Sometimes it seems like all the homes for sale in Frisco look the same. Built within weeks and months of one another and with homogenous exteriors, that’s an easy mistake to make. However, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a new build in Frisco by its facade. If you do, you’ll miss what makes this Newman Village Tudor our High Caliber Home of the Week sponsored by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans.
3141 Southestern
Susan Baldwin considers her job as a Realtor to be “a problem solver.” This year will mark her anniversary in real estate that eclipses Susan’s 15-year run as commercial real estate attorney and ll of that training and experience make her a dogged negotiator.
And if that wasn’t enough, her accounting background has made her a whiz with numbers.
Since 2002 when Susan Baldwin joined Briggs Freeman and partnered with Ginger Nobles, she’s added miracle worker to her portfolio.
We know what you’re thinking. This stately, clean lined, New American Classic home at 3824 Newman Blvd. looks like a Highland Park house — but it’s in Frisco. It’s not what you expect, is it? So what is happening in Frisco? A lot.
Nearly a decade after the housing crisis that sent the U.S. economy into freefall, housing is most certainly back—just look at our DFW market. Citing U.S. Census Bureau data, the New York Times recently reported that sales of new single-family homes nationwide were higher this past July than in nearly 10 years.
Nationwide, a company that tracks the health of U.S. real estate, reported at the end of quarter two that “the overall U.S. housing market is sustainable,” adding that “few regional housing markets are vulnerable to a housing downturn.”
In a new study, financial services site WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across 16 key metrics to help prospective home buyers find the most attractive real-estate markets. Their data set ranges from “median home-price appreciation” to “housing affordability” to “job growth.”
North Texas cities scored big: Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Allen, and Plano made their top-ten list of best real estate markets nationwide in 2016. Denton, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Irving, Grand Prairie, and Dallas scored in the top 50.
So what made DFW cities score so high?
“North Texas cities have healthy and sustainable real estate markets,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Very few homes have negative equity, home appreciation in the past seven years has continued to increase, and foreclosure rates are extremely low. In addition to having a healthy real estate market, these cities are affordable with low maintenance costs and cost of living. Not to mention, the economic environment in North Texas is thriving, boasting some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country (under 3 percent across the board).”
Bella Custom Homes has seven amazing and rare lots in Frisco for built-to-suits. This is a custom home available in Frisco.
Frisco real estate is some of the hottest in the nation, with the big influx of new residents who are looking to live close to their work along the $5-billion mile and nearby.
But this huge influx of new residents to the Frisco area means it’s harder to find available lots for true custom homes.
“There’s a shortage of lots—it’s very difficult to get your hands on lots because there’s such a high demand and most of the production builders have locked up future sites,” said Tony Visconti, President of Bella Custom Homes. “There are all these jobs coming to this area, like with Toyota and Liberty Mutual, and these people are looking to build, but there are very few custom neighborhoods.”
Bella Custom Homes, in business since 1993, currently has seven available Frisco lots in two amazing subdivisions, the Hills of Kingwood and Starwood. Both are gated communities with guards at the entrance, and luxe, family-friendly amenities.
“These seven lots offer buyers a chance to own coveted land in Frisco and these are two of the best communities in the city—most of these lots have incredible topography and gorgeous views and this is a rare opportunity,” Visconti said. “We also work very well with Realtors and unlike many custom builders, we pay their commission at the time we pour the foundation. They don’t have to wait 18 or 24 months.”
From left, Ebby Halliday, her brother and Executive Vice President Paul Hanson, Ebby’s first sales associate Mary Lou Muether, and Mary Frances Burleson, who today is President and CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies, celebrate the opening of the Plano office in 1972.
With thousands of people moving to Collin County for jobs with Toyota, Liberty Mutual, and many others, it’s not a big surprise that North Texas residential real estate firms are now flocking to the area.
It’s easy to forget that one firm, Ebby Halliday Realtors, has served Collin County since 1971. That’s when Ebby herself opened a one-room office in the growing town of Plano. There was a great deal of home construction going on in the area and Ebby’s office — a builder’s shack with a porta potty — was a favorite gathering spot for homebuilders who knew she always had a hot pot of coffee ready and enjoyed visiting about the potential of this small community north of Dallas.
“Keep in mind that NorthPark Center opened at the corner of Northwest Highway and Central Expressway in 1965 and that many Dallasites were of the belief that civilization didn’t actually exist north of Northwest Highway,” said Mary Frances Burleson, President and CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies. “That goes to show just how visionary Ebby and her leadership team were about the future growth of the North Texas region.”
Wowzers. The Cowboys have sold their last membership in the Cowboys Club up in Frisco. They started sales last month — a $250 deposit for suites running $4500 for the initiation and then $395. a month to get you into exclusive bars, dining options, fitness facilities, a terrace and rooftop pool all overlooking the Dallas Cowboys practice fields and corporate meeting spaces.
I repeat, not actually playing a game, that happens in Arlington. I mean The Star in Frisco — the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and practice facility — which will be completed by fall.
The Star in Frisco is part of Frisco’s $5 Billion Mile, proposed and planned real estate investment and development plans for projects totaling $5.4 billion within a one mile-long stretch of roadway along the Dallas North Tollway.
If you want in now, you have to get on the waiting list, and hope someone who bought in drops out.
“We knew that we had created something special but to see all of our memberships snapped up so quickly points to the deep relationship we’ve built with our fans in the area and across the country,” said Chad Estis, the Cowboys’ executive vice president of business operations, in a statement.
And I cannot help but think of the jobs just this club alone will create up in Frisco. Too bad we cannot turn the Cotton Bowl into a year-round practice field for a local team…imagine the possibilities!
The Buckner Terrace home at 5838 Dr. is one of five featured this week in our open house roundup.
Every week, we’re featuring fantastic open houses in Dallas (and the ‘burbs from time to time) here at CandysDirt.
This week, we’ve picked properties five that range in price from $325,880 to $899K. You’ll find everything from a colorful Buckner Terrace ranch that marries modern touches with vintage charm, to a four-story Oak Lawn condo with a rooftop deck. Let us know what you think of our choices, and if you know of any we should feature next week!
