Citing significant growth and high demand for homes in Southwest Austin, Realty Austin plans to open a new office in March at The Shops At Arbor Trails shopping center to be closer to local clients.

Marc Warshawsky, Realty Austin's Southwest Austin market manager, said the expansion is part of the company's effort to establish a physical presence in all of the geographic areas it serves, noting it aims to open another office in Cedar Park at the intersection of Avery Ranch Blvd. and Parmer Lane in 2013.

Warshawsky said adding the Southwest Austin office will provide a resource for the community, enabling people to meet with agents and learn more about available homes in a convenient location.

The new location at 4301 William Cannon Drive, Bldg. K, Ste. 200, also offers convenience for the company's employees in the area, he said. This year the company is also highlighting a marketing campaign, Pick Any Agent, through which the region's residents will see photos of actual agents they can reach out to in the area, Warshawsky said. There are close to 50 agents expected to work at the new office.

"We have room for growth," he said. "We are looking to hire about 20 more experienced, accomplished agents."

Headquartered in downtown Austin, the company was founded in 2004 and employs 170 local real estate agents. Realty Austin reported more than $800 million in sales in 2012, ranking as Austin's No. 2 agency in terms of profit.

Jonathan Boatwright, co-owner of Realty Austin, said the company's growth goals are timed with recovery in the Austin housing market.

"In 2012 we saw a 25 percent explosion in local housing demand, and we grew our business by 48 percent," he said in a news release. "In the past we have predominantly been a virtual office, online-driven company. This expansion gets us closer to our customers, and closer to our agents, so we can cater our services to the unique needs of these communities."

Southwest Austin is one of the fastest-growing parts of town, and Austin as a whole is growing, Warshawsky said, noting he doesn't see that changing anytime soon.

"I think growth will simply continue," Warshawsky said.

Contact Information:

Realty Austin

4301 W. William Cannon Drive, Bldg. K, Ste. 200

512-241-1300

www.realtyaustin.com

[email protected]