Bob Smith of Keller Williams

05/24/2026

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05/24/2026

I wrote this In Honor of Memorial Day May 25, 2026.

We were warriors once …

Last week I visited a time of the past.

Seven of us were sitting next to each other at a neighborhood restaurant. We were all strangers but sharing a common past... We were a mix of services: Army, Marine, Air force and Navy veterans.

All proud of our time supporting our county the United States of America. And we would do it again. All of us were volunteers as we believed in our country, our beliefs, and our convictions. We were and are a proud group. Proud of our past and present. We did as we were ordered and accomplished what we were told to do. And we were proud of what we did as we had dignity and faith in our country and in our Lord. If we were killed, we were destined to heaven as our avenue was open by our faith and prayers.

So there we were, together after many, many years sharing and remembering thoughts and feelings that never go away from the horrors of Vietnam.

Sharing their thoughts was difficult as memories they wanted to forget returned - the incoming mortar shells, the rifle rounds whistling nearer than they wanted to hear, the cries of those who had caught a round and were calling for medics.

Perhaps you were there and, on a hilltop, where there was no escape or medics or the medics you had were out of supplies or wounded. You held your position because you were expected to do so.

One of the gunnies who was there said that he couldn’t sleep at night or ever sleep for very long because he constantly was being awakened by the vision of a Viet Cong in his face. To sleep meant death and even later, some 50 years later, he is still having these dreams ... They don’t go away.

One of the guys there was an Army warrior who had been wounded 3 times in a battle and had the bullet holes to show. He was twice decorated with the Silver Star … To take three bullets and continue to fight is unfathomable and humbling. He is a warrior!

War isn’t pretty. Everything that you honor or believe in, every humanitarian fiber you have had can be rearranged and sometimes destroyed.

When you lose a loved one, that is a horrible event. In combat that our warriors are in, they see the horror and witness death and feel it every day, day after day until relieved from their position, and then it stays with them, in their mind, haunting forever.

War, the blood flowing, the loss of friends you highly thought of and those NCO’s and officers you looked up to are never forgotten. Erasing the memory doesn’t happen and these warriors constantly relive the pain without end.

Those of you who haven’t been in the service and witnessed such horrors of war, please sit silent at the feet of those who have seen it; those who helplessly watched a buddy horribly die and you may learn something of war and why, If you have to fight, especially in America as the days come on, why is it necessary to do what you have to do to protect what freedom you have left.

- Bob

Be sure to thank every one of the young and old, the guys and gals who served, as freedom isn’t free.

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05/15/2026

Pointers are forever!

Having a pointer for a family dog and a hunting buddy run opposites of each other I have been told.

I wanted a hunting dog to help shore up my dream of hunting quail. I thought there were several ways of gaining one. Obviously buying a “finished” pointer I was told was the fastest solution. After looking through a number of ads for “mister never bust a covy” and talking to a number of breeders, a finished pointer was exactly what I needed. One small problem was they all cost more than my small purse could carry.

So what do I do now? I still wanted a bird dog and a pointer vs. a setter was the right breed for me.

A pointer is a bigger running dog and a setter was a more close in dog I was told. I liked the idea of a bigger running dog as it covers more territory and can find more birds.

Since I lived in my small city world, I didn’t know if you plan to run a pointer, you just might need a horse to keep up.
So, If I can’t afford a finished product, perhaps I could grow one myself. I could find a pup or a female and start from scratch.
I ended up with Sally and she would be the foundation of my dream dog generation. Sally was a liver and white pointer with a lot of class when she ran.

Having a dog, you need a place to keep her and if you grow your own dogs, you’re going to need more than just a place to keep them, like a kennel. So, I built a 6 by 20 foot kennel in the backyard and wasn’t too worried about what the neighbors would say at least not yet.

I had found a sire who was winner on the field dog trials and the owner would allow the match to be made for a pick of the litter that was generated. Sounded good and Sally became a expecting mom.

Don’t remember exactly how many pups she had but there was a facet for each pup. The special event was on a cold day and we brough Sally and her pups inside. For some reason I decided to check and see if we had missed a puppy. I am glad I did as Sally, being a proper dog had excavated under the dog house so she could have some privacy I guess.

I had overlooked a puppy. The little lady was solid white with a liver dot between her eyes, so we named her Dot.
Cassie, my daughter was about 3 years old and loved Dot. One night my little lady, Cassie, was having a hard time and was fussin’ in her crib so I got Dot and laid her in the crib with Cassie. Dots little tail was going a mile a minute and Cassie eyes and smile show an equal happiness. Both went to sleep immediately. I guess we can call this the power of the pup as the mix of puppies and children just seem to blend wonderfully.

