City of Allen Fire Station Number 5 - 09/30/11 05:14 PM
If you’ve driven along McDermott Road, west of US75, you may have noticed that Allen’s Fire Station Number 5 is just about completed. Station 5 is the fourth substation and was approved by the city’s voters in the 2007 Capital Improvement Bond Election. Construction began in 2010.
A highlight of the building will be reclaimed fire ladders twisted into a sculpture for the public and firefighters to enjoy. The ladders are in the shape of a flame by Artist Christopher Fennell.
On his website Fennell says, “The materials I use have been cast out by society, for example: demolished barns, broken … (0 comments)

Plano TX Home For Sale 3113 Austin - 09/30/11 01:21 PM

4 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2607 SF/Tax Plano TX Home For Sale - Priced $38K below appraisal, this Highland home is a bargain. Needs carpet, paint and a little TLC. Large island kitchen opens to family room with soaring ceilings. Master and study with French doors are down and 3 bedrooms and game room up. Features include hardwood floors, plantation shutters, art niches, and a beautiful custom fireplace. Enjoy the neighborhood pool and park. Exemplary elementary school. Easy access to Hwy 121 and the Tollway.
Click here for Current Pricing, Details, Photos, and Virtual Tour.
See … (1 comments)

Historic Low Rates Cannot Solve The Problem - 09/30/11 09:00 AM

Maybe Washington is finally getting the idea. Ben Bernanke recently said, “Historic low rates cannot solve the problem” and “strong housing policies to help the housing market recover are needed to advance a tepid U.S. economy.”
Given the current lending environment, many potential buyers either cannot or will not commit to purchasing a home. There are also thousands of investors waiting on the sidelines with deep pockets of cash to invest. There are simply too way obstacles and economic concerns.
Last year’s Federal Tax Credits spurred activity for a few months but it quickly tapered off as the deadline … (21 comments)

Twin Creeks Allen TX Market Report August 2011 - 09/25/11 10:11 PM


August 2011 Statistics:
Status:
Active – 56
Contingent – 4
Kick Out - 1
Under Option – 2
Pending Sales – 0
Sold – 13
Solds:
Average sales price per square foot - $113.37
Average Days on Market – 48 Days
August was a relatively slow month for real estate in the north Dallas area in general. With daily temperatures over 100 degrees, people were not out looking at homes. What the numbers do show is that homes that show well and are priced right continue to sell in any market.
See all Homes for Sale in Twin Creeks … (0 comments)

Excitement is in the Air over The Preserve in Allen - 09/25/11 01:21 PM

If you’ve driven by the project in the past few weeks, you will have noted that it has really taken shape. The roads are in and the land along McDermott Road has been leveled opening up the view.
We spoke to Toni Petty with Ashton Woods on Saturday to get an update on the progress being made. They expect to have approval from the City of Allen to begin building by the first week of November. The model home should begin about mid-November and be ready by early January 2012.
We have copies of the floorplans, but they have not … (0 comments)

A Greyhounds’ Blog - 09/22/11 02:21 PM

Hi. My name is Gracie and I am 6 years young. My Mom wanted me to write this since she felt it would be best described from a “GREYT” prospective.
My Mom adopted me in February of 2009. She told me she always loved the regal stance and peaceful demeanor of the greyhounds she had met. Unfortunately Mom had to say goodbye to two previous hounds (Basenji’s) at the same time due to age and illness. It broke her heart and she was so very sad. They were rescues too.
While her heart healed she began to consider fulfilling her … (11 comments)

Another Happy Home Buyer in Allen TX - 09/22/11 01:41 PM

4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2682 SF/Tax
Handing over the keys is one of the best parts of working with home buyers. It's the culmination of weeks or months of work. We work hard to make sure each client has a great buying experience.
"We were out-of-town Buyers with no local contacts and picked The Branch Team after a computer search. From the first time I spoke with Tom I had the utmost confidence in his capabilities and knowledge of current market conditions. Over the course of the Looking / Buying phases he demonstrated the highest … (0 comments)

Just Say No to Unwanted House Guests - 09/18/11 01:59 AM
We've been through a long drought in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Yesterday we received the first substantial rain since May. While the cooler temperatures and the rain are a welcome sight for many of us, the fire ants hate it!
The ants will be looking to relocate their nests to higher and drier ground. Within a few hours of the rain beginning, the ants will pack up and start moving. The ants are more than happy to move in with you!
Homeowners should walk around their homes and look for any mounds or trails along their foundations. These mounds or … (9 comments)

Allen TX Home For Sale 424 Shady Valley - 09/16/11 01:16 PM

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2321 SF/Tax Allen TX Home For Sale - Move-in ready, single-level Drees home. Bright kitchen has breakfast bar that overlooks the family room with built-ins and wood-burning fireplace. Master suite has jetted tub, separate shower, dual vanities, and walk-in closet. Open floor plan with split bedrooms and study with French doors. Large backyard and patio is perfect for entertaining. Community amenities include pool, park, and playground. Easy access to Shops at Allen and US75.
Click here for Current Pricing, Details, Photos, and Virtual Tour.
See all Homes For Sale in … (0 comments)

