Residential Realty

02/07/2013

Another great event here at lennar Inwood Hills McKinney

02/06/2013

02/03/2013

View this wonderful home for sale. Contact Jacob 469.298.2047 http://youtu.be/RLmic9Mu7NM

This wonderful 3 bedroom 2 bath home won't last long. Hard wood flooring, granite countertops in kitchen with stainless steel appliances over looking living ...

01/20/2013

Great 3 bedroom 2 bath new condition in sache. Motivated sellers so look and make offer.

11/19/2012

Articale on home foreclosures in Collin County: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/collin-county/headlines/20121117-investment-companies-see-opportunity-in-scooping-up-foreclosed-homes-in-collin-county.ece

Mom-and-pop investors are sidelined as investors build up inventory in a county where the rental market is strong.

09/27/2012

Learn important facts about mold
Mold can grow in many areas of a home. Though not always dangerous, mold can, in certain instances, cause serios illness.
Experts estimate that there are tens of thousands of different types of mold in the world. A type of fungi, molds are single-celled or multicellular organisms without chlorophyll that reproduce by spores and live by absorbing nutrients from organic matter. Fungi can be classified as molds, mushrroms, rusts, mildews and yeasts. Some of the common types of molds found indoors include cladosporium, alternaria, penicillium and aspergillus.
The centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that molds can be a health hazard to some people. Some individuals are more sensitive to molds than others, and may experience anything from a mild allergic reaction to severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing or other complications with their lungs.
Mold spores travel very easily through the air and can also travel on people and pets. Coming in contact with mold in one location and then traveling to another can cause spores that hitched a ride to dislodge in the new area. People who may have never had mold problems at home before can find that mold quickly takes root if mold spores have been accidentally brought into a home.
In addition to moist areas, molds flourish in other conditions as well.
• Food source: Molds are not picky eaters and can feed on various materials, including wood, fabric, wallpaper and drywall.
• Air: Although mold needs oxygen to grow, mold fares best in areas that are poorly ventilated.
• Warmth: Mold can grow in temperatures between 40 and 110F Therefore, unless it’s below freezing outdoors, there’s a good chance mold spores are thriving.
Mold’s versatility to live in a variety of areas and feed on just about anything makes it a formidable foe. But there are natural ways to tackle it.
Mold thrives in moist conditions, so removing the source of moisture is the primary way to control mold growth. Invest in a dehumidifier if your home is plagued by moisture. Dehumidifiers are especially useful in basements and crawlspaces where moisture tends to be a problem.
It’s also good to avoid using bleach to address mold problem. Although bleach is an excellent disinfectant, it is not always successful in killing mold spores. The most it may do is whiten areas where the mold is growing . Plus, bleach has its own strong aroma and can be noxious to breathe in at high does .
Instead of bleach, consider all-natural methods of controlling mold. Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold. Using it in a spray bottle on mold can help to kill it and keep it at bay. Tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract are also very effective at eliminating mold. Unlike other methods of mold removal, grapefruit seed extract does not have an odor.
Keeping a home ventilated is another way to fight mold. Mold prefers somewhat stagnant conditions, so allowing fresh air into the house can make it harder for mold to thrive. In bathrooms and kitchens, use exhaust fans or open windows to reduce the humidity and moisture left behind.
Mold can be an irritant to people who are sensitive to the spores, but many cases, mold is more of an eyesore and a nuisance than something a homeowner needs to worry about. Using some smart strategies to reduce its growth can keep mold under control.

09/05/2012

Before selling home a paintbrush can be your best friend. Repainting key areas of the residence is an easy and inexpensive way to make a positive impact on buyers, especially if you improve the first impression by repainting the front door and entryway.
New paint appeals to buyers who want a low maintenance, move in ready home, as crumbling paint may cause them to assume there are other neglected issues. Off white is the ideal color, as it enables potential buyers to imagine living in the home. A new paint job can also make a home look much brighter in photographs. This is an important consideration, since most home buyers use the internet as part of their home search.

08/29/2012

Valor Pointe in McKinney Grand Opening from $195,000 to $275,000. Prosper school district. http://youtu.be/vkLQc5gH6ow

D. R. Horton Grand Open in Valor Pointe, McKinney with homes from $195,000 to$275,000. Prosper Scool District. Call for showing. 469.298.2047.

