Jason Bernknopf, REALTOR®

I have been working for Habitat Hunters for 8 years. Jody and Jeff have been extremely knowledgeable and helpful over the years. It is a very close knit company that helps each other out. I feel extremely lucky to have started with Habitat Hunters. There are not many real estate companies out there that can provide such a steady flow of leads year round. I think it is the perfect company to learn and practice all aspects of Real Estate in Austin.

Anita Dallas, REALTOR®

I have been an agent at Habitat Hunters Real Estate Services since March, 2006. In this time I have found a strong sense of camaraderie working with Jody, Jeff, the other agents and assistants at Habitat Hunters. Jody is always available to give information, guidance, suggestions, support and REFERRALS.

You won't believe the number of referrals that come through our office. Habitat Hunters has been around since 1972 and people who use our service remember us and refer their friends, family, and children. Our website, habitathunters.com, has great search engine placement and a lot of good referrals start by searching on our site to look for properties. Granted, many are for leasing, but you get the opportunity to make them your future buyers. I have had a number of those in my time at Habitat Hunters.

And, you get the referrals even if you office from your home! Sure summers are hectic with Sales and Leasing, but that's what we want, right? In fact, Leasing didn't have the usual "slow season" from 2010 to 2011. The Habitat Hunters office is open and staffed 7 days a week, but of course you will have access in case you start early or stay late.

Habitat Hunters can supply as much or as little support as you need. No extra charge for a desk w/computer, or you can bring your own device and get networked to have use of Internet, printer & copier incl. supplies, scanner, phones, signs, lockboxes, forms, assistant support, etc.

A great central location actually makes for walk-ins, remember those? We got 'em! [One of my first clients at HH was a walk-in UT renter whose parents decided to buy instead and I helped them purchase a $280,000 house!]

Another benefit is that Habitat Hunters is NOT a franchise. If you have a suggestion, or want to discuss a point of business, Jody is right here - ready, willing and ABLE to make a change. She listens and takes suggestions seriously. And there is NO franchise fee to pay!

Habitat Hunters is a small boutique style brokerage - you will never feel like a stranger among strangers.

Tyson Davis, REALTOR®

Habitat Hunters, for me, is the fulfillment of a long quest. Jody Lockshin, Broker/President, of Habitat Hunters has tirelessly and with limitless patience taught me how to be a REALTOR. After graduating from the University of Texas I endeavored in several administrative and sales jobs where the agent was judged more by their proficiency tying a Windsor knot than by their work output or production in sales.

Jody has brilliantly integrated a casual work environment with a seriously professional work ethic. At all previous sales jobs I have held, I have always felt I had to fight my colleagues for prospective clients and then use annoying hard sell pressure tactics with those prospective clients.

Jody makes it easy. She sends copious amounts of leads for leases and even possible buying and sale lead opportunities for real estate. I am beyond lucky to work for Jody at Habitat Hunters.

James Ireland, REALTOR®

I have a great appreciation for the professional and courteous manner in which Jody runs her business. The agency exudes a certain element of family and togetherness without it being personally intrusive. In addition, Jody projects a level of joy for her job that others do not have. I believe she truly wants us to help others out and at the same time she encourages us to be proactive. She is a good example because she is always focused and always working. I think if you are working for someone, it is going to matter a great deal who the boss is. I believe that this is why some agents have stayed with Habitat Hunters for such a long time.

Jacklinn Jarrell, Former Office Manager

I loved working at Habitat Hunters. As a student, the flexible hours and laid back atmosphere were a perfect fit for me! All of the realtors at Habitat made it a very enjoyable place to work!

Tony Johnson, REALTOR®

I am so lucky to have been given Habitat Hunters' information. I have been with Jody and team for approximately 1.5 months and have closed 7 of my 15 leads that given to me by Jody. The other 8 are all in process. I love that I am part of a family and not a corporation. Jody has a great personality, and when I say she is available 24/7, I mean just that. I was so surprised to ask her a question via email at 2 am and got a response right back. She has taken me under her wing and has made me feel so good about joining her team. If you are considering coming over to Habitat Hunters, I say don't think twice. You will be happy you did.

Bryan Patten, (Former REALTOR®, before moving to Dallas)

I started with Habitat Hunters as an intern during the summer of 2009 while I was studying Finance at the University of Texas. Jody's extensive knowledge, her dedication to her agents and her company, and her willingness to help her agents in any and all aspects of the job are the reasons I chose Habitat Hunters. Habitat Hunters has many things to offer new agents, and experienced agents, alike. Unlike most real estate offices, you do not directly compete with the agent next to you. In fact, as a new agent, the more experienced agents have always been willing to give advice and answer questions from their professional experiences. Easy access to a great amount of knowledge and experience along with Habitat Hunter's in-house attorney/CPA, Jeff, has allowed me to be successful and learn a great deal in a short amount of time. Thanks Jody, Jeff, and all the agents and assistants for creating such a great environment to work in, I always look forward to coming into the office because of all these wonderful people.

Shellie Reyes, Former Office Manager

Habitat Hunters is an excellent place to work. The schedule is flexible, the location is close to campus, the owners and agents are supportive and encouraging, and there is a constant opportunity to learn. I started working at Habitat Hunters my sophomore year of college at the University of Texas at Austin. I was immediately drawn into the opportunity to become an office assistant because of the close location to campus and the chance to gain work experience in an office environment. I worked at Habitat Hunters for about two years, before graduating from UT and moving to Philadelphia for law school at Villanova University School of Law.

Habitat Hunters offers its assistants a very flexible schedule around academics, extra-curricular activities, and even other part time jobs. While working at Habitat Hunters I was involved in a sorority, several leadership boards, and enrolled full time. Because of the flexibility of the scheduling, I was able to balance working and staying committed to my academics.

