Living and working in Austin has been a lifelong project. As a third generation Austinite, I've witnessed many changes in our little town and I take pride in the diverse cultures, national reputation and myriad industries we've cultivated. Despite being such a "happening" city, Austin does a good job of keeping a small town feeling of community and that is important.
I joined The Kinney Company in 2005. Three reasons I selected this company are: 1) the agents showed a depth of knowledge in not only the real estate industry but in the styles and construction techniques of properties as well; attributes not often found in agents; 2) there was a true dedication to find the right "fit" for clients and a long-standing philosophy of service; and, 3) it is small business where we strive to support one another and our communities. It has proven to be a good fit for me. After three years with the company, I assumed the role of broker as Teddy Kinney decided it was time to see her grandchildren more often and to see more of the world than just Austin. With some 20 years' experience in residential real estate in the Austin area, my personal background could fill a short book but it has included studies in interior design, work in
the legal arena in areas of real estate law and public law, and more than a dab of experience building and remodeling houses, including one built of rammed-earth. I find that I use all of this knowledge nearly every day in my work.
At home, with my husband, Bill (a "wills and estates" lawyer), I have two young girls who keep me busy and keep my creative energy flowing. My home office is in the Balcones Drive area of Central Austin - a home we thoroughly remodeled prior to moving in.
When I'm not working, you'll find me visiting the homes of the annual fall AIA Tour or spring Heritage Society tour, supporting the local Open Days Garden Tour of the National Garden Conservancy, and trying to be a good neighbor - helping where I can; filling in the gaps at school, in the neighborhood, or at community functions. It's a full life. It's a good life. It's a life in Austin after all.
The name "Old Austin Realtor" expresses with a bit of humor my special interest in the central area of town, or "old Austin." My real estate practice grew out of my commitment to historic preservation and neighborhood planning.
Prior to entering real estate in 1997, my work life was all in the non-profit sector, either with the Presbyterian Church or ecumenical agencies. From 1979 to 1990 I served as executive director of Texas Impact, a broadly ecumenical faith-based public policy advocacy organization from which I retired to be at home with my young children. I still serve on the board of that agency.
I live with my family (husband, Lewie Donelson, a professor at Austin Presbyterian Seminary; daughter, Sarah, a senior at The University of Vermont) in the Suehs House, just north of the UT campus. The house was built in 1914, by Dr. Paul Suehs and his wife, Laura Marburger Suehs.
We bought our house in 1998 after it had been used as a student rental for almost 20 years. We hired restoration specialist David Stark as our contractor to make it livable again. Our work was recognized with the 1999 Restoration Award from the Heritage Society of Austin. In 2004 it was designated a City of Austin Landmark.
I greatly enjoy serving on the board of the Heritage Society of Austin, which I have done since 1999 with a couple of years off. For six years I managed and taught a continuing education course for Realtors, "Marketing and Selling Historic Properties," co-sponsored by the Austin Board of Realtors and the Heritage Society. I presently co-chair the Preservation Committee with Professor Michael Holleran, who directs the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at the University of Texas.
For seven years I served on the Community Action Network, the planning body for health and human services for Austin and Travis County. While there I worked on the city's Affordable Housing Work Group which studied housing needs in Austin and published "Through the Roof," a useful report on Austin's housing needs. I bring my concerns about affordability into conversations about preservation and vice versa.
One of the most interesting and educational experiences I have had in community activity has been serving on the planning team of the Central Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan, which was adopted in summer of 2004. We brought together an amazingly diverse group to form a comprehensive plan for seven neighborhoods around the University of Texas. We demonstrated the power of a shared vision and common goals to transcend differing interests and points of view. We continue to oversee issues that arise in implementing the plan.
In the spring of 2007, I was appointed to the newly formed Public Safety Task Force, a group authorized by the City Council to advise on policies affecting the police, fire and emergency services departments. That work ended in mid-2008 when the task force was phased out and a permanent commission formed.
All these activities have been useful to me in working with clients as they search for a home and a neighborhood in Central Austin.
I enjoy working with Lazan Pargaman, who is the Broker/Owner of The Kinney Company Real Estate Services. Besides the fact that we share a great deal in our values and style of working with people, I find her artistic sense inspiring and her down to earth practicality comforting. Working with her enables me to extend my availability and link my expertise with hers. Because we are a small company, we take satisfaction in the kind of personal service we are able to give our clients, whether they are buying or selling homes.
Lin Team, ABR, Realtor 600 Bellevue Place Austin, TX 78705 512-472-1930 fax 512-370-1930 lteam@austin.rr.com
Company Founder Teddy L. Kinney
Teddy Logan Kinney grew up in San Angelo and came to Austin to attend the University of Texas. Her first career was teaching social studies in Austin and other places while her husband, John Kinney, studied law and started his career as a trial lawyer. Teddy moved from teaching, with some overlap, into working with her husbands law office in the east Texas town of Woodville where they raised their three children.
Teddy and John owned a title company in Woodville, where they built one of the first completely computerized abstract plants in the state. Teddy operated the title insurance business until they sold it in 1993 when John moved his law practice to Austin. It was a natural transition for her to move into real estate sales. She opened The Kinney Company in 1995 and worked solo until joined by Lin Team in 2000 and Lazan Pargaman in 2005. She built a successful real estate business over the years and always enjoyed working with people.
She retired at the end of 2008 so she and John would have time to travel and enjoy their six young grandchildren. She taught us a lot about serving our clients with dedication and diligence. We count on her teaching us about how to enjoy a new start in life when our retirement comes!
