The trouble with residential leasing in Prosper, TX, as I have said on a number of occasions, is that we have a shortage of available inventory for lease.  As of this morning, there are only 12 residential properties for lease in Prosper, ranging in rental from $995 per month to $5500 per month.  And, in my personal experience, the homes listed for lease under $3500 per month in Prosper tend to rent very quickly, and with multiple applications being submitted in just a matter of a couple of weeks.  Currently, I have a tenant client who is looking to build a home somewhere in Collin County, TX.  They sold their Frisco home much faster than anticipated, and are looking for the following: 1.  Terms of 8-months fixed $2500-3000 per month 2.  4 months at month-to-month at a rate to be determ... 05/20/2010

I got a call from a client in the Willow Ridge subdivision.  They live near the lake at the entrance to the neighborhood.  An orange cat, that has been de-clawed, and is obviously a well-behaved and loved family pet, has found it's way to their home.  So, today, rather than blog about real estate in Prosper, TX, I'm putting out an all-call on behalf of this tabby. If you, or anyone you know, has a orange cat, and likely lives in one of the neighborhoods bordering First Street in Prosper, TX, please check and see that the cat is safe and sound at it's own home.  The family is likely assuming that the cat got out and isn't going to be found.  Call me, Ronda Allen, at 972-816-4369, if you believe this cat may be yours.  I'll hook you up with my client and you can share pertinent informatio... 05/18/2010

Are you panicked, because the days on market field on the MLS is upwards of 90 days, 120 days, 180 days, 365 days?  The longer a home stays on the market, the more worrisome it can be for the owner that theirs is the home that won't ever sell.  There are some unsellable homes in the North Texas Region.  But, I can assure you that there is not a single unsellable home in Prosper, Texas.  I have reviewed every available home, taken the virtual tours, analyzed their pricing strategy, and checked on their marketing.  100% sellable, in my opinion. So why isn't a home getting picked?  There can be a myriad of reasons.  And, these days, getting some agents to give feedback on their previews and showings can be downright impossible.  The seller isn't a mind-reader.  They need input as to why th... 05/15/2010

When you contact a Realtor about a property, be sure to let them know the USE of the property.  Our North Texas MLS allows you to categorize listings in the following ways:  Residential, Commercial, Lots and Acreage.  But, within these general categories are listings of all shapes and sizes.   There are current 243 MLS listings of real property for sale or lease, for residential or commercial use, in the Town of Prosper, Texas. Residential Sales In Prosper, you'll find residential sale offerings very lean under $200,000 (currently just 15 homes that you could easily tour in a single showing tour).  With only 156 total offerings in the MLS, ranging in price from $130,000 to $21,000,000, Prosper's housing market has the reputation of being one of the best in Collin County.  The problem I ... 05/13/2010

When it comes to the housing market, you have to put some faith in the figures and trust in the agents who tell you that our market is FAR better than it was 18 months ago.  You have to sit down and review the local sale and leasing comparatives that make up our recent past.  You have to look at them from far back and from close up and decide if the numbers show an improving market, a stable market, or a declining market.  You also have to look at things like population growth, expected population, schools, and commercial growth and make presumptive estimates of growth, stability, or slump. TRUST the facts! When it comes to Prosper, Texas, let's make no bones about it, I am most definitely a BELIEVER!  The proof is in the facts.  And, as a Collin County Realtor, I have reviewed MLS Puls... 05/12/2010

There is an event that happens each year in Prosper, TX. It's a not-so-small gathering called Prosper Country Christmas.  Held the 2nd Sunday in December, this event is situated on Broadway in the downtown area of Prosper.  The street is blocked off to traffic and the fun ensues.  If you are thinking of booking a booth for the event, you need to be making plans now, as this thing will be booked solid before the Summer is over.  This year's event will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2010 from 3:00-6:00pm.  Mark your calendars! Last year, My Son's favorite thing was the big screen Guitar Hero booth.  I like the live music and catching up with neighbors before the holiday rush.  My Husband likes the fact that it's so close to home and the food choices are always good.  As our local communi... 05/10/2010

Why is it some agents have a phone that rings, while others are making cold-calls and waiting for a phone that never rings?  Promotional marketing can make a big difference.  Without it, agents significantly increase the chance of having to say 'I used to be in real estate'. I learned a long time ago that in order to succeed in real estate, I had to be able to answer the question, "Why should I work with Ronda Allen?".  What was it that I would be able to bring to the table that someone else would not have?  How about a committed advertising budget that attracts buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants - specifically interested in suburban residential properties in Collin County, Texas? A successful Realtor is like a professional baseball player:  We KNOW our stats!   Ronda Allen, RE/MAX... 05/04/2010

