Driving Around Plano!

Over the years I am just amazed how much Plano has changed. When I first moved here in 1974 there was about 40,000 people in the city. Now it is approximately 250,000! There was no mall and very few restaurants in the area. Today we have lots of shopping and hundreds of restaurants to choose from. My son actually played soccer where now stands Collin Creek Mall.

Plano was the key city for the growth of Collin County and many cities modeled themselves after Plano and came up with new ideas based on many of Plano’s family orientated ideas. When we first moved to Plano there wasn’t much on the west of of Highway 75. Today, that is where some of the top shopping areas are and some of the most expensive homes are located. In this area there is some of the finest dining in the Dallas area. Plano has attracted some of the top employers in the nation to this area and they continue to be extremely business friendly.

As a realtor I am very proud of Plano and the surrounding cities in Collin County. It is nice to see the programs for children and adults these cities have provided. Putting family first seems to be an attitude for the whole area, with many sporting activites, parks, play grounds and a host of other activities to partake of. Back in 1975 there were some roads still not paved on the west side and today we have the North Dallas Tollway and George Bush Tollway which makes access to the DFW Airport very easy to get to. Years ago we had to travel from 75 to 635 and that could take a lot of time, especially in rush hour. It could take an hour to get down town or more depending if there was an accident. Today with HOV lanes on 75 and the Dallas Area Transit the commute is a breeze. Well, I guess for those who don’t travel by DART or the HOV it can still be a little longer commute. However, they expanded 75 to accomodate more traffic but as the saying goes “we just keep growing in population and cars”.

Remember if you are planning a move to the Dallas area, take a look at our website. If you have comments about Plano, please post your comments to this blog.

Roxanne DeBerry

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What Do I Like About Plano?

I have lived in the North Dallas area for over 30 years now and Plano has always amazed me with how they managed their phenomenal growth. I am sure it wasn’t easy to go from approximately 40,000 people to over 250,000 during this span of time. What I noticed was how skillful Plano was at blending in an environment that attracted business and families. Always seeming to come up with programs that are environment friendly, business friendly, and family friendly. As I ride around Plano and see the changes that have taken place with the growth that has happened I notice it hasn’t detracted from the charm of the city. Plano was and still is a leader when it come to innovative ideas for the city and the citzens that dwell here.

When I first moved here there was not many restaurants or places to go to for entertainment but now I don’t need to go anywhere else but Plano. The restaurants are excellent and there are ton’s of things to do around the city. If I do need to take a break and visit other towns, they are within a 15 to 30 minutes drive in most cases. Please take time to visit the local Chamber to find out more about our wonderful city.

If you ever have questions regarding real estate. Please call Roxanne DeBerry at 214-676-8040 or email her at 214-676-8040.

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Plano Sizzles!

Plano is one of the most attractive cities to live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It has wonderful schools, strong city government, and lots of shopping. You can find great restaurants, shows, and lots of local activities. You can find many different price ranges of homes to choose from in the area. Plano is conducive to a great business atmosphere as well. We have large corporations such as EDS, J.C. Pennys, Dallas Morning News, Alcatel, and many others. Whether your business is small or large Plano is the place to be.

This is Roxanne DeBerry of “The DeBerry Team” of Keller Williams Realty in Plano. I moved to Plano in 1974 and and I believe the city limit sign indicated approximately 40,000 people resided in Plano. Today, the population has exceeded 250,000 people. We have all cultures represented in our population and neighborhoods. When I moved here I couldn’t get over how friendly everyone seemed to be. My family and I fit right in! Plano was the first to create wonderful neighborhoods with the family in mind. They instituted jogging trails, parks and community activities for residence to participate in. Plano was ahead of their tiime and continue to be innovative today on how they manage and grow the city.

As a local realtor I have had the honor to help many newcomers find homes in this wonderful city. I have established wonderful relationships with many neighbors in many neighborhoods and I enjoy staying in contact with them every year. The energy and spirit of Plano is alive and well and I am happy to be part of helping it grow. If you would like to more about Plano or other parts of the North Dallas area, please visit my website at www.thedeberryteam.com or email me at roxanne@thedeberryteam.com.

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Buying or Selling In Today’s Market

The DeBerry Team is once again educating buyers and sellers on what to do in the present market. Sellers have asked if they should wait to sell and some buyers think that prices are going to go down and feel that they should wait for a better deal. Based on the information we have from our sources and from our own experience we feel the following is the appropriate action buyers and sellers should take.

The DeBerry Team continues to stay on top of what is going on in the market. For Sellers, our advice is that when selling your home in today’s market you will probably have to lower your expectations on what you expect to net. If you want to buy a new home then we suggest that you do sell your home in today’s market because it won’t cost you as much money to buy the next one. You should speak to your realtor and ask them to make sure that the buyer who makes an offer on your home is pre-approved. We don’t mean a pre-approval that they received from some obscure internet company, instead it should be from a viable mortgage provider. If you are just wanting to sell your home and go into a rental situation, our suggestion is to wait. However, we would caution you that interest rates may move upward and that could limit the number of potential buyers for your home. Even though the Fed has cut the Prime Rate it doesn’t always equate into lower mortgage rates.

