State Fair of Texas gets early start selling tickets to annual fried food hoo-ha

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/07-31-15-state-fair-texas-fried-food-tickets-online/

The State Fair of Texas season begins earlier every year: The State Fair has begun selling tickets, food and ride coupons, as well as tickets to the 11th annual Big Tex Choice Awards, aka the fried-food fest. All tickets are available to order online today atBigTex.com/tickets.

Addison's 2015 Summer Series Free Movie Tonight

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/addisons-2015-summer-series/82616/

Addison’s annual Summer Series will feature live music from a variety of genres or family-friendly '80s movies, all of this under a blanket of beautiful North Texas stars in Addison’s Beckert Park. 

ALL THE ART EXHIBITIONS TO SEE IN DALLAS THIS WEEKEND

 http://www.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/archives/2015/07/29/all-the-art-exhibitions-to-see-in-dallas-this-weekend

You're running out of time to see a few of my favorite exhibitions so far this year, so I've made you a list that combines those and a few new openings. 

7 Things Your Home Inspector Wishes You Knew

http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/7-things-your-home-inspector-wishes-you-knew/?identityID=5861879&MID=2015_0730_WeeklyNL_5blogs&RID=274666862&cid=eml-2015-0730-WeeklyNL-blog_4_home_inspector_wishes-blogs_buy

No matter whether you’re buying or selling, the home inspection process can be somewhat terrifying: For sellers, it’s a stark reminder of the nagging issues you might have turned a blind eye to over the years. And for buyers, it’s a recipe for pure heartbreak—falling in love with a home that might just end up making no sense to buy.

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Target First Saturdays

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/nasher-sculpture-center-target-first-saturdays/71337/

Target First Saturdays at Nasher Sculpture Center lets you bring out your children’s artistic talents and broaden their understanding and appreciation of the world around them. The events are designed especially for children in preschool to elementary school and feature a line-up of activities that encourage creative thought through a monthly “Big Idea.”

Housing supply falls further, feeding prices

 http://www.cnbc.com/id/102878411

Ask anyone trying to buy a home today, and the vast majority will launch into a story about a bidding war. Demand for housing has returned, but housing supply has not, and the numbers are only getting worse.

Do You Live in a Dog State or a Cat State?

http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/dog-state-vs-cat-state/?identityID=5861879&MID=2015_0730_WeeklyNL_5blogs&RID=274666862&cid=eml-2015-0730-WeeklyNL-blog_1_dogstates_vs_catstates-blogs_trends

There are cat people; there are dog people. Well, guess what? States divide along those same furry lines. The majority of Americans love their pets—56% of U.S. households have one. So enough already about all of this red state vs. blue state nonsense: Do you live in a dog state or a cat state?

For $24 million you can buy the highest residential address in Dallas at Museum Tower

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/for-24-million-you-can-buy-the-highest-residential-address-in-dallas-at-museum-tower.html/

With a price tag of $24 million, the penthouse offered for sale in downtown’s Museum Tower is one of Dallas’ priciest digs.

Checkout These Free Family Events

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/arts/headlines/20150729-free-family-events.ece

What a Rising Median Home Price Means To Buyers

http://news360.com/article/304677415

The nation's median home price is up to $236,400 according to the National Association of Realtors. That's "6.5% above the year-ago price and above the peak price set in July 2006," saidUSA Today. And whether that seems like a bargain or a bust depends squarely on location. 

Dallas Farmers Market presents Evening in the Shed

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/dallas-farmers-market-presents-evening-shed/69625/

Every Thursday, the Dallas Farmers Market hosts Evening in the Shed, a chance to shop artisan food vendors, feast from food trucks, sample beer and wine, listen to great music and do arts and crafts

Fair Park Summer Movie Series

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/fair-park-summer-movie-series/83535/

Fair Park will host a free Summer Movie Series in Exhibition Plaza, taking place every Thursday night in June and July. Concessions will be available and a food truck will be on site.

It's a Great Time to be a Seller

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/07/24/3-reasons-why-it-s-great-time-for-sellers?om_rid=AACAVe&om_mid=_BVsoQuB9D6MhQ-&om_ntype=RMODaily

Rising home prices, demand from home buyers, and less competition is making 2015 a stellar year to sell for many U.S. home owners across the country, says Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac's vice president.

How to Spend 12 Hours in East Dallas

 http://news360.com/article/304498788

East Dallas seems to have it all, from the natural beauty of Lakewood to the nightlife and entertainment of Lower Greenville. You’ll find tight-knit, charming communities in the M Streets, Ridgewood Park, Forest Hills, and Lochwood, all neighborhoods that enjoy a more easygoing kind of city living.

