The Branch Team Celebrates Two Years with RE/MAX

The Branch Team celebrates their two-year anniversary with RE/MAX®.

The Branch Team Celebrates Two Year with RE/MAX

Tom and Gina closed their independent brokerage in late 2008 and associated with RE/MAX Dallas Surburbs in February 2009. Susan Johnson became part of the team in the fall of 2010.

Since joining RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, the team has been one of the top two listing teams taking second place in 2009 and first place in 2010.

Source:  RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs

It’s Time To Check Your Sprinkler Heads

I was out driving in the neighborhood on Friday when I can upon a home with a stream of water going 10 feet in the air. No, it was not a broken water line, but a broken sprinkler head.

It's Time To Check Your Sprinkler Heads

Since it was running during the afternoon on a weekday, the owner would not likely figure it out for some time. I left a note on the front door.

If you’re getting your sprinkler system ready for the spring, run a systems check. It’s really a simple process. Put the system in manual mode and turn on Zone 1. Go outside and check that all the heads are working properly. Go back and turn on Zone 2 and check it. Continue the process until you’ve checked all the zones.

Remember to put the system back in automatic mode and you should be good to go for the spring.

Dallas TX Luxury Home For Sale 5305 Southern

Dallas TX Luxury Home For Sale 5305 Southern

Copyright - Imaged2Sell

3 Bedrooms | 2.1 Baths | 3-Car Garage | 3072 SF/Tax

Dallas TX Luxury Home For Sale – Beautiful Med-style home on corner lot with mature trees and spectacular 2-story entry. Island kitchen with granite, built-in fridge, Mirazzi tile, walk-in pantry and wine rack. Great room overlooks tropical oasis with covered veranda, sparkling pool and outdoor FP. Master suite down has glass block shower and sep. jetted tub. Third living up perfect for game room. 3 floored attics, 3-car garage with cabs, counters and workbench. Many extras! 

Current status, pricing, photos, and a virtual tour for this Dallas Texas, Luxury Home For Sale.

Source: NTREIS

Short Sales and IRS Form 1099C

It’s that time of the year again. Many of us are picking up our mail and trying to get our tax documents together so we can prepare and file our 2010 returns.

Short Sales and IRS Form 1099C

Licensed from iStockPhoto

If you completed a Short Sale of a house in 2010, you will likely received an IRS Form 1099C showing the amount of debt that was cancelled in the Short Sale process. Don’t panic! The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2012.

According to the IRS website:

The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, qualifies for the relief.

The best course of action is to contact your tax preparer or CPA, or you can download IRS Publication 4681 for guidance on the topic.

Close Out Pricing Wyndsor Court Richardson TX

CB Jeni Homes has begun their close out of Wyndsor Court in Richardson, Texas. Currently there are two completed homes ready to go:

3521 Monmouth Richardson TX Close Out Pricing

Copyright 2010 - Imaged2Sell

3521 Monmouth Ct – 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Study | 2200 SF-Plan – Originally listed at $281,590. Close-Out priced at $238,990. Details, photos, and virtual tour on this Richardson Texas Close Out Home.


35251 Monmouth Richardson TX Close Out Pricing

Copyright 2010 - Imaged2Sell

3525 Monmouth Ct – 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2286 SF-Plan – Originally listed at $282,073. Close-Out priced at $238,990. Details, photos, and virtual tour on this Richardson Texas Close Out Home.

All homes include:

  • Crown Molding in the Entry and Master Bedroom
  • Custom 5.25″ Base Molding
  • Stainless Steel Kitchen Applainces
  • Tile in Wet Areas
  • 8 Foot Interior Doors
  • Landscaped Yard and Sprinkler System
  • 14-16 SEER HVAC
  • Rounded Corners
  • Granite Counters in Kitchen
  • Upgraded 42″ Kitchen Cabinets
  • 10-15 Foot Ceilings
  • 6 Foot Fenced Yard with Gate

Don’t miss you chance to get a new home at a close-out price!

The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs is the exclusive listing broker for CB Jeni Homes.

Why The First Half of 2011 Will Look Bad and the Second Half Will Shine

As we start into 2011, we need to be prepared for the media frenzy that’s going to happen as the sales figures are released. The market will be “crashing” and new worries will spread throughout not only the housing market, but the economy in general.

Why The First Half of 2011 Will Look Bad and the Second Half Will Shine

Licensed from iStockPhoto

How can I make such a bold prediction? 

2010 was not a normal year. We had all the buying activity crammed into the spring driven by the Federal Tax Credits.  For those of us on the inside, we know it was crazy. I sold every property I had listed under $200k.  Come July, the market tanked. I called it, “Cash for Clunkers Comes to the Housing Market.”

So regardless of what this spring’s sales look like, it’s going to be far less than the same period in 2010. The “experts” will come to the wrong conclusions and the unsuspecting media will run with it.

That’s the bad news…there is good news though…

The second half of 2011 should be far better than the second half of 2010, the “experts” will come to the wrong conclusion, and the media will run with it. It’s going to be impossible to normalize the 2010 data so we have to accept 2010 for what it was…an anomaly brought on by the Federal Home Buyers Credits.

Based on a Presentation by Kelly Milligan, Chicago Title

The Branch Team Wins Annual and Quarterly Awards

The Branch Team - RE/MAX Dallas Surburbs

RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs announced 2010 Annual and Fourth Quarter award winners at an Awards Breakfast this morning at the Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX. The Branch Team won the following awards:

  • Top Listing Team for 2010
  • Top Listing Team for the 4th Quarter 2010
  • 3rd Place Closing Team for the 4th Quarter 2010

RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs is a full-service real estate company with 79 professional agents; with an average of 16 years experience. This wealth of experience goes a long way towards explaining how this group sold over $289 million of real estate in 2010 and consistently wins Top Office honors in the RE/MAX Texas – Dallas Region.

Source: RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs