A Balloon View of The Preserve in Allen

The Preserve in Allen from the RE/MAX Balloon on June 29 2011
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Gina and I flew over The Preserve in Allen this morning in the RE/MAX® Balloon. This vantage point gives you a good view of how things are progressing.

The development is really starting to take shape! The lake has been completed and is starting to fill. You can also see that the lots have been surveyed and leveled. The roads have been laid out and the developer will be installing utilities soon. You can see the stacks of blue-green pipes at the front of the development.

You can see all homes for sale in Twin Creeks, Allen, TX here.

Read more about The Preserve in Allen.

Photo: Copyright 2011 – Tom Branch


New Home Rebate

Purchase a new home through us and we'll help you with your closing costs! We'll give you a credit of 1.5% of the price of the home at closing to use towards your closing costs.

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Plano TX Townhome For Sale 8633 Naomi

8633 Naomi Townhome For Sale

2 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths |2-Car Garage | 1633 SF/Building Plan

Plano TX Townhome For Sale – Contract NOW for JULY move in on this gorgeous CATALINA plan loaded with upgrades. Beautiful brick and stone exterior with hand laid brick porch. Welcoming 8ft Knotty Alder front door with speakeasy. Gourmet kitchen has stainless, granite, gas, convection oven, and maple cabs. Two dining areas great for entertaining. Gas on private patio. Energy efficient with 16 SEER HVAC, radiant barrier, cocoon insulation, double pane and low E windows. 

Click here for Current Pricing, Details, Photos, and Virtual Tour.

See all Townhomes For Sale in the Enclaves of Willow Crest.

Source: NTREIS

Rental Scams Hit the Area…Again

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My phone has been ringing like crazy all morning long. Almost all the calls are about a new lease listing in Garland, TX at 3313 Ivanhoe

Apparently some low-life has poached my listing and posted it on HotPads at $700.  They’ve looked up the owner’s name and it’s made to look like a For Lease By Owner listing.

This is a scam! The guy tells a compelling story about being out of the country and asks you to wire him funds via Western Union.

Don’t fall for scams!  If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The best way to protect yourself is to work with a reputable and local  leasing agent.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Lakewood Estates in Coppell Texas

Lakewood Estates in Coppell, TX

I was out working in Lakewood Estates in Coppell, Texas this morning. It was early in the day and the temperatures had not yet climbed out of the 80’s. I was early for my appointment so I sat on a bench in the park next to the lake.

As I sipped my Starbucks coffee, I watch as the ducks paddled around the lake and a couple of large turtles sunned themselves on the dam. I was not alone as people sat on their back patios doing the same.

Coppell TX is a bedroom community located on northwest of Dallas. Coppell offers nice homes, abundant shopping and dining, and easy access to many of the major highways including 635, 35E, and 121.

See all Homes for Sale in Lakewood Estates.

See all Homes for Sale in Coppell, TX.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Is It the Right Time to Buy?

Renting Versus Buying a Home

I had lunch with the sales staff of a local builder I represent yesterday. A couple of tasty pizzas combined with an interesting conversation led to this post.

Many of the potential buyers are walking in concerned about everything they are reading, hearing, and seeing in the national media. “It’s a bad time to buy”, seems to be the news of the day.

As we sat there and ate, we jumped onto Google and looked at the rents of an apartment complex within sight of the subdivision. The rent for a 1608 square foot apartment is $1639 a month. We compared that to a brand-new 1620 square-foot townhome. The townhome is priced at $195k. An FHA mortgage with a 3.5 percent down payment results in a mortgage payment of about $1626 including principle, interest, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and HOA dues.

For the same money being paid for rent, one could own a townhome. These figures do not take the tax advantages or long-term appreciation in account. 

Home and interest rates are both low. It will not stay that way. Home prices in North Texas are up 3.5 percent over last year and Collin County is up 5.4 percent. Interest rates will remain where they are as long as the government continues to purchase most of the mortgage loans. They cannot continue to do so forever.

I suspect we will look back at this period in 20 years as the golden opportunity of a lifetime.

Search the North Texas MLS.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

RE/MAX Website Number 1 Among National Brands

RE/MAX Website Hitwise Rankings

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The RE/MAX Website is the most visited real estate website among the national brands. The data comes from the March 2011 Hitwise Report of all U.S. websites in the “Business and Finance – Real Estate” category.

The Branch Team is proud to be associated with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and the RE/MAX® brand.

It’s another reason, “Nobody Sells More Real Estate Than RE/MAX®!”

Plano TX Home For Sale 8713 Isaac

Francesca - CB Jeni Homes

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | Study |2-Car Garage | 2474 SF/Building Plan

Plano TX Home For Sale – New floor plan in Frisco ISD. Large island kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and custom cabinets. Master bath with separate vanities has garden tub and huge walk in closet. Nice covered back patio. Designer touches include crown molding, bull nose corners, and art niches. Many energy features. Ready in July or August. 

Click here for Current Pricing, Details, Photos, and Virtual Tour.

See all Homes For Sale in the Estates of Willow Crest.

Source: NTREIS