Archive for February, 2010

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Friday, February 26th, 2010

If you want to find some of the hottest home trends and designs, look no further than the Las Colinas new home communities.

The trends of today’s home are strikingly different than homes of just a few years ago. Unlike a few years ago, homes are now featuring designs that speak of elegance and glamor, just in a more practical way. Oversized, over-the-top homes, for example, have given way to more modest homes.

The Las Colinas new home communities are a good example of what you can expect to find when searching for a new home. The luxuries and amenities can still be found; however, homeowners are more interested in practicality and convenience than outrageous amenities that do nothing but cost too much money.

Here are some of the hottest new features you can find in new homes throughout Las Colinas:

  • “Green” building and design practices, including high-efficiency insulation and windows and energy-efficient appliances – Although today’s design and building features are more planet conscious, they in no way lack luxury and beauty. In fact, you may be hard pressed to tell the difference between yesterday’s building and design features and today’s more environmentally friendly counterparts.
  • Spacious kitchens – The kitchen still remains the gathering place in the home. It is where dinner is served, conversations are started and friends and family gather. As a result, many of the homes of today feature great upgrades in the kitchen, from granite countertops and custom cabinetry to high-end appliances and great extras, including wine coolers and specialty lighting.
  • Home offices – The trend has been working from home over the last few years, and the increase in the number of new home with home offices reflects that clearly. Home offices in some homes are even replacing formal dining rooms, which are often used very little.
  • Outdoor living upgrades – With the trend of “stayvactions,” outdoor living has taken on a whole new meaning. Many people are choosing to stay home instead of travel, and they therefore want their outdoor spaces to be fun, relaxing and luxurious.

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The High Rise Condo Lifestyle in Fort Worth

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Fort Worth high rise condos are luxury epitomized. They offer some of the best features, amenities and upscale services for their residents, including maintenance-free, worry-free living, a highly coveted perk of living in Fort Worth high rise condos.

If you are considering one of the many Fort Worth high rise condos, you may first want to determine where exactly you want to live; what amenities are a must; and how much you are willing to spend.

Here are a few examples of some of the best Fort Worth high rise condos around:

  • Neil P. at Burnett Park Condominiums – This Fort Worth building features 60 residences in a high-rise setting.

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Take your Real Estate Career to the Next Level with VIP Realty

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Is you real estate career at a standstill? Are you unsatisfied with your commission or your lack of choices when it comes to your real estate career?

If so, then you owe it to yourself to consider the advantages of a real estate career with VIP Realty. Unlike other real estate companies, VIP actually has too many leads and not enough agents!

VIP Realty is hiring now and this may be the real estate opportunity you have been searching for!

VIP Realty is one of the fastest growing real estate companies throughout Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, thereby providing ample opportunities for those interested in either entering the real estate industry or taking their real estate career to the next level.

Your income potential is limitless, and right now so are the leads! We are anxiously looking to recruit some of the best talent to take on these leads and propel their careers! Are you ready to become a VIP Realty agent?

Here are just some of the many benefits of jump starting your real estate career with VIP Realty:

  • We are NOT like any other real estate company in the business! Instead of taking your commission to market ourselves, we allow you to keep your hard-earned commission and put it back into marketing yourself – not the company!
  • We have several different commission levels to suit you, regardless of which stage you are in your real estate career. From a 100 percent commission option for seasoned agents to an 80/20 broker split for those agents who need a bit more guidance, the choice is yours.
  • We feature NO office fees, NO franchise fees and NO quotas!
  • We offer some of the best, cutting-edge marketing tools to help you find and retain clients.
  • We will help you develop a personalized marketing strategy, complete with one-on-one training, website promotions and exclusive buyer and seller leads.

If you want the ability to take control of your real estate career and start earning more money than ever before then you owe it to yourself to see why VIP Realty has become one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Dallas!

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Enchanted Hill: Castle Hills

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Castle Hills in Carrollton features many new home communities, all of which provide a truly luxurious lifestyle for only the most discriminating of buyers; and Enchanted Hill is no exception.

Castle Hills in Carrollton boasts one of the newest communities, Enchanted Hill, which is a golf course community that features expansive estate homes in a lovely, private and gated setting.

Estate Homes and Golf Course Views

Formal gardens may be one of the first things you see as you make your way into Enchanted Hill, as these beautiful gardens wind their way throughout the community. Residents of this exclusive community in the Castle Hills community of Carrollton enjoy beautiful, sweeping lake and golf course views, as well as 100 estate-sized home sites, most of which average from $300,000 to well over $1 million.

Some of the residents of Enchanted Hill include business leaders, professionals and athletes, all of whom have chosen this serene community in Castle Hills for its exclusivity and pristine surroundings.

A Step above Other Communities

Just some of the outstanding features of Enchanted Hill that set it apart from other communities throughout Carrollton are the formal gardens, the cascading koi pond and the top-notch, custom builders.

The location of Enchanted Hill is preferable for most professionals, as it is just minutes from several, major roadways, including Interstates 90, 35, 635 and 121, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The Appeal of Enchanted Hill

All of the homes in Enchanted Hill are no less than 4,000 square feet in size, and most homes top out at more than 7,500 square feet.

Several of the award-winning builders of Enchanted Hill include: Shelley Malone Custom Homes, Lewis & Early Custom Homes, Victor Myers Custom Homes, Garvey Homes, the Holmes Builders, and Ventura Custom Homes.

Castle Hills was named “Community of the Year” by the Dallas Homebuilders Association Awards. It is a 2,500-acre, master-planned community located in Carrolton, just west of Plano. This community, in addition to boasting some of the most coveted neighborhoods in Carrollton, boasts many new homes. It is also located near a wide array of robust shopping, esteemed employers, entertainment and varying recreation.

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Making Smart Choices when Purchasing a Highland Park Luxury Home

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Highland Park luxury homes are a hot commodity as of late. If you are searching for Highland Park luxury homes then you may already understand the process of purchasing a luxury home. However, if this is your first time purchasing a luxury home, you may want to consider a few tips for smart purchasing:

  • Redecorate before moving in – If you purchase a Highland Park luxury home and the home is not exactly what you want, you may want to consider redecorating or remodeling before you move in. Even Highland Park luxury homes need a little TLC once in a while and the entire process of redecorating or remodeling will go much smoother if you are able to complete your changes before you move into your new home. You won’t have to worry about construction inconveniences, noise and odor problems, and the general disorder redecorating or remodeling creates.
  • Find an agent who specializes in luxury homes – Purchasing Highland Park luxury homes are not like purchasing other types of properties. In fact, they may come with a wide array of issues and stipulations, all of which are best handled by a professional real estate agent who is skilled in buying and selling luxury homes.
  • Consider your financing options – The credit crisis of the past year has made it more difficult to finance larger properties. Called jumbo loans, loans for Highland Park luxury homes may be harder to snag, so it is best to check with a lender that specializes in jumbo loan to ensure you are a good candidate for this type of loan.
  • Plan your move ahead of time (antiques, valuables) – Once you have purchased a Highland Park luxury home you will want to start thinking about your moving arrangements. You may want to consider a standard mover, as well as a mover who is skilled in moving antiques and valuables. Although this will certainly cost more money than a typical mover, you can feel rest assured knowing that your valuables are being well taken care of during the moving process.

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Understanding Condo HOA Fees: What you need to Know

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Purchasing downtown Dallas luxury condos is a smart move for many Dallas residents.

Downtown Dallas luxury condos boast some of the most outstanding features, services and amenities and, let’s face it, the location just can’t be beat.

Whether you’re a professional or empty nester, downtown Dallas luxury condos can provide the best urban living in Dallas. However, it is important to understand that purchasing downtown Dallas luxury condos are much different than purchasing a single-family home.

In particular, you must take into consider Homeowners Association Fees (HOA) when purchasing a condominium. HOA fees cover many things, including maintenance, parking, landscaping, and the upkeep of any building amenities and services.

There are a number of steps you should take when viewing downtown Dallas luxury condos. In particular, there are some obvious – and not so obvious – points about HOA fees that you should familiarize yourself with before purchasing a condo:

  • Be aware that all HOA fees are not the same. In fact, HOA fees can vary widely between downtown Dallas luxury condo properties. HOA fees can often break a budget, so always remember to consider these fees when considering your monthly housing budget.
  • Always ask for the name of the management company responsible for your building’s HOA. If your building is not professionally managed, ask for the name of the head of the HOA.
  • Ask about the percentage of the owner-occupied tenants in the building, as your ability to obtain financing could depend on this. In particular, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have placed limits on financing condos when there are too many investors involved in the building. In order to be eligible for financing, most lenders will want proof that the building is at least two-thirds owner occupied.
  • Inquire about any additional assessments that have been enacted as of late. Ask about any anticipated projects in the works, as these could raise your HOA fees. However, many HOAs will have money set aside to handle large maintenance or improvement projects.
  • Ask about any current or past disputes among the HOA members, and whether this has been resolved.
  • What are the restrictions involved with the HOA? Make sure you feel comfortable with these restrictions, and whether you feel you can live with them for the long term.

