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DFW Has Half of the Top 10 BEST U.S. Home Markets

by Christie Cannon

D-FW has half of the top 10 best U.S. home markets, including Frisco, Denton and McKinney

Frisco, Denton, McKinney, Carrollton and Allen were ranked among the best U.S. real estate markets by WalletHub.

That's what researchers who prepared the 2019 Best Real Estate Markets report for personal finance website WalletHub found when they did their  annual survey.

Frisco, Denton, McKinney, Carrollton and Allen were all in the top 10 ranking for the nation's hottest home markets.

The scorecard ranked cities across the U.S. for everything from median home price appreciation to home sales turnover rate to job growth.

Frisco ranked second just behind Boise, Idaho, according to the recently released report.

 

Denton came in at fifth place, and McKinney and Carrollton were number six and seven on the list.

Allen was number nine.

Diving deeper into the data, Austin (No. 12) and Fort Worth (No. 13) were in the top 20.

Dallas came in at 112 — not exactly bragging rights.

"For this report, we compared 300 cities of different sizes," WalletHub's Diana Polk said in an email. "We selected the cities based on availability of data, and it makes sense that bigger states, as is Texas, would have more cities present in our ranking."

Other high-rated home markets this year were Overland Park, Kan.; Cary, N.C.; and Fort Wayne, Ind.

Newark, N.J.,and Detroit were rated the worst.

SOURCE: WalletHub

Article Provided By: Dallas Morning News

How Property Taxes Can Impact Your Mortgage Payment

by Christie Cannon

How Property Taxes Can Impact Your Mortgage Payment

How Property Taxes Can Impact Your Mortgage Payment | MyKCM
 

When buying a home, taxes are one of the expenses that can make a significant difference in your monthly payment. Do you know how much you might pay for property taxes in your state or local area?

When applying for a mortgage, you’ll see one of two acronyms in your paperwork – P&I or PITI – depending on how you’re including your taxes in your mortgage payment.

P&I stands for Principal and Interest, and both are parts of your monthly mortgage payment that go toward paying off the loan you borrow. PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance, and they’re all important factors to calculate when you want to determine exactly what the cost of your new home will be.

TaxRates.org defines property taxes as,

“A municipal tax levied by counties, cities, or special tax districts on most types of real estate - including homes, businesses, and parcels of land. The amount of property tax owed depends on the appraised fair market value of the property, as determined by the property tax assessor.”

This organization also provides a map showing annual property taxes by state (including the District of Columbia), from lowest to highest, as a percentage of median home value.How Property Taxes Can Impact Your Mortgage Payment | MyKCMThe top 5 states with the highest median property taxes are New Jersey, New Hampshire, Texas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The states with the lowest median property taxes are Louisiana, Hawaii, Alabama, and Delaware, followed by the District of Columbia.

Bottom Line

Depending on where you live, property taxes can have a big impact on your monthly payment. To make sure your estimated taxes will fall within your desired budget, let’s get together today to determine how the neighborhood or area you choose can make a difference in your overall costs when buying a home.

Homeownership Will ALWAYS Be The American Dream

by Christie Cannon

Homeownership Will Always Be a Part of the American Dream

Homeownership Will Always Be a Part of the American Dream | MyKCM
 

On Labor Day we celebrate the hard work that helps us achieve the American Dream.

Growing up, many of us thought about our future lives with great ambition. We drew pictures of what jobs we wanted to have and where we would live as a representation of a secure life for ourselves and our families. Today we celebrate the workers that make this country a place where those dreams can become a reality.

According to Wikipedia,

Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the development, growth, endurance, strength, security, prosperity, productivity, laws, sustainability, persistence, structure, and well-being of the country.”

The hard work that happens every day across this country allows so many to achieve the American Dream. The 2019 Aspiring Home Buyers Profile by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says,

“Approximately 75% of non-homeowners believe homeownership is part of their American Dream, while 9 in 10 current homeowners said the same.”

Looking at the number of non-owners, you may wonder, ‘If they believe in homeownership, why haven’t they bought a home yet?’. Well, increasing home prices and low inventory can be part of the reason why some haven’t jumped in, but that does not mean there is a lack of interest. The same report shows the increase in the desire to buy in the last year (as shown in the graph below):Homeownership Will Always Be a Part of the American Dream | MyKCMAs we can see, there are more and more people each quarter who want to buy a home. The good news is, as more inventory comes to the market, more non-homeowners will be able to fulfill their dreams. Finally, they’ll be able to move into that home they drew when they were little kids!

Bottom Line

If you’re a homeowner considering selling, this fall might be the right time, as there are buyers in the market ready to buy. Let’s get together to determine how you can benefit from the pent-up housing demand.

5 Reasons To Sell This Fall

by Christie Cannon

5 Reasons to Sell This Fall

5 Reasons to Sell This Fall | MyKCM
 

Below are 5 compelling reasons listing your home for sale this fall makes sense.

1. Demand Is Strong

The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing, and able to purchase…and are in the market right now. More often than not, in many areas of the country, multiple buyers are competing with each other to buy the same home.

Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.

2. There Is Less Competition Now

Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal market. This means that in the majority of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers.

Historically, a homeowner would stay an average of six years in his or her home. Since 2011, that number has hovered between nine and ten years. There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years due to a negative equity situation. As home values continue to appreciate, more and more homeowners will be given the freedom to move.

Many homeowners were reluctant to list their homes over the last couple years, for fear that they would not find a home to move to. That is all changing now as more homes come to market at the higher end. The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until additional inventory comes to market before you decide to sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

Today’s competitive environment has forced buyers to do all they can to stand out from the crowd, including getting pre-approved for their mortgage financing. This makes the entire selling process much faster and simpler, as buyers know exactly what they can afford before shopping for a home. According to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insights Report, the time needed to close a loan is 43 days.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move Up

If your next move will be into a premium or luxury home, now is the time to move up. There is currently ample inventory for sale at higher price ranges. This means if you're planning on selling a starter or trade-up home and moving into your dream home, you’ll be able to do that in the luxury or premium market.

According to CoreLogic, prices are projected to appreciate by 5.2% over the next year. If you’re moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage) if you wait.

5. It’s Time to Move on with Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?

Only you know the answers to these questions. You have the power to take control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.

A Recession Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis

by Christie Cannon

 

A Recession Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM
 

Some Highlights:

  • There is plenty of talk in the media about a pending economic slowdown.
  • The good news is, home values actually increased in 3 of the last 5 U.S. recessions, and decreased by less than 2% in the 4th.
  • Many experts predict a potential recession is on the horizon. However, housing will not be the trigger, and home values will still continue to appreciate. It will not be a repeat of the crash in the 2008 housing market.

Moving with Kids...

by Christie Cannon

Top Priorities When Moving with Kids

Top Priorities When Moving with Kids | MyKCM
 

According to the Pew Research Center, around 37% of U.S students will be going back to school soon and the rest have already started the new academic year. With school-aged children in your home, buying or selling a house can take on a whole different approach when it comes to finding the right size, location, school district, and more.

Recently, the 2019 Moving with Kids Report from the National Association of Realtors®(NAR) studied “the different purchasing habits as well as seller preferences during the home buying and selling process.” This is what they found:

When Purchasing a Home

The major difference between the homebuyers who have children and those who do not is the importance of the neighborhood. In fact, 53% said the quality of the school district is an important factor when purchasing a home, and 50% select neighborhoods by the convenience to the schools.

Buyers with children also purchase larger, detached single-family homes with 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms at approximately 2,110 square feet.

Furthermore, 26% noted how childcare expenses delayed the home-buying process and forced additional compromises: 31% in the size of the home, 24% in the price, and 18% in the distance from work.

When Selling a Home

Of those polled, 23% of buyers with children sold their home "very urgently," and 46% indicated "somewhat urgently, within a reasonable time frame." Selling with urgency can pressure sellers to accept offers that are not in their favor. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR explains,

“When buying or selling a home, exercising patience is beneficial, but in some cases – such as facing an upcoming school year or the outgrowing of a home – sellers find themselves rushed and forced to accept a less than ideal offer.”

For sellers with children, 21% want a real estate professional to help them sell the home within a specific time frame, 20% at a competitive price, and 19% to market their home to potential buyers.

Bottom Line

Buying or selling a home can be driven by different priorities when you are also raising a family. If you’re a seller with children and looking to relocate, let’s get together to navigate the process in the most reasonable time frame for you and your family.

A Latte A Day...

by Christie Cannon

 

A Latte a Day Keeps Homeownership Away [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM
 

Some Highlights:

  • The pumpkin spice latte is launching soon, so you may be tempted to spend your extra cash on a daily caffeine fix, but that small expense can add up to a big number – fast!
  • Saving for a down payment takes a little discipline, so limiting your extra purchases (like a latte a day from your favorite coffee shop) will help you get there faster.
  • Depending on where you live, putting away just a small amount each day will get you to the average down payment you may need for homeownership faster than you think.

