Gorgeous 4 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom house in the McKinney Area!

 

 

 

Sometimes our Job of Marketing residential homes in the McKinney area is really fun.  We have a fabulous listing at  3609 Black Gold St in Mckinney, Texas.  This home has everything that  a growing young family could want.  It is located South of Eldorado Pkwy about a mile and west of Ridge about 4 blocks.

 

The home was built by Ashton Woods in 2005 and everything about the home says  “QUALITY”.  It has four bedrooms, three and a half baths and a two car garage.  (The master bedroom is down and the othe three bedrooms are upstairs).

 

Entering from the front entry, you walk on ceramic tile all the way to the kitchen.  There is a work stateion off of the kitchen.  The kitchen is large with tons of cabinets.  The master suite offers privacy  away from the main family areas, with lots of room in the large master bath.  There is a private second patio accessable only from the master bedroom.  the back yard is plenty large enough for a pool.

 

The owner is anxious for us to find a qualified buyer.  They have just reduced the price by $ 5,000 so that we can have a quick sale.  Call us today to see this beautiful home.

 

Substantial growth in the McKinney Area

McKinney is, according to the US census records, the fastest growing City in the United States.

We bought our new McKinney home nine years ago when the population was approximately 53,000 persons. Today, there are over 138,000 residents in the McKinney area. We have grown by nearly 9500 new residents each year over our 9 years in the area. The growth is equivalent of adding a now today, the size of Prosper, Texas every six months for 9 years. Wow! With such a phenomenal growth comes the need for dozens of police men, firemen and EMT’s.

The city government has made herculean effort to keep our roads and highways in phase with this phenomenal growth. There are two major construction projects up and under way for months (or years).  The most challenging construction project for the past 6 years has been the completion of the U.S HWY (2) from the intersection of McKinney to HWY 75. This major expansion of 121, from a two lane highway to a six lane highway, required tremendous effort. The rebuilding of a major interchange of two highways was accomplished with minimal interference with traffic.

The result of the major projects: McKinney residents are now able to drive to the DFW airport in about 25 minutes. Before completion of 121, the trip to the DFW airport would take nearly over an hour.

A second major highway construction project is the widening of highway 75 from 121 to HWY 380 and points north. This $10.6 million project will add two additional lanes for southbound and northbound traffic on HWY 75. Traffic does get bogged down around 4PM for the workdays, but the aggravation is well worth it.

Ultimately, the project would well equip McKinney to continue being the second fasting growing city in the United States.

 

How to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

The majority of buyers decide whether they will go inside a house or not based on what the exterior. The more time you spend on the outside of your house, the more time a buyer will want to spend on the inside.

Simple Curb Appeal Exercise –

Think to yourself:

What is my first impression of my house?

What are the best features of the outside of the house? How can I enhance those features?

What are the worst features of the house? How can I reduce those features?

 

Park where a buyer would leave their car and walk up to your house as they would. Is there anything about the exterior that you would notice first? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Take pictures of the outside of the house. Look at the pictures in black and white; it is easier to see the problem areas this way.

Make a list of projects that need to be completed. Things as simple as:

-Kill mold and mildew

– Put away tools and unsightly objects

-Clean windows and gutters

-Pressure wash siding, decks and sidewalks

-Kill weeds and edge sidewalks

-MOW THE LAWN!

-Get rid of leaves

-Keep tree limbs away from the roof

 

Don’t forget the back of the house.

You should spend just as much time maintaining the back of the house as you do the front. Chances are, buyers will do their best to see what the backyard looks like.

 

What does it look like at night?

Try adding some (tasteful) lighting. Accent lighting could have a huge impact on a buyer driving past the property at night. What ever you do, DO NOT leave Christmas lights up past the holiday season.

 

Tips:

-Fresh paint really makes a difference

-Front doors leave an impression. Try something with glass.

-Think of everything from stains to hardware (doorknobs etc.)

For more information please visit http://www.lookfordallashomes.com

 

Top 10 Ways to Make Home Buyers Hate Your House-

1. The Smells

Odors are the first thing to turn a possible buyer off of your property. Cigarette smoke, pets and mildew are the first things to worry about.

Get rid of the odors rather than covering them up with a temporary “fix-all”.

2. Over-bearing dogs

Some people may be scared of a dog that meets you at the door or in the driveway. If you control or contain your pet you will get a much better response. A common idea is to simply put the pet in a room or in the garage and ask people to not go in such areas – bad idea. Someone may think you have something to hide in that room that would turn them away from buying.

Every room and space of the house should be open to inspection by anyone that views it.

3. Bathrooms that are Dirty

Gross bathrooms are going to turn away any person that walks into one. Doe what ever you have to do to make sure your bathroom is glimmering and shinning.

4. Lowly Lit Areas

Try to brighten up whatever areas of the house are not receive much light.

-Change out any bulbs that may need replacements

-Add lights

-Install a quality skylight

-Get rid of heavy window coverings

-Repaint rooms with dark colors

-Take out limbs that throw shadows on the house

It will also be beneficial to clean windows (inside and out) to bring in more light and get rid of fogginess.

5. Busy Wallpaper

If your house has rooms upon rooms of busy wallpaper you may want to consider removing or replacing it. Wallpaper is a personal choice that may not be mirrored by someone even if they are a fan of wallpaper in general.

