I had the pleasure of working with Sharon Braaten of Pauly Presley throughout the month of May 2020. She was referred to me by a friend. When I first contacted her, I was in the very beginning stages of moving to the Austin area from Louisiana on short notice. I wanted to rent for 6 months until I could find a home to purchase. Sharon was quick to respond, enrolling me in the MLS portal so that I had easy access to all that was available within my criteria. My husband and I drove out to look at a few rentals she sent our way. At the first stop, we decided that rent in Austin was too much for too little... and we'd like to just switch to trying to find a home for purchase. She rolled with it so smoothly! Over the next two days, we met to look at some of the homes she sent us the night before. We had to head back to Louisiana, but continued our search online. Sharon would go to some of the homes we liked and Face Timed us so that we could virtually tour and ask questions. We found a home we loved and were ready to put an offer in. She helped us every step of the way, and we moved quickly. She offered her advice from experience which was so welcomed because we have little experience with home buying. Ultimately, our offer was passed for another offer that matched ours in value, but was stronger (maybe cash?). Sharon was just as bummed about it as we were. Since we were out of time to buy a home, we had to go back to the original plan of renting. Sharon got right on it! she visited the ones we liked and Face Timed us. We selected one and she really did all the rest! We got moved in right away....just days before I started my new job. Once we got there, Sharon went above and beyond for us. There were some major problems with the apartment. I didn't have an internet connection just yet and the lease only provided instructions to make maintenance requests via a website that was not phone browser friendly. She reached out to the person she was in contact with earlier and got these problems communicated efficiently to the owners for me. Now that we're all through that part, she's helping us find our way to great restaurants and stores... things to do. Sharon never made me feel like I was being a pest with all of my back-and-forth and inexperience. She was truly there for us whenever and however we needed her help. When we're ready to buy our home here, Sharon is our realtor! read more

I just completed two real estate transactions back to back with Adam Seigel. First, Adam helped me sell my downtown condo in 78701. Initially, I was hesitant to list it because I had it leased with several months remaining on the lease agreement, and I did not have a parking spot. After consulting with Adam, we felt it was a good time to try to sell, even with several months remaining on the lease. Based on the market conditions, we decided on a price that would set a record $/sf for the building, even without having the parking spot. Literally, within a few hours of the listing going live, we received a full price offer. In the coming days, we had received additional back up offers. Unfortunately, we did not close on any of the offers, because I could not get my tenant to agree to terms that would terminate our lease agreement. Since I was not in a position where I had to sell, Adam advised that we wait a few months for the time on the lease to reduce, so it would be attractive to more buyers. A few months went buy and we received/accepted a cash offer, which set a new record $/sf for the building. During the contract period, we identified a commercial property to purchase. The proceeds from condo were deposited into a 1031 (tax deferred) exchange account, which were used to make an offer on the new commercial property. To make a long story short, we completed the purchase of the commercial property at significant (greater than 5%) discount to the asking price. Adam's market knowledge, confidence, and assertiveness were key to closing and maximizing my value in both of my deals. Unexpected events can happen during the selling/purchasing of property and sometimes emotions can lead you to make irrational decisions. For me, this happened during the purchase of the commercial property. Adam was there to guide me, keep me focused on the bigger picture, and not let minor issues jeopardize a great opportunity. read more

I'm relocating from Upstate New York to Austin in about a week, thanks to Audra from Pauly Presley! When trying to search online myself, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of places listed, and all of the different neighborhoods. I knew I needed help, and contacted 3 different apartment locating services. To my surprise, about a half hour later, I had received a phone call and follow up email from Audra. (It took about 2 weeks for another to get back to me, and I still haven't heard from the third...) After a couple of emails back and forth (always with a prompt reply!) and asking all of the right questions, she knew of some places I should check out. When I flew down to look at places a couple of weeks later, Audra explained the difficulty of the apartment market in Austin right now, specifically that occupancy was 99% and that prices have increased recently. (Incidentally, the topic of the front page news the following day.) But, she was still optimistic and had a couple of places that fit what I was looking for and still within my price range. I have to say, she nailed it! I ended up filling out paperwork that same afternoon for a place that was perfect! It was exactly in my price range, and exactly where I wanted to live, and had all of the amenities (on sight and locally) that were important to me. I was, and still am, completely amazed at how painless and simple the process was, and all because she was proactive, professional, knowledgeable, and most importantly, she listened! I would definitely highly recommend her to anyone, and will be using her again if I ever move. :) Because she made it so easy, instead of looking at apartments all week, I was able to spend the time enjoying the city. Thanks again! read more

