The majority of the city of Southlake is in the Carroll School District. In recent Texas Education Agency ratings, all of the Carroll schools received exemplary ratings. Carroll is the only school district in Tarrant County in which every school in the district received exemplary ratings. Along with its academic excellence, Carroll schools are known for their athletic programs as well. The Carroll school district has state of the art resources for their students and athletic facilities that are comparable to some professional facilities. Parental involvement with their children is the norm, which helps contribute to the academic and athletic excellence which is prevalent throughout the community. There is a strong sense of unity among the residents of Southlake.

The majority of homes in Southlake are single family residences, with a few townhouse neighborhood and limited two family units. There are currently no apartment complexes within the city limits, and just a few mobile homes. The median home price is slightly over $400,000. Although there are other areas that may be more affordable, many home buyers may settle for a less expensive home to have their children attend Carroll schools. In spite of recent declines in property values in many areas, Southlake has not experienced the significant losses that other cities in Tarrant County and surrounding areas have had. Property values have remained relatively stable throughout this economic crisis. The number of foreclosures is significantly less than in neighboring cities as well.

Southlake Town Center in the heart of the city has many upscale boutiques and shops, great dining and entertainment, and is the location for the annual arts festival and other holiday festivities. City hall and the public library are also located in the town center. It is a great place to spend the afternoon window shopping or catching a nice dinner or movie. Located about 10 minutes from DFW International airport, it is a great place to spend a long layover between flights.

Part of the city of Southlake borders on Grapevine Lake. Camping, water sports and a marina are all just a short distance from many of the residents. City parks such as Bob Jones Park have trails, playgrounds, fishing areas, soccer and baseball fields, and a nature center, all frequented by many of the residents. Family, school, and sports are all the cornerstone of what makes Southlake such a great place to live.

For more information about life in Southlake Texas or about Southlake Texas homes, please contact Dave or Betty Warden at 817-706-3291.

If you are one of the many first time homebuyers in the market for a new home, there are many complex issues that are involved in the process of buying a home. Finding a real estate professional that is both familiar with the area you are looking and one that is willing to help you to understand the different steps of the process of buying a home is vital. Understanding about the types of available financing, property values in your area of interest, neighborhood and school information; all of these are important to a homebuyer and your real estate professional should be able to provide this information to you.

Before you start your search for a home, take time to evaluate your financial status. How much money do you have available for a down payment? What’s my credit score? What is my gross income and how much are my monthly obligations? These are all questions that homebuyers must ask and information they should obtain before talking to a mortgage lender or a real estate professional. In order to be prequalified for a loan, the borrower will need banks statements, W2 forms, current paycheck stubs, 401K and other savings account balances for the lender to review to determine how much a buyer can borrow. The amount of money for the down payment on a home is also important in order to determine which type of financing is best.

Once you have determined how much you have available to spend on your home, now is the time to start your search. Since the average homeowner lives in their home less than 6 years, it is important to consider the possible resale value of their next home. In areas such as Southlake, Grapevine and Keller, home values seem to be more stable than other parts of Tarrant County. This is mainly a result of their central location, their historically excellent performing schools, and their other commercial amenities that are available to the residents.

Wherever you do choose to by your home, be sure to have a licensed home inspector perform a comprehensive inspection of the home to identify existing problems or point out potential problems or concerns. Home inspectors will provide you with a report of the general overall condition of the home. With the information in the report, the buyer has the opportunity to negotiate repairs, proceed with the purchase, or walk away from the deal.

Finally, all new homebuyers should be aware of property taxes and homeowner’s associations in the prospective areas. Property taxes and homeowner association dues are typically added to the principal, interest and home owner’s insurance to equal your total mortgage payment. Property taxes may be significantly higher in some areas, causing your mortgage payment to be higher than a comparably priced home in another area. Make sure you are informed of the average tax base for the area in which you are looking.

For more information about Southlake homes, Grapevine homes, or Keller homes, please contact Dave and Betty Warden at 817-706-3291.

Current plans average about two homes per 1.8 acres, with plans for about 70 zero-lot line homes, which are a rare find in the city of Southlake. With the growing number of baby boomers retiring in the Southlake, Colleyville, Westlake, Trophy Club, and Keller TX real estate area, the demand for higher end, lower maintenance properties will continue to increase. These homes may be attractive to some of the long time residents of Southlake and the surrounding areas that want to remain in the area, but no longer have a need for their larger homes and lots.

Along with the addition of various types of homes, there are about 68 acres of parks and open spaces planned throughout the complex, with walking trails available for use by residents and the general public. Residents of Carillon will have access to an Amenity Center, which will have a swimming pool and pavilions, all in a spa like setting.

Retail, office space, a hotel, and a proposed performing arts center will all be in walking distance to residents in the community. There are plans for a large fountain, outdoor dining areas, and space for entertainment and art venues. The entire experience will be enjoyable for both residents and visitors to the area.

There are four phases of this project, with the first estimated to begin next year. The location of the Carillon development offers easy access to main highways and DFW airport. Southlake TX also has some of the best schools and shopping in the DFW metroplex. Carillon has so much to offer the current residents of Southlake and may be a perfect place for those relocating to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

For more information about Southlake TX real estate, or any of the surrounding areas, please contact Dave or Betty Warden at 817-706-3291.

When purchasing a home in the Southlake Texas real estate market, there are many things that a homebuyer will consider before making their decision on which home is right for them. Finding a home in the right location is probably the most important variable that a buyer considers when making their choice. Many Southlake Texas homebuyers choose locations that are convenient to schools, work, and shopping. These buyers sometimes have to forego some other amenities that they would be able to find at a less desirable location in order to find a home in a particular area. Southlake real estate, Grapevine real estate, and Colleyville real estate are centrally located in the Dallas Fort Worth area and are often found more desirable to homebuyers. Excellent shopping and award winning school districts also bring many homebuyers to these areas.

