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        <title>DFW Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/2015-12/</link>
        <description>Dallas-Fort Worth New Homes, Find DFW home builder sales promotions, price reductions, and housing news.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/michael-askins-earns-2016-five-star-professional-designation.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/michael-askins-earns-2016-five-star-professional-designation.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>Michael Askins Earns 2016 Five Star Professional Designation</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Askins Realty Groups owner, Mike Askins has again earned the Five Star Professional designation for 2016.


Five Star Professional conducts research to help consumers with the important decision of selecting a service professional. The Five Star award is presented to wealth managers, real estate agents, mortgage professionals, home/auto insurance professionals and dentists in more than 45 markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Five Star award recognizes service professionals who provide quality services to their clients.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2015 11:19:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/so-you-want-to-sell-for-top-dollar-heres-plain-talk-from-an-experienced-dfw-listing-realtor.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/so-you-want-to-sell-for-top-dollar-heres-plain-talk-from-an-experienced-dfw-listing-realtor.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>So You Want to Sell Your DFW Area Home For Top Dollar? Proven Tips From a Top Selling Realtor</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Selling for top dollar requires a home that can earn a top dollar offer. While some homes can, many cant and sellers often wonder why.


Well, we dont and heres why.


Selling is a fundamental science when you break it down and analyze the factors. Unfortunately, when emotions or even greed (agent deliberately over inflating sales price numbers to get the listing or a seller wanting more than COMP values, or both) creeps into the discussion, the scientific facts can easily become glossed over, and homes get listed and begin to become stagnant Days on Market counters.


nbsp;


If you want to try and avoid these common pitfalls and seller mistakes, then read on. With approximately a half billion dollars in sales, while maintaining a ~95 success rate (one of DFWs highest) selling my clients homes, I think I might have some good tips for you.nbsp;


Preparation is KEY for Home Sellers to Stand Out


Essentially, if you prepare right by fixing up, staging for visual effect, cleaning deeply, and then before you list in MLS, carefully reevaluate your key comps, you will see a clear price emerge that will work to bring in prospective buyers, versus keeping them away.


If youre aiming for top dollar, youll need to assess your home and come up with a pre-listing budget so you can get your home ready to look its best. Smart home sellers have known for years that they can earn back all their pre-listing budget and in some instances earn back even double or triple their actual fix-up budget. So if you are aiming for top comps in your neighborhood, fix up preparation needs to be on your checklist.


Know What Buyers Want to Succeed as a Seller


I have said it for years, that sellers have the upper hand in a real estate transaction by being able to set the sales stage that appeals to the minds of the buyers. Understanding the basic psychology of the buyer and your homes true comp parameters are a sellers most important considerations. Home sellers who can see their homes through the eyes of a buyer can set the stage in a way that can command a higher offer while keeping escrow periods before closing as short as possible.


Listings that are priced at or above neighborhood comps must either support the asking price, or they will sit. Buyers are not going to pay top dollar unless the home in question inspires and leaves a fantastic impression. Even in a sellers market, houses dont sell when priced outside their COMP parameters or dont appraise if they do.


Common Reasons Why Listings Dont Sell for More?


If you are an ARG client on a FREE Move-up, youre already going to net up to 6 more money by avoiding the cost of the listing commission, and hence have no reason to price your home over market value just to pay the Listing Commission Costs. If the truth is told, overpricing a home to cover the agent commissions doesnt earn you more money, but rather simply delays the sale of your home, which will eventually sell at a proper market price, or not at all. If a competing agent is adamant that their higher than COMP price is right, then ask them to waive their commission if you have to sell down where the factual market numbers say your price should be.






Overpriced - This is the leading cause of expired listings. The buying market is the judge and jury with regards to whether a home is priced right or not. Then sellers have to get a favorable appraisal from the buyers bank. That is why listing agents need to price real estate correctly. Listings that linger unsold, either expire or go through a series of price reductions. Depending upon the market, aged listings can easily sell for less than market value due to the stigma they can inherit after being on the market too long.






