(From http://www.arthousekeller.com/AboutUs/tabid/352/Default.aspx)
Check this out!
Cool living. Cool area. This describes Arthouse, a premium mixed-use development. This exceptional project will bring together a variety of vital neighborhood retail tenants and urban-inspired loft dwellers to the vibrant and growing city of Keller in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
Combining the spirit of urban living with the suburban high quality of life, Arthouse will bring:
-177 Apartment homes
-Over 37,000 square feet of storefront retail
-Up to 12 "flex" or incubator retail spaces
-16 artists' enclaves
Arthouse is a mixed-use lifestyle housing retail, residential and commercial spaces unified in one development where each component artfully coexists with the other. The buildings’ architecture will complement the existing Keller Town Center, but will bring an artistic flair with walls of glass and mixed mediums not typically found in this area. Arthouse will also boast interiors with visual interest and architectural elements that will support and enhance the lifestyles of the diverse individuals choosing to live and work here.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
FLip That House TLC Network
Texas Sold Team Realty, LLC has great news for our clients!!
We are going to be featured in the TV show "Flip That House" in the TLC Network. If you have ever watched this show you know what I am talking about....it is the greatest show about flipping properties.
Here a few tips of a flip:
Today's buyers are really savvy! In order to be a successful "flip" the floor plan should have a nice open flow and the kitchen and baths must be totally updated to meet the buyer's demand. The house's exterior should reflect the updates on the interior with nice landscaping and great curb appeal.Curb appeal is everything!!! Lots of plants with lots of colors.
Do you want to flip a property? I am just an email or call away.....do not wait to get into this "flip" business! Now is the time!
Joana Sweney 817-501-7309
joanasweney@gmail.com
We are going to be featured in the TV show "Flip That House" in the TLC Network. If you have ever watched this show you know what I am talking about....it is the greatest show about flipping properties.
Here a few tips of a flip:
Today's buyers are really savvy! In order to be a successful "flip" the floor plan should have a nice open flow and the kitchen and baths must be totally updated to meet the buyer's demand. The house's exterior should reflect the updates on the interior with nice landscaping and great curb appeal.Curb appeal is everything!!! Lots of plants with lots of colors.
Do you want to flip a property? I am just an email or call away.....do not wait to get into this "flip" business! Now is the time!
Joana Sweney 817-501-7309
joanasweney@gmail.com
WOW!!! Interest Rates Down Again!!! Fed Surprises with Deepest Cut since 1984
NOW THAT IT IS A BUYERS MARKET AND A INTEREST DROP LIKE THIS IT SHOULD BE A FEEDING FRENZY FOR THE BUYERS.
RATES BELOW 6%* OR THERE ABOUT DEPENDING ON YOUR CREDIT, TERMS ETC
SEE YOUR PERSONAL LOAN OFFICER OR CALL LISA WARREN WITH PREMIER NATIONAL LENDING AT 817-578-1329 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
BUYERS CAN REALLY GET A GREAT DEAL ON A HOME AND A WONDERFUL LOAN. WE EXPECT THE COST OF HOUSING IN OUR LOCAL MARKET ON AVERAGE TO GO UP AND WITH THAT INTEREST RATES TO GO UP ALSO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
NOW IS THE BEST TIME AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED TO BY A HOME. SELLERS HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS MOTIVATED EITHER SINCE 1984 IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY A HOME OR SELL A HOME FOR THAT MATTER MORE BUYERS WILL BE LOOKING THAN BEFORE ALSO SO THAT MEANS LESS TIME ON THE MARKET.
Fed Surprises with Deepest Cut since 1984The Federal Reserve surprised everyone Tuesday with an emergency intersession rate cut of .75%, the deepest cut in the Fed Funds Rate since 1984.
The Fed Governors are acting in direct response to recent reports that the country is on the brink of recession. If you have credit cards, auto loans, HELOCs, or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, the Fed's decision to cut this key interest rate is great news.
