Home Builders Celebra te

MARKET ROARS BUILDERS SOAR

Houston Icon
The

Price: Five Cents

PRISM Winners Announced! Winners Guide included.

Special Edition

Saturday, October 5th 2013

Real tors reach for coa t t ails

Get out your dancing shoes. Its time for a party.

Celebrate good times...Come on!

Welcome to higher ground, ladies and gentlemen, and congratulations on enduring the climb. Now please--if only this one time between forecasting, planning, calculating, and analyzing--just celebrate. Enjoy the success and good fortune youve earned by blasting through the five previous years of punishment. Reflect on the drastic improvements in market activity, sales performance, team morale, and ultimately profits. Dont think about hitting your budget for October; instead talk about what you did last month or last quarter. For once just silence your ringer. Celebrate a year that has reminded us all why we picked this occupation in the first place. Its alright to enjoy the moment tonight; you can get back to work tomorrow morning while the rest of the professional world relaxes in their Sunday shoes. As one of the few Realtors present at the PRISM party tonight, please let me say on behalf of the entire Realtor community: THANK YOU. Thank you for the hard working, neversay-die approach to every single day. I applaud your focus and determination to win every last column of that budget spreadsheet--even when the market makes the task a comedic effort. Thank you for your partnership with Icon and with the Realtor community. We are nine months into a surging market--a full three quarters of low inventory, lot shortages, impatient buyers, and construction delays. Yet I cant find anybody thats tired of talking about the new market climate. Everybody still speaks of it with a surprised tone, as if were all just asking: how long will this party last? Perhaps we cant prolong the magic...but we can dance while the music plays. I know that is exactly what I plan to do.

Partner with GHBA in 2014

Claim your sponsorships before theyre gone

The Marketing Guide serves as your road map on how to add value to your membership, build relationships, and generate recognition for your company in front of your industry peers. The association provides members an abundance of ways to achieve professional development and recognition. But the sheer number of events and opportunities can be overwhelming, so we have produced this guide to help you plan your involvement for 2014 and to set your budgets in advance. If you are looking to maximize your exposure, consider a GHBA Partnership, and you can receive tons of perks-like print and online advertising, GHBA room rentals, and member mailing lists-at no additional cost. The top 5 reasons to Partner with GHBA: 1. First dibs on new-in-2014 sponsorship opportunities 2. Early sponsorship commitments. Choose your favorite events before they sell out AND maximize your exposure in event marketing materials. 3. Monthly exposure at council and committee meetings, and special recognition at larger events. 4. Free advertising on GHBA.org and in Houston Builder magazine. 5. Balanced monthly billing. ...and many more. To start building your partnership, email Donna Buenik or call 281.970.8970 x141. She will schedule one-on-one meetings based on your interests. Partnerships are on a first-come, first served basis and some exclusions apply.
1 www.houstonicon.com

Celebrate a year that has reminded us all why we picked this occupation in the first place.
This mini-newspaper is part commentary, some advertisement, a completely elaborate theme prop, and most importantly a token of our appreciation to our friends of the GHBA and the home builder community. Please remember to thank the people that make this incredible event possible: The outstanding members of your GHBA team and the Sales & Marketing Council. We at Icon Real Estate plan to celebrate with you all tonight. After all, we chose to jump onboard your almost-sinking ships with buckets in hand. Thanks for the ride back to higher ground.
- Johnny Schiro Icon Real Estate

