Christie Foreman - Realtor with Century 21 Judge Fite Company

09/25/2026

☕ LOCAL FRIDAY FIND | McKinney

This week’s Local Friday Find took me to White Box Roastery Co. inside the historic McKinney Cotton Mill!

I met up with a friend for coffee and immediately loved the atmosphere. The open industrial space, greenery, comfy seating and warm lighting make it a great spot to catch up—or settle in with your laptop for a while. They even have free Wi-Fi.

☕ My order: Mocha + butter croissant
📍 Where: 610 Elm St., Suite 1340, McKinney
🚗 Tip: Look for Parking Lot B for the easiest access.

White Box focuses on single-origin coffees and has a pretty extensive menu beyond the classics, including signature lattes, matcha, teas and seasonal drinks.

Definitely a fun McKinney spot to add to your coffee rotation!

Have you been? What should I order next time?

09/23/2026

🏡 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: PAINTED TREE | McKINNEY

If having nature right outside your front door sounds like your kind of neighborhood, Painted Tree deserves a look!

Located just north of Downtown McKinney, Painted Tree calls itself a “trailside community,” with homes spread across three distinct districts and an emphasis on connecting neighborhoods with outdoor spaces.

🌳 WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME:

🥾 25 miles of planned trails — including natural-surface trails, paved paths and a bike-friendly greenway.

🎣 20-acre stocked lake + 200 acres of open space — giving the community a much more nature-focused feel than your typical new construction neighborhood.

🏊 Three community hubs — including pools, playgrounds and The Outpost, an 11.5-acre National Park-inspired gathering space with a lookout tower, event lawn, food truck court and trail access.

🔑 BUILDERS I VISITED: BLOOMFIELD + DREES

Both are currently building in the Woodland District, and there are some interesting inventory opportunities.

Bloomfield Homes: Their current inventory sheet shows several 5–6 bedroom homes on 60’ and 70’ homesites, including multiple move-in-ready options currently priced from the mid-$700s.

Drees Custom Homes: Their available inventory included larger 3-car-garage homes ranging from approximately 3,178–4,396 sq. ft. One current move-in-ready home was listed at $799,990, reduced from $924,990.

💡 WHY IT STANDS OUT:
Painted Tree could be a great community to explore if you want the perks of new construction without giving up trees, trails, water and outdoor space.

Thinking about touring Painted Tree? Call me BEFORE you visit the model homes! I can help you compare builders, inventory and incentives while representing you throughout the process.

Christie Foreman | REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
📱 925.683.1374
✉️ [email protected]

Pricing, availability and builder incentives are subject to change.

09/21/2026

🏡 FIRST HOME FIND OF THE WEEK 🏡

This week’s find takes us to The Colony, where $350K gets you a move-in-ready-looking option with a price point that leaves a little more breathing room below our usual $400K ceiling.

📍 5208 Knox Dr, The Colony, TX 75056
💰 $349,900
🛏️ 3 Bedrooms | 🛁 2 Bathrooms
📐 1,488 Sq Ft
🏗️ Built in 1974
📄 MLS #21390835

✨ Why this one stands out:
• Priced about $50K below our $400K FHFW cap
• Classic single-story 3/2 layout
• Two-car garage
• Updated exterior gives this older home a more modern feel
• At $235/sq. ft., it’s worth a closer look for buyers wanting to get into The Colony without pushing to the very top of their budget

🏠 Why I picked this one:
The price point. Your maximum approval amount doesn’t have to become your shopping budget! Buying below your max can leave room for moving expenses, furnishings, repairs, savings—and simply having a monthly payment you’re more comfortable with.

💡 First-Time Buyer Tip:
Your home purchase isn’t just about the down payment. Before deciding how much cash to put toward the house, make sure you’ve also planned for closing costs, inspections, moving expenses and an emergency fund. Keeping some cash in reserve can make those first few months of homeownership much less stressful.

Want the full listing or want to see what else we can find under $400K? Send me a message!

📲 Christie Foreman, REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
📞 925.683.1374
📧 [email protected]

https://christineforman.realscout.com/homesearch/listings/p-5208-knox-drive-the-colony-75056-ntreis2-163

09/16/2026

🏡 Community Spotlight: The Grove Frisco

This week I toured The Grove Frisco, including the model homes from Brookfield Residential. If amenities and an active community lifestyle are high on your wish list, there’s a LOT to explore here!

🌳 What stood out about The Grove:

• Amenities galore: Residents have access to 3 pools, a splash pad, fitness center, pickleball courts, yoga lawn and multiple gathering spaces at Orchard House and the newer Mainstay amenity center.
• Parks & trails: The community plans for 17 miles of trails, along with playgrounds, dog parks, green spaces and even a residents-only catch-and-release fishing pond.
• A little less yard work: The 2026 HOA information provided during my visit includes front-lawn mowing plus seasonal fertilizer and pre/post-emergent treatments as part of the monthly assessments.

🔑 Builder Spotlight: Brookfield Residential

I toured Brookfield’s 40’ and 55’ homesites, and the models definitely lean into spacious, modern design—think dramatic two-story living spaces, large kitchens, game rooms and flexible living areas.

Another plus? Quick move-in options. During my visit, Brookfield had several 4-bedroom homes available or under construction, ranging from approximately 2,894–3,665 sq. ft. The inventory sheet showed options from the upper $800s into the $1.1M+ range, depending on homesite, plan and upgrades.

