Hearing the car door slam, Grace hurried out the front door just in time to catch one or two of the sample books slipping out from under the arm of the lady in her driveway. “Hi! Here, may I help you?!” she greeted her guest in the driveway. “Hello yourself! Thanks! I may have tried to carry one too many things! Hi, I’m Caroline!” she said with a nod, since she had no free hand to extend. “Kristen sent me over to talk to you.”  “Yes,” Grace agreed happily as they reached the front door, “Kristen told me to expect you. You’re the interior designer!" “That’s me!” Caroline smiled.   “I can’t wait to get started!” Grace told her as she held the door open. “Come in and view the mannequin you’ll be dressing! We had a bit of personal stress preparing it for you, but it’s done now and ready for... 11/07/2013

Grace and Jason decided to sell their Keller home. They've lived in it a while and raised their family inside these walls. To make the experience a pleasant one and help them make the transition in their minds from “the home we live in” to “a marketable property for sale” I’ve suggested a two step process. First: UNDRESS the home of the personal decoration that declares it Grace and Jason's home sweet home. Next: DRESS the property declaring it's not only available for sale, but ready for someone else to move-in. I think we can all agree that the purchase and sale of real estate is fraught with emotion. Letting go and moving on for the Seller mixes with the excitement of taking hold and moving in of the Buyer. This week and next we’ll visit with Grace and Jason to get an inside glimpse ... 11/03/2013

  The benefits of and not a pre-qualification for Keller TX Home Loans      A lot of consumers are not educated enough on how they should go about buying a home.  No question, this is a big decision, and one that can be either immensely stressful- or immensely enjoyable- depending on how you go about the home buying process of Keller TX Home Loans and the surrounding areas. You must take the steps necessary to educate yourself on your buying power, take some time to think about your lifestyle choices, and the initial investment. We will discuss each of these in this article.     Education     The steps necessary to purchasing a home in Keller, Texas starts with getting pre-approved for your home loan. Take note that we didn't say anything about getting pre-qualified because in today's m... 10/25/2013

Even dressed as the Good Fairy from Wizard of Oz, the wand I carry just cannot do the magical things it did for Glenda in the show that still inspires and delights us.  But there are some TRICKS I can pull off to TREAT you, my clients, for your best Buying or Selling real estate experience!   FOR MY SELLERS TRICK:  Pricing the home right, right from the start – I fully understand and empathize with your desire to get the highest price for your property.  Honestly, pricing it higher than the market conditions dictate is a mistake that costs you in the long run.  Brokers know the market and they will steer their clients away from overpriced listings because there is an assumption the Seller has unrealistic expectations  TREAT:  Priced right, a home will usually sell within the average day... 10/24/2013

Unusual home designs have always been a part of the real estate landscape. Individual definition of what constitutes a “home” has resulted in everything from houses being built into the side of mountains, caves crafted into modern dwellings to underground abodes.  Some design concepts, though, find a more mainstream following, such as these four have (more and more) over the last several years. ECO FRIENDLY – these homes take into account the surrounding environment and the impact they have on it in their energy use and building materials. This includes utilizing sustainable energy sources and bio-degradable materials.Existing homes can be improved with energy upgrades that work in conjunction with environmental concerns, yet aren’t terribly expensive to install. Did you believe being g... 10/06/2013

If your house is anything like mine, the last few weeks have been much quieter at home. The kids have gone back to school and I find myself looking around and thinking, “It's organize time! Cleanout time! Time to spruce up and welcome the new season!” Inspired by the changing seasonal colors (my azaleas popped out!) right now is a great time to introduce some new color into your home! There are ways to switch things up without going to a lot of expense or trouble.   * Change your throw rugs for a dash of difference * Rearrange your wall art; substitute hangings from one room with another.  The best fun with this is seeing which family members notice! * Slipcover your throw pillows for instant fresh appeal. You can purchase slipcovers or if you are crafty, sew them yourself!  This is a g... 09/26/2013

There is a Special Government Home Renovation Loan Program with FHA 203K Loans in Keller Texas.     Many are not aware of a special government loan program that is actually a part of FHA (Federal Housing Administration- a department within HUD). Existing home owners or potential home buyers can remodel and update their homes without having a higher cost second lien because of this FHA loan program.         The loan program does not allow for “luxury items” which are defined as items like a swimming pool or hot tub, etc. Although, you can repaint, replace flooring and appliances, add a room to an existing structure (which can add to value tremendously as you increase the square feet of your home) as well as remodel cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms.         One of the biggest advantage... 09/25/2013

