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Swiftly Growing DFW Areas to Watch in 2012

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

This year will likely bring a multitude of cities within the Dallas-Fort Worth area that will experience significant growth. If you are searching for 2012 DFW real estate areas to watch, you need not look any further than the bustling areas of Southlake, Carrollton and Plano. These areas have consistently seen increases in employment, housing prices and real estate activity, and will likely continue do so throughout the new year.

Southlake

As one of the top 2012 DFW real estate areas to watch, Southlake is likely considered to be one of Fort Worth’s most successful cities. Located in the counties of Tarrant and Denton Counties, Southlake enjoys a prime location near Grapevine, Colleyville and Keller.

It wasn’t until 2008, however, that Southlake really began making a name for itself when it was named by Forbes.com as the most affluent community in the United States. In addition to its exceptional real estate opportunities, Southlake features such points of interest as Southlake Town Square and Bicentennial Park, a park with 74 acres of sprawling green space.

Plano

The Dallas population boom of the 1960s spurred the growth of Plano. Now, more than 40 years later, Plano is a popular area that features beautiful homes, impressive shopping and loads of outdoor recreational activities and parks.

Located near Dallas, Plano is now considered to be one of the most successful master-planned communities in North Texas. Plano has become a popular area in which to reside, in part because of the many corporations and business located here.

Points of interest in Plano include an historic downtown area and the shopping malls of Collin Creek and the Shops at Willow Bend.

Carrollton

Carrollton is a popular city in North Texas that boasts a prime location near the DFW Metroplex and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. It was also ranked as one of the “100 Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine and one of “America’s Best Places to Move” by Forbes.

This area is also quickly growing in popularity because it is home to the Baylor Medical Center of Carrollton. Other points of interest in Carrollton include its 1,230 acres of parks and recreational areas and the Indian Creek Golf Club.

A First-Time Home Buyer’s Guide to What Not to Do

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

As a first-time homebuyer, you may find yourself learning as you go. Although the home buying process is a learning experience, there are a few, tried-and-true lessons that every new homebuyer should take care to avoid:

  • Don’t get hung up on the aesthetics! – It is often difficult to look beyond a room’s paint color or a homeowner’s carpet choice, but the truth is that all of these things are merely aesthetic and are easily remedied if they aren’t to your liking. If you focus on a home’s aesthetics, instead of its bones (e.g., room size, home location, and its overall condition), you could be missing out on a great North Dallas property.
  • Don’t compromise your comfort level! (financially) – It may be quite tempting to push your comfort level and go for the home that has the higher price tag, but you could find yourself regretting that choice for years to come. Instead, determine your maximum budget amount and stick to it.  One of the easiest ways to avoid doing this is to only look at homes that are within your budget.
  • Don’t overlook the importance of the neighborhood! – A North Dallas property is only as good as the neighborhood in which it is located. In other words, regardless of how fantastic you feel your home is, if the home values in the area are on the decline, your home may not be the investment you had hoped it would be. Instead, only consider areas that are growing, both in terms of residents and property values, so you can better protect yourself against a poor investment.
  • Don’t go too fast! – The home buying experience is often an exciting one, and it is quite easy to get wrapped up in the excitement. But it is just as important to slow down so you can be sure you are making the best decisions for you and your family. An overly excited home buyer is often an overwhelmed home buyer, and that could spell disaster when it comes to embarking on the largest financial decisions you will ever make.

A Closer Look at Coppell’s Community Programs

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Coppell may be a small city located in both Dallas and Denton Counties, but this DFW city enjoys a robust economy and a swiftly growing population. As such, Coppell new home communities are in high demand, and real estate values have seen steady increases, even during the height of the nationwide recession.

In addition to boasting many new home communities and countless amenities like shopping centers and public parks, Coppell has a number of fantastic community programs that support a strong community:

Community Gardens

The Coppell Community Gardens supports community gardens, as well as a farmer’s market and environment education. This community program is overseen by a group of dedicated volunteers who lend their time to provide a market for locally grown food and donate organic produce to needy families. The community gardens are also a valuable source for education on sustainability practices and youth community services.

Some of the programs within the Community Gardens program include: Share the Harvest, Adopt-A-Plot, Composting Education, and the Coppell Farmers Market.

