Real Estate Information Archive

Tis the season when the agents of The Christie Cannon Team offers up our best nod to Clark W. Griswold with the best of Christmas & Holiday Lights in North TX.

While our father's may have "taught us everything we know about exterior illumination," we are not above some advice, so please help us make a great list with your comments & suggestions!

• Frisco Square - Drawing over 675,000 visitors seasonally, Frisco Square offers North TX largest choreographed light display!  Boasting snow machines, sled riding events, horse drawn carriage rides, light & music shows, outdoor ice skating & even a parachuting Santa - this place has it all!  Starts Nov 25th
• Highland Park & Highland Park Village - What can I say?  Gorgeous architecture complemented by professional Christmas lighting.  Spanning about 20 blocks, this is the perfect time to splurge on a horse drawn carriage ride.
• SMU's Annual Celebration of Lights -  Another long-time tradition & boasting over 100,000 lights. Starts Nov 28th
• Deerfield, Plano - Starting (officially) on December 1st, this quintessential Plano neighborhood is jammed packed with gorgeous home competing for the best, funniest, & most traditional displays.  Check out their website for best routes, carriage ride info, & even segway tours!
• Prairie Lights - Growing larger each year, this Grand Prairie display is located in Lynn Creek Park and has become a destination in its own right.  Offering a 2-mile path of lights, a laser light display, holiday village, & more.  Be sure to check out their website as there are costs for this one!
• Interlochen in Arlington - A North TX original, this community has been wowing light viewers for over 40-years!
• Tour of Lights in Farmers Branch - over 500,00 twinkle lights will delight.  This is any easy one for those who like to stay in the car.
• Vitruvian Lights in Addison - Located in Vitruvian park, this one excites with food trucks, FREE photos with Santa & Reindeer, Holiday Village, & Free Concerts in the park!
• Texas Motor Speedway - Supporting Toys for Tots, this huge display boasts a drive-thru display & Santa's Village.  Be sure to check out the website for pricing!
• ICE & the Gaylord Texan Resort - Ice skating, gingerbread house building, sled riding, Santa photos, Holiday village, light displays, 2+ million pounds of ice, what do they not have?
• The Pharrs in Farmers Branch - Located at 14535 Southern Pines Cove, this family has been celebrating Christmas in a big way & share their joy from their own front lawn!
• The Trains at North Park - OK - two warning are required, they are not technically lights... but I still feel nostalgia for making the trip to the city to watch the trains at Christmas.  The second warning, watch out for the shopping at this one!
• Dallas Children's Holiday Parade - Again, not technically lights, but come-on, its a parade - what Grinch doesn't like a parade?  This one has been going on since 1987 & frankly doesn't get its due!
• The Krampus Walk - Hey, it can't all be about the kiddo's.  This what happens when you have a much "hipper" brother & sister-in-law who are not in "the 'burbs" - you learn about the Krampus pub crawl... I mean "walk" through Deep Ellum.
• Christmas in the Stockyards in Fort Worth - Hey, its TX - we need a Christmas Cattle Drive to go along with our caroling & the Stockyards is the place to see it.  On December 12 the Snowball Express will be welcomed at the Stockyards with the Walk of Gratitude.  For those not in the know - the Snowball Express is a charity that supports & honors the children of men & women who have fallen in service to our great nation.

Have some ideas & comments that will help our list?  We would love to hear from you! 

Thank you & we wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday Season!

Christie Cannon  REALTOR

The Christie Cannon Team

Keller Williams Frisco TX

469.951.9588: Mobile

972.215.7747: Office

Voted as one of the BEST Realtors in D Magazine for 2010-2016

Voted as a Five Star Professional 2012-2016 Texas Monthly Magazine

Named among America's Best Real Estate Agents by Real Trends Magazine

Named among the Top 250 Real Estate Teams in the Nation, as seen The Wall Street Journal

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

Global Property Specialist - Marketing with a Gloabal Reach

#1 Keller Williams Agent 2011-2015

Top 50 Agents with KW Realty International

Frisco TX | Keller Williams Frisco TX | Christie Cannon | 469-951-9588

This past Monday, the Frisco ISD school board proposed the 2016-17 attendance zone changes. Earlier this year, the voters in Frisco ISD voted 58% against for a proposed 13-cent property tax increase.  As a result of the unexpected outcome, Frisco ISD proposed a reduced budget for 2017-18.  Included in this proposal was the delayed opening on multiple new schools.  As a result of these delays, the Frisco ISD proposed Monday a rezoning for a few hundred Frisco ISD students.

The families of students are expected to be contacted by Frisco ISD and will be given an opportunity to provide their input by December 12th.  The school board's final decision is expected to be reached at a final vote on Jan 17th. 

