Street Repairs in August - p.u.

Aah ... the smell of fresh tar on a hot summer day. Just returned from short, cool visit to New England to be greeted by the stench of hot tar. Repaving Dallas streets in August must be one of the worst jobs around. [where: 75230]

Cash for Clunkers - home version

Now here's a Cash for Clunker program I can get excited about!

Since the government is dolling out stimulus money and rebates like its cheese, why not take it into the kitchen?

The program is still in the planning stages, but you can bet I'll be taking their trade in offer and recommending it to my clients with older appliances that need updating.

The government has set aside about $300 million for rebates to buyers of energy-efficient appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, furnaces, freezers and central air conditioners. Manufacturers say that you should expect to see rebates up to $200. Combine that with a sale from the local store, and it really sweetens the deal on an energy efficient appliance.

[where: 75230]

Recycle / Reuse / Donate - this Saturday

Do you ever start to clean out the closets and/or garage but don't quite know what to toss, what to donate or what to resell? Well, this Saturday is the day for you!

The Super Recycling Summer Roundup is this Saturday, August 29th from 10 until 4. One of the drop off sites is the Dallas International School on Churchill Way. Organizations like:

• City of Dallas Recycling Collection Center
• Salvation Army
• Goodwill
• Habitat for Humanity
• Interstate Batteries
• and electronics companies Toshiba, Samsung, Panasonic, etc.

will be on hand to accept items for recycling, reclaiming, reusing and reselling.

They'll take the stuff you don't want or need any more like clothing, books, tires, batteries, furniture, toys, tvs, printers, appliances, etc. They can also take left overs from your remodeling projects like doors, hardware, sinks, tools, etc.

One man's junk is another man's treasure.

[where: 75230]

Dashboard Cookies

Does the summer sun make your car as hot as an oven? Make the Texas heat work for you by letting cookies bake in your hot car during the day. Added bonus - your car will smell like cookies!

Ingredients:

One roll of refrigerator chocolate chip cookie dough

Car ( with a black dashboard is best)

Park the car in the sun and place a cookie sheet on the dashboard. Have a potholder handy. Slice up the cookie dough and place them on the cookie sheet. A sheet of wax paper or parchment paper makes removing them easier.

Let the cookies bake for several hours in your car. The sugar in the cookies does not caramelize and brown like oven-baked cookies. But they still taste and smell wonderful!

My car is like a second home to me. Now it can smell like one.

[where: 75230]

Real Estate Predictions

Last week's Predictions:

Continued weak economy will prolong the housing crisis and push mortgage rates lower

This week's Predictions:

Strengthening economy will boost the housing market and push mortgage rates higher

New week's Predictions:

Uncertain economy will lead to an uncertain autumn housing market

One thing is sure:

No one is sure what you should believe and when should you believe it.

[where: 75230]

Staging Tip unique to Dallas

I'm a big fan of staging a house to sell - because it works. When people buy a home, they aren't just buying shelter. People buy a lifestyle. Property staging shows people the lifestyle they can live in that home.

One of my favorite staging props is a fake plasma TV on the wall. With the start of football season, this one is perfect. Makes you imagine a relaxing Sunday afternoon with your feet up and the game on. And in Dallas, we love our TVs and our football.

One word of warning. Don't stick this over a fireplace or anywhere that it would be difficult or impossible to add cable wiring. That would be deceiving and the new owners would be very upset to discover they can't put their real TV there. This fall, skip the potted plant for this pretty prop.

[where: 75230]

Signs of a Bull Market in North Dallas

If housing inquiries, showings and offers are any indication - the bulls are running (or at least taking a stroll) in Preston Hollow. After a quiet June and July, August looks to be picking up.

In the past week, it seems like properties under $1 million have become even hotter. The phones are ringing, showings are on the rise and investors who have been sitting on the fence are making offers. I recently put 4 properties into escrow.

The combination of large home inventory, attractive prices and a rise in buyer confidence = a small uptick in the real estate market. A late rise in sales is certainly better than none.

[where: 75230]

signs of a long, hot summer

Normally the advertising signs that pop up in our area are quickly torn down. Seems like these advertisements (from Get Motivated Boot Camp) lasted a little longer than most.

Could they be aimed at tired moms with teens at home that sleep past noon?

Good timing for this kind of advertising.

Just hang in there parents, only a couple more weeks before school starts.

[where: 75230]

North Dallas donations accepted here

With all the government bailouts, its easy to feel like more than half your income is a donation to someone else.

This photo (taken at Preston & Forest Lane) just confirms it for me.

[where: 75230]

Less Than Expected

Now that the experts are agreeing that the real estate market has bottomed out, the new game is to predict when and how quickly it will rise.

Today, we've got lots of good news

- all less than expected.

Less than expected jobs lost in July

(247,000 lost ~ 320,000 predicted)

Less than expected unemployment rate

(unemployment went from 9.5% to 9.4% ~ 9.6% was predicted)

Bond yields surges, hitting a 2-month high

(more than expected)

Mortgage Rates are up a little

... but LESS THAN EXPECTED!

[where: 75230]

Own a Texas town

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas ... or pretty near.

The town of Albert, Texas is just down the road from Luckenbach and you can buy the whole 13 acre place for just $595,000.

Albert dates back to 1892 and is west of Austin. Some folks call it a ghost town, but based on the number of motorcycles at the local dance hall, I'd say there is some life still in it.

Located in the Texas Hill Country, the property features an ice house/bar, pavilion and a 3 bedroom house.

With an creek, fresh water supply, a small orchard and a big ole oak tree, I'd say ... (cue Waylon Jennings) ... ain't nobody feelin no pain.