Coppell Green Team

The Coppell Green Team is described as a “multi-tiered recognition program designed to foster environmental awareness and promote sustainable behavior.” It works alongside Keep Coppell Beautiful and the Coppell Chamber of Commerce to make sure businesses and organizations are taking the necessary steps to help the environment.

The goal of the Coppell Green Team is to promote environmental sustainability through environmental sustainable practices.

Keep Coppell Beautiful

Keep Coppell Beautiful is a program designed to encourage individuals and businesses to engage in activities to promote a beautiful city. Some of the activities and education overseen by Keep Coppell Beautiful include: encouraging waste reduction, litter prevention, beautification and environmental sustainability.

Just some of the awards granted to Keep Coppell Beautiful include: Keep Texas Beautiful Gold Star Affiliate (2011, 2010, and 2009), Keep Texas Beautiful Governor’s Community Achievement Award (2011), and Keep America Beautiful President Circle Award (2010 and 2009).

Some of the major events overseen by Keep Coppell Beautiful each year include: Clean Coppell City-Wide Cleanup, Coppell Earthfest, Texas Recycles Day, Texas SmartScape classes and tour, Denton Creek Clean-Up and the computer and electronics recycling program.

Tarrant County: Luxury Homes Welcomed

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Tarrant County is often synonymous with luxury real estate. This expansive county, which is ideally located in the heart of North Texas, is home to both Arlington and Fort Worth. With the swiftly growing cities of Arlington and Fort Worth (both are considered to be two of the fastest growing cities in North Texas), it only makes sense that the smaller communities and cities in Tarrant County are experiencing the same type of interest from homeowners.

Luxury homes in Tarrant County are the norm and not the exception. In fact, there are a number of wealthy cities in this county that are highly sought out by families and professionals alike. In particular, there are three neighborhoods where luxury homes in Tarrant County are located at every turn:

Westover Hills

If you are in search of luxury homes in Tarrant County, your first stop will likely be Westover Hills. Located near Fort Worth, Westover Hills is home to many older homes and a number of influential families. In fact, Westover Hills held the distinction of being the wealthiest city in Texas in 2000, based on the average household income of its residents.

Homes in Westover Hills generally start in the $700,000 range, although many of the homes here are priced well into the millions. Estates here are often 10,000 to 20,000 square feet in size, and a few estates have been valued at nearly $9 million.

Colleyville/Southlake

If Westover Hills is considered a haven for older estates, Colleyville and Southlake is where many of the newer mansions and estates are located. Located in northern Tarrant County, Colleyville and Southlake boast a considerable amount of new construction, and homes here can run anywhere from $200,000 to well into the $5-$8 million range.

Dalworthington Gardens

Located in the heart of Arlington, in the southern part of the county, Dalworthington Gardens is a city with a rich history (one of its first residents was Eleanor Roosevelt). Many homeowners are drawn to this area because of the wide variety of real estate options found here. It is quite possible to find a home in Dalworthington Gardens for as little as $150,000 or as much as $3 million.

Dallas

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Dallas is known for many things: its beautiful weather; its fantastic quality of life; its pro-business climate; and, of course, its exceptional condo residences. Whether you are a downtown or an Uptown person, Dallas boasts condo buildings that rival those found in any other major city in the United States.

In fact, if you want the finest in luxury, there

Frisco

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Frisco, without a doubt, is one of the most ideally located cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. This dynamic city is located just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and just 25 minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, thereby making Frisco the ideal city for both families and city professionals.

Frisco is exciting and progressive, however, in its own right, as it is home to a plethora of award-winning hotels, shopping and dining destinations and many sports venues (it is home to four professional sports teams). In fact, Frisco features over eight million square feet of retail and dining space and is home to Stonebriar Centre Mall.

Frisco isn

VIP Realty is Hiring in Dallas – Fort Worth!

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Have you always wanted to explore a career in real estate, or are you currently a real estate agent who isn

Carrollton

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

If you want a new home, Carrollton should definitely be on your list! This dynamic city, comfortably situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is just minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, thereby making it a popular place to call home for both Dallas and Fort Worth professionals.

In addition, Carrollton

Las Colinas: The Heart of DFW

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Las Colinas has held the distinction of being the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since its inception years ago. Also often referred to America

Fort Worth

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Sure, choosing Fort Worth