Laura Collins- Magnolia Realty

08/26/2026

I have officially changed my mind about owning a pool. 💦 I’ve never been a firm believer that a pool was something I needed in a home.
Beautiful? Absolutely.
Fun? Of course.
But necessary? I wasn’t convinced.
Until I started swimming regularly.

Y’all…the flexibility and range of motion I’ve gotten back has been amazing! From something as simple as putting my bra on 😂 to twisting around to grab a package from the backseat of my car. Everyday movements just feel easier.

And it has me thinking differently about growing older gracefully and how the things we need from our homes change right along with us. Being able to walk into my own backyard and swim every day has become so much more than having a pretty pool.
It’s movement. It’s relaxation.
It’s time outside. ☀️ and I’m vitamin D deficient.
There are SO many benefits to owning a pool that I never knew. 💙

And here’s the REALTOR® in me coming out…If you’ve been thinking about selling a home with a pool, don’t underestimate what that backyard may mean to the next buyer. It may not just be about summer parties and entertaining. For someone like me, it could be about wellness, daily movement, relaxation, and enjoying home in an entirely different way.

And if you’ve decided a pool needs to be on your next “home wish list” well, apparently I understand that request a little better now. 💦
Maybe that pool isn’t just for the kids after all. 😉

Laura Collins | San Antonio Real Estate
Laura Collins, ABR®
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio
210.422.8428

08/22/2026

Writing an offer tonight…and this one feels so GOOD. 🤍🏡 My clients and I have been looking for a special home off and on for more than two years.
You know the kind.😉

The one where you walk through the front door, take off your shoes and start imagining your life there before you’ve even finished the tour! Yeah, that sort of find!

A beautiful custom home tucked inside a gorgeous gated community in Spring Branch…over an acre beneath mature Texas trees, a pool and hot tub out back, wonderful outdoor living spaces, and so much character throughout.

It checked 📦 …after 📦 …after 📦 .

And then there was the staging. 😍
Y’all. I wanted SO MANY THINGS in this house! So did my buyer!
I finally asked the listing agent, “Is the seller an interior designer?”

She laughed and told me no that the seller had hired someone to help. Well…I’d hire that talented person too! 😂 Every room was warm, collected and beautifully put together.

But the best part?
After searching for more than two years, my buyers looked at this house and could see something much bigger than a beautiful property.
They could see home.

So tonight, I’m sitting down to write an offer on what we hope will become their forever home. ❤️ Now we cross our fingers, say a little prayer, and see what happens next. 🤞🏻🏡

Laura Collins | San Antonio Real Estate
Laura Collins, ABR®
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio
210.422.8428

💦💦comes with pool 💦💦

08/17/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Laura Collins, ABR® by Mark S - Laura did great a job for us with our challenging situation. She worked over and beyond and was always available for us. Highly recommend her .

Click to see all 69 reviews of Laura Collins, ABR®, REALTOR®

08/17/2026

Today’s Hill Country showings had me falling in love with the setting before we even stepped through the front doors. Both homes on our tour were tucked beneath beautiful, aged oak trees…you know the kind that instantly make a property feel established, peaceful, and unmistakably TEXAS. 🌳🤍

But I think this may be THE ONE. 🏡
🤫 They don’t know it yet!

✨ Just over an acre in Spring Branch Texas
✨ Single-story living
✨ Gorgeous mature oak trees
✨ Durable 3-D composition roof
✨ Heated swimming pool
✨ A garden ready for someone with a green thumb
✨ Iron fencing wrapping the property
✨ Privacy, space, and that wonderful Hill Country feeling

There was just something about this one. The kind of property where you can picture mornings under the oaks, afternoons working in the garden, dinner outside, and evenings by the pool. 💦

Sometimes we walk into a house and start checking boxes. And sometimes we pull up to a property and think…
“Ohhhh…this could be home.” ❤️

Laura Collins | San Antonio Real Estate
Laura Collins, ABR®
REALTOR®
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio | Hill Country
210.422.8428

08/14/2026

🍞 In the Collins’ Kitchen

Homemade sourdough is YUM, especially when Madi & Noah are the bakers! 🤍

When there’s time to give a sour dough starter a little love and attention, these two turn it into the most beautiful bread.

📸 2: Measuring out just the right amount of sourdough starter
📸 3: Stretching and folding the dough to build that beautiful gluten structure before proofing
📸 4: Final proofing…and then it’s oven time!

Doug makes delicious grilled cheese on homemade sourdough and usually adds jalapeños. 🌶️🧀🍞 That creation deserves a post of its own. 😂 I could never plan to remove bread from my diet even if I tried!

If you’ve ever wanted to learn sourdough, Bryan Ford, host of The Artisan’s Kitchen on Magnolia Network does a wonderful job teaching everything from creating your starter to baking beautiful breads. His step-by-step recipes and photos make the process feel much less intimidating.

But for now, I think I’ll let Bakery Chefs Madi & Noah keep practicing and sharing their expertise. Doug and I are perfectly happy being the official Collins’ Kitchen taste testers. 😋 In our family, the kitchen has always been where we spend most of our time together. It’s where we cook, talk, laugh, gather around the island, try new recipes and somehow end up lingering long after the food is gone.

