I love food... and Sunday nights there is nothing I enjoy more than watching the Iron Chef on the Food Network... but this post is inspired by the show which follows Iron Chef, Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

I like to consider myself the Bobby Flay of Dallas Short Sales.  I still can remember almost 6 years ago when I listed my first Short Sale how hard it was to find anyone in my market who had ever heard of a Short Sale, let alone had worked a Short Sale deal themselves.  Even today, Short Sales seem to be less common than they are in many other parts of the country, so finding a Dallas Short Sale Specialist who actually has significant experience can be difficult for consumers.

Often when my phone rings, the home seller on the other end of the line will tell me that they were just about to list with another agent but they found me on Google or Yahoo or Bing and decided to call me to see if I could offer something more or different than the other agent they are speaking with.

It's like on Throwdown, some chef is just doing their thing, feeling confident, and then Bobby Flay shows up unexpectedly to challenge them to a Throwdown, making his take on their signature dish.  I love the excitement of sharing my knowledge and experience with consumers and I am always amazed at how many people are moments away from listing their homes as a short sale with agents who have no experience in this specialized type of transaction.

Now don't get me wrong, I have taught classes on Short Sale transactions and have personally mentored other agents in this area (at no cost to them).  I am a huge believer, as I know Bobby Flay is about cooking, that more people doing what we do well only means better things for everyone.  I have always believed ours is an industry of friendly competition and will continue to promote that spirit in my community.  But like Bobby, I also enjoy competing against my colleagues... the competition always seems to raise the bar and no matter who gets the business, the winner is (and should be) the consumer.

Knowing my markets, knowing the different short sale lenders and their policies and procedures, my nearly 6 years of experience and knowing the implications and "ins and outs" of Short Sales gives me a lot to draw on in a Throwdown.  If you want to do the best job, you need to be prepared and hone your craft.  And even if you are prepared and lose the listing, you will inevitably learn something which helps prepare you to win the next time.

So, as they ask at the end of each episode of Throwdown... To all you Short Sale Specialists out there... Keep doing what you do, but ask yourself this:  Are you ready for a Throwdown?

Ah... the ultimate Real Estate riddle... well perhaps not, but it's still an interesting question to ponder!

The answer is, in a nutshell, when someone wants a house badly enough that they are willing to pay a purchase price above what is being asked on a Short Sale listing so that the seller is no longer "shorting" their mortgage.

I never would have believed it in this competitive market, but this recently happened to me.  An agent contacted me on one of my listings, had a client who wanted the house, didn't want to go through the process of a short sale to save themselves a few dollars and asked me how much did they need to offer to change this from a short sale to a FAST sale? 

Now, clearly, this would be a cost prohibitive option in the case of many Short Sales, but in a situation where the buyer has some cash, and difference between what is owed and what the property is worth is not a hugely significant amount, and where the property is desirable and in great shape, well this really is a solution that makes EVERYBODY (Buyer, Seller and Both Agents) happy.  And that this happened to me and will close in less than 30 days was enough to make me do a little dance of joy (considering I was anticipating a 3-4 month close knowing this short sale lender)!

The downside?  Hmmm... well I guess I will have one less Short Sale negotiator to send a holiday card to this year.  Yeah, I can live with that!

I was just in Northpark Center this week and it occurred to me that it is nearly time for an annual Dallas Event... The Trains at NorthPark.

For 22 years, children and adults have taken a break from their holiday shopping at NorthPark to enjoy the over 35 "O" Gauge trains and the amazingly realistic scenery created for the display.  What many people do not realize is that the Trains display is a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.  The model trains in the exhibit will travel across America from the Golden Gate Bridge to New York's Times Square, passing Mount Rushmore and our nation's capital too.  It's a wonderful holiday event and benefits an outstanding cause.

The Ronald McDonald House serves as a home to parents and family members bringing critically ill children to Dallas hospitals for treatment.  According to the Ronald McDonald House website, the train exhibit has become so popular that it now generates half of their annual budget!  With this year's economic conditions, I am certain that public support of this event is more crucial than ever!

Be sure to check out what I consider to be one of the premier train displays I have ever seen... it will bring out the kid in anyone!

Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2009 - Sunday, January 3, 2010

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: Noon - 6 p.m.
(Early closings on days before holidays and on New Year's Day)

Location:
Inside the NorthPark Center mall.

Cost:
$6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children & seniors (65 and older). Children under 2 are free.

Have you ever looked up from what you were doing to be startled by what's in front of you?  Sometimes it's a person who has sideled up to you while you were distracted.  Sometimes it a bug on the window directly in front of you... you get the idea, right?

I think that there are many home buyers and sellers out there who are experiencing the startling effect of market changes relative to their real estate transactions.  Homeowners who have been in their home for years and, while they are aware of the economy and what's been reported on the news, are not paying close attention until they are ready to sell.  Then, when they speak to a REALTOR® about selling their home, the market realities catch them off guard.

The same thing goes for many home buyers.  Whether they are first time home buyers or buyers looking to move up or downsize, the realities of purchasing a home and getting a mortgage have changed drastically in the past couple of years, and buyers who haven't been paying close attention may be very surprised.  I recently had a buyer who has bought and sold many homes over the years remark to me that he could not believe how much had changed since his last home purchase.

