If you're like most of us in the real estate business, it seems most people we chat with eventually get around to asking, "How can I get rich investing in real estate?"  It's a question I really try to shy away from because I am convinced most people can't do it, even if their stars are perfectly aligned.  They don't understand the commitment.Nevertheless, probably like you, over the years I have read many of the books on the subject, I've seen the "systems" sold through television infomercials, and I've heard the fellows on the radio pushing mentor seminars.  The latter is the scariest of all.Honestly and in reality, answering that question is problematic.  The major considerations for anyone thinking about becoming a real estate investor are 1) do I have the talent to do it 2) do I ha... 11/11/2007

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH BILLCHERRY-- a Regular Sunday FeatureVOGUE.  "The first illustrated fashion magazine grew out of a weekly society paper that began in 1892. In 1909, a young publisher, Condé Nast, bought the paper and transformed it into a leading magazine that signaled a new approach to women's magazines."Dallas' NorthPark has in the concourse between Nordstrom and Neiman-Marcus, a worthy display of Vogue's original fashion photographs.  I am totally enamored by the young woman posed in a long white silk gown with a harp of broken strings in the background.Photography is an important art form that, in my opinion, has never gotten its just recognition.  These Vogue photographs should be evidence of that to anyone who sees and studies them.IDENTITY THEFT.  The three major credit r... 11/10/2007

This is unbelievable.  I haven't seen this happen in many months, maybe even a couple of years.  I have 2 deals closing on Tuesday, November 13.  My buyer's loan got the clear to close on Tuesday and docs were at the title company on Wednesday and we got an approved HUD on Thursday.For them to buy, they wanted to sell their current home, though they didn't have to.  I followed up with the lender for the buyer on the sale end, and he tells me on Wednesday that docs would be at the title company "tomorrow".  Thursday was tomorrow, and docs actually showed up!!  I couldn't believe it!  We now have 2 completely approved HUDs sitting and waiting for Tuesday!  Did I mention that I can't believe it!  I still have a deal in the works that was supposed to close on August 15 and we're back in und... 11/08/2007

Proposition 6 has been a thorn in many people's sides.  This proposition was supposed to set a property tax on vehicles for all people who use their cars/trucks for business.  This wouldn't just effect REALTORS®, but also landscape people, Mary Kay people, Avon people, HVAC repair people, etc... basically, anyone who has to use their vehicle to drive around to meet with their clients and customers.The proposition passed overwhelmingly with 74%!!Personally, I can't believe 26% voted against this.  Who are those 26%??  What were they thinking?  They must have been corporate world people who had no idea what they were voting against... unless they voted NO because they thought a NO would mean they didn't want it, as it was confusing to say you needed to vote YES for NOT having the tax.  I ... 11/07/2007

 Paxton Kelso's dad, Larry, has built a name for himself in commercial real estate brokerage circles here in Dallas.  And Larry's been associated with the best, including the prestigious firms of Ebby Halliday and Roger Staubach.  I spent many Sundays after church at Larry's grandfather's summer home on Offats Bayou in Galveston.  His name was Walter A. Kelso.  And Larry's father Rai and I were lifelong friends.Good grief, it just occurred to me, I remember when Larry was born.Larry emailed me awhile back and asked me to meet his son, Paxton, whom I didn't know.  Since Paxton and I are both trying to build our personal businesses here in Dallas, Larry thought we might be able to cross-collateralize our contacts and help each other.  So Paxton called and we met at a Starbucks near his of... 11/05/2007

Dallas Texas real estate is vast as the community expands wide to the north, south, east and west. What is considered the Dallas Metroplex actually encompasses much more than the "City of Dallas." The Dallas area consists of many different counties as people are moving farther from the city for more spacious home locations and more affordable houses. For the most part, Dallas is divided into four sections as follows:CENTRAL DALLASCentral Dallas pertains to the downtown Dallas area including Turtle Creek, Uptown, West Village and Oak Lawn. Those areas are where you will find many of the highrises and condos as well as new townhome developments. Central Dallas also pertains to the Park Cities areas of Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow. This is the ritzy area of Dallas, the... 10/31/2007

Yes, you read the title right.  I just saw this story and I thought it was very unusual and unique.  This couple in Pittsburgh have been trying to sell their  home for a year, and the market is not that great in that area, so they had to come up with something that no one else was offering...They are asking $399,900 for the house and since they have no heirs to leave anything to, the people who agree to buy the house can have the entire purchase price refunded back to them upon their death.WAIT, it gets better!!!  If the new owners agree to take care of the couple in their old age, they could also get the vacation home in Arizona AND an estate worth over $2.5M!!!  Is that a deal or what?!The problem is, how old are these people?  The article doesn't say.  What if they live another 20+ y... 10/30/2007