SPORTS & LEISURE

Watt -- Married to the Game
HOUSTON -- J.J. Watt has a pretty good idea what time he will go to sleep tonight, and next Monday, and could probably recite the times he will eat and what foods he will put in his body for at least the next few days or so. His existence -- singularly focused on being the best football player he can possibly be, if not one of the greats of all-time -- is stunningly calculated, particularly for a 24-year-old kid. Potential distractions are cast aside or never entertained; girlfriends, a social life, swank parties do not exist in his world where literally every hour, or half hour, is carefully scripted to maximize the Houston Texans defensive ends opportunity to fulfill his dream. This pursuit has served him incredibly -historically -- well in two explosive seasons, despite the challenges he faces as a 3-4 defensive end, and if Watt were to shatter the single-season sack record or knock down even more passes than he did a year ago, at this point no one who knows him would be surprised. Every single part of my life is calculated, Watt said, looking refreshed even as the monotony of training camp transitions into the regular season routine. Everything. Im sure part of it is unhealthy, because my personal relationships suffer, I dont have much of a social life. I literally dedicate my life to this game, and youre not going to find me out, youre not going to find me at the bar, youre not going to find me outside my house very often, because if Im not at the stadium Im recovering, Im eating, Im doing some recovery for my legs, Im getting my body ready. Weve got fans that spend their hard-earned money on my jersey and support my charity, and for

Towne Lake Triathlon Brings Home Some Gold Athletes sw am in Houstons largest priv ate
recreational lake, raced throughout community to raise more than $24 thousand for three area nonprofit organizations.

For now Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is married to the game of football and does not have any love interests.

me if youre going to spend your hard-earned money on my jersey I want you to be proud. I want you to be proud every single time you put that on. When you go out in public, I want you to be extremely proud of wearing No. 99. -Jason La Canfora CBS Sports NFL Insider

Towne Lake is a Caldwell Companies development. Caldwell Companies is a fully-integrated real estate services and development firm providing commercial and residential development, office, industrial, retail and land brokerage, and property management. The firm is committed to the practice of doing business with a true sense of purpose - building community. For more information about Towne Lake, call 281256-2772. To see complete race results, visit NoLimitsTiming.com.

Builder Blues
realtor babysitting

Al Capone

@TheRealScarface Anybody thirsty? Got some tasty drinks. Delivery service available. #hintHint #bootleg #keepinitGangsta

Coco Chanel

@CHANEL

A woman can be over dressed, but never over elegant #girlpower

Charlie Chaplin
@theLittleTramp Just found out someone copied my mustache. Hope he doesnt do anything stupid to ruin it for me. #whatKindofNameisAdolf

Albert Einstien

@E=MCdeuce

@CHANEL that dress would look even better accelerating towards my bedroom floor at 9.8m/s2 #playaforLife

Harry Houdini
@NowyouSeeme Some jerk just came up and punched me in the stomach. Really hurts but the show must go on!

Wall Street
@FatStacks The 20s - officially the best decade EVER! Cant wait to see what the 30s bring. #noEndinSight

Henry Ford
#timesAretough #VroomVroom www.houstonicon.com

@mrModelT @PresCoolidge 26 a gallon? WTF?!

Jay Gatsby
@nouveauRiche Party at my place tonight. @TheRealScarface youre definitely invited. #poppinBottles 2

SPOTLIGHT

Icon Real Estate is a locally-owned marketing & sales powerhouse--a team of nine highly-talented members, each driven by a rare blend of creative, analytical, and persuasive savvy. Known for a seductive brand of residential marketing and a high performance mantra, Icon carries an astounding 30 days on-themarket average for new and resale listings since 2009. Icon offers move-up and downsize expertise, resale marketing & sales, home buyer representation,

Who is Icon?

Confidence. Experience. Performance. Icon sets a new standard in Houston real estate sales. and a set of powerful home builder marketing and sales services. Icon is a partner to the builder community and one of the highest-producing Realtor teams in the city. Icon ranks in the Houston Business Journals Top 5 Realtor Teams, #84 on the Wall Street Journals list of Realtor Teams nation-wide, and #26 on the Houston Business Journals Fast 100--a collection of Houstons fastest growing private companies. Icon was also your 2011 GHBA Realtor Team of the Year.

T e a m i co n
Johnny Schiro
Broker

Jeremy Larkin

Managing Partner

Johnny is the creative vision behind Icons business strategy, marketing style, and relentless drive to redefine the industry. Johnny has poured his heart, soul, and countless hours into building Houstons #1 home marketing authority.

