In mid-year 2008, we began seeing a trend toward leasing of homes in Prosper that came on quick as the recession hit DFW.  As I have been saying all year, the demand for residential leasing in Prosper in 2009 has been astronomical.  I predicted a strong year of leasing, reminded the residents of Prosper throughout the year when we had greater demand than we had supply of leases, converted some homes for sale into homes for lease, and advised residents that this was no short-term trend.  It will continue into 2010.  Now that we're at year's end, we can and should look back to ensure that the prediction was correct: Current residential lease inventory (available homes in the MLS for North Texas in the Town of Prosper as of 12-08-09): 16 homes Price range:  $1050/month to $11,000/month Ave... 12/08/2009

Every year, we see sellers debating whether to decorate for the holiday season.  If they do choose to decorate, they have to decide to what extent.  If they don't decorate, they may be making a critical error in the attempt to sell their home. My opinion is that anything that draws attention to your home is a GOOD thing!  When we agents hold open houses, you don't see us choosing not to put out our open house signs.  We want people to look at the house and make a decision about whether they want to visit the home or not.  Same with the holidays.  It's a time of year when the weather in Dallas/Fort Worth is crisp and cool.  It's the perfect time of year to grab a coffee or hot cider and drive around neighborhoods looking at holiday lights.  People get a little voyeuristic at this time of... 12/06/2009

It's snowing in most of the DFW area today!!!  This doesn't happen very often, so when it does, we ALL get excited!! And just to show you how quickly the weather changes in Texas.... 10 Day Forecast -  °F | °C View the Detailed Extended Forecast » wed thu fri sat sun mon tue wed thu fri dec 02 AM Rain/Snow 51° 35° dec 03 M Cloudy 46° 33° dec 04 Snow Showers 38° 29° dec 05 P Cloudy 52° 39° dec 06 Cloudy 54° 46° dec 07 Few Showers 56° 47° dec 08 Few Showers 62° 47° dec 09 Sunny 60° 43° dec 10 M Cloudy 62° 44° dec 11 P Cloudy 59° 46° Details for Wednesday, December 02 Periods of rain and snow tapering off this morning. Partly cloudy and windy for the afternoon. Some accumulation of wet snow possible on grassy surfaces. High 51F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 80%.Evening: A few... 12/02/2009

Thinking you may not be able to hang onto your home much longer?  Are your finances keeping you up at night?  Hearing the news that the recession is over in DFW, but not seeing any help coming your own way to dig back out from the hole it created?  You are not alone.  Many families are getting by right now.  Just barely getting by.  There is no shame in it.  It is a sign of the times.  Our government knows that job creation is the answer, but that's a big ship that moves slowly, and help may not be coming for a while.  What to do?  In 2008 and 2009, we were able to help many Prosper homeowners lease out their homes for a 1-2 year period, in order to alleviate their burden.  That answer is a much better solution than a short sale as we head into 2010, as well.  I shocked someone the day ... 11/29/2009

It's the lowest inventory level I've seen since early in 2006.  Prosper, Texas is down to just 137 available homes in the MLS as of 11-24-2009.  This is remarkably low inventory and covers a range of homes from the $140,000's to $21,000,000. WORK Those Signs Not every agent is good at keeping their signs current, so the for sale signs can be misleading.  Many of those homes with signs appear to be up for sale, but are actually homes that are in various stages of contract.  Right now, there are 12 homes in Prosper in the buyer's option status and another 26 that have made it through option to contract pending status. Why might an agent leave their for sign sign up, without current status?  So that drive-by's in the neighborhood will continue to contact them for the status of the house, h... 11/24/2009

~ Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. - Dr. Napoleon Hill~ Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart~ You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want. - Zig Ziglar~ Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain~ Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. - Samuel Johnson~ Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. - Larry Wilde~ Minds are like parachutes. They only function when ... 11/23/2009

One of the reasons I moved my family and my business to Prosper, Texas in 2006 is that emotional shift into low-gear that you feel as you cross the Dallas North Tollway at Hwy 380.  Life gets prettier (we do live in a gorgeous community!), and the priorities of life seem to come into sharper focus.  One thing I have noticed is that I don't get a lot of calls to show homes in Prosper on Sundays until after 2pm.  That doesn't bother me.  I can see online that it's a day when people are searching their home computers for housing options, but it's a day that they prefer to be at home.  Unless I have an out-of-state buyer who needs to make a decision in a short amount of time, Sundays are a pretty light day.  An open house or two, showing one of my own listings, then home by 5pm and the offi... 11/22/2009