This is very cool.  I just read about TeleFlip.com.  This is a service that allows you to send an email to some one's cell phone number and it will convert it to a text message.  For me, it's so much easier to type an email than use the itty-bitty keys on the Treo, but I can't always do it because I don't know what service they use.  Is is tmomail.net or att.net or cingular... or whatever.  This Teleflip.com will find it and send it.  Also, if the person hits reply, the answer goes back to your email inbox since you're stilling at your computer.  I even received a returned receipt when I got the message on my phone.Just type the 10 digit number with no spaces or anything and send @ teleflip.com.  For example:9725551212@teleflip.com This is FREE to the sender.  The only charge to the rec... 10/29/2007

The latest numbers have come out from the largest Association of REALTORS® in the DFW area, MetroTex.  The numbers show some very interesting information that should be very useful, especially to people who are relocating to the area thinking they're going to get a "deal" and even the investors who think they can come to our area and scoop up tons of properties at dirt cheap prices...Here's what the numbers tell us:2007 DFW Single Family Home Sales (so this excludes condos, but DOES include townhouses):Year to Date compared to same period last yearNumber of Sales: 61,746Percent Change: -6%Average Price: $204,813Percent Change: +5%Median Price: $150,500Percent Change: +1%Active Listings: 47,750Percent Change: +8%With these numbers, you can see that the Dallas/Ft Worth area is still going... 10/29/2007

A big campaign started a couple of days ago that bans saggy pants to be worn around Dallas.  Previously, there have been banned at some of the schools, but this is actually a city-wide ban.There are two dozen billboard signs around the city reminding people they need to pull their pants up.  This campaign is being faught by many people saying it is a violation of their expression.  There have even been some violent attacks on prominant people throughout the city, which is scary.  Here's the link to one such story.Personally, I can't believe it's taken this long to get rid of the saggy pants.  Saggy pants were popular about 10 years ago, and I remember thinking that it wasn't going to be long before the fad disappeared and people were dressing normally again... well, for the most part, p... 10/26/2007

Do you remember the King Tut Mania of the 1970's? Who could forget Steve Martin's King Tut song from Saturday Night Live! (scroll down to see video!!) The nation went crazy for anything Egyptian! Well, King Tut is back! JUST ANNOUNCED! Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibitionOnly two cities will receive this groundbreaking, monumental exhibition... Dallas & London!The exhibition will bring back the amazing treasure that wowed millions when it toured thirty years ago. These incredible artifacts have not left Cairo since but will be in Dallas next year and tickets are selling out. When King Tut's tomb was uncovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the items that were found represented the most dazzling treasures of the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. Now is your chance to see them!London- opens Novemb... 10/24/2007

We specialize in North Dallas Real Estate which encompasses the following cities:Dallas (North of 635)RichardsonCarrolltonAddisonMcKinneyAllenFriscoThe ColonyNorth Dallas is the blanket term for Dallas North of 635 as well as the suburbs North of Dallas in both Dallas County and Collin County. Real estate in these suburbs includes every type of residential real estate property imaginable including: Single-Family HomesTownhomesCondos, Lofts & Highrises RanchesLake Front PropertiesLuxury EstatesMansionsCustom HomesTrack HomesSenior Living CommunitiesHorse & Equestrian PropertiesNew Home CommunitiesEstablished CommunitiesIf you are interested in NORTH DALLAS REAL ESTATE, please contact Brenda Mancil today.   10/23/2007

We specialize in North Dallas Real Estate which encompasses the following cities:Dallas (North of 635)RichardsonCarrolltonAddisonMcKinneyAllenFriscoThe ColonyNorth Dallas is the blanket term for Dallas North of 635 as well as the suburbs North of Dallas in both Dallas County and Collin County. Real estate in these suburbs includes every type of residential real estate property imaginable including: Single-Family HomesTownhomesCondos, Lofts & Highrises RanchesLake Front PropertiesLuxury EstatesMansionsCustom HomesTrack HomesSenior Living CommunitiesHorse & Equestrian PropertiesNew Home CommunitiesEstablished CommunitiesIf you are interested in NORTH DALLAS REAL ESTATE, please contact Brenda Mancil today.   (c) 2007 - 2008 The Marketing Shop.com 10/23/2007

