Real Estate On Caffeine

The election is over and most of us are thrilled at the absence of political advertisements! What lies ahead for real estate is a huge question-mark.  Legislation which is debated and potentially passed could be potentially damaging to the housing industry (modification or removal of mortgage-in...

What does it mean to be a Top 5 Agent?  It's about C-R-E-E-D! The TOP 5 CREED Community Commitment: When consumers call upon the services and skills of Top 5 in Real Estate Members, they can be assured that members not only reflect the highest standards of real estate excellence, but also that ea...

Most people buy a home for stability, investment and to "put down roots".  But the truth is, the average American moves every 5 years. Why is this important? Because smart buyers know that flexibility is key.  In fact, if you think you'll live somewhere forever and you're under 45 years old, thi...

Frisco is the fastest growing city in the country's fastest growing region, The Texaplex. In the year 2000 the population was 33,000, today the population reaches over 125,000 people! This fabulous video about Frisco was the brainchild of David Winans of Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate. David ...

I live in an area of intensely high temperatures and drought during summer months.   This summer, I have had to call an A/C repair company THREE times when one of my A/C units was not functioning as intended.   I thought I'd pass along the basic A/C lessons I've learned. Lesson One:   If the seco...

First Impressions Count: 4 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Attract Prospective Buyers If you’re in the process of getting your home ready to be put on the market—or you’ve recently listed your home for sale—you know just how crucial a positive first impression can be when it comes to attracting prospec...

  Residential property tax protests due by May 31 in Dallas, Collin counties Ben Franklin said, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” You can’t stop death, but you might be able to slow the taxman down. May 31 is the deadline for challenging residential prope...

My friend, Andrew McElyea with Gateway Mortgage Group, sent me this photo of an opossum he trapped in his back yard.   The opossum was not friendly with Andrew's dogs and Andrew very kindly assisted him with relocation to a more opossum-friendly area. Seeing the little guy, who I've nicknamed 'Ba...

I drove by a "For Sale By Owner" property yesterday.  It caught my eye partly because I rarely see them anymore.  Most people are very cognizant that the online and offline marketing needed to help sell their home is best done by a professional.  Someone who does it full time.  A Realtor. Proper...

This is an amazing post from an inspector.  He talks about why "flipped" houses don't always sell quickly and why buyers are becoming more and more suspicious of the "flip".Home flippers buy dilapidated houses, fix them up, then sell them again as quickly as possible with the intention of making ...