Hanks Texas Grill in McKinney, TX

Hank's Texas Grill - McKinney, TX

©2010 - Tom Branch

Tired of eating at national franchises where the menus are all the same? Want to experience something out of the ordinary?

Try Hank’s Texas Grill located on the corner of US75 and White Avenue in McKinney, Texas.  Hank’s Texas Grill is a one of a kind restaurant and offers live music as well. 

According to Hank’s website:

Real music by real people!  That is what Hank’s Texas Grill provides.  With a fully equipped sound stage, and the state’s top singer/songwriters, you simply will not find a better venue to enjoy a true Texas experience.

Hank’s is very proud to serve only fresh made from scratch platters.  Also, we offer a variety of steaks, and specialize in our smokehouse bbq, which is smoked daily in house!

Hank’s also provides full service catering.  We can provide you with all you need to have a successful lunch or dinner party.  Click on our catering link to learn more about our catering services.

We enjoyed a great meal with some friends and were able to listen to the band do their pre-show warm-up.  I only wish we had had tickets to the show!

Visit them online at http://www.hankstexasgrill.com/.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Gina Branch Appears in D Magazine’s Dallas Dirt Blog

D Magazine Dallas Dirt Blog

Posted on Dallas Dirt by Candy Evans

Gina Branch, ABR of RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, offers a response to our Eager Seller of the day who hasn’t seen any movement in her $150k home on the market for a week:

Dear Eager:

This is a great question currently on the minds of many homeowners across the nation.

The good news is the national foreclosure moratorium will have very little impact in Texas.  Texas is a non-judicial state and the foreclosures will most likely begin again here in the next few weeks as the lenders dot the i’s and cross the t’s on their paperwork.

The bigger issues impacting home sales in the Dallas area are three-fold.  First, the federal tax credit that expired earlier this year prompted many buyers to get off the fence and purchase before the deadline.  This frenzied buying has dissipated the current buyer pool.  Secondly, we’re still running across many buyers who can’t qualify for a mortgage due to low credit scores, high debt, or a combination of the two.  This is such a tragedy given the historically low interest rates and affordable housing prices in our area.  And third, unemployment is high, so many would-be buyers are unwilling to part with their money given the widespread job insecurity facing Texas and the nation.

While it’s a great time to purchase a home, it’s not the best time to sell.  What sellers need to keep in mind is that whatever loss they might take on the sale of their home, they will more than make up for on the purchase of a new one.  The savings in interest alone is substantial.  When you combine that with lots of inventory and stable prices, it’s a prime time to buy.  The Dallas Fort Worth metro area is having a fire sale!  If you’re planning to purchase another home after you sell, I would encourage you to take your minor bumps and bruises in sales price and then take full advantage of the current buyer’s market.

Originally Posted at:  http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/18/ask-candy-how-foreclosuregate-will-affect-dallas-real-estate-its-a-fire-sale/

Zillow Designates Tom Branch as Local Expert

Branch Designated Zillow Local ExpertZillow has designated Tom Branch as a Local Expert for Plano, Texas.

The Zillow Local Expert badge was created to recognize those who have made valuable contributions in a specific city or neighborhood on Zillow.

Local Experts are active Zillow users who share their real estate knowledge and help others by contributing high-quality content at a local level.

The more and better the contributions a user makes that relate to that city or neighborhood, the more likely an award will be granted.

Branch was also desginated the Zillow Local Expert for 75024 in June 2010.

Source:  Zillow

What Failures Don’t Like to Do

Success or Failure

The more you serve your customers and help them satisfy their needs, the more you will prosper.
 
And as a business owner, business manager, professional person or entrepreneur, serving your customers’ needs effectively means that you must do the things that unsuccessful business owners, managers, professionals, and entrepreneurs don’t do. The things that those unsuccessful people don’t do are the things that most of us don’t like to do either.

There is no doubt that it is difficult to work long hours or on weekends when your family is waiting for you at home, to have only a couple of “shoppers” stop by or to be stood up for an appointment someone made with you.
 
It’s tough to make telephone calls only to be met with hostile and rude people on the other end who curse at you or slam the phone down.
 
It’s discouraging to set goals, schedule interviews, explain the technical aspects and benefits of the products and services you provide, overcome customers’ objections and misconceptions, and go out of your way to give exceptional service, only to have your customer go elsewhere because they found the same product or service for a few dollars less.
 
Enough of these experiences can be discouraging for anyone. And after a while, some people just quit trying. They find it easier to adjust their standard of living downward to match their income, than to adjust their income upward to create their desired standard of living.

They are no longer in control. Inflation dictates the price of things they buy, and competition and luck determine how much they have to spend. Fortunately for them, many of their competitors are in the same situation.

Outstanding success is unusual and is dependent on many different factors. For some people, it just happens. They’re in the right place at the right time, they do nothing special, everything just falls into place for them. Others put in long hours and much work only to find average success.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

NTTA To Open First Direct Connect Ramp at SH121 and US75

The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) will open the first direct-connect ramp at the State Highway 121, the Sam Rayburn Tollway(SRT) and US 75, North Central Expressway (Central) interchange on October 17th.

Sam Rayburn Tollway

The new ramp will allow motorists traveling on northeast-bound SRT in Allen and McKinney to directly access northbound U.S. 75.

“The opening of this direct-connector is a momentous occasion for the NTTA and for the public, since this new ramp will vastly improve traffic flow through the area,” said Elizabeth Mow, NTTA director of project delivery.

More developments are coming soon: By the end of November, the NTTA expects to open another major direct-connector on the SRT/U.S. 75 interchange. This one will directly link southbound U.S. 75 with southwest bound SRT. Details will be announced when the opening schedule is finalized.

The NTTA will open the SRT/U.S. 75 interchange in phases during the next several months. All major traffic movements are expected to be open on the interchange in January.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR
Source:  NTTA Press Release

Little Elm Texas Homes For Lease – 2605 Cowboy Trail

The Branch Team | Real Estate Broker 0547597 | RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs

Little Elm Texas Homes For Lease - 2605 Cowboy Trail

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 1484 SF/Tax

Little Elm TX Homes For Lease – Nice modern home in Stardust Ranch. Neutral colors. Kitchen with tile backsplash and breakfast bar overlooks living room with wood-burning fireplace. Large master suite. Master bath with garden tub, dual vanities, separate shower, and walk-in closet. Other bedrooms and bath split from master. Washer and dryer remain. Large backyard with open patio is perfect for entertaining. Community amenities include pool, clubhouse, park, and playground.

Click here for current status, pricing, photos, and a virtual tour.

Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit -Tom Branch

Plano Texas Homes For Sale – 6002 Green Oaks

The Branch Team | Real Estate Broker 0547597 | RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs

Plano Texas Homes For Sale - 6002 Green Oaks

4 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 1986 SF/Tax

Plano TX Homes For Sale – Great home with pool in the Heart of Plano. Bright and open floor plan with large formals and butlers pantry. Kitchen and family room with wood-burning fireplace overlook the backyard with diving pool. Perfect for entertaining. Generous master suite has walk-in closet and master bath has updated vanity and ceramic tile flooring. Main bath has also been updated including tile and flooring. This home is clean and move-in ready.

Click here for current status, pricing, photos, and a virtual tour.

Source: NTREIS | Photo Credit -Tom Branch