Dallas real estate news
06/18/19 2:30pm

Alex Prins Takes Pride in Industry With Gay Real Estate Professional Network

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Representation and advocacy matters, says Coldwell Banker Realtor Alex Prins.

A few months ago, Alex Prins of Coldwell Banker Lakewood attended Global Luxury training at JW Marriott in Austin. As three of the top trainers stepped on stage, each shared pictures of their families, husbands, and children. It was a tremendous moment for Prins because each of the presenters was gay.

Fifteen years ago, Alex Prins remembers coming out to his parents with the words, “I understand I won’t legally be able to marry and likely won’t have children.”  And now, look at his reality. Gay marriage is legal, acceptance is headed in the right direction, and we’ve definitely come a long way. BUT, we’re not there yet and we still have a little way to go.

According to a study from Iowa State University, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) borrowers are more likely to be denied mortgage loans. And those that do get approved pay higher interest rates and fees. As of 2019, only 22 states plus D.C. prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

But when legislation falls short, advocacy steps up. This time in the form of NAGLREP – National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals.

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Tuesday Two Hundred
06/18/19 9:55am

Feeling Blue? Aqua Drive Cottage Will Turn Frowns Upside Down

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A lot of Dallasites, especially the areas hardest hit by the freak storm last Sunday, have been a bit down in the mouth. The loss of so many majestic trees and the damage to so many homes and neighborhoods is a lot to bear. Need some cheering up? This adorable cottage in East Dallas should do the trick.

Located inside one of East Dallas’ most popular neighborhoods, Old Lake Highlands, this cutie packs quite the punch despite its modest size.

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Title Business
06/18/19 9:30am

Title Tip: How Would You Like Your Money?

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By Lydia Blair
Special Contributor

When selling a property, everyone wants to collect a big check. Well, maybe not an actual paper check, but lots of money. If you’re getting funds from the sale of your house, there are a couple of ways to collect your money from the title company when it closes. Just a couple.

Would you like a check or a wire? Those are your basic choices. Title companies can also transfer the funds to another transaction if you are purchasing another property. But we’re not going to pay you in real paper cash, foreign currency, with PayPal, Venmo, Bitcoin or anything else.

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Historic Preservation
06/18/19 9:15am

Writer Paula Bosse Wins Preservation Dallas Award

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Writer Paula Bosse and her social media brainchild, Flashback: Dallas, are 2019 recipients of the Preservation Education Award, which was presented by Preservation Dallas at its 20th Annual Preservation Achievement Awards.

No one is more deserving of this recognition. As a lifelong Dallas resident and history junkie, Bosse brilliantly developed her own eclectic brand for sharing local lore by launching her Flashback: Dallas blog in 2014. Consequently, she is continually raising awareness of regional history.

“Last time I checked the numbers, I had over 10,000 followers across various social media platforms and had surpassed 1 million page views of the blog,” Bosse said. “Those might not be earthshaking numbers in terms of internet-reach, but it’s pretty amazing to me. Who would have thought that many people would be interested in what is, let’s face it, a fairly esoteric topic?”

Presentation is everything. Despite Bosse’s well-researched and cited work, there is nothing esoteric about her writings. Between her conversational writing style, storytelling talent, and often quirky humor, Bosse has the innate ability to make history informative-yet-entertaining to a vast reading audience.

Bosse paints history with a broad brush. In the past five years, she has published about 1,000 online articles covering a wide scope of historical topics – ranging from buildings, businesses, and events to people, houses, and neighborhoods.

“Really, if it’s somehow related to Dallas and it happened before the 1970s, [which is] my arbitrary cut-off time period, it’s something I might write about,” Bosse said.

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Tarrant County Tuesday
06/18/19 9:00am

Enjoy The Pops of Color in This Cowtown Contemporary

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I have always wanted to explore 5224 El Campo, and I finally did! (photos: Trey Freeze Media)

Are there certain houses throughout your city that you’ve always had your eyes on, and have yearned to explore?

