Dallas Real Estate

DFW Foreclosures Ranked 11th

2008-02-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

The latest report is out and it shows DFW has a surge of 27% in foreclosures going up for auction in March. However, the number 27 doesn't mean too much in an average. I say that because it takes into consideration Denton County that had a 42% increase. But, at 42%, there were "only" 464 foreclosures for the entire county. When you look at the number 464, you think, that's a lot of homes. It's not really that many homes when you look at the population (2006 estimated population of 584,238) and how 464 is a very small percentage of properties in the area.

Then, you have a 20% increase in Collin County (2006 estimated population 698,851). To get to that 20% increase, it's "only" 495 foreclosures.

The Dallas Fort Worth area had over 43,000 foreclosure for 2007. DFW is ranked 11th across the country. We were in the top 10 for so long, so it's good to see we're out of that grouping.

D-FW AREA FORECLOSURE POSTINGS Residential properties scheduled for foreclosure auction in March for each of the counties.
Dallas County 1,884 25%
TarrantCounty 1,318 28%
Collin County 495 20%
Denton County 464 42%
D-FW area 4,161 27%
SOURCE: Foreclosure Listing Service Inc.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Jason Kidd becomes a Dallas Maverick again

2008-02-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

Jason Kidd was previously with the Dallas Mavericks in 1994 where he played a couple of years before being traded to Phoenix. It seems like we trade everyone to Phoenix as that's also where Nash went.

There are many things involved with this trade, and I could possibly explain it all, but the main thing is that we get Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright. We also gave up a couple of first round draft picks for next year.

Jason will be ready for today's 3pm practice and ready to start.

Read more details of this trade on Dallasnews.com.

Richardson TX's JJ Pearce on TV Land's High School Reunion

2008-02-21T09:59:00.000-08:00

This is so crazy!! Nothing ever really happens around here! I went to JJ Pearce High School in Richardson, TX. I was part of the graduating class of... hmmm, I know you guys think I'm young, but do you know how young? Age doesn't really matter when you've been in this industry for 8 years, so I can proudly say, I was part of the class of 1994- graduated with Advanced Honors which isn't too shabby if I do say so myself....

Anyway, premiering on March 5, 2008, they are putting a lot of alumni from JJ Pearce on a "sun- drenched multi-million dollar Hawaiian estate" to see how they have changed, or not changed over a 20 year period. By saying 20 years, I assume it's the alum from 1988. But they could be leaving it broad like being around 20 years.

The site lists the cast of 14 people, but no last names. It's hard to tell if I know any of them. My year books only go back to 1991, and my brother's only go one year further into 1990. I have emailed the information to my high school friends as some of them have older siblings and they might be able to figure out who everyone is.

This is just so exciting. I'm surprised I haven't seen it on the local news... maybe the cast behaves immaturely and Richardson doesn't want to lay claim to them... who knows. Either way, I'm going to try to watch or Tivo it. Sounds like it could be interesting!

HERE is the link for further information.

It's funny how I found this. Tom Burris wrote a blog yesterday about Google Alerts, so I set one up for Richardson TX and perfect timing for today's announcement of the show. Thanks, Tom!

Texas Homestead Exemptions- First Reminder to File

2008-02-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here is your first reminder to file your Texas Homestead Exemption form if you closed on your home by December 31, 2007. I like to remind people towards the end of February because hopefully you're done with your Holiday bills, and worrying about your W2s (1099's) from your employer, and you're starting to get your tax information ready.

You have until the end of April to actually file, but why wait until the last minute. Also, if you closed in 2008, you CANNOT file for this year. You must wait until next year before the end of April to file your exemptions.

It's good to do it as soon as possible so when you get your new Tax Assessment that first week of May, all your information will be correct. There are many companies that will charge you a pretty penny to file the exemption for you. DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO FILE ANYTHING!! IT'S FREE!!

All you need to do is go to your county appraisal's website and print off the form there. Some counties require a notary, while others do not. It takes less than 2 minutes to fill it out, so there is no excuse about not having time.

Here are some of the county links in my immediate area:

Dallas- www.dcad.org
Tarrant- www.tad.org
Collin- www.collincad.org
Denton- www.dentoncad.com

Jason Garrett stays with the Cowboys

2008-01-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

Jason Garrett helped the Cowboys break several records and after interviewing and being offered Head Coaching job elsewhere, decided to remain with the Cowboys as the Assistant Head Coach.

This position comes at a price of about $3.5 million! Almost as much as the Head Coach.

Personally, I really like Jason Garrett. I loved him when he played for the Cowboys. I hated it when Jason got the Cowboys through the Playoffs and then they allowed Aikman to play the final game. Yes, Aikman was the starter and he was coming back from an injury, but he was out for a lot of games, and Jason deserved to play. I was very disappointed when he left the Cowboys.

I was very excited when he returned. However, to go after a Head Coaching job after just 3 years in a coaching position is a little premature. I think he needs a little more experience before taking on that job.

He did say that he definitely wants to be a Head Coach at some time, but that his home is in Dallas for now. Good choice, Jason!

Here's more on the story.

NAR's Changes to Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

2008-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

I am on the Texas (TAR) Professional Standards Committee and I was just emailed the changes that were adopted for 2008 from NAR, and I kinda chuckled. I'm not sure if others have read the changes, but this really caught my eye.

Article 12 used to say, "REALTORS® shall be careful at all times to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public..."

The revised Article says, "REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advetising, marketing, and other representations..."

What caught your eye? What caught my eye is what should have caught your eye too since I bolded the words, that we went from having to be "careful" to having to be "honest and truthful". When I see that, it shows that there were so many REALTORS® not being "careful" and they had to actually be told to be "honest and truthful." How sad is that.

I would think the two went hand in hand. If you're not being honest and truthful, you're definitely not being careful. And if you're being careful about not being caught being honest and truthful, then you're not very ethical which blows the entire Code of Ethics out of the water.

What do others think about this change, and have you witnessed reasons for this change? I would love to hear about your experiences with other agents who violated the original article making a need to change the verbiage (no names are needed in case they are members of this forum).

North Texas HOV Lanes- How Do I Get On?

2008-01-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

Did you read my previous blog about how unhappy I was about the new HOV lanes that have opened on 75 Central Expressway through Richardson TX?

Even though I'm very unhappy with the way they did the lanes, others will need to know how to access the lanes. You would think that you could just drive and be in the left lane and wait for the openings, as this is how it is on all of our other highways and freeways. However, you would be wrong!!

For the main entrances into the HOV lane, you must actually exit off 75 Central Expressway and follow the signs. Huh? Does this even make sense? Sounds silly to me. Oh, and don't forget that there's even a different route during rush hour traffic in the mornings and evenings. RIDICULOUS!!

Anyway, here's a link to the graphics that will better explain what I'm talking about. Anyone from the area think these HOV lanes make sense?

North Texas HOV Lanes Now Open

2008-01-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

The main North and South Highway through North Dallas, Central Expressway (Highway 75), finally opened the well anticipated HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicles). The lanes go for 14 miles from Highway 635 north through Allen and into McKinney.

You would think the HOV lanes would be a good thing. On the surface, they're fabulous. However, Donna not happy!! When Donna not happy, everyone will hear about it!! Plus, no one in Richardson should be happy because we got the short end of the HOV stick!

Here is part of what I wrote to my HOA president:

"I was wondering if you knew who we would contact at the city of Richardson about the new HOV lanes on 75. This is ridiculous that there is no place in Richardson where it allows us, their own residents, to get in and/or out of the HOV lanes. Since there is no way on while going south, we can't even take advantage of the new HOV lanes going up the high-five to 635. Going up north, we can't get in the HOV lane because there is no way out of it until Parker in Plano. I thinks it's very ridiculous as we all sat through the pains of the construction for all those months and we can't even utilize the improvement, and that's a bad word because it doesn't improve anything for me or anyone else in Richardson."

I actually did get a response back from my HOA president in which he forwarded me the response from the city manager:

"We have had a few other inquiries on this, so we will be posting an explanation on the City's website. It is not there yet, so I am trying to get the timing. I'll get back to you soon with a date. Directing Donna and your residents to the website explanation is probably the best first step.

As you may recall from our Council briefings on this, we did not like the lack of an opening in Richardson, but TXDOT insisted that they start the HOV in the current configuration. They have agreed to revisit our request for access after the current configuration has been open for a few months. What it should do, even in the current configuration, is reduce the congestion on the main lanes. This is not ideal, but it is in place and will hopefully have a positive impact for Richardson travelers as well as regional travelers. We will certainly keep working the issue."

Donna NOT happy!! We sat through all this contruction. We waited for the highly anticipated opening for months!! And now they tell us that we can't use the lanes. If you also disagree with this, please let the City Manager for Richardson TX know so we can make some changes. You can send all your concerns to Pamela Schmidt at pamela.schmidt@cor.gov.

I'm Back- Sorry for Being Gone

2008-01-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not posting in a long time. I didn't realize I completely missed November and December, I was posting updates on Alyssa Nicole on my other blog that is devoted only to her.

Anyway, she has arrived. She will be 7 weeks on Friday (born November 16) and she's wonderful!

I never had a maternity leave, since I've been working a lot, but I have also taken some much needed time to be with her.

In the future, I'll be posting updates about her on the other blog, but I'll also post milestones on this one for my loyal readers.

Richardson TX Police Force Gets a 4-Legged Addition

2008-01-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

The Richardson TX Police Station has added a 4-legged addition of an 80 pound, 3 year old, German Shepherd, named Macho. The name Macho actually came from his native home in Germany.

Macho has traveled more than I have! He started his training in Germany, like I did (not training, but I was born there), and then he journeyed to Indiana. From Indiana, he trained in Allen TX for a while and now is on the Richardson TX Police Force.

Macho is even bilingual. He is spoken to in English, but his commands are given in German.

Let's here it for our newest Police Officer!

Richardson TX gets a New Fire Station #2

2008-01-02T14:41:00.001-08:00

As part of the 2006 Bond money that was voted on May 13, 2006, Firestation #2 is getting a face lift. Actually, an actual facelift cost more than tearing down the old building and rebuilding something new, so that's what is going to happen.

The demolition is going to start this month and the rebuilding will being in March. It is supposed to be complete by January 2009. Many changes are taking place. It will become a co-ed facility as it currently does not have seperate sections for men and women.

It will also become a Green facility which is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The landscaping will be not take much water to maintain and they'll also store up rain water.

The old facility was a 1 story building with only 5000 sqft. The new facility will be 2 stories and 9000 sqft.

This is a much needed update to the area!

Dallas TX Housing Shows Strong Numbers Despite National News

2007-10-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

The latest numbers have come out from the largest Association of REALTORS® in the DFW area, MetroTex. The numbers show some very interesting information that should be very useful, especially to people who are relocating to the area thinking they're going to get a "deal" and even the investors who think they can come to our area and scoop up tons of properties at dirt cheap prices...

Here's what the numbers tell us:

2007 DFW Single Family Home Sales (so this excludes condos, but DOES include townhouses):
Year to Date compared to same period last year

Number of Sales: 61,746
Percent Change: -6%

Average Price: $204,813
Percent Change: +5%

Median Price: $150,500
Percent Change: +1%

Active Listings: 47,750
Percent Change: +8%

With these numbers, you can see that the Dallas/Ft Worth area is still going strong. We do not follow the average trends of the rest of the Country. We have a very strong economical base right now with many companies still relocating people to the area. Many areas across the country are seeing double digit depreciation, and we've had appreciation. Is the appreciation high? No, but it shows we're in a fairly steady market.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Buy My House, and You Get Full Refund When I Die!

2007-10-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read the title right. I just saw this story and I thought it was very unusual and unique. This couple in Pittsburgh have been trying to sell their home for a year, and the market is not that great in that area, so they had to come up with something that no one else was offering...

They are asking $399,900 for the house and since they have no heirs to leave anything to, the people who agree to buy the house can have the entire purchase price refunded back to them upon their death.

WAIT, it gets better!!! If the new owners agree to take care of the couple in their old age, they could also get the vacation home in Arizona AND an estate worth over $2.5M!!! Is that a deal or what?!

The problem is, how old are these people? The article doesn't say. What if they live another 20+ years. Will the people who buy the house now still own it when they die?

Here's the story I read.

North Texas Tollway Association Price Increases

2007-10-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Tollways in North Texas have instated an increase effective today, October 1. This includes the North Dallas Tollway and the George Bush Turnpike. I was astonished yesterday when I went into Frisco on the new stretch that opened on Friday and it was $1.30 for the Eldorado exit... WHAT??!! $1.30!! That's crazy!

