About Kaufman County, TX

For homebuyers looking to have it all nearby then Travis Ranch is for you. This community features a breathtaking terrain of breathtaking terrain and spectular view of Lake Ray Hubbard and, in the distance, the skyline of downtown Dallas. Travis Ranch offers residents:

 

• Only 20 minutes from Dallas
• Forney ISD
• Inline hockey rink, playground and pavilion
• Barbeque facilities, splash park and a pool
• Proposed lakeside park with amenity center

Starting at $140,000.00

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I would love to show you this beautiful community.

 

Randal Newhouse

972-234-2468

www.NewhouseDiscounts.com

TeamNewhouse@Gmail.com

The Finders: A much easier way to find real estate. Tell us what you are looking for and we will e-mail you the properties that fit your criteria the day they hit the market. No more hours of searching, only to find that the property is already sold or leased. No more having your information sold to a Realtor who will bug you for the next millennium. It's Easy and it's Free. "Dream Home Finder" "Foreclosure Finder" "Lease Finder"

In my last blog, I highlighted the historic homes of Terrell, Texas and the best place to find them, on Griffith Avenue. I also mentioned that I would provide a list of great antique shops in the area.

Below is a list of antique shops in Kaufman County, Texas that can certainly help you furnish your historic home. Be mindful that there are certain things you need to know and be aware of when you are antique shopping.

First, not all antiques are antique. Be sure to check out the finish very thoroughly. You want to be certain that the piece is constructed of natural wood and not plywood, or MDF. If should look OLD. If you don't know what to look for, take a friend along who may have a little more experience.

Next, make sure that everything is orignal and that it matches, especially if it's a set. It's hard to find an original piece that is still in good condition, but it is possible. You will know if its original if it has layers of stain in the cracks and crevices.

Finally, check out the craftsmanship of the piece. Not the say that you should view it as an expert, but look for flaws, indentations or marks, that were probably made during the construction of the piece by man and not by machine.

And most importantly, don't be to quick to purchase a piece just because the seller says that it's an antique. I've found many stores in several cities, that will call a piece an antique but they really constructed it a few weeks ago and just added some distressed painting techniques.

Now here's the list of some local antique dealers in Kaufman County

Antiques on the Square, Kaufman, Tx (972) 932-8689

Vintage Modern Antiques, Terrell, Tx. (972) 551-2355

Fairbrother House, Mabank, Tx. (903) 887-5373

Deridder Antiques, Forney, Tx. (972) 564-4468

This is just a short list of dealers in the Kaufman County area, for an extensive list, email me

Happy Shopping

MeLisa Minter, Realtor

www.homesmint2be.com

http://melisaminter.point2agent.com

melisa@homesmint2be.com

Copyright MeLisa Minter 2008. Kaufman County Antique Dealers.

If you ever get the opportunity to drive down Griffith Avenue and through Terrell, Texas' historic district, you will definitely feel like you have traveled back in time. The historic homes of eras gone by are still standing just as boldly and proudly as they ever were. From the traditional English Tudor to the detailed Craftsman Style, there is absolutely something for everyone. Some of the homes recently found themselves on the market and thanks to the young urban flippers, these home are being restored to their original beauty. It takes a very dedicated personto take on the huge task of restoring historic properties, because if it is not done right, you have certainly defeated the purpose of restoring an historic home. That's why the National Trust for Historic Preservation sets rules and regulations for historic properties that are being restored.

Some buyers may decide to turn the homes into bed and breakfasts; while others will just enjoy living in a modernized historic home. You can check the county tax rolls to determine the age of the historic homes and you could also possibly be lucky enough to get a history lesson from the locals if you stick around a little while. Terrell's Heritage Museum is also a great place to obtain a wealth of information about the city's history and it's historic homes.

Terrell prides itself as "a community looking to the future without forgetting the past." There are many great things about living in a small town such as Terrell, Texas and when you factor in the experience of the historic districts of these small towns, the benefits are even greater. It helps us to remember where we came from in order to get to where we are going.

So if you are considering moving to a historic district or historic home, be sure that you thoroughly research the area, its history and its future, because things are constantly changing everyday and although we welcome change, it is our heritage that makes us who we are.

For a listing of historic homes in Terrell, Texas or Kaufman County, visit my website at www.homesmint2be.com for more information.

