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Fairview, TX Real Estate News

If you've ever wondered why some realtors discount and some don't you certainly wouldn't be alone. Many people wonder why one realtor might offer great discounts while another makes absolutely no mention of discounting at all. It's important to understand that there are aspects of being a realtor that are different than most of us expect until we start looking seriously at the profession.   The reason why some realtors discount and some don't is often based on personal preference and choice of the realtor. Since realty is actually about self employment versus salaried employment, there are financial aspects of the profession which are difficult for many new realtors to adjust to. The commission based realty provides an income only through the sale of a house. In all honesty, about 75% o...
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
  Do cultural differences play a role in home sales? In all reality everything plays a role in selling a home. In a world where there are more cultures sharing the same country the impact of cultural differences is being seen when buying and selling a home. Larger cities have had cultural neighborhoods for decades. These cities have turned into a collection of smaller sub-cities with an obvious preference for shared culture. However, as the world becomes more accessible and cultures merge into each other, the changes are interesting.   Today, we strive to be politically correct and thus many people who are buying or selling a home don't specifically request to be in a neighborhood that reflects their same culture. Yet the overwhelming number of home sales that are found to be within the...
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Multigenerational housing in the US is becoming a much more popular option. With 3 or more generations all living under the same roof, the entire family actually gains from the experience. While it was once seen as a burden to take in an elderly parent, it is now understood to be a responsibility that comes with wonderful surprises.   Children that grow up with additional generations in the household tend to be more compassionate, more aware, and less likely to participate in things like bullying and cruelty toward others. They learn quickly that having a grandparent or great grandparent live with them is actually a positive experience.   Multigenerational housing gives the entire family a greater support system. Parents can be there for their adult children to help with child rearing a...
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  Selling a home is a big deal. You naturally want to get the most money you can considering that it's one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. You also want it to sell quickly. Quick sales and high asking prices often do not go hand in hand, which leaves sellers with a few questions. If you remodel and turn your home into the absolute perfect house, can you get more for it while helping the house sell faster?   While it's a nice thought and it would seem to be a logical one, it actually doesn't work that way. You will never recoup the funds that it takes to remodel. A complete remodeling job on a three bedroom home can be as much as $40,000 for average remodeling work. You will not be able to add on that much to the asking price and expect to see any offers.   Of course, there ...
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  Does Your Home Need Updating?  Win 30 mins with Vern Yip at the IO Metro Event - Fairview Texas  I.O. Metro, a stylish new place to find accessories, furniture and art for your home, is hosting a "Meet Vern Yip" Event to introduce their new partnership.  YOU could be the lucky winner of a 30 minute consultation! WHEN:  May 18th, 6:00-7:30pm WHERE:  I.O. Metro, Fairview             133 Fairview Station Pkwy.             Fairview, TX 75069 COST:  FREE - You can't beat FREE!
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
    There is a lot of talk about BPA, the potential hazards of BPA, and what we should do instead of using BPA. But we rarely hear about what it is and why it is part of our lives. When we discuss the potential of anything, man made or natural, we have to consider first why it is prevalent in our world in the first place. Even if it's something that the majority of people want to get rid of, examining the argument from all sides is prudent.   BPA is a chemical. Bisphenol A is a chemical that is typically used in production and makes certain "building blocks" of some of our products. The manufacturing of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin are the two main products that are produced using this base chemical.   Food containers made of plastic are one of the common concerns when talking ...
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
  There are lots of tips and tricks to a greener lawn that are derived from nothing more than folk lore. Of course, then there are the tips that actually work because they are based on scientific fact, horticulture studies, and practical application performance reports. How do you know the difference? Some of the tips and tricks that are derived from folk lore sound reasonable and as though they would work.   For instance, when planting grass seed if you move in a counter clockwise direction the grass seeds lay in a more suitable position for fast and easy growth. This idea has been passed on from one generation to another in the hopes that freshly planted grass seed will automatically turn out to be great green grass in no time flat. Of course, if you're starting from scratch and want ...
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We live in a society where we judge someone's overall worth based on the kind of car one drives, the way someone dresses, and of course the size of their home. While most people are financed to the maximum in order to present the nicest possible car and the largest possible home to the world. Yet as we become smarter consumers we have to start questioning whether or not it is worth the price of a large home.   Not only is buying a larger house more expensive but it is also more expensive to keep up with day to day living costs. There are more obvious expenses such as heating and cooling costs that increase the daily living expenses. But there are also some hidden costs which may not seem like much on their own but once you add them up the total can be impressive.   Start by looking at s...
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
A home inspection is usually mandatory when purchasing a new home. It is there to protect the buyer from all of the pitfalls that can go along with purchasing a new home. In most states, all of the systems have to be functional in order for the sale to go through. Water, heat, and electricity must be available unless a specific clause is written into the contract that acknowledges the buyer's awareness of a faulty system along with his or her willingness to correct the problem. In such cases the estimated cost of repair is taken off of the cost of the home.   A home inspection can also alert you to other problems as well. A leaky roof or an infestation of termites might not be noticed immediately by the buyer. In fact, many homeowners live with termites and other infestations without ev...
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  Feng Shui is a belief that originated in China and combines the principles of Heaven and Earth to create a symbiotic relationship within the building it is used. The harmony is considered to be the key to a peaceful and healthy life. If there is no harmony between Heaven and Earth then there would be no harmony at all.   The idea of Feng Shui is that those who create the positive energy flow are bound to become that positive energy. Experiencing the positive energy in day to day life is thought to be the single most important tool for self motivated success and joy. By balancing the power of Heaven and Earth the positive energy can run through a room, a home, or a building and become the same energy that radiates from an individual.   For a short time during the 1960s the practice of ...
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    Technology has revolutionized everything surrounding our lives, including our homes. Technology can be your guide to leading an easier, environmentally friendly lifestyle so be on the lookout for these top ten technologies to consider when you are buying or building your home. 1. Alert Sensors - Your family's safety is vital and alert sensors will supervise that while you are not able to.  2. Health Monitoring - The health of your older loved ones is a concern you may be burdened with but home health monitoring allows caregivers to monitor vitals from afar.  3. Quad-Cooling Refrigerator - The quad-cooling refrigerator gives you the ability to use two separate compartments at the bottom for either freezing or cooling with the touch of a button.  4. Induction Cooking - From cold to h...
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
  Growing up, you hear stories involving the American Dream. This dream of freedom and opportunity revolves around settling down and becoming grounded in the roots of this country's history. You may hear your parents talking about this or perhaps family business owners in your neighborhood. Buying a home has always been the essential step taken to finally achieve this dream. However, as the turn of the century has come and gone, you may be left wondering if owning a home is really the American dream or slowly becoming an American nightmare. If you are living the average American lifestyle, spending and enjoying more than what is necessary, you should consider yourself very lucky to wake up in the morning, head off to work, and endure countless hours of monotonous labor whether you enjo...
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Deciding the right time to make a property move can be difficult. There are dozens of quotes about opportunity, but two themes emerge; be prepared and opportunities are to be seized not waited for. With home values dropping, it is a great opportunity to move up into bigger home. Property Undervalued?Even though your home may be undervalued right now, it is still a good time to explore the housing market. A market in transition, is a place to find value. Currently, there is a lot of inventory and with many home values dropping, there is an opportunity to find a much better house.Move Up During the Real Estate DownturnWhen you do the math, you can see that now may the perfect time to move up. Your starter home may sell for $125,000 even though you see its value at $140,000. On paper you a...
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You have just finished that extensive kitchen remodeling project. As you wipe the last of the construction dust from your beautiful new granite countertops, you remember that visit last week from a neighbor. She complemented you on the gorgeous counters, but asked if you weren't worried about the chance of the granite being radioactive.Well, what about radon and radioactivity in granite countertops? It has been in the news lately, but you would think the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have stepped in it if there was a real problem. What does the EPA say? It is possible for granite to contain uranium and other naturally occurring radioactive elements in varying concentrations. These elements, if present, can emit radiation and thereby produce radon gas. Granite is a natural...
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By James Hurt
(Broker)
  When selling your home you want to stage it so that potential buyers can walk through and see their own vision of the house. A staged home sells more quickly and tends to bring a higher selling price because the emotional attachment to the home can be developed by the buyer. When a buyer can envision their life inside the house, they begin to see it as a home. When that happens, the buyer is able to justify paying a higher price for it.   Home staging is based on the psychology of sales. When you walk through the home of a friend or relative you see them reflected in the home. All of their belongings and their style is scattered throughout the house. You can't see yourself in the home because there's no reflection of you. The same thing happens when you're selling your home. Buyers wh...
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  Home Building has Changed Drastically in 5 Years   In the last 5 years there has been a revolution of innovation in home construction. Home building has changed greatly in the last 5 years to incorporate green ideas, energy efficiency, and savings through the home. With the continuous rising rate in fuel prices and home heating expenses, homes that have been built over the last 5 years have been lower maintenance and less expensive to run efficiently.   The energy movement has brought some very necessary ideas to the principles of home construction. With simple but effective methods of creating more energy efficient houses, the general cost of heating those homes and maintaining a lower carbon footprint naturally comes easier. Many people are opting for green homes to be built that pr...
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New to the mortgage process? Many prospective home buyers are disappointed when their mortgage applications are rejected.  Sometimes the reason is that they have overextended themselves financially by purchasing too many items of personal property, such as automobiles and furniture.  Other times, mortgage lenders can not approve the buyers because of a history of quitting and changing jobs, or failing to pay bills. Prior to a Mortgage ApplicationPeople who are eager to buy a home often do not appreciate what will have to take place before the mortgage application process can be completed successfully.  If they did, they might be able to avoid some of the trouble spots that lay ahead for them in their quest for home ownership. Avoid making any new purchases prior to your mortgage applic...
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For many years, about half of the states in the U.S. have been using gasoline mixed with 10% ethanol.  About 70% of the gasoline we purchase in the U.S is currently mixed with 10% ethanol. Ethanol is a type of alcohol usually made from corn.  It is combustible and therefore can power small engines, such as lawn equipment. But, is this alternative fuel causing damage to your lawn equipment?Ethanol has been touted as a cleaner and more sustainable energy than pure gasoline, but that statement has been argued on many points. There is no end to the controversy over the economical and even moral implications of using corn to power our vehicles and other engines, but as a society, we have clearly adapted a 10% ethanol blend into our way of life.This adaptation has had its problems though, mos...
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  Why is everyone talking about green homes? Essentially because green homes are the homes of the future. When you're looking to purchase or build a home, the smartest decision you can make is to go green. There are so many benefits to this type of move that it can be hard to list them all.   First and foremost, one of the reasons why everyone is talking about green homes is that it's much better for the family budget. The savings that you can accumulate over a decade versus a traditional, energy wasting home can literally provide you with twice the normal family income. The cost savings of turning to green homes is like purchasing a home that is twice as big but only costs half as much to actually live there. How would watching your budget split itself right down the middle impact your...
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By Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR, ACRE, Plano TX Ambassador
(RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs)
I’ve seen a number of things over the years but the latest one has me scratching my head. We have a specialized little subdivision in the area and a couple of agents from one of the larger brokerages have a corner on the listing market. I don’t have a problem with them cornering the listing market but what they’ve done next just seems wrong. I was searching for properties in the subdivision and there were none in the MLS. I have an interested client so I drove through the neighborhood and found plenty of signs. I jotted down a couple of the addresses and tried to pull them up in the MLS…nothing. I called the listing agent and asked for the details and showing instructions. I was told that the properties were non-MLS listings and only she can sell them. I asked about registering my clien...
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