Rocket Science's Broker, Cynthia Riley

"You don't seem like a Realtor."
I get that a lot. It is meant as a compliment because I am not pushy or "sales-y". My job is to help clients make smart real estate choices.
My background in law makes me comfortable negotiating, handling conflict, listening, and staying organized.
Cynthia's resume

What we believe

We believe in aiming for a good quality of life, for ourselves and our clients. We believe in avoiding long commutes and living close to friends and a good grocery store. We believe in using green products when possible. We believe in open source software. Down to our recycled stock business cards, we try to do our part.

The two corporate policies to make the biggest impact for us are size and location.

*We don't sell homes beyond Austin.

*We don't sell homes larger than 3,000 square feet unless our clients have big families or some other unusual need for that kind of space.

Studies have shown people don't really "live" in very large homes; they live in up to 2700 square feet of their very large home and just keep furniture in the rest of it. And we all know sprawl is bad, commuting is a pain, etc. We strongly encourage clients to consider their lifestyle and their choices and not just figuring out how to buy the biggest house they can afford. If someone really wants a big house in Buda that's certainly their right but they are not a match for Rocket Science.

The other corporate policy that sets us apart centers on our use of resources. Our own resources. We don't spend any money on advertising to draw in new clients. We don't really need new clients. We are a referral business, meaning our clients keep coming back to us and they send their friends to us. We don't do monthly mailers, newsletters about our business, etc. We put our resources into learning, keeping up with the market and technology that sells property. I've recently gotten the Certified Negotiation Expert designation. Fewer than 1% of Realtors have sought out and completed this fantastic training. We also invest in technology that helps us serve clients. Like a real photographer to take the listing photos and do the virtual tour and the "premiere" package within realtor.com to showcase our listings.

Buying a home requires time, effort, and includes some stress, especially if you are on a deadline. Even investment purchases can carry some stress in our fast-moving market. In the central areas of Austin especially, it is not uncommon for properties to get multiple offers their first day on market. It can be a challenge. We love the challenge and we look forward to helping you find the property that fits your needs. We leave lots of room for clients under stress but our mission to have a good quality of life does include the caveat that we don't put up with mean people.

A few words from clients

*To say that I recommend Cynthia is a real understatement. Some of the key issues when you are buying a house is having someone you can trust, who can quickly zero in on what you want in a house and is organized to get the job done. She figured out our taste and needs immediately and selected the homes carefully. She was extremely well-organized and responsive. She helped us to make an informed decision in 2 days flat. And if that wasn't enough, she helped us in a host of other tasks-networking for a job, finding a gym, you name it, she did it. I don't know what we would have done without her.

*'Cynthia Riley was beyond wonderful to work with. She is, and I am not exaggerating, the only realtor I ever want to work with again. Wonderful direction, advice, went out of her way to help us find exactly what we needed, which was not easy. In addition, she's truly enjoyable to spend time with.

*''The buying/selling process went off without a hitch - in fact it was fun! Now I'm on a quiet street with wonderful neighbors. Cynthia's ethical approach, determination, and strong negotiating skills set her apart from most people I know. Not at all pushy. Not a self-promoter. No hidden agenda. Just a hardworking, civic-minded, genuinely kind person who knows her business.