I was reading an article this week about the most popular cars in the U.S. and how they are shifting from vehicles like large pick-ups and SUV's to smaller vehicles.  Even the perennial sales champions like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are being outsold by small cars like the Honda Civic.

So my thought and question for the day is with people realizing the need to downsize their vehicles to save on gasoline costs, when will that same sort of logic filter down on a large scale to their housing choices?

Large houses take considerably more energy to light, heat, air condition and maintain than their smaller counterparts.  Moving from my larger house to a condo half the size has more than halved my electricity and natural gas costs... a savings much greater than getting a car with better gas mileage would ever do. 

I know that we are seeing more "Green" building, but one of the fastest and least expensive ways to reduce the costs of utilities and construction is to live in smaller spaces that those we have become spoiled with.  Just as people are giving up their large SUV's and gas guzzlers, when will homebuyers start looking to "trade down" from McMansions to reasonably sized homes with lower ceiling heights, better insulation energy efficient systems?

Is it time for people to start looking at this option in the same way they are considering buying Smart Cars, Mini Coopers and Toyota Priuses?

Last night a friend and I had dinner at one of my favorite places.  The Green Papaya Vietnamese Bistro, located at 3211 Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas, is not fancy and it's reasonably priced.  It's one of those restaurants that is not highly promoted or hyped, but everyone seems to know of it and likes it... and for good reason.

The Green Papaya does an outstanding job of offering delicious food, prepared fresh, in generous portions and at very reasonable prices.  It's hard not to like a place where two people can have a dinner with an appetizer and drink for around $30.

I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal at the Green Papaya.  Some of my favorite items are their Spring Rolls.  They are fresh, tasty and filling and come is several varieties.  Split an order with a friend and you will be satisfied for an appetizer.  Their Canh Chua soup is flavorful, hearty and filling as well.  Their entrees are fresh and spicy without being too spicy.  Last night, being on a diet, I had the Ga Nuong Xa.  Described on the menu as Charcoal Broiled Chicken with Lemon Grass, served with Fresh Vegetables, this was delicious and a large enough portion that I brought half of it home with me.

If you decide to check out the Green Papaya for lunch you will find lunch sized portions for a reduced price.  These portions will not leave you hungry... but like any dining experience there, they will have you wanting return again and again!

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Has the lure of historically low interest rates and high inventory levels tempted your appetite for a new home?  It's a great time to indulge in a home purchase. Please allow me to assist you with all of your Real Estate needs. Let me show you why the Dallas area housing market is robust and now is an excellent time to buy or sell and move up to a new home. Contact me today and let me help you move forward!

Be sure not to miss the November 2, 2008 Dickies 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.  This event is the 8^th of 10 races as the drivers compete for the 2008 championship and the Sprint Cup.

The Dickies 500 will mark the return of the day-night format with a later afternoon green flag and closing laps lit by the lights of the 159,000+ seat Texas Motor Speedway.  This promises to be an exciting event, come be a part of it.

For more information visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com

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Are you excited by the speed and thrill of NASCAR? Are you considering buying or selling a home in Dallas/Fort Worth area? Imagine the thrill of living in your new home and finding it with someone who can help you find it FAST! Please allow me to assist you with all of your Real Estate needs. Let me show you why the DFW area housing market is robust and now is an excellent time to buy or sell and move up to a new home. Contact me today and let me help you move forward!

For those of us who are out of the Dallas celebrity dining loop, Wolfgang Puck is opening a signature restaurant here... in probably the most signature location to be found in our city... Reunion Tower!  The restaurant will begin hosting private parties late this year and will open to the public in January, 2009.

Wolfgang Puck has been very secretive about the restaurant's details, even including what it will be called, but while in Dallas this past week he did say that the menu would be Asian-influenced cuisine.  He is reported to be very involved in all aspects of the restaurant's customer experience and while acknowledging the location's icon status, insists the food and service will be the stars... the view will be a bonus!

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Are you all about the view out your window while you dine?  Are you considering buying or selling a home in Dallas or the North Texas area?  Imagine the view from your dining room in your highrise condo or overlooking the backyard oasis in your new home!  Please allow me to assist you with all of your Real Estate needs.  Let me show you why the Dallas area housing market is robust and now is an excellent time to buy or sell and move up to a new home.  Contact me today and let me help you move forward!

Many people don't realize that there are actually 3 separate college football that take place in the 91,000 seat Cotton Bowl  during the 24 day run of the State Fair.

The first will take place on October 4 when at 6 p.m., the Grambling State Tigers will take on the Panthers of Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic.

The second is the always exciting Red River Rivalry.  Each year this game just gets better and better.  The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners add a spark to their rivalry at 11:00 a.m. on October 11.

Finally, on October 18 at 2:00, the Texas A&M (Commerce) Lions play the East Central University (Ada, Oklahoma) Tigers.

And if football is not your sport, perhaps eating is.  If so, don't miss the Sixth Annual World Corny Dog Eating Championship on Sunday, September 28.

It's happening more and more frequently lately.  The phone rings and I find myself speaking with someone who found my website or blog and who has a bunch of short sale questions.  Sometimes it's for them, sometimes it's for a relative, but most often it is for someone who currently has their home listed with another agent.

Now, I do not solicit other agent's listings.  In fact, while I will discuss with a caller what a short sale is, and why they should make sure that an agent assisting them with a short sale should know something about how to do a short sale, I will always recommend that they speak with their current agent about this possible option before I will discuss the specifics of their listing.  I tell them that their current agent may have experience with short sales and may be able to assist them.  I also explain that I would appreciate the same consideration from my listing clients before they spoke with another agent, so I would ask that they conduct themselves in the manner that I would hope they would follow if they hired me to sell their home.

