Ebby Halliday Companies Break Into East Texas With Jacksonville-Based Acquisition

The Ebby Halliday Companies announced today it has acquired Homes & Properties Realty, a Jacksonville, Texas-based residential brokerage that serves Jackson, Tyler, Rusk, Bullard, Flint and surrounding East Texas areas.

It’s a smart move for Ebby, as the Northeast Texas region has seen a meteoric rise in the value of small land sales and rural properties. According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, the region that would be served by the new office saw a 33.8 percent increase in the price per acre for 2021.

“Timing is everything, and the timing of this move meets current market needs and positions our combined companies to better serve current and future residents, as well as second-home buyers and sellers, in East Texas,” said Chris Kelly, President and CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies. “This acquisition brings together two like-minded companies with extensive residential real estate experience.”

Homes & Properties Realty co-owners Vickie Lough and Brenda Stahelin are longtime Jacksonville residents. When it came to the decision to grow with the Ebby Halliday Companies, it was a natural choice.

“It was important to Vickie and me to find a partner that fits our company culturally and shares the same values on how to service our clients,” Stahelin said.

“I truly believe that we found that partner in Ebby Halliday,” Lough added.

Natalie Thomas, sales leader of Ebby’s Cedar Creek Lake office and co-sales leader of the company’s Forney office, will also serve as sales leader of Ebby’s Jacksonville office.

“I am super-excited with the opportunity to help lead the growth of the Ebby Halliday brand in East Texas,” said Thomas. “With respected East Texas agents backed by one of the nation’s most-admired brokerages, we offer an unrivaled experience for those needing help with residential, land, farm, ranch, and lake sales in East Texas. It’s an exciting day for the Ebby Halliday Companies and it’s an exciting day in East Texas.”