For long-term mortgage rates however, this could signal the beginning of the end for the lowest 30-year home loan rate borrowers have experienced since 2005.
Let's look at the impact of a few recent Fed Funds Rate cuts and the corresponding impact to home loan rates to see what this could mean for you:
Period Fed Funds Rate Cut Impact to Home Loan RatesJanuary to June 2001 Down 2.25% Rose 0.10%October to December 2001 Down 0.75% Rose 0.45%May to August 2003 Down 0.25% Rose 0.78%Rates are predicted to be cut again when the Federal Reserve meets at the end of this month.
Many believe Tuesday's action was taken because of a dramatic downturn in the stock market, where the Dow dropped 464 points, the worst single day drop since September 11, 2001.
Since the Fed's announcement, the Dow has recovered much of those losses but volatility is likely to remain a consistent theme throughout the week.
If you are waiting for long-term mortgage rates to fall further from here, don't count on it. Your best chance to lock in the lowest mortgage rates since 2005 is now. Getting your application in process will allow you to capture a rate near all time lows and, with many experts predicting home values could continue to decline, waiting could kill your chance to capture a great rate if your home doesn't appraise.
This is an unprecedented market and things are moving fast.
Be pro-active, give me a call to get you in new home, this is the time!!Do not wait until it is too late!!
Joana Sweney 817-501-7309 joanasweney@gmail.com
© Copyright 2008. All About News, Inc.
Just a little note from Texas Sold Team Realty, LLC - Keller Real Estate Market:
Active listings, the average days on the market is 103 days, for properties 2500 sqft and $106 per sqft.
Sold properties, the average days on market was 88 days, average of 2400 sqft and $107 per sqft.
RATES BELOW 6%* OR THERE ABOUT DEPENDING ON YOUR CREDIT, TERMS ETC
SEE YOUR PERSONAL LOAN OFFICER OR CALL LISA WARREN WITH PREMIER NATIONAL LENDING AT 817-578-1329 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
BUYERS CAN REALLY GET A GREAT DEAL ON A HOME AND A WONDERFUL LOAN. WE EXPECT THE COST OF HOUSING IN OUR LOCAL MARKET ON AVERAGE TO GO UP AND WITH THAT INTEREST RATES TO GO UP ALSO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
NOW IS THE BEST TIME AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED TO BY A HOME. SELLERS HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS MOTIVATED EITHER SINCE 1984 IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY A HOME OR SELL A HOME FOR THAT MATTER MORE BUYERS WILL BE LOOKING THAN BEFORE ALSO SO THAT MEANS LESS TIME ON THE MARKET.
Fed Surprises with Deepest Cut since 1984The Federal Reserve surprised everyone Tuesday with an emergency intersession rate cut of .75%, the deepest cut in the Fed Funds Rate since 1984.
The Fed Governors are acting in direct response to recent reports that the country is on the brink of recession. If you have credit cards, auto loans, HELOCs, or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, the Fed's decision to cut this key interest rate is great news.
For long-term mortgage rates however, this could signal the beginning of the end for the lowest 30-year home loan rate borrowers have experienced since 2005.
Let's look at the impact of a few recent Fed Funds Rate cuts and the corresponding impact to home loan rates to see what this could mean for you:
Period Fed Funds Rate Cut Impact to Home Loan RatesJanuary to June 2001 Down 2.25% Rose 0.10%October to December 2001 Down 0.75% Rose 0.45%May to August 2003 Down 0.25% Rose 0.78%Rates are predicted to be cut again when the Federal Reserve meets at the end of this month.
Many believe Tuesday's action was taken because of a dramatic downturn in the stock market, where the Dow dropped 464 points, the worst single day drop since September 11, 2001.
Since the Fed's announcement, the Dow has recovered much of those losses but volatility is likely to remain a consistent theme throughout the week.
