Lisa's North Dallas Realty Blog

North Dallas Community

Tue, 27 May 2014 09:40:01 -0700

North Dallas Community I love the cities of North Dallas. No matter what type of lifestyle you are looking for, the metroplex has it all. There are beautiful landscapes of Frisco, Little Elm and Flower Mound, close knit communities of Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch and wonderful restaurants and nightlife of Plano, Uptown and Addison. No matter where you live in the area, you are only minutes away from fun, family and friends! Did you know: Most of the cities offer wonderful festivals fit for family and adults alike. There are the Wildflower and Balloon festivals in Plano, Grapefest in Grapevine, and Halloween in the Park, Libertyfest and Holiday lights in Farmers Branch. The libraries continually offer reading activities for the kids as well as outdoor amphitheater productions. Parks and trails abound in the area. There is always something wonderful to do! Did you know: The school districts in the metroplex are ranked among some of the best in the state. They offer exceptional education opportunities incorporating dual language programs, college preparedness and associate degrees, and millions of dollars in scholarships. The arts are well represented along with a wide range of competitive sports and academic programs. Did you know: There is also a wide variety of home types represented in the area. You can find quaint homes built in the 50s and 60s in many of the metroplex. There are new developments in process in almost all North Dallas cities. Ranch style homes, bungalows, traditional and luxury can be found in almost every city. Prices range from $60,000 to $3,000,000. Do you want to live in a golf course community? Do you want to live on a lake? Do you want a 3 car garage? Master on the main floor? A pool? You name it, we got it! Did you know: There are are hundreds of walking trails and parks in the North Dallas area. And nature abounds in the Spring Creek Forest in Garland, Arbor Hills Nature Center and Oak Point in Plano, Spring Creek Nature area in Richardson, and Blue Ridge in Allen. Carrollton boasts walking greenbelts throughout the city while Farmers Branch is bursting with rose bushes and well maintained landscaping. You don't have to venture into the country to experience the beauty of nature. Did you know: The shopping and dining cannot be beat! Save some cash and visit the outlet malls in Allen, Grapevine Mills in Grapevine, and the Sam Moon plaza in Farmers Branch. The upscale shopping malls include the Dallas Galleria, Stonebriar Mall in Frisco and NorthPark Center, which was named as one of the "7 Retail Wonders of the Modern World" by Shopping Centers Today. Many North Dallas cities are building outdoor malls. You can find them already in Allen Flower Mound and Frisco. Whether you're looking for hats and boost or gowns and crowns, you'll find it in the North Dallas metroplex. Did you know: Texans love their sports. The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars are both just minutes down I35 at the American Airlines Center. You can also see big name concerts and special events there. Down the road about 15 minutes you can cheer on the Texas Rangers and marvel at the wonder of The Dallas Cowboys gleaming stadium. There's AA Roughriders baseball and FC Dallas soccer in Frisco. And on any given fall Friday night, you can stumble upon that wild phenomenon known as Texas High School football. Did you know: Texans love their food. North Dallas restaurants are more than the Texan favorites of steak houses, barbecue and Tex Mex. Food is our passion and we'll surprise you with fresh seafood, eclectic bistros and fantastic worldly cuisines ranging from Brazilian to Indian to European. Addison is full of sports bars, fun restaurants music and fine dining. Plano's Legacy center feeds the chic and trendy. You will find family owned gems in Farmers Branch and Coppell. Did you know: You can visit the Bush library, and the Perot, Children's and 6th Floor museums . And you can see the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. The Dallas Zoo is minutes away while the Ft. Worth zoo just a few minutes more. The Dallas Arboretum is a must see every season. Many attractions can be accessed by the DART rail which has stations in Carrollton, Farmers Branch and many more North Dallas areas. There is no excuse to lack culture when you live in North Dallas. What else would you like to know? Ask me. I can help. Written by Lisa Watten-Contreras, REALTOR in North Dallas

Farmers Branch Texas, A City in a Park

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:53:22 -0700

Farmers Branch Texas, A City in a Park When you're looking for a place to live, finding the right house is just one priority. Community, schools and location are just as important. Farmers Branch can answer the call for all criteria. Homes Farmers Branch offers homes for all types of living. There are beautiful golf course lots in the Brookhaven Community, brand new townhomes near the Dart Rail, older established homes throughout the city as well as affordable apartments sprinkled around. You will see new, larger homes mixed in with older, smaller homes as the city experiences a revitalization. Pricing ranges from $80,000 to $725,000 for just about any size home you can imagine. For a free valuation of your home, click here. Community Farmers Branch is THE place to be for affordable community celebrations, culture and family fun. The Historical Park is home to several free events and concerts provided by the city. There are Symphony concerts, Independence day fireworks, Halloween in the Park and Holiday snow. People come from miles around to see the Holiday lights. There is a skate park at the recreation center and a new water park under construction. Wonderful library, parks and shopping complete the perfect place to call home. Schools The Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District was recently ranked 7th among the 200 largest districts in Texas. When you take a look at all the district has to offer, it's easy to see why. CFBISD boasts a unique immersion dual language program that begins in kindergarten. The middle schools emphasize the arts while the high schools all offer specific career academies that have been emulated by ivy league universities. A district focused on the success of all students, many can graduate with an associates college degree!! Check out the disrict website to learn much more about this amazing school system. Location Farmers Branch is centrally located to everything Dallas has to offer. Just north of downtown Dallas, and no more than 20-30 minute drive to Arlington, Ft. Worth, Frisco, Plano, and Flower Mound, FB is accessible to sporting events like the Cowboys, Rangers, Stars and Mavericks. FB is even closer to wonderful shopping at the Galleria, North Park and Sam Moon. Accordng to the FB website " Farmers Branch is home to more than 4,000 companies and more than 250 corporate headquarters, including JDA Software, Occidental Chemical, Iidon Security, Taco Bueno, SoftLayer Technologies and Maxim Integrated Products." Both DFW and Love Field aiports are close. The DART Rail runs right through FB. What more do you need? It's a great place to live and work! Take a look at Market Trends. Let me know when you are ready to make your move to Farmers Branch Texas. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Spring is the BEST time to sell your Home!

