What should be understood, however, is that if you are not a real estate professional, your access to information provided by a publicly available MLS will be limited.
The reason for this is that MLS access to much of the information contained in an MLS is restricted to licensed brokers, Realtors, and real estate agents.

Once you are represented by listing or buyer’s agent, the agent can access the much more detailed information about all homes for sale by all participating brokers, and the features of each property.

Your agent’s MLS enables him/her to relay information to clients they could not easily access themselves. An agent knowledgeable and experienced in the local marketplace can, through the Realtor’s MLS retrieve extensive details about for sale properties, and, in the case of sellers, provide maximum exposure to buyers and their agents.

The only way that the public can have uninhibited access to the MLS database, and obtain information that is truly up-to-date and accurate is through a real estate agent.

As a point of information, if you are planning to buy or sell residential or commercial property in the North Texas region, VIP Realty has access to the MLS listings, state-of-the-art resources, and experienced agents you need in order to plan your real estate investment and marketing strategies.

It is not uncommon for North Dallas subdivisions to boast outstanding, historic homes with expansive yards and beautiful architectural features. In fact, much of Dallas’ most expensive estate is found in the North Dallas subdivisions.

Here is our pick of some of the best North Dallas subdivisions:

• Bluffview Estates – Bluffview Estates contain about 355 homes, some of which were built as early as 1926. Although there is a nice selection of historic homes in Bluffview Estates, some of the older homes have been torn down and replaced with new construction.  The median sales price for a home in Bluffview Estates is $912,000, although sales prices for homes here can range from $250,000 to more than $1 million.
• Cambridge Place at Preston Trails – Located just two miles north of the Dallas North Tollway, Cambridge Place at Preston Trails contains about 125 homes, and most of the homes here were constructed between 1995 and 2005. Some of the neighborhood amenities of Cambridge Place at Preston Trails include: a greenbelt, a gated and secured neighborhood entrance and a homeowners association.
• Caruth Homeplace – Caruth Homeplace features about 90 homes, most of which were constructed between 1979 and 1990. The median sales price for a home in this neighborhood is $490,000 and the sales price range is $433,000 to $899,000. Some of the neighborhood amenities of Caruth Homeplace include: a neighborhood swimming pool and clubhouse; tennis courts, a gated and secured neighborhood entrance and a homeowners association.
• Downs of Hillcrest – Downs of Hillcrest, which is located just a half mile from Interstate 635, features about 160 homes, most of which were constructed between 1993 and 2002. Neighborhood amenities include a lake, a jogging path, a gated and secured neighborhood entrance and a homeowners association.
• Lake Forest – Lake Forest, which is located just one and a half miles from Interstate 635, will contain about 360 homes once the build-out is complete. The first homes in this neighborhood were built in 1998. The median sales price for a home in Lake Forest is 773,000.

There is a seemingly endless array of decisions to make when purchasing a home. Where do I want to live? How much home can I afford? What amenities and features do I want in my home?

Another important question that many buyers face is: do I want to purchase a new home or an existing home?

The answer to this question may be a bit tricky, as there are a number of pros and cons to purchasing both a new home and an existing home. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision between new and old:

• Workmanship and craftsmanship – Many home buyers gravitate towards older homes because, often times, there is more attention paid to craftsmanship in older homes. Although this is often the case, many of the newer homes also have beautiful features that are reminiscent of older homes.  For example, Highland Park boasts beautiful architecture in both its older homes and new homes.
• Updates and Energy Efficiency – Most new home builders of today are committed to energy efficiency and, as a result, incorporate many environmentally sensitive building products into their homes. However, it is also important to note that many homeowners of pre-existing homes also update their homes with newer windows, doors, insulation and appliances, all of which are focused on energy efficiency.
• Amenities and Conveniences – Many new homes boast such great features and conveniences as master suites, gourmet kitchens and fantastic outdoor living spaces. However, many older homes have these same features and amenities, thanks to homeowners who are committed to keeping their homes up to date.
• Natural surroundings – Many home buyers tend to look at existing homes because they offer mature landscaping and large trees. Established home communities often have more character and ambience because of the mature, natural surroundings.
• Appreciation – Newer Highland Park homes, in general, appreciate in value much faster than existing homes; however, the appreciation of a home ultimately depends on its features, amenities and, most of all, location.

Beautiful, unique architecture, surrounded by lush landscaping, is the hallmark of the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake. Neighborhood amenities are abundant, and the lifestyle here is unsurpassed.

The Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake is unlike other Fort Worth golf course communities, as it overlooks the east side of the beautiful Eagle Mountain Lake. Located in Fort Worth, which is in Tarrant County, the Resort on Eagle Lake enjoys a prime location and superb views.

Countless Resident Amenities

Because of its ideal location near Eagle Mountain Lake, the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake offers its residents plenty of water recreational. In fact, many of the properties in this resort-style community feature canal lots with boat docks. Other amenities afforded to the residents of the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake include an 18-hole golf course, a golf club, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a restaurant, a swimming pool with cabana and a children’s playground.

The Golf Club at the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake is a 6,626-yard, par 72, 18-hole championship golf course. The natural, rolling topography of the course, along with its challenging courses, makes the Golf Club at the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake a highly desirable golf course.

There are also several planned amenities in the works for the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake, which include: a marina, a pavilion, a water park, a beach and tennis courts. The developers also have planned plenty of green spaces with nature trails and picnic areas.

Highly Acclaimed School District

In addition to all of its excellent amenities, the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake is located in the highly acclaimed Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District. The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District serves more than 7,200 students, and includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and an alternative discipline center/learning center.

Ideal Location

The Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake is conveniently located just 25 minutes from downtown Fort Worth; 35 minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport; and 40 minutes to Lockheed.

The builders represented at the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake include: Galahad Custom Homes and Concept Homes.

Despite the struggling national and local economy, and despite the fact that it is a relatively new development, the West 7^th Corridor project is thriving.

The West 7^th Corridor development, which is located near University and 7^th Street, features residential and commercial properties, most of which has already been leased. In fact, throughout one of the deepest recessions the country has ever gone through the West 7^th Corridor development kept chugging along.

Exciting Location

The West 7^th Corridor development will enjoy a prime location between downtown Fort Worth and the museum, thereby encouraging a pedestrian-friendly environment. The cohesion of residential and commercial areas is also a great sign of success.

The West 7^th Corridor development is a fine mixed-use development that will encourage walking and a sense of community. This vibrant area will be an area where people will gather, mingle and come together.  Bringing the downtown area, where people commonly work, with the west side, where people commonly live, will create the bridge that the city has been looking for; a central gathering place, of sorts.

Mixed-Use Development comes Together

This development, once completed, will include many types of housing, as well as restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The residential units of the West 7^th Corridor are nearly 100-percent occupied. The retail space is currently about 75-percent occupied, while the office space is about 65-percent occupied.

The surge of exposure for the West 7^th Corridor project will allow traffic in this area to remain strong and the social scene to remain active, both of which play a huge role in the growth of the this development.

Phase II of the West 7^th Corridor recently broke ground. Once completed, this new phase will add an additional 25,000 square feet of retail space and 96 new apartments and condos. Phase II is set to open in mid-2011.

Because the home inspection process is usually the most stressful for sellers, it only makes sense to avoid going through this hassle. If you want to avoid surprises when it comes to inspection time, consider hiring a professional inspector to critique your Coppell home before you list it.

The Advantages of a Pre-Inspection

A pre-inspection is almost always worth the couple hundred dollars, as it gives you an insight on the home’s condition and what you could be facing regarding home improvements and repairs. A pre-inspection also gives you ample time to make the necessary repairs. After all, being told you have to replace your roof or furnace right before you close on your home is never welcomed news.

Many sellers hire a home inspector to perform a pre-inspection because it allows them to repair necessary items throughout the home; others use it as a selling tool. Although most buyers will also hire an inspector for their own inspection, it nevertheless puts the buyers’ minds at rest knowing that there isn’t something catastrophic wrong with the house that would get in the way of closing the deal.

Finally, some sellers get a pre-inspection as a deciding factor. In other words, if a seller is on the fence about listing his or her home for sale because of potential problems, it may be a good ideal to get a pre-inspection to decide if it makes sense financially to sell the home.

Your Responsibilities for a Pre-Inspection

If you order a pre-inspection, make sure you disclose all information obtained from the inspection in your initial property disclosure form. In addition, you will want to call to the buyers’ attention the improvements and/or repairs that you made on the home as a direct result of the home inspection.

Some real estate agents may even use your pre-inspection in your marketing material, as this often draws buyers in and shows them that you are committed to selling your home.

Finally, keep all receipts from repairs and improvements you made so that you have all of the documentation necessary for the buyers.

Here is what you need to know:

• Your real estate agent works on commission. In other words, if your agent does not close on your real estate transaction, he or she will not get paid, regardless of all the hard work he or she put into finding you a home. With that said, do not use the services of a buyer’s agent unless you are serious about finding a new home. It simply doesn’t make very good sense to waste someone’s time and money because you have no serious plans about buying a new home.
• Be respectful of the agent’s time. You will likely not be you agent’s only client, so be respectful of his or her time. Some of the things you can do to remain courteous and respectful include: keeping your appointments; arriving on time; and not expecting the agent to be at your beck and call.
• Do not call a listing agent once you have a buyer’s agent. Many times, buyers will call the listing agent on a property they want to see; however, this is not the best protocol, as the listing agent is working for the sellers. Therefore, when you want to see a home, contact your agent, who will then set up an appointment with the listing agent.
• Signing a broker’s agreement protects both you and the agent. Your buyer’s agent will likely ask you to sign a broker’s agreement. This details the agent’s duty, as well as your responsibilities, thereby protecting both members of the agreement. You should be able to release the agent from the agreement if the relationship doesn’t work out, so make sure your agreement includes this verbiage.