Increase Your Family's Net Worth

by Christie Cannon

A Great Way to Increase Your Family’s Net Worth

A Great Way to Increase Your Family’s Net Worth | MyKCM
 

Every three years, the Federal Reserve conducts its Survey of Consumer Finances. Data is collected across all economic and social groups. The latest survey data covers 2013-2016.

The study revealed that the median net worth of a homeowner is $231,400 – a 15% increase since 2013. At the same time, the median net worth of renters decreased by 5% ($5,200 today compared to $5,500 in 2013).

These numbers reveal that the net worth of a homeowner is over 44 times greater than that of a renter.

Owning a home is a great way to build family wealth.

As we’ve said before, simply put, homeownership is a form of ‘forced savings.’ Every time you pay your mortgage, you are contributing to your net worth by increasing the equity in your home.

That is why Gallup reported Americans picked real estate as the best long-term investment for the sixth year in a row. According to this year’s results, 35% of Americans chose real estate. Stocks followed at 27%, then savings accounts and gold.

Bottom Line

If you want to find out how you can use your monthly housing cost to increase your family’s wealth, let’s get together to help you through the process.

Developer of Frisco's $2 billion Wade Park is Out of the Deal!

by Christie Cannon

 

 

A New York-based lender that took control of one of Frisco's highest-profile properties says it's slowly moving forward with plans for the huge project.

But original owner Thomas Land & Development won't be part of the Wade Park development, according to officials with Gamma Real Estate, which loaned $150 million on the Wade Park site.

"After he was in default on the loan from Gamma Real Estate for more than a year, Stan Thomas' entity conveyed the property by deed in lieu of foreclosure," said Gamma Real Estate president Jonathan Kalikow. "Stan Thomas has no remaining interest in Wade Park."

Kalikow said his firm has been working to revive the 175-acre development on the Dallas North Tollway.

It's been more than two years since work halted on the $2 billion project that was planned to include high-rise offices, hotels, apartments and retail space.

Ground was broken for high-rise mixed-use development in 2014, with the first phase of construction scheduled to open in 2016. But the project ran into delays and finally ground to a halt.

Since 2017, the prominent Frisco property has sat with a big hole in the ground and a few half-finished buildings. In February, ownership of the property changed to a new partnership.

But Atlanta-based developer Thomas said he's continued to work on resurrecting the deal.

"We are real, real close," Thomas said this week. "Hopefully I can tell you something in the next week or two."

Kalikow said the Wade Park development will no longer include Thomas Land & Development.

"We are in the process of determining the best path forward," Kalikow said. "It is not a path that includes Stan Thomas. We have been in communication with Frisco. Things are in progress."

Real estate brokers and developers say that representatives have quietly shopped the Wade Park property around to see if another builder or investor would like a crack at the deal.

Wade Park was once the biggest part of Frisco's highly touted $5 billion mile.

While other major developments nearby — including the Dallas Cowboys' Star complex, Frisco Station and The Gate — have moved ahead with construction, Wade Park has been stalled.

Kalikow said Gamma Real Estate is still committed to the project, which is considered one of Frisco's most prime properties.

"Absolutely," he said. "We want to have all our ducks in a row."

Frisco officials say they are talking with the firm.

"We're very encouraged to learn Wade Park has a new property owner," Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said in a statement. "During the first week in August, city staff met face-to-face with Gamma Real Estate executives, who are representatives of the new owner, stating they're committed to cleaning up the property and ensuring the site is secure. 

"The Gamma team also tells us they're working with potential developers," Cheney said. "This property is in a prime location and we're hopeful Gamma Real Estate will be successful in securing a new developer who will transform the area to its fullest potential."

 

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY: THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Buying A Home: Do You Know The Lingo?

by Christie Cannon

 

Buying a Home? Do You Know the Lingo? [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM
 

Some Highlights:

  • Buying a home can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the terms used throughout the process.
  • To point you in the right direction, here’s a list of some of the most common language you’ll hear when buying a home.
  • The best way to ensure your home-buying process is a positive one is to find a real estate professional who will guide you through every aspect of the transaction with ‘the heart of a teacher.’

Displaying blog entries 311-320 of 706

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Christie Cannon
Keller Williams Realty
5933 Preston Road #300
Frisco TX 75034
972-215-7747
Fax: 972-215-7748
Keller Williams Frisco - The Christie Cannon Team - http://www.christiecannon.com