In a year when many municipalities are being forced to cancel their fireworks celebrations for budgetary reasons, it's wonderful that Dallas' celebration will be better than ever!  Join us on Saturday, July 4, in Dallas, as Dr Pepper Snapple Group once again sponsors Fair Park Fourth, Dallas' Independence Day celebration. 

Beginning at 4:30 P.M. everyone can enjoy family style fun at the park including riding the Skyway Ride ($5/person) or the Swan Boats ($10/boat) and Free admission to many of Fair Park’s museums from 4:30 to 7:30 P.M.  At 7:00 P.M., start making your way to the recently renovated Cotton Bowl to enjoy a patriotic performance by the Dallas Wind Symphony Orchestra at 8:30 P.M., followed by one of the top fireworks shows in Texas! 

This year’s fireworks show is produced by Fireworks by Grucci, one of the nation’s premiere fireworks pyrotechnics firms and “America’s First Family of Fireworks”.  The high caliber of their shows is clear, as they have produced shows for Olympic Games, Statue of Liberty Centennial, New Year’s Eve Celebrations in New York City and six consecutive Presidential Inaugurations.  The fireworks will be synchronized to music being broadcast live by WRR 101.1 FM.

As always, Fair Park Fourth promises to be great fun for everyone, but don’t be caught off guard… Remember that while lawn chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed, NO alcoholic beverages, glass bottles or fireworks will be permitted.  There will also be many food and beverage vendors at the park.

Admission to Dallas' Fair Park and the Fireworks show is Free, however parking in the Fair Park lots will cost $8.00.

Whatever your Independence Day weekend plans are, please be sure to be safe.  Do not drink and drive, and if you are planning your own personal fireworks celebration, make sure to exercise caution for your sake and the sake of your loved ones.

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Our local Real Estate market is as HOT as the Texas summer!  Are you interested in buying or selling a home?  For more information about homes available for sale, and my services for both Homebuyers and Sellers please visit my website at www.WeAreDallasRealEstate.com

The Dallas area has many great Independence Day celebrations to choose from.  One of my favorites is Kaboom Town in Addison.

A free, night-long celebration of our country’s independence and national pride, Kaboom Town has been rated one of the top places to watch Independence Day fireworks in the USA by the American Pyrotechnics Association, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

The event will feature live music performances, historic airplane flyovers and a fireworks display choreographed to music and a live radio simulcast on 100.3 JACK FM.  

Kaboom Town begins Friday July 3 at 5:00pm (what a great way to kick off the holiday weekend) and runs until Midnight at Addison Circle Park.  It is one of my personal favorites and definitely a "don't miss" event! 

Whatever your Independence Day weekend plans are, please be sure to be safe.  Do not drink and drive, and if you are planning your own personal fireworks celebration, make sure to exercise caution for your sake and the sake of your loved ones.

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Our local Real Estate market is as HOT as the Texas summer!  Are you interested in buying or selling a home?  For more information about homes available for sale, and my services for both Homebuyers and Sellers please visit my website at www.WeAreSold.com

I've been saying the Real Estate market is HOT here in Dallas for weeks now... and I am not talking about the temperature in the high 90's here today!  Indications like the return of multiple offers and decreasing property inventories have led me to make such a bold statement with very little hesitation.  In fact, my only hesitation would be fear of jinxing it by mentioning the noticeable improvement. 

Well today I got another sign of just how nicely things are improving.  I took a new listing this weekend (Immaculate Highland Park West Townhouse: 3809 S. Versailles, Dallas 75209 ) and as I stood outside the front of the home today to put the lockbox on the door and put the "For Sale" sign in the yard a car pulled up and the driver rolled down the window to ask if I was putting up an Open House sign.  I explained that I was not holding the home open today, as it had just been listed and would not be available for showings until tomorrow.

He said he has been looking at this small neighborhood of townhouses for a long time and is very serious about buying one, but hasn't found one he liked yet.  I rang the bell, got permission from the owner to show it on the spot, and the buyer is genuinely interested.  He is calling the mortgage broker tomorrow and (assuming he can get qualify for the loan amount) is considering an offer.

This is an exceptionally nice townhome and is well priced for the location.  The listing was not even in MLS until a few hours ago.  Just proof that well staged and well priced homes don't stick around for long... and that the Real Estate market in Dallas is, indeed, HOT!

I have a feeling that this one isn't going to stay on the market very long!

Last year, on Father's Day, I wrote For my Dad: Fathers Day 2008 and shared with you how my dad has been a mentor and guiding force in my life.  My dad continues to rally in his battle with Parkinson's disease and with increasing stem cell research, I pray that advances will come quickly to help my dad and the many, many other families whose lives have been affected by this awful disease.

