Archive for February, 2009

Exploring the Redevelopment of South Irving and Heritage Crossing

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Irving’s historic downtown area is experiencing a superb redevelopment and restoration plan, thanks in part to the Irving Downtown Association and the Irving Heritage Society.

Soda fountains, hamburger shops and Heritage Crossing, with its parks, plazas, vintage shops and historic homes, are part of the small-town framework that has made South Irving so charming.

If beautiful, historic neighborhoods are what you crave, then look no further than South Irving. This area is brimming with spacious yards, meticulous landscaping and towering shade trees, all of which beautifully frame the historic homes in this neighborhood.

Parks within South Irving include Delaware Creek Park, Founders Park, Heritage Park, Millennium Park and Heritage Senior Center. South Irving maintains its commitment to growth through city incentives for businesses that are starting up or relocating south of Northgate Drive.

In addition, the city of Irving is supporting its local businesses in Heritage Crossing by overseeing the development of a new development program which will feature offices, homes, shops, restaurants, and parks surrounding the Trinity Railway Express Station.

The development is expected to increase property tax revenue through property acquisitions. To date, there have been more than 50 properties purchased, including five, substandard apartment complexes. Also included in the development is the removal of dilapidated, multi-family properties and demolition of the lumber yard. Redevelopment plans are to include a new bank and new McDonald’s restaurant.

Heritage Crossing is an integral part of the redevelopment and revitalization of South Irving, which is outlined in the Irving Boulevard study entitled “Designs on the Boulevard.”

In addition, a Heritage Crossing Advisory Committee was recently appointed by the City Council to oversee the draft design guidelines. The guidelines will also be used to establish a framework for all future development in the area.

Positano at Las Colina Communities Take Off

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Positano at Las Colinas is Irving’s new gem!

The final phase is nearing completion on this $60 million project, which is located at Las Colinas Boulevard and Tuscan Drive. Once finished, Positano at Las Colinas will feature 120 flats and lofts and 50 villas. Prices will range from $255,000 to $400,000.

Positano-North American Properties Irving,Texas

Positano boasts stunning, Tuscan-inspired architecture which is set among 15 acres in this gated community. The residences of this community feature large, open floor plans and amenity-rich interiors.

Positano’s variety of home choices makes this community ideal for everyone from first-time homeowners, to small families and empty nesters.

Riverside Village

Located at Riverside Drive and La Villita Boulevard, Riverside Village will boast fine, single-family dwellings with fantastic amenities and floor plans.

The site development is underway for the $232 million Riverside Village project. Once completed, Riverside Village will include 390 single-family, detached homes which will range in price from $350,000 to $800,000.

Homes in this community will feature one or two-story living, and have 2,153 to 3,997 square feet of living space. The 55-foot lots will have a two-and-a-half car garage, and the 65-foot lots will have a three-car garage.

Riverside Village is conveniently located near major highways, including Interstates 635 and 35E, as well as the George Bush Turnpike. The prime, Las Colinas location means that residents will have access to its four, championship golf courses, its three country clubs, hotels, a four-star restaurant and loads of retail centers.

Other amenities within the community will include a playground and a hike and bike trail.

Other Developments

Two other residential developments slated for construction in Irving’s Las Colinas includes Vela and the Fram Senior Village.

Vela, which is slated for construction in 2009, is located in the Las Colinas Urban Center. It will consist of two, high-rise condominium buildings totaling 280 units and 20 luxury villas.

The Fram Senior Village, which is now in the planning stages, will be located in the North Urban Center of Las Colinas and will consist of a four-story building with 200 units and guest bungalows.

Saddleridge Estates – A luxurious Allen, TX Luxury Home community

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

This elegant neighborhood of single family Estate Homes on large home sites offers a distinct lifestyle to satisfy almost any need. Considered to be the premier single-family home community in Allen, Texas.

This neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of homes from Old French Country, to Mediterranean style villas with red terracotta roofs, to English Manors and traditional Southern brick homes.