Under-prepared - Everyone knows you fix up to sell, well almost everyone. If youre not wanting top dollar, sure, you can sell as is and work with a corresponding sales price that gets the job done. However, to under-prepare and expect top dollar? Well as they say in Texas, that dog dont hunt.










floorplan Issues - a lack of bathrooms, not enough bedrooms or small bedrooms or not enough bedrooms on the first floor, improperly sized living spaces or living spaces that may exist above other heavily used living spaces like Kitchens where noise transmission becomes an issue. The sad thing is a lot of people dont know they have a marginal floorplan until an experienced set of eyes points it out. Remember, there is a science to living space layouts that buyers respond to. So yes, having the right floorplan can help you earn top dollar when you sell.










Poor Construction quality - I often refer to A-List builders and then everyone else. A-List builders, build quality homes, back them with the best warranty support, and these homes typically are the listings that earn top resale prices years later while poorly constructed homes typically dont. You can actually see shoddy construction, dated home designs, cheap wallboard, etc. Cheaper homes wear out faster and cost more money to maintain and prepare for resale and generally earn fewer dollars per SF. Still, all homes sell, and the better the home presents, the higher your offer will be.










Location factors - Even in a great master-planned community, you can still be in a bad location. Some subdivisions contain different value levels of home that can be hard to discern, or may even cross school boundary lines and these factors will affect your resale value.nbsp;










School District - This can add a major premium to your home selling efforts, or may penalize it.










Timing - There are times of the year where activity is brisk, and times of the year when it is not. Listing during slower times means fewer showings and if your home is not dialed in, a longer wait.






What Gets Buyers Attention During a Home Showing?


Over the last dozen years of acting as a buyers agent, I have learned a lot about what Buyers want in the homes they buy and I have heard nearly every comment under the sun. Perhaps by knowing how buyers think and react is how I have been able to maintain since 2004 one of the very highest, ~95 success rates selling my DFW clients listings. Honestly, for a listing agent to be genuinely effective, they need to understand the mind of the buyer and direct sellers to how to properly prepare for listing their home in MLS. There indeed is no substitute for experience.






A home that is priced intelligently. Buyers are forever trying to justify the numbers as they should. When sellers push past a justifiable price, showing interest decreases, unless your home is a real stand-out that justifies the list price. Buyers will pay top dollar when they come across a home that inspires them with unexpected value. Still, caution needs to be exercised on how much one invests in their home. Homes that are at the very top of a neighborhoods pricing, may not be able to recover their costs.






Curb appeal on drive up. Getting a 15 Year penalty flag thrown by a prospective buyer, or worst still, having them tell their agent to not stop, are examples of failed Curb Appeal.






No observable cosmetic defects walking up to your front door. If you have defects, if there are warning signs aplenty, If your front door looks old and dated, then you have already set the buyers initial impression in a negative way before the key gets turned. It really is true, you get ONE chance at making a good first impression. Sellers need to guard against buyers thinking, wow, if I can see these many problems, I wonder what else might be wrong that I cant see. Offers tend to drop way down when homes are not ready to sell.






Functional floorplans that offer families space usage flexibilities. For example, 2 story plans with 2 bedrooms down are in demand versus 1 bedroom down and 3 up. Homes with in-suite private bathrooms are also appealing. Home within a home floorplan designs is also growing in popularity. Single story homes, always have good demand.






Wood Floors the overwhelming majority of buyers love wood floors, even wood look-alike commercial grade and highly affordable laminate floors brings oohs and aahs. There is just something about the wood look......






Fresh paint, not smudgy, you know, a clean, refreshing and inviting look I recommend a single light beige color (flat paint is the best) in the entry and all open living spaces. Behind doors can be different colors as long as they are soft and pleasing. Dark, bold colors will kill your sale faster than an asteroid falling on your house.






A neutralized, depersonalized home. Take down all the personal photos, and other personal distractions. Youre not for sale, your home is Dont sidetrack the buyers attention with YOU. Keep them focused on the house. One exception, youre George Clooney.






Your home needs to be as free from defects, cracks, and damage as possible. ARG, for example, can recommend the quality and cost-effective cosmetic contractors who can make over a home, repairing damage as they paint, replace floors, fix or replace cabinets, counters, rebuild showers, master-baths, replace doors, and fix the exterior damage.






Clean, nicely staged, not full of mismatched furniture and clutter free. Even a nice home can suffer from cheap, worn out and ugly furniture.






If you do most or all the things mentioned on this list, you should sell quickly and for a solid price. I can tell you from personal experiences, you dont want a home to sit, and sit and sit, with unproductive showing after showing after showing. It will wear you out.






What About Exceptions?


O.K. because life is never completely black and white there are a few exceptions.


If you are priced below $300K there currently is a severe buyers market around DFW. Some spots are way hotter than other areas. Lower priced homes are also moving up in price faster than higher end homes as a result of the higher buyer demand at the lower price points.


Some communities or locations may be difficult to determine value as there may not be sufficient comps. This is when agents open up the general area, look for similarly aged homes, in similar school zones, etc., to try and find a starting point price for your home.


In these high demand price points, sellers can get away with more sins when they list their homes. However, even with homes below $300K, if sellers do all the right things, buyers are making offers way above listing price and regardless of appraisal results guaranteeing their contracted sales price, even if they have to put more down to make up for a lower bank appraisal.nbsp;nbsp;


In some school districts, even homes in the $400s are selling with great buyer demand.


Need another point of view? Open and Download this File, Market Value of your Home, courtesy of Hexter Fair Title Company McKinney, TX.



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    <pubDate>Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:51:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/ashton-woods-dfw-year-end-sale-and-special-3-commission-rebate-offer-hurry-ends-123115.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/ashton-woods-dfw-year-end-sale-and-special-3-commission-rebate-offer-hurry-ends-123115.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>Ashton Woods DFW Year End Sale and Special 3 Commission Rebate Offer Hurry Ends 12/31/15</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
This the Season for continued savings. Ashton Woods wants to move all remaining new homes in their inventory and that is your opportunity to lock in a lower price now. Q4 is the best time of the year for new home buyers, but we are now in the last days of the year. Check out Ashton Woods DFW Year end inventory now.



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    <pubDate>Sat, 26 Dec 2015 10:41:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/american-legend-homes-in-castle-hills-at-southpointe-coming-soon.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/american-legend-homes-in-castle-hills-at-southpointe-coming-soon.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>American Legend Homes in Castle Hills at Southpointe Coming Soon</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
American Legend Homes, one of DFWs top quality new home builders, has announce Southpointe in Castle Hills, Lewisville. American Legend Homes will be offering 14 floorplan choices with multiple plan options to meet a wild choice of home buyer wants. Plans will range from 2100sf to 4000 plus square feet and prices will start in the high 300s.


Castle Hills Real Estatenbsp;is a centrally located, nearly fully self contained City Like Master-planned community located South of 121 and West of the Colony / Nebraska Furniture Mall. Commute times to DFW Airport are approximately a 20 minutes and even closer to the Plano - Legacy Business Corridor.


Call or Contact Us and let us help you get on the pre-selling list for Southpointe. Lot choices will be on a first come first served basis.


Askins Realty Group Incentives Will Net You a BETTER Deal


ARG clients will benefit from all advertised builder incentives plus a 4 buyer cash rebate. If you have a home to sell, ARG offers a completely FREE new home move up where you get to SAVE all 6






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    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2015 13:25:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/whats-the-real-story-on-home-buyer-commission-rebates-resources-that-can-help-answer-consumer-questi.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/whats-the-real-story-on-home-buyer-commission-rebates-resources-that-can-help-answer-consumer-questi.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>Whats the Real Story on Home Buyer Commission Rebates? Resources That Can Help Answer Consumer Questions</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
For years there has been a general level of confusion within the residential real estate services industry concerning home buyer commission rebates, what they mean to consumers and how they help the industry offer a more cost savings solution to the high cost of real estate services. On one side you have consumers who are demanding lower cost (when did that not ever be the case?) for services and on the other the other side industry trade groups who want to protect higher cost structures.


Depending upon who you talk to, it seems youll get a different answer.


As a result of the confusion concerning competition in real estate services, general competitive business rights and basic consumer rights, I have pointed my clients to the United States Department of Justices website so consumers can do their own research on commission rebates and the huge Federal efforts being made to help promote and enforce when necessary a more competitive real estate services marketplace.




http://realtormag.realtor.org/law-and-ethics/law/article/2006/01/consumer-rebates


http://www.justice.gov/atr/competition-real-estate-questions-and-answers




The good news is, there are solutions for consumers who desire services from a full cost broker as well as services solutions for a growing number of consumers who want to get the job done while saving the most money possible.


