Gone Dishing: News, Trends, Market Prices, and More with Candy Evans and Blake Stephenson
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When it comes to dishing – we’re talking juicy scoops and insider drama – no one does it better than our founder and publisher, Candy Evans. With her razor-sharp wit, unmatched network, and a nose for the stories that everyone’s dying to hear, Candy has earned her reputation as the ultimate authority in the game.
Case in point: last week’s North Dallas Chamber of Commerce Dish Session, hosted by stone purveyors extraordinaire Texas Counter Fitters. Candy’s co-host – fellow disher Blake Stephenson, Market President of Modern Luxury – captivated the crowd with on-point insights, blending insider expertise with a healthy dose of humor.
The theme for the evening: Celebrating Extravagance. “We’re going to talk about real estate, we’re going to talk about trends, we’re going to talk about design,” said Blake. “So, let’s just dive right in, starting with the news and what everyone is talking about right now.”
First up: the fires out west.
“It’s only a matter of time before the Californians will be headed our way,” said Candy.
She cited one Realtor’s prediction that rents could rise to anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 a month. “He’s already had three calls from people from the Palisades saying they’re looking for rentals fully furnished because they have nothing.” Price, it appears, is no object.
Same goes for dirt in Highland Park. Candy dished another staggering number. “I just heard that a lot in Highland Park sold for $13 million.”
The bottom line: Dallas is no longer a really affordable market. “I’ve talked to builders who told me they are no longer building specs in the Park Cities because they can’t afford the land.”
Candy and Blake also dished on:
Interest Rates
Because we probably won’t see a cut until third quarter, expect an increase in renovations. “When you’re sitting with a 2.5% interest rate, you’re not going to let go of that puppy. You’re going to stay put and renovate,” said Candy.
In Blake’s case, it’s adding a garage apartment. “That’s going to be for my 17-year-old when she comes back from college.”
Design Trends
Maximalism is still going strong, according to Blake. Also trending: gold, quality craftsmanship, natural woods, LED lighting, and this year’s color of the year, Mocha Mousse.
What’s not in: dated-looking countertops.
“If you walk into a house and you see orange or brown granite, you know that that house has not been touched in probably 25 years,” said Candy.
Vacation Homes
While rising interest rates may have cooled second-home sales, the market remains resilient, with buyers continuing to invest in coveted, prime properties – though, as Candy notes, “You want to be able to get there in about two hours.”
Hot Neighborhoods
“The bullseye of the city has moved north,” said Candy.
Areas to watch: Sherman, Westlake, and Fields Frisco. About the latter, she dished: “I was told on my tour that they wanted to put so many trees up there that it was getting costly – so they bought a nursery.”
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