If you have a question about anything real estate related, have something to contribute, or just need some information... let me know. I'll do my best to get right back to you. If the answer/information is not private, I'll post it here on my blog for all to read and comment on. Chances are, others have similar questions and will appreciate your inquiry or information.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

The Viliage at Allen holiday events will continue throughout Novenber and December. Here are the details, enjoy:

• Photos with “The Big Guy,” Nov. 21 – Dec. 24
  Santa will have his own special house at The Village at Allen where children can visit him for photos and wishes beginning Nov. 21 and continuing through Christmas Eve. Pets will have their own night for photos with Santa every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Nov. 24 and continuing through Dec. 8.  For daily Santa hours and photo package prices, visit www.thevillageshopping.com.
• Letters to Santa, Nov. 21 – Dec. 24
  Children wanting a direct line to Santa Claus can drop their letters into Santa’s mailbox, located in The Grove. Santa’s smiling face is on the front of the mailbox waiting for holiday wish letters.
• Visit Donner and Blitzen, Nov. 21 – Dec. 20
  The Village at Allen will be home to Santa’s favorite reindeer, Donner and Blitzen, during the holiday season beginning Nov. 21. See the live reindeer when they take turns visiting Nov. 21 - Dec. 21 (on site each Saturday and Sunday). Visit www.thevillageshopping.com for reindeer hours.  
• Interactive Tree Show (happening every 20 minutes), Nov. 21 – through Dec. 24
  Festive holiday music and 100,000 bright lights create an interactive holiday experience that will make even the Grinch smile.
• Toy Drive, Nov. 21 – Dec. 19
  Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Allen Community Outreach holiday toy drive, benefitting needy families in the community.  Look for the toy box in The Grove to drop off donation items.
• Trees For Troops, Dec. 3 – Dec. 5
  The Village at Allen will join FedEx Freight and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in honoring members of the U.S. Armed Forces by providing 200 Christmas trees that will be distributed to service members and their families.  Guests can participate by stopping by the Trees for Troops tent to write a note of appreciation that will be attached to a donated tree.
• Holiday Blood Drive, Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  The blood drive, benefiting Carter BloodCare, will be held in The Grove. Continue the  spirit of giving by donating blood to help Carter BloodCare reach its goal of replenishing  the area’s blood supply. 

I hope you and your family enjoy the events and have a happy holiday season!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Ok, here are the details for the holiday kick-off event on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. are as follows. All activities will take place in The Grove (located in the center of The Village at Allen).

·         Goody Bags
The first 350 children to arrive on Nov. 21 will receive a holiday goody bag filled with treats and special offers from The Village at Allen and The Village at Fairview stores. The goody bags will be distributed at 4:30 p.m.

·         Children’s Holiday Crafts (no time given; probably 4:30-6:30)
Children will enjoy holiday crafts, face painting and balloon designs. Mrs. Claus will stop by for a visit with cookies for the kids.

·         Allen Philharmonic Symphony Carolers – 5:30 p.m.

            Carolers from the Allen Philharmonic Symphony will perform seasonal favorites that are sure to keep the “ho-ho-ho” in the holidays.

·         Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting - 6 p.m.
Santa Claus, a.k.a. “The Big Guy,” will arrive in style on an Allen Event Center Zamboni.  Immediately following, a ceremony will commence to light The Village at Allen’s 35-foot, interactive tree when Santa “flips the switch” to the tree’s 100,000 lights. Guests can toast the holiday with a complimentary cup of warm cocoa or hot cider and sing along with holiday tunes played by the interactive tree every 20 minutes.  Santa will be available to listen to holiday wishes and take photos with children following the event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

·         KLTY Radio
Family-friendly station - KLTY FM 94.9 - will turn up the volume on fun with festive holiday music during the event.  Morning DJ Frank Reed will emcee the event.

·         Live Reindeer
Santa’s reindeer, Donner and Blitzen, will make their first appearance on Nov. 21 during the holiday kick-off celebration.Allen Community Outreach (ACO) Toy Drive
Visitors are encouraged to start the holiday season with a spirit of giving and bring unwrapped toys to the donation box located in The Grove.

