Do you hear that ringing noise? No, it’s not the new year still reverberating in your ears, it’s the sound of a new real estate agency coming to Fort Worth.
Local Fort Worth Realtor Ashton Theiss recently announced the arrival of The Ashton Agency, a real estate brokerage that will focus on residential sales along with land and ranch properties.
New Year. New Decade. New Brokerage
The entrepreneurial agent, now broker, has always wanted to create a brand of her own, and 2020 seemed the perfect time to make that happen.
“Having worked as a Realtor for the past many years — not only in Tarrant County but all over Texas — I saw areas of the market that were not being served. I am from a family of entrepreneurs and 2020 seemed like the perfect time to create a new company,” said Theiss. “People kept asking me, ‘When are you going to start your own thing?’ and after a lot of planning, preparation, and prayer it was clear that starting a new agency was the perfect thing to do at this stage of my career.”
With a new brick-and-mortar office soon to be completed, Theiss is eager to target the right types of real estate agents to represent The Ashton Agency.
“This company is for the experienced and just starting agents who are tired of the status quo. Agents who don’t want to be just another name on a roster but who want to be part of something special. I don’t have a set goal for number of agents in the company, I want this to be organic and unique in the way it grows.”
“I want agents who are proud to serve their clients and their community. Those that not only care about their sellers or buyers in the moment, but that will establish long-lasting relationships with their clients,” Theiss added. “Homeowners should be able to see a difference in who is taking care of their needs.”
Filling The Void
The Ashton Agency hopes to fill a void in the real estate market that Theiss feels has been lacking in the housing frenzy that the D/FW Metroplex has experienced over the past decade.
“Recently we have seen large companies dip their toe into the real estate world. However, especially in Fort Worth, we are seeing a resurgence of the smaller brokerages and boutique, homegrown offices — that says a lot about the market and clients,” Theiss said. “People want connection, they want to know they are important and not just an algorithm or data that will be bundled and sold to the highest bidder. The Ashton Agency will gladly fit that bill.”
The Future of Real Estate
As with many successful people, Theiss is always looking to the future and what the role of technology will play in the real estate world going forward.
“There’s no denying the iBuyer and companies that offer a self-serve, or a menu pricing type of platform for buyers and sellers will always be there,” she said. “In the Metroplex, those seem to be for homes under a certain price point — I’d say $300,000 and under is where we have seen an impact. When the market is strong and a home is offered at a price that resonates with many buyers, sure, it can be an easy transaction. But not all transactions — regardless of the price — are easy. Those iBuyer companies have success in a perfect storm scenario. The first time there is a question on the title commitment or appraisal … good luck with getting any help.”
As for the overall market for Tarrant County, Theiss is bullish not only on the past but on the future as well.
“In 2018-19 we had a market correction, and that was an okay thing to have,” she said. “Prices were increasing at an unreal level and that’s not sustainable for a growing market. Homes are still selling, people are still moving to the area, we have plenty to be thankful for that’s for sure.”
