Posts Tagged ‘Allen’

New Home Buyers: Should you use the Builder

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

You may be looking at some of the fantastic Allen new home communities and wondering if they are right for you. From outstanding home amenities and features to beautiful communities with plenty of recreational amenities, Allen new home communities are quite attractive to today’s home buyers.

Because of the tight lending standards of many lenders, securing financing may be a bit more of a challenge. You may be tempted to take advantage of the builder’s preferred lender to simplify the process, but is this always the right move?

  • Allen new home communities often come with their own lender. Many times, builders will offer special incentives for buyers if they use the builder’s lender. From upgraded carpeting and cabinetry to landscape packages, many of the incentives offered by the builder are meant to tempt buyers into using their lenders. Often times, the builder’s lender has the best deal, but many times the best deal is with an outside lender. In short, don’t let a few upgrades or incentives sway your decision to secure the best financing.
  • You may be able to secure financing faster through a builder’s lender than through an outside lender, as they lenders are expected to get buyers pre-approved in a timely fashion. Therefore, many builders will likely push their own lender because they can hasten the entire house buying process and save themselves thousands of dollars in holding costs.
  • Do your homework and decide upon the best time to lock in a good interest rate, either through the builder’s lender or an outside lender. Don’t expect the builder or the builder’s lender to advise you on the best time to lock in the lowest interest rate; you must do this yourself.
  • Regardless of whom you choose to help you finance your purchase, make it a point to educate yourself on the home loan process so you can be sure you are getting the best financing terms. Weigh the benefits of interest rates, points and incentives between lenders and make a decision based on money, not on convenience.

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.

The Newest Homes in Collin County

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Collin County is home to Plano, Allen, Frisco, Fairview and McKinney, all of which have seen exceptional real estate growth, considering the struggles of the North Dallas real estate market. It’s no wonder, then, that new homes in Collin County are plentiful and superb.

McKinney

McKinney is known as a charming town with an old-world feel. From its historic courthouse to its charming town square, McKinney provides an exceptional quality of life, and has therefore experienced plenty of growth. There are many planned communities throughout McKinney, most of which offer the finest amenities and services to its residents.

The Gallery at Stonebridge Ranch

The Gallery at Stonebridge Ranch features homes from $270,900 to $369,900. This master-planned community offers its residents such amenities as a golf course, swimming pools, a clubhouse, recreational fields, bike paths and tennis courts.

Frisco

Frisco offers a small-town atmosphere with a reputation for being one of North Texas’ best destinations for sports. New homes in this quickly growing city all comply with the EPA’s Energy Star program, thereby setting the groundwork for responsible home building in North Texas.

Pearson Farms I

Pearson Farms I features homes priced from $277,900 to $379,900. This master planned community includes homes from 2,528 to 4,077 square feet.

The Villages at Willow Bay

The homes of the Villages at Willow Bay are priced from $264,900 to $379,900. The convenient Frisco location makes getting in and around Dallas, Frisco and McKinney a breeze. Homes in this community are served by the acclaimed Frisco Independent School District. Amenities of this community include a swimming pool and spray park.

Allen

Allen has enjoyed great growth, mainly because of its prime location near Plano and Lake Lavon. The small town charm of Allen provides a nice balance to its modern conveniences, including the three-city arts center.

Windgate Manor

Homes in Windgate Manor are priced from $252,900 to $358,877 and range in size from 2,152 to 3,456. This family-friendly community features neighborhood trails, scenic greenbelts and nearby shopping and entertainment.

Design Don

Friday, November 13th, 2009

We all have a different eye for design, and certainly different tastes, likes and dislikes when it comes to decorating our homes. However, it is important to remember that you must appeal to the masses when selling your Allen home.

With that said, there are a number of definite design styles you’ll want to consider changing or updating before you list your Allen property for sale:

  • Dated tiles throughout the home, including pink, green or black. Anything reminiscent of the 1970s probably won’t go over too well with home buyers.
  • Faux-painted walls that are extremely taste-specific and may be hard to repaint. Your living room mural may be just what you’ve always wanted, but it will likely not be what a home buyer had in mind.
  • Wallpaper! Many homebuyers cringe at the sight of wallpaper in a home, as it will likely not reflective of their design taste, and the thought of removing wallpaper generally gives the impression that your Allen home will be entirely too hard to update or remodel.
  • Children’s theme bedrooms. Your son’s space-themed bedroom may be perfect for him, but when a buyer walks in and sees the deep blue walls and themed fixtures, they may be turned off.
  • Old, worn or outdate laminate tiling. Although there are certainly some attractive laminate tiling out there today, there are just as many homes that sport some sad-looking tile. Lucky for you laminate tile is easy and inexpensive to replace.
  • Outdated fixtures. Many older homes still display the original light fixtures, which can quickly turn off potential buyers. Light fixtures are generally inexpensive and easy to replace, and can instantly give a room a facelift.
  • Outdated carpeting, for sure. Even if your carpeting is in fair condition, if you haven’t replaced it in ten or more years then it is probably a good idea to make a small investment in wall-to-wall carpeting before you list your home for sale.

A Quality Lifestyle in the Lovejoy ISD

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

The Lovejoy Independent School District, also referred to as the Lovejoy ISD, has become a highly desired area in terms of real estate among Dallas residents.

About the Lovejoy ISD

The Lovejoy ISD comprises the cities of Allen, Lucas, Fairview and McKinney, and is an in-demand school system, which comprises grades K through 12.

Saddleridge Estates – A luxurious Allen, TX Luxury Home community

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

This elegant neighborhood of single family Estate Homes on large home sites offers a distinct lifestyle to satisfy almost any need. Considered to be the premier single-family home community in Allen, Texas.

This neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of homes from Old French Country, to Mediterranean style villas with red terracotta roofs, to English Manors and traditional Southern brick homes.