“Always get an honest, ethical answer and there is great comfort in that.”
Steve,
Well, you’ve done it – again! By my count this is the 7th transaction you have handled for us, and we couldn’t be happier with the service we have gotten from you and Angie. Whether we are trying to close a deal from the road while on vacation or – in the most recent case – deal with some very skittish foreign buyers, your professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile has meant the difference in getting a deal done, or walking away frustrated. Your knowledge of the market, of buyer and seller motivations and psychology, and the network of people you have at your fingertips to get things done typifies the can-do attitude that you and Angie routinely exemplify.
It is not just an attitude that the deal needs to get done at all costs, either. What matters to us equally as much is your absolute commitment to integrity. I know that when I put a difficult question to you, I will always get an honest, ethical answer, and there is great comfort in that. I’m not sure that there is anyone else I have dealt with who I could recommend with no reservations whatsoever. Thank you for everything!
Matt and Paula
"You protected us from it."
Dear Steve:
I can't imagine things going more smoothly with the sale of our house until about 48 hours before the closing when, let's just say, all sorts of fireworks started going off on the other end of the deal.
What impressed us so much was how you handled this. In fact, I am quite certain I still don't have any idea all that went on because you protected us from it.
What I do know is that on the day of closing, just before the final walk through, you were in our home making sure everything was in order, which included putting spackle (that you had purchased) into all the nail holes in our walls. That was above and beyond the call of duty.
If we ever have to do another real estate transaction in Houston, you'll be getting the call.
Katie and Linc
"You have truly smoothed the seas of real estate."
Dear Steve,
Linda and I thank you for your help and guidance through the process of selling our home and buying a new home and an investment property in Braeswood Place during the past year. All three transactions were very unique and required your knowledge, special skills, professional service and integrity to complete each one.
Your understanding of the market and the valuation of the homes provided a sound beginning for these sales that were, as it turned out, extremely fast paced and competitive. Providing insight on the acceptability of offers was instrumental in moving the process forward to closing.
The purchase of our new home on Merrick is of particular note. As Linda and I were last-minute packing for a family cruise, a broken shoelace necessitated a quick trip to the drugstore. En route, I spotted a new "For Sale" sign at this nice house around the corner.
However, family members were arriving and we all needed to depart soon to the ship. Within the hour, you had shown us the house, given us a quick appraisal of our current house, collected checks and information for a sales offer and even took a couple of pre-cruise family pictures of Linda´s extended family. We completed the necessary paperwork from various ports-of-call with the guidance of you and Angie and popped champagne on the ship in celebration of our new home.
I would highly recommend Hallmark Properties to anyone with a real estate need. We have been professionally and successfully represented from many perspectives: buyer, seller, landlord, and investor. You have truly smoothed the seas of real estate.
Alan and Linda
“You lived up to every expectation.”
Dear Steve,
So pleased with your help in selling our home in Braeswood Place. Your knowledge, experience and stellar reputation with real estate in our neighborhood made you a “no-brainer” choice, and you lived up to every expectation. We appreciate your marketing skills and your connections that brought a buyer to us so quickly.
And your negotiating talents fetched a deal we were very happy with. In between all that, your attention to detail, personal integrity, and professionalism assured us at every point that you were the best choice we could have made. Thank you so much for a great transaction!
Jean & Todd
“Expert handling of every tricky situation.”
Dear Steve,
Thank you for all the expert help you gave me during the sale of my home and purchase of a new home.
I knew by reputation that you were an expert who went the extra mile for his clients, and you certainly kept the standard. Having to suddenly make decisions without my husband was scary, but I took great comfort in knowing I could trust you to keep my best interests in mind throughout both transactions. I had confidence in all your suggestions, so decisions were made easy. You went the extra mile in the details, despite my living outside the area where you do most of your business.
I especially appreciate your help negotiating everything during a pandemic, when the buyer of my house had trouble getting a loan, and when I had to purchase a home on a contingency basis. It is amazing that it all worked out! I credit it to your expert handling of each tricky situation. You even managed to work out the timing so that I could move straight from one home into another without having to live somewhere temporarily or store my belongings.
I highly recommend Hallmark Properties to anyone!
Lisa
“Deeply cares.”
After my mom fell, it was a stressful time making transitioning her to assistant living. The last thing I wanted to deal with was selling her house. I was overwhelmed. She had lived there 61 years and house was nowhere near ready to show or sell. To make matters worse, I lived in Austin and her house was in Houston. That is where Steve came in. A classmate of my brother’s in high school, he was a someone I felt I could trust. And boy could I …. a complete godsend. He took care of everything from repair, painting, clean out, photography, listing, and closing. He even drove my mom’s car from Houston to Austin.
He was there every step of the way, answered all my questions, and spent time sharing his experience on how I could best support my mom’s transitions. I could not of done any of it without Steve’s help.
We listed the home on a Monday and by Tuesday had 12 offers and closed 10 days later with a cash offer above asking price. What a relief given everything else I was dealing with. I can’t say enough on how helpful and professional Steve was.
I would not have been able to do any of it on my own and had the time to deal with mom. I not only recommend Steve as Realtor, but as someone who deeply cares about helping senior clients make a smooth lifestyle transition. Thanks Steve.
Sudie
“Empathy and understanding.”
Steve:
I’ve only owned one home in my life, and after 38 years and with devastating consequences from Harvey, I finally made the decision to sell it. The hardest task in selling a home, I discovered early on, was finding the right real estate agent. I called and spoke with several agents, including you, and after our phone call, I knew that Steve Anton would be handling the sale of my property.
Not that I didn’t think they all had the ability to sell the house. What made me choose you was your empathy and understanding of the emotional toll I suffered when Harvey ravaged my home and forced me to flee into floodwaters to save my life. That 30-minute call with you convinced me I had found my agent.
I greatly appreciate how you stayed in touch with me and provided me with frequent updates about the progress of finding a buyer. When the right buyer came along, you were there to guide me through the sale of my property.
From that point through closing, your professionalism and your support helped me through the process and most importantly, allowed me to approach the closing with joy and hopefulness without any of the anxiety I was anticipating going into the close.
Jeffrey and I are eternally grateful for your fine assistance in selling our home of almost four decades. Thanks so very much.
Stan
“Brilliant advice”
Throughout the time when Steve guided us through the sale of our beloved home, the jingles from a few old insurance ads kept going through my mind. You’re in good hands with Steve. Like a good neighbor, Steve is there.
I felt that his 30-plus years of experience in the real estate business ensured us from making a mistake in what turned out to be a complex process when we tried to sell it by owner. His wisdom was invaluable. At one point, with multiple offers and people asking us to sign contract, Steve stepped in and said, “Drag your feet.”
It was brilliant advice.
Through the process he was available and answer questions timely and thoroughly.
I do know that if we ever buy a home in Houston, our first call will be to Steve.
Bill and Jenni
“So glad we chose you”
Steve,
We are so glad we chose you to handle the sale of our property. We knew about you from the excellent job you did guiding the family through the development of two pieces of property into a place with 8 houses and a private road.
The decision to sell this property came during a period made stressful by illness. Our time and our energy were focused on those needs. You took on the
responsibility and did an excellent job. You showed great consideration when you talked “business” with us and Angie was very easy to work with on office matters.
You gave us all the information we needed and since we trusted you and your
years of experience, the decisions we had to make were easy. You worked with the buyer, so we did not have to, and we really appreciated that. The sale came in at the asking price and the closing went smoothly. Thank you for being our Realtor. We highly recommend you to others in the market.
Mary and Ernest
“You always made us feel comfortable”
I wanted to tell you again how we appreciated your representation on the purchase of our first home in Houston. Being new to the Houston area, we had to place our trust in you to point us to the best communities in our price range and you did not disappoint.
From day one, you had patience without search for the perfect house and you were willing to put in the hours to show us many, many properties. I never feel any pressure to do any deals and you always made us feel comfortable in walking away from a house that was not the right fit. Thanks for your hard work.
Bobby and Elizabeth
“Candor and honesty”
Steve:
Holly and I would like to express our thanks to you for the outstanding service you're provided to us in our search for a lot to build our new home, as well as your assistance in negotiating a new home construction contract with our builder. You've been a true professional throughout the process. We particularly appreciate the value that your detailed market knowledge of Southwest Houston afforded us as we selected and ultimately purchased a lot for our future home.
We have worked with many real estate agents over the past 15 years and can honestly say that your understanding of market conditions surpasses anything we'd previously seen. We also appreciate your candor and honesty - having never 'built on our own lot' before, it was very helpful to have you as a partner in understanding the process and setting good expectations for how the process would unfold.
We are happy to serve as a reference to future potential clients.
Aaron and Holly
“His expertise is unmatched”
Dear Steve,
Thank you so much for all the help with the purchase of our new home! As a first-time homebuyer (especially new construction), the process can be quite overwhelming! It was great to have you there to help navigate us through everything. I know I could always count on you to help with all my questions. I couldn’t imagine things going more smoothly than they did!
I would highly recommend Hallmark Properties to anyone looking for Realtor! Steve is attentive to all your needs and very knowledgeable! His expertise is unmatched!
Steve is more than just our Realtor; he is a part of the family! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to making buying our first home so easy!
Jacey and Matt
“This is why we picked Steve”
Dear Steve,
We would like to thank you for your help in selling our home in Braes Heights. We were able to rely on your experience, and your excellent understanding of the market and the process of selling a house.
There were a number of times that my wife and I looked at each other and said “This is why we picked Steve Anton.” You had helpful, practical recommendations at each step, and we were very pleased with the result. Yours Truly,
Jim
“Extremely responsive”
"I recently sold a home with Steve Anton in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While selling a home can be a very stressful process, I felt 100% confident by partnering with Steve. He was candid, provided great feedback, helped clearly explain all details, and managed the actual sale efficiently and professionally.
Additionally, he was extremely responsive to every one of my questions, no matter how big or small. Moreover, he got me an almost full-price offer over the Christmas holidays! If you are buying or selling a home, Steve Anton should be your first choice."
Diane
“No nonsense approach”
Dear Steve -
Many thanks for your assistance in our new home purchase. I cannot recall if this is the third or fourth time we have worked together on various real estate transactions over the years. But as always, your knowledge of the market and no- nonsense approach to negotiations made the experience briskly efficient.
