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Dallas, TX Real Estate News

By BILL CHERRY, Broker & Wealth Coach
(Bill Cherry, Realtor)
Every year, Saint James Episcopal Church on Audelia at McCree, a few blocks north of Northwest Highway, stages its famous Pumpkin Patch.  Thousands of fresh pumpkins will be sold.  Pumpkins of every size and shape. This is a joint venture between the church and a New Mexico Indian tribe.  The Indians plant, grow and harvest the pumpkins, and then they are shipped in two big loads to St. James where they are sold by volunteers. The entire net portion of the sales retained by Saint James goes to fund its youth ministry, which not only includes its Dallas activities, but its missionary trips.  The youth director, Doug Horton, advises that enough money is raised by the venture so that the church does not have to subsidize the youth program. In addition to the thousnds of pumpkins that are d...
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WHITE ROCK DALLAS TX REAL ESTATE - AUGUST MLS SALES STATSHere are the stats for the White Rock Dallas area.   Keeping with the typical trends, this White Rock Dallas TX Real Estate Market Report shows Closed Sales DOWN (projected almost 42%) while Average Sales Price is up 31%.  Home owners that do sale, are negotiating a little over 2% less OFF list price.  Days on market are up 14%.    
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By Joshua Harley, CEO, Tech Geek, Innovator, Disruptor, US Marine
(Fathom Realty)
The level of home sales is expected to show little movement in the months ahead, according to the latest projections by the National Association of Realtors.  The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, fell 3.2 percent to 86.5 from an upwardly revised reading of 89.4 in June, which had risen 5.8 percent from May. The July index remains 6.8 percent below July 2007 when it stood at 92.8. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales continue to edge up and down. "Pending home sales are oscillating month-to-month, with the long-term trend essentially flat," he said. "Overly stringent lending criteria imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past month no doubt held back contract signings."   Let's take a look at Dallas real estate ...
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By Donna Harris, Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
(Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com)
I swear, there is a conspiracy with Dell.  I bought a computer back in April 2005.  I actually spent the over $300 fee in order to have an in-house warranty where they'll come to me to fix any issues I have.  Did I ever need the warranty?  Of course not... not until my warranty expired!  My warranty expired a couple of months ago, and my computer (hard drive) crashed this weekend. When was the last time I backed anything up, you say??  Hmmm, that would be about a year ago.  Things were going so well and I had made the comment a few times to my husband about how well this computer was working and I hadn't had any problems with it like I had the others... It must be because I actually paid for a long warranty.  However, I really and truly believe they put some kind of code into the hard d...
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By Aaron Abott
(HandyPro Handyman Services)
There are many types of glues and adhesives for a multitude of repairs, including wood glues, one-part and two-part epoxies, hot melt adhesives, contact cements and more.  The wide variety of glues and adhesives serve the purpose of joining different types of material.  Some projects require a quick, strong set where, with others, a slower setting time is optimal for repositioning and adjustments.   Here, I will share tips on using other products as an adhesive.   Auto Body Filler   Believe it or not, auto body filler is a great for a variety of wood gluing and other repairs.  It's an excellent wood filler and adhesive; it is waterproof, weatherproof, it sets up quickly, bonds well and can be routed or sanded cleanly.   It's a great time saver because it can be applied, sanded and paint...
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Selling a home is very challenging today.  The supply of homes for sale is way up and values are down, leaving a wide variety of homes for buyers to choose from.   Homes that need little to no work are now selling for low enough prices that people don't need to bother with a fixer-upper to get a great deal.  People looking to buy a home will look at many houses before they consider making an offer.  If yours is very clean and in move-in condition, a buyer will be likely to remember that when they are ready to make an offer.    Even if you are not selling your home, life is so much better when there are no loose-ends, unfinished projects and things that need fixing.  Here are some tips for sprucing up your home to make it more comfortable to live in and much easier to show and sell.   Th...
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I was reading an article this week about the most popular cars in the U.S. and how they are shifting from vehicles like large pick-ups and SUV's to smaller vehicles.  Even the perennial sales champions like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are being outsold by small cars like the Honda Civic. So my thought and question for the day is with people realizing the need to downsize their vehicles to save on gasoline costs, when will that same sort of logic filter down on a large scale to their housing choices? Large houses take considerably more energy to light, heat, air condition and maintain than their smaller counterparts.  Moving from my larger house to a condo half the size has more than halved my electricity and natural gas costs... a savings much greater than getting a car with bett...
