Congratulations are in order for Boy Scout Roland Salatino who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Roland not only earned this honor but has also earned every merit badge offered by the scouts (including one that I taught him).
Appreciation is a wonderful thing;
it makes what is excellent in others
belong to us as well. - Voltaire
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on where housing is heading based primarily on job-growth prospects and housing inventories (leading indicators) in 28 major markets. Each market was rated either weak, moderate or strong.
Wow, that warm gusty wind has wreaked havoc all over the metroplex today. Power lines out, wild fires, debris blowing around, ...
The electricity was out at Hexter Fair Title Co., Ursuline Academy, my mom's place, and numerous traffic intersections. I just hope no trees blow over on homes that I have under contract.
What month is this?
Here is an example of how Big Brother peeps at YOUR home. I've used the former address of Pres. Bush and some neighbors but just type in your own home for a look.
But perhaps we can catch someone taking a dip somewhere else in the neighborhood? How about your children on the playground?
One of my talented clients, Cristina Eustace is competing in the 2008 Objetivo Fama contest (which is like the Spanish speaking version of American Idol) broadcast on TeleFutura. Tune into KSTR, channel 49, on Sundays to watch this gifted woman wow them.
Although I only speak basic Tarzan Spanish, I'll be cheering her on, along with her husband Scott and her Dallas friends & fans. She could go all the way! And we hope she does.
The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails.
- John Maxwell
Paige Phelps over at the Morning News reports the Color Association (the oldest color forecasting agent in the country) is projecting the home palette for 2009-2010.
There are two major themes: Rock Crystal and Vegetable Garden. They both reflect an environmental awareness theme.
Colors for Rock Crystal are "Strong sophisticated neutrals" like limestone, granite, grays with a luster. Colors for Vegetable Garden are "Very chromatic with lots of color".
I'd say, save the $650 they charge and use your natural imagination.
Only if you can accurately predict the future.
Since no one can predict the future, we have to rely on economic indicators and current trends in very localized markets. But here are a few indications of why you should buy a home in 2008.
Markets across the metroplex are generally soft right now - but not in every neighborhood. I'm not seeing big reductions in the Park Cities or Preston Hollow. But it may take all of 2008 for some Dallas areas to bounce back. Why? Foreclosures and other urgent sales by people who bought real estate during the appreciation curve are effecting the current value of many properties. Blame the sub-prime lenders, the economy, or whoever. The market will eventually absorb these properties as buyers snatch up great deals. There is lag effect as these reduced homes sell and become the 'comparables' for new sales, thus driving down overall values going forward. As demand & prices pick up, the market starts appreciating again.
The Federal Reserve cut interests rates yesterday by 75 basis points in response to growing fears that the U.S. economy is weakening.
Mortgage rates often dip when investors, fearing an economic slowdown, become more conservative and buy up Treasuries and bonds. This causes long-term rates -- and usually mortgage rates -- to fall.
So what does that mean to you? Will your mortgage rate go up or down? Is this a good time to refinance?
In a nutshell:
Borrowers with good credit can take advantage of better terms. People with adjustable-rate mortgages can also refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage. Tightened lending standards will make it difficult for those with less than good credit. If your current mortgage interest rate is 6.5% or higher you should consider refinancing.
Basically, if you refinanced a 30 year, $300,000 loan from 6.5% down to 5.25%, you will save roughly $240 a month on your mortgage payment.
Now is a good time to take action if you are shopping for a home. It's also a good time to refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage.
Thin Mints & Do-Si-Dos are calling your name. 
And according to my scout sources, they are all trans fat free. Get your orders in now for this once-a-year sale. Cookies are $3.50 a box or $42 a case. They are delivered in late February.
Two very responsible & worthy Girl Scouts who would be glad to take your orders are:
Callie Stone at castone6@yahoo.com
Marisa Salatino at ksalatino@yahoo.com
On a diet? You can still purchase cookies for the Troop to Troop program. They will be sent to our Troops overseas.
Didn't you see those dozen or so flakes of snow this afternoon?
It could build into a blizzard!
If you've read the real estate headlines in any publication lately, this is the tone. Most reports are based on broad national activities. The weather in Detroit has little to do with Dallas, just like real estate in Florida has little to do with Dallas. Real Estate Attorney David Fair makes a great analogy about how national vs localize real estate varies just like the weather.