·        

The Village at Allen holiday festivities are just getting started on Saturday though... they will continue throughout the holiday season. Check back here for more details on all of the continuing holiday fun in just a few days.
Happy Hollidays!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Just saw a press release about the upcoming holiday season at The Village at Allen. Below are the basics, more detials to be posted soon.
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Festivities kick off Nov. 21 with arrival of “The Big Guy” and tree lighting for 35-foot, interactive tree

   The Village at Allen, located at the southeast corner of U.S. 75 and Stacy Road in Allen, Texas, will kick off the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the arrival of Santa, known as “The Big Guy” by many North Texas residents, and his reindeer.
   During the free event, the shopping center also will host a community tree lighting ceremony featuring its 35-foot, interactive tree. Guests may enjoy a variety of activities including a complimentary goody bag giveaway, holiday crafts for children, carolers from the Allen Philharmonic Symphony and more. Holiday festivities at The Village at Allen will continue through December.
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More details to come in just a few days...

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Great news: In case you haven't heard, the Home Buyer Tax Credit ($8,000 in free money) was extended through April 30, 2010. This is for first time buyers or those who haven't owned in the past three years. HOWEVER, they extended it to give $6,500 to those buyers who have lived in the same home for 5 of the last 8 years. They also relaxed income requirements so more people will qualify! So, it's a GREAT time buy AND a great time to move-up as well!

People were worried that the program was not going to be extended... combine that with interest rates that are still incredibly low, and a great selection of available homes, and you can see why the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) says that North Texas pre-owned home sales surged in October — up 11 percent from a year ago. It was the first double-digit gain in more than a year. NAR also that said that sales prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area were up 0.2 percent from a year ago. It's the first time DFW prices have been positive since the fourth quarter 2007. So, don't wait for prices to increase more... get out there and get your free money to buy your first home ($8,000) or move-up to your next ($6,500)! The tax credit can be claimed almost immediately by filing an amended tax return; you do not have to wait until filing the next year's taxes. A great resource for info. can be found here:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

Let me know if you have any more questions or comments...

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

For those looking for work, I just saw this announcement about a job fair for the new Courtyard by Marriott at The Village at Allen (Off Stacy Road):

Scheduled to open in January 2010, this property is expected to represent the largest meeting event space in Allen, TX.

228 Beautiful and Spacious Guest Rooms
15,000 Square Feet of Meeting Space
9,300 Square Foot Ballroom
Courtyard's new Bistro

Ready to be part of the team?

We want to meet you!!

Opening Team Job Fair
{The Village at Allen}

November 18, 2009 9am-5pm
November 19, 2009 11am-7pm

Can't make the job fair...
Go to www.jqh.hospitalityonline.com for all posted positions
Email Terri Martinez at terri.martinez@jqh.com

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Good luck job seekers, remember to dress for success!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

I saw this great article in Collin County Commissioner, Joe Jaynes', "The County Line" e-mail newsletter (back on Aug. 4, 2009). Good info. about 75/Central for all Collin County Residents. It may just be my imagination, but I think some part of this highway been under major contruction for the past 25 years or so (at least, as far back as I can remember). Guess that's the price of growth and progress...
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Update on U.S. 75
By Joe Jaynes, Collin County Commissioner

Almost everyone in Collin County lives within 30 miles of U.S. 75, a road that could be considered the spinal cord of Collin County's north-south mobility. Next year's expansion of U.S. 75 to eight main lanes and two three-lane service roads will affect the daily commutes of thousands. Quite frankly, that commute will get worse before it gets better - but better it will get.

The good news is that the funding for the much needed expansion is in place, and after engineering and environmental studies are completed, the project will be ready to go.  Below is a breakdown of segments of U.S. 75 and when they are scheduled to be let, or awarded for construction. Please keep in mind that once a project is let it usually takes another 90 days before dirt begins moving. Also, all the projects below have a two to three-year time period for completion.

