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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?

Houses will be going on the market soon with many folks wanting to take advantage of the 11% increase in existing homes prices we experienced in the Dallas Metroplex area in 2013. New home buyers need to be MORE aware than ever of the importance of getting pre-qualified before beginning their search.

In the next few days/weeks we’ll be posting  ideas for updating and getting a home ready to sell on our Facebook and Twitter.  LISTING HOMES FOR SALE IS NOT  OUR BUSINESS MODEL, but we know what buyers are looking for and what we recommend they focus on while searching for their new home.

Be watching for our posted tips on what buyers are looking for and how the new loan requirements will be important to buyers!  BUY NOW before interest rates are over the 5% forecasted by economists for 2014.

We can never forget the greatness of our country and the needless loss of so many of our citizens. Be alert, be informed, and be open minded. God Bless America and all that sacrificed both that day and in the wars that protect our democracy and keep us respected in the eyes of the world! We must never forget that uniting event and keep America strong!

Whether your children are veterans or this is their first year of school, starting the new year can be full of stress and anxiety. When sending your children back to school this year make sure you set a schedule and follow it! Setting a schedule that will work best for you and your family will help create structure within the home. It will also help reduce the anxiety throughout their day.

Mastering the Morning
The few hours before heading to school can be extra stressful for both children and parents alike. Kids are worried about what they are going to wear and trying to get their bags packed and ready to go. To help alleviate anxiety in the morning times, prepare backpacks and outfits the night before. Especially on the first day of school, when children are having to carry all of their supplies along with paperwork. Also, make sure your children eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. Morning meals should be high in protein and include minimal sugar. A quality breakfast will increase their alertness and start their day of right.

While at School
Children tend to start losing their energy and focus around lunch time, so make sure to pack them a healthy lunch. Some optimal options would include small sandwiches, fruits, cheeses, and plain yogurt. These types of foods are going to help them replenish the energy they had previously lost and give them an extra boost. Last but not least, make sure they get the recommended 8 hours of sleep, to ensure they have enough energy to get through the day.

After-school Fun
It is important for children to have some sort of physical activity after school. Whether they are on a sports team and have to practice or just a trip to the playground. Once coming home, homework and/or additional studying needs to be done. Choose a nice location for them to do their work, but while still being supervised. Where they study could depend entirely on what works best for them but could occur at the kitchen table, or in a study nook. It is also a good idea to hold a family dinner every night, if possible. This dinner can be used as bonding time for the members of the family as well it will keep you informed on your child’s day.

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Are you trying to sell your home? If so, you will want to get the most for it that you can. The best way to do that is to improve your home’s overall value. Here are some budget friendly boosts to sprucing up the living spaces. These simple fixes will go a long way and will ultimately increase your satisfaction and the value.

1. Update the kitchen
A little investment can really go a long way in the kitchen. Most families do spend most of their time in this room, so splurging for that new faucet fixture set or updated energy efficient lighting will really improve the overall feel. If the cabinets are outdated, you can always hire a cabinet re-facing company to add new handles and refinish the cabinet boxes.

2. Hire a designer or realtor
These professionals will come into your home and give advice on furniture placements, paint colors, and the overall decor of the home. The small improvements that they will suggest will improve the look and feel of the home, making it more inviting and desirable to potential buyers.

3. Inspect non-cosmetic issues
Many issues, such as termite infestation and electrical issues, could be hidden from your view and could ultimately diminish the value of your home. Bring in an inspector to check that there are not any issues that need to be addressed.

4. Paint!
Adding a fresh coat of paint can liven up any living space. Remember to go for neutral colors, as they will able to a larger base of people. Not every potential buyer will appreciate the bright red that you love.

5. Create curb appeal
First impressions are key! Go ahead and add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home! It will make your home look new and updated. Looking into landscaping would be a plus as well to make sure that your first impression is a great one!

6. Watch where you’re walking
After living in a home, carpets can show substantial wear and tear. Look into hiring a carpet cleaning company to make your carpets look brand new without having to break the bank on new carpeting. You could also rent a carpet shampooer, if you don’t already own one, and do this yourself to save some money.

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