Buyers Choose Your Lender Carefully - 03/31/12 11:58 AM

We closed three sales yesterday. That's the good news. The bad news is two of them did not fund and there are two very unhappy buyers. I represent the sellers on both of them and while they did not fund on time, I had prepared my sellers that this could happen.
What's the moral of the story? Not all lenders are created equal!
I've originated mortgages as a mortgage loan officer with a mortgage brokerage, as a mortgage banker, and at an FDIC insured bank so I've seen all three sides of the mortgage business. Locally I know a number … (11 comments)

Just Do It! It Might Save Your Life - 03/31/12 06:49 AM

Turning 50 was no big event for me. Gina organized a big birthday party to celebrate the milestone. I felt like I was still 35.
I went in for my annual physical that year. Along with all the usual tests, my doctor ordered a colonoscopy. Call me naive but I had to go look that one up. All I knew was it involved my colon and a camera! After reading about the process, I put it off and put it off some more. It took over two years for me to get the test scheduled.
All the horror stories are … (3 comments)

Plano TX Townhome For Sale 6540 Federal Hall - 03/30/12 03:18 AM

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 1634 SF/Building Plan
Beautiful new construction townhome. Kitchen boasts granite counters, upgraded Maple cabinets, and stainless appliances. Relax in the upgraded master bath and enjoy the fenced back yard. Great location with restaurants, shopping, and movie theaters within walking distance. Ready April!
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this Plano TX Townhome For Sale.
Click here to see all townhomes for sale in Plano TX.
Contact us at 214-705-2470 for more information or to schedule a showing.
Photo Copyright 2011 Imaged2SellOriginally posted at http://www.thebranchteam.com/wordpress/2012/03/30/plano-tx-townhome-for-sale-6540-federal-hall/
… (1 comments)

Having Trouble Selling? Strip! - 03/27/12 04:37 AM
Now that I have your attention, let's talk about getting that home sold.
Many homes built prior to the early 1990's have wallpaper in many of the rooms. While it was trendy at the time, it's not in-style today. Many buyers simply cannot see beyond the wallpaper.
Below are pictures (click the photos for larger views) of a kitchen being remodeled. The white-washed cabinets have been refinished, the wallpaper has been removed, and the walls have been retextured and painted.

The good news is that the cost of removing the wallpaper, retexturing, and painting is relatively inexpensive. The owners of … (8 comments)

Plano TX Townhome for Sale 6560 Federal Hall - 03/26/12 06:47 AM

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 1634 SF/Building Plan
Beautiful new construction townhome. Kitchen boasts granite counters, upgraded Maple cabinets, and stainless appliances. Relax in the upgraded master bath and enjoy the fenced back yard. Great location with restaurants, shopping, and movie theaters within walking distance. Ready April!
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this Plano TX Townhome For Sale.
Click here to see all townhomes for sale in Plano TX.
Contact us at 214-705-2470 for more information or to schedule a showing.
Photo Copyright 2011 Imaged2SellOriginally posted at http://www.thebranchteam.com/wordpress/2012/03/26/plano-tx-townhome-for-sale-6560-federal-hall/
… (3 comments)

Texas REALTORS Leadership Program Class 7 - 03/25/12 07:20 AM

I was recently selected to take part in the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP). TRLP offers participants the opportunity to meet other motivated leaders and to share an intensive learning experience that focuses on community issues and leadership skills. The program provides participants with lectures, seminars, guest speakers, group discussions, and leadership exercises that address vital issues affecting REALTORS®.
Along with the other 19 members of Class 7, I attended a kick-off retreat at the Lakeview Camp and Conference Center in Waxahachie, Texas. This two-day retreat was packed with team building exercises and some solid information about the REALTOR® family … (3 comments)

Plano TX Townhome For Sale 6536 Federal Hall - 03/24/12 09:17 AM

2 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 1429 SF/Building Plan
Beautiful new construction town home with soaring 2-story foyer. Kitchen boasts granite counters, upgraded Maple cabinets, and stainless appliances. Relax in the upgraded master bath and enjoy the fenced back yard. Ready April 2012.
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this Plano TX Townhome For Sale.
Click here to see all townhomes for sale in Plano TX.
Contact us at 214-705-2470 for more information or to schedule a showing.
Photo Copyright 2011 Imaged2SellOriginally posted at http://www.thebranchteam.com/wordpress/2012/03/24/plano-tx-townhome-for-sale-6535-federal-hall/
… (0 comments)

