Austin TX Real Estate - Hill Country Austin Lakeway Homes for Sale: April 2007

As before, please join our group and you can stay caught up every week!

This week was definitely better than last week.  Much more action.

Let's start with VP Noah making out with his personal assistant person, I can't think of her name.  I kinda thought there was something going on there, but they never actually did anything until now.  Along those lines, I can't believe VP didn't ask Lennox for the tapes so they can be destroyed.  He only asked for Lennox to promise not to use them against him if they have a disagreement.  Like that promise is going to last long.

And the issue from 12 hours ago resurfaces.  Karen fires Bill to take the hear off the presidency.  Just because they had someone in custody 2 years ago doesn't mean they could have foreseen the future.  If that's the case, all the Americans who commit crimes, who then spend time in jail, are then released after time served, and then they commit another crime to go back to jail... shouldn't something happen to those judges for allowing the criminal to be released after time served?  Anyway, my own soapbox...

So, Bill is fired and he puts Nadia in charge.  I'm sorry, but isn't Milo ranked higher than Nadia?  Why was Nadia chosen?  That makes no sense.  Also, Jack called Bill's cell phone to leave the message about the bomb and that he's been a good friend.  Is this message going to help Jack's case that he really meant to blow everyone up when they don't believe him?

Jack meets with Chan and is set to blow the place up with the component from the nuke until Doyle interferes again.  I swear, why didn't Jack throw him a component that looked like the real thing when Chan wouldn't have known the difference?  Also, where did Jack even get the bomb and the detonator?  Wasn't he in CTU custody right before jacking the car from Doyle?  Do they sell bombs at the local convenience store these days?

And what's up with Audrey.  Apparently she's been desensitized and doesn't really know what's going on.  According to the preview for next week, that's Jack's way of getting back into the investigation.

Morris asked to be reassigned as he's not playing nice-nice in the sandbox with Chloe.  Bill said he would take care of it, but that was just a couple of minutes before he was fired... Is Morris really going to go?

Best Quote for the day because they FINALLY acknowledged the time (since Washington is actually 3 hours ahead thus this episode was actually before 3am-4am for them: Karen says to the Justice guy, "A little early for you?"

There is going to be a ski resort built in Ft. Worth, TX, just west of Dallas.  This resort is going to be a Bearfire Resort.  Bearfire has several other resorts across the country, but when they're done with this one, it's going to be the largest one built yet.

Now, you're probably thinking, It doesn't snow very much in DFW, muchless does it keep a consistently cold temperature during the winter months.  Well, these factors won't be of any concern.  The "snow" is going to be some kind of carpet called Snowflex that allows for a smooth skiing experience.

I've been been skiing before, so I won't be able to judge the difference, but I'm very excited for the opportunity to learn! Along with the slopes, there will be a 600 room hotel and convention center!

 (courtesy of the Star Telegram)

They are excepting around 2.4 million visitors annually.  At first I thought that was a large number.  But then I remembered that Dallas and the surrounding suburbs have over 5 million people already, so that's not saying too much about bringing outside tourism to the area.

Overall, the project is supposed to be just shy of $700 million and I can't wait to buy some ski clothes!!

Once a year, it's a good idea to give your home a checkup. Finding problems or potential problems in their early stages usually gives you the best chance to make repairs more easily and less expensively than if problems are allowed to worsen over time.

The kinds of things you'll want to monitor in your home include:

* Gutters and downspouts: Inspect for leaf and debris buildup that can cause overflow problems.
* Paint: Make sure painted surfaces aren't peeling or cracked, exposing wood to weather damage.
* Windows: Check the weatherproofing and caulking and replace cracked panes.
* Roof: Inspect tiles or shingles and flashing to prevent leaks; clean off any moss.
* Appliances: Check and replace frayed electrical cords, damaged plugs, and cracked or leaking hoses.

Proper care and maintenance will keep your home safe, attractive, and comfortable. Taking good care of your home helps reduce the need for expensive repairs and ensures that your home will command top dollar when you decide to sell.

Please don't hesitate to email or call me if I can help you with any real estate needs or answer any questions for you.  Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!! 

 ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

To prepare your home for sale, you may need to perform some maintenance to get it into top shape. Here is a list of things you can do before your home goes on the market that will really make a difference:

* Replace cracked windows and torn screens.
* Fix or replace broken stairs or handrails.
* Fix plumbing fixtures, leaking faucets, and so on.
* Replace exterior lock sets and garage door openers if damaged.
* Repair worn or damaged flooring.
* Replace broken or leaking gutters and downspouts.
* Remove any soil or landscape mulch from contact with wood.
* Clean, repair, or replace the roof.
* Repair or replace worn boards on decks or porches.
* Have your heater and air conditioning units serviced and filters replaced.

Some sellers may hesitate to tackle these matters because of the cost, but money spent on repairs can make a difference in the final sale price. Moreover, some of these deferred maintenance items are safety hazards and others may be required by the buyer or lender before closing.

Buyers tend to overestimate the cost of performing repairs and thus reduce their offer by an amount higher than necessary to compensate. If the lender requires the repairs to be performed before closing, the seller can, in effect, end up paying for repairs twice: first in a lower sale price and second in the out-of-pocket cost of the repairs themselves.

A better strategy is to perform the repairs before putting your house on the market. By comparing estimates from several contractors, you can be sure to get a competitive price. And you'll eliminate potential reasons a prospective buyer might use to justify a lower price offer.

If you're thinking about selling your home, please call or email to discuss repairs your house might need. I may be able to save you time and money.  Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!! 

 ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

So, I h ad predicted that Audrey wasn't really dead because her other show had been canceled, and I thought the next 24 might  be about Jack leaving CTU and heading to China to find her...

Well, I just saw a preview for a new show called Lipstick Jungle and guess who is starring with Brooke Shields... Yep, it's Audrey!!  So, unless they film 24 on her off season from the new Sex and the City (that's how Lipstick Jungle is being described except the new characters are married), then Audrey really is dead, darnit!!

I love it when sellers cooperate and do just about everything I ask them to do so we can present the house in a way to get top dollar!

Look at the before and after pictures below:

The office not only had this built-in desk, but there was also another complete desk to the left that you can't see.  All of that has been removed out of the room and look at the white walls!  It makes the space look so much more manageable.

Almost all pictures have been removed from the wood paneling and a nice open area has been created for a better flow of traffic.  Before, you couldn't really see the fireplace, but now the fireplace POPS!

The is the back Family Room.  There was no order to anything back here.  I had a chair removed, and it opened up quite nicely.  You can even see the view of the Diving Pool in the back!

This floorplan is so open, and the rearrangment of furniture shows the space much better.  All personal items  have been removed. 

Can you imagine your family living here?  Are you packed yet?

What a great house with 8.5' Diving, Heated Pool & Spa! This is a 3 bedrooms home with 2.5 baths, a Study, 2 Living areas, 2 Dining Areas, 2 car Garage, and almost 2500 sqft.  Updates include: Pool resurfaced, Pool filter, AC & Furnace, stove, dishwasher, & faucet. Features include: oak paneling & beams, study with built-ins, skylights, intercom, wetbar, oversized marble shower, double closets, double sinks, sitting area in Master, Gas FP, wine rack over fridge, built-in hutch in Nook, tile-wood floors, lots of counter & cabinet space, floored attic, sprinklers & so much more!! View the the Visual Tour! All this for ONLY $235,000!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET??

The Richardson City Council approved a new ordinance in February 2007 that is going to change many things about home improvement in the city, and for the better.  With this new ordinance, when a home owner spends over $20k to better their home, they get back 10 times the tax difference in one lump sum amount.

The amount is based off what the appraised value for the property was verse what it is after the improvements. This amount of money is paid during the tax year one year after the first April it was completed. 

For example, the Richardson Today paper says: "Assume that a home improvement project is competely in June 2007.  Further assume that the 2008 property taxes increased $300 above the 2007 property taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable value of the improvements.  The total incentive would be $3,000 and would be paid on April 1, 2009."

What this means is that people can go ahead and do some major improvements to their home without the worries about their tax values increasing.  Yes, they'll increase, but to get 10 years' worth of the improvement back in one check, that's a WIN-WIN for everyone involved!  And if you're not there for 10 years, it doesn't matter.  You're going to even get another 10 fold when you go to resell it because it'll be updated to today's standards and you'll be able to sell it faster and for higher dollar.

Any other cities have a tax incentive like this?

What's going on?  I think the story lines are getting a little ridiculous and, to an extent, it seems they're trying to waste time to cover the entire day.

