1. 1. Berkshire Hathaway

      Multinational conglomerate company
   2. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. Wikipedia
   4. Stock price: BRK.A (NYSE) $218,540.00 +517.00 (+0.24%)
      Nov 17, 4:00 PM EST - Disclaimer
   5. CEO: Warren Buffett
   6. Founder: Oliver Chace
   7. Founded: 1888, New Bedford, MA
   8. Headquarters: Omaha, NE

Dallas - Houston High Speed Rail?

Oct 30, 2014 12:13 pm | DFW Real Estate

Talks of a high-speed railway has been circling the Dallas-Fort Worth area for some time and local officials are now working on more specifics of the plan, slated to be up and running by 2021. A public meeting in Dallas on October 21 gave North Texas home owners a glimpse of what they can expect from the project, including the proposed routes and possible end points for the lines.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the 240-mile project is expected to get residents to-and-from Dallas and Houston in 90 minutes, helping to ease the traffic congestion that is expected to increase substantially by 2021. The public meeting unveiled developer Texas Central Railway’s three potential sites for the end points of the line, including the intersection of Interstates 20 and 45, near Interstate 45 and Loop 12 and near the southwest corner of downtown Dallas. All proposed end points are expected to make getting around the city and North Texas much easier for residents throughout the entire state.One main goal of the project is to tie in downtown’s current public transportation systems to the bullet train to make it easier for both travelers and commuters to get around. This is why one of the most argued stops is Union Station, which serves two Dallas Area Rapid Transit light-rails, an Amtrak line and the TRE passenger train, which connects Dallas and Fort Worth to one another. Some argue that Union Station is at its capacity for transportation, but there is still a lot of discussion set to take place in the next five scheduled meetings set in cities along the potential routes this month.

Concerns of the Impact of the High-Speed Train

One major point of discussion is the environmental impact as well as the effect it is going to have on all the local communities it will run through.
“We’re not just talking about the bugs and the bunnies and the air quality and the water quality,” James Maughan, an environmental science expect with the U.S. Department of Transportation, told the audience at the meeting. “We’re talking about any aspect of the human environment that might be impacted by this project.”Another main concern would be the impact that the train would have on local ranchers and farmers who have large plots of land between the two major metropolitan areas. Currently there are nine routes being considered for the high-speed railway, two of which stand out among the rest in terms of the least amount of environmental and social impact.

“We believe that high-speed rail is the biggest game changer in transportation since the federal highway system was established,” Dallas City Council member Vonciel Jones Hill said.

Dallas-Fort Worth Ranks High As Top Luxury Housing Market

Oct 08, 2014 09:10 am | DFW Real Estate | Reprint from Prudential Texas Properties Blog

The housing market in the Dallas-Fort Worth area continues to prove that it’s a major contender in the race as one of the most desirable communities to relocate to, and people of all demographics are packing up their bags to set down roots here. In fact, according to a recent report by the Dallas Business Journal, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is climbing the ranks as one of the top regions for luxury home buyers.

The publication cited data from the 2014 Luxury Home Report by Coldwell Banker Previews International, which found that real estate agents in the North Texas area sold 722 homes valued at a million dollars or more as of August. Compare that figure to the 518 homes sold the previous year and it’s obvious that the luxury market here continues to push its own boundaries. More and more companies are announcing moves here, fueling the migration to this area.

Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 11 in the United States for sales of million dollar homes and No. 18 in the ultra luxury market, which is categorized by sales of homes worth more than $5 million.

“The demand has never been higher and there’s never been a better time to sell than right now, but apparently everyone else had that idea,” said John Baen, a professor of real estate for the College of Business at the University of North Texas.

Fort Worth Growing as Desirable Community for All

While it’s a great sign that luxury home buyers are interested in the Fort Worth housing market, buyers surely don’t have to be spending upwards of $1 million to live in the region. According to Altos Research, a California-based real estate analytic company, the median single-family home value in Fort Worth was on the rise for much of 2014 thus far. Kicking off the new year around $152,000, the median single-family home value crept up to $166,322 as of September 26.

While the uptick in home values doesn’t seem too significant, the shift shows a year-over-year uptick and promising trends across the board. One significant trend in Fort Worth has been the demand for homes, noted by the Market Action Index. Altos’ unique figure measures local conditions based on trends that point up in favor of sellers or down in favor of buyers based on a scale that uses 30 as the neutral point. As of September 26, the index was at 37.74 after a few weeks of increases toward sellers.

This is a unique case, as many metro areas throughout the nation are now seeing a decrease in the amount of buyer activity. With Fort Worth as desirable as a community as it is, the average days on market has also remained stagnant. At about 85 days, this is the shortest amount of time homes have been listed on the market in Fort Worth, and with an average of 2,417 properties currently listed in Fort Worth, this is a healthy and strong market.

August Market Update

North Texas Real Estate Information Service Reported:

Although low supply and tight credit standards are still hurdles, housing affordability is still historically high. North Texas inventory levels fell 11.2 percent and prices forged onward with the Median Sales price increasing to 7.1 percent.

What does this mean to you? Now is the time to purchase a home in Texas before prices go up higher and availability of financing decreases!

Text or call 214-789-1076 to learn of available homes!

Increase in North Texas New Home Sales

Prices are Rising and Inventory is Down

Shortage of existing homes available to purchase has resulted in a jump in new home sales in North Texas. Those new build homes inventory is also very tight.

New home sales rose by 10% in the second half of the year, compared to last year, June 2013 vs. June 2014. Residential Strategies report stated that "The housing market remains vibrant in the D-FW area."

Existing homes in the same areas have seen less days on the market and increased prices, resulting from the housing shortage. 

"Buyers and Real Estate Agents are feeling the effects."

Texas is Leading the Nation in New Jobs - Dallas Area is number ONE!

Openings in executive, middle  and entry level jobs, all business types with a diverse set of industries from health care to consumer businesses.

 

Opportunity to everyone coming from technology and TEXAS pride.

 

People want to be a part of the winning spirit and families enjoy it here!

 

Toyota moving to Plano from California because it is an affordable place to buy a home and the easy commute to work.

 

Buyers from the east and west coast state that they can not believe the great neighborhoods and homes you can find in Texas! "This would be a mansion back home."

Assistance with finding your next mansion, text 214-789-1076 or email gloria@gloriavargo.com.

A GUIDE TO TEXAS: FOR CEOs by CEOs assimilate executives to Texas life style! www.ytexas.com

Revamp Your Dallas Backyard for The Summer

Apr 02, 2014 03:00 pm | DFW Real Estate

Spring fever is on the minds of people throughout the nation, and that’s no exception in Texas. With warmer weather on the horizon, people throughout the area are gearing up for outdoor activities and lawn care. Texas home owners with backyards they deem boring or too slated for proper landscaping can just as easily get a boost with a few of these ideas of HGTV Gardens.

Sink Into a Sunken Terrace

Creating a terrace is a great way to utilize space in a slanted or uneven backyard. Home owners can use the varying levels as a way to create a sunken space perfect for entertaining. With a pathway leading from the home, a stone patio area can not only utilize the area that may otherwise seem unusable it will use depth and variation to make the yard feel as though it were ripped from a magazine centerfold.

Embrace a Shady Spot

It’s no secret that summers in Texas can be rough, so creating an area with ample shade will help to make a backyard more usable. A pergola or veranda area is ideal for southern climates. Texas home owners should use an area like a back corner of the yard or a space on the porch or even near the pool as a calming retreat. A great way to block out additional sun is to add white outdoor-appropriate drapes that can be fanned out or tied back. Home owners can also plant tall shrubbery or plants to the east and west where the sun can be its most dramatic.

Create a Cozy Corner

The backyard is a space for play and fun, but it should also be an ideal area in the home in which to unwind. By adding a comfortable outdoor sofa or a hammock, the backyard can be turned into a spa-like oasis. Decorative, outdoor throw pillows are also great to make the area look inviting, which can be especially helpful when having gatherings.

Real Simple recommends: “Make over a porch with a few items (day bed, potted plants, Chinese lanterns) that will make the space comfortable and stylish. Thinking creatively can also help you stick to a budget. There’s no reason why a trunk from inside can’t step in as your outdoor coffee table. Besides, it’s only for a season.”

Determine a Theme

Backyards, just like any other area of the home, just need a little bit of TLC to look beautiful. Home owners can come up with a simple theme for the space, such as seaside, colorful, calming or playful, and work from there. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, but adding flowers and plants, lighting and furniture that all have the same “theme” will pull everything together seamlessly.

If you’re interested in learning more about homes for sale in Dallas-Fort Worth, don’t hesitate to contact us today. With our expert team of real estate agents, we’d love to assist you in your search for a new place to call home.

 

From DFW Real Estate - Prudential Texas Properties

Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center

Why Texas is the Best Place to Live and Work
Gaylord Texas Convention Center - Grapevine Texas

When selecting where you want to live, look into what interests you and your family.

The Gaylord combines the Best of Texas in your own backyard.
It is a convention center, hotel and much more. No matter what the weather in Texas is, you can experience the warmth and adventures of Texas indoors. I recommend it as a great place to spend the weekend or a few days. You could stay all day inside the atrium or go out and explore what the Dallas / Fort Worth Metrotex has to offer.

It is just outside the DFW International Airport on the shore of Lake Grapevine, in the City of Grapevine, TX. They even have their own buses that will take you to the Main Street of Grapevine, Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall and the Grape Wine Tasting sites.

*Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dalgt-gaylord-texan-resort-and-convention-center/
"Welcome to our spectacular hotel overlooking beautiful Lake Grapevine and brimming with authentic Texas style and hospitality. The awe-inspiring Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center invites guests to experience all the energy and excitement of the Lone Star State. Beneath our signature glass atriums, we offer some of the most distinctive shopping, dining and recreation options in the area to delight leisure and business travelers alike. You will be amazed at the 4.5 acres of indoor gardens and winding waterways, where you will find world-class entertainment and activities. Conveniently located between Dallas and Fort Worth, the Gaylord Texan is an ideal location for meetings, conventions and corporate events, offering over 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting space including the 180,000 square foot Longhorn Exhibit Hall. Choose the Gaylord Texan and discover a resort experience as grand as Texas itself."

Dalla Chinese Lantern Festival

Best Reasons for Living and Working in Dallas

We researched the culture in both Dallas and Austin before we found our dream home and selected our community. I read all the tour books and went through all the tourist pamphlets at our hotels. We went to as many events as time allowed us.

Once a year at Fair Park in Dallas they hold the Chinese Lantern Festival. Learn more about it at their Website below.



* Come 'Light a New Dream!', and reignite your sense of wonder, now through January 5, 2014.

Fair Park, in Dallas, Texas
http://chineselanternfestival.com/lanterns.php

"The Chinese Lantern Festival comprises a collection made of silky cloth, glass, and porcelain. The 2013 exhibition is larger than the previous year's — 24 lantern sets will include an impressive Royal Dragon Boat, and a Porcelain Pagoda towering 52 feet. The pagoda is made from a staggering 68,000 plates, bowls, spoons, and wine cups...all tied together by hand.

Construction of this exceptional exhibit originated in China, where a team of more than 100 artisans and technical staff did preliminary work in Sichuan, the cradle of Chinese lantern-making. Small completed pieces and raw materials are being shipped by sea to the U.S. west coast, and will then be trucked to Dallas, where a team of more than 40 are scheduled to arrive from China to construct the majority of the exhibits on-site. As they did last year, they are prepared to work through long, hot days to create a showcase of the world's foremost lantern-makers."

Best Reasons to Live and Work in Dallas

          2014   Happy New Year           

Watched the New Year's Ball drop in New York City last night and celebrated the start of a new year in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metrotex. All the celebrates and announcers kept asking "What is your new year resolution?"

 

 

I decided on "Learn to Love What You Already Have".

 

 

Moving to Dallas in 2000 was a big step in my family's life. We had the opportunity to move to either Austin or Dallas. We started the process of deciding by going online, looking at demographic data and write-ups about the cities. Then we rented a minivan and toured the major cities, suburbs and neighborhoods. It was so much fun even with a one, five and seven year old with us.

 

 

I loved those days so much. I thought it would be an excellent idea to share Texas and make other families enjoy the moving steps. You will learn why I love Texas and my family's home in North Dallas / Fort Worth, Denton area.

 

 

* Dallas has a wonderful Farmer's Market you will love to visit and shop for great produce. http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.org/

 

History of the Market - from dallasfarmersmarket.org

For more than a century, farmers have been selling their fresh produce on the site of the Dallas Farmers Market. It started in the late 1800s as farmers came to town to sell from wagons set up in various locations.

 

Around 1900, the intersection of Pearl and Cadiz streets became the hub of a brisk wholesale business. There, large quantities of produce were sold, along with chickens, pigs, goats, and eggs.

As Dallas grew, so did demand for farm-fresh produce and meat, and it was clear that a better-organized system was needed. In 1939, the site of the Dallas Farmers Market was formalized and the first shed established. The site was officially sanctioned as a municipally-owned and operated market in December 1941.

Over the past six decades, the Dallas Farmers Market has matured into the year-round area attraction that it is today.

 

(I joined a co-operative fruit and vegetable group that every 2 weeks a team goes to Dallas to shop for fresh produce at wholesale prices for our group.)

 

 

Visit my Website to find all the best homes and neighborhoods in Texas: http://www.prutexas.com/gloriavargo/