Archive for February, 2010

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The Pet Situation: How to Effectively Show your Home when you have Pets

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

We all love our pets. In fact, our pets are often a part of the family. However, not everyone feels the same way about animals.

If you own a pet (or pets!), it is important to understand that many buyers may be afraid of them, may not like them or may be allergic to them. But, most of all, most buyers simply aren’t very receptive to the presence of a pet when they are viewing your Irving home.

Finding a Temporary Home for your Pet

The best way to handle your pet situation is to find a temporary home for your pet, at least during showings and open houses. Simply locking Fido in the garage isn’t an option, as buyers don’t want to hear your dog barking during their showing, and they certainly don’t want to be denied access to any part of the home because of a pet.

Consider asking a close family member or friend to care for your pet during showings and open houses. If this isn’t possible, consider boarding your pet at a kennel.

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Allen Welcomes the Community of Twin Creeks

Monday, February 8th, 2010

The community of Twin Creeks is yet another reason why Allen is the hot spot for real estate.

Twin Creeks is a new home community that boasts a family friendly atmosphere and beautifully crafted homes by many of Texas’ top homebuilders.

Recreational Activities Galore

The community of Twin Creeks is abounding with natural beauty and recreational activities, including: shaded walking and biking paths; sports courts; shaded picnic areas; two playgrounds; and a number of swimming pools. Plenty of community pavilions throughout the development provide the setting for neighborhood barbecues and lazy Sunday picnics.

This community also features six lighted tennis courts, catch-and-release fishing, half-court basketball courts, sand volleyball courts and nearly three miles of hiking and biking trails.

Other recreational facilities of Twin Creeks include two swimming pool complexes, which feature a Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, a tot pool and a recreational pool, as well as an Arnold Palmer signature golf course, which is built around the Golf Club at Twin Creeks.

Arnold-Palmer Designed Golf Course

The golf course, which is located in West Allen, has been called one of the best courses in Texas, and was designed to blend beautifully with the surrounding natural beauty and landscape. Twin Creeks also feature a clubhouse in which the Palmer Room is located. This room is the ideal gathering place for birthday parties, weddings and other social events.

The Twin Creeks golf course features a golf shop, a restaurant and a golf practice center that includes: a grass driving range; a practice bunker; a chipping area; a putting green; and a junior three-hold practice course.

Allen ISD

The children of Twin Creeks attend schools in the highly acclaimed Allen Independent School District. Allen ISD currently serves about 17,000 students, which has doubled since 1989. Allen ISD includes 13 elementary schools, three middle schools, one freshmen center and one high school. Eight of the schools of Allen ISD have been recognized as being “exemplary.” There are three elementary schools within the Twin Lakes community.

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Pricey Downtown Fort Worth Condo Sales Continue to Struggle as Buyers Seek Lower-Priced Homes

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Downtown Fort Worth has a bit of a problem; and it’s all about the price.

Sales are down when it comes to downtown Fort Worth condos; but that’s really only part of the picture. What is most striking about the decline in sales among downtown Fort Worth condos is that the average price of a condo in downtown Fort Worth is $235 per square foot – the highest price in Texas.

In other words, Fort Worth’s downtown condo problem is that most home buyers are simply not looking to spend the money for a luxury condo. And the 30-month inventory on downtown Fort Worth condos is a clear indication of this fact.

In comparison, condo supply nationwide has fallen to about 12 months as most cities are beginning to see signs of recovery.

Where it all went Wrong

It’s no surprise, really, that downtown Fort Worth is chocked full of pricey condos. Three years ago, developers saw a prime opportunity as downtown projects were plentiful and the economy was adding jobs. Both income and confidence were plentiful and, as a result, developers saw an opportunity in the making.

However, the credit market decline was a huge bust to the industry and many high-priced downtown developments began to feel the brunt of the flailing economy and housing market.

Many analysts see Fort Worth’s problems as not being overbuilt, just being “top-heavy.”

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Real Estate Opportunities Abound at VIP Realty

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

If the real estate market has got you down, consider joining one of the fastest growing real estate firms in Texas!