This is what Dallas and Fair Park looked like in 1938 color movie

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/this-is-what-downtown-dallas-and-fair-park-looked-like-in-1938-in-color-movies.html/

Last fall Paula Bosse, curator of the indispensable Flashback Dallas, drew our attention to a long-forgotten film titled A Cavalcade of Texas shot in 1938 by movie-biz “empire-builder” (in the words of Cecil B. DeMille, at least) Karl Hoblitzelle. It’s quite the in-color look-see at the entirety of the state way back when; The Dallas News’ entertainment critic at the time, John Rosenfield, wrote that if nothing else, “The picture should be a revelation to the outlanders who still think of Texas as the backwoods with a hillbilly civilization.” (Plus ça change …) Here’s his review of the film when it made its bow in October 1939 at the Majestic, which was one of Hoblitzelle’s creations.

5½ things you didn't know about Dallas

 http://flip.it/jyRvu

It only takes a few minutes in Dallas to know that they’re happy you decided to visit. For someone originally from New York, it was a little disconcerting, but my Florida-born kids loved the attention.

The Dallas area ranks No. 3 among all metros for the most new jobs

http://news360.com/article/304652755

For the second straight month, the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked No. 3 among all U.S. metropolitan areas for the most new jobs as of June.

Related

• Dallas-area led U.S. metro small business job growth in June
• Texas gained third most jobs in June
• Dallas-Fort Worth ranks No. 3 in metro job gains for 12 months through May
• Paychex/IHS: Dallas-Fort Worth remains No. 1 metro area for small business job growth

The D-FW area added 117,800 seasonally unadjusted jobs through the last 12 months ended June 30, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than three-quarters of those jobs, or 91,400, were added in the East metro — in the Dallas-Plano-Irving area.

Farmers Markets this week

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/food-wine/food-wine-headlines/20150728-local-bounty-at-the-rockwall-market.ece

Rockwall’s historic downtown square hums with activity every Saturday morning when the farmers market takes up nearly three sides. There’s even a waiting list for vendors.

U.S. pending home sales take a breather in June

 http://news360.com/article/304627211

Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly fell in June after five straight months of increase, suggesting some cooling in sales activity after recent hefty gains.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-pending-home-sales-take-a-breather-in-june-2015-7#ixzz3hIIEndOV

The Median Home Price is $236,000. Here Is What It Will Buy You Around The US

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/real_estate/2015/07/24/median-home-price-purchase/index.html

New study shows Dallas ranks near top for best cities for soccer fans

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/07-28-15-best-soccer-fans-fc-dallas-smu/

While Dallas has its legions of fans for football, baseball, basketball and hockey, it's another sport that's making a big impact locally, as a new WalletHub study shows that Dallas is one of the top cities in the United States for soccer fans.

New renderings show Richardson’s $1.5 billion CityLine project when it’s finished

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/new-photos-show-richardsons-1-5-billion-cityline-project-when-its-finished.html/

Developer KDC has released a new photo of what it’s huge CityLine project in Richardson will look like when it’s finished.

Frisco, TX Residential Sales Report for June

Single-Family:

Sales were flat in Frisco for June. The average sales price rose 11% and the median sales price was also up 11%. Pending sales were up by 3%. The number of new listings increased 4% while the active listings were up by 5%. The months of inventory is now at 1.7 months.

About ⅓ of the active listings are builder new homes. As in previous months some of the increase in sales prices are attributable to the sales being concentrated in the upper price ranges.

Sales: 466

Average Sales Price: $392,713

Median Sales Price: $349,900

Pending Sales: 366

New Listings: 525

Active Listings: 563

Months of Inventory: 1.7

Leases:

Leases were up 5% in june. The average rent increased by 5% while the median rent climbed 8%. Pending leases rose 174%. The number of new listings jumped 35% and the active listings 51%. Unfortunately theses increases only lifted the months of inventory to 1.6 months. Still a very tight market.

Leases: 204

Average Rent: $2,109

Median Rent: $1,950

Pending Leases: 148

New Listings: 317

Active Listings: 215

Months of Inventory: 1.6

Information provided by the Real Estates Center at Texas A&M.

Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Climbed at Slower Pace in May

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-28/home-prices-in-20-u-s-cities-rose-at-slower-pace-in-may

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace in the year ended May, keeping more properties within reach for prospective buyers.

Junior Players presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Bollywood Spectacular!

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/junior-players-midsummer-nights-dream/85977/

The Bard goes Bollywood this summer as the participants of Junior Players’ Discover Shakespeare program present A Midsummer Night’s Dream will all of the excitement that Bollywood has to offer.

