By Tom Branch, on April 30th, 2012 
I received a call this evening from one of my sellers. A potential buyer had showed up at her home, rang the doorbell, and asked to see the home. While this raised red flags for her, she let him into her home and showed him around.
The good news is that nothing happened.
It’s one thing to allow an agent with a keycard and who has scheduled an appointment into your home, but allowing a stranger off the street to do so could be a recipe for disaster.
Buyers off the street should always be referred to your agent. Agents generally qualify potential buyers before showing homes to them. This process tends to weed out unqualified or “buyers” with other motives.
Sellers, I know you want to sell your home, but please do not forfeit your safety in the process.
Photo licensed from iStockPhoto
By Gina Branch, on April 30th, 2012 
If you’re looking for a NEW home in exemplary Frisco ISD, you might want to check out Sorano Estates. After you pass through the grand entrance, you’ll discover large home sites nestled along winding streets with cul-de-sacs.
First Texas Homes offers 11 luxury home designs in Sorano Estates, all Energy Star Certified, and starting in the $280s. Families will enjoy the parks within the neighborhood and the peaceful atmosphere of a smaller community.
Location is a big plus for Sorano Estates, situated just three miles north of Highway 121 on Independence. This prime location is close to three golf courses, retail, restaurants, and entertainment. There are a few homes already available, and building lots are going fast. Now’s the time to pick your perfect home site before they’re all gone!
Click here to view all homes for sale in Sorano Estates, Frisco, Texas.
Click here to search all homes for sale in Frisco, TX.
Photo Copyright 2012 Imaged2Sell
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.
Click here for our New Home Rebates page.
By Tom Branch, on April 30th, 2012  You may think Short Sales were created in response to the housing market meltdown in 2007, but they have been around for years.
As Gina and I wrote in our book, The Field Guide to Short Sales, “They have not been widely used in the past for two reasons:
1. The lender could seek a deficiency judgment against the borrower for the amount of the loss. Laws vary from State to State, but the lender was able to garnish wages, engage a collection agency to collect the debt, or seek other legal relief.
2. The lender can elect to forgive all or a portion of the mortgage balance. However, until 2007, the amount forgiven became taxable income. The lender simply issued an IRS Form 1099 to the borrower. The tax implications were dramatic. If the lender forgave $100,000 and issued an IRS Form 1099 to the borrower for the same amount, the borrower potentially wound up owing the IRS tens of thousands of dollars depending on their tax rate.
The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was a major piece of legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. The Act offered relief to homeowners, who, after a Short Sale, owed taxes on the forgiven mortgage debt. This relief is great news! Most homeowners no longer have to pay taxes on that forgiven debt. The Act applied to debts forgiven between 2007 and 2009, but was extended through 2012 by the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.”
Unless Congress takes action to extend the Act, the relief from paying Federal taxes on forgiven debt will expire on December 31, 2012. This could end up costing a distressed homeowner tens of thousands of dollars in Federal taxes.
If you are considering a Short Sale, you may want to get started quickly. Given the time it takes to get the sale approved and the buyer to close, time is quickly running out.
Want to talk to a real estate team with a proved track-record and knows how to get them done? Contact us at 214-227-6626 or visit our website at www.ntxshortsales.com.
Photo licensed from iStockPhoto
By Tom Branch, on April 27th, 2012 
3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 1906 SF/Tax
Single level brick home with pool on treed lot. Open floor plan with lots of windows provides natural lighting. Island kitchen with light oak cabinets and ceramic tile flooring. Two living areas share see-through fireplace. Split master suite overlooks the backyard pool while the master bath has separate shower, dual vanities, garden tub, and walk-in closet. Fresh paint throughout, new hot water heater, new carpet, and recent laminate flooring.
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this McKinney TX Home For Sale.
Click here to see all homes for sale in McKinney TX.
Contact us at 214-705-2470 for more information or to schedule a showing.
Photo Copyright 2012 Imaged2Sell
By Tom Branch, on April 27th, 2012 
4 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 2 Car Garage | 2456 SF/Tax
Nice single-level home in Lost Creek Ranch. Open floor plan with high ceilings. Kitchen has 42 inch cabinets, tile backsplash, walk-in pantry, and ceramic tile floors. Large family room with fireplace overlooks the pool-sized back yard. Split master suite has jetted tub, separate shower, dual vanities, and walk-in closet. Stacked formals. Extended patio and sprinkler system. Recent exterior paint. Minutes from the Shops in Allen and US 75.
Click here for more details, photos, virtual tour, status, and pricing on this Allen TX Home For Sale.
Click here to see all homes for sale in Allen TX.
Contact us at 214-705-2470 for more information or to schedule a showing.
Photo Copyright 2012 Imaged2Sell
By Tom Branch, on April 27th, 2012 
The Federal Government and five large loan servicers (Bank of America, Chase, Citi, Ally, and Wells Fargo) have reached a settlement over the “robo-signing” of foreclosure documents. The 25 billion dollar settlement provides relief to distressed homeowners and direct payments to states and the federal government.
The Attorneys General on the Executive Committee that negotiated the settlement have created a website at www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com that provides information on the settlement.
Don’t be scammed by people offering to assist you with filing a claim for a fee. Filing is easy and free to borrowers.
Below is a link to a video produced by TBWS Daily that covers this in detail.
Your Portion of the $25 Billion Settlement
We will post updates as more information becomes available.
Photo Licensed from iStockPhoto
By Gina Branch, on April 26th, 2012 
If your dream is a luxury home nestled in a gated community with a premier location, we’ve got your answer. With 500 acres of prime land in southeast Frisco, Richwoods will be home to 1,600 families.
Location, location, location! Richwoods is just north of Highway 121 and just west of Independence Parkway. You’re minutes away from shopping, dining, sports, entertainment, and all the north Dallas suburbs have to offer. Planned amenities include a resort-style pool, club house with fitness center, walking trails, parks, and playgrounds. Richwoods is in the exemplary Frisco ISD and a brand new middle school is under construction adjacent to the community.
Home sites will vary in size offering luxury homes priced from the $300s to the $700s from top builders Toll Brothers, K. Hovnanian Homes, Landon Homes, and Newcastle Homes. Some of the builders are pre-selling already and will provide $1,000 towards upgrades of your choice. Prices will rise as the community begins to build out. Now is the time to choose your lot and features for your new home!
Photo Copyright 2012 Imaged2Sell
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.
Click here for our New Home Rebates page.
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