Ya Know, My Fellow and Sister Rainers... it's 11:52pm Sunday night... and I am way, way short of my maximum of ten posts for the week.  Ten posts, that is, that I can get POINTS for.  So, as I look at some of the other Rainers last-minute posts... who shall remain "nameless"... I ponder the imponderable.

What... can I write about... to squeeze in eight more posts in eight minutes... just to get those blasted points ?

Then, the heavens opened up, and a veritable flood of ideas has come forward. 

Here are some of those "brainstorm" possible titles.

1)  The Five Top Ways to Cut Your Grass.

2)  Six Ways to clean out your closets.

3)  How to get free coffee at McDonalds in the morning.

4)  Nine ways to make sure you don't put your shoes on backwards in the morning.

5)  Six ways I can go to the office without showering... and not offend anyone.

6)  Fourteen ways to eat tomatoes.  (or is it tomatos ?)

7)  The Three Best Times of the Day to Buy Krispy Kreme Donuts.

8)  Five ways to check if my latest Dumb Post has at least fifty words in it.

9)  The Four Best Ways of Keeping Your Neighbors Kids from Peeing in your Backyard Pool.

And... then there is my absolute fave...

10)  How to look really dumb to My Fellow or Sister Rainers... by Writing about Really Ridiculous Topics.

Well... so I ask myself... how many of these really choice topics can I squeeze in... before midnight ?

My answer:  NONE.  If I am tired of seeing other bloggers rack up points by writing such nonsense... why in the world would I want to do the same ?

Nighty night... Rainers... and, of course, thanks for reading...

I visited a brand new model home earlier this month.  After touring it... and checking out all of the included standard features... I must admit... it is pretty cool.

The kitchen is really great... lots of good gourmet yummies are ahead for the new owners, I am sure.  Three great bedrooms, two full baths, and one good-sized living area... a "Great Room."

The picture above is that of the model... so where the two sets of double French doors are... that is where the garage entrance will be.

The front exterior is just full of interesting stuff.  A covered front porch, a set of triple-windows above the garage door, and some very interesting roofline architectural touches.  This cool home measures 1,406 sq ft... and is priced from $129,990 to $134,990... depending upon which exterior design the buyer chooses.

This is a great home for a single buyer... and the total payment could easily be about the same as a nicer two bedroom apartment in the area.  Sooo... if you are ready to go from giving away your rent checks to some landlord... and getting into a home you can call your own... please call me... Karen Anne... at (817) 929-3400.  Or... visit my website... www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .

If you're in the market for two beautiful Bradford Pear trees... these two may be just what you're looking for !  They're only $168,900. 

By the way... a three bedroom, two bath 1847 sq ft home is also included... at no extra charge.

Seriously... what a great home.  Three spacious bedrooms... split-master arrangement... master bedroom is 18' x 11'... and both secondary bedrooms are also nice-sized.

The kitchen is quite spacious, with lots of counter space and cabinets, and a wrap-around breakfast/serving bar.  There's also a good-sized breakfast area... with a full box-bay window seat... perfect for either sitting... giving your kitty-cat her cat naps... or displaying a whole garden full of your favorite potted plants.

Off the kitchen is a very-nice sized family room, complete with wood-burning fireplace with gas starter, a ceramic tile hearth and facing, and a pretty wood mantle.

There is also a second living area in the front of the home.  As you look at the front, it's the room with the triple-window with the eyebrow-arch.  This bonus room could either be a second living area, a formal dining room, or perhaps used as the present owner does... as a music room/office/den.

The home is located in Euless, Texas... just minutes away from DFW Airport... and a quick ride by either car or light rail to downtown Dallas or downtown Fort Worth.

If you're a first time buyer... this home would be great to use for the $8,000 tax credit that your Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha are just aching to give you.

Sooo... if you're ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... give Karen Anne Stone a call for your very own personal tour.  She can be reached at (817) 929-3400... or emailed at KarenAnneStone@gmail.com.  Call Karen today !

Tomorrow is Father's Day.  I so wish I could spend tomorrow with my Dad... and wish him Happy Father's Day.  Dad has been gone for 21 years now.  I miss him so.  So... I thought I'd share one of my favorite "Dad" stories...

I was about to start my Senior year in high school.  I had turned sixteen the previous February, in my Junior year.  All my friends had been driving for a year or more, and there I was... always being driven wherever... by my mother. 

Oh, the shame of it all.  I just could not wait to turn sixteen and get my driver's license... my "ticket..."  at least in my own mind... my ticket to catching up to the rest of my classmates. 

I was then told that I had to wait until the next September... the beginning of my senior year... before I could get into "driver's ed" class... a prerequisite for taking my license test.

I was very nervous during my first driver's ed class.  First driving too slow, then really stepping on the brakes... and jolting everyone in the car all over the place.  One day while driving, with my driver's ed teacher sitting right next to me, I was stopped at a light, waiting for it to turn green.  I kind of relaxed, and my foot eased off the brake pedal, and I actually HIT a Cleveland Metro Transit BUS that had stopped in front of me. (Actually, I just barely "nudged" it.)  No damage, luckily, but yikes did the word about that ever get around the school quickly.

Finally, driver's ed was over, I took my test, and passed it.  I was so excited.  I couldn't wait to get home and tell my Dad that I passed my test... and that my license would be mailed in a week. 

My license finally came.  I was so excited... until my Father told me I could not drive until my Father's insurance company "put me on the insurance policy.  It was late October at the time.  So... I started waiting... patiently at first... then not so patiently as time wore on.  I'd come home from school, pester my Mom... have you heard from Dad ?  Am I on the insurance policy yet?  When Dad came home, I would always run up to him... Dad, Dad... any word yet ?  No, Karen... nothing yet. 

Thanksgiving passed, and into December we went.  I waited, and waited... and... nothing.  Dad said they lost the application at first, then he said they had my license number wrong... they transposed two of the numbers.  It was always something.  I began to really get suspicious. 

Finally, Christmas Day rolled around.  There we were... at home early Christmas afternoon.  All of a sudden, my Dad called to me.  My Mom had been harping at him to drive over to my Grandmother's house and bring her back for Christmas Dinner.  Dad was in a trance... he was watching some goofy football game... and kept ignoring my mother.  Finally, she yelled at him again.  "Al... Go Get Your MOTHER !" 

It was then that my Dad looked at me.  A little sheepishly at first, and then with a devilish grin.  Then he said... "Karen, here's the car keys... Go Pick Up Your Grandmother !"

Dad, I'd like to, but you keep telling me I can't... until the insurance letter comes.  He started laughing... slowly at first... then uncontrollably... like he had just been told a really funny joke.  He said... "oh, I forgot to tell you... the insurance letter finally came yesterday."  "Here's the keys... Karen Anne... Go Pick Up Your Grandmother." 

I was so thrilled that I was finally legal.  I just couldn't believe it.  I took the keys, and there I was... all by myself... driving my Mom's 1957 Ford Fairlane 500.  Was I cool, or what ?  Grandma was surprised, Christmas dinner was great, and I could finally drive.

It wasn't until my Dad died, and we kids were going through his things... making sure we kept certain little treasures to remind of us things we did with Dad... that I actually saw that insurance letter.  Dad had it wrapped up with a rubber band with a bunch of birthday cards and Father's Day cards I had given him through the years. 

There it was... the letter from the insurance company... dated one week after I passed my test.  He had had the letter for two whole months before told me about it.  I tried to be angry, but all I could do was laugh.  That was just like my Dad.  I guess if it wasn't for him watching that doggone football game... and being yelled at to pick up my Grandmother... I would have had to wait until after High School Graduation... to finally get behind the wheel.   Whew !

Happy Father's Day, Dad.  I miss you.

What a perfect home for someone who's grow oh so tired of living in an apartment !

This three bedroom, two full baths home, as you can see, has great curb appeal.  The inside is immaculate, and the outside... wow !  The front is gorgeous, and the rear yard is spacious and private, and overlooks a lush green park and greenbelt, and all for $112,500.

About as crisp and neat as the original move-in date... and even better in many ways, this 1430 sq ft home is just full of surprises.

The living room is quite spacious.  The corner brick fireplace with brick raised hearth... looks so inviting it almost makes you wish it was winter again.  The gourmet kitchen has more counter space and cabinets than many larger homes.

The walk-in pantry is also a nice surprise.  So much room... so having a well-stocked pantry no longer exists only in your imagination.  The breakfast bar/serving bar opens up into the family room... making it a great arrangement for the upcoming Mavericks and Cowboy Parties !

The master bedroom is in a "split-master" arrangement with the other two bedrooms.  The bath has a separate garden tub and stall shower, and a extra-wide vanity area with room for just about anything.

Bedrooms two and three are nice and roomy, and the double window above... look out from the third bedroom... just perfect for anyone who is thinking about working out of a home office.