Are you a seller or landlord who is hesitant to enter the housing market in Prosper, Texas?  If so, you needn't be.  But, that's really easy to say and not have to substantiate.  So, let's look at a few recent case studies to help demonstrate what buyers and tenants are saying in today's market and how Prosper is at the forefront of their Collin County home search: 1.  THE BUYERS:  1.A.  BUYERS- Corporate relocation.  I just finished touring with a $500,000 buyer who was deciding between McKinney and Prosper.  He accepted a job relocation to the Legacy Business Corridor in Plano.  On first sight, they picked McKinney (more established) and we wrote an offer.  Next thing I knew, I was getting a 6am email asking me to rescind the offer and make an offer on a home in Prosper instead.  The ... 05/03/2010

Have you been hearing good things about Prosper ISD?  The buzz about Prosper schools is really good, and many people are looking to move to Prosper in 2010 specifically to enroll their children in Prosper schools.  Prosper ISD is actually much larger than the town of Prosper proper.  Prosper ISD also overlaps into parts of Frisco, Celina, and McKinney.  Whether it's a new build job, a builder spec home, or a resale home that you desire, the subdivisions of Prosper ISD will not disappoint:    Amberwood Farms Ariana Estates Bloomdale Farms Bryants Carter Charles Cedar Ridge Estates Chapel Hill Collin Co Sch Land Collin Green Crown Ridge Deer Run Estates of Verona Gentle Creek Estates Greenspoint Heatherwood Highland Meadows La Cima Haven Lakes of Prosper Preston Country Estates Preston Hi... 04/07/2010

Every week, I am asked by home sellers and home buyers the following questions: 1.  Where do you live?  PROSPER People always want to know where a real estate agent chooses to live.  We're freelance contractors.  If we're good at what we do, we can choose to live anywhere in the region.  Where we chose to buy is very telling.  I purchased a home in Prosper, Texas in early 2006.  Our street was incomplete.  The class sizes were small, and the schools had an excellent reputation.  And, we needed a place to put down roots for the rest of our Son's school years.  My Husband's commute to work in the Legacy Business Corridor in Plano was under 20 minutes.  And, now that the tollway is open, that commute has been cut in half.  It felt like the ground-floor opportunity for which we all search. ... 04/07/2010

Hyper-local.  We've heard that term as a restaurant term, in regard to buying produce from local growers to lower distribution costs and putting the freshest and very best product in front of the customer.  It's a buzz word in corporate purchasing departments.  Buying from local sources who maintain stock at their own expense, rather than putting goods in the company's warehouse, thus avoiding tying up precious corporate funds in inventory.  But, hyper-local in regard to real estate sales?  It absolutely applies, and the beneficiary of hyper-local agent productivity is the homeowner. I would define a hyper-local real estate agent as someone who not only provides selling and buying services within your community, but also resides in the community.  This agent is an ambassador for the com... 04/02/2010

LUXURY HOMES FOR SALE IN PROSPER                          Tonya Peek Prosper Specialist Are you searching for a luxury home in Prosper Texas?   There are 7 homes for sale right now that are over 1 million.  First and formost is Deon Sanders place right on Preston for $21,000,000.  It was build before Prosper was on the map in 1999.  It is the Ultimate Party and Family Ranch. It has a 2 story Entry, Sunken Living, Banquet Dining, Your own Dave and Busters, Indoor Basketball Court and Bowling Alley, Indoor and Outdoor Pools, Movie Theatre, Billiard Room, Hall of Fame Gallary, Football field, 12 acre lake, tennis court, guest house, 10 car garage, furniture negotiable, Approx. living area 29,122 sq.ft. and 38,831 gross sq. ft footage in main home. To the north of Deon's home is a $6,500,00... 03/27/2010

GO GREEN OR GO HOME!  In Prosper, Texas, we're all about the green.  Classic green P's and Peagles are emblazoned on the back windows of our cars, in support of our schools and our kids.  But, the best thing you can do for your kids, and with your kids, this weekend, is participate in Earth Hour.  March 27, 2010 from 8:30pm-9:30pm is World Wildlife Federation's Earth Hour.  Turn out your lights for 60 minutes.  Join the movement.  It's a painless way to be an activist in our local community.  The benefit is going to be felt globally.   Texas landmark participants will include:  Chase Tower, Dallas Comerica Bank Tower, Dallas First City Tower, Houston Fairmont Hotels and Resorts   National Organization Supporters include: 4H YMCA of the USA American Federation of Teachers American Bird C... 03/25/2010

