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!

Ready For The Camera

HOMESELLERS’ ADVICE

SIX TIPS FOR BETTER LISTING PHOTOS

A recent National Association of REALTORS Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 89% of home buyers who searched for a home online found photos to be among the most useful features of real estate websites. That’s why many home sellers hire professional photographers. Whether or not you use a pro, here are six tips for better results.

Stage the shoot. Photographers aren’t movers or house cleaners, so it’s up to you to get your home close-up ready. Move the car and kids’ toys out of sight. Power-wash the front and sweep the walk and porch. Mow, prune and weed the yard.

Notice details. The camera captures everything in its view in equal detail, so look out for random coffee cups, crooked wall art, and cluttered surfaces and straighten your walk-in closet to ensure personal effects are out of sight.

Make it sparkling clean. Make your floors gleam. Wipe fingerprints and grease from your appliances so they look showroom-new. Clean the carpets and polish the furniture.

Amp up the lighting. Pick a sunny day for the shoot. Open the shutters, blinds and curtains. Install fresh light bulbs, clean ceiling fixtures and turn on the lights.

Accent special features. Some of your home’s features can’t be duplicated easily, so celebrate the built-in bookcases, mullion windows and window seats, too. Also, include shots of any improvements or updates.

Pretend you’re the buyer. What do you see? Hopefully, fresh paint on the front door and a new welcome mat. Inside, your home should flow from room to room, so remove excess furniture, bric-a-brac, and personal items.

Why Should You Buy Now

Over the last two years, homeowners accrued about $21,300 in home equity, $8,700 of which occurred over the past 12 months, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). That’s an average of $10,650 per year, enough to pay back their closing costs and put them almost halfway to eliminating private mortgage insurance they may have.

Equity is only one reason people buy homes, partially explaining why home sales continue to be brisk. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said that a combination of lower mortgage rates, more inventory, rising income and higher consumer confidence are driving sales.

Meanwhile, prices are rising. In February 2019, the median existing (pre-owned) home price was $249,500, up nearly 4% year-over-year.

However, rising prices aren’t discouraging homebuyers. According to a recent quarterly NAR survey, more Americans believe that now is a good time to purchase a home, citing the improved economy as an incentive. Yun explained that other factors are spurring buyer optimism, including more available homes for sale and stabilizing home price trends. Data gleaned from electronic lockboxes report increased foot traffic at open houses.
 
Mortgage affordability in 2019's first quarter was favorable to homebuyers, because the Federal Reserve isn’t going to raise overnight borrowing rates to banks, which contributed to mortgage rate declines and making homeownership slightly more affordable for homebuyers. Mortgage rates remain at historically low levels.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to buy a home, the outlook appears promising, especially if more sellers decide to put their homes on the market.

HOMESELLING TIPS

Safety Tips When Selling

Think safety when selling your home

You have enough to think about without worrying that your home isn’t safe, or that your things may be stolen. Open houses and showings mean strangers will be in your house. A few safeguards can lessen your worry:

Remove things that matter: Store jewelry, fine art or collectibles with a friend or family member. If that’s not an option, find a place to hide valuables in your home or keep them with you in a suitcase and take it with when you leave. The same applies to personal papers with account numbers and/or social security information. Medicine cabinets are often a target.

Secure your home: Keep doors and windows locked. Prospective buyers will often open windows or doors. Some will even do that to return later to steal things. Others may even visit several times and bring an accomplice to distract the agent. So, double-check doors and windows when returning after a showing.

Consider an alarm system: It may seem impractical to install a system when you’ll be moving, but it will not only deter burglars, but may also be a strong selling point. Now there are wireless systems that do not require a home phone.

Make it look like your home: If you are not currently living in the home, think about installing motion sensors or timers to automatically turn on lights.

Reach out to your neighbors: Ask them to keep an eye on your place. Introduce them to your agent so they know things are okay when the agent is on the premises.

By taking these extra precautions, you can feel safe and secure during a home sale.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN AND BATH ON A BUDGET

Two of the most popular rooms for home makeovers are the kitchen and bath. However, these can be pricey ventures. A minor kitchen remodel can hover around $22,000, while a bathroom can be around $16,000. Here are some alternatives that will give you a fresh, modern look without breaking the bank:

1. Refinishing or re-facing the fronts of cabinets and replacing knobs and drawer pulls can give cabinets a fresh new look.

2. A cost-effective approach to counter-tops might include solid surface materials such as granite. Silestone or ceramic granite tiles.

3. A fresh coat of wall paint in modern hues is also a sure bet.

4. Consider replacing sinks as well as fixtures in brushed nickel chrome or stainless steel.

5. Under-cabinet or track lighting can create a contemporary look.

6. Replace the old shower curtain.

7. A new mirror or medicine cabinet can also make a real difference.

You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to add pizzazz to your kitchen or bath. Just changing a few elements can make a significant statement to you and potential buyers down the road.

Contact me for a list of popular colors, Gloria Vargo at 214-789-1076. I have a list of client approved contractors too, with wholesale pricing.

HOMEBUYERS’ ADVICE

Three New Year’s Homebuyer Resolutions

This is the year you become a homeowner! To make the most of this most important step in your life, make these three New Year’s home buying resolutions now. I will check and repair my credit. Before you start shopping for homes, make sure you have no errors or unresolved credit issues that could prevent you from getting a good loan. The three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Transunion and Equifax, don’t share data, nor do they correct errors without evidence. Order a full credit report from all three bureaus here. If you find an error, contact the appropriate bureau and mail copies of your payment, release of lien or other proof. I will get preapproved for a mortgage loan. Take two to four months of bank statements, pay stubs, and an account of your monthly debts and expenses to your lender. The lender calculates how much money you can safely borrow and at what interest rate. Preapproval also means a lot to sellers. It show’s that you’re serious about buying a home and that the closing process will be quicker and smoother because you already have a lender. I will buy within my means. It’s sensible to buy the most home you can afford, and your lender will help you get there, but it’s not wise to get a risky adjustable rate mortgage so you can buy more house. Being “house poor” means having no money available for other things in life, so stick to conforming loan guidelines to be safer financially.

Seller Tip

The Seller Who Tests the Market

When you see the market rising, it’s tempting to price your home even higher than nearby homes that recently sold. So you tell your listing agent that you want to "test" the market to see if you can get even more for your home.
Sometimes, it’s appropriate to choose a list price higher than recent comparable sold homes, but that strategy seldom works unless the market is climbing rapidly. If you’re looking for a quick, hassle-free sale, you need to decide which is more important – getting more for your home or moving on to your new life somewhere else.
Let’s say your neighborhood’s highest, most recent home sale was $500,000, and your agent suggests a listing price of $510,000. You want to test the market at $530,000 - which is $20,000 more than your agent recommends, and $30,000 over the latest comparable.
Your home hits the market at $530,000 and has tons of showings the first week. Your strategy is working, except that you don’t receive any offers. By the second week, there are few to no showings. Agents are reporting back to your listing agent that their buyers said your home “needs work,” or that they “found something more suited to their needs.”
After months of making two mortgage payments, your home finally sells at $518,000. Meanwhile, you paid months of overhead to get $9,000. You actually lost peace of mind and threw away a lot of money.
Overpriced homes simply take longer to sell. If you’re tempted to “test the market”, remember that the market will test you.

Home Inspection

Renegotiating After the Home Inspections

Negotiations don’t necessarily end when you and the seller sign the contract to purchase. You have the right to have the home you’re buying inspected for soundness, which you can include as a contingency to your offer. That way, if the inspection reveals a serious issue, you and the seller can address it through renegotiations.
During the inspection process, the inspector is required to tell you about the condition of the appliances, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing systems, foundation, roofing, exterior materials and so on.
Depending on where you live, you may also get separate inspections for pests and environmental issues such as radon. You’ll also learn if your future home is up to current building codes and what needs to be done to bring it up to code.
Once the inspections are complete, you have to decide if any problems found are worth renegotiating. It’s a risk because your existing contract is no longer in force and the seller is free to accept another offer. Renegotiate only for a system that is unsafe or expensive to replace.
Most sellers expect to make reasonable repairs and replacements if the inspection reveals an issue that wasn’t obvious when you first agreed to terms. As long as communication remains open and civil, the seller should have as much desire to make the sales contract work as you do.

Rents Are Increasing - Invest in Your Own Home!

Spending Too Much on Rent – Are You One?

Young Adults are choosing to rent a house because they think they can not afford or qualify for their own home.

Why pay down your landlords Mortgage when you can own? Many twenty and thirty year olds are qualifying for loans. You will need to have saved up 3 1/2% of the value of the house for a FHA loan, or the preferred choice of a conventional loan requires just 5% of your own cash. Family members can gift you some of your down payment.

Now is a good time to enter into homeownership!

Contact Gloria at 214-789-1076, if you see a starter home in your near future!

Put Your Housing Cost To Work For You!

Let's look at your Net Worth, is it going up or down like many other American's. You can make a positive change today.

There are many young people debating whether they should renew their apartment lease or sign a contract to purchase their first home. Potential growth of a good home in just 5 years can and has amounted to $44,061 equity, according to Keeping Current Matters. Do you want that in your pocket or your landlord's?

Every month you have a housing cost that is going to be to your landlord or your mortgage company?


For many the only savings or advancement in their net worth has comes from making a housing payment. The principal portion of the mortgage payment helps build net worth, through building home equity.

When you rent, you are contributing to the Landlord's NET WORTH.

Why not take advantage of your monthly housing costs? The first step to savings in just a quick call to Homes By Gloria, 214-789-1076 and a good mortgage representative.

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."

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/

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.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - National Real Estate Post

Watch dog needs watching! CFPB, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Our mission is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products.  http://www.consumerfinance.gov/the-bureau/

Your thoughts!

Very Good Question to Ask!

Where did the 1.5 Billion go?

I have been working with buyers wanting to buy short sales or foreclosed homes. Because of working with the buyers we get to know the sellers of these homes.

It is becoming harder and harder to understand the banks and the government. Common sense is not very common.

The money needs to already be in the hands of those that where affected by the Banks. Who is really looking out for them?

Commentary with Frank Garay and Brian Stevens at the National Real Estate Post!
http://www.viddler.com/v/a65f6f84

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Selling Your Home

Some Inside Tips on Selling Your Home

Selling your home quickly and at the best possible price takes enlisting the help of a Realtor.

But your Realtor will need your help to show off all your home's best qualities. First impressions are always important to a prospective buyer! It is worth the extra time and effort you spend to get your home looking its best.

Curb Appeal

Give your home an advantage over your competition. It's important to keep your grass well manicured. Trim borders and eliminate any weeds. Remove dead limbs from trees. Clean gutters of twigs and leaves and clear any unsightly refuse from your front and back yard.

Cleaning windows and screens brighten your home. Take the time to polish front doorknobs and knockers or change out locks and knobs. Tighten any loose doorknobs.

Fresh Paint

A fresh coat of paint can actually make the difference in the sale of your home. Removing old wallpaper also greatly add to the interior charm. Repair any cracks in plaster or water stains.

Clean All the Corners

Bathrooms and Kitchens are always scrutinized carefully by prospective buyers. New faucets or polished fixtures, replace the caulking in the tubs and showers and repair any leaks. A little lubricant, candlewax or rub wax paper to squeaky doors and stuck windows.

Freshen the Air

Now is not the time to cook favorite dishes with strong smells. Freshen draps, carpets and cloth surfaces with fabric refreshers. Discrete almost unnoticable scents make your home feel and smell clean and welcoming.

Toss, Donate or Pack

Time to get a start on the move. Throwing away unwanted items in your cluttered attic or closets, donate to your favorite charity or pack things you do not need until your in your new home. It will show off the maximum utility space of these areas as well as make your task of moving a little easier.

Show Off

Curtains, bedspreads, pillows and lampshades should have a fresh clean look. Shine mirrors, picture glass and dust bookshelves. Remove all portable fans, and extra keepsakes.

It's always nice to have the fire place mantle and tables decorated, allow light to come in through the windows, turn on all lights for planned showing and leave accent lights on for the unexpected showings. Loaf of bread or a tray of cookies in the oven and fresh cut flowers add a nice touch.

Showings

It is best to give the buyers space to feel at home in their prospective new home. Don't invite friends or neighbors over when showing are known. Take your pets with you when showings are planned. Nothing frightens a prospective buyer away more than a loose cat or a barking dog.

Smallest home improvements can leave a prospective buyer with a great first impression and more importantly you with a SOLD home!