Jeff and Amy
“No real estate agent does it better”
Steve,
It has been a very stressful transition to leave Texas and start a new life, especially with the death of my mother and the cleanup after Hurricane Harvey. Now, with Houston finally in my rearview window, a heartfelt thank you for your efficient marketing and sale of my mother's house so that I can close that chapter and move on.
In a downward real estate market (or crashing market, depending on your perspective) after the hurricane, it was emotionally painful to accept continued reductions in the listing price of the house. But hindsight shows this seller that I could not have completed the sale of my mother's flooded home so quickly for the best available market price with another real estate agent. If I had followed your advice, perhaps the house still would be listed today.
It's not about listing a property on HAR or throwing up a for sale sign in a yard. Any agent can make a few clicks on a computer. Any agent can print a slick portfolio of photos and marketing material. Any agent can send you a calendar.
It's market savvy and up-to-date subdivision knowledge of potential buyers and sellers that creates a REAL environment for real estate sales for the client. You've lived in this subdivision for decades. You know the market value of properties, resale and new construction. You know market history. You carefully follow current market data while marketing the property. And you always give your clients the real market numbers, even when the numbers are ugly. In summary, you eat, sleep, and dream real estate sales 24/7 365 days a year.
No nonsense full-time residential real estate is your profession. And for this Houston subdivision, I believe that no real estate agent does it better than you.
James
“The first person who came to our minds”
Dear Steve,
Bob and I want to thank you for everything you did in selling our home. When we decided to sell after Hurricane Harvey devastated our home Steve Anton was the first person that came to our minds. It was a difficult time for us as we have lived in Braeswood for 29 years. We appreciate all your efforts to make things work. You kept us informed every step of the way.
We thank you for your ability to keep a positive outlook during some tense moments and that helped ensure the success of our home selling.
We will certainly recommend you to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home in Braeswood.
Bob & Ilene
“Guidance was spot on”
Dear Steve:
I wanted to drop you a note of thanks for the great job you did in helping us sell my late Aunt’s home in Lazybrook.
Your understanding of the market and the valuation of the homes gave us confidence in establishing a reasonable listing price. Your guidance through the entire make ready for sale process was spot on, helping us make repairs that were necessary, but avoiding those that would not be of benefit in the final transaction.
Your calm professional approach and insight on the acceptability of offers was critical in moving the process to a successful closing. If I have any future real estate needs, you will be the first person I will reach out to, and I would highly
recommend you and Hallmark Properties to anyone looking to sell or buy property. Your integrity and attention to detail are superb!
Sam
“Head and shoulders above the rest”
Dear Steve,
We are writing to thank you for your help in selling our house in Bellaire. This is our third transaction to work on together, and there is a reason we keep coming back to you. We have worked with other Realtors, and you are head and shoulders above the rest.
We appreciate the no-nonsense, get-it-done approach that you take to everything you do. Your integrity and strong work ethic are clear to see for all who work with you, on both the buyer and seller side. You give straight talk and informed guidance, not the usual BS and sales talk puffery so often associated with Realtors. You know your market and your job, and it shows. Your staff is also top-notch and friendly. Angie, in particular, is a treasure.
We will continue to recommend you to all our friends. Thank you again for all your wise counsel during our most recent transaction.
Lori and Greg
“Exceeded all our expectations”
Dear Steve,
Thanks for the awesome job you did as our Realtor. You provided easily understood instructions on handling of the forms involved so that the paper work was handled fast and with no changes. Your selection of the asking price was above our estimate and accurate. We received 2 quotes at your estimate one day after the For Sale sign was put up. We had a sales contract signed 2 days after the sign was put up. You worked with the title company to get all details handled so that the cash sale could be completed in 3 weeks, which I thought was amazing.
We enjoyed talking with you and our activities together were very friendly and smoothly handled. We had lived in this home for 46 years and had seen your signs on many other homes in the area and you advertised in the publication of the HOA. To have this large and broad number of clients in our area over a long period, we knew that you had to be reputable and honest and you exceeded all of our expectations.
We thought that the selling of our home would be a protracted ordeal, however, it was a pleasant short-term activity thanks to your knowledge and expertise.
Paul and Pat
“My only choice”
Dear Steve,
Thank you for being my Realtor!
When I asked you to be my Realtor to sell my home, you were my only choice. For years I had enjoyed the Hallmark Properties newsletters listing the sales and leases of homes in my neighborhood. I wanted a Realtor who was thoroughly familiar with the real estate market where I lived.
The services you provided me were just like my neighbors (who also recommended Hallmark Properties to me) said I would receive!
As my agent, you truly represented me in the sale of my home.
Since I was unfamiliar with the process of selling a home, your answers to my endless questions were thorough and clear so I could understand what was coming next as the sale progressed. You (or Angie if you were out) were promptly available whenever I called with my questions.
Your expert recommendations helped me with the several decisions that I had to make during every step of the sale process.
Your skill in quickly accomplishing each of the things I wanted to happen with this sale from setting the sale price to negotiations with prospective buyers repeatedly assured me that the sale was progressing forward.
Your professional ownership of what I considered the stressful parts of the sale and your overall tremendous efforts on my behalf resulted in this sale being a very good experience for me.
I join my neighbors in highly recommending Steve Anton-Hallmark Properties to anyone interested in selling or buying or leasing real estate. In my opinion you are the best in your field!
Mary Anne
“Honesty, experience and straight-forward approach”
Dear Steve,
Tara and I want to thank you so much for helping us through our home buying journey. We are deeply appreciative of your support and guidance. As you know our experience included helping us navigate a hurricane and avoiding a few missteps along the way.
You have continued to give us support and counsel even after closing on our home and helping us prepare to sell our prior house. We recommend your services to any and all that ask. Your honesty, experience, and straight-forward approach is always appreciated.
Aanand and Tara
“Not possible without you”
Dear Steve and Angie,
We were over the moon at how quickly our house had sold. In only two days you had us seven offers on our home. We were able to close in only eleven days after you listed it. You got us the sell price we were looking for.
I do believe that it would not have been possible without you. You provided us important input which helped us make our decision. It definitely was a pleasure to work with you. We have bought three homes and now sold two and working with you was the easiest.
Boyd and Julia
“So good on so many levels”
Dear Steve -
Many thanks for your assistance in our new home purchase. I cannot recall if this is the third or fourth time, we have worked together on various real estate transactions over the years. But as always, your knowledge of the market and no-nonsense approach to negotiations made the experience briskly efficient.
I am so pleased that I hired Steve to act as the seller’s agent for the sale of my mother’s house. When Mom told me she would appoint me as the Executor of her estate, she also mentioned that Steve would be a good Realtor choice, but I didn’t know if that was based on anything more than his ubiquitous scratch pads which are in so many homes. I later investigated and found out that he was the most esteemed Realtor in the neighborhood. After going through the sale, I now know that his reputation is richly deserved.
I am so pleased that I hired Steve to act as the seller’s agent for the sale of my mother’s house. When Mom told me she would appoint me as the Executor of her estate, she also mentioned that Steve would be a good Realtor choice, but I didn’t know if that was based on anything more than his ubiquitous scratch pads which are in so many homes. I later investigated and found out that he was the most esteemed Realtor in the neighborhood. After going through the sale, I now know that his reputation is richly deserved.
Hiring Steve was the best choice I could have made. In addition to all the help a Realtor normally provides, he helped me navigate the unique aspects of the sale of an older home in the probate context. He was very sensitive and understanding of the circumstances, including the time needed to go through things in the home, and the clutter (and sentiment) that can accumulate over the years.
In short, Steve is so good on so many levels. He was extremely knowledgeable about the neighborhood, including its history, recent sales, and future development. He was able to assess and help with all of the personal factors as well. At all times I was in good hands, including with his staff, who were always available and quick to respond. I highly recommend him and Hallmark Properties.
Chris
“Best interest of our young family at heart”
Dear Steve,
Our family has lived in the neighborhood for the past three years, and it is no exaggeration to say that we are thankful to be a part of this community. In particular, we wanted to thank you for the wide range of guidance you have provided us as our real estate needs have evolved. Considering the relatively brief amount of time we have known you we have interacted with you on a wide range of matters to include renting, buying and selling real estate. At each point, you have provided us with sound advice that has made our lives better.
Our first interaction occurred when we rented a home from you. We were impressed immediately with the manner in which you interacted with us, and felt that you had the best interest of our young family at heart. You were very responsive to our input on the property, which was kept in excellent condition. If we called with a request, it was handled quickly, and always in a manner that respected our needs and privacy.
Our next interaction with you came when we elected to buy a home. While you were actually the seller’s agent, we felt very comfortable interacting with you during the transaction. Your honesty and respect for all parties involved was evident throughout the process. In the end, we were very satisfied with this purchase and consider one of the ‘bonuses’ of our home to be that your family and our family are now neighbors.
The most recent interaction we had with you and Hallmark Properties came when we chose to sell our rental property in the medical center. At the time, it was a buyers’ market, and you were honest with us about this fact from the beginning. But you always conveyed confidence the property would sell.
This approach was refreshing and appreciated. Despite the seemingly unending amount of condominium inventory available to potential buyers, your guidance made the property attractive and competitive. We were beyond pleased when the deal was closed at a great price point within a matter of weeks.
Beyond these transactions, our family has appreciated the considerable guidance you have provided on other real estate matters, such as advice on service providers, home improvements, property taxation, etc. Your willingness to share your knowledge in these matters has benefitted our family and so many other families in this community.
We feel fortunate to have rented that initial house from you, as it set forth more than a series of interactions: it set forth a relationship. We have not hesitated to recommend you to our friends for their own real estate needs.
Jason and Kris
“Patience, compassion and support”
Dear Steve -
Hank and I are so grateful to you for helping us through a difficult time. After our house flooded, we knew we needed to decide if we should sell, demo and rebuild, or elevate and remodel. You helped us through the decision-making process by sharing your experience and knowledge of the market.
When we decided to sell, you made that process as simple as it could possibly be. You were available at all hours to answer questions and assist us in any way we needed. Thank you for your patience, compassion and support through this emotional time.