When the puppies were about 6 weeks old, we took them to the vet for their shots. My Oldsmobile had a large trunk and we could comfortably put them in the trunk for the short ride.

When you opened the trunk, you had to almost have superpowers to grab and corral 8 puppies eager to go in any direction they were pointed. It was an experience, but we got them fixed up and back home.

Soon we were down to just four pups. I hated to give away Dot, but she was the only female in the litter. Keeping her would mean multidog fights and vet bills.

I found out later that the sire was not only a great pointer, but a fighter. A small point the owner neglected to tell me. And, yep, you guessed it, he passed on the fighting genes to his pups. Even more valuable was hunting gene as all of the pups became great pointers.

I kept two pups a orange and white and a liver and white which I named Saddles because of the saddle marketing across his back. The orange I called Charlie (sounds familiar) and I eventually gave him to a banker friend of mine. I later heard that Charlie wore out his welcome as he had got into a fight with his wife’s lap dog and did him in.

Another went to a hunting buddy who named his dog “Snickers” who turned out to be a good birder. I never did find out why he called his dog Snickers …

I think “Peanuts” might have been better!

I know the North Texas area. Want a new home or land? Call me and let me get our Texas Three Step Team working to get you into your new home or ranch.



©2026 KW North Country Keller Williams Realty | Mckinney | Texas

05/08/2026

Well, he did it ... Charlie emailed Wylie and told him about the Facebook post. I dont know how he does it but, he copied me as well. Next thing you know Wylie is going to post pictures of his trophy room where he has all of his trophies he won for Best and Sneakest Coyote.

05/07/2026

Hello everyone! I’m Bob, and the other fellow is my buddy Charlie. Charlie is a Labrador retriever, my hunting partner, and—like most Labs—a good-hearted dog with plenty of character. Truth be told, he’s a full-blown character if you know what I mean.

Charlie’s best friend is Wylie, who may very well be the sneakiest coyote in all of Throckmorton County—and that’s saying something. I’m convinced Wylie has earned more trophies for stealth and trickery than some Major League Fishing pros have hanging in their trophy rooms.

Having a best buddy is important to all of us, but when Charlie and Wylie get together, things tend to happen. They’re a lot like two twelve-year-old boys whose curiosity guarantees trouble is right around the corner. Of course, if you looked at them, you’d swear they were completely innocent.

Most of the adventures I write about are simply me recording events exactly the way Charlie and Wylie tell them. Every now and then, Red—Preacher Ash’s old roan horse—throws in his opinion too, which usually makes the story even more interesting. Remind me sometime to tell you about the day Wylie and Red somehow ended up with “Quick Draw,” the Throckmorton highway patrol car.

With this crew of characters, life rarely gets dull. Sometimes you’ll find us sitting in a deer blind, sneaking in a little nap while the biggest buck in the county strolls in, eats the last of my corn, and trots off with a grin that seems to say, “Showed you, didn’t I?” Other times, we’re chasing around with Charlie’s trouble making coyote buddy, Wylie.

Regardless, wherever we find ourselves, we are always having a good time and I thought you may like to hear some of these adventures. My goal is to entertain you and maybe pass along a few things I’ve learned about coyotes, horses, raccoons, and how these guys may act once they get to know you.

Looking to buy or sell a home or Land in the McKinney area on up to the Red River, give me a call and I can make it happen. I am a historic home realtor in McKinney and not only know the area but live in the McKinney Historic District.

Grin's

05/05/2026

Any ailments, check with Mike as he probably has something to make you feel better or heal faster. Go up an see Mike at his "The Health Collection" store on White n 75.. He has just almost anything to help improve your health. Tell him Bob sent you. I don't think he will throw you out if you do. He is a rare and fine man.

McKinney is an excellent town to live in. As a realtor, I have lived here for over 20 years and know it well. Looking for a new home or to sell and start your new adventure. Please call me. 214 263 0816

3 likes, 1 comment. "McKinney Texas Health Store Recommendation"

04/27/2026

Living in McKinney’s historic district is something special… but it’s not always easy.

If you’ve owned a historic home for a while, you already know:
• Repairs can be ongoing
• Updates often require approvals
• Maintenance costs add up
• And flexibility is limited

More and more homeowners are quietly asking:
“Is it time for something simpler?”

