Carrollton Festival at the Switchyard Trailer from Ariamedia on Vimeo.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Festival at the Switchyard Announces Full Entertainment Lineup
This is a great event for the entire family. Don't miss is.
Friday, May 28, 2010
8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home
Curb appeal has always been important for homesellers. With the vast majority of today’s homebuyers starting their search on the Internet, the appearance of your property is more critical than ever. You only have a few seconds to catch their attention as they scroll through listings online to get them to stop and take a closer look.
But the role of curb appeal goes beyond just making a good first impression. The way your house looks from the street can impact its value. It can also shorten the time it takes to sell your house
1. Paint the house.
Hands down, the most commonly offered curb appeal advice from our real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it and appraisers will note it on the valuation
2. Have the house washed.
Before you make the investment in a paint job, though, take a good look at the house. If it’s got mildew or general grunge, just washing the house could make a world of difference,
3. Trim the shrubs and green up the yard.
Put a lot of emphasis on landscaping, such as cutting down overgrown bushes and replacing them with leafy plants and annuals mulched with beautiful reddish-brown bark.
You also don’t want bare spots. Take the time to fertilize the yard, throw out some grass seed, and if need be, add some sod.
3. Trim the shrubs and green up the yard.
California real estate agent Valerie Torelli says she puts a lot of emphasis on landscaping, such as cutting down overgrown bushes and replacing them with leafy plants and annuals mulched with beautiful reddish-brown bark. “It runs me $30 to $50,” says Torelli. “Do you get a return on your money? Absolutely. It sucks people in.”
You also don’t want bare spots. Take the time to fertilize the yard, throw out some grass seed, and if need be, add some sod.
4. Add a splash of color.
It could be a flower bed of annuals by the mailbox, a paint job for the front door, or a brightly colored bench or an Adirondack chair.
5. Add a fancy mailbox and house numbers.
An upscale mail box and architectural house numbers or an address plaque can give your house a distinctive look that stands out from everyone else on the block.
6. Repair or clean the roof.
Springfield, Va.-based home inspector and former builder Reggie Marston says the roof is one of the first things he looks at in assessing the condition of a home. He’ll look at other houses in the neighborhood to see if there are a lot of replaced roofs and see if the subject house has one as well. If not, he’ll look for curls in the shingles or missing shingles. “I’m looking at the roof for end-of-life expectancy,” he says.
You can pay for roof repairs now, or pay for them later in a lower appraisal; appraisers will mark down the value by the cost of the repair. That could knock thousands of dollars off your appraisal. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report, the average cost of a new asphalt shingle roof is more than $19,000.
“Roofs are issues,” Lucco says. “You won’t throw money away on that job. You gotta have a decent roof.”
Stains and plant matter, such as moss, can be handled with cleaning. It’s a job that can often be done in a day for a few hundred dollars, and makes the roof look like new. It’s not a DIY project; call a professional with the right tools to clean it without damaging it.
7. Put up a fence.
A picket fence with a garden gate to frame the yard is an asset. A fence has more impact in a family-oriented neighborhood than an upscale retirement community.
8. Perform routine maintenance and cleaning.
Nothing sets off subconscious alarms like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or lawn tools rusting in the bushes. It makes even the professionals question what else hasn’t been taken care of.
“A house is worth less if the maintenance isn’t done,” Lucco says. “Those little things can add up and be a very big detractor. When people say, ‘I’d buy it if it weren’t for all the deferred maintenance,’ what they’re really saying is, ‘I’d still buy it if you reduce the price.’”
But the role of curb appeal goes beyond just making a good first impression. The way your house looks from the street can impact its value. It can also shorten the time it takes to sell your house
1. Paint the house.
Hands down, the most commonly offered curb appeal advice from our real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it and appraisers will note it on the valuation
2. Have the house washed.
Before you make the investment in a paint job, though, take a good look at the house. If it’s got mildew or general grunge, just washing the house could make a world of difference,
3. Trim the shrubs and green up the yard.
Put a lot of emphasis on landscaping, such as cutting down overgrown bushes and replacing them with leafy plants and annuals mulched with beautiful reddish-brown bark.
You also don’t want bare spots. Take the time to fertilize the yard, throw out some grass seed, and if need be, add some sod.
3. Trim the shrubs and green up the yard.
California real estate agent Valerie Torelli says she puts a lot of emphasis on landscaping, such as cutting down overgrown bushes and replacing them with leafy plants and annuals mulched with beautiful reddish-brown bark. “It runs me $30 to $50,” says Torelli. “Do you get a return on your money? Absolutely. It sucks people in.”
You also don’t want bare spots. Take the time to fertilize the yard, throw out some grass seed, and if need be, add some sod.
4. Add a splash of color.
It could be a flower bed of annuals by the mailbox, a paint job for the front door, or a brightly colored bench or an Adirondack chair.
5. Add a fancy mailbox and house numbers.
An upscale mail box and architectural house numbers or an address plaque can give your house a distinctive look that stands out from everyone else on the block.
6. Repair or clean the roof.
Springfield, Va.-based home inspector and former builder Reggie Marston says the roof is one of the first things he looks at in assessing the condition of a home. He’ll look at other houses in the neighborhood to see if there are a lot of replaced roofs and see if the subject house has one as well. If not, he’ll look for curls in the shingles or missing shingles. “I’m looking at the roof for end-of-life expectancy,” he says.
You can pay for roof repairs now, or pay for them later in a lower appraisal; appraisers will mark down the value by the cost of the repair. That could knock thousands of dollars off your appraisal. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report, the average cost of a new asphalt shingle roof is more than $19,000.
“Roofs are issues,” Lucco says. “You won’t throw money away on that job. You gotta have a decent roof.”
Stains and plant matter, such as moss, can be handled with cleaning. It’s a job that can often be done in a day for a few hundred dollars, and makes the roof look like new. It’s not a DIY project; call a professional with the right tools to clean it without damaging it.
7. Put up a fence.
A picket fence with a garden gate to frame the yard is an asset. A fence has more impact in a family-oriented neighborhood than an upscale retirement community.
8. Perform routine maintenance and cleaning.
Nothing sets off subconscious alarms like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or lawn tools rusting in the bushes. It makes even the professionals question what else hasn’t been taken care of.
“A house is worth less if the maintenance isn’t done,” Lucco says. “Those little things can add up and be a very big detractor. When people say, ‘I’d buy it if it weren’t for all the deferred maintenance,’ what they’re really saying is, ‘I’d still buy it if you reduce the price.’”
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Don't Wait !
Daily Real Estate News | March 2, 2010 | Share
Buyers Who Wait May Lose a Lot
Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.
First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.
Other factors that should spur buyers:
Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.
Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there).
Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)
Browse all of today's news
Buyers Who Wait May Lose a Lot
Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.
First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.
Other factors that should spur buyers:
Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.
Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there).
Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)
Browse all of today's news
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Rising Sales in Most States !
Rising Sales in Most States, and Rising Prices in Many Metros (at Last!)
by NAR Research Staff
There was good news for most states in the 4th quarter of 2009. Existing-home sales rose from the 3rd to 4th quarter in 48 states and the District of Columbia. In fact, 32 states experienced double-digit quarterly gains. On a year-over-year basis, resales were higher in 49 states and the District, with all but three posting double-digit annual increases.
According to the latest quarterly statistics released by NAR Research, total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 13.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.03 million in the fourth quarter - up from 5.29 million in the third quarter. Existing-home sales rose 27.2 percent from their 4th quarter 2008 pace of 4.74 million units. As a further sign of housing market stability, distressed properties accounted for 32 percent of fourth quarter transactions; that is down from
37 percent a year earlier
by NAR Research Staff
There was good news for most states in the 4th quarter of 2009. Existing-home sales rose from the 3rd to 4th quarter in 48 states and the District of Columbia. In fact, 32 states experienced double-digit quarterly gains. On a year-over-year basis, resales were higher in 49 states and the District, with all but three posting double-digit annual increases.