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:15:45 -0700

Spring is the BEST time to sell your Home! Let's look at the Why, Who and What of this market: WHY Consumers are dusting off the snow and venturing outdoors: After a really long and cold winter, people are getting out of the house and into the great outdoors. What better way to do that then to go looking at open houses? This is a great time to take advantage of the need for people to see the light of day and give them a destination - your home for sale! Get a FREE Home Valuation Report Inventory has been low creating a sellers market: This last year in Texas was a boom for sellers. The inventory of available homes was so low that buyers were crawling all over each other to grab the best homes. As a result, sellers had multiple offers from which to chose and the trend has continued into 2014. Take advantage now! Inventory will pick up - buyers will have more choices: The news has been reporting the low inventory so Spring will see more sellers try to capitalize on the market. It's a good idea to get your home on the market before it gets saturated. WHO Renter to buyer/first time buyers: Renters and first time buyers are finding that the $1,000 to $2,000 a month they pay in rent can pay for a good home. Lenders are stepping up to offer a multitude of information, advice and help for this buyer group. Growing Families: As families grow, so do their need for space. There are many wonderful homes in the North Dallas area situated close to parks, shopping and great schools. Would your current home be a great space for this population? Downsizing Empty Nesters: It's often a difficult decision to downsize your home. But empty-nesters, one income families and eco-friendly minded buyers can find that moving to a more suitable space leaves them free to spread their wings in other ways. Let's show them how your home can be a perfect fit for them. What Know what consumers want in a home: Active Rain,a Real Estate blogging site', over 1,500 agents to see what the "hidden gems" are that people look for now in a home. Data provided by ActiveRain.com. ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers. Stage your home: You could argue that in a seller's market it is not necessary to stage your home for showings. Let me assure you, it is a must no matter what the market. Your home could be lacking some key elements that a particular buyer is looking for in a home, but if it's clean with well placed furniture and SMELLS nice, they will often times overlook some of the criteria. You don't necessarily have to buy new furniture - but you do need to de-clutter, organize, clean, clean and more clean. And make sure there are no pet or cooking odors. I've seen clients walk right out of a house if the smell offended them and they never even saw the whole space. Hire a Real Estate professional: Yes, I am a Real Estate Agent and yes, I want you to call me to help you buy and or sell homes. But what I've learned from the years I waited tables in college, the years I spent in the medical field and now the time I've spent in real estate, is that the expertise a professional in the industry provides is invaluable. An agent will provide advice and counsel. She (I say "she" because I am a girl) will spend her days and nights finding suitable properties for you. She will spend her days and nights marketing your home through print, social media, agent communication, door to door marketing and everything else she can think of. She will know what an appropriate price should be and she will get you the best deal whether you are buying or selling. She will deal with all of the endless legal documents that you need to know about and she will make sure that they are processed timely. She will connect you with great lenders, inspectors and title companies. I could go on, but your eyes are probably glazing over. Contact me if you want more information. I hope this little blog has got you thinking about your real estate options in this crazy market. It's never been a better time to sell your home! Thank you for visiting my blog.

Carrollton Texas, The Heart of North Dallas

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:40:42 -0700

Carrollton Texas, The Heart of North Dallas If you're looking for the perfect spot to call home in the North Dallas area, look no further than Carrollton Texas. The city offers a variety of sizes and prices of homes. Carrollton has sustained a vital presence in the North Dallas area for 100 years. Because of this, you will find charming older homes with unique character as well as new, luxury homes in newer subdivisions, and everything else in between. Request a custom evaluation for your Carrollton Home. Location, Location, Location Carrollton is smack dab in the middle of anywhere you want to be in the metroplex. Carrollton was chosen as a hub for the DART rail so it has inexpenive access to all major events and employment. With easy access to I35, George Bush Freeway and 121, you are never far from the action. Community is Key Carrollton boasts 2 libraries, 2 recreation centers and many, many parks with walking and biking trails throughout the city. There's a water park, a nature preserve, and a pioneer museum. Old downtown Carrollton offers shopping, dining and several free community events each year including concerts and festivals. Innovative Education The CFBISD is a nationally recognized innovative school district. The district ranks competitively with others of it's size throughout Texas as it welcomes a wide range of cultures and strives to address each one. CFBISD has met the challenge of presenting a multitude of opportunities to it's families and students. It boasts an academy program where students can pick a career to study and experience. Many will graduate with an associates degree in their chosen fields which include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Cosmetology, Medical Fields, Law, Business etc... Ivy league schools have visited the high schools to emulate some of the programs! In the lower schools, CFBISD has launched a dual language immersion program where both English speaking and Non-English speaking students are taught curriculum in both English and Spanish! Extraordinario! Get more free Community Information and see what this city has to offer. Thank you for taking a look at this Community!