To go see my client in Frisco yesterday, it cots me $0.50 to get onto the Bush. $1.00 is charged at the Coit overpass. When I get onto the Dallas North Tollway, it's $1.00 at Parker. Then it was $1.30 to exit at Eldorado. That's $3.80. That's $7.20 round trip. This is getting ridiculous!!!

However, I do have the Tolltag on my car, so the rates are slightly less, so let's look at it with the tolltag. $.40 to get on at Renner. $.70 at the Coit overpass. $.70 at Parker and then $1.05 at the Eldorado exit. That's $2.85, which is $5.70 round trip.

I saved a whopping $0.95 to have a tolltag. You can't even by something off the $1 Value Menu at any fast food restaurant!!! However, going round trip saves me $1.90 so that gets me almost a $1.99 Happy Meal!!

Personally, I think the discount should be much more substantial to have the Tolltag rather than cash. It's the cash people who are making people do extra work and it's more inconvenient for those drivers. The Tolltag saves people a lot of time and energy, especially the North Texas Tollway Association (www.NTTA.org) and they should charge Tolltag users less!

Here's the site that shows you the fees at each and every exit up and down all North Texas Tollways.

Baby Shower Pictures from Sept 8

2007-10-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the September 8 baby shower.

This onesie says "Houses for Sale: Donna@donnahomes.com. She's going to be a walking advertisment.

Mr and Mrs Seller, Open Houses do NOT Sell Houses!!

2007-09-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

I will state right up front that I understand that this is different in the different markets across the Country and Canada. I'm writing this blog focusing mainly on my market, here in the Dallas area.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, here is my marketing plan for your house. Will I do Open Houses? Did you see Open Houses as part of my marketing plan? Mr. and Mrs. Seller, I do NOT do OPEN HOUSES!!
In today's market, qualified and approved buyers are not the ones walking into Open Houses. If a buyer is serious about buying a house, 94% of them start their search Online looking at pictures and price ranges. They will then do a couple of different things.

One of those things is they will contact a Realtor and ask to view some of the houses they saw online. Pretending that they contacted me, my first question to them is if they are approved for a loan. They then get flipped to one of my mortgage guys for full loan approval, not just pulling the credit and giving a thumbs up.

Another scenario is that the buyers then turn around and call a mortgage person and tell him/her that they have seen some houses online and were wanting to make sure they were approved and for what price range. This mortgage person will then flip them to a Realtor who will direct them in the right direction.

When one of the above steps doesn't happen, you have people aimlessly driving the streets on a Sunday afternoon, seeing a sign and thinking, "I wonder if that house is in our price range..." They walk in, hear the price, and they grit their teeth while smiling and nodding trying to leave but the agent in the house tries to keep them there as long as possible.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, do you want unqualified and unapproved buyers walking through your house? If the house is shown by appointment through a buyer's agent, 9 times out of 10, that buyer has already been approved for a loan as most Realtors don't like to spend gas money these days by putting a buyer in their car to show them houses unless they're able to buy.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, do you want all your neighbors walking through your house? For the most part, you won't really even see any buyers in your Open House. What you'll see are your neighbors wondering how you decorated and wondering what price you're asking and things like that.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, do you want me to spend my time generating leads for your property? or do you really want me to spend 3 hours on a Sunday sitting in your house while you have to leave and entertain yourself?

That's a rhetoric question, because no matter how you answer it, I will NOT be doing Open Houses as part of my marketing plan for your house. I rather have approved buyers walking through your house, not unapproved. I rather people walking through your house that have already been pre-screened with a credit check at minimum, rather than someone just off the street who might be looking for the good stuff and come back later to rob you.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, I understand Open Houses used to be the way to go, but with the technology of multiple photos and virtual tours for your listing, buyers rather sit in the comfort of their own home in their underwear looking at houses than drive around aimlessly as they usually don't want to waste gas either.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Richardson TX National Night Out Results

2007-09-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Each year, the second Tuesday of August, the country celebrates National Nite Out. NNO helps neighbors get together and get to know each other, and in turn, this is supposed to help promote safer neighborhoods as people start looking out for their neighbors and new friends.

I was on the Social Committee in my neighborhood this year, and it was a blast! We had 51% of our neighborhood present, which is huge! We have Crime Watch signs up throughout the neighborhood and one of the criteria to keep those signs is that we must show at least a 40% attendence at the NNO each year. As people arrive, they must sign in for their address in order for us to get credit for the attendence, even if that family can't stay and have fun.

The other part of NNO is a canned food drive. The City of Richardson collected over 10,000 pounds of canned food. Each family who attends is encouraged to bring 2 canned goods. There were over 200 parties across the city, and for a population of just under 100,000 people, that's A LOT!

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Newspaper Ads Do Not Sell Houses

2007-09-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Will you post my house in the Dallas Morning News?

NO!

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, people don't read the newspaper like they used to. Many people have switched from the actual news paper to the online version of the paper. Yes, with the online version of the paper, your ad will appear in the online portion of the classifieds section, however, that's not where you want to be, as there is a new and separate online section for listings that are automatically fed from the MLS.

First, when an ad is placed in the paper, you're getting about 3-4 short lines to grab someone's attention. If I get absolutely no calls, does that mean that no one saw the ad? So, problem number one is that I can't track how many people the ad was put in front of like I can with my internet ads.

Second, do you really think serious buyers are looking in the paper with today's technology? The people who are looking in the paper are typically lower income and they're looking for rentals. They might call on your ad just to see if you would consider renting it, but they are not a qualified buyer inquiring on your house.

I say serious buyers aren't looking in the paper because there is a National statistic that shows about 80% of buyers are looking online when searching for a house. However, Texas has done their own research, and they show that over 94% of buyers are looking online for houses... that means only 6% of buyers are looking in the paper and at open houses and other "old school" methods of house hunting.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, would you rather me spend my marketing money and efforts on capturing 94% of the Buying population, or would you like me to spend my time marketing your house to only 6% of buyers?

Third, people want information and they want it now. A short 3-4 line in a paper does not offer pictures or tours, or any details about the house. The typical interactive buyer is not interested in any information where they can't see a little more details before inquiring further about it.

Did newspaper ads work a few years ago, yes, of course they did. Do they work in today's market? No, they do not. Will I post an ad in the paper just to appease you? No, I will not. I can use that $100 on something more productive.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Allstate Insurance to Raise Rates Again

2007-08-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

After everything that happened about 6 years ago with the Black Mold stuff and Allstate having to refund all their policy holders for unfair increases, Allstate is trying to raise rates again.

Last month, Allstate submitted a plan to increase rates by an average of 6.9%. They claimed it was the "cost of doing business." Haven't we all heard that? Well, that plan got rejected because of the large increase and not enough justification for it.

Here we are a month later, and they have submitted a new plan for a 5.9% increase. That still seems fairly high to me. This increase will take place immediately for policy renewals, though it could still be blocked by the Texas Department of Insurance officials.

Allstate is the second largest property insurer in Texas with about 917,000 Homes. That doesn't sound like very many, but that just shows you how many Ma 'n Pa shops there are offering coverage, though those smaller companies are still backed by the larger ones.

They are pointing out that this, more than likely won't effect the North Texas area, and it's mostly for the golf coast area.

Farmers also submitted a plan for an increase, but withdrew it. They are working on submitting a new plan that has a better chance of getting passed.

Good thing I'm no longer with Allstate!!

OakPoint TX Upholds English as Official Language

2007-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, the small city of OakPoint, TX voted to have English as the Official language of their city. With much uproar, the appeal process started. Yesterday, the law was upheld with a 2-3 vote.

Oak Point is a tiny little city in Denton County off Lewisville Lake, just NorthWest of Little Elm, TX. The population is under 3500 residents. With such a small population, it's hard to imagine that they've hit the news as much as they have with what's going on there. Maybe it's a publicity stunt to increase their population.

This new law does not apply to Businesses or Residences. Also, the city must still comply with state and federal laws that would require the use of multilingual communication.

Here is a link to the story.

Here is a link to OakPoint, TX's Website.

Mortgage Misinformation in Today's Market

2007-08-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am so sick of all the articles that are being published and posted and talked about on the National News stations when they are not true. The final straw for this blog is an article I just read on http://www.dallasnews.com/ real estate section. You can read the full article here.

It says in this article that a buyer must have a minimum of 680 credit score, and that a 720 will help lower the interest rate offered. WHAT??!!

Buyers, please be aware that there are MANY lenders out there that are offering loan programs with much lower credit scores. Can you get a decent rate if you have a 500 FICO score? No, not really, though you might qualify for an FHA loan who doesn't care what the score is. Can you get a decent rate at a 600 score? Yes, probably. As long as your recent past history is in good condition and you're able to document your employment and assets, you're fine. You do NOT need a perfect credit score to get a loan.

Don't get me wrong. Some people who have decent scores aren't getting loans because they have collections out the wazooo, and they're behind on car payments and things like that. Do those people deserve loans? My opinion, NO! However, if you're current on all payments, and you have a decent (not perfect) track record, you are still VERY able to obtain a mortgage in today's market.

Please don't let news articles scare you. Call someone and ask specific questions about your specific situation for clarification before you make your own decision on whether or not you'll get approved.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

952 Lockhart Dr, Plano TX 75023 ONLY $143,000 with POOL

2007-08-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, 2 Car Garage, 2 Living Areas, 2 Dining Areas, and POOL all for under $150k!!
CLICK HERE for the Visual Tour!!

Great House in Great Area of Plano TX. POOL with perimeter fence & privacy with 8' Board on Board Fence. Oversized Cov Patio for Entertaining. Many updates thoughout the home: fresh paint, newer carpet, newer tile floors in wet areas, newer dishwasher, new lighting fixtures & fans, new hardware, & much more. Low maintanence pool with a cartridge filter & newer motor. Versatile floorplan with second living area and formal dining. Floor to ceiling brick fireplace. This is a Must See!!

There is also an extended covered patio which is great for entertaining with all those POOL parties!

Look how open the floorplan is. As you walk in straight ahead from the foyer, you'll see the Kitchen open to both the Breakfast Nook and Family Room. A conversation will never be missed with this type of layout!

The Living Area has vaulted ceilings and a floor to ceiling Brick, WoodBurning Fireplace.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

BabyHarris Update

2007-08-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

BabyHarris is doing very well. She is 26 weeks and kicking A LOT! At my appointment last week, I had gained 19 pounds (YIKES!), and my blood pressure was 98/42. Yes, I said 42. I asked if that was too low. The Doc said that as long as I'm walking, talking, eating, and breathing, that I'm good to go!

I was sent home with juice to take next week for my glucose test which is done between 24-28 weeks.

Things are coming along. She has a room, but no furniture yet...

No more mustard yellow, and now we've got lavendar! Isn't it pretty with all the white trim around the doors and plantation shutters?

The bathroom is a work in progress and I'll post when that is complete, which should be any day now.

Dallas Sales Prices Up... But Are They??

2007-08-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

According to the latest information from NAR, the DFW area has had a 1.7% increase in sales prices over last year with the rest of the nation having a 1.5% DECLINE... Does the 1.7% increase give a true an honest look of what's going on in the area? Maybe not...

Since the subprime market made their changes, it knocked a lot of lower-end home buyers out of the market. With that, the under $150k price range has been harder to sell. However, sales of the higher priced homes are holding steady and are fairly strong.

Then, you take the higher priced homes and add those to the lesser sales in the lower prices, which used to be the bread and butter, and it creates an increase in sales prices (up to $156,500), though it's not a complete and true story.
Overall, in Texas, not just DFW, sales were down 1.3% in the second quarter. When you compare that to the rest of the country, they were down on average of 10.8%. What a huge difference! No wonder we're still getting so many people relocating here.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Commissions Based on Asking Price... Good Idea??

2007-08-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

I had a listing appointment on Saturday, and I got asked a question that I had never been asked before. I thought it was an odd question, but the seller was very serious as he has bought his last two houses without a Realtor's help, and has never had to sell a house, so this is his first experience with using a Realtor and with selling.

He asked if the commissions were based on asking price. I looked at him, probably with a startled look on my face, and said no. I then said, you may be on to something there. I think commissions should be based on asking price and then I could list each house for $1M, and have the sellers also sign price reductions the same day. Talk about motivation to sell that house and not let it expire!!

On another side of it, I was thinking this was a good idea because if the sellers had to pay commissions based on their original asking price, they would be less willing to over price their houses. Doesn't that sound grand?? Less people over pricing, more people being realistic, and we'll get this inventory down much quicker than the houses sitting on the market.