But, my dad is only one piece of my Real Estate DNA.  My grandfather also was a REALTOR® for many years, a commercial REALTOR® in Miami, Florida.  My grandfather came to real estate later in his life... actually around the same time that my dad did.  We had owned a family business for many years which my grandfather sold back in the late 70's.  My grandfather and dad worked together in that business and when the business was sold they both went into real estate (separately).  My grandfather specialized in smaller hotel properties (there are a lot of them in the Miami area) and built a successful business.

My grandfather lost his father as a teenager and became the patriarch of our large extended family.  He was a self-made man who I always felt was driven to succeed at everything he did because he always felt that so many others were depending on him.  He owned a number of businesses, most notably owning a Ford automobile dealership in New Jersey and a Buick dealership in Ozone Park, Queens, New York for many years.  It was from spending time around my grandfather in the car dealerships that I got to see how my grandfather ran his business and taught me lessons that I subsequently have applied to my real estate business.

My grandfather taught me to give back to the community in which you live and run a business.  I cannot count the number of cars that were donated to charitable causes such as church auctions or fundraisers for hospital expansions.  Our family businesses sponsored everything from little league teams to high school football to cars for driver's education programs.  My grandfather felt that the image created by giving back in this way was worth more than he gave... and he was right.  People would come into the dealership and he would introduce them to me and I can remember them telling me what a wonderful man my grandfather was and how he had come to their rescue.  Wanting to help others is definitely a part of my focus on Short Sales in my real estate business.

My grandfather took a no nonsense approach to his business.  Things either made sense or the didn't.  He was a compassionate man and would do what was possible to help people, but he was quick to tell people the truth (sometimes bluntly) and explain to them that there was only so much he could do.  If they could not afford a new car, he would suggest that they consider a used one that they could afford, or, if he thought they were making a mistake, he would suggest that they were stretching too thin to buy a Thunderbird when they were living on a Pinto budget.  My grandfather had very specific ideas how people should handle their lives and finances (sometimes to my family's frustration), yet this trait came from a deep desire to help people avoid making mistakes that would come back to haunt them in some manner.  My grandfather practiced "tough love" before that expression became common.  I try to express the same concern for my clients' financial limitations, but, hopefully, with a bit more finesse than my grandfather!

My grandfather networked before anyone even used that term.  He integrated himself into the business community in a way that was ahead of its time.  He helped businesses afford their vehicles and took care of the business owners by using their services or patronizing their establishments.  In exchange, there was a cross referral of business to him.  My grandfather recognized that businesspeople came in contact with people who would need to buy cars and he made sure that when people thought of buying a car, they thought of him and our dealerships.

This will be my fourth Father's Day without making a call to my grandfather... I miss our conversations, but I still see him every day in how I run my business.

All written and photographic content 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.

I recently did a marketing assessment of my competition in a certain market segment here in Dallas.  I looked at who was getting listings in the area and how the agents positioned and promoted themselves.  It surprised me how different all of the top agents in this area were in their personal branding and messaging.

Sometimes it is difficult to place a value on being unique... in appearance, messaging, experience and oprinion... and for many seeking to differentiate themselves in crowded markets, uniqueness is something they spend time, effort and often money to identify and promote.  Especially in a crowded market where there are a variety of REALTORS® for buyers and seller to choose from, being a good agent is often not enough to win you the business, you need to differentiate yourself in a positive way.

It reminds me of something that happened to me a couple of years ago.  I was working with a buyer who, while we were driving around, spotted a house that he loved.  It was a zero lot line home, soft contemporary style, brick with stone accents.  Unfortunately, it was not for sale.  He asked me to find him another one like it... so I did.

I was so proud of myself!  Zero lot line homes are not very common here in Dallas and this one was different than many of them.  I scoured the MLS and did a few previews of homes and found my buyer one that was very close in appearance to the one he fell in love with.  I called him and told him about it and he when I emailed him the picture of it, he was thrilled... until we went to see it. 

The home I found him was in a zero lot line community of very similar looking homes.  His "dream home" was nearly identical to all the others in the community, unlike the original home that was surrounded by homes featuring a variety of architectural styles.  You see, it wasn't just the style of the home that he liked... he liked that it was unique!

It's human nature to admire someone else's successful efforts and try to emulate them.  But keep in mind when you do that, a big part of what has contributed to their success is capitalizing what makes them special or unique.  You must be yourself and promote what makes you different and better.  There are many outstanding REALTORS® out there who can do a good job for a buyer or seller, but like the house that my buyer first wanted, he spotted it and fixed his focus on it because it was unique.  When a very similar home was placed in surroundings where it seemingly just blended in, the buyer lost interest and decided on a completely different home.

Embrace diversity and what makes YOU unique! 