Great Ways to Catch your Buyers

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

With today’s housing market struggling to get by, it’s no wonder that sellers are starting to become very resourceful when it comes to selling their homes.

If your home is one of several homes for sale in your neighborhood, then it’s up to you to offer buyers something different that may catch their attention and may make your home stand apart from the crowd.

Pay Attention by AntyDiluvian.
photo by AntyDiluvian

Creating the WOW Factor

  • Consider new appliances, particularly stainless steel or those that are Energy Star Certified, both of which are very popular among new homebuyers. The money spent on new appliances will instantly transform an otherwise ho-hum kitchen into a sleek, updated space. You will also likely see a full return on your investment.
  • Improve your home’s curb appeal. The best time to get your buyers’ attention is the moment they step out of their car. If your home is neat and tidy on the outside, then most buyers will assume that it is just as tidy on the inside.

Some easy things you can do to tidy up your yard is to: add pots of colorful annuals near the front door; install new hardware on your front door; pull weeds from your flower and plant beds and lay down a thick layer of mulch; create a cozy seating area on your front porch; and give your shutters and trim a fresh coat of paint.

  • Tend to the small details. Don’t be surprised if you notice buyers checking out the small details of your home, as these can often indicate whether a home has been well maintained. Go from room to room and take note of any area which needs finished, fixed or updated.

Some areas to consider: missing or broken switch plates; dirty walls or shabby paint colors; outdated light fixtures; leaking faucets or running toilets; dirty or stained carpets; and dirty appliances.

Buying Tips: Keeping the Lines of Communication Open with your Realtor

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

The relationship between you and your real estate agent is vital when selling your home, especially in these tough economic times.

There are several things that you and your Realtor can do to make sure that the lines of communication remain open and that you are both working towards the same goals:

  • Work closely with your Realtor to develop a pricing strategy. Your Realtor will likely assess your personal situation, as well as your home, when developing a pricing strategy for your home.

For example, you will need to convey your unique situation to your Realtor, such as the amount of money you currently owe on the home, how quickly you need to move, what you have put into the home and your absolute bottom line. All of these factors, in addition to the home and the current real estate market, will likely determine your home’s listing price.

  • Develop both a short-term and a long-term game plan so that you and your Realtor remain “on the same page” regarding future decisions.

For example, how long will you let your home sit on the market before you lower the price?

  • Ask your real estate agent for weekly updates. This may include the number of inquiries received on the home, the number of showings, and the feedback received from the showings.

This information can play an important role when considering your short-term goals. Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with this information and recommend strategies to get your Coppell area home sold.

Other questions to ask include: What are other homes in the area selling for and how long did they sit on the market? What was the difference between the listing price and the sales price?

Plano A Great Place To Live

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

A wonderful community with a

New Plan For Rayzor Ranch in Denton

Friday, February 20th, 2009

The new plan for Rayzor Ranch in Denton County. Ok folks here is the break down we have yet to get a opening date thus far. Only thing we have herd is that residential will be several years out and have yet to see any real progress on the work other than moving some dirt around. We are all excited about this project let hope it happens soon.

  • 412 acre mixed-use development featuring residential, retail, hotel, office, medical facilities, public parks, museums, entertainment and state of the art outdoor amphitheater
  • 1 million square foot open-air shopping center featuring Dillard’s, Belk, JC Penny, the nation’s best specialty stores, multi-plex entertainment, bookstore and local, regional and national restaurants
  • 900,000 square foot retail power center anchored by Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart SuperCenter
  • 68 acre residential development featuring single family homes, town homes, condominiums, an active adult living campus, a Continuing Care Retirement Center and an upscale apartment community
  • 15 acres of public parks with walking trails and park-style promenades
  • 15 acres of medical facilities and Class A office complexes
  • 10 story full-service upscale hotel with approximately 280 rooms
  • Lush landscaping, tranquil water features and pedestrian friendly walkways
  • Local and regional cultural attractions featuring two established museums

For Complete details Contact

Cumberland Crossing in Allen Texas

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Cumberland Crossing

Cumberland Crossing welcomes you to an upscale neighborhood built on sloping streets adjacent to Rowlett Creek and the Future Arts of Collin County which will be located in the culturally rich city of Allen. You will love venturing outdoors with all that Cumberland Crossing has to offer including a greenbelt with parks and walking trails, a three-acre lake with fountains, community pool, creeks, trees and tons of future hike-n-bike trails.

