Rowlett TX Homes For Lease - 07/30/10 09:03 AM

4 Bedrooms | 21 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 3570 SF | Pool & Spa
Rowlett TX Homes For Lease - Executive lease home with in-ground pool and spa. Huge home with three living and two dining areas. Kitchen has laminate flooring, a gas stove, and plenty of storage. Master bedroom has plantation shutters and a fireplace that looks into the master bath with a garden tub and separate shower. Oversized game room could be fifth bedroom. Lease includes refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Pool and yard maintenance for a monthly fee. 
Click here for more details, current pricing, a virtual tour, and photos.
Source: … (1 comments)

Grand Prairie TX Homes For Sale - 07/30/10 08:52 AM
 
3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 1800 SF
Grand Prairie TX Homes For Sale - Former K. Hovnanian model ready for move in. Warm and inviting with soaring ceilings and neutral colors throughout.  Kitchen with granite has stainless appliances, gas cook top, built in desk, breakfast bar and upgraded cabs.  Private master with jetted tub.  Many designer touches including skip trowel walls, rounded corners, crown molding, brushed nickel fixtures, oversized tile flooring, and cedar garage doors.  Third bedroom currently used as study.
Click here for more details, current pricing, photos, and a virtual tour.
Source: NTREIS | Photo … (0 comments)

Agent Strategies: Focus on AdWords - 07/28/10 10:05 AM
I was recently inreviewed as part of a story on online marketing strategies.

Written by Alice Allan on July 28, 2010
Crossing paths with a Google employee was the factor that focused Tom Branch's online marketing strategy."I sold a property for a Google employee," the Dallas-based RE/MAX broker associate explains. "I traded my services for an AdWords education!"
Branch says a "very focused" AdWords campaign gives him the best return on investment of all his online marketing strategies.
"AdWords can be really expensive unless you carefully build and monitor the results," Branch explains. "I spend about $1500 per year and … (5 comments)

What Your Customers Really Want - 07/27/10 10:30 PM

As a business person, it is imperative for you to understand that only 35% of the reason people buy the products or services you offer is for the actual product or service itself.
The other 65% of the reason they buy is for what you can do or provide beyond the product or service, and what that product or service does for the customer.
In other words, if you are trying to sell your customers and prospects products and services, you are wasting your time. They are only 35% interested in products and services.
But they are 65% interested … (2 comments)

Buying a house now could be the best hedge against inflation …EVER! - 07/27/10 07:57 AM
This is so true. There's been a "perfect storm" in the housing market. We have depressed housing prices and the lowest interest rates in history. A period of inflation will follow, the extent of which is yet to be seen.

Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate:
Most economists agree that recent rashes of government spending will ultimately lead to significant inflation. The constant infusion of cash that is intended as a short-term solution will eventually have a long-term effect on the value of a dollar.
One of the best hedges against this expected phenomenon is the purchase of a … (1 comments)

Hey, Look What the Sellers Took! Oh No, Look What the Sellers Left!! - 07/26/10 11:57 PM
The devil is in the details.  Always discuss items you want to retain with your agent at the time of the listing.
Via Nancy Conner - Olympia/Thurston County WA (Managing Broker - City Realty Inc):
Some of the biggest disagreements I have seen between buyers and sellers start with misunderstandings about what items are to remain in the house that is being sold, and which things the sellers can, or should take with them.  Emotions can run very high over those beautiful bedroom drapes that the buyer loved - now gone; the hole in the yard where that fragrant rose is now missing; … (1 comments)

No Sex in the Summer - 07/24/10 03:14 PM
We do a number of interviews with the media, but this one was different!  Yesterday we took part in a story about busy professionals and the impact the children being out of school for the summer have on "adult time."
We didn't get to see it on-air because we were on a date at Sambuca 360 in west Plano. Sambuca 360 is a nice evening nightspot with a great happy hour, extended and tasty menu, and live music.

 No Sex In The Summer - Kids Out Of The School Cramping Parents Style (Shana Franklin - The 33 News)

There are two kids, a … (2 comments)

The Branch Team Launches Estates of Willow Crest Website - 07/24/10 02:52 PM

Welcome to The Estates of Willow Crest in Plano, Texas! If location is your main concern, look no further than The Estates of Willow Crest, conveniently located just east of the Dallas North Tollway and south of 121. The world is at your fingertips. Endless shopping opportunities, professional sports venues, fine dining, nearby golf courses and more! Parents will be more than pleased with the educational opportunities afforded by schools in the recognized Frisco ISD. Children attend nearby Riddle Elementary and the community is served by Liberty High School.Fine shopping centers featuring high-end and specialty retailers only a short distance away include Stonebriar Centre, the Shops at … (0 comments)

RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs Sweeps 2010 Dallas Council - 07/23/10 04:04 PM

According to the RE/MAX Reporter, "When it comes to production, a clean sweep of awards by a single office in every category is rare. But they do happen."   RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs was recently ranked as the number one office in the Dallas Council in every category: Commissions Paid, Listing Units. Listing Volume, Sales Units, and Sales Volume.
 
… (1 comments)

Arlington TX Homes For Sale - 5820 Terra - 07/23/10 10:15 AM

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 1540 SF
Arlington TX Homes For Sale - Split bedrooms, updated master bath with furniture style vanities, walk-in closets, and garden tub with separate shower. Fresh paint and carpet. Home is situated on quiet cul-de-sac. City park and pool within walking distance. 
Click here for more details, current pricing, photos, and floorplans.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit - Tom Branch
 

… (0 comments)

Plano TX Homes For Sale - 3856 Rolling Hills Drive - 07/22/10 12:52 AM

4 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2591 SF
Plano TX Homes For Sale - Well maintained home with beautiful landscaping zoned to Blue Ribbon elementary. Large backyard has extended covered patio with shingled roof. Light and bright island kitchen with gas cook top and built in desk. Designer touches include archways, chair rails, and Berber carpet. Both full baths have dual sinks. Master retreat has sitting area, and his and hers closets. Third living area up is perfect for game room. Recent exterior paint. 
Click here for more details, current pricing, photos, and floorplans.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit … (2 comments)

Allen TX Homes For Sale - 1816 San Leanna - 07/21/10 09:04 PM

4 Bedrooms | 4.1 Baths | 3-Car Garage | 3785 SF
Allen TX Homes For Sale - Gorgeous Huntington with stone elevation and hand scraped hardwoods. Gourmet kitchen with granite, travertine, double oven, tumbled marble, maple cabs and commercial grade apps. Living area overlooks private flagstone courtyard. All bedrooms have private baths. Golf course view from upstairs. Plantation shutters, faux finishes, and upgraded fixtures. Media room and living area up with sink and mini fridge. Walk to golf, tennis, swimming and more!.
Click here for more details, current pricing, photos, and floorplans.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit - Tom Branch
 

… (2 comments)

EPA Announces Delay of Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rules Enforcement - 07/21/10 10:23 AM
Good article. Note that the new EPA rules will have an impact on people renovating their own homes as well as people who renovate for others.
Tom
Via John Lapotaire, CIEC Microshield (Microshield Environmental Services, LLC.):
On June 18, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the delay of enforcement of the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regulations that had been put into effect on April 22, 2010. The delays, as stated in a June 18 EPA (http://www.dealer.org/files/EPA_Delay_Announcement_6_18_10.pdf) memo are:
Until October 1, 2010, EPA will not take enforcement action for violations of the RRP Rule's firm certification requirement. (It should be … (0 comments)

Traffic Incident in Plano - 07/19/10 08:41 PM

I was dropping off a deposit at my local bank this afternoon.  After taking care of business, I prepared to exit the parking lot. 
I had to go left across 3 lanes traveling the other direction.  I cleared to the right and noted a vehicle in the center lane, I looked left and had oncoming traffic but had plenty of room. I pressed on the accelerator on the Smart Car. I remembered that car in the middle lane so I turned into the closet lane. 
The next thing I hear are horns blaring and the see the other car pulling into … (1 comments)

Short Sales - The Critical Role of the REALTOR® - 07/19/10 12:06 AM

Where Short Sales are concerned, the REALTOR®'s role is crucial. Proper pricing is always important, but it's even more important with a Short Sale, because the foreclosure clock is ticking.
If the house goes on the market at too high a price, valuable marketing time is lost. The majority of showings occur in the first few weeks of being on the market, so you want to make sure the house is priced properly when it goes on.
Once an offer is accepted and a contract executed, that's when the real work starts for the REALTOR®. The first step of course is … (7 comments)

Allen, Texas - June 2010 Market Data and Analysis - 07/17/10 12:17 AM
Detailed Market Analysis data for Allen, Texas:

The Allen, Texas market is still very stable. Year-over-year statistics reflect modest gains in almost every key factor. I believe June-over-June is down because of the impact of the Federal Tax Credit that moved sales into the earlier months of the year.  This marked decrease is the rebound effect.

Source:  CCAR and NTREIS
 
… (0 comments)

The Branch Team Goes MOBI - 07/14/10 11:21 PM

We're pleased to announce that our new mobile website is up and running.
We recently selected MobiCentric to provide our mobile website along with mobile IDX.  The website includes a homepage with quick search function, an Advanced Search page, a Featured Properties page, an About Us page, and a Contact Us page. All pages are optimized for mobile viewing. 
Not only can a user visit our .mobi page, but MobiCentric includes specialized code for our .com site that detects mobile devices and forwards those users to our .mobi. 
You can visit our mobile website at http://www.thebranchteam.mobi.
 
… (2 comments)

Crime Alert - Ridgeview Ranch - Plano, TX - 07/13/10 06:19 PM

CRIME ALERT!
We had a resident become a victim of a crime earlier this week.  Despite an active Crime Watch Program, one of the residents in the neighborhood had the wheels and tires stolen off their vehicle.
It's always a good idea to park vehicles in the garage rather than in the rear of the house or on the street.
Source:  Ridgeview Ranch HOA
 
… (0 comments)

Avoiding Foreclosure - The Field Guide to Short Sales - Now On Kindle - 07/11/10 11:22 AM

We're pleased to announce that, "Avoiding Foreclosure - The Field Guide to Short Sales" is now available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. The book is also available in paperback and PDF formats at www.fieldguidetoshortsales.com.
Regardless of the reasons used to explain the current housing crisis in the United States, the cold reality is that more homeowners are in financial distress than at any other time in the history of residential real estate, according to the Distressed Property Institute.Hence, real estate Short Sales. If you're not familiar with them, you soon will be. In this book, you'll travel the journey with … (2 comments)

Plano, TX - Deal of the Month - CB Jeni Homes - 07/07/10 06:12 PM
 
4 Bedrooms | 3.1 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 3582 SF
Listed at $380,000 - Now $315,000
Homes For Sale - Plano, TX - Beautiful new construction in Frisco ISD. Island kitchen has granite counters, under mount sink, breakfast bar, stainless appliances, butler s pantry, and window seat. Two story living area with wall of windows. Designer touches include crowns, iron balusters, archways, rounded corners, art niches, and upgraded fixtures. Game and media great for entertaining. Enjoy the community pool, park and playground. Easy access to Hwy 121 and the Tollway.
Click here for more details, photos, and floorplans.
Source: CB Jeni Homes | … (0 comments)

