Linda Box Taylor -- Your Plano, TX Realtor

Forbes Magazine ranked Collin County as the 14th best place in the United States to raise a family.

Here is Forbes analysis of Collin County: "Home to the burgeoning northern suburbs of Dallas, Collin County is a great value play for families. An affordable median house price of $191,000 means access to a school system that boasts a 1,103 average SAT score and a graduation rate of 93%. One caveat: a sub-par crime rate of 34.7 index crimes per 1,000 people."

Collin County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States which includes the cities of Plano(the largest), Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Wylie, Prosper and Celina and several more smaller growing cities. I'm not sure about their statistic on crime because I know Plano was recently ranked the safest city in North Texas and the 3th safest city in Texas. I feel very safe in Plano and all the surrounding cities in Collin County.

Collin County does have a lot to offer its residents including affordable housing, great schools and wonderful family activities.

Plano is the headquarters for dozens of large corporations so you can work and live close. And when you aren't working you can enjoy the 3,600 acres of park land in Plano including six recreation centers and three golf courses.

Frisco offers great family activities including the minor league baseball team, Frisco Roughriders and soccer club, FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park.

Allen is one of the smallest city of the Big 4 but it has great newer neighborhoods including a 27-hole public golf course, a large fitness and aquatic center, a recreation center and extreme sports park.

McKinney, one of the fastest growing city in the US, is the county seat of Collin County where you can enjoy their historic downtown square.McKinney has great family activies including the Ballfields at Craig Ranch, a 14-field, 75-acre baseball, softball and physical-training complex. The McKinney Soccer Complex at Craig Ranch is located next to the Ballfields and features 13 tournament-ready soccer fields.

Congratulations Collin County! It is great to work and live here. If you are interested in buying or selling this wonderful county, please contact me at 214-532-3823.

Here is your last chance to become a member of the Junior League of Plano(JLP) for 2008.

You are invited to a potential member meeting on July 17, at 7 p.m. at the League Office in Plano at 5805 Coit Rd. in Plano. I have enjoyed my involvement over the last 4 years and I encourage other women that are interested to attend this informational session. If you read my blogs, you know I am always promoting our events.

JLP membership currently has more than 900 women from cities in Collin County, including Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney who are committed to improving family life in Collin County. The Junior League of Plano members have raised more than $2.5 million, implemented more than 200 community service projects and worked more than 100,000 volunteer hours in Collin County since the League was started.

As a JLP member, I am proud of what our organization has done to help this community. I enjoy volunteering and meeting some wonderful friends along the way. So, I hope you will attend this meeting and learn more about our group. You don't have to know anyone to become a member, just attend an orientation and learn what we are about.

For more information, feel free to contact me or visit the website at www.JLPlano.org

You wouldn't know it based on what the local media reports but local prices are UP compared to last year. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight is reporting that Dallas/Fort Worth prices in the first quarter were up versus the same time last year (up 3.76% in Dallas and 2.59% in Fort Worth). This contrasts with a 3.1% nationwide price decline over the same period.

The local newspaper and TV stations always report national numbers but real estate in local. You can't quote numbers for the entire nation and apply it to Dallas.

Dallas' economy is solid and our area is still adding jobs. This is helping our area maintain our prices. DFW is a great place to be. If you are interested in buying or selling in the metroplex, call me today at 214-532-3823.

As many of you know, I am a member of the Junior League of Plano and the big event that I've been working on for 9 months is happening this weekend! Trinkets to Treasures is Collin County's largest rummage sale and we will be at the Plano Centre this Saturday from 8am - 3pm. Junior League's provisional class has been working for months to collect items from our Junior League members to sell this weekend. There are some great deals to be found. Furniture, Clothes, Electronics, Holiday items, Purses, and much more. All the items are gently used and we do have some new items, as well.

I hope you will come and shop. All the money that is made goes back to the projects that we support in the community, like City House, Frisco Family Services, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, etc... I will be there all day on Saturday, so look for me!