Outdoor Adventures in Collin County - 09/14/11 06:50 PM

We’ve come to know “cabin fever” much too well during this summer of extreme heat. Driving to a client’s home most recently, I observed all that Collin County (Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Richardson) has to offer in outdoor recreation.
Needless to say, the recent glimpse of cooler weather brings to mind the welcome of outdoor pleasures once again. Nature provides a comfort and a relaxing peace of mind. It’s a time to be “mindless” of events in daily life.
Another great feature of Collin County’s outdoor recreation are the subdivisions located close to the multitude of trails, parks, nature … (2 comments)

Dallas TX Home For Sale 10824 Saint Michaels - 09/14/11 04:21 PM

4 Bedrooms | 3.1 Baths | 3 Living | 2 Dining | 2-Car Garage | 2936 SF/Tax Dallas TX Home For Sale - Updated single-level Preston Hollow home on large lot. Over $500k in updates. Bright kitchen has granite counters, stainless appliances, built-in refrigerator, and wet bar. Master suite has garden tub, dual vanities, separate shower, and dual closets. Gallery formals open to large family room with fireplace. A massive spa room has in-ground spa, sitting area, and separate HVAC. The lush backyard has an open patio that is perfect for entertaining.
Click here for Current Pricing, Details, Photos, … (1 comments)

What Are Rollback Taxes? - 09/12/11 12:16 AM

I recently sold a property out in the country. The home sits on about 7 acres and 6 of them have an agricultural exemption meaning the owner is using the land to produce a crop and the county does not tax the land used for crop production. This saves the owner about a thousand dollars in taxes each year in property taxes.
When the land is sold, the new owner may continue to produce the crop and claim the agricultural exemption. If they decide not to do so, the county will assess a rollback tax. The county will go back … (6 comments)

9-11 Audio Memorial - 09/10/11 05:33 PM

I received an email from Kellie Fitzgerald today with a copy of an audio memorial she had put together for a small radio station in Massachusetts. Kellie wrote:
"I knew the young woman whose voice is on the last message in the first piece. A reminder that all our connections, however brief are precious...and how while video told the story of what happened to the buildings, sound and audio recordings really told the story of what was happening inside."
As I listened to the 3 minute spot, I flashed back to that surreal day and my eyes filled up with … (1 comments)

Ridgeview Ranch Market Report August 2011 - 09/04/11 09:59 AM

Ridgeview Ranch is a master planned golf course development of about 885 homes located in the heart of north Plano. The community consists of four distinct communities – The Villages at Ridgeview Ranch, The Estates of Ridgeview Ranch, The Manors at Ridgeview Ranch, and Ridgeview Ranch West. Community amenities include two pools, a fitness center, playgrounds, parks, and the Ridgeview Ranch Golf Course. The original homebuider for the development was Centex Homes.
August 2011 Statistics: Status:
Active – 14
Contingent – 1
Under Option – 2
Pending Sales – 3
Sold – 2

Solds
Average sales price per square … (1 comments)

Farmersville TX Home For Sale 530 CR 547 - 09/03/11 12:57 PM

4 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 6.46 Acres with Pond | 3-Car Garage | 2013 SF/Tax
Farmersville TX Home For Sale - Custom designed home, 6.5 acres, trees, and pond! Slab on 36-pier foundation. Geothermal HVAC for true energy savings. Extensive hardwood flooring in all high traffic areas. Large family room with wood burning fireplace. Gourmet island kitchen with breakfast bar. Master suite is split away and has a jetted tub, separate shower, and walk-in closet. The upstairs storage has been finished out as a bedroom with a separate HVAC system. 3 Car garage.
Click here for Current Pricing, Details, … (3 comments)

The Grass Will Not Grow Under The Trees - 09/02/11 11:22 AM

I was chatting with a past client this morning. They love the house we found for them but they are unhappy with the lawn. The grass under the trees has all died off despite heavy watering.
It’s not a water problem; it’s a sunlight (really a lack of sunlight) problem!
When they purchased the home, the trees had been kept trimmed and thinned out allowing sunlight to reach the ground. Over the past couple of years, the new owners had not kept up with the trees. The Bradford Pear trees that line their driveway grow much quicker that the Live … (4 comments)

The Key to Leasing is Tenant Screening - 09/01/11 09:39 AM

With the shift from home ownership to leasing brought on by the aftermath of the mortgage crisis, more people see the long-term investment and cash flow potential of residential real estate as a good place to invest their money.
We’ve all heard the horror stories about the “tenants from hell” who fail to pay the rent and destroy the homes they’re leasing. These tenants cost the landlords an untold amount of money from lost income, expenses of eviction, and damage done to the properties.
The real question is, “How do we minimize the risk and avoid the tenants from hell?” … (12 comments)

 

Find TX real estate agents and Plano real estate on ActiveRain.