About Vikki Goodwin,
REALTOR®/Broker, SRS, GRI, EcoBroker®
I have been a REALTOR® since 2004, and have worked in real estate since 2001. In 2011, I became a Broker, meaning I took additional classes and passed the state broker's test.
I really like meeting new people and helping people negotiate the home buying and selling process! Before choosing a REALTOR®, I hope you'll take some time to check credentials. You can do so on the TREC website. It will show you the education we've taken and whether or not our license is current.
Since 2001, I have sold homes all over Austin, as well as Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Buda, Bastrop and Pflugerville (click on the tab to the left to see my recent sales). My first experiences were with two top producing realtors – one with Re/Max and one with a very small botique-type company. Now with Homes ATX, LLC, I have the luxury of taking what I learned from both the large and small companies and putting it into action for my clients. I am both a good listener and a skilled negotiator.
In 2008, I earned the EcoBroker® designation. I have become more and more interested in the "green" building movement going on around the country, and especially in Austin. I have learned a lot about the various aspects of green building, from energy efficiency to choosing materials wisely. The information has come in handy even when selling resale homes, because I can give buyers advice about how to take an older less-efficient home and transform it into a tight, "green", energy-efficient home without spending a fortune.
In 2007, I earned two designations. These designations indicate I have taken extra education so I can better serve my clients. I have the GRI designation - Graduate, Realtor Institute, and the SRS designation – Seller Representative Specialist.
Since I don't have the Texas twang to my speech, many people ask where I'm from. I was born in Arlington Heights (suburb of Chicago), but at the age of three, was moved to Dallas, Texas, thus, no major accent. However, I have picked up some of the twang while living in Austin. I came to Austin in 1985, to attend the University of Texas (go Longhorns!). I earned a Bachelor’s degree in business with a major in marketing and a minor in government. I continued on at UT and earned a Master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1991. From there I started a career in system’s analysis and computer system training, working for Andersen Consulting and then the Office of the Attorney General. That led, down the road a bit, to my real estate career.
Many of my clients come from out-of-town. I've met people from all over, including New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia, California, Washington, Oklahoma, Ohio and even Saudi Arabia and China! I really enjoy telling clients about Austin – and I feel like a full-fledged tour guide many times – but I enjoy hearing stories about other places, too!
Conveniently, I am married to a mortgage loan officer, Bob Goodwin. He has been in the lending business for over 23 years (his contact information is on the Mortgage Info page). Together we have 5 children, two dogs, three cats and many goldfish in our water harvesting pond.
My Philosophy
I spend a lot of time viewing homes for buyers as well as homes that are competition for my listings so I can stay in tune with the market. By checking comparable sales on a regular basis, I maintain in-depth market knowledge. When I have spare time, I attend classes and REALTOR® Round Tables to stay on top of new trends and new ways of doing business. When you hire me, you work with me, unlike some teams where you will work with the assistant who may or may not be a licensed REALTOR®. I strive to always put my clients' needs first. I stay accessible, I work to be a good listener and a good communicator, and I respond quickly to clients' needs.