Murney replaces Carol Jones at Highland

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John Q. Hammons Industries Aug. 9 named Murney Associates as the Realtor for Highland Springs, the gated country club community off Highway 160 in southeast Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

Until July 31, Carol Jones, Realtors, had served as the Realtor for the exclusive development for nine years, according to Donna Crosby. Crosby served as the managing broker for the real estate office since Carol Jones, Realtors, took it over for Hammons Industries in 1991.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think we did a great job out there. Last year alone, we did $10 million in sales, including resale properties," Crosby said. |ret||ret||tab|

Carol Jones said the pullout from Highland Springs, which she said was a mutual decision between Carol Jones, Realtors, and Hammons Industries, will allow her company to better use Crosby's talents for selling upscale homes in the area, not just in Highland Springs.|ret||ret||tab|

Crosby has been an agent with Carol Jones, Realtors, since its inception in 1983. |ret||ret||tab|

"Donna had to sit (at the Highland Springs office) seven days a week. Now she has more time and can work with more clients and sell more properties," Jones said. |ret||ret||tab|

Jones moved from the Highland Springs office to Carol Jones, Realtors', main office on South National when she returned as the comp-any's president and chief executive officer in the spring. |ret||ret||tab|

The other four Carol Jones agents who worked at Highland Springs moved to the South National location July 31. Crosby said she has returned to sales and continues to sell the same kinds of properties as she did in Highland Springs. She said she still has listings in Highland.|ret||ret||tab|

Twila Hillme, managing broker for Murney Associates, said Murney Associates will staff the Highland Springs office with six agents. |ret||ret||tab|

Sherrie Loveland is the firm's listing agent for in the development. Hillme said Loveland is the only agent at Murney who has been asked to staff the Highland Springs location so far, and that sales volume will be the deciding factor for the other five agents who will staff the office. |ret||ret||tab|

Loveland, who worked out of the Highland Springs office two years ago when she was an agent with Carol Jones, said she will continue to have listings outside Highland Springs. |ret||ret||tab|

Loveland said her experience and interest is in marketing developments, which she said contributed to Murney naming her as the listing agent for Highland. |ret||ret||tab|

Management of the Highland Springs office will be a partnership between Loveland, Patrick Murney and Hillme. |ret||ret||tab|

"I have such an aggressive marketing plan that I was looking for a new challenge to combine with that. It's something new for me to focus on, while continuing to serve the clients I already have," Loveland said. "Ham-mons' properties speak for themselves. They're always the best. We're already working on our marketing for the development." |ret||ret||tab|

In addition to naming Murney as the new Realtor for Highland Springs, Hammons announced plans for the development of Highland Springs' fourth phase within the next year. |ret||ret||tab|

Murney Associates will market the 104 lots still available in the first three phases of development at Highland Springs. |ret||ret||tab|

"I know that Murney Associates is made up of quality Realtors with excellent experience and reputations," Hammons said in a press release. "I have observed their sales success over the years, particularly of the types and sizes of homes located in Highland Springs."|ret||ret||tab|

Hammons said Carol Jones, Realtors', contract for the Highland Springs expired three years ago, but was extended on a month-to-month basis until July.|ret||ret||tab|

Patrick Murney, once a top seller for Carol Jones, Realtors, started Murney Associates in July 1997 with 18 other former Carol Jones, Realtors, agents. The company now has 120 agents and was recognized as one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States by Real Trends Inc. in its 2000 Real Trends 500 report.|ret||ret||tab|

"We want to continue the traditions that Mr. Hammons has established and built over the years at the extraordinary Highland Springs community," Murney said in a press release. "At the same time, marketing in the real estate industry has changed dramatically in the last few years. We appreciate it that our place in the industry is recognized by Mr. Hammons, and that he has selected Murney Associates to take Highland Springs to the next level of development."|ret||ret||tab|

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