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Dallas

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Dallas’ commercial real estate activity has struggled over the last year, although the tide appears to have turned. However, in order for the Dallas commercial real estate market to fully recover, this area must see job growth – and plenty of it.

Things are Looking up – Sort of

Many analysts see good things for Dallas commercial real estate activity in 2010, at least when compared to last year. The reason for this optimism is based on a variety of factors, although solid employment growth is the top reason, for sure.

The Dallas commercial real estate market saw not only a near-collapse of the industry, but also large employment declines. In fact, throughout much of 2009 this area saw massive drops in employment.

Job Losses Easing up

However, according to the Texas Employment Commission, the job losses appear to be easing up.

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Preparing for a Home Loan: what your Lender will need

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Congratulations! You are well on your way to homeownership!

The first part of your journey is soon approaching: the loan process. In order for the application process to go off without a hitch, you will need to come prepared to your lender.

Your lender will likely require that you arrive with a set of documents that will verify your personal and financial information; without the required documents, the lender will likely not be able to approve you for a home loan.

One of the most important things to remember is that compiling and organizing all of your personal and financial documents takes time; so don

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The Advantages of Buying a Home in a Buyer

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Good news! It’s still a buyer’s market out there. That means that there are a slew of great opportunities out there just ready for the taking.

And, lucky for you, along with a nice inventory of homes on the market comes other benefits of purchasing a Las Colinas home in a buyer’s market.

  • Price Reductions – There are many homes currently on the market in any given region, and many of these homes have seen price reductions. And price reductions mean anxious sellers. Make it a point to tour homes that have had price reductions, as you may have more room to negotiate with more receptive home sellers.
  • Contingencies – You can probably get away with writing in contingencies to your offer during a buyer’s market. You may ask for a contingency based upon the home coming in at a certain appraised value, or you may ask for a contingency based upon a clear pest report and inspection, among other things.
  • Credits – Most of the time sellers in a buyer’s market will entertain credits or allowances. Consider asking for credits to perform certain repairs or make certain improvements when you submit your offer. From repairing or replacing the roof to replacing worn carpeting or upgrading the home’s appliances, you can often get away with including credits in your offer.
  • Closing Cost Assistance – Many times, buyers will offer to pay all or some of the closing costs associated with the sale of their home. If they don’t, ask for them anyway. Closing cost fees may include fees associated with the title insurance, property taxes, recording fees or escrow.
  • Renegotiate Sales Price Following Inspections – Instead of backing out of the deal when inspection reports come back with problems, simply ask to renegotiate the sales price of the home. This strategy works most of the time, provided the problems weren’t evident before the first offer was made.
  • Ask for Extras – A good negotiation tool when purchasing a home in a buyer’s market is to ask the sellers for “extras.” This may mean the home’s appliances, washer and dryer, patio furniture, backyard shed and the like.

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The Top Five Reasons why Homeowners Sell their Homes

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Is it time to sell your home?

Well, you may be the only person who can answer that, but the reality is that there are a near-endless number of reasons why people decide to sell their homes. However, there are five, top reasons why people sell their homes:

  1. Upgrade – One of the most popular reasons for selling a Coppell property is simply to upgrade. We all begin our homeowner lives in a starter home, which is often small and unassuming. Once we have established careers and growing families, many of us are ready to move onto a larger home, perhaps with more rooms, more bells and whistles, and located in a better neighborhood. We can often afford this upgrade because of an increase in salary or because of an increase in our home’s equity.
  2. Upsize – If your family is growing, but your home is not then it may be time to upsize your current home. Many families look for larger homes with more bedrooms and more bathrooms, while many families choose to upsize to a home with a bigger yard, a bigger kitchen and simply more space to move around.
  3. Job Opportunity – Job opportunities and career changes often place us into different homes. From relocation to new careers, job opportunities are one of the top reasons why many people choose to sell their homes.
  4. Empty Nest – If your kids are grown and you find yourself rattling around a house that once seemed like it was too small but now feels grandiose then you may consider selling your home and downsizing. Many empty nesters also decide to sell in favor of homes in communities where maintenance is taken care of and yard work is a thing of the past.
  5. Marriage Changes – Unfortunately, divorce is a reason why many people sell their homes. However, marriage is also another reason. In today’s society, there are many individuals that own separate homes and then sell them in favor of a new home. The trend in marriage being one of the top reasons people sell their homes is perhaps because many individuals are simply waiting until later in their lives to marry.

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