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Last night a friend and I had dinner at one of my favorite places.  The Green Papaya Vietnamese Bistro, located at 3211 Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas, is not fancy and it's reasonably priced.  It's one of those restaurants that is not highly promoted or hyped, but everyone seems to know of it and likes it... and for good reason. The Green Papaya does an outstanding job of offering delicious food, prepared fresh, in generous portions and at very reasonable prices.  It's hard not to like a place where two people can have a dinner with an appetizer and drink for around $30. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal at the Green Papaya.  Some of my favorite items are their Spring Rolls.  They are fresh, tasty and filling and come is several varieties.  Split an order with a friend and you...
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By BILL CHERRY, Broker & Wealth Coach
(Bill Cherry, Realtor)
Pier 1 has been an odd duck since it was founded at least thirty years ago.  If you were around then, you'll remember that they sold baskets, incense, candles, cheap dishes and stuff that was primarily imported from the orient. Their store fixtures were boards on top of cinder blocks.  And they were the darling of college students trying to look grown-up in a dorm room. The company tried to continue the concept even after it got old and tired, and before long Pier 1 found itself bankrupt. A handful of Pier 1 executives and a bunch of dedicated employees got together, raised the money through loans and stock sales, and thus bought and recapitalized the company. Longtime employee, Marvin Girouard, lead this new group. The company was revived, the buyers sent back out to make the stores mo...
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By Loreena and Michael Yeo, Real Estate Agents
(3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co.)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad is coming to the Dallas area If you are already familiar with Robert Kiyosaki's book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, you need no introduction. Kiyosaki is offering his FREE, Learn To Be Rich seminar at 4 Dallas area locations from October 6th through 9th(see below). To register for the event, click here. You could expect to learn about a clear path to financial literacy. My experience with Kiyosaki's event (even though not this FREE training) has been motivating. It has also done the same for many whom at one point just sat on their behinds wishing things were different for them. His message is refreshing, more so in an economic condition such as this one. Even though I did not begin my financial quest through real estate on my first try, this event was my starting point to mak...
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By BILL CHERRY, Broker & Wealth Coach
(Bill Cherry, Realtor)
About this time last year I wrote a piece about the annual art hanging at NorthPark of the North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts.  In the main, I thought the exhibit was a bit on the mediocre side. Today, I saw the 2008 art gathering that is titled "On My Own Time," and there are a number of exceptional pieces among the collection.  You must take time to see it.  It's on the mall concourse near Macy's.  It will be taken down on October 5th There are thirty-tyree companies that are members of the NTBCA, and there are seven catagories of art participation, each with an amateur and a professional division.  Employees of the member companies are the participants, hence the title, "On My Own Time." Remember, this year's exhibit concludes on October 5th.       BILL CHERRY, REALTORS DA...
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By Darren Dattalo
(Keller Williams)
For several years now, the neighborhoods of Lower Greenville have held celebrations of National Night Out. As the LGNA Crime Watch coordinator, I've helped organize this event since the begining. I'm a big beleiver in neighborhood building and these events are a great opportunity for neighbors to mingle and talk about things going on in thier neighborhood. This year, the National Association of Town Watch, the national organizer, allowed us to move the event from the sweltering heat of August, to October 7th, a much more managable date for those of us in Texas. So this year promises a much cooler and hopefully funner event. Most of these events have grown significantly in scope and popularity. Some take the flavor of a festive block party while others take a more serious approach such ...
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By Donna Harris, Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
(Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com)
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting of our very own ActiveRain mortgage professionals, Jason Northcutt and John Cannata.  They are two very educated people about the mortgage industry and also seem to have heads on their shoulders, which you don't always find. Jason works with Wachovia in the direct lending division, not sitting at a branch office.  John works with Reliant Mortgage which is a broker.  It's always interesting to get the different perspectives from both sides of the spectrum when someone works directly for a lender while another brokers out to lenders. Overall, the meetings went very well, and I would recommend either of them to all of you.
