Deb McNeill Fort Worth Real Estate

House Buying Fever

You may have House Buying Fever if:

You get excited driving through neighborhoods of pretty homes.

You make lists of ’must haves.’ A big backyard, kitchen island, tile, deep front porch….

You doodle home plans on napkins at lunch.

You dream of being able to paint, change, and decorate without a landlord’s approval.

You resent writing the rent check every month. You want to invest in your own property and future.

You know you have it bad when you dream of mowing the lawn—your own lawn— on a hot summer’s day.

Yep, you’ve got house buying fever. The cure, of course, is to find and purchase a beautiful home of your own. Your first home, perhaps...or maybe you’ve outgrown the house you currently own and are giving thought to buying a more spacious home, maybe with more land. Maybe it’s time to downsize and simplify?

A couple of things to consider…

1. Staying Power Will you be in the new place for the next four or five years? It doesn’t make sense financially to buy if you are only going to be there a couple of years. Too many costs involved in buying and selling a home. In a raging market, it might work. In a slow market, no way.

2. Are you ready to own? When you rent and something breaks in the house, you pick up the phone and call the landlord. When you own, you are responsible for all the maintenance, upkeep, and repairs. Yes, it is often a joy to take care of your own place, but it can be an expensive hassle, too.

The next article in the Home Buying Fever series: Tidy Up Your Credit--check back tomorrow!

If you have House Buying Fever in Haslet, Keller, Trophy Club, or For Worth, give me a call. I’ll help you find a lovely cure!

Deb McNeill 817-798-2420

Remember mail?

Just before Christmas I had a health crisis that landed me on quite a few prayer lists. My friends and family were concerned and it showed. Phone calls, of course. Texts because this is the 21st century. But, to my pleasure, my mailbox became a delight to visit. Cards, bright, cheerful, and fun came raining in. Each one of them had a handwritten sentence or five inside. Written just to me.

What a blessing those cards were. In fact, they still are. I’m still picking them up and reading the thoughts written inside. It’s reminded me how even in a world as fast and technologically advanced as ours, the handwritten note leaves an impression.

Want to make someone happy? Send them a note of appreciation, of thanks, or just some silly fun. They’ll be surprised and pleased. You don’t have to buy cards. I received several hand made ones...not fancy, just heartfelt.

Whose mailbox can you feed today?

Need a new mailbox? I know several stylish ones for sale in Haslet, Fort Worth, Keller, and Trophy Club. Buy the mailbox and we’ll throw in the house for free. Can’t beat a deal like that! Call me at 817-798-2420.

Now this is not the end.

It is not even the beginning of the end.

But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Sir Winston Churchill, speech in November 1942

North Texas Residential foreclosure postings fell in 2011 to the lowest level in three years. While Tarrant county postings fell 9% during 2011 (compared to the highs in 2010) December shows to be an active month. Perhaps all the lending institutions are hoping to move distressed properties off their books by year’s end.

What does this mean to Fort Worth home buyers? It means there is still a lot of hurting going on in the market….but less so. Has the bleeding finally begun to stop? There are neighborhoods which were ravaged by foreclosure early in 2011 that are now nearly free of distressed properties. If you are hoping to pick up an investment property or two, don't wait, or you could be left without.

Sellers can be encouraged that the market is stronger--prices more solid than a year ago, showing/sold activity up, and on occasion, multiple offers on desirable property.

Maybe it’s not the end of the hurting. Not even the beginning of the end. But, perhaps, with a glimmer of light in this long dark tunnel…it is the end of the beginning. May the healing continue!

If you are looking for a home to make your own or as an investment, there is no better time than now--A large (but smaller) selection and the lowest interest rates in history--why wait? Call me today, 817-798-2420 and I’ll help you find a great house!

Deb and Tim were such a pleasure to work with!

They listened to exactly what we were looking for in a home and delivered just that. They were very accommodating and worked around our schedule.

Once we found the perfect place, they helped guide us through the process of buying our very first home, and they made the entire experience a fun and exciting one! Thanks, Deb and Tim!

- Arnold & Lacey, Denton, Texas

I've got to share!

The Google juice is working! I Googled my name today...as an aside Do you KNOW how many Deb (or Debbie or Debra) McNeill's there are in the US? Too many. At least most of them seem to be classy ladies.

Anyway...today on Google I'm number one and two thanks to my Active Rain profile.

It's significant progress in my quest to take over the world....well.....at least the Fort Worth real estate world.