Soooo... if you're ready to go from "just looking" to "I need to get serious"... and want to take advantage of Uncle Sam or Aunt Samantha's $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers, or for those who have not owned a home in the last three years... you need to "get your motor going" and call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400.

Finally, some good news for the local folks here in Texas, and particularly here in Fort Worth, Texas.

Forbes Magazine has just come out with a report of the Top Ten cities across the country that are most likely to recover more quickly from the housing downturn than others.

Forbes' list was compiled by analyzing current unemployment figures, projected gross domestic product, and housing affordability data... which came from the National Association of Home Builders.

Out of the "Top Ten" List... Texas was represented FOUR times.  Austin was first, San Antonio was fifth, Fort Worth/Dallas was seventh and McAllen was ninth.

The complete list is as follows:

     1)  Austin/Roundrock, Texas

     2)  Fayetteville, AR

     3)  Boulder, CO

     4)  Huntsville, AL

     5)  San Antonio, TX

     6)  Mobile, AL

     7)  Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas

     8)  Washington/Arlington/Alexandria DC

     9)  McAllen, Texas

    10)  Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, WA

It sure is great to hear some good, inspiring news.  Forbes went on to say that the cities most likely to recover first were those with strong technology capabilities.

When Looking For a New Home in Euless, Texas, homebuyers quickly find that there isn't much to choose from.  There is so little land left in Euless, that even if a builder finds vacant land to build on, the prices of the homes are often so far out of reach that many new home buyers simply cannot afford them.

To Remedy that Problem, three years ago Lennar Homes built Oakridge Estates.  Oakridge Estates is located just south and west of the intersection of Highway 157 and the Airport Freeway.

Pictured below is one of Lennar's most popular floor plans, the Fairfield model.  It is one of three different one-story plans in Oakridge.  It measures approximately 1846 sq ft, and has three large bedrooms, two baths, a great kitchen with wrap-around serving bar, breakfast nook, large boxed window, and a very nice-sized family room with wood-burning fireplace and wood mantle.

The Master Bedroom is oversized, and can handle just about any bedroom furniture arrangement.  The master is split from the secondary bedrooms for extra privacy.  There is a bonus room in front that many families use as a second living area.  It would also be perfect for a home office. 

These homes rarely come available, but when they do... current pricing would place them in the high $160's.

Pictured below is one of the Oakridge Estates Two Story Homes.  It measures approximately 2400 sq ft, and features four bedrooms with an oversized master, two and one-half baths, formal dining, huge kitchen with breakfast area, and two living areas.

Lennar Homes selected many amenities when they build Oakridge Estates.  They include ceramic tile in the entry, kitchen, and master and hall baths, rounded corners, double-pane triple-thermal insulated windows, high-efficiency heating and A/C, upgraded carpet and pad, and a wood-burning fireplace with wood mantle.

Oakridge Estates is served by the highly acclaimed HEB Independent School District.  Another unique feature about Oakridge is that the homesites are larger and wider than many of the lots buyers typically find for homes in this price range.  This means more space between the homes, more privacy, more on-street guest parking, and less neighborhood traffic.

For more information about Oakridge Estates in Euless, please call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400.  One of the many good reasons Karen Anne is your Oakridge Expert is that she bought the very first home in Oakridge Estates.  Karen Anne knows how great it is to be so close to everything... first-hand !

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To see more of Karen Anne's homes, please visit her website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com . Karen Anne can also be reached at (817) 929-3400.  Her email address is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

With the hesitancy of buyers to make a move... (many seem very comfortable sitting on that fence)... and the Financial and Mortgage Industries "tightening up" their loan requirements... an extra boost is often needed for buyers to be able to qualify for the home they want to purchase. 

Here are a few suggestions on how to help someone who wants to buy a home... but really needs some help in doing so.

One of the most frustrating things a seller can experience... is finding a buyer who is both READY to buy their home, is also WILLING to buy their home, but for a variety of reasons... is UNABLE to purchase.  The ability to assist that buyer in a variety of ways... can often be the difference between a home selling... or staying on the market... and just "sitting there."  Here are just two of those ways:

Many buyers have both the income and the credit to qualify for their mortgage loan... even with the current sub-prime mortgage market crisis.  Although many young buyers have great jobs and decent credit... the great majority of them have not been able to put away the necessary dollars to use for the "closing costs" needed in order to close on their home.

Buyers can fix this problem by allowing the seller to keep their price where it is listed... but rather than making an offer on the home... they can then ask the seller to use that "price reduction" money to help them in a different way.