- U.S. 75 from Legacy to S.H. 121: This segment is scheduled to let in fall 2012 and be completed by fall 2014.
- U.S. 75 at S.H. 121 Interchange: Already under construction, this new four-level interchange will be open to traffic by spring 2011 and fully completed by the following spring.
- U.S. 75 from S.H. 121 to U.S. 380: This segment goes right through the heart of McKinney, and is scheduled to let in late 2010 with a scheduled completion in spring 2014.
- U.S. 75 at US 380 intersection: One of the most congested intersections in Collin County, this project is already underway and scheduled to be completed by fall 2010.
- U.S. 75 at Wilmeth: This segment will go through some major change as U.S. 75 will be constructed over Wilmeth with an exit added at Bloomdale Road. This segment will let next spring with completion scheduled for fall 2011.
- U.S. 75 from Bloomdale Road to Telephone Road: This segment will let in spring 2011, with construction scheduled to be complete by summer 2013.
- U.S. 75 from Telephone Road to Melissa Road: This project includes a new interchange at U.S. 75 and S.H. 121 in Melissa. The project will be let in spring 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2014.
- U.S. 75 from Melissa Road to Foster's Crossing (the Outer Loop): The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would like to schedule this to begin in spring 2013, but we need to see how far we are on both the Outer Loop and how the schematic will look for the interchange at the Outer Loop and U.S. 75.
- U.S. 75 from the Outer Loop to Grayson County: At this point, there is only funding for engineering. Hopefully, two legislative sessions will have passed by the time we need to move dirt on this project and new construction dollars will be allocated.

Even though U.S. 75 is a TxDOT project, the majority of the funding for these project segments came from the S.H. 121 Regional Toll Revenues. The North Texas Tollway Authority paid the region $3.2 billion for the right to toll S.H. 121 for the next 50 years.

Of this $3.2 billion, $1.5 billion came to Collin County. Out of the $1.5 billion, $600 million of this money went to the construction of the S.H. 121 main lanes, which is moving forward aggressively now. Another $600 million is being put into U.S. 75, with the remaining funds upgrading other major thoroughfares throughout the county. 

Overall, Collin County is very fortunate because, while the state is going through a major transportation funding crisis, we are still able to move forward with these important projects. I look forward to keeping you updated on this issue. Please feel free to comment on this issue and others at my blog at www.joejaynes.com.
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Thanks for the great article Commissioner Jaynes! I just hope the construction delays/headaches aren't too terrible.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Want to donate canned soup to local food pantries AND 10% of your lunch or dinner bill? Just take two cans or soup to The Cheesecake Factory on September 30th and they'll give 10% off your check to local food banks. I just read about it (and it's not just in the Allen, TX Location):
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The Cheesecake Factory has partnered with Feeding America for the "Drive Out Hunger" Tour. Throughout the month of September, we've been touring 30 cities in 30 days collecting cans of soup to benefit local food banks. So far, we've donated 65,383 cans of soup, but we still need your help to reach our goal of 100,000!
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So, help them reach their goal by taking two cans of soup (heck take three or four). It's for a great cause and you need to eat anyway (why not help others do the same)!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Just got this late-breaking press release:

ALLEN EVENT CENTER WILL HOST A JOB FAIR WITH 200 POSITIONS RANGING FROM USHERS, TICKET TAKING, AND SECURITY, TO COACHING AND MANAGEMENT

WHAT:     The City of Allen’s newest sports and entertainment venue, the Allen Event Center, will host a job fair in preparation for its November 2009 grand opening. The job fair will take place Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Allen.

More than 200 positions are available in a variety of departments including:
Box Office Sellers, Stand Supervisors, Concession Workers, Warehouse Runners, Warehouse Manager, Cooks, Dishwashers, Suite Level Supervisor, Club Supervisor, Suite Attendants, Loge Servers, Food Runners, Bartenders, Head Cashier, Cashiers, Merchandise Sellers, Audio/Visual Positions, Event Conversion Crew, Electrician, HVAC, Maintenance, Production, PBX Operator, Premium Seat Coordinator, Housekeeping, Security , Guest Services, Ushers, Ticket Takers, Game Operations, Head Figure Skating Coach, Head Hockey Coach, Figure Skating Coach, Hockey Coach, House League Coach, Off Ice Training Specialist, Customer Service Representative, Ice Technician, Equipment Sales, Skate Sharpen and Repair Staff, DJ and Entertainment Coordinator, Birthday Party Hostess, and more… *Job fair attendees should come dressed professionally and be prepared to do on-site interviews. For a complete list of available positions, visit www.alleneventcenter.com.

