The good news about living in Texas is that the real estate market is still strong.  All of Texas, but specifically the Dallas area is still seeing steady home sale numbers.  If you are thinking about buying or selling your house, don't let the fear of a down market scare you off.  There is plenty of good news and still some great deals to be had.

I would love to help you get a house listed or start your home search.  I specialize in the Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Celina and Allen markets.  I am certain that I can help you to find exactly what you are looking for. 

Check out the information below from the Dallas Morning news - it is very encouraging!

  

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
stevebrown@dallasnews.com

 

Second-quarter Texas home sales rose for the third period in a row compared to year-earlier transactions, the Texas Association of Realtors said Monday.

Existing single-family home sales were up 14 percent from second quarter 2009.

Sales increased 12.38 percent in Dallas, 14.9 percent in Fort Worth, 20.32 percent in Irving and 20.77 percent in Garland, according to the quarterly report. Sales also rose by 11.01 percent in Collin County and 18.45 percent in Denton County.

The Realtors attributed the increase to an improving economy in the state and a jump in homebuying caused by federal tax credits, which expired in April.

"We're encouraged to see continued strength in Texas' real estate market as 2010 marches forward," Texas Association of Realtors chairman Bill Jones said in the report.

Statewide median home sales prices were virtually unchanged at $149,200.

12:06 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Texas pre-owned home

sales rise 14 percent

The Dallas area has so many good suburbs with affordable housing options. Some of the best options are north of Dallas in the cities of Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Allen and McKinney. Any of these great cities have all of the amenities that you could need with schools, shopping, parks, activities, and housing for any budget. I would love to help guide you to some of the best neighborhoods for your budget if you are looking in any of these areas. I have become an expert in these areas and specialize in getting you a great deal for your money! When you go to buy the home that is right for you, it is always important to make sure that you have a home you can afford, especially in this economy. The good news for the Dallas area is that it seems to have survived well in this tough enconomy due to the affordable housing options. See the article below about Dallas forclosures being lower than the national average. Please let me know if I can help you with any real estate needs that you have! Report: 90-day delinquency rate on mortgages dips in Dallas area 07:37 AM CDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010 By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News stevebrown@dallasnews.com Fewer Dallas-area homeowners are seriously behind in their mortgage payments. In June, 5.41 percent of area residents with home loans were 90 days or more late on payments, researchers at CoreLogic said Wednesday. That's down from a peak serious-delinquency rate of 6.09 percent in February. But it's still higher than the 4.59 percent rate a year earlier. Dallas-area mortgage delinquencies are well below the national average of 8.05 percent. Borrowers who haven't made payments in 90 days or more are considered most likely to lose the property. The percentage of local homeowners in foreclosure is 1.43 percent, less than half the national average in June, CoreLogic found. Local home foreclosure rates peaked in March at 1.51 percent.

So many people these days are asking if this is the right time to buy or not.  It is such a great time to consider buying a new home!  There are so many opportunities in the Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Celina and McKinney area.  There are still some great deals out there to be had!  There is some great information in the article below from the Dallas Morning News. 

Home sales are up overall and the housing market is a great place to be in!  Mortgage rates are still low and there are a lot of homes to pick from.  It is good news for sellers too!  Since home sales are up, the market is starting to come back and prices are starting to rebound.  If you have a great house, in good condition, with lots of updates - your home will likely sell quickly for a good price!

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help with your real estate needs!

 Click here to read the Dallas Morning News Article    

 

 

 

 

There are lots of factors to consider when picking the suburb that is the best fit for you and your family.  It is important to think about average home price, schools, shopping, access to highways and roads, activities available in the area, etc..  The north Dallas area has so many good suburbs, and each of them have their own benefits.

In the 2010 D Magazine ranking of Dallas's best suburbs, both Allen and Prosper made it into the top 5 this year!  Frisco and Plano rounded out the top 20!  And McKinney is close at number 24.  All of these cities have so much to offer with good schools and great neighborhoods.  They are all growing economically with retail centers, highways, parks, and entertainment venues being built around each corner.

Check out the article in D Magazine for more information.

I would love to help you find the right suburb for you!  Please feel free to contact me with questions.  I am an expert serving the Frisco, Plano, Prosper, Celina, McKinney, and Allen areas.

It is so exciting for Dallas to finally get the superbowl at the new Cowboy's statuim.  It is something that this city has waiting far to long for, and it is our chance to shine!  In the article below in D Magazine, it mentions that this is a great opportunity to let the businesses in the area really shine.

It is the hope that the country falls in love with the Dallas area just the way that we have, and that there will be many super bowls to come in the future.  The Dallas area is already a great place to live, but exposure on this level is only going to make it more desireable.

Check out the artilce and get pumped up for the Super Bowl!  With any luck, our very own Dallas Cowboys will be playing in it!  Well...  I can dream right!

If you are thinking of selling your home, one of the first steps is to determine the list price. It is essential to list your home at the right price and it is important to get it right the first time. The pricing of a house is a major component in ensuring that your home sells quickly.

There are several things to consider when finding the price that is right for your house:


1. Abandon your Personal Bias
In order to determine the market value of your home, you must objectively establish what someone else would pay for your house. This means setting aside your emotional attachment to the many wonderful memories you have shared in your home. Some things to consider when determining the price of your home: total square footage, floor plan, construction quality, condition, amenities, lot size, topography, view, landscaping and neighborhood.

