Positive signs in DFW housing
Job creation 1/08 to 12/08 US Metro Areas 
12 Month Rank Metro Area J ob Growth
Rank Metro Area 12 Month J ob Growth Rate
* Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
It would seem that all economic indicators are pointing to an improvement in the housing industry starting in The DFW area spring of 2009.
*Source: A presentation by David & Britt Fair, Hexter-Fair Title Company
For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.
Housing Market Crystal Ball
*Source: David & Britt Fair, Hexter-Fair Title Company
For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.
Starting this week, if you have an overdue Dallas County traffic ticket or fine you'll have to pay it BEFORE you can get a new, annual vehicle registration sticker.
The county has 750 thousand outstanding citations on the books, worth 210 million dollars.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price says the county needs that money. It's facing a 58 million dollar shortfall. But the Commissioner predicts a lot of people will be driving without valid stickers, unable to pay.
In the County Clerk's office, Fetina Green says "the computer will flag SCOFFLAWS names with unpaid tickets provided by the County to registration officials in Austin. At that time, we'll go over to our website Dallascountywanted.com. We'll look it up by your name or license plate number, and then we'll bring up all the information of where you need to go, how much you owe."
Green says it must be paid IN FULL to get the registration sticker. The city of Dallas says now that the County has started blocking registrations for unpaid tickets, it will send its list of overdue citations to the state and join the program in the next several months.
The importance of proof reading your material before printing or publishing has never been as important as it is now.
With so many professionals now blogging and putting ourselves out into cyberspace, the risk is even higher of looking bad or unprofessional.
The house ad on the left takes away from the intention of the ad and somehow makes the house seem less ... s-o-p-h-i-s-t-i-c-a-t-e-d!
The ad on the right was intended to say "let us help you find the right F-I-T ... not TIT!" That was pretty bad.
People form an impression of us from the ‘voice' that we use in a post or publication. I think that grammar and spelling are just as important as what you are saying.
I read a post yesterday that mentioned a "fully firnished home." That was not a great first impression of their listing or marketing ability.
In the ad on the left, the education of this "GROOP" must not include spelling!
It is even more important when you are investing your marketing dollars to make sure that the contact information is accurate!
This week my friend and co-worker, Henry, pointed out that I had included his incorrect phone number in not just one, but two marketing pieces that I had created for him.
I felt so terrible that I had transposed two of the numbers. He and I had both proof read the material multiple times and missed it.
I included his Sedona Patio Homes in Frisco ad so hopefully some of my Active Rain friends can stop in and bring him some clients. Please help me alleviate my guilt :-)
The funny newspaper clippings hopefully illustrated my point about the importance of proof reading! At least I can laugh at my own mistakes!
Notice I added a 2nd number and an email to cover any additional mistakes!
The number is NOT 972.731.0300! I don't think I will ever forget that number now.
For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.
Construction starts on McKinney Dr. Pepper StarCenter
New agreement costs no additional taxpayer funds, provides same benefits
Work will start as early as February 3rd on the McKinney Dr. Pepper StarCenter after the final contract was signed February 2nd. The new agreement dictates the facility will open in October and uses no additional taxpayer funding. Some improvements from the initial design include a better layout and more environmentally friendly features like energy-efficient lighting.
"The Dr. Pepper StarCenter will greatly benefit the citizens of McKinney. People in McKinney have been asking for this new public recreation facility, and we are extremely pleased to come through on this promise to bring it to them," said City Manager Frank Ragan.
The final agreement between the Dallas Stars and the City of McKinney includes previously negotiated features, like a minimum commitment for public skating, scholarships for McKinney youth and other benefits for McKinney residents.
When completed, the Dr. Pepper StarCenter will be approximately 85,000 square feet with two sheets of ice fit for both regulation hockey play and competition figure skating. Locker rooms, a concession area, at least two party rooms and a Dallas Stars retail store make up the rest of the space. The more than six-acre site in Craig Ranch, building and equipment in the facility will be owned by the City of McKinney, and the Dallas Stars will provide all scheduling and programming with some exceptions.
McKinney residents will have a three-day priority period before non-residents in which to register for major programs at the facility like hockey or ice skating leagues, clinics and camps. Public skating will be allowed for at least 520 hours, and adult and youth drop-in hockey is guaranteed at least 364 hours annually.
The agreement also provides up to 25 scholarships for economically disadvantaged McKinney youth. The funds will pay for the registration fee and the free rental of basic equipment for 15 hockey players and 10 ice skaters.
Dallas Stars will promote City programs through advertising at the facility. The organization agreed to provide donated Dallas Stars or Texas Rangers tickets at local charity auctions in McKinney as well as discounted tickets for certain events. During each calendar year, the Dallas Stars will host several events at the facility, like a practice by the Dallas Stars and an appearance by a Dallas Stars player or coach selected by the City.
For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.
I work hard to match families with their new dream home! I work well with Realtors and other professionals in my field. New home sales professional for over ten years.
I love what I do for a living! I am a Home Builders Association Certified Sales Professional.
I have been successfully selling new homes for over ten years in the DFW area. I work in Melissa Texas for DR Horton Homes.
I enjoy matching people with their dream home! It's fun to help people through the construction process and build a community from the ground up!
I have the utmost respect for Realtors, having been one myself, and understand the value and expertise that they can add to the home buying process. I am very outgoing and like to make the home buying process as stress free as possible!
On a more personal note. I am married to a great guy named Jay who is very loving and supportive. We have two spoiled Golden Retrievers named Bailey and Baxter. They are a constant source of entertainment for us.
I moved a lot growing up and have lived in England, Ireland, Canada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, and Texas. I have recently become a US citizen, have lived in Texas for 23 years, and love all of the opportunities that it offers!
Hunter's Creek is a Shaddock Development located just 7 minutes north of McKinney in Melissa Texas.
New homes start in the $150's. We offer 42" kitchen cabinets, gas appliances, 100% brick, ceramic tile floors, and much more!
Hunter's Creek offers spec homes that are ready for move in or we can build on the lot of your choice!
Please stop in and visit soon. I'll always have cold bottles of water for you and your clients and air conditioned models for you to recoup and regroup.
"As the owner of Robert E. Hafer & Associates, a company that specializes in new home sales training, I've had the pleasure of working with thousands of new home salespeople. When Lara O'Keefe asked me to endorse her I considered it an honor. Lara is that unique salesperson who walks her talk. Simply put Lara is one of the best salespeople I have had the pleasure to work with. She listened to me and then went out and made it happen - not just some of the time - all of the time. I know Lara as a special individual with a positive can-do attitude, who accepts responsibility and makes things happen with little oversight or direction. I highly recommend Lara to any company seeking these qualities in an individual."
--- Bob Hafer, Owner of Robert E. Hafer & Associates
"I've had the privilege of working with Lara as both a business partner and a client. My husband and I built our David Weekley home prior to me entering real estate, and Lara was our sales consultant. Lara saw us through the entire process - from selecting our lot through moving in to our new home, and it was an incredibly smooth transaction thanks to Lara's professionalism and her commitment to helping us. We couldn't have gotten through it without her. And, as a Realtor, I've had the pleasure to work with Lara to do the same for my clients. She is simply amazing at her job!"
--- Audrey Reed, Realtor, Keller Williams
"Lara, you are a great sales person. From the business side, your marketing creativity and drive is tremendous! You're creative in communicating the positive features of your homes and community. Plus, you are a true team player and are unselfish with your marketing ideas. Secondly, you bring a lot of experience from living abroad that allows you to naturally build rapport with people. Your interest in serving your client and helping to meet their needs shows in your attentiveness. It's always a pleasure working with you."
--- Henry Morales, Sales Consultant, DR Horton Homes
"Lara is a driven, creative consultant who keeps the needs of her client foremost in her mind. She has an attention to correctness of detail and brings a level of quality to the experience that is equal to her passion for success."
--- Leah Burgdorf, Senior Sales Associate, David Weekley Homes
"Lara is a 'think outside the box' type sales professional who is consistently creating new innovative solutions to help her customers, clients, real estate agents and her other colleagues. When she's working with someone, she gives it her heart and soul and makes things happen quickly and effectively without hesitation. She goes to bat for you as the client and goes above and beyond the call of duty. Lara is definitely the sales professional of choice when I refer my clients to a builder!"
--- Robin Kuklenski, Realtor, Keller Williams
"Lara is one of the most knowledgeable, hard-working, on-site reps I have ever had the pleasure to work with! She is not afraid to take charge and help you get your buyer through the process seamlessly. I look forward to my next opportunity to work with her!"
--- Sara Braden, Sales Consultant, DR Horton Homes
"Lara is an exceptional salesperson. The thing that makes her stand out is her marketing ideas and promotions. She always has new and creative ways to get new clients in the door."
--- Erika Klingenberg, Lead Sales Consultant, David Weekley Homes
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