This past week was my friend Lynne Gorman’s birthday.  As a birthday treat, several of us in my office decided to take Lynne out for lunch and she chose one of my long-time favorite places, Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill.

Ali Baba has been a Dallas institution for years, most of them spent at its original location on lower Greenville Avenue, just a block from my office.  About a year ago they moved to slightly larger and more upscale digs in the Lakewood shopping district at 1901 Abrams Road (and also opened additional locations in both Richardson and Irving).

The biggest changes from the more cramped Greenville Avenue location are that there is now significantly more seating, so the previously long waits for tables seems much more reasonable and they have shifted from a menu based operation to a buffet style operation. (Menu ordering is still available).

The food at Ali Baba is outstanding, flavorful and delicious.  It seems like the entire menu has found its way to the 2 buffet tables and the opportunity to stuff myself with their Mediterranean delicacies is too tempting to only get one plate!

Some of my favorite items are their Falafel (small patties made from deep fried mashed chick peas) and Hummus (pureed chick peas with tahini, lemon juice and garlic).  Their Gyros have always been among my favorites and everyone at out lunch commented on how much they loved the Kafta (Ground beef mixed with parsley, onions and spices, rolled into a link sausage shape and grilled).  The buffet also features a variety of fresh salads like Tabouli (cracked wheat, parsley, tomatoes, lemon juice and spring onions) and Greek Salad with olives and feta cheese.

The prices are reasonable… especially given the buffet style portions and the waitstaff are friendly and attentive.  Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill is a treat not to be missed… so give yourself a present and treat yourself to a casual, yet special meal.  It doesn’t have to be your birthday!

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.

There’s a saying that goes something like, “If you buy a home near the city landfill, don’t complain about the smell.”  And yes, there is a similar saying about living in the flight path of an airport and complaining about the noise from the jets.  It doesn’t paint as vivid of a picture, but there should also be an expression about not buying a condominium and then complaining about having to follow the HOA rules.

I live in a highrise condominium and tonight I rode up in the elevator with a foul mouthed individual who wished to scream to her girlfriend on her cell phone about how pissed off is that she received a visit from the off duty police officer who the HOA pays to be onsite at certain times for resident safety and was issued a warning (her second on with no fine issued yet) from the building’s HOA because she had a loud party going on at 2:30 A.M. and her neighbors all complained.

When homeowners decide to purchase a condominium they need to be aware that living in a condominium community comes with certain responsibilities and obligations.  They do need to pay the Homeowners association dues each month.  If they don’t, the HOA does have recourse, including foreclosure.  They also need to be aware that condominium communities typically have rules on guidelines for living and choosing to break those rules can result in fines (not to mention angry neighbors).

I recently mentioned to another REALTOR® the need to advise homeowners about the differences between living in a condominium and living in a single family home.  Depending on the community these differences can be minor, or for some they can be lifestyle impacting matters related to the use of stereo or surround sound TV equipment.  The other REALTOR® told me that was not her job… “if they want to buy it, I am going to sell it to them, not talk them out of it…”My response is that she can advise her clients about condo living without scaring them away, but if she sells them a condo and then they are unhappy living in it, she will likely not be representing them on their next transaction.

Almost a year ago, I wrote the post “Are your Buyers prepared for Condo living?”, in which I discussed the need for REALTORS® to have a conversation with prospective condominium buyers BEFORE showing them condo properties or writing a contract.  It’s advice that is as important today as it was a year ago… maybe I should print out a copy and send it to the agent I mentioned in the paragraph above?

I have to admit, I am not a reader of fiction.  My personal tastes are much more aligned with biographies, autobiographies and business related non-fiction.  However, I will be adding a non-fiction title to my summer reading list.

Chandler Burr’s first novel, “You or Someone Like You” is on shelves in bookstores and online today, and it promises to be one of the books people will be discussing this summer.

Chandler Burr is a personal friend.  I met him back in 2002 after his book, “The Emperor of Scent: A True Story of Perfume and Obsession” was published and I attended his book reading at a Barnes & Noble store in Manhattan.  It was a smart, well written and enjoyable story that kept me engaged and interested from cover to cover.  The success of that book led to his position as Perfume Critic for the New York Times and a subsequent book “The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York”.

Now Chandler brings us his first novel… just what I want for summer reading at the pool or on the airplane!  It is the story of a marriage, a book club, religion and passion with Hollywood as its backdrop.  I have been anxiously waited for this novel since Chandler told me nearly a year ago that it would be published, and from the reviews so far, it seems certain that it will be a book that people will be talking about and well worth the wait!

You can find out more about this exciting new book, it’s story, reviews and its author on its dedicated website at http://www.annerosenbaum.com/.  Please let me know if you enjoy it!