This year’s production will feature 25 of North Texas’ most talented high school students from 15 different high schools.

Dallas-area leads Texas in home price gains

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/new-report-dallas-area-leads-texas-in-home-price-gains.html/

The Dallas-area tops the rest of Texas for home price gains.

Related

• Dallas home prices up 8.8 percent in latest Case-Shiller index
• North Texas median home prices soar above $200,000 for first time

Dallas-area prices rose 12 percent in June from a year ago, according to a new report by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

A guide to Far North Dallas-Bent Tree

http://neighborhoods.dmagazine.com/dallas/far-north-dallas/bent-tree/

Centered around Bent Tree Country Club, this neighborhood straddles the Dallas County-Collin County border. The northern portion feeds into Plano ISD, while the southern attends Dallas schools. Easy access to the Dallas North Tollway also makes the community one of the most appealing in Far North Dallas.

A guide to Far north Dallas

http://neighborhoods.dmagazine.com/dallas/far-north-dallas/

Pursuit of a more suburban lifestyle — bigger homes and yards — within the big city itself is what often draws people to life north of LBJ Freeway. That, and the ability to enjoy the advantages of a Dallas address while being able to send children to Richardson or Plano schools.

The Calamity Of Your Mortgage Interest Rate Edging Higher

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markgreene/2015/07/26/the-calamity-of-your-mortgage-interest-rate-edging-higher/

Mortgage interest rates trade every day, they go up, they go down, sometimes they only move sideways but they change.  It is the way it is and it is the way it will be, so understanding how that impacts your personal mortgage repayment future, will help you digest whatever the financial markets throw at you.

A Guide to Far North Dallas-Prestonwood

http://neighborhoods.dmagazine.com/dallas/far-north-dallas/prestonwood/

This suburban-like Far North Dallas neighborhood enjoys a reputation for a high quality of life thanks to its safety, affordability, and access (mostly) to Richardson ISD schools, alongside all the benefits of calling Dallas home. Its location also provides easy access to the many restaurants and bars along Addison’s main drag, as well as the ability to get to Plano as easily as to downtown Dallas.

ADMIT IT. IT'S TIME TO UPDATE YOUR BEDROOM

 http://news360.com/article/304131168

A boring bedroom could lead to other boring pursuits in the room. Or even poor sleeping patterns. Time for a re-do? Excellent. Let's consider some options.

8 SMART WAYS TO MAKE A SMALL KITCHEN LOOK LARGER

 http://news360.com/article/304131166

A large, open kitchen may be the dream of most homebuyers today, but with restrictive budgets, smaller square footage, or homes that were built before this trend took over, not all are making the grade. If you find yourself with a smallish kitchen, there are ways to make it feel more spacious.

See the progress of construction of Cowboys' sprawling Star in Frisco complex

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150725-see-the-progress-of-construction-of-cowboys-sprawling-star-in-frisco-complex.ece

Frisco ISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon couldn’t decide which of his city’s eight high school football teams would get to play on opening week at the Dallas Cowboys’ sprawling new development in Frisco.

Dallas-Fort Worth residents are very optimistic about the local economy and future growth, survey says

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/dallas-fort-worth-residents-are-very-optimistic-about-the-local-economy-and-future-growth-survey-says.html/

People who live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are more optimistic about the local economy and future growth than overall Americans, according to a survey released today by the Charles Schwab investment services firm.

Top Housing Markets for First-Time Buyers

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/07/21/top-housing-markets-for-first-time-buyers?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DailyRealEstateNews+%28Daily+Real+Estate+News%29

The number of first-time home buyers is on the rise, reaching a 32 percent share of existing-home sales in May – the highest since September 2012, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Read more: Where Should First-Time Buyers Live?

Which cities hold some of the best deals for first-time buyers? 

Random Art Gallery presents Toni Martin: Euphoria artist reception

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/random-art-gallery-euphoria-toni-martin/85032/

Random Art Gallery will present an exhibit of new works titled Euphora by visual artist Toni Martin. A percentage of proceeds from the exhibition will benefit Alley's House, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing a nurturing, stable environment to help teen mothers overcome obstacles and become thriving women through counseling, innovative learning and workforce development.

EventsAddison's 2015 Summer Series Addison's 2015 Summer Series Tonight

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/addisons-2015-summer-series/82615/

Addison’s annual Summer Series will feature live music from a variety of genres or family-friendly '80s movies, all of this under a blanket of beautiful North Texas stars in Addison’s Beckert Park. 

