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157,000- 52K under Tax Roll of 209,000
2684 sq. ft built in 2004
3 bedrooms
2.1 bath
3 living areas..one could easily be a game room
2 car garage
Soaring ceilings with tall windows
This fantastic home is located in a cozy neighborhood just off Highway 5. Home is very private & backs to area of mature trees . Neutral colors & 2′ blinds throughout, vaulted ceilings & an in ground 12 x 15 ft. spa with remote control. Wonderful wood burning fireplace with marble surround, security system, 2 ac&heat systems. A must see in this price range. This is a short sale.
Please contact Amy Underwood at 940-464-7530 or cell- 972-921-8787 to view this property, or visit www.NorthTexasHomeFinders.com to see more great deals on properties. Please out “Amy” in the How Did You Hear About Us Section.
When buyers tell me the things that are important to them in buying a new home, proximity to work is mentioned a lot. While I agree that it should be a factor to consider, I’ve found that home buyers typically put too much stock in this item. Here are the top 5 reasons you should move this consideration DOWN on your list:
5) Having a bit of a commute can be a GOOD thing. Think about it, if you can take 30 minutes to unwind from work you’ll be a lot more pleasant when you arrive at home. You can use this time to get out of “work mode” and clear your mind for a good evening.
4) Lots of business gets done on the phone, and sometimes the best time to reach someone is while they are commuting. If you have a cell phone number for a client or potential client, you can make calls as you travel home, and sometimes making calls outside your office is healthy.
3) If you live too close to work, you’ll be tempted to work later, go back to work after returning home in the evening, or work lots of weekends. I’m all for a healthy work ethic, but it’s nice to be able to separate yourself from the office.
2) Living a little further away from work can give you ammunition when you approach your boss and ask for the ability to work from home part of the week. Telecommuting is all the rage right now, especially with gas prices through the roof. If you’ve ever wanted to work full or part-time from home, this is a good time to ask…and if you live a little further away, it’s easier to justify your argument.
1) Odds are you will live in your new home longer than you will stay at your current work location. Think about it. Consider the following factors: You could change companies, you could transfer to another location, your company could relocate. Not many people work in the same office for 5 years, yet that’s the average time people live in a home. Even if you currently live 5 minutes from the office, odds are that will change, often based on things outside your control.
Like I said, you should consider your job’s location in deciding on a new home — just consider the above list when you decide where to rank this factor in your list of important things.
Article by W. Cody Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders
Contact Cody directly 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. Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
“8 Major Renovations that Never Pay Off When Selling”
Some major renovations will never pay off. These top 10 don’ts will save you money in the long run! See what they are and save your money for your NEW home!
1. Put in Top-of-the-Line Carpet
If you have dated and dirty carpet, it is a good idea to remove it. But don’t replace it with the best carpet money can buy. Instead, install a mid-grade neutral toned carpet, at a modest price. Anything you choose will make the home look better, and you can save thousands of dollars over the luxury carpet.
2. Install High-end Appliances in Your Kitchen
No one will argue that New appliances are a good selling feature, but don’t go out and buy luxury appliances. Purchase a mid-grade stove and dishwasher if yours are dated, but don’t worry about buying a refrigerator, because many home buyers will most likely buy their own.
3. Retile Your Bathroom with Travertine
The bathroom should look clean and inviting, but it doesn’t have to look like a bathroom in a luxury resort hotel. Simply remove old dirty caulk around the tub and replacing it with fresh caulk. Also, a good cleaning with the proper cleanser will get that old tile sparkling. Buy new bath towels and put away all personal styling products from vanities, and you will be amazed at the transformation.
4. Paint Your Bedroom to Match the Bedspread
When home buyers see pink or purple walls, they can’t visualize living in the space. The buyers will just look at them and think of all the work they’ll need to do as soon as they move in. So, keep the walls neutral to compliment any decor, and show off the room they’ll live in. So if pink is your thing, resist and step away from the paint can!!
5. Install Expensive Custom Draperies
Expensive custom draperies will never match the furnishings of the new owner. If you must put something on the windows, choose basic panels, valances, or blinds. The look will be consistent throughout the home, and the buyer will see a clean slate to decorate to their own taste when they move in.
6. Paint the Outside a Color to Make Your House Different
You want your house to make a statement, but not because it’s painted with a trendy bold color. It should attract buyers by how well it fits into the neighborhood, not by how it sticks out like a sore thumb. The exterior might need touching up and a good power washing. Re-painting the front door will give your home a quick facelift, since that’s the first thing a buyer will see.
7. Cut Down All the Trees So People Can See the House
If “George of the Jungle” is swinging from your trees, then it might be time to cut them back. Also, if buyers cannot see your home from the curb, it’s costing you offers. Big mature trees are worth their weight in gold, so hire a tree-trimming service, so buyers can get a wonderful view of your home. Trees and shrubbery should enhance or frame your home, not cover it up.
8. Fill in Blank Walls and Fridge With Family Pictures and Artwork
You should remove as many family photos/pictures as you possible can. For one thing, you don’t want a lot of strangers looking at pictures of you and your children. Buyers might also feel like they are intruding on your space, and that is the last thing you want to happpen. In addition, home buyers should be able to visualize their own family pictures on the walls, not yours.
For help in finding your dream home in North DFW, please contact:
Amy Underwood (a)my@northtexashomefinders.com
Buyer Specialist/Realtor
North Texas Home Finders, LLC
Call: 940-464-7530
www.NorthtexasHomeFinders.com Put “AMY” in the ‘How did you hear about us section.”
One of the most common requests we get from new home buyers is to find them a great deal on a home in Frisco, TX. It makes me laugh to think that when Teresa and I moved to Frisco 12 years ago it was a quiet little community where you could still see the stars at night. No malls, no huge grocery stores, very few restaurants, and even fewer businesses. Our friends couldn’t believe that we had moved out to “the middle of nowhere”! My how things have changed.
Frisco is now a booming suburb of Dallas. Families have flocked her over the past decade, and for many good reasons. Frisco ISD is one of the most sought after school districts for families that want a quality education for their children. Businesses have chosen Frisco as home as well, and employment opportunities are numerous. You like shopping? You’ll LOVE Frisco! Also, surprisingly to most people, Frisco boasts one of the lowest tax rates in all of Dallas/Fort Worth.
Here are a few other facts about Frisco:
– Frisco was the first city in the United States to make the EPA’s “Energy Star” program a requirement as a minimum building standard for new homes
– Stonebriar Centre stakes the claim as being the largest mall in all of North Texas (and that’s saying something!)
– Frisco’s population hit the 100,000 mark in April, 2007
– Frisco has been named of of the fastest growing cities in America multiple times
– By late 2008, State Highway 121 construction is scheduled to be complete, providing six lanes of freeway access from DFW Airport to US Highway 75. Combine that with the recent expansion of the Dallas North Tollway to Highway 380, and Frisco has great access to any location in D/FW
If you’d like to learn more about this gem of a city, just send an email or call us directly. We’ve helped many families relocate to Frisco, and the number is growing every day!
Article by W. Cody 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. Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Occasionally, I get the request for a neighborhood without an HOA. In the newer communities around Dallas/Fort Worth, HOA’s are more common than not. So the question remains, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I’m like most other people, I don’t want someone telling me what I can and what I can’t do to and with my property. If I want to build the world’s largest storage shed in my backyard, and I want to paint in Honolulu Blue (in honor of my beloved Detroit Lions) I should be able to. Heck, I may even get creative and paint the logo on it myself. It’s my property, it should be my choice.
My neighbor, however, loves the Minnesota Vikings. He has decided to build a bigger shed, painted purple, with Vikings paraphernalia all over it. Now we’ve got a problem. I don’t want to see that ugly purple shed every time I walk into my backyard. Someone should tell him to do something with that thing.
Okay, I may have over-exaggerated a bit. However, it represents the truth. We all want to do what WE want to do without complaint. We just don’t want all our neighbors to have the same privilege. Neighborhoods without an HOA can have similar problems. I know of one community in the Lavon area that has beautiful homes on one-acre lots. They declined to have any strict deed restrictions when the community was developed. Consequently, one of the home owners decided to build a giant Quonset hut behind his house. This thing was huge, larger than the house in front of it. Needless to say, the devloper’s next community had more stringent deed restrictions. I’ve seen a community in Denton without an HOA – many yards are left untended, fences are falling down, non-running cars are left in driveways, etc. It brings everyone’s property values down, and makes it almost impossible to sell your house.
Overall, HOA’s are a good thing. Sure, it can feel like extortion at times, but it beats having knee-high grass in your neighbor’s lawn. HOA’s help keep the integrity of the community in tact. HOA’s also help keep all the common areas of your neighborhood in good shape, and in working order. I’ve heard numerous stories about the HOA Nazi that writes up any house with a single weed in the lawn. I’m sure there are a few out there; but when you’re ready to move up or downsize, and you put your home on the market, you’ll be thankful for the diligence of your HOA. Plus – you’ll be happy at closing when they pass on the HOA initiation fee!
Posted by Chad Underwood
C: So you want to buy a foreclosed home. Why?
B: Well, I’ve seen and heard in the news that we have a record number of foreclosures. I figure I can pick up a deal, maybe I can get a home for way under what it’s worth. If the bank wants to sell it bad enough, they will practically give it away.
C: Hmmm. Have you done any research into what it takes to buy a bank-owned property?
B: No. How hard can it be. All I have to do is find one and make an offer, right?
C: Not exactly. Do you have your financing in order?
B: No. I’ll do that when I find a house that I want.
C: Before a bank will even accept an offer on a foreclosed home, a letter of qualification from a lender or proof of funds (when paying cash) must accompany your offer. And, in many situations, there are multiple offers made on a home before one is accepted.
B: Oh, I didn’t know that. Well, I can at least shop around and see a few houses before I move on one.
C: The very best deals on foreclosures don’t last long. If the house is a real bargain, in a hot area, you can bet it will be scarffed up. Not only are there prospective homeowners on the prowl, but a ton of investors on are the lookout as well. When the home prices are low, investors recognize the importance of buying now. If you find a home you like, you have to be ready to jump on it.
B: But I hear every day about the number of foreclosures increasing.
C: There are more homes on the market, but the homes that sit on the market for a length of time usually need a lot of work. Foreclosed homes are sold “as is.” Do you have some extra cash to make necessary repairs once you buy the home?
B: Not really. I’d rather find a home that doesn’t need a lot of work. I’m also looking for a “no money down” type of loan.
C: Those homes are out there. But keep in mind, the bank that now owns the home calls all the shots. It some instances they require you get another prequalification through their preferred lender. They may or may not allow you to roll in closing costs. If they do allow it, they may only allow some to be rolled in, and not others. The bank can also take 3 – 7 days to get back to you once you make an offer.
B: There’s a lot more to this than I realized.
C: Let’s talk more about what you’re looking for in the home, where you want to live, and get you prequalified. Then, we will be able to find what direction make sense…
I have these types of conversations every week. At http://www.northtexashomefinders.com you will find brand new homes that have been discounted in price. After my clients have seen a few foreclosures, they quite often are ready to go back and look at new homes. If you’re particularly handy when it comes to home repair, you may enjoy working on a foreclosed home. If you’re like me – not very handy – you want to buy something that is move-in ready. We stand ready to help you either way. I just like my clients to know what they’re getting themselves into before getting started.
Posted by Chad Underwood
It seems like every day I see a flyer or get an email or see an ad from a Realtor offering 1% cash back for buyers. Seems like a good deal, right? I mean, why not get a $2000 rebate on that $200,000 dollar home you’re buying? It seems like a no lose situation! Here’s what I say: Be careful!
Indulge me for a moment and consider a hypothetical situation. Let’s say you are the victim of a car accident at the hands of a drunk driver. Let’s assume that you have a rock solid case against the guy that hit you. You talk to two attorneys about taking the case, and each agrees that you have a good case. They also each tell you that they will collect fees only if you win your case. One attorney says his fee will be 30% of your judgement. The other attorney says 30% would be his normal fee, but he’s going to give you a REBATE and discount his fee to 20%. You go with the 20% guy. No lose situation, right?
Your case goes to court and you win a judgement for $1 million. After the 20% cut, you net $800,000. Sounds like a great deal…that REBATE saved you $100,000!…………………..or did it? Maybe the other attorney didn’t offer a rebate because he doesn’t have to rebate his services — his clients choose him because he’s the best. He earns business on merit, not by buying it. What if you found out the other attorney, the “more expensive” one, gets his clients an average of $1.5 million in judgements on the exact type of case you had. Even after paying the full 30% of $1.5 million, you’d still net over $1 million. In this illustration, you didn’t save $100,000. You actually cost yourself over $200,000 — all because you fell for the REBATE TRICK.
What does this have to do with real estate? It just shows you that the amount of a rebate isn’t the only factor to consider when making a decision. We all know you don’t pay a buyer’s rep, so the only consideration many people think of is this: If I choose Agent A, she will give me $2,000 cash back. Agent B hasn’t offered to give me anything, so I must choose Agent A. WRONG! First, find out what the services entail. Maybe Agent A is offering the rebate because she doesn’t provide very comprehensive representation. Maybe Agent B understands the market and could save you tens of thousands of dollars off the price of the home you purchase. If that’s the case, you should choose Agent B every time.
The bottom line is this. A rebate offer from a Realtor is merely a marketing technique. Choose your agent based on who will truly represent your interests, on who knows the market, and on who will negotiate the best deal for you. The combination of those things will outweigh a rebate every single time.
Article by W. Cody Robinson
Questions or comments, contact Cody directly at cody@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com
If you are looking to buy in Providence or Savannah, now is the time to buy!! These are just a few of the deals currently on the market as of 4/29 and sellers/builders are ready to deal:
Providence– 921 sq. ft.-Cute 2/1 bath Foreclosure- was listed at $91,000…NOW $82,000
Providence-1676 sq. ft.-Charming Cape Cod with front porch..built in ‘02, 3/2/2- Was $128K..NOW $114K
Providence– Brand NEW ’07– 2000 sq. ft, 4/2/2 Listed at only 154K… before reduced pricing with www.northtexashomefinders.com
Providence– Brand NEW! 2800 sq. ft, 5 bedroom/3 bath home/game/media and wood floor entry..only 175K…before www.northtexashomefinders.com special pricing.
Providence–’05 Built, 2000 sq. ft. 3 bed/2 bath/2 car at only $57.00 per sq. ft! Has wood-like (Pergo) laminate flooring. Foreclosure deal at $119K.
Savannah– ’04 Built, 2000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom/2 bath..Almost new,Fantastic floor plan with enclosed sun room. Eat in kitchen. Great 42′ cabinets. Gas stove. Corner Fireplace. Covered front porch as well as upstairs covered balcony. Short Sale! Was listed at $175K..NOW $139K
* Featured Picture on Page- Savannah– ’04 Built Deal of the month! 46.00 per sq. ft.!!!! 3126 sq. ft! 4/2.1/2 WAS 171K…NOW 144K Home w-4 BRs, 2.1 baths, 4 living areas.The 1st living area has a FP & is semi-open to the formal dining rm & kit.View the 4th living area or sunroom & the back yard from 1st-floor living area.Mstr BR is on the 1st floor & mstr bath has sep. vanities & separate shower & garden tub. 3 BRs & 2 living areas up.From the back, there is a view of the pond & fountain.
Please call Amy to see these properties or for more listing that fit your description. (940) 464-7530 See www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Believe it or not, you can still get a NEW or Newer home in Frisco ISD under 160K, however most of these homes will probably be located in the city limits of McKinney or Little Elm. Not bad though! Most of these homes are in master-planned communities with pools, trails and plenty of playground equipment for the little ones.
Here are 2 examples of a current NEW home listing in McKinney/Frisco ISD:
1628 Square Feet
3 BR / 2 BA / 1 HB
1 Living / 2 Dining
3 Car Garage
2 Story Price WAS 174K..NOW 155K..You can’t beat that!! (Golf course style living at affordable prices, nestled near the shopping quadrant of Stonebriar Center. Enjoy great amenities such as a community pool, playground area and endless walking trails)
1586 Square Feet
3 BR / 2 BA / 1 HB
2 Car Garage
1 Story Price WAS 163K..NOW under 160K…(Golf course style living at affordable prices, nestled near the shopping quadrant of Stonebriar Center. Enjoy great amenities such as a community pool, playground area and endless walking trails)
Here are 2 examples of a current NEW(er) home listing in McKinney/Frisco ISD:
1782 Square Feet – built 2004
4 BR / 2 BA / 1 HB
2 Car Garage
1 Story Price 142,900…(Cute cottage style home! This home is very well maintained and is spotless. It is an open floor plan with the kitchen and breakfast open to the large family room with fireplace. Kitchen has black appliances including microwave,stove and dishwasher.The master bedroom is split from the secondary bedrooms.There is a very large backyard perfect for the kids. Don’t miss this fantastic home! )
1823 Square Feet- built in 2004
3 BR / 2 BA / 1 HB
2 Car Garage
1 Story Price 151K..(CHARMING HOME, WARM, COZY AND READY FOR A NEW FAMILY. ENTRY IS OPEN, FEEDS INTO LR-DR COMBINED AREA. WITH THIS PLAN YOU CAN DIVIDE THE ROOM OR OPEN IT UP INTO LARGE LR W-FIREPLACE. KITCHEN IS BRIGHT WITH WALL OF WINDOWS. OPEN BREAKFAST-KITCHEN AREA. MASTER BEDROOM HAS ENOUGH ROOM FOR SITTING AREA. SEPARATE SHOWER, GARDEN TUB AND DOUBLE SINKS IN MASTER.CAT5 WIRING RECENTLY INSTALLED.)
Please call at North Texas Home Finders Buyer Specialist today for more great deals!
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