Joy Donovan

Joy Donovan is a contributing writer for CandysDirt.com covering the Midcities and Fort Worth.

No Need for Half a Million for This Custom Benbrook House

By Joy Donovan / August 15, 2025 /

In a market where a cookie-cutter house often comes with a premium price tag, here’s a house that’s a little like a cold front in August. It’s unbelievable, welcomed, and exciting. The home at 9008 Reata West Dr. in Benbrook is a rare find. It’s a custom garden home, loaded with extras. Priced at $475,000,…

1910 Beaux-Arts Beauty: Fort Worth’s Historic Bob R. Simpson Building Hits the Market

By Joy Donovan / August 12, 2025 /

A Fort Worth building, with a long history in downtown’s central business district, is officially on the market, adding a new chapter to its 115-year history. The Bob R. Simpson Building, located at 110 W. 7th St., is the largest historic registered building in downtown Fort Worth. JLL, a global real estate and investment management…

Christmas in August? Fort Worth House Reminds Us of Snow, Cozy Fireplaces, and Holiday Tunes

By Joy Donovan / August 8, 2025 /

 Just in case you’re hot, hum this little tune in your head. Oh, the weather outside is frightfulBut the fire is so delightfulAnd since we’ve no place to goLet it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! “Let it Snow!”By Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne Someday, not soon enough for some of us, it will…

Gushers and Grit: ‘Landman’ Strikes Black Gold Again in Fort Worth

By Joy Donovan / August 5, 2025 /

I’m from Oklahoma. Tulsa, to be exact, which was once the “Oil Capital of the World. So I ‘ve known a landman or two in my life. You can recognize those in the old bidness by their swagger and their ostrich-skin boots. They’re slick talkin’ with a parlance mixin’ talk of mineral rights, title documents,…

This $500K Home Sits in One of Fort Worth’s Hottest ZIP Codes

By Joy Donovan / August 1, 2025 /

The ZIP code 76177 is a pretty strong magnet these days. Highly rated schools, easy access to major thoroughfares, and a reasonable price tag bring home buyers to the booming 76177 ZIP code. It’s an area attracting home buyers, thanks to its mix of affordable new builds, top schools, and proximity to major employers. It’s…