Moving The Colony Forward

Posted on by Andrea Fowler

Have you been to The Colony? I lived in the area during my 2nd year of grad school (well technically, geographically, I lived in Lewisville with The Colony’s zipcode) in 2011. There wasn’t much to do in the city. The one thing that I personally loved is that it reminded me so much of my hometown in Louisiana. This is why I love Lewisville and The Colony SO MUCH!!! I moved back to the inner parts of Lewisville in 2012. It didn’t take long before growth started to show in The Colony after I moved. In fact, it was one month after I left that new developments started to take place. There’s the infamous Top Golf and now the new Nebraska Furniture Mart (coming soon). In the video below the Mayor and City Manager of The Colony explains what their plans are for the city as it moves forward to become one of DFW’s top suburbs.

The Colony is a city that is sure to spark new interest and with new interest comes new people wanting to invest in the city. Home prices in The Colony range from the low $100s to high $600s. For an all inclusive to properties in The Colony click here or email me to obtain more information about The Colony.

Here are some places that I enjoy and places that I have heard great reviews from friends in The Colony:

Rotolo’s Pizzeria – I mean I am from Louisiana and this franchise was started right in my second home of Baton Rouge. This isn’t technically The Colony but right on the border.

Top Golf

Palio’s Pizza Cafe 

Zaxby’s 

Jimmy’s Egg

Zen Austin Ranch 

I’m always willing to venture out to find new places to go, see, or do. Comment and tell me what are some of your favorite places in The Colony?

2 Bedroom Home Near Downtown Dallas – FOR SALE

Posted on by Andrea Fowler
 
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER DELIGHT!!! If you are a first time homeowner looking for low maintenance this is the ideal home. This cute home boasts an open concept that makes your first home an easy investment. Downstairs include the living and kitchen space with a half bathroom for guests. All kitchen appliances are included which makes this home an easy move-in. Master bedroom has a separate area in it for a small office or reading area.
 
 
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Andrea Fowler
Keller Williams Realty
972-813-9788
[email protected]
 

Why You Should Be Interested in the Housing Market?

Posted on by Andrea Fowler
Maybe it’s time to Move Up

If the starter home you started with has started to seem too small, maybe it’s time to move up. Here are three reasons why you should be interested in the housing market as a seller. Yes just three.

1. Equity

Chances are, your home has appreciated in value. Now is the time to capitalize on the equity that you have made in your home. Here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, there are major corporations moving there headquarters to the area. Homes will be needed and homes can sell quickly for a great profit. Why not take the equity in your home to gain a profit and purchase another home? Who knows, the home you purchase could possibly be paid in full in cash or with a large down payment.

2. Payment 

Did you ever imagine that your home would appreciate enough to finance the home you’ve always dreamed of? Here’s the time to take advantage of today’s historically low interest rates. You can have the chance to double the size of your home while still paying the same payment as you did in your old home. This is a win-win for families who need more space but at the same mortgage payment they pay now. How can you say no to that? More space for the same amount of money.

3. Lifestyle

For sellers, you have grown accustomed to your neighborhood. Your children love their schools in the neighborhood. When moving up, you can afford to buy a newer home in the neighborhood or live in the new subdivision that still feeds into the schools your children currently go to.

Owning a home is an accidental investment. Why not take the time to see how much you have in your investment? The inventory is low for buyers and now is the time to put your home on the market for more serious buyers. It is known that people who search for a home in the fall and winter are serious buyers. Think about it, who would search for a home in cold weather conditions (well maybe just cool because this is the Dallas area)if they weren’t serious?

Want to know the value of your home? Click here to find out how much your home is worth.

Could you use $20,000 to purchase your new home?

Posted on by Andrea Fowler

You could if you were purchasing a home from the City of Dallas Mortgage Assistance Program called Dallas MAP. This program is a down payment assistance that helps families purchase homes in the Dallas city limits. The $20,000 incentive is special for the community housing and development organization (CHDO) projects. These projects are newly constructed homes from 2011 to present in revitalized areas of Dallas. Now doesn’t that sound like a sweet incentive? Another bonus is that the $20,000 is a forgivable grant. Each year that you reside in the home the grant is forgiven and you never have to pay that percentage back until the specified time allotment of living in the home. That’s almost 10-15% down on a newly constructed home with closing costs. Now where else can you get a deal that sweet? Check the chart below to see if you qualify.

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

INCOME RANGE 80% OR BELOW
MAXIMUM SUBSIDY UP TO $8,500/$10,000/$20,000
HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD INCOME 
1 $38,050
2 $43,450
3 $48,900
4 $54,300
5 $58,650
6 $63,000
7 $67,350
8 $71,700
9 $76,000


Do you qualify? If so, here are two homes that can be yours! Check them out below. 

These deals don’t last long and that includes the low interest rates that are being offered for mortgages. Schedule an appointment with me today! 


