About Tarrant County, TX

This weekend as I spent time in the DFW airport and Birmingham airport, I couldn't help but notice a certain distinguished presence. No, I'm not talking about the professionally dry cleaned navy blue uniformed American Airlines employees frustrated over yet another bankrupt day in paradise (or wherever they are flying) although I am sympathetic towards them, because, to be honest, most of the pilots and mechanics (and many other transporation related occupations) probably fall into the category I am about to post about, anyway... a whole other sort of "navy" blue or army green stood at every terminal. I am talking about the honor of the presence of so many of our servicemen and women returning home.

And I like it.

Safe and sound at my home with my garden stake American flag, I checked the mail after being gone only a few days. In the mail is a large postcard from the VLB, the Texas Veterans Land Board. A FREE Benefits Fair is brought to the DFW area by the VLB & Texas Veterans Commission. It is being held:

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

10 am to 1 pm - Come and Go

Tarrant County College Ballroom

2100 Southeast Parkway

Arlington, TX 76018

The purpose of the FREE event is to allow these veterans to learn more about...

• Home Loans
• Land Loans
• Home Improvement Loans
• State Veterans Homes
• State Veterans Cemeteries
• Employment Benefits
• Disability & Pension Claims
• Education Benefits

I am not a Veteran myself, so I was not sure at first why the VLB mailed it to my address. I thought it may be in the wrong box. So I looked. And then I remembered who I bought my house from. A pilot. A man who is my friend's dad from high school. I assume now that he is also a veteran since it was mailed to his name, addressed to my address (6 years post move). So... here is my announcement for those veterans who may not have received their own mail this week (6 years after you moved).

Veterans, it looks like a really nice event with plenty of servicemen and women there to answer questions you may have about the benefits you've earned. Right now, when the interest rates are lower than they have ever been and you guys and gals are coming home in volumes, and you look so young, like you may be first time home buyers, this event is especially good timing for you.

If you can't attend Saturday the 24th, you can call 1-800-252-VETS or visit the site online at www.texasveterans.com

p.s. You may want to double-check that you registered your new address with the VA and VLB.

p.s.s. I'm proud of you and it would be an honor if you asked for my help when you buy a home in the DFW area.

This market has taken a very interesting turn. Inventory is low and buyers are VERY active. Is this a good time for you to sell your home and up-size into the home of your dreams? Find out below!

Buying a HUD home in Arlington, TX. There are many good home buying opportunities in Arlington through HUD listings. Currently there are 11 HUD homes total in Arlington with 6 of those listed for under $100,000. The homes vary in quality and condition but even those that are lacking the appeal one would hope for could quite possibly be picked such a fair price that you could afford to put some money in for improvements. Some are ready or very close to ready for move in.

Something to know when looking at the possibility of buying a HUD home is that some are only open for offers from people who intend on living in the home(Owner Occupants), along with non-profit agencies and government agencies. In the case of the current listings in Arlington, there are only 2 at this time that are open to all bidders, including investors. But when there are HUD homes open to investors to bid on, they usually end up being a really great deal. Each home would have to be looked at on a case by case basis to see who can bid.

Another point to consider is the bid submission deadline. Some of these homes have a set date where they will accept bids through before they actually accept, or possibly accept, one of those bids. So if the bid deadline is 2 weeks from now, they may receive 10 bids and then after the deadline accept the best one or maybe not accept any. If they do not accept any, they typically open the bidding back up on a day by day basis. If they do not accept a particular bid, they do not usually contact you to let you know, much less make a counter offer, unless you are the one that is very close to something they like.

For more information on buying a HUD home in and around Arlington, TX, please contact Real Estate Agent Greg Brady.

Fort Worth Texas is truly the center of the Texas Horse Industry. Texas is home to over 1 million horses which is 15% of all the horses in the USA. Texas also leads the Nation in the numbered of registered Quarter, Paint and Appaloosa Horses and is second to California in Arabians and Thoroughbred breeding stallions.

There are over 950,000 Texas horse owners each having an average of 3.7 horses. The industry employs over 43,000 people and horse people have invested over $13 billion in barns, trucks, trailers, and tack. They spend in excess of $2.1 billion annually to maintain their horses. The competitors will spend over $3 billion each year attending shows and events.

Texas horses are valued at more than $4.2 billion and sales each year are in excess of $354 million which is more than sales of hogs, sheep and lambs combined.

Total impact of the horse industry to Texas economy exceeds $11 billion annually. Now That's Big Business!

Now with all that information it's no wonder Texas is the most desirable State for horse owners to relocate to. With that being said, as a horse person and a Texas Realtor, I'd like to list a few things horse owners should consider when looking for horse properties here in and around Fort Worth and Weatherford Texas.

Texas Horse Barns: It gets hot in Texas, really hot. So look for or build a barn with a high pitched roof to let the heat out and away from the horses in the stalls. Make sure there are roof vents or better if there are windows like in a raised center aisle barn. Don't go cheap by not insulating the barn. This is one of the most important things to keep your horses comfortable. A good insulated barn will be about 20degrees cooler than one that's not. Stalls should be no smaller than 12X12 but if you have big warm bloods 14X16 is better.

Water: This is very important not only quantity but quality of the water. Make sure when buying a place that you have the well checked by a well service not only for quality but the gallons per minute and the static water level. Find out what Aquifer the well is in. The Trinity Aquifer has the best water but is deeper than The shallow Pauluxy. Here is another area lots of people try to save money by not drilling big enough or deep enough. The worst thing to happen is to run out of water.

Soil Types: The countryside around Fort Worth is varied but mostly with 2 types of soils heavy black and sandy soils. If you are in the horse business the best is to be in the sandy soil areas. Without going into lots of detail just remember black dirt bad, sandy dirt good. You'll figure it out after the first rain.

Horse Trainers: I think there are more horse trainers in the Fort Worth Dallas area than any area of the nation. They are kind of in areas of their own too. The Hunter Jumpers and Eventers over North of Dallas. The Reiners, Western Pleasure people are around Aubrey, Pilot Point and Whitesboro. The Cutting Horse people mostly around Weatherford. The Rodeo, Team Ropers and Barrel racers around Decatur and Stephenville.

Will Rogers Coliseum: Since the opening in 1988, the Will Rogers Equestrian Center has become known and recognized as a world-class center with over 100,000 horses having participated in equestrian events. The complex includes a 215,000 sq. ft. building containing the 1,946 seat John Justin Arena and the 640 seat James L. and Eunice West Sale Arena. In addition there are 843 permanent horse stalls. The $11 million, Moncrief Building opened in 1996 and includes the 1,100 seat W.R. Watt Arena and space for up to 650 cattle or 260 horses. The total number of available stalls can be increased to 2,200 during major events such as the annual Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, National Cutting Horse Association competitions, American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Show, American Paint Horse World Championship Show, and the Appaloosa Horse Club World Championship Show.

Equine Veterinary Clinics: The Fort Worth and Dallas Area have some of the best Equine Hospital facilities in the World.

Feed Supply: Generally North Texas has a good supply of quality hay grown locally. Most of the local hay is what is commonly known as Coastal Bermuda, which is a fine stem grass and if properly fertilized and baled should yield about 11% protein.

I hope this has been helpful to you when considering Fort Worth Texas horse properties.

Happy Trails,

Donnie

Stay Informed on The Fort Worth Real Estate Market

Roanoke Texas Real Estate Sales were down 40% in January 2012 over the same month last year with 6 homes selling this month! For the year to date, overall home sales were at 6 homes sold, a -40% change from last year. Roanoke Texas Real Estate total dollar volume of homes sold this month was $812,880 which is a -46% change from this month last year. For the year to date, the total dollar sales were at $812,880, which is a -46% change.

Register online for monthly updates in your city and your neighborhood automatically emailed to you at Roanoke Real Estate. Search Roanoke homes, Roanoke foreclosures, and Roanoke short sales at DFWTeamRealty.com.

New Roanoke Texas Real Estate listings experienced a -40% change for the same period last year with 15 homes listed this month. For the year to date, overall home listings underwent a -40% change with 15 homes listed this year. Listings pending sales this month underwent a -27% change, with 8 homes contracted. Listings under contract for the year to date experienced a -27% change, with 8 homes under contract for this month.

The average sales price of a home in Roanoke was $135,480, a -10% change from this month last year. Overall, for 2012, the average sales price was $135,480 , a -10% change. Sellers received 96% of their asking price this month, which is a 4% change from last year. For the year to date, sellers received 96% of their asking price, which is a 4% change. This month, homes spent an average of 42 days on the market until sold, which was a -78% change from last year. For the year to date, the average number of days on the market was 42, an overall change of -78%.

The current supply of active listings on the market this month was 58 homes. This is a change of -33% from the same month last year. For the year to date, the supply of active listings on the market was 58, which is a -33% change. This month there was a 4.2 months’ supply of homes on the market; this was a -41% change from last year. For the year to date, there was a 4.2 months’ supply of homes on the market, which is a -41% change from the same period last year. The average price per square foot was $66 this month; a -5% change from last year. For the year to date, the average price per square foot was $66, a change of -5% .

Roanoke Real Estate sales is known as area 131 in the North Texas Real Estate Information System. Information is believed reliable but is only as accurate as reported by the system in the month of January 2012. DFW Team Realty provides month reports on Roanoke Real Estate Sales as well as Roanoke Foreclosures, Roanoke Short Sales, and Home in Roanoke. Please visit our website at DFWTeamRealty.com for the latest information on Roanoke homes by price range and community.

The DFW Metroplex is also known as Dallas Fort Worth Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census which encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas Plano Irving and Fort Worth Arlington and is comprised of over 70 area cities both incorporated and unincorporated.

The DFW Metroplex is, by population, the largest metropolitan area in Texas, the largest in the South, the fourth-largest in the United States, and the tenth-largest in the Americas. The DFW Metroplex encompasses over 9,000 square miles of total area, making it larger in area than the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. It is also the sixth largest gross metropolitan product (GMP) in the United States, and approximately tenth largest by GMP in the world.