There's no such thing as an easy move.  I watch about 50 families do it every year, and I do it myself about every 5-10 years.  There are lots of details to manage, many of which your real estate agent takes care of for you.  But, the packing, if you don't hire it out, is all on you. Just as good time management teaches us to touch the papers in our in-box once and only once, you should manage your possessions in the same manner.  Take an inventory by room, make a decision on each piece (and the contents inside if dealing with bureau's, filing cabinets, dressers, bookshelves, and the like), and determine which of the following is to be done: 1.  Move It! You love it too much to part with it.  It has sentimental value beyond it's replacement value, or it is a family heirloom that just ca... 11/21/2009

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residents.  It also authorizes a tax credit up to $6500 for qualified repeat home buyers.  Are you eligible?  Are the qualifications as clear as mud?  You can check the full requirements at http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.  Your tax advisor is also a great source for getting the scoop in plain speak.  Thanks to Colonial National Mortgage (Russell Dobbs, Sr. Loan Officer 972-989-9811) for putting together this brief synopsis of the differences between the qualifications: $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit *First-time buyers only, defined as someone who has NOT owned a primary residence in the last 3 years. *The ta... 11/19/2009

Having trouble finding builder specs in Prosper?  They're still out there.  But, with some of our builder models having been sold in Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, they can be harder to find.  As of 11-16-2009, we have 31 homes available from builders that are 2008 or 2009 finished construction or 2009 incomplete construction.  That's actually 20% of our current housing market in Prosper, Texas.  But, they are spread out, and most builders are down to just one or two homes available, so they aren't as visible as last year at this time. In price order, here are some of the better values being offered in Prosper in new construction.  Builders will likely keep inventory levels low going into 2010, too, so be sure ask to include resale options in your housing tour.  We say 'McMansion' lovingly ... 11/16/2009

I always love this time of year because the weather is turning colder and the holidays are approaching! Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's always it gives us the opportunity to get together with friends and family, when throughout the year, we seem to busy to do so.  We started out this year with my parents coming down for the kids games on Halloween and them staying to help the kids carve pumpkins.Robert's dad and Karen came down, as they always do in November and we had a great time, as usual..I love the holidays because it reminds me of all the good times I had with my family when I was a kid, because of tradition and for all the great times and memories we have made and continue to make with my children.We start out decorating our home with fall leaves and flowers an... 11/13/2009

You know statistics and marketing - slant the figures to make your point.  It's really easy for people to report that the housing market is bad right now.  They'll believe it.  Media attention continues to pound home that we're in a recession.  But, when you drive around town in Prosper, Texas, you see the new slabs being poured and homes in framing stage and new businesses moving in.  That doesn't look like a recession, does it? If I run figures today, I can make the situation look really dire, as many agents haven't put in all of the home activity into our MLS yet.  The transaction files are sitting on someone's desk waiting to be input.  So, to show a more realistic and accurate picture, we have to back up a couple of months.  Let's pick September.  September, 2008 was dramatically d... 11/11/2009

Prosper Homes, Condos & Townhomes: (75078) Get Free online access to Hundreds of Prosper Foreclosures, Bank Owned & REO Townhomes and Single Family Homes. Prosper was made famous recently by the Deion Sanders show which showcased Deion Sanders 14,000 Sq. Ft Mansion on 120 acres in central Prosper, Texas. Not to mention that Dallas Cowboys owner & local billionaire thinks this is one of the hottest spots in Dallas and has invested Millions in land developments in Plano. Put that together with the fact that now Prosper is easily accessible by the Dallas North Tollway and 75 what is there not to love! Also cannot forget that there is 100% Financing (No Money Down) Loans Still Available in Prosper Go to Prosper Homes for Sale copy and paste http://bit.ly/2YUiJp Search All Homes for Sale Co... 11/09/2009

