Building Trends
08/13/18 9:55am

Self-Dimming Windows: Cooling Your House Without Killing the View

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Remember when this was how you controlled glare and solar gain?

The 1960s birthed the era of astronauts, free love, and me (no connection that I’m aware of). It was also the decade that saw the invention of self-darkening glass, first seen in sunglasses. Last month I wrote about glass capable of generating electricity. But since the US Department of Energy reports 30 percent of heating and cooling energy is lost through windows, I’m going to continue to explore.  This time I’ve looked into types of films that can cut electricity costs while making interiors cooler and possibly window treatment-free.

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Mortgage Report — Sponsored
08/13/18 9:51am

Mortgage Report: Inflation is Staying in Check, But What About Tariffs?

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In the 68th episode of the Mortgage Report, Bob Johnson (AKA BobMortgage) gives us some perspective on how inflation is measured and how it affects housing, especially considering the increasing cost of materials due to tariffs, which could result in costs for new homes and renovations being passed on to the consumer. It’s a tricky balance, and when we want to know the ins and outs of our mortgage market, there’s no better source than our most-trusted mortgage expert, BobMortgage, the senior mortgage adviser at the nation’s oldest private lender, Wallick & Volk.

So, should you lock or float? Is now a good time to buy? Find out today in the Mortgage Report:

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Monday Morning Millionaire
08/13/18 9:32am

We Are Hot on Heath And This Texas Transitional From Rick Shipley Custom Homes

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Texas transitional

What luxury community with the hottest new Texas transitional home, is within a half hour of downtown Dallas? You may think it’s Southlake, Lewisville, or Allen. Wrong. It’s Heath! A few luxury custom builders have known for a long time that just across Lake Ray Hubbard, Heath is hot and getting hotter. (more…)

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Splurge vs. Steal
08/13/18 8:45am

Splurge vs Steal: Two Sophisticated Houses in Northwest Dallas

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Close to many of the best private schools in the city, Northwest Dallas offers some seriously hot real estate. Many older houses are being flipped or torn down and the new variety makes for some real eye candy. 

In this week’s Splurge vs Steal, we’re headed to Northwest Dallas to look at two marvelous properties, each on larger lots. Which one is your favorite? 

 

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Second Shelters
08/12/18 9:55am

On SecondShelters.com: One Last Gasp of Summer — in Saint Simons Island

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Summer vacation is winding to a close, but when we found this beach cottage on Saint Simons Island, Georgia, we knew we could always start thinking about next summer.

We don’t often hear about the gorgeous properties located in Georgia’s East Coast, but for folks looking for a beach home without the crowds, Realtors in the know will frequently point them in that direction. (more…)

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Fort Worth Friday
08/10/18 2:40pm

Arch Adams Townhouse Offers Style and Choice Location

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If convenient, lock-and-leave living, a choice West Side location, and an affordable price top your list of must haves, you should definitely take a look at a new listing at 716 Arch Adams Lane. Location? Off 7th Street and within easy walking distance of the museums and 7th Street restaurants and clubs. The street is easy to miss, and that’s a good thing. Though near the heart of so much action, Arch Adams Lane is surprisingly quiet and tranquil. The street front entrance is the garage. The front door is accessed down a private path behind. The design recalls an urban loft conversion with industrial style windows and rusty iron canopies sheltering the entrance. Though the building looks freshly minted, the project was completed in 2004. That has given thoughtfully planned landscaping time to grow and fill in.

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Fair Park
08/10/18 11:12am

Cautious Optimism at Park Board’s Special Fair Park Meeting

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Last night the Parks and Recreation Board held a special meeting seeking public comment on the soon-to-be-voted-on management contract for Fair Park. You may think you’re experiencing déjà vu, and you may be, but from when?  There have been so many Fair Park plans tossed on the fire they make the current California blazes look small.

Most recently you probably recall Walt Humann’s Fair Park Texas Foundation plan (elbowed in by Mayor Rawlings) that made it right up to the precipice of passage before being scuttled in October 2016. (Full transparency: we at CandysDirt.com wondered early on why the Humann plan was being pushed so quickly, and why the city’s share of costs escalated over time rather than decreased.) The scuttling forced the city to initiate a real request for proposals (RFP). Three ultimately responded – Monte Anderson’s Fair Park Conservancy, Humann’s Fair Park Texas Foundation, and the winning Fair Park First (FPF). (Download a copy of the full August 2, 2018 briefing here)

Fair Park First consists of the nine-member FPF Board which is responsible for fundraising, subcontractor supervision, historic preservation and community engagement and outreach. Fair Park management, capital improvements (except those funded with bond money) and Minority and Woman Business Enterprise initiatives will be handled by Spectra. Rounding out the team is Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV) whose job it will be to update the Fair Park Comprehensive Plan and design and program the neighborhood park(s) within the whole of Fair Park.

What this plan delivers is experience. Both Spectra and BRV have done these jobs a multitude of times – and done them very successfully. BRV has transformed over 100 parks – including Klyde Warren. Spectra manages 319 properties – including the California Expo & State Fair. Their résumés speak volumes to what they can and would do for Fair Park. It’s a breadth of experience neither of the other two bidders could match. Fair Park and southern Dallas have been diddled too long to give a project of this scale to those reliant on learning-by-doing.

It’s part of the reason FPF scored 87.54 points out of 100 when judged by their financial plan, experience, project approach and Business Inclusion and Development. The other two bidders scored 65.16 and 78.34 points. (more…)

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08/10/18 10:18am

Auction Alert and Staff Party: Baseball All-Star Michael Young’s Fab French Estate

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Enjoy the ambiance of the stately, one-of-a-kind custom home of Texas Rangers Hall of Fame inductee and All-Star Michael Young for our next CandysDirt.com Staff Party.

Dramatic touches like a sweeping staircase, hand-scraped hardwood floors, and beamed ceilings create a warm and luxurious space with Old World appeal in 7,715 square feet at 3508 Bryn Mawr Dr. in University Park. 

Created by Emerson Residential in 2006, this house has five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, one half bath, a designer kitchen, expansive master suite, and lovely outdoor area with a covered patio and fireplace.

“This University Park neighborhood is just a short commute to downtown Dallas and in the attendance zone for Highland Park ISD, a major draw for many,” said Alicia Chmielewski, Elite Auctions Market Director, Southwest. “An open floorplan and luxe amenities make this home appealing for the discerning buyer.”

This property will be placed for auction on Saturday, Sept. 1 (more on that below). Join us for the CandysDirt.com Staff Party from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, with refreshments provided. You can RSVP to Joanna England: jo@candysdirt.com. In the meantime, let’s take a look.

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