Life in North Texas... by a Realtor®

Buying a home can be scary... Until you know the facts!

Buying a home can be scary... Until you know the facts!

Some Highlights:

Many potential homebuyers believe that they need a 20% down payment and a 780 FICO® score to qualify to buy a home which stops many of them from even trying! Here are some facts:

72% of buyers who purchased homes this year have put down less than 20%.
76.4% of loan applications were approved last month.
The average credit score of approved loans was 727 in September.

Are you ready to get started on buying a home? Call me today to help! (214) 909-8008

 

7 Tips For Disaster Preparedness

 

It is so important to be prepared for a natural disaster. As a Hurricane Katrina survivor myself, these tips come from my heart!

https://bit.ly/2xWaGY9

#Realtor #realestate #NaturalDisasters #tips

FREE "Tree Care: Tips & Tricks" Workshop by City of Frisco

Register for a free WaterWise workshop by the City of Frisco that will teach you "Tree Care: Tips and Tricks" to help with tree care, pruning, and how to make your trees thrive. The workshop will be held February 16th from Noon to 1 PM in Frisco.

Register here:

FREE Tree Care: Tips & Tricks" Workshop

Support Locally-Owned Restaurants in the Frisco, Texas Area with this List

Looking to support your smaller, local restaurants? Here is a list of over 100 locally-owned restaurants in the Frisco area:

A List of Over 100+ Locally-Owned Restaurants in the Frisco, TX Area

Frisco, Texas Residents: Going out of town for the holidays?

Frisco, Texas residents! Do you have holiday travel plans? Take advantage of the Frisco Police Department’s House Watch Program. You can apply for FREE by clicking here:

 

Frisco, TX Residents - Apply for House Watch

 

Please share this with others in Frisco who may benefit from this FREE service, and a huge thanks to our Frisco Police Department for keeping our homes and families safe!

 

 

Another fabulous design sold by Arrowlane Boutique!

As promised, I am posting photos and a review of yet another fabulous top sold by Arrowlane Boutique; an online boutique based out of Oak Point, TX that gives back to their community and offers military discounts! They sent me several adorable blouses for me to wear and share my honest opinions with you.

This is the second top that I chose from their collection on their online store. This is the Lace Back Cold Shoulder Top and I ordered it in a size Small. I am 5'7" and fairly large-chested and this fit me perfectly. The material is very soft and comfortable; it is also very lightweight and breathable rayon/spandex mix which is a plus in our insane Texas heat. The color is a soft neutral which can be paired with virtually anything in your wardrobe. At just $21, this is a fashion STEAL! Shipping is only $3!

If you have not yet checked out Arrowlane Boutique, I encourage you to do so. Most of their items are made in America and it feels great to buy from a merchant who works hard to give back to their community. You won't be disappointed!

 

Arrowlane Boutique is FAB!

I am always on the hunt for cute clothes (who isn't?) and especially clothes that are comfortable, classy, and serve multiple purposes. As a REALTOR® in this Texas summer heat, I need clothing that looks great and is made of lightweight, breathable fabric. I was lucky enough to be contacted by Arrowlane Boutique of Oak Point, TX to review a few of their wonderful items in exchange for my honest opinions.

First of all, let me tell you a bit about Arrowlane Boutique... they are a new online boutique that is veteran-owned. Their goal is to support American jobs and they partner with manufacturers of items (most, if not all) that are proudly "Made in America". They also offer a military discount to their customers! Even more impressive to me is that each quarter, Arrowlane Boutique gives back a portion of their sales proceeds to their local food bank, and will even post the results of how many meals they were able to help provide. It feels fantastic to purchase from a company that is not only concerned about making things better for Americans and our military, but also those in need. This is a company that I can proudly stand behind and support with my purchases!

I chose several items to review, and I will be posting the first one today... watch for the next review soon!

This item that I chose is a gorgeous floral top with a unique criss-cross design in front and cut-out shoulders that are all the rage in the fashion world. The fabric doesn't wrinkle and is SOOOO comfortable and breathable! I wore it while previewing homes for my real estate clients, and even in the 100-degree Texas heat, I stayed cool and looked elegant yet comfy!

I am 5'7" and larger-chested; however a size Small fit me perfectly. This top fits generously and does not shrink up after washing. You can order this beautiful gem here:

Black Mix Floral Crisscross High Low Top

The prices at Arrowlane Boutique are also incredible! This top is currently just $20!

What are you waiting for? Check out Arrowlane Boutique and let me know what you think!

What Does the Future Real Estate Client Look Like?

Recent findings from the Pew Research Center show how demographic forces are driving population changes and reshaping how we live:

 

~ Fewer Americans are married. Only half of U.S. adults today are married, down from 70% in 1950. The increase in unmarried adults was greatest in those ages 50 and older—75% in the same time span—reflecting the rising divorce rate for the age cohort.

 

~ More generations are living together. There are nearly 61 million multi-generational households in the U.S. as of 2014, which includes two or more adult generations or grandparents and grandchildren. Growing Asian and Hispanic populations, which are more likely to live in multi-generational households than whites, explain some of the rise.

 

~ Women might never make up half the workforce. Women represented 46.8% of the U.S. labor force in 2015, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the share of women in the workforce will peak at 47.1% in 2025 before tapering off. The gender pay gap is closing, however, and is even narrower for young adults, with working women ages 25 to 34 making 90% of what their male counterparts made.

 

~ Immigrants are driving workforce growth. Growth in the U.S. working-age population (ages 25 to 64) will be driven by immigrants and their U.S.-born children through 2035 because of a lack of U.S. born children with U.S. born parents. There would be 18 million fewer working-age adults in 2035 without immigrants.

 

~ The share of middle-income households is falling. In 2010, 59% of American adults lived in middle-income households—those with disposable incomes that are two-thirds to double the national median disposable income—down from 62% in 1991. The decline of middle-income households in the U.S. was mirrored across Western Europe, but most Western European countries had a larger share of adults in middle-income households that the U.S.

 

#REALTOR #realestate

10 Anti-Burglary Tips That You Must Know

10-Steps to Burglar-Proof Your Home

1. Maintain your property. Keep snow shoveled off of your walkway and driveway, as well as removing holiday decorations and fallen tree branches in a timely manner. This shows would-be burglars that your home is occupied.
   
   2. Know your neighbors. Introduce yourself and speak regularly. This way you know who lives at the house and likewise. If there is an intruder, all parties will know who belongs and who doesn’t.
   
   3. Assess your home’s vulnerability. Walk to the curb and face your house. Ask yourself, “How would I get in if I were locked out?” The first thing you think of, whether it’s the window with a broken lock or the door that won’t shut all the way, is exactly how a thief will get in. Think like a burglar, and then address the issues that come to mind.
   
   4. Respect the power of lighting. Criminals are cowards, and they don’t want to be seen. A well-lit house is a deterrent because thieves don’t want the increased witness potential Easy tools include dusk-to-dawn adapters that go into existing light fixtures and motion detectors. But beware of leaving your exterior lights on at all times, which signifies the occupant is gone for an extended period of time.
   
   5. Use technology to make your home look occupied. Smart home technology makes it easier to make it appear as if someone is home even when they’re not. If you have purchased different brands of devices throughout the years, a device like Wink Hub- (http://www.wink.com/products/) allows them to all communicate with each other and you to control them all on your smart phone. There are also simple light/lamp timing devices available at hardware stores.
   
   6. Lock your doors. No matter where you live, you should always lock your doors and keep your garage door closed. Some facts sellers should know: In 30 percent of burglaries, the criminals access the home through an unlocked door or window; 34 percent of burglars use the front door to get inside; and 22 percent use the back door.
   
   7. Reinforce your locks. A good door lock is nothing without a solid frame. Invest in a solid door jam and strike plate first. Know the difference between a single-cylinder and a double-cylinder deadbolt. Double cylinder deadbolts are recommended because they require a key to get in and out. For safety and emergency escape purposes, you must leave the key in when you are home. But they are against regulations in some places, so check with your local police department’s crime prevention office.
   
   8. Blare the sirens. Burglars are usually in and out in less than five minutes, and they know police can’t respond to an alarm that quickly. Their bigger concern is witnesses to their crime. For that reason, an external siren is invaluable, whether as part of a monitored security system or a DIY alarm. Even if you don’t have an alarm, it’s not a bad idea to invest in fake security signs and post them near doors. Even fake security system yards signs give burglars pause.
   
   9. Consider surveillance cameras. Video doorbells such as Ring (https://ring.com) allow homeowners to view streaming video of what’s and who is outside their door on their smart phone. The device has a motion detector feature, as well. The HD video assures that you can see a clear image and the two-way voice feature allows you to talk to them no matter where you are. Most state and local regulations require warning people that they are being recorded, which can be accomplished by printing simple paper signs and posting them near doors and windows. This can be effective even if you don’t have actually have the cameras installed!
   
   10. Mark your valuables and record details. Use invisible ink pens or engravers to mark identifying information (driver’s license or State ID numbers) on items. Log serial numbers and take photos of your belongings. Check to see if your police department participates in the Operation Identification program. They will have stickers for you to place on doors or windows warning would-be thieves that your items are marked. These steps may prevent them from pawning or selling stolen items and can help you reclaim recovered belongings.
   
   As your local Real Estate specialist, I am always thinking of you and your family’s safety. For more safety tips, drop me an email at [email protected] .
   
   Happy 2017!

Happy International Peace Day 2015!

Happy International Peace Day!

Make a difference today in your own home, your family, your neighborhood, your community, your city, your state, your country, your world, your planet, your universe, but most importantly in your own heart and it will spill over into tomorrow. Choose love over hate, joy over sadness, compassion over apathy, knowledge over ignorance, courage over fear, understanding over judgment, forbearance over anger, tolerance over impatience, generosity over selfishness, and trust over uncertainty. Let go of negative thoughts.

A domino effect begins with just one domino. Choose to be that domino and watch the world change around you with just one small push. Push yourself to make peace within your heart and your home, then watch it affect those around you in a positive manner.

It is my wish that you will like and share this message in honor of International Peace Day today. We are all in this world together!

Written by Jlyne Hanback

‪#‎InternationalPeaceDay‬ ‪#‎peace‬ ‪#‎love‬