For a few (grueling) years now, Victory Park was considered to be the most luxurious and upscale place in Dallas to live, work, shop and relax. But being billed as upscale during a time when no one was buying did nothing but hurt Victory Park. Considered by most to be simply unattainable – from the condo residences to the swanky shops – Victory Park was nearly a disaster.

Fast forward to 2012, however, and it looks like Victory Park has finally gotten in right. The original Victory Park developer, Hillwood, cried uncle in April 2009 and turned over control to the German real estate company, US Treuhand.

Since then, US Treuhand has invested millions into the Victory Park project and according to many Victory Park will take off in 2012. The secret? Making Victory Park more attainable and welcoming to the masses.

Even if Victory Park did suffer from a personality disorder for the first, few years of its life, it looks as if the new developers are making the necessary changes to make sure this stunning Dallas development is enjoyed by the vast majority of Texans – and not only the affluent.

A New Beginning

Victory Park will most certainly take off in 2012. From its exceptional near-downtown location and its close proximity to the beautiful Katy Trail, Victory Park has plenty going for it.

Victory Park is home to the Calatrava Bridges, the Arts District, the Woodall Rodgers Park and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. It is where professionals, families and visitors alike can spend the day shopping, dining and engaging in the exciting nightlife.

Just a few of the noteworthy restaurants located in Victory Park include: Craft, the Hard Rock Café, the House of Blues, Kenichi, Luna de Noche, Medina, Naga Thai, Neo Pizza and Victory Tavern.

Victory Park is the site of some of the most exciting condo buildings in the city, including the W Dallas Victory Hotel and Residences, the House, the Terrace condominiums and the Vista apartments.

Victory Park will also be home to One Victory Park, a new, 72-acre development of Class AA office space.

Rockwall’s Natural Beauty

Rockwall, Texas is named for a structure that is often considered quite mystical. Rockwall is a stone wall that spans an area of nearly 20 square miles underground. This very old wall, which was discovered in 1851, is covered in pictograph and has since become a large draw for visitors.

Rockwall is located beside Lake Hubbard, a tributary of the Trinity River. Covering nearly 23,000 acres, Lake Hubbard has made a lovely backdrop to many of the lakefront homes found here. Lake Hubbard has also become the source of fantastic recreational activity for both visitors and residents alike.

Rockwall’s Amenities

Many residents who own much-desired waterfront property in Rockwall boast boat ramps. As such, there are a number of yacht clubs and marinas where boat owners can enjoy everything from sailing to boating and fishing.

Golf clubs are popular in Rockwall and, as such, there is a nice selection of golf course community homes from which to choose.

This Dallas community also boasts great shopping at locations such as Steger Towne Crossing, Rockwall Village Shopping Center and Ridge Road Shopping Center.

Rockwall’s Real Estate

Rockwall, Texas real estate is varied and exciting, and buyers can purchase everything from previously owned properties and land to new construction. Some of the new communities currently being developed in Rockwall include: Woodcreek ($127,990 to $327,999), Fontanna Ranch ($274,990 to $390,637), Barringer II at Woodcreek ($139,900 to $189,900) and Lafayette at Woodcreek ($188,900 to $309,900).

Many residents are flocking to Rockwall because of the reasonably priced new homes.  As such, this area has been quite popular for both first-time homeowners and established families.

In addition, there is a wide variety of fantastic Rockwall, Texas real estate in established neighborhoods, including:

• Carrington Farms
• Saddlebrook
• Bluebonnet Ridge
• Lakeview Meadows
• Equestrian Meadows
• Quail Creek
• Austin Corners
• Lofland Lake Estates
• Oaks of Buffalo Way
• Dowell
• Kentwood Estates
• Old Millwood
• Anchor Bay
• Shepherds Highlands

Often called “America’s Premier Address,” Las Colinas is the gem of Irving, and Las Colinas new developments are commonplace. Las Colinas new development for builders and developers is often a smart choice because Las Colinas epitomizes the ultimate location in the DFW Metroplex, a reputation for being one of the finest master-planned communities in Texas, and a hub for some of the world’s largest corporations.

Water Street

Water Street, an envisioned Las Colinas new development, will be located along the shore of Lake Carolyn, in the heart of Las Colinas. This development will be a hub for retail, dining and entertainment establishments, as well as luxury residences, office space and even a landmark hotel.

The developers of Water Street, Gables Residential and Urban Partners, expect this development to “become the heart and soul of Las Colinas.” Water Street, like other complexes in Las Colinas, is ideally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, as well as the DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field.

Other features of Water Street will include:

• 240,000 square feet of shops and restaurants
• 250,000 square feet of office space
• 600 luxury apartments
• Boutique hotel
• Art-house movie theater
• Waterfront esplanade
• Piazzas, loggias and lakeside restaurants

In response to the Water Street development, Irving has plans to build a DART light-rail system close by, as well as a $31-million parking garage and $16 million in land reclamation and plaza construction. The infrastructure plans are valued at $350 million.

Water Street will be located within a short distance to the Las Colinas Convention Center, and it will be located across O’Conner Boulevard from the Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture. The Mustangs of Las Colinas is currently a large draw for Las Colinas, and it is Irving’s most popular tourist attraction.

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.

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.

Because of the influx of new residents to many Carrollton new home communities, this progressive city has implemented a number of neighborhood initiatives that allow residents here to live well, live safely and join together as a community. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Neighborhood Integrity Program

The Carrollton Neighborhood Integrity Program is vital to Carrollton’s home values, as it enforces the code of ordinances in Carrollton. It also oversees the comprehensive coding zone, the housing code and the abatement of dangerous building code in Carrollton.

In short, the Carrollton Neighborhood Integrity Program ensures that homeowners and land owners in Carrollton abide by the strict set of codes in this community. Code enforcement officers work to uncover and remedy code violations to ensure the health and wellbeing of all Carrollton residents.

Going Green Initiatives

Because Carrollton is “committed to supporting emission reduction, energy conservation, and other environmental initiatives,” the city participates in a number of programs, including the Clean Texas Program and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

In addition, the city of Carrollton abides by all local, state and federal environment regulations and makes every effort to ensure the protection of water quality and to promote environmental sustainability.

The Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act, which is a government program to ensure protection of the surface water within the United States, includes a number of regulatory and non-regulatory tools, which are designed to reduce the introduction of pollutants into waterways. It also oversees wastewater treatments facilities and the need to reduce polluted runoff.

Clean Air Act Programs

Just some of the programs covered under the government’s Clean Air Act Programs include: the acid rain program, climate change, air pollutants, health and ecosystem protection, ozone later protection, radiation, air pollution data sources and air quality data.

Currently the easiest mortgage to attain is a FHA loan:

1) 10% down payment, based on the purchase price of the home (e.g., $15,000 on a $150,000 home), or a gift from a family member of that same amount;

2) As a buyer you will need an additional 3 percent to 6 percent of the purchase price, on top of the down payment, for closing costs, or you could ask the seller to help you with contributing towards the closing cost; and last

3) 640 FICO credit score