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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Getting Your Children Involved In Your Real Estate Business (And Making It Fun)!

One thing about being a real estate agent that is imperitive is managing ones time and deligating tasks that are not utilizing your time the most efectivly.
As I have three children, Philip & Chelsea who are 7 year old twins & Aiden who is 5 years old and who always need things, I beleive in installing the value of work and money at a young age. For example I was bought up never receiving "pocket money" unless I had worked for it. Wheather it be working for my father double checking his figures (he was a quantity surveyor) or the two paper rounds that I had from age 13. So I have decided to pass the same values along to my children and to get them involved in my Real Estate Business.

The first thing they did was put the fridge magnet football schedules in clear plasic door hanger bags along with one of my business cards. Followed by the fun part, getting to deliver all 200 of them to my "farm area". As my children are young I thought they would soon get bored and I would be left doing the rest on my own however that turned out not to be true.
They loved it, and I had trouble keeping up with them as they ran from house to house hanging the bags on the doors. I think their favorite part was when somebody was out walking their dog and they got to offer them one. It's strange how nobody ever turns away a 5 or 7 year old when they offer them something.


 Their latest "job" was putting out the open house signs saturday night for the house I am holding open in "The Trails" in Frisco, Texas on Sunday 25th September 2001 between 3-5pm.. Even though they were hungry they still helped me put out the 5 signs pointing towards the open house at each intersection. I even explained to them where you can and cannot put the signs as Frisco has some strict rules on where & when Garage Sale & Open House signs can be put. It can get expensive if you get it wrong and they confiscate your signs.


Lasty they all seem to love having their picture taken so I took a few pictures of them posing next to one of my for sale signs...

I think I killed two birds with one stone, firstly I taught them the value of money & secondly I got help with building my business in a cost effective and time efficient way.

As they get a little older they can help even more as they become more responsible and have learnt more about the real estate business through hands on experience. Hopefully this will help them decide if a career in Real Esate or a related industry is right for them.

Why Do You Need a Buyer’s Agent?

Why Do You Need a Buyer’s Agent?
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

3 ways to combat inadequate real estate appraisals

Previous articles in this series described an epidemic of late-stage mortgage loan rejections that impose high costs on consumers. These rejections can be traced in good part to a decline in the quality of appraisals, which in turn has been aggravated by dysfunctional regulation.

The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) has stimulated growth of appraisal management companies (AMCs), which intermediate between appraisers and lenders for the purpose of preventing lenders from influencing appraisal outcomes. The result has been lower fees paid to appraisers, increased workloads, and deterioration in the quality of appraisals.

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Google+ Opens to the Public

Expected to be Facebook’s chief rival, Google+ is now open to the public. The new social networking site had a limited release in June, allowing users to sign up only via invitation-only.

Even with its exclusivity, Google Inc.’s social network had a big start with more than 25 million unique visitors per month. (Facebook has more than 750 million active monthly users.)

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2 Important Factors in Judging Neighborhoods

With home prices falling, buyers are looking for a neighborhood that has a greater likelihood of holding its value over the long term. But how do you know what neighborhood is doomed and which will appreciate over time?

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August Existing-Home Sales Leap Despite Headwinds

Existing-home sales increased in August, even with ongoing tight credit and appraisal problems, along with regional disruptions created by Hurricane Irene, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Monthly gains were seen in all regions.

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Craig Kilborn Lists for $3.5M in Los Angeles

The original host of “The Daily Show” Craig Kilborn has just listed his $3,495,000 Spanish-style home in Los Angeles. The home was built in 1929 and bought by Kilborn in 2001 for $2,495,000, meaning Kilborn could potentially turn a $1,000,000 profit on his colorful home.

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Ryan Reynolds Looking To Sell Los Angeles Hills Home

Ryan Reynolds has listed his home high above the Sunset Strip for $1,599,000, according to The Real Estalker.

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Monday, September 19, 2011

Septic system checkup

There's an older home in the neighborhood that was occupied by a single woman for more than two decades. When she died of cancer a few years ago, her son inherited the home and moved in. Not long after, the septic system failed and had to be replaced.

Eric Knopf, owner of Indigo Designs Inc., a company that designs and maintains septic systems, said that septic systems definitely have a life span. "You can get about 30 years on a home's roof. Some cars will get you 200,000 miles; some maybe 300,000. Septic systems also have a definite life span."

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Hilary Duff Still Looking for a Buyer in Toluca Lake

Miss Hillary Duff has had quite a year. A marriage to hockey star Mike Comrie and then the recent announcement that she and her hubby are expecting their first child. In Hollywood, a new marriage and a new baby usually means one thing – a new, home. As reported by AOL Real Estate, the house that Lizzie McGuire built is now on the market for $6,250,000. According to Celebrity Address Aerials, Duff and Comrie have already moved along and become residents of 90210 with the July 2010 purchase of a $3.85M 5,260, 5 bedroom, 6.5 bath mansion.

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Rosie O’Donnell Buys in the Windy City

Rosie O’Donnell is making a career comeback on Oprah Winfrey’s O Network, which means she needs to show up on time for work everyday. Rosie’s a long-time resident of New York City, so the only way to do that is to plant some roots and buy some high-priced property in the Windy City of Chicago, Oprah’s long-time professional home base.

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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Be Burglar Blockers - What To Do When You First Move Into A House

One thing you should do when you first move into a house, whether it's brand new or older, is make it hard for burglars to feel good about it.  So, be burglar blockers - what to do when you first move in.

Burglars are opportunists.  Burglars are predators.  What do predators do?  They go after the weakest, slowest, sickest, least able to defend itself in any group.  Most of us live in groups - apartments, neighborhoods and  developments.

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Friday, September 16, 2011

Big Savings for Buyers: Rates Reach New Record-Lows

For the second straight week, mortgage rates reached another milestone, with 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages hitting record lows again, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

"Continued investor concerns over the state of the European debt markets kept U.S. Treasury bond yields low and allowed mortgage rates to ease once more this week,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

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5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

I could not agree more with what is said in this article. One of the reason I chose "Your Frisco Realtor" as my blog title & slogan is I believe it is beneficial to my clients that I live & work in Frisco so I can give them accurate up to date information that they need to make their housing decision.

Local agents know their towns better than anyone else. We firmly believe that using a local Realtor® is in your best interests and in this post we will give you reasons why local is the only way to go.

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4 Strategies to Customize and Personalize Your New Home

Buying a home on today's market takes a lot of work! After the stress of financing and the rush of closing, the move-in can be a let-down. But one of the true joys of homeownership is your ability to truly make your home yours - customizing and personalizing it to suit your tastes, your family and your lifestyle to a t.

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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Housing market may be making a comeback

New data released on Wednesday from Realtor.com show that median list prices for single family homes, condominiums, townhouses and co-ops have surged within the last year in Florida, one of the states hit earliest and hardest by the housing market crash. 


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10 places to buy a home in 2011

Last decade's bipolar housing market is over. The ups, the downs, the thrills, the spills — largely behind us. Yes, prices and sales are stuck in neutral in large swaths of the country.


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Film Review - What Doesn't Kill You

I did not expect too much from this movie and was happy when it turned out to be much better. Mark Ruffalo was great in the role of Brian and Amanda Peet was hot as his wife.


Plot
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Partners in crime Paulie (Ethan Hawke) and Brian (Mark Ruffalo) find themselves at odds after years of pulling dangerous jobs, surviving turf wars and evading a determined detective (Donnie Wahlberg) in this gritty crime drama set in South Boston. The childhood buddies have gone through the wringer together, but when Brian's relationship with his wife (Amanda Peet) begins to fall apart, their loyal friendship is tested.


Review
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_doesnt_kill_you/ - 68%

*My Rating 8.0/10

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Exercising his squatter's rights

If you haven’t caught the news stories about Flower Mound’s “squatter,” Kenneth Robinson, he used a legal loophole known as, “adverse possession,” to settle into an abandoned $330,000 home on Waterford Drive on June 17th, after paying only a $16 court filing fee.

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D Magazine's Readers Choice Awards 2011..

http://www.nick-walton-realtor.com/frisco/Readers_Choice_2011_Winners.pdf

8 beers Americans no longer drink

8 beers Americans no longer drink

Thursday, September 8, 2011

GIS Map for Frisco Texas

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) division maintains our primary mapping tool, the interactive GIS Map.
GIS Map - Constantly updated, this map lets you zoom in and out; add features such as aerial photos, zoning, and parcel boundaries; and pull property information from tax rolls and the 2000 census. (GIS) division maintains our primary mapping tool, the interactive GIS Map.
GIS Map - Constantly updated, this map lets you zoom in and out; add features such as aerial photos, zoning, and parcel boundaries; and pull property information from tax rolls and the 2000 census.

Invest In Real Estate?

Real Estate. Real estate market values were hit hard during the recession and many markets are now starting to recover. If considering real estate as an investment, first calculate the cash flow and rate of return on the investment. During the "appreciation" craze in real estate values, the inflated value of the underlying property was no longer connected to the financial return one could receive with market based rental income. Now with currently adjusted property values, more rentals should be able to support their debt service and provide a reasonable return on capital invested.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Welcome To Frisco from your Frisco Realtor.

Frisco is the second fastest growing city in the United States, experiencing over 206% growth in 2001. Frisco has the advantage of being located in the middle of the "Golden Corridor." With Preston Road (Texas Highway 289) bisecting the community, Frisco is approximately an forty-five minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth amenities. The town is adjacent to Legacy Business Park, the corporate home of EDS, JCPenney, Murata Business Machines and Frito-Lay. More growth is anticipated with the completion of the North Dallas Tollway and state highways 121 and 190.


Frisco Commons

There are two major golf courses and a full slate of athletic leagues, including basketball, volleyball, and swimming. Lake Lewisville is just five minutes away, and Lake Ray Roberts is only 30 minutes away. The Frisco Community Theatre is considered one of the finest in the region.

Students in the Frisco Independent School District, score above average on the state SAT examinations. Collin County Community College District has located its third campus in Frisco.

Quick Facts:
  •  Area: 62.3 square miles
  •  Median age: 34 years
  •  Median household income: $101,574
  •  Frisco ISD Students (2010/2011 school year): 37,200
  •  Education:
            94% high school graduates
            57% bachelor's degree or higher

Frisco Population: As of January 1, 2011, the estimated population is 122,107.

List of Frisco Housing Developments:

* Austin Ridge
* Austin Ridge Village
* Autumn Park
* Bella Casa
* Cecile Place
* Chamberlyne Place Estates Of Starwood
* Chamberlyne Place Of Starwood
* Chapel Creek
* Chase At Stonebriar
* Cheyenne Crossing
* Cheyenne Village
* Christie Ranch
* Cobb Hill
* Country Club Ridge
* Craig Ranch
* Creekside At Preston
* Creeks On Coit
* Crosstimbers Of Starwood
* Crown Ridge
* Custer Creek Farms
* Cypress Creek
* Dominion At Panther Creek
* Eldorado Estates
* Estatates At Cobb Hill
* Estates On Legacy
* Fairfield Estates
* Frisco Fairways
* Frisco Heights
* Frisco Lakes Del Webb
* Frisco Ranch
* Frisco Square
* Griffin Park
* Heather Ridge Estates
* Heritage Green
* Heritage Lakes
* Heritage Village
* Hidden Cove
* Hillcrest Estates
* Hillcrest Highlands
* Hillcrest Meadows
* Historic Downtown
* Hunters Creek
* Kings Garden
* Kings Ridge
* Lake Brook Farms
* Lake Hill
* Lakes Of Preston Vineyards
* Lakes On Legacy
* Latera
* League City
* Meadow Creek
* Meadow Hill Estates
* Meadows Of Preston
* Northridge
* Oakbrook Park
* Panther Creek Estates
* Parkside Estates
* Phillips Creek Ranch
* Plantation Estates
* Plantation Resort
* Plantation Resort Augusta Farm
* Plantation Springs
* Prestmont
* Preston Highlands
* Preston Highlands Village
* Preston Oaks
* Preston Vineyards
* Quail Meadow Village
* Quail Run Of Starwood
* Queens Gate
* Sedona
* Shaddock Creek Estates
* Shepherds Hill
* Spanish Oaks Of Starwood
* Star Ridge Of Starwood
* Starwood
* Sterling Ranch
* Stewart Creek
* Stewarts Crossing Of Starwood
* Stonebriar
* Stonebriar Country Club Estates
* Stonebriar Creek Estates
* Stonebriar Village
* Stonebrook Estates
* Stonelake Estates West
* Stonelakes Estates
* Stonewater Crossing
* Stonewater Estates
* Sunset Point
* The Aviary
* The Buttes Of Starwood
* The Fairways
* The Falls Of Starwood
* The Hills Of Kingswood
* The Knolls Of Frisco
* The Lakes
* The Lakes Of Starwood
* The Oaks Of Starwood
* The Reserve Of Starwood
* The Trails
* The Villas Of Starwood
* Turnbridge Manor
* Tuscany
* Tuscany Meadows
* Village Lakes
* Villages Of Hillcrest
* Villages Of Stonebriar Park
* Villages Of Stonelake
* Villas Of Star Trail Of Starwood
* Waterford Fall
* Waterstone
* Westfalls Village
* Willow Bay
* Willow Pond
* Winding Creek
* Windsor Place
* Wynngate