Look at it this way:  A price drop of Six Thousand Dollars on a home selling for $150,000 will probably only lower the monthly mortgage for the buyer by approximately $42.00 per month.  Not much of a payment drop to either get excited about... or to help the buyer qualify.  But... if the buyer does not have the cash needed to pay their closing costs... they cannot close.

In cases like this, the prudent seller will find a buyer more willing to buy their home if they offer to pay the buyer's closing costs... which in my above selling-price of $150,000 example... will amount to $6,000.00.  Without that help... no sale.  With that help... Call The Movers !

A second way for a seller to help a buyer... would be when the buyer is having trouble qualifying because the payments are too high.  This would really be helpful when the buyer is straight out of college, and will not hit their income "stride" for perhaps two years after being "on the job." 

In cases like this, the same Six Thousand Dollars in the example above can be utilized in a different way to assist the buyer.  It's something called a "Buy-Down."  In an interest rate "buy-down... " which usually costs somewhere between 2.625 points and 3.000 points... (to be paid by the seller) the interest rate is reduced for year ONE by two percent, and in year TWO by one percent... leveling off in year THREE... and REMAINING at that level-three rate for the remaining Twenty-Eight years of the mortgage. 

This is in NO WAY a type of ARM... or Adjustable Rate Mortgage... that has been in the news so much lately.  This is a "fixed-rate" mortgage... sort of with a two-year "head start."  By doing this, the buyer's house payment will be dropped hundreds of dollars in Year One, and Half that amount in Year Two.

Neither of these two ways for the Seller to assist the Buyer... is affected by the recent HUD ruling forbidding the use of a DPA program... a Down Payment Assistance program.  Right now, FHA Mortgages allow the seller to "assist" the buyer by up to six-percent of the sales price of the home.  These monies are what is referred to as the 6% Seller Contribution.  The only caveat is that it cannot be used for the buyer's down payment.  Therefore... this is still an approved method that the Seller can use to help the Buyer.

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Although Karen Anne Stone is not a mortgage professional, as a Realtor she has extensive knowledge of both the mortgage market... and loan underwriting guidelines.  You should, however, consult a mortgage professional to confirm Karen Anne's above suggestions.  Karen Anne can be visited on her website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com , or can be reached by phone at (817) 929-3400 , or by email at KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .  If You've Got Problems... Karen Anne just might have the answers you need !

It's Finally Here... North Carrollton's Newest and Brightest townhomes... and they are open !

Yes... I've been waiting for this Brand New North Carrollton Townhome neighborhood to open, too.  I have been visiting the neighborhood for months now... watching the big boys play in the dirt with their tractors, their dump-trucks, and their other big-boy toys.

I have several folks who have been chomping at the bit... waiting to see these gorgeous homes.

I know... everyone wants an end unit.  Uh Huh !  Right !

Well... we've got an answer for that.  No more than three townhomes in each building.  So... no more eight and ten unit buildings.  Just a wonderfully-arranged neighborhood of three-unit townhomes... probably the nicest neighborhood arrangement I have seen in this price range.

One of the many things I just love about these townhomes... is that many of the front doors are kinda sorta hidden from the view from the street.  Because of that... at times each group of three... can almost look like a 5,500 sq ft single family custom home.

If you've been looking for a great home at a great price in Carrollton... and are ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... give me a call... Karen Anne Stone... at (817) 929-3400.  These homes are really even more gorgeous on the inside than they appear on the outside.  Call Karen Anne today.

 If you want Fabulous, and you need under $200,000... here is your answer !

Come see this new home in a newly-opened section of one of North Fort Worth's sought-after neighborhoods.  This great home boasts 2,396 sq ft... and sells in the mid-190's.

This gorgeous home features four very nice-sized bedrooms... (the fourth could be a study), two full baths, a split-master arrangement, and a master closet so large you might have to go shopping for extra clothes to fill up the rods.

The kitchen is in the center of the home, and features an awesome island, an impressive skylight, cabinets on all four walls, a walk-in pantry, shelves for cookbooks and stuff, and a wrap-around breakfast/serving bar that's really great for this Fall's Cowboy parties.

The gourmet kitchen opens up to a roomy breakfast/morning room.  The family room is oversized... and makes for great furniture arrangements... with plenty of options for where to place the big screen TV.  An extra-long covered patio allows cook-outs all year long.

If you're ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... and want to make sure you get in on the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers... call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400 to set aside a time to see this pretty home.