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Wow save up to $60,000 off original build price of $220,000!  Builder ready to pull out of community.  Selling model home with all furnishings in Lancaster, Texas!  2367 square feet, 3 bedroom, Study, 2 bath, 2 dining one story home.

This home is loaded with upgrade brick and stone elevation, full gutters, wood floors, solid surface countertops, generous landscaping, separate vanities, jetted tub and tile shower…upgrades galore.  At this price you get the appliances, furniture and decorations!  You can’t beat it.

For more information, call Cody 972.365.0432 to schedule your viewing or see more photos.  This home won’t last long at this amazing price!!

Article by W. Cody Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders

Contact Cody at 972.365.0432 or Cody@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com

Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone.  We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees!  Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.

According to data released Tuesday, February 24th by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, U.S. home prices fell 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2008 and have dropped 8.2% over the past 12 months.  That’s the largest four-quarter drop in the history of the index. 

While the national purchase-only house price index fell 8.2% between the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008, prices of other goods and services rose 1.4%. Accordingly, the housing agency said, the inflation-adjusted price of homes fell approximately 9.6% over the latest year.  Many are hoping that the new housing initiatives put forth by President Obama will begin to provide stability to the housing markets.

Of the 20 cities with the greatest price declines over the past four quarters, all but one — Las Vegas — were in California or Florida. The areas with the sharpest depreciation over the year were in California: Merced (9.5%), Stockton (40.2%) and Modesto (37.8%).  These are the areas the media focuses on when reporting the housing decline.  When panic ensues, it’s good for the news business.  However, they often only report half of the truth.

In all but 87 of the 292 metropolitan areas tracked by the housing agency, prices dropped at least somewhat year over year. On a five-year basis, though, just 26 metro areas are in negative territory, mostly from economically devastated Michigan and now-deflated inland areas of California.

2008 was not great for much of the country.  House prices rose over the past year in just six states: Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.  Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland and Nevada fared the worst. 

North Texas fared well through turbulent 2008.  In the fourth quarter of 2008, prices rose in Dallas-Plano-Irving by 0.17%  In Fort Worth-Arlington, prices rose 1.14%  While those are not record gains, they’re not losses either. Most of the rest of the country would have loved an increase or to break even.  Both areas also had increases for the year in 2008, 1.86% and 1.21% respectively.  The five-year gains are even more impressive.  Dallas-Plano-Irving has increased by 15.84%, while Fort Worth-Arlington has increased by 15.88%.

North Texas is still a great place to buy a home.  Our job market is strong, and the statistics prove that our housing market is strong as well.  With the newly passed $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, and the available inventory, now is the time to take the step into home ownership.

Wrtiten by Chad Underwood, Owner/Broker, North Texas Home Finders.  Chad@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com, 972/672-1744.

NEW Home w/Foreclosure Price without the Hassle in Wylie area near Firewheel

3/2/2..about 1518 sq. ft…open layout so feels larger

This home is priced to sell. Originally 159K…this builder is wanting it gone now..and will sell for $139,900.

Home is in a Master Planned community with ponds, trails, exercise center and more…

Minutes from Firewheel Mall

Front of Home
Front of Home

kitchen3den2

Please call Amy Underwood for more information on this reduced price home, or any other homes in the DFW area. If you visit our site:  www.NorthTexasHomeFinders.com    please put “Amy” in the How Did You Hear About Us… Call 972-921-8787 Amy’ cell

Yes, you can save $100,000 on certain new construction foreclosures in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.  The pricing on these homes are going to be $400,000 to $1 Million.  It is a common misconception that you can buy a $200,000 home for $100,000 in this marketplace.  We simply are not in that bad of shape. 

Big local builders that have crashed and burned lately have been forced to liquidate their inventory.  This is high-end construction.  The first time home buyer market is still very strong.   There are some beautiful homes that were selling for $450,000 now priced at $350,000 over in the McKinney area.

