The Ever Changing Dallas-Ft Worth, Our New Freeways by 2016

Population 2011 – 6.7 million

Population 2016 – 7.4 million

4th Largest Population Center in USA

550,000 more vehicles by 2016

DFW Connector Funnel – North of DFW Airport

• Grapevine, Irving, Coppell

• Now under construction, completion 2014

Hwy 114, Hwy 121

• 6 -8 free lanes, 4 toll lanes, 6 frontage lanes

• LBJ Frwy from Luna to Central Exprwy

Farmers Branch, Addison, Richardson, North Dallas

• Construction to begin 2011; completion 2016

• 8 free lanes, 6 toll lanes, 6 frontage lanes

• One of the busiest freeways in the USA – massive project

• “Double decking freeway”

Bush Turnpike Extension

• Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Mesquite

• Under Construction, Completion 2011

• 6 toll lanes, with toll booth over Lake Ray Hubbard

• Opening 2011 at I-30

North Tarrant Express

• Irving, Northeast Tarrant County, North Ft Worth

Hwys 183, 121, 820

• Construction begins 2010, completion 2015

• 6 free lanes, 4 toll lanes, 4 HOV lanes, plus frontage lanes

Hwy 161 Final Segment

• Irving, Grand Prairie, Arlington

• Under Construction; Completion 2012

• 8 toll lanes; frontage roads now open

If you are in the market for a Home in the Frisco or DFW Texas area please let me share my expertise and love of these cities with you.

Grayhawk Frisco TX 75034 Community Information

Now is the perfect time to make Grayhawk – and Frisco – home.  If you have been looking for a home in Grayhawk, or trying to sell a home in Grayhawk the good news is the inventory is moving.

Keep reading to learn more about the Grayhawk Frisco Neighborhood below or click this link to view ‘LIVE’ mls listings for a preview of what is for sale right now in Grayhawk.

Grayhawk MLS Listings

 Grayhawk in Frisco Texas 75034

• Recreation
  • Falcon Fields Frisco City Park
  • Shawnee Trail Sports Park
  • Warren Sports Complex
  • Central Park
  • Frisco Athletic Center
  • 24 Hour Fitness
  • Frisco Natatorium
  • The Superdrome in Frisco
  • Frisco YMCA
  • The Tribute Golf Club
  • Tom Fazio 18-hole Championship Golf Course
  • Plantation Golf Course
  • The Trails of Frisco Golf Club
  • Lakes Tennis Academy
  • Frisco Horse Park
  • Lake Lewisville
  • Pizza Hut Park
  • FC Dallas Soccer
  • RoughRiders Baseball
  • Texas Legends Basketball
  • Frisco Star Center
  • Texas Tornado Hockey
  • Dr Pepper Arena
  • Fieldhouse USA
  • The Ice at Stonebriar Centre
• Arts
  • Frisco Association for the Arts
  • Heritage Association of Frisco
  • Frisco Community Theatre
  • Frisco Chorale
• Shopping
  • Stonebriar Centre Mall
  • Frisco Square
  • Historic Downtown Frisco
  • The Shops at Starwood
  • Shops at Legacy

Visit Propane Taxi on Facebook
Watch Propane Taxi’s First Commercial

“Stop Lugging That Tank!”

Propane Taxi is changing the way people buy barbecue and use propane (also called LP gas). There’s no lugging that tank to the refill station anymore. There’s no wasting your time and gas to go to the store and stand in line. You can now order your propane with just a few mouse clicks with Propane Taxi and have it delivered right to your BBQ grill or patio heater. It’s so easy, safe and convenient. There’s no obligation or contract for future services required – you just order a propane tank as you need it and we have it there as soon as that same day.*

Do I need to buy a propane cylinder from Propane Taxi to get started? You do not need to buy a Propane Taxi tank to get started. If you have a Blue Rhino or Amerigas propane tank, or any other propane tank in working condition, without excessive rust and with an OPD valve (the triangular knob), we’ll exchange it for you at the exchange price. It’s that easy. You leave your empty or nearly empty propane tank out for us and we’ll give you a precision-filled, high quality propane tank, filled with propane in return.