My fiance and I were looking for a house to rent because we were tired of the apartment life. After going through a couple other realtors who decided that with our less than perfect credit history, lost interest in helping us. We were running out of time and started looking at apartment complexes again in fear of not finding a place to rent when our lease was up. I decided to try one more time before we gave up completely and that's when I came across Paul Presley Realty. Their website offered way more properties for lease than any others we looked at. After seeing potentials we like, we sent them an email not really expecting a call since it was Saturday. We were both stunned when Chris May called us no more than 15 minutes after sending the email. We told him that we would like a walk-thru at the properties we liked, he also asked what our preference were for price and location then emailed us listings that matched our criteria shortly after. He even offered to show us the properties the next day. Unfortunately the property that we really wanted became unavailable the day we were going to look at it, but since it just happened, Chris was quick to tell us about it before we left and we had time to look at other ones. We only looked at 3 houses that was on our list before deciding on it. We filled the application out, got approved and we couldn't be any happier. During the process we had numerous questions for Chris and he always came through for us. He made the whole process as easy as possible and made sure everything was to our convenience. We plan on buying our own house next year and we'll be sure to use Chris May. read more

Clay Holsey has now helped me secure 3 residential leases in Austin. Every time I am leasing a new home, I look to Clay. Clay sends new listings daily, always ensuring that I have the latest choices and the best opportunity to secure a property. He is flexible, friendly, professional, and goes above and beyond throughout every step of the process. For this latest lease, Clay had been sending me listings for months. When a property finally came on the market that remarkably fit all of our needs, Clay sent it the moment it was posted. Then, he found time to show us the property the very next day. When we decided to submit an application, he personally drove with us to the property management company to help us submit. For previous applications, Clay has done everything from sit in an office with my roommates and me (all of us were first-time applicants then) and go through our paperwork line-by-line for over 2 hours. On another occasion, Clay and I drove together to my bank so that I could get a cashier's check for my application and then we drove to the property management company together to submit. Clay wants you to find your perfect home and he will impress you with his ability to answer any question, respond quickly and be available to you, and do everything in his power to help you be the first and most qualified applicant. I love my new home, but I know that if I'm ever searching to rent or buy again in Austin, Clay is my agent! read more

I was living in Dallas and planning a move to Austin. My eyes were bleeding from all the hours I spent looking up apartments online. I went to so many sites that I don't even remember going to Pauly Presley Realty's site, but in the middle of my search I got a phone call from DELAINA STEVENS. I told her what I was looking for and the process was immediately simplified. She really knows her stuff. She emailed me lots of options. We eventually settled on one that looked perfect. I fell in love with it from the pics, but I really didn't feel like wasting gas and time driving to Austin to check it out. Delaina offered to go to the property herself. She went above and beyond, texting me videos and pictures. She confirmed it was everything I ever wanted. The asking rent price was already fantastic, but when it came time to sign a lease, she did some intense negotiating anyway with the owner and knocked the price down to an even more attractive figure. Planning a move is a huge pain in the ass. I hate looking up apartments almost as much as I hate packing. Delaina turned what is normally a nightmare into a fun and easy experience. She has a great personality and dominates the Austin real estate scene. If you're looking to move, save yourself hours of wasted energy and give her a call. She even hit me up after I'd had a few weeks to get settled to see how I liked the place. She's the Michael Jordan of realty. read more

We worked with Maria Kryuchkova at Pauley Presley. and had a great experience and would highly recommend her and her company. I live in Austin and have for more than 20 years. My Son is going to UT and was living in complex in West campus area. My Son and one of his friends decided they wanted to be roommates in the same West campus area. The 78705 area code seems to book up fast, especially the nicer places. The leases start early August and end late July. We had a tricky situation where we did not want to give up his old place before we secured a new place. We only had a few week window so timing was of essence. Maria worked diligently to do what it took to help us. While one would think that all realtors have access to the same data base and properties, this is not the case. Maria brought new places to us and we quickly helped us sort through the options. She also served as our advocate in the negotiation of the terms. We were able to secure the new place. Next challenge was to find someone to sublet my Son's older place. While his old place did not officially use realtors, Maria advised and helped us to quickly help find someone for that place which was a huge relief. Maria is hard working and will work closely with you. She is great at following up and getting you what you need. She is very organized and can help walk you through the processes and paperwork. read more

