“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of www.Frisco-TX-Homes.com (214) 783-2210

The Cascades for The Colony TX Homes

The Cascades at the ColonyIt's a new lifestyle at the Colony. Jackson-Shaw, the proud developer of the Cascades at the Colony began this project in the late 2005 and expected to complete in a few more years. This master-planned development is the on-going trend of development projects around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex where it has a mixture residential, office and retail use. When completed, this Cascades project development will cover 100-acre of prime land off State Highway SH 121. This development is also minutes from the North Dallas Tollway and Interstate I-35.

 The residential community at Cascades consists of garden homes and two-story townhomes. The garden homes are typically "smaller" lots when compared to regular single-family homes. The townhomes start with the small unit of 2-bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and 2-car rear-end garages (1289 square-feet) up to 3-bedrooms 1892 square-feet.

Their base models are the starter-home quality of laminate countertops, vinyl flooring, base-grade carpet and 30 inch cabinets. They start in the mid-$140Ks. Their floorplans are versatile, which is the most important aspect of the house. Select a floorplan that suits your lifestyle because that is the only thing you could not change. Buyers can upgrade to higher-quality features such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, 42inch cabinets and raised six-panel doors. The inventory homes built by the builder have many of the features in the homes.

 Amenties include swimming pool, a circular park and when completed, it will have easy access to retail shops just south of the community. This retail shops will mimic the Shops at Legacy which has been a very successful project. The HOA dues are $160 per month, billed every quarter at $480. The dues include front and side lawn maintenance, outdoor lawn watering, hazard insurance, common areas and pool and clubhouse access.

The Cascades is located near Frisco's Stonebriar Mall, Lake Lewisville (Pier 121 Marina), lots of shopping and restaurants. Residents can enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle at the Cascades.

School Information:

Located in the Lewisville school district, Elementary school kids attend Morningside Elementary, Middle School is Griffin and the Colony High School for Grades 9-12.


 Driving Directions:

From the North Dallas Tollway, head north (towards Frisco). Exit SH 121. Head west (left) until you see Morningstar Drive. It is right before the Chevron Gas Station. The Cascades is located right ahead of you at Crescent and Morningstar Drive.

More Community Photos:

Swimming pool at the Cascades

Swimming pool entrance

The park at the Cascades

Site for future development of shops, retail, office development

Townhome Close-up

For your Cascades or other surrounding area community needs, please contact:
Loreena Yeo
Broker/ Realtor of 3:16 team REALTY
Email: loreena@loreenayeo.com
Phone: (214) 783-2210

I proudly serve the Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, the Colony, Richardson, north Dallas, Celina, Prosper real estate markets. To begin your home search now, please click on the button below.

Disclosure: All the information provided above by 3:16 team REALTY are deemed reliable at time of press. The information provided is to assist consumers make informed-decision in purchasing at this community. However, commentaries are entirely the opinion of Loreena Yeo, realtor of 3:16 team REALTY that serves in this community. Potential buyers of this community must verify all information provided and should not hold 3:16 team REALTY for incorrect information due to changes that may occur in the community.

Briarhill Estates - A Townhome community in Plano Texas Homes for Sale

Briarhill Estate PlanoBriarhill Estates is one of the newer townhome communities in Plano, Texas. Located at the border of Plano and Frisco, Briarhill Estates is conveniently located near State Highway SH 121 and the North Dallas Tollway. Portrait Homes is the proud builder of Briarhill Estates. The amenities in the community include a swimming pool and small park with benches for resident use.

Briarhill Estates PlanoBriarhill Estates is a two-story townhome community. The exterior is typically brick or alternating siding for a unique look. The homes typically range from the two-bedroom 1,400 square feet to larger three-bedroom 1,800 square feet. They start at the high $140Ks for the most basic plans to over $180Ks for nicer, higher spec homes. Their floorplans include master bedroom located in the 2nd floor only. Buyers of Briarhill Estates can typically expect great interior features such as Moen faucets, Maytag appliances (with stainless steel ones as upgrades), raised six-panel interior doors and exterior features of low-E Energy star windows, 2 car garages, gutters and sprinkler systems. Some higher-end units are all-ceramic tiled, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and hardwood floors.

