The Best Dallas Home Search Mobile App - easy, all-inclusive & free

Searching for Dallas homes for sale is now easier than ever.

Check out this app that provides information the natural way starting with a map, not a menu. It's free and perfect for buyers on the go.

There are 4 easy ways to search:

1. Journey Search: This feature shows available properties as you drive through a neighborhood. You can immediately view property details and photos.
2. Perimeter Search: This feature allows you to draw boundaries on the map view with a finger.
3. Scope Search: Aim the phone camera down a street and this innovative augmented-reality search displays available homes. Select any of the properties for details and pictures.
4. Address Search: Just type in the address for facts and photos of the home.

To download this app on your smartphone or tablet, just click here.

Or copy this link: http://www.ebby.com/go_mobile/116426?code=lydiaplayer

Follow the simple instructions to press and hold the number code.

Then click copy and click Download App (you may need to login to your iTunes).

Click on Open. Allow location access, so the map function will work.

This only works on a moble device (not a desktop or laptop computer). Available to iPhone and Android users, this real estate app provides a user-friendly way to instantly find homes for sale and open houses.
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Best Dallas Realtors - local expertise, global connections

Great Realtors are experts in marketing and negotiating. They're also knowledgeable, tenacious, detailed, experienced and driven.

But the BEST ones are those who are also well connected with other agents.

In Dallas, almost all residential real estate sales today involve both a seller's agent and a buyer's agent. This makes an agent's networking connections more important than ever. Membership in both a local networking group and national affiliate gives me a leg up on the competition when it comes to working for my clients.

My local network is the Dallas Pacesetters which consists of a select and powerful group of Dallas area agent who meet regularly to share information about listings, buyers, sellers and the ever-changing market conditions. It's a true marketing network made up of experienced and motivated professionals who understand that relationships make the difference in getting the word out about your real estate needs.

My national and global connections with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World allows me to promote properties to an enhanced pool of potential buyers. This 40 country network of more than 500 premier real estate brokers includes the very best real estate companies in different markets. Homes are directly marketed through these Leading RE Companies in several languages for maximum exposure.

Hire an agent with connections both Local and Global!
[where: 75230]

Favorite Easy Home Improvement Idea for 2015

Don't you love finding an easy and economical way to add appeal and function to your home?

One of my favorite new products this year is the SnapPower Guidelight. These outlet covers simply replace your existing ones and work as nightlights. Perfect for hallways, bathrooms and kitchens- it installs with a screwdriver (no wiring or batteries required). Anyone can do it.

It looks just like a standard electrical outlet but has a LED lighting that turns on in the dark and off in the light.
And it cost less than 10 ¢ per year to run.

They're offered online at their site: www.SnapPower.com. A 3 pack costs $45 and a 5 pack is $75. Check them out at www.SnapPower.com 
[where: 75230]

Buy a Home, Be Happy

Home ownership is linked to happiness and can lead to higher levels of well-being, according to a study from the OECD Better Life Index.

In the U.S., housing outperformed all other indicators like education, safety and environment in the survey results.

The enhanced sense of happiness that comes from home ownership may be more than just getting a new home. According to survey analysts, it is closely tied to the basic need for shelter. And home ownership can lead to status and independence – qualities that often are linked to contentment.

On the well-being index, housing was ranked as most important to happiness for quality of life over factors such as jobs, civic engagement, health and safety.

I love helping to make people happier! [where: 75230]

Interest Rates vs Home Prices

I can remember paying a double digit interest rate for my first home back in the 80s. What a difference in today's mortgage rates.

Someday we'll all look back at current mortgage rates and say "And to think I could have paid THAT interest rate".
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Renting vs Buying a House in Dallas

Just like home prices, rents have been rising in Dallas in 2015. Really rising. Even though we're building apartments as fast as we can, demand is simply outpacing supply. And finding a Dallas home (vs. an apartment or condo) to rent is a challenge.

Rental rates vary dramatically based on location. But the general consensus at the moment is that rental rates are climbing faster than home prices. Some folks are making the move from tenant to homeowner. While that is usually a good long-term financial decision, ensure you have the funds for down payment and can deal with upkeep and repairs. 

If you decide to dive into homeownership, contact me to help you with your purchase. 

[where: 75230]

Dallas Foreclosures - 2015

It's no surprise that foreclosures are down in Dallas given the strong demand for homes. Dallas area foreclosures are down 20% from this time a year ago. That's a huge drop given that DFW area foreclosures in 2014 were at the lowest level in more than a decade. Nationally, foreclosures are down 16%.

[where: 75230]

Dallas Real Estate Update May 2015

Home prices continue to rise and sales stay strong throughout Dallas and North Texas. Here is the latest look at the dollar volume of single family, existing home sales. This doesn't include condos, multifamily properties, lots or new construction.