What do you think?

Email or Phone?? What do Internet Consumers Want?

2007-07-19T11:56:00.001-07:00

I received an internet lead in October of 2005. It turned out that the owner had just bought the house a couple of months earlier, in August. I grunted a little, but sent him some information anyway because you just never know. I sent him listings on a monthly basis and also had him on an automatic drip campaign for once a month contact.

Some time in 2006, he emails me asking me to update his email address. Why not.... I guess that means he's looking at the emails and listings, so I updated his information.

In May, I received an email saying he wanted to meet with him because they were thinking about selling. He travels a lot so several appointments were canceled and rescheduled. Honestly, I thought he was a flake. He then suggested that I meet with his wife since his schedule is so busy. I tell him that I don't like meeting with just one spouce and that we should just meet the next time he's back in town. Reluctantly, I ended up meeting with the wife without him.
While talking with the wife, I learn that they're being relocated and will be moving July 14. What?? That's in 3 weeks!! I leave her my market information and tell her to call/email me with any questions or concerns. I received an email from the husband later that day thanking me for meeting with his wife and he appreciated some of the suggestions I had made and they were going to buy paint that night.

Two weeks ago by and I don't hear from them. On Sunday, I emailed him asking when I could come over to have him sign the paperwork and get a key from him so I could list it. He emails me back saying Thursday morning. I ASSUMED THE LISTING AND IT WORKED!!

I got there this morning and we spoke. He signed the listing agreement and such, and I put a sign in the yard. Then, I had to stand there and say, "I know we've been doing a lot of emailing back and forth, but can I have a contact phone number for you, especially since you're leaving the state?" We both chuckled and he thought it was funny that we had never spoken before this morning.

So, my question to everyone is, do you think the phone is really that important, or are you more like me where email is your main form of communication with your clients and potential prospects?
Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

An Example of Why You Shouldn't Overprice to Sell

2007-07-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Many sellers like to test the market. When doing this, they overprice their properties in the hopes that an unsuspecting buyer won't look at the neighborhood history and just offer the full asking price. Here is an example:

There is a property in Rowlett, TX. I interviewed for the listing back in March 2006. At the appointment, we discussed many updates to the house that would need to be done in order to warrant top dollar. I told them that if they updated the kitchen, removed the wall paper, a few other things, along with allowing me to stage the property, a reasonable asking price would be $140k. I told them that if they did not do these updates and just listed the house in its present condition, it would sell for $125k tops, and that might be pushing it.

I followed up many times over the next several weeks to see how progress was coming along. Each time I spoke with them, they were very excited about the updates and couldn't wait to get it on the market. In July 2006, I got the call to come list it as they were ready... I walked in the door:
Me: I can't wait to see the kitchen!
Mrs. Seller: Oh, we didn't change the appliances.
Me: Ok, but at least it'll have a cleaner look with the wallpaper gone.
Mrs. Seller: No, we didn't take down the wall paper.
Me: Ohhh... What about the bathroms?
Mrs. Seller: No, we didn't change the flooring or anything there either.
Me: Ok, how about you tell me what you did do before I run through my list that we discussed.
Mr. Seller: (very proudly says) We recaulked the bathtubs!
Me: And?
Mrs Seller: That's it. We figured we could just sell it like this and the new buyer could do what they wanted...
Me: Well, you know that's going to effect the price we ask and how fast it's going to sell, remember?
Mrs. Seller: That's ok. We were thinking about $140-145k.
Me: We discussed $140k if you did the upgrades. We can't list it at $140k in this condition.
Mrs. Seller: But it was a former model home!
Me: But it's not a model home anymore. It has the original everything from early 1980!! $140k is not realistic.

I could go on... what happened here, is that I did finally agree to $140k with a $1500 allowance for the buyer, so that was basicaly $138,500. They also agreed to discuss a price adjustment after a couple of weeks depending on activity.

The sellers declined showings right and left, and refused to lower their price. I did finally get them to list at $137k but with the $1500 allowance removed, so they basically came down to $137k.

Where is that listing now?? Well, a couple of months after I listed it, my brokerage terminated the listing because they kept declining showings, and they also wouldn't allow me to stage it in order to show it to its best potentially, especially since it was overpriced, we needed to show the buyer why it was worth it.

It's now over a year later from my original listing, and it is STILL on the market!! It's with a different brokerage of course. Wanna know their initial starting price? $138k! Yes, they went UP from my last price adjustment. Wanna know what they're listed at now?? $133k with a $1500 allowance, which is basically $131,500.

At this point, even though it's only about $10k over priced, the listing is so stale, not many people are going to look at it. They ruined their chance of selling it because they sabataged their own efforts, and lack there of.

The lesson here, is do NOT overprice your listings just to test the market. Otherwise, you could be sitting there like these folks are, over a year later and no showing activity!!

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Mesquite TX Home for Sale ONLY $159,900

2007-06-26T10:15:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE for the Visual Tour!!

Great house and versatile floorplan. 4 bedrooms plus a study and two and a half baths. 2 Dining areas. 1 or 2 Living areas, depending on how you do the floorplan. The Current Formal Dining can be 2nd Living area & the Study can be the Formal Dining, right off the Kitchen. The 4th bedroom is downstairs and would make a great hobby or workout room. Many updates including: frieze carpet, pergo floors, interior decor paint, front door, some windows, Kitchen cabinets & appliances, light fixtures, master bath, sprinklers, gutters, & new cable wiring. The backyard is great with an oversized aggregate patio. The house features Mature Trees & Fabulous Landscaping. All this for ONLY $159,900!!!

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Do You Water Your Foundation?

2007-06-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

I work with a lot of relocation into the Dallas area. With that, it takes a lot to educate someone not only about our market, but also about how to take care of their properties.

Most of the North Texas area is built on Clay Soil. It's usually Red Clay, but Black Clay is also common. Either way, it's Clay and Clay is a very interesting and unique material to build on. The Clay is constantly expanding and contracting. That means your house is constantly expanding and contracting. With this movement, you can get many cosmetic cracks on the interior along with the exterior. These cosmetic cracks will eventually turn into structural cracks if not taken care of.

The goal is to create as little movement as possible. In order to do this, you must water your foundation year round. What do I mean by watering the foundation? You need to keep a consistent amount of water around your slab (or even pier and beam foundation if you're in an older home). This is accomplished in a couple of ways. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, as long as you can see the water reaches up to the house, you should be fine. If you are manually watering with a sprinkler, make sure you get all over and not just the front and back yards because that's where your main grass is. You need to be watering the sides of your house too.

Where I'm getting the freaked out look from people is when I mention placing soaker hoses around the foundation. For the past couple of years, North Texas has been in a drought and we've been put on watering restrictions, which I've blogged about before. With the restrictions, most areas could only water once a week, while a select few areas were allowed twice a week. With the heat of the summer, this is not enough moisture to keep around your foundation for consistency throughout the year. Soaker hoses, since the water goes directly into the ground, are allowed everyday, though your regular watering is not allowed. Soaker hoses, to cover an average sized house, will cost approximately $50 and it's a good $50 to spend. These hoses, usually black, should be placed 12-18 inches away from the house. You do not want to put them right up against the slab because then too much water could get stuck under the slab and the house could rise. You're just looking for consistent moisture around the foundation. Using the soaker hoses about 10-15 minutes 3-4 days a week in the summer, and maybe only once or twice a week in the winter will help you save thousands on future foundation repair in the future. It's a simple, easy fix for hot, dry summers, and there's no excuse for a bad foundation when it's part of everyday house maintenance when you're a home owner.

Yes, we're having close to record rainfall this year, but we're just catching up with what we need. Our lawns are very green right now, whereas last year, everyone's looked like we were in a desert. But, YES, we're still on water restrictions. And the soaker hoses are for house maintenance, not just using them one year and not another.

Do you Water your Foundation in your neck of the woods?

BabyHarris Update

2007-06-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

I had my 16 week appointment this morning. Everything is fine!! All those dreams I've been having are meaningless now. The heartrate was down to 154 from 160 at last month's appt. More of my pants are getting tighter, so I'll probably be in maternity clothes full time in the next couple of weeks.

They took blood for the Quad Test today. I have rolly vains, so they actually had to try both arms to get blood. I bruise easily so I'm definitely going to look like a junkie in a couple of hours.

I will go back for a full Sonogram to find out the sex of the baby on my Birthday, July 11. I figured it would be a very nice birthday present!!

Things are moving along very well, but very slowly!!!

Richardson TX becomes New Cancer Hub

2007-06-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

People will no longer have to travel upwards of 5 hours to Houston for excellent Cancer care.

Back in 2004, the Richardson Regional Medical Center opened a satellite campus (this is where my OB is as it's about 1/2 mile from my house). To go along with the 5 story, 100,000 sqft building, the city has just broken ground for two new additions.

The first will be a 50,000 sqft Comprehensive Cancer Center. The second will be a 47,000 sqft Outpatient Hospital. Construction is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2008.

I think this will be great, not just for the area, but also for my business. Can you imagine how many doctors will be relocating to the general or immediate area?! Currently, according to recent numbers, there are about 200,000 people that live within a 5 mile radius of this area.

Extended Summer for Texas Students

2007-06-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

For many years, the start of the school year would creep sooner and sooner into the beginning of August. When I first moved to Richardson back in 1984, I thought it was weird that school started in August right before Labor Day, but it was ok because we would go to school for a couple of days, because school never started on a Monday or Tuesday, and then we would have a long weekend to adjust to our new teacher and new classmates, and then we would come back in September.

Those days have long past. As I got into Junior High and High School, school would start towards the end of August and not that last week. Then it would go into mid-August. As school was starting earlier and earlier, we still never had a "Fall Break" in October that the kids have today, though we did have one Monday in October for Fair Day. The only good thing that came out of starting earlier was that semester exams were before the Winter Holiday. Before that, we would get a couple of weeks off for Winter Break and then we would have to come back to school for review in all our classes and then exams were the next week. Then, the next semester started the next week and we got out of school after Memorial Day.

However, and that's a HUGE However, Texas passed a new law that takes effect this year and NO school can start classes before the fourth Monday in August. For many districts in my area, that means 3 extra weeks of Summer!! 3 entire weeks added to the Summer Break. Isn't that wonderful?

From a Real Estate view, I see that as having more time for buyers to find the house they really want if changing school districts. Instead of sales hitting a high in July, I think sales will hit a high in August.

For the students, what this means is no more Fall Break in October for most of the districts, and they'll probably go back to just a Monday Fair Day. Also, each district is going to be different as to when they do their exams. I can't wait to see how Richardson and Plano set their schedules. Classes will also start going into the beginning of June because they'll need the extra time that they were getting at the beginning of the year.

What does everyone think of this new school schedule? Is this going to work better for your Summer vacations? Is it messing with plans you had? Is it going to cost you more because you'll have to spend more money to keep your kids in Summer programs longer?

Since BabyHarris will still have 5 more years before starting school, I'm curious on how this will effect others so I can start planning, as I'm a control freak!

Marriage License Legislature

2007-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

There is some new legislature that has been introduced for this session. They are wanting to increase the amount for a Texas Marriage License to $60 from $30. However, if you can show you had premarital counseling, you only have to pay the $30 fee.

What? Is this supposed to deter people from getting married on a whim? It's only $60!!! If you want to prevent people from getting married so you can help alter the divorce rate, charge a couple hundred dollars or something that will actually put a dent in people's pockets and make them think about what they're doing.

Also, there are some religions that already require pre-marital counseling before marriage and that doesn't seem to help. How does the state of Texas think this is a good idea and that it will work. They must be really bored!!

Texas Getting Rid of Graduation Exit Exams?

2007-05-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

When I was in school, every two years we had to take a standardized test in order to pass that grade. For me, the tests were very easy and I always scored well over the 95% range for the state, but that's just me. I remember my first day of seventh grade. First period was English with Ms. Gorman who was about 4'6, 75 pounds, and as soon as we all sat down, she starts preaching about the TAAS test in February. We were like, it's August, why are you talking about February?

Everything she taught was about the big test we would have to take. That became a pattern throughout Junior and High School. All the teachers would teach according to how we would take this standardized test because we had to pass in order to pass the grade.

Once Senior year came, the test was much more important because it also meant if you were going to graduate High School at all and walk the stage with your classmates. That was the TAAS test, Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.

