I am a real estate broker in San Diego, CA and my sister was relocating to Austin so I set out to find a realtor for her. I generally don't use Yelp for that purpose but on a whim, I opted to check out the reviews. I found several who looked promising and contacted all three. Through telephone/email interviews I narrowed my choice to Joanne. So glad that I did as we only had 2 days to find a house and Joanne and William worked tirelessly the entire weekend. In fact, it was a game day on Saturday and that's a big deal in Texas, but they chose to still work with us. They showed us properties in north, south and central as my sister wasn't familiar with the area and wanted to review all options. It was a successful weekend as she bought a house and even secured a short closing just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Being a realtor I am picky myself, so rest assured you will be in competant hands with the Violet Crown Realty team. read more

Please note that the below response from JoAnne is dishonest about the relationship between her and us (renters). We worked very regularly with her on ALL of our concerns with the condo/ maintenance requests throughout the entire 2.5 years as renters of the property (we only worked with the owners on a limited basis to send rent payments) and have the emails to validate this relationship. But nonetheless, it's good to see that this is something they will take seriously and hopefully things change for the better. BEWARE!!!!!!!! PLEASE READ IF YOU PLAN TO RENT FROM OWNERS THAT ARE USING VIOLET CROWN AS THEIR PROPERTY MANAGERS. I worked with JoAnne as the Property Manager for the condo that I was leasing for the past 2.5 years and it was an up and down journey. Sometimes she was really kind (for example, she put together my coffee table and lowered rent for us on behalf of the owners one of the years that we were re-signing as an incentive for us to stay) and other times she would be insensitive (she once yelled at me on the phone because she was having a bad day while I tried to calmly sort out some requests we had for the condo and my roommate recorded this conversation; we were appalled). In addition, she sent passive aggressive emails and we had to do the best we could to bite our tongues. In the words of Maya Angelou - "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." I will never forget how JoAnne made me feel. It was not as pleasant of an experience as I had hoped it would have been but there is a silver lining in all of this...my roommates and I got almost our entire security deposit back. I hope this info will help some of you (renters especially) as you consider renting from owners that have Violet Crown Realty as their property managers. read more

Best realtors in the world. Hands down. Coming from NYC, I just assumed that all real estate transactions involved shadiness, double-talk, hustling, stress, and layers upon layers of scheming between the buyer and seller, using your realtor as a front. But then coming down to Texas, and getting referred to JoAnne and William from Violet Crown changed my whole outlook on the real estate game. So much so that we've bought 2 places with them, and consider them not just great realtors, but good friends too. Like, the type of good friend who understands the real estate market during this fragile economy and can throw real numbers at you about trends in your neighborhood, what renovations are worth it, and which hoods are good to buy in. Everyone needs a friend like that, huh? Friends who can recommend great plumbers, contractors, insurance brokers, and all sorts of other tenets of adulthood that come with home ownership. Not only that, when we bought our house from them two years ago, they threw us a HUGE PARTY! At our house! Invited all our friends! And did all the catering, grilling, inviting, cleaning, serving, hosting, and everything else for us! Rented tent, chairs, tables, along with homemade queso, burgers, guac, . . . and even a keg of my choosing!! Holy moly! What kind of a realtor does that? (Actually, they probably don't want me telling you about this, because I'm sure they can't afford to do it for all their clients. I'm not sure why we got the purple treatment, but it sure is nice to host a party with all your friends and family and not have to worry about a thing or clean up afterwards) Oh, and they understand the Austin scene well. Our first property was so hot, but we got it before it even made it to listing because JoAnne knew the selling agent. Whoo-hoo, talk about a score. (You know how your pals who actually make money in real estate always say, "the good properties never make it to the listing market. those deals always happen in private, because people who know about property know who's selling". Well, that's what happened. Cool, huh?) And with our second place, JoAnne knew to swing us by at 10AM, the morning it listed, so we could steal it off the market. Another score. (back when the market was hot. remember those times?) But most importantly, we trust the Violet Crown team. We've become such good friends with them, and as they largely operate by word of mouth, we've seen them hook up our friends again and again. And, the fact that they're always pumping parties and events for their clients don't hurt either. read more

My fiance and I worked with William and JoAnne in the purchase of our first home. We were working on one modest income with a wedding to plan, so closing costs and other budgets were very limited. Initially, we had no clue what we were doing and asked tons of questions which were all thoroughly and thoughtfully answered. We were beyond blessed to have these people walk us through the process. We were really happy with the relative ease of home-buying compared to so many nightmares we'd read about. Bottom line is this: From the inspector, to the insurance agency to the lenders and title companies, EVERYONE knew who my Realtors were. People at each of these businesses couldn't stop raving about the experience and genuine care these people bring to the table. That said so much about the respect people in the industry have for Violet Crown Realty. They are awesome people too. You can have easy going conversations with them and they will give you honest advice. We didn't know ANYTHING going in to this. A month later and no extra stress, we have our home. We'll def keep in touch with them and would highly recommend them to anyone. Classy folks. read more

