Acreage Homes For Sale in Lovejoy ISD

Lovejoy ISD in Collin County has become a very desirable school district. There are homes in Allen, Lucas, Fairview and McKinney zoned to Lovejoy ISD. 

According to the school district website, “Lovejoy ISD is an exemplary district serving students in Fairview, Lucas, and Allen, Texas.  The Lovejoy Independent School District includes Lovejoy High School, Sloan Creek Middle School, and Hart, Lovejoy, and Puster elementary schools.”

While the exemplary school district is a major draw, this is one of the best areas for homes on acreage located with easy access to the DFW Metroplex.

Click here to see Acreage Homes For Sale Zoned to Lovejoy ISD.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Photo Copyright 2010 Imaged2Sell

Gina Branch Selected as a 2012 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent

FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent

We are pleased to announce that Gina Branch has been selected as a 2012 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent for the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Texas Monthly partnered with FIVE STAR Professional to identify the real estate agents in the Dallas Fort Worth area who provide exceptional service and overall satisfaction as indicated by clients, peers and industry experts. The 2012 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agents are a select group of fewer than 7 percent of all real estate agents in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent is a Service Mark of FIVE STAR Professional. Logo licensed from FIVE STAR Professional.

Crime Watch Bulletin for Ridgeview Ranch

OFFENSE NUMBER: 2012-12685

OFFENSE TYPE: Suspicious Person

LOCATION/STREET: Daly Drive (Independence Pkwy/Ridgeview Dr, Mapsco 557D)

BLOCK NUMBER: 9400  

DATE: 1/14/12 (Saturday) TIME: Between 12:00pm-2:00pm

DESCRIPTION: The victim was a 10 year old juvenile riding her bicycle with another juvenile female.  The two were approached by the suspect who was in his car in the 9400 block of Daly Drive.  The suspect asked the girls to come on over to his car.  The girls refused and the vehicle drove away only to return two other times.  The suspect never got out of his car.  The victim’s parents reported the event only after they heard of a similar incident that had happened a few weeks ago.

SUSPECT INFORMATION: White male in his 30’s with dark brown hair and a brown goatee.

VEHICLE INFORMATION: Newer silver colored four door vehicle

Source: Plano Police Department via the Ridgeview Ranch HOA

Jimmy’s On The Pier in Galveston Texas

Jimmey's On The Pier

Gina and I recently attended the RE/MAX of Texas Convention in Galveston. While we spent 3 busy conference days, we were able to relax a little on day 4 before driving back to Dallas.

We met up with Mark Stroeh and his wife on Sunday to enjoy a nice meal in the area and catch up. Mark and I go back to the 1980’s when we were both in the United States Air Force and stationed at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth. Mark suggested we try Jimmy’s On The Pier for lunch.

On The Pier          

Jimmy’s is a cool little place located above the gift shop on one of the fishing piers on the Galveston seawall. The morning air was cool so we elected not to sit on the balcony. Had the weather been a bit warmer, I could see sitting outside enjoying the feel of the sun on my face and the breeze in my hair.

The food was tasty and the company was great! You really want to stop by and check out Jimmy’s the next time you’re in Galveston. For more information visit http://galvestonfishingpier.com/.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Photos Copyright 2012 Tom Branch

The Branch Team Wins Annual Production Award

The Branch Team Accepting Annual Production Award

Tom and Gina Branch, The Branch Team, accepting an annual production award at the RE/MAX of Texas Convention in Galveston, Texas.

Photo courtesy RE/MAX of Texas

J.D. Power and Associates Awards

The Branch Team with JD Power Awards

We had the opportunity to have our picture taken holding RE/MAX’s 2011 J.D. Power & Associates awards at the RE/MAX of Texas Convention held in Galveston, Texas.

For more information on these awards visit the J.D. Power and Associates Awards page at remax.com.

Real Estate is Not eBay!

Home Sold at Auction

There is an alarming trend among many buyers of real estate these days. We’re seeing more and more people who want to “place bids” rather than to “make offers” on a home.

Real estate is not eBay. While some real estate is sold in an auction format, the vast majority of sales are not. I realize that in some markets buyers are in full control given the volume of short sales and foreclosures, but in many places the markets are balanced and in some places there are seller’s markets.

In the north Dallas suburbs, there is a severe shortage of good properties under $150k. Last weekend I was out with some first time homebuyers who had been looking for weeks. We found a home the first day it was on the market. By day 3 there were multiple offers and my clients actually had to offer more than list price in order to secure the contract. It’s a seller’s market for good homes under $150k.

I’ve seen buyers totally upset when their low “bid” was not countered while a more reasonable offer was negotiated and accepted. That’s not to say that a lower offer is not appropriate at times such as with an overpriced property. However, throwing in a bid at 70 percent of market value on a hot property is usually a waste time. 

Many investors use this approach but don’t really care if hundreds are rejected while they look for the one seller who will sell at that price. The average home buyer will quickly become frustrated using this method.

Many of our younger buyers have grown up bidding online and to some extent bidding has become part of America’s landscape. While I suspect this trend will continue in consumer goods, I don’t think it will last in the housing market and certainly does not apply to seller’s markets.

My advice is to know what kind of market you’re looking in and use an appropriate strategy rather than always going in with a “bidding” strategy.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Photo licensed from iStockPhoto