This is a "must-read" for every home seller.  Sage advice. Listen to the feedback if there are showings, listen to the lack of feedback if there are no showings. Watch what's happening in your marketplace. Drop the price if you're home has been on the market for a while.

Addison Texas Real Estate For Sale: Properties Listed in January, 2012

The total number of residential properties for sale in Addison, Texas is 67. There are currently 24 single family homes for sale (4 of those are under contract), no half-duplexes, 17 condos, and 26 townhomes. There is also 1 residential lot for sale.  Now is the time to buy! 

Just 11 homes came on the market in Addison, TX in January 2012 (up from 10 last month). In addition to the homes below, there are another 56 that have been on the market for more than a month. Inventory is still very low!

If you are looking for an Addison home, use the links below the table to see what’s available, then call me! 

New Addison Listings: January, 2012

Addison Townhomes For Sale

Addison Condos For Sale

Addison Duplexes For Sale

Addison Single Family Homes For Sale

Addison Land/Lots For Sale

Once you've done your online search, give me a call to discuss the purchasing process and buyer representation.  You're on your way to owning an Addison home.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is now on stage at Addison's WaterTower Theatre, but you'll have to hurry to see it. The run ends February 5, 2012.

The play, adapted by Wendy Kesselman, and directed by Terry Martin, is based on the original play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, ultimately based on the book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

The story is of Anne Frank's short, tragic, but poignant life. Born in Germany on June 12, 1929 to Otto and Edith Frank, Anne's parents decided to move north to the Netherlands where they believed they would be safe from Hitler. The diary Anne kept during their confinement in an attic is the basis for the play.

The schedule of performances is Wednesday & Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. There is an additional perfomance on Saturday, January 28 at 2pm. Tickets range in price from $20-$40.

Call the box office at 972-450-6232 to purchase tickets.
 

Addison, Texas Real Estate: 2010 vs 2011

I was contacted by one of the writers from "Addison, The Magazine" and she asked me to pull some numbers together for her for an upcoming article.  This chart shows that although the market is abysmal elsewhere, here in the North Texas area, and specifically in Addison, Texas, real estate is still a good investment.  While the number of sales declined in 2011, the price per square foot and the average sales price were barely down from the previous year.  There are good indications that 2012 will be a good year, too.

Don't Throw Away Your 2011 Addison Calendar Yet!

Each year for as long as I can remember, the Town of Addison published a calendar. Every December, the employees and council members would hand deliver a calendar to every Addison, Texas home. Without warning, the tradition ended.

There is now an online version of the calendar. I can no longer just glance up at my wall and check a date, verify when Taste Addison will occur, plan my involvement in the community garage sale, etc. In my opinion (and not mine alone), the demise of the Town of Addison paper calendar was a BIG mistake.

In addition to the great photos of Addison locations and Addison people, there was valuable information at the back of the calendar. So, before you toss out your 2011 Addison calendar, turn to the back pages. Tear out the:

• Important Town Numbers
• Addison Statistics & Facts with information about trash pick  up, pets, a comparison of the municipal tax rate, expenditure distributions, expenditure funding, and revenue distribution
• List of Addison attractions, Addison events, Addison area parks, Addison restaurants and Addison hotel accomodations

Yes, I understand there is a cost involved with printing the calendars.  I realize that once printed, they cannot be updated. But the paper calendar is just so darned convenient.  My computer is not always on. I'll never use the new online feature where I can add my own appointments to the Addison calendar. Call me a Ludite, but give me my paper Addison calendar back!

Recycle the Dallas Way!

Got stuff?  Don't want it?  There's a new consignment store in North Dallas that can help you solve this problem.

Furniture Consignment Connection opened in November at the south west corner of LBJ Freeway and Preston Road. Owner Patsy Cato has auction and consignment experience and has a lovely shop with lots of good quality furnishings.

I stopped by after a recent lunch across the parking lot at Gio's Deli to take a look.

 I found everything from furniture and market samples, to rugs, decorative accessories, and art.

This corner is quickly becoming the go-to location for consignment stores. Right next door is ReThreads, a consignment store with men's and women's clothing. Across the parking lot is a consignment store with clothing, jewelry, and decorative accessories (relocated from Beltline and Preston Road a few months ago).

Stop by Furniture Consignment Connection, 12835 Preston Road, Suite #401, Dallas TX 75230.  Their phone number is 972-458-9322.  They're working on getting their website live: www.furnitureconsignmentconnection.com.

Beware: Robber Working Dallas Area Open Houses!