Furthermore, Habitat Hunters is an ideal place to work while in school because of their close location to the UT campus. Depending on where your class was, a 20min walk could easily get you to the College of Communication on Dean Keeton, where most of my classes were. The flexibility and close proximity to campus allowed me to work more hours than if I was to work at any other job away from campus.

During my two years at Habitat Hunters, I formed many friendships not only with my fellow office assistants, but also with the real estate agents, and even the owners. I found myself going to my co-workers asking for advice on which law schools to attend; receiving bagels on my birthday; enjoying the office happy hours at various downtown restaurants; and most of all, the friendly and positive atmosphere that was created through the closeness of everyone at the office.

Something that definitely makes Habitat Hunters unique is how supportive the owners, Jeff and Jody, are of their staff. Throughout my time at Habitat Hunters, they always made it a point to ask me about stuff going on outside of work, from dealing with the death of my Grandma, to applying for law school and studying for the LSAT, Jody and Jeff have always been supportive and encouraging. They understand what is means to be a full time student and have a job at the same time. So much so, that they allow you to study if there is nothing going on at the office. Jeff and Jody's guidance not only to the office assistants but to the agents as well, is inspiring and admirable and they serve as great role models.

At Habitat Hunters, there is constantly the opportunity to learn about Real Estate and never a sense of boredom. After being an office assistant for one year, I became the office manager and learned a great deal more about Habitat Hunters as a business, and Real Estate as a profession. Throughout my two years, I was constantly learning new things and as a result was able to help out the Real Estate agents more and more.

Being given the opportunity to constantly learn in this busy real estate office, along with flexible scheduling, close location to campus, and the most supportive coworkers, is more than I could have ever asked for in a part time job while I was in school. The skills I learned from this job have definitely prepared me for my next career and working here will be an experience I will always be fond of.

Nelda Rogriguez, REALTOR®

The many leads that I have gotten from Habitat Hunters Real Estate Services have helped me increase my production in a short amount of time.

Dana Sanditen, REALTOR®

Working with Jody and Jeff is truly a pleasure. They really care and make the learning process easy. Or, if you already know your way, but want some pointers on how to better yourself and/or increase your business, they're there to help. Send them an e-mail; you'll get an expedient reply every time. They provide an excellent support system -- one of the best I've experienced in my entire career.

Jill Whiteside, REALTOR®

Jody Lockshin with Habitat Hunters offered me a position as an agent before I obtained my Real Estate License. I was working in Residential Real Estate Appraisal and was interested in becoming an agent as well. Everything Jody presented to me about the position with Habitat Hunters was straight forward and I was excited to become a part of the team. The company seemed like a good fit for me personally too. I was nervous that the position would not be there once I finished the courses needed over the next few months. What I realized once I began my courses is that ANYONE will hire you as a Real Estate Agent!

While in Real Estate School I sat through countless free lunches given by other companies and received an entire forest worth of slick folders stuffed with literature outlining the intensive structured training programs (and the payments I would need to make for that training). All the while I was keeping in the back of my mind the offer from Jody, but started to wonder, "Am I making the right decision? Will I receive the training I need? Am I going to get stuck in Leasing and never break into sales? How will my career progress?"

Then I connected with a recruiter that came from another reputable, but larger and more structured, Austin based company and started thinking that it might be a better fit for me. I was worried about the amount of training I would receive with Habitat Hunters. Most of my classmates were going with bigger companies and I was beginning to wonder a little if I was making the right choice. The biggest difference between most of my classmates and me is that I was not in the financial position to wait 6 months for my first paycheck and pay for training on top of it!
Obviously I stuck with the original plan and began working for Jody and Jeff as soon as I passed the exam and activated my license. I have been able to work, receive pay, and training all at once- while feeling very supported by the staff, team of agents and Jody Lockshin and Jeff Plotkin.

Jody will respond at literally any time day or night if I ever need guidance. Jeff Plotkin, has also been an invaluable resource as an attorney, CPA and real estate expert as well. I never feel intimidated to ask the smallest question and am very grateful for the wealth of experience and knowledge that is available to me at anytime. We don't have formal sales meetings, call rooms or structured training, but Jeff, Jody, and any member of the Habitat Hunters team will offer their assistance and advice promptly as needed. My questions I had while I was in school have all been answered. I am extremely happy with the choice I made. I feel like there is an opportunity to grow with this company for anyone that is willing to work hard and work smart as a Habitat Hunters Real Estate Agent.

Jennifer Young, (Former REALTOR® before moving to MO)

Becoming an independent contractor was an intimidating thing for me. After graduating from the Austin Institute of Real Estate, I was immediately hired on at Keller Williams. I was lost. Way too many agents, no mentors and a cold office staff left me feeling like I would never get the hang of it. Even after sitting through a year's worth of their "free" classes, I was ready to throw in the towel.

Fortunately, I had met Jody at one of her many networking projects and decided to speak to her about joining Habitat Hunters. I had passed by her building an uncountable number of times, the purple house right next to UT, everyone knows it! I even remember using HH when I was in college in the 90's in order to find a house to rent. I loved that it had been a part of Austin for so long.

Working at Habitat Hunters was the perfect remedy for my failing real estate business. Jody provided endless leads, even without completing months of phone duty first; tons of walk-in traffic and the hands-off mentoring and tools that I needed to become instantly successful. When I had a question or needed help now, Jody was there, in the office or always answering her phone to help in a pinch, day or night. Habitat Hunters is a local icon and it's not hard to see the reasons for its success!