That could mean:
✔ Moving into a newer, low-maintenance home
✔ Building on acreage with room to breathe
✔ Investing in land while North Texas continues to grow

From Richardson to the Red River, opportunities are expanding fast—and many historic homeowners are taking advantage of it.

But here’s the truth:
Selling a historic home is completely different.

Pricing, preparation, city guidelines, and finding the right buyer all matter more than ever.

I live here. I specialize in historic homes. And I’ve spent 20+ years helping sellers navigate this exact process—from prep to closing—with the right strategy and trusted referrals.

👉 If you’re even thinking about selling (now or later), I’ll give you a clear, no-pressure plan.

Call me and we can make a plan.

04/22/2026

Texas homeowners have one month to protest and lower their property taxes

Here's how Texans can correct their property taxes when they feel their home appraisal is too high.

Texans who are unhappy with their home appraisal this tax season have a chance to do something about it if they get the process going in the next month. The deadline for most people to protest their property valuation — thus lowering their property tax — in Dallas County is May 15.

If you haven't done it before, don't worry: There are steps to follow online and companies that do it for you at no cost unless you save money.

Why protest?
Texans pay the 7th highest property taxes in the country, according to personal finance website WalletHub. If your county has overappraised your home, you are paying more than you need to in property taxes.

Protests are especially important and easy for people who closed on their homes in the past year, because the value of the property upon sale is accepted as the true value of the property. This assumes that if the property were worth more, it would have sold for more. The more recently the home sold, the more likely it is that homeowners haven't meaningfully altered the property since the purchase.

Submitting a protest is free, and there is almost no risk in doing so. The Appraisal Review Board is prohibited from raising the property value in a hearing. Homeowners may decide it's not worth their time if their appraisal barely changes and they don't save a significant amount of money.

When to submit
Most homeowners whose home has increased in value according to the county should have received a Notice of Appraisal in the mail by now. It tells them how much the county believes their home is worth this year. To check online, homeowners can search for their property at dallascad.org.

The deadline to submit a protest is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed — whichever comes later. However, the notice may have been lost or delivered to the wrong place, so it is important to check before May 15 just in case. Notices are also sent later for property owners whose primary residence is somewhere else.

There are lots of ways homeowners can try to prove their home value has not increased, or even that it has decreased due to damage on the property. Whether the evidence is photos of damage or "comps" around the neighborhood — comparing the home's value to others of a similar quality in the same area — homeowners submitting their claim themselves should be prepared to meet with an appraiser or even a review board.

Set it and forget it
Homeowners who don't want to deal with the paperwork, phone call, or hearing can hire service to protest on their behalf. For them, savings are essentially passive income; the service uses data from past years and the surrounding neighborhood to argue the client's case. It is easy to find a service that works on a contingency fee, so the cost is only a portion of the successful savings. Ownwell is a popular choice, but it's not the only one.

Finally, homeowners should also make sure they're not leaving money on the table by applying for a homestead exemption. This is available to people who own the homes they live in, as opposed to people who own homes and rent them out to others. It subtracts $140,000 from the total valuation of the home before applying the tax rate.

This article was written By Brianna CaleriApr 15, 2026 | 11:25 am and was supplied by Metrotex Association of Realtors.

My home taxes in McKinney went up 10% and dollar sales for the area have declined. I believe this leaves the door open to protest.

04/13/2026

McKinney Homes $400K–$800K or $800,00 and above. (Updated Daily)

- Homes in established neighborhoods with mature trees
- Many with updated interiors or move-in ready condition
- Options with oversized lots, greenbelts, or privacy
- Hand-picked to reflect the best value in today’s market

How about a New Built home?

I know the area and I can make the searching much easier for you. just give me your basic info so I can send you the homes.

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Prefer a custom home search? Tell me more about what you’re looking for and I can offer a more detailed selection.

04/09/2026

Save yourself a LOT of time looking for a new home.

Give me some parameters that you are wanting and I will find and send you properties that match your needs. Better yet, call me and a few minutes on the phone will help me zero in on homes that will make you a happy camper.

Talking with you, I can offer suggestions like location, traffic patterns, etc. that will help you qualify your search.

See a home you want to tour, we can schedule a look. Be sure to have your qualification letter from your mortgage company handy as the listing agent will ask to see it.

if you are not yet pre-qualified, I have mortgage companies that will respond quickly .