It wasn't MY child

My son at UT promises me that he had nothing to do with the hacking of electronic traffic signs in Austin this week.

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The mom in me says 'Shame on you pranksters'.

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But you have to admit, its kind of funny.

A $500 reward is offered for the capture of the hackers. But somehow I don't think anyone is going to rat on the culprits.

I'm sure they were just trying to keep Austin weird.

What Home Buyers want in 2009

Here is my take on what's in and what's out in Dallas real estate for 2009.

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What's In

• Colors: Parchment white, cashmere yellow, radiant golds

• Property tax appeals

• Architectural garage doors

• Energy efficiency

• Refurbished appliances from the 1940s to 1960s in bright new colors

• Pre-wired or wireless high tech everything - lights, electronics, water features.

What's Out

• Track lighting & brass fixtures.

• Fixer-upper homes. Homes in move-in condition are selling well.

• Dated kitchens and bathrooms. Buyers don't want to take on projects.

• Cheap carpet. In Dallas, all carpet is out. Put down a hard surface instead.

• For Sale By Owner properties. They are not serious and they are not good buys.

• Foreclosure & Short Sales. Because they often aren't the bargains they should be.

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"To achieve great things,

two things are needed;

a plan,

and not quite enough time.”

Composer Leonard Bernstein

.. because, without a deadline, nothing gets done.

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January Swimsuit Sale

Call me crazy, but this Target ad seems a little strange for this time of year. Whats even funnier, is that in the heat of July, they usually stop selling swim suits to make room for Christmas decorations.

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Before you forward that email ...

If you're ever wondering why people like me don't return emails that say something like "Forward this important message ..." or "See how many hearts you can get back", or "Forward this to 10 people in the next 5 minutes and your wish will come true",

Here is why:

1) Any time you see an e-mail that says forward this on to '10' of your friends, or sign this petition, or help find a missing child, or whatever, it almost always has an e-mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and e-mails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' e-mails to use in SPAM e-mails, or sell to other spammers.

2) Almost all e-mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of e-mail is, is a way to get names and 'cookie ' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers - - to validate active e-mail accounts for their own profitable purposes.

E-mail petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress or any other organization. Valid petitions must have a signed signature and full address of each person signing. You can do your friends, family and yourself a GREAT favor and stop forwarding these types of e-mails. STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listings regardless how inviting they might sound! You may think you are supporting a good cause, but you are NOT. Instead, you will be getting loads of junk mail helping spammers get rich.

If you get a funny story or something that you just HAVE to pass on to your e-mail list, then at least copy and paste the story into a new e-mail and don't just forward it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/inboxer.asp

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Real Estate doesn't come with coupons

The local real estate market is picking up - but in a different way. Bargain hunters are realizing what great opportunities are out there right now. But not every seller is desperate to offer them a sweet deal.

Lately, I've seen my share of potential buyers who think that a pre-qualification letter is a 20% off discount coupon. And a cash offer should entitle them to a hefty discount as well. That isn't the case in North Dallas.

In today's market, many sellers expect to see a pre-qualification letter from a lender attached to an offer for purchase. I strongly urge any potential buyer to get such a letter from their lender before looking at properties. If you're in the enviable position to pay with cash, then you'll need a 'proof of funds' letter to include with your offer.

The best deals on homes are going to buyers who are prepared to move quickly (with cash or a loan already lined up) and those willing to wait out the lengthy process of a short sale or difficult transaction.

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Trash Collection Changes

Changes are coming to our trash collection service.

The city's new OneDay program has trash pick up one day a week for both regular trash and recycling. Now, you only need to haul the trash can out once a week and it should help our city's environment and budget. Trash trucks will be on the streets fewer days a week and now my recycling bid won't be overflowing twice a month.

Lots of folks will likely be taken by surprise when these changes begin. I just got a postcard from the Dallas Sanitation Services Department to let me know about our neighborhood meeting to discuss these changes in our trash service. Only the meeting was on January 19th at the Preston Royal Library and the post card was postmarked January 20th.

No problem because I'm happy to see the changes and don't need a government sponsored meeting to tell me how to haul my trash can to the curb less often.

Note: The new collection schedule starts February 1st.

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Great Quotes on Inauguration Eve

From Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States:

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"If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace."

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"Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, and we have trusted only to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk; we must act big."

The Cabinet Room in the West Wing of the White House 2004

"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country."

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Dealing with government red tape

If you've ever dealt with zone issues, you'll appreciate this cartoon. It makes light of a prediciment that is anything but funny.

Good thing I'm a pro and know how to zip through zoning, subdivisions regulations, covenants, deed restrictions, easements, historic districts, urban renewal districts, overlay zones, variances, building codes, non-conformities, PUDs, floodplain restrictions, water rights, mineral rights, master plans, plat maps, annexation agreements, etc.

Or not.

Plow through - yes.

Zip through - never.