If you are waiting for long-term mortgage rates to fall further from here, don't count on it. Your best chance to lock in the lowest mortgage rates since 2005 is now. Getting your application in process will allow you to capture a rate near all time lows and, with many experts predicting home values could continue to decline, waiting could kill your chance to capture a great rate if your home doesn't appraise.
This is an unprecedented market and things are moving fast.
Be pro-active, give me a call to get you in new home, this is the time!!Do not wait until it is too late!!
Joana Sweney 817-501-7309 joanasweney@gmail.com
© Copyright 2008. All About News, Inc.
Just a little note from Texas Sold Team Realty, LLC - Keller Real Estate Market:
Active listings, the average days on the market is 103 days, for properties 2500 sqft and $106 per sqft.
Sold properties, the average days on market was 88 days, average of 2400 sqft and $107 per sqft.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Cost vs Value
This article was published on: 12/01/20062006
Cost vs. Value
Making Home Improvements Pay
What’s the return for remodeling?
Remodeling magazine’s annual report compares construction costs with resale values for 25 common remodeling projects in 60 U.S. markets.Prices for most remodeling projects continue to climb, while the recoup value of improvements at resale is declining to levels last seen in 2002. These are the findings of Remodeling magazine’s 19th annual Cost vs. Value Report — the eighth prepared in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine. None of this should come as much of a surprise to you: This year’s recoup values confirm the housing slowdown many parts of the country are experiencing. With both home-sale and remodeling activity at record levels in the last five to six years, some cooling is inevitable. Indications are that the current downturn represents a return to “normal” levels. A number of improvements designed to make the report more reliable and useful has also affected both cost and value data. For starters, Remodeling took a fresh look at the specs for the 25 projects it studies each year. (REALTOR® Magazine, in the past, has limited the number of projects it included in its coverage.) The cost-to-construct figures (which include labor, material, subcontractors, and gross profit) are higher than in previous years, but also more accurate. (Read full project descriptions at www.remodelingmagazine.com.) The estimates of resale value are also more accurate than ever before (see “Survey confidence is high,” below), thanks to the more than 2,000 members of the NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF REALTORS® who completed Remodeling’s e-mail survey this past summer. In addition, the report introduces nine regional averages, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This breakdown provides higher confidence levels than could be achieved with the four larger U.S. regions measured in previous years. What the numbers meanWhen comparing cost estimates for actual projects, remember that averaging tends to have a leveling effect on “Job Cost” data. And, seemingly small differences in size, scope, or quality of finishes can dramatically affect the final project cost. Remember, too, that, even in neighborhoods in the same city, local conditions can affect both the cost and value of a remodeling project, making our numbers appear too high or too low. In an actual real estate transaction, the “cost recouped” for a given remodeling project depends on a variety of factors. These include the condition of the rest of the house, the value of similar homes nearby, and the rate at which property values are changing in the surrounding area. A home’s urban, suburban, or rural setting also affects its value, as does the availability and cost of new and existing homes in the immediate vicinity. Bring value to clients and customers by marrying information from the report with your home pricing expertise and your knowledge of qualified remodelers in your area.View the PDF version of the full report published in REALTOR® MagazineAbout the reportResearch team Specpan, an Indianapolis-based company, programmed and hosted the Web-based survey, collected and compiled the data, and provided pre- and post-survey consulting. More than 100,000 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® members — salespeople, brokers, and appraisers—received e-mail links to the survey. Of those, 2,188 provided value estimates. Hometech Information Systems, the Bethesda, Md.