Kristi and Hank
“Simple, fast and straightforward”
Over 25 years ago you helped me find the perfect home for my daughter and I. As a single parent with one small income, it was a bit of a challenge. But with your knowledgeable advice and guidance I was able to purchase a lovely town home in the perfect location.
The years have flown by and my life situation changed rapidly this past year. Once again, you made what could have been a daunting challenge - selling this same town home - simple, fast, and straightforward.
You understand the Houston area market and made perfect recommendations. I closed in 2 weeks - just incredible! I've referred friends to you in the past and will certainly continue. I'm so grateful you were able to make this a stress-free experience!
Brenda
“If we needed him, he was always there.”
We had been living in Braes Heights for 11 years and wanted to expand our family – but finding a bigger home in the neighborhood was a necessary first step. We had never sold a home before and this would be our second purchase. Calling Steve Anton for help was a great decision that got us started on the right path toward our new home. Steve quickly gave us a list of some minor upgrades and repairs to complete – and even put us in touch with a great handyman crew to do the work. When we found a home under construction in the neighborhood, he gave us a recommendation on what to offer.
His review of comparable sales in the area showed that we should ask for a price that was nearly $100,000 above what we had in mind. Once the house was on the market, he handled an outright flurry of showings. We must have had over a hundred people through the house in 4 days. Then Steve helped us select among the offers and kept us calm(er) as the buyers’ loan process repeatedly extended.
I can’t even remember everything Steve did for us - at least 200 emails, several home visits, late night phone calls, a trip to the home builder’s design center, a follow-up reminder to file for homestead exemption in the new year. If we needed him, he was always there.
Chris
“Did not try to push a sale on us”
We are from Austin and wanted to move closer to our children in Houston. Steve has been so helpful to us. During the many times that we came to Houston, Steve showed us many, many potential homes. We were very particular as to location and type of house that we wanted. Steve really respected our desires and did not try to push a sale onto us.
We were impressed with his patience with us, his knowledge of the housing market, his availability, disposition and overall professionalism to help us to find the right house. We had not been in the housing market for over 25 years and Steve walked us through every step making the purchasing process seem easy. We love our house and highly recommend Steve as your next Realtor.
Paul and Nubia
“Best possible price”
Dear Steve,
You were a lifesaver at a time after Harvey when I was completely dazed. I had received your wonderful note pads for years and now I had a chance to thank you for them, so I called you.
Your quick handling of my lot sale helped me receive the best possible price at a time when many homes were being sold for lot value. You also helped me get the best price for the condo I purchased. I can recommend you without any reservations to anyone who is looking to purchase or sell a home.
Gail
“Reduced the stress factor to zero”
Dear Steve:
Thank you for the marvelous personal care and attention to detail you provided to us as we prepared our home for sale, and for the expertise you exhibited and advice you gave us as we showed the house, reviewed the offers, and closed the deal.
There is good reason that we see your signs throughout Houston. Your integrity is unquestionable, and your knowledge of the details at the closing ensured that we received every penny owed to us. You went the extra mile to ensure that we received the best price for the property, and that the entire event – from initial “Coming Soon” notice, through scheduling the photographer, listing the property, scheduling the inspection, and proceeding to the closing occurred in the shortest time possible.
We truly appreciate your calm, thorough and completely professional approach. Selling a house is stressful, but you made it an easy process and quickly reduced the stress factor to zero.
Thank you and your team for providing the professional expertise one expects when selling Real Estate. We will happily recommend Hallmark Properties, Inc. to anyone we encounter should they be selling (or buying) a house in this area.
Jim and Lin
“A terrific experience”
Steve,
I cannot thank you enough for your help this summer selling our home in the Woodside Subdivision. The selling process can be stressful; but your guidance, professionalism, and responsiveness resulted in a terrific experience.
It was smooth sailing from listing to closing despite the challenges related to Covid. You were highly recommended by neighbors we talked with when we decided to sell. I completely understand why and would recommend you to everyone. Thank you again for your help.
Scott
“Eased my anxiety”
The last few months have been stressful and making the decision to sell my sister's townhouse was difficult. However, you and Angie made the process so much easier than I expected. I appreciate the effort you took to let me know what was going on it really eased my anxiety.
I would recommend you and Hallmark Properties to anyone looking to sell their property. Thank you for all your help.
Peri
“A can-do attitude”
Dear Steve,
We want to thank you for the most excellent job you did in selling our parents' home! Throughout one of the most challenging times of our lives, your compassion, intuitive knowledge, and confident approach allowed us to breathe a collective sigh of relief and trust you were on top of every detail.
Our parents had selected a Realtor in their area, and we were so discouraged that, after many months, we had not even come close to selling the home at any price. We pulled the house off the market and called you. Your quick analysis of the difficult market, with a "can-do" attitude and a decisive plan of action, set our minds at ease from the beginning. You were an encouragement from day one, but you never sugar-coated the reality.
We gave you quite a challenge in our family situation as well, and you displayed incredible patience in communicating with several family members at once, in-town and out-of-state, through the entire process.
You gave us concrete suggestions on how to make the house more attractive for potential buyers, focusing on those few things that would have the most impact. Your detailed assessment of the property's condition in comparison to existing properties on and off the market gave us real hope. You arranged for any necessary work to be done at very reasonable rates, and by trusted and very competent individuals with whom you had worked before---this went above-and-beyond as far as we were concerned.
With your expertise and unwavering attention to detail, we were able to sell the house in a few short months AND at the price we were asking! What an incredible level of professional service you gave us!
We want to thank Angie as well; she is a joy to work with, and is obviously committed to meeting the needs of your clients in the most timely and convenient way possible.
We will come to you first for any needs we have in the future, and will gladly refer others to you. Thanks again, Steve, for making this transition so smooth and painless.
Marc & Barbara
"A wonderful process."
Steve,
Thank you so much for helping us find our first house! We were so excited to get out there, but as rookies we didn't really realize what we were getting into!
I know we would never have found our beautiful home or have made that offer without you. From the very beginning you didn't waste any time, instead we starting looking at properties the day after we spoke about our interest. You were so accommodating to our schedules and still maximized our time at each location. We both knew very little about real estate and your wisdom and insight was extremely helpful! But even more than that, we began to really count on you to guide us through and you did!
Thank you for being straight-forward and honest about the properties we looked at. We always felt like you gave us the true story based on your knowledge and experience. Your estimates on repairs and possible issues to expect were right on and this was helpful when deciding how much to leave in the budget for repairs!
We found our home and absolutely love it! Thanks to your advice we paid exactly what we were hoping to pay and got more for it! As first timers on a budget, we knew we would need to do a little work on the front end to get the house in the best possible condition. Even after we purchased the house, you continued to help us with pricing on repairs and updates! Once again your help was invaluable! We are now settling into our first house with big ease! Thanks for everything, you really made it a wonderful process!
Joe & Amy
"Smooth and expeditious closing."
I had lived in West U, Westridge and Braes Heights for over 20 years when I decided to build a home. I called Hallmark Properties because I knew Steve Anton was the most experienced broker in the area.
Steve also lives in the area and has been an active supporter of community associations for many years. He was very helpful in assisting me in purchasing a lot in Ayrshire, including invaluable advice about comparable values. He was extremely responsive throughout the process and we had a smooth and expeditious closing.
Steve also has gone above and beyond after closing with advice and recommendations for other professionals to work with in the construction of my new home.
I would recommend Steve and Hallmark Properties without reservation to anyone contemplating a sale, purchase or rental of a home in the area.
Dave
"Spot-on Advice."
Steve,
Thank you for your help buying our house in Braes Heights and selling the house in Knollwood Village. We had known we wanted to move into the BH neighborhood for some time but weren´t sure about how the logistics of buying / selling would work out, or the numbers we were looking at. We had no idea what our house was worth, and were worried about the "tough market" that we were hearing about in the news.
You made a situation that sounded so overwhelming and impossible POSSIBLE, and we appreciate all the spot-on advice we received. Your knowledge of the home movements within the area was huge, and was a real asset with both buying and selling. Appreciated your staging advice also, what was worth money and what was a waste of money.
THANK YOU for simplifying everything, we had enough to deal with! We are pleased to say we are settled in our home, thank you for making the transition so seamless!
Whitney
"Invaluable advice."
Dear Steve:
Dustin and I just wanted to thank Hallmark Properties for helping make the purchase of our first home a very smooth and enjoyable process. We appreciated you being flexible with our work schedules for viewing houses and as first-time homebuyers your expertise and detailed, yet understandable, explanations of the inspection and purchasing process were invaluable to us.
Thank you for all of the market information you provided, all of our questions you patiently answered, for helping to keep our expectations reasonable and negotiating to keep us within our budget. Both you and Angie are very professional, responsive and a pleasure to work with. You recommended several great workmen to us and continue to provide recommendations as needed well after the completed purchase of our home, thank you for going above and beyond.
We would recommend Hallmark Properties to anyone!
Megan & Dustin
"Excellent communication"
Dear Steve:
We want to thank you for the excellent service and support throughout the entire transaction process for the purchase of our new home. You knowledge of the area and advice concerning other area in Houston helped drive our decision to purchase this particular home.
You were very patient while we were making the decision to purchase this property. All of our questions were answered promptly, communication with the seller's agent was excellent, and your efforts to keep the process moving forward enabled a quick closing. We were very impressed with your continued contact with us while were traveling overseas. In the end, we own a property that very much fits our lifestyle. We could not be happier with our decision to work with you and with our new home.
We will certainly recommend you to our friends and look forward to working with you on future real estate transactions.
Sharon & Harris
"We knew we made the right decision."
The decision to have Steve sell our home was a no-brainer because he literally was our next door neighbor. My wife and I always appreciated how friendly Steve and his family were to us, and we always noticed how quickly he sold homes in our neighborhood.
The minute Steve walked through our home, we knew we had made the right decision. We could tell he was familiar with the older ranch homes prevalent in our neighborhood and knew the area like the back of his hand.
Steve probably saved us hundreds of dollars up front because we had originally planned to do certain make ready repairs. He immediately let us know which repairs were either recommended or unnecessary. The work he did recommend was spot on, and definitely helped sell our home. With Steve's help, we were able to get the house ready for market in less than a week!