This coming Saturday is the 4th Saturday of the month, so the weekly Prosper, TX resale home tour will consist of four resale homes in the mega-luxury $1 million-and-over category. Who buys in this price point?  An entrepreneur.  Someone who has been financially savvy.  Someone who is in a profession that may require a good amount of entertaining.  A celebrity.  A well-known sports figure.  The owner of a title company.  And, many others.  Surprisingly, many times the $1 million-plus buyer is a family of two.  Empty-nesters in some cases.  People who put career achievement over family expansion in other cases.  They tend to be charismatic people.  They aren't shy.  But, I have found them to be a little more relaxed in nature than their counterparts in the other price ranges of home owne... 03/23/2010

Many people in DFW will be heading down to Lower Greenville Avenue for the Saint Patrick's Day parties.  I'll happily be spending the weekend in Prosper, Texas, meeting with buyers and sellers.    Saturday 03-13-10 10am-11:30am - Prosper resale home tour Each week, we visit a different price point of homes.  To be involved in this caravan tour of resale homes in Prosper, email jrkallen1@yahoo.com or direct message your contact information to me at http://www.twitter.com/prospertxhomes.  I will email back the agenda, and we meet at the first home in the tour.  Today is Prosper resale in the $350k-650k price range - the most popular resale price range.  Pre-qualification is not a requirement for the home tour.  This is a weekly tour meant to help introduce the homes of Prosper to prospect... 03/12/2010

Yikes!  I can tell from the last few contracts I've had to negotiate this year that this blog is past due.  There is a right way and a wrong way to buy a home.  Here are some tips on what TO DO in order to have a successful (and easy-going) home purchase experience: 1.  Select your agent more carefully!  Wow, are there some duds hanging around out there.  I say 'hanging around' because these agents actually left their real estate focus when they took a full time job doing something else in 2009 and selling real estate became their sideline.  Did they tell you they were part-time?  No.  Why would they?  You don't need to know that, right?  Wrong.  Work with a full-time real estate agent.  If you're buying in Collin County, work with an agent who also focuses on Collin County.  I guarante... 03/12/2010

Yesterday, I blogged about how lean the housing inventory has gotten for both homes for sale in Prosper, Texas and homes for lease.  When the market leans out like this, it becomes more difficult to find an adequate number of properties to match up to the buyer's search criteria.  In these times, we have to rely on our expertise in the area and the relationships we've developed in the community to create a larger pool of properties.  Expired Listings Going back over the MLS offerings that didn't sell in 2008 and 2009 is a great way to find properties matching the buyer's criteria.  Some of those buyers decided to stay put when their home wasn't sold.  But, others would still like to sell, but are just uncertain if the timing is right and wary from their last experience.  How surprised t... 03/11/2010

The weather is warming up, and we're down to just 138 homes for sale in Prosper and only 5 homes for lease.  WOW!  That's the lowest I have ever seen our available inventory.  From a selling or leasing perspective, there has never been a better time to enter the market.  Those people planning moves for when school gets out in the Summer will be entering the market by early May.  We've got a few hold-outs from Summer 2009 still holding onto invisible equity and refusing to bring their pricing in line with the market.  Those homes aren't likely even gettings showings, so they aren't really anyone's competition.  What a great opportunity for anyone in Prosper who wants to sell!  Interest rates remain low, the home buyer tax incentive program is still available until the end of April, and t... 03/10/2010

Agents get accused of it.  Upselling.  Getting a buyer to spend more on their purchase - taking them into the next level of home than their original budget may have allowed.  The general public thinks this is common practice from a real estate agent.  But, I find the buyer does it to themselves in many cases, and I am the voice of reason talking them back down. Once you get started with a home tour in Prosper, it's really easy for a buyer to get caught up on how much home they get for their money, and the budget begins to rise to get even more.  For example, a buyer who may have been happy initially with a 4-bedroom home between 3000-3500sf will see that they can buy a 5-bedroom home with over 4,000sf at very near the price of the 4-bedroom.  All of the sudden, a 4,000 square foot home ... 03/09/2010

I am so committed to expanding awareness of all the great homes of Prosper, Texas that I have added a standing Saturday morning resale home tour to my Spring/Summer schedule.  Starting Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 10:30am, I'll lead a public caravan tour of Prosper homes. First Saturday of the month: $150,000 to $350,000 Second Saturday of the month: $350,000 to $650,000 Third Saturday of the month: $650,000 to $999,000 Fourth Saturday of the month: $1,000,000 and over This tour will be a mix of occupied and vacant homes - regular resale and distressed properties (if any).  The tour will move quickly - averaging 10 minutes per home.  Registration for the home tour is free, but does require valid Texas drivers license for identification.  Email your contact information and the week prefer... 03/08/2010