About five years ago, a new test was introduced that was supposed to be harder to help weed people out easier and make sure standards for graduation were high enough to prepare students for college better. This new test is called the TAKS test, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. The first year, almost half the students across the state failed this exam. However, they put a stipulation in that they would ease the new test into the school systems so it wasn't seniors taking it that first year, so they continued to take the TAAS for graduation exit.

Anyway, after the first couple of years, they decided major changes needed to be made because too many people were failing. Records amount of people failing standardized exams, so sad... What is going on now is Texas is thinking about passing something that completely gets rid of these standardized exit exams all together. So many people have found it unfair to make students pass every section in order to graduate, even though they are given FIVE opportunities to pass, yes, FIVE!! So sad...

The new method they want to give is 12 different exams over core subjects, and for all the exams, the average needs to be 70. That means you can get an 80 on one section and a 60 on another, and still average a 70 and actually graduate. Personally, I think this is very sad that our public schools aren't able to teach our students what it takes to pass all subjects. How are they going to survive college? I graduated High School with Advanced Honors, and I barely passed my Freshman year in College because I didn't think High School prepared me for college whatsoever. If students don't even have to pass each section, they're going to be flunking out of college right and left in record numbers. However, I guess more high school seniors will graduate instead of having to do summer school or repeating the year altogether.

Donna not happy with the state's decision to get rid of the standardized exams...

Where Have I Been?

2007-05-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I would like to apologize for my disappearance over the past few weeks. I've had a lot going on, and I ran into a snag. The snag being exhaustion!!

I knew people would get tired while pregnant, but I never thought it would effect me the way it did. I'm a very active person, and I was left on a couch barely moving for almost 2 weeks. It took every bit of energy I had just to do the work I was doing. Every couple of hours, I would have to sit and rest for a few minutes and close my eyes. I was never able to actually take naps, but just closing the eyes helped a lot.

The picture above was from this morning at 11 weeks 5 days. We told the family yesterday for Mother's Day, and I'm now telling the world!!

Bottom line, I've got some energy back, and I'll definitely commit to making the effort to keeping my blog more up to date!!

We're looking at an end of November date, 11/26-11/29. My bet is eating some awesome lemon meringue pie at Thanksgiving and rushing off to the hospital!!

Various Listings in and Around Dallas

2007-03-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

10554 Cox Ln, Dallas TX 75229 Home for Sale

2007-03-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous house!! This house is in sound mechanical & structual condition, but you'll need to bring your decorating & updating ideas with you to make it your home. We'll even give you $5k to start with! There are 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 car garage, and backs to Creek for privacy! The master and one bedroom are downstairs.

Features include: newer appliances & corian counters, elevated nook with bay window and view of Mature Trees and Creek, Sautillo & tile floors, wood paneling in the Living room with a floor to ceiling brick WBFP, Balcony off the GameRoom with WetBar, Double Shower with Jetted Tub, Double Vanities and Double Closets in the Master. Through the garage, you'll find a separate exercise room & workshop that are vented for AC. The house has 3 AC units so it's definitely zoned for better efficiency bills. The house is priced below appraisal so you can come update it yourself.

YOU CAN GET ALL THIS FOR ONLY $350,000 SO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

Texas- 2006 Profiles for Buyers and Sellers

2007-03-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) has their own number saying 79% of buyers use the internet when looking for a home. However, Texas has done their own research. The 2006 Profile of Texas Homebuyers and Sellers has some astonishing numbers.

According to the profile, 94% of Buyers were using the internet to look for properties. That's a huge difference from the National number! 25% of Buyers were using the internet to get information about a particular area. This is where Localism will come in more handy in my market. I'm still waiting for the grass to turn green before I enter more photos.

Here's something interesting. There are still agents that think all they need to do it enter a property in the MLS and it'll sell, as 10% of Sellers said that's all their agent did. On the flip side, 77% of Sellers said their agent provided more services throughout the selling process. I wonder what happened to the remaining 13%??

Overall, I guess I would conclude that the Texas Buyer is above the curve with using the Internet for their home searches! It's a good thing I jumped on this bandwagon long ago!

If you're a Buyer and/or Seller, and you're reading my Blog, congratualations on putting the newspaper down and saving some gas from driving around neighborhoods aimlessly. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Garage Sale before Moving

2007-03-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Is there too much clutter in your home? It can be a shock to see all the stuff most of us have accumulated through the years.

One of the best ways to clear out clutter is to have a garage sale. Here are some tips to making your garage sale effective:

* Advertise your sale on Craigslist. Make sure to include your address and what days and times the sale will take place. You might want to try to newspaper too, but Craigslist is FREE!
* Place directional signs at nearby key intersections.
* Place smaller items on tables.
* Be prepared in case of inclement weather.
* Put price tags on everything, but be flexible and ready to negotiate.
* Be prepared for early arrivals. Decide whether you want to allow early birds or if you will begin only at the specified time.
* Start with an adequate amount of change and small bills on hand. Decide whether you will accept checks.
* Have plenty of help--it's more fun that way!

Try to look at your home through a prospective buyer's eyes. Lack of clutter will help your home show better, and it will ease your move to a new place. And even if you are staying put, getting rid of clutter will allow you to enjoy your home more comfortably.

Please don't hesitate to call or email me if you'd like additional tips or suggestions. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Remodeling Investment

2007-02-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

Are you thinking of remodeling your home? Consider the return on your investment before remodeling. Not all remodeling projects yield the same return in increasing your home’s value.

Updating your kitchen and baths is your best remodeling investment, returning a nearly dollar-for-dollar increase in home resale value. An updated kitchen and bathrooms make your home that much more attractive to potential buyers when you do decide to sell.

By contrast, converting a basement into a family room (if you're are has basements) or adding outdoor recreation facilities, such as a swimming pool or sport court, yield the lowest return on your investment.

Sometimes the cumulative effect of several smaller projects can yield a higher resale value than one or two larger ones. Smaller projects tend to be more cosmetic--new paint, doors, or windows. Larger projects that upgrade or add living space may cost more, but almost always add less resale value for the dollars spent, like converting space over the garage to a media room.

Whatever you do, be careful of over-improving for your neighborhood. Remodeling that significantly improves your property over neighboring homes won't return as much when it comes time to sell. People don't just buy a house, they're buying a neighborhood as well.

If you have any questions or you'd like additional information, please don't hesitate to call or email me. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Minimize Stress in Moving

2007-02-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

For most people, moving to a new residence is a stressful event. Here are some things you can do to minimize tension and worry when you sell your home:

* Choose a real estate agent (REALTOR®) who communicates clearly and frequently, keeping you up to speed on every step of the process.

* Price your home accurately for market conditions. Homes that sell quickly leave their sellers wondering if they set the price too low, while sellers whose homes sit on the market unsold wonder if they'll ever find a buyer.

* Decide whether you want to move yourself or have professional movers handle the job. If you hire a moving company, make sure to book well in advance.

* Think about cleaning services. After everything is packed and moved is a great time to have someone come in and clean.

* Arrange at least two weeks in advance to have utilities and phone service disconnected at your old house and reconnected in your new home on the move-in date.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions or provide additional information. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Moving Day

2007-02-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

Most buyers and sellers consider moving day a real hassle. Here are some things you can do to make it more manageable:

* Cut back on your possessions as you pack. Make separate areas for items to be discarded, sold, or donated to charity.
* Label all boxes and color-code them by room, whether you pack yourself or have help. Otherwise, you'll never remember what's in each box.
* Have the outside door locks on your new home changed and the garage door opener reprogrammed.
* Get referrals from your doctors, dentists, and veterinarians for new providers near your new home. Take your files with you instead of waiting for them to be sent.
* Pack a “first night” box that contains everything you'll need for the first night in your new home. Include bedding, cookware, utensils, toiletries, and anything else you can't do without before you are unpacked.

If you'd like additional tips or suggestions, please don't hesitate to call or email me. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Internet Marketing

2007-02-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

Have you wondered what it would take to sell your home for the highest price, in the shortest amount of time, and with a minimum of inconvenience?

Besides accurate pricing and an effective marketing campaign, posting your home on the Internet can make a huge difference. The Internet has largely replaced newspapers as the advertising medium of choice for real estate listings.

Why? Posting listings online costs almost nothing, information can be changed or updated almost instantly, listings can be screened by price or area, and the information is available to prospective buyers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

According to a recent survey, almost 88% of all buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. They like the ability to see pictures and obtain additional information. Plus, buyers who search on the Web spend an average of $22,600 more for their new home than other buyers. To accomplish my goal of selling your home for the best price in the least amount of time, let’s use one of the most effective marketing techniques--the Internet.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional information.

Dallas Real Estate- Tech Savvy Realtor

2007-02-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

When you choose a real estate agent, you’re selecting someone to represent you in one of the largest financial transactions you may ever undertake.

As the Internet continues to simplify the way people research buying and selling homes, there are many good reasons to choose a REALTOR® who can harness the power of technology to provide you with exceptional service, including:

· Sending up-to-date information by email for you to review at your convenience.
· Providing you with an online home evaluation to stay on top of current market value.
· Emailing new home listings to you as soon as desirable properties hit the market.
· Delivering e-newsletters to keep you informed about market trends and other important matters.
· Showcasing your home on the Web, over 20 websites, to help you sell it for top dollar.

Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling or simply want to stay informed about the real estate market, using new technology helps me consistently provide you with timely information and outstanding service.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if I can help you.

Dallas Real Estate- Pricing is Key

2007-02-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

According to a recent report, nearly 82% of potential buyers use the Internet to refine their home search. Broker Web sites let buyers browse by house size, style, area, and price.

Because many buyers look only at those homes within their price range, it's important to accurately price your home for the market. The higher a home's price above market, the fewer the number of interested buyers, and the longer it will take to sell.

The key to selling your home quickly at the greatest return is to price it at market value right from the start. A fairly priced home will capitalize on the flurry of buyer interest a home enjoys during its first few weeks on the market. Plus, you're wanting to SELL your house, not just LIST your house, right?

Please don't hesitate to call or email me if I can answer your questions or help with additional information.

Dallas Real Estate- Showing Your House

2007-02-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

I have found from experience that the activity during the first two weeks a home is on the market tends to predict how long it will take to sell. Potential buyers eagerly jump on new homes on the market.

I am an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional. This means that I've taken the classes to become certified in better helping my sellers STAGE® their homes in order to help them sell faster and for higher dollar.

Here are some “STAGING®” tips you might find helpful:

* Keep your home in “show shape.” Make sure that beds are made, dishes are in the dishwasher or put away, everything is picked up, and the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle. Let your counter space show, so put things away.

* Decorate with fresh flowers. Many home sellers use potted flowering plants that last much longer than cut flowers. Place them inside and out. They really add cheer!

* Turn on lights; replace all burned-out bulbs. Open blinds and draperies. Let the natural light in.

* Confine pets and keep them out of sight when possible. They can be distracting, and some people have allergies.

* Create a relaxed atmosphere with soft background music. Do not think the music in the family room needs to be heard in the back of the house if you don't have speakers in the various rooms. Loud music is distracting.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to call or email me.

Dallas Real Estate- First Impressions

2007-02-13T16:39:00.000-08:00

As you prepare your home for the market, one thing to keep in mind is that you have only one chance to make a first impression. It is absolutely vital that prospective buyers form a good impression of your home--beginning the moment they drive up.

You can help create that good first impression by presenting potential buyers with a well-cared-for yard including a mowed lawn. Your front door and porch should be clean and neat, preferably freshly painted.

These first, important encounters create a positive impression that carries through to the rest of your home. An inviting atmosphere implies that your house has been well maintained and taken care of. Homes that convey pride of ownership frequently receive the best offers.

If your home appears disheveled or uncared for, prospective buyers may quickly conclude it's been neglected and is in need of repairs. Such a negative impression can result in a less-than-generous offer--or possibly no offer at all.

Try viewing your home through a potential buyer's eyes. Would YOU buy your home? What changes would you make?

I'll offer additional suggestions and tips from time to time. Please contact me by email or phone if I can be of further assistance.

Facts to Know about TEXAS

2007-02-13T13:38:00.001-08:00

Below is a list of Facts about Texas. Some you'll know and remember them from elementary school. Others, you might look at them and think, where did they come up with that?!

And if you're relocating here to Texas, these are some things you should know about your future new home!!