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Preston Royal Changes

The first steps began yesterday in preparation for remodeling and expansion at the Preston Royal Tom Thumb. My favorite grocery is about to get a major face lift. If the recent remodel at the Preston Forest location is any indication, then this old girl is about to get all swanky on us. Don't be surprised to see the appearance of an organic isle or sushi department.

I'm told they are expanding into the space next door that used to be a lingerie shop (that is now located on the other side of Preston). They are also expanding outwards into the covered porch/walkway at the front of the store. Lets hope this procedure isn't too long and painful.

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Dallas December Home Sales Stats

Statistics are in for December 2008. Again, the number of sales are down across the board, however the average sales prices are slightly up from last year.

December 2008 Year-To-Date Statistics

(not to be confused with End-Of-Year Stats which aren't released yet)

North Dallas (south of LBJ, between Midway & Central):

Number of Sales: 510 (down 28% from this time 2007)

Average Sales Price: $983,753 (up 5% from 2007)

Park Cities:

Number of Sales: 658 (down 16% from this time 2007)

Average Sales Price: $1,221,166 (unchanged from 2007)

Northeast Dallas (east of Central, south of LBJ):

Number of Sales: 572 (down 20% from 2007)

Average Sales Price: $252,695 (up 2% from 2007)

Northwest Dallas (west of Midway):

Number of Sales: 474 (down 32% from 2007)

Average Sales Price: $238,913 (up 5% from 2007)

Far North Dallas (LBJ to Plano from Central to Marsh):

Number of Sales: 938 (down 26% from 2007)

Average Sales Price: $346,029 (up 2% from 2007)

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Stage the Outside to get them Inside

Its the dead of winter and things are kind of brown outside. But that doesn't mean you can't spruce of the house and add some pizazz to get buyers in your door.

Nothing is worse (for a seller) than when I drive up to your home with a client and they don’t even want to go inside, because the front of the home is “unappealing.” I may know that the inside of the house is so much better, but they don't even want to waste their time to go inside. In today’s buyers market, why should they?

Here are some easy, inexpensive January fixes to help create curb appeal and get you one big step closer to a sale.

• Paint or stain the front and garage doors. Buyers notice these from the street first.
• Update outside light fixtures. Dark fixtures are best & the glass should sparkle.
• Hang a flag. A flag waving in the breeze adds life to a home.
• Fix the driveway. Clean it, patch it, stain it, do whatever it needs to make it appealing.
• Clean up the landscaping. Look at your home with fresh eyes and make sure the landscaping looks neat and well groomed. Most Dallas buyers prefer a manicured look. What you think looks 'natural', may look sloppy and unsightly to a buyer. Winter rye grass seed for the lawn and mulch in the flower beds goes a long way. Trim the trees and bushes.
• Clean the windows inside & out! It will instantly make the house feel updated and fresh.
• Move garbage/recycle containers into the garage. We don't want to see them from the street.
• Invite them in - visually. Put down a fresh doormat. Place a nice chair on the porch, a blooming plant on the steps, a birdbath near the entry. Buyers will be lingering here while their agent unlocks the door. Your front entry should be as welcoming as grandma with a plate of warm cookies.

Just like you decorate for the holidays - decorate for selling. Keep in mind that most homebuyers are not looking for a 'fixer upper'. You want to appeal to as many buyers as possible, so make it 'appealing' to get them in the door.

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How 'Bout Them Mortgage Rates?

Can you beleive it? Today's mortgage interest rate of 4.875% for a 30-year fixed loan with NO POINTS! This is for conforming loans under $417,000.

I have never, ever in my life seen rates this low! This is fantastic!

Refinance - buy a house - do something to take advantage of this opportunity. Just don't call me months from now trying to find someone to give you this incredible rate.

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2008 - The Year of the Foreclosure?

More like the year of the foreclosure scare. It looks like the 2008 national foreclosure rate ended up just under 3 percent. Texas will end up with numbers even lower. In the Great Depression the foreclosure rate was just over 40 percent.

For all the 2008 headlines about foreclosures, it's amazing so many of us remained solvent.

I'll remember 2008 as

The Year the Foreclosure Bully

gave Real Estate a Black Eye

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Pay Your Taxes - Earn Airline Miles

Did you know you can now pay your Dallas property taxes online with your credit card?

Why not earn airline miles, cash back or other bonuses offered by your credit card company?

Currently there is no additional cost to use this free service. You must pay online or in person at the downtown office. It only takes a minute to do it online. Simply go to http://www.dallascounty.org/ and click on the "pay property taxes" button on the right side of the page. Then just follow the directions. This can only be done with residential properties, not commercial properties.

Take advantage of this opportunity while you can. There is bound to be an additional cost tacked on at some point. But since this is the government, who knows? At least for now, it helps take some of the pain out of our property tax bills.

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Happy 2009

and remember ...

Everyone can't be a star

but everyone can twinkle!

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