Cumberland Crossing is located in the center of the best shopping and restaurants only two minutes West of I-75 and just South of 121. Cumberland Crossing is a great community, whether you are an empty nester or just searching for that ideal location which offers a beautiful appearance of its neighborhood. If you have a family with children and you are looking for community amenities with outdoor living spaces, cul-de-sac dead end streets and the highly acclaimed school district of Allen than you need to come visit Cumberland Crossing.

Cumberland Crossing invites you to enjoy the very best in living with Drees, Sotherby and Grand Homes.

Drees Homes
Prices From:
$336,900 to $488,900

Sotherby Homes
Prices From
$310,900 to $454,900

Grand Homes
Prices From
$295,900 – $499,900

Contact Gracie Bien for complete details.

New Communities in Irving

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

Townhome living has never looked so fine!

Irving’s newest townhome community, Avalon Square, is all about comfort and affordability. Located in the heart of Irving, near the North MacArthur Boulevard retail district, this community features three-story townhomes that are conveniently located near four major highways and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, making commuting in and out of the city a breeze.

K. Hovnanian Homes

This community is comfortably situated in beautiful, historic Irving, where immaculate parks, quality schools and great shopping and entertainment are all at your fingertips.

Homes in Avalon Square range in price from $290,000 to $400,000. Three, front-entry townhome designs with multiple options are available, as are award-winning designs, fantastic curb appeal and beautiful interior finishes.

Amenities Found Throughout Avalon Square

  • Tankless water heaters
  • Cost-effective natural gas heating and cooking
  • Amana Air Conditioning Systems
  • Honeywell programmable thermostats
  • Solid mahogany front doors
  • Cedar garage doors
  • Fully sodded yards
  • Automatic Sprinkler Systems
  • Professionally landscaped yards
  • Pest control systems
  • Custom crown molding
  • Double-Step crown molding
  • Wood or ceramic tile foyer floors
  • Designer ceramic tile floors in kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms
  • Designer staircases with oak hand rail and wrought iron spindles
  • Full security systems
  • Ceiling fans
  • Recessed can lighting
  • Customer-selected designer fixtures
  • Master bathroom Jacuzzi tubs
  • Moen bathroom fixtures
  • Master bathroom

Clearing it out: De-Personalizing your Home for Better Showings

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Your home is your castle, as they say, and as such it reflects your personal taste, style and design flair. It may not, however, reflect the taste of the buyer that just walked through the door.

What to do?

Assuming that not everyone will appreciate your shot glass collection you must realize that an overly personalized home, while cozy and inviting to you, may not create a warm and fuzzy feeling with potential home buyers.

With that said, the best thing you can do to solve this style dilemma is to depersonalize your Irving home and instead create a warm, neutral palette that will attract most buyers.

Instead of your buyers focusing on your wall of family photos, for example, your buyers may instead focus on the great features of the room.

Your precious photographs, although incredibly important to you, will only serve do distract buyers and make a room feel overly cluttered.

Pack it Away (for Now)

Take the time to pack away your knick knacks, photographs and other mementos before listing your home for sale.

If your children’s toys have taken over the house, now is also the time to clear them out and pack most of them away. Buyers should not notice the large pile of toys in the living room before they notice the fantastic brick fireplace.

Religious statues and art may also fall under the category of overly personal. Just as not everyone has your taste in collectibles, they may not hold your beliefs.

And by all means, try not to take it personally when depersonalizing your home. Your mementos are an important part of your life, but for resale purposes they need to be packed away.

Your collectibles, art and photographs will all find a special place in your new home, but for now the name of the game is to depersonalize the space and get your house sold!