Imagine for a minute that you're entering a card tournament (D&D or Pokemon, not poker). You need a solid deck of cards to kick a serious amount of ass during gameplay. JoAnne McKinney and her team are like that deck of cards. It's like you opened up the shiny new pack at the store and holy smokes, you got the ultra-rare holographic card that deals 100x damage to your opponent. Violet Crown are a ridiculously well-equipped and knowledgeable group of folks who go far above and beyond anything you would expect from a realty company and who will beyond a shadow of a doubt help you get the end result that you desire. We started out our odyssey with JoAnne one morning in Threadgill's. Amidst a three-veggie plate, we had a come-to-Jesus about our house wants and our timeline "Oh, we're just looking," we said. "We're waiting for the right one to come along." She was more than happy to equip us with a big 'ol book of knowledge and her extensive vendor list. After visiting some choice properties- ahem - during which she explained the issues with each and possibly why they had been on the market for extended periods of time, we agreed to wait for something in our words that 'wasn't crap'. She set up a search with our very specific criteria (necessities: a two-butt kitchen) and we waited. And waited. Timeline, one month ago: oh my god, THE house came on the market and it popped up on the search query that she set up for us on a Sunday morning. It was there, and perfect, and so much cheaper than we expected, and JoAnne worked her ass off to help us make a quick, well-prepared offer within hours of seeing the house that Monday. She never, ever left us hanging for a moment in the month between the offer being accepted and the house keys entering into our cold, sweaty, adrenaline-addled hands. She was more than happy to give us references and get estimates for issues to be fixed on the house and her awesomely wry sense of humor put me at ease many times over a very stressful month. If you want one of the most well-connected and hardest-working people you'll ever meet working for you, you want JoAnne and her team at Violet Crown Realty on your side. They're ridiculously amazing at what they do, and I don't say that lightly. read more

Violet Crown Realty is the best in Austin! As a home grown Austin business, they know the city and can find you exactly what you're looking for. As buyer's agents, they work for the buyer, so they look out for your best interest. I bought my first house through Violet Crown; a friend referred me to JoAnne McKinney and William Arnecke. They were amazing! As a first time home buyer, I had NO IDEA what I was doing. They listened to what I wanted and I completed trusted their judgment. They've worked in the Austin market for so long, they know their stuff! They held my hand through the entire process, I couldn't have done it without them! Violet Crown totally appreciates their clients. Since I bought my house in February, they have given me tickets to the Rodeo, held a customer appreciation party at Cedar Street, brought me a pumpkin to carve on Halloween, and now they are delivering me a Central Market pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving! They're always available to refer me to any type of home service I may need. If you're in the market for an Austin home, I would highly recommend Violet Crown. They're amazing! read more

William and JoAnne are the best. We were buying our first house and had experienced a pretty terrible first attempt this Spring. Long story short is that we were pretty down on the whole process, and something that was supposed to be exciting had turned into a pretty big mess. The amount of stress had gotten to the point where we thought it might even be better just to stay in our apartment for a little while longer, for the sole reason of not dealing with it anymore. Then we ran into Violet Crown and I am now typing this review from my new home. They perfectly walk that thin line of being very professional, while also being personal and understanding at the same time. You can tell that they are a local business that has worked tirelessly to understand not only the local market, but the businesses and people that make it happen. They helped us with referrals for everything from a possible mortgage broker to a plumber. They never pressured us to pick any one company, but were there for us when we asked for advice. We were no longer doing this blind, but had legitimate partners to help guide us through the whole purchasing process. read more

I was probably one of JoAnne's longest clients because I REFUSED to leave North-Central Austin and I had a small budget when we started. Thankfully, my career took off and things somewhat calmed down (in Winter 2013) enough for me to able to afford something. We found an awesome house in Wooten Park that was a bit older, but updated. Her expertise with the neighborhood and older houses helped us fix a major problem (several leaks under the slab) before we closed. She guided me (and my Fiancee) through the entire process and since we used her recommended people, we had a seamless process. Even after we bought the house, JoAnne is still keeping in touch and still helping us out (e.g., water heater going out). I could have not asked for a better realtor. She is amazing. I could not recommend another realtor. Plus, she has two cute pups! read more

If you're looking for an agent to buy/sell your property here in Austin like I did a few months ago, look no further!! Coming from NYC and having recently helped my mom purchase a place in NYC, I was traumatized by the lengthy strenuous process. However, the process I went through here with JoAnne is nothing less than enjoyable! I'm even thinking of maybe working in the real estate business because I loved seeing different properties. JoAnne will try her best to accommodate your schedule and she was always easily reachable, even at odd hours. When we initially put in an offer one evening, I had some concerns a few hours later and contacted her right away. She picked up the call and answered all my questions at probably around 10pm All in all, we found a property that my fiance and I LOVE and the day that it came on listing, we went to see it right away at 08:30am, the owner didn't even know we were coming but JoAnne worked her magic anyways. Put in an offer right away, fought with other offers and two days later, offer accepted! Then after about a month, we own the place and all geared up ready for our renovations!! She does her best for her buyers and she is very motivated in making you succeed in your home-buying process. I will go back to her when I need to sell or buy other properties here later in the future. She is a great agent, offers wonderful referrals and her team completes the awesomeness of Violet Crown Realty. On top of that, she has lovable dogs!! I am so glad I found her through yelp! Thanks JoAnne! read more

