Have you checked out this new dog boarding and doggie daycare place, Top Paw Resort? This new pet resort is fantastic, they are very conscious of their “carbon paw print,” and are committed to going green. Top Paw Resort also contributes to many local pet organizations.

These guys really do love dogs, and every pet owner wants to feel at ease when leaving their beloved pets in professional care. This brand new pet resort is owned and operated by people with years of experience! Conveniently located just 5 minutes west of Willowbend Mall at 4272 Marsh Ridge Rd Carrollton, Tx 75010. You can stop by or just email Top Paw Resort at info@toppawresort.com!

There are strong indicators that home prices in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are for forecasted to rise in 2012, and interest rates are low.  Get pre-qualified and call Bill Shields Buyer’s Resource for exclusive buyer’s representation.  We are never conflicted when we partner with our clients to navigate through the entire process of finding the home meeting their criteria and for the best value.  We NEVER represent the seller- Clients First Always!

Wow – another year has passed and we are thinking positive! Interest rates are still low and new listings (homes being listed for sale) will be coming on the market. If you are wanting to start the home search process it’s very important that you are represented by an exclusive buyer’s agent, we have been exclusively representing buyers for over 15 years and would like the opportunity to work with you. Whether it is your first home, a new construction home, investment property or just time for relocation,  we have the experience, energy, and dedication to help you through the entire process. Clients FIRST always’

Home sales in the entire Metroplex are down .05%  according today’s Dallas morning News business headline, but on November 4^th the News  reported many specific areas have gained in the pre-owned home sales.

The areas where home sales are up 1-10%, are the areas where we represent the majority of our buyers, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Coppell and Flower Mound.

Resale is an important factor when choosing a new home. You want to be in an area gaining in value, albeit slowly right now. It’s a great time to buy with interest rates still at an all-time low. Credit scores and pre-qualifying are very important, but most importantly, you need an exclusive buyer’s agent to advise you with this very important purchase.

Every day, we are reviewing the inventory of available homes in the Dallas area and helping our clients make the best possible decision.

2011 Tax Rates

Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County tax rates for 2011 are here!
Effective now until October 2012.

We all have a responsibility to help conserve our valuable water resources.  If we all follow the rules and get a little God given rain our water resources will return to normal soon.  Winter does not require much water for lawns, planting of new items should be very limited. Also, keep trees trimmed for optimum health. Take care and enjoy beautiful fall weather!

Here are some water saving tips for winter all the way from Chester County Pennsylvania!

• Winterize outdoor spigots to avoid pipes bursting from freezing.
• Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of water which must be run to get hot water to the faucet.
• Locate the master water shut off valve in your home, and mark it for quick identification. If a water pipe were to burst, it could cause flooding and property damage, not to mention immense water waste, if the valve were left open.

Below is the new water restrictions or you can find them online at www.plano.gov/water

City of Plano Enters Stage 3 Outdoor Watering Restrictions November 1, 2011

Outdoor Watering Limited to Once Every Two Weeks with Time Limitations

Effective Tuesday, November 1, 2011 the City of Plano will implement Stage 3 water conservation measures, joining other North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) cities. On-going drought conditions and the temporary loss of raw water supply due to invasive zebra mussels combined with NTMWD operational issues from high water consumption periods continues to require greater regional water conservation measures.

The continually decreasing water elevation level at Lake Lavon makes it essential to move to Stage 3 conservation levels to divert a catastrophic operational failure which will occur when lake elevation falls below 470 feet. On October 18, 2011 Lake Lavon recorded a level of 479.47 feet.

Prior to November 1 all residential and commercial water users will receive a bright yellow post card outlining the new Stage 3 outdoor watering restrictions, as follows:

• · Landscape watering with sprinklers is permitted once every other week; watering between the hours of 10am to 6pm is prohibited. Set your automatic systems to manual if needed, and only water on your designated day.
  • Even addresses: Every other Thursday, beginning November 3
  • Odd addresses: Every other Tuesday, beginning November 8
• Foundations, new landscaping and first year new plantings of shrubs and trees may be watered within a 10-foot radius of their trunk for up to two hours on any day using a hand-held hose, soaker hose or low flow irrigation.
• No hosing of paved areas, buildings or windows. Hose end cutoff nozzle must be used when washing vehicles.
• No ornamental fountains or outdoor amenities which use treated water.
• No hydro-seeding, hydro-mulching and sprigging. Planting cool season grasses, such as rye, is not allowed.
• Existing swimming pools may not be drained and refilled except to replace normal water loss.

Enforcement of Stage 3 watering restrictions will begin November 1.

Online information: www.plano.gov/water

Quality of life is important to all of us, especially in times of economic uncertainty and a questionable job market. Collin County has been helping residents by offering many free or affordable service options. One of these great resources in the area is the Tom Muehlenbeck Recreational Center in Plano. My wife and I both use the facility, my wife loves the Pilates classes and I use the lap pool as well as the weight room.

It’s amazing how a good workout can make the stress of the day disappear. We try to help our buyers discover the resources in the community of their choice. Many of the area communities offer resources to better the quality of life for the residents, from walking trails and bike trails to recreational centers and more. Take advantage of the resources in your community, it really can add value to your life.

Find out more about the Tom Muelenbeck Recreational Center including pricing.

Texas weather is unpredictable to say the least, and the extreme changes can wreak havoc on your home. The foundation of your home can take a beating if the soil around your home isn’t properly hydrated and maintained during hot dry periods.

To prevent this type of damage, all you need is a good soaker hose. The hose has to cover the entire perimeter that your foundation, it helps to have a small section of regular garden hose hooking the faucet to the soaker hose to prevent a puddle near the faucet.
Lay the soaker hose 12” to 14” from the structure and keep an eye on the ground to make sure it doesn’t get too wet or too dry. Be sure you place the soaker hoses no closer than 12” to the structure. Make sure all areas are getting approximately the same amount of hydration, don’t let one side dry out and one side be muddy. We recommend getting the soaker hoses on a timer.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us:
toll free: (800) 795-3678
local: (214) 646-6686
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Source: Richard Rash, Foundation Consultant

Beginning 9-1-11, in order to qualify for a residential homestead exemption, you must provide the following to the appraisal district along with your application:

Copy of your Texas Driver’s License
Copy of you vehicle registration receipt

The addresses on both these documents must match the address on your application.

It isn’t necessary for existing homeowners to file a new exemption application. However, their respective appraisal district may send out a request for a new application and\or copies of their driver’s license and vehicle registration.

Homestead exemption applications, along with the above documents, must be mailed between January 1 and April 30, 2012 in order to receive the homestead exemption for 2012.