Do I need to be home for delivery? There is no need to be home at all. Just leave your propane tanks to be exchanged in an accessible location for our delivery technician and we’ll do the rest. We actually can’t schedule our drivers to meet you during a certain time window, so having your propane tank in an accessible location for us to pick-up is a requirement for using the service.

Do you connect or disconnect the tank for me? We do offer a connection service for a small fee. This fee is charged if you do not disconnect your exchange tank or if you request the new propane tank to be connected. Our technician will connect it and make sure the connection is tight and secure before leaving the grill. This is a great way to leave the dirty work and the lugging to us. We enjoy it and it means you won’t need to wait in line at Home Depot or Lowe’s to get your propane exchange.

Order online at www.PropaneTaxi.com

For additional safety information and information about how to use propane and propane tank and barbecue safety, you can visit some of these great informational sites:
National Propane Gas Association
Propane Education and Research Council (PERC)
USE PROPANE
Dept of Energy – Propane Facts

*Note: Same Day and Next Day delivery are available in most of our delivery areas for a small additional fee. Our listed price includes free STANDARD delivery.

Types Of Home Loans

If you are in the market for a new home, it’s important that you know what type of loans are available to you. Whether you have perfect credit, a few financial blemishes or are just starting out in life and want to own a home, understanding your options will prove to be invaluable during your house hunting excursion.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A fixed rate mortgage is one of the most popular home loans and is commonly available as a 15 or 30 year term. Because it offers the borrower an assurance that both the principal and interest will remain the same throughout the term of the loan, a fixed rate mortgage is ideal for many.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)

An adjustable rate mortgage, also referred to as an ARM loan, is one in which the interest rates adjust according to the current market. This means that interest rates can either increase or decrease at regular intervals, based on established market indexes.

Interest-Only Mortgage

An interest-only mortgage is one that requires the borrower to pay interest only payments for a preset number of years during the loan term. After that initial period, the monthly payments will then adjust to include both the principal and interest remaining on the loan.

Balloon Mortgage

A balloon mortgage is a loan that requires monthly payments that do not completely repay the loan. At the conclusion of the balloon term, a large lump-sum payment is due to pay off the balance of the loan.

FHA/VA Loan

An FHA and/or VA loan are mortgages that are guaranteed by the government. An FHA loan is easier to qualify for than a conventional mortgage, requires a lower down payment and is guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority. A VA loan, which is for veterans only, is guaranteed by the Veteran’s Administration.

Construction Loan

Construction loans are available for borrowers who are purchasing or building a newly constructed home. These loans, which are offered at either fixed or adjustable rates, require slightly more paperwork and inspections than a conventional mortgage.

No Income/No Asset Verification
A no income/no asset verification loan simply means that the borrower will not be required to verify their income or assets in order to obtain a mortgage. With this type of loan, the borrower typically must have excellent credit and may be required to provide a down payment that’s equal to 20 percent or more of the total purchase price. Although this type of loan is called a no income/no asset verification loan, the borrower may be required to show proof of both, but the information will not be verified by any other means.

Owner Financing
Many homebuyers, especially those with a limited or poor credit history, prefer to seek owner financing when purchasing a new home. Because there is no credit check, buyers will not be judged for past credit problems. In addition, owner financing may offer a low down payment requirement and competitive interest rates.

I am available and well prepared to assist you in reaching your real estate objectives. If you are ready to move forward, you can reach me at 214-234-6901 or by email at info@alerealestate.com. You may also visit my Web site at www.alexrealestate.com for additional information on all the real estate services I offer.

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Frisco Texas just keeps getting better and better. The Forest Park Medical Center at Frisco Square Ground Breaking Ceremony was this past weekend! Construction will start soon on this top notch Medical Office Building/Hospital facility! The 50-bed Forest Park Medical Center at Frisco will be complete by mid-2012, said Derrick Evers, managing partner of Dallas-based Neal Richards Group, the project manager and developer. BOKA Powell is the architect and Balfour Beatty will be the contractor.

