This week marks the grand opening of my friends' latest restaurant venture... Thairrific.  A full service Thai Restaurant located at 4000 Cedar Spring Boulevard (@Throckmorton) in Dallas.  I have been over there for the past few evenings helping them (and eating) and I have to say that I predict an overwhelming response.  They are now open from 11:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays.

I'll be posting a full (albeit slightly biased) review later in the week, but if you feel like great Thai using fresh ingredients and where every dish is prepared to order don't wait for the review, come check it out.  I think you'll count Thairrific as a great new discovery!

Wow... I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted.  Let me just say that rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!

As many ActiveRainers know, I was in Seattle back in June to present along with Debe Maxwell at RainCamp.  It was a great experience and I was so excited to present at the last two RainCamps.  Sharing a stage with people like Bob Stewart, Ben Kinney, Todd Clark, Brad Andersohn and Rich Jacobsen (and of course Debe) is humbling.  All of these people are real-life rock stars and tough presenters to follow.  It was also a rare treat to be in Seattle to help ActiveRain celebrate their 5th anniversary.

I have been exceptionally busy since I returned from that trip and that is partly the topic of this post.  One thing that I have been busy with is that on September 20th I have been asked to be a speaker at a half-day Real Estate technology even being sponsored by the MetroTex Association of REALTORS.  They chose the topic of my presentation for me, it is "10 Things Every REALTOR Needs to Know About Blogging".  Pretty good topic, huh?  I love David Letterman and his "Top 10" lists, so this could be a lot of fun, and I like this style of presentation.

Anyhow, I thought it would be a lot of fun to throw this topic open to the members of ActiveRain and get suggestions of items you think should be on the Top 10 list..  What I will do is review the results and present the Top 10 list as a result of actual Real Estate bloggers from around the country (and Canada) and then tell the attendees if they want a cope of the list they can logon to Active Rain to see it in a post I will make on the day of the presentation.  Maybe it will even help bring new blood into AR from the North Texas area.

So here's your chance... leave me a comment below and include 1 (or as many as you'd like) items you think should be on the list of the "10 Things Every REALTOR Needs to Know About Blogging".  If I use your suggestion(s) in the final presentation list, I will even attribute it to you and mention what city you are in as a way for people who view the presentation or subsequent blog post to find you for networking and referrals!

I can't wait to see what suggestions, tips and pearls of blogging wisdom we come up with!

These days in Dallas, Blue is in... and nobody is sad about it.  The Dallas Mavericks have the NBA Finals tied at 2-2 and Blue is a happy color for Dallasites.  Frankly, it's also a happy color for Clevelanders because polls show that practically everyone in Cleveland is cheering for the Mavs since the Mavs are playing against LeBron James and the Miami Heat!  As you can see here, even the flowers in Dallas are showing their Mavericks team spirit!  This shot actually reminds me of the photos of fans watching the game at the American Airlines Center last night... A field of blue as far as the eye can see!

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Looking for a REALTOR® who can help you with the home buying or selling experience with outstanding personal service, innovation and unparalleled professionalism? The type of experience that sets us apart and creates the foundation for a long term professional relationship? That what my team and I are here to provide! If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and would like 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. Let me help you make your 2011 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 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Let call what we are all experiencing what is is... CHANGE!

Sometimes change is planned, sometimes it isn't.  Often change happens to us and we do not get to choose.

Change can be frightening or unsettling... but as FDR said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." 

Change is rarely confined to a single event, hence the term "period of change".

So, yes, ActiveRain is going through some changes.  And some of the friends we have all come to love around here are moving on.  Some by choice, others, not.  I know I share the feelings that many others have expressed, but what I just refuse to buy into is the pessimism and borderline insanity surrounding it.

In a previous career, I was a Change Management consultant for a "Big 6" consulting firm.  One of the things that I learned early in that career was that change almost always precedes growth.  Think about it... if things are moving along steadily and nothing changes, what is the likelihood that things will be taken to the next level quickly?  Change accelerates things and, when managed properly, infuses an organization with fresh momentum.

I think that change may bring ActiveRain and all of us members new opportunities and our own business growth opportunities.  Nikesh Parekh, the new CEO and Bob Stewart have provided assurances about improvements to technology and a stable platform for members... a long requested and awaited change.  Bob has confirmed his commitment to the ActiveRain culture.  And with the recent departures of Doug Ching and Steven Graham, an assurance to continue AR's focus on training, education and member services has been made by Nikesh.  In comments made by Kerrie Greenhalgh, she has stated emphatically that she's not going anywhere.  To the best of my knowledge, nobody has backpeddled on these assurances and I would be surprised if they did.

Will things be different?  Yeah, they will.  People leave their mark on a position and/or an organization that they are a part of... especially one that people pour their hearts into like ActiveRain.  And when people leave, things are different because the people who replace them bring their own ideas and personalities with them.  But don't confuse different with worse!  I have been an AR member for nearly 4 years now, and I am excited to see what opportunities and enhancements these changes bring to our community.  Am I a bit uneasy about all this?  Absolutely... it's human nature!  But, I am also open to the possibility that the changes will bring great things for us all.  After talking with Nikesh and Bob, I kind of think they will.

There is always "Plan B", and we should all have one... that's just good business.  But in my heart, I believe that "Plan A" (or should that be Plan A-R?) is still going strong!

