Major Strickland Realtor

08/07/2026

There's nothing like a good recommendation to brighten your day.

08/07/2026

This right her is life!

08/07/2026

☀️ FREE (or cheap!) FUN THIS WEEKEND in the Arlington area ☀️

☀️Gear Up 4 School
📍Unity One Credit Union, Fort Worth
📆 Saturday, 8/8, 8- 10 am. FREE.
🗒️ First come, first served school supplies, Kona ice, caricatures, vision screenings and more.

☀️Kids Club
📍Arlington Highlands
📆 Saturday, 8/8, 9- 11 am. FREE.
🗒️ Photo Booth, crafts, food and more.

☀️Mansfield Animal Shelter Grand Opening
📍612 S. Wisteria St., Mansfield
📆 Saturday, 8/8, 9 am- 3 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Public art unveiling, adoptable pets, tour the new space and more.

☀️Money + Me
📍River Legacy Nature Center, Arlington
📆 Saturday, 8/8, 11 am- 2 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Kids in grades K-5 can learn about financial literacy with hands-on fun.

☀️Craft, Create & Celebrate
📍North East Mall
📆Saturday, 8/8, 1- 3 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Head to Center Court near Macy’s for crafts, music, fun, giveaways, photo ops and more.

☀️BTX Back-to-School Bash
📍Old Town, Burleson
📆 Saturday, 8/8, 4-7 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Water slides, frozen treats, a DJ and more.

☀️ Dino Dig
📍 Nash Farm, Grapevine
📆Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 8/7-8/9, multiple times available. $4 per person.
🗒️ Fossil hunters will excavate fossils, learn digging techniques, play games and more.

📸 Pictures of a pool. Because summer. In Texas.

08/06/2026

Red Oak's New Construction Deals Are Heating Up
Here's what's actually happening in Red Oak right now, it's why it's popping as a value play this month:Red Oak is hot right now for a reason. 30-year rates just dipped to around 6.58%, and builders there are stacking incentives on top of it, we're seeing $10k toward closing costs, permanent rate buydowns into the 4.99% range with preferred lenders, and even free appliances and generators on quick move-in homes.

Most of that is on inventory homes in communities like Glenbrook, Red Oak Gardens, and Crystal Lake Estates from builders like Bloomfield, HistoryMaker and DRB, priced $380k to $550k - that's $50k to $100k under Mansfield for similar size.

The best combo depends on how you structure it - closing help vs. buydown vs. price cut, and preferred lender vs. outside lender changes what you actually keep. I have the live incentive sheet for each community this week and which lenders are honoring the lowest buys.

If you want the breakdown for your budget, DM me and I'll send you the specific homes and the net payment with the buydown applied.

Major Strickland , Realtor
James Walker Realty
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08/04/2026

DFW Backyards Just Went Full Resort Mode
DFW backyards this summer are definitely in full resort mode, and this Houzz 2026 study lines up with what we're seeing on the ground here.

They surveyed 1,191 homeowners and found people are no longer renovating just for resale - they're building for daily living. The #1 priority now is lounging. 83% of redesigns include a dedicated lounge area, usually with a sofa or lounge chairs, low coffee tables, lighting, and a fire pit or fireplace to anchor it.

For DFW specifically, here's how that resort look is shaking out:
Lounging first, dining second. After lounge zones, 55% are adding full outdoor dining areas and 53% are carving out a quiet retreat or reading nook - think comfortable, indoor-style furniture that can handle 100-degree days.

Shade is the new must-have. Nationally interest in shade structures jumped 15 points to 35% this year, getting close to decks at 43%. In our heat, that's pergolas, cabanas, and partially-covered outdoor kitchens - builders in Fort Worth and Red Oak are framing those in from day one because buyers expect it.

Outdoor kitchens are going from grill-on-a-patio to real kitchens. 95% of people doing one are building from scratch, and 68% are adding plumbing, electrical or heat and 61% adding appliances. The standard package I'm seeing listed: grill, beverage fridge, sink, plus pizza oven and TV. Storage is up 15 points too, so people actually want drawers and counters that work.

Low-water, low-work landscaping. DFW buyers love native and drought-resistant - nationally those picks rose 3-4 points, with 73% choosing low-maintenance and 55% native plants. Less natural grass, more synthetic turf (up 10 points to 19%) and hardscaping (up 7 points to 57%). That's huge for water bills and keeping the yard looking resort-clean in August.

Lighting and fire features tie it together. Lighting is still the top system upgrade at 77% of projects, with landscape lighting leading. About 1 in 5 renovations adds a fire feature, and pools themselves actually dipped slightly to 7% while wellness add-ons like plunge pools and saunas are emerging at 2%.

If you're thinking about buying anywhere in the DFW area, don't sleep on that backyard. In this Texas heat, that's where buyers are making their decision. Let's walk your yard together and I'll show you what'll make folks fall in love and pay a little extra. Give me a holler and let's get you ready.

Major Strickland Realtor

Here you go - tuned for DFW + that micro-resort angle:

08/03/2026

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work with clients like this.

08/03/2026

If my client is happy, then I’ve done my job.

07/31/2026

07/31/2026

☀️ FREE (or cheap!) FUN THIS WEEKEND in the Arlington area ☀️

☀️Stuffed Animal Sleepover
📍Chick Fil A Euless (Heritage Towne Crossing)
📆 Friday, 7/31, 5:30- 7 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Bring your favorite stuffie for a night of fun. Pick them up Saturday between 9- 10:30 am to hear about their adventures!

☀️ Friday Night Library: End of Summer Bash
📍South Irving Library
📆 Friday, 7/31, 7pm. FREE.
🗒️ Games, crafts, activities & more to celebrate the end of summer.

☀️Jurassic Jams: Hip Hop into the Library
📍Forest Hill Public Library
📆 Saturday, 8/1, 10 am- 2 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Live DJ, Dino-themed activities, food trucks, free backpacks and more.

☀️Summer Reading Finale Party
📍Kennedale Library
📆Saturday, 8/1, 10 am- 12 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Free food, snow cones, bounce houses and more.

☀️Storybook Theatre Live!
📍Grand Prairie Libraries
📆 Friday, 7/21, 10:30 am Warmack; 1 pm Main; 3:30 pm Shotwell. FREE.
🗒️ Enjoy a lively, family-friendly performance by Storybook Theatre that brings a classic tale to life.

☀️DreamFest: North Texas Cultural Festival for a Cause
📍Bob Duncan Center, Arlington
📆 Saturday, 8/1, 3-9 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Cultural walking parade, food, vendors and more.

☀️ Kids Crew: Back-to-School Bash
📍Chicken ‘N Pickle, all locations
📆 Sunday, 8/2, 10 am- 12 pm. FREE.
🗒️ Kids can enjoy a free buffet plus games, activities, crafts and Bingo. Join us here!

📸 Picture of a pool. Because it’s Texas in July.

07/31/2026

🚨 UNDER CONTRACT! 🚨

Another one is off the market! 🎉

This home Day onmarket was around 70 days as it was listed in May while still under construction. Finished, end of June, with pictures added just a little over a week ago, we had an accepted offer just 7 days later!

🪅🍾Congratulations to Alpha Family Group on another quality new construction home build in Southeast Fort Worth!

If you are currently in the market for a similar home? Take a look at 1708 Talton Dr. It offers the same high quality craftsmanship and could be the perfect fit for you.

📲 Contact me today to schedule your private showing of 1708 Talton Dr.

6823449768
Major Strickland Realtor
James Walker Realty, LLC
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