Name: From "Tejas", Indian word meaning "friendly"
Capital: Austin
Motto: Friendship
Bird: Mockingbird
Tree: Pecan (how do you pronounce this word?)
Flower: Bluebonnet
Gem: Topaz (I did not know this)
Stone: Petrified Palmwood (huh?)
Dish: Chili
Song: "Texas, Our Texas"
Insect: Monarch Butterfly (I would have thought mosquito!!)
Fabric/fiber: Cotton
Dance: Square Dance
Fruit: Texas Red Grapefruit (I had no idea!)
Fish: Gualalupe Bass
Large Mammal: Longhorn (duh!)
Small Mammal: 9-Branded Armadillo
Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus (do pears grow on this or is it shaped like a pear like the Bradford Pear Tree?)
Reptile: Horned Lizard
Vegetable: Sweet Onion (to go in the Chili above!)

Texas Association of Realtors License Plate

2007-02-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

They finally arrived!! Check out my new Texas Association of REALTORS® license plates. They look "fake" as they're so different. I'm going to definitely have to watch the way I drive now.... not that I'm a bad drive, because I'm a great driver, but I'm the type of driver that has somewhere to go, and I like to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible!

Thank you everyone who helped with the choice of "BUYIN".

What do you think?

Dallas Texas- 2006 Year End Home Sales

2007-02-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

The report for the end of the year finally came out... or it's that I just checked my mail at my office and it was there.

These numbers are for 2006 DFW "Single Family Home" sale, which means it does NOT include condos, but it DOES include townhomes.

Number of Sales: 92,452 which is a 3% increase over last year

Average Price: $194,125 which is a 3% increase over last year

Median Price: $148,000 which is a 2% increase over last year

Active Listings: 44,389 which is a 7% increase over last year

Our average prices are still significally below the national average. And with a median price much lower than the average price, that shows you that many more homes are being sold in the lower-end price range than the higher end.

Texas- Home Sales Set Record for 2006

2007-02-07T05:46:00.000-08:00

According to the Associated Press and NAR, Texas had a record year in 2006 whereas the rest of the nation didn't, for the most part.

NAR reported only 6.5 million units were sold in 2006 which was down 8.4% compared to 2005 sales. They also stated that 40% of sales in 2005 were to investors or second-home buyers. Once the market switched in several areas, those investors backed out and have, therefore, decreased sales overall.

Texas sold almost 290,000 homes in 2006 which was the higher amount sold to date.

Even with sales declines across the country in many high-dollar areas, the median sales price was $222,000 compared to $219,600 in 2005.

As I tell all my clients, you can't listen to the national news to see what's going on in our area. We have had tremendous activity where others have not. If more people would look at the facts and not depend on information in other areas, the Dallas area could see even more growth!!

If you're looking to move or invest in the Dallas area, give me a call/email!!

Texas- Tax Free Weekend Change

2007-02-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

This is great news!

I'm not sure this happens in other states, but Texas has a TAX FREE weekend in August every year. Each year, they modify what is on the list. The original list was for clothes and school supplies to help parents save some money for the upcoming school year.

There was also a restriction that each item was only tax free up to the first $100. That meant, no tax free on designer $150 jeans!

Well, it was just reported yesterday that they're thinking about making more changes. The most recent change that might effect this coming August '07, is appliances!! How appliances really relate to going back to school, I don't know, but I guess some people could use the help to buy a big ticket item, save the tax, and then wash all the brand new clothes they just bought. This would also go towards refrigerators, and we all know those college students moving into the dorms could use a mini-fridge!

Overall, I think adding appliances to the list is a good thing. If you think it's good too, since this is not final yet, you might want to send an email to the state!

Wylie TX Home for Sale $135,000

2007-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

This floorplan is very open and in move-in ready condition! 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2 Car Garage, Built in 2002. The Kitchen and Nook have laminate wood floors, decorative lighting, upgraded counters, & walk-in pantry. The Master Bath has new tile floors, double sinks, linen closet, and large walk-in closet. The Backyard is HUGE with an extended patio! Rooms are split for privacy. 2" Blinds. Surround Sound in Family Room. Brick, Wood Burning Fireplace. Remote Ceiling Fans. Immaculate condition!!

Click here for the Virtual Tour.

McKinney TX Home For Sale $219,900

2007-02-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

What a great floorplan! Versatile with either 4 Living or 3 Living and a Study with Double French doors. Massive Gameroom approx 23 x 19 with full bath! The Kitchen has an abundance of 42'Cherry Cabs & Counter space, Built-in Desk, Dry Bar with glass front cabinets, and walk-in Pantry. Tile and Carpet upgraded throughout. The Master is split from the others and has double Vanities, Jetted Tub, Separate Shower, and walk-in closet with built-in shelves. The Corner lot makes for a larger backyard. It also has an extended patio, great for entertaining! 2" Blinds, Covered Porch with columns, Surround Sound, Gas Log Fireplace, Full size separate Utility Room... so much more. This house is Immaculate so make your appointment today!!

Click here for the Visual Tour.

Dallas Real Estate- My Personal Message

2007-02-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was in Chicago for a video shoot for a company. At the end of the interview, they allowed me to make a personal commercial. I had to quickly think of something to say that didn't sound stupid or scripted. It took me a couple of minutes, but then I remembered my Mission Statement that I have on my website and my Blog profile, and then it was easy. I've been using the same statement for almost 7 years now, so I had it down pretty well.

Watch my Personal Commerical here!!

My Trip to Chicago and Snow

2007-01-19T09:28:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my recent visit to Chicago. I had never been to Chicago before and I was excited to be there. I wish I was able to be there longer to actually see some sites. We did drive down Michigan Ave for the Magnificent Mile, but didn't get to stop anywhere. We had dinner at the Navy Pier, then back to the hotel and then the airport the next day. My flight got canceled, but I did manage to hop another flight.

Maybe I shouldn't have tried so hard so I could have stayed one more night... oh well, there'll be another time!

2007-01-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

There are a couple of new shows on HGTV that I've watched a few times, House Hunters and Hidden Potential. These shows really tell me how much my buyers choose houses that THEY love and not choose houses for themselves that I love.

House Hunters is where they take people out and show them house after house. I remember when I first saw it, the people were given the choice of three houses and they had to make a decision. The last time I saw it, they made a comment to the effect of, "three weeks and several houses later, choice #4 is such and such house." That's great that they're now acknowledging that it takes more than seeing just a couple of houses to make a decision.

Hidden Potential is where you take a couple that has looked at several homes already and they're just not finding what they like in their price range. Typically, these buyers are trying to get into a pricey neighborhood for the lowest end of the price range possible and then they're not happy with the condition of the homes. Hidden Potential takes them to three houses with a designer and he completely redesigns the houses on his computer. Then the buyers go "WOW!" The problem with this show is that you take someone's budget of 300k, and you show them houses around $200k, but you show them $100k worth of improvements to the house. What they don't acknowledge is that if you're buying a house in a $200k neighborhood and you're putting in $100k of repair, you just over updated your house and there's a huge possibility that you're never going to see that money back on resale.

Anyway, back to the point of this post... On both of these shows, I listen to what the buyers are saying that they want and watch intently as the hosts are explaining the different features and the Hidden Potential of each house. I then make my educated guess on which house they should choose. I have been correct ONCE!! That's right, only once! Can you believe that?! This is my job, and it takes into account my degree in Psychology and I've been picking the wrong houses for these people all these years! It's no wonder why I get so shocked sometimes when my buyers call and say they want to write an offer on such and such property though I'm prepared for them to say the other property.

No matter how much training you've had over the years with reading people, most are still going to shock you with their decisions. I mean, a family that keeps talking about how they need more space and an extra bathroom actually "settles" for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home just because they liked the designers plans... I don't get it. If I was the agent working with them, I would keep reminding them over and over again about resale and how 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths will resell so much better than a 2 bedroom with 1 bath any day of the week! My job is also to remind them that the point of their move was for more space and how does 2 bedrooms accomplish this. I wish they would do follow ups on these people later to see when they resell and why.

Does anyone do any better when guessing which houses these people are choosing on the shows?

The Sense of Accomplishment

2007-01-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

I have the sense of a HUGE accomplishment today!

Whenever I would show 2-story houses that had a "dust collector" above the front door, I would tell myself that if I ever had a house like that, I was going to decorate it, and it would involve one of those treasure chests. When we bought out current house about a year and a half ago, it actually has the "dust collector"! I was so excited. For those of you who don't know what a dust collector is, it's a plant ledge that just collects dust, mainly because it's too high for you to dust it.

I wanted to decorate it, but when it came down to it, I didn't really know what I wanted to do for that spot. My husband was very much against putting anything there because "who is going to dust it?" I told him that the point is that no one dusts it, the stuff just sits there and looks pretty. So, all this time goes by, and I had secretly been looking for a reasonably priced chest and I would build around it. I looked several places, but I was not going to spend $100+ on something to collect dust.

I received a referral last month from an agent in California. They came into town and we were looking at many houses. While looking, I had mentioned my plans for the "dust collector" but hadn't been able to find any chests worth the price. Before these buyers left town, they stopped in a store and called me. They said they were there and that they had tons of chests at 50% off! It's weird because I had gone to that store, but not that location. It turns out that the location they were at was one of the biggest in the area so they carried more things.

The next day, I drove up there, and I got my chest for only $34!!! I brought it home, and my husband was like, "we're not putting that up there!" I was like, "Oh, yes we are!"

I bought that chest about a month ago, and yesterday my husband looks at me while watching TV and asks, "Are you ready to put that stuff on the ledge?" I immediately jumped up and got my jacket on so we could bring in the HUGE ladder from the backyard.

I have a huge sense of accomplishment that I had been wanting for many years and finally did it. Yes, it's something simple, I didn't cure cancer or anything, but it's my own creation and I like it. It's a chest, a chair, a throw blanket, and a plant that was just sitting around the house. All for under $65!
As for Mike, he thinks it blocks out too much sun, but we'll just have to open the windows in the front formals! I told him I would climb up there twice a year to dust, but that means he's going to have to bring in the big ladder from outside! I wonder if that's going to happen....

Rules for Handshakes

2006-12-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

I hate shaking people's hands. It's not that I don't want to greet them nicely and professionally, but being a woman, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to shake hands.

Many women do the dainty, limp fish hand shake, which is why I'm sure men don't always know how to shake women's hands.

For example, I'll gage the gentleman and think about his personality, and I'll think he's going to have a hardy grip. I go in with a firm grip, and he's barely touching my hand... oops.

If I think he's a less aggressive person, I'll go in with a less firm grip, and then he's squeezing the life out of my hand... oops again.

Women are the worse! I have this client who is very loud, very stern, very knows-what-she-wants-and-she's-going-to-get-it, and she was buying a house site-unseen. When I finally meet her in person, she's definitely not what I would call a fragile person. I go in to shake her hand with a very aggressive grip from knowing her for the past 4 months, and I get the limp, dead fish... I was shocked. My hand was glued to hers and I couldn't release the grip. I felt so bad. I thought she would be coming in with the same grip.

And then there are those women that are dainty and very feminine and as I approach with my non-threatening grip, they're giving the firm grip, and I feel like an idiot.

What are the rules for a handshake??

Real Estate is like Learning Golf from the Pros

2006-12-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

My husband, Mike, has decided to take up Golf again. He used to play, but got frustrated with it, but now he’s falling apart (38 years old) so he gets more frustrated with the Wakeboarding (knee, wrist, ankle, shoulder, and back injuries) and has decided Golf would be good again. So, he’s gotten new clubs (several times over so he could find ones he likes), new clothes, new bag, and he’s probably going to ask for new golf shoes for the Holidays.

TiVo has been very busy recording Golf. Each infomercial says you must have this or you must have that to be successful. Hmmm, each seminar I go to about real estate does the same thing.

The thing that really hit home was when Mike was watching the Pro Lessons last night. He’s been watching a lot of the professionals give lessons so he can take bits and pieces and see what works for him. All of a sudden he says, “Each Pro does something completely different than the other and I’m more confused than ever!”

With that comment, I related it to Real Estate. Take a new agent, for example. A new agent comes into your office and asks to pick your brain. If you’re online reading this, you’re probably telling this new agent about all the online presence you have and how you are going to concentrate your efforts on marketing and advertising online since you know the latest reports show that over 80% of buyers are looking online for properties before contacting an agent. You’re telling them about creating their website and SEO and how to drive traffic to their own site in order to pick up leads.

However, that new agent, trying to gather as much information as possible, then sits down with an agent who has been in the business 30+ years, because we all know that agent should know how to get business in his/her sleep. Well, that agent then tells the new agent about his/her experience with door knocking and cold calling (even with the Do Not Call rules, eliminating those not to call) and farming a particular neighborhood for the same 30+ years.