Now that you're interested in historic homes, how about finding some great antiques to furnish them?? Check out my next blog on where to find some great antiques and antique replicas for great prices.

P.S. it's all local.

MeLisa Minter, MBA Realtor

www.homesmint2be.com

http:melisaminter.point2agent.com

melisa@homesmint2be.com

Kaufman County, Historic Homes in Terrell, Texas.

While Forney, Texas has become one of the hottest spots east of downtown Dallas, Travis Ranch may be getting a huge reality check.

A couple of years ago Travis Ranch was the place to be in Kaufman County. You had this great master-planned community with a grand amenity center with a huge Olympic style pool, inline skating for the kids, walking trails, parks, and of course new schools right in the community. It had pretty decent builders such as David Weekly Homes, Ryland Homes, Horizon Homes and the now restructured Kimball Hill Homes. Well that was then, this is NOW.

NOW!! meaning that Travis Ranch has had some pretty stiff competition come into Kaufman County in the last two years. With communities such as Heartland, The Villages of Fox Hollow, The Trails of Chestnut Meadows, even phase two of Windmill Farms and not to mention the luxurious Devonshire; Travis Ranch is starting to have a problem holding its own.

While it was once praised as the fatest growing Kaufman County Community, being closest to Lake Ray Hubbard, minutes from Rockwall County and approximately 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, Travis Ranch will probably need to come up with a new angle.

Since I used to work for one of these builders, it was easy for me to justify these prices to new homebuyers by stating the value, the quality and the location. But as a Realtor, I can honestly say "so what". With another five minutes drive down Highway 80, my clients can be in the latest communities, with the latest floorplans, closer to all of the local shopping and paying at least $15K-$25K less for the same type of home with similar square footage. I know location is key, but overall price will win out every time.

Travis Ranch... you used to be the finest in Kaufman County's master-planned communities, but look-out, I think you've just been "out mastered."

MeLisa Minter, www.homesmint2be.com, http://melisaminter.point2agent.com

Copyrighted MeLisa Minter 2008. The views and opinions in this blog are solely that of MeLisa Minter.

by the internet.

In case you didn't know sellers, many of today's buyers view your home at least five times online before they even consider calling a real estate professional.

What does this mean to you? It means you need to bring your A-Game by making sure your home is in great condition, "Showtime" ready and most importantly, priced to market conditions. It has been said that a first impression of your home is similar to a first impression on a first date. You only have one chance to appeal to buyers to make them want to see and learn more about your home.

As a Realtor, when buyers call me to inquire about one of my listings, normally the first thing out of their mouth is that "I saw this home online and would like to see it in person." They only need me to gain access to the property so that they can "see, touch and feel" the real thing. In some ways, that could be a little unnerving, especially if you don't have your best foot forward.

So what can you do to ensure that your home makes the list?

First of all, again, make sure that your home is in good/great condition. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes...would you buy your house again? Make sure that the exterior is power washed or painted. You need to also make sure that the landscaping is up to par even during the cold seasons. Some buyer's drive by a home first to check out the outside, that usually determines if they want to check out the inside.

Secondly, once you have the buyers inside your home, you need to make sure that they want to stay in your home. Real Estate professionals will usually give you brochures, booklets, handouts or advice as to what you need to do in order make your home "Showtime" ready. You can always buy magazines and check out home improvement shows on tv to get ideas and tips to help your home sale.

Finally and this is the biggest one, make sure that your home is PRICED RIGHT!! I know you've heard it before and it is true, if your home is not priced to market, then be prepared to have it sit on the market for the duration of your listing. Just because you've upgraded, or paid a certain amount for the property, does not necessarily mean that you will be getting that money back. If the market is demanding a lower price, then that's probably the case.

For us real estate professionals, this all goes without saying, but for sellers who are not familiar with the selling process, this is information you should take heed to.

If your home is listed in most MLS's, then it's probably online and what that means is that millions of people are viewing your home everyday. So you'd better make sure that your ready!!

Call me for a professional outlook about your home and ideas and techniques that you can use in order to make sure that your home is ready for the market.

MeLisa Minter, Realtor, 469-766-7379.

www.homesmint2be.com

Information contained herein is the advice and opinion of MeLisa Minter. Copyright 2008.