Plano was named the 3rd 'Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine. It offers an affluent and yet affordable living. It has low taxes, housing prices and unemployment compared to most metros in the U.S. The city offers many amenities which enhance the lives of residents and visitors by offering outstanding parks, trails and facilities, a variety of enriching programs, special events and activities that contribute to the health, well-being and quality of life within the city. The Plano Independent School District is nationally regarded and provides an education comparable in quality to many top private schools.  Schools Three school districts serve residents in Plano: Frisco Independent School District5515 Ohio DriveFrisco, TX 75034Ph: 469-633-6000 Lewisville Independent School Di... 03/27/2018

Purchasing your first home can be super exciting, but once you begin getting into the legal side of things, you may find yourself getting discouraged because there is simply so much information out there. This guide will help you narrow it down so you can focus on what really matters to first-time homebuyers like yourself. As a first-time homebuyer, there are five primary types of loans available to you. FHA LoansAn FHA loan is a loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration. As a government-backed loan, lenders are more likely to approve you because, in the case that you default, the FHA will pay them on your behalf. This is great for getting approved in the case that you don't have good credit. Additionally, you can purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down through an FHA loan, ... 03/22/2018

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day this year, we are taking time to reflect on one of our favorite Irish Proverbs: "The longest road out is the shortest road home."The meaning of the phrase is that it is better to do something right the first time, even if it seems like a more difficult path to engage up front. (Think back to the fairy tales of childhood, and recall the sage advice about the danger in taking shortcuts.)The Roman philosopher, Seneca, defined luck as "what happens when preparation meets opportunity."Doing things the right way isn't always popular or sexy, especially when the "time equals money" mantras resound amidst late-night get-rich-quick schemes and a daily barrage of "hacks" parading across media channels.But the right thing to do is always the right thing to do. Nothi... 03/17/2018

Here are the things you need to reconsider when looking at your policy.Do you own a home? If so, homeowner's insurance could be a real lifesaver in the event of an accident or disaster that involves your home. With standard homeowner's insurance, you are afforded many protections. First and foremost, your homeowner's insurance will help protect your home itself and the belongings within it in the event of a destructive event, like a flood or fire. Fortunately, homeowner's insurance is usually a package policy. This means that, in addition to protecting your home's structure and belongings in the event of one of these disasters, it will also encompass the property and people who were damaged or liable for the event.This can mean protection for your family members and even household pets.... 03/17/2018

 VA Home Loans Plano, TX and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country!   Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today.   Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program:   - Up to 100% financing, with no down required.  - No monthly mortgage insurance.  - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs.   So how do you qualify for VA Home Loans Plano, TX?   First of all, you must verify your eligibility. This is done by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. A Texas VA loan lender can order your COE quickly for you, or you can go directly to the ... 03/06/2018

Plano median home price dropped from $327,000 in January 2017 to 323,500 in January 2018.  There is no home sold in the price range of $150k and under, and most homes sold are between $301k - $500k. Average days on the market is about a month for homes $300k and under, a little more than a month for homes between $301k - $500k and less than 3 months for homes  $501k and up. If you are looking to sell or purchase real estate in Plano and the surrounding area, I'm honored to have the opportunity to assist you.  02/16/2018

Professionals: BEWARE the OVERSHARECan we talk?We intend to explain ourselves. In fact, we try to over-explain so that our listeners will understand that we aren't ignoring them or blowing them off. We think we are being professional, and working to positively manage expectations. We think we are earning credibility by being "honest" or "transparent". We think we are earning respect by showing how very busy we are or what kind of activities we give our time to. We think we are building relationships because we are sharing details about our personal lives.Nope. What we are really doing is flat out sending our listener the one message they don't want to hear... that whatever the something else is in our lives, it is indeed more important than they are. And they will either have to wait in... 02/02/2018

Plano median home price continues to increase from $315,000 in November 2016 to $345,750 in November 2017.  There is no home under $100k, and most homes are in the price range between $301k - $500k. Average days on the market is less than a month for homes $300k and under, about two months for homes between $310k - $750k and less than 3 months for homes  $751k and up. If you are looking to sell or purchase real estate in Plano and the surrounding area, I'm honored to have the opportunity to assist you.  01/09/2018