Allen Texas Market Report March 2012 - 03/19/12 03:17 AM

The past couple of months has seen the housing market in Allen Texas come alive. Homes that are properly prepared, show-ready, and priced right are going under contract in days.
We were out working with a first-time home buyer this weekend. We found a great home that had been on the market for a couple of days. By the time we scheduled a second-showing, the property was under contract. We've seen this time and time again.
Our advice for buyers is to watch the market daily for new listings. Sites like this one are updated daily. If you find a … (0 comments)

Lots of Showings But No Offers - 03/18/12 04:14 AM
"I had lots of showings but no offers." I hear those words time and time again as I talk to sellers with recently expired listings. Most of the time they blame their agent for not generating an offer.
One of the primary roles of a listing agent is to market the property and drive traffic into the home. In my opinion it starts with great photography and getting all the details of the property into the marketing machine.
When I look at many expired listings I see poor or no photos and incomplete or minimal details available online. Most of the … (78 comments)

Plano TX Home For Sale 8710 Isaac - 03/18/12 03:13 AM

5 Bedrooms | 4 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 3262 SF/Tax
Beautiful new construction in Frisco ISD. Large island kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and custom cabinets. Master bath with separate vanities has garden tub and huge walk in closet. Designer touches include crown molding, bull nose corners, and art niches. Many energy features. Rembrandt III Elevation A. Ready May 2012.
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this Plano TX Home For Sale.
Click here to see all homes for sale in The Estates of Willow Crest, Plano TX.
Contact us at … (0 comments)

Brick Row Richardson TX Floor Plans - 03/17/12 07:43 AM

CB JENI Homes has released floor plans and some other information on their new Brick Row townhomes in Richardson, Texas.
There are four floorplans available -- Brady, Carson, Dalton, and Zoe. Sizes run from the 1371 square foot Brady to the 1979 square foot Zoe.
Standard features include stainless steel appliances, site-built 42 inch cabinets, granite in the kitchen and bath rooms, garden tub in the master, and much more. Energy saving features include radiant barrier, R38 insulation in the attic, and a nominal 16 SEER HVAC system.
The builder should break ground by the end of the month and … (0 comments)

The Preserve in Allen March 2012 Update - 03/16/12 07:13 PM
I dropped by The Preseve in Allen today. Things have really started to take shape.
The two model homes near the west side enterance are just about complete. We have been told that they will be complete and open for business by the end of March.
As I drove the neighborhood, I noted the lake is full and about six homes are well on their way to being completed.
When I last spoke to Ashton Woods, I was told that pre-sales have been brisk and many of the premium lots are already reserved.
Click here to read all our posts about … (1 comments)

Does Maximum Rent Equal Maximum Cash Flow? - 03/12/12 08:56 AM

I was out finalizing a lease for one of my clients yesterday. The listing agent was not available so I met with the owner of the property. My clients got stuck in traffic so we had some time to chat. The conversation turned to investment homes.
Many investors confuse rental rates with cash flow assuming that getting the maximum amount of rent equals maximum cash flow. I'll argue the opposite is usually true.
There are at least two hidden costs that need to be factored into the cash flow equation. The first is vacancy rate and the second is the … (12 comments)

Update on Brick Row Townhomes Richardson TX - 03/08/12 02:48 PM
We spoke with CB JENI Homes this afternoon to get an update on the Brick Row Townhomes being built to the east of the Spring Valley DART Station in Richardson, Texas.
The builder should be breaking ground on the first two buildings in the next two weeks. Each of the building has four townhomes. The builder will use one for their model home and sales office. The other seven will be available for presales.
The Brick Row Townhomes will range in size from 1200 to over 1900 square feet. Prices will start in the high $140's. Standard features will include site-built … (0 comments)

Please Rearrange Your Schedule! - 03/04/12 07:40 AM
I'm often amazed at the things sellers unknowingly do to make selling their homes more difficult.
I was scheduling showings for a buyer today. We have 9 properties to view and we are starting at noon. The order was set and showings were scheduled through our showing service.
About 2 hours after I set them all up, I get a call from the showing service. The last home of the day wants us to move our showing. The want us to show it before 12:30 or after 3:30 as their baby naps every day between these hours. Sadly I was not … (96 comments)

Frisco Texas Home For Sale 12884 Galaxy - 03/04/12 06:44 AM

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 2354 SF/Tax
Great home with 3 living areas and 2 dining areas zoned to Frisco ISD. Stacked formals lead to the kitchen with black appliances, breakfast area, and family room. Massive master suite with plenty of room for a sitting area, master bath has garden tub, separate shower, and a walk-in closet. Game room has plenty of space for a full-sized pool table. Open patio overlooks large back yard perfect for entertaining. Enjoy the Creekside at Preston community amenities.
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing … (0 comments)

 

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