The latest information, FAQ's, & details on Frisco ISD's zoning can be found at www.friscoisd.org/departments/attendance-zones/rezoning

Relationships have formed the foundation for successful businesses for centuries, but how those relationships can benefit a business has evolved over time. Today, client relationships that result in referrals can fuel your growth and success both online and off.

Christie Cannon, a Keller Williams Luxury Homes International agent who specializes in Frisco and its surrounding communities north of Dallas, has put those referrals to work for her in a Texas-sized way.

“More than half of our business comes from referrals,” Cannon says. Through sourcing her business, Cannon finds that many new clients heard about her from a previous client.

Cannon’s results speak for themselves. Her team’s current closed sales for 2014 top $60 million with 20 current listings and 31 contracts in closing, not to mention plans for a 20 percent increase in production in 2015. Those plans undoubtedly will be aided by her strong referral program.

“Reaching out to current, past and future clients is so important because they all have a referral to give,” she says. “The most important part of building a referral-based business is building strong business relationships with your clients along the way.”

In order to build those relationships, Cannon and her team have created a solid referral protocol for each and every one of her customers and clients. “Every person in our database is on an action plan of some kind. Each action plan is set up to cater to the specific needs of each contact. The activities in our action plans will vary, but they all include offering something of value to each person. Our contacts are the heart of our company, and we treat them as such.”

When the team receives a referral, the client is sent a handwritten thank-you card as well as a small gift. That strategy has paid dividends dating back to Cannon’s very first client in 2003.

“Ironically enough, one of my very first transactions was a small $48,000 home, and to this date, that client has completed five other transactions with me and is still referring business to me,” she says. “I started getting my systems in place early on, and the systems are what helped me get organized and get in touch to grow and foster relationships with my clients. They have helped us maintain a consistent year-over-year growth pattern and get to where we are now.”

Now that Cannon and her team are part of KW Luxury Homes International, she has discovered that those referrals are even more valuable to her success.

Luxury home buyers and sellers are very seasoned,” Cannon says. “They rely heavily upon referrals. Keeping your name in front of the luxury market is important in maintaining a strong referral base.

While clients are the first ones that referral strategies are typically aimed at, Cannon also works hard to earn referrals from her local real estate colleagues and peers. To that end, she is committed to participating in networking events with other agents in and around her area. The best method she has found for earning those referrals is an unyielding dedication to professionalism.

“We have had agents – even within our own area – refer business to us,” she says. “It is such an honor to get a referral from another colleague. It’s important to maintain a professional relationship with not only your clients but also with your colleagues, as you may work with them multiple times over.”

For agents who are working to assemble a solid referral strategy, Cannon suggests keeping the client as your central focus and going back to basics to increase your referrals.

“A big mistake I see in a lot of agents is making this business all about them,” she says. “While we want to brand ourselves and relate to our clients, it’s not about you. This business is about catering to the needs of our clients and offering them a service and skill they can’t get anywhere else.”

With the client as your central focus, Cannon suggests going back to basics in order to up your referrals.

“The models and systems are there, so don’t skimp on your lead generation,” she says. “As part of your lead generation, you should be reaching out to your sphere and past clients every day. Put everyone you know into your CRM and get them set up on some type of action plan. Reach out to your contacts on a regular basis by sending handwritten notes, making phone calls and sending items of value to them. This is all part of an action plan.”

Cannon stresses that an action plan only works if you keep your clients’ needs in mind.

“If you’re sending something of value to your contacts, they have a reason to continue to receive information from you,” she says.

‘‘At the end of the day, Cannon credits the Keller Williams models and systems for her team’s impressive growth.

“It took me trying to invent my own models and systems several times over and failing before I realized how much Keller Williams Realty has to offer,” she says. “When I come across a topic I need another perspective on, I love that I can scan through interviews on Agent Mountain and find several interviews on that topic to help me. I love attending Family Reunion and Mega Camp. Both have helped me grow and improve year over year.”

To Contact Christie Cannon of Keller Williams Frisco TX, please call Christie Cannon at 469-951-9588 or email her at christie@christiecannon.com

Business Insider recently reported that the number of US foreclosure is at an all time low!

Combine this good news with the previous reporting that mortgage debt is actually decreasing.

CoreLogic released their most current Home Price Index last week. In the report, they revealed home appreciation in three categories: percentage appreciation over the last year, over the last month and projected over the next twelve months.

Here are state maps for each category: 

The Past – home appreciation over the last 12 months

The Present – home appreciation over the last month

The Future – home appreciation projected over the next 12 months

Homes across the country are appreciating at different rates. If you plan on relocating to another state and are waiting for your home to appreciate more, you need to know that the home you will buy in another state may be appreciating even faster.

Congratulations to The Christie Cannon Team of Keller Williams Frisco TX for being named by Real Estate Executive Magazine to the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Agents in North Texas!

