Is it better to rent right now? According to the Government it is! For the first time in memory according to Market Watch online, the Obama Administration is telling folks it is better to rent than buy right now! You can read the article here. It says with more than 5 million homes going into foreclosure over the next two years that there will be no shortage of renters.  If you think about it, with all of those foreclosures predicted the owners who walk away are  our  future renters.  Owners of the rental homes have to be flexible and look at these folks as potential customers. They have to look at the whole picture and consider a homeowner who lost their home to foreclosure. I have found most of these renters to be excellent tenants who have good jobs and payment history on their mor... 02/10/2012

What happened in Wylie TX – January 2012   Happy New Year to everyone!  Here’s a recap of what the real estate market in Wylie TX was doing in January 2012. Homes priced $0 - $200k – 24 homes sold and closed in January 2012.  Of these 24 homes sold; only 7 of them were priced over $150,000.  The average timeframe to sell was 104 days.  This means that homes in the lower price points are MOVING! Homes priced $201k - $300k -  16 homes sold and closed in January 2012.  The average sales price was $235,000 and the average timeframe to sell was 133 days. As buyers begin looking at homes to purchase, they currently have a good selection to choose from!  Buyers are also still getting loans locked in with 4% or less interest for 30-yr fixed.  There are 132 homes for sale under $200,000 in the W... 02/09/2012

Wylie Texas Lease Homes Market Report for January 2012   Leased for $775.00 Twenty one homes have leased in Wylie, Texas since the first of 2012.  Lease prices ranged from $775.00 to $1650.00. The average leased home was $1368.00. The oldest home was built in 1970 and the newest leased home was built in 2007. Square footage ranged from 1316 to 3039.  This is a great start for owners who are leasing their 3.2.2 homes ! Our office gets calls for leases daily! The main price range callers are asking for is $1300.00 per month or less.  In my opinion, if you have a newer home built in the 2000's and keep the rent under $1400.00 you are going to have a very good investment and keep tenants. Wylie has so many subdivisions that are within walking distance to 8 grades. This is a big plus for wor... 01/31/2012

RE/MAX By The LakesRussell Parker Mobile Phone: (214) 477-5609Business Fax: (214) 231-2811Website or Mobile:http://www.russellp1.remaxtexas.com/DFW11709653 Scan this with your Smartphone ...links to a Listing Website. 611 S State Highway 78 Wylie, TX 75098 MLS#: 11709653 Price: $1,800 Space includes reception area and reception office at entry, private offce and open floor space. Space also contains small kitchen area and has washer and dryer hook ups. Internet, phone, and TV access through Verizon Fios. 01/23/2012

There are currently 2212 Real Estate Owned or Foreclosures on the Multiple Listing Service for North Texas. 1163 of the homes are under $100,000.00 46 are above $500,000.00 There are 356 Homes between 2500 square feet and 3500 square feet 277 homes have swimming pools Any size and price you are looking for is probably available!    This home is only $7,920.00 Real Estate Owned or Foreclosures homes are sold AS-IS usually and they do not come with a sellers disclosure. You can have an inspection for $350.00 to make sure there are no structural or mechanical problems.    This home is foreclosing for only $2,200,000.00. It is 7400 sq feet built in 2006.   According to Realty Trac,in Texas, a nonjudicial state, foreclosures took an average of 90 days to complete and close. The national aver... 01/23/2012

RE/MAX By The LakesTracy Lee Parker Direct: (972) 365-7198Mobile Phone: (972) 365-7198Business Fax: (972) 534-1117Website or Mobile:http://www.tracyleeparker.remaxtexas.com/DFW11703681 Scan this with your Smartphone ...links to a Listing Website. Well maintained ONE Owner Four Bedroom Home! Features: Solar Screens, Surround Sound Wiring,Newer Carpet,New Hot Water Heater, Glacier Flame Fireplace,Natural Gas Grill Hookup,Moen Taps,Ceiling Fans all Rooms,Storage Shed & Full Sprinkler System. Split Master has His & Her WIC's, Jetted Tub,Separate Shower & Separate Vanities. Kitchen has ample Cabinets,Computer Desk Area,Pull OUT Spice Racks, White Appl's & Breakfast Bar. Must See this one! 809 Appalachian DriveWylie, TX 75098 Price: $179,900 MLS#: 11703681 Address 809 Appalachian Drive Wylie... 01/19/2012

