.

Are you new to Waco and wanting to learn more about the area? Have you lived in Waco a while, but are looking for some family fun? If you are on Facebook, we have your solution.

I ,along with Wendy Montoya, an agent with Century 21 Towne Adams, have started a community page titled 365 Things to do in Waco Texas.

A traveling exhibit about Smart Meters is coming to Waco. It will be in the Lowe’s parking lot, corner of New Road and Franklin, on Tuesday April 13^th from 3 to 7 pm and Wednesday April 14^th from 10 am to 2 pm.

Oncor is getting ready to install Smart Meters in homes in Waco and Mclennan County. And as you may have heard there have been a lot of complaints from people who say their electric bill has doubled or even tripled after their Smart meter was installed.

Take this opportunity to come learn more about them. Also you can go to

March is the beginning of the busiest time of the year for real estate sales. That is when most people start looking so they can move during the summer and get settled in to their new home before the next school year begins. In February 2010 there were 140 homes sold.

So how did March 2010 stack up? In 2009 there were a total of 152 homes sold in the month of March. The average list price was $128,127 and the average sold price was $122,348 with an average of 140 days. Compare with March 2010 where there were 172 homes sold with an average list price of $124,746 and average sold price of $120,290 and 134 days on the market. As of March 4^th there were 1391 homes for sale in McLennan County and 305 sales pending.

Here is a breakdown by price:

0 to $50,000 = 19

$50 to $75,000 = 34

$75 to $100,000 = 33

$100 to $125,000 = 25

$125 to $150,000 = 24

$150 to $200,000 = 26

$200 to $250,000 = 7

$250 to $300,000 = 3

$300 to $400,000 = 8

$400,000 and up = 1

There was one multi-family property sold which listed at $149,900 and sold for $137,500. There was one Farm& Ranch property sold which listed at $599,900 and sold for $807,000 ( they bought some additional acreage). And there were 9 lots of land sold with an average list price of $62,777 and average sold price of $137,500.

So home sales in Waco and McLennan County are holding steady with a slight decrease of days on the market and sold price