JoAnne is great. My wife and I bought a home with her in June, 2011. She helped us navigate the intricacies of buying a home, even through difficult negotiations with the other realtor who was a handful to deal with. She really cares about the customer experience, and she has sent us holiday gifts, birthday wishes, etc since we've moved in. Totally unnecessary, but really proves how great she is! JoAnne is the best! read more

Buying a home is complex enough as it is, so I'll state it simply: JoAnne is the best. Now here's why: my husband and I bought our first house recently, and interviewed a handful of real estate agents. From the beginning, JoAnne outwitted and out-organized the rest. She provided a home buyer's handbook containing each and every piece of information one could ask for regarding the purchase process. When we viewed homes, she was honest and knowledgeable about the pros and cons of each property while remaining neutral and allowing us to form our own opinions. JoAnne is very easy to get along with; she's genuinely friendly and assertive as opposed to artificially bubbly or aggressive. The entire process was smooth and pleasant with JoAnne at the helm. And as added fun perks, she provided pumpkins at Halloween for a carving contest, and gave us our first Christmas wreath for our front door! read more

I really thank God we found Joanne and William!!!! After almost a year searching for a house, we found the lucky one!!! We spent many hours with Joanne and Wlliam looking at properties and they were so patient with us and our specific needs and first times home wishes, they gave us excellent advice on choose a well established neighborhood. Joanne and William works hard to know what their clients want and need, they have strong negotiation skills and they look out for your best interest. We love our house!!!! We highly recommend Violey Crown they are amazing, we were so lucky !!!! read more

Is buying a home supposed to be difficult? Because that was the complete opposite experience we had with JoAnne and her team at Violet Crown Realty. We first experienced their awesomeness last year when I had three days to fly into Austin from Cincinnati to find a temporary home that we could move into a week and a half later. William worked tirelessly with me to find a condo that would work for us. It was the first time I had stepped foot in the area, and we found the perfect place. Not only that, but the friendliness and dedication of this team is amazing. I had actually left my cell phone in his office, and he searched two hotels before finding me to make sure I had it. He said because he wanted to make sure I would be able to talk to my husband, who was back in Ohio and would certainly worry about me if I couldn't call him. Where do you get that kind of service anywhere else?!? When we were ready to buy a more permanent home a year later, we knew exactly who to call. This time we were taken care of by JoAnne. She's just as dedicated, knowledgeable, organized, and someone that you wish could be your life coach or at least have a drink with once in a while. Not only was she so helpful with picking which house would work best for us (and that we could get the best deal out of), but then she was like a force of nature going into negotiations for us. Even the seller's Realtor was impressed by her. She was always in contact with us (although not annoyingly so) to let us know where we were at, and what needed to be done next. We did have some hiccups with the second lender during closing (beyond her control), but JoAnne was there to get everyone else in line, and got the job done! Even with this, the whole experience was smooth and wonderful for us. I can't thank her and her team enough for all that they did. We have a home that we love, and even in Austin's crazy market got an excellent deal! I can't remember how I first came across Violet Crown Realty, but I'm so lucky that I did! They are the greatest, friendliest, honest, knowledgeable, most professional team we've had the pleasure to know. The only other thing I can say is that they are awesome sauce! And if they are reading this, I'm serious about those drinks. Anytime! read more

When we first started our housing search we were overwhelmed by the market in Austin. I had heard stories about how competitive the market was and was not looking forward to the experience. I tried narrowing down the neighborhoods on my own, but felt a little lost. We had one meeting with JoAnne and she picked out the perfect neighborhood for us. I was also really impressed by her initial questionnaire. I have worked with realtors in the past and none of them have taken such effort to really get that much insight into my personality and lifestyle, and consequently, what housing options would be best for me. JoAnne's search setup was really good: easy to navigate, easy to customize, and a great way to communicate about individual properties. She set it up to email us immediately when new listings appeared in our target neighborhoods. This gave us a great competitive advantage by allowing us to act fast and schedule showings at new listings. I also need to highlight JoAnne's vision. The house we ended up purchasing was very cute, but had an outdated kitchen and bath. Without JoAnne standing there and talking us through the possibilities to update it, I don't know that we would've had the courage or vision to take on such a big project. I was amazed that she was able to see so many possibilities when I could just see an outdated kitchen. JoAnne was an excellent negotiator throughout the purchase of our new home. She was thinking strategically from the first open house right through to the closing and found cards to play that we didn't even know we had. JoAnne is just going to be our realtor forever. I hope she's OK with that. read more

I went to JoAnne with the "I'm just looking and don't know if I want to buy" warning. She was super cool about that and compiled a list of properties that fit my budget and needs. We looked around and she was definitely knowledgeable about what looked good on paper and what was a real find. She never made me feel pressured about deciding. We found the right property and she did a great job working with the seller, broker, title company etc...and we got a great deal! read more