Family Activities for Halloween

Posted on by Andrea Fowler
It is almost time for the scariest part of the year and I have some family friendly events that will help you celebrate. Lately, I have noticed parents searching for kid-friendly and safe alternatives to the “trick or treat” phenomenon that is Halloween. Below I have listed different events happening near the Lewisville area. Take a look at nearby places. Where will you and your family be celebrating at? 
Hall’s Pumpkin Farm – Grapevine, TX – Open all October
11:00 am – 8:00 pm – Hayrides start at Noon.
Welcome to Hall’s Pumpkin Farm, where families from all over Tarrant County and beyond come to enjoy an old fashion fall celebration. Every October, our family celebrates the harvest by inviting folks to visit our farm. We’ve got pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, gourds, hay bales and corn stalks galore! Our amazing Corn Maze is always an adventure….are YOU up to the challenge? Located in historic Grapevine – our farm is nestled between Dallas and Ft. Worth, just west of DFW airport. So, ya’ll come on out!

The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch – Double Oak Ranch – 5100 Cross Timbers Rd (Flower Mound )
Jan Balekian and The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch invite you to join the fun each fall at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch on the Double Oak Ranch. We are open from October 1st through October 31st from 9am to 7pm. You will find hundreds of pumpkins to choose from, cornstalks, hay bales, baked goods, and refreshments.
OCTOBER 18, 2014 – Fall Festival, Haunted House & Free Beer Tasting – Castle Hills Shops & Village (Lewisville)
Haunted House, Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-off 4:00 – 7:00 PM | KIWANIS HAUNTED HOUSE 5:00 – 7:00 PM | PROGRESSIVE BEER TASTING* & CHILI COOK-OFF
You won’t want to miss this year’s Fall Festival at the Village Shops. This year will feature a six-pony carousel, a longhorn photo-op, face painters, carnival games, hay rides, a petting zoo, arts & crafts by The Enchanted Artist, cookie decorating by I Like Big Bundts, pumpkin patch, photo booth and costume trunk! Live music will be provided by Manny and the Gringoderos. Two $100 Williams-Sonoma® gift cards will be given away, so don’t forget to stop by the registration table. Also available will be free candy apples for the first 100 people and food for purchase. Pumpkins will be sold by the Women’s Club of Castle Hills, and all contributions will go to one of their charitable efforts. The Kiwanis Haunted House will open at 4 p.m. and will be $5 for everyone. The 4th Annual Progressive Beer Tasting* will begin at 5 p.m. Participating merchants will offer free beer tasting and will hold a chili cook-off at their stores! You can purchase chili cook-off tickets at Castle Hills Chiropractic. *Valid ID required. Must be 21 or older for beer tasting.
October 18, 2014 – Coppell Oak Fest – 5pm – 9pm -Andy Brown Community Park East- 260 E. Parkway Blvd.
Join us for the annual Coppell Oak Fest, an event that will carry on for years to come. The theme celebrates life in Coppell being as diverse as the oak trees. The city of Coppell logo includes oak branches representing the city’s most prominent trees, longevity, and additionally, the oak wood used to build the railroad ties that put Coppell on the map. Building on our community’s roots and growing strength, we pause for an evening of community fun, live music, and fellowship.
Free Family Activities
Miniature Train Rides, Face Painting, Live Bands, Bounce Houses, Food Vendors…TOO MUCH FUN TO MISS!   Band performance by the Limelight band and show performances by Professor Brainius.  
Food
Kettle corn, BBQ Sandwiches, Chips and Drinks, Turkey legs, Funnel Cakes, Hamburgers, Roasted Corn on the Cob, Hot dogs, Nachos and more!  Bring a picnic or enjoy some local food from a variety of vendors. Alcohol is not permitted inside City of Coppell Parks.  
Parking is available in the parking lot by Kid Country, Town Center and Andrew Brown Community Park West and Central – just a trail walk away!
Halloween ComicFest – Lewisville Public Library – Saturday, Oct. 25 – Youth Services Desk
Children ages 5 and up can pick up a free mini-comic book at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.
Spooktacular Trails and Glow Run Extravaganza – Saturday, Oct. 25, 5-9 p.m. – Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park
Join Lewisville Parks and Leisure Services at the annual Spooktacular Trails and Glow Run Extravaganza on Sponsors and vendors will be at the free event for children to “trick-or-treat.”
Sponsors, vendors and community organizations will provide activities at their booths for children to enjoy. Featured activities include a kid-friendly haunted house, carnival games, face painting, Glow 5K Run/Monster Mile and a ghostly hayride. The ghostly hayride closes at 7:45 p.m.
Children and adults dressed in their Halloween best are invited to enter the Walgreens-sponsored digital costume contest. Registration is not required. The top five favorite costumes in each category will be posted on the city website on Monday, Oct. 27, for the public to vote for their top three. Contest categories are for ages 2 years & under, 3-5 years, 6-9 years, 10-12 years and 13-adult. Voting will close Sunday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. Prizes will be given to the top three winners for each category. All contestant pictures will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Walgreens. Pictures will be available at the Walgreens location on S. Valley Parkway and Round Grove Road in Lewisville.
The Glow 5K/Monster Mile is an off-road course loaded with spooky surprises. Participants are encouraged to come dressed with their favorite glow products. The Monster Mile starts at 8:15 p.m., with the 5K beginning at 8:30 p.m. Each participant will receive a shirt, medal, bib and two glow products to wear during race. Runners age 7 and younger must be accompanied by a registered, paid adult. Strollers are not permitted on the race course. Registration is required to enter race. There is a separate fee to enter the Glow 5K Run and Monster Mile.  
A free shuttle will run from the various parking lots at Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park. Food and drinks will be on sale at the concessions area.
For more event details, call staff at Frederick P. Herring Recreation Center at 972.219.3560 or Memorial Park Recreation Center at 972.219.5061.
Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat – Sunday,October 26, 4pm – 6pm – Vista Ridge United Methodist Church (Lewisville)
Fall Festival – Westside Baptist Chuch – October 26 – 4pm (Lewisville)

