If you are relocating or considering a move to Rockwall, Texas --- congratulations! There is great growth taking place in Rockwall and across North Texas. Below is some information to help you get acquainted with Rockwall as well as some activities you may want to do in the fall and winter months while we help you with your home purchase. What Can You Do? Moonlight Cruise Enjoy a moonlight cruise on Lake Ray Hubbard aboard Harbor Lights. Continue Reading
Home For Sale…Sold
That breeze you feel coming in off Lake Ray Hubbard is the sigh of relief from recent home buyers and sellers. It is no doubt that 2015 will be remembered as one of the hottest real estate markets in North Texas. Single-family residential properties are continuing to sell at record levels. In Garland alone there were 214 houses sold in June which was the highest total for a month over the last five years. In Rowlett, sales are still brisk in Continue Reading
Signs You Are Ready to Sell
The Dallas Fort Worth area offers a great place to live, with work opportunities, endless things to do for entertainment, a vibrant and diverse culture, and lots of places to go for fun on the water. It’s no wonder so many people have chosen to call this area home. You may live here for any number of reasons, but what if you’re stuck in a home you don’t want to be in, or have outgrown your home, or want to be closer to the lake, or have thought Continue Reading
Do You Really Need a Real Estate Agent?
Many people don't really understand what a professional real estate agent brings to the table, and wonder if they really need one. However, when it comes to making such a large purchase, having a professional on your team can be of great benefit, both if you are selling your home or buying your first one. A professional real estate agent will guide you through the home buying process, saving unnecessary stress and providing information you Continue Reading
My Thoughts on Buying or Selling A Home in Garland, Rowlett, or Rockwall
It's hard to believe that August is almost behind us. School is starting and yes, real estate demand has continued to be strong. Following are my thoughts as well as some facts on the current residential real estate market in the Garland, Rowlett, and Rockwall areas as we move into September. If you have a real estate question I could help you with, please feel free to call me at (214) 642-1375 or click here to Continue Reading
3 Ways to Have a Successful Closing
The process of buying a home can be a marathon or sometimes a sprint, but it isn’t finished until your keys are in your hand. There are stacks of papers to sign and sometimes it's hard to stay on top of everything. But knowing what to expect while you are closing on a new home can be a big relief and help you get across the finish line. 1. Understand and Prepare for the Process Though you’ll have people to guide you through the closing, Continue Reading
Follow the Data to Find Your Way Home
Is this the right time to buy? Is this the right time to sell? Well, there is this adage, follow the data to find your way home. Each month, The Research Division of the National Association of REALTORS receives data on existing home sales (single-family, condos, and co-ops) from the local associations and multiple listing services nationwide. The data reveals that the total existing-home sales for June 2015 increased 3.2 percent. Sales Continue Reading
Pros and Cons: FHA versus Conventional Loans
When it comes to financing your new home, there are many different options available. Below I have outlined some of the basic differences in Conventional and FHA loans to show the pros and cons of each. What is an FHA loan? An FHA loan is one that offers mortgage insurance on loans that are made by FHA approved lenders. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration and was created in 1934 by the US Congress. It is the largest mortgage Continue Reading
Politics, Religion, and Real Estate
We all know there are two topics you should not bring up at a dinner party or barbecue in Texas: religion and politics. Those topics can make for a toxic conversation. Fortunately, I'm hoping those rules don't apply here to mortgage financing or real estate, especially Rockwall, Garland, and Rowlett real estate. In the book, Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate, the authors researched how people's behaviors in these two Continue Reading
Ensuring a Positive Home Sale
Selling your home comes with its own rules, strategies and emotions, just as buying a new home does. With the steady market in the Garland, Rowlett and Rockwall areas, it’s tempting to sell your home now if you’ve even been thinking about it. Here are a few ways to avoid having seller’s remorse and have the best sales experience when selling your home. Don’t Overlook Your Pricing Strategy You might have mixed emotions when selling your home, Continue Reading
5 Things Sellers Need to Sell
There are a lot of selling points that are commonly used when you list a home. The usual things typically pointed out are the number of bedrooms, how many bathrooms, the age of the appliances, the square feet, if it has a fenced yard, and the like. These are all features that buyers want to know about of course, but these are features that every seller will point out. However, there might be features about your house that you need to let buyers Continue Reading
How Loan Approval Helps the Buying Process
If you’re just getting into the Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market there are many opportunities for today's buyer, whether you are buying your first home, or you are a home-buying pro with many home purchases under your belt. There are many steps in the home buying process where having a professional real estate agent guiding you through those steps is of immense value. One important step is the loan approval process. Unless you are paying Continue Reading
Improve Your Credit Score Before You Buy
The journey of buying a new home starts long before your physical search begins, and it is just as critical. Finances play a key role in your home search, so understanding what your credit score is and where you stand financially is important, before you even step foot in that new home. If you’re looking to boost your credit score or correct errors to your credit report, following are some ways that will help to improve your score and get you in Continue Reading
How to Find Your Dream Home
Searching for your dream home can be difficult with so many competing choices all vying for your attention, this is especially true across the Dallas - Fort Worth area. Entering the market with an undefined idea of what you want in a home could land you in one that you grow to dislike, or even grow out of too soon if you aren’t careful. But if you employ the right steps and know as much as you can about the house you want to purchase and live Continue Reading
What’s in a Street Name?
Have you ever wondered how your street got its name? Or if the name even matters? Your street name can be as unique as your home. For many it's just an afterthought, and 'Street,' Drive,' or 'Court' all mean the same, it's only the house that matters right? Wrong. Your street name can actually say a lot about the immediate area as well as the homes located on the street. The value of a home is tied to several things, such as the build quality Continue Reading
When Exactly Should I List My Home?
Did you know that according to NTREIS (North Texas Real Estate Information Systems, Inc.), home sales in the DFW area reach their peak in the month of July? For much of the rest of the country that peak occurs in June. According to Zillow Talk, in the last week of June alone, national residential real estate transactions are 40 percent higher than average throughout the year. In colder climates, the peak comes a bit later in the spring. March, Continue Reading
