Rockwall, TX

Thanks so much to Misty Lackey for the great idea.  I've been wanting to add more local data here as I know people visit Dallas all summer long.  Being on the Northeast side, we enjoy spread out fields, rolling hills and lake side living, but we have some great restaurants as well.  Here is my map for restaurants.

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A - Arby's
B - IHOP
C - Black-Eyed Pea
D - Carraba's
E - Culver's (one of my favorite burger places!)
F - Wendy's
G - Starbuck's
H - Dominoes
I - Sonic
J - Pizza Hut

Some of my favorites: J. Miguel's, Tatiano's, and Culpepper Steakhouse weren't included on this map, but they are well worth mentioning!

No, I'm not actually asking the question. If you live in the metroplex, you'll know there are ALWAYS things going on in the smaller cities that surround Dallas. Rockwall is one of those precious gems of a town with lots of life and spirit nestled on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard. Just in case you're around, you might want to jump into to one of the upcoming events.

Tomorrow, the Rockwall School of Music on Justin Rd. reopens. This is good news for students who are aspiring to hone their creative abilities!

Next week is "Dallas Race Week" which is sponsored by the Rockwall Breakfast Rotary Club. This is yacht-racing at it's very best. You can get a great view of the event at the Harbor breakwater. All proceeds of this event will be donated to the Rotary's charitable projects and many fine establistment and retail stores at the Hilton Bella Harbor are helping to sponsor the event. For more information, please contact Billy Self at billy@prosoap.com.

Let's go racin'!

:-)

Today was the last day of school for the year. Now I don't have school-aged kids, but I help out one of my associates by picking up her daughter on most days and bringing her home. This type of trip is often enlightening as I get a glimpse into the expectations and observations of a teenager. I must admit, it has been a while since my youngest was that age. (And she never wanted to talk to me at that point anyway! Lol!) So I felt completely disabled when my young rider began to whine about how boring the summer was going to be and how there was never anything to do. No, I didn't rail against her, listing opportunity after opportunity. No, I didn't encourage her with the different places we were traveling past. No . . . I just sat there . . . in the same stunned silence that used to enfold me when my daughter would start in. I just sat and let this sweet, but short-sighted young lady slam my favorite city.

So I must respond, if not to her, then to whomever has the good fortune to read it.

From the edge of town in the east to where it collides with beautiful Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall has activities available for anyone! Lakeside living offers all sorts of boating, including sailing and yachting club races. They're exciting to join and lovely to watch, especially during the evening sunset hours! I've been informed that Lake Ray Hubbard is now the #1 bass lake in Texas. If fishing boats are a measure...it must be true.
If hiking or biking is more to your liking, there are several nature trails in the area, also in nearby Rowlett, and of course at White Rock Lake in the heart of Dallas. There are public parks in luxurious condition, and nature preserves to make your outings both relaxing or exciting - whichever you happen to be in the mood for. And Rockwall is the edge of the metroplex, so land is an ample commodity. Horse stables, pastures, stock tanks and lovely country lanes are spotted throughout the area.
Rockwall also offers many Civic Clubs, including the Exchange Club, Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis and many others. Churches are numerous. Lakepointe Church is probably the largest, with over 12,000 people. There are others of various denominations which range in various sizes, warm and friendly. In fact, friendly is a great definition for this town!
You won't ever need to drive into Dallas for a restaurant or entertainment venue. There are leisure restaurants overlooking the lake, various hamburger spots and fast food chains throughout the city, and a brand new movie and outdoor mall at the "Harbor" at the water's edge.

Seriously, Rockwall has it all!

I just read an article from SOUTHWEST ECONOMY called "Texas Growth Slows But Remains Healthy". Some key points the article shared:

-The single family housing sector remains weak. Builders continue to pull back on new-home construction.

-Sales of existing homes remain on a downward track. Inventories of existing homes for sale have risen to just over the equilibrium mark of the six months.

-Delinquent subprime mortgages continue to inch up in Texas. The state's delinquency rate is higher than the national average, but its foreclosure rate remains below the nation's.

-The Texas economic outlook is positive moving in to 2008. Housing woes are beleaguring the national economy, but Texas markets, while weak, have held up better than many other areas of the country.

As a realtor, I think this is very important information to share with my buyers and sellers. There are many homes on the market, so it is vital to differentiate your home from others. There are several ways to do this, but the most important is having exceptional drive-up appeal, a non-cluttered home, and CLEAN!!!! I am still amazed at how many homes I visit where beds are unmade, dishes are left in the sink, garbage cans are overflowing, and dirty laundry is in piles where potential buyers can see. Pet smells are another turn-off, especially dirty kitty litter boxes - YUCK!!! Remember that in order to sell your home in this weak economy, you need to set your home apart from the others. Take a little more time each morning to straighten your home. Visit model homes in the neighborhood and try to mimick what you see. Wal-mart and Target have nice home decor departments, as do Ross, Marshall's and T.J. Maxx. Another store that has great home decor and storage solutions for less is Tuesday Morning. And remember that a little extra yardwork, some fresh flowers in containers by the door, a nice welcome mat and sparkling windows can make all the difference and not cost a lot of money.

Also, as realtors, we get calls frequently wondering why a listing hasn't shown. First of all, realtors spend a lot of money marketing a property, but if the home is the same as ten others for sale in the neighborhood, you need to consider your price and how you can make your home stand out. Offering home warranties or incentives to buyers is another great way to increase traffic to your home. Declining showings is also something else that amazes me. It isn't always convenient to show, but do your best to allow an agent to show your home when you are asked. The person she is bringing may only have one day to make a decision - this happens often with relocations.

Sellers need to understand that they play a vital role in the sale of their home. Realtors spend a lot of time and money marketing a property, but it is the seller's responsibility to have the home show ready and available to show at anytime. We have to work as a team to get the best results - SOLD!!!

Make it a great day!!!

All my best,

Laurey West

RE/MAX Platinum REALTOR/www.laureywest.homesandland.com/469-586-7596