Throughout the process, my wife and I were always confident that Steve had our best interests in mind. He also kindly allowed us to keep our dog in his backyard one day during showings. In addition, when I asked for some advice on our transaction in buying another home, he did not hesitate to provide some very helpful insight. I don't know of many Realtors who would do these sorts of things.
Steve predicted our home would sell in less than two weeks. We accepted an offer in one day for above list price! So all this to say, we couldn't have made a better choice in selling our home than to use Steve. He made what could have been a very stressful experience, into a smooth and painless process. Thanks, Steve!
Albert and Rini
"Excellent guidance."
Steve,
Many thanks for your excellent guidance in the sale. Your advice was clear and correct, and was based on a depth of market knowledge. You added real economic value to the process and were a pleasure to work with.
John
"Amazing Listing Photographs."
Dear Steve,
We wanted to thank you for the great experience we had when we worked with you to sell our home. When we decided to relocate to the north east, we knew that we faced a challenging real estate market. We called you because we had seen, during the decade that we lived in Knollwood Village, that you knew and understood the neighborhood, and that you had a very high success rate of selling homes quickly and for a good price.
We were first time sellers, so we had no knowledge or experience about what we would need to do to get the best value on our home. We appreciate that you took the time to meet with us several months before we were ready to put the house on the market. You prepared us very well by identifying the repairs and cosmetic adjustments that would have the most impact on the sale price, and you steered us away from changes that would not be cost-effective.
The amazing listing photographs that you took cast our house in its most appealing light, accentuating what we believed to be the biggest assets. When the sale was complete, it was clear that we made the right decision about where to invest our time and resources. We could not have done this without your honest and careful assessment.
Your market analysis was very good, and your explanation of your analysis helped us understand how you arrived at the asking price, and what we should expect the lower end of the range to be. We were very pleased to have received a good offer within six days of listing, and were impressed with the tactful negotiations that followed. You kept us informed every step of the way, and we were impressed with your understanding of the dynamics of the sale. The final sale price was very close to the asking price, and the closing date came quickly. In the current real estate market, we consider ourselves very fortunate to have benefited from you experience, your integrity and your professional manner.
Our first home was very special to us, and our excitement about our upcoming move did not diminish the sadness we felt with closing that very happy chapter of our lives. It was so clear to us that you understood the complex emotions involved in our departure, and the stress of our impending relocation. The quick sale of our house allowed us to focus our efforts on the move and on finding a new home. We quickly learned that having sold a house put us in a very strong position as buyers, for both lender approval as well as negotiating the best price on our new home. Again, in the current market, the value of this cannot be understated.
We are happily settled in our new home, far from Houston, but we will continue to recommend your outstanding service to our Houston-based friends when they sell their homes. We wish you the very best.
Mary Ellen and Andreas
"Every step of the way."
What a great guy and smart business man.
I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work. You made the sale of our home go so smoothly. We appreciate your friendship and devotion to your work.
I could not of been more satisfied with the sale of our home. You were there for us every step of the way.
Erin
"Your commitment to us was paramount."
Natalie and I want to thank you for all of your hard work in selling our home in Knollwood Village. Your guidance and market expertise helped to secure a buyer in 14 days despite a challenging market environment. You and your team's straight-forward approach, honesty and attention to detail throughout the process was impeccable. It was evident throughout the negotiation process that we had chosen the best Realtor in the market. You and Angie were accessible at all times by day, night and over weekends which was very accommodating to our hectic schedules.
We also want to thank you for your help in finding us a new house to purchase. You helped us negotiate a great deal on a great house. Although we had a change of plans at the last minute, and made the difficult decision to ultimately not purchase the home, your commitment to us and to our needs during a difficult time was paramount. We will definitely use your services in the future when we decide to move forward with a purchase of a new home and will refer you in the highest of regards to friends and family. Thanks again for all your help.
Michael & Natalie
"Smooth and Efficient"
I like working with people who are knowledgeable, fair, direct, and to the point. You are all of these things, and I think it showed in how smoothly and efficiently we progressed through the sales process.
We were very impressed with the dedication you displayed staying up well into the night negotiating closing details, lease-backs, and final terms on our behalf. You skillfully photographed, highlighted, and positioned our old home in its best light.
Your business is customer-driven and you are very fortunate to have a professional like Angie on staff. Thank you also for helping us find our current rental. We were very fortunate to have this work out as well as it has, and we have you all to thank for it.
Ralph & Christine
"Always responsive."
We really appreciate your commitment and professionalism. Our relationship started when we rented a house that you were managing. You were always responsive the few times we needed service at the house. After we bought a house of our own then moved overseas, you managed our property. You helped us prepare the house to put on the rental market, and quickly found some renters. Over the three and a half years, we had very little downtime where the house was not occupied by a renter. We were always pleased with the quality of renters you found. You helped us find our current home, patiently showing us house after house to find something that met our wish list in our price range. When the time came to sell our other house, you found a buyer the day we listed it and got the price we wanted!
We have enjoyed working with you and will definitely involve you if we do any more real estate buying, selling, or renting. I feel like you are someone I can trust.
Alan
"Steve saved us thousands."
Dear Steve:
Priscilla and I want to thank you for quickly selling our parent's 1950's home. Since we live in Jacksonville, Florida trying to determine how to arrange the sale was overwhelming. Steve Anton was exceptional in making the transaction smooth and securing our expected price. He had many suggestions that were well-tested and documented.
The house needed some work and we were prepared to spend some money to fix it up, but Steve determined that a minimal investment might bring in the right kind of buyer. He knows the market and he saved us thousands we didn't have to spend on upgrades.
The price of the home was set right, the closure was quick and the first buyer was fully qualified. There were no problems with settlement and the home was sold within weeks. We were amazed. It was a straight-forward transaction. Steve handled it all. We never had to return to Houston again.
It was so smooth that we often think how terrible it could have been in this difficult real estate market. We were very happy with the net proceeds.
I can't say enough about Steve Anton's local knowledge of the market. He has contacts, responds quickly to phone or email and is a very pleasant professional to work with. I highly recommend him to anyone. He is a class act!
Steve and Priscilla
"Overcame one unforeseen obstacle after another."
Steve:
I want to again thank you for all your hard work, patience, and outstanding professionalism in the selling of my home.
I came to you initially because I had witnessed your personal commitment to maintaining the integrity and value of our neighborhood at several evening meetings with area developers. I was impressed with your time, involvement and representation on behalf of the area homeowners with no expectation of any compensation. I cannot imagine another person in your profession offering freely their personal time and talents in those situations.
In the selling of my home you were forced to overcome one unforeseen obstacle after another. In spite of the myriad difficulties you never seemed perturbed or inconvenienced and always maintained a positive and supportive attitude. You were like a seasoned ship's captain navigating the treacherous shoals of a closing with much experience and aplomb.
As a long-standing member of this area's business community I will always heartily recommend the real estate services of Hallmark Properties.
John
"You were the only one who looked us in the eye!"
Dear Steve,
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your help in selling our parent´s home. Every aspect of the transaction was smooth and seamless. From the listing, to the repairs, to the final sale, it all went just as you promised.
It is so refreshing to deal with someone who is knowledgeable and honest in their trade and you are all of that and more. Your attention to detail made everything go very smoothly; your advice and guidance were welcomed and spot-on!
We interviewed 4-5 Realtors (all major-players in the Houston market) before choosing Hallmark. You were the only one that answered our questions openly, honestly, fairly and with the knowledge and expertise of the area that we so sorely needed; in fact, you were the only one who looked us in the eye!
This was a very difficult time for our family and we needed someone who knew the real estate market in the area and who was not afraid to give us the benefit of their expertise. You were that person and we are so happy that we found you.
Thank you again for everything. We won´t hesitate to do business with you again and will refer you to our friends.
Billy & Beth
“I was astonished”
Dear Steve,
When I made the decision to retire from investment property and sell my apartment building, I interviewed three Realtors. You were on that short list. I lived in the neighborhood and over the years I had noticed how quickly your listings seemed to sell. I chose you for several reasons.
First and foremost, you were the most responsive of the Realtors I spoke with. You offered to meet me at my property the very next day to discuss the details of the sale.
I particularly liked how professional & direct you were with me. You answered all my questions succinctly. I liked your candor and the very businesslike approach you used. I remember hearing you say that within 7 days we would know if we had priced the property appropriately because we would have offer (s) if we did. Not only did you bring me a full price offer, you also brought me 3 backups! The closing occurred within 45 days and I must say I was astonished since this was commercial property!
Shortly thereafter, I decided to sell the house I was living in. I had spoken with my neighbors and they had decided that they would like to buy it. I was ready to move into my new home which was out of state. I needed someone that I trusted in Houston to handle the paperwork aspect of this sale. I asked you if you would be willing to handle only the paperwork portion for me and you graciously agreed to do that. I moved into my new home out of state and the sale of my house in Houston happened without a hitch.
What I respect in you is your candor in answering questions; your ability to accurately price a piece of real estate so that it sells in a timely manner; your quick response to any questions or issues, and your completely professional approach.
I made the right choice when I selected you as my realtor and I heartily recommend you to anyone who might ask me.
Pat
“Exactly what we needed”
Your experience and expertise were exactly what we needed as we navigated through our misfortune of being flooded out of one home and buying another.
You handled both our sale and our purchase without any difficulties in spite of our travels during the ordeal, including a month overseas in North Africa and the Middle East. The net result was our entrance into the real estate market in mid-June as a seller, and moving into a newly purchased home before Labor Day.
All of this with minimal drama! Your contributions to our efforts and your knowledge of the local markets were indispensable and well beyond our expectations, which were already high based on your reputation.
David and Lois
"You made it easy."
Dear Steve,
We wish to thank you for all the assistance you gave us during our posting in Houston.
When we initially arrived, you helped us with the rental of a property in Braeswood Place while we evaluated whether the neighborhood really was as wonderful as initial impressions led us to believe. When our lease expired we knew that we were in the perfect location and you helped us to purchase a property when the market was booming and properties were hard to find and selling fast. Your knowledge and expertise allowed us to find the ideal house and helped to fight off the intense competition to close the deal. Knowing that we may only be in the house for a few years you gave us great advice on which improvements would bring the best return on our investment.