WHO:       Doug Waugh, General Manager, Allen Event Center
Kristen Keeler, Human Resource Manager, Global Entertainment

WHEN:     Friday, Sept. 11: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept 12: 9 a.m. – 5p.m.

WHERE:   Hilton Garden Inn in Allen
705 Central Expressway South
Allen, Texas 75013
*From U.S. 75, take Bethany Drive exit

BACKGROUND:
The $52.6 million Allen Event Center is a joint venture between Global Entertainment Corp., the City of Allen, and The MGHerring Group. Upon its grand opening in November, the event center will feature 6,135 fixed seats (with capacity for 8,100 seats), 24 suites, 5 hospitality suites, and two ice rinks. The Allen Event Center will host approximately 100+ events each year, including concerts, top touring shows, family entertainment and professional sports and is home to the Allen Americans Central Hockey League team. The event center, which broke ground in July 2008, is located within The Village at Allen at U.S. 75 and Stacy Road in Allen, Texas.
JOB FAIR CONTACT:
For questions regarding the job fair, the public may contact Sheila Alexander at    salexander@globalentertainment2000.com or 972-678-4646  
MEDIA CONTACT:
Flo Torres, Events and Marketing, ftorres@globalentertainment2000.com or 972-678-4646
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I hope this helps some Allen residents who are looking for work! 

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

The Allen Event Center just issued a press release with their fall/winter lineup! Check it out:
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The Allen Event Center, a 8,100-seat sports and entertainment venue opening in November 2009, has announced its initial entertainment lineup with six show dates for the fall/winter season. Country superstar Reba McEntire will headline the grand opening concert on Friday, November 6. Saturday, September 19 at 9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gettix.net or on the phone by dialing 1-866-I-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849) or at the Allen Event Center Box Office in The Grove at The Village at Allen at 190 E. Stacy Road.
Box office hours are Monday through Friday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Charge by phone hours (CST) are Monday through Friday - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reba McEntire – Friday, November 6
• AMP Tour – Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15
• Styx and REO Speedwagon (with Night Ranger) – Tuesday, November 17
• Tech N9ne – Friday, November 20
• Charlie Daniels Band – Saturday, December 19
• Extreme Ice Racing – Friday, February 12 to Saturday, February 13
• Plus Allen Americans Single Season Game Tickets
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I hope to see you at some shows! 

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

A Buyer just asked me a great question about a home with a price that looked "too good to be true". Here's a generalized version of my response:
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The home you asked about is a short sale... Often you would have no way to know this without asking me to check it out a little. However, if you ever see something in the description like "Subject to lender's approval" (as this one has) it means that the Seller can't make the final decision. At the current price, the Seller will not net enough money to pay-off their mortgage. So, any offer will be "Subject to lender's approval". Basically, the Seller is going to ask their lender's permission to take less than they are owed on the mortgage. Why? A short sale is usually better than a foreclosure on your credit, and most short sales are headed towards foreclosure. That's one of the reasons it takes so long to get an approval on these... the banks don't want to lose money and often don't move very to quickly to approve them. However, if they see that foreclosure is the only other option, they may (eventually) approve the short sale. "Normal" approval time to get a bank's blessing is 30-90 days (though it can take longer) before you can start the 30-40 day closing process. Communication is also poor (at best) from most banks, so you often won't hear anything about your offer for weeks at a time. The worst part is that, even if you offer full list price, there is no guarantee that the bank will take it. The real estate agent typically decides the list price, not the bank (and they're being asked to take a loss). If you do finally get an approval, short sales can be an ok deal and save you a little money. However, these deals are very dependent on the Listing Agent, the Seller and their bank. If any one of these parties doesn't know what they are doing, or decides not to cooperate, you'll just have wasted a lot of time. So, most Buyers who have a specific timeline (i.e. want to be in a home by a certain date) tend to stay away from short sales. Also, there aren't any hard-and-fast rules about how multiple offers are handled. It completely depends on the Listing Agent and the Bank. So, you may put in an offer, wait for several months, only to have a higher offer submitted just before your approval is issued. It can be very frustrating. So, you also need to have no emotional tie to any home (because you will likely go through a couple of them before you get one). The best candidates for short sales are Investor-Buyers with no particular timeline and no emotional attachment to any home. Traditional Buyers, looking to buy a home to live in, tend to get frustrated with the short sale process and end up moving on to traditional or foreclosure sales (where response times, and communication, are generally much better).
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I hope that helps! Not to say that I can't/won't help traditional Buyers with short sales... I just want them to know what they are in for before they get started down that long and winding road.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