🧑🏼‍🍳Having a large kitchen is wonderful, but a functional kitchen that fits the way your family actually lives is even better.

🍳So if your family has outgrown yours, or you’re dreaming about a bigger island, more storage, better flow, or simply one where everyone can gather…..
Let’s go find it! 🏡🤍

Today I’m showing homes to a couple who need a better functioning kitchen. I’ll let you know how it goes! 😉

Laura Collins | San Antonio Real Estate
LAURA COLLINS, ABR®
210.422.8428
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio

08/13/2026

Some days in real estate come with a few unexpected treasures. 🤎

Today I was out showing homes near Blanco Road, and whenever I’m in that part of town, I have a hard time passing up a stop at The Armadillo Antique Mall.

I went in on a mission for a little 80’s nostalgia for our upcoming 40th reunion…and Y’ALL.......😍 I FOUND SOME THINGS.

I’m not giving it all away just yet, but let’s just say my fellow Class of ’86 friends are going to appreciate this little trip down memory lane. 📼✨

And because apparently I cannot be trusted in an antique store, I also came home with a little jewelry and some absolutely beautiful vintage linens. 😂

Showed homes. ✔️
Found reunion treasures. ✔️
Added a few pretty things to my own collection. ✔️

I’d call that a VERY productive day. 🤍

And now I’m curious…what’s one thing from the 80’s that would immediately take you back?

Hugs,
Laura

08/10/2026

🏡 Buying a home with a tenant in place? Read this before you assume you’ll get the keys and move in at closing time.

Here’s something many buyers (and even some sellers) may not realize:

Selling a rental property does not automatically make an existing lease disappear.

If a home is currently occupied by tenants with a valid lease, that is important information for a prospective buyer to understand before making an offer.

A property should not be represented in a way that leads a buyer to believe:

❌ The home is vacant when tenants are actually living there.
❌ There is no current lease when a lease is in effect.
❌ The buyer will receive possession at closing when an existing lease gives the tenants the right to remain in possession beyond closing.

🏠 Ownership and possession are two different things. 👈🏼

A buyer may become the new owner on closing day while the tenants retain the right to occupy the property under their existing lease, depending on the lease terms and circumstances. 🤷🏻‍♀️

That distinction can be especially important for a buyer purchasing the property as their primary residence.

Before purchasing a tenant-occupied home, buyers should ask:

✔️ Is there a current lease?
✔️ When does it expire?
✔️ Has it been renewed or extended?
✔️ When will possession actually be available?
✔️ Will the buyer be assuming landlord responsibilities after closing?
✔️ Has the lease and every amendment/addendum been reviewed?

And Sellers: be transparent about an existing tenancy. Accurate information protects everyone involved. The Seller, Buyer, Tenants, Agents, and Brokers. It’s about making sure everyone understands what they’re actually buying/selling.

NOTE:This post is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Lease rights can depend on the contract and circumstances; consult a Texas real estate attorney regarding specific legal rights.

Laura Collins | San Antonio Real Estate
Laura Collins, ABR®
REALTOR®
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio | Hill Country
210.422.8428

08/09/2026

🍦🥤 FLOATING INTO A BRAND-NEW SCHOOL YEAR! 🍎✏️

National Root Beer Float Day gave me the perfect excuse to do one of my favorite things… shower our teachers with a little love! ❤️ I had so much fun delivering Root Beer Floats to the wonderful teachers Helotes Elementary and
Hoping it was a sweet way to kick off the new school year! 🍦🥤

To all of our teachers, administrators and school staff getting ready to welcome students back:

GOOD LUCK! 🍀

May your classrooms be filled with laughter, your coffee stay strong, your patience stay plentiful, and your year be filled with those little moments that remind you just how much you matter. 🍎❤️

On August 17th, I get to surprise one more school and keep the Root Beer Float celebration going!
🍦🍿✂️✏️🚌🚸🖍️❤️

Here’s to an amazing 2026–2027 school year! Please be kind and helpful to all of our teachers! 🍎✏️📚

08/04/2026

🤷🏻‍♀️What is the debt-to-income ratio and why does it matter when you’re planning to buy a house?

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a percentage that’s calculated by dividing your total monthly debts by your total monthly gross income and is a metric used by lenders when considering your mortgage. It shows them whether or not you have a good balance between what’s coming in versus what’s going out. The magic number is 3️⃣6️⃣% or ⬇️ for most lenders, otherwise, you may end up paying ⬆️ interest on your loan or be denied completely. 👎🏼

If you’re in the market for a new home, but know that your DTI ratio is too high, here are a few steps you can take to actively improve it and increase your chances of getting approved for a loan.

✨Find an additional stream of income to supplement your current income
✨ Lower the interest on some of your existing or recurring debts
✨Consider applying for a loan forgiveness program
✨Lower your monthly payment on an existing debt
✨Cut back on your non-essential spending
Looking for a home?
Selling yours?
I can help! ☀️
com

LAURA COLLINS, ABR®
210.422.8428
Magnolia Realty | San Antonio
☎️‪(210) 422 8428

••••••Savvy Buyer!••••••