Rising land prices foretells of strong housing market in PROSPER TEXAS. Overall housing outlook looks good in the long term as the DFW area continues to see steady population growth with a significant portion of that growth looking for detached single family homes. Low cost of living continues to bring relocations to the area.I have to laugh when, on the one hand, I see all of the doom and gloom about the collapse of the housing market and on the other hand, look at the boom and boom of cost of Collin County land. If land is selling at higher and higher prices that foretells a strong housing market next year. This housing is not part of a housing bubble in danger of collapse. Collin County has seen very moderate value growth in comparison to east and west coast housing markets where str... 11/09/2009

Builders think they’ve found sweet spot   RAISING ROOFS: Luxury home builders have found success in a sagging housing market by building in the upscale Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas and the city of Prosper.   In a North Texas housing market where starts are off a third from last year’s pace, mortgage lenders are cutting staff, Realtors are competing aggressively for a contracting number of sales and the number of foreclosures is the only thing on the rise, the first sign of hope — be it however modest — has emerged. Houses in the $250,000 to $300,000 price range actually saw sales increase by 0.7% in the second quarter from 2,412 to 2,450, according to research by the housing consultant Residential Strategies. While that number is far off the North Texas housing market’s glory d... 11/09/2009

“Where everyone matters.” MOST ACCOUNTS agree that Prosper began in 1846 as a beacon for settlers drawn to North Texas’ black prairie soil - rich, fertile land that nurtured a thriving cotton crop. By 1850, two settlements had been established here a mere three miles apart. Called Rock Hill and Richland, they coexisted until 1902 when the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad came through the area and forced them to merge. A new name was adopted for the hybrid community - one that spoke of the prosperous living conditions and the prosperous crops harvested that year. And so it was that the town of Prosper was born. In 1914, with 500 residents living here, Prosper was incorporated with a commission form of government. It served for decades as a market center for area farmers and their abu... 11/05/2009

MOST PEOPLE long for a residential setting far removed from the town and their frenzied work environment. They want to go home to a place where they can kick back, relax, enjoy the fresh air and take in the sounds of nature, not the din of traffic rumbling in the distance. That place is Prosper. While the town is quickly evolving from its rural roots, its small town sensibility has not been lost. It pervades every neighborhood - from the historic residential areas that have existed for decades to the fabulous new developments boasting homes in excess of $1 million. Shopping, dining, entertainment and business centers are within easy reach, giving you the best of both worlds- life in a quiet country setting with all the conveniences and excitement of the big city. Quick accessibility to ... 11/05/2009

PROSPER TEXAS JUST 5 MINUTES north of the bustling Dallas North Tollway cities of Frisco and Plano lies the Town of Prosper, Texas. Its peaceful setting beckons families to move north to experience its wide open spaces, small town charm, city convenience and close knit community. Bursting with pride for its first rate education and state championship sports teams, Prosper offers a quality of life most families in North Texas don’t even know exists. From picturesque ranches to beautiful master-planned communities with amenities like golf courses, hike and bike trails, fishing ponds and swimming pools, riding trails and equestrian centers, Prosper has something for everyone. Uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Preston Road and US Highway 380, the Town of Prosper lies ready for you to... 11/05/2009

Gentle Creek Golf Club In Prosper Texas Gentle Creek Golf Club The ninth hole at Gentle Creek in Prosper was voted one of the best par threes in the state by Texas Golf voters. Description Prosper sits near the Denton-Collin county line, directly in the path of the northward extension of the Dallas North Tollway. As commuters begin using the new portion of the Tollway between U.S. Highway 380 and State Highway 121, they are bringing a wave of construction projects to the small town of about 7,000. Shopping centers, office complexes and new home developments are planned for the once-sleepy town. Population is expected to reach 80,000 at build-out. The Prosper school district now has three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. History According to the city's Web site... 11/05/2009

Big new high school in Prosper builds small-town pride Coleman Street heads north out of tiny Prosper past porches and hayfields until it passes a column-studded brick edifice that seems to span the horizon. Welcome to the modern American high school, Texas style. Prosper High School is a $113.5 million, 590,000-square-foot behemoth, complete with a medical tech lab, a restaurant-worthy kitchen, a greenhouse, a broadcast studio and, of course, an indoor football practice facility. All this in a still-sleepy town of just 7,000 people. The school opened last week at half its capacity, but district officials say it will soon fill up as families push north from crowded suburbs like Frisco and McKinney. So like some of the area's new schools, it's a symbol of growth's march, but also a comm... 11/05/2009