The HOA dues run around $143 per month (January 2008) and it includes structural and hazard insurance, professionally maintained landscaping, access to the community pool and park.

School Information:

Even though Briarhill Estates is located in Plano Texas, the school childreen of Briarhill Estates attends the Frisco Independent School District. Elementary children (Grades Kindergarden to 5th) will attend Riddle Elementary, Middle school children (from Grade 6-8) will attend Pioneer Middle School and High School kids (Grades 9-11) currently attends Liberty High School. Eventually, the high school students will feed into Centennial High at 12th Grade.


Driving Directions:

To visit Briarhill Estates, go south on Preston Road. Head east on McDermott, pass Robinson. Briarhill Estates is located north of McDermott on your left.
Currently, the road from Robinson on SH 121 is closed.

More Community Photos:

The park at Briarhill Estates

Views of Briarhill Estates townhomes built by Portrait Homes

Space between townhomes at Briarhill Estates Plano

Model Home of Briarhill Estates - built by Portrait Homes

For your Briarhill Estates or other surrounding area community needs, please contact:

Loreena Yeo
Broker/ Realtor of 3:16 team REALTY
Email: loreena@loreenayeo.com
Mobile: (214) 783-2210

I proudly serve the Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, the Colony, Richardson, north Dallas, Celina, Prosper real estate markets. To begin your home search now, please click on the button below.

Disclosure: All the information provided above by 3:16 team REALTY are deemed reliable at time of press. The information provided is to assist consumers make informed-decision in purchasing at this community. However, commentaries are entirely the opinion of Loreena Yeo, realtor of 3:16 team REALTY that serves in this community. Potential buyers of this community must verify all information provided and should not hold 3:16 team REALTY for incorrect information due to changes that may occur in the community.

Related Links:

City of Plano website
Frisco Independent School District

Luxury Bella Casa Townhomes of Frisco Texas

Bella Casa Townhomes of Frisco TXBella Casa Frisco is the highly-sought after community of luxury townhomes located in Frisco, TX. Built by America's biggest home builder, D.R. Horton, Bella Casa Frisco started in the late 2005. Bella Casa Frisco is divided by two phases. At this time (January 2008), D.R. Horton is building in its 2nd phase. Bella Casa community is built in prime location of Frisco. It backs up to high-end office condos and the million-dollar Starwood community of Frisco.

There are about 11 different floor plans at Bella Casa Frisco. Buyers can expect various versatile floorplans with master bedroom located downstairs or upstairs. Some are two bedroom units while some have three. They typically start around the 1500 square feet to the larger 3-bedroom units over 2000 square feet. In the first phase, you could expect "higher-end" laminate countertops, black appliances even though there are a handful with high-end features of today's buyers choices. In the second phase, granite countertops, 42in. maple cabinets and stainless steel countertops are more of the norm. The architectural include stone elevations and balcony in selected designs. You can expect Phase 1 units around the mid-$180Ks, while the Phase 2 units sold by the builder, D.R. Horton itself to start around the mid-$180Ks for smaller units up to the low $200Ks for the larger, higher-spec townhomes. When completed, you could expect that Bella Casa would have approximately 300 two-story tri-plex townhomes.

 As you enter Bella Casa Frisco , you are quickly greeted by its European-designed clubhouse. It has a 24-hour gym access and clubhouse for resident use. The community swimming pool is located behind the clubhouse. You can expect to pay $160/month of HOA dues but billed quarterly. The HOA dues cover structural and hazard insurance, all yard maintenance (front, side and backyards) including fertilizing and winterizing, community access to the swimming pool, gym access and clubhouse. Homeowners of Bella Casa should purchase content-insurance for personal coverages.

Bella Casa community is conveniently located near the Dallas North Texas Tollway and State Highway SH 121. Easy access to Stonebriar Mall, IKEA shopping center, Dr. Pepper Frisco Rough Riders Ballpark, Dallas Stars Dream Center and Pizza Hut Soccer Stadium.

School Information:

School children of Bella Casa community attends the Frisco Independent School District. Elementary children (Grades Kindergarden to 5th) will attend Spears Elementary, Middle school children (from Grade 6-8) will attend Pioneer Middle School and High School kids (Grades 9-12) currently attends Frisco High School. Eventually, the high school students will feed into new high schools, Liberty and Wakeland High(s).