Many of these folks call me back and explain that after speaking to their agents that the other agent has no interest in helping them sell using a short sale.  They don't want to work that hard and will cancel their listing agreement.  In an economic climate where lead generation is king and it gets tougher and tougher to get clients, is letting them go this way really wise?  Don't these other agents realize that these folks may qualify to buy again in 2 years and which agent do you think they will contact to help them, the one who sold their home or the one who didn't want to work that hard?  Then again, perhaps with that approach to business, these other agents may not still be in real estate in 2 years.

Did anyone catch the issue of the Dallas Business Journal which came out on Sptember 26?  I sure did.  I was interviewed for and quoted in an article on page 4 about the number of REALTORS® decreasing slightly in North Texas.  My comments also included some on the need for agents to shift and adapt to changes and challenges in the market.  I would publish a link to the article online, but currently it is only available to paid subscribers.  I can assure you, however, that I was very positive about our market and the industry.  It's how I genuinely feel.

In the article, I was amazed at the statistics.  In 2007, the membership in the MetroTex Association of REALTORS® stood at 14,659.  Currently, that number has only dropped to 14,417, a decrease of only 242 members, or less than 2%.  And this is after a huge rise in membership between 2005-2007 that saw membership grow from 12,399 to 14,659.  This shows strong growth and minimal retraction.  Real estate can be a great career for those who are willing to work hard and have a solid plan to build their business.

Bill Head, of the MetroTex Association of REALTORS® was quoted in the article as saying "With the economy that we have here locally, job growth that we always have here and the housing market being as historically stable as it always has been, it appears to be as solid an industry as it always has been."  So far the market is supporting that position and I am hopeful it continues to do so.

Ever since my visit to Ephesus in Plano last month I have been craving more Turkish Food.  The flavors were so wonderful and vibrant that anytime someone says "What are you in the mood for?" my immediate response is Turkish!  Well, time does not always allow for the drive to Plano, so a friend recently suggested that we try Café Istanbul.  And I'm glad he did.

Café Istanbul is located in the Inwood Village shopping center at Lovers Lane and Inwood Road in Dallas.  Before we even sat down, I was excited because Café Istanbul has outside patio seating and the day I went there was an unusually cool day, so despite offering an inviting and comfortable dining room, al fresco dining was just the ticket that day!

The food at Café Istanbul was delicious.  We began our meal with the Meze Tabagi which is an appetizer platter.  You can choose 4 items from their cold appetizer selections to create the platter.  We chose their Humus, Kisir (Tabuleh), Acili and Beyaz Penir (Turkish Feta Cheese).  All of these choices were excellent.  They were all fresh and tasty in generous portions for 2 diners and satisfying, but not so filling that they left us too full for our entrées.

For an entrée, I had the Doner Durum, which was described on the menu as "Tenderized beef and lamb layers grilled in the vertical rotisserie, rolled in thin dough and served with yogurt sauce, tomato and cracked wheat (bulgur) pilaf on the side."  My dinner companion opted for the Kuzu Sis Kebap, "Skewered, tender lamb charbroiled with natural charcoal and served with rice, red cabbage and onions."  As with the appetizer, portions were nicely sized, well prepared and delicious. 

The staff were all friendly and attentive and the Turkish wines that we selected with our meal were both very good as well, so if you are looking for an authentic Turkish meal in the Dallas area, now you have 2 great choices and Café Istanbul is one of them!  Give it a try.

My very favorite part of the State Fair has always been the food.  I love the rides and being a car nut I always spend time in the Automobile exhibit hall, but first and foremost, when I think of the fair, I think of the food... especially the fried varieties.

I wait all year for a Fletcher's Corny Dog (or two) and to find out what new fried concoctions they will come up with.  The Big Tex Choice awards were announced last month and my friend Linda Box Taylor even gave a great run down of this year's new fired food menu additions in her post State Fair of Texas and its list of crazy new fried food!.

One of the hardest parts of navigating the Fair is locating all the new fried goodies, so now, for all you State Fairgoers, here's where you can find them...

Texas Fried Jelly Beans:   Get them at Granny's Funnel Cake stand C6 at the south side of the Coliseum and C7 next to the Gateway Pavilion.

Deep Fried S'mores:  Get them at stand N9 located near the Embarcadero entrance.

Fire & Ice:  I can't wait to try this one!  Find it at the family-run stand on Nimitz Drive.

Fried Chocolate Truffles:  Can be found at the stand located on Nimitz near the entrance to the Creative Arts Showplace Theater.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls:  Can be purchased at the Belgian Waffle stand G39 located on the NE corner of the Esplanade.

For more Texas State Fair details be sure to check out the official website at www.BigTex.com!  And if you see me on the midway with a corny dog in my mouth, please be sure to say hi!  I'll grunt and wave back!

This has got to be one of my favorite times of the year in Dallas... from  September 26 through October 19, The 2008 State Fair of Texas will take place at Dallas' Fair Park.

Always a ton of fun (and a ton of calories), there's lots to do and see at the fair, and when you are done riding the rides, playing the games, choosing your next car at the auto show and checking out all the agricultural and crafts exhibits, be sure to check out the Chevrolet Main Stage for some great musical entertainment.  Some of this year's featured performers include Rodney Atkins, Kellie Pickler and Jessica Simpson.

General admission for the fair is $14 (Children and Seniors are $10) and Self Parking in the official lots is $10.

For more details be sure to check out the official Texas State Fair website at www.BigTex.com!  And if you see me on the midway with a corny dog please be sure to say hi!