Saturday, April 30, 2016

5 nitpicky details to check before you buy a new home

When buying a home, most people check up on the big things. Is it big enough? Is the foundation OK? Does the neighborhood have good schools? But in the rush to close on a dream home, buyers often overlook many of the small details. Before you make an offer, here are some of the things you should check out

Carrollton/Farmers Branch Residential Sales Report for March

It's a Seller's Market!

Single-Family:

Sales jumped up 22% in March as compared to a year ago. The average sales price rose 18% while the median sales price climber by 12%. Sales continue to be concentrated in the upper price ranges. Homes for sale under $200,000 are rare. Pending sales increased by 18%. The number of new listing show a slight increase of 2% while the active listings were up by 9%. The months of inventory now stands at 0.9 months. Carrollton/Farmers Branch as one of the lowest supplies of homes for sales in the area.

Sales: 169

Average Sales Price: $313,188

Median sales Price: $262,750

Pending Sales: 174

New Listings: 195

Active Listings: 146

Months of Inventory: 0.9

Information provided by The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Inside or Outside: Which to Choose When Starting Plants From Seed

Lesson 9

If you're feeling ambitious and want to start all (or at least a few) of your plants from seed, the question is: should you start them indoors or outdoors?

The American Dream Is Now The Texas Dream

Progressives might not like the small government model of Texas, but wishful thinking won’t make the Texas miracle go away.

Dallas Heritage Village presents The 4th Annual History with a Twist

Photo courtesy of Dallas Heritage Village

Guests are invited to party and dress like it is 1966

North Dallas Chamber of Commerce presents Big D BBQ Battle

Eat all the fall-off-the-bone succulence you can take at Big D BBQ Battle

Taco Libre Dallas 2016

Taquerias are coming from as far away as El Paso and Austin

Pending home sales up 1.4%, highest pace in nearly a year

Despite supply deficiencies in plenty of areas, contract activity was fairly strong in a majority of markets in March

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Dallas Book Festival 2016

The daylong, free event will include author presentations and panels, artistic and cultural performances, children’s activities, and signing sessions with the authors.

Shop To It: The Gardening School Shopping List

Lesson 8

Having the right tools for your particular needs is essential for your sanity and success in the garden.

Mortgages tiptoe up as homebuying season starts

Homebuyers might want to keep a close eye on mortgage interest rates.

North Texas Comic Book Show

Thousands and thousands of comics, toys, and collectibles will be available at the event.

2016 Texas Frightmare Weekend

The Southwest’s premier horror convention

39th Annual Dallas International Guitar Festival

The Dallas International Guitar Festival is the largest and oldest guitar show in the world

North Texas new home costs soar to record prices, topping $300K mark

An entry level home on a typical 50 foot by 110 foot lot is no longer feasible.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

6 Places To Build An Affordable Art Collection

Roller Rover

These days there are plenty of places to get amazing original art for a great price

Pros & Cons: The Dirt on Seeds vs. Starts

Lesson 7

How you decide to start your garden depends on how much time and money you have, and what types of plants you want to grow.

Dallas-area home price up 9 percent in latest Case-Shiller report

The Dallas area stayed near the top of the list of cities with the biggest home price gains in a new nationwide report.

Farmers Market Report

At all the markets, find plenty of great locavore shopping during these transitional weeks from winter to spring crops.

One Wants To Sell The House, The Other Does Not: What To Do?

You have just inherited the family home, with your sibling. He wants to sell but you want to keep the property. After all, it has been in the family for a long period of time, and the two of you grew up there.

2,000-home community being built on site of former Folsom family horse farm in Collin County

The former Folsom family ranch house is being expanded into an amenity center on a lake. (Cambridge)

Developers are turning the one-time family farm into a residential community called Mustang Lakes with nine lakes, over 60 acres of open space and 10 miles of trails.

Upscale food truck park with railroad theme in the works in Frisco

Frisco is looking to capitalize on the latest culinary craze with an upscale food truck park.

Frisco Residential Sales Report for March

It's still a Seller's Market!

Single-Family:

Sales were up by 6%. The average sales price rose 7% while the median sales price increased by 5%. Pending sales rose 13%, The number of new listings increased by 10% while the active listings jumped by 20%. If you are a buyer in Frisco, you are certainly happy to see the increased inventory. The months of inventory increased to 1.7 months still very short of the 6 months that is considered a balanced market.

