Andy Gallegos, David Aston and Mark Vela, front, with agents of the new ERA Millennium Realty in Buda. (Courtesy photo)
by BRAD ROLLINS
Buda-based ERA Millennium Realty has merged with a smaller agency to form what the company says is the largest residential real estate firm in Hays County by sales volume.
Under the arrangement, San Marcos-based ERA All Texas Realty’s two partners, Mark Vela and Andy Gallegos, and their two employees will operate as a team within ERA Millennium, principal David Aston said. The merger became effective on Tuesday.
“This makes us a powerhouse in the area and we’re very excited about the increase in our market share,” Aston said. “We’re really excited about the position that puts us in. You’re going to start seeing a lot more ERA Millennium ‘for sale’ signs.”
Millennium had sales totaling more than $31 million in 2010; All Texas turned in sales of more than $7 million, Aston said. By Aston’s calculations, the combined companies sold more than twice the volume last year of their closest Hays County competitors, Great Locations and Randall Morris’ two brokerage firms.
Both Millennium and All Texas specialize in bank-owned and foreclosed properties with Millennium primarily operating between south Austin and New Braunfels and All Texas holding listings in an area stretching from Georgetown to San Antonio, Aston said. All Texas Realty recently secured a contract to sell homes on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“We literally have the largest inventory of bank-owned homes in Central Texas,” Aston said.
Aston, a Mountain City resident, has owned Millennium Realty for 24 years. The company has been an ERA franchise since 2003.