Not only is a good location important to a homebuyer, but when it comes time to resell your home, the potential resale value of your property has a greater probability of increasing in value. The average homebuyer lives in their home for approximately five years. With this in mind, buying a home in just the right location can make selling your home in the future easier and may prove to be a better investment in the long run. In most areas, property values generally have a tendency to increase. Although finding the right location to buy your next home is important, be sure to consult with a Realtor for information the market in the area of interest. A Realtor has access to sales information over the past five years and will be able to inform you of the pricing trends that have occurred in the neighborhood. This information will help you to determine if this is the right area for you and your future needs.

If you are a homebuyer with school age children, finding an excellent school district is usually of great importance to you. For information on Texas public schools and their accountability ratings, you may visit the website www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/ . Buying a home in a school district that has exemplary ratings may bring a larger price tag not only on the sales price, but also on the property and school taxes. A buyer must keep these things in mind when it comes time to purchase a home. Although property taxes maybe higher than some other areas, the educational advantages may outweigh the cost of sending your children to private school and living in another area.

If you are a homebuyer without school age children or with no intention of having children, you may want to consider buying in an area that has lower school taxes versus an area with higher school and property taxes. Although this may make resale of your home less desirable to someone interested in better schools, it may save you money in the long run and still may appeal to those homebuyers that have children that will attend private school.

Homes near industry or other large business districts may be more appealing to many homebuyers. With the rising cost of gasoline and the time involved in one’s daily commute to and from work, living close to your work may be the most important factor in finding the right home. In the Dallas real estate market and Fort Worth real estate market, more housing is available in downtown areas than in recent years. The desire to live downtown, near work and entertainment districts, is very appealing to many executives relocating to the DFW metroplex. Many suburban areas close to downtown areas are now being updated and restored to attract more homebuyers back into the city. Call Betty Warden for more information on Southlake TX real estate.

In today’s Southlake, TX real estate market, many North Texas homebuyers are considering more environmentally friendly homes when purchasing their new Southlake, Texas home. With the increasing interest in protecting our environment, many home builders are adding more energy efficient features to not only save the homeowner on costly utility bills, but also to help protect our environment from harmful emissions emitted from less energy efficient homes.

If you are planning to buy an existing Southlake, Texas home, there are some things you should look at to estimate your potential energy costs. It is always good to ask the current homeowner if they have records of their previous utility bills. If they have a larger family, chances are their bills will be higher than those of a smaller family. You should inquire about the age of the heating and air conditioning units and any service or regular maintenance that has been performed on these units. You should also ask about the age of the water heater. Newer models are usually smaller and are more efficient.

Not only are older heating and cooling systems a drain on energy and potentially harmful to the environment, having landscaping that is not native to the area you live can be costly to maintain, especially during the hot summer months when there are frequent water shortages and restrictions. Planting shrubs and other landscaping that is native to your area is easier to maintain and uses less natural resources.

Many new home builders are installing energy efficient windows and appliances. If you are buying an older home, many times the home seller has replaced their older windows with new double paned glass. Finding an existing home with new windows is a valuable find, since paying to replace older windows can be quite costly. If the home does have older windows, check the seal around the window to see if there are air leaks. Simply sealing these leaks around windows and doors can help you save energy. Many people today are applying a radiant barrier inside their attic to help hold heat in during winter months and air conditioning in during summer months. This is just a special type of paint that is applied to the ceiling of the attic.

Any efforts that a homeowner makes to make his home more environmentally friendly, although costly at first, have the potential to save money over time and are helpful in protecting our environment. Have questions? Give us a call and we will help you get started and going green.
Betty Warden, 817-706-3291

Before we get started, we’d like to remind you to ask us about properties in H.E.B—short for Hurst, Euless, and Bedford, Texas homes—that may be available during the current housing difficulties.  You might find a hidden gem right here in our Featured Listings.  “Click your mouse for your new house!”

Now, the first fact is that there is a difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor.  These terms are not synonymous.  The State of Texas licenses real estate agents to represent clients in real estate transactions.  A Realtor, on the other hand, is voluntary member of a professional organization that has chapters around the United States.  This professional organization requires its members to operate by a code of ethics.  It also provides resources and options that assist real estate agents to better serve you.  All Realtors are real estate agents but not vice versa.

Next, we’d like to point out that licensed real estate agents in Texas are only legally required to provide very minimal services.  This is why you may see advertisements from some agents who may offer to sell your home for only a couple hundred dollars.  Legally speaking, real estate brokers are only required to accept and pass along offers and counteroffers to their clients, help the client to develop and present offers and counteroffers, and answer questions relating to offers and counteroffers.

There is not such a thing as a standard commission.  There are wide variations from one firm to the next for services.  Besides those who charge a bare minimum, others market their top-dollar no-worries services to target buyers and sellers that can afford their rates.  You may see real estate agents charge set commissions based on the sales price; a flat fee for services, regardless of sales price; or a menu of services to select from, similar to ala carte dining.

And, finally, realize that a well-reputed Realtor can help you to buy at the best price and to prepare your home for sale at the best possible market value.  Myth:  Real estate agents are trying to run away with your equity.  Fact:  They can save you money and hopefully make the transition period shorter.  Why not find your dream home in a day or sell your home within a week?  You will be able to get along with your life and dreams.

Contact Dave Warden at (817) 706-3291 or e-mail dave@davewarden.net for the inside scoop and details about real estate in the area.