When the time came to return to the UK you were the obvious choice to help us sell our property. You helped us with preparing the house and we were able to sell the home after 3 days at the price we wanted. Your expertise in the neighborhood ensured that everything was handled smoothly with minimal input required from us so that we could concentrate on the hundred other things that were needed for our move. Selling our house had the potential to be the most stressful aspect of our transfer and you made this part easy.
We'd recommend you to anyone thinking of renting, buying or selling a property. Thanks for all your assistance. We leave with great memories of our time in Braeswood Place.
Gareth and Fiona
"You raise the standard."
Dear Steve:
Thank you for the wonderful care you took in the sale of our home. When my friend in the neighborhood recommended you, I soon learned why your reputation precedes you. You raise the standard for the real estate profession.
There is good reason that we see your signs throughout Braeswood Place and extending into the West U area, too. Your integrity and attention to detail are superb. You truly went the extra mile and followed through to make sure the smallest of details was covered. Thank you and your team for caring for our family through this transition.
You handled this transaction as if it were your own home you were selling. No one could ask for more.
This was the best experience we've ever had with a Realtor and no question; we would come to you again. The degree of consideration and quality of service that you provide is unsurpassed. Thank you once again.
J.S. & M.S.
"Just a pleasant memory."
Steve Anton was the Realtor on the sale of my former home on Aberdeen. He was very effective in making a prompt sale and at a fair price for this property that I had lived in for 35 years. Since I'm in a care facility at 85 years old, I was unable to give much assistance in this selling process. Steve took care of all the details. I no longer have to worry about the maintenance of this property. The sale was quick as the property was on the market for less than six months. The second interested buyer was able to make a total cash payment. this property now is just a pleasant memory of the good years that I spent there with my mother and brother, both now deceased. I know that the new owners will enjoy this property in this fine neighborhood as I did and would be well-advised to use Steve Anton as their Realtor.
Bob
"Sense of peace from the moment you entered the door."
Dear Steve,
Jim and I want to thank you for the awesome job you did as our real estate agent. We had such a sense of peace about the process from the moment you entered the front door. The assured confidence you exhibit, as we learned throughout the process, could only come from your knowledge of the area, integrity, hard work, and true concern for each customer you deal with in a sale.
After accepting a job in Oregon, we were faced with placing our wonderful Braeswood home on the market. We were up against many friends and family advising us to try to sell it ourselves, since it had just shown on the Braeswood Place Home and Garden Tour. We talked it over and decided that due to our hectic schedules we would benefit from having an agent help us. We had purchased the home from you in 2001 and were very impressed with your professionalism and guidance during the sale. It was a very easy decision about which agent to contact.
We have never made a better decision! From the first meeting, we were all in agreement about pricing and what we needed to do for the showing of our home. The home was placed on the market just prior to us leaving for a vacation with our children in Colorado. Between you and Angie, we were kept well-informed, even while in Colorado. Everything happened so fast and smoothly it was unbelievable.
We would highly recommend you to anyone interested in selling their home. We have worked with you from the standpoint of buyer and seller and have had nothing but the best representation for either side. You are indeed an expert professional and any Oregon agent will have a tough time filling your shoes.
Jim and Glenna
"Never wavered."
Dear Steve,
For years my father had talked about you - your honesty, guidance after tropical storm Allison, sincere interest in the neighborhood and your professional behavior. When it was time to sell his house, we knew you were the Realtor we wanted to represent us.
All through the selling process, your integrity never wavered. You did an outstanding job and we are most grateful.
Jan and Ron
"Totally trust."
Dear Steve,
Working with you to sell our home was a real pleasure. You were both attentive and professional. We felt that you are someone we could totally trust throughout the whole process, and we were not disappointed. You have our highest recommendation. Thanks very much!
N. & C. Lim
“Took a huge burden off me and my family”
Hi Steve,
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for everything that you helped us with during the sale of our house in Houston. We truly could not have asked for a better agent. It was extremely hard to find free time to get down to Houston to take care of the necessary things needed to get our home saleable. You were able to find us a carpet company and phenomenal painters at a great price. They were able to get in immediately after our tenants moved out.
This took a huge burden off of me and my family. You monitored every last step of the process and kept us informed the entire time.
I have sold a couple of houses in the past, and have never found an agent as efficient as you were. We followed your recommendations, and you were able to get the house listed and sold for above market value in less than a month!!!!! I have already recommended you to friends in Houston via Facebook, and I will always come back to you for advice on any future purchases. Thank you for everything!
Christopher and Mica
"Calm, thorough & completely professional approach."
Dear Steve,
Today I recommended you to another friend who is entering the home shopping market. Since you have sold two homes for me in the past six years, and both of them for a better price than I would have settled for, I´m pleased to refer my friends to you.
One of the things I appreciate most is your calm, thorough and completely professional approach. Selling or buying a house is never completely stress-free, but you make it as easy and smooth as possible. I´ve worked with other Realtors on two previous home transactions before working with you, and the difference is remarkable.
And I have to give a word of thanks to Angie as well. She is a delight to deal with, and she takes very good care of Hallmark´s clients. Thank you for the wonderful job you do, Steve.
Ann
“Confident as soon as he signed on”
Steve picked up my house that had been on the market for several months and sold it in a week! I had already moved and selling a house long distance could be difficult, but Steve made it so easy. He took care of everything and trips to Houston to take care of business were not necessary. I was relieved and confident as soon as he signed on and I was not disappointed. Thanks Steve.
Paula
"You took care of everything."
Steve-
David and I would like to thank you for the wonderful assistance you provided us this year in both selling our former home and purchasing our new one. Living far away in Boston with our first baby on the way, we could not have gotten through the process without you help.
You were so knowledgeable about the area you were really able to give us great advice about the purchase of our new house- from the selection (we loved our builders and could not be happier with the quality of our new home) to what to offer and what to expect. You did a great job of educating us about the process.
Then, in selling our former home- you REALLY went the extra mile helping us get it ready for sale. We put our house on the market when our son was 3 days old and we were living in Boston (and we were still in the hospital) and that would not have been accomplished without your help.
I can say that I honestly have no idea of what was involved -- you took care of everything. And through it all you made yourself available at a moment's notice to answer our questions -- and boy, did we have a bunch. But you patiently answered each one.
You were more than just a Realtor, you were a teacher and a trusted advisor. Your integrity and experience allowed us to be able to spend our time and energy on the new baby, not the house transactions. We sincerely thank you for the great care you took of us and will recommend you to any of our friends moving to the area in the future. And if we ever need a Realtor again, you will be the first call we make
Shelly and David
"The only person we thought of."
Dear Steve:
I would like to thank you for your help in purchasing, leasing and managing our property in Woodside. Angie and you were a pleasure to work with and made the experience as smooth as it possibly could have been.
I don´t know if you remember this, but our first interaction was when we were interested in purchasing a property in which you were representing the sellers. Even though that deal did not go through, you made quite an impression on us. So when we were ready to explore the option of purchasing something, you were the only person we thought of.
All the details starting from the initial negotiations for the purchase, fixing up the house, finding a tenant and then managing the property, were handled extremely efficiently and expeditiously.
There is a reason you are the #1 real estate firm in this part of the city. There were many times when decisions needed to be made when my wife would tell me to "do whatever Steve thinks needs to be done."
Thanks very much for your help.
Amit
"Your wisdom and experience gave us such comfort."
Dear Steve,
I wanted to thank you for all you did in helping us sell our house. You made a very frustrating and stressful situation for us so smooth and calm.
Having worked with other Realtors, our experience with you was far superior to any others with whom we have dealt. Our only regret was that we didn't call you sooner!! Your experience and wisdom gave us such comfort in trusting you with the many details that came with the sale of our home, especially while trying to do this long distance.
There were many times when we had a decision to make and I would tell Pat, "Let's do whatever Steve tells us to do," because of the confidence and trustworthiness that you inspire. Many blessings,
Ashley & Pat
"For us, it was absolutely effortless."
Dear Steve,
In 1990, you sent me a marketing letter listing properties for sale in our neighborhood. Normally these get thrown in the trash without ever opening, but this one was different...it was hand- addressed and had a nice commemorative stamp. As as result of this letter, in less than a week, my wife and I had purchased the property adjoining us across the back fence and we began a relationship with you that has lasted 19 years.
You have just completed the sale of our first home that we bought in 1971. For us, it was absolutely effortless. We could not have picked a worse time to sell a house...the market had crashed as we entered the worst recession of our lifetime. You had prepared us that selling in this market would be a challenge and we probably would not get the price we would have hoped for. Nonetheless, we gave you the green light to make the house ready to present to the market. You decided what should be done to the house and found the contractors to perform the work. Whatever you did must have been what was needed because we had a contract in a reasonable amount of time considering the market. Then when the buyer ran into problems with financing you stepped in to steer him to an accommodating financier. Talk about full service...how can it be any better? You make the house ready, find a buyer and help him with financing in the worst real estate market in 50 years. It just doesn't get any better.
Hugh and Becky
"You under-promised and over-delivered."
Dear Steve:
Thank you so much for the expeditious sale and closing of my home on Chatfield St. I have never had a smoother real estate transaction! I had previously listed the house for six months with a Realtor who never brought me a single offer. I decided to remove the house from the market - and consult a professional listing agent - specializing in Westridge Subdivision.
Because I had received market updates in the mail from your office for two years prior - I knew you were the guy. You gave me sound advice on minor cosmetic improvements to the home - without a signed listing agreement.
Once we listed the house, I had a near full price offer within 48 hours. I rarely spoke to you through the process - only when there was something to update. That was just fine by me. I am very busy - and don't have time for fluff.
The closing went without a hitch -- and I made great money on the house. You actually under-promised and over-delivered -- which I appreciate very much.
I would recommend your services to anyone in the market to sell their home - particularly in the Inner Loop area of Houston.
Kelli
"Nothing fell through the cracks."
Dear Steve:
We really appreciate all the efforts that you and Angie spent on our behalf to market and bring to reality the sale and closing on our home. Your creativity in developing a solution to avoid a delay in our closing was nothing less than brilliant! We feel fortunate that you were able to find a buyer for us in such a difficult market. You are truly a pro in your field and we couldn´t be happier with the resulting sale of our home.
