We’ve recently come across this very informative infographic that outlines the 14 Best Remodeling & Home Improvement Ideas To Increase Home Value. This infographic breaks down the best ways to add value to your home before you list and ultimately sell it. (more…)
Home Buying Resource
Buying a home can be a confusing process, especially if you are a first time homebuyer. There are many things to consider throughout the process. We want to provide you with the knowledge and resources that will help you make an informed decision.
A home is an investment that you should enjoy for many years to come. We strive to help you find a home that fits your dreams and your needs, as well as your budget. Our hope is that this guide can help you learn about the home buying process as a whole so that you can make better informed decisions when it comes to purchasing your next home. In real estate, like most industries, there are specific terms that you will need to understand in order to make this process run seamlessly.
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Home Buying Resource
Unexpected Expenses When Purchasing a Home
Purchasing a home is an exciting and often overwhelming time especially for first time home buyers. Finances are undoubtedly one of the most important factors when purchasing a home, so it’s important to stay on top of your finances and understand what expenses are coming your way. The following are a few of the expenses that come from purchasing a new home, once you are aware of these you should have peace of mind throughout the home buying process.
Be Cautious When Building A Home
We’re thrilled about all the new companies moving to our area, but buyer beware about the low inventory on existing homes. In the Greater Dallas area it’s common right now for home buyers to consider purchasing a new construction home. Being the first to live in and own a home can be exciting and open many opportunities that you would not have with purchasing an existing home. These possibilities also come with other factors that require careful consideration to ensure the home buyer is satisfied with the outcome. (more…)
Bill Shields Receives Recognition by Choice Home Warranty
Often we are praised for the hard work and dedication that it takes to help our clients find their perfect homes. Normally this praise comes from the clients we assist, however recently Bill Shields has been appointed one of “The 15 Best Realtors of Dallas, TX” by Choice Home Warranty, though we more accurately work for buyers as a Buyer’s Agent. Bill Shields & team are honored to share this recognition with some of Dallas’ most experienced and successful realtors.
Along with this honor, Choice Home Warranty is conducting a poll where users are able to vote for “The Best Real Estate Agent in Dallas, TX” out of the line-up they created. If you would like to participate in this poll, please click here to be re-directed to the article and poll by Choice Home Warranty.
Thank you to all of our clients who we have had the pleasure of finding your dream home, we appreciate our supporters and look forward to helping you should you need us again!
Supply & Demand: Why is Dallas a “seller’s market” this year?
On a daily basis DFW residents see the impact of supply and demand on gasoline prices, produce aisle, and even the trendy, new electronics that hit the market each day. The housing market in Dallas is no exception.
Dallas is experiencing a combination of very low supply of pre-owned homes hitting the market and an ever-increasing demand for pre-owned homes in the same price range. The recent shortage of pre-owned homes in the Dallas area created a decrease in options for home buyers which in turn causes a “seller’s market.” At the same time, an increase of big businesses (notably: Toyota, State Farm, and Liberty Mutual Insurance) moving to the area continues to fuel the demand for housing. (more…)
2015 forecast: DFW will be among top real estate markets
Houston, Austin and DFW are all forecast to be top real estate markets next year. (DMN files)
The Dallas-Fort Worth real estate metroplex is booming to say the least. DFW has secured one of the top commercial real estate markets in the country working its way into a prosperous new year. The region is estimate to be one of the top business land markets in the nation by 2015. Three Texas cities made it onto the annual list of best markets in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate report released Wednesday by the Urban Land Institute and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
Houston, Austin, San Francisco, Denver and DFW were singled out for their strong real estate land essentials, as per a survey of more than 1,000 property market pioneers. The cities are singled out as the best place to build and invest in real estate.
“Interviewees raise the possibility that despite being ranked lower than Houston, the economic diversity could make the current growth rate more sustainable in Dallas-Fort Worth,” the report says. “The market continues to be attractive to real estate investors because of its strong job growth, which benefits from the low cost of living and doing business.
“The comparative strength of the local Dallas/Fort Worth market seems like it can be attributed to the strength of the local economy that is supported by an active and viable local development community,” the forecast continues. “Investor demand remains high and there are no concerns about the availability of capital for 2015.”
The forecast predicts continued increases in the real estate business in the coming year.
“Unlike previous reports and previous cycles, we are seeing sustained growth,” said PwC’s Mitch Roschelle.
Top 10 commercial real estate markets for 2015. Numbers in parentheses are rankings for, in order, investment, development, and homebuilding. (ULI, PwC)
In this ever growing time of development one must be prepared and understand this is the time to move. Be wise and let us make sure you get the absolute best deal. Here at Bill Shields we care about one thing, you. Our buyer and we guarantee the best deal possible. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do to help you.
