FACT: Local Real Estate Experts Know The Truth!

While this is good news, those of us who are experts in the north Dallas real estate market have known for over a year that the housing market is healthy and active!  We have had multiple offers on Dallas homes for sale many times already in 2012.  We are negotiating unbelievable deals for our Dallas area home buyers as well.  The local housing market is alive and well!

Here's the article if you'd like to read it.

 

Todd Tramonte

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Housing Crisis to End in 2012: Why I'm Not Thrilled To Hear This

I just read an article saying that analyst firm Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end in 2012. We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, right? Not exactly. Although that sounds like great news, I'm not thrilled to hear this and I'll tell you why.

Real estate is hyper local, which means that you'll need to get the facts about your local market before buying or selling a house in that area. 

 

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

It's not wise for the consumer to rely solely on information that they hear regarding the housing industry because that information tends to be based on the national housing market. If you've been following the housing news lately you'll have seen that there are areas in our nation that have faired much worse than others. Some areas like Arizona, Las Vegas and California have seen home values drop in the 30-40% range. But we aren't in those areas. We aren't even in those states, which means that that information really doesn't have too much of an effect on our housing market. I'm talking about the one that we live in, work in, and will buy or sell in. The Dallas housing market never saw home values drop close to the substantial numbers that were seen in other areas in the country. 

Real estate news that you should be focusing on should be hyper local news about the market that truly effects you. If you're going to be selling a home in the Dallas, Richardson or Plano areas then you would want to know exactly what is effecting those areas, not what's effecting California. Things that you should really take into consideration are the local job market, the availabilty of mortgages, the direction of interest rates and the political climate. If you're buying a home in one of those areas then you'd want to know what the available housing inventory is for those areas which will help you determine how to present offers on the homes that you wish to purchase. 

Here's some news that you can use. The Dallas housing market is healthy, and is getting even healthier. The local job market is strong and more companies and people are transferring into our local economy constantly. Interest rates are at historic lows and the Dallas housing inventory is at a safe level that indicates a healthy market.

If you want more information about your local real estate market it's a good idea to speak to a real estate expert who studies this market day in and day out. Also, be aware of the things that you read and hear on the news regarding the 'housing market' since it tends to include everyones housing market and not just your market.

 

 

Kenny Ochs

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Are you familiar with Canyon Creek in Richardson?

Surrounded by well maintained homes with incredibly strong property values, Canyon Creek Country Club and Golf Course sit at the heart of Canyon Creek in Richardson.  The neighborhood is one of the most desirable Richardson neighborhoods and is very well known for huge mature trees and the beautiful creek that runs through.  The creek is bordered by quiet trails and bridges crossing amazing stone waterfalls and is the dividing line between Canyon Creek and Prairie Creek neighborhoods.  With incredible Richardson RISD schools and a wonderful family feel, this neighborhood is a home run for families moving to Richardson.  Plenty of nearby shopping and restaurants make Canyon Creek about as versatile a place to live as there is in North Dallas. 

Check out some of the amazing homes available right now in Canyon Creek in Richardson:

http://www.dallashomerealty.com/search/results/3m/

 

Todd Tramonte

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

 

Monday Morning Mojo for February 13th, 2012

I just wanted to take a minute to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day with the “holiday” taking place tomorrow.

While there is a historical basis for this holiday, most people really believe that the Hallmark Card Company is really the driving force behind the February love fest. 

For many of us, the task of coming up with an idea can be a huge pain with our busy lives. More importantly, we want to show that we care (and that we put some thought into our gift) without breaking the bank.

So, in an effort to help you come out smelling like a rose tomorrow, I’ve included some simple, but very cool, Valentine’s gift ideas for you to pick from as you take care of your significant other.

I hope you find them useful. 

1. Collect a variety of inexpensive sweet smelling candles such as cinnamon, apple, strawberry, coffee, cookies or cake. You can also include a red handled lighter tied with a small bow that matches a bigger bow around the edge of the basket.
2. Find a new or used fondue set (thrift stores have them all the time!) Arrange in large basket with fresh berries or a seasonal fruit, angel food cake and chocolate for melting.
3. Put together the ingredients for a romantic dinner for two...or a whole family. For example, you can include gourmet pasta and a jar of your favorite marinara sauce with some French baguettes.
4. For your spouse or loved one, purchase a small photo album or scrapbook, pretty paper & special stickers to create a memory book of your relationship. Get all the supplies together in the valentine gift basket including scissors, photo safe glue or tape and plenty of pictures of the two of you. At the top of the basket put an invitation to join you for an hour or two of preserving loving memories.
5. Find a large red bucket and fill it with car washing supplies and fun new items for the car like a romantic CD (once again, check the thrift store - I find some of the best music there), homemade air freshener, bottle of Dawn dish soap, etc. Be sure to include a red or pink sponge cut into a heart shape, of course.
6. For a young girl or woman, choose a variety of sweet or flavored lip glosses to put in a miniature basket.
7. The last valentine gift basket idea is a low cost way to present a very special gift. Put a couple of snack foods in the basket, but ahead of time rig one of the packages with a special prize! Carefully open one package (Cracker Jacks or a box of Junior Mints would work well) and insert a gift certificate or tickets to an event, then reseal the package to make the surprise complete.