For Buyers in today’s market, our overwhelming recommendation is to buy now. The rates are low, prices are competitive, and there is plenty of inventory to choose from. We suggest using a local mortgage professional to help you with the pre-approval process so that you don’t have any surprises when trying to close on your home. If you are considering buying a new construction home, please utilize a realtor. Now you may think that statement is self serving, but that is not our intent. Realtors are there for your protection. New home sales personnel work directly for the builder and not for you. Realtors work for you. The question is will I have to pay more by using a realtor? In most cases you should not. The reason I say this is because the large volume builders build the realtors commission into their marketing programs. There are many of those builders that owe 50% or more of their business due to real estate professionals. Many new home builders may offer you incentives in the home, but in turn, they want you to use their title and mortgage companies. Why do you think they want you do to this? You have the right to pick your own mortgage and title vendors and you may find out that they have better rates as well. They will also explain what kind of program you are actually getting into. Please ask questions lots of questions of builders if you don’t use a realtor to protect your interests. We do want to caution buyers who wish to wait and see what prices or mortgage rates are going to do. First, we believe that prices will not be impacted very much since homes on the market today are usually priced extremely competitive. Next, we do have a concern that mortgage rates will increase in the near future.

If you are looking to buy a foreclosure, please contact a realtor who specializes in this type of transaction. Even though foreclosures are posted they do not all go into foreclosure. Many people are working their credit issues out with their mortgage providers and the federal government is now helping in that area as well.

As a realtor of 30+ years of experience of helping buyers and sellers, I feel that our market has just returned to a “normal” market without the false mortgage incentives that generated a lot of bad situations for the public. This is a good thing and “The DeBerry Team” is ready, willing and able to help you with your real estate needs. Please give me a call about the market or if you need assistance with finding or selling a home. My personal number is 214-676-8040.

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Mortgage Concerns

The DeBerry Team wants to make sure that the public understands the issue with the mortgage industry. Our job is to protect and inform you of what has happened and what is taking place. Texas is in much better shape than states such as California, Nevada, and other states on both the east and west coasts. The issue in our area is that investors came in to our neighborhoods bought either new or close to new homes to rent or to flip and did this without much money down if any. The lenders had programs that did not require documentation in some cases and when things did not work out for the investors, they just let the properties get foreclosed on. They had little if any risk. Next, some new home builders also put people into risky loans and that are now affecting some people in our area.

It is important to understand that home prices in the Dallas area have not risen like in other east and west coast states. We have seen modest price increases and therefore should not see a major price decrease. Employment in our area has been good and continues to grow year after year. The availability of affordable homes, low prices, low mortgage rates and a healthy Texas economy continues to bolster the home market here in Texas. Credit guidlines for getting a mortgage have been strengthened which will keep credit risky people from getting a home. This is not a bad thing. There is still plenty of money available to get 100%, 80/20, and 90/10/10 loans based on certain criteria. Credit scores of of 580 and up may still obtain a mortgage. There are down payment assistance programs and FHA loans that make it easier to get a home. In general there is a lot of good news!

The DeBerry Team works with key mortgage service providers in the area and just this morning we spoke with Wayne Lancaster of Bankers Financial in Plano, Texas. Wayne’s contact information is Ph: 972-712-9835 or you can email him at Wayne.Lancaster@bfmgtx.com for more information on the current mortgage situation. Here is Wayne’s advice for Sellers: Be prepared for a smaller pool of qualified buyers. Approximately 15% to 30% of potential qualified buyers may be affected by the increased tightening of the credit guidelines and diminishing mortgage products. Have a serious talk with your real estate agent that is experienced in both the buying and selling of homes. An experienced agent will make sure that the buyers they bring you are pre-approved> They will help you set a price on your home that is competitive. Buyers: Get pre-approved with a reputable lender. Be wary of some internet providers. It may take a little longer or there may be more stipulations before getting a mortgage. Refiinance: Don’t delay! Communicate with your lender. Don’t do anything that could negatively affect your credit. ARMs Borrowers: If your ARM is scheduled to reset in the next 2-18 months, you need to schedule an appointment with a mortgage professional right away. Don’t let a default or mortgage situation sneak up on you.

The DeBerry Team has worked with Wayne for many years and we value his opinions. We have other valued mortgage professionals that are supporting our efforts to inform and protect our clients. When we receive information from them we may post a blog or they may be posting their own. If you have questions, concerns, or need help with real estate, please contact me, Roxanne DeBerry at 214-676-8040 or email me at roxanne@thedeberryteam.com. For more information on the area and hot deals on homes please visit my website at www.thedeberryteam.com.

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City Lifestyles

What are the lifestyle opportunities in and around Plano, Texas. Are there hiking clubs, biking trails, civic clubs, golf clubs, local arts and theater, lakes, streams, fishing, boating, camping or other types of lifestyle opportunities?

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