JoAnne at Violet Crown Realty has been an absolute dream to work with! She has gone out of her way (a number of times) to help me find a nice place to live BEFORE I even got to Austin. JoAnne is very organized and will do what it takes to make her clients happy, customer service at it's absolute best! She explains everything she is doing so you never feel as though you have been left in the dark. You can tell she knows real estate and is confident in what she says and does...a plus in my book! She's is also not afraid to give her honest opinion, which I think is great. If you are looking to buy a house she would be the only person I would recommend! read more

Go Local and Go With One of the Best! We chose local and went with Violet Crown Realty last year when we decided to make the jump and buy our first house. JoAnne and William were fantastic! They got to know us, our wants and needs and where able to make recommendations for locations and home types that suited us. They professionally, and in an extremely friendly manner, worked with us so that we knew what to expect at every step of the process. They both knew how the neighborhoods in Austin had appreciated and depreciated during the volatile housing market and where able to advise us accordingly. When we went under contract for a house, they recommended an excellent home inspector (Pillar to Post), and boy are we glad we followed their advise! The home had structural issues that would have made it off limits for our FHA loan, and would have ended costing much more than we could afford to fix down the road. JoAnne and William stepped up, helped us get out of the contract and got us back on track with looking for another home. The second home we went under contract for in South Austin was perfect for us. It also passed inspection with flying colors from the Pillar to Post folks, and JoAnne and William helped us negotiate a few additional items (Home Warranty and HOA transfer fees) along with the closing costs in to the contract. It doesn't end there! JoAnne and William do not disappear off into the horizon after closing. They keep in touch with all their clients. They have excellent contacts for contractors, set up a class for their clients to learn how to fight property tax increases, and offer occasional social events in order to keep in touch and show their appreciation for your business. We have never been happier with our choice to use Violet Crown Realty, and where glad we were able to work with local professionals who knew the market so well. Also, we can promise you that in 7-10 years, when we are ready to move to a bigger property, Violet Crown Realty will once again be our realtors of choice! read more

This is a very tardy review. JoAnne worked with us in the spring of 2012 and we had a fantastic experience. She was very thorough with sending us and showing us listings. At the same time she was very responsive to the critiques we had of various properties and would adjust the subsequent listings she sent us accordingly. I appreciated immensely that unlike other realtors we had worked with, she did not try to push us into the more expensive properties she showed us and instead gave us her unvarnished opinion as to which properties she thought were worthwhile and which she thought very overpriced. And once we selected the place, she was perfectly willing to try to negotiate the price down. From past experience, plenty of real estate agents would try to just convince their clients to accept the price and move on, rather than risk jeopardizing the closing and their potential commission. All in all, I would highly recommend Violet Crown and JoAnne to anyone else looking for houses in the Austin area. read more

Dear Potential Client, Look no further. You've found your realty team. I promise. I had been looking at houses for at least a year, when I gave Violet Realty a shot. I had two other realtors prior to meeting JoAnne and William that didn't work out. My first realtor talked to me like I am a dumb blonde, which I thought strange because she was younger than I and I gave her the house on which I wanted to bid. (Not to mention, I'm a multiple honors graduate, thank you!) Anyway, I wanted the house, and put in my bid and waited. And waited. And waited. I would call her every week or so to find out the status, to which she always replied "I've been trying to contact the other realtor!" Right. Eventually the other realtor was contacted, and the bid was rejected. My realtor condescended in my general direction that there was nothing she could do, and that if I ever found another house on which I wanted to bid, to give her a call. That's it. No helping me with this bid. No helping me find another house. Nothing. My second realtor wasn't better. Every two weeks I gave him a list of homes I'd like to learn more about, including MLS numbers, addresses, the works. I wanted to know how long they'd been on the market, and other simple negotiating information as I'm on a limited budget for Austin. Every two weeks I'd get his voicemail, or my emails would go unanswered. While he often called my boyfriend, he always told my boyfriend that he'd bend over backward for us as long as I could give him an idea as to what type of house I wanted. The lists and questions, apparently, weren't enough of a hint. All this realtor ever said to me (repeatedly) was "just let me know!" I did. Every 2 weeks. Finally, I looked at Yelp! and found Violet Crown. I won't pretend I had a fondness for realtors when I set up an appointment. I assumed no one wanted to work within my tiny budget and I'd just get another blow-off for being a blonde with a (now) chip on her shoulder. However, my first meeting and every other exchange with JoAnne and William was surprising! They are so nice! They actually cared about what I wanted! They didn't shy away from my budget limitations at all! In fact, they helped me find a better house than I'd formerly seen, and buy it! They worked Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve getting me into this house! I was amazed! Not only are they the nicest people I've ever worked with, they also care the most, AND work the hardest. Oh, and did I mention they helped me buy my house UNDER BUDGET? AMAZING!!! I'm so proud to say I owe all of my homeowner happiness to Violet Crown Realty. If I ever move out of my perfect house, I'll absolutely go back to JoAnne and William again and again. I promise that you will too. Sincerely, Clarissa C. read more