Many experts have been calling upon home builders to ramp up construction to help with the lack of existing inventory for sale. For the past two months, new home sales have surged, with July’s total coming in at the highest since October 2007.

The latest estimates from the US Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development show that sales in July were31.3% higher than this time last year, and 12.4% higher than last month, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000. 

 Zillow’s Chief Economist, Svenja Gudell, echoed the reaction of some as she commented:

“July(‘s) new home sales data was a surprise, but a welcome one. For years, the market has been practically begging builders to both ramp up their efforts overall and to put more focus on serving the less expensive end of the market. Today's data confirms both are happening in earnest.”

 The National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) Chairman, Ed Brady, didn’t seem as surprised:

 “This rise in new home sales is consistent with our builders’ reports that market conditions have been improving. As existing home inventory remains flat, we should see more consumers turning to new construction.”

  NAHB’s Chief Economist, Robert Dietz, believes this is just the start for new home sales if market conditions continue:

  “July’s positive report shows there is a need for new single-family homes, buoyed by increased household formation, job gains and attractive mortgage rates. This uptick in demand should translate into increased housing production throughout 2016 and into next year.”

  The existing home sales numbers for July will be released today and will shed more light on the overall health of the housing market.

Bottom Line

New home sales hit their highest mark in over 9 years. Buyers are out in force to find a home that fits their needs. Many are turning to new construction, as the inventory of existing homes has not been able to keep up with demand.

The fast pace of North Dallas' Real Estate market often has people asking about where prices are headed v/s where prices have been.  

As we have previously reported, each quarter Freddie Mac releases their Home Price Index, tracking national & local statistics.  One of the most compelling illustrations of how high values have risen can be found in the above map, reflecting overall state values as a percentage of their increase over Pre-2008 Peak Values.  Texas' value, as a whole, ranks 3^rd behind North Dakota & Colorado for their percent over Peak Values.

Christie Cannon  REALTOR

The Christie Cannon Team

Keller Williams Realty Frisco 

469.951.9588: Mobile

972.215.7747: Office

www.christiecannon.com

Voted as one of the BEST Realtors in D Magazine for 2010-2016

Voted as a Five Star Professional 2012-2016 Texas Monthly Magazine

Name among America's Best Real Estate Agents by Real Trends Magazine

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

#1 Keller Williams Agent 2011-2015

Top 100 Agents in the Nation / KW

While many have reported the record gains that DFW has seen over the last 5-years have started to slow in their pace of increase, affordability continues to be a real problem for low-to-medium income households.  

Our record increases are easily reflected in the latest S&P/Case Shiller Index.  With local home prices up over 8.4%, Dallas' increase is almost twice that of the national average of 4.4%.  According to the Case Shiller Index, North Texas' record levels are almost 20% higher than our "peak" market in 2007!  While many of the economic fundamentals of the North Texas economy remain strong, many in our market are starting to grow weary of the increasing affordability gap. Despite Dallas being among the top three increases in the nation, many experts still consider the North Texas market a bargain compared to many other market areas around the nation. However, we are already starting to see signs of buyers (especially those that are long term residents) growing fatigued with rising sale prices compared to North Texas' more modest historic gains.

CHRISTIE CANNON  REALTOR

The Christie Cannon Team

Keller Williams Realty Frisco

469-951-9588: Mobile

Voted as one of the BEST Realtors in D Magazine for 2010-2016

Voted as a Five Star Professional 2012-2016 Texas Monthly Magazine

Name among America's Best Real Estate Agents by Real Trends Magazine

Among the top 250 Real Estate Teams in America as seen in The Wall Street Journal

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

Gobal Property Specialist

#1 Keller Williams Agent 2011-2015

Top 100 Agents in the Nation / KW

Texas holds 5 of the top 15 fastest growing cities (for towns with populations in excess of 50,000). 

Frisco continues to top the charts with 6.3 percent growth in 2015.  This continued growth places Frisco as the 4th fastest growing city in the US (by percent growth). Here in Texas, we find a new trend in the fastest growing cities, as we continue to see outward pressure from city centers drive suburban economic growth. Other "Burbs" to make the chart here in TX include (in order of ranking): Georgetown, New Braunfels, Pearland, & Frisco.  College Station was the only non-traditional suburb to make the list!

Christie Cannon  REALTOR

The Christie Cannon Team

Keller Williams Realty Frisco 

469.951.9588: Mobile

972.215.7747: Office

www.christiecannon.com

Voted as one of the BEST Realtors in D Magazine for 2010-2016

Voted as a Five Star Professional 2012-2016 Texas Monthly Magazine

Name among America's Best Real Estate Agents by Real Trends Magazine

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

#1 Keller Williams Agent 2011-2015

Top 100 Agents in the Nation / KW