As our new agent finds another agent to talk with, this other agent just talks about taking as many phone-duty shifts at the office as possible and holding Open Houses every weekend in the hopes of getting new buyers to walk through the doors.

Which agent do you want to be like? I know which one I am, and I know which ones need to get into the 21st century. However, different things work for different agents. Is there a wrong way to do real estate if you’re successful with it? I would only say you’re way is wrong if you can’t show any production.

As a new agent in a weird market, you need to look at all the information given and try each way and see what will work for you. Maybe you like sitting inside a house by yourself and a good book for a few hours on the weekend while you wait for buyers to approach you. Maybe you’ve been in your neighborhood for years, and knocking on doors makes sense for you for the face to face contact. Maybe you like to make contact with as many people as possible within a short amount of time, so you find the internet is the way to go for you. Whatever you chose, make it your own.

Back to Golf, my husband has tried to take tips from several different pros to see what will work for him. However, a friend of his is a golf pro himself and he doesn’t know how to teach anyone how to swing a club who doesn’t swing it the way he wants. So, Mike is left with the dilemma with learning how to swing a swing that is productive and works well for him, or with learning a swing that works well for someone else, and not feeling comfortable with the swing himself.

Which way should he go?? I’m sure more advice will only help him!!

NAR Heading South of the Border

2006-12-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

NAR has headed south of the border into Mexico, and as of January 2007, all Mexicans that are members of AMPI (La Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios) will be considered REALTORS®.

This is the first joint relationship that NAR as formally signed with a foreign real estate organization. The have been ongoing liaisons over the years, but this is a much larger step in bringing REALTORS® together.

NAR announced at the convention in New Orleans that they will launch a 4-hour course called "Doing Business In Mexico" with an online version available later in 2007.

Is this a start of NAR actually becoming a "National" Association of Realtors and not just considered National as in Nationwide over America?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this relationship? Do you see yourself or your investors buying properties in Mexico and this being an important relationship? How do you see this relationship being of benefit for your business? Being in Texas, I would like to hear other's thoughts.

Cell Phone Taxes Too High in Texas

2006-11-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

I briefly heard on NBC news a couple of days ago that, on average, Texas has one of the highest taxes on cell phone usage. The average is 20% which is about $12 on an average user's bill. My cell phone plan is $39.99, but each month, my bill ranges from $48-49. That's $8-9 in just TAXES, and I live here!! I'm not an investor buying cell phones to use them out of state!

The news video is here. It basically talks about how the state of Texas gets over $700 million a year just from cell phone taxes alone!! That's a heck of a lot of money.

What are your cell phone taxes where you live?

Snow in Dallas

2006-11-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

People say it never snows in Dallas!! Lookie here!! It's not really sticking on the streets because it was 80 degrees yesterday so there is still heat built into the concrete, but it's looking nice on the roof tops and in the flower beds. I guess I'm lucky that Pansies like cold weather, but I'm not too sure what's going to happen to all my cabbage and kale. Hopefully they're strong enough to handle the cold, as the temps continue to drop to 25 degrees tonight.

Texas- First Property Tax Arbitration Case

2006-11-20T10:12:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! I took the Arbitration class in October and I just got my first case! There was a gentleman in the class who was taking it for the second time as a refresher because he took the class over a year earlier and has yet to be chosen. I've been on the registry for about 2 weeks and have already received my first letter.

I was so excited that I didn't want to mail it back, so I scanned and emailed it back to their office. I just received a returned receipt showing they received my email. Now, I get to sit and wait to make sure I'm actually the person chosen for the case!

I'm looking forward to this new and exciting experience.

Dallas Real Estate- LBJ Tollway

2006-11-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

LBJ 635 is the main East and West highway in the Dallas area, named after President Lyndon B Johnson. It's a nightmare to drive on. Rush hour in the morning starts at about 5:30am and goes until about 9:30am. Afternoon rush hour starts at about 3pm and goes until about 7pm. We're talking constant stop and go. I try to avoid 635 at all costs if I can. It's easier to avoid now that they've semi-completed the George Bush Turnpike about 5 miles north of 635.

Well, there has been lots of talk over the years about how they are going to dig tunnels under 635 to get some of the traffic off the main highway. Even though there have been plans and much talk for about 20 years, they're now saying there's not enough money for this project to actually do it.

The new concept they've thought about is running channels 25 feet under 635. The channels would only be 3 lanes for each direction. There will also be a toll charged to go underground as the money to build the channels would be coming from private funds and not the state. This would create the 4th tollroad in Dallas. pretty soon, you're not going to be able to go anywhere without paying to drive on the roads.

Are my taxes not paying for roads? This is ridiculous. I already live right off the Bush Turkpike. The Bush is currently being extended to be a loop around the Dallas area. The Dallas North Tollway has been here for years. Highway 121, further north, just turned into a tollway a couple of months ago. I'm getting really sick and tired of paying to drive to the grocery store or to my parents or to my office.

Are there other places in the country that can say they have FOUR Tollways/Turnpikes in their immediate metropolitan area? If I wanted to include the entire state, I would include the multiple Tollways in Houston, Austin, ect...

English is the Official Language in Farmers Branch, TX

2006-11-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

As of Monday, English is now the official language of a small inner suburb of Dallas, called Farmers Branch. Farmers Branch has a population of about 26,000. This doesn't mean other languages can't be used for social or business in the city, but it means the city will no longer be providing Spanish translated information for anything provided to people within the city. Another city ordinance that passed on Monday was that illegal immigrant, as of January 2007, will no longer be able to rent apartments within the city. Within this ordinance, they are going to watch what happens over the next six months and potentially make it so illegal immigrants can't rent houses either.

There is a lot of noise going both ways. My housekeeper was over yesterday and is very upset because of this issue. She's actually a homeowner in Farmers Branch so this doesn't necessarily directly effect her, but most of her friends are renters. She said that someone yelled out at the rally that illegal immigrants were only good for cleaning their toilets. My jaw dropped to the ground. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Here's a quote from The Dallas Morning News: "I think Farmers Branch is saying that we don't mind if you work here - probably in minimum-wage jobs cutting our grass and washing the dishes in restaurants - and we don't mind if you spend your money here and shop, but we don't want you to live here ... and we're going to use living requirements to enforce that," said Gerry Henigsman, executive vice president of the apartment association."

All I can say is WOW! What Farmers Branch doesn't see is all the work the illegal immigrants do in the Dallas area because their small little city is very old and built out. They don't have any areas of new developments. If they did, they would know it's the illegal immigrants who are building all the houses in our areas. They're the ones roughing in the plumbing. They're the ones pouring the slab. They're the ones putting up the sheetrock, texturing and painting. They're the ones bricking the homes and putting the roofs on. They're the ones laying the sod and planting all the landscaping... they do it all! And sometimes all you need to do is bring them a 6-pack of Cerveza and they'll follow you home to paint your rooms or fix your fence or something like that. They aren't greedy, but they like their beer!!

Anyway, many think there is no way this ordinance is going to stand up in court. Many people don't think Farmers Branch is going to want to pay the legal fees if there are many court cases. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Here is the link to one of the stories.

Picture courtesy of the Dallas Morning News.
Edit: My comments were not to be offensive. I was pointing out that in the new communities where they are doing all the building of the homes, the superintendants tell the new home buyers that if they ever need anything done while workers are around, that all they have to do is ask, and they'll come right over. They also suggest offering something like beer as an offering as I believe they are not allowed to accept money unless it's done off the clock with the current job they're working on. I apologize if I didn't make that clear.

A Service for Writing Real Estate Offers

2006-11-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Are agents really getting this lazy? I just received an email from a lady who started a new service where you can call in and register your buyer and when you're ready to write up an offer, you call them and they write it for you and send it to your buyer to sign. They do offer you the opportunity to fill out a blank contract first so they'll have all your stock information and typical wording in the Special Provisions section, but besides that, you just go blank by blank in the contract and they fill it out for you.

Gimme a break! How lazy are agents these days! It would take me longer to go over each and every blank in the contract with someone than it would for me to pull up the contract and addendums myself and hit the tab key going from blank to blank.
I laughed at the fees. It's $25 for the one-time set up fee per agent. And then it's a $10 fee plus $1 per page for the offer to be written. A typical offer is 8 pages for the main contract, 2 pages for the financing, 1 page for the lead based paint, 1 page for the home owner's association page, and various other addendum depending on the house like lease backs and contigent upon sale of another property. With a typical offer, that would equal $22 for someone else to write the offer for you...

Again, GIMME A BREAK!!!

Dallas Real Estate- Fastest Growing Small Communities

2006-11-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

When people think of Texas, they think of Dallas (1.2 million people), Fort Worth (624,000 people), Houston (2+ million people), Austin (690,000 people), and San Antonio (1.3 million people) which are the 5 largest Texas cities across the state.

However, people forget about the smaller cities. They forget about them because we don't really give them their own identity as we group them into the larger city. Below is a list of the top 11 faster growing smaller cities in Texas. Fate, Little Elm, Murphy, and Frisco are all considered "Dallas". Hutto, Kyle, Bee Cave, and Leander are all considered "Austin". In the great state of Texas, the metro areas are so large, that they encompass large areas. The population of the "City of Dallas" might only be around 1.2 million people, but the entire Dallas Metroplex, with all its little communities, has over 4 million people.

Fastest Growing Small Texas Communities 2000-2005

Hutto- 492%
Fate- 406%
Little Elm- 365%
Murphy- 255%
Kyle- 233%
Selma- 175%
Cibola- 155%
Bee Cave- 135%
Roman Forest- 133%
Leander- 129%
Frisco- 110%

Property Tax Value Arbitration

2006-10-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

I just spent the last three days taking a 30 hour class o Arbitration. Something new has come to Texas and it's very exciting! Unlike many other states, Texas homeowners are sent a new tax value the first week of May every year. If a home owner is unhappy with the value, they are allowed to fight the value assessed. This value is not necessarily the market value of a home, or what a buyer will pay for the home. This is just the tax value of the home that the appraisal district assesses.

Once you receive your notice, you have a certain amount of days to make it known that you're not happy. Most people just go to the county appraisal office during business hours and ask to speak with one of the assessors. If not happy with a one on one conversation, the home owner can then chose to go to the ARB, Appraisal Review Board. This is where the home owner gets 15 minutes to state their case and a panel of 3-5 people decide what the value should be.

If the home owner still is not happy with the value, they can then file for Arbitration. They send in a notice to the State Comptroller's Office along with $500 and wait for a hearing. That's where I come in! When someone requests a hearing, they have the opportunity to chose an arbitrator as long as both parties agree, but what's mostly been happening is the Comptroller's computer spits out a name and when I'm sent a notice, I can either accept it or decline it.

Once the hearing is accepted, I have 120 days to render an award. This means I need to send out notice to both parties to have a hearing within about 45-60 days in case either needs to reschedule somewhere in there. Arbitration means the home owner cannot file suit in court to fight their value once a decision is made. If the home owner prevails, they will receive $450 back from their initial $500 deposit. If they lose, they lose their $450 as well.

This is a new process in Texas and I'm sure there are going to be some glitches the first couple of years, but I'm excited to have just completed the required course work and roll plays, and I'm sending in my application today!

Dallas Real Estate- Texas Foreclosures

2006-10-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

There's some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that Texas saw a 16% decrease in foreclosures in September over August.

The bad news is that Texas saw a 23% increase in foreclosures in September '06 over September '05.

There are 11,988 homes in some type of foreclosure, and since many people are just late on their payments, this isn't the actual number that will be foreclosed on. With these numbers, Texas is 1.5 times the national average... so sad...

Time Management- Bathroom Breaks

2006-10-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

I've read lots about Time Management, and I've taken a couple of classes that also talk about scheduling and learning to manage your time. My problem with all this information is that I've never seen or heard anything about how to schedule in Bathroom Breaks!

Bathroom Breaks are very important, and sometimes I'll have to go for a couple of hours before finding 30 seconds to "sit down." It's not good for your bladder or your kidneys. What's funny is that I'm typing this because I've been trying to get to the bathroom for over an hour now, but emails keep coming in or the phone keeps ringing and then I have to follow up with others when I get off the phone that requires more information. So, instead of getting up and going, since I now had 2 minutes to spear, I decided to type this out with my foot tapping.

It's a fierce circle throughout the day, and I drink A LOT of water!!

Does anyone have any tricks on working bathroom breaks into your busy schedules? This is just another sacrafice I make for great customer service to my clients!

