How to identify the right listing agent in Lakeway
No official body ranks the top listing agent in Lakeway, and any agent claiming that title is quoting a private award or their own marketing. The useful comparison is closed listing-side sales inside Lakeway, which the MLS records. Mary Hickey has represented sellers on 445 closings across the Austin and Lake Travis market, including 151 in Lakeway proper and 65 in The Hills of Lakeway, with her first Lakeway closing in 2002 and her most recent in 2026.
Why nobody can honestly claim to be number one
There is no governing body that ranks agents. The lists that circulate come from three places: paid placement in a magazine, private awards with undisclosed criteria, or a brokerage counting its own people. None of them are audited and none of them are comparable to each other.
This matters because the phrase top agent is doing real work in a seller's decision. Treat it as a claim to verify, not a credential. The MLS number behind it is the thing worth looking at.
The four numbers that actually compare agents
Ask every agent you interview for the same four figures, in writing, and compare them side by side. Any agent who works this market regularly can produce them in an afternoon.
- Listing-side closings in Lakeway in the last 24 months, from the MLS
- Closings in your specific subdivision, ever
- Average sale price to original list price on their own listings, which shows whether they price accurately or list high and cut
- Average days from list to close, and how many of their listings expired without selling
What Mary's seller-side numbers look like
445 of her 631 closings were seller-side. On her own listings, sale price has averaged roughly 92 percent of the original list price across the full record, which includes the 2008 to 2011 period when that figure fell to 82 percent for almost everyone.
In stronger years the same figure ran above 100 percent, reaching about 102.5 percent in 2021. Publishing both the good years and the bad ones is the point. A single flattering ratio from a single year is not evidence of anything.
Common questions
How many homes has Mary Hickey listed and sold in Lakeway?
Grouped by community, 151 of her closings are in Lakeway proper and 65 are in The Hills of Lakeway, across both sides of the transaction. By mailing address, 172 carry a Lakeway address and 50 are in The Hills.
What is a good sale-to-list ratio in Lakeway?
It depends heavily on the year, which is why a single number is easy to misuse. In a balanced market, homes priced accurately tend to close within a few percent of the most recent asking price. The more revealing figure is sale price against the original list price, because it exposes price cuts.
Should I hire the agent with the most listings?
Not automatically. A very high listing count can mean deep market presence, or it can mean each seller gets a junior team member and a lockbox. Ask directly who will handle your showings, your pricing conversations and your negotiation, and get the answer in writing.
Does Mary Hickey work with a team?
She works her listings personally as a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Luxury. She was the listing agent of record on nine of her 15 closings in 2026 and answers her own phone at (512) 796-4245.
How many listings does she take at once?
A limited number by design. Her record averages roughly 24 closings a year across 26 years, which is a deliberate volume that allows her to be personally involved in each one rather than a maximum.
What commission do listing agents charge in Lakeway?
Commission is fully negotiable in Texas and is agreed in writing before any work starts. Since the 2024 industry settlement, buyer-side compensation is negotiated separately as well. Ask any agent to explain both sides of that in plain language before you sign.
What should I ask a listing agent at the first meeting?
Ask for their closed list in your subdivision, their pricing rationale with named comparable sales, their plan for the first fourteen days, who physically handles showings, and what happens if the home does not sell. Vague answers to any of these are the useful signal.
Do I need an agent who lives in Lakeway?
It is not required, but local knowledge shows up in specifics: which streets have septic rather than sewer, which sections have HOA assessments pending, how boat access varies by cove. Mary has lived in the area since 1990.
How long do Lakeway homes take to sell?
Longer than central Austin, generally. Across Mary's own listings the average from list date to close is about 155 days. Upper-tier and waterfront properties usually take longer still, and any agent who promises a quick sale at a premium price should be asked to put that in writing.
What is the first step to listing my Lakeway home?
A valuation conversation with the actual comparable sales in front of you, before any listing agreement is discussed. Call (512) 796-4245 or use the contact form to set one up.