Up until recently I focused most of my attention on Listings. But, as my buyer appointments increase, I am just dumbfounded by the photos posted in MLS. I most certainly am NOT the best photographer either. But really?? If there is any advice I can give the consumer, ask to proof the photos that are being posted. As simple as it might sound, search for your home online to get a good idea of how your home is being advertised. Buyers are online, sometimes months before they even talk with a Realtor.

Of course I may be way off base by assuming that the same Agents posting these terrible pictures are at least advertising you home. If they are, then you have to imagine that 1,000's of potential buyers are seeing your unmade beds, dirty dishes, cluttered floors and that beautiful tree in the front of your house. Oh, wait, that was the front of your house behind that beautiful tree.

                            The listing price of this home $995,000.

    If you can't splurge for an aerial, let me suggest: Google Maps.

I am also a firm believer in staging. 99% of our listings are staged and we post photos AFTERwe stage the home. But, even some of the greatest listings can have bad pictures. Say for example you post pictures of a spare bedroom or powder room. Do you just see a picture of the bed? or toilet? A vacant home with lots of pictures of bare rooms and no descriptions? That's pretty bad too, and certainly doesn't make my list of "must see's".

Hallelujah! This home has a media room.

                               "A Wall of windows with lots of Light"

This is probably a great house, but is it worth the gas to find out?

Of course, the worst of the worst - NO PICTURE AVAILABLE. So you are basically telling me, "Not worth my time to see".

So... if you currently have your house on the market and haven't seen the advertising, Call your Realtor!

For the record, none of the above pictures came from Short Sales or Foreclosures. And, if you think they aren't your competition? Think again! Even some of the Lenders are cleaning up when they have to. The truth is, these photos came from Expired Listings. Are you still wondering why your home did not sell?

If you see your house, and want to try again, give us a call - your photos won't be an issue!

What's the best way to fight the dirty? Well, if you are like me, it's going to have to involve the least amount of effort AND have the biggest impact. In the process of obtaining my Green Designation, I decided that I'm going to try harder at adopting the green method. Detoxing my home is the first step in a cleaner, healthier family. And, most importantly, in a time when most families are finding themselves saving more vs spending more, greener can also be cheaper!

Believe it or not, it all starts with the air that you breath. The air inside your home is up to 5 times more polluted then the air outside - that's a SCARY thought! If you think about it, gone are the days of drafty homes and no air condition. Instead we clutter them with chemically filled products, the flooring, the paint, even our furniture.

Follow me, if you dare! In the process you will make your home a healthier place to live and a more desirable home to purchase when you decide to sell.

Step 1: Rid your home of the chemical dependency. You know, the smell of Chlorine bleach, smells clean right? but then gives you a headache. That's because you were inhaling toxic fumes. The same toxins that have been linked to birth defects and cancer. It's time to get rid of the toxic cleaning supplies - BUT don't just go through the cabinets trashing them. Either use what you have first or visit Earth911.org to find a household hazardous waste drop-off site.

Some other great cleaning tips:

• Only use a HEPA Vacuum filter.
• Avoid toxic carpet cleaners and switch to steam cleaners.
• Take off your shoes! A lot of dirt, grime and bacteria enter your home on your feet.
• When dusting, use microfibers and avoid aerosol wood cleaners.
• Switch to glass cleaners that don't contain ammonia.

It isn't the first time that Highland Village has ranked at the top of D Magazine's annual "Best Suburbs" list. Out of 62 towns, Highland Village ranked No 2 only topped by Parker. I can't speak for Parker (it's on the opposite side of the metroplex) but Highland Village is a great place to live!

For a town of just over 15,000 residents, more than 50% of households include children under the age of 18. Maybe that's what attracts me? A great place to raise a family. Other great reasons to live in Highland Village: Set on the southern shores of Lake Lewisville, VERY low crime rate, exemplary schools, rollings hills and the Inland Trail System.

This town definitely offers a home town feel, especially when the officers stop by to let me know that I left my garage door open. OK, that really tended to annoy me about the 4th or 5th time, so we stopped doing it! Of course they always stop with stickers for the kids or just to say Hello.

Within the past couple of years, Highland Village has grown in economic development. Now offering one of the first high efficiency Wal-Mart's (don't get me started!) and the Shops of Highland Village. A few local shops have seen a sign of the times, we are sad to see them go, but look forward to their replacements.

The City hosts 2 large events. The June Red, White and Blue Festival brings an early celebration of Independence. Lots of fun, food, live music and of course fireworks. The in August the Lions Club presents the Annual Balloon Festival. 