Dallas Real Estate- September Sales Dip

2006-10-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

Sales are down in North Texas and inventory is up. We still have less than a 6 month supply, so it's still not technically a Buyer's Market like some would think. However, many buyers are waiting to buy thinking they'll get that massive deal overnight. Most Buyers are listening to National news which is typically quite different that our local news since the report came out a couple of months ago showing we're 18% undervalued compared to the rest of the country. Still, people like to sit and wait.

Median sales price dropped 3%, a decrease for the first time since September 2004. September is typically one of my slowest months, but this was the busiest September I had ever had, with 4 closings. November and December are typically my busy months, and I'm hoping to keep that tradition.

SEPTEMBER HOME RESALES
Year-over-year change in area pre-owned home sales and prices:
Category Homes Change Condos Change
Sold 6,622 -15% 431 -7%
Median price $143,150 -3% $115,250 +2%
Average DOM 69 -3% 78 -8%
Pending sales 7,747 +5% 455 -2%
For sale 46,966 +13% 3,887 +12%
SOURCES: Texas A&M University Real Estate Center; North Texas Real Estate Information System

More Nebraska

2006-09-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

The other part of the trip to Nebraska was to meet some of Mike's family.
They threw a party for us on Friday and invited a lot of family. Some still live out on the farms in Auburn, but others have moved to Omaha. Also, Mike's Grandmother Darling isn't doing very well, and she's in an "apartment" and wants to go home. Grandpa Joe calls the nursing home her apartment so she'll feel more at home.
Look at this original Frigidaire stove.
It's ancient! There was also a gas stove in the basement that looked to be about 50 years old as well. But it fit right in with this antique bumper pool table.

Overall, it was a very nice break from real estate. I still checked emails and phone messages, but for the most part, this is probably only the second time in 6 years that I didn't worry about real estate for a couple of days. I'm not sure about the 9 hour trip again, but I'm sure we'll go again.

My Trip to Auburn, Nebraska

2006-09-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Nebraska, home of the Huskers... I just spent 4 days in Nebraska looking at corn and bean crops with every turn of my head. This was a very "different" experience for me. I'm definitely a city-girl compared to the way they live in Auburn.

I fed some pigs, ,I chased some turkeys, I was stampeded by some cows, ,
and I rode not just one, but two combines. And I didn't just ride in them, I actually DROVE them! I have a job waiting for me if I ever decide Dallas and Real Estate isn't for me anymore.
Each time someone would tell me that I needed to see a combine, I would think to myself, why do I need to see someones trash, as I was thinking "compost". A combine is definitely not a compost!! I rode an 11 ton, green John Deere, and a HUGE red one, , and I don't remember the brand of that one, but it wasn't John Deere. For those farmers out there, it was an 8 head thinga-ma-bobber.

Of course it rained the day we decided to go to the family farms, so it wasn't the cleanest experience, and my truck is filthy! I think the grossest (most gross?) part was when the nasty pigs where eating out of my hand.

Two Seasons- Hot and Cold

2006-09-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

Many people say that Texas only has two seasons, Summer and Winter. I would like to change that answer to just plain Hot and Cold. We made it to #7 of all time for the hottest summer with 44 days over 100 degrees. Then, I wake up a couple of mornings ago and I had to wear a sweatshirt to walk the dog. What a major change from waking up to 85 degree weather and not wanting to walk the dog unless it was before 7:30 am.

I'm going to Nebraska next week to visit my Husband's grandparents and I was told today that the temps will be in the 50's!! What a way to get sick; going from hot to cold to hot without getting there gradually.

We are in a drought like I mentioned in my previous post. The weather people keep teasing us saying it's supposed to rain, but I haven't felt any rain drops yet. The only thing I've felt has been the heavy humidity.

Even though I needed a sweatshirt a couple of mornings ago, it's still been up in the 90's during the day, so we're still in the "Hot" season... I like sweaters and I like being able to wear layers so I can't wait for the Cold season!

Dallas Real Estate- Water Stage 4?

2006-09-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Lake Lavon is the main lake that supplies most of Dallas county with water. Currently, the lake is almost 16 feet below normal (about 15.7 feet). If it continues to get lower and lower, they have threatened to go further with the water restrictions.

Currently, in most areas, you can only water on your trash day between 6pm and 10am. Some areas even restrict watering from 3am-8am. When I say trash day, that's different in difffernt cities. My city has two trash days. We're only one in a handful. Everyone else only has one trash day a week... not much watering going on.

If stage 4 comes into effect, there will be no automatic sprinkler systems allowed, period the end. There will only be hand-watering and soaker hoses allowed. That's because a lot of water is wasted in the streets, sidewalks and driveways with the sprinklers. When hand-watering, the water will all stay on the grass and around the foundation so less water will be used.

I, personally, don't have the patience to hand water, so I guess our grass will dry... but it's almost dormant season anyway.

Dallas Real Estate- Job Growth is Up

2006-09-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

It's no wonder why I'm so busy... as people are getting better jobs and employment rates going down, people are buying houses!! I think the scare of the higher interest rate is behind most people. They tickled 7% for a couple of weeks, but are now around 6.5% and lower for your typical conventional mortgage.

August's job growth added 22,600 jobs whereas July added only 12,100.

Unemployment dropped in August to 5.1% from 5.2%. It doesn't seem like much of a change, but it is. Across the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, unemployment is down to 4.9% from 5.3% in July. We're doing better to get back to last year, as last year's unemployment was only 5%.

All my relocation buyers are always asking me how the job market is doing and I always respond that it must be doing well or why would all these people, including them, be relocating here. Yes, there have been layoffs, but there has been much growth as the numbers show.

Dallas Real Estate- Don't Use Nations Residential Services

2006-09-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Don’t EVER use Nations Residential Service for your home warranty company! They are only a Texas based company, so this won’t affect many of you, but I know there are tons of people across the country who are buying investment properties in Dallas and much of Texas, so this will effect you.

I have been a big proponent of Nations for several years. Many of my own buyers and sellers have put this coverage on their homes. Over the years, I would get calls or emails every once in a while from one of my clients saying how they called Nations, but their claim was denied and they had to pay this and that. I just shrugged it off saying I’m sure they had a reason for denying the claim… WRONG!!

I have had Nations on my personal house since I bought it last July ‘05. First, the garbage disposal goes out, but it’s a Saturday, and the warranty is only good during weekdays, so unless we wanted to not use our kitchen sink for 3 days, we had to go buy a new disposal ourselves. Second, our garage door opener stopped working, bad gear. I have the Preferred Package with the Upgrade Package and the upgrade package covers garage doors... oh, but the upgrade package actually only covers the garage door if you also have the basic garage door coverage. That is complete BS! Why would I need to pay extra for an upgrade package to cover something when it’s not even covered in that package?

Third, our AC goes out mid-July. It went from a 16 degree differential down to a 4 degree differential. I call Nations, they send someone out, they fill the unit with Freon, wrap duct tape around a hose thingy and say it’s fine. At that time, my husband pressed the technician for an explanation of needing to add so much Freon. The tech’s response was that he was only topping it off, though he added quite a bit, and that it’s quite common to need to add Freon every once in awhile. Fourth thing that happens is a month ago, a few days before the warranty expires, one of the water heaters is acting up, so we call Nations again. This time, they say it’s an improper install of the water heater so they can’t cover it, but they’ll gladly charge us over $800 to fix it. We asked what he meant by improper install, and he says it’s installed per city code and city ordinances, but it’s not installed per home warranty standards… WHAT?!

At that time, we let the warranty lapse and did not renew it because of the bad experiences. Two days ago, we call Nations and tell them that the AC was not fixed when their people were out 6 weeks ago. After getting the differential back up to 16 degrees, just 6 weeks ago, it’s now back down to 10 degrees. Can you say leak?? The same people came and looked at it and confirmed there’s a leak. Will Nations cover it? NO! They claim since we don’t currently have coverage, there is nothing they can do. Oh, YES, there is!! They can warrant the work of the AC company they sent out here. By the way, the company is now denying adding Freon so they’re saying there was no leak when they were here 6 weeks ago. How can you go from 16 degrees, down to 4 degrees, back up to 16, and now back down to 10 without there being a leak, Freon being added, and yet that same Freon leaking back out?

The basis of this blog is to make sure no one else falls into the trap of Nations Residential Services! This is posted on two of my blogs; this will be emailed to the news media; this will be sent to the president of Nations, to their sales rep, to the BBB, and also to our attorney.

DON’T EVER USE NATIONS RESIDENTIAL SERVICES!!!

Dallas Real Estate- Las Colinas New Home

2006-09-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

This is one of those houses where you say, "WOW!" when you walk in the front door. It's a great house with over 4500 sqft and all for only $880,000! The community is in the Las Colinas part of Irving, TX located just north of the Four Seasons, where the Byron Nelson is held every year. This community is not just gated, but there is a 24 hour guard at the front letting your guests in and monitoring security.

This house is brand new, built in 2006, with many upgraded features within. Some of those features include Slate, Hardwoods, Travertine, and Frieze Carpet just for the flooring! The Kitchen has Granite counters, Stainless Steel Bosch Appliances, Double Oven, 42" cabinets, Island, and Tumbled Marble Backsplash. Other features within the house are GameRoom, Media Room, Oversized Jetted Tub, Walk-in Double Shower, Double Vanities, Walk-in Closet with Dresser... sprinklers, gutters, security system, intercom, Study with built-ins, and much much more!!

Click here for the Visual Tour!! Make your Appointment TODAY as the tour doesn't do the house justice.

Do Not Call List for Cell Phones

2006-08-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

Heads up, in 8 days, all cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers!! You will start to receive these annoying calls, and YOU have to pay for them as they rack up minutes on your phone plan!

To be put on the DNC list, call 888-382-1222. You must call from the cell phone in which you wish to register. You'll be on the list for 5 years. I just called in myself and they also warned that it takes a while to be removed from the list, but if would definitely be updated by 31 days. Why 31 and not 30, I have no idea, but maybe because next week is a Holiday!

Realty Times Article

2006-08-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded me an article this morning that I was featured in. It's so weird to see my name in print so many times in one place! I am honored to be the spot light for Realty Times as they watched me from last year through this year. I've already received a handful of emails and voicemails from real estate companies wanting to recruit me, to mortgage lenders wanting to work with me... you can't ask for more publicity than that!

Click here for the full article, including last year's.

Dallas Real Estate - Refi verse HELOC

2006-08-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

I learned something new yesterday which was confirmed today. In Texas, once you do a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) on your house, you cannot refinance the house until the Heloc is paid in full.

I had a listing appt yesterday where I feel so bad for their situation. They originally bought the house with putting down 20% and waiving escrows. After a couple of years, they got behind on taxes and decided they needed to refinance the house and roll the taxes into the mortgage and get everything caught up. It's now a couple of years later, his ARM has gone up to over 11.5% and when he inquired about a refi, he found out he didn't refi a couple of years earlier, it was in fact a Heloc.

At that point in the appt, I just got to look down at my hands on the table and say ohhh and awww. I was speechless. I had never heard of such a thing, and it was confirmed today that the Heloc rule is true. It's so sad when mortgage people don't explain things fully to people. What where they doing giving 8% on a refi two years ago anyway? I asked ifhe had questioned the rate, and his reply was that he trusted them and didn't know to ask.

So sad... hopefully I can help him out of this situation.

Dell Computer Batteries

2006-08-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

Head up; Dell is recalling over 4 million Sony batteries in their laptop computers that were delivered between April '04 and July 18 of this year. I know I need a new battery. I've always wondered why the bottom of the computer is so hot. I've got it sitting on a laptop table right now, and the heat is strong enough to even go through the wood.

My husband uses to sit with the computer on his lap until he burned himself without realizing it. It was a slow burn over a couple of hours, but the actual burn didn't go away for about a week.

Anyone with a Dell from these dates need to get a new battery as soon as possible.

Here is the full story on www.dallasnews.com.

Dallas Real Estate - Got Heat?

2006-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you're planning on moving to Dallas, you need to know some interesting facts about the summer heat. Today is going to be day 30 of over 100+ degree weather! It's supposed to be over 100 all week. As of today, we are having the 9th hottest summer on record. By the end of this heat wave, they are predicting that we will be the fifth hottest.

Here are some numbers:
1980= HOTTEST summer on record with 69 days over 100
1998- 56 days over 100+ This was the year I graduated college and imagine interviewing in a full suit and walking in the door with sweat dripping off your upper lip... boy was it miserable!

1954- 52 days
1956- 48 days

2000- 46 days
2006- 29 days and counting... today will be day 30!

Drink plenty of fluids and keep water in your car at all times!

