Subprime crumbling got you down? Foreclosure rates making you blue? NOT ME! I tell you, I feel great! This was a really fun month for me. Not because it was the most profitable financially but it wasn't bad. Nah, I feel great because I helped 5 families become homeowner's for the first time. This is why I went into the mortgage business 11 years ago. If you will indulge me a minute, I'd like to introduce you to one family I helped this month.I introduce to you Okoro & Josephine and their 4 children who are now proud homeowner's in Plano, TX. Say Hi!Okoro called me back in November because he and Josephine had been approved by the suburban city of Plano, TX (just north of Dallas) for a grant to for first-time home buyers. Furthermore, they were looking at a home being renovated near old ... 04/01/2007

The list for April's foreclosures has just been tallied and the DFW market is up 18% for April compared to April last year.  For the year, foreclosures are up 15%.  The main counties break down as follows:Dallas- 11%- up 1597Collin- 40%- up 456Denton- 20%- up 333Tarrant- 20%- up 1066Rockwall- 29%- up 63The main reason for this many foreclosures in the Dallas market is the amount of adjustable rate mortgages that are starting to adjust.  Two and three years ago, people were getting ARMs where the rate for those first couple of years were fixed.  In their head, they're not realizing what that really means after it's not fixed anymore.  I work hard at explaining these loans to my clients, as best I can without being a mortgage person, so none of my buyers have ever been in a foreclosure si... 03/16/2007

The Plano Library needs your books, CDs, DVDs and videos now for their annual Friends of the Plano Public Library Book Sale in July.  Donations of gently-used books, CD's, DVD's, audiotapes, videotapes, records and magazines.  Items can be dropped off at the Plano Library locations below.  Tax receipts are available for donations.  All proceeds from the annual sale are used by the Friends of the Plano Public Library to support library programs and services, touching all segments of our community. Library Book Sale donation sites:Harrington Library, 1501 18th StreetSchimelpfenig Library, 5024 Custer RoadHaggard Library, 2501 Coit RoadDavis Library, 7501-B Independence ParkwayParr Library, 6200 Windhaven ParkwayEveryone has extra books, DVDs and videos at home and this is a great way to k... 02/16/2007

Building on the success of last year, the Junior League of Plano is proud to host the 2nd Annual Kids in the Kitchen on Saturday, April 14 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the LakeSide Market in Plano(located on Preston at Spring Creek).  The goal is to educate the community about childhood obesity and promote healthy childhood nutrition.  Children's Medical Center, Kids Dental, and Central Market join with the Junior League of Plano in promoting healthy lifestyles.Fun, educational activities and interactive games for all ages will be hosted by Children's Medical Clinic.  Sports Teams and cheerleaders will put on exhibitions. HEB's Central Market chefs and nutritionists will "stir up" some nourishing meal ideas for the entire family ,and Kids Dental will provide some interactive fun.Througho... 02/16/2007

The Plano Symphony is hosting the Family Symphony at the Courtyard Theatre in Plano on February 25 at 3pm.  The concert will feature the strings section and include fun, interaction with the audience and last only about 45 minues.  Just the right length to keep youngsters and adults alike engaged!  Come early for the instrument petting zoo!!Tickets are only $7-$11.  Call 972-473-7262 for tickets.  Or visit http://www.planosymphony.org/ to learn more about the Plano Symphony. 02/07/2007

Do you want to learn more about the City of Plano and how the city works.  Then you need to sign up for the Plano Citizens Acadmeny.  This program is FREE to residents of the City of Plano, 18 years of age and older.  Sessions are held bi-weekly at various City/community facilities, primarily on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.Nine informational/hands on sessions are divided into the following topics:  City Council, City Government Organization & Operations, History of Plano;   Employee Training, Budget & Finance;  Economic & Community Development, Planning & Zoning, GIS;  Engineering, Transportation, Property Standards, Building Inspections;  Police, Fire & Public Safety Communications;  Public Works, Customer/Utility Billing;  Parks & Recreation, Environmental Health, Public I... 02/06/2007

Have a great evening and help the projects and programs of the Junior League of Plano in Collin County.Bring your date or your best friend and admire the atmosphere of the ArtCentre during the Winemaker's Dinner, hosted by the Junior League of Plano, on Saturday, February 10 at 7pm at the ArtCentre of Plano.  Extreme Cuisine will prepare dinner using recipes from the Junior League of Plano's award winning cookbook, Lone Star to Five Star.  Beef Tenderloin, Pear Custard Bars and Mocha Brownies are just a few of the items on the menu for this lovely evening.  Sample a variety of wines from Ironstone Wines, and learn how to pair them with different foods.   Items in the silent auction are sure to appeal to any wine enthusiast  including items from Cru Wine Bar, Premier Wines, Josephine's W... 01/29/2007

 The market is typical for this time of year, buyers are settling in before the holidays and the inventories are higher than last couple of years. Below is a snapshot of Real Estate Activity for Plano, TX 75093Active Properties - 283, Expired Properties - 21, Sold Properties - 46, Pending Properties - 24, Active Option - 10 Plano,  TX 75093 Statistics Results - Oct 2006ACT - 283 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PricePrice per Square FootDays on MarketMin1244220$124,900$641Avg4044430$722,550$17878Max12428673$7,900,000$645990EXP - 21 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PricePrice per Square FootDays on MarketMin2050320$179,000$7789Avg4173430$657,538$157224Max6421651$1,674,900$2601203SLD - 46 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull Bath... 11/04/2006

West Plano, TX - is a luxury community just 20 miles north of Dallas. Named one of the two BEST places to live in the western United States and for good reason, excellent schools, world class shopping, a short commute to downtown Dallas, luxurious homes and preservations of natural surroundings along with a proud Texas history.The attraction is an ideal family suburban lifestyle of New Homes, Excellent Schools,  New Shopping Concepts and many Parks that are accessible to all neighborhoods. The community is peaceful, quite and safe. West Plano is the corporate headquarters to some of the country’s largest and most recognized companies.  Legacy Drive is full of corporate campuses with acres of rolling terrain that contain lakes, horses, Texas longhorn cattle, exotic animals and Arbor Hill... 11/01/2006

One of the things I have to explain to sellers when I'm on a listing appointment is why I can't take a reduced commission to sell their home. My first response is, weren't you paying attention to all the marketing I do for your house to get it sold and do you not understand how much time, energy, and money it costs to do that? Asking a Realtor to take a reduction is like asking you to work a full 8 hour day at the office, with your full duties, and then asking you to only work for 1/2 your salary because the company needs to cut back a little bit. What would you say to your boss? I would hope you would say NO along with a few choice words!Well, a study came out a couple of months ago for the Dallas/ Ft Worth area and it's VERY interesting. One of the results is as follows:*"Limited serv... 06/29/2006

Are you trying to shop for a house before a mortgage?  Do you find that you keep ending up in neighborhoods that are beyond your price range?  How did you come up with your price range?  And do you even know what your price range means?  These are just some of the questions I ask people when they call to want to look at one of my listings, and I won't show them the house until they can answer these questions to my satisfactory, which my sellers love.  Less unqualified people walking through their home.To start with, if you haven't talked with a mortgage professional first, you have no idea what you can be approved for on a loan.  Many people think they get to pick a mortgage payment that they are comfortable with and stay under that.  There is much more to it than that.  Everything is b... 06/27/2006