A client of mine asked a great question that I thought would make a great blog post. He asked for me to explain how his money would be disbursed to him after selling his home. Here is a slightly more generic version of my response:

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

Tax free weekend is here again (August 21-23), and for 2009 the list of tax free items has again been updated (see below). So, stores will be stacked with items on sale, malls will be madhouses with people trying to save, and those without a great need to shop will be staying as far away as possible.

The basic rule of thumb is that the law exempts clothing and footwear priced under $100. However, there are exceptions and most accessories don't qualify. Also, for 2009, school supplies have been added to the list of items that are tax free. The tax savings themselves aren't THAT great... about $8 for every $100 you spend. And since most people wouldn't exactly rush to a store advertising just 8% off some items, many retailers combine some of their larger sales with this tax free weekend. This makes the tax free savings an even bigger bonus on top of already discounted prices. Retailers count on moving a high volume of merchandise, and selling both tax free and taxed items, while shoppers are in a frenzy this weekend.

From Collin Creek, to Willow Bend and Stonebriar malls, expect large crowds. The Allen Premium Outlets are traditionally packed as well. The new malls (Waters Creek at Bethany and 75, and The Village at Stacey and 75) should see a ton of traffic too. Even Walmart and Target stores are typically packed. The good news is that there's just no shortage of shopping in Collin County. Know this though: those out for the best savings and selections will be out in droves early. Personally, I'll be avoiding the malls and retail stores all weekend. Not that I don't like saving money, but I'm not a big fan of shopping and I don't really like crowded stores/malls. For those who compare shopping to hunting though, and see great savings as a big kill, this weekend is big-game heaven and peak shopping season. To see the complete list of tax free/taxable items, go here: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html
Happy hunting/super shopping!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

It's official... Minor League Hockey is comeing to Allen, TX... and soon! Check out the 2009-2010 schedule, below, for your new team: The Allen Americans. They'll be playing at the new Allen Events Center in The Village at Allen (Stacy Rd. at 75/Central).

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

I found this interesting little blurb (below) in a Collin Country Association of Realtors email. It's interesting because Buyers think they should be able to get a steal on homes because of the "real estate crisis" and "falling prices" they hear about on the news. In actuality, Texas didn't see much of a crisis (or many prices falling significantly). It's also interesting because some Sellers think they may not be able to sell due to the same news (still others think that their home value has continued to increase significantly). The truth is: While our home prices haven't really been on the rise in most parts of Texas, they haven't fallen significantly (if at all) in many areas. In most cities you can still buy, or sell, for fair market values that aren't much differnt than they were in 2007 or 2008. Enjoy...
          ---
Texas Economy still outperforming the rest of the country
Six of the top 11 cities listed as top performing cities are Texas cities. San Antonio outperformed the nation’s largest metro areas through the first quarter of 2009. The Brookings Institution report measured changes in employment totals, unemployment rates, housing prices, the values of goods and services produced by cities, and other factors.
Other Texas cities listed as top-performing metro areas include:

• Austin (third),
• Houston (fourth), 
• Dallas (fifth), 
• McAllen (sixth) and 
• El Paso (11th).
  