I had a wonderful experience with Alex Gilmore of Pauly Presley Reality and am typing this review in my perfect apartment because of her diligence, perseverance and knowledge of Austin's apartment market. She very quickly understood what I was looking for--and what I wasn't--and constantly tweaked the listings based on my ever-evolving preferences. I was pretty picky in what I was looking for and she never made me feel like I was being challenging. She clearly has a GREAT professional relationship with the managers of multiple apartment complexes and I felt like I was being represented by someone who is respected and liked. She went above and beyond, communicating with rental property agents on my behalf when they didn't respond and making sure I was getting the info I needed every step of the way. She was a pleasure to spend time with, too--she's the kind of agent that you think, "Wow, I would actually be friends with this person." She gives real estate agents a good name and I really lucked out getting her. I will definitely use her when I'm ready to buy (hopefully soon!). I can't say enough good things about her. She also clearly really cared about finding me the right home--yes, it's her job, but she recognizes how stressful the search can be and she truly wants people to be happy. It's not just about a commission for her. She's as ethical as they come. read more

After using Yelp forever, but never signing up to write my own reviews, my experience with Tom Campbell has caused me to finally create an account. I've dealt with brokers in every major city of this country, and talked to several brokers upon moving to Austin, but no one has ever come near the level of service and general awesomeness that Tom has. In Austin, much of what's out there isn't what I'm interested in. Tom has listened to all the details of what I want, and has found more leads for me than I thought possible, and has also presented options I wouldn't have thought of, but which still completely match the vibe of what I'm looking for. In addition to being skilled at locating the right properties, and being great at walking you through the process of evaluating them, Tom is also just clearly a good person. His client's happiness is his key concern, and he doesn't pressure you or make you feel uncomfortable if you're particularly picky around what you want. (Which, I happen to be!) Locating a new place to live is an important and stressful transition, and one for which you want only the best, most effective and highest quality people around to help you with. I'd tell anyone I know to call Tom Campbell as the secret to locating a good spot in Austin. It's reassuring to know that there are brokers like him out there. read more

Something to keep in mind here is the time sensitivity of the situation. In between Christmas and New Years, I was given a job offer that would include relocation from Orlando, Fl, to Austin, Tx. A move halfway across the country is never a quick and easy process... although, it is! My company sent Philip's contact info to me and said I would be in great care! I sure was! He was very quick to respond (even though he was on vacay in out of the country!) and took out his own time to genuinely give to me! I did not do much searching for apartments. He asked me all the question he needed to narrow the search and came back with great prospects. He was very truthful and honest in what he thought about some other findings, whether it was if the location was friendly or not, traffic and proximity to essential places, and of course, if what I was paying would be worth the product I am getting. He found me a brand New Complex! Under a year old, very fair, reasonable, and friendly priced, a super nice location, all the amenities, and a great started deal for signing the lease! I ended up getting the first month and a half free, on top of how much I was saving if I had chose to live anywhere else half as nice! I ended up getting moved in at the end of January! Talk about fast! Took so much stress away! Thank you Philip! He is the real deal! read more

Clay did it again!! When our lease was ending this year, we decided it was time to move on and search for a house. We called Clay Holsey right away, since he was so wonderful helping us find our last home. He helped us search far and wide throughout Austin, taking us to each and every house that sparked our curiosity. We looked, and looked....and looked...until finally, we found our perfect fit. After we put in applications for this house that seemed like it was made just for us, we were disheartened to learn that several other applications had been turned in the same weekend. We had competition! Clay told us not to worry, and assured us he would do what he could to work his magic behind the scenes. Days passed, and the landlord wasn't responding, and we were sure we were doomed. But Clay didn't give up. He called. And emailed. And called. And emailed. And finally he made contact. And that's when he worked his magic and negotiated. This is the part where you really need to have an agent as skilled and attentive as Clay. While many people might have just given up and moved on, Clay was persistent, and used his expertise and negotiating prowess to help us get the house we really wanted. Clay Holsey at Pauly Presley Realty is patient, persistent, and experienced. When it comes to your real estate needs, he's your guy! read more

Michelle Albanese is fabulous! You will not find a more organized, knowledgeable or fun agent when looking for a new home in Austin. My daughter (who is starting a job in Austin on June 2nd) and I went apartment hunting with Michelle about a week ago. Before we arrived from Florida, she had been in close contact with my daughter, and made sure she knew her exact needs and budget. She picked us up in from our hotel at 9, and by 1 p.m., we put a deposit down on a perfect apartment, and enjoyed a lovely lunch in Tarrytown. Michelle showed us about 10 apartments, and had up-to-date information on each of them, including how close they were to work and downtown, and updated listing information from the day before. The Austin market is so fast, and rents go up when they have only one unit of a particular size, so current info is vital. The other thing that impressed me about Michelle was her knowledge of Austin. She has lived there for years and knows all the best restaurants, and knows all about the different neighborhoods. Michelle was recommended by my daughter's friend in Austin, and we can't thank him enough! Almost went with a realtor I found on the Internet. She was very unresponsive to my daughter, and that would have been a big mistake. Call Michelle, and you will be thanking me! Janet McC-Tallahassee, FL read more