Brooke is seven years old. She's a spirited little girl with a wicked sense of humor. She wrote out five rules today and they made me laugh, so I thought I'd share. Noooo.... they have nothing to do with real estate! But this is a real estate blog, so I titled the post five rules for real estate. If you don't like the misleading title and elementary content, it's all right to go on. But I promise this chick is going places... Brooke's Five Rules 1. Don't sit on a grill. You'll burn your burns. 2. Don't go in the boys bathroom. 3. Don't get a snake for a pet. 4. Don't do a belly flop on a trampoline. 5. No pulling hares. Or hairs. On the back she has more don'ts... Don't step on a stinkbug. Don't drink lake water. Don't put your head in a trash can. Even if you drop your favorite toy in ... 09/22/2013

Keller ISD invites parents to join in this Thursday, Sept. 19th at 9:00 a.m. at Keller ISD schools district-wide as KISD officially launches its anti-bullying campaign. The program is called Reaching Out with Character and Kindness (ROCK), and the Kickoff Event is from 9:00-9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19th. Students and staff will join hands across the district. During this district-wide, one-time event, 33,000 KISD students and staff will join hands in front of the Keller ISD campuses and reach out toward the nearest campus in a show of unity to eliminate bullying and harassment. The students will be given a green ROCK bracelet to wear to show support for our Reaching Out with Character and Kindness in Keller ISD. Students will be outside at 9:00 and at 9:10 will join hands to show their... 09/16/2013

Pssst. Want to be let in on a secret?   You know that old real estate cliché Location! Location! Location? You’ve heard it, right? There’s a secret to using it to your advantage when selling real estate. Oh, yeah and there’s a secret to how it applies when buying real estate.    Remember, there are two sides to a single coin.  And in the English language there can be many definitions to the same word!  For instance, consider the word “sound”.  Did you know that this one word has three distinct meanings?   There is sound, as in noise made, something we hear with our ears, like when I call you excited because I just found the perfect home that meets your criteria! How about sound as in healthy, whole, in good shape.  As in the foundation of the home you are selling or considering buying ... 09/13/2013

The benefits of a pre-approval and not a pre-qualification for Home Loans in Keller Texas      A lot of consumers are not educated enough on how they should go about buying a home.  This can be extremely stressful or enjoyable depending on how you choose to go about the home buying process for homes in Keller TX and surrounding areas. The key is to take the proper steps to educate yourself on your buying power, initial investment, and taking some time to think about your lifestyle choices. Each of these will be discussed in this article.     Education     The proper way to go about buying a home in Keller, Texas begins with getting preapproved for your home loan. Take note that we didn't say anything about getting pre-qualified because in today's mortgage industry it is meaningless. You... 09/11/2013

Sounds like a nursery rhyme, doesn't it? 7 Specifics to Successful [[[HOME]]] Sales a Seller Should Know. And my son added, "Placing brackets on 'home' like that makes your title look like it's wearing a bow-tie!" Why yes, Dr. Who fan, yes, it does. On to the 7 tips today... Successfully completing the transfer of property is never an accidental occurrence.  Neither is it dependent upon luck or happenstance.  Not when you are fully prepared for a successful sale with these 7 specifics working in your favor.   1. Reputation – of the broker you choose for representation; a broker with a reputation for professionalism ensures other brokers prefer to work with them.  This increases your potential buyer pool. 2. Ability – of the broker to determine the most advantageous marketing techniques ... 09/10/2013

Sanity dictates you get the best possible deal when involved in a Real Estate transaction. No one wants to give away the farm. And no one wants to pay an arm and a leg for the farm! The best possible contract terms that allow you to accomplish the goals that are of the most importance to you should be your focus when you transact real estate business. Every transaction takes on a life of its own because every party to that transaction has their own personal agenda. There is no “good” or “bad”. There are just the specific goals of the Buyers, the Sellers, and all the principles involved in each real estate transaction.   By hiring a professional you’ve made a first step in the right direction of assuring your goals and objectives are met. But that isn’t the only step you need to take. Th... 08/30/2013