Dallas Real Estate - ReKey After Closing

2006-08-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

After you close on a house, you need to change your locks. You don't actually have to change the hardware as rekeying a lock is much cheaper, but you never know who has copies of the keys. If the previous owners didn't change their locks, you could have people from years earlier that still have keys. There are housekeepers, service technicians, babysitters, dog sitters, etc... That's so dangerous!

There have been many times when I've gone to pick up keys for the buyers and the sellers are like, there are only 3 keys there, but I know I had 4 so I'll get that to you when I find it. I'm like, don't worry, the buyers will be changing the locks. They always look at me with a blank stare, almost like, why in the world would they change the locks?

Hello people!! Crime rates are up, not down!! You don't want that college kid coming home on a break and just checking to see if his key stll works. You don't want an ex-wife or ex-husband of the previous owners trying the key at 2 in the morning because they're drunk...

Common sense says to change the locks!

Dallas Real Estate- Blogging Awards

2006-08-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

Did you know there was a contest for Women in real estate to blog? I had no idea! I would have started blogging much sooner if I knew I could have won some type of award.

Someone I've known for about 2 years is actually on the top 10 list, Claudia Wicks! I'm hoping the additional traffic to her blog will bring people to my blog since I have a link over there. If you're reading this and you came from Claudia's blog, send me an email or a comment! I love to know where my blog readers come from.

Here's the full List.

Dallas Real Estate- 10% Drop for July

2006-08-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

My seller's are constantly wondering why the showings have slowed down or why there aren't any showings period. In July, there was a 10% drop in home sales which followed a 5% drop in June.

We currently have 47,391 listings on the market which is about 8% higher than last year!! WOW! My view of that is that our market is basically still holding steady. At the beginning of the year, there were about 46,000 which is not that large of a change. I recently heard that the Phoenix market went from about 3400 listings in Jan '05 to about 46,000 in June of '06. Now THAT is a big change in market conditions. I don't know what I would do if our market flipped like that.

All I can say is that my business is still fairly stable, and the only difference is that the listings are taking a little longer to sell.

Click here for the full report.

Dallas Real Estate- Staging

2006-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

I had my first attempt at really helping a seller stage their home this week. Below are some of the before and after pictures. I was unable to utilize the garage for storage, so there is still more furniture in the rooms that I would like, but at least the spaces are shown much better now. What do you think?

Dallas Real Estate- Dallas Schools Unacceptable

2006-08-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is ridiculous!! Last year, there were 264 schools that were ranked as unacceptable and this year, that number jumped up to 321! How does this happen? What's funny (not really) is all the schools that cheated on their TAKS Tests (standardized tests) didn't help much as most of those are still unacceptable.

Granted, we had a huge jump in enrollment due to Hurricane Katrina and those students were probably on different levels which made it hard for many of them to catch up.

On the good side is that the number of exemplary schools were on the rise too... but just like the local news broadcast, it's easier to look at the negative than the positive. The increase of exemplary schools went from 304 up to 555 which was a 7% increase. WAY TO GO!!

Dallas Real Estate- Accredited Staging Professional ASP

2006-08-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

I got my ASP certification today! I am now a certified ASP REALTOR®. The ASP is an Accredited Staging Professional.

Staging is NOT decorating! Staging is de-personalizing. Staging is getting a house ready to sell faster and for higher dollar. A staged home makes all the difference in the world.

For our final exam, we hit a house in Plano and we tore it apart and then put it back together. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun! We had strict rules about not putting any furniture in the garage, so we were basically forced to use everything in the house, which is what you don't want to do, but it all turned out ok.

The seller's listing agent came over at the end and he didn't even recognize anything in the house as it was all moved around and the colors we focused.

Anyway, if you're in the Dallas area and need a home staged, give me a call/email!

A Reason for Everything- Thank you Real Estate

2006-07-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

I truly believe there is a reason for everything... the latest event that happened to fuel this theory more is that I met someone for the first time in almost 18 years and I have to thank real estate for that.

If I wasn't in real estate, I would have had no reason to be at the title company a couple of weeks ago. If I wasn't there, I wouldn't have been able to see a familiar name on a folder. A name that I had not seen in years! After a few phone calls, I spoke with the buyer's agent who then called me on a three-way conference call to be able to talk with my Grandmother. We had lost touch after my Grandfather died in 1988. We all seemed to go different directions with things.

After a couple of hours, we decided we needed to meet, so we met for lunch last week. I told my mother about this a couple of days ago and my mom wants to meet her!! In so many ways, life is not fair... but then it throws you some curve balls that make other things seem so small.

What's strange is that she's been living in Richardson for the past 11 years! She's been about 3 miles from me for the past year!

I'm looking forward to meeting my cousins. Thank you, Real Estate!!

National Night Out

2006-07-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone about National Night Out on August 1. It's coming up pretty quick. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and create new friendships. I've only been in my neighborhood for about 10 months, so I'm definitely looking forward to meeting new people. We had already closed on the house during last year's event, but we were not brave enough to chance running into the sellers of our house as they were not nice people.

I really want to make friends with my neighbors across the street as they're putting in a new pool! We've passed pleasantries with a wave and smile, but not real talking. Also, listings are popping up right and left around me, and my name is not on any of those signs. Even a friend of my husband's moved in one street over and "forgot" that I was a Realtor so he called the listing agent to buy the house.

If we get a certain amount of people to show up, we get to keep the Crime Water signs within the community. All that's asked of us is to bring canned goods and something to share. My street has been assigned "Cold Bottled Water." I guess they needed to put "cold" so people wouldn't assume they could bring it straight from their garage and expect ice to be available. This is just another opportunity to market myself and hand out my branded water so people don't forget about me!

Everyone should be safe and have fun!

Dallas Real Estate- First SW Mall Demolished

2006-07-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Big Town Mall in Mesquite started demolition, but it was just a procedure as the mall has been dead for years. Me? I say, "Where the heck is Big Town? I've never heard of it!" I've been here for 22 years and never heard of Big Town Mall.

It was the first in the Southwest to be fully enclosed and air conditioned and opened in 1959. It was fourth in the country. It was apparently over 77 acres and even had a small amusement park for the kids, but again, I say, what's Big Town?

Big Town, since all stores had pulled out by about 2001, was actually a staging area for Katrina victims. It was also in the movie True Stories in 1986, yet another movie I've never heard of.

I guess I never heard of this mall because the main mall in Mesquite opened in 1971 only 5 miles from Big Town. Town East Mall is a huge mall and traffic around there is horrible day in and day out.

Oh well, we have WAY TOO many malls in the Dallas area, and just like Prestonwood Mall, which was an icon, they all need to go at some point.

Dallas Real Estate- Richardson, TX Breakdown

2006-07-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

According to Money Magazine, Richardson, TX ranked #15 for Best Places to Live so since it wasn't far behind, I thought I would mention my home-town as well. Here are some of the stats that go along with that to compare Richardson to the rest of the country.

Median Family Income: $82,104
Average: $76,893

State Income bracket: N/A- no state income tax!!!
Average high bracket: 6.46%
Average low bracket: 2.74%

Median home price: $188,860
Average: $259,566

Air Quality: 61.9%
Average: 71.9%

Public Golf Courses (within 30 miles): 95
Average: 74

Ski Resorts (within 100 miles): 0= zero
Average: 10

Restaurant (within 15 miles): 5561
Average: 2268

For Richardson, there are many more Restaurants than in Plano and the incomes are lower... but people like to eat and have variety when they chose a place for dinner!

Dallas Real Estate- Plano, TX Breakdown

2006-07-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

According to Money Magazine, Plano, TX ranked #11 for Best Places to Live. Here are some of the stats that go along with that to compare Plano to the rest of the country.

Median Family Income: $102,477
Average: $76,893

State Income bracket: N/A- no state income tax!!!
Average high bracket: 6.46%
Average low bracket: 2.74%

Median home price: $228,760
Average: $259,566

Air Quality: 80.8%
Average: 71.9%

Public Golf Courses (within 30 miles): 90
Average: 74

Ski Resorts (within 100 miles): 0= zero
Average: 10

Restaurant (within 15 miles): 4234
Average: 2268

Lookie there... much higher incomes and no state income tax!! That means more money in your pocket!! Everyone should move here!!

Dallas Real Estate- Best Places to Live

2006-07-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Money Magazine did their usual rankings for this year and four Dallas areas made the top 100 list for the Best Places to Live: Carrollton, Denton, Plano, and Richardson. Not to be biased, but I moved to Richardson 22 years ago and currently still reside here, so I could have told you Richardson was a great place to live!!

Other rankings are:

Highest Income:
Flower Mound ranked #5 with $104,921
Allen ranked #22 with $92,404

Job Growth:
Allen ranked #2 with 55%
Frisco ranked #4 with 53%
McKinney ranked #8 with 40.1% (McKinney had no where to go but up)
Flower Mound ranked #23 with 31.1%

And the most important was Body Mass Index:
All cities tied with 25.4, but were still ranked in an order of
Denton #14, Flower Mound #15, & Ft Worth #16

Dallas Real Estate- Writing Up an Offer

2006-07-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

I was watching Judge Judy or The People's Court or one of those the other day, and they had a case on there about a verbal first right of refusion on a property and it made me want to remind everyone that verbal contracts are not held up in a Real Estate transaction. Everything must be in writing.

All terms of everything must be discussed. I love it when an out of town buyer tells me to just call up the listing agent and ask if such and such price is ok. I'm like, we need more than just a price. I need to know the amount of earnest money you'll be putting up, how much time you want to inspections, do you want a home warranty, when will we close, will possession be given at closing and funding or will there be a lease back... as I list off all these questions and more, people's eyes just start to bug out.

I understand in some areas, people can write a letter of intent and then fill out the full contract later, but this is not how real estate works in the Dallas market. Letters of Intent don't ususally list out everything within an offer and then when a full contract is written, one side is always yelling and screaming about how something was not agreed to. So, don't be upset when you have to sign 10-12 pieces of paper when you want to submit an offer. It might seem like a lot, but it's all there to protect you.

The only real estate that does not have to be in writing is a rental agreement that is less than 12 months! Put everything in writing even if it seems silly!

Dallas Real Estate- DFW Ranks #9

2006-07-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

I always thought DFW was in the top 10 of largest metropolotan areas, but I guess I was wrong. People always think Ft Worth is larger than it really is, but it's actually a small fraction of the metroplex, whereas Dallas holds well over the majority of the population. Granted, Ft Worth had the largest amount of growth last year, by 21,500 and percentage growth is high, but percentage growth is only high because the original population count was low. Ft Worth, you need to carry more weight with this "DFW" relationship we have!!

For all of Tarrant County, the population is 1,702,250.

For all of Dallas County, the population is 2,383,300.

For the main counties in between, you have Collin County at 690,500 and Denton County at 578,500.

Overall, the ranking for the largest metropolotan area encompasses 16 counties.

The entire artice can be found here.

Dallas- Cold Front on the Way

2006-07-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

We have had 10 days in a row of triple digit temperatures. We even hit 107 earlier this week, which was the highest recorded temperature in over 3 years! This weekend, we will be dropping to 95 degrees!! Can you believe it!! 95 degrees!!

Actually, can you believe that we're all excited about 95 degrees? I mean, if the cold front were to be in the 80's, that would be one thing, but it's still going to be in the mid-90's and, yet, everyone is still excited. There is also a small chance of rain! YIPPIE!! I can't wait for some rain as the yards and landscaping definitely need more water!

Stay warm this weekend. I would hate for you to catch a cold by being out in the "cold" front!

Dallas Real Estate- New Frisco Community

2006-07-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

A new development is slated to start next month in Frisco, Crosswinds. This will be 1000 acres of Residential and parks off Lebanon and west of the Tollway. It looks as though the lot sizes might be a bit larger than what we're used to seeing these days. The original plot was for 5100 houses and now it's only going to have 3228 houses. The reason for this was to have some larger green, open areas, but hopefully this means it won't be a normal track-home neighborhood.

So many of my buyers are sick of the neighborhoods where you can reach out and touch your neighbor. They're always counting the number of windows that overlook a backyard of a potential new home.

According to the survey that is being conducted by Dallasnews.com, many people don't agree on new communities. The question posted is "Does Frisco face the risk of being overcrowded and overbuilt?" Results, thus far, are:

71.65% say Yes, the small town feeling is fading fast.

25.98% say NO, the more people and retail centers, the better.

Me? I voted in the NO category. If you're going to be part of the Dallas Metroplex, you're not going to be able t hold your small-town way of life!

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