How to Live a GREENER Lifestyle and Lessen your CARBON FOOTPRINT, Dallas TX

Are you looking to live a GREENER lifestyle and lessen your CARBON FOOTPRINT?                                                       

                                                                 

                                                            

Here are some simple ways to be kind live GREEN in your everyday routine.

·         Pay your Bills Online to lessen the waste of paper

·         Skip the Drive Thru Windows … park & walk in

·       Replace light bulbs with Energy-Efficient bulbs

·         Unplug Appliances you don’t use often & turn your computer off completely at night

·         Open your window blinds to bring in the natural light instead of using electricity

·         Print on both sides of paper or let your kids draw on the backside of used paper

·         Use reusable bags for ALL of your shopping

·         Wash as many clothes as you can in a load … and use cold or tap water

·         Insulate your water heater

·         Use a reusable water bottle & stop buying disposable water bottles … and you’ll also save $$$

For more ideas on how to be GREEN, check out The Daily Green.

If you are a Buyer looking for GREEN Homes for Sale in the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex or Lake Ray Hubbard area, you can search for houses that are currently on the market in your desired areas directly on my website (top right) … it gets all it’s information directly from the MLS which has the most up to date info.

If you would like to set up an appointment to see homes just give me a call (214-422-0729) or send me an email - I'd be ever so happy to help!

Keep Track of Home Improvements to Help Lessen Your Taxes

With Tax time here, I thought I'd share a tip on things you can deduct and minimize your possible taxes.  If it's too late for your 2011 taxes, start doing it for your 2012 taxes!

Maintenance on a principal residence, the house you live in, is not a deductible, BUT, Improvements can add to the basis which can reduce the gain in the sale. Improvements are easily identified if they add to the value of a home, prolong its useful life or adapt it to new uses.

Receipts and other proof, such as pictures, should be kept during ownership and for several years after the sale of the home.

A simple strategy is to put documents that affect the basis of the home in one envelope. Any receipt for money spent on the home that isn't the house payment or utilities, goes into the envelope. Your tax advisor will be able to sort through them to determine which are the capital improvements.

For more information on determining capital improvements, see IRS publication 523, and consult with your Tax Advisor.

If you're thinking about Buying or Selling a Home in the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex or Lake Ray Hubbard area, please contact me to see how I can support you! I love what I do & giving 100% is all I know!

The Best Way Home ... To Buying a Home That Is

"It's not far, if you know the way." Maybe it is an obvious statement but there are some definite steps that will improve your success in buying a home in today's market.

1. Know you credit score - the best mortgage rates are available to borrowers with the highest scores. Unless you know what your credit score is at all three major bureaus, you don't really know what rate you'll have to pay.
   
2. Clean up your credit - it is estimated that about 90% of credit reports have errors. Some are not serious but others could affect a borrower from getting the best loan terms. It is your responsibility to know what is on your different reports and correct them if possible. You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year from Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.
   
3. Get pre-approved - Taking the time to make a loan application with a qualified lender even before you start looking at homes will provide peace of mind, make sure that you are looking at the "right" homes and may help you negotiate the best price on the home you select.
   
4. Do your homework - when you find the home that meets your needs and desires, research the tax assessments, school ratings, crime activity, possible zoning changes and comparable sales in the area.

As your real estate professional I can definitely help you with these important strategies to invest in a home to call your own, raise your family, feel safe and secure and share with your friends. Call for a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional; there really is a difference.

Eastern Expansion of President George Bush Tollway is OPEN

It's OPEN, it's OPEN ... The Eastern Extension of The President George Bush Turnpike TOLL ROAD is OPEN!!! That's right, the $958 million dollar extension project that began in August 2008, will open on time!

This new 10 mile, 6 Enterance Ramp extension will allow people to drive from northwest Garland (hwy 78) to Interstate 30.  PGBT is now a 30.5-mile, six-lane, expressway that passes through or along the cities of Garland, Richardson, Plano, Dallas, Carrollton, Farmers Branch and Irving. 