For me, there are many like that.  Some homes are just massive castle-like dwellings that I can only imagine how over-the-top they must be.  Others are in intriguing locations.  Some just look unique from the outside and I’ve always wanted to check them out.

5224 El Campo is unlike any other home in Fort Worth, and that’s why you need to see it

I Want To See Inside That Home

5224 El Campo in Fort Worth has always been one of those homes for me. Built in 2002 by local builder Village Homes, it has a look and style that were ahead of its time — that’s probably what first drew me to the home many years ago.

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Northwest Dallas
06/17/19 2:30pm

Webb Chapel Developer Offers Three Benjamins For Ballot, But is it Illegal?

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Did a developer offer to buy votes of approval for his proposed residential project in North Dallas?

On Sunday, I received a note from Doug Bedell, a resident who seems to be leading the opposition to the proposed Northaven Trail Village project that would see 35 homes constructed on a 4.4-acre parcel zoned for 19 homes. The development was part of former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller’s anti-development campaign rhetoric and one of three precincts she bested council member Jennifer Gates. (Background here, here)

Bedell forwarded me an email from another resident, Amy Wallace titled, “Northaven Trail Village buying votes.” The brief email, dated June 12th, stated, “I was approached Sunday by Mr. Gleeson, who wants to build the homes where the school is. He was trying to collect my blue form for the city. I didn’t give it to him. Today he called me and offered me $300 if he could pick it up and deliver it downtown. He’s trying to buy us off!” (Emphasis theirs)

For reference, “Gleeson” is David Gleeson who’s working with David Weekley Homes on this project.

There was no evidence supplied that this offer was made to more than Ms. Wallace and Gleeson responded that, “I made such an offer to one person — out of frustration and exasperation at trying to get that person to take the time to fill out the form. I have hand delivered letters/presentation to 49 homeowners who have not turned in their forms; placed MANY phone calls and follow-up calls; knocked on doors; follow-up emails.  MOST of the 119 residents in the Notification Area designated by the City obviously do not care about this case.”

A second response clarified, “no payments have, or will be made.”

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Monday Morning Millionaire
06/17/19 9:55am

A Cool Custom Contemporary With Privacy and Location

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Custom Contemporary

If you’ve driven down Abbot Avenue, you’ve passed by this cool custom contemporary. You may not have noticed it, however, because it’s nestled discreetly behind a sleek white stucco wall in a gorgeous leafy setting.

Although the location is extremely private, you can pop out the backdoor to the Katy Trail, saunter over to Javier’s to have dinner, or walk down to Glencoe Park for a game of tennis. This cool custom contemporary offers what we all want — that perfect combination of location and privacy.

Custom Contemporary

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06/17/19 9:45am

Contemporary Doesn’t Have to Be Cold, Says Architect Enrique Montenegro

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When some people think of contemporary homes, they think of a stark white box with a white interior — perhaps like the Rachofsky Residence by Richard Meier in Preston Hollow – essentially an art-museum-house-hybrid.

Enrique Montenegro, a principal at SHM Architects, says contemporary is really anything that’s not traditional in architecture, but it’s not necessarily a “classic white box.”

“Contemporary doesn’t have to be cold,” he says.

CandysDirt.com sat down with Enrique Montenegro of Dallas-based SHM Architects to discuss how to design a contemporary home that feels warm and comfortable.

CandysDirt: Let’s start with the criticisms. What are the stereotypes people have of contemporary-style homes?

Enrique Montenegro: Everybody’s got a different idea of what contemporary means. Clean lines is a term that people use a lot when they’re referring to contemporary homes, where everything’s super straight, with minimal details, and very crisp.

But we’ve all been in these kinds of spaces where you feel like you can’t put your feet up. They are rooms full of furniture that make you feel like you’ve got to sit straight up. The way the space is furnished and how the walls are finished can make it feel very cold and too formal. (more…)

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