My husband and I found Violet Crown Realty after a not-so-good experience with another realtor which had left us frustrated with the process of buying our first place (we thought it was supposed to be fun!). All of that was forgotten the day we met with Violet Crown Realty. From the very beginning, this was a whole new experience. JoAnne and William spent several hours with us the first time we met, going over the process and answering all of our questions. Not only are they fun to be around - they really know their stuff! We were so impressed when we went out looking at houses with them. They were able to advise quite specifically on the pros/cons and relative value of each house, as well as how easily each house could be altered to suit our needs (and at what approximate cost). This knowledge and objectivity was invaluable because it's easy to form an emotional attachment to a house that is really not a good investment just because it has one thing that you love. (They liked to point out that some of the things we loved could be done very inexpensively at other houses). Because they listened carefully to what we wanted and knew the market far better than we did, within a week we had made an offer on a house in a neighborhood that we had not previously considered (but that we now love). Even in this supposedly 'slow' market, we were in a multiple offer situation, but JoAnne and William ensured that our offer was accepted. I never realized what a difference an agent could make but I am sure that our offer was accepted because JoAnne and William took the time to understand what would make our offer most attractive to the seller (in ways other than just price). When the inspection inevitably brought up some issues, they knew vendors who could come over at a moment's notice to take a closer look - and they didn't hesitate to call them in. With our previous agent we felt like we were doing all of the work. With Violet Crown Realty we felt that we could relax - and the process became fun again. We knew they wouldn't let us make a bad decision, and once our offer was accepted they were always thinking about the next step. This made for a smooth transaction - starting from our initial offer all the way through to closing. And even though we happened to find a house very early on in our days with Violet Crown Realty, we never felt pressured at all - they would have looked with us for many months if that's what it took to find the right place. The best part is that they don't consider their job done at closing. JoAnne and William know great vendors around Austin (they have renovated several houses on their own) and have already given us a few good references. They have also kept in touch with us to be sure we are taking care of things that should be done post-purchase (eg, tax related exemptions, home maintenance, etc). They are truly fantastic! Everyone should be so lucky as to have agents this good. I highly recommend Violet Crown Realty without reservation. read more

Recently, my husband and I started the formidable task of buying our first home. My husband is busy with work, so I took it upon myself to do some research before making any decisions. I wanted to see what our money would buy, get a general level of information on the whole process, and find out the level of service I could expect from the real estate agents in general. I tried two different real estate agents. I was completely unsatisfied with them both. They never sat down and listened to me talk about what was important and what was not. They jumped to conclusions about what I wanted and discounted what I thought was important. House after house I attempted to inform these agents of the things I didn't want to see again in the next house. Time after time I was shown another house with the same problems as before. I just did not feel they were listening to me. I didn't know how to read the listings and figure out which houses were going to have these same problems. The agents that were showing me the houses seemed unconcerned that they were hearing the same thing from me. So I moved on. It was suggested through a family member that I try Violet Crown Realty. From the very first day they were different. They sat my husband and me down and really tried to get out of us what was important to us in our the purchase of our first home. They even went so far as to toss out houses we were going to see because they got there before we did and knew we wouldn't like them. They were extremely and thoroughly attentive. We really appreciated that. They showed us how to read listings. They got us set up on a daily listing update email. They answered all of our countless numbers of emails and phone calls with diligence and patience. They repeatedly offered information that we didn't even think to ask for. They made us, at all times, feel informed in any decision we were making from all angles. When we tried to settle on one house that had more than the usual complications, William and Joanne were very proactive about figuring out what the problems were going to be and once again sat us down and discussed every angle of the situation. The house had an usual problem with the owner that was listed. Joanne and William worked tirelessly with several people to correct the problem in a timely manner. I felt they went above and beyond what a normal agent would do. We were not able to resolve the difficulties with that first house. When we decided on another house that had fewer complications, they were there for us once again. They helped to ensure that our offer got accepted over another offer. They even made us feel like we were getting a better investment with this second house. My husband and I were so nervous about buying our first home, but with William and Joanne on our side we never felt like we were making the wrong decision because of how well informed they made sure we were. We have settled comfortably into our first home, now. We owe it all to Violet Crown Realty. I would highly recommend this company to all of my friends and family. They are extremely efficient, and proactive hard working people that you want on your side in a negotiation! Thank you guys for all your dedication and hard work! I can not thank you guys enough. Thank you. read more

Buying a house with JoAnne Nabors at Violet Crown Realty is one of the best decisions we made in the home buying process. She really, truly knows the ins and outs of the Austin market and how to get the house you want, even when everyone is fighting like cats and dogs for properties. She will save you money in the process, tie up all the loose ends, stay in touch to make sure everything goes well down the line (like when tax notices are sent) and she even brought us a pie at Thanksgiving! She was super flexible and available with our weird schedules, able to give lots of insight on market data, is an expert negotiator, but she's also really funny and does lots of cool stuff like bike racing and marathons. I was sad we didn't get to search for houses more with her because we had a great time. But, we also found a great house that we love thanks to her! I can't say it enough... JoAnne Nabors & Violet Crown Realty are fantastic and you want her to be your realtor! read more

