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 | | | | Your REALTOR:
Warren Beckmann
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| Copyright © 2007 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
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| | Staging Takes Center Stage
 You don't have to be a star to be in Beth Ann Shepherd's show.
Sheperd is one of those "to the stars" service providers, in this case, setting the stage to position a home for sale or staging. It's a smart marketing move when it's time to move a home in just about any kind of market.
Staging is to the interior of a home what curb appeal is to the exterior -- nipping and tucking, furnishing and accessorizing, buffing and polishing until the place looks like a model home, without being clinical. But it can also include curb appeal.
With just the right special effects, the
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effort can transform a home into a house of dreams and help potential buyers visualize potential.
Done wrong and a home can become more like the set of a horror movie, a real
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Seven Steps To A
Credit Score Makeover
 You can mitigate the effect of tighter mortgage underwriting standards by improving your credit report profile and, as a result, your credit score.
Just don't expect that your knee-jerk reaction to tighter money will generate overnight success. Chances are, you didn't get all those credit report blemishes during a single credit buying binge. And, if you are like many consumers, you don't even know what you are up against.
BankRate.com recently found that 32 percent of Americans surveyed never check their credit reports and have no idea what shape it's in. It's time to find out and do something about it.
Local lenders say the incidence of credit report knowledge is even higher when borrowers sit down to apply for home loans. "Less than 10 percent have seen their report and among those who have, most of the reports are old, many are only from one bureau and so they don't have a complete picture," said Joel Spolin, president of Absolute Mortgage in Palo Alto, CA.
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Coping with Higher
Summer Energy Costs
 Air conditioning is costing consumers more this summer.
The Energy Information Administration, the statistical division of the U.S. Department of Energy, predicts that the price of electricity will climb about 2.6 percent during 2007. Demand for electric power will grow about 1.5 percent during the year, which the EIA says is normal.
This means that if the typical consumer paid $150 for electricity to run central air conditioning in a 2,000 square-foot house in each of the summer months in 2006, for example, that bill will be $153.90 for June, July and August this year. That might not seem like a lot of money, but multiply that by the increase by the number of households in the United States and that means hundreds of millions of dollars.
These costs fall on low and moderate income homeowners the most. Diane-Louise Wormley, who oversees a program to improve Philadelphia neighborhoods, said that a key to making homeownership affordable for younger buyers is to make these older houses energy efficient so that "everything won't be going to the gas company."
Much of the housing stock in Philadelphia, Baltimore and other cities was built before 1950, when energy costs were low and insulation was not part of
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Head Count Shows
Shifting Population
 The country's fifth largest city is in the desert, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates. And though it is only half the size of the next largest city, the nation's No. 1 city in terms of population has more than twice as many people as its closet rival.
Yes, New York reigns supreme as the largest city in the United States, with a population of 8.2 million. The next largest city is Los Angeles, which has just 3.8 million residents.
Chicago is third with 2.8 million inhabitants and Houston is fourth with 2.1 million.
Phoenix, the aforementioned desert city, moved into fifth place, according to the latest count, moving ahead of Philadelphia. The head count in Phoenix in 2006 was 1.5 million. In Philadelphia, it was 1.45 million.
Local Market Conditions
Daily News and Advice
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Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.
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| Market Conditions for Southlake, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in Southlake, Texas, MLS area 125. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 61. Average Selling Price $582,195. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%. Average Days on Market 82. Lowest Sale Price $238,000. Highest Sale Price $1,520,000. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $139.95 As you can see from the information above, single family homes in the Southlake area are selling very quickly with an average of 82 days on the market. Of the 61 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $592,890 and sold for 98% of list price, this indicates a very good market. If you are considering a move to the Southlake Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Location Characteristics: Southlake, located within 20 miles of downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, Southlake offers a unique blend of excellent location, extraordinary quality of life and available land with many natural attributes. Southlake quality of life is among the highest in the DFW Metroplex due to its safe neighborhoods, community programs and excellent schools. The regional cost of living is lower than the majority of U.S. major metropolitan regions; and Southlake is one of the safest communities in the Metroplex. Families find exceptional public school systems, convenient and diverse shopping opportunities and easy access to area lakes, cultural and recreational events throughout the Metroplex. Southlake and the surrounding communities composing Northeast Tarrant County provide diverse housing opportunities ranging from well below $100,000 to in excess of $2,000,000. Master planned communities in Southlake offer unique executive housing opportunities along championship golf courses as well as villas accommodating a low-maintenance lifestyle. Due to its central-Metroplex location with available land, financial stability, educated labor force, high quality of life and quality-driven development regulations, Southlake should be the center of economic growth for years to come. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Richardson, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the city of Richardson, Texas, MLS area 23. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 130. Average Selling Price $184,825. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98% Average Days on Market 51. Lowest Sale Price $99,000. Highest Sale Price $545,000. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $90.47 As you can see from the information above, single-family homes in the Richardson area are selling with an average of only 51 days on the market. Of the 130 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $189,897 and sold 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to the Richardson Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Approximate Location Boundaries: Boundaries: MLS area 23, covers an area basically east of Coit Road, south of 190, west of Jupiter and north of Walnut Hill. Location Characteristics: Richardson, home to the Telecom Corridor. The excellent school district and family values are prominent here. With a population of over 95,000, Richardson offers its residents a wide variety of opportunities from housing to recreation. Dart Light Rail has expanded their stations in this great area. I75 or Central Expressway run through the middle or Richardson, has easy access to highway 190 or George Bush to the north and 635 or LBJ to the south. This makes Richardson one of the most accessible areas in all of the Metroplex. It boasts more than 1,100 acres of park space, including soccer and baseball fields that cater to area leagues. Richardson proudly claims its own symphony orchestra and ballet troupe, as well as a childrens theater and the Richardson Community Band. The city has a wide range of homes pricing offering up many gorgeous neighborhoods from well established to new. More settled areas possess beautiful wooded lots, some by golf courses and still some offering views of the Dallas Skyline. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Plano, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the city of Plano, Texas, MLS area 20. *(Do to the size of Plano and the program that calculates these average, can only calculate a maximum of 250 properties. So I have divided Plano two areas, roughly west of Independence and east of Independence. Contact me about a specific area and I'll be glad to send you the specifics of that area. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 360, 200 west and 160 east. Average Selling Price, west $349,302. and east $188,697. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price, west 97%, east 98%. Average Days on Market, west 47, east 43. Lowest Sale Price, west $142,000. east $53,500. Highest Sale Price, west $2,946,350. east $589,900. Average Sold Price per Square Foot, west $112.50, east $84.54. As you can see from the information above, single family homes in Plano are selling fairly quickly with an average of about 45 days on the market. Of the 360 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of (west $358,772. & east $192,804.) and sold for 97 to 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to the Plano Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area or details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Location Characteristics: Plano, Texas in short has been a legacy of propriety. It bestows the honor of being the largest suburb of Dallas it is conveniently located 20 miles outside of downtown. One of the most tantalizing assets Plano has to offer is its school system. For almost 15 years, Plano has been known as having the most prosperous school system in all of Texas. Plano East Senior High has been given The Best School in Texas award by Redbook magazine almost every year since 1993. Another great high school, Plano Senior High has received recognition for giving more advanced placement exams than any other school in the county. Plano also offers its residents an abundance of various restaurants and entertainment. It has a strong retail base with Collin Creek and The Shops at Willow Bend malls and over 60 retail centers located throughout the city. It has evolved into an exclusive destination for homeowners desiring the best developers have to offer. Three country clubs have their home here, Gleneagles, Prestonwood and Los Rios. It is the home for 12 prominent public golf course and 4 movie theatres. However the most vital asset Plano has to offer is real estate. From pristine waterfront properties to horse and cattle estates, you can find it here. When searching in the Dallas region, Plano would be considered the icing on the cake. Housing in Plano is not only luxurious and well priced, but also remarkably inexpensive considering the available accommodations and amenities.However the most vital asset Plano has to offer is real estate. From pristine waterfront properties to horse and cattle estates, you can find it here. When searching in the Dallas region, Plano would be considered the icing on the cake. Housing in Plano is not only luxurious and well priced, but also remarkably inexpensive considering the available accommodations and amenities. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for North Dallas in Dallas, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the far north Dallas & Addison area, MLS area 10.
Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007.
Number of homes sold 129.
Average Selling Price $360,633.
Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 97%.
Average Days on Market 46.
Lowest Sale Price $122,100.
Highest Sale Price $2,070,000.
Average Sold Price per Square Foot $123.76
As you can see from the information above, single family homes in the Far North Dallas area are selling with an average of only 46 days on the market. Of the 129 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $370,882 and sold 97% of list price, this indicates a strong market. If you are considering a move to the Greater Dallas Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of comparable recent sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com
Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System
Approximate Location Boundaries: The information in this report is from area 10, the Far North Dallas area. This information is on homes located from 635 or LBJ north to 190 or George Bush and between Marsh Lane and Coit Road.
Location Characteristics: North Dallas, an affluent part of the city features homes from multimillion dollar mansions to affordable and stylish condominiums. The beautifully landscaped neighborhoods here such as Bent Tree offer larger more spacious homes. Major thoroughfares are just blocks away, providing links to downtown, the West End and the northern suburban areas. Convenient to two great airports Love Field and DFW is a key factor in choosing to purchase your home here. North Dallas lights up the Metroplex, with its huge verity of shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure actives. Two major malls are located here, the Galleria and Valley View with hundreds of your favorite stores to choose from. North Dallas offers residents a unique blend of Southwestern warmth, cosmopolitan flair, and modern sophistication.
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| Market Conditions for McKinney, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the city of McKinney, Texas, MLS area 53. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 222, (do to an error in the way one sale was recorded these numbers are based on 221.) Average Selling Price $226,139. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%. Average Days on the Market 71. Lowest Sale Price $32,500. Highest Sale Price $1,224,590. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $88.44 As you can see from the information above, single family homes in McKinney are selling with an average of 71 days on the market. Of the 221 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $231,720 and sold for 98% of list price, this indicates a strong market. If you are considering a move to the McKinney Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area or details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Location Characteristics: Located in Central Collin County you will find this wonderful town of McKinney, whose undeniable charm cannot be beat. Once you discover this community full of rich history and gently rolling hills, you will certainly agree. You will love the ambiance of both the old and the new. Master planned communities nested in lush wooded terrain await even the most discriminating home buyer. The established area of Eldorado is a premier community and home to the Eldordo Country Club. Many gorgeous pre-owned homes can be found here. There are also many new home additions that sprung up around this prominent area of McKinney. Stonebridge Ranch encompasses 5,000 acres of planned development, representing the largest single tract of land ever annexed into an existing city in the history of the state of Texas. This development features two country clubs with championship golf course. Then you have the homes of various ages and styles that are available in McKinneys registered historic district. Although many are restored some offer the projects that restoration enthusiasts are looking for. Housing in the city ranges from under $100,000 to over 1 million with styles from patio homes to multi-area estates. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Highland Park in Park Cities, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in Highland Park & University Park, often called the Park Cities area. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 39. Average Selling Price $1,522,606. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%. Average Days on Market 52. Lowest Sale Price $435,000. Highest Sale Price $5,600,000. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $378.57 As you can see from the information above, homes in the Park Cities area are obviously in a very unique and upscale area. There are selling very quickly with an average of only 52 days on the market. Of the 39 closings that have reported in to date for July had an average asking price of $1,562,087 and sold for 98% of list price, this indicates a strong market. If you are considering a move to the Park Cities area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Approximate Location Boundaries: Highland Park and Univesity Park are often referred to as Park Cities is located between the Dallas North Tollway and Central Expressway, south of Northwest highway and ends a few blocks north of WyCliff/Fitzhugh. Location Characteristics: Highland Park and University Park are often referred to as Park Cities. Located just minutes north of Down Town Dallas, it is a very unique and upscale area. Home to the SMU Southern Methodist University. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Frisco, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the city Frisco, Texas, MLS area 55. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 228. Average Selling Price $310,292. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%. Average Days on Market 75. Lowest Sale Price $113,000. Highest Sale Price $1,632,753. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $101.34 As you can see from the information above, single family homes in Frisco are selling fairly quickly with an average of 75 days on the market. Of the 228 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $319,255 and sold for 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to the Frisco Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area or details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Approximate Location Boundaries: Boundaries: MLS area 55, runs from north of The Colony east of 423 up to 380, then runs east in a zigzag line south of the Prosper area, at Custer Road it zigzags its way to 121, then works its way back to The Colony. Location Characteristics: The present day Frico, Texas, is a very appealing place to live. It is home to some of the most state of the art facilities of their kind such as the Stonebriar Mall and the Frisco Ballpark. However, it also has the unique ability to retain the community sprit you would normally find in a small town. One secret is the numerous homeowner associations and other organizations that that have successfully kept this character not often found in a city of its size. Destined to be the great city it is, Frisco is still on track for a great future. Friscos new town center, Frisco Square, is a 147 acre multi-phase project combining retail and commercial space with residential. Frisco Square will eventually provide the site for the new Frisco municipal building, including a police station, heritage center, a library, churches and private schools. Add incredible retail and dining offerings with the convenience of nearby Dallas North Toll-Way and State Highway 121 and youll see why Frisco in continuing to grow at an expeditious rate. The new baseball stadium is here a multi-purpose complex which is home to the Frisco Roughriders. The Dallas Burn now calls Frisco home with their custom built Frisco Soccer and Entertainment Center. This Multimillion dollar high tech stadium will boast every amenity a soccer fan could dream of, including a spectacular natural grass pitch, computer-designed sightlines, an advanced digital display system, and much more! Then there is the fabulous Stonebriar Center Mall with 6 anchor stores including Nordstroms, Foleys and Macys. Frisco offers its residents a variety pf quality housing possibilities with great values still available throughout the city. Fabulous master planned communities offer up options for even the most discriminating homeowners. If you want to have fun, have a nice home for an exceptional price, and be part of something very exciting then Frisco Texas is where you want to be. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Flower Mound, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in the city of Flower Mound, Texas, in MLS area 41.
Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007.
Number of homes sold 154.
Average Selling Price $314,938.
Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%.
Average Days on Market 45.
Lowest Sale Price $113,500.
Highest Sale Price $998,900.
Average Sold Price per Square Foot $108.35
As you can see from the information above, single family homes in the Flower Mound area are selling very quickly with an average of only 45 days on the market. Of the 154 closings that have reported in to date for July, had an average asking price of $321,935 and sold for 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to the Flower Mound Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area or the details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com
Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System
Location Characteristics: The Town of Flower Mound is a beautiful north central Texas town, and held the title of the "Second Fastest Growing City in Texas" for much of the 90's. Flower Mound's low tax rate, excellent school system, safe neighborhoods, and a quality of life hard to find in any community make it one of the premier cities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to live and raise a family. The population of Flower Mound has grown from 15,527 in 1990 to an estimated 63,000 in 2005. Flower Mound's location - in close proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Alliance Airport at the heart of the "golden triangle" - along with develop-ment-ready land has contributed to this phenomenal growth.
Located in Southern Denton County, Flower Mound encompasses 44 square miles in the heart of the Metroplex and is approximately 45% developed. Flower Mound takes pride in being a leader in managed growth, quality of life, and being environmentally sensitive.
Flower Mound is named after a prominent, 12.5-acre mound once covered with blue stem grasses and a variety of indigenous flowers. Historians believe the mound was a sacred ceremonial ground used by Wichita Indians dating back to the early 1800's. This unusual piece of land, located near the intersection of FM 3040 and FM 2499, is now a historical site.
Flower Mound is situated at the southern edge of Denton County, Texas. The town is 28 miles northwest of Dallas, 25 miles northeast of Fort Worth, and three miles north of DFW International Airport, making it "ten minutes from anywhere in the world."
Uniquely located between two large lakes, Lake Grapevine on the southern border of Flower Mound and Lake Lewisville just minutes to the north, Flower Mound is also home to one of the largest natural hardwood forests in the United States, the Cross Timbers Region, and offers a tremendous diversity of lifestyles in which to live, work and play.
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| Market Conditions for Carrollton, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in Carrollton/Farmers Branch, Texas, MLS area 22. Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007. Number of homes sold 194. Average Selling Price $185,856. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98%. Average Days on Market 48. Lowest Sale Price $51,000. Highest Sale Price $866,250. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $90.75 As you can see from the information above, single family homes in Carrollton area are selling very quickly with an average of only 48 days on the market. Of the 194 closings that have reported in to date for July, closed with an average asking price of $190,805 and sold 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to Carrollton Texas and are interested in information on a specific area or details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6578. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Approximate Location Boundaries: Boundaries; Area 22, the Carrollton/Farmer Branch area also includes a very small portion the city of Dallas located in Denton county. Area 22 roughly cover the area north of 635, between Marsh Lane west to the Trinity River, south of 121 to just north of Hebron Parkway, up Josey Lane to Parker Road and east to Marsh Lane. Location Characteristics: Carrollton, Texas is a growing, changing city, which now has a population of over 113,000. it is the ninth largest city in the DFW Metroplex. The residents here enjoy a prime location for traveling to anywhere in the Metroplex. It is surrounded by freeways such as I35, George Bush or 190/161, the North Dallas Tollway, and also close the LBJ or 635 and soon to be freeway, Highway 121. It has great accessibility to both DFW Airport and Love Field as it gives you several options for your commute. Theres a family style quality life here in whats been named a Kid Friendly City. Carrollton is slit between Lewisville Independent School District in the far north, Dallas ISD in the east and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch District that covers the majority of the city. Altogether there are 4 high schools, 8 middle schools and 26 elementary schools, ranking in the top three of the region in creating new jobs. The wide variety of housing and community partnerships attract homebuyers to this thriving city. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Allen, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of August 11, 2007. |
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Real Estate Home sales in Allen Texas, MLS area 51.
Listings closed in July 2007, reported as of August 10, 2007.
Number of homes sold 144.
Average Selling Price $231,345.
Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 97%.
Average Days on Market 63.
Lowest Sale Price $83,000.
Highest Sale Price $740,000.
Average Sold Price per Square Foot $87.66
As you can see from the information above, single family homes in Allen are selling with an average of 63 days on the market. Of the 144 closings that have reported in to date for July, closed with an average asking price of $239,708 and sold 97% of list price, this indicates a strong market. If you are considering a move to the Allen Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area or the details of a previous month, contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com
Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System
Approximate Location Boundaries: MLS area 51, Covers an area east of Custer Road, go a little north of highway 121, covering a zigzag line south of McKinney and Fairview then south along 2551, then zigzags west along Legacy back to Coit.
Location Characteristics: Allen, located between Plano and McKinney still offers a relaxed small town feel to its residents. The quality of life here is evidenced through the low crime rate, affordable housing and friendliness of its people. Allen has become very successful in attracting many technology related companies. Within the last few years, business development has added thousands of jobs and well over a million dollars in capital investment to the local tax base. Allen Independent School District is another incentive for those looking to relocate here. It offers many innovative programs and has earned a reputation as a national leader in instructional technology. Allen offers a full range of parks, recreation services and activities, including a variety of league sports and children's programs. The city features the Twin Creeks Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer championship gold course. The town also hosts a fantastic outlet mall offering an exciting collection of stores from the worlds finest designers and name brands. Real estate here is fabulous with several master planned communities to choose from.
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| | | | Your REALTOR:
Warren Beckmann
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| Copyright © 2007 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
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| | When Should Homebuyers Jump In?
 Investors who time any market hope to buy at the nadir and sell at the zenith, but homebuyers have a trickier time knowing when to sit on the sidelines and when to jump in. The reason? There are several.
Buying a home is one of the largest financial investments a homebuyer will make. Transaction costs are expensive enough that homeowners remain in their homes approximately six years before trading up or down. As the recent buyer's market shows, homes aren't liquid, and may not find buyers at the price and in the time frame that sellers prefer.
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On the other hand, homeownership provides significant benefits including property rights, tax benefits and other government subsidies including support for a mortgage lending market, quality of
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What Your Homeowners Insurance Does, Doesn't Cover
 A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover what you think it does -- not flood or earthquake damage, not stolen or damaged vehicles on your property, not a break in the water service or sewage line and not termites moving in nor pets stolen away.
Many homeowners are under the mistaken impression that a standard homeowners policy provides more insurance protection than it does and that could mean large unexpected out of pocket expenses -- when you can least afford them.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), an organization of state insurance regulators, found that 33 percent of U.S. heads of household still hold the false belief that flood damage is covered by a standard homeowners policy -- despite extensive post-Hurricane Katrina news coverage of scores of homeowners with claims turned down because they didn't have the required flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
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Avoiding 7 Costly Mistakes
of Selling Your Home
 There are inappropriate steps sellers can take when it comes time to put their house on the market.
For instance, the seller in Virginia, who thought the half bath the builder had located at the front of the house would really be better situated toward the back of the main level (though all the other similar models had the powder room in the same place for the previous 20 years). He got hung up on this detail so much, that he just had to move it -- and did -- for thousands of dollars, just so he could get it on the market the "right way." His hang-up may have settled some deep-seated emotional need for him, but it didn't draw any more buyers, and it drained his bottom line. You might say, that was a costly mistake.
Real estate broker and author Sid Davis has identified in his book, "A Survival Guide to Selling a Home," seven costly mistakes that many sellers make when it comes time to put their home on the market. In my business, I've seen each one of these mistakes played out and it just makes me shake my head as to why sellers forge ahead with unwise strategies, instead of listening to the voice of an experienced professional.
Mistake 1: Putting the home on the market before it's ready. Most times this happens because the seller gets impatient or is a procrastinator and has
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Feds Say Current Disclosures Muddy Mortgage Morass
 It's not that too much or too little is disclosed about home loans.
It's that the disclosures themselves need a disclosure form alerting consumers to the fact they are old, outdated and not very revealing.
That irony recently appeared on the front lines of the war against predatory lending when the Federal Trade Commission released a report, "Improving Consumer Mortgage Disclosures -- An Empirical Assessment of Current and Prototype Disclosure Forms".
In plain language, the report says today's outdated mortgage disclosure forms fail to convey key mortgage costs and terms to most consumers.
"Mortgage disclosures designed more than 30 years ago can be confusing even for simple loans, and they do not address the variety and complexity of today's mortgage products," according
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Real Estate sales in Southlake, Texas, MLS area 125. Listings closed in June 2007, reported as of July 6, 2007. Number of homes sold 76. Average Selling Price $630,027. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 99%. Average Days on Market 49. Lowest Sale Price $256,000. Highest Sale Price $2,820,427. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $147.13 As you can see from the information above, single family homes in the Southlake area are selling very quickly with an average of only 49 days on the market. Of the 75 closings that have reported in to date for June, had an average asking price of $638,456 and sold for 99% of list price, this indicates a very good market. If you are considering a move to the Southlake Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Location Characteristics: Southlake, located within 20 miles of downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, Southlake offers a unique blend of excellent location, extraordinary quality of life and available land with many natural attributes. Southlake quality of life is among the highest in the DFW Metroplex due to its safe neighborhoods, community programs and excellent schools. The regional cost of living is lower than the majority of U.S. major metropolitan regions; and Southlake is one of the safest communities in the Metroplex. Families find exceptional public school systems, convenient and diverse shopping opportunities and easy access to area lakes, cultural and recreational events throughout the Metroplex. Southlake and the surrounding communities composing Northeast Tarrant County provide diverse housing opportunities ranging from well below $100,000 to in excess of $2,000,000. Master planned communities in Southlake offer unique executive housing opportunities along championship golf courses as well as villas accommodating a low-maintenance lifestyle. Due to its central-Metroplex location with available land, financial stability, educated labor force, high quality of life and quality-driven development regulations, Southlake should be the center of economic growth for years to come. For More Information:
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| Market Conditions for Richardson, Texas
Reported by Warren Beckmann, REALTOR
As of July 6, 2007. |
Real Estate sales in the city of Richardson, Texas, MLS area 23. Listings closed in June 2007, reported as of July 6, 2007. Number of homes sold 142. Average Selling Price $184,565. Selling Price Percent of Listing Price 98% Average Days on Market 51. Lowest Sale Price $51,500. Highest Sale Price $785,000. Average Sold Price per Square Foot $89.68 As you can see from the information above, single-family homes in the Richardson area are selling with an average of only 51 days on the market. Of the 142 closings that have reported in to date for June, had an average asking price of $187,666 and sold 98% of list price, this indicates a very strong market. If you are considering a move to the Richardson Texas area and are interested in information on a specific area contact me. I can email you information on all active listing in that area that fit you criteria, as well as an analysis of recent comparable sales in that area. You can reach me through my office 972-732-6000 or direct at 214-498-6598. You can also get lots of great real estate information by visiting http://www.BeckmannRealEstate.com Source: NTREIS or North Texas Real Estate Information System Approximate Location Boundaries: Boundaries: MLS area 23, covers an area basically east of Coit Road, south of 190, west of Jupiter and north of Walnut Hill. Location Characteristics: Richardson, home to the Telecom Corridor. The excellent school district and family values are prominent here. With a population of over 95,000, Richardson offers its residents a wide variety of opportunities from housing to recreation. Dart Light Rail has expanded their stations in this great area. I75 or Central Expressway run through the middle or Richardson, has easy access to highway 190 or George Bush to the north and 635 or LBJ to the south. This makes Richardson one of the most accessible areas in all of the Metroplex. It boasts more than 1,100 acres of park space, including soccer and baseball fields that cater to area leagues. Richardson proudly claims its own symphony orchestra and ballet troupe, as well as a childrens theater and the Richardson Community Band. The city has a wide range of homes pricing offering up many gorgeous neighborhoods from well established to new. More settled areas possess beautiful wooded lots, some by golf courses and still some offering views of the Dallas Skyline. For More Information:
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