According to the latest quarterly statistics released by NAR Research, total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 13.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.03 million in the fourth quarter - up from 5.29 million in the third quarter. Existing-home sales rose 27.2 percent from their 4th quarter 2008 pace of 4.74 million units. As a further sign of housing market stability, distressed properties accounted for 32 percent of fourth quarter transactions; that is down from
37 percent a year earlier
Monday, February 1, 2010
City Forms International Partnership with Guri City, Korea
On January 12, 2010, the City of Carrollton welcomed a special eight-member delegation from Guri City, Korea to formalize an International Partnership between the two cities. The intent of the International Partnership is to enhance international understanding and provide for mutually beneficial cultural, educational, tourism and economic development opportunities.
Honorable Mayor Youngsun Park, Mayor, Guri City and the Honorable Ronald F. Branson, Mayor, City of Carrollton participated in a formal signing ceremony to officially declare the International Partnership between the two cities, as members of the Korean delegation and Carrollton City Council looked on.
The ceremony began with the singing of the American and Korean National Anthems by Pastor Hyung Kon Paek, and an invocation from Pastor Young Ki Han, Disciple Baptist Church. This was followed by introductory remarks from Mr. Brad Mink, Director of Economic Development, City of Carrollton; and comments from both Mayors.
The Honorable Yun-Soo Cho, Consul General, Consulate General of The Republic of Korea was also on hand to offer congratulatory remarks; as was Mrs. Soon A. Pak, President, Korean Society of Dallas and Mr. Chan Pak, Carrollton Resident and Official City Ambassador to Korea.
The ceremony concluded with an official exchange of City flags and gifts, followed by a reception at Indian Creek Golf Club. This partnership formalizes the long relationship of good will between our two countries and is a tribute to the many Koreans who live, work, and do business in the City of Carrollton.
Honorable Mayor Youngsun Park, Mayor, Guri City and the Honorable Ronald F. Branson, Mayor, City of Carrollton participated in a formal signing ceremony to officially declare the International Partnership between the two cities, as members of the Korean delegation and Carrollton City Council looked on.
The ceremony began with the singing of the American and Korean National Anthems by Pastor Hyung Kon Paek, and an invocation from Pastor Young Ki Han, Disciple Baptist Church. This was followed by introductory remarks from Mr. Brad Mink, Director of Economic Development, City of Carrollton; and comments from both Mayors.
The Honorable Yun-Soo Cho, Consul General, Consulate General of The Republic of Korea was also on hand to offer congratulatory remarks; as was Mrs. Soon A. Pak, President, Korean Society of Dallas and Mr. Chan Pak, Carrollton Resident and Official City Ambassador to Korea.
The ceremony concluded with an official exchange of City flags and gifts, followed by a reception at Indian Creek Golf Club. This partnership formalizes the long relationship of good will between our two countries and is a tribute to the many Koreans who live, work, and do business in the City of Carrollton.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Carrollton Ranks as One of the Safest Cities in America
The City of Carrollton has once again been rated as one of the safest cities in America. CQ Press’ 2009 City Crime Rankings rates Carrollton as the 95th safest city in the US, the 10th safest city in Texas and the 6th safest city in the DFW area.
CQ Press publishes an annual list of city crime rates comparing 393 U.S. cities. This survey considered 332 metropolitan areas and 393 cities using statistics released by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the FBI in September 2009.
Additional details can be found at CQ Press City Crime Rankings 2009-2010.
CQ Press publishes an annual list of city crime rates comparing 393 U.S. cities. This survey considered 332 metropolitan areas and 393 cities using statistics released by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the FBI in September 2009.
Additional details can be found at CQ Press City Crime Rankings 2009-2010.
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