"When my husband Julio and I began looking for houses, it was a learning experience to say the least. JoAnne and William were there every step of the way. They listened carefully to our needs and wants, and came up with some wonderful options. They talked us through each house always keeping in mind OUR best interest. Because we were first-time homebuyers we were so thankful for this. JoAnne and William have a wonderful way of supporting you through every detail of the process making you feel well-informed and prepared for the home-buying experience. We value their opinion because they really know what they are talking about! When we decide to sell or buy in the future we will always call Violet Crown Realty. Sarah Berry read more

I just learned the value of a good realtor. We wanted to sell our house and get into a smaller house nearby. We talked to JoAnne in the Summer and she laid out a time line to get us the best price for the house. When it was time to start looking, she had us make up a list of must haves and nice to haves. When I started to back off my must haves because I couldn't find anything, she talked some sense into me and preached patience. It worked and we found the perfect house. For the sale, she walked us through the house and suggested work that would maximize our sale price. She promised we would get back twice what we put in. I was skeptical, but did the work. She had the photographer come out on the first sunny day in a dreary month and the pictures we're amazing. We had multiple top dollar offers within 12 hours of being on the market. JoAnne didn't even bother us with details, she sorted through all the details and presented us with options. We chose the best option and were closed on time. We got just what we wanted in a house for less than we expected to pay. We sold or house for about $25K more than we expected. All of this was due to JoAnne and her team and their attention to detail, knowledge of the market and superior negotiation skills. You won't go wrong choosing Violet Crown as your realtor. read more

JoAnne Nabors is the best! I've known her personally as a triathlete for over 10 years, and now I know her professionally too, as she shepherded us through the home buying process. She knew exactly what to do to get our offer accepted on a hot property with multiple offers. She gave herself an overnight PhD in wells and septic systems so that she could advise us on potential future expenses. She has a fantastic vision - she sees not only what the house is, but what it could be. Having remodeled her own house with her own two hands, she knows what it takes to make it happen. She looks for potential problems and gives an honest assessment of whether it's a good purchase or not. She knows that just because a house is pretty aesthetically, what matters more is what you can't see - the infrastructure and systems. She looks at a home through her own eyes and wallet - would she personally buy this property at this price? She has a fantastic network of inspectors and contractors to get things done fast. I recommend JoAnne and her team with 5 stars, two thumbs up, A+++! read more

We asked Violet Crown to help us with the sale of our previous home. The two main reasons we chose JoAnne and her team are simple: trust and experience. JoAnne earned our trust when we bought our present home, and she is very experienced in Austin real estate. We also liked the fact that her team was very responsive through various means of communication, such as email, phone, fax, and secure websites. We had many questions throughout the whole process, and we were very happy to have them addressed promptly. Closing of the sale went very smoothly because JoAnne has a good relationship with an excellent title company, and JoAnne had already taken care of negotiations with the buyer's agent. The sale was challenging because the national headlines painted a gloomy picture of a plummeting real estate market, but from our first meeting JoAnne helped us to see that our area was doing well and that we should be able to sell the house fairly quickly at a fair price, which was indeed the case. This is where experience really counts. The brochure for this sale was the best we have ever seen --- and we looked at many brochures before the sale and since. The virtual tour was top-notch. We got daily updates of activity in our area. Finally, experience also adds other useful items, such as a directory of businesses needed to prepare a home for sale and to keep up our present home, such as painters, remodelers and even tax advisers. We will be using this handy directory for years to come. We will be happy to ask JoAnne and her team help us on our next real estate transaction. read more

Pros: Professional, timely, innovative, empathetic Cons: Truely cannot think of one negative aspect of this company My husband and I have worked with several Realty Companies since moving to Austin. Each Company has their strengths and weaknesses, and are easily comparable to each other. With one exception... Violet Crown Realty. I have never been so completely impressed by a professional team. Violet Crown held our hands through every step and decision, and gave constructive feedback to each of our ideas. They went above and beyond what anyone could possibly ask for, from the time we contacted them to discuss possibilities until after signing the final documents. read more

JoAnne and William are absolutely excellent at what they do. I was fairly new to Austin and looking to buy my first house in 2006. I knew some fundamentals of real estate, but definitely did not know Austin or the market terribly well. J+W had an almost instinctual knowledge of the neighborhoods of Austin, appropriate prices, and what home would fit best to my criteria. Before we even walked into the house that I would eventually buy, JoAnne told me that it would be my house. I was skeptical - nobody tells me what to do! - but she was absolutely correct, and her reasoning was based on her intimate knowledge of price, location, and quality. JoAnne and William helped me craft the right offer to land the house out of a multiple-offer situation, as well. Fortunately, the story doesn't end there. They have continued to be my professional and personal contacts in the five years since, always happy to recommend good contractors or offer advice on trends in the market. I would absolutely, unequivocally recommend Violet Crown to anyone seeking an agent. read more