Remember that foreclosures are sold as-is.  In many cases, the builder had not yet completed the home.  So buyer beware.  You might need to get the final certificate of occupancy from the city, after paying fines and completing repairs, before you can close on your new home.  A buyers rep can help you with this process!  In some cases however, you simply need to purchase appliances and you are all set.  It is imperative that you hire a 3rd party inspector when you purchase a foreclosure.  You want to make sure you know what you are purchasing.  The last thing you need is to re-create “The Money Pit” movie!

For help finding a good deal on your new home, call the Robinson Team at 972.335.0571.  We know the market and if it is out there we will find it!

Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. Need help with a pre-owned home, we do that too! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.

 

This beautiful new home is 2795 sq. ft., 4 BR, 3 BA, game room, media room, extensive ceramic tile, upgraded cabinets, and a huge backyard that backs to a creek and greenbelt.  The builder will even install a gate in the back fence to access the greenbelt area.

This home is currently priced at $199,990.  With a few more upgrades installed, you can get into this home for around $185,000.  If you act quickly, you can take advantage of the builder buying down the interest rate to 4.75%, and still get $5000 towards closing.

We all love a good theme park.  Especially one like Disneyland.  It is clean, the workers area always happy, even waiting in the long lines doesn’t seem so bad.  A state of happiness sets in and you really don’t mind paying $10 for a soda or $50 for lunch. 

This same kind of effect can happen to you at a model home.  I know.  I worked on that side for over 7 years.  As a builder rep you are supposed to create a “Happy Place” where your customers feel at ease and at home immediately after walking in.  Think about the last model home you visited…did you have warm fresh baked cookies waiting for you?  Where there tons of baloons around making the place look like you just walked into a party?  Was there nice music playing in the background?  All these are marketing pieces that put together help create a warm, inviting, and relaxing atmosphere.

Next, the on-site rep will become your “friend”, after all they know the most about the community, area, etc, right?  Wrong!!!  Never forget that the on-site rep is not looking after your best interests.  They are paid by the builder to watch the bottom line and sell homes.  Many on-site reps are friendly enough and will do what they can within limits to “take care” of you, but only a true Buyer’s Representative can do the job effectively. 

A buyer’s rep will make sure that the “Disneyland” effect doesn’t set in the minute you walk in the model home.  They will make sure that you are purchasing the home that meets your specific needs and most importantly budget.  Remember, this service is free to you!  Builders set aside marketing money so Realtors will bring in clients and help them sell their inventory.  You will not save this money on a purchase of a new home if you go in without representation.  In fact, in many cases you end up paying more money on your own than with a seasoned buyer’s rep.

Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone.  Need help with a pre-owned home, we do that too! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.

You may have read on this very blog about the potential $15,000 tax credit that Congress has been working on.  It’s created quite a buzz for home buyers everywhere.  Well, most likely that buzz has been killed.

The latest word on the Stimulus Bill is that the $15,000 home buyer tax credit will either be eliminated or reduced to a $8,000 credit.  Also, it may only apply for first time buyers (much like the current $7,500).  Will it have to be repaid?  At this point no one knows for sure, but my guess is that the answer will ultimately be no.

The past week has provided us with much speculation on what will happen.  The bottom line is that there is no way to know until the bill is signed by President Obama, which will most likely happen within the next week.  Until the ink has dried, I’m going to try to stop thinking about it.  It’s giving me a freaking headache!

Article by W. Cody Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders

Contact Cody at 972.365.0432 or Cody@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com

Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone.  We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees!  Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.

“I’m just looking to see what’s out there.”  I’ve heard this phrase a few times recently.  The problem is, I’m not exactly sure what it means.  Are you just curious about the market?  Are you looking for something in particular?  Are you ready to buy when you see what you want?  Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never been one shop and shop and shop.  If there’s something I want, I do a little research, but then I’m ready to buy. 

Okay, now that you’ve seen what’s out there.  What’s next?  If you’re looking to buy, what will move you to action?  Historically low interest rates?  Check, we’ve got them.  The lowest home prices in years?  Check, we’ve got those too.  Do you want a fixer-upper?  Check, we’ve got plenty of foreclosures and short sales that are sold as is, and that need plenty of work.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for now, within reason, it probably doesn’t exist.

