Google Changes

I have had my Google Account from when it first started 2007.

Through the years several changes have occurred including machine learning, with spell check my all-time favorite. In college my business law professor walked up to me and said "You used spell check, right?" For my term paper spell check changed words I used to very unique different words. In my defense he told everyone spelling counts for the class grade! He never took off for the Unique Words!

Why does anyone worry about AI? It is just another tool in your backpack that can make your life easier. Embrace it, but understand it and it's limitations. It does assist with your research and development!

Five Tips To Buying In A Fast Market

If you're a buyer in a hot housing market, you may have already lost out on several homes already. How can you get the upper hand? Here are five tips:

1. Get preapproved by a lender. Sharing financial information your lender requests will get you preapproved. You'll know the limits on how much home you can afford, how much money to put down, and what your interest rate will be. A preapproval letter will assure the seller that you're ready to buy.
2. Trust your real estate professional. As a Realor, I knows the market, can feed you new listings that fit your criteria, and have many contacts to learn about homes coming onto the market which you wouldn't get to see otherwise.
3. Make a realistic must-have list. Pick a neighborhood, house type and price range with a limited number of features. Be prepared to make compromises - smaller, fewer bedrooms or baths.
4. Consider less-than-perfect homes. Buying the worst house on the best block is a proven strategy. A home that needs repairs and updates will sell at a discount to other homes. Bringing your home up to the neighborhood standards is a quick route to building equity.
5. Buy under your means. If you get into a bidding war, you'll need a little wiggle room so you can compete. Many homes will sell above list price, so it's smart to keep your cool because you know you can go up if you need to.

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.

Signs of Progress

Flower Mound – Highland Village - Double Oak - Copper Canyon Area

 

South East Corner of Chinn Chapel and 407, Justin Road will be home to Academy Sports and some of your favorite restaurants. Academy is slated to open in November of 2013, just in time for holiday shopping.

Hermansen Land Development, Inc. spoke at a joint economic development meeting of The Town Flower Mound and Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, about his new project. He also spoke about how he likes working with our new Mayor, City Manager, Economic Director, Council Members, Town Engineer, and PD Zoning. We should be seeing Smashburger, Jerry Mike's Sub, Modmarket - Fresh Eateriers and some other great businesses.

New Small Grocery Stores vs. Big Chains

Flower Mound a suburb of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton Texas

When you think about picking up a gallon of milk or some bread where do you go to pick up the groceries?

The big chains - Wal-Mart, Kroger and Tom Thumb is what you used to think of, but now we have more choices. Super Target, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and those Buy in Bulk Membership Clubs - Costco and Sam's are available. I have storage problems with buying in bulk, but the prices are great if you do not mind packages of 3-5.

Braum's has the best choices of ice cream flavors and a surprising selection of produce for that got to pick up quick items. Albertson is in Lewisville, for those items only they have.

Sprouts has become my Wednesday double ads day place for fresh produce and meats. Newly opened Aldi has great prices, but limited selection and coming soon specialty retailers Market Street, opening Fall 2013 and Whole Foods Market, opening 2014, The Shops of Highland Village, will be in the area choice list. We used to have to drive to Colleyville and Plano. Both stores come with some great pre-made specialty foods.

Even with all these new choices I still go to Southlake's Central Market for the best soups, breads and fresh meat. Central Market has wonderful chef cooking classes. Friends and relatives still are talking about Trader Joe's which just in 2012 came to the Metroplex. "You have got to go there ..." they say. It is still on my list.

Kroger is still my go to place for when I need to buy the weekly groceries and pick up something fast. Best selection and good prices. Tom Thumb's $5 Friday is my husbands favorite!

How To Sell High

Sell High - Buy Low

When it is time to sell your current home and find a new home that fits your current lifestyle, setting your asking price is one of the most important decisions you will make.

Location and Price is what buyer sees first. You can not change the location of your home, but you can control your pricing. Buying a home is truly an elimination process of what you need and want in a home. Often a house is discarded by prospective buyers as not being in the appropriate price range before they're even given a chance of it being show.

First impressions are important in life and homes. Your asking price is often your home's "first impression" and you want to make a good one. This is not as easy as it sounds, therefore pricing should not be taken lightly. Pricing too high can be as costly to a home seller as pricing too low. Your goal should be to sell your home at the highest price in the shortest time.

How is that done? First walk through your home as if you are the new buyer. You will be surprised at how as a perspective new buyer you will see all the details. Does it need new paint, carpet or appliances? Has it been updated within the past 10 years to market preferences? Does everything work? When you drive by your home from the curb, does it look equal to, better or worse than other homes in the neighborhood? Have your neighbors updated when you have not or visa versa? These are all questions you should ask yourself and your Realtor.

Next have your Realtor run the comparables for homes like yours, same neighborhood, same style, same age, same size, same condition. What are they selling for? Do you want to be at the market, above the market or slightly below your competition? How soon do you need to sell? The longer your home is on the market the lower you will have to drop the price to attract potential buyers. This alone wants you to set your original sales price right the first time! How do you do that. That is were Realtors are your best person to sit down with and help you make the tough sales price decision.

Find out what YOUR home is worth, www.GloriaVargo.com, Text 214-789-1076, or Email Gloria@GloriaVargo.com