Shelby Skrhak

Shelby Skrhak is executive editor of CandysDirt.com and producer of the Dallas Dirt podcast. She loves covering estate sales and murder homes, not necessarily related. As a lifelong Dallas native, she's been an Eagle, Charger, Wildcat, and a Comet.

Texas’ First Waldorf Astoria Set for 2027 Opening in Fredericksburg

By Shelby Skrhak / July 31, 2025 /

Waldorf Astoria is betting big on Fredericksburg. The luxury hotelier’s next move brings Texas its first branded residences — and elevates wine country living in the process. The 106-acre Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country will include 60 hotel rooms and suites, five restaurants, a full-service spa, and branded residences starting at $2.9 million. Construction is…

Centurion American Bringing 1,200 New Homes to Preston Harbor Development on Lake Texoma

By Shelby Skrhak / July 30, 2025 /

Two of North Texas’ best-known developers announced yesterday plans for 1,300 new homes at Preston Harbor, an expansive master-planned development on Lake Texoma, where entertainment resorts and new housing communities are shining a spotlight on the Texas Oklahoma border. Mehrdad Moayedi’s Centurion American Development Group will partner with David Craig’s Craig International, the master developer…

McKinney Approves $325M JW Marriott Resort at Craig Ranch

By Shelby Skrhak / July 28, 2025 /

McKinney is stepping into the luxury hospitality game with a planned JW Marriott resort and residences set to anchor the Craig Ranch master-planned community on the Collin County city’s northeast side. This 18‑story high‑rise will sit on approximately 8 acres at the corner of Collin McKinney Pkwy. and Van Tuyl Pkwy. The new JW Marriott…

It’s Official: Collin County and MetroTex Realtors Approve Merger to Form North Texas’ Largest Association

By Shelby Skrhak / July 24, 2025 /

It’s official: two of the largest Realtor associations in North Texas have voted to merge, creating a unified organization representing nearly 40,000 real estate professionals. Members of the Collin County Area Realtors (CCAR) and the MetroTex Association of Realtors approved the proposed consolidation that’s been in the works since early this year. The merger now…

Best Home Renovation ROI? Study Says It’s Not the Kitchen or Bath

By Shelby Skrhak / July 17, 2025 /

When it comes to renovations that actually pay off in Texas, curb appeal is king. A new study by Oakridge Remodels ranked the most profitable home improvements across the state, and topping the list wasn’t a full kitchen redo or spa bathroom — it was a stone veneer addition. The study was based on the…