Mr. Living room or Mr. Martini--Jeremy can quickly adapt to any opportunity with finesse, focus, and a fierce competitive strategy. This rare skill set gives each of his represented clients the upper hand in all situations. Jeremys clients can rest assured - its GAME OVER for the competition!

Scott Laird

Managing Partner

Nicole Roberts

Director of Operations

The Sales Genie has experience in just about every known type of sales. The man can light you up with humor, dazzle you with charisma, or calm you with psychology. Scott is a proven winner and an excellent therapist (like most great Realtors.) The answer is yes, you want Scotts exceptional talent on your side.

The company Yell Leader and Icons only Aggie, Nicole manages the Icon egos with style & grace--thanks to her A&M Business degree, Masters in Business Administration, and a 14-year real estate industry career.

Desirae Borkowski

Marketing Director

Keith Van Ness

Brand Marketing Manager

Desirae operates Icons marketing machine, producing seductive, tailor-made marketing for more than 400 homes in a calendar year. Im proud of how weve earned trust & respect over the years through our hard work, dedication, and high performance.

Known as The Magician, Keith maintains the Icon image with expertise in social media, graphic design and public relations...along with a hyperactive imagination. In this photo, he is actually reading the mind of a co-worker just before materializing another outstanding Icon marketing campaign.

Patrick Bertolino

Lead Photographer

Taylor McDonald

Client Liaison

Patrick is the man behind the infamous Icon camera, responsible for Houstons most recognized brand of twilight photography. He truly is an expert in the ways of light.

Sweet T is the smile of Icon Real Estate. She keeps Icon clients and builder partners well connected & informed via consistent communication. My favorite part about this job is making connections with our clients and having a positive impact on them. I enjoy making a difference in their lives.

Nick Teran

Photographer

Nick is a formally-trained photographer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Photography. Nick began his education in Seattle and completed in Austin, Texas with a new perspective on the environment--a perspective that has given him a strong foundation for his profession. 3 www.houstonicon.com

LOCAL & BUSINESS

Top 20 Communities: Johnson Claims 4 Four Johnson Development communities earn top-20 sellers
Four Johnson Development Corporation communities have been given the Top 20 Sellers award by Metrostudy. According to a Kaplan Public Relations news release, A midyear report by Metrostudy of the nations top 20 master-planned communities shows The Johnson Development Corp. of Houston with four communities among the nations Top 20 Sellers, including three in Fort Bend County, more than any other developer in the country. Johnson Developments three Fort Bend master-planned communities, are Riverstone (No. 8), Sienna Plantation (No. 13) and Cross Creek Ranch (No. 15). They joined the Montgomery County master-planned community of Woodforest (No. 20 ) among the nations top-20 for new home sales.

Legend Homes Fast-Growing

6,000 Homes Strong

All our communities are seeing a balance of relocations from other parts of the country and other parts of Houston. Families want value from their home purchase, a community with extensive amenities, proximity to their workplaces and quality schools, said Doug Goff, chief operating officer of The Johnson Development Corporation, in the news release. Learn more at www.johnsondevelopment.com.

Please remember to thank your title sponsor for supporting the GHBA and the home builder community

Since 1991, Legend Homes has established a Ryland Named the Fastest tradition of constructing affordable homes without sacrificing style and luxury. With well over 6,000 Growing Public Builder in 2012 by BUILDER Magazine residences constructed in the Greater Houston area, The Ryland Group, Inc. (RYL), was named we have built a reputation as one of Houstons most the fastest growing publicly traded homebuilder in trusted homebuilders. the United States for 2012 at the BUILDER 100 Awards ceremony held in Scottsdale, AZ. Ryland closed 4,809 homes in 2012, representing a 41% increase over 2011. We are extremely proud of our designation as the fastest growing public builder in 2012, said Ryland CEO Larry Nicholson. Equally important, we achieved this growth while significantly improving the profitability of our organization. Rylands dynamic growth in 2012 was driven by a combination Learn more about Legend Homes at of organic reinvestment in existing operations and www.legendhomecorp.com. the acquisition of two builders Trend Homes in Phoenix and Timberstone Homes in Charlotte and Raleigh. The momentum Ryland generated in 2012 continued into the first quarter of 2013, as the company posted an increase in closings of 60% over the first quarter of 2012. Headquartered in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nations largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. Since its founding in 1967, Ryland has built more than 300,000 homes and financed more than 250,000 mortgages. The Company currently operates in 14 states across the country and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RYL. For more information, please visit www.ryland.com.