It is not an easy proposition to keep on top of all the details involved in the sale of a home when you are located in a different city. You were always there for us and provided us the needed guidance to ensure that nothing fell through the cracks. We would gladly recommend your services to anyone that wants a Realtor who is a true professional!
Laura and Irving
"We couldn't be happier."
Dear Steve,
Diane and I want to thank you for your professional approach, knowledge of the market, and the quiet confidence you displayed in selling our home on Aberdeen. After living in Braes Heights for the past 15 years, we knew of your reputation as the #1 Realtor in the neighborhood. Now we know why!
We couldn't be happier with the level of service you and Angie provided. Braes Heights residents are fortunate to have a neighbor like you who is so committed to his profession and to making this a better place to live.
We've already told our friends what a wonderful job you did as our Realtor. Your advice prior to the sale and your handling of the sales process were so very much appreciated.
Best wishes for continued success as the #1 Realtor in Braes Heights, and thanks for all you do for our neighborhood!!
Kevin and Diane
"Extra mile ..."
Dear Steve:
I want to convey my appreciation to you and Angie for all of the support you gave to me during the home sale process. I can't thank you enough for all of your kindness and insight as I worked to move my father to a senior living facility and put the house for sale.
Over and over, you went the extra mile for me, whether it was helping with new keys being made, helping me get into the house after dad lost his keys, keeping up with the listing and showings during the crazed aftermath of Hurricane Ike, and even draining the water heater for me!
Your knowledge and affinity for the Ayrshire and Braeswood Place neighborhoods is a distinguishing factor for you as a real estate professional. Your expertise in this area led us to make very well-informed decisions on timing and price.
Through the entire process, I can honestly say you were more than my Realtor - - you became a trusted friend.
Thanks for everything. You are the best there is, Steve, and I wish you continued success.
Veena
"Guidance was excellent."
Dear Steve,
My wife and I want to extend our gratitude for your help in selling our home. We lived in Braes Heights for 6 years and didn't want to leave, but you made the process of selling our home, which we thought would be more stressful, smooth and uneventful. Your advice and guidance were excellent and we were able to take care of things quickly with almost no "issues." It really was the easiest part of our move. We had heard from others that you were the best in the neighborhood based on your experience and professionalism and we have gone on to recommend you to others.
Thanks again, and hopefully, we will use you again when we want to come back to Braes Heights.
Peter and Margarita
"You will be our only referral."
Steve,
Vicki and I want to thank you for the very personal & professional way you handled the sale of our property. Your experience and expertise made all the difference.
Not only was the sales price higher than expected, the time required to bring a qualified buyer was remarkably short. And throughout the process you and your assistant, Angie, couldn't have been more helpful.
Thanks again for all your efforts and rest assured you will handle all of our future transactions. You will be our only referral to friends & family.
John & Vicki
"The timing and pricing were right on target."
Steve,
It's probably not often you get repeat business after 17 years, but that's how long it had been since we bought our last lot and built our new home as pioneers in Braes Heights in 1990. We've seen a lot of improvements in the neighborhood over the years, and were finally ready to move into another home. Why move out of the neighborhood?
So we did it all over again with Hallmark. We had a good experience in 1990 as the buyer, and this time as the seller.
Since we moved in to our new house before listing the old one, we were busy getting settled in, and appreciated your handling everything that needed to be taken care to prepare for the sale.
We know that the changes made at your suggestion were what cinched the deal for the buyers and what sold the house quickly and at the price we wanted. The timing and pricing
were right on target, and Jeannie and I both agree you exceeded our expectations. Thanks for making our transaction so stress-free!
Kevin and Jeannie
"Integrity, honesty and fairness."
Dear Steve,
As a genuine Christian, I see God in action in the situation I was faced with the sale of my property on Merrick. You used your professional expertise in real estate services in a highly commendable manner.
I have great confidence that our Lord will enable you to serve the larger community with integrity, honesty and fairness.
Wishing you God-speed in the work ahead.
Gerson
"From the minute you walked in the door."
Dear Steve,
Your expertise in your chosen profession, residential real estate, is beyond compare. A previous experience in selling a house was such a horrible affair I was dreading going through the process again.
However, from the minute you walked in the door you were the consummate professional. You were familiar with all aspects of the house from the size of the lot to the most current renovation work. You knew exactly what was needed to sell my house. You came to our first meeting with a plan which you implemented on schedule. The house sold, in record time, at a fair price for everyone. The closing was a pleasant experience.
When I moved out, I was confident you had done the best possible job that could have been done for everyone.
I will recommend you to anyone who asks and to those who don´t ask but are talking about selling a house. I cannot tell you how different this experience was from the previous one. I hope you know how much I appreciate your professionalism, your helpfulness and your thoughtfulness.
Ruth
"So much more than that."
Dear Steve,
We can't thank you enough for the incredible job you did as our real estate agent. We would recommend you without hesitation to each and every one of our friends who would be looking to buy or sell a home in Houston.
Your reputation for high-quality execution and your knowledge of the neighborhood is what convinced us to secure your services. We, however, received so much more than that. You helped us not only get our house sold within our time horizon and at a good price point but your guidance in getting our house ready for market as well as your list of referrals for contractors was another incredible bonus for us.
Without rehashing all our personal chaos at the time, you were also an incredible friend and provided our family with support beyond what would be reasonable to expect in a business transaction. You consistently were focused on helping our family with solutions to a whole host of issues we did not anticipate having to deal with in our move from Houston to Seattle.
Well, we are safe, relatively settled and thriving in our new town. We only wished that we could call upon your services to help us buy a home in this marketplace. I am sure that our next agent would not live up to the gold standard that you deliver.
The Steele Family
"Incredible efficiency and the utmost expertise."
Dear Steve,
After working with you and Angie for about the last 15 years or so, we can honestly state that your professionalism, competence, and integrity in handling our partnership's real estate investments were superb.
Residential leases, remodeling and renovation work, securing good tenants, negotiating and completing numerous house sales -- all were completed by you and your excellent assistant, Angie, with incredible efficiency and the utmost expertise.
We would highly recommend you to any person in need of help with any and all real estate transactions. Thank you very much for all the years you made everything work for us.
David and Larry
"You always deliver."
Dear Steve,
Thank you very much for all your help in the purchase of our new home.
We could not be happier!
You have made the process "seem" so easy and simple for us, and you have been there with us in every single step of the way. There are three words very important in any type of business: knowledge, honesty and delivery. We believe that you excel on all of them. You know the market but your advice is always honest, making the customers' interests come first. And you always deliver: with good options, good product and excellent service. We could not have asked for anything better!
Isabel and Guillermo
"I feel blessed to know you."
Dear Steve:
Thank you so much!
You totally cater to your clients in every way and I really appreciate it. That's what make you a "blue ribbon" operation (besides your vast knowledge). I feel blessed to know you.
Thanks for making things so easy and making me feel so comfortable.
Sue
"We were totally blown away."
Dear Steve:
Your guidance and advice were invaluable in pricing and selling our home on Hatton. We were totally blown away at the short time it took for a contract to come our way. Your knowledge of the housing market in Knollwood Village made it all happen smoothly and expertly. Each step happened exactly as you described. You do your job very well.
Our neighbors gave us a lovely and emotional send-off party. Thirty-five years with these wonderful folks have been just great. You can be sure that we had only good things to say about your service.
Eloy & Angie
"Helped me get through it all."
Steve,
Thank you and Angie for your assistance with the sale of my Braeswood Place home and the purchase of my new home. As you know I had some apprehension about moving out of such a wonderful neighborhood and the home where I raised my child.
Your knowledge, professionalism, candor, and responsiveness helped me get through it all and feel great about both transactions.
Sherrie
“Extremely helpful”
I am pleased to offer this testimonial of the service and professionalism demonstrated by Steve Anton – Hallmark Properties, Inc over a 5-year period. On several occasions during this time, I have had the opportunity to ask his help when searching for a home. His expertise in real estate and his willingness to listen and work to satisfy appropriate client requests, has been extremely helpful.
As an example, my daughter with her two small children required an affordable rental home in southwest Houston. Steve offered suggestions of potential properties and prices, and proposed the most reasonable one for lease. While my daughter eventually chose a home closer to the school her children attended, we all appreciated the time, effort, and Steve’s willingness to help in her very trying situation. Some years later, my home of 50 years, was flooded during hurricane Harvey.
I immediately discussed possible options with Steve in order to find the best way forward. Upon evaluation, we chose to sell my home for its lot value, and with Steve’s guidance we were able to obtain more than the original estimated price. After this sale, we then began to explore purchasing another home within southwest Houston. Steve was most helpful in guiding our possibilities, and showing several properties. When we did choose a home, his knowledge of an appropriate bid and shepherding the sale, led to the purchase of a nice home in a wonderful neighborhood at a more than reasonable price.
I am very comfortable in extending my warmest recommendation of Steve Anton – Hallmark properties, Inc to anyone exploring real estate.
Ed
“Calm voice of experience”
Hi Steve,
Wynne and I really appreciate the lengths you went to in order to ensure our home purchasing process went smoothly. When our old home was flooded, we, like so many others, had no idea whether to sell, repair, or build a new home. You responded to every question we had and shed light on what could have been a very confusing and intimidating process.
Your generosity with your time and resources was amazing, particularly given our uncertainty on which decision to make. You were a calm voice of experience that helped us figure out the best path for us. I came out of the home buying process knowing that not only had I found a great Realtor but also a fantastic future neighbor.
Brian and Wynne
"You sold them in record time."
Dear Steve,
I learned about you from a good friend of mine whom was pleased to have you sell two different homes for her in Houston. She stated that you sold them in record time with great professionalism. Needless to say you came highly recommended.
Thank you very much for all of your help in selling my condominium. It was in shambles from my previous renter, and with me living in Virginia I was unable to keep on top the repairs. You, however, pulled together a crew to do all of the work in just days. I am glad to have entrusted you with all of that.
You have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and I was rewarded in the end. I also have to give a big thanks to your assistant Angie. How lucky we all are to have her on our side. She was and angel with unyielding patience with all of my phone calls and questions. Her leadership is high quality with grace.
