Just Listed: Spacious Frisco Home with Exceptional Attention to Detail

Today s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to a beautiful, just-listed custom home in Frisco.

The six-bedroom, six-bath residence at 11447 Altamont Drive offers extensive amenities, including handscraped hardwoods, a media room, a library/study, a game room and an exercise room.

The home s entry, featuring a striking dual staircase, leads to a spacious, two-story family room that is open to the island kitchen with granite countertops, detailed cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances.

The master suite has a wall of windows, a raised ceiling, a see-through fireplace and a well-appointed master bath. The landscaped backyard features a covered outdoor entertaining area, a large custom pool, a spa and a fire pit.

You re invited to see more of this exceptional buying opportunity in Frisco now at 11447Altamont.ebby.com.

To see all the other homes that came onto the market this week (even if they aren t listed by Ebby Halliday), click here. To start a home search of your own, visit the Web site voted one of the industry s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.

November Existing-Home Sales, Prices Maintain Uptrend

Existing-home sales continued to improve in November with low inventory supply pressuring home prices, according to a report released today by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Total existing home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, rose 5.9 percent from October to 5.04 million closed sales in November. That s 14.5 percent higher than November 2011. Sales are at the highest level since November 2009.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is healthy market demand. “Momentum continues to build in the housing market from growing jobs and a bursting out of household formation,” Yun says. “With lower rental vacancy rates and rising rents, combined with still historically favorable affordability conditions, more people are buying homes.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $180,600 in November, up 10.1 percent from November 2011. This is the ninth-consecutive monthly year-over-year price gain, which last occurred from September 2005 to May 2006.

Total housing inventory at the end of November fell 3.8 percent to 2.03 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.8-month supply at the current sales pace; it was 5.3 months in October, and is the lowest housing supply since September of 2005 when it was 4.6 months.

Listed inventory is 22.5 percent below a year ago when there was a 7.1-month supply. Unsold inventory is now at the lowest level since December 2001, when there were 1.89 million homes on the market.

The median time on market for all homes was 70 days in November, 28.6 percent below 98 days in November 2011. Thirty-two percent of homes sold in November were on the market for less than a month.

With housing inventories at an historic low, now truly is an ideal time to list your home for sale. To get started today, visit the Web site voted one of the industry s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.

To read the full release from the National Association of REALTORS®, click here.

Ebby Halliday Realtors Welcomes Bettie Abio to its Preston Center Office

Shown, from left, are Ebby Halliday Realtors Vice President, Designated Broker and Director of Sales Offices Betty Misko; President and CEO Mary Frances Burleson; Preston Center Associate Bettie Abio; and Preston Center Office Manager Ginger Gill.

Ebby Halliday Realtors is proud to welcome Bettie Abio to the company s Preston Center Office. Ms. Abio, an accomplished and respected veteran of the North Texas real estate industry, joins the office at 8333 Douglas Ave., Suite 100, as a sales associate.

Bettie brings a depth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our Preston Center Office, says Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer of the Ebby Halliday Companies. She is one of the most-accomplished professionals in the North Texas real estate industry and we are delighted to welcome her to the Ebby Halliday Family of Companies.

A longtime Dallasite, Abio is an exceptionally experienced residential real estate professional with an extensive business background. She has been a well-known broker and owner of boutique residential real estate firms in the Dallas market since the 1970s.

It s a great privilege to join Ebby Halliday, a firm I have long respected, Abio says. This is a company that enjoys a well-deserved wonderful reputation. For me, it s all about the people. Ebby is a team of professional people who have a heart for service and a great vision for the future.

Ginger Gill, sales manager of the Preston Center Office, says she and the Preston Center team are very excited to welcome Ms. Abio to Ebby Halliday Realtors. Bettie could have chosen to work anywhere. We are thrilled that she chose Ebby. Her background and experience will be exceptional assets to the clients and Associates of the Preston Center Office.

To contact Ms. Abio, call 214-868-8277 or e-mail bettieabio@ebby.com

For more on the Ebby Preston Center Office, its Associates and listings, visit prestoncenter.ebby.com. To find other properties for sale across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, visit the Web site voted one of the industry s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.

Comprehensive Education and Training is the Ebby Halliday Way

Shown, from left, Kent Newsom of Newsom Terry & Newsom; City of Dallas Senior Public Information Representative Chalisa Warren; City of Dallas Fair Housing Compliance Manager Calvin McAllister; and City of Dallas Fair Housing Conciliator Barksdale Haggins.