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Looking for a REALTOR® who can help you with the home buying or selling experience with classic style, personal service, innovation and unparalleled professionalism? The type of experience that sets us apart and creates the foundation for a long term professional relationship? That what my team and I are here to provide! If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and would like 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. Let me help you make your 2010 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 2010. All Rights Reserved.

I don't actually remember the day I first met Ricki Eichler.  Ricki is a Real Estate Broker in the Kerrville, Texas area.  I know I met her shortly after joining ActiveRain, so that would date our friendship to 2007.  Ricki has such a warm, gentle and wonderful way about her that we "hit it off" and have been ActiveRain friends/Blogging Buddies ever since.  Ricki and I have spoken by phone and talked about someday getting together, but up until today, that objective was elusive.

Today was REALTOR Lobbying Day at the Texas State Capitol in Austin (a topic for another post) and The Texas Association of REALTORS sponsored a BBQ lunch for over 2000 REALTORS attending this important event.  It was there that I finally got to meet Ricki and give her a hug.  She is one of the warmest, nicest and most caring people you could have the privlege of knowing.

This is one of my favorite things about ActiveRain.  I feel fairly confident that if we both were not AR bloggers, Ricki and I would have never met.  And my life would have been that much less rich.  We all spend a lot of time talking about SEO, Google, social and industry issues and business tips.  We even spend time blowing off steam with an occasional rant, but my favorite part of ActiveRain are the wonderful friends it has brought into my life.  Ricki is definitely one of those people! 

Recently, one of the REALTORS® who works in my office decided that members of the real estate community in our the Oak Lawn area of Dallas needed to cheer on and celebrate the beginning of the spring selling season... and so was born, REALTOR® Flash Mob.  Even though I was born with 2 left feet, as his office manager, I thought this was a great way for everyone to have some fun and do something different in an area of Dallas known for being ecclectic and diverse.

When I asked why he wanted to organize a flash mob in the local Kroger supermarket, he said he thought it would help build public awareness of our improving market... well it did that, members of the public actually joined in dancing with the REALTORS® and shoppers throughout the store came to the front to see what all the commotion was about!

Take a look at see for yourself: 

Sure looks to me like selling a home with one of these agents would be a lot of fun!

OK… so who’s going to the Prudential Real Estate Sales Convention next week?  It’s being held in San Diego beginning Sunday, March 6.  I know that I will be there… and I can even tell you precisely where I will be at 2:30 on Tuesday, March 8^th… I will be participating in a Panel Discussion in Room 24AB titled, “What Do I Say, Leave and Do To Get My Distressed Properties SOLD?”

I am excited to be asked to participate as a member of this panel and after 7 years as a Short Sale Specialist I sure hope I have some insights to share and perhaps a few words of wisdom to impart on this topic.  I love how the Prudential brand attributes of Security, Stability and Strength are so well aligned with what the Sellers of Short Sales and distressed properties are so often looking for when choosing an agent.  Perhaps what I have to share can help other Prudential agents 

So, if you are you going to the Prudential Real Estate Sales Convention, please don’t miss my Panel Session!

I am so proud to be a part of the Prudential Real Estate family and know that this year will be another GREAT year in Real Estate for Prudential, its agents and most of all, our clients!

Street Address: 3225 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75219

The Renaissance on Turtle Creek is the largest luxury highrise condominium in the Uptown/Turtle Creek area of Dallas, The Renaissance on Turtle Creek has over 600 units located in 3 buildings, identified as the A (22 stories), B and C buildings (17 stories).  The buildings share a common garage and facilities including 2 fitness centers, 3 concierge desks, valet parking at the A & B building lobbies, 2 swimming pools (including a 5th floor pool and sundeck adjoining the B & C buildings), a library/sitting room, resident lounge, 2 conference rooms and 2 business centers.

In addition the complex amenties, The Renaissance on Turtle Creek is located across the street from historic Lee Park (home to many area events and concerts) and its prime location offers convenient access to downtown Dallas, the new Arts District, Central Expressway and The Tollway. The Renaissance on Turtle Creek is also located directly across from and access point for Dallas' Katy Trail walking, jogging and bicycle path.  At $0.44/Sq. Ft., the monthly Homeowners Association charges are also some of the lowest for highrises in the area.

Built in 1998, The Renaissance on Turtle Creek is instantly recognizable because of its size and its white railed balconies which extend out from the living areas of the units. This complex offers a relaxed and friendly style that makes residents and visitors alike feel instantly at home... a tremendous accomplishment for a property located in the heart of Dallas' urban residential area!

Sales Activity:

Current Units For Sale:

The Dallas Highrise Condo marketplace is focused on the Turtle Creek area and its vicinity just north of downtown Dallas. The Renaissance on Turtle Creek is located at:

View Larger Map

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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 as easy as an elevator ride to the Penthouse, call me today at (469)449-9840 to schedule a consultation.  Or visit my website at EasyTexasRealEstate.com.  I'd be happy to help you move forward and achieve your Real Estate objectives.  Let's make your dream of owning or selling your Dallas Highrise Condo a reality!

Not located in the Dallas 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.

Sales information is for reported sales closed in the months of December 2010 and January, 2011.  Current available inventory information (Active Status) is current as of February 7, 2011.  All information based on reported information provided to/by North Texas Real Estate Information Service (NTREIS) and is assumed to be accurate. Sales and other statistics given are for properties listed with and sold by multiple agents and brokers.

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 2011.  All Rights Reserved.

Renaissance on Turtle Creek - Dallas Condos