ARG offers some of the best package solutions. Our reduced cost listing service offer is a full service solution without the full cost attached. If you are a FREE move up client, youll receive full agent listing services and in most of our move-ups well waive all 6. Talk about having your cake and eating it too
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    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2015 10:53:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/fha-loan-limits-for-the-dallas-fort-worth-metroplex-set-to-rise-on-january-1st-2016-to-334650.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/fha-loan-limits-for-the-dallas-fort-worth-metroplex-set-to-rise-on-january-1st-2016-to-334650.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>FHA Loan Limits for the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex Set to Rise on January 1st 2016 to $334,650</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Loan limits are finally adjusting to real estate price appreciation, which will help buyers get meaningful loans on homes priced in the $330s.


Get the full story from HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
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    <pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2015 13:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/exceptional-real-estate-values-can-be-found-in-melissa-texas-as-us-75-road-project-nears-completion.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/exceptional-real-estate-values-can-be-found-in-melissa-texas-as-us-75-road-project-nears-completion.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>Exceptional Real Estate values can be found in Melissa Texas as US 75 Road Project Nears Completion</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
One of the most amazing transformations has been the Highway 75 project through Melissa. This new highway project has opened up the transit corridor from North of Melissa past McKinney and into North Allen. This 5 year project has worked to transform the viability of living North of McKinney by reducing a major bottleneck that started in North Allen to the Melissa exit on US 75. As a result buyer interest and demand has risen in Melissas premier master-planned community of Liberty. The increase in demand has already resulted in rising new home and existing home inventory prices.


Home prices in Liberty, Melissa start in the $200s making this an affordable solution for first time buyers, families looking to move up to a larger, but more affordable new home, and even seniors looking to downsize, but require affordable housing in a location that is convenient to hospitals, shopping and family members who live in the city.





nbsp;
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    <pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:33:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/jhdmc-development-announces-ground-breaking-for-north-grove-masterplan-in-waxahachie-tx.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/jhdmc-development-announces-ground-breaking-for-north-grove-masterplan-in-waxahachie-tx.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>JHDMC Development Announces Ground Breaking for North Grove Masterplan in Waxahachie, TX</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

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    <pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:04:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/dfw-dallas-fort-worth-real-estate-market-trend-for-2015-where-is-the-dfw-market-heading-looks-like-u.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/dfw-dallas-fort-worth-real-estate-market-trend-for-2015-where-is-the-dfw-market-heading-looks-like-u.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>DFW Dallas Fort Worth Real Estate Market Trend for 2015. Where is the DFW Market Heading? Looks Like Up.</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
2015 DFW real estate price appreciation results continue to look strong as strong 2015 demand lifted average DFW area home prices by 8.1. The chart also illustrates why Q4 is a critical quarter of the year for home buyers who are searching for lower prices. This seasonally adjusted Q4 price decrease has been seen in each year going back to 2012.


Home buyers who are in the market now and who pass on year end deals typically face much higher pricing in the New Year. December is an important month for home buyers looking to grab a year end deal and once inventory has been sold off, buyers will be faced with constructing a new home from an empty lot and that typically means getting standard incentives versus special year end pricing.


The rising price trend line continues to indicate growth in the DFW area real estate market for 2016.nbsp;


2015 Year over Year Price Trend for DFW area Real Estate





2015 Days on Market Trend Indicator


Days on Market declined by 45 in 2015 meaning strong buyer demand is reducing average days on market prior to selling. This demand trend seems to indicate that the 2016 real estate market will continue to remain strong.nbsp;





Supply of DFW Area Homes is Down 7.2 since the end of 2014


Supply of homes in the North Texas / NTREIS / DFW real estate markets fell by 7.2 in 2015 compared to 2014. This trend would also support favorable market conditions in 2016.nbsp;nbsp;



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    <pubDate>Sat, 05 Dec 2015 14:25:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/wildridge-community-announcement-model-homes-are-now-open.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.texasnewhomerebates.com/blog/wildridge-community-announcement-model-homes-are-now-open.html</link>
        <author>mike@askinsrealtygroup.com (Mike Askins)</author>
        <title>Wildridge Community Announcement - Model Homes are Now Open </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Wildridge in Oak Point is open. Special promotions await initial home buyers. Get great lot selection and Grand Opening pricing if you act now. Check with ARG for the latest builder promotions.



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    <pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2015 10:50:00 -0600</pubDate>
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