Doctors and developers plan to build an $83 million physician-owned hospital in Frisco. The project in the Frisco Square mixed-use development will include a 128,000-square-foot acute care hospital, an 80,000-square-foot medical office/retail building and a five-level parking garage, Evers said. The four-level hospital will have 40 inpatient rooms including 14 VIP suites, 10 intensive care beds and an emergency room. The hospital will be about 70 percent doctor-owned, Evers said.

Frisco Square is a 147-acre masterplanned development at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and Frisco’s Main Street. It has a strong mix of retail and office space, hotel rooms, apartments and municipal facilities. The Frisco hospital will be among the first in North Texas built under a new health insurance reform law that adds restrictions for physician-owned hospitals and will prohibit the Frisco hospital from billing Medicare or Medicaid for patients admitted or referred to the hospital by a doctor with an ownership interest in the hospital. However, the hospital will be able to bill the federal programs for patients who enter through the emergency room or are referred to the hospital by non-owning physicians. Critics say that when doctors steer patients to a hospital they own, it gives them an incentive to put profits above the patient’s health by ordering more tests or procedures than are necessary. They argue that physician-owned hospitals siphon off the most lucrative, easy-to-treat patients, leaving more complex and costly cases, as well as the poor and uninsured, to community hospitals. That can prompt community hospitals to curtail vital but expensive services, such as comprehensive emergency room care, which specialty hospitals generally do not provide.

In a 2005 study, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found that physician-owned hospitals were no more efficient than traditional hospitals, generally admitted patients who were less severely ill and therefore more profitable, and saw fewer people on Medicaid, which serves the poor. The commission found that the rate of cardiac surgeries in an area tended to increase after a doctor-owned heart hospital opened. And it found that most community hospitals were able to compensate for lost revenue by cutting staff, raising some prices, and expanding profitable services such as imaging.

At the same time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concluded in a separate study that care at doctor-owned cardiac hospitals was “as good as or better” than at traditional hospitals, and that patient satisfaction was “very high” in cardiac and orthopedic hospitals.

Get More Info About Medicare 2010
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Picture courtesy of the Dallas Business Journal.

The real estate purchase agreement is more than just a casual offer. The moment you and the seller sign it, it is a legally binding contract. Since you can put what you want in your offer, why not include some of the clauses that smart buyers use to protect themselves and save money? Some suggestions follow.

Six Purchase Agreement Clauses

A better earnest money clause. You can put a small earnest money deposit down and still be taken seriously, if you include a clause like this: “$100 earnest money deposit, to be increased to $2,000 upon acceptance of this offer.” You could also have it increased “when all contingencies are met.” This way, if there’s an argument about you backing out because the inspector found foundation damage, for example, you won’t have your money tied up while this is being resolved.

Inspection contingencies. Ask an agent about the wording, but basically you want something like this in the purchase agreement: “Contingent upon a home inspection and buyer’s approval of the results; inspection to be done at buyer’s expense within ten days.” Now you the right to have an inspection done, and if anything negative is found, you can refuse to “approve” of the results, and get your deposit back, or you could re-negotiate a lower price.

Assignation. If buying with a partner who isn’t there to sign the offer, or if you want to “flip” the deal to another investor, or if you may need to involve a partner for purposes of funding the deal, be sure that the purchase offer gives you that right. Putting “and/or assigns” after your name on the offer is usually sufficient, but ask the real estate agent what the local custom or language is. This lets you add another buyer to the deal, or assign the whole contract to another.

Let the seller pay. Specify that the seller pays for the closing fee, the title insurance, the recording fees, and even the points on your loan. Sellers often just want the sale at a given price, and don’t care about the details. What if they do care? You have given yourself some negotiating points. Get something for dropping each of the costs you included, like maybe a reduced interest rate if the seller is financing part of your purchase.

Basic financing contingencies. Suppose the loan doesn’t come through, and you can’t buy the home. You’ll lose your deposit, unless you have something like this in the agreement: “Subject to buyer obtaining a firm commitment for suitable financing within ten days.” If the seller balks at the vague language, you can specify what “suitable” means in terms of interest rate and such.

Spouse’s approval clause. This could be as simple as “Subject to a walk through inspection and approval of home by wife (or partner – state their name) within two days.” Now, if your wife says no within two days, you can back out of the deal and get your deposit back. If you want the seller to agree to this one keep the time frame as short as you can.

