City Girl Turned Texan: Sarah’s Journey to PSW

12.10.12, by admin

On a crisp Fall, Chicago night in 2007, I went on a first date with with a long time friend. As we dined at a quaint Cuban restaurant, Justin explained to me that his long term goal was to move to Austin, TX. I thought to myself, “Well, this will be fun while it lasts, because I’m not moving to Texas for you… or anyone.” I was fully content living in the City indefinitely. I loved Chicago, my friends, and the real estate business I’d started there. I landed in Chicago right after graduating from KU, and I was proud of the life that I’d built there.

Fast forward a year and a job promotion later, and I slowly warmed up to the idea of a potential move. I visited Austin for the first time in November 2008 and instantly loved all that the city had to offer – great outdoor activities, stellar weather, a burgeoning restaurant scene, and a booming real estate market (compared to the severely depressed Chicago market).

In September 2009, I took a leap of faith and made the move to Austin with my then-boyfriend. Three months later, Justin became my fiancé, a year later (2010) he became my husband, and a year and a half later (2012) we welcomed our sweet daughter, Eleanor, into our lives. Needless to say, a lot changed in a short amount of time.

When I moved to Austin, I met with Ryan and Dani Diepenbrock about a potential job selling for PSW. I swore that I would never work for another developer/builder due to several bad experiences in Chicago. But after chatting with the Diepenbrocks at their kitchen table about their vision for PSW, I knew there was something special about this company. Ryan and Anthony weren’t just building homes, they were building meaningful relationships and unique communities.

When I started with PSW in 2009, I had 6 homes to sell. In 2013, we’ll have ~100 homes to sell. It has truly been a rewarding experience to see PSW (slowly and thoughtfully) grow over the past 3 years, and I am just as proud to work for this company as I was back when I had 6 homes to sell. When you work with a group of people that are all caring, passionate, and respectful, it really doesn’t feel like work. Our business is extremely fulfilling, knowing that we work every day to enhance the city we all love and the lives of the people that live here. Sounds cheesy, I know, but it’s true.

Justin and I are both from Kansas City, and our daughter is a first generation Texan. You heard correctly – the girl who was so initially resistant to Austin is now raising a Texan! Justin, Ellie, and I live in a PSW home in PSW’s Villa Court community. We have fully embraced the Austin lifestyle and hit up the hike and bike trail, new restaurants, and concerts as much as we can.

 

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Posted in PSW Real Estate, Susatainable Living