I truly cannot say enough about my INCREDIBLE experience with Clay Holsey of Presley Realty. My journey with Clay started when I emailed him back in November of 2020 in hopes to explore the Austin Real Estate market as I was making a huge move from California to Austin. He responded immediately and hopped on a 45 minute call with me to talk through ALL of my (had to be 50+) questions. We landed on starting with a rental to get to know the area and within an hour he had set up a portal for me with ALL of my specifications to start browsing options. When I came to visit Austin in late November to view properties, Clay made the process seamless, extremely safe, and he truly went above and beyond to advise, guide, and get me settled. Clay checked in on me a few months later just to say hi and with genuine well wishes for my new journey. Cut to 10 months later, and the short lease I signed unfortunately came with an incredibly high renewal increase. I immediately reached out to Clay, and within 3 days I was viewing properties and had signed a lease. The peace of mind I have partnering with him is unparalleled and cherry on top is his incredible sense of humor. I'm really looking forward to partnering with Clay when my Home BUYING process starts, and would recommend him time and time again. read more

I would highly recommend Brett Ponds and Pauly Presley Realty to anyone interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area. I first worked with Brad Pauly about 10 years and have nothing but praise for his honest and informed approach to real estate decisions. Most recently, I worked his agent, Brett Ponds, who helped me sell a condominium in the Hyde Park area. Brett provided insightful advise on minimal improvements and staging that proved very effective. He monitored market conditions so that we went to market with the best price and marketed the condo with great pictures. The result was tons of interest and a contract in 2 days at list price for cash. Brett Ponds also helped me find my replacement home. He listened patiently to my "must haves" and "nice to haves" and worked hard to find the right fit. He also was direct and honest about potential time and monetary trade-off's between my ideal home and the choices available in the 78704 market which was my primary area of interest. Within a month, Brett Ponds located a good fit and negotiated a significant price reduction in a hot real estate market. The contract closed quickly and has worked out great. I would go back to them again and strongly recommend Brett Ponds to anyone looking for a home in Austin. read more

ASK FOR BRETT PONDS. BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT WE'VE EVER WORKED WITH. The move cross-country to a state and city you've never set foot in can be daunting. With a good real estate agent, however, the transition can be seamless and dare I say pleasant. Brett Ponds was recommended to my husband and I by a friend who relocated to the Austin area a few months prior. We emailed him our expectations and he was keen to listen and quick to email back. He toured multiple properties with us to find us our perfect home and though it was a grueling few hours, he never once complained. Brett is a great and knowledgeable professional with years of experience. He is very easy to work with and it was obvious that he had a good rapport with the leasing agents we met with. He asked every question we forgot to ask or would have never thought to ask, and helped us decide on a the perfect property for us. By the end of the day, we had our perfect home with everything we were looking for down to the micro details of an open concept living area and dark hard wood floors; a place perfect for entertaining family and friends. We were incredibly impressed with Brett and would recommend him to anyone moving to the Austin area. read more

Adam Seigel was a huge help as I was preparing to move from Tucson, AZ to Austin, TX. I wasn't going to have the chance to visit Austin before finalizing a place to live, so needless to say I was a bit nervous. I had worked with another apartment finder before who had left me feeling uneasy about the entire situation. Adam did the exact opposite. Within two days of my first phone call with him, Adam had e-mailed me information about 5 apartments that not only fit my budget, but matched every other criteria I had given him (mainly I wanted to feel safe, not live in a dump, and be biking distance from downtown). I was somewhat unfamiliar with the area at the time, and Adam was more than willing to give me his opinion on each place by ranking them on a scale. This made my decision easy, even thought I wouldn't be able to see my apartment before my move-in date. I applied, got accepted, drove to Austin, signed my lease, and I'm now living happily in my new apartment. I know I would not have been as satisfied as I am now if it wasn't for Adam's help. If you're looking for a genuine apartment finder who truly looks out for the needs of his clients, Adam and those at Pauly + Presley are right for you! read more