Plano TX VA Home Loans is the best loan program in Texas!  Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA MORTGAGE LOANS are one of the best mortgage loanPROGRAMS available today.  Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program:  - Up to 100% FINANCING, with no down required.  - No monthly MORTGAGE insurance.  - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of MORTGAGE LOANS.- VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of HOME LOANS.   So how do you qualify for Plano TX VA Home Loans?  First of all, you must VERIFY YOUR eligibility. This is done by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Texas VA MORTGAGE LOAN  lendertoORDER your COE quickly, or you can contact the VA to obtain a copy. If disch... 12/12/2017

It's Christmas, and YOU'RE invited! Come Take Photos with SantaWhere: 3308 Preston Road, Plano, TX 75093, NE Corner of Preston & ParkerHours: Saturday, December 16, 2017, 12pm - 2pmCost: FREE (complimentary digital photos & hot cocoa)Contact: Sam Thomas with Providence Group RealtyPhone: 469.298.9786About This EventCome take pictures with Santa, Saturday, December 16th from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm. Join our Holiday client appreciation event at 3308 Preston Rd, Plano, TX 75093 (NE Corner of Parker & Preston). Digital portraits with Santa provided by Providence Group Realty.Enjoy live Christmas music AND complimentary hot cocoa fulfilled by our amazing co-host, Farmbyrd Rotisserie & Fry. Merry Christmas! Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/photos-with-santa-live-music-hot-cocoa-tickets-41140... 12/07/2017

Why waiting a year to buy a home in Plano Texas home could really cost you a lot of money.  I had a Plano Texas family talk to me today, they want to talk about how to buy a home. They wanted to wait a few years to save for a bigger down payment. WRONG This analysis shows you the cost of waiting just one year to buy a home. Let me show you how to buy a home today. Ask me about programs for no money down of Down Payment assistance if you need it. I am here to help.  me now if you want to retire with more money than your renter friends. See the full report and watch my video  https://mcedge.tv/16rdp0 Please SHARE with your friends. Richard Woodward, NMLS 217454Your Local, Direct, 5 Star Rated Mortgage Lender, Specialty Lending ManagerOffice: (214) 945-1066www.mortgageprosus.com/5-star-rev... 12/05/2017

Safety is a serious concern for Realtors®. NAR announced in November 2017 that a new safety tool is being made available to all Realtors® for free. Trust Stamp is online service that empowers Realtors® to protect themselves and their clients by helping them verify stranger identities prior to meeting. Trust Stamp is an artificial intelligence (AI) company that focuses on biometrically created digital identities. Their goal is to replace user names and passwords (knowledge-based authentication) -- and eventually, even the social security number. For the real estate industry, the goal is to achieve identity and trust, so that agents can stay safe. How Does It Work?Realtor® members can offer VIP Client Profie registration to prospective buyers and sellers prior to meeting with them. Trust ... 12/01/2017

Perhaps you saw this quick report on CNBC featuring a new app Realtors® can use to research prospects ahead of meeting with them? The opioid crisis brings new risk to real estate agents from CNBC.Want to know more?The app is branded under the moniker of  "Forewarn", and they offer several solutions including a subscription based service for individual agents as well as offices and Associations.  The app advertises: Using only the incoming phone number, FOREWARN can positively identify over 80% of prospective buyers. Identify if your prospect has a criminal history. Verify current property and vehicle ownership. Verify financial risks (bankruptcies/liens). Verify additional phone numbers and full address history. Agents can properly and safely plan for showings with a higher level of con... 11/29/2017

This Holiday season, reuse your online shipping boxes in which you received your purchases, or any other cardboard box you may have, to donate your unwanted household items: such as gently used clothing, shoes etc., to make a major difference in the life of another person.Give Back Box® provides vendor services to retailers and charities, giving each and every cardboard box a second life to help people in need. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3: Open Your Box: Unpack your merchandise from your Amazon shipping box. Pack Your Box: Fill the box with usable clothing, accessories and household goods you no longer need and print your FREE shipping label from GiveBackBox.com. Send Your Box: Let UPS or the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliver your box of donations for you. (You can choose between dropping ... 11/29/2017