Townhomes For Sale - Plano, TX - 8619 Naomi - 07/07/10 09:51 AM

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 1961 SF
Townhomes For Sale - Plano, TX - Beautiful new construction with stone exterior. Gourmet kitchen with brkfst bar, upgraded cabinets, granite, stainless appliances, and gas cook top. Study with French doors. 8 ft Knotty Alder front door with wrought iron speakeasy. Many designer touches. Enclosed private patio with gas for BBQ. Full service HOA for low maintenance living. Ready October 2010. Up to $18k off with cash or approved lender for closings no later than October 2010. 
Click here for more details, current pricing, photos, and floorplans.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit - … (2 comments)

Allen, Texas - Second Quarter 2010 Market Data - 07/06/10 06:03 PM
Market Information for Allen, Texas for the period ending June 30, 2010

While the total number of year-over-year sales and volume are up, the median price is down about $1750. 
Listings under $300k are selling in about 90 days, $500k in 180 days, $750k in 270 days and $1m+ is 540 days.  I would attribute the reduction in days on market for listings under $300k to the Federal Tax Credit. It will be interesting to see what happens in the third quarter.

Source:  NTREIS
 
… (1 comments)

Homes For Sale - Richardson, TX - 3517 Monmouth - 07/05/10 10:58 AM
 
4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 3126 SF
Homes For Sale - Richardson, TX - Beautiful new construction on oversized lot with dramatic entry. Large island kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and custom Maple cabinets. Master bath with dual vanities has oversized shower and walk in closet. Designer touches include crown molding, rounded corners, and art niches. Game room and media room great for entertaining. Many energy features. Ready October, 2010. 
Click here for more details and photos.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit - Tom Branch

… (0 comments)

Warning! Online Rental Scam Targets Real Estate Listings - 07/04/10 05:28 PM
This story began a couple of weeks ago when we noticed a marked increase in drive-by and Internet calls on a listing we had in Plano.  The home was listed for just over $425k and was listed for lease with a property management company for almost $3k per month.  Many of the callers were trying to verify the $1000 a month lease price! 
We finally got one of the callers to tell where they had found the property. We did some investigating and found this to be the most elaborate scam we've seen to date. 
The scam artist takes real listing … (5 comments)

The Branch Team Selects MobiCentric for Mobile IDX Solution - 07/04/10 12:02 PM

Tom and Gina Branch (The Branch Team) have selected MobiCentric to provide a new mobile IDX solution. The Branch Team embraced mobile technology in 2009 releasing DFW Home Search for the iPhone and going live with a mobile edition of their website.  While pleased with the initial effort, they wanted a more robust and browser aware solution.
With over 20 years of real estate and technology experience, MobiCentric is committed to enabling real estate professionals leverage the mobile web to grow their business. Their primary goal is to provide Mobile Websites and Mobile Marketing Tools to real estate agents and brokers. Their mobile website … (0 comments)

The Branch Team Launches Enclaves At Willow Crest Website - 07/04/10 11:39 AM

Welcome to The Enclaves at Willow Crest in Plano, Texas! If location is your main concern, look no further than The Enclaves at Willow Crest, conveniently located just east of the Dallas North Tollway and south of 121. The world is at your fingertips. Endless shopping opportunities, professional sports venues, fine dining, nearby golf courses and more!
Parents will be more than pleased with the educational opportunities afforded by schools in the recognized Frisco ISD. Children attend nearby Riddle Elementary and the community is served by Liberty High School.
Fine shopping centers featuring high-end and specialty retailers only a short distance away include Stonebriar Centre, the Shops at Legacy, … (1 comments)

Homes For Sale - Richardson, TX - 3521 Monmouth - 07/02/10 11:59 PM

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2200 SF
Homes For Sale - Richardson, TX - Beautiful new construction on oversized lot with dramatic entry. Large island kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and custom Birch cabinets. French doors lead to private study. Formal dining has picture frame molding and chair rail. Master bath with dual vanities has oversized shower and walk in closet. Designer touches include crown molding, rounded corners, and art niches. Many energy features. Ready October, 2010. 
Click here for more details and photos.
Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit - CB-Jeni Homes (Drawing) & Tom Branch … (3 comments)

 

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