I have many relatives and friends in Houston, and if they needed an agent, I would highly recommend Steve Anton for the job.
Angela
"You were true to your word."
Dear Steve:
Thank you very much for handling the sale of our home. You did a fine job! You have a very business-like, no-nonsense approach, which we found to be quite refreshing. There was not much "fluff" that we had to wade through. You managed our expectations very well, and you were true to your word. You and Angie are a great team, and we really appreciate your hard work. Thank you both for making the sale of our home go very smoothly. We will miss being in the Braeswood Place neighborhood, right around the corner from you and your family.
Tom and Elizabeth
"Contacting you has to be the best decision we ever made."
Dear Steve,
We just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for us. We had been searching for a house to buy in the Braeswood area for a year and it has been extremely difficult to find the perfect property as they are being sold the instant the sign is put in the yard. We have had quite a few bad experiences with real estate agents that just did not understand the current market and we lost out on a number of houses because our agents were not willing to do the work to make it happen for us.
When we saw this house go on the market, we knew we had to have it. We had trepidations contacting you without our own real estate agent to look out for our interests, but we just could not find anyone to help us adequately. Contacting you has to be the best decision we ever made. Your hard work and dedication made the entire home buying process simple and painless. Even though you were the listing agent, you went out of your way to ensure the integrity of the deal was never compromised. We just couldn't be happier with the results.
We also appreciate all of the advice you have given us concerning the disposition of our old home. Your expertise and knowledge of the market really shows. We especially appreciate your honesty and integrity - they are truly rare and wonderful traits to find in the business these days!
We look forward to working with you in the future and highly recommend your services to our family and friends.
Lisa and Brandon
"They spoke highly of you."
Steve,
I am Bob and Mary´s daughter and I just wanted to thank you for being so nice to my parents over the years. They both spoke highly of you. You were very helpful to my dad after the flood and he appreciated that. Also, thanks for getting us such a nice price on the house! Our parents have taken good care of us even now.
Kathleen
"Amazing."
Dear Steve,
Thanks for doing such a great job selling our home. I never believed we could sell it with all the foundation and plumbing problems we had, which are typical for this age house. The fact that you sold it so quickly, and at a great profit was amazing to us. Your reputation is well deserved, and we intend to recommend you to all our friends.
Stephanie
"We were thrilled."
Dear Steve:
Buying or selling a property long distance can be a daunting and intimidating undertaking. With Hallmark Properties we succeeded in selling our house in the Knollwood Village section of Houston in a manner and at a price that exceeded our expectations.
You demonstrated your knowledge of the market and the neighborhood by quoting us a selling price that was 10% over those quoted by two other real estate agents. I must admit we had our doubts, but your reasons were convincing and in less than 24 hours of placing the house on the market you called with an offer that was more than the asking price. We were thrilled.
Prior to the final closing some complications arose from paperwork errors committed by the title insurance company 25 years earlier. Your dedicated staff provided invaluable assistance in successfully resolving those issues.
We greatly appreciate your efforts on our behalf and highly recommend your services to anyone considering a real estate transaction in the Houston area.
Jim and Bron
“Painless and efficient”
Dear Steve --
We wanted to thank you for handling the sale of our last three houses.
Over the years, you've become not only a responsible broker but trusted advisor as to how we handle our properties. We've come to rely on your knowledge of the market conditions in the neighborhoods we've sold in Braes Heights, West University and Larchmont. It's clear you know these neighborhoods and know them well!
We've also been particularly impressed since the beginning for how you handle the listing, showing and closing process. Every transaction has been painless and efficient.
Thank you for being both our Realtor and advisor over the years -- we look forward to working with you again in the future.
Pearl and Thomas
“Fair and honest strategies”
Dear Steve,
Before I contacted you, I did an extensive search for Realtors in the Houston Area Realtor's website. I set my standards very high: I wanted a Realtor who could get me a great deal on my house, but quickly -- and with fair and honest strategies. I studied dozens of Realtors working in my area and your turnaround time for selling houses really impressed me.
You managed to sell my house quickly during a very difficult time in Houston - a few weeks after Hurricane Harvey. You met all my expectations. Most importantly, your clear and direct communication skills put me at ease during the process of selling my first house.
Erin
"Absolutely correct in his estimates."
Before I actually met Steve Anton, I was familiar with his name from the high percentage of Hallmark Properties "For Sale" signs in the Braeswood Place community. When Kelly and I decided to move closer to my son's school and our church, we called Steve figuring he was the local expert for selling our home in Ayrshire. From the initial meeting where he helped set our expectations for the selling price range, the process for showings, and timing for closing, Steve was very honest and reassuring and, as it turns out, absolutely correct in his estimates.
The selling went so smoothly, Kelly and I were wishing we could find someone like to Steve to assist us in buying our new home further west in Houston. Our prayers were answered when Steve offered to assist us in that effort as well. Steve's knowledge of the Houston real estate market is clearly not limited to the inner-loop! Both closings went smoothly with no surprises. The otherwise stressful process of buying and selling a home was made so much easier because of Steve's clear dedication to his clients, his attention to detail, and his unwavering honesty.
Dave and Kelly
"Dead-on instincts...painless and pleasant."
Steve,
We wanted to thank you and Hallmark Properties for making the sale of our home, and the purchase of our new home, as easy, painless, and pleasant as you did. It is a testament to Hallmark Properties that we felt as though ours was the only real estate transaction you were working on, though we know this is not the case. We especially appreciated your responsiveness to our phone calls and emails, and your dead-on instincts regarding purchase and sales strategies on both homes. We were also very pleased with the inspectors and contractors you recommended to us.
We have already, and will continue to, recommend Hallmark Properties wholeheartedly to our friends and neighbors.
Paul and Michele
"For me, the choice is easy."
Whenever I need to sell real estate, I call Steve. His no-nonsense approach and vast experience in the Houston real estate market saves me time and money. Unlike other brokers, Steve never misrepresents the value of a property that I wish to sell in order to get my business. Instead, Steve is honest with me from the very beginning, which leads to quick sales for fair prices. Steve has integrity and is always responsive. For me, the choice is easy. Why would I go anywhere else?
Cameron
"Knows this city like the back of his hand."
Three cheers for our favorite Realtor!
When we moved here eight years ago, we knew we wanted Steve to find us a home. He is a native Houstonian who knows this city like the back of his hand. He is extremely educated about all aspects of the market and works tirelessly to find the right home. The housing market was very tight and he kindly but firmly guided us as we researched the limited options. We needed to make a quick decision and he "held our hands" every step of the way. (He was so savvy as to find out the homeowners would no longer need certain household furnishings, and we got them as part of the deal!)
Many Realtors don't have opinions and simply show you houses until you decide to buy one. Steve is as concerned with how you will resell a house as he is with helping you find one to buy. He communicates his experience so you don't make a mistake you'll regret later.
I have called on Steve many times over the years to get referrals for various household repairs that we don't want to tackle ourselves. He is quick to answer my calls and always ready with a name and number.
It's not just a transaction to Steve. Steve was the person to whom I entrusted my children's baby books when we fled the hurricane! (He even came by and picked them up!) I think that says it all.
Jody
"Thanks to your strategy."
Dear Steve:
I would like to thank you for the expertise that you displayed in our goal to purchase the house in Linkwood. Stephanie and I had been looking for the past two years for a house that "we both liked."
Since I have lived in the same house for 39 years, I must admit I was quite clueless in regards to current real estate dealings. But thanks to your strategy, we basically had purchased our new house in 2 days. You also provided the necessary professionals that handled the inspections and a great contact who provided expertise in arranging financing!
By the way, thanks for selling our present house in just one day!
Stephanie and David
"All so easy."
Dear Steve:
Jim and I want to thank you for the wonderful way you handled the sale of our house. You made it all so easy for us. We really appreciate everything you did.
Sue and Jim
"Sold my house in one week."
Dear Steve:
When I found a need to sell my home of 45 years, which needed updating, I didn't have to look any further than the name of Steve Anton. You not only sold my house in one week but gave me invaluable advice and suggestions for getting prepared for the closing in three weeks. I would never have made the time line without your help. All the thanks I can give you will never be ample for such knowledge and helpfulness for such a transition. Again, thank you.
Helen
"As if they were his own."
Steve Anton has acted as my property manager since one of his competitors recommended him to me in 1998. He has done an excellent job. He knows the market; he is fair; he is professional and he is efficient. Steve responds quickly to any needs or requests. He looks after my properties as if they were his own.
I appreciate his thorough tenant care. His detailed and easy-to-use records and reports simplify my life. I recommend Hallmark Properties.
Mike
"Kept me fully informed."
Steve,
I initially called you because your name was in front of me consistently for the 7 years I was in that house; your regular newsletter kept me fully informed as to property values in the neighborhood, which was extremely helpful since I knew I would sell at some time.
When we began the process to list and sell the house, you were totally professional, honest and very helpful in giving guidance in preparing the house to show. When I did have questions or concerns, you or Angie always responded promptly and professionally. I always felt that you were truly working for me to attain the best value for the house.
I am very grateful to you, and to Angie, for making a somewhat difficult situation go so smoothly. I would definitely call upon you again if I had the opportunity and I wouldn't hesitate to refer you to a friend.
Martha
"Man of principle, integrity and character."
Dear Steve:
As our moving season comes to a close, we want to thank you and your staff for all the help you provided for us. You were nothing but professional. Hallmark helped us at every turn. You offered expert advice on what we needed to do to ready the house for sale. You made it easy to find reputable tradesmen to do the work we needed. You kept us abreast of every turn of events. You replied promptly to every inquiry we had. When we did something backwards, you were patient. And throughout, it was clear that you are a man of principle, integrity and character. I hope that I will have the opportunity to recommend you to others. you deserve it, and they will be well-served.
Rev. Jeff
“Great guy to work with”
Steve, thank you for the great experience we had working with you to sell our house. You helped us set the right price, even when other Realtors told us we would never get that asking price. Your knowledge of the community was invaluable. Thank you for your wisdom, always making yourself available when we needed to speak with out, and your professionalism.