Family Fright Night – Saturday, October 25 – Sunday, October 26 – 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.- Stewart Creek Park – 3700 Sparks Rd., (The Colony)
Don’t miss the 8th annual Family Fright Night family Halloween campout at Stewart Creek Park. Join us for a haunted trail, tent trick or treating, costume and scream contests, scary movie, hayride, campfire, s’mores and great food. This event has limited enrollment and fills quickly, so don’t delay. Registration begins October 1. For more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-625-1106.
Are there any festivals or events that you would recommend? Please feel free to share. 

10 Step Guide to Buying Your Home

Posted on by Andrea Fowler

If you follow my social media pages (Facebook & Twitter), then you may have seen me tweet about the ten steps to buying your home from Realtor.com. Below you can find each step that you will need when purchasing your first home.

You can bookmark this page and research each step as you make your transition through the housing process.

Step 1: Are You Ready to Buy a Home
It is best to do a mental and financial check to make sure that you are indeed truly ready to be a homeowner.

Step 2: Hire A Realtor
It is always best to hire someone who has your best interest put forth. A buyer’s agent will help you through the process. When I work with buyers, I make sure they understand how the process works, deliver them all options, and make them extra confident about purchasing their first home. You should always have someone to represent you in the home buying process even if you decide to build your home.

Step 3: Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval
Before any Realtor takes you to view homes, they will want to know that you are pre-approved. Without having a pre-approval you are basically dreaming on a wish. It is best to know what you can afford based on your finances. I would suggest you go a step forward and see how much you can afford based on your net income.

Ex: Gross Monthly Income – $3000
      Net Income (Take Home Pay) – $2,550
     
      Gross Annual Income – $36,000
      Net Annual Income – $30,600
      Home Price You Should Buy – $92,000

The lender will only take in account to the debt being reported on your credit report. If it isn’t reported on your credit report (electricity, cell phone, gas, car maintenance and insurance, etc), then it won’t be calculated in what your monthly bills. Take that into play when purchasing your home. A rule of thumb is that your mortgage shouldn’t be more than 30% of your income. Based on this scenario, that range would be between $765- $900.

Step 4: Look at Homes
Now that the financial piece has been squared away, you are ready to search for homes that meet your price range.

Step 5: Choose Your Home
Base your home search on 3-5 things that you must have. Please take into consideration that if you are looking for an open concept, that can easily be adjusted if the wall can be knocked out. Don’t let small cosmetic things like ugly carpet, wallpaper, or paint colors stop you from purchasing a home. Cosmetic things can be changed in as little time as a weekend and sweat equity.

Step 6: Make An Offer
This is why you hired a Realtor. Your Realtor will help you determine the price to set your offer at and what conditions to ask for.

Step 7: Stay Mortgage Approved
Once you have decided on your home to buy and your offer has been accepted, it is time to do due diligence. Just because you have a pre-approval, DOES NOT mean you have been approved on a home loan. The pre-approval is just to say that a lender has checked your information and you can purchase a home in the select price range. In order to stay mortgage approved, you have to keep your debt to income ratio in the same position as you did when getting pre-approved. During this time of the process, don’t go buy a new car, new appliances, new furniture, or default on a credit card (yes this list can go on because this has happened before). Wait to buy these items when you have signed the closing documents and have the keys to the home in your hand.

Step 8: Protect Yourself…Get Insurance
Just as you need car insurance as a requirement to own and operate a car, you will need homeowner’s insurance to own your home too. This is no getting out of this one. I would suggest you start with your insurance carrier that you have car insurance with or even renter’s insurance. Some insurance companies offer discounts when you setup a bundle with them. (TIP: If you are apart of any organizations, see if your insurance company offers discounts with them. I was able to use my sorority to get a discount with my insurance company).

Step 9: You’ve Made It to Closing Day
You have finally made it to the closing day. You have exhausted yourself to find the perfect home and now it is almost time to achieve that reality.

Step 10: I’m A Homeowner
You are officially a part of the homeowner club. You have to make sure that you maintain your home. If you see a neighbor whose yard is decreasing your home value, be neighborly and charge a fee to keep it cut for them. See I’ve helped you create a small hustle in the neighborhood. You can also volunteer to do it as well.

These ten steps will help you prepare for purchasing your first home. If you or someone you know is ready to get the train rolling on purchasing your home, contact me today.