The West End district, located in downtown Dallas , is perhaps unlike any other area in downtown Dallas.  The West End Dallas has the best of the present...and the past. The newly constructed American Airlines center offers the best of sporting events and concerts (ask Texas/OU weekend visitors!).  Many shops and restaurants give a wonderful lifestyle to both visitors and residents.  Add to that the fascinating museums and attractions, and you truly have a gem in Dallas.   .       The West End Dallas is experiencing a revival.  Popularity had waned in the early part of the decade, but exciting nightlife and shops, along with the American Airlines center, have caused this to be a truly happenning neighborhood again!  One of the most newest and hippest restaurants in all of Dallas is loc... 10/23/2007

            There was a time when American Airlines was one of the most respected passenger carriers in the United States.  I'm talking about a time when fares were regulated and the number of direct flights was far less than today.             In the 1950s, American Airlines advertising and marketing consultants came up with a brilliant idea.  The company would broadcast a nightly program on the biggest radio station in each market the carrier served.  Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C.              The list goes on.             It would be called "American Airlines' Music ‘til Dawn," and it would be hosted by a mellow-voiced announcer with a romantic fullness.  He would intersperse dreamy classical and popular orchestrations with poetry readings and ... 10/22/2007

The Church of the Incarnation is an Episcopal church in downtown Dallas with a membership of some 5,000.  The church is of gothic revival architecture.  Congregants worship among glorious stained glass windows and the superior fullness of an organ that boasts more than 4,000 pipes.With frequency, members of other denominations join Incarnation members for a service held each Sunday at 5 PM.  It is known as Evensong.The tradition of Evensong, which dates back to the middle 1600s, is totally sung by Incarnation’s exceptional choir.  The big organ’s background accentuates the loveliness of the service.The Holy Eucharist, as a short additional service, follows.  And in the Episcopal Church, all baptized Christians, regardless of their denominational affiliation, are welcome to participate i... 10/22/2007

Uptown Dallas - INSIDER'S REVIEW of CORK       Location. Cork is located in the hot West Village area. 3636 McKinney Avenue is the listed address, but you really have to go on Cityplace Boulevard that is perpendicular to McKinney Avenue to get to the entrance.  3636 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX  75204 - 214.780.0373     Look/Feel - 5 stars Cork is essentially a great combination of a wine sampling and retail store.  It's a way to taste a WIDE variety of fun wines without having to buy the entire bottle.  But, of course, wine bottles are stored throughout the shelves for reasonable prices.  Cork got it right in the look. It's intriguing and very trendy, with arching ceilings, dark colors, black furniture and even the display shelves for the wines.  It's just fun to walk through this plac... 10/22/2007

Uptown Dallas - INSIDER'S GUIDE to the right area in Uptown Dallas for YOUR Apartment   Uptown Dallas. It's hot, and everyone wants to live there in Dallas...and why not? Its just got so many restaurants and shops to enjoy, both during the day and for exciting night life.  It's where trendy begins and ends in Dallas.  And it's just getting more and more popular, with new shops and restaurants opening up.    But, Uptown Dallas really does have enough of a difference in the areas that you really need to understand where you want to live.  There are some more "laid back" areas, some more "frenetic" areas...and some areas that are ultimately upscale.  Here is just one person's perspective....   West Village Based on just apartment pricing, the West Village area would have to be the "hottes... 10/22/2007

This house was conceived to be a house on a hill on a unique site in Dallas executed in the Edwardian Style. A private and tranquil property in the heart of the ultra exclusive Old Preston Hollow estate area with 5.3 acres of exquisite trees and picturesque views of Bachman Creek was the perfect spot for this landmark home.As I began to do research I discovered that Edwardianism was not so much a style as a historical time period and a way of life. The period relates to the time just after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, ascension to the throne of Edward VII, and his subsequent death in 1910 (though the period could be said to have lasted until 1939). It was a time of great wealth in England, a care free life style, and the construction of some of the great English country houses. ... 10/21/2007

Oak Lawn is perhaps the most diverse part of Dallas.  Oak Lawn is a mix of wealthy homes, trendy bars, unusual restaurants and boutique shops, and a diverse range of people, all in one area.  Oak Lawn borders the Uptown Dallas area as well as the Mckinney Avenue.  Oak Lawn borders the design district, and so has an artsy feel.Oak Lawn is convenient.  Residents can enjoy the night life and shops of Uptown, or easily access the North Dallas Tollway or Central Expressway for getting anywhere in Dallas.  It is also close to Love Field, for convenient access in and out of the Metroplex to other cities in Texas and beyond.   An excellent deal can be found on apartments and townhomes in the Oak Lawn  area.  Apartment Sneak Peeks provides exclusive INTERIOR VIDEOS of apartments found in the Oak... 10/18/2007