JoAnne of Violet Crown Realty is a fantastic realtor. Both my mom and I have used her, as have several friends. The best part about JoAnne is that she is never afraid to be honest and she is tough. I was in a multiple offer situation on the house I now own, and it was only because of JoAnne and her creative ideas for submitting a unique bid that won me the home. She is also fantastic with follow-up and is there for her clients long after the sale has closed. Even though I bought my house nearly four years ago, I contact JoAnne regularly for recommendations on subcontractors and repair people and to get her thoughts on various real estate issues. JoAnne and I spent several months together looking for the right house for me. She was always patient and discussed with me my "wants" and my "needs" and we prioritized area and price accordingly. I would sincerely recommend JoAnne to anyone looking for a real estate agent in the Austin area. read more

These guys are amazing. For serious. I have never bought a home before, and didn't' know what to expect, but from the very beginning until after we closed, JoAnne was fantastic. -She was very patient with my ignorance as a 'first time buyer' (not knowing how things progressed, I actually contacted realtors before contacting a mortgage company! oops. JoAnne was the only realtor that took me seriously from the very first meeting) -She was very good at taking our input (as to likes, dislikes, preferences, etc.) into account. Each time we went out for a viewing it was clear that our feedback was incorporated into her suggestions (though, the house we just closed on she showed us the second time we went out!) -She went well above the 'call of duty' in *several* regards: accommodating our schedule/ transit ; suggestions for financing and; she has remained an invaluable source even though we have already closed ! In short, if you are looking to buy a home in central Austin, I would *strongly* recommend you to contact Joanne. She will fight for you. read more

JoAnne McKinney at Violet Crown recently helped me purchase a home. I found reviews for her on Yelp and thought I would try her out since they were so good. She was a fabulous realtor! She was quick to respond, informative, and just a delightful, good, hardworking person. She has the best team, too! Gracy Title and First American Mortgage all responded to me just like JoAnne did--encouraging, supportive, and helpful. They educated me about the process and held my hand throughout, finally getting me a great price on the loan. I highly recommend JoAnne and Violet Crown Realty to anyone. Sandra read more

My wife and I bought our first home with JoAnne. Her work ethic, integrity and dedication to finding the right place is unparalleled. She was able to help us negotiate the insane Austin market, recommended a fantastic lender and ultimately found us the perfect home. It is incredibly difficult to be a buyer in this very competitive market; you really need someone with JoAnne's level of experience and creative negotiation powers. We look forward to many happy years in our new home and have JoAnne to thank for it. If you need to buy or sell a home, this is your gal! read more

These folks are miracle workers! JoAnne helped me buy my house and several years later she helped me sell it. She and William prepped it for me since I had moved out of state. We agreed on a refresh budget and JoAnne recommended the best way to spend the $$, the best time to list the house, and she even coordinated with the contractors to make the repairs, etc. Bottom line: I spent $10K on repairs/refurbish and got $40K over our original estimated selling price. Like I said, miracle workers!! Love JoAnne, Nicole and William!!!!! read more

24 March 2009 I have had the good fortunate to have worked with the real estate JoAnne McKinney, owner of Violet Crown Realty, and I write this letter to give JoAnne my highest and unconditional recommendation. From October 2008 until February 2009, JoAnne assisted me in purchasing my first property. Determined, hard working, and ever attentive, JoAnne is a problem solver. Her ability to get things done is only matched by her talents as a communicator who keeps her clients informed as well as listens to them. JoAnne's determination and action-oriented attitude were apparent from my first interactions with her. After receiving recommendations from friends and colleagues, I interviewed three real estate agents. After I emailed her, she called me back shortly thereafter - from a hospital where she was receiving treatment! In my interview with her I was impressed not only by her years of experience helping people both buy and sell properties but also by her interest in education. Joanne both teaches and takes courses, making her uniquely well informed, almost omnipotent, in the field of Austin real estate. After looking at her webpage, http://www.violetcrownrealty.com/, I saw that Joanne was also an experienced remodeler. With a number of well-executed renovations which respected the original charm of the homes while adding modern details, I felt that she would also understand what I was looking for in a property. During the time that I was looking for properties, JoAnne made ample time to meet with me, show me properties, and answer my questions. JoAnne was flexible with her schedule, respectful of my time. More so, JoAnne is knowledgeable about neighborhoods, prices, and projected urban development. She proposed ideas that helped me envision the properties we looked at and the potential they had, she suggested ways in which I could remodel or improve upon properties, and pointed out visible maintenance and structural problems. Joanne gave me excellent advice pertaining to what properties would be sound investments, due to their resale and or rental potential. When viewing properties, she was able to envision ways to open up spaces, make general estimates of improvement costs, and generally advise what might be possible and a worth-while investment. While, of course, when I had work performed on the house I sought out the quotes and advice of specialists, having received ideas from JoAnne as well as her general estimates of costs helped me make preliminary decisions about which improvements to pursue as well as to know which estimates from service people reflected going rates. During and after the purchase of my property, she recommended service people and businesses which I found helpful and reasonably priced. As a first time buyer and inquisitive person, I asked many questions. JoAnne was endlessly patient, through, and quick in responding to them through phone calls as well as email. My particular home buying process was long due to the many changes in lending practices (due to the onset of the financial crisis), my low price range, and, even more so, my use of a federal First Time Buyers program. The federal program was bureaucratic and involved many bureaucratic blockades. While JoAnne had never worked with the First Time Buyers program which I used, she rose to the occasion, navigating the many and ever-changing rules of both banks and the federal program with an attitude of perseverance and determination, attending to the many details with mindfully. I can not imagine that the purchase of my new home would have gone as well nor been such a good fit for me had I had a real estate agent other than JoAnne McKinney. Throughout the home buying process, JoAnne put my needs and interests before her own; her commission from my purchase was, due to the property that I decided upon, relatively low. Because JoAnne is a person of such moral character and someone who genuinely looks out for her clients' best interests, she is someone for whom I have enormous trust and respect. It bears repeating that I feel lucky to have worked with her and that I would highly recommend her real estate services. read more