809 Appalachian Drive Wylie, TX 75098-7302 One Owner with Four Bedrooms Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Tracy Lee Parker Broker Agent Office:972-442-1277 Mobile:972-365-7198 Website:Visit Website Price : $179,900 Bedrooms : 4 Bathrooms : 2 Square Foot : 2,438 Lot Size : 7,270 County : Collin Property Type : Detached Year Built : 2003 MLS Number : 11703681 click for more information and pictures Property Description Well maintained ONE Owner Four Bedroom Home! Features: Solar Screens, Surround Sound Wiring,Newer Carpet,New Hot Water Heater, Glacier Flame Fireplace,Natural Gas Grill Hookup,Moen Taps,Ceiling Fans all Rooms,Storage Shed Full Sprinkler System. Split Master has His Her WIC's, Jetted Tub,Separate Shower & Separate Vanities. Kitchen ha... 01/18/2012

WHAT IS A BARDOMINIUM?    A Barndominium is basically a metal building with inside living quarters. To design your Barndominium to fit your  lifestyle, you have the option to incorporate a shop, carport, and porches to create a multipurpose structure.   The appeal of Barndominiums is affordability, low maintenance, energy efficiency, multipurpose structure, with strong and durable construction. The reasons people choose barndominiums are as varied as the ways they decide to use the space.  Many barndominiums are second homes or weekend homes, and for some, it is a transition or interim home. Also alot of people are empty nesters who have had the big fancy homes in big fancy subdivisions. They are ready to downsize so they chose a "Barndo" as they are called for short! Some people buy l... 01/17/2012

605 Country Club Road Wylie, TX 75098 Affordable Acreage Near Wylie Municipal Complex Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Tracy Lee Parker Broker Agent Office:972-442-1277 Mobile:972-365-7198 Website:Visit Website Price : $950,000 Lot Size : 217,800 County : Collin Property Type : Detached MLS Number : 11626385 click for more information and pictures Property Description 5 acres suitable for Commercial use. 264' of Country Club (FM1378) frontage. Within walking distance to New Wylie Municipal Complex. Construction on Country Club widening to 6 lanes with sidewalks soon to be complete. Features List Movie Theatre By 6 Lanes Divided Growing Community Road Frontage Great Wylie Area City Offices Near Highschool Near Great Opportunity Wylie Pride Equal ... 01/04/2012

Homes for Lease in Wylie Texas 2011 Market Report Wylie is a great home for rentals. Over 310 homes leased in 2011 ranging from $550.00 to $2200.00. The average rental price is .73 a square foot. Our office gets a lot of lease calls mostly asking for $1200.00 or under. I have lease over 40 homes this year in and around Wylie. In my opinion, we are getting alot of folks from Garland and Plano wanting newer homes to live in. Wylie is full of choices. If you are looking for a great place to live, be near the lakes, shopping malls and in a great school district you may want to check Wylie out!  I have lived and worked in Wylie since 1994 and have seen and experienced it's growth. My kids grew up in a small town. The population is well over 35,000 now! We are even getting a shopping center. ... 12/31/2011

2011 Year End Market Report for Wylie Texas   What a year in Wylie Texas! This has been my best year yet in the real estate business. I love to sell in my town and the surrounding areas. I really love this area. There are currently 256 listings in the Wylie zip code of 75098. You can find a home for $65,000.00 to $6,530,000.00 !  Wow! Now that is something for everyone! However if you are average , like most folks, you may want to come look at our average home in Wylie , this price would be around $170,000.00. There were 370 homes sold in 2011 ranging from $10,000.00 to $725,000.00. Again, something for everyone. 24 of the homes had pools and 8 homes were sold on .5 acre or more. In my opinion, Wylie is all about the subdivision. We have many wonderful Home Owners Association subdivisio... 12/31/2011

Should I pay my taxes if we close in January 2012? I have a seller who is closing in January 2012. He called me last week and asked me if he should pay his taxes on his home since he is closing next month.  My response was , YES!  Please pay your taxes even though they will be held out at closing. Title companies are required to collect taxes for each closing.  If something were to happen and the taxes didn't get paid then you might get a late fee assessed. Or worse, what if the buyer opted out and you hadn't paid the taxes then you will get a late fee !    If your taxes are paid out of an escrow account, you can ask the title company to sign a form allowing them to hold the money out of the closing and keep the money at their office for taxes. This way if the tax office does get paymen... 12/29/2011