Last week, Milo kissed Nadia.  This week, they had to address it a couple of times and then Milo had to stare at Nadia for like 10-15 seconds.  Did they run out of dialogue?

I can't believe VP Daniels tried to get the President voted out of office.  Karen might have given her resignation, but when she came back and sat in on that meeting, it was implied that she was back.  For VP Daniels to agree to have his aid submit an illegal affidavit, WOW!  And GO TOM! for bugging his office.  Tom isn't such a bad guy after all.

It was like two seasons ago where Jack needed the drugs to get through the day, and now the President needs drugs just to stand up.  This isn't going to end well.  And what happened to Sandra's boyfriend, Walied or however you spell his name?

Can you believe Doyle protected Milo?  Doyle found an irregularity on Milo's system, asked Nadia to get the information, and then Doyle altered it so Milo wouldn't get in trouble.  Ricky confuses me...

So, they have Gredenko in custody.  They try to set him up to meet with Fayed.  They put a tracking device in his arm and told him not to try to dig it out.  Instead, he meets with Fayed and they chop his arm off!!  WHAT??  Then, they start running, end up in a bar, and Gredenko makes a scene to everyone and points out Fayed.  Gredenko tries to run, but instead ends up face down in the water dead.  Duh, you chopped your arm off and were losing a lot of blood, how did you get as far as you did?

Jack now has Fayed in custody, and we'll see where this goes next week.

** I completely forgot, you know how the VP wanted a nuclear strike and Pres wanted to stop it?  Wayne is back on duty and he ok'd a nuclear attack.  What the....?

DON'T FORGET TO JOIN THE 24 HOUR GROUP TO CATCH UP WITH ALL THE EPISODES!!

I listed a new listing this afternoon, and it looks like a million dollars, but it's only $133,900!!  When I first walked in, I'm thinking we're going to be lucky to get $125k, but the sellers did everything I asked of them, and it looks great, and I feel very comfortable with the asking price.  It's going to put other houses in the neighborhood to shame.

Here are a couple of my before and after pictures:

Changing the rug and reducing the size allowed for the hardwoods to shine.  They're original so they're not in the greatest condition with a huge window making some of the wood fade, or we would have done an even smaller rug.  The ottoman had to go and so did some of the artwork and pillows.

Of course we took the steam cleaner out of the room.  We also changed the slip cover for the couch to a lighter color to make the room look larger, lighter and brighter.  Took most things off the shelves and walls, and what a difference!

Look, you can actually see the tile counters and backsplash!!  Look at the art-deco lighting.  Before, you couldn't tell what was going on.  There was something on every inch of counter space.  It looks to clean and crisp now, and ready for a new chef!!

CLICK HERE for the Visual Tour- What do you think of the transformation??  Are YOU Packed??

What a house,WOW! Open Floorplan with several unique features throughout. There are three bedrooms and 2 full baths with two Living areas and two Dining areas.  Many Big Ticket Updates: New Sewer Line, Gas line, AC, Furnace, HWH, Paint, Decor lights, & Fans. Features include Hardwoods, Storm Windows, Tile Counters in Kitchen w Island, Built in Breakfast Table (can be removed), Kitchen & Bath with Italian Tile, many Closets and Shevles. Wood under carpet in the Family Room. Wood Deck, great for entertaining! Attic Fan, Vinyl siding...

Click HERE for the Visual Tour!

Remember, I can show you any listing property in the Dallas area, including Richardson, Plano, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, and many other surrounding areas.  Please don't hesitate to call me today and make this house your home!

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY, everyone!!

Does anyone have any good pranks that they are planning, or pranks that they've done in previous years?

I've never been one to do the pranks because it's hard for me to keep a straight face, though I'm really good at poker and keeping a straight face.

Anyone have anything good?

Tax appraisal assessments will be going out the first week of May.  If you do not have your papers from the County Central Appraisal District by May 8, you need to call and check your values.

In Dallas County, you will only receive a notice if your assessment has changed from the previous year.  Do not assume that not receiving one means your assessment wasn't changed because it could have gotten lost in the mail. CALL!

All Collin County residents will receive their assessment whether there was a change or not.

Dallas Central Appraisal District: www.dcad.org

Collin County Appraisal District: www.collincad.org