When we decided we wanted to buy a home in the Windsor Park neighborhood, we searched on Yelp for real estate agent that had experience and expertise in the area. We were lucky to find JoAnne, as she is extremely knowledgeable about this neighborhood and all of Austin. JoAnne connected with us immediately and seemed to know exactly what we were looking for. All of the houses she showed us met all of our criteria, which made us feel like every outing with her was efficient and useful. When we finally found the house we wanted to purchase, JoAnne went above and beyond to help us get into the house on our schedule, which was tight since we were moving out of a rental. We were going through the inspection phase right around the holidays of last year, but JoAnne was able to convince vendors to help us. I believe we even had the static plumbing test done on New Year's day. She has good working relationships with others involved in her field, which helps move things along smoothly and quickly. I waited way too long to write this review, but it's actually given me more wonderful things to write about. Throughout the first year of owning our first home, JoAnne helped us navigate an issue that we had with our air conditioning and home warranty, which resulted in a completely new and completely covered unit. Additionally, Violet Crown Realty has sent us helpful tips and information throughout the year about keeping up with our home. On our one year anniversary, JoAnne sent us the paperwork to apply for our homestead exemption. She even included a stamped envelope- a forever stamp. This lady has her stuff together and definitely knows what she's doing. If we ever sell our house, we will definitely be going to JoAnne to represent us in the selling and buying process!! read more

JoAnne helped us purchase our income property and has helped us manage it over a year now. She is a wonderful woman with a superb team who are very hardworking and helpful. She synced up with us on the internet for a few weeks and then helped us look around for homes suitable for our needs in just three days when we were in Austin. She then helped us zero down on "The" one and then worked really hard to find us "suitable" tenants all within two months. Throughout our interaction she gave us honest opinion and information about good and not so good areas to purchase property. When we went to view homes, she explained the advantages and disadvantages of each property. She has been an awesome property manager, an amazing spreadsheet manager who will always answer your call/questions immediately. She is extremely committed and has answered our queries even when she is on vacations or spending time with her family! She sends us stats and updates on Austin real estate and other related information to keep us "property virgins" up to date. If you decide to go with her I can guarantee one thing---You will love her and her work. read more

My fiancee and I recently bought our first home with the help of JoAnne and William. One of the main factors that allowed us to be comfortable with the stress of purchasing a home, our first home, was that Violet Crown Realty made an effort in getting to know us first, what we were looking for, what matter the most, isntead of just focusing on a making a sale. Through out the whole process we got to know one another and they were very helpful with their expert advise. They went out of their way and adjusted to our crazy work schedule to be able to show us houses, even on a short notice. They always were honest with us in terms of possible scenarios in negotiation of prices. They had multiple ways of presenting material to us in terms of the economy and prices and making sure we were understanding everything that goes into play when purchasing a home. Once we purchase the house that we felt in love with we still continue to stay in touch with JoAnne and William, and they have even stop by the house numerous times to check on us. If you are looking for a great experience buying a home but also want to get to know good people, go with Violte Crown Realty. read more

JoAnne and William at Violet Crown Realty are wonderful. At our first meeting with them, they listened to our wants and needs and came up with a list of houses that met our criteria and that they thought would be worth our time. We found our house on the first day, because they had narrowed down the search for us so well. We had been searching on our own for weeks and hadn't found anything! There was constant communication and we could reach them at any time with questions. They fought hard for us when the seller didn't want to budge on some things and we ended up with a great house! More than anything, we trusted them to take care of us. We never doubted that they had our best in mind at all times. The time of signing paperwork to purchase the house could have been one of the more stressful moments in my life, but because JoAnne and William were there and reading paperwork with us and explaining things we didn't understand, it was a breeze. We really never thought we'd be able to own a home and thanks to them, we do. We would definitely recommend them to any of our friends and family. read more