So while we saw a few flakes (the snowy kind) at my house today, your area might have been sunny. Perhaps we should pause before stocking up on food and closing the schools.
And I'd venture a bet that the weather is easier to predict than real estate.
It seems like the local restaurants have been pretty empty lately. Everyone can't be on a post holiday diet. I like to do what I can to support our economy- thus taking the Player family to dine on a regular basis. Some of our favorite restaurants include: 
Okay, so this is how I imagine this conversation went:
Walmart Employee: 'Hello 'dis Walmars, how can I help jou?'
Customer: ' I would like to order a cake for a going away party.'
Walmart Employee: 'Wat jou want on the cake?'
Customer: 'Best Wishes Suzanne' and underneath that 'We will miss you'.
Help get polluting cars off our roads. All vehicles in Texas (included diesels) are prohibited from emitting visible exhaust emissions for more than 10 seconds. If you see a vehicle emitting pollution, here is all you need to do to help our environment:
The easiest way to report a smoking vehicle is to use the online form at www.smokingvehicle.net. You may also call #SMOKE (#76653) from most wireless phones (Sprint, AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile) free of airtime charges. Program this into you cell phone to easy reporting.
To report a smoking vehicle, you'll need the license tag, time, date, and road where you saw the vehicle.
The North Central Texas Regional Smoking Vehicle Program will send a letter to the vehicle owner stating their vehicle was reported anonymously for emitting excessive visible exhaust and advise them to take corrective action. The letter includes information about a program where vehicles may qualify for assistance with emissions-related repairs up to $600. The registered owner of the vehicle must respond with what type of action the owner took to rectify the problem.
Print this page and stick it in your glove compartment for the next time you spot a smoking vehicle. We all appreciate it.
When looking at real estate, forget the big picture. It is ALL local. Here is localized look at just a piece of the Dallas area. These statistics are for December 2007 year to date.
So when you're wondering about home sales in your neighborhood, please don't rely on the broad headlines that report the generic stats for the entire metroplex. Rely on a professional to give you the real picture of your own area.
Happy Birthday Cole!
Took a trip to Fossil Rim over the weekend for my son Cole's birthday. This place is fun no matter what your age. Had a great time with minimal skirmishes between the Great White Hunter (my husband) and the animal-rights, vegetarian teen daughter.
Tip: Don't drive your nice car. We met a few aggressive zebras and some-kind-of-horned-animals. The hungry herds can do a number on your shiny vehicle with their horns and hoofs. Thank goodness we were in the dinged-up Expedition (aptly named).
'Mean Mom' Sells Son's Car After Misdeed
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet." After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone - by placing an ad in the local newspaper. The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet." Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register. The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her. "The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision. "It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady.'" The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger. Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.
This is just too funny to pass up. The 'toilet training' tattoos are hilarious! I challenge you to come up with a name for the 'seasonal' tattoo which has lipstick kisses all over it!
Click to go to toilet-tattoos.com
And, no, I would not consider this a bathroom update or a way to showcase your decorating abilities.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TMRb_0eskzA My teenage son just called me into the next room to see this 'hilarious' ad on TV. Its for eperks.com and claims that they get 'top agents' to give sellers and buyers thousands of dollars in rebates. What's wrong with this advertisement - besides just being in bad taste?
I hoped to have 2007 stats today but the North Texas Real Estate Information Service has not release them yet. I'll post them as soon as they are available. I've already figured the stats for the Preston Hollow area bound by Walnut Hill, Preston, Royal and Hillcrest. They are available on my web page.
One of the the favorite secret heros of my neighborhood is local resident Patti Cody. Patti is the membership chairman for Preston Hollow North Homeowners Association (bordered by Preston & Hillcrest, Walnut Hill & Royal Lane).
Arguably one of the most successful HOAs in North Dallas, this association is completely volunteer run with 900+ members and dues of $300 a year. One of the best perks of membership is the 24 hour police patrol (7 days a week). The patrol consists of armed Dallas police officers in marked cars. Members get the cell phone number of the officer on duty. I've called these fantastic men in blue and their response time to my door is about a minute.
You can imagine what this kind of service & security does for for a neighborhood. I love to tell buyers about this fantastic perk.
Patti tirelessly signs up members every year. She has almost single handily responsible for more than doubling the membership of this HOA. No one moves into this neighborhood without hearing from Patti! Every homeowner and Realtor who sells a home in this neighborhood should thank Patti for helping our property values.
