Are you interested in making your own videos to upload to YouTube and to share with the rest of the internet community?  If you are and if this is your first time trying to do so, you may be wondering how you can go about making your own videos.  Although the process of making a YouTube video may seem like a complicated one, it isn’t necessarily.  Even those with a low amount of computer knowledge are able to successfully make their own videos, many of which later end up on YouTube. The first step in making a YouTube video is to get a video recording device.  Video recording devices come in a number of different formats.  For instance, it is possible to use cell phones, webcams, or traditional camcorders.  If you are interested in using your cell phone to help you make a YouTube video, ... 09/27/2011

August 2011 Statistics: Status: Active – 56 Contingent – 4 Kick Out - 1 Under Option – 2 Pending Sales – 0 Sold – 13 Solds: Average sales price per square foot - $113.37 Average Days on Market – 48 Days August was a relatively slow month for real estate in the north Dallas area in general. With daily temperatures over 100 degrees, people were not out looking at homes. What the numbers do show is that homes that show well and are priced right continue to sell in any market. See all Homes for Sale in Twin Creeks Allen Texas. Source: Twin Creeks Allen TX Market Report August 2011 << The Branch Team 09/25/2011

If you’ve driven by the project in the past few weeks, you will have noted that it has really taken shape. The roads are in and the land along McDermott Road has been leveled opening up the view. We spoke to Toni Petty with Ashton Woods on Saturday to get an update on the progress being made. They expect to have approval from the City of Allen to begin building by the first week of November. The model home should begin about mid-November and be ready by early January 2012. We have copies of the floorplans, but they have not yet been released to the public. We will post them as soon as the builder approves the public release. Pre-sales should begin in November as planned but a sales location has not yet been finalized. We’ll post more on The Preserve in Allen as it becomes available. Re... 09/25/2011

Home Sales in Lost Creek Ranch in Allen Thinking of buying or selling in Lost Creek Ranch in Allen?  Check back often for the lastest monthly stats, or visit my website for a complete ,arket analysis for the past 6 months if you are thinking of selling your own home. View the homes below by clicking here.  Vist our Lost Creek Ranch Facebook page and Lost Creek Ranch blog to stay updated on community events and happenings.  *Please not this data is correct as of 9/24/2011 but can change at any time.  Contact a Realtor for the most relevant information.  Property Type:   Single Family       Status:   Active Subject Property                             Address City BR Bth Gar/Cp/TCP SqFt Acr Blt PL  CDOM Orig Price $/ SqFt List Price LP% OP 1707 Pebble Run DR  Allen  4  2.0  2/0/2  2,152  ... 09/24/2011

One of the most annoying things about moving house is the cleaning – and removing stubborn stains and marks is one of the hardest things to do when prepping your house for a move.  Its always important, when using these tips to spot test and ensure that you won't be doing more damage than good.  You should also always take your cleaning items with you – a box of your most commonly used items or a checklist can save you time and effort in the long run.Some of the most common stains and marks can be removed with ease – with every day household items. Scuffs and marks on woodwork can be removed with a pencil eraser – these marks, from shoes, wheels, or rubber bumping against things are hard to remove any other way, but come off with ease with a rubber.Toothpaste isn't just great for cleani... 09/23/2011

Are you constantly banging your head in frustration on not receiving all the internet traffic you would like to get to your web site? Are you tormented from information overload listening to all the latest free website traffic tactics and not being able to understand any of it? Are you dejected of people trying day and night to harassing you to max out your credit card and get loans for Google clicks, and in the process loose your credit score? Are you stupefied by the way your website just dropped out of the Google search results? Or are you just too broke and all you have to rely on is getting some free website traffic tactics?   You can employ website traffic tactics without spending dime. However, knowing how is the real deal. Here's the score:   1. Link it   Of all the effective we... 09/23/2011

Writing a sales letter is tough and writing a winning sales letter is even tougher. Many sales managers break their heads thinking why they can’t get it right. Well, to answer this question they should put them in people’s shoes and ask what “benefit “would I get by reading this sales letter? Remember that word “benefit” which is the crux of this discussion. Many sales people take bits and pieces of information from here and there and create mess out of a sales letter. They literally throw everything on people and then get what they deserve, instant rejection. One should always remember that a sales letter works only when you have a product to sell and an offer to make. A sales letter should not be an introduction of your product or company. Remember every word is important in the sales... 09/23/2011

Although they hate to admit it, when it comes to men, they are like wolves in their own little packs, searching for their next prey. Men act in ways contrary to women, often seeming to approve of disgusting behavior and desires. The more a woman tries to understand a man, then more confused she becomes about the way he acts and thinks. It is no wonder why women have such a tough time figuring out what to buy their male counterparts, whether it be a lover and mate, a husband, a father or a superior. This article should prove helpful with getting our female creative juices flowing. Let us first begin with the hot stud we either have had our eye on for some time, or even have had the luck to date and enjoy being with. Holiday gift ideas that work well for him would be anything sports or el... 09/23/2011

4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2682 SF/Tax Handing over the keys is one of the best parts of working with home buyers. It's the culmination of weeks or months of work. We work hard to make sure each client has a great buying experience. "We were out-of-town Buyers with no local contacts and picked The Branch Team after a computer search. From the first time I spoke with Tom I had the utmost confidence in his capabilities and knowledge of current market conditions. Over the course of the Looking / Buying phases he demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and represented our interests very conscientiously. He has tremendous contacts and local contractors that we have taken advantage of and have recommended that our daughter select Tom to represent her when she becomes a S... 09/22/2011

With most of the country floundering and defaulting in the Real Estate Service Sector, Allen, TX only saw a slight decrease in sales from 1309 total sales in 2009 to 1270 total sales in 2010.  Allen only had 54 total sales under $100,000 and only 44 of 2010 sales under $100,000 purchase price.  That is less than 4% each year showing that Allen TX Residential Real Estate holds its value when most other cities are declining.  Plano closed 2588 properties in 2010 according to the Multiple Listing Service with 134 under $100,000 and Frisco slightly under that with 2313 properties and an astonishing 13 under $100,000.    Year-to-Date 2011 is on track to exceed the 2010 sold numbers as current closed listings thru Mid July are at 696.  Why do the 84,654 who live in Allen find it so attractive... 09/22/2011

The last thing that anyone wants after they have moved into a home is to find that everything needs prepared.  Whether you have just moved in or are in the process of re-modeling, you will want to make sure that the home you have is comfortable.  If you want to make sure that you keep the finances low key for repair, then make sure that you have the right loan.  One option to consider is a home equity loan.  Home equity loans are a loan that allows you to borrow money against your first home loan.  For instance, if you have a mortgage, you can take out a second loan against the first mortgage, known as a home equity loan.  You can use this extra money in order to pay off payments or to refinance your home.  You can borrow up to eighty percent of your first loan in order to invest money ... 09/22/2011

Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking re-financing is always a viable option. However, this is not true and homeowners can actually make a significant financial mistake by re-financing at an inopportune time. There a couple of classic example of when re-financing is a mistake. This occurs when the homeowner does not stay in the property long enough to recoup the cost of re-financing and when the homeowner has had a credit score which has dropped since the original mortgage loan. Other examples are when the interest rate has not dropped enough to offset the closing costs associated with re-financing. Recouping the Closing Costs In determining whether or not re-financing is worthwhile the homeowner should determine how long they would have to retain the property to recoup the closi... 09/21/2011

If there is anything that annoys more cell phone users it is loosing battery power while you are on the phone.  This has happened to nearly everybody, and at least once it caught you by complete surprise.  When you are running a cell phone as powerful as the iPhone, it is easy to understand why the battery power begins to drain.  When you are listening to your favorite song, checking your email and text messaging several friends at once, you are requiring a lot of the cell phones' power.  Thus, you will begin to drain your cell phone of battery life quicker than you thought. Even though, on the Apple website, they clearly explain the battery life expectations, they only include the information if you are running one application at a time.  However, if iPhone users are known for anything... 09/21/2011

