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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Pending home sales slide

Pending home sales slide but not in the Dallas Area

See my November Sales Report

Warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the nation did nothing to heat up home sales in November. 

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Decoding the Listings: From Bamboo to Vinyl, Know Your Flooring Facts

Decoding the Listings: From Bamboo to Vinyl, Know Your Flooring Facts
Do you know your bamboo from your cork, your linoleum from your ceramic? We're here to help! Ready to get floored?

Alas, Inventory Shortages Likely to Stay in 2016

Alas, Inventory Shortages Likely to Stay in 2016
Home buyers will likely continue to face limited choices of homes for-sale in the new year.

Lenders Easing Up on Borrowing 'Naughty' List?

Lenders Easing Up on Borrowing 'Naughty' List?
Good news: The new year likely will bring greater opportunities for home buyers trying to get a home mortgage. 

Oil’s dip hits home sales

Oil’s dip hits home sales but not in Dallas
There’s a dark side to those delightfully low gas prices: Housing markets are slumping in communities that were recently flush from the U.S. shale oil fracking boom.





Which Housing Markets Have the Most to Worry About

Which Housing Markets Have the Most to Worry About
Home prices are closing in on their records of the last decade, reigniting fears of bubbles. Time to panic?

These are your best options to aid tornado victims in Rowlett and Garland

These are your best options to aid tornado victims in Rowlett and Garland
In the aftermath of a string of deadly tornadoes that swept across the Dallas area on December 26, Rowlett city manager Brian Funderburk has advice on the best places for those making donations.

6 Sneaky Ways to Make Your Home Look Expensive

6 Sneaky Ways to Make Your Home Look Expensive
Want your place to look like those home design website images you drool over? Of course you do! 

15 cities with the best job and housing prospects

Of Course Dallas is on the List
The good news: the job market is getting tighter every day. The not-so-good news: so are housing options.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

25 Things You Should Know About Dallas

25 things to know about Dallas
The Lone Star State's third-largest city is a sprawling metroplex, boasting a rich history, signature snacks, and internationally-recognized architecture. Read on to learn more about the place residents call the "Big D."

Saturday, December 26, 2015

500 Million Dollar Home


I may not be able to sell your home for $500 million, but home prices are up and I can get you top dollar for your home.
Call Me.
 Let's Talk!

Marie Walton, ABR,CRS,GRI,SRES
Ebby Halliday, REALTORS


972-816-5197

Thursday, December 24, 2015

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season.
I'll be taking off tomorrow and will be on a reduced scheduled for the next week. Back to my normal postings January 4th

15 Signs You Should Have Hired Another Contractor

15 Signs You Should Have Hired Another Contractor
Ever watch episodes of “Home Improvement?” Weren’t you glad there was no way you’d run into a builder that prone to making a mess of things?

Longer Closing Times Hamper Home Sales

Longer Closing Times Hamper Home Sales
It’s possible the longer time frames pushed a latter portion of would-be November transactions into December.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Go Beyond Art Above Your Bed

11 Stylish Ideas That Will Wow in Your Bedroom
Art — framed, sculptural or on canvas — makes a stylish statement to hang on the wall above your bed. Your bed is a natural focal point in your bedroom, so deciding what to do above it is an important task.

The Best and the Worst of the Dallas Art Scene in 2015

The Best and the Worst of the Dallas Art Scene in 2015
Melissa Hennings

Was 2015 a strange year for anyone else? It seems this year sucked a lot of the city's mojo dry. Maybe it was all the rainfall that filled the Trinity River. Maybe Mercury never came out of retrograde. Maybe we're all just overworked and underpaid. 

This Is What You’d See If Buyers On “House Hunters” Were Brutally Honest

This Is What You’d See If Buyers On “House Hunters” Were Brutally Honest
"Reality” TV shows are the best opportunity in the world to roll your eyes at the stereotypes we’ve developed in this world. For most in the know, however, it’s pure silliness at its best, which is what makes it so much fun.

10 Reasons to Love Downtown Dallas

10 Reasons to Love Downtown Dallas
Fifteen years ago, the initial in Dallas’s nickname—the Big D—stood for “Deserted.”  Today, when it comes to its downtown, the big “D” stands for “delightful.”

Wylie TX Residential Sales Report for November

Sales and pending sales were up double digits!
Single Family:
Wylie was really hot in November with sales were up by 37% and pending sales jumping 172%. The average sales price increased by 22% and the median sales price rose 23%. A lot of the increase has to do with the amount of new construction that is selling in the Wylie area.
New listings were up sharply with a 50% increased. The number of new listings increased by 15% and the months of inventory rose to 1.4 months. With the increases in inventory, it's still very hard to find a home in the Wylie area.

Sales: 97
Average Sales Price: $259,712
Median Sales Price: $240,000
Pending Sales: 125
New Listings: 99
Active Listings: 147
Months of Inventory: 1.4


If you live in the Wylie area and would like a personalized Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on your home delivered to your email in just a few minutes, then click the link below to take advantage of this offer.


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

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The 5 Real Estate Trends That Will Shape 2016

The 5 Real Estate Trends That Will Shape 2016
It’s almost the new year. Get ready to break out the Cristal: We had a great 2015—the best year for housing since 2007. And our forecast here at realtor.com® projects an even better year in 2016.