 Chiloso's is helping local students at WEHS go to SPAIN spring break by donating a portion of the proceeds from all sales between 5-9pm December 28th, 2011!   All you have to do is go to the restaurant , order food and put your receipt in a box!! You can find the location by clicking here.   My daughter is one of the kids going on the trip! So get out, eat some yummy mexican food and help some local students!   12/27/2011

 I had to share this information from a lender who sends me regular emails.  All I can say is WOW! I am not sure what I think about this yet or how it will effect our business .....MUST READ! There’s no hiding now.    Anyone who has recently applied for a mortgage knows that lenders are already looking much more closely at your financial affairs. But soon, they’ll be able to easily delve into the deepest recesses of your financial life, accessing information that never before appeared on your credit report. This week, a company called CoreLogic introduced a new type of credit file, which is based on the giant repository of consumer data it maintains on just about everything that most of the traditional credit bureaus do not: missed rental payments that have gone into collection, any evi... 12/27/2011

I wanted to take the time to wish all of  you a very Merry Christmas! I am working up to the last minute here! It has been a very good year for me! I appreciate all the people who read my blog and market reports. My goals for next year are many....including better market reports. Do you have any suggestions for me? What do you want to know in your area? What statistics interest you the most? Dollar per square foot sold prices or days on the market? I would love to have your feedback! From our family to yours I wish you a very Merry Christmas! Please remember the reason for the season and make Christ the center of  your celebration this year!   12/23/2011

Negotiating with Non Real Property Items During negotiations the topic of offering Non Real Property Items during a counter offer comes up quite often.  Non real property is anything that is not considered an attachment and normally does not convey with the property. Sellers and buyers will try to include household items and lawn equipment in the negotiations. A seller asked me today if he could maintain his sales price and offer the buyer a riding lawn mower, a weed eater and the refrigerator?  I really don't like to get involved in negotiating these type items during the counter offers unless I think the item does have some value.  For example a refrigerator and riding lawn mower will have value but not enough value when buyers and sellers are more than $5000.00 + apart in a final sal... 12/21/2011

Put your foot down...be a landlord during the holidays! I heard this on a national radio show this weekend and thought it was very appropriate! Especially this time of year. As the holiday season rolls in, landlord's experience many more late pays due to tenants spending too much during the holidays.   I had one tenant tell me they can't pay rent until they get paid next week. In the next sentence he told me his wife bought Christmas Lights for the house and wanted to know if they could string them up?!  Every year we hear the same stories at Christmas time. I would love to not charge you the late fees Mr. Tenant, but you have put me in a position that makes my Christmas season difficult, because I have an owner wanting to know where the rent is!!! I am sympathetic to a point, but I put... 12/12/2011

Well, we may have all thought that the Wylie ISD teachers were great.  We may have already been very impressed with what they have taught our students.  But now it's official!  The Texas Education Agency has confirmed that 100% of the teachers in the Wylie ISD have met the qualification to be named "Highly Qualified Teachers".  In order to receive this designation, teachers must have full state certification and a bachelor's degree or higher, and demonstrate competency in their subject or subjects, in case of Special Education teachers and others who teach in more than one area, according to the school district's Director of Human Resources Tara Shores.  The teachers must also have passed state assessment exams. According to the school district this is a significant goal that we have no... 12/07/2011

Grandson turned ten and spent the morning helping me with a fund raiser for the Wylie's Women League.     12/04/2011

Homes For Lease in Wylie Texas Market Report Wylie has homes for lease to fit every budget. 4518 Square Feet for $3,300.00 1398 Square Feet for $995.00 The average price to rent a home in Wylie is $1547.  There are currently 43 homes on the market FOR LEASE right now in Wylie, Texas.  If you want to spend $1300 there are approximately 13 homes to choose from!                                                                                                 Not only is Wylie close to I-90 and Hwy 75, Lake Lavon and Lake Ray Hubbard it has a sought after ISD! Visit Wylie Independant School District website here. If your child enjoys extra curricular activities Wylie has many choices to choose from! My kids went to all grades in Wylie and they love this small town! Even though Wylie has grown... 11/22/2011