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Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

I found a great article from Lowe's Home Improvement about getting your home reado to sell and tweaked it a bit. Most of the ideas are right-on and will help you prepare you home for sale. However, it's always wise to talk to a Real Estate Professional in your area about what the latest hot-button items are for Buyers in your area, and what specifically your home is most in need of. You don't want to waste money on listed items that are less important than others a professional may feel need addressing in your home and/or the current real estate environment in your local area. This list will give you a great place to start the home improvement/make-ready though:

Ideas To Help That Home Sell & What You'll Need To Make It Happen

Ideas to Help That Home Sell	What You'll Need
Do a little landscaping. Potential buyers will get their first impression of your home from its exterior. So stand outside and take a few moments to look at your home objectively. Could the grass use some cutting? Do the flowerbeds need a bit of TLC? Trimmed landscaping indicates a home that is well cared for throughout. -Replace mulch. -Pressure wash the house. -Edge sidewalks. -Remove vegetation between concrete and bricks. -Trim tree limbs that are near the roof. -Cut the grass. -Prune hedges. -Freshen flowerbeds. -Clear away dead trees and debris.	Tools: Extension Ladder, Pressure Washer. Mower, Edger, Gardening tools
Make your home more welcoming. Before homebuyers even come into your home, they'll be greeted by the front door. So think of it as another chance to make a good impression. -Install a new door. -Paint your front door. -Add some new house numbers. -Get a new lockset, kickplate and house number combination that coordinates with a new light fixture.	Materials: House Numbers, Kickplate, Lighting Fixtures, Paint, lockset
Refresh your deck. You want your outdoor space to be a place buyers can imagine enjoying during the summer with friends and family. Fuel their imaginations by rejuvenating the deck and furnishings. -Power wash deck clean. -Reseal the deck. -Use a wood lattice to enclose unsightly areas underneath. -Add a bright umbrella. -Replace cushions on furniture. -Decorate with potted plants and flowers. -Accent with a small fountain. -Install wind chimes to create a serene atmosphere buyers are sure to appreciate. -Use citronella candles to deter bugs.	Tools: Pressure Washer Materials: Citronella Candles, Deck Sealer, Fountain, Patio Umbrella, Wind Chimes, Wood Lattice, Pots & Flowers
Repair every imperfection. You probably no longer notice your home's little imperfections. Buyers, however, probably will. These small blemishes may stick out in the buyer's mind, so make sure to fix them. -Patch small cracks. -Repair drywall. -Replace broken tiles. -Replace old fixtures.	Tools: Squeegee or Grout Sponge, Waterproof Gloves Materials: Drywall Patching Plaster, Drywall Scraps for Patches, Drywall Tape, Faucet, Grout Sealant, Indoor Tile, Plumber's Putty, Silicon Caulk
Clean every spot. Even if your house hasn't always been kept immaculate, you can still make it look that way. Whether you clean yourself or hire a professional team, it can really help lead to a sale. -Scrub the bathroom and kitchen floors. -Steam clean rugs or replace if traffic patterns are worn-in. -Polish hardwood floors. -Wash windows inside and out.	Tools: Scrub Brush, Squeegee or Grout Sponge, Steam Cleaner, Waterproof Gloves Materials: Cleaning Agent, Floor Polish, Rags, Window Cleaner
Minimize the clutter. Unique things that make your place more "you" may actually distract buyers from envisioning their own personal touches. Remove them so they can imagine your space as their new home. -Remove all personal items and pictures and place personal items in storage. -Clear clutter from the floor by using a shoe cube organizer. -Store all children's toys. -Add wire shelving / closet shelving for additional storage space. -Add a fresh coat of paint inside closets to make everything look clean and organized. -Place a few cedar blocks in your closet for a great scent.	Materials: Cedar Blocks, Moving Boxes, Paint, Shelving
Improve energy efficiency. Making your home more efficient saves buyer's money over the long haul. Be sure to point out all the upgrades to buyers so your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. -Install a programmable thermostat. -Place weather-stripping on doors and windows. -Wrap pipes to conserve energy. -Insulate your water heater. -Replace furnace filters. -Replace old appliances with energy-efficient ones.	Materials: Filters, Programmable Thermostat, Water Heater Insulation, Weatherstripping
Give your favorite space a makeover. Chances are, you and your family spend the most time in the living room, but the last thing you want when selling is for the space to feel 'lived-in.' Refreshing the room with a few simple changes make the space more inviting to buyers while giving it a fresh feel. -Paint walls in neutral colors like linen, cream and beige. -Use thin drapes in a neutral color to accent. -Switch generic switches with painted or ceramic ones. -Boost the look of natural lighting with daylight bulbs. -Add a throw rug to give a touch of softness to the place.	Materials: Accent rugs, Paint, Switch Covers, Window Drapes
Create a camera-ready kitchen. Buyers want a kitchen that feels open and light. You'll want to repair any signs of wear and tear and replace any items that look dated or aren't working properly. -Paint walls with white or neutral paint that complements the cabinets. -Replace existing hardware with cabinet pulls and knobs for a new look. -Install new lighting under the cabinet for a dramatic effect. -Highlight the island or countertop with a simple fixture. -Replace vinyl blinds with sheer bamboo or linen blinds.	Materials: Blinds, Cabinet Pulls & Knobs, Indoor Lighting, Paint
Design a relaxing space. Bathrooms get a lot of use. You'll want to make yours look fresh to buyers by replacing outdated or overused fixtures and adding a few nice, crisp details. -Paint walls in soft, sedated colors like light blue, pale green or cream. -Install a new faucet, fixtures and towel bars. -Put in a medicine cabinet for added storage. -Buy new towels in a light or neutral color. -Replace the shower curtain and bathmat. A new shower curtain offers that "new car" smell. -Keep the room looking clutter-free by organizing bath accessories in a shower caddy. -Add a new bath mat.	Materials: Bath Mat, Faucet, Medicine Cabinet, Paint, Shower Curtains