–based estimating software developer, provided cost-to-construct estimates for each of the 60 cities surveyed. Survey confidence is high The statistical accuracy or confidence level of the national averages is 95 percent (+/– 2 percent), which means that 95 percent of the time, national results for this survey will fall within 2 percent to either side of the results published here.No cause for alarmShould you be concerned about lower recoup values in this year’s Cost vs. Value Report?The unusually strong housing market over the past few years has boosted both remodeling and new-construction activity. For many home owners, the appreciation in house prices significantly added to their net worth. Similarly, home improvement projects often paid for themselves through a comparable increase in the home’s value. But every good thing must come to an end. Eventually, things return to normal. Luckily, today’s “normal” is great news for home owners and real estate practitioners: When you consider its value at resale, a home improvement project costs only 20 cents to 25 cents on the dollar. The other 75 cents to 80 cents spent on a project goes directly back into the home through increased value — not to mention increased owner enjoyment. — By Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.Replacement projects lead returnsOf the top 10 projects nationally measured by cost recouped at resale, seven — including the top three — are replacement projects. An upscale fiber cement siding replacement returned 88 percent of the investment. Midrange vinyl siding replacement was second at 87.2 percent, and midrange wood window replacement edged out minor kitchen remodeling for third at 85.2 percent. Only roofing replacement finished outside the top 10 projects, at 73.9 percent for a midrange job, and 72.9 percent for an upscale one.Energy efficiency in the face of high fuel prices could be a logical reason why replacement projects are high-value performers. But Charlie Gindele, president of Dial One Window Replacement Specialists, in Santa Ana, Calif., calls that a rationalization. “The thing that motivates people, by and large, is the aesthetics,” he says.Amy Mills Siler, a salesperson at Joan Ryder and Associates Real Estate Inc., in Bel Air, Md., agrees that most home buyers are looking for a house with curb appeal. “If they drive up to a house with dingy aluminum siding and old windows, the buyers automatically get a bad taste in their mouth,” she says. “The old saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ falls on deaf ears with most clients.”Gindele, who works in Orange County, Calif., where median housing prices in the second quarter of 2006 topped $726,000, says the return on investment is just an added bonus to home owners, who undertake remodeling projects for a variety of benefits. Among other things, “they do it because they want the ease of operation, the beauty, the sound-deadening component,” he says. “But it’s nice to recover your expense.”View the PDF version of the full report published in REALTOR® Magazine
Cost vs. Value
Making Home Improvements Pay
What’s the return for remodeling?
Remodeling magazine’s annual report compares construction costs with resale values for 25 common remodeling projects in 60 U.S. markets.Prices for most remodeling projects continue to climb, while the recoup value of improvements at resale is declining to levels last seen in 2002. These are the findings of Remodeling magazine’s 19th annual Cost vs. Value Report — the eighth prepared in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine. None of this should come as much of a surprise to you: This year’s recoup values confirm the housing slowdown many parts of the country are experiencing. With both home-sale and remodeling activity at record levels in the last five to six years, some cooling is inevitable. Indications are that the current downturn represents a return to “normal” levels. A number of improvements designed to make the report more reliable and useful has also affected both cost and value data. For starters, Remodeling took a fresh look at the specs for the 25 projects it studies each year. (REALTOR® Magazine, in the past, has limited the number of projects it included in its coverage.) The cost-to-construct figures (which include labor, material, subcontractors, and gross profit) are higher than in previous years, but also more accurate. (Read full project descriptions at www.remodelingmagazine.com.) The estimates of resale value are also more accurate than ever before (see “Survey confidence is high,” below), thanks to the more than 2,000 members of the NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF REALTORS® who completed Remodeling’s e-mail survey this past summer. In addition, the report introduces nine regional averages, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This breakdown provides higher confidence levels than could be achieved with the four larger U.S. regions measured in previous years. What the numbers meanWhen comparing cost estimates for actual projects, remember that averaging tends to have a leveling effect on “Job Cost” data. And, seemingly small differences in size, scope, or quality of finishes can dramatically affect the final project cost. Remember, too, that, even in neighborhoods in the same city, local conditions can affect both the cost and value of a remodeling project, making our numbers appear too high or too low. In an actual real estate transaction, the “cost recouped” for a given remodeling project depends