On top of all of this, you were just a great guy to work with. We definitely made the right choice when we selected you to be our Realtor.
John and Judy
“We trust him, appreciate him, and will always be grateful to him”
I could hardly recommend Steve Anton more highly.
In 1994, when we bought our first home, his knowledge and experience were invaluable. He wisely guided us through a process that we had never experienced before, answered all our worries and questions, kept us from making several mistakes, and helped us make what turned out to be a really good choice for our first home.
In 2013, we called Steve Anton when we decided to sell that first home for a new one, and would never have called anyone else. He negotiated the sale of our previous home, got us a wonderful price, and coordinated it with our purchase of our second home. He patiently guided us through the many options, answered all our questions, and never acted like he had some place else to go (although I’m sure he did). He gave us good advice regarding who to employ to do both the inspections and the repairs the home needed. His wise advice to have the sewer system checked saved us $8,000.
In Steve Anton we have a Realtor who knows what he’s doing, does it well, and clearly enjoys what he does. We trust him, appreciate him, and will always be grateful to him for our wonderful new home.
Daniel and Mitzi
“You raise the standard”
Dear Steve:
Thank you for the wonderful care you took in the sale of our home. When my friend in the neighborhood recommended you, I soon learned why your reputation precedes you. You raise the standard for the real estate profession.
There is good reason that we see your signs throughout Braeswood Place and extending into the West U area, too. Your integrity and attention to detail are superb. You truly went the extra mile and followed through to make sure the smallest of details was covered. Thank you and your team for caring for our family through this transition.
You handled this transaction as if it were your own home you were selling. No one could ask for more.
This was the best experience we've ever had with a Realtor and no question; we would come to you again. The degree of consideration and quality of service that you provide is unsurpassed.
James and Maria
"Great advice."
Dear Steve:
It is a pleasure to be able to recommend your services. You handled the sale of our house and the purchase of our new house. You gave us great advice which was well worth taking on getting the house ready for sale, pricing the home, and handling the negotiations. You also represented us well on the purchase of our new home.
This is the first real estate transaction I´ve been involved in where I felt the Realtor was really representing us well, as both buyer and seller. You were also able to recommend some fantastic contractors to us who did work for us at an extremely fair price, and the work was fabulous.
Susan and Larry
"Your fine efforts."
Steve:
Thank you for assisting in the sale of our home. We really appreciate all of the hard work and time that you put into the sale.
We could not be happier with the result, as well as the ease of the process. As you know, our house sold for a strong price in an extremely short period of time. This could not have been achieved without your fine efforts.
From the initial list through the closing, you were always available to answer our questions and to help push the transaction toward a favorable conclusion.
Thank you again for a job well done.
Ara and J.J.
"Brought this albatross to a successful conclusion."
Dear Steve:
"Thanks" is really not an adequate word to try to sum up all the expert work you did selling the property in Houston for us. Our attorney recommended you highly when we asked if there was anyone he knew who would be able to help us. With our situation, being so far away and not in the best of health, it was not feasible for us to drive into Houston often enough to keep a handle on everything.
You just took over, handled everything, put up with our far-too-many phone calls, which were always graciously answered by you or your staff, and brought this albatross to a successful conclusion.
We thank you again, and remember -- if you get up here near us, there is always coffee and homemade jam.
Ed and Eleanor
"If not for Steve..."
Steve Anton has helped us purchase, rent and sell 4 properties. We met Steve when we were trying to purchase our first home in Braes Heights 13 years ago. We had some difficulties with the seller and if it were not for Steve we wouldn't have been able to purchase the home. He made the entire process easier with his no-nonsense approach. He helped us sell that same home 8 years later, for top dollar.
From the time he placed the "For Sale" sign in the lawn to the closing it was a very painless process. Over the years we have referred many friends to Steve and will continue to do so. He knows the neighborhood better than any other Realtor.
Dale and Carol
"Impressive and credible."
Dear Steve:
Cori and I would like to thank you for your recent assistance in selling our house. We found your approach to be thoroughly informative and very well-organized. We received clear answers to all our questions; all our concerns were addressed. Your knowledge of the local market was impressive and credible. We are sure that, like most people, we found selling a house to be a complex and somewhat intimidating process, but your level of professionalism proved invaluable to us.
Andrew and Cori
"A trusted company."
Our first experience with Hallmark Properties occurred in 1999-2000 while living abroad in Grenada, West Indies. We were referred to Steve Anton due to his integrity, strong reputation and longtime presence in Braes Heights and engaged Hallmark to rent and manage our home on Grennoch Lane. Our tenants were properly screened, rent payments made in a timely fashion, and any/all property issues were resolved expediently and in the most frugal fashion. Thus began a relationship that continues today.
Last year, we completed building a new patio home on Buffalo Speedway and again engaged Hallmark Properties, this time as agent in the sale of our Grennoch Lane property. Our home sold within 30 days, above market value. Today, we still rely on Hallmark Properties to manage and rent our home while we are living and working in Africa. It is refreshing to have the peace of mind knowing your home is being managed and cared for by a trusted company.
Michael
"Impressed with your listening skills."
Dear Steve:
In addition to a substantial fund of real estate knowledge and the many issues that surround settling an estate or relocating a family, you are a professional who has interest in and cares about the people with whom you are doing business. We were impressed with your listening skills as well as the resources you offered us beyond those essential for the successful home sale.
As the executor of our neighbor's estate I was responsible for the disposition of not only a home but all of the contents as well. The advice that you offered and the assistance that you and your staff provided with the estate sale was most helpful. It was during that sale that I was able to observe the relationships that you had built with individuals in our neighborhood and the surrounding area. I was impressed by the fact that you knew a number of the people and apparently had handled real estate transactions for them in the past. You build and maintain relationships with the residents of the area and take an interest in the community. As a resident of this community that is very attractive.
In our busy often compartmentalized self-service world having an individual who offers more, as part of the basic package complete with good customer service, is "priceless".
Cynthia
"Knows what he is talking about."
What I appreciated most about working with Steve was his honesty and his solid business sense. He was able to both listen to what we were looking for as well guide us through every step of the process. Some agents only tell you what they think you want to hear in order to make a deal.
Steve is direct and absolutely knows what he is talking about. His 30+ years of Houston real estate experience should indicate to anyone that he knows what he is doing. I would use Steve again and highly recommend him to anyone without hesitation.
David
"Steve shared our vision."
I was referred to Hallmark Properties by a friend who said that Steve was the local real estate expert. I was very comfortable with Steve because he listens to us and allowed us to look for a house the way we preferred.
Every time a house hit the MLS he would e-mail the listing for me to drive by. What a time saver! Steve shared our vision and made investment-wise remodel advice. He knows experienced/honest contractors and inspectors that made our close go smoothly.
The next time we need a real estate agent I wouldn't consider calling anyone else. After all, Steve is a very visible neighbor who is active within the community.
Steve and Freya
"Painless."
Thanks again Steve!
I appreciate the job you did for us. Your professionalism was surpassed only by your outstanding team. Everyone was very helpful and went out of their way to make the job of selling our house as painless as possible.
If ever we decide to move back to Houston, Steve Anton and Hallmark Properties would be my first stop in finding a new place!
Tom
"No snags, no glitches."
This letter is to thank you for the great experience I had with the sale and closing of my residence. I anticipated the usual drag time associated with selling a house.
That was not the case at all. I went from contract for sale to closing to move out in 1 month. That had to be the quickest month of March of my life.
There were no snags, no glitches, and I was always informed of what the status was on the pending sale.
I believe it went that way because you and the people in you organization are very knowledgeable and highly professional and seem to take great pride in a job well done.
Robert
"Could not have done it without your help."
Dear Steve:
Thank you so much for your help in managing our property for these many years. It was a real blessing not to have to worry about it since we moved away. For almost 15 years, we could always count on you to keep our property in good repair and rented to reliable tenants. Since we had our hands full homeschooling eight children, we simply could not have done it without your help.
When you sold the property recently, we really appreciated how well you managed the transaction. That was the fifth piece of property that we have bought/sold in 23 years and it was the easiest we have experienced, even though we could not be in Houston for the closing.
Thank you, and best wishes for continued success in your business. We have recommended you to friends in Houston and will continue to do so.
Jay and Irene
"Peace of mind."
Steve:
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and Angie for the great service and advice you've given Tara and I over the years with the transactions we've done together as well as in property management. It is a great relief to not have to worry about the day-to-day maintenance issues that come up from time to time. When repairs do come up, I feel confident that you are trying to save us money wherever possible as well as making sure your service people do a good job with their work. I also appreciate the "heads up" call to let us know if a significant repair is necessary.
I would gladly recommend Hallmark to other investors that need "peace of mind" in a property manager. Thanks again!
Jim
“He has a fantastic network.”
Steve Anton is extremely good at what he does. He has deep and contextual knowledge of the market. He is accurate in his assessment of the market, adapts to the changing conditions and considerate in his recommendations. He helped us sell our property in 77025. Despite some unforeseen challenges, he got us a deal we were satisfied with.
He was professional, kept us calm through the process. Great and timely communication and he has a fantastic network of real estate buyers and investors. He was a pleasure doing business with and we have recommended him to many of our friends.
Priya and Raghu
“Local knowledge was incredibly valuable”
Hi Steve,
We know from trying to sell the house on our own first that there were challenges. Your local knowledge was incredibly valuable as were your contacts with potential buyers in the neighborhood.
You did a great job and we are extremely pleased. If we ever think about coming back to Houston you will be our first call.
Kirt and Jody
“Outstanding to work with”
Steve has helped us over the years as we've bought and sold homes, and each time he has been outstanding to work with.
For the two times we've sold... he did extensive research and figured out the best price (and got them sold within days for a price we were excited with). For buying, he helped us find two homes in fantastic neighborhoods and worked with us while navigating negotiations, purchasing, inspections, etc. We highly recommend Steve.
Brian and Ashley
"More than tripled in value."
Dear Steve:
It was with some surprise that I realized last week that we had been doing a very successful series of real estate investments since late 1988.
Certainly a constant and profitable association that has more than tripled in value and resulted in a very nice return each month needs to be considered one of the best investments going. I know that our past success will continue into both our futures.
Bob and Doreene