Cassie Davis

CLARIDEN RANCH, SOUTHLAKE

Clariden Ranch, a residential community of fine custom luxury homes on one half acre to one plus acre wooded lots, is quietly making a name for itself as an uncommonly peaceful residential retreat with beautiful views in Southlake, Texas. Clariden Ranch is expected to contain about 115 homes when neighborhood build-out is complete. The first homes were constructed in 2001.

When it comes to LOCATION, it rarely gets better than this. Clariden Ranch is convieniently located in Southlake, the heart of the D/FW metroplex along the Hwy 114 corridor that links D/FW Airport and Alliance Airport. Located in Northwest Southlake at Hwy 114 and White Chapel Blvd, Clariden Ranch brings the best of both cities to your doorstep, as it is only a short drive from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. Major shopping, tourism, and employment destinations are easily accessible from the community.


Clariden Ranch is located within Carroll ISD and Northwest ISD. The community offers an on-site private school called The Clariden School that offers the Montessori program for Preschool and Elementary students. The Middle and High School programs follow a college preperatory format. For a school boundary map contact Cassie Davis.

Clariden Ranch is located across from Bob Jones Park, a 400-acre master-planned park system maintained by the City of Southlake. Park amenities include equestrian and hiking trails leading to Lake Grapevine, and open areas for family activities plus soccer and baseball fields.

Clariden Ranch is master planned community developed by Terra Land Management. CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS include: Garabedian Properties, Cliff Lewis Custom Homes, Glendale Custom Homes, Harrell Custom Homes, Kensington Estates, Lambert Custom Homes, Lewis and Earley Custom Homes, Mills Custom Homes, Starwood Custom Homes, Stonebrook Builders, Stone Mill Custom Homes by Pierce, Thomas Cole Custom Homes, and Venetian Homes.

For a list of homes and lots available in Clariden Ranch along with photos, contact Cassie Davis. For Clariden Ranch's Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (DCCR's) click here: http://www.claridenranch.com/docs/CRHOA-CCR.pdf.

Current Clariden Ranch home inventory includes homes ranging in price from $699,900 - $4.5 Million+. Home sizes range between 4,200 - 11,000+ square feet. See Virtual Tours for two gorgeous homes available for sale in Clariden Ranch of Southlake Texas: 513 Coyote $2,800,000 http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=424478&idx=1.
529 Coyote is available for $2,599,000 http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=321013&idx=1. There is also a BUILDER FORECLOSURE property available in The Cliffs of Clariden Ranch at 617 Rancho Laredo Trail, listed for $749,900 (brand new, 5/5/3 with 5,693 square feet, Spanish Mediterranean styling, fine luxurious finishes & millwork throughout, extensive use of travertine, elegant formals, game and media rooms, dual staircases, study, Carroll ISD, never occupied, and ready for move in). See more details here: http://www.trulia.com/property/1064759648-617-Rancho-Laredo-Trl-Southlake-TX-76092, Call Cassie Davis for your personal showing appointment.

With all the wonderful neighborhoods Southlake has to offer, Southlake has become one of the most desired addresses in the Metroplex. Its prestigious, upscale neighborhoods and peaceful country ambience beckon families seeking both the proximity of the big city and the serenity of small town living. Shopping, dining, and entertainment options are exciting in Southlake. The Southlake Town Square offers premier shopping and dining opportunities, a new library and an old fashioned sense of community through celebrations and activities. Numerous shopping and dining venues are also conveniently located along the Hwy 114 corridor and Southlake Boulevard.

If you are ready to explore all the wonderful real estate possibilities Southlake's 76092 zip code offers, Cassie Davis can assist you with your home search journey. Cell phone (972)333-9070. www.dfwtexashomesforsale.com

Debra Medina is a contender in the Texas Gubernatorial election and KERA has realized the validity of her campaign. KERA extended an invitation to Debra Medina, asking that she join Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Governor Rick Perry on the stage for the Republican Primary Gubernatorial debate January 14, 2010. The Medina campaign accepted the invitation that the supporters and staff fought so hard to earn.

This evening, KERA moderated the debate at the University of North Texas. Debra Medina offerered solutions that are very different to the ideas that Kay Hutchison and Rick Perry talk about.

Medina stands on the platform of limited government. And one of the biggest and most relevant real estate related issues of all, is that Medina wants to ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES! An increase in sales tax would eliminate home owner's property taxes. This would increase Texan's net income by $3 Billion dollars (that's "B" for "Billion"!) and it will increase JOBS by 150,000. Wow!! What an amazing and fabulous feat this would be for all Texas property owners!