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By Donna Harris, Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
(Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com)
The State Fair of Texas opened this weekend and will run until October 19th.  It's always a lot of fun at the fair as there are so many things to do, for all ages.  Best of all, you can eat anything fried that you thought was imaginable.  This year's winning food was chicken friend bacon.  They say it's bacon that has been dipped in flour and batter a couple of times, and then deep fried and tastes just like chicken fried steak.  A little to fried if you ask me. Do you like fried pickles? Fried coke? Fried mac ‘n cheese? Fried cheese? Fried Cookie Dough? Fried anything... The State Fair of Texas is where the Corny Dog was invented!  Personally, I think they're gross, but millions of others don't.  My favorite is the Funnel Cake! Yes, it's just like pancake batter that is moved back and ...
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It seems most people in Dallas aren't aware of a really exciting arts complex in development:  La Reunion Texas.  It is an arts residency  program to be built on 35 lush acres in Oak Cliff.  La Reunion is named after a utopian community that existed in the Dallas area over 100 years ago (Reunion Tower is named after them!) Last night, I went to a reception at the new La Reunion headquarters at LRTX Gallery to hear the latest in their plans.  My friend and La Reunion Executive Director, Sara Jane Semrad, along with her board, held a juried architecture competition for  design ideas for the La Reunion facility. Over 130 architects from 6 continents registered, and 68 submitted plans! It's called "Make Space for Art" All of the designs are very interesting, as eco-friendly as possible. Thi...
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For those of us who are out of the Dallas celebrity dining loop, Wolfgang Puck is opening a signature restaurant here... in probably the most signature location to be found in our city... Reunion Tower!  The restaurant will begin hosting private parties late this year and will open to the public in January, 2009. Wolfgang Puck has been very secretive about the restaurant's details, even including what it will be called, but while in Dallas this past week he did say that the menu would be Asian-influenced cuisine.  He is reported to be very involved in all aspects of the restaurant's customer experience and while acknowledging the location's icon status, insists the food and service will be the stars... the view will be a bonus! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Are you all about the view out...
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By Loreena and Michael Yeo, Real Estate Agents
(3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co.)
North Dallas TX Real Estate Summer 2008 Real Estate (Residential) Housing Report from Memorial Day 05/26/08 through Labor Day 09/01/08. (North Dallas's busiest real estate season). 316 closed transactions (in 2008) Lowest $65,000 Average 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (either 3 full bathrooms, or 2 full with 1 half bath). 2,800 square feet at $342,000. DOM 81.Highest 6 bedrooms, over 8,700 square feelt for $2.375 million dollars. It took 1,284 days to sell.Total real estate value of  $317,716,308  not including real estate sales not listed on the MLS systems such as for sale by owners and home builders. Average DOM Breakdown and Average % of List Price received on Solds by Market time:Information provided is deemed reliable and taken from the North Texas Real Estate Information MLS Systems.   ...
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  Many people don't realize that there are actually 3 separate college football that take place in the 91,000 seat Cotton Bowl  during the 24 day run of the State Fair. The first will take place on October 4 when at 6 p.m., the Grambling State Tigers will take on the Panthers of Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic. The second is the always exciting Red River Rivalry.  Each year this game just gets better and better.  The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners add a spark to their rivalry at 11:00 a.m. on October 11. Finally, on October 18 at 2:00, the Texas A&M (Commerce) Lions play the East Central University (Ada, Oklahoma) Tigers. And if football is not your sport, perhaps eating is.  If so, don't miss the Sixth Annual World Corny Dog Eating Championship on Sunday, September 28.  
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Did anyone catch the issue of the Dallas Business Journal which came out on Sptember 26?  I sure did.  I was interviewed for and quoted in an article on page 4 about the number of REALTORS® decreasing slightly in North Texas.  My comments also included some on the need for agents to shift and adapt to changes and challenges in the market.  I would publish a link to the article online, but currently it is only available to paid subscribers.  I can assure you, however, that I was very positive about our market and the industry.  It's how I genuinely feel. In the article, I was amazed at the statistics.  In 2007, the membership in the MetroTex Association of REALTORS® stood at 14,659.  Currently, that number has only dropped to 14,417, a decrease of only 242 members, or less than 2%.  And ...
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