• What are the Homeowners Association (HOA) fees?

HOA fees are additional fees that you must pay when living in a condo. Also called association fees, HOA fee funds go toward building upkeep and maintenance, grounds maintenance, garbage removal, and building amenities, such as swimming pools and fitness centers.

HOA fees are typically paid each month, and vary widely from one condo building to the next. HOA fees can have a large impact on your budget, so understanding these fees is a very important aspect of owning a condo. Expect HOA fees to be higher in condo buildings that offer many resident amenities and services.

• Who supervises the disbursement of HOA fees?

Most HOAs are run by a condo association, which is commonly made up of a board of condo owners.  The board typically decides when, where and how the HOA fees will be dispersed. They also vote on increases in HOA fees, as well as the introduction of special assessments. Special assessments are usually collected when an unexpected repair needs to be made to the building or building grounds. The condo association also puts rules and policies into place that the condo owners must obey.

• What are the condo building’s rules and regulations?

Each condo building will have its own list of rules and regulations. Some of the rules and regulations (which are typically outlined in an official code book) may include pet policies, occupancy restrictions, smoking and sound restrictions. Make sure you can abide by the rules set forth by the condo association before agreeing to purchase a particular condo. Some rules and regulations are easy to follow, while others may seem a bit restrictive for some condo owners, so review these rules carefully before you begin the home buying process.

In order to experience the most success when selling an Uptown Dallas condo, it is important to find a qualified real estate agent who is skilled in selling condominium properties. An agent with experience as a listing agent for condos will understand the unique circumstances that often exist with condominium properties. As such, the agent will understand what it takes to market and sell your condo.

However, there are a number of things you can do to spruce up your condo and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Here’s our list of the top three things you can do make your condo shine:

1. Make it appear larger – The bad news is that most condos are short on space. However, there are many things you can do make your condo appear roomier. The first order of business when selling a condo is to remove any excess junk and furniture. If you need to rent a storage space to store your excess personal belongings and furniture during the selling process, understand that it will surely be worth the money.

Paring down your personal effects and moving the furniture away from the walls all help when making your small condo space appear larger. You can make your kitchen appear larger by simply removing the small appliances and such from the countertops.

In addition, organize your closets to show buyers that the home has plenty of storage; a condo with crammed, unorganized closets gives the impression that there is insufficient storage.

1. Make the best out of the space you have – Make sure that the spaces in your condo are staged properly. For example, if your dining room currently serves as your office, you will want to stage it properly so that buyers know what each room is to be used for. The spare bedroom should be staged as such, not as your personal exercise room.  Simple staging techniques such as these will make your condo show better, which will therefore attract more attention from buyers.
2. Play it safe (and neutral) – Although your bright red living room walls work for you, understand that neutral is always best when it comes to selling your home. Take your decorating sense down a notch and paint the rooms in your condo with a soft, neutral color that will appeal to the masses.

In fact, La Villita at Las Colinas has become one of the most popular residential communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A Prime Las Colinas Location

La Villita certainly enjoys a prime Las Colinas location, which makes it all the more desirable for many Dallas residents.  The Las Colinas location means that it is just minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth. Las Colinas also enjoys a convenient location near many major roadways, including Interstates 35 and 635, as well as the George Bush Turnpike.

There are many fabulous Las Colinas luxury homes, and just as many great townhomes, but La Villita offers a number of fabulous features and amenities that are sure to impress. This beautiful community is centered around a lake, two canals, a number of picturesque trails and family-friendly parks.

Spanish/Mediterranean Architecture

All homes of La Villita feature Spanish/Mediterranean architecture, which includes tiled roofs, stucco exteriors, stone accents and wrought-iron and cedar trim. Just some of the builders represented throughout La Villita include: K. Hovnanian Homes, Darling Homes, City Homes and Pasquinelli-Portrait Homes.

Homes in La Villita range from the low $200,000s to the $600,000s, and buyers can choose from a number of styles, layouts, finishes and square footage.

Natural Surroundings Abound

The many water features and traditional architectural styling make La Villita quite defined when it comes to Las Colinas luxury homes. This quiet community also focuses on community life and beautiful, natural surroundings.

In fact, the surrounding natural beauty has been utilized to its full advantage, as the builders and developers have built the exceptional homes of this community around walkways and expansive greenbelts. The sparkling lake and meandering canals, over which quaint bridges span, are all a part of the superb scenery of La Villita.

In addition to its surrounding beauty, La Villita also provides a gateway to Campion Trails, a system of hiking and biking trails that run along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.

There are currently a number of new home opportunities at La Villita, including both townhomes and single-family homes.