Surprise!  Same house style, same updates and maintenance, and on the same street, but one house sold for $25,000 less than the other.  How does that happen?  It might surprise you to discover that one poorly kept home on a street can adversely affect the price of all the homes on the street.  Or it might affect only the home sitting next to the Frankenpatch with its 3 foot high weeds, untended garden and automotive cemetery.   This is often the strongest argument for a neighborhood Home Owner Association to enforce methodical conformity to covenants on all its residents.  Once found mainly in Condominium complexes, more and more single family home developments are instituting Home Owners Associations. First gaining popularity in the neighborhoods of America in the 1960’s, the concept o... 08/24/2013

What Kind of Buyer Are You?   When they first, call many prospective buyers tell me they want a fixer-upper. It’s sooooo trendy to be a fixer upper buyer these days. It can be a wise decision, too, depending on circumstances. I ask a lot of questions because I’ve learned my idea of a fixer-upper is considerably different than many other people’s ideas. What kind of buyer are you? The Pristine Buyer—You are not a fixer-upper buyer. You want a house ready to move into so you can concentrate on your new job or new baby. You want great carpet, fresh paint, up to date appliances, gorgeous tile, and a recently mowed yard. The biggest headaches for you will be deciding where the couch is going. You’ll pay a few dollars extra to find this house. Often you’ll have to beat out other interested bu... 08/20/2013

Anytime I title a blog "__ in Texas" I feel like I should begin with, "Howdy." But it's not Toy Story, it's a real estate blog. So speaking of real estate in Texas this summer, here are some home buyer tips and trends, especially when making a purchase offer, that are relevant to the hot DFW Keller Texas real estate marketplace! As with the first half of 2013, buyers will still have to compete for the best properties in DFW this quarter. Good, solid, move-in ready homes that show nicely are getting close to list price or higher within days, generally speaking. Specifically, I have not had one property in 2013 last more than about a week without an offer and more offers arrived during option period and even into pending. It was a hot mess the first half of the year! Well... it still is. ... 08/15/2013

Never having been a name-brand girl, People Magazine reader, "be cool" "rock star" enthusiast a lot of folks are, titles and names alone are not what impress me. Never have. It's the work for that accomplishment, the accumulation of brains, creative genius that go with notoriety that are impressive. It's the underdog, super-hero, stories of survival, charismatic qualities, all those things that matter in good and important ways that get me all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, whether a business name or a personal popularity. So as a Realtor® I never put any weight what-so-ever into designations and certifications. A name with an alphabet of accomplishment behind it only told me you spent all your time in a classroom, but when do you work? What have you actually closed? What have you done f... 08/12/2013

Often wonder why some houses can have a number of showings after its first week on the market, and similar ones seems to be left with no attention? A quick sell of a house is common enough to be expected by home sellers, but rare enough to remain a phenomenon in the market. It’s really a question of readiness – the houses being sold quickly are more well prepared to accept a new resident. Surely price and location is the major reason a house can appeal to home buyers, but there’s also more than meets the buyer’s eye. Here are some quick sell tips to make sure your house reaches that contract as soon as possible. (a) Get a top-quality, state-of-the-art real estate agent. Sounds obvious, but the better qualified your agent is, the more experienced they are and the more guarantee that your... 08/08/2013

Once upon a time a client fell in love with a house. But then they discovered it was already under contract! So sweet buyer looked at other homes and would you believe it? They fell in love with another home! Then the first home they wanted came back on the market again...   OH NO! This happened to my buyer, so when I found out the first house was coming on the market again, I said a little prayer and I called the client and let them know about the new status change. Their reply was simply, "It's ok. I only thought I was in love with the first one... But this house now is my happily ever after!" Phew! We close soon. I must admit, the house they are buying is one of my personal favorite sales in my 10 years of real estate. So I am glad they were unable to go for the first property. This ... 07/18/2013

Use the Special Government Home Renovation Loan Program to obtain a FHA 203K Renovation Loan for Keller TX. There is a special government loan program that is part of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)- a department within HUD. Thanks to this special FHA loan program, a buyer or home owner can do meaningful amounts of remodeling or updates to their new or existing home without the higher cost of a second mortgage. "Luxury items" like a hot tub and a swimming pool are not allowed by this FHA loan program. Items such as remodeling cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, painting, adding wallpaper, replacing appliances and flooring, or even adding a room to an existing structure (which will increase the value of the homes square footage) are allowed. There are many advantages with this ... 07/16/2013