Heavyweight

Texas St ars Taylor Morrison Named Top Dog Partners in Building Wins 3 at
Builder Magazine 2013
Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) today announced that it has received the prestigious Builder of the Year Award by BUILDER, the leading media brand for residential construction. This achievement highlights Taylor Morrisons commitment to building differentiated communities and quality homes for todays families across the United States and Canada. Taylor Morrison is honored and privileged to be selected as the Builder of the Year. This award is a testament to our dedicated team members and the Company weve built. In each of our communities across the United States and Canada, we strive to create quality homes that families can be proud of, and I believe this award highlights that commitment, said Sheryl Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Morrison. Palmer and her expert team organized two companies into one unified one with staffs working together efficiently and effectively, said Jean Dimeo, BUILDERs editor in chief. Plus, they navigated a declining market, sale from a British company, a private equity purchase, and now a public offering.

Home, and Best Showroom/Sales Center. For more information about Partners in Building, visit PartnersInBuilding.com

the 2013 Texas Star A w ards

On Tuesday, June 25th Partners in Building took home 3 Star Awards presented by Texas Association of Builders, which showcases homebuilders, remodelers and developers in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Awards included Best Product Design $400K-$599K, Best Custom

Aliana Awards Again

Houstons 2012 Marketer of the Year ranks #17 Nationwide on the Metrostudy Top 20 Master-Planned Report
Just outside of Sugar Land in Fort Bend County, Aliana has created a place where necessities and niceties are artfully woven into the fabric of our community. Our exclusive Club at Aliana, a stylish and immense amenities center, exemplifies this best. Here, an entertaining and dynamic gathering place for Aliana residents, featuring all the finer points of a handcrafted lifestyle.

Darling Homes Pairs Loca tion with Luxury in North Houston

Home buyers looking for north Houston neighborhoods close to the best dining, shopping and employment centers in the area dont need to look any further than Darling Homes and its beautifully planned communities in Spring, Montgomery, the Woodlands and Conroe.

Trendmaker Redefines Clear Lake

Trendy in 2014

The highly anticipated Reserve at Clear Lake City will open in Fall 2014 the first new homes built in Handcrafted the area since the late 1990s. Twenty years ago, Clear Lake was in its glory, as strong as The Woodlands, said Will Holder, President for living means of Trendmaker Homes. It was huge, but then it ran out of lots. This is an opportunity to get a little more putting the best parts of life at your into Clear Lake City. Its the last little piece to develop. Theres nothing of this size left. Its a real jewel. fingertips. From This new community announcement comes at a time when the supply of existing homes for sale in the boutique shopping area has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, according to a recent article in The Houston Chronicle about to minor league resale activity in Houston. Houston is experiencing a shortage of lots for quality home sites and new lot baseball in nearby Sugar Land, Texdeliveries have been outpaced by new home builder starts 2 to 1 over the past three years. Mex to continental cuisine, fine arts to festivals, Fort Bend County has a little bit of everything for you to craft your ideal lifestyle. If you enjoy the outdoors, you may never want to leave Aliana at all. Tennis, swimming, fitness, even great places for a weekend bar-b-que or a formal reception are available at the community center. www.houstonicon.com 4

Darling Homes--now a part of Taylor Morrison Home Corporation--can be found in The Woodlands Creekside, Woodforest, Lakes of Cypress Forest, Harmony, and several of Houstons other top-tier communities. For more information on Darling Homes, please visit www.darlinghomes.com.