Driving Directions:

To visit Bella Casa, go north on the Dallas Tollway and exit Lebanon. Head west and the property is located on the north-west corner of Tollway and Lebanon.

More Community Photos:

Gym at Bella Casa

Clubhouse of Bella Casa

Views of townhomes at Bella Casa

For your Bella Casa or other surrounding area community needs, please contact:

Loreena Yeo
Broker/ Realtor of 3:16 team REALTY
Email: loreena@loreenayeo.com
Mobile: (214) 783-2210

I proudly serve the Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, the Colony, Richardson, north Dallas, Celina, Prosper real estate markets. To begin your home search now, please click on the button below.

Disclosure: All the information provided above by 3:16 team REALTY are deemed reliable at time of press. The information provided is to assist consumers make informed-decision in purchasing at this community. However, commentaries are entirely the opinion of Loreena Yeo, realtor of 3:16 team REALTY that serves in this community. Potential buyers of this community must verify all information provided and should not hold 3:16 team REALTY for incorrect information due to changes that may occur in the community.

Related Links:
Bella Casa Homeowners Association website
City of Frisco website
Move to Frisco

Overwhelming Staging Tips

You know what it takes to sell the house. You know what must be done to those wallpaper, old lacey drapery and pink walls. You know old appliances do not sell and certainly not the worn-out 5 year old carpet (with juice stains). You know each room must have a purpose so the gym set do not belong in the formal dining room.

You know how to sell the house in less than 21 days to the first 10 buyers that walk through the door.

The most important thing: Your client knows of "staging" since the media has been talking about it.

But has your staging tips ever been too overwhelming for your clients that they just stall in the middle of the process?

Let's discuss this and what are your suggestions when the house does need alot of elbow grease and money - especially in a buyer's market such as this?

How losing weight is so similar to saving for a home

As I was exercising this morning, I remembered how hard it was to remain motivated. It's so easy to just step off the treadmill and say, I've had enough for the day. Then I told myself, every step I take will get me closer to my goal of looking slim again. Ahhhhh........

 Little did I realize (as I talk to myself, and dream a little, it helps to get my mind off the monotonous walk on the treadmill) trying to lose weight is very similar to save money for a home.

  • Have a vision:
    My goal is to loose 28 lbs. I have lost 2 lbs in the first week. Saving for a downpayment must also begin with a vision and a focus. The vision must be quantitative. X amount of dollar. If you know that you are purchasing a $200,000 home, 20% would make it $40,000. Having a vision gives you a starting point.
  • Have a plan of action:
    My plan of action during my weight-loss challenge is to exercise an hour a day, 5 days a week, to eat smaller portions of everything and to stay of sweets and carbs (only allow myself 1 carb meal per week). So, with the home savings program, have a plan of action: create a budget, live within the budget, eat at home instead of out, think twice before purchasing and never purchase on impulse. Do not deviate from the plan.
  • Lifestyle change:
    Like loosing weight and resisting delicious food temptations, saving for a home also requires a lifestyle change. It requires a complete change of mindset in order to success. It takes long-term lifestyle change to get rewarding results.
  • No quick-fix:
    There are no quick-fixes and easy solutions to anything worth achieving. Namely, weight-loss or savings for a home. Changing your mindset requires time, commitment and patience.
  • Determination and will power:
    It's not easy getting up extra early just to get on the treadmill while I could definitely use an extra hour of sleep. However, with a vision, and knowing that I must have determination and will power, I need and must complete the task I lay out for myself. Savings is also a daunting task. Put it in bite sizes and see it mounting from a small hill to something pretty significant. It is a skill and discipline that will take you to your goal.

Thus, losing weight is just very much like saving for a home. It requires alot of sacrifices and saying No to many temptations. If you can loose weight (very challenging for me), you can save for a home.

For more home buying tips, feel free to contact me. I'd love to discuss them with you. Remember that a home should be a blessing. Would I advocate a 100% loan? Find out more.

Related Articles:
Down-to-earth home buying tips
The real hard truth about home ownerhip
Home Purchase as a forced savings