Again, you should consult a Real Estate Professional before jumping into any major/expensive projects, but preparing a home to look it's best and appeal to a broad base of Buyers is a big part of getting it sold. Marketing, Pricing, Condition, and Location are the four critical factors in selling any home. The items listed above can help with the Condition and help maximize your Agent's Marketing efforts. Let me know if I can help with any questions about your area or preparing your home!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

After a Lost Creek Ranch (LCR) resident asked me a good question about our HOA dues, she thanked me for my response and suggested that I post it for all to read. The resident bought a home in Lost Creek Ranch when the neighborhood was new and small (2001-2002). Today, there are over 1,100 homes in Lost Creek Ranch and no more new homes being built. So, her question was about HOA dues for LCR residents. Specifically, why they didn't go down as the neighborhood grew and more homes were built? It's a good question, as more homeowners mean more dues collected. One would think that this would mean that less was needed from each home. So HOA dues should have gone down as the neighborhood grew, right? Unfortunately, no... here is the explanation of why not, in case you were unaware of this information:

It was never the intention or design of the LCR long-term budget (designed by the community developer/builders) for dues to be reduced. In fact, for the first few years/phases of LCR, the dues were subsidized by the builders in the community. This was because there weren't enough homes for dues alone to pay for all of our wonderful amenities. From our parks, ponds, fountains, jogging trails, fencing, signage, management and more... their cost required subsidizing for the first few years. This kept our dues from being unbelievably high; the builders didn't want high dues to keep homeowners from buying here so they subsidized them... or helped pay the shortfall. This is very common in new neighborhoods; and as with most new communities, the long-term budget was designed so that the more homes the builders sold, the less they had to subsidize the HOA dues. They looked at it as an investment in the neighborhood. Eventually, the design allowed for the builders to completely stop subsidizing the HOA dues as they sold out of homes in the (then) self-sufficient community. At that time, there would be enough homeowners to pay for the amenities while paying around the same dues they always had (with no more help from the builders). That's exactly what happened a few years ago and where we are still today.

The good news: While most HOAs have dues increases every year or two (as the cost to maintain amenities goes up each year due to inflation), Lost Creek Ranch has only had one increase since taking ownership from the builders several years ago. This is mainly because our board sends most expenses out for bid (i.e. we got bids on maintaining our common landscaping and have saved thousands). More good news: LCR HOA dues remain low relative to the amazing amenities we have. Just compare LCR to some of the neighborhoods around Allen, Plano, McKinney and Frisco. This is why most consider LCR such a great place to live (even at $460/year). If you want to help make this community even better, or you want to know more about the LCR HOA, please feel free to contact me. And remember that we always need more volunteers (for committees like: pool, parks, yard/decoration, social, etc.). Serving as a volunteer here in Lost Creek Ranch has been a rewarding experience for me that I have enjoyed for many years now. So, even though dues aren't going down, I'm thankful for all of the amenities that we have and how (relatively) little we pay for them.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

In the current economic climate, I know we are all looking to save a little here and there. So, I have compiled a short list of restaurants that let KIDS EAT FREE (or for really cheap). This list is not totally inclusive, so if you have a favorite that I have not mentioned (or find one that is no longer valid) please let me know and I will add (or remove) them:

Cici’s 972-727-2424
Where: 204 N Greenville Ave., Allen
What: Kids 3 and under eat free
When: Every Day! 

Dickey’s Barbeque Pit 214-495-8877
Where: 405 Central Expressway South, Allen
What: Get a free kids meal (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult’s meal
When: Every Day! 

Jason’s Deli 972-727-3440
Where: 906 W. McDermott
What: Kids 10 & under eat free
When: Tuesdays from 4pm-10pm

Texas Land & Cattle 972-578-8707
Where: 3945 Central Expwy., Plano
What: Free kids meal (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult’s meal
When: Every Saturday 

GattiTown 214-618-9800
Where: 3251 Preston Rd., Frisco
What: Free kid’s buffet (10 & under) with the purchase of a regular adult’s buffet
When: Every Wednesday 

Joe’s Crab Shack 972-423-2800
Where: 3320 Central Expwy., Plano
What: $2 kids meals (12 & under)
When: Every Tuesday 

NOTE: It's always a good idea to call ahead and verify that these offers are still valid as they could end at any time. If you have more to add, please send me the Name of the place plus the Where, What & When by clicking "Email Me" under "Links" to the right of this page. The same goes if you find that one or more of these are no longer valid; please let us know. Thanks!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

Well, the web traffic shows that lots of people are still interested in Sotherby Homes going under. With over 1,000 unique visitors between my two previous posts on Sotherby Homes, I decided it was time to create a place for readers to post questions, comments, updates, information (company contact info. anyone?) and issues as they relate to Sotherby Homes. Check back occasionally to see if anyone has answered your questions or posted any interesting updates. Obviously, they're are lots of people affected by this home builder's implosion. I'd love to see the earnest money returned to Buyers who were expecting Sotherby to build their dream home (I've talked to several buyers who are out thousands of dollars); and I'd love to see vendors who did work for Sotherby get paid (I've been contacted by more than one vendor who was out thousands of dollars). I don't know that either of these will ever happen, but I was interviewed by WFAA's Jonathan Betz about this very topic (Sotherby and Buyers out thousands). So, post away... I'm eager to hear what's going on and if anyone knows anything new. Note that comments have to be approved before they will show up (i.e. nothing vulger please); that generally happens within 24 hours.

You can check out the two previous posts I wrote on Sotherby Homes here:
http://www.realtown.com/ryancave/blog/developments/sotherbyhomesgone
http://www.realtown.com/ryancave/blog/developments/sotherbywarranty

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

This is an update to a previous post about Water Creek Big Screen on the Green found here.

If you enjoy classic movies and/or live music...
you'll love the latest FREE entertainment options in Allen, TX.

The Watters Creek development, at Bethany and Central/75, is showing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory this Thursday (5/28/09) and E.T. The Extraterrestrial next week (6/4/09). Both will show for FREE on a "Big screen on the Green" at dusk (around 8pm). Future movies in their "Big Screen on the Green" series (every Thurs. at dusk) include Bee Movie (6/11/09) followed by Grease wrapping the series up on 6/18/09.

Then, there's the FREE music series entitled "L!VE on the Green" at Watters Creek. You can hear traditional Celtic and Bluegrass music from 5 Second Rule on Friday 5/29/09, and classic rock from the 60s/70s/80s from That 70's Band on Saturday 5/30/09. All shows in this series are presently set to begin at 6:30pm. Future Friday performers in their "L!VE on the Green" series include The Rob Holbet Group (6/5/09), Chris McGuire Group (6/12/09), and Brent Rozell and the Soulmates (6/19/09)... That 70's Band will play out the rest of the Saturdays in the series through 6/20/09.

So, come on out and shop some if you want, eat some if you please (there are some awesome retaurants/patios overlooking the green), but most importantly... have fun!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com