Sales: 324

Average Sales Price: $413,188

Median Sales Price: $367,500

Pending Sales: 365

New Listings: 465

Active Listings: 554

Months of Inventory: 1.7

Information provided by The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Easy-Grow, Easy-Care: Best Bets for Beginners to Grow

Lesson 6

One of the most common reasons people throw up their hands — and throw in the trowel — is the discouragement they feel when their plants die. But guess what: it happens to even the most experienced gardener. Don't despair!

Dallas tops job growth list of 12 biggest metro areas

Texas book-ended a ranking of the nation’s 12 biggest metro areas by job growth over the past year, with Dallas coming out on top and Houston rounding out the list.

Will Cohousing Catch on With Boomers?

The concept of cohousing has been gaining traction in the U.S. But what is it?

7 Times You'll Need Extra Paperwork to Get a Mortgage

These are the basic essentials, although you may be asked for other items

How Much Space Buyers Really Crave

The amount of desired square footage can vary quite a bit among the different age groups

McKinney Residential Sales Report for March

Sales increased. New listings up!

Single-Family:

Sales of single-family homes were up 6% as compared to a year ago. The average sales price rose 2% and the median sales price also was up by 2%. The pending sales jumped 22% so it looks like April will be a good months for sales. The number of new listings increased by 10% while the active listings climber by 44%. While it's good to see these increases, the months of inventory only moved up to 1.5 months. Still very short of the 6 months that's considered a balanced supply. It's still very much a Seller's Market.

Sales: 213

Average Sales Price: $316,038

Median Sales Price: $284,500

Pending Sales: 284

New Listings: 303

Active Listings: 332

Months of Inventory: 1.5

Information provided by The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M.

Monday, April 25, 2016

HOW LANDSCAPING INCREASES HOME VALUE - 6 TIPS

Landscaping will enhance the value, enjoyment and appearance of your home. A few fundamental improvements to your yard will help your home entice prospective buyers or keep your family comfortable for years to come.

I once had an appraiser deduct $5,000 from the appraised value because the house did not have any front yard landscaping.

The Fun Part: Choosing the Right Plants for Your Space and Lifestyle

Lesson 5

Part of making your garden plan is deciding what types of plants you want to grow and how they'll coexist in your space.

US new home sales fall amid weakness in the West

New U.S. single-family home sales unexpectedly fell in March, but the decline was concentrated in the West region

5 reasons Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival should be on your must-do list

Whether you’re an art newbie looking to launch a collection or you’re already an avid collector, Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival, May 7-8, is a can’t-miss event.

Spring Re-Do: 5 Décor Trends to Try

If yours is ripe for a re-do, deep-six stale, seasonal décor for these on-trend features and finishes—florals not included.

Americans shop around for everything but mortgages

Americans are far more likely to go out of their way just to save 10 cents on a gallon of gas than they are to shop around for the best rate on a home loan, a new study found.

March numbers show D-FW apartment rents rising with no decline in sight

No slowdown in sight!

Sunday, April 24, 2016

How to protest your property taxes in Texas

How to protest your property taxes in Texas

The era of cheap housing in Dallas-Fort Worth is over. If you don’t believe it, check your 2016 property tax bill.

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 9: Move on Out!

With this final installment of our Home-Selling Guide, we’ll get you through the last leg of your journey without a hitch.

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 8: Head to Closing

You’ve accepted the buyer’s offer, the negotiations are finally winding down, and there is only one more little box to check: closing.

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 7: Get Ready to Close

Hooray! You’ve found a buyer for your home. You’re done, right? Right?

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 6: Strike the Right Deal

Once your home is finally on the market and listed, it’s showtime.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 5: Create an Eye-Catching Ad

Online house shopping is a lot like online dating. Everyone will tell you they loved your bio, but really, they’re just looking at the photos.

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 4: Pretty It Up

To show your home in the best possible light, heed these savvy seller tips.

So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 3: List It at the Right Price

Yep, you poured $10,000 into your brand-new chef's kitchen, or $15,000 to install an in-ground swimming pool. Sweet! So it stands to reason that you'd make that money back when you sell, right? Well, not quite.