According to Metrotex and our North Texas(NTREIS), sales are down but prices are up.  I'll reiterate the same theory I have in the past about how these numbers are skewed a little.  With the change of the subprime market, and making it a little more difficult for people with imperfect credit to get loans, sales have changed.  The main group this has affected is the group in the lower price range.  They already don't have much income and, on average, create more debt for themselves, they're the ones not able to buy homes right now.  With this group buying a less amount of homes, that makes room for the median sales price to inch up along with the average sales prices.  This is also why the number of sales has decreased with the averages going up.Number of Sales: 74,918% change a year ago... 12/20/2007

Starting January 1, 2008, Texas will begin to collect fingerprints for all new licensees and license renewals.  This is for both sales agents and brokers.  The fingerprints will be used for the FBI to do background checks on everyone.  This is being done based on concerns many people have brought up with the state in the past.If your license expires in January or February, you can go ahead and renew your license now and not have to worry about the fingerprints until the next time you're up for renewal.  However, any license that expires March and beyond will be subject to the fingerprinting.Fast Facts on the Fingerprint Requirement from the TREC websiteHere are some brief points to sum up the new fingerprint requirement: Fingerprints that an applicant or licensee may have submitted for ... 12/12/2007

It is real simple to find VA properties that are available for sale if you visit www.homeloans.va.govOnce you are there, select the"property management" link. You will then be prompted to select the state you reside in. You will then be redirected to your states web pages. Once you are there, you can see the current property listings and find out about the guidelines for buying a VA acquired home.If you do not have Internet access, you can contact your VA offices Property Management Division. A listing of Benefits offices is included at the end of this book under “Contact Information” After you have found some homes you are interested in, contact a Realtor who is VA approved to show you the homes. If you see one you like you should immediately get pre-qualified for a mortgage. After yo... 12/12/2007

The following announcement was posted to our Dallas Chapter IAHSP (DIRC) members yesterday by Barie Pinnell, 2007 Chapter President.  I spoke with Barie yesterday and she and I agreed we should post this here for anyone who may be interested in the happenings of the Dallas Chapter IAHSP and the new board members.It explains the mission of the Dallas IAHSP Chapter and introduces our newly elected DIRC Board Members and what their position represents. There is no mystery involved in what makes any organization work, it's the PEOPLE involved and their committment to see it through.I encourage each of you to commit yourselves to promoting the home staging industry in your community as well. Together we make a strong voice! The Dallas IAHSP Regional Chapter December 2007A Note from... Barie ... 12/11/2007

Here is another great reason why buyer's should use a Realtor when purchasing a home or condo. I was reading an article about how foreclosures are causing some subdivisions to lose value in their homes.  If a buyer is thinking about buying a home that is for-sale-by-owner and they think that they can get a better deal make an offer without using an agent then this could hurt you financially down the road.   Realtors will be able to look up the amount of homes that are being sold at a discount in a certain neighborhood because of foreclosures.  In the DFW area alone there are still several good affordable areas to buy that are still increasing in value.  So if you are thinking about being please consult your Realtor and tell them that you want an area that has low foreclosures in that ar... 12/10/2007

Looking for an affordable house for sale in the Dallas TX area?The best reason to purchase a HUD home are that they are sold through a bidding process and as long as they receive at least two bids, the highest bid is always accepted. This means that many HUD homes sell for far less then they would if they were not listed as a HUD home.  HUD also pays the real estate agent's commission from your bid and they evenpay the closing costs up to 5% of your winning bid.How do you find HUD homes? Just check out HUD's website.If you would like some additional resources that will help you purchase a house in the Dallas TX area check out my website by clicking here. 12/09/2007

So you're looking for a basement home in Texas? If so you need to know that most homes in Texas don't have them because the water table prevents it.  In fact the term “Texas basement” actually refers to an attic. These "Texas Basements" are often accessible only though a closet or hallway on the upper level of a home.  Which is why most Texans store most of their extra belongings in their garage or shed.Regards,Darrell SelfP.S.  Make sure to check out my website at http://dmdrealtydfw.com  if you are looking for a home in the Dallas Fort Worth area! 12/09/2007

When it comes to locating houses for sale in the Dallas TX area it’s really hard to beat a cheap home.  With the market the way it is here in Dallas these days finding homes at bargain rates has never been easier.  In fact we're in the midst of one of the greatest buyers markets that I have ever seen in my career. But I just want to share a word of caution to all the bargain hunters out there looking for some of the cheap houses for sales in the Dallas, TX area.  Although it's certainly easy to find homes at bargain rates throughout Dallas some of these bargain properties will obviously be better than others.  Some of these cheap homes are in really nice neighborhoods while many of them are located in areas not so good to raise a family in. But maybe you're looking to buy a house in the... 11/30/2007

Dallas TX home for sale, OPEN HOUSE TODAY 1-4, Dallas home for sale. PLANO ISD Dallas TX home for sale, Search Dallas MLS, Dallas TX home for sale, Pool 3 Bed 2 Liv 2 Din, Dallas TX home for sale. Search Dallas TX MLSLocation: Prestonwood WestDallas TX home for sale, OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-4, Dallas home for sale. PLANO ISD Dallas TX home for sale, Search Dallas MLS, Dallas TX home for sale, Pool 3 Bed 2 Liv 2 Din, Dallas TX home for sale. ------Search Dallas TX MLS Visit our website for over 60,000 Dallas home for sale in DFW area, via Dallas MLS search over 500 Dallas foreclosure listed http://www.lynn911.com ------Open house today 1-4 $319,999 ------Dallas Custom home $15K updates 8/07 like a brand new house Pool, huge back yard, 2581 sq. ft, 3 Bed, 2 liv, 2 bath, end of cul de sac ----... 11/18/2007

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Visit our website for over 60,000 Dallas home for sale in DFW area, over 500 Dallas foreclosures for sale http://www.lynn911.com/

Dallas Open house today 1-4

$319,999 Dallas Custom home $15K updates 8/07 like a brand new house
Pool, huge back yard, 2581 sq. ft,
3 Bed, 2 liv, 2 ½ bath, end of cul de sac

Address: 5828 Covehaven, Dallas, TX 75252
mls: 10840570
Directions: Tollway north exit Frankford east to Campbell Right on Campbell first left end of cul de sac

Dallas Foreclosed properties search over 4000 properties http://lynn911.com/dallas-f... 11/18/2007

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