We are in a buyers’ market.  That means if you’re buying, it’s never been better.  We can help almost anyone with realistic expectations.  If you’re expecting to get get $75k off a home that’s worth $150k, you’re not being realistic.  Too many people have bought into the national media’s portrayal of “the” real estate market.  Texas is still far better that most of the nation.  Builders and sellers are not giving homes away.  Are there fantastic reductions and discounts available?  You betcha.  These last few months I’ve seen the biggest drops in pricing from homes builders that I’ve seen in 3 years.

Here is the secret and the key to getting one of those fantastic prices on a new home.  When it’s presented to you, you must be ready to act immediately!  If you don’t move quickly, someone else will snatch the deal away from you.  You’re not the only one looking for a big discount.  If you’re not ready, the next guy or girl will be.  Not only have I seen the lowest prices in years, but I’ve also seen my share of people missing out on them.  Why?  They really weren’t ready to buy.  The big spectacular home comes along an an unbelievable price, and they hem haw around.  When they finally decide to act, the home is gone.  Then they wait for the next one, but that may have been the only one at that price.

What is the moral to the story.  If you simply want to “see what’s out there,” contact any Realtor and have them set you up on an automatic MLS e-mail campaign.  You’ll get bombarded with everything available.  If you want a great home, at a great price, with the features you want, get prequalified for your a mortgage, then contact a professional who will work for you.  Let us do our job.  But when we find the home that fits your criteria, be ready to act.

Rant provided by Chad Underwood, Owner/Broker, North Texas Home Finders, 972.672.1744, Chad@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com

It’s crucial to do your research before pricing your home to sell  in a buyer’s market. A knowledgeable Realtor should be able provide you with information on the current market conditions in your area.  A seller must realize that the home they bought in a “seller’s market”  just a few years ago, may not have appreciated as much as they would have liked. Here are a few things that sellers need to realize before pricing strategically in the current market.

1. Housing Markets are Local: Markets in TX are very different than in other states like CA or MI, for example. Just because some real estate markets are selling at an all time low, does not mean that houses in Dallas, TX, are selling at the same low margins. Even within the Dallas TX market, you have upscale areas like Grapevine or Highland Park that tend to maintain resale values better than the some of the newer suburbs to the north or south of Dallas. To price your home for a quicker sell, your Realtor can pull ”sold” comps for your neighborhood in the last six months to price your home accordingly.

2. Who is Shopping in your Housing Market?: Knowing the type of buyers who may be looking at your neighborhood may also help you. Growing areas like Frisco or McKinney, for example, are full of transplants. These areas are full of many new home builders offering tremendous discounts to buyers. These new homes may make it harder for you to sell your existing home, so it is crucial to de-clutter, stage and price your home to appeal to buyers looking at new construction.

3. Is it Time to Sell?: You might realize that now is not the best time to sell. After talking to many real estate professionals and seeing what is going on in your market, it might be best to wait six months, or a year.  If you cannot wait, then price your home strategically, so you can make up for the loss by getting a really good deal when purchasing your new home.

If you need help buying or selling your home, please call Amy Underwood at North Texas Home Finders …972-921-8787. Or contact me via e-mail: Amy@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com

Teresa from North Texas Home Finders here, with the Hot Home Deal of the Week.  Remember if this home is not in the area you are looking for, we have others.  Just call!

  

This Little Elm beauty is located in a master planned community close to the Lake.  You will love all the upgrades in this 3,056 square foot home with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bath, media room and game room all in a 1.5 story home.  All bedrooms are on the main level with the entertainment on the 2nd level.  Stainless Steel appliances and granite countertops accent the spacious kitchen.  Check out all the beautiful tile work!

 

This home was priced at $246,032.

Clients of North Texas Home Finders Price $220,000!!

You Save $26,032 with us on your side.

 

Call today!  This home won’t last long.  What a great Valentine’s Day present to give yourself!  Call Teresa at 214..475.1957 or Cody at 972.365.0432 to schedule your exclusive viewing or to see more photos!  You will love the brick elevation on this home.

 

Remember, if you are already working with a Realtor, we cannot help you.  We are licensed buyer’s reps that not only find you a great deal on a new home, but also save you money on the financing.  Oh, by the way, our services are free to you!