March 2016 – Ebby Halliday – Ebby Halliday Blog

March 31, 2016

Spring Home Tours Arrive in D-FW

Spring has arrived and so have D-FW home tours.

From modern to historic, get the chance to view some of the most significant homes in the North Texas region, along with celebrating their vibrant neighborhoods and rich history.

April 3

Cochran Heights Home Tour
2 to 4 p.m.
Advance: $15; Door: $20

April 9

Fort Worth AIA Homes Tour
10 a.m. to 5 p.m (April 9 and 10)
Advance: $20; Door: $25

Park Cities Preservation and Historic Society Home Tour
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Advance: $20 (available at Park Cities Tom Thumb locations or online); Door: $25

April 10

Turtle Creek Tour of Homes
1 to 5 p.m.
Members: $50; Non-Members: $60

April 23

White Rock Home Tour
Noon to 5 p.m. (April 23 and 24)
Advance: $15; Door: $20

April 30

Hollywood Heights Home Tour
Noon to 5 p.m. (April 30 and May 1)
Advance: $15 (available at Curiosities); Door: $20

May 7 – 8

Fairmount National Historic District Annual Tour of Homes
Noon to 6 p.m. (Sat. and Sun.)
Advance: $15; Door: $20

Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Sat.); Noon to 6 p.m. (Sun.)
Advance: $20; Door: $25

Photos courtesy of AIA Fort Worth and Metroplex HD Photography

March 30, 2016

Local Experts With Global Reach

Ebby Halliday Realtors and its sales associates possess a unique understanding of the global real estate market. This understanding is a result of our affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a network of premier real estate brokers in nearly 50 countries, and its luxury division, Luxury Portfolio International.

When marketing a luxury home such as the commanding Mediterranean estate at 5830 Falls Road in Preston Hollow, Ebby agents tap the network of Luxury Portfolio International members and utilize its website, LuxuryPortfolio.com, to expose listings to buyers across the globe.

By showcasing luxury listings on LuxuryPortfolio.com, Ebby agents leverage 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.

The beautiful estate home at 5830 Falls Road is one of many Ebby listings that receive extensive marketing exposure through Luxury Portfolio International. This extraordinary property, offered for $5,250,000, is listed with Patricia Stampley. Let’s take a closer look.

For more information on 5830 Falls Road, contact Patricia Stampley at 972-741-0770 or stampley@ont.com. To see more extraordinary homes across Dallas-Fort Worth and across the world, visit LuxuryPortolio.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: SHOOT 2 SELL

March 25, 2016

Fresh Listing Friday: Pristine in McKinney

Happy Friday! This week’s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to The Bluffs of Winding Creek – an exclusive custom home neighborhood in the heart of McKinney. Situated on a quarter-acre lot, the home at 3500 Cedar Bluff Drive offers tasteful design and maximum comfort.

Need-to-know details:

• Traditional custom home, offered for $675,000
• 4,376 square feet: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 1 half-bath
• Open floor plan, limestone-tile flooring, stainless-steel appliances
• Game and media rooms, pool, spa, outdoor seating area

Front Exterior

Entryway

Formal Dining Area

Living Area

Kitchen

Dining Area

Master Suite

Media Room

To view this listing, contact Sylvia J. Smith at 972-980-680 or sylviasmith@ebby.com.

March 24, 2016

Dallas Serves Up Top-Notch Easter Meals

If you’re looking for the perfect place to indulge this coming Easter Sunday, Dallas is offering some delicious options. After (or before) your egg hunt, treat yourself to one of these Easter-centric meals:

Bugatti Ristorante
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What to Expect: Crab cakes, ravioli, shrimp scampi, grilled salmon, tilapia, lasagna

The Crescent Club (inside the Rosewood Crescent)
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
What to Expect: A buffet featuring breakfast items, soups and salads, seafood, carved meats, pastas, sides and desserts
Bonus: The Rosewood Crescent will entertain children with a visit from the Easter Bunny and egg hunts – parents may skip the bunny festivities and indulge in the Bloody Mary, Bellini and mimosa bar instead

Dakota’s Steakhouse
Brunch: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What to Expect: Eggs Benedict, bananas Foster French toast, grilled chicken club, seared salmon, steak and eggs

La Duni
Brunch: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (McKinney Ave.); 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (NorthPark Center)
What to Expect: Chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, butter brioche French toast, torta Cubana

Lavendou Bistro Provencal

Brunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What to Expect: Poached eggs on an English muffin with crab, salmon fillet with Champagne cream sauce, grilled lamb chops, traditional beef stroganoff

Nick and Sam’s
Brunch: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What to Expect: chilled seafood, beef short ribs, maple-orange glazed ham, salt-crusted prime rib
Bonus: Photos with the Easter Bunny will be available, along with an egg hunt and more

Resto Gastro Bistro
Brunch: 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
What to Expect: Créme brǔlée French toast, short rib omelet, chicken and waffles, soft-shell crab sandwich, BLTE burger

Kristin Smith a Finalist in 30 Under 30 Contest

Tomorrow, March 25, at noon is the final opportunity to vote for Kristin Smith of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate in Realtor Magazine’s 30 Under 30 contest.

Real estate is in Kristin Smith’s blood. Not only is she a third-generation Realtor, she owes her very life to the business. Her parents, Brian Smith and Leslie Rouda Smith, met while attending Ebby School.

Kristin enthusiastically continues the family tradition. She is active in a number of industry organizations, such as the MetroTex Association of Realtors, the Collin County Association of Realtors, and the North Texas Young Professionals Network. Kristin also isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty as a real estate investor, rehabbing properties herself before putting them back on the market.

To cast your vote now for Kristin Smith, click here.

March 23, 2016

Martin Short, Ebby Support LaunchAbility

We’re proud to be a sponsor of A Special Evening with Martin Short benefitting LaunchAbility on April 5 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The Tony award-winning actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer is best known for his often hilarious work on the television shows “SCTV” and “Saturday “Saturday Night Live.”

For over 50 years, LaunchAbility has been changing the opportunity landscape for people with disabilities and their families. Its services range from career development/coaching, resume/interview preparation, job identification and on-the-job coaching for clients as well as disability etiquette training and consulting for employers.

For tickets to A Special Evening with Martin Short at the Meyerson and to learn more, visit launchability.org.

March 22, 2016

Spring 2016: The Time to Sell a Home in D-FW

With rising sales prices and not enough homes for sale to meet demand, the spring of 2016 offers the ideal conditions to sell a home in North Texas. Competition among buyers is heated and multiple offers are common in many neighborhoods.

How hot is the Dallas-Fort Worth market? Consider this market snapshot of February 2016 vs. February 2015:

* The number of homes for sale was down 6.8%;

* Days on market were down 10.5% to 51 days on average;

* Closed sales were up 13.3%;

* Finally, the median sales price was up 9.7%.

In other words, now is not just a good time, it’s a great time to list your North Texas home for sale. It is true: Selling a home can be complicated. Fortunately, there’s an Ebby Halliday Realtor to help lead you through the process. Visit Ebby.com to find your Realtor today.

March 21, 2016

Welcome Spring!

After this past weekend’s cooler-than-normal temperatures, