Announcing that they were taking the extraordinary action of changing rates between their periodic Federal Open Market Committee meetings, The Fed early this morning dropped the Federal Funds rate by 75 basis points, or three-quarters of a point.The size of the rate drop was significant, since a reduction of that magnitude had not taken place since 1990... eighteen years ago.The last time the Federal Reserve Board announced a rate cut between their regularly scheduled meetings was in 2001... reflecting the severity of the market conditions which greatly contributed to the cut.Taking the extremely unusual step, Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, held an emergency video conference overnight, and announced the rate change approximately thirty minutes before the New York S... 01/22/2008

I take great pleasure in introducing my Loan Officer for the past six years... Ms Rayne FitzMaurice.With over ten years experience in the Mortgage Loan Industry, Rayne has been my Loan Officer of choice.  With Rayne's experience, combined with her extensive mortgage loan product line, have allowed her to help hundreds of home buyers fulfill their dreams of home ownership.In addition to her mortgage loan experience, Rayne also has a background in the Title Industry.  When you are placing the success of your buyers in the hands of a loan officer, nothing succeeds quite like a background of success.Rayne's market area includes all of the Greater Fort Worth area, all of Tarrant County including Keller, Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake to the north, the Mid-Cities of Hurst, Euless and Be... 01/20/2008

FORT WORTH, TEXAS Saggy pants has become a big issue nationwide. Some are offended by them. Some have tried to outlaw them. Some business establishments don't permit them.The city of Fort Worth in may now  join Dallas' campaign in telling people to "Pull 'Em Up". The city council will vote Tuesday on a resolution supporting Dallas' fight to send a message about sagging pants.An ordinance outlawing saggy pants was originally considered but was dropped in favor of billboards promoting anti-sagging messages.City Councilman Frank Moss fears that too many young people are being labeled because of how they dress and it affects them being able to get jobs in the community. "There's stereotyping that all the kids who walk around with their pants hanging down are kids that are unruly, bad kids, ... 01/18/2008

The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens are a must see if you're planning on visiting Fort Worth, TX. Located in heart of Fort Worth is 109 acres of pure delight! The garden is home to 2,500 native and exotic plants and has 21 specialty gardens. The Japanese Garden is spectacular! The Wintertime after a snowfall is a great time to visit! It seems magical and surreal and it's so quiet! When you visit  after a snowfall you almost have the place totally to yourself...and the birds!    Spring is a celebration of color!        Walking the paths is especially nice this time of year!                                                                       Autumn, in my opinion shows the other seasons up! With all the oranges, browns and yellows it just pops with color!     When you're in Fort Worth take... 01/16/2008

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is in full swing here in Fort Worth. This wonderful tradition is 112 years old this year and is as exciting as ever. The very first Stock Show was held in October 1896 and it just gets better with age.The Show will run from January 11 - February 3 and there's events for everyone to enjoy! There's a joke around our area that we can always expect bad weather when the Stock Show is in town, and sure enough they're predicting snow for Thursday! Here are a few highlights of the Stock Show or you can visit their website for more information and a complete event schedule.   Jan. 11 & 12 - Best of the West Ranch RodeoSee the best of the ranches in the southwest compete in such events as calf branding, stock sorting, bronc riding and wild cow milking. There's ... 01/13/2008

                                                                                                                           This is your chance to don your cowboy hat, polish your buckle, shine your boots and come be part of the Fort Worth Stock and Rodeo.    YEEE HAAWWW!Established in 1896, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, world's original indoor rodeo and the granddaddy of extreme sports only gets bigger and better. The first ever event lasted only two days, but today the show lasts 23 days and attracks almost a million people.                                                                                                               Now one of rodeo's grandest shows on earth, The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo includes acres of shopping, carnival rides, kids showing off 23,000 ... 01/11/2008

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan's replacement, yesterday announced that the "Fed" is entering the New Year with plans to aggresively cut interest rates. Bernanke said that the Federal Reserve board has decided that avoiding a recession is a much greater worry that containing inflation.Many Fed Watchers believe that at the next meeting of the FOMC... the Federal Open Market Committee... which meets about every six weeks... will drop interest rates by a full one-half percent instead of the "baby step" cuts of one-quarter percent that have been seen over the past fiscal quarter.Many people who in the past criticized Alan Greenspan's approach to interest rates, have come full circle and have been coming down even harder on Bernanke.  As much as many wished that Greensp... 01/10/2008

2008 is widely predicted to be a year of economic stress in American Households. When considering your budget for 2008, if charitable contributions are an item being reviewed, you'll be pleased to know that you can still budget to help others in need. It's a budget and a gift of your time.There are 8760 hours per year. 1 hour every 56 days is all it takes.6 hours of your time each year saves 18 lives per year.  It's all about the blood.  It's the blood that is the river of life and the river isn't flowing like it should.60% of Americans are eligible to donate blood.  5% of them donate.17% of non-donors say they don't think to donate blood. THINK.15% of non-donors say they don't have time. 4.5 Million Americans are out of time.Burn Victims, Cancer Patients, Accident Victims, Sickle Cell ... 01/03/2008

We've all read the stories of the Natural Disasters that can strike without enough time to plan ahead.  From tornadoes and hurricanes to wild fires and floods, Mother Nature can strike swiftly.  Have you ever wondered after the smoke has cleared or the water has receded what it would be like to file the insurance claim?  After loved ones and pets have been accounted for, the time to recall what all was lost can be daunting. TAKE INVENTORY NOW BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES 20 minutes and a camcorder is all it takes to Take Inventory.  Go through each room, closet and storage area of your home and record a video of its contents.      HELPFUL TIPSMake 2 additional copies of the video to be stored in a bank deposit box and/or with a relative who lives at least 10 miles away from you.  If you have... 01/03/2008

You might be surprised to discover that the Texas State Comptroller's office has a check with your name on it.  From utility deposits to payroll checks to jewlery and stock certificates stashed away in a forgotten lock box, unclaimed and abandoned property is surrendered to the State Comptroller's office waiting to be claimed.  Click here to perform a FREE search.DON'T BE FOOLED!It is so easy to search for unclimed property that many companies exist that will charge you a fee to assist with the claims process.  There is no charge for a search and the claims process is easy! If you have ever moved, changed jobs, bank accounts or spouses, you are a simple internet search away from discovering if you have left anything important behind.  Surviving spouses and children should perform search... 01/02/2008

American Legend Homes  builds new homes all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Homes are priced from $130s to $600s and have flexible floorplans that can be customized.American Legend Homes is building and offering new homes in the following Dallas/Fort Worth area communities:Heights at WestRidge in McKinney - Architectural Detail and Finish,  City of McKinney/ Frisco school district, inclusive standards feature package Village Townhomes in Castle Hills - Convenient location, Golf course and community center, Master-planned community The Retreat Luxury Villas in Castle Hills - Excellent schools, Gated community, Golf course, Hike and bike trailsThe Reserve in Castle Hills -Beautifully Landscaped, City Water/City Sewer, Close to Dining, Close to Expressway, Close to Golf Course,Close ... 01/02/2008

Pulte Homes is building and offering new homes in the following communities in Fort Worth:      Beechwood Creeks in Fort Worth - $145 thousand to $194 thousand.  Floor-plans from 1769 to 3124 sq ft.  Beechwood Creeks is part of a master planned golf course community, just one mile west of I-35W on Highway 114.  This community has a community pool, playground, greenbelt areas, and golf course lots. Greens of Beechwood Creek in Fort Worth - $144 thousand to $192 thousand.  Floor-plans from 1769 to 3124 sq ft.  The Greens of Beechwood Creek is a golf community located just one mile west of I-35W on Highway 114.  This community is just minutes from Solana Business Park and the Alliance Corridor.Vista Meadows in Ft. Worth - $158 thousand to $199 thousand.  Floor-plans from 1764 to 3124 sq ft... 12/31/2007

Morrison Homes is building and offering new homes in the following communities in Fort Worth:    Creekwood in Fort worth - Starting at $240 thousand and 2314 square feet.  Creekwood is a master-planned community located in Northern Tarrant County on 260 acres where Fort Worth meets Saginaw. Community amenities include a swim club, playground, public park, over two miles of hike and bike trails and more than fifty (50) acres of green space.  Creekwood is located in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District, which is  highly rated by the State of Texas. Villages of Sunset Pointe in Fort Worth - Starting at $210 thousand  with square footage from 1840 to 2610.  The Villages of Sunset Pointe, a master-planned community in Southwest Fort Worth is close to DFW Airport and to down... 12/31/2007

Realtors in Texas have some Good News to Cheer About.  Today the Census Bureau reported that over 500,000 People Relocated from Outside Texas, and moved into Our Fair State during 2007 !That is One Half Million more people in Texas in the Last Twelve Months.  One Half Million people who need homes, who need food, clothing, iPODS and everything else.  Five Hundred Thousand people to rent apartments.  Five Hundred Thousand people taking new jobs... which ARE available.  The new capital produced by all of these new residents will put Millions of Dollars back into the Texas economy as they purchase all the things new residents normally need.Because the Texas the economy is so diverse... jobs are always available in almost all types of industries.  Gone are the days of Over-Dependence on Oil... 12/27/2007

Meritage Homes & Legacy Homes offer the following new home communities in the city of Fort Worth: Meritage HomesMarine Creek RanchFort Worth, TXLow $100s - $200sMaster Planned Community!On the Lake! New Elementary School in the Community!Hike And Bike Trails!The Lakefront Amenity Center!Fire Pits, a fishing dock, picnic areas, and boating!15 Minutes to Downtown Ft. Worth &the Cultural DistrictEasy access to Loop 820, I30, I35Easy access to Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Worth & Marine Creek LakeEasy access to Major Employers & the Downtown Commercial CenterEasy access to Entertainment & ShoppingEasy access to Movies, Golf, Sundance Square & Texas Motor SpeedwayEasy access to the Alliance Corridor & the Historic StockyardsEasy access to DFW AirportMeritage HomesParks of Deer CreekFort Worth, ... 12/26/2007

Plantation Homes is building in Twin Mill Farms, a family-oriented community just a short distance to Eagle Mountain Lake and Eagle Mountain Country Club. Amenities include Swimming pool, park and walking trails. Twin Mill Farms provides residents with easy access to I-35W and Loop 820. Appr. Sq. Ft.: 2424 Stories: 1 Bedrooms: 3 Master: Down Baths (f/h): 2/0 Garage: 2 Stage:  Price: $238,854 Tax Information Estimated Tax Rate: $3.2 per $100 of appraised valuation Homeowners Association Twin Mill Farms Home Owners Association Estimated HOA Dues: $480 per year Schools Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD Eagle Mountain (Elementary School) Wayside (Middle School) W.E. Boswell (High School) Clarke Gillespie is a Fort Worth Real Estate agent specializing in New Homes in Fort Worth TX. 12/26/2007

The following new home builders are presently building in Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding cities. Plantation Homes New Home Neighborhoods: Twin Mills Farms, Heritage & Saratoga, Chisolm Ridge & Rays Pointe Estates City: Fort Worth, TexasPrice: Low to High $100sFind out more about Fort Worth Real EstateCheldan HomesLennar HomesMorrison Homes Pulte HomesDavid Weekley HomesK. Hovnanian HomesSandlin Custom HomesPioneer HomesGoff Homes Drees HomesWall HomesLegacy Homes   12/26/2007

Here is another tale from my "early years" on floor time: This second "happening" occurred way back in about my third month in real estate ... and luckily, by that time I had learned quite a bit from Howard, my broker, about how to handle "floor time calls."My broker's office phone number was only one digit off from the number of a local "fine dining" restaurant nearby.  I had already received a few wrong numbers asking for the restaurant.  This one Saturday I received another call... asking to be connected to the "dining room." By this time, I was feeling pretty good about my phone technique, and also on this particular Saturday, I was in a "playful" mood.The caller asked to be connected to the "dining room."  I answered... "Ma'am... I am sure you are trying to call the Quail Hollow Re... 12/21/2007

Well, here's a little story 'bout a man named Jed.....Mineral Rights are a big deal!  It's an even bigger deal right now if you are a buyer or seller of North Texas real estate.  I recently took a class regarding Mineral Rights and learned that my role as it relates to mineral rights while being a Realtor is simple--STAY OUT OF IT.  Yes, this is almost verbatim of what the attorney teaching the class stated.  It's too convuluted a topic to address being a Realtor, and the legalities of it are such that should I attempt to delve into it, it could be construed as giving legal advice.  By law, I am not allowed to give legal advice.  (I'm not a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.)This is what I can tell you:  When I ask buyers and sellers why they want the mineral rights, most ... 12/09/2007

I have a very good friend named Robert.  Wednesday night I went over to his home (which I sold him) and visited with Robert and his lovely wife Carey.  We were getting together that night so that Robert could "give me" my Christmas Present.About a week ago I did something I have never done in my life.  I have watched Robert cook for himself and his wife.  Robert is of the Italian persuasion.  Robert is a Great Cook.  He is also a very witty person.  When I am at his home while he is cooking... watching him... he, of course, knows he is being watched.So with Robert knowing he has an "audience"... his theatrical nature comes out a bit.  Then a bit more.  And then finally... it is totally out... and It's Showtime !  Showtime in The Kitchen... Starring Robert the Incredible Cook !I have wat... 12/07/2007