Housing Affordability Rises to Record Levels...

RISMedia, May 28 2011—Nationwide housing affordability during the first quarter of 2011 rose to its highest level in the more than 20 years it has been measured, according to National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) data released recently. The HOI indicated that 74.6 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the first quarter of 2011 were affordable to families earning the...

The Essence of Mexico...

I used to think that Tony Bennett’s song about leaving his heart in San Francisco was just that—a song. But that was before I visited Mazatlan, and now I completely understand what he was talking about. Twenty years ago, I left my heart in this charming Mexican city on the Sea of Cortez, and every May since, I’ve returned with my husband, Don, to check on it. When I began my love affair with Mazatlan, Don wasn’t my...

Looking for a Spacious Single Story Home in Addiso...

Coming Soon!! Looking for a spacious single story home in Addison? I’ve got a new listing coming up soon that may be just for you! Centrally located in North Dallas, Addison has the best of everything! It’s near tons of notable Dallas shopping (including the Galleria) and is surrounded by so many great restaurants, you won’t know what to do for dinner! You can easily drive downtown to work or North to...

Fixed Rate Mortgages Hit a New Year to Date Low...

MCLEAN, Va., — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which shows fixed-rate mortgages declining for the fifth consecutive week amid mixed economic and housing data. The 30-year fixed averaged 4.61 percent and the 15-year, 3.80 percent. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.61 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 19, 2011, down...

U.S. Is Still a Top Spot for Foreign Buyers...

Despite tightened credit for many domestic buyers, the United States is still a top spot for foreign purchases. The National Association of Realtors reports that “international purchases surged by $16 billion this year, one of the highest increases in recent years.” “The U.S. has always been a desirable place to own property and a profitable investment,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of...

Price Reduction! 3300 Springwell Drive in Mesquite...

The price has been dropped on this great family home in Mesquite to $169,900! This gorgeous, one owner Highland Home is located at 3300 Springwell Drive and truly does have it all in a whopping 2,896 square feet! This Mesquite home has 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, a study or office, gameroom, and a spacious .19 acre lot! The kitchen is open to the family room, and has lots of light pouring from the backyard. Relax in the...

From Red Clay to Green Hedges...

Green is the color of the garden created by Frank Byers and Jerry Northcutt. It’s a peaceful place where they can entertain graciously and where the geometry of shape and form creates a restful, visually pleasing composition. What looks so “right” today began eleven years ago as a blank slate. Dotted on the property around the newly built house were a few mature cedars, but otherwise the land was bare. “We started...

Frisco Grows Enough to Gain a New Zip Code...

Frisco is the fastest growing city in the United States and with growth, comes the need for a new zip code. More than 10,000 residential addresses and 400 commercial addresses will use the 75033 ZIP code beginning July 1. McKinney Boyd of the United States Postal Service said the change was necessary. “The previous ZIP code (75034) has begun to exhaust its ZIP plus fours,” Boyd said. “These are a series of...

Sales of New Homes Rebounded in March...

WASHINGTON — More people bought new homes in March, giving the battered industry a small lift after the worst winter for sales in almost a half-century. New-home sales rose 11 percent last month from February to a seasonally adjusted rate of 300,000 homes, the Commerce Department said Monday. That follows three straight monthly declines. Still, the pace remains far below the 700,000 homes a year that economists view as...

Farmer’s Market Feast...

The difference between locally grown and shipped-in fruits and vegetables is night and day. There’s no comparison to the flavor of produce that’s been grown within 100 miles, having been transported almost no distance at all. And, in the case of farmers’ markets, you can actually shake the hand of the farmer who planted it,picked it, and brought it to the market. Plus, you’re putting the money into his or her hand....