Mary Jones, Owner/Broker of Mary Jones Real Estate, joins Angi Burns to talk all things Rockwall County real estate. Mary shares her journey from accounting and retirement into building her own boutique brokerage, and why Rockwall's small-town charm, exceptional schools, and lakeside lifestyle are drawing families east of the bridge.

🌟 Perfect For:

• First-time home buyers looking for guidance through the process
• Veterans interested in learning about VA loan benefits and programs
• Families considering a move to Rockwall, Heath, Fate, or Royse City
• Homeowners thinking about selling in the current market
• Buyers looking for land, acreage, or a custom-built home
• Anyone curious about the lifestyle and community of Rockwall County

🎟 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Mary transitioned from a 20-year business with her husband, into accounting, and finally into real estate as her third career
• Why she chose to start her own boutique brokerage after managing 60 agents at a larger firm
• What makes Rockwall County special — from Thursdays at the Harbor to the farmer's market, pickleball, golf, and lake life
• Why families are moving east of the bridge and what to expect in Rockwall, Heath, Fate, and Royse City
• How Mary walks first-time buyers and veterans through pre-qualification and the home buying process
• The current state of the Rockwall market in 2026 and why buyers have the advantage
• How Mary's negotiation skills helped her win deals during the competitive 2020 market
• Why having a real estate advocate matters when making the biggest purchase of your life

💬 Memorable Quotes:
"Everybody's just a little more calm, relaxed, personable."
"I don't leave the island very often."
"You have to be able to pivot. You have to be able to go with the flow and you have to keep yourself educated."

📍 About Mary Jones Real Estate:
A boutique Rockwall-based brokerage specializing in Rockwall, Heath, Fate, and Royse City — serving first-time home buyers, veterans, sellers, and custom build clients with personalized service and trusted local expertise.

Email: mary@maryjonesrealty.com

Phone: 214-707-0308

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City Lifestyle is the digital destination for local living - a one-stop-shop for hyper local, expertly created content that inspires and connections communities.

While other sites take a content-first approach to providing local information, City Lifestyle sets itself apart by positioning people first - creating a platform that emphasizes the best of what your city has to offer, created and promoted by the people who know it - and represent it best. These authentic voices in each city are key drivers of the brand by providing an inspiring, genuine and trusted look at life in their communities.

https://citylifestyle.com/allentx | @allencitylifestyle

https://citylifestyle.com/plano | @planocitylifestyle

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Podcast services provided by HappyBox Productions

hpybx.com

Kris Wise, expert realtor and leader of The Wise Advantage Group in Flower Mound, joins Angi Burns to break down today's "schizophrenic" real estate market. With 24 years of experience and a background as a self-described "phone accountant," Kris shares how she built a data-driven business in the land between the lakes, what really happened with the 2024 commission changes, and the tips every buyer and seller needs to know before making a move.

🌟 Perfect For:

• First-time home buyers who want a clear, step-by-step process
• Homeowners considering selling and wondering what updates are actually worth doing
• Property owners preparing to protest their property taxes and needing comps
• Anyone confused about the 2024 buyer's agent compensation changes
• Buyers and sellers in Flower Mound, Salina, Azell, and the land between the lakes
• People who want a knowledgeable, full-time realtor instead of a hobbyist

🎟 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Kris transitioned from accountant to realtor in 2002 and built her career through the 2008 crash
• What the current DFW market really looks like and why we're still in a strong seller's market
• How the August 2024 commission changes actually work and why they benefit both buyers and sellers
• Why Texas being a non-disclosure state matters and how to get free comps for property tax protests
• The "come from contribution" philosophy behind The Wise Advantage Group's culture
• The number one tip every seller needs to hear before spending money on improvements
• How to find a trusted agent and why your best friend or cousin may not be the right choice
• Why the market shifts week by week and how Kris adjusts strategy based on real-time data

💬 Memorable Quotes:
"So I always came from contribution, which is let me help you before I ever ask for any business to come my way."
"Hope is not a strategy."
"Do not do improvements before you've met with a realtor."

📍 About The Wise Advantage Group:
A Flower Mound-based real estate team led by Kris Wise, specializing in the land between the lakes — Lake Grapevine to Lake Lewisville — with a culture of excellence, data-driven strategy, and a deep network of trusted tradespeople. The team provides free comps, consultations, and a "should I remodel or move?" service for homeowners.

Website: meetwithchris.com

Comps: www.compsbywise.com

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City Lifestyle is the digital destination for local living - a one-stop-shop for hyper local, expertly created content that inspires and connections communities.

While other sites take a content-first approach to providing local information, City Lifestyle sets itself apart by positioning people first - creating a platform that emphasizes the best of what your city has to offer, created and promoted by the people who know it - and represent it best. These authentic voices in each city are key drivers of the brand by providing an inspiring, genuine and trusted look at life in their communities.

https://citylifestyle.com/allentx | @allencitylifestyle

https://citylifestyle.com/plano | @planocitylifestyle

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Podcast services provided by HappyBox Productions

hpybx.com

Mollie Hancock, co-owner of Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies, joins Angi Burns alongside her husband and business partner John Hancock to share the story behind DFW's original reusable moving box company. From a pickup truck mishap that scattered boxes across the highway to becoming Plano's 2024 Small Business of the Year, Mollie and John talk sustainability, community giving, and how their elephant-branded boxes have kept hundreds of thousands of cardboard boxes out of landfills.

🌟 Perfect For:

• Homeowners and renters planning a local move in the DFW area
• Realtors looking for a reliable moving supply partner for their clients
• Eco-conscious movers who want to reduce waste and lower their carbon footprint
• Anyone tired of fighting with cardboard boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap
• Small business owners curious about building a brand and giving back locally
• People who want to save time and money on their next move

🎟 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Mollie and John discovered the reusable moving box concept from a Canadian company and brought the idea to Texas in 2015
• The hilarious origin story of their first delivery, a pickup truck, and a very generous Toyota manager
• How the service works: they deliver, you pack, move, and unpack, then they pick up at your new home
• Why the name "Elephant Trunk" was inspired by steamship travel and a philanthropic vision
• The two box sizes available, plus quilted dish containers and stemware boxes that eliminate the need for packing materials
• How Elephant Trunk has kept approximately 300,000 boxes out of landfills and lifted clients' carbon footprints
• Why Mollie and John believe small businesses give a community its character, and how they support local nonprofits like Journey of Hope, Love Packs, and My Possibilities
• How using their boxes can take an hour off your move and even pay for itself in mover labor savings

💬 Memorable Quotes:
"I've always believed from the very beginning that small businesses give community character."
"The more you give, the more you get."
"When you start a business, you don't know what you don't know."

📍 About Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies:
DFW's original reusable moving supply company, offering rentable plastic moving boxes, dish containers, and stemware boxes that save time, money, and the environment. Family-owned since 2015 and proud 2024 City of Plano Small Business of the Year.

Website: elephanttrunk.net

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City Lifestyle is the digital destination for local living - a one-stop-shop for hyper local, expertly created content that inspires and connections communities.

While other sites take a content-first approach to providing local information, City Lifestyle sets itself apart by positioning people first - creating a platform that emphasizes the best of what your city has to offer, created and promoted by the people who know it - and represent it best. These authentic voices in each city are key drivers of the brand by providing an inspiring, genuine and trusted look at life in their communities.

https://citylifestyle.com/allentx | @allencitylifestyle

https://citylifestyle.com/plano | @planocitylifestyle

-----------------------------------------------

Podcast services provided by HappyBox Productions

hpybx.com