Want to avoid the surprise that accompanies change?  Read your REALTORS® Blog or Newsletter.  Or better yet, touch base with your REALTOR® periodically.  Even if you are not currently looking to buy or sell your property, make it a point to visit with your REALTOR® either by phone, or maybe face-to-face over a cup of coffee.  Maintaining that relationship will help you to remain informed of market trends and changes, so when you are ready to make a move, you'll know what to expect and have a trusted advisor to turn to for help.  Staying informed means being prepared... and besides, remember how much you enjoyed working with your REALTOR®?  Is it time to renew that relationship?

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If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and are looking for an experienced REALTOR® to offer guidance, support, and make the home buying or selling process easier and more friendly, call me today at (469)449-9840 to schedule a consultation.  Or visit my Dallas Real Estate website at EasyTexasRealEstate.com.  I'd be happy to help you move forward and achieve your Real Estate objectives.  There is still time to make your 2009 dream of home ownership or selling your home a reality!

Not located in the D/FW area?  Contact me anyway... I'd be happy to refer you to a REALTOR® in your area who can help you with the same personal service that I provide to my clients.

This photograph is the exclusive property of Steve Shatsky.  It may not be used or reproduced in any manner without expressed written permission from Steve Shatsky.  ©Copyright 2009.  All Rights Reserved.

Dallas's Katy Trail is the starting point in Dallas' plan to develop a network of urban trails to connect the city for pedestrians, bicyclists, and lovers of the outdoors.  The history of the Katy Trail began in 1997, when community members and city leaders jointly came together in order to repurpose the land along which the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT or "Katy") Railroad traveled through Dallas.

Today, the Katy Trail is a 3.5 mile long urban trail extending from the American Airlines Center northward to Airline Drive not far from SMU.  The plans are that, when completed, the trail will extend to the Mockingbird Station DART Rail stop in the north and to Downtown Dallas' West End entertainment district in the south.  The trail features hard surface biking and skating trails along with softer surface running, jogging and walking paths.

The dense foliage and elevation of the trail makes much of it very peaceful and not urban feeling, much like New York's Central park.  There are also scenic overlooks from sites of the former train bridges overlooking main thoroughfares and a scenic overlook of Lee Park and Turtle Creek scheduled to open next month.  

For more information on hours, access points, location, etc. please visit www.katytraildallas.org

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If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and are looking for an experienced REALTOR® to offer guidance, support, and make the home selling or Short Sale process easier and more friendly... like it used to be when service was more than a word, it was personal and valued, call me today at (469)449-9840 to schedule a consultation.  Or visit my Dallas Real Estate website at EasyTexasRealEstate.com.  I'd be happy to help you move forward and achieve your Real Estate objectives.  

Not located in the D/FW area?  Contact me anyway... I'd be happy to refer you to a REALTOR® in your area who can help you with the same personal service that I provide to my clients.

All photographs are the exclusive property of Steve Shatsky.  They may not be used or reproduced in any manner without expressed written permission from Steve Shatsky.  ©Copyright 2009.  All Rights Reserved.

One of my favorite things about Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is the diversity of our city.  There are all sorts of dichotomies that exist here... there is casual Dallas (Deep Ellum) and dress-up Dallas (Highland Park).  There is Billy Bob's Texas (The World's Biggest Honky Tonk) and Dallas's new AT&T Performing Arts Center.  There is Arlington with attractions like Six Flags Over Texas, as well as the Ranger's Ballpark and the new Cowboy's Stadium contrasting with attractions like Dallas' Nasher Sculpture Center and Fort Worth's Kimbell Art Museum.

After the recent Red River Rivalry between the University of Texas and Oklahoma, the reality that the diversity of college football fans extends beyond our corner of the world sometimes gets lost.  A walk on Dallas' Katy Trail though, can remind us that while we love Dallas and all it offers, some Texans were not born here but got here as soon as they could!

When I saw this, I wondered if one of my favorite bloggers, Missy Caulk, might be inside cheering for Michigan along with the residents.

Autumn, that is.

Each year around mid-September I get jealous as all the Bloggers and ActiveRainer members in the northern states and Canada post their pictures of beautiful autumn foliage.  We do get a bit of it here in Texas, albeit not as vibrant or plentiful as in places like Vermont or New Hampshire, and living in a more urban setting, the signs of it for me are a bit more sparse.  It's here though, it just beings to show up a bit later... like around now.

By the end of this month we can even have an occasional dusting of flurries or, as recently as 2005, a full-fledged ice storm.

Even as the weather turns cold, though, the Dallas Real Estate market remains HOT!  Buyers are still looking to close on a new home in time for Santa to deliver their presents down their new chimney... and I and my team are happy to help them make that year-end Holiday wish a reality!

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If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and are looking for an experienced REALTOR® to offer guidance, support, and make the home selling or Short Sale process easier and more friendly... and to help make your Thanksgiving and Year-End Holiday Season one to remember, call me today at (469)449-9840 to schedule a consultation.  Or visit my Dallas Real Estate website at EasyTexasRealEstate.com.  I'd be happy to help you move forward and achieve your Real Estate objectives.  There is still time to make your 2009 dream of home ownership or selling your home a reality!

Not located in the D/FW area?  Contact me anyway... I'd be happy to refer you to a REALTOR® in your area who can help you with the same personal service that I provide to my clients.

This photograph is the exclusive property of Steve Shatsky.  It may not be used or reproduced in any manner without expressed written permission from Steve Shatsky.  ©Copyright 2009.  All Rights Reserved.