2. Educate Yourself
Visit local open houses and compare the location, condition, size and amenities of these houses to your own as objectively as possible. If your house is located in a neighborhood that is highly in demand, you will be able to get a higher price than you can for the same house in a less desirable area. A house that has been well-maintained will show better and, therefore, is likely to sell more promptly and for a higher price than one that needs work. When a house offers amenities that are currently popular in the marketplace, it will invite a higher price.

3. Get Comparable Market Analysis from your Real Estate Agent
As your real estate agent, I will give you a full Comparable Market Analysis after examining what comparable homes have sold for in your neighborhood in the recent past. Drawing upon my knowledge of other homes within the area, I will determine what I believe to be an approximate value of your home that we may use together to determine the final listing price.

4. Calculate the Price per Square Foot
Using homes from the Comparable Market Analysis, divide the list price by the total square footage. This will establish a baseline value per square foot of homes in your area. Multiply this number by the total square footage of your house and adjust based on amenities.

5. Consider Market Conditions
How is the economy? Interest rates? Local job market? What season is it? Homes tend to sell more quickly in the Spring and Summer months than in the Winter because people prefer to move during the longer warmer days and between school years. Are prices of homes in your neighborhood on the rise? Are they selling quickly? Check your Comparative Market Analysis to determine the days on the market for each comparable house sold. When real estate is booming, houses may sell in a few days. Ask your local real estate agent if it is a buyer's or seller's market. The Unsold Inventory Index, which indicates the pace of the market, is calculated by measuring how long it would take for all the homes currently on the market to be sold at the current rate of sales. A smaller index signifies a seller's market, whereas a higher index suggests a buyer's market. The Price Discount is the percentage difference between the seller's initial asking price and what the house actually sold for. A small percentage means the market favors sellers, while a large average discount signals a buyer's market.

6. Offer Incentives
Be creative and flexible in meeting the buyer's needs. For example, offering a short escrow will attract buyers who want to move immediately. You might propose paying the buyer's closing costs to seal the deal. Cash incentives will help first-time buyers who need assistance with their down payment.

I would love to help you with finding the right price for your house, so feel free to give me a call! 

Tonya Peek  214-356-4472

 

Grand entry & sweeping staircase welcomes you home! Gorgeous hardwoods, Spacious family room features raised hearth stone fireplace & flows nicely into breakfast area & kitchen so no one is left out of conversations. Master suite on 1st floor is separated from 2cd bedroom and bath by two story family room & kitchen. 2nd floor has playroom, plus media room,and three bedrooms & two baths

Directions: N. 75 exit 29, rt.on Park Blvd,turns into Betsy, go East to Westminister, Left into Rolling Ridge,Left on Garden Laurel to Laurel Hill

 $365,000

4037 sq ft

Rollin Ridge in Murphy

 

 

 

TONYAPEEK.com                   214-356-4472 

 

IMMACULATE CONDITION WITH 2 COVERED PATIOS SITTING ON A .37 ACRE LOT IN THE HIGHLY DESIRED GATED STARWOOD. THIS 5 BDR 4.5 BATH 3 CAR GARAGE HOME BOAST BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOORS , A SPACIOUS KITCHEN WITH GRANITE & SUB ZERO FRIDGE, UPDATED FIXTURES, PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING. THE FAMILY ROOM LOOKS OUT TO THE POOL AND OUTDOOR LIVING AREA THAT IS PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING WITH PRIVACY, FIREPLACE, GRILL, TV AND STILL TONS OF GRASSY AREA.

Directions: NORTH ON DALLAS tOLLWAY LEFT ON LEBANON. LEFT ON STARWOOD. LEFT ON TEXAS

 699,000

4373 sq ft

When shopping for your dream home it is important to find a house that you love, but that is also within your budget.  I would be happy to help you go through your budget and narrow down a price range that will fit for you.

I specialize in the Frisco, Plano, Celina, Prosper and McKinney areas, and there are some great homes and wonderful neighborhoods for all price ranges!  The Dallas area real estate market is showing signs of improvement.  New home sales are up, forclosures are down, and people are starting to make their payments on time.

Check out this great article in the Dallas Morning news about the turn around with mortgage payments.  Click here to read the article.

Feel free to give me a call or send me an email if you are interested in finding a new home!  I would be happy to help!

Is anyone looking for some good family fun activities this summer in the north Texas area?  There are lots of activities to check out of all different flavors!

If fireworks are your thing, 4th of July in Dallas has a lot to offer. Cities like Addison, Plano and Frisco all have days of events planned over the holiday weekend with something that is sure to fit everyone!

Plano Fireworks

Frisco Fireworks

Addison Fireworks

In addition to fireworks, the city of Frisco offers a great rec center with an indoor and outdoor water park that has areas for kids of all ages.

You can also check out the Hawaiian Falls water park.  With one in north Garland and one in the Colony, there are plenty of near by places to keep cool this summer without having to drive to far.

Hawaiian Falls

Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with this summer.  I am happy to help with real estate needs in the Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Propser, and Celina areas!

What a great place to live!