The above clauses are often called “weasel clauses,” because they give you ways to back out, or “weasel out” of a real estate agreement. Don’t worry about the label. A seller has the right to say no to your offer in any case. You, on the other hand, have the right to use these purchase agreement clauses to protect yourself.

By law, only an attorney can provide you legal advice – not a real estate agent or broker. The suggestions above are just that, suggestions. Please seek the advice of an attorney for the exact legality and wording of any clause you may choose to incorporate into a real estate purchase contract.

Please feel free to give me a call at 214-234-6901 or email me at info@alexrealestate.com. You may also visit my Web site www.alexrealestate.com for additional information on the real estate services I provide. I look forward to hearing from you.

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As dreams of home ownership are taking newer turns, so are our efforts to realize them. It is only natural for anyone to dream of a home of one’s own, where one can live with one’s loved ones and cherish all the dreams that one had regarding a home, sweet home. And to acquire this, one can actually do anything starting from laboring day in and day out to pay that sky-high mortgage, even compromising on several aspects of daily life. But what happens when you miss one installment? The lender often threatens foreclosure. However, unlike most things, you can decide the fate of your own home. If you’re facing a financial hardship that you know will decrease your income and you are you getting behind on your mortgage and you’re not sure if you can catch up, a short sale might be your best option.

Why would you do that? Simply put, a short sale means selling your property at a value less than what you owe your bank or the lender, that is, less than the loan balance, which is secured against the property. In a short sale, the lender must approve and accept less than what they are owed as a full payoff (this means they may settle for $200,000, even if you currently owe them $300,000…). Pursuing a short shale can save your credit from the “foreclosure ding”, keep you from filing bankruptcy and relieve stress that this financial burden has become.

Why would it interest the lender? A very obvious question arises here as to why your lender would be interested in such a transaction where it is receiving less than what you owe them. The answer to this is simple, indeed. By compromising on a section of its due balance, the lender is basically saving a lot expenses that they would have to spend otherwise in conducting a lot of paper works, by carrying out the legal procedures of foreclosure, refurbishing the property, marketing it, finding the suitable investor and so on and so forth. Just the simple organization and execution of the property foreclosure auction could cost the lender as much as $50,000, which is not a sensible investment.

The question that follows is why any investor would like to buy a short sale property. The answer to this is simple enough – a short sale property usually sells at very down to earth prices, which at times can get as low as 60% of the actual worth of the property. Moreover, with the increasing rate of foreclosure and the subsequent rise of property short sales, the real estate industry is booming all over the United States and is showing much promise to interested US and overseas investors.

We’ve all had our ups and downs in life and a lot good people can find themselves in very tough spot. We all agree that we’re in the middle of a national mortgage crisis and that, in many cases, homeowners who have bought or refinanced in the last few years have been affected by unethical lending practices.

If you want to find out more about the short sale process, we are available and well prepared to assist you in reaching your real estate objectives. If you are ready to move forward, you can reach me at 214-234-6901 or by email at info@alexrealestate.com. You may also visit my Web site at ww.alexrealestate.com for additional information on all the real estate services we offer. To Listen To a Pre-Recorded Message About Call (972)200-1774 Ext.0627

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Things You Need When Applying For A Home Loan

Congratulations! Now that you have found the perfect home, all that’s left is getting the perfect mortgage. In order to do that, you will have to know what your lender needs from you in order to get your loan application approved.

Property Description

When applying for a home loan, you will need to provide the lender with detailed information regarding the property that you intend to purchase, including a executed Purchase Contract, what type of loan you are requesting and how you obtained the funds to be used as a down payment.

Borrower & Co-Borrower Information

All persons named on a home loan must be able to provide their name, date of birth, current address, former address (if within the last two years), marital status, current and former employment information, telephone number and social security number.

Most lenders require tax returns for the two years preceding the loan application, along with current paystubs or, if self-employed, a year-to-date profit/loss statement.

Current Mortgage Expenses

An important part of every home loan is affordability, which is why your lender will need to know how much of your income is available to pay for a new home. If you have a current mortgage, be ready to provide a detailed list of expenses that you pay each month in relation to the property. This includes a mortgage payment, real estate taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues, utilities, etc. If you plan to sell the home, let your lender know so that they will understand you are simply replacing one debt with another.

Yes Or No

Almost every loan application asks both the borrower and co-borrower (if applicable) to answer a few simple yes and no questions on the application. Questions pertaining to outstanding judgments, bankruptcy filings, foreclosures, lawsuits, alimony, child support and citizenship status are standard and should be expected when applying for a home loan.

Statement Of Assets & Liabilities
When applying for a home loan, both the borrower and co-borrower will be required to disclose all of their current assets and liabilities. An asset is property, either real or personal, that is owned and is of value. A liability, on the other hand, is a financial obligation for which one is liable.

A loan application will request information relating to assets and their current market value, including automobiles, real estate, stocks, bonds, life insurance (cash value), business net worth, personal property, etc. If any amount of money is owed on these properties, the lender will request information relating to the unpaid balance in order to determine the actual equity that the borrower has in any given property.

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Frisco Parks & Recreation Department is hosting the 7th annual Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish Saturday, February 5 at Frisco Commons, located at 8000 McKinney Road.

Poles begin dropping at 8:00 a.m. and can catch until 11:00 a.m. According to Frisco city officials, 3,150 Rainbow Trout will be released in the Commons pond which is located north of the main pavilion. The Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish is a great opportunity for first time anglers to come out and learn about the sport of fishing. It’s also great fun for families to experience the extraordinary Frisco Park scene.

Remember between 8-11am only kids up to age 16 will be allowed to fish. Past participants say kids really get to successfully practice their fishing skills with an almost guarantee of catching something. The average size of the fish will be eight to ten inches and the daily bag limit is five per person. Everyone is encouraged to keep what they catch since trout cannot survive when water temperatures rise in the spring.

Did you know the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regularly stock the Frisco Commons pond with channel catfish and largemouth black bass? Yes, they do! They also regularly stock the pond at Warren Sports Complex. Another reason we LOVE calling Frisco home.

Never Fished the pond before? Here are some tips provided by Frisco Parks & Recreation:
• use a lightweight line (4-6 lbs. test)
• small hooks and small sinkers
• Baits can include live worms, power bait, whole kernel corn, cheese, salmon eggs, marshmallows or small artificial lures.
• Participants will need to bring their own bait and tackle.
• The first twenty-five kids to catch a trout will receive a rod and reel combo set.

Are you over 16 and want to fish too? Open season for adult anglers will start at 11:00 a.m. that day. Anyone 17 years old and older is required to have a Texas fishing license, which is available at most sporting goods stores. After the Trick-A-Trout, people can fish at the pond until the trout are gone. Park hours are from dawn until dusk.

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Construction on the first Kroger Marketplace in Denton County has been underway for a few months now and residents can’t wait for the Grand Opening slated for September 2011.

The 123,000-square-foot Marketplace will offer features unique to a Kroger Signature store along with an expanded variety of grocery and deli products, gourmet and chef-prepared foods, wine shop, a large floral section and fuel center. Marketplace will have linens for the bathroom and other areas of the home, a kitchen place area with upscale kitchenware and place settings, and the latest toys. The Nature’s Market section will offer all-natural and organic products and the drive-thru pharmacy will provide consumers with $4 generic drugs. The Kroger Marketplace will also feature a Fred Meyer Jeweler store, as well as a large home-furnishing section with Ashley Brand furniture.

“The residential growth in Little Elm, and surrounding communities, makes Little Elm the ideal location for our first Kroger Marketplace in Denton County.” said Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger.

In addition to the Kroger Marketplace, Rosebriar plans to build up to 40,000 square feet of retail shop space. Rosebriar will also develop three outlots along FM 423 and two outlots along FM 720.

“The main corridors of FM 423 and FM 720 are under contract for extensive widening and reconstruction,” adds Ryan Stewart of Rosebriar. “This work should be completed at approximately the same time as the opening of the shopping center.”

At completion, the entire project is expected to generate approximately $65 million dollars in annual sales and create more than 650 new permanent jobs for Little Elm and the surrounding area.

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