Holidays time for focusing on family, real estate industry slows down

by David Webb

David Webb is a veteran journalist who has written for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. He is now a freelancer who lives in the Cedar Creek Lake area. He is a regular contributor to cedarcreeklake.com. E-mail story ideas to davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.

Debra Holland is a real estate agent serving the Cedar Creek Lake area for Browne Hollar Realty of Terrell. She has lived and worked as a real estate agent on the lake for 10 years. She credits her love for what she does to her 105-year-old grandmother instilling a strong work ethic in her.

CCL.com: What do you like about real estate work?

HOLLAND: I like working with people. It makes me feel good to put people in houses that they may be in for a long time raising their families and building an investment. I like the flexibility, the broad range of people I meet and the results, although I probably work longer hours than I might in some other profession.

CCL.com: What is the state of the Cedar Creek Lake real estate market these days?

HOLLAND: I think we have our own diverse market -- recreation, single-family and acreage homes -- that keeps us strong. I believe the State of Texas as a whole is holding its own in the real estate market. The drought has hampered us some, but our diversity has helped us.

CCL.com: What makes Cedar Creek Lake so special when it comes to drawing new recreational and full-time residents?

HOLLAND: Cedar Creek Lake is the most affordable lake area within an hour or two of Dallas. Our market is always good because of that.

CCL.com: What type of properties are moving the best right now?

HOLLAND: The sale of single-family homes is going great. New home construction is up, and there is a lot of investment activity going on.

CCL.com: How will the upcoming holidays affect the real estate market?

HOLLAND: During the holidays people spend more time with their families so it will slow down some. Once the holidays are over, we will be back on again. All industries except for retail slow down during the holidays.

Tell us what you think!