This happened to two agents in my office this past weekend.  They shared their experience with those of us in the office with the hope that it doesn't happen to anyone else. 

If you are a homeowner with your home on the market, PLEASE lock up or remove all valuables and prescriptions from your home before showings and open houses.  If you are a real estate agent, keep watch on everyone who walks through the door while you are in the house.

As reported by one of the agents: "A man came to two open houses and robbed jewelry from the houses this past Saturday.  He stole a diamond engagement ring and Rolex watch at one  home and two costume jewelry rings at the other.  One of the houses was close to Hockaday {School} and the other was just a few blocks north of Forest Lane.  One of the homeowners found a blog which shows his picture so please take a good look.  He was very friendly in his 50's, told me he lost his wife this year and he was moving up here from Houston for a job with a new company.  Also said he had five children but they all lived out of state."

The robber, Steven Breed, evidently has a past history of similar crimes. The Plano Police Department notified the Collin County Association of Realtors that he was recently released from jail and is again suspected in the theft of personal belongings from homes. He was jailed about a year ago for stealing from homes he visited under the guise that he was an interested buyer.

Be on the lookout for this man and call the police if he shows up at your open house.

Update: I had a message from another agent this morning who had an encounter with the robber this weekend in Richardson.  Steven was driving a BLACK four door FORD FOCUS and is now about 100 pounds lighter than in either of the pictures.

He sometimes goes by the alias “Max Holloway”. 

Links to some articles about him:
 
http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/19/dallas-crook-poses-as-home-buyer/
 
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Cops-Say-Man-Suspected-of-Theft-Posed-as-Homebuyer-98803314.html
 
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/frisco/headlines/20100807-Suspect-in-home-tour-thefts-back-2078.ece

Addison Pacesetters Learn About the Addison Finance Department at Dunn Bros.

Addison Pacesetters (Addison, Texas residents 50+ years of age) meet the first Wednesday of each month at Dunn Bros. on Belt Line Road and learn about the Town of Addison. This month, Jerry Lewandowski, a management analyst in Addison's Finance Department, spoke to us.

Here are some interesting tidbits from Jerry's presentation:

• He has worked in Addison's Finance Department for 5 1/2 years
• He's a former Marine Sgt.
• Jerry started out as an accounts payable clerk, moved to cash receipting, then to Utilities Billing
• As a management analyst, he is responsible for the annual budget, purchasing & bids, and procurement
• The average Addison household uses about 12-15,000 gallons of water per month
• The cost of water has increased about 5% in the past year

Next month, the first Wednesday is February 1st. Come out and join the Addison Pacesetters at Dunn Bros.

The total number of residential properties for sale in Addison, Texas is 60. There are currently 21 single family homes for sale, 2 half-duplexes, 13 condos, and 24 townhomes. There is also 1 residential lot for sale.  Now is the time to buy! 

Just 10 homes came on the market in Addison, TX in December 2011 (up from 6 last month). In addition to the homes below, there are another 50 that have been on the market for more than a month. Inventory is still very low!

If you are looking for an Addison home, use the links below the table to see what’s available, then call me! 

New Addison Listings: December, 2011

Addison Townhomes For Sale

Addison Condos For Sale

Addison Duplexes For Sale

Addison Single Family Homes For Sale

Addison Land/Lots For Sale

Once you've done your online search, give me a call to discuss the purchasing process and buyer representation.  You're on your way to owning an Addison home.

Representing a buyer in Texas in a residential real estate transaction? Do your clients a BIG favor. Make sure YOU get the option fee check to the listing agent or the seller within 2 days of the contract being executed. And make sure it is receipted on the last page of the contract.  It's simple: no option check, no option period. Period!

Sending the option check along with the earnest money to the title company won't do you any good. The title company will not receipt the option fee.  Please READ the contract - it clearly shows that the SELLER or LISTING BROKER can sign for the option fee. No one else can receipt it.

Paragraph 23 (Termination Option) on the TAR 1-4 Family Resale and Condo Resale contracts states that the Seller agrees to pay the option fee within 2 DAYS after the effective date of the contract ... and "Time is of the essence for this paragraph and strict compliance with the time for performance is required."

The paragraph goes on to state "If Buyer fails to pay the Option Fee to Seller within the time prescribed, this paragraph will not be a part of this contract and Buyer shall not have the unrestricted right to terminate this contract."

When YOUR buyer loses the unrestricted right to terminate the contract because YOU didn't get the option check to the right person at the right time, guess who they're going to blame?