Toyota Moving to Texas – What Relocating Californians Can Expect
The Move from California to Texas
Chances are, you’ll want to move by car with all of your belongings when finally venturing out to Texas. The trip, depending what part of California you are coming from, is give-or-take 30 hours. Your best bet is to break this up into two days, staying in New Mexico for a break before continuing on.
Make sure to have all your ducks in a row before you move. Use the checklist below to help your transition go seamlessly (click HERE to download the full PDF version of the moving checklist).
What’s Different About Living in Texas? (more…)
Whose market is it anyway?
Wow – the oxymoron of being a realtor in the DFW area. These are the business page headlines Friday June 13th and Saturday June 14th:
What does this mean to our current and future clients??? The inventory of existing homes for sale is the lowest in 15 years, but job opportunities in the area are rising. What does this mean to our current clients and new buyers? You might consider buying a new construction home, you definitely need to be pre-qualified, you need the assistance of an exclusive buyers agent, you need to be prepared for making a decision quickly.
All of those things require research by the buyer and we would like to assist you through the process. Have you thought about school districts, how far are you willing to commute, do you want a planned community or do you desire the charm of an older area? There is no absolute right or wrongs, but preparation is critical! Buying a home, new construction or existing requires communication and a good partnership between client and agent.
A home is one of the biggest investments we make, and now more than ever you need an exclusive Buyer’s Agent to help you navigate the challenging process of choosing the right home.
The City vs. Suburbs
Every day we help our clients to find the perfect home, and one of the biggest factors we have to think about when looking for that perfect place is, of course, location, location, location! An area that might be perfect for one person could be completely wrong for you and your family.
One of the biggest questions to ask when looking for a home is, “Do I want to live in the heart of the city, or a suburb?” This battle has been raging since the industrial revolution, and is going strong today.
Luckily for us, there are many pros and cons for deciding whether to live in Dallas or in our friendly suburbs to the north. Here are just a few:
Convenience
Here is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to home prices in Dallas. As one of the worst commutes in the country, people who work in Dallas have much to consider.
Do you mind being a road warrior? Would you rather have a smaller space but be able to walk to work, restaurants, and nightlife? If you don’t live right in the heart of downtown Dallas, be prepared for longer commutes.
Back in the good old days when Plano was a two light town and Frisco was a railroad stop, people drove to Dallas for everything. Both of these towns are now sprawling cities with giant malls, tons of restaurants and outdoor parks to keep everyone in the family busy.
Schools
There are several fantastic schools in Dallas- including 2 of the best (magnet) schools in the country-, but if you don’t attend one of the best schools, the quality can vary depending on what you’re looking for. Click here to visit a list of TEA ratings for Dallas-Fort Worth area schools.
If you are someone who doesn’t plan on having kids, this will not be an issue. It is just important to know which school your children will attend when you invest in the home.
Price
After all, budget is the biggest factor in the decision-making process. We looked around the market for houses under certain prices in the suburbs and Dallas to compare. Here is what we found:
Under $200,000
Allen, TX
Photo courtesy of realtor.com
4-bedroom, 2.5 bath 2711 square-foot home. This home offers great schools, tons of space, and a safe, friendly community. Located off Bethany road, right in between the cities of Allen and Lucas. Schools averaged 8.7 out of 10. To see the full listing click here.
Dallas, TX
This 3 bedroom 2 bath 1931 square foot house is just south of Casa Linda. It is nicely renovated, and has a large back yard and a friendly commute to match. The schools leave much to be desired scoring an average 3 out of 10. To see full listing information click here.
Under $400,000
Dallas, TX
This is a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom Tudor in the trendy M Streets area. The neighborhood is gorgeous, and it is close to everything a Dallasite would want…except good schools. The schools assigned to this home did better than the $200,000 Dallas home, averaging 7.3 (mostly due to the fantastic blue-ribbon Stonewall Jackson Elementary school). For full listing information click here.
Frisco, TX
This huge five-bedroom four-bath 3776 square-foot home is a suburbanite’s dream. However, It is quite the commute to anywhere outside of Frisco. Also, if you love unique architecture and a nice tree-lined neighborhood, you may want to move it along (perhaps “look elsewhere” or “move on to the next listing”?). The schools assigned to this home are all ranked a perfect 10. For the full listing click here.
Whether it is your first time or your tenth time, buying a home is not a piece of cake. There are so many factors that play into finding your perfect home.
Ready to start your home search?