At first when you step into the Raney & Associates office, you aren’t sure if you stepped into an interior design studio or trendy art gallery by mistake.

Colorful original art lines the walls. The paintings are by Dana Dixon, a Dallas artist and Ann Lou Raney’s sister.

A sleek entry desk greets you at the entrance of the office and you immediately notice the nesting areas of chairs arranged around the open concept office. A chair is something, on which you probably spend the most amount of time of your regular day, considering you as a working professional. If you don’t want to spend much and want to get a decent chair for your money, then the best office chair under 200 dollars are the best budget options. A lovely glassed-in conference room is highlighted by Daniel Raney’s wildlife photography.

Located in a Texas limestone building erected 50 years ago to serve as the Salado post office, the Raney & Associates building sits across South Main Street from the old Salado College ruins. Just north of it sits the 1860s landmark Stagecoach Inn. The location is perfectly poised to catch traffic coming off of I-35 from two of the fastest growing cities in the nation, Austin and San Antonio.

Part of the reason that Anna Lou and her son and partner Daniel chose the building was its proximity to these two landmarks and its ease of access from I-35. And part of it was the original use of the building as a post office.

“Some years ago it was the old post office, it intrigued all of us because it’s just a neat building and we decided that it might be fun to open an office down on Main Street,” Anna Lou told Salado Village Voice when she purchased the building in 2015. “What really made it special to me, was that … it was my daddy’s career. He worked at the post office in Fort Worth for many years. I thought he was just smiling down, because he did love the post office.”

A native Texan, Anna Lou began her Real Estate career 27 years ago in Dallas. She moved to Salado 22 years ago where she founded Raney & Associates Real Estate. Since then, Daniel Raney has joined her as a Partner.

Anna Lou has served on the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors. She has been very active in community activities in Salado, serving as the Social Co-chair for the Mill Creek Community Association for three years and Co-chair for the annual fund raisers benefiting the Public Arts League of Salado (PALS) for the past six years. Anna Lou also served on the Board of Directors of Music in Salado. Anna Lou’s attention to detail, extraordinary ability to communicate and great working relationships with other brokers is a valuable asset to each client. She has a genuine interest in people, consequently you can count on receiving the highest level of service and professionalism.

Daniel is a partner in Raney & Associates after joining four years ago. He is also a native Texan and has lived in Bell County since 1995.  He graduated from Richland College with an Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences and continued studying Computer Science at Mary Hardin Baylor.  Daniel has a strong passion for helping people and works hard to get results. Having worked in Retail for over 20 years, he brings a timeless work ethic to the team. He is a photography enthusiast specializing in the outdoors and wildlife. Daniel and Anna Lou work as a team that provides their clients with double service. As a team, they enjoy repeat customers and referrals.

Joining the Raneys as associates are Ann Carroll and George Romfh, both of Salado.

Carroll has lived in the Bell County area for the last 35 years. Ann grew up in the Orlando, Florida area; attended high school there and attended college in Villanova, PA. Ann is active in the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors, having served on the Friends Feedings Friends committee, the Public Relations Committee, and the Board of Directors. She has 16 years experience in real estate. Ann is also active in the Salado community, working with the Ladies Auxiliary and is active in her church. Ann is married to Jeff Carroll. Jeff is retired from Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries. They have three children and two grandchildren.  Carroll is a graduate of Star Power University’s Buyer Specialist Program and the Floyd Wickman Program where she received the Shining Star award in 2000. She received the GRI designation the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), as well as the E-Pro designation. Ann is a multi-million dollar producer and would like to help you with any of your Real Estate needs at any time.

Romfh proudly served twenty-two years in the U.S. Army as a pilot flying both helicopters and airplanes, stationed twice at Fort Hood for a total of nine years. Following the military George worked as an airline pilot flying in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central America. George and his wife, Alice, moved to Temple in 1992 and Salado in 2000. They have two adult children While in the military George obtained a college degree from the

University of Maryland, College Park. George obtained his Real Estate Salesperson License in 2013, earned the Graduate Realtor Designation in 2015, and attended the Certified Military Residential Specialist Boot Camp.

The office is opening up at the right time with the completion of the I-35 expansion and a resurgence in the business community including the reopening of Stagecoach Inn Restaurant this spring.

“We can look forward to the commercial growth when the sewer system is in place,” Anna Lou said. “The Stagecoach Inn will definitely help the commercial growth. There are investment buyers looking for commercial properties with the strong belief that Salado is flourishing.”

Now is a great time to list your Salado area home for sale. According to the Multiple Listing Service, there were 123 single family homes sold in 2016. “Right now Salado has 35 single family homes in MLS,” Anna Lou said, “of this, five are in the Option Period. That makes less than a three-month supply of homes for sale.”

“Inventory is low,” she adds.

“Salado has a bright future” Raney said. “As Austin continues to grow we have experienced a number of Austin people moving to Salado as well as folks from around Texas and other states.”

If you are considering buying or selling, contact Raney & Associates. They offer expertise in the market, many years of experience, a team approach to their customers, new technology, availability and joy in their work.

“We love what we do!”

Raney & Associates is located at 405 South Main St. Salado.

Call Anna Lou Raney, 254-913-1215, Daniel Raney, 254-760-2591, Ann Carroll, 254-760-0101 or George Romfh, 254-718-6845.

Visit the website at raneyrealestate.net.