Make sure you don’t just paint over it because it will be very obvious and make it more difficult to remove.

6. Moist Basements

Dampness or stagnant smells in the basement could make the buyer think that the foundation leaks even if it is simply from clogged drains, lack of gutters or downspouts that are aimed the wrong way.

7. Insects

Anything that creeps, crawls or slithers must go!

8. Lack of Curb Appeal

The front of the house is the first thing any buyer will see; it must be amazing. Even if you don’t completely refresh the coat of paint on the house, simply fix rickety doors and get the lawn in great shape.

9. Plants Growing in the Gutter

If your gutters are not maintained a buyer will wonder what else isn’t.

10. Seller being there for a showing

Leave the house during showings! A buyer could feel awkward; like they are lingering or intruding. Give them some breathing room and let them take a good look at the house they might want to buy.

 

 

These things can be corrected at a minimal cost. Do it before you put your house on the market so it doesn’t acquire a poor reputation with agents and end up at the end of a list of showings to a potential buyer.

For more information please visit http://www.look4dallashomes.com

 

Increase in Home Sales in DFW Area

Statistics (just released by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University) show clearly that the worst of the down turn in single-family home sales in the DFW area is behind us. For the past eight months, through February of 2012, home sales were higher than each month for the comparable time in 2011. In particular, January 2012 saw a 9% increase sales over January 2011 and February 2012 saw an increase of 27% in single-family home sales over February 2011. This is very good economic news for our area. The total number of single-family homes sold in the DFW area for February 2012 was 4649. The median home price for these sold homes was up by about 1% over 2011. The average number of days these homes were on the Market for 2012 was 91 days compounded to 102 days for February 2011.

Another favorable indicator for February 2012, the number of homes offered for sale for the DFW area (NTREIS) was 27, 836, which indicates that the inventory of available homes for sale is down by 22% over February 2012.

by Joe Neel

Click here for more information:

 

5 Low Cost Tips to Improve Your Home’s Appeal to Prospective Buyers

When selling your home, the goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing as little as possible in renovations. With a limited budget and a little effort, you can greatly increase your home’s appeal by focusing on what prospective buyers can see on their first visit. Here are a few recommendations from professional home estimators for preparing a house for sale and staging it for showings: Tip #1: Refresh the Exterior First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won’t even leave their car if they don’t find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve your exterior include: Repairing and/or replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and the driveway. Painting siding, trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts. Pressure washing vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway. Washing windows. Tip #2: Spruce Up the Lawn and Landscape Home buyers associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the entire property.The best ways to enhance the yard include: Mowing and edging the lawn. Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn. Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering. Trimming and/or removing overgrown trees, shrubs and hedges. Weeding and mulching plant beds. Planting colorful seasonal flowers in existing plant beds. Removing trash, especially along fences and underneath hedges. Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property. Tip #3: Create an Inviting Entrance The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include: Painting the front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior. Cleaning, polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles. Repairing and/or replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers. Placing a new welcome mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry. Tip #4: Reduce Clutter and Furniture A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep. The best ways to improve your home include: Holding a garage sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items. Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements. Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier. Removing any visibly damaged furniture. Organizing bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything! Putting away your personal photographs, unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves in your home! De-personalize rooms as much as you can. Tip #5: Clean, Clean, Clean The cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer’s perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer’s decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve this include: Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances. Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies. Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets. Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout. Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets. Considering air fresheners or potpourri. Click for more information:

 

Beautiful Stone and Brick Home in McKinney, TX

Click on the photo for more information.

New construction in McKinney. Beautiful brick and stone.

Contact Regena for more information:

Email:regena@neelgroup.net

Cell: 214-620-7337

 

McKinney Chamber Receives Four-Star Accreditation from U.S. Chamber

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced today that the McKinney Chamber of Commerce has achieved the recognition of accredited with four stars for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.  This is an impressive accomplishment! ”  – McKinney’s Weekly Update

We would like to congratulate our Chamber of Commerce for it’s fine work! As citizens and homeowners in McKinney, we are happy to know that it’s hard work is not going unnoticed.

Wonder what it’s like to own a home in McKinney? Contact me to find out!

 

 

Beautiful Interior in McKinney, TX!

Looking for a beautiful home in McKinney, TX? This Ashton Wood home with soaring ceilings will be perfect for you!  It has extended tile through entry, workstation, half bath, kitchen, & breakfast room. The kitchen has ample cabinets, granite, undermount sink, eat-eat island, and view of large backyard. Open to family room with corner as log fireplace, and surround sound. The patio has gas outlet. Double door large master opens to private patio. Master bath features corner tub, sep shower, linen closet and large walk-in closet. Two baths up stairs and one is jack-n-jill.

 

Charming 4 Bedroom in Richardson!

Charming, warm and very well maintained creek lot! This 4 bedroom has so much to offer, starting with the entry into the cozy family room with hardwood floors in living area, all bedrooms & hall! Wonderful updated gallery kitchen with ceramic tile that leads to a supersized utility room. Plantation shutters. Generous room sizes and great closets throughout. Huge backyard with open patio, backs up to creek!