This past week 80 Ebby Halliday sales associates and corporate relocation staff members attended a continuing-education class on Fair Housing. The class featured a panel of senior members of the City of Dallas Fair Housing office, including Fair Housing Compliance Manager Calvin McAllister, Senior Public Information Representative Chalisa Warren and Conciliator Barksdale Haggins.

This two-hour class is part of our ongoing efforts to educate Ebby associates and staff members on the importance of Fair Housing, says Debbie Watson, director of Professional Development and Education for Ebby Halliday. We are working together with Fair Housing officials to ensure that everyone is treated equally and that each person can own the home of his or her choice.

The class began with a case study presented by attorney Kent Newsom of Newsom Terry & Newsom that encouraged members to consider how they would handle real-world situations involving Fair Housing issues. Throughout the class the panel addressed such questions as, What are the typical claims involving real estate agents? and What resources are available at the city for agents to discuss potential problems in advance?

This class was very well received, and we plan to continue to raise the awareness of the importance of Fair Housing, Watson says. Treating people equally by respecting their cultural differences is more important than ever as North Texas becomes increasingly diverse. At the Ebby Halliday Companies we are pleased to be a leader in this effort.

The Fair Housing class is just one of the many specialized training opportunities available to members of the Ebby Halliday Companies. Ebby agents are required to annually exceed the state s minimum continuing-education requirements by six hours an education requirement unique to the company.

Adds Watson, In this ever-changing business, an agent who stays on the cutting edge through effective continuing education is vitally important to his or her client, and ultimately to a successful home sale.

The Ebby Career Development Department continues to be a true differentiator for our associates and clients. If you are interested in a career with North Texas best-educated sales force, visit ebby.com to learn more today.

Just Listed: Exceptionally Updated Mid-Century Near White Rock Lake

Today s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to an exceptionally updated Mid-Century home near White Rock Lake. Redesigned with an open concept, 1634 McCosh is a property you ve got to see to believe. And lucky for you, this residence, renovated in 2012, is open touring this Sunday, December 16, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Stop by Sunday and discover why this beautiful just-listed property won t be on the open market for long. In addition to great drive-up appeal and many well-thought-out renovations, this residence features a knock-out kitchen with custom-designed cabinetry, under-counter lighting, granite countertops, glass mosaic backsplash, stainless-steel appliances, a five-burner gas range and oven, a microwave, a built-in two-door refrigerator and wine racks.

Drop by 1634 McCosh this Sunday, December 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. You ll be glad you did!

To see more now (and you really should), visit the property website.

To see all of the other homes that came onto the market this week (even if they aren t listed by Ebby Halliday), click here. To start a home search of your own, visit ebby.com.

North Texas Luxury Housing Market Attracts Buyers From Near and Far

Maybe you ve noticed that some Ebby Halliday Realtors yard signs bear the name Luxury Portfolio International in addition to the elegantly scripted Ebby Halliday. You may have even wondered to yourself, Just what is Luxury Portfolio International?

We re glad you asked. Ebby Halliday Realtors and its sales associates possess a unique understanding of the global real estate market. This understanding is a result of the locally-owned firm s affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a network of premier real estate brokers in 30 countries, and its luxury division, Luxury Portfolio Internationalâ„¢.

When marketing a luxury home, Ebby Halliday Realtors taps the network of Luxury Portfolio International members and utilizes its website, LuxuryPortfolio.com, to expose listings to buyers across the globe. In North Texas, luxury is defined as a home priced at $750,000 and above.

According to Mary Frances Burleson, president and CEO of Ebby Halliday Realtors, the reason to list with a luxury organization is often two-fold: exposure to more buyers within a broker network and more exposure for a home through targeted marketing efforts.

LeadingRE is responsible for more broker-to-broker referrals than any other group, Burleson says. And, Luxury Portfolio generates extensive exposure for your home through its award-winning internationally focused website and an unprecedented global print advertising program. Simply put, by listing with Ebby Halliday Realtors you significantly increase the chances of attracting a qualified buyer to your luxury home.

By showcasing high-end listings on LuxuryPortfolio.com, Ebby Halliday Realtors leverages the strength of a website that consistently ranks at the top of Google search results and has more $1 million-plus properties than any other luxury real estate network, Burleson says. Ebby Halliday clients also benefit from LuxeAnalytics, an exclusive reporting system that allows sellers to see how much traffic their listing is receiving and the origin of that traffic.

Finding your home is a personal process of discovery, and Ebby Halliday Realtors and the accomplished global network of Luxury Portfolio brokers is ready to assist in the journey, Burleson says. I encourage you to explore luxury properties from around the world at LuxuryPortfolio.com.

Learn more about Ebby Halliday Realtors, our Associates and all our listings at the Web site voted one of the industry s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.

Calling All Elves on Shelves!

Children across North Texas are on their best behavior this month and it s not because of Jolly Ole Saint Nick. Nope, it s his right-hand man (or men), the Elf on the Shelf who has been making sure kids stay on the nice list this Christmas. In case you aren t familiar, the Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition where a resident elf sits on the shelf of homes carefully observing children s behavior. At night, when the children are sleeping, the elf flies back to the North Pole to report back to Santa. So, each morning the elf is in a new place, on a new shelf and sometimes performing a new (and sometimes mischievous) activity.

The challenge for the elf? Finding a new (and creative) position every morning through Christmas. That’s why we’ve created an Elf on the Shelf photo album on the Ebby Facebook page – it’s fun to flip through, but it’s also good inspiration for other elves in the area who need some ideas on how best to entertain their adopted families for the holiday season. So whether you want to brag about your elf’s great ideas, or maybe just get some inspiration from other elves in the Metroplex, our Elf on the Shelf Album is a great Christmas resource.

So, we want to know, what has your elf been up to? Send your best and most creative elf on the shelf pictures to blognews@ebby.com to be included in our Elf on the Shelf Facebook album.

To see the album, click here. And be sure to look for Chippey the Elf in his starring role in the The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story movie, which airs this Friday, December 14 at 8:30pm central on CBS. Learn more here.

Happy Hill Farm Choir Visits Ebby Corporate, Spreads Holiday Cheer

The Ebby Halliday Corporate Office hosted the Happy Hill Farm Choir yesterday. Each year about this time, Happy Hill Farm Founder Ed Shipman and the choir make their rounds to spread holiday cheer to corporate supporters of the farm. At Ebby Corporate, the choir masterfully sang holiday music, including traditional Christmas music, madrigals, spirituals, jazz and contemporary songs. This exceptionally talented group of young singers even led members of the audience in a sing-along.

Happy Hill Farm is a 500-acre farm that is home to North Central Texas Academy, an independent, accredited, coeducational, interdenominational college-preparatory, day, boarding and international school near Granbury. Boys and girls ages 5 to 18 live, work and study at Happy Hill Farm, which accepts no federal or state funding, nor United Way money.

For many years Happy Hill Farm Academy has been near and dear to the Ebby Halliday Companies. The Ebby Halliday Library is located at Happy Hill s beautiful new academic complex.

To learn more about Happy Hill Farm, click here.

To donate to support this very special place, click here.

November Home Sales Increase 60% at Ebby Halliday Companies

The following was sent to all members of the Ebby Halliday Family of Companies by President & CEO Mary Frances Burleson. This is such great news for our local real estate market, we wanted to share it with all of you, too!

Home sales at the Ebby Halliday Companies increased 60% in November over the same period in 2011, and set an all-time record for the month of November. This astounding performance reflects the hard work and exceptional professionalism of more than 1,400 Ebby Companies’ Associates.

Ebby Halliday Companies’ Associates customarily outperform the local market, but sales in November were truly exceptional

All of us at Ebby Halliday Real Estate, Inc. – both management and staff – are very pleased to recognize your success and congratulate you on your valuable contribution to the company’s performance.

Many, many thanks to each of you for all that you do!

Mary Frances

Just Listed: New England Style in Beautiful Jan Mar

Today s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to a rare treat: an unbelievably charming New England-style home tucked away in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Dallas. Situated on a large lot with many mature trees, the five-bedroom, 4 ½-bath residence at 7202 N. Janmar Drive in the Jan Mar neighborhood is ideal for everyday living and for entertaining on any scale.

This unique home s floor plan is centered around a spacious gourmet kitchen with a beamed and vaulted ceiling. A private bedroom and a game room are on the lowest level, while four additional bedrooms are on the upper level.

Just a few of this rare property s amenities include a two-story living room with hardwoods, a stone fireplace and walls of windows; a study; and an outdoor entertaining area with a beautiful pool and a fireplace.

This is a property you ve truly got to see to believe. See more now at 7202Janmar.ebby.com.

To see all the other homes that came on the market this week (even if they aren t listed by Ebby Halliday), click here. To start a home search of your own, visit the Web site voted one of the industry s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.