Maegan Brest - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

09/18/2026

🚨 PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN LOOKING FOR A RENTAL ONLINE

We are seeing more people get scammed by individuals who take photos from legitimate real estate listings and repost the property as a rental.

These fake listings can show up on:
• Facebook Marketplace
• Craigslist
• Facebook groups
• Social media posts
• Classified-ad websites
• Rental listing sites that allow owner-posted listings

Before you send ANYONE money:
Drive by the property. If there is a REALTOR® sign in the yard, call the agent on the sign.

Google the property address. Check Zillow, Realtor. com and other major real estate websites. If the home is currently listed FOR SALE by a real estate brokerage but someone on Facebook is offering to rent it to you, STOP and verify who you are dealing with.

Contact the listing agent or brokerage directly. Do not rely on the phone number provided by the person claiming to own the property.

Never send a deposit, application fee or first month’s rent until you have verified the property and the person authorized to rent it

Be especially cautious if someone says they are out of town, cannot meet you at the property, will mail you the keys, wants payment through an unusual method, or is pressuring you to send money quickly.

And please remember: a legitimate-looking listing does not mean the person posting it actually owns or manages the property. Scammers can copy photos, descriptions and even names from real listings.

If you’re in the Abilene area and you’re unsure about a property, contact me. I’ll help you look into it before you send someone your money. I’d much rather spend a few minutes helping you verify a property than see another person lose hundreds or thousands of dollars to a scam.

Please share this. People are losing real money to these scams, and a quick verification could prevent it.

09/18/2026

Price Reduction

09/17/2026

Starting an emergency fund can be difficult, but cutting your extraneous spending for just one month can make it easier.

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09/14/2026

Let’s talk about what’s actually happening with the Taylor County rental market.

Right now, there are 181 active rentals listed in NTREIS, and as properties sit on the market, we’re seeing quite a few price reductions. As we head into fall, rents are not simply continuing to climb like many people assume.

It’s also important to remember that not every homeowner raised their rent during the influx of workers. Some companies were willing to pay higher prices because housing several workers together was cheaper than paying for multiple hotel rooms. And those $5,000 to $10,000+ rentals you see? Many are furnished corporate rentals that may include utilities, cleaning, lawn care and other services, so they aren’t comparable to a typical long-term rental.

And one more piece of the housing puzzle: Airbnb currently shows around 940 vacation rental listings in Abilene alone. That doesn’t mean 940 single-family homes, since the number can include apartments, guest houses, rooms and other types of stays, but it shows just how much short-term rental inventory is also competing in our housing market.

Add that to the 391 homes currently for sale in Taylor County, our long-term rental inventory, apartments, RV parks, hotels and other temporary housing, and there are a lot more housing options available right now than people may realize. For comparison, we were sitting at close to 700 homes for sale this time last year.

This is exactly why I keep saying we need to watch the actual numbers. The market is changing, and right now we are seeing rental prices adjust downward as properties compete for tenants.

09/12/2026

NEW TO THE MARKET

7313 Tuscany
$380,000
2,028 sq ft / 2017 yr build
Wylie West school district

Located in Wylie ISD, this four-bedroom, two-bath home offers more than 2,000 square feet of well-designed living space. The open layout connects the living room, dining areas, and kitchen, creating an inviting space for everyday living and entertaining. Interior features include wood-look tile flooring, crown molding, abundant natural light, and a stone fireplace. The kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, double ovens, generous cabinetry, and bar seating. The spacious primary suite includes dual sinks and a jetted tub. Outside, enjoy a large fenced backyard, covered patio, established landscaping, and a two-car garage. All information, including measurements, square footage, schools, and property features, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Buyer and buyer’s agent to verify all information.

For more pictures click the link below 👇
https://ntrdd.mlsmatrix.com/matrix/shared/b4RtR9lFJ1f/7313Tuscany

09/10/2026

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09/09/2026

I am SO excited for my sweet buyers! ❤️🏡

Sometimes when you know a house is meant for you, you just know. We actually saw this home at the very beginning of their search, and they fell in love with it. We tried to make an offer, but at the time, it just didn’t work out. So we kept looking. We toured more homes, talked through the pros and cons, and tried to find something else that felt right. But that first house just kept sticking in their minds… and honestly, mine too. There was just something about it. I had a feeling we weren’t quite finished with that house yet.

Well, as of yesterday, WE HAVE IT UNDER CONTRACT! 🥹❤️

Buying a home can be such an emotional process. You may walk through so many houses, sometimes with limited time to take everything in, while knowing other buyers may be looking at those same homes too. It can feel exciting, stressful, overwhelming and hopeful all at the same time. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, you find the one that feels like home. We are still in the option period and have a few steps ahead of us, but I am just so incredibly excited for these buyers and so proud of them for coming back around to the home they loved from the very beginning.

Here’s to the next step in this home-buying season of their lives. I’m so excited to walk through it with them!

09/05/2026

Here’s a list of Open Houses happening this Saturday and Sunday throughout Taylor, Jones, and Callahan Counties! 🏡

Take a look and see if there’s one you’d like to stop by this weekend!

09/03/2026

The entryway of your home can say a lot about you.

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08/27/2026

Looking to slay your coffee habit? While it won't be easy, these three tips will get you started.

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