Although the PGBT Extension is open today, you'll still see minor construction through the first part of 2012 as final touches are made to the corridor's infrastructure and actual access to the I-30 frontage road is expected to occur in February 2012.

The average toll for driving on the PGBT Eastern Extension is 15.3 cents per mile for vehicles with a TollTag. ZipCash rates are 50% more than TollTag rates. Additional information regarding toll rates and gantry locations is available on the NTTA website,www.ntta.org/AboutUs/TollRates.

Lake Ray Hubbard Living ~ November Market Report

Been thinking about having a Home on or near a Lake?
Here's a snapshot of what's currently on the market for Lake Front & Lake View homes on Lake Ray Hubbard ... 
Garland & Rowlett  http://actvra.in/nVS

Rockwall & Heath http://actvra.in/nVZ

                                           

There's still great opportunity to purchase Your New Home in the amazing Lake Ray Hubbard community!!!

Do you need a Realtor that specializes in the Lake Ray Hubbard area? Call or Email me today! Whether selling or buying, today's complex real estate market requires a professional who can structure a transaction to benefit all parties involved and meet their needs. Let me know how I can serve you or your referrals to better understand the tax advantages, financing alternatives & investment aspects of home ownership ... because NOW really is a GREAT time to BUY!

Do You Need to Sell your home 1st before moving into the Lake Ray Hubbard area, send me an email for specific information about how YOUR subdivision is doing, please contact me ~ As your Lake Ray Hubbard Realtor, I'm here to help!  

The Best Family Gift for 2012

A HOME is a place of your own where you can raise your family, share with friends and feel safe and secure, not to mention a better physical & mental health.
 
With the LOW HOUSE PRICES and LOW INTEREST RATES, Home Affordability is at its Highest ... but Intrest Rates have started inching up in the past few weeks which will directly result in higher payments.

Credit, debt ratios and income are the limiting factors that could be keeping you from taking advantage of these opportunities. The benefits of talking with a qualified mortgage officer and pre-approval are without question.  It Saves time, money and most importantly, it removes the uncertainty of not knowing.  The direct benefits include:

• Amount the buyer can borrow - as interest rates rise, the amount decreases
• Looking at "Right" homes - price, size, amenities, location
• Find the best loan - interest rate is tied to credit score; do you qualify for the best rate?
• Uncover credit issues early - time to cure possible problems; 90% of credit reports have errors
• Bargaining power - helps negotiate price, terms and timing
• Close quicker - verifications have been made; takes less time to close

Call me for a recommendation and a list of what you need to share with a loan officer.  Isn't it time you found out where you stand to buy a home?  It may be the best gift you give your family.

Pictures with SANTA, Bass Pro Shop, Garland & Grapevine TX

SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN ... errrr, that is, to the BASS PRO SHOP!!!


Now thru December 24th, the Bass Pro Shop in Garland & Grapevine, TX will once again have their Santa's Wonderland! We've made this 1 of our Family Traditions & look forward to it! 

The entire bottom floor is seriously transformed into Santa's Wonderland complete w a table to write Letters to Santa, Elves, & Reindeers! There's also FREE Games, Activities & Crafts AND a 4x6 Professional Picture with Santa! 

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It goes without saying that the Lake Ray Hubbard area is a fabulously Family Centered community & just minutes from I-30 & the George Bush Tollway!    Are you looking to move into the amazing Lake Ray Hubbard area that is bordered by Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, & Heath TX? Do you need a Realtor that specializes in the Lake Ray Hubbard area? Call or Email me today! 

Click HERE to search what's waiting for you!   Do You Need to Sell your home 1st before moving into the Lake Ray Hubbard area, Call or Email me today for specific information about how YOUR current subdivision is doing. ~ As your Lake Ray Hubbard Realtor, I'm here to help!  

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