 

Have a romantic week,

Your friend,

Todd Tramonte

Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Bill Keffler says he will step down from leading the City of Richardson on May 31, 2012

(Richardson, TX) –City Manager Bill Keffler announced today he is retiring from the City of Richardson after a 35-year career with the City, 17 as City Manager. His last day will be May 31, 2012. The City Council will consider options for a successor at a future date.

Keffler announced his intention to retire during a specially-called meeting this afternoon in City Hall with City supervisors and others in leadership positions within the organization. During the meeting, he said, “I’ve had a tremendous experience serving here with the City of Richardson these past 35 years.  This is a phenomenal community. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to raise my family here and to enjoy a life-long association with the many outstanding public servants that make up the City ofRichardson.” He went on to say, “Any success I have achieved as City Manager is directly attributed to the outstanding team of people that I have worked with over the years. From past to present city councils to every person who works for the City, this has been a tremendous life experience.”

Keffler spent his entire career in city management with the City ofRichardson. His service as City Manager began in 1995. Before then, he served as Deputy City Manager (1985-1995); Assistant City Manager (1981-1985); Assistant to the City Manager (1979-1981); and as an Administrative Assistant (1977-1979). His life in public service began after earning an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Notre Dame and a masters degree in public administration from Texas Tech University.

“Bill Keffler has become something of an institution in this community,” said Mayor Bob Townsend. “This is one of those days that you always knew would eventually come, and I am happy to see that Bill can leave at a time when our community is really doing well and has a lot going for it. Much of our success is thanks to his hard work and dedication, but we are fortunate that he has also had the foresight to put a very capable management team in place, which can help us as we transition to a new leader for the organization that makes up the City of Richardson.”

Throughout his tenure, Keffler has strongly promoted city-wide and regional partnering efforts; abiding commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency; support for municipal operations innovations; willingness to undertake new initiatives in the areas of urban planning, economic development and community revitalization; and strong focus on professional leadership and mentoring.

Through ongoing City Council initiatives, Richardson stands out amongst first-ring suburban communities for defying the trend of declining development. The City is globally renowned for its community-wide culture of high-tech innovation and its strong municipal government.

Exceptional Community and Regional Collaborations

During his service, Keffler has focused on building partnerships, both in the local community and across North Texas, to achieve critical goals that benefit Richardson and its neighbors. Because Richardsonspans two counties and two school districts, forging and maintaining strong relationships with those dual entities have been an important focus for Keffler. Similarly, he has worked closely with institutional partners such as Methodist Richardson Medical Center, UT Dallas and Richland College as they have grown and expanded their cutting-edge offerings, which have greatly contributed to a healthier community and a dynamic future workforce.

Keffler has encouraged strong links to Richardson’s neighborhoods by partnering with the City Council in holding monthly meetings with 62 homeowner and neighborhood associations. He has also developed a strong connection with the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, promoting the Richardson Economic Development Partnership to lead joint economic development efforts and the introduction of Richardson’s Telecom Corridor® brand, which has spread Richardson’s name worldwide as a leader in high-tech innovation.

His strong engagement with transportation entities such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has assisted in Richardson’s efforts to become the first Dallas suburb to get multiple (four) light rail stations plus bus service, and he has continued this partnership in working on transit oriented development (TOD) projects in Richardson. His work with the North Texas Tollway Authority and NCTCOG’s Regional Transportation Council (RTC) helped to advance the completion of the President George Bush Turnpike across Richardson’s northern boundary, spurring development in this very important corridor in the city.

Outstanding Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency

Under Keffler’s leadership, Richardson has created a climate of responsible budgeting and spending and a strong and stable tax base, which have enabled the City to earn the highest bond ratings possible – AAA and Aaa from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, respectively. The City has also placed a strong emphasis on fiscal transparency, earning the Texas Comptroller’s Gold level recognition, the highest level in the Comptroller’s Leadership Circle Awards.

