Lakeway broker featured on reality show

Lakeway real estate broker Kenn Renner will be returning to HGTV's "House Hunters" for a third time this summer. The air date has not yet been announced, but HGTV filmed the show in March.

The show features Renner helping his friends and client Dr. Kevin Hoffarth and his wife, Krista, find a home in the Lakeway area.

The Hoffarths moved to the community because Dr. Hoffarth is opening a practice in the Lakeway Regional Medical Center office complex. Renner said this is one of the few doctors he knows that has moved to the area because of the hospital, since many of the hires were local.

Renner said that three of the four interested house hunters he has worked with have been chosen to be on the show. He said he hopes there will be more opportunities because the show's producer told him the popularity of "House Hunters" is allowing the network to go from about 30 to 40 episodes per year to about 200 episodes per year.

To get on the show, Renner applied and sent in a video for review.

Renner said that because many people are interested in the Texas real estate market, it is easier to be featured.

"It's partially because prices here are less than in California or on the East Coast," Renner said. "It's sticker shock in a good way."

He said the scenic views in Lakeway and Austin's laid-back atmosphere also makes the area attractive to the film crew.

Renner said he originally applied for the show because it had been a goal of his. Part of his motivation, he said, was the free publicity. For instance, he said he recently went to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio and was recognized by someone.

"A lot of people recognize me now, and that adds to my credibility," Renner said.

Brokers aren't paid to be on the show, but homebuyers are paid $500 for their time.

Renner said that although he often asks buyers if they'd like to be on the show, very few want to do it.

"Some are camera shy, and it's also a lot of work. And then there's the time factor," Renner said.

He said it takes about a full day of video shooting for each house they visit. Then after the family moves into their home, the three-person film crew comes back for a final wrap-up of the show.

Renner said he enjoyed filming the show and said the doctor did as well because it's a documentation of the Hoffarths' move.

"It's fun to document, and then you have that film for the rest of your life," Renner said.

Renner's family had been on the show, and he said his children enjoyed going to school and having people say that they saw them on TV.

Renner has been a broker in Austin since 1993 and in Lakeway for about five years.

He said the experience has also taught him a lot about filming, which he has been able to use in his real estate business. He shoots and produces his own YouTube videos, which have more than 8,000 subscribers and has almost 9 million views.

Kenn Renner, broker, Renner Realty, 423-5626, www.buyaustin.com

HGTV's 'House Hunters'

Look for the episode to be featured on HGTV's "House Hunters" midsummer at www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/show/index.html