Garland Residential Sales Report for November

Sales were slightly off but pending sales took a big jump up! It's a Seller's market.
Single-Family:
Sales were off by 3% in November as compared to a year ago. However, pending sales jumped up 38%. If you have been following my previous reports for November this same phenomenon has occurred in other areas. The average sales price increased 11% while the median sales price increased by 16%.  I know this sounds like a broken record (does anyone know what a record is any more) but the sales continue to be concentrated in the upper price rages. This is not due to a lack of demand in the lower price rages but to an extreme shortage of properties for sale in these ranges. New Listingsrose 7% but the active listings fell by 9%. The months of inventory now stands at 1.1 months.

Sales: 140
Average Sales Price: 173,934
Median Sales Price: $158,450
Pending Sales: 179
New Listings: 149
Active Listings: 182
Months of Inventory: 1.1

If you live in the Garland area and would like a personalized Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on your home delivered to your email in just a few minutes, then click the link below to take advantage of this offer.


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

Monday, December 21, 2015

How to Home In on the Right Neighborhood for You

How to Home In on the Right Neighborhood for You
Location, location, location. As the real estate agents say, it's the No. 1 attribute in real estate.

Texas leads nation for lowest mortgage negative equity

Texas leads nation for lowest mortgage negative equity


A just released study shows that Texas has the lowest number of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages.

6 Things New Homeowners Waste Money On

6 Things New Homeowners Waste Money On
OK, we’ve said it time and again, but it bears repeating: Buying a home is a very big expense

Carrollton/Farmers Branch Residential Sales Report for November

Sales Were Off But Pending Sales Were Up. It's a Seller's Market
Single-Family:
Sales fell by 20% in November as compared to a year ago but pending sales took a 22% jump up. We have see this same thing in other areas this month. Just some gyration in the market. The average sales price rose 10% while the median sales price climbed 12%, As in all of North Texas sales continue to be concentrated in the higher price ranges. New listings were up by 10% and this pulled the active listings up a healthy 22%. The months of inventory increased to 1.4 months. This is a long way from what is considered a balanced supply of 6 months. 

Sales: 102
Average Sales Price: $261,385
Median Sales Price: $224,750
Pending Sales: 134
New Listings: 139
Active Listings: 176
Months of Inventory: 1.4

If you live in Carrollton/Farmers Branch area and would like a personalized Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on your home delivered to your email in just a few minutes, then click the link below to take advantage of this offer.


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

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Dallas Launches Innovative Streetcar

Dallas Launches Innovative Streetcar
The City of Dallas, Texas, is now the first city in the US to possess a hybrid-electric streetcar that can run without an overhead wire-connection 

Ouch! Three Times You Can Kiss Your Earnest Money Goodbye

Ouch! Three Times You Can Kiss Your Earnest Money Goodbye
The earnest money deposit—the cash you offer to essentially call dibs on a house—is one of the most important and misunderstood parts of the home-buying process.

Freddie: 2016 Rates to Stay Near Record Lows

Freddie: 2016 Rates to Stay Near Record Lows
Mortgage rates edged slightly higher for the second consecutive week and following the Federal Reserve’s decision Wednesday to raise its short-term interest rates for the first time since 2006.

New restaurants, state-of-art gym settle in Richardson

New restaurants, state-of-art gym settle in Richardson
Yes, the excitement continues in Richardson as more businesses keep popping up seemingly overnight around the city.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

5 Overused Home Decor Trends in 2015

5 Overused Home Decor Trends in 2015
Home staggers and sellers should be aware that potential buyers may be sick of seeing these decor options, 

Deck the City Hall Not to late if you hurry

City Hall Plaza is getting all decked out for the holiday.
 At this free, family-friendly holiday festival, you can enjoy music, food trucks, train and carriage rides, and photos with Santa.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Study: Stellar Credit Scores Add Up to Savings

Study: Stellar Credit Scores Add Up to Savings
For every 10 point increase in credit scores, borrowers can expect to receive a lower mortgage interest rate

Wake Up, America: We’re in a Housing Crisis

Wake Up, America: We’re in a Housing Crisis
America’s rental affordability crisis came into focus this week when the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies released its 2015 report on rental housing.

Mortgage rates inch higher amid Fed rate hike

Mortgage rates inch higher amid Fed rate hike
U.S. mortgage rates inched up this week as the job market improves and the economy continues to show resilience

Frisco TX Residential Sales Report for November

Sales were off but pending sales were up
Single-Family:
Sales were off by 8% in November as compared to a year ago. However, pending sales were up by 13%. We have seen this occurrence in several other areas. Just some monthly gyrations. The average sales price increased by 10% and the median price rose by 7%. Most of the sales continue to be concentrated in the upper price ranges. New listings increased by 7% and the active listings jumped by 12%. It will take many months of inventory increases to bring the market in balance. The November months of inventory now stands at 1.5 months. It is still very much a Seller's market.

Sales: 230
Average Sales Price: $406,715
Median Sales Price: $340,000
Pending Sales: 263
New Listings: 232
Active Listings: 498
Months of Inventory: 1.5



If you live in Frisco area and would like a personalized Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on your home delivered to your email in just a few minutes, then click the link below to take advantage of this offer.


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