Dallas Real Estate News

Economic Recovery? Thanks to Strong Jobs Report, 30- and 15-Year Mortgage Rates Are Up Says Zillow

By Joanna England / July 9, 2013 /

Economists were pleasantly surprised last week after a glowing jobs report that has lead to surging 30- and 15-year fixed mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed rate is up from 4.17 percent to 4.41 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate is up to 3.41 percent from 3.38. That’s the word from Zillow’s Mortgage Marketplace, at least:…

While Some Tips Are Worth Your Time, Better to Hire a Stager Instead of Following NAR’s Staging Field Guide

By Karen Eubank / July 9, 2013 /

The National Association of Realtors’ Field Guide To Preparing & Staging a House for Sale hit our inbox last week. It’s a compilation of staging tips and information gathered over the course of the past two years. There’s some great information and some ridiculous information. So let me break it down for you. Probably the…

Second Homes Create Legacy: The Fourth Generation at Drake's Island

By Candy Evans / July 9, 2013 /

I am talking about how vacation homes give you and your family legacy and a place to gather and enjoy each other away from the hustle and bustle. Like, this is the first time I’ve blogged today! And I’m getting a little teary-eyed… discover the whole story over on SecondShelters.com

Leasing and New Home Starts Surge in Second Quarter, But Will Optimism Flag Before New Homes and Units Reach The Market?

By Joanna England / July 8, 2013 /

I am very cautiously optimistic about our market, y’all. I want to be just ridiculously, pie-in-the-sky buoyant about North Texas resilience that has us leading multi-family construction as well as seeing gains in new home starts.

According to Dallas Morning News reporter Steve Brown, North Texas is building multi-family developments faster than any other state in the nation, raising rents an average of 3 percent, as well as hitting an annual leasing record in June.

Would You Buy a House With a Four-Car Garage? Coldwell Banker Poll Shows Most Home Buyers Prefer Three or Two Covered Spaces

By Joanna England / July 8, 2013 /

When my inlaws built their custom home, they chose a three-car garage so that they could park both of their cars indoors and have an extra area for my father-in-law’s wood shop. His new HOA didn’t allow sheds and out-buildings, so if he wanted to have a place for power tools a la Tim Taylor,…