8 PLACES WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE OUTDOORS WITHOUT BURNING ALIVE

http://www.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/archives/2015/07/21/8-places-where-you-can-enjoy-the-outdoors-without-burning-alive

This time of year, the only exposure most of us want to nature is watching it go by in our car windows. It’s just too damn hot to spend much time outside, especially in the middle of this concrete-crusted city. But if you’re able to drag yourself away from your apartment complex’s crappy pool or (worse) the couch, you can get a little fresh air without worrying that you’ll spontaneously combust after 15 minutes outside.

Uptown Farmers Market at West Village

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/uptown-farmers-market-west-village/79595/

West Village will present the newest Dallas farmers market, in partnership with Uptown Dallas, every Saturday through October. The farmers market will feature a variety of the following vendors:

See how dramatically the Dallas skyline has changed since 2007

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/07-23-15-downtown-uptown-design-district-skyline-changes-time-lapse-photos/

Those of us who have lived in Dallas for the better part of the last decade have seen some dramatic changes in downtown, Uptown and the Design District. But still it’s hard to believe the time-lapse photographs we stumbled upon.

5 great fests this week: Christmas in July, Reunion Lawn Party and more Jul. 23, 2015 11:36am

http://www.guidelive.com/festivals/2015/07/23/5-great-fests-week-christmas-july-reunion-lawn-party

Who says Christmas comes only once a year? What fun is that? Also, winter sounds pretty good now that temperatures are in the vicinity of 100 degrees. There are a few local "holiday" celebrations, including this free one in Oak Cliff. 

6 BRILLIANT SMALL FRONT YARD IDEAS

http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice1/item/36912-20150724-6-brilliant-small-front-yard-ideas

There are many ways to improve your small front yard without uprooting your driveway or dialing back your front porch. In fact, with the right touches, small front yards can be just as appealing as large ones. Here are some ideas to make your small yard appealing year round:

Lakewood’s Ebby House gives women a place to live after aging out of foster care

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/white-rock-east-dallas/headlines/20150723-lakewoods-ebby-house-gives-women-a-place-to-live-after-aging-out-of-foster-care.ece

A single vine of young ivy stretches up the old brick and into freshly painted baby blue shutters, where it has begun to weave itself between the slats. Under aged trees, a pair of crisp white lawn chairs sits in the grass surrounded by potted plants.

The building that once served as a dusty, dank storage space for decades-old adoption records and dated computers is beginning to look like something Mariela Weaber hasn’t seen in years — a home. More important, it’s beginning to feel like one to her.

Dallas-area apartment building permits have dropped for the first time in several years

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/dallas-area-apartment-building-permits-have-dropped-for-the-first-time-in-several-years.html/

Dallas’ runaway apartment building boom may have peaked for a bit.

Related

• D-FW apartment leasing, construction and rents jump in second quarter
• High apartment costs are forcing some renters to skip medical services

The number of permits for new apartments in the Dallas area was down 19 percent in the year ending with May compared with the previous 12 months, according to a new report from Axiometrics Inc.

Builders have received permits to start 14,218 apartments during the year, compared with 17,570 in the previous 12 months, the apartment analyst 

Richardson receives award for being a bike-friendly community

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/richardson-lake-highlands/headlines/20150723-community-leader-richardson-receives-award-for-being-a-bike-friendly-community.ece

While Richardson is known for many things including its technology focus, high-performing schools, Eisemann Center and annual Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival, we are also building on our reputation as being known for something else — being a bike-friendly community.

New home sales fall to 7-month low in June

New home sales fall to 7-month low in June 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102861948

New U.S. single-family home sales fell in June to their lowest level in seven months and May's sales were revised sharply lower, in what appeared to be a minor setback for the housing market recovery.

Scorching Dallas-area home prices mean tough summer market for buyers

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/residential-real-estate/20150723-scorching-dallas-area-home-prices-mean-tough-summer-market-for-buyers.ece

Homebuyers venturing into this summer’s hot housing market better hang on to their wallets.

The Dallas area leads the country in home price gains. Median home sales prices are more than 10 percent higher this summer than a year ago.

Free family fun

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/arts/headlines/20150722-free-family-fun.ece

Tidy landscaping will help your home sell

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/home-and-gardening/headlines/20150722-tidy-landscaping-will-help-your-home-sell.ece

Pull out the hedge shears, edger and a trowel to grow the value of your home. A tidy yard with some nice flowers can help a home sell faster and may even add to the selling price.

Fair Park Summer Movie Series Tonight

http://dallas.culturemap.com/eventdetail/fair-park-summer-movie-series/83528/

Fair Park will host a free Summer Movie Series in Exhibition Plaza, taking place every Thursday night in June and July. Concessions will be available and a food truck will be on site.