on a variety of factors. These include the condition of the rest of the house, the value of similar homes nearby, and the rate at which property values are changing in the surrounding area. A home’s urban, suburban, or rural setting also affects its value, as does the availability and cost of new and existing homes in the immediate vicinity. Bring value to clients and customers by marrying information from the report with your home pricing expertise and your knowledge of qualified remodelers in your area.View the PDF version of the full report published in REALTOR® MagazineAbout the reportResearch team Specpan, an Indianapolis-based company, programmed and hosted the Web-based survey, collected and compiled the data, and provided pre- and post-survey consulting. More than 100,000 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® members — salespeople, brokers, and appraisers—received e-mail links to the survey. Of those, 2,188 provided value estimates. Hometech Information Systems, the Bethesda, Md.–based estimating software developer, provided cost-to-construct estimates for each of the 60 cities surveyed. Survey confidence is high The statistical accuracy or confidence level of the national averages is 95 percent (+/– 2 percent), which means that 95 percent of the time, national results for this survey will fall within 2 percent to either side of the results published here.No cause for alarmShould you be concerned about lower recoup values in this year’s Cost vs. Value Report?The unusually strong housing market over the past few years has boosted both remodeling and new-construction activity. For many home owners, the appreciation in house prices significantly added to their net worth. Similarly, home improvement projects often paid for themselves through a comparable increase in the home’s value. But every good thing must come to an end. Eventually, things return to normal. Luckily, today’s “normal” is great news for home owners and real estate practitioners: When you consider its value at resale, a home improvement project costs only 20 cents to 25 cents on the dollar. The other 75 cents to 80 cents spent on a project goes directly back into the home through increased value — not to mention increased owner enjoyment. — By Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.Replacement projects lead returnsOf the top 10 projects nationally measured by cost recouped at resale, seven — including the top three — are replacement projects. An upscale fiber cement siding replacement returned 88 percent of the investment. Midrange vinyl siding replacement was second at 87.2 percent, and midrange wood window replacement edged out minor kitchen remodeling for third at 85.2 percent. Only roofing replacement finished outside the top 10 projects, at 73.9 percent for a midrange job, and 72.9 percent for an upscale one.Energy efficiency in the face of high fuel prices could be a logical reason why replacement projects are high-value performers. But Charlie Gindele, president of Dial One Window Replacement Specialists, in Santa Ana, Calif., calls that a rationalization. “The thing that motivates people, by and large, is the aesthetics,” he says.Amy Mills Siler, a salesperson at Joan Ryder and Associates Real Estate Inc., in Bel Air, Md., agrees that most home buyers are looking for a house with curb appeal. “If they drive up to a house with dingy aluminum siding and old windows, the buyers automatically get a bad taste in their mouth,” she says. “The old saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ falls on deaf ears with most clients.”Gindele, who works in Orange County, Calif., where median housing prices in the second quarter of 2006 topped $726,000, says the return on investment is just an added bonus to home owners, who undertake remodeling projects for a variety of benefits. Among other things, “they do it because they want the ease of operation, the beauty, the sound-deadening component,” he says. “But it’s nice to recover your expense.”View the PDF version of the full report published in REALTOR® Magazine
Mortgage Rates Dropping !
Daily Real Estate News January 11, 2008Mortgage Rates Continue to Drop
This WeekFreddie Mac reports a drop in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from 6.07 percent to 5.87 percent during the week ended Jan. 10, in response to a recent government report revealing a boost in the unemployment rate to 5 percent in December from 4.7 percent in November. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.43 percent from 5.68 percent over the same period. Meanwhile, the five-year adjustable mortgage rate sank to 5.63 percent from 5.78 percent; and the one-year ARM dropped to 5.37 percent from 5.47 percent. Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft notes that the more than quarter-point decline in mortgage rates in recent weeks has bolstered refinancing requests. Source: San Jose Mercury News (Calif.), Martin Crutsinger (01/11/08)© Copyright 2008 Information Inc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