Whether you’re interested in becoming a real estate agent for Dallas, Austin, Houston or San Antonio, VIP Realty can offer you unlimited income potential and a financially secure company to work behind you, every step of the way.

VIP Realty is far different from any other real estate company you’ve worked for in the past. Forget about the agent/broker split plans you have been accustomed to and let VIP Realty show you how to increase your income and build a successful career in real estate!

Fees are upfront and plans are varied to suit your individual needs and wants:

  • Plan 1 – Plan 1 one is a simple one. From a multimillion dollar estate to a starter home, you keep the commission.
  • Plan 2 – Plan 2 consists of an 80/20 broker split. We eliminate office fees, franchise fees and quotas. Instead, we provide you with exclusive buyer and seller leads, cutting-edge marketing tools, a personalized marketing strategy, top-ten websites to promote your strategy, one-on-one training, a webpage and a personalized company email and MLS search link. Plan 2 is ideal for individuals who want to eliminate monthly costs while still keeping the majority of their commission.
  • Plan 3 – Plan 3 consists of a 50/50 broker split.

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Why Owning a Home is Still a Smart Move

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

The media has a knack of scaring even the most level-headed of people. Case in point: many would-be homeowners have been scared silly by reports of a tanking housing market. But what they fail to tell people is that now may be the best time to purchase your first home. From low interest rates and government programs to a slew of fantastic homes on the market, now may be the moment you’ve been waiting for.

Are there challenges in this market? Absolutely. But the fact of the matter is that there are just as many advantages to purchasing a Las Colinas home in 2010.

Why now may be your time to buy your first home:

  • Appreciation – Housing values across the country have hit rock bottom. What does that mean for you? It means that housing prices have nowhere to go but up. Great for you, considering that your appreciation value will be even greater than someone who purchased their home five years ago. A home is still a great investment in your future, all things considered.
  • Mortgage Interest Deductions – You will be thanking your mortgage when tax time rolls around, as mortgage interest is fully tax-deductible (with a few exceptions). You can’t do that with your rent!
  • Government Incentives – The federal government has certainly done its part over the last few months with the Homebuyer Tax Credit. In fact, it was recently announced that this government tax credit, which equals about $8,000 for each homebuyer, is extended well into 2010.
  • Home Equity Loans – Equity in your home is a great thing. You can take the equity in your home and use it towards paying off other higher interest loans, including credit cards, personal loans and auto loans, just to name a few. You can also use the equity in your home to send your kids to college, to make home improvements, or to simply take the vacation of your dreams. And, best of all, the interest paid on a home equity loan is also tax deductible.

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How to Protect your Privacy when Selling your Home

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Selling your home may be difficult, considering that you must open your doors to a near-constant stream of potential buyers. Your privacy and security may become an issue when showing your home to buyers, so it is important to consider all your options before you welcome your first buyer into your home.

For many individuals, it is very important for them to protect their privacy, while others are simply concerned that buyers will make assumptions about them and judge them instead of simply judging their home. However, the importance of protecting your privacy is all the same.

How to protect your privacy while selling your home:

  • Expect buyers to open drawers and peek in cabinets. Therefore, remove all personal effects that may embarrass you during open houses and showings. Now may be a good time to clear out and organize your closet and drawers anyway, so take charge and get things organized and prepared for showings.
  • Hide your mail and financial information. Don’t leave mail sitting out – whether opened or unopened – for all to see; and that goes for financial information, such as check books and banks statements. If you have a lock on your file cabinet or desk drawer, use it. Do not give anyone an excuse to peek into your personal finances.
  • Ask your realtor to accompany your visitors. Some real estate agents allow buyers to walk through the property on their own, while others will accompany them. If you feel wary of allowing strangers to tour your home, unaccompanied, let your agent know beforehand.
  • Remove personal effects from your walls. From diplomas and religious artifacts to wedding certificates and personal photos, don’t provide buyers with any personal information about yourself or your family. De-personalizing is also an important move to make when staging your home for sale anyway, so you can actually accomplish two things by removing the personal effects from your home.
  • Don’t leave your computer up and running during showings. Gaining personal information from your computer takes only moments for a professional hacker or thief, so be proactive and shut your computer down before your guests arrive.

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