If you haven't been out here, come check it out - you won't want to leave!

Additional facts about Highland Village:

• Population: 15,250
• Annual growth since 1990: 4%
• Average home sale price in 2009: $278,411
• Median age of residents: 37.7
• Families with kids under 18: 53.8%
• Median household income: $102,141

Earth Day is turning 40 this year. To celebrate, many businesses are offering consumers free stuff, chances to win valuable prizes, and some good deals.

Here's a sampling of Earth Day freebies:

• Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.
• Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.
• Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon (PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.
• Evos is giving away free organic milkshakes served in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The healthy fast-food chain has locations in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
• Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles -- empty or full, from any brand -- to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.
• Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.
• Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart fortwo vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.
• Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.
• Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.

 There are also plenty of opportunities for Earth Day discounts. Here are few:

• Travelocity is offering up to 40% off prices at 40 green hotels across the globe.
• Travelzoo is giving discounts on U.S.-based, LEED-certified hotels.
• Walgreens will refill your printer cartridge for $1 instead of its usual $12 on April 22 only. It's also offering a 22 percent discount on its green products through April 30.
• Amazon is offering up to 34% off some of its Earth Day reads.
• Drugstore.com is offering up to 40% off products from its "green and natural" store through April 23.
• Numi Organic Teas is giving a 20% discount on April 22 -- just enter Eday40 at checkout.

Search for more Earth Day discounts, freebies, and deals. Have you heard of other great Earth Day offers? If so, please share them in the comments below.

The media just doesn't always get it right. Big surprise, huh! Well, this morning a segment aired on Good Morning America on "How to Sell your home in a Buyer's Market." They offered 5 of the best home selling tips for getting it sold in today's economy. I agree with the first 4, but #5 - not so much, so... I offered you my own 5th Tip below. 

Top 5 things that you can do to get your home sold:

1. Price your home to sell. What does this mean? Price the home just below competitive listings on the market, if you want to sell it quickly. Trying to out-strategize the market is setting yourself up for failure. Put yourself in the buyers shoes. If you were going to purchase this home again, would you really find it a good or even better value? Maybe not in this economy, where people are generally looking to save money.

2. Presentation is essential! When a prospective buyer walks in the door, the home should sell itself. Staging in this market can make your home stand out above the rest. A prospective buyer will react to what they see feel, hear and smell. Regardless of how you have priced your home they will be turned off by clutter, strong odors (good and bad) and the biggest, lack of cleanliness. A dirty home lacks pride in ownership and leaves questions on possible deferred maintenance. So, before you put the home on the market do a little Spring Cleaning. Organize the cabinets and closets, clean the windows and blinds, put away all the excess clutter and make it shine!

3. Hire the right agent when it comes to marketing your home. A sign in the yard and pictures in MLS don't necessarily mean that you are reaching potential buyers. The right tech savvy agent will know what it takes to market your efficiently on the Internet, make it shine in pictures, and create a great story about the home.

4. Repair/Replace necessary items around your home. To a prospective buyer minor repairs can add up to lots of additional expenses and may ultimately come back to the seller for a greater discount on the home. Offering an allowanceto prospective buyers may also become a red flag in many cases, so replace the carpet or outdated appliance(s) that aren't working even if it is on the less expensive side. The return will be so much greater.

5. Address Key Factors or Selling Points with your agent. This segments suggest that you should be present to sell the home yourself to potential buyers. I strongly advise against this. Instead, discuss with your agent key factors that you like about your home and ask them to include them in their marketing. Your agent can determine if these factors are true selling points. Prospective buyers can feel uncomfortable looking through your home and may actually miss something that was a selling point to them. Remember, just because you love something about your home doesn't mean everyone else will. In fact, it may be the one turn off to someone else.

If you are ready to list your home, we can help! We understand what the buyers want, and we work for you to get it sold!

Winding Creek Estates in Frisco Texas is a community you won't think twice about moving to. If you love enjoying what the outdoors has to offer, this community may just be for you. Rarely will you find a new home community with such an established landscape.

Homes start in the $250's and are offered by two high quality builders, Coventry and K. Hovnanian. Both builders are standard features considered upgrades in many other communities as well as semi-customizable floorplans.

READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN

This spacious home has all the elements of style and functionality your family deserves. Upon entering, you will be stunned by the spiral staircase and hand scraped wood floors. The kitchen boasts stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The master bath is equipped with his and hers hi-lo vanities, a separate tub, and spacious shower. Entertain with ease in the state of the art media room. This home is a must see!

READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN

Beautiful newly completed home.  Hard to find single story home, with beautiful finish out. Handscraped hardwood floors in entry and study. Granite Counter tops, built-in stainless steel appliances, including double oven. Rear covered patio, three car garage and many upgrades.

READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE -IN

This beautiful home has all the elements of fine living. Once inside, you are greeted by fabulous nail down hardwood floors. This leads you into the kitchen which is adorned with luxurious maple cabinets, granite countertops and durable stainless steel appliances. After a long day, the upstairs loft is perfect for relaxing in the game room or watching a movie with the family. This very popular 1.5 story home is in demand and wont last long.

Want to build? There are plenty of lots still to choose from.

Still not sure if this is the right community for you? Contact me directly. I'll be happy to help you find your perfect new home community! Click the link below to get started searching the DFW Metroplex for New Home Construction Communities with available homesites.

One of the most exciting provisions of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. The credit was expanded as part of the most recent economic stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The credit is designed to encourage first time home buyers to go ahead and make the leap to purchase their first homes. Combine this tax credit with the fact that home prices and interest rates are at historical lows, and it is indeed an ideal time for many first-time homebuyers to purchase a home!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• A first time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
• You cannot purchase the home from a related party like a spouse, direct ancestor, or direct lineal descendent (child or grandchild);  however, you can still qualify for the credit if you purchase a property siblings, nephews, nieces, and others.
• If you are married, both spouses must be first-time home buyers. If more than one unmarried individual is buying the property, the credit can be split up among all the individuals that qualify. However, the total credit taken cannot exceed $7,500 for homes purchased in 2008 and $8,000 for homes purchased in 2009.

For Homes Purchased Between April 9, 2008 and December 31,2008:

• The credit amounts to 10% of the purchase price of the home not to exceed $7,500.
• The tax credit works like an interest free loan and must be repaid over a 15 year period.

For Homes Purchased Between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009:

• The tax credit amounts to 10% of the purchase price of the home not to exceed $8,000.
• The tax credit does not need to be paid back if you continue living in the home as your primary residence for 3 years without selling it.

How does a tax credit work?

A tax credit is a special provision that reduces income tax liability on a dollar for dollar basis. When filing a tax return, you must include income items, deduction items and the number of exemptions, among other things, to figure your total tax liability. For example, if your total tax liability for the year is $8,000 and you qualify for the full $8,000 tax credit, this credit would wipe out all of the tax due. If your employer already deducted the $8,000 from your pay checks throughout the year, you would receive a tax refund of $8,000. If you owe less than $8,000 in taxes for the year, you are still eligible for the full $8,000 credit when you file your tax returns. In that case, the IRS will write you a check for the difference between $8,000 and your actual tax bill.

If you or someone you know may know qualifies for the first-time homebuyer tax credits or interested in finding out about other recent updates in the mortgage and real estate markets, please give me a call (972) 824-2088 or email leigh@leighbates.com.

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we recommend that you consult with a properly licensed legal, tax and investment advisors for specific advice pertaining to your individual situation.

Grand Homes has ONLY 2 inventory homes left and the prices are incredible!

2335 Jaguar

Reduced to $279,900

• 3810 sqft
• 4 Bedrooms
• 3.5 Baths
• 4 Living areas (Gameroom & Media Room)
• Energy Star Rated

This home offers hardwood floors, wrought iron spindle staircase, gourmet kitchen including granite countertops, large Butler's pantry or office space off of kitchen, gas fireplace with granite surround, double stacked crown moulding in entry and formal dining room. Downstairs study, low E windows, 14 SEER HVAC system, CAT 5 wiring, security system and fully sodded yard with sprinkler system. A great home at an even better price! Ready to move, bring your bags, this one is ready!

2259 Kittyhawk Drive

Reduced to $269,900

•  3293 sqft
•  5 Bedrooms
•  4 Baths
•  3 Living Areas (Gameroom & Media Room)
•  Energy Star Rated

This home offers great drive up appeal with its stone facade. Inside are beautiful hardwood flooring, double stacked crown moulding in entry and formal dining room, gas fireplace with granite surround, gourmet kitchen including granite countertops and downstairs master bedroom. Additional features: Low E windows, 14 SEER HVAC system, CAT 5 wiring,  security system and fully sodded yard with sprinkler system. Another great home at an even better price!

Interested in more information about Christie Ranch or Grand Home Communities?

Contact me directly at (972) 824-2088