Click on the chart for a closer look.

In April 2015 dollar volume of sales hit $2.175 billion, which is an all-time high for April. About half of this increase was caused by an increase in the number of transactions, while the other half was caused by an increase in the average sales price of homes that sold.

"Inventory remains at all-time lows, giving sellers significant leverage in extracting record sales prices," says Britt Fair, President of Hexter-Fair/First American Title Company. I agree and like Britt, anticipate this market lasting another year.
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Oh Hail! Beware Dallas Roofing Scams

It's spring storm season in Dallas and hail damaging your roof is always a possibility. But beware of scammers posing as legitimate roofers. After the storm passes, these gypsy roofers flock to our neighborhoods offering their services. You'll find loads of fliers and "contractors" knocking at your door to solicit business.

Here are few tips to avoid getting ripped off:

1. If they come to you - knocking on your door - don't use them. Trustworthy roofers are busy after a storm. They don’t have time to solicit business door to door. They’re too busy with work that was referred by satisfied customers. Often these so called "gypsy roofers" will show up at your door posing as a legitimate roofing company. They'll offer an estimate and ask you for a deposit. You'll never see them or your money again.

2. Get a local address and references. Hire an established roofer with roots in the community and a stake in maintaining a good reputation. If they aren't local, don't use them. 

3. Never, ever, ever pay a deposit immediately. Gypsy roofers want deposits up front and contracts signed now. I know it seems logical that a roofer needs a deposit to buy the materials to get started. But an honest roofer isn’t afraid to leave and give you time to think and make an educated choice. An established roofer doesn’t mind starting a job using company money and has funds to buy materials without your help. A roofer confident in his skill wants you to compare his quote and work to others. 

4. Don't let just anyone inspect your roof. Avoid unsolicited estimates and give the insurance adjuster a chance to be the first one to examine your roof for damage. Take photos before anyone examines it. A common scam by storm-chasing roofers is to deliberately cause more damage. When a disreputable contractors gets on the roof before the insurance adjuster, they may use a small objects to cause all kinds of damage. When the adjuster looks at it, the estimate of damage is inflated, allowing the roofer to earn more from the job than he might have otherwise.

5. Don't let a door to door solicitor inside your house. But also be aware that they could be working in teams with one keeping  you busy outside talking about your roof while the other sneaks in and robs you. 

Texas has one of the highest rates of fraud in the roofing repair industry. It is mostly due to a lack of state regulation over roofing contractors. They are not required to be licensed like plumbers and electricians and this allows gypsy, drive-by and storm-chaser roofers. They know full well that insurance adjusters are following close behind after a big storm.

Watch out for them and help warn our elderly neighbors since they tend to be easy targets for these scammers.
[where: 75230]

Advice to Mr / Ms Dallas Home Seller

When a someone wants to sell their home, they get lots of advice. Lots and lots of advice from friends, family, neighbors and real estate agents. I counsel my clients to help stage their home, make it easily available, price it right, enhance the curb appeal, etc.

One piece of advice that so many agents hesitate to say is - Please Don't Talk.

Don't chat with potential buyers or their agents. Be careful what you say to friends and neighbors as well. Why? Because you could inadvertently disclose information that could compromise your negotiating position. Any important details that should be relayed to the buyers needs to go through your agent.

What seems like a harmless question could actually be an attempt to start negotiating you down in price. My favorite is to ask why the sellers are moving. Job transfers, divorce, etc. indicate the sellers are moving because they must - and therefore may be open to bargaining. And if they've already bought their next house, they may be feeling desperate.

Some sellers think they're being helpful by answering questions about the property that could be answered through the seller's disclosure statement or an inspection report. Often they end up talking too much and end up saying something that:

1. Turns the buyer off. The casual remark about the corner of the back yard where the departed family pets were buried just ruined the vegetable garden idea the potential buyer had for that space. You didn't know they're avid gardeners and now they don't want the house.  
2. Implies you'll make repairs for them. When someone asks about a missing knob, floor scratch, etc. it's easy to say something like "we can fix that" or "that's easy to fix". But by conceding a potential issue and agreeing to fix it, you may be setting yourself up to make a lot more repairs or concessions. 
3. Cause you to like or not like these buyers. They've been through a personal crisis that you can relate to and it draws on your sympathies. Or maybe you have mutual friends? Or they're just such nice people. Would you sell at the same price that you would to someone who criticized your taste, treated you rudely or called your furnishings ugly? When the deal is done, their money is all the same color of green. 

There is absolutely no reason Mr or Ms Seller needs to speak with the buyers or their agent until the deal is done. Let the Realtor do their job and represent you.
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