It is for this reason (among many others), that Debra Medina GETS MY VOTE FOR GOVENOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS!!

For Debra Medina, politics isn't about party, it's about the people represented by those elected to government office. Debra Medina is the best candidate to put Texas back in the hands of Texans by leading the way to a return of constitutional government.

If you missed the debate on television, you can view the video here: http://www.texasdebates.org/video.php. And for additional information regarding Debra Medina's campaign, visit www.medinafortexas.com.

This beautiful new stucco home is located in Johnson Place of Southlake, Texas by Toll Brothers.

Here are some additional details about the beautiful Strathmore floorplan that Toll Brothers offers for new construction:

A home of distinction with beautiful elevation, enriched with arched-top windows, eye catching details, and a covered front porch. 4 or 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage, Study, Game Room, 4,141 square feet, optional first floor guest suite with full bathroom/or sunroom option, dramatic two story foyer featuring a split staircase, formal dining room and living room open to foyer, spacious kitchen with island, open and bright floorplan. Rich finish out including granite, handscraped hardwood floors and much more. Lot size is approximately 156 feet x 143 feet. Price $564,995. City of Southlake, Keller Independant School District. Low 2.50% property tax rate.

To view a completed similar house, you can drive by 2409 Ranch House Drive. The house I just sold is located at 2408 Remuda Court, Southlake, TX 76092.

Driving directions to Johnson Place from Ranch House Drive: take Southlake Blvd (go West), turn Right (North) onto Randoll Mill, turn Left into the community of Johnson Place (behind Sprouts Market).

Remember that there is opportunity for the well represented. Have your professional buyer's agent with you on your first visit to the model home! See more information on Why To Have a Buyer's Agent During New Home Construction: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1377540/why-you-need-a-buyer-s-agent-during-new-home-construction

I welcome the opportunity to guide you through the purchase and construction process of your new home. I have been selling real estate on a full-time basis for nine years and help buyers in several ways during new construction projects. A buyer's agent can assist you with several things such as:

-- Don't overpay for your new home. A Realtor can provide valuable information so that you know what comparative properties are selling for in new home communities. This way you do not overpay for a property.

-- Have a realtor on your side through negotiations. Realtors look out for your best interests, as the purchase is negotiated. The model home salesperson is working for the builder, not you - the salesperson is looking out for the best interest of the builder. Their main goal is to sell you a home at a price that maximizes profit for the company. A buyer's agent works for YOU. This means they are obligated to help you find the best home at the best price. A buyer's agent will listen to your needs and help match you with a property that suits you. When you go into the new home site unrepresented, you will have no one representing you in the event that things don't go as you would like. Are the plumbing & electrical locations where you want them to be, will the builder allow you to have inspections by someone of your choice at various stages of the construction process? Do you understand the builders contract/addendums that you are signing? Many times they are pro-builder. What happens in the event of construction delays? How will you handle the sale of your current home? What are the covenants & restrictions & can you live with them? Can you visit the site whenever you want to ensure that construction is going along as it should be? It is best to have an advocate on YOUR SIDE when issues arise.

--A Realtor's expertise is free to you - The builder pays a real estate agent a commission for representing the buyers. Many buyers mistakenly believe they will get a better deal if they do not use a buyer's agent. They assume that since a builder has to pay the agent a commission, they would be willing to pass those savings on to the buyer if they do not use an agent. This is not true. In fact, builders charge the same price for a house regardless of whether or not you use an agent. The agent's commission comes out of the builder's marketing fund and does not affect your purchase price.

--Inspections-- A buyer's agent can guide you through the multi-stage process of "independant" home inspections during various points of construction and assist you with issues that show up on the inspection reports.

Many people ask: "Why does a newly constructed home need an inspection? Isn't a newly constructed home perfect and safe?" Some people assume that the builder and contractors are overseen by state or local government officials and that the local town or city building inspector checks the house out. This is true to some degree, however, few if any municipal inspectors spend anywhere near enough time in the home to fully check it out. Further, there could be problems with the home that are not necessarily code violations, yet have serious consequences for the new home owner.

As a buyer of a newly constructed home, ensuring an inspection clause in the contract is the first line of defense. The exterior wall and roof frame inspection is followed by the open wall or pre-drywall/pre-insulation inspection and finally the final walk through inspection.

-- Builder's mortgage rates and incentives may or may not be your best option for financing. You need to make sure you have the best loan for your needs. Many builders will offer you incentives for using their lender. Will their lender be the best loan for you or should you call another lender to see if there is a better option for you? What happens to your interest rate should there be a construction delay? Does your contract give the builder the right to raise the price of the home before it is completed? Can you lock in your interest rate for 250 days and have the mortgage company cover the cost?

-- There's so much more involved than picking out a neighborhood, the lot, and the floor plan. Although there are buyers out there who have gone into a model home site and started the process directly with the builder's representative, things are only good as they seem to be at that particular moment... But please be aware that when problems and technicalities arise, you want to make sure that you have a knowledgeable buyers agent on your side and is able to deal with the unexpected things that can go wrong while building your new home.

Remember, the end result is a wonderful new home. A few less headaches and reduced stress during the process is worth having an advocate on your side. To make the process as smooth as possible during construction, and to look out for your best interests, is the ultimate goal of your buyers agent, and that's priceless!

"Surgeon, Pilot, and Realtor top CareerCast's most stressful jobs" list. The "2009 Jobs Rated" report considered 21 stress factors including deadlines, life-and-death situations and physical demands. Ah, finally, here's proof! (LOL!)

But seriously, Realtors must find solutions to managing stress. It can make a difference between success and failure. Emotions are contagious, and stress has an impact on the quality of our interactions with others. The better we are at managing our own stress, the more we will positively affect those around us and the less other people's stress will negatively affect us. Lets stay healthy and maintain our success in this demanding industry.

Helpguide.org offers some solutions for combating stress:

• Learn task management tips for prioritizing all the tasks we have to do as Realtors. Put high priority things first, then do things we dread next (get them out of the way and over with as early as possible). Break projects into small steps then focus on each step rather than focusing on the "big" project (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time). Learn to delegate tasks. Let go of the desire to control or oversee every little step. Allowing others to help you with the details will help you stay organized.
• Get enough sleep. Did you know stress can cause insomnia? When you are well rested, it is much easier to cope with stress. By developing a good bedtime routine and designing a plan that works with your individual needs, you can avoid common pitfalls and make simple changes that bring you consistently better sleep.
• Get moving (through exercise, not the car!) Set a goal to get 30 minutes of heart pumping activity every day. Yoga may also be a good choice to maintain balance. Schedule exercise just like you would schedule a client appointment.
• Select food that keeps you going by eating small but frequent meals throughout the day. This maintains an even level of blood sugar in your body which keeps anxiety and irritability at bay. We ignore our bodies because we're too busy thinking about other things. As a result, we only eat when we're famished, and that's not a good time to eat, because you don't make healthy eating decisions when you're super hungry. I keep almonds, granola bars, and a supply of bottled water in my trunk. Limit alcohol use and avoid nicotine.
• Learn better communication skills to ease and improve relationships with clients and colleagues. Use technology to help communicate with your clients. Devices like smartphones, netbooks, and laptops keep you mobile and connected.
• Cultivate allies at work. Just knowing you have one or more fellow agents who are willing to assist you in times of stress will reduce your stress level. Just remember to reciprocate and help them when they are in need.
• Improve time management skills and balance schedules. Don't over-commit yourself by packing too much into one day. Try to leave 10-15 minutes early. Strive for balance between work, family, social, solitary, daily responsibilities, and downtime. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout (yep, I've been there and done that!). Plan regular breaks. Stepping away from work to briefly relax and recharge will help you be more, not less, productive.
• Improving emotional intelligence. This is the ability to manage and use your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It is about communicating with others in ways that draw people to you, overcome differences, repair wounded feelings, and defuse tension and stress. Emotional intelligence in the workplace has four major components: Self-awareness - The ability to recognize your emotions and their impact while using gut feelings to guide your decisions. Self-management - The ability to control your emotions and behavior and adapt to changing circumstances. Social awareness - The ability to sense, understand, and react to other's emotions and feel comfortable socially. Relationship management - The ability to inspire, influence, and connect to others and manage conflict.

Taking care of yourself doesn't require a total lifestyle makeover. Even small things can lift your mood, increase your energy, and make you feel like you're back in the driver's seat. Take things one step at a time. As you make more positive lifestyle choices, you'll soon see a noticeable difference in your stress level, both at home and at work... and then watch your production SOAR!