💡 Why put The Grove on your list?
This is one to consider if you want new construction but also want an established community feel with extensive amenities already in place.

Thinking about touring? Call me BEFORE you visit the model home! I can help you compare builders, incentives and available inventory while representing your interests through the process.

Christie Foreman | REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
📱 925.683.1374 | ✉️ [email protected]

Pricing, availability and incentives are subject to change.

09/14/2026

🏡 FIRST HOME FIND OF THE WEEK 🏡

This week we’re heading to Allen for a home that sneaks in just under our $400K FHFW budget!

📍 1103 Meadow Creek Dr, Allen, TX 75002
💰 $399,900
🛏️ 3 Bedrooms | 🛁 2 Bathrooms
📐 1,806 Sq Ft
🏗️ Built in 1984
📄 MLS #21379819

✨ Why this one stands out:
• Over 1,800 sq. ft. with a functional 3-bedroom layout
• Mature neighborhood with established trees—and that front-yard tree definitely brings the curb appeal
• Brick exterior and a classic single-story design
• Listed at $221/sq. ft. while staying under the $400K mark

🏠 Why I picked this one:
Sometimes the standout feature isn’t a flashy upgrade—it’s the combination of space, location and character. This one gives buyers more than 1,800 square feet in Allen while keeping the purchase price below $400K.

💡 First-Time Buyer Tip:
Don’t automatically rule out an older home! Age alone doesn’t tell you its condition. Pay attention to the ages of the roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical and plumbing, and use your inspection period to get a clearer picture of what you’re actually buying. A well-maintained older home can be a great first-home option.

Want the full listing details or want to see what else is available under $400K? Let’s go house hunting!

📲 Christie Foreman, REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
📞 925.683.1374
📧 [email protected]

https://christineforman.realscout.com/homesearch/listings/p-1103-meadow-creek-drive-allen-75002-ntreis2-905

09/12/2026

Adventures in real estate

09/12/2026

09/09/2026

🏡 Community Spotlight: Timber Creek | McKinney

This week’s Community Spotlight takes us to Timber Creek in McKinney, where I toured a new Drees Custom Homes model—and this one definitely knows how to make an entrance!

✨ What stood out:
• Outdoor lifestyle: Nearby parks, fishing ponds and access to miles of hike-and-bike trails give you plenty of ways to get outside.
• Flexible living: Open-concept spaces, soaring ceilings, dedicated office options and layouts designed for both everyday life and entertaining.
• Indoor/outdoor connection: Covered patio options help extend your living space into the backyard—something I always love to see in a Texas home.

🔑 Drees Builder Highlight:
Drees is currently advertising its Smart Start Savings Event on qualifying quick move-in homes. The promotion I saw during my visit featured a 3-2-1 temporary rate buydown, starting at 2.99% in Year 1, 3.99% in Year 2 and 4.99% in Year 3 before moving to the locked-in rate.

💡 Why put Timber Creek on your list?
If you’re looking for new construction in McKinney with modern floor plans and access to outdoor recreation, Timber Creek is worth exploring.

Thinking about touring a new-construction community? Call me before you visit the model home! Having your own REALTOR® gives you someone in your corner to compare builders, evaluate incentives and help guide you through the process.

Christie Foreman | REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
📱 925.683.1374 | ✉️ [email protected]

Pricing, availability, incentives and financing terms are subject to change and qualification.

09/08/2026

Have you heard the expression- Date the rate, marry the house?

Rates feel high. But what are we comparing them to?

For many buyers, it’s 2020–2021, when mortgage rates were historically unusual. Zoom out across decades of rate history and the picture looks very different.

That doesn’t mean today’s rates are affordable for everyone, or that rates won’t change. But if you’re waiting for a specific rate, it’s worth asking:

How common has that rate actually been?
What mortgage rate are you waiting for?
Drop your number below.

09/02/2026

Security has gone digital—but how much is too much?

I recently read an interesting article from the National Association of REALTORS® about HOAs using Flock cameras, and it got me thinking about something we don’t always connect to real estate: surveillance technology.

Flock cameras are AI-powered license plate readers that some communities are using as another layer of neighborhood security. And I can understand the appeal. Criminals get smarter, technology gets smarter, and HOAs are looking for new ways to help protect their communities.

But there’s another side to the conversation.

Who owns the data? Who has access to it? How long is it kept? And what rules are in place for how it can be used?

As this technology becomes more common, I think those are questions homeowners—and especially buyers considering an HOA community—should feel comfortable asking.

Personally, I see the potential benefit. I like the idea of HOAs being proactive about community safety. But I also think technology can move much faster than policies, governing documents, and homeowner conversations. Security and transparency need to grow together.

So now I’m curious where YOU fall:

IN FAVOR: More security sounds great.
NO: Too much surveillance for me.

Which side are you on? Tell me in the comments—and I’d especially love to hear why. Would having Flock cameras make a neighborhood more appealing to you, or could it actually be a reason you wouldn’t want to live there?

The article that started the conversation:

https://www.nar.realtor/news/real-estate-news/hoa-surveillance-cameras-may-raise-new-questions-for-home-buyers

Christie Foreman, REALTOR®
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
925.683.1374 | [email protected]