08/28/2012

Grand opening

08/27/2012

Wood flooring adds resale value
Multiple surveys estimate that wood flooring can add as much as $7,000 to $10,000 to a home’s resale value. And a study conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) revealed that 99% of U.S. real estate agents asserted that homes with wood flooring are easier to sell; 90% said that homes with wood flooring sell for more money-up to 10% more.
In order to get the most out of your valuable investment in American wood, here are the flooring options you need to know before you buy.
Solid wood flooring comes in three basic types, strip, plank and parquet.
• Strip flooring accounts for the majority of wood installation. It is installed by nailing the wood to the subfloor.
• Plank floorboards are at least 3 inches wide, and can be screwed or nailed to the subfloor.
• Parquet flooring comes in 6 inch by 6 inch blocks, but specialty patterns can be made much larger. Parquet flooring often creates a dramatic geometric look.
One tip to keep in mind is that solid wood flooring expands and contracts due to changes in your home’s humidity. Installers can compensate for this by leaving an expansion gap between the floor and the wall.
Engineered wood is made of multiple layers of different grades or styles of wood that are stacked and glued together under high heat and pressure. This tpe of flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity.
Wood laminates consist of a plywood base topped with a layer of veneer. The veneer coating on wood laminate flooring can be sanded and refinished up to three times in most cases.
After selecting the type of wood flooring, the next steps choosing a finish that will enhance the wood’s beauty and protect the floor from everyday wear, dirt and moisture. The finish will also give hardwood a rich color and luster to match your home’s look and feel. You have a few hardwood finishing options to choose from:
Surface finishes are the most popular choice of stains, and involve applying a stain to achieve color followed by a topcoat to add a layer of protection. Surface finishes are durable and easy to maintain.
• Oil based urethane is the most commonly used floor finish. It is available in different sheens, and is generally applied in multiple coats and also ambers with age.
• Water based urethane provides a clear finish and produces fewer odors, quicker dry time and easier clean up.
• Moisture cured urethane is a solvent based solution mostly used in commercial applications. It is more durable and moisture resistant than other options.

08/22/2012

Tips on Landscape architects
Just a few tips on hiring landscape architects:
• Find a professional who will work with you. Though you might not plan to do any of the landscaping or gardening, that doesn’t mean you won’t have a vision of what you want the property to look like. A landscape architect should be receptive to our ideas and willing to work with your vision while keeping the channels of communication open throughout the project.
• Look for a professional with some experience. A landscape architect should be ready and willing to discuss his or her previous work experience. Ask to see photos of previous work or even local addresses where work was done so you can see the finished product in person. Landscape architects without extensive work histories aren’t necessarily unqualified, but homeowners should weigh the projects they have completed considerably.
• Discuss subcontractors. Some landscape architects will handle the project entirely on their own, while others might subcontract part of the project. Determine who will be performing the project and how the hiring of subcontractors might affect the cost.
• Discuss fees and get a fee schedule. How the project will be paid for is an importand thing to discuss when interviewing.
• Get references. A professional landscape architect should have a list of references a the ready for potential customers.
• Make sure contractor is licensed.

08/10/2012

Don’t get soaked for foundation repairs
Watering prevents damage to plumbing, walls and more.
Signs of foundation damage. If you see these types of issues in your house you need to have your home evaluated for foundation problems.
• Cracks in mortar and brick. Mortar holding bricks together usually cracks before brick, which can break under stress.
• Separation of fascia board. Wood trim around bricks pulls away and large gaps appear in trim boards at the corners of house.
• Drywall cracks. Splits and tears in drywall above doors and window frames are one of the most common signs of settlement.
• Wrinkles or tears in wallpaper. Bubbled or torn wallpaper or cracks on wall texture and ceilings can be signs of foundation settlement.
• Cracks in floor tile. Rigid ceramic floor tile often will crack if the foundation shifts.
How to water a foundation
The goal of watering a foundation is to keep the soil near and under the slab at a consistent moisture level that is neither wet and muddy nor dry and cracked. Ideally, this level of moisture should be maintained to a depth of several feet.
Here are engineers’ recommendations:
• Comply with your city’s current rules and restrictions for water use.
• Place soaker hoses or drip irrigation lines 18 to 24 inches from the foundation. The
• hose or drip line should not be placed against the foundation.
• Run the hose or drips at a rate that allows the water to trickle into the soil, not pool or run off.
• To determine the right schedule for your situation, water for about 30 minutes two or three days a week then try this rule-of-thumb test:
Dig a small hole 16 to 24 inches deep on each elevation of our house near the foundation. Get a handful of dirt from the bottom of the hole. Roll some of the dirt into a 2 –inch diameter ball. If the dirt holds together in the ball shape, you’ve probably got the right amount of moisture. If it doesn’t hold together, you need to water longer or more often on that elevation of your house. After a week or so of adjusted watering, try the dirt-ball test again to see if you get better results. Repeat these steps until you get consistently good results. As the seasons change, adjust your schedule based on periodic dirt-ball tests.
To slow evaporation, put an 18 to 24 inch wide band of mulch 2 to 4 inches deep along the foundation where you have bare dirt. Put the soaker hoses or drip irrigation lines under the mulch