Keffler also led Richardson’s fiscal management during multiple economic crises, including the tech bubble burst in 2000-2001 and the most recent economic downturn. Despite these challenges, under Keffler’s tenure, the City has never laid off an employee for budgetary reasons, and Richardson has become highly regarded for continuing its delivery of exemplary public services in the most efficient, innovative manner possible.

In response to the challenges of the 2000-2001 tech bubble burst, Richardson introduced an innovative early retirement incentive program that helped reduce payroll levels without compromising services or employee morale. Since then, Richardson has proactively embarked upon an economic development effort to diversify the mix of companies in the city while continuing to build the community’s reputation for technology innovation, a strong tech infrastructure and highly skilled workforce. As a result, Richardsonwas well-prepared for the economic downturn that began in 2008 and has demonstrated resiliency that differentiates it from most cities nationwide.

Support for Municipal Operations Innovations

Richardson is widely viewed as an innovator in municipal operations, a culture that has been encouraged throughout Keffler’s leadership. Richardson has focused less on code enforcement and more on proactive neighborhood engagement through its Community Services Department. As a result, Richardson’s neighborhoods and the City have an unusually strong connection, which led to the development of many innovative programs, including Richardson’s Home Improvement Incentive Program, which has spurred nearly $28 million in home improvements since its 2007 introduction.

Other examples of Richardson’s operations excellence under Keffler’s tenure include:

• The creation of the Richardson Corporate Challenge, the only multi-month corporate competition of its kind in Texas, which last year surpassed $1 million in accumulated donations to the Texas Special Olympics;

• Noteworthy green leadership, including a City commitment to environmentally friendly, LEED-certified development of all future municipal buildings and a “Tree the Town” program that was the largest municipal tree planting initiative in North Texas;

• Award-winning Library, Finance and Parks and Recreation Departments;

• Outstanding Police and Fire Departments, which have evolved active community support opportunities and citizen academies and have recently deployed an open-standards P25 radio communications system that saved the City approximately $5 million while providing first responders with state-of-the-art equipment.

Bold Urban Planning, Economic Development and Community Revitalization Initiatives

Richardson has long been at the forefront of urban planning and innovation through actions including:

• Partnering with the Urban Land Institute to identify future development priorities for Richardson, leading to the creation of Richardson’s first Tax Increment Financing (TIF) ordinance and award-winning TOD projects around DART Light Rail Stations;

• Development of the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts and Galatyn Park Urban Plaza;

• Creation of Planned Development Districts near the Bush Turnpike Station last year using an innovative form-based code approach in lieu of traditional zoning.

In recognition of this planning and policy innovation, Richardson won Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence Awards from NCTCOG in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The City of Richardson also exhibited bold leadership when it took a $66-million bond program to voters in 2010 during the midst of a severe economic downturn, winning approval for a package that will revitalize city streets, add new or upgraded parks and recreation and public safety facilities, and support continued neighborhood vitality. Richardson is also in the midst of a major revitalization planning initiative focused on key corridors across the city.

Keffler’s leadership has also been evident in many noteworthy economic development successes that have contributed to Richardson’s strong and stable fiscal environment, including:

• Securing Texas Instruments’ state-of-the-art Richardson Semiconductor Fabrication Plant (RFAB), which required working in tandem with UT Dallas and the State of Texas;

• Attracting new headquarters or major operations of leading companies such as Cisco Systems; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas; Fossil Inc.; AT&T; Fujitsu Network Communications; Samsung Telecommunications America; Verizon; United Health Care; and Digital Realty Trust.

Strong Focus on Professional Leadership and Mentoring

Keffler has been active in leadership in the profession and community as well as in the mentoring of future public servants. He is the immediate past president of the Texas City Management Association and has been a long-time leader in the organization. Keffler is also a past president of the North Texas City Management Association; member of the International City/County Management Association; member of the North Texas Commission Board of Directors and Executive Committee; member of the Richardson Rotary Club; on the Executive Committee of the Richardson YMCA; member of the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Advisory Board; member of the Leadership Richardson Advisory Board; and member of several boards at the University of Texas at Dallas, including the Development Board, among many other professional and community leadership positions.

Notably, he has encouraged future generations of municipal leaders through his personal mentoring and support for internships within the operation of the City of Richardson and outside the City’s offices through his teaching in UT Dallas’ Graduate School of Economic, Political and Policy Science and service on both TCMA’s Clarence Ridley Scholarship Selection Committee and NCTCOG’s Urban Fellowship Program Committee. His mentoring has not only benefited his colleagues and the City, but also earned him recognition with the mentorship award from the Urban Management Assistants of North Texas.

“For 35 years I have been so fortunate to have been a part of the City of Richardson,” said Keffler. “This has been a second family to me. I have so much admiration for the significant time and energy that our City Council members have committed to the betterment of our community. It has been my honor to have worked for those City Councils, and to have been a co-worker with so many tremendous City employees who have made-up our City team over these years.”

 

 

Article and photo curtesy of The Richardson Chamber of Commerce and available here.

When you want to SUCCEED more than you want to breathe, that's when you'll be SUCCESSFUL

This is a real estate blog, but my post this week is going to be a little bit different. Although, I don't think it's actually too far off. If nothing else this will just give you a little Thursday morning motivation. I've included a video titled "How Bad Do You Want It?" which features a motivational speech by Eric Thomas (AKA The Hip Hop Preacher) and an intense work out session by Giavanni Ruffin (running back for East Carolina). If you're a sports fan then you may enjoy seeing the amount of work that Giavanni puts into his craft because it is impressive. But if you listen to the message of the story, about a pupil going to a guru to learn the secret to success you'll find that it can be applied to nearly all aspects of your life. Essentially, the guru puts the pupil through his paces which makes the pupil question whether or not this guru is a genius or just crazy. The guru leads his pupil into the ocean and is holding his head below the water while the pupil is struggling to get to the surface for a gasp of air. The next part of the speech gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. The guru then raises the pupil out from under the water and says, "when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, that's when you'll be successful!" 

I first watched this video a few months back and have periodically came back to it for a little shot of motivation. Today was one of those days. I've got that magical line, "when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, that's when you'll be successful" written down next to my desk at home so I can see it when I need it. I think when you really break down the message this is applicable to everyone's lives. You can translate this into a commitment to yourself to be the best parent, sibling, or friend that you can be in order to have a positive influence on someone else's life. When my friends ask me why I choose to wake up at 5:30am when I really don't have to be anywhere that early I always struggle to communicate to them why I do it. The truth is that I do it in order to start my day reading, for some reason my days just end up better when I get a chance to do that. I'm not in any kind of formal educational setting anymore, but I have the privilege and opportunity to continue to learn and grow in my role at work which makes things exciting. I sometimes struggle myself to understand why I automatically jump up when my alarm goes off, but when I sit down at my desk and see that note I wrote to myself, "when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, that's when you'll be successful" I smile and realize that's why I do it. I do it in order to create a life better than I could of ever imagined for myself and to have a long term positive impact on my family tree. That's my motivation. Yours may be different and that's totally fine. 

In the speech in the video, the young man equates success with money, which is one of probably a million ways to define the term. If you so choose to attach money to the term success, then real estate can be an avenue that can help you along on your journey. Historically, people who own real estate have a higher net worth than those who rent. According to Harvard Universities study America's Rental Housing: Meeting Challenges, Building on Opportunities, "Near the peak of the housing bubble in 2007, the median net wealth of homeowners was $234,600—about 46 times the $5,100 median for renters. Even if homeowner wealth fell back to 1995 levels, it would still be 27.5 times the median for renters." If you're thinking about buying a home in Richardson, Plano, Garland or another one of the North Dallas areas then now could be the most opportune time for you in history in order to reach your goal. With the relatively strong and stable job market that the Dallas Metroplex has and the historically low interest rates you might not be able to find a better time to positively influence your financial future.

 

To your success,

Kenny Ochs

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Is It The Right Time For Me To Buy A Home?

The decision to purchase a house is a highly personal one, based on both tangible and intangible factors. Beyond your personal situation, local market conditions, financing costs, and future expectations must also be evaluated.

The following list of questions can help you decide if you are ready to move forward with a home purchase.

Purchasing a home is a huge decision. An expert Realtor can help you determine if now is the right time for you.

Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

PURCHASING CONSIDERATIONS

 

If you purchase a home, how long do you expect to live there?

What can you afford to pay each month for housing-related expenses?

What are the total costs of home ownership? These may include:

• Mortgage payments (based on various interest rate and term assumptions)
• Property taxes
• Homeowner’s insurance
• Utilities
• Maintenance costs
• Any other special fees?

Do you expect these housing-related expenses to increase or decrease? (changes in interest rates may be a bigger factor than others) 

What additional expenses are required to complete a purchase? (closing costs, moving expenses, etc.)

How much will your home ownership costs decline after adjusting for interest expense deductions and property taxes (if applicable)?

Are local market prices favorable to purchasing?

What are your expectations on future prices?

Do you qualify for any special purchasing assistance programs that can help reduce the cost of home ownership?

OTHER FACTORS

 

What are your personal preferences regarding the type of housing you wish to live in?

How does location factor into your housing preferences?  

How do you expect your personal situation to change, in terms of future housing needs?

What are your expectations concerning future employment?

What are your long-term personal and financial goals?

 

If you're thinking of buying a home in the Dallas or Richardson area then you have found a great resource to help you identify if buying a home could be a good fit for you at this time. If you won't be paying cash then a great first step is to check out the availability of financing. We work closely with our preferred lenders who are able to identify when it would be a wise decision for you to be able to buy a new home. Also, with the Dallas and Richardson area job market relatively stronger than other areas and the historically low mortgage interest rates it is an opportune time to purchase a home and begin to create long term wealth for you and your family. If you have a desire to know more about when and how we can get you into your dream home then give us a call today. 

 

If you could describe your dream home, what would it look like? 4 bedrooms? Media room? Pool? Waterslide? All of the above?

 

Alan Bayle

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Dallas Real Estate Information, or Richardson Real Estate, or Plano Real Estate or...

With Dallas real estate being such a broad topic, how would a Dallas area home buyer find information about buying a home?  The same question, of course, applies to a Dallas area home seller finding information about selling a home.  

 

I'm biased but if you are reading this, I'm confident you have found the most informative Dallas real estate blog / source there is.  We strive to back that up, so feel free to call us right now for anything you needed even remotely real estate related at 214.216.2161.

A great real estate website like www.DallasHomeRealty.com can open up many doors if you are thinking of buying or selling a house.

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

 

The question does bring up an interesting challenge to Dallas area home buyers and sellers as well as Dallas Realtors.  The challenge is how to define your desired area or your area of expertise.  I like to use the airport test to prove my point.  If you grew up around Dallas, TX,  but not in an actual city of Dallas neighborhood, and you are asked where you are from by someone in the airport in Denver, you'll probably answer by saying Dallas.  This is true in that you grew up around Dallas and that this person most likely knows where Dallas is.  This is not true if you actually grew up in Richardson, Plano or Carrollton.  If you were asked the same question at your local grocery store, you'd be more likely to say that you were from Allen, Lake Highlands or Irving because that person would know the difference.

 

While all of this might read as a rambling mess, this is very important when searching for homes for sale online in the Dallas real estate market.  So, if you are looking for a house in Firewheel, which is actually in Garland, you have the choice to drive around town all day or to use an innovative online site like this one.  When using a site like ours, you can search for Dallas homes for sale, or for Garland homes for sale, or even for Firewheel homes for sale.  Which will it be?

 

I suggest that you get as specific as you can and then work backwards.  I'd start by searching for Firewheel homes for sale.  I might even search Firewheel Estates homes for sale if I knew that I was interested in that specific neighborhood.  You'll find that most neighborhoods are a little too narrow to have websites dedicated to homes for sale there.  We will be announcing very soon that we are adding neighborhood pages for many of the most sought after neighborhoods in the North Dallas real estate market.  (I guess I just kinda announced it.  Sorry Kenny!)  

 

Happy house hunting,

Todd Tramonte

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Real Estate Video about Marketing Your Home for Max Profit

This educational residential real estate video is about marketing your home in order to sell it for maximum profit. One of the most important factors to consider in order to get maximum profit out of your home is how it’s positioned. You want the home positioned in such a way as to elicit the response from home buyers that it is positioned at the top of the market. This can be accomplished in part through home staging, which can make the home look as best as it possibly can be. You also want to focus on how you will negotiate on this home. Be conscious of how you are communicating to your prospective home buyers. You also want to create a large pool of home buyers in order to be able to identify the one home buyer that can’t live without your home. Once you’ve accomplished these three things you’ll want your Realtor to communicate this to as many people and places as possible. Use all the major real estate websites but don’t forget to take advantage of the free sites too.

Todd Tramonte

Broker/Owner of Market Experts Realty & The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team

Real Estate Author of Live Free: The Art Of The 2-Year House Flip

Monday Morning Mojo for February 6th, 2012

Our lives are as busy as they’ve ever been. People want more from us, our companies demand more from us and life asks so much more from us than ever before.

In fact, it gets so crazy sometimes that we end up missing some incredible things.

What Are You Missing?
 
Washington DC, Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007.
 
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
 
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
 
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
 
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
 
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
 
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
 
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
 
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
 
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.
 
Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
 
The questions raised: In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
 
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made...
 
How many other things are we missing?

Check out the video...

Have a beautiful week!

Your friend,

Todd Tramonte

The Todd Tramonte Home Selling Team