All right... wire fraud is rampant in the real estate industry. We acknowledge and accept this as a reality of business and the world of online communications.In Texas, we are observing that Title companies are struggling to solve for this issue, and implementing office-level security measures in an effort to prevent tampering or hijacked instructions in regard to incoming transaction funds as well as disbursements.The problem with these measures is that they typically require transaction parties and licensees to jump through additional (and complicated) hoops that virtually defeat the purposes of wiring convenience all together. We see title offices inventing their own forms and password protecting them so they cannot be completed digitally, requiring wet-signatures (and even notarized... 11/28/2017

Being a First Time Homebuyer in Plano Texas makes you have to consider your options before you buy. The first thing you will need to consider is what your long-term goals are with being a home owner  and how your goals fit in with that plan. One goal could be to stop paying rent that just increases after every lease you renewBuying your own home first is one of the happiest times of your life! However, a lot of paperwork and time goes into it and finding a lender with great reviews will ease much of the stress. But, the satisfaction you get from your first home closing is something you will never forget!  The benefits of being a First Time Homebuyer in Plano Texas greatly outweighs renting for the following reasons:           Greater privacy.          Homes typically increase in value t... 11/08/2017

In real estate, the threat of wire fraud is real. Industry professionals are aware of the growing real estate scams that dupe buyers into giving their purchase money to hackers. In 2016, wire fraud topped the list as a sophisticated scam causing consumers to lose millions of dollars each year. Realtor.com has published best practices for Realtors, and even offers a sample wire fraud e-mail template notice to use in daily correspondence. Labeled "Sophisticated" Because To The Average Eye, It Looks Legit The typical scam involves hackers gaining access to e-mail accounts through captured passwords, and then searching inboxes for messages related to real estate transactions. Once a targeted victim is identified, hackers send spoof e-mails to look like they are coming from the agent, title ... 11/02/2017

 Shoal Creek is a community located in West Plano in zip code 75024.  Homes in Shoal Creek are conveniently located west of Dallas Tollway and south of Highway 121.  Homes are built from around  1995 to 2005.  Square footage varies from around 2000 square feet to almost 9000 square feet and price ranges from the high $300k’s to about $1.5M. Family with children living in this community attend Plano ISD or Lewisville ISD.  Homes that are the closest to Midway Road or Tennyson Parkway are zoned to Plano ISD.  For children attending  Plano ISD, the schools are Barksdale Elementary, Renner Middle, Shepton High, and Plano West Senior High.  For children attending  Lewisvillel ISD, the schools are Hicks Elementary, Arborcreek Middle, and Hebron High. Current inventory homes in Shoal Creek are... 10/21/2017

 Deerfield is a community located in West Plano in zip code 75024.  Homes in Deerfield are conveniently located near Dallas Tollway and Highway 121. Homes are built from 1986 to 2011. The older part is called Deerfield with homes built from 1986 to around 1999. The Deerfield West and East are next with homes built from 1991 to 1999.  Then the newest community is called Deerfield North with homes built from 2005 or newer. Square footage varies from around 2800 square feet to almost 6000 square feet and price ranges from the high $300k’s to about $800k’s. For Deerfield and Deefield East and West, children attend Plano ISD.  Haun Elementary, Robinson Middle, Jasper High, and Plano West Senior High.  For Deerfield North, children attend Frisco ISD. Riddle Elementary, Flower Middle, and Libe... 10/18/2017

Shoal Creek is a community located in West Plano between Spring Creek Parkway and Midway Road.  It’s about one mile south of Highway 121 and one mile west from Dallas North Tollway.  It offers many amenities such as a community recreation center with both indoor and outdoor pools, a weight room and gym, basketball, volleyball and badminton courts and an indoor track. Shoal Creek is also within walking distance of Windhaven Park which has practice fields, pavilions, and a playground. The Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is less than 10 minutes away, and it offers a 200-acre park featuring vast areas of natural beauty for walking, jogging, hiking and other outdoor activity. Current single family homes available on the market in this community as of October 11, 2017, are:  Address Total Square ... 10/11/2017