The history of how America emerged as the premier superpower in the world is about more than just a great military or a homeland so rich in natural resources that we were able to become the breadbasket of the world.  There are many forces that combined in the American experiment that has made this country so great.  One of those great forces is the phenomenal inventive minds that have graced America virtually since its inception.  Starting with the powerful mind of Benjamin Franklin, the history of inventions that started in America and transformed the world is lengthy indeed. The computer has become so much a part of our lives that we forget that it was once invented.  The history of the development of this “futuristic” device is long and filled with genius.  The actual first prototype... 09/21/2011

These days, most everyone is familiar with an autoresponder, although many don’t know why they are beneficial to businesses.  If you aren’t familiar with autoresponders, you would probably find yourself amazed with them.  An autoresponder can help your business by automatically emailing your clients and customers with a preset message that will help to increase your sales. An autoresponder can help your list of clients grow, even send each one of them their own personalized email message.  If you choose, you can also follow up each individual email with repeated emails, varying the content whenever you wish.  These programs will also allow you to keep track of conversations, and send out broadcast email messages whenever you have news or new products to offer your clients. As research i... 09/20/2011

So, your child is beginning to get restless and make you restless. He has got more time than is good for him, and you are now considering after school programs - anything that will keep him busy for a few life-saving hours! Most after school activities can be broadly classified into three - recreational, educational and society-oriented. The last bit usually comes in when your child is already a bit grown up and can voice his own interests. Educational activities aim at furthering the knowledge of your child. His general awareness, his understanding and his memory are targeted and he is given various techniques that will help him improve one or all of these. Programs such as intensive memory training and speed mathematics are educational after school activities. There are academic progr... 09/20/2011

When parents send their children for after school programs, they take it for granted that the child is safe. But since the number of children participating in these activities has increased, it is necessary to look into safety issues. Children are vulnerable when they are outside the classes. While going or returning, they should know the safest route to take. Many kids hang out with their friends just after these classes. Find out 'danger zones' from your neighbors and make the children aware of these. The child has to know how to handle emergencies. It is better to discuss various scenarios with your child. Tell her what she should do in case the class is suddenly cancelled. Show her the first-aid kit at home and make sure she knows whom to call in an emergency. Post any important con... 09/20/2011

Building the perfect pond for your backyard garden can be a do-it yourself activity or you can hire a professional to do it for you. It's really not that hard but does require some research and certain knowledge about landscaping in order to get it right. You need to get a good book and read up on it or ask some friends and professionals about the idea of building a pond in your garden. For now, here is a brief discussion on how to build that pond that you’ve always wanted in your garden. Situate the PondBasically the first step to building a pond is to find a suitable spot to dig a hole in your garden. The size and depth of the pond should be proportional to size of your garden. A liner will also be needed for the pond. You can buy and place a prefabricated fiberglass piece or have the... 09/20/2011

The Origin of Concrete Concrete is one of the materials that most of us don't give much consideration because it is so common. In fact, there is no material that is more widely and completely used than concrete. Where it came from isn't so much a mystery once you start tracing the architectural history of buildings and civilizations. As a building material it is strong, durable, cheap, and relatively easy to make. Aggregate refers to a blend of things like sand, stones, and crushed rock. It can also include things such as slag, ashes, burned shale, or even burned clay. It is either created in fine, almost dust like appearance or a larger and coarser blend of material. The fine blend is typically used to make the concrete that will go into small jobs or even detail work. Larger aggregate... 09/18/2011

The History of Allen, Texas   Prior to 1844 the history of Allen, Texas belonged to the Native American tribes of the Caddo and Comanche. Once the settlers began to enter the picture, a few battles raged but the Native American tribes moved on, settling northward. Development was certainly not far behind this transition of land ownership.   The railroad was laid in 1872, which would become a primary transport through Texas but also become a primary financial interest of companies like JP Morgan. The acquisition of the railroad was short lived and Southern Pacific took over the line in 1883.   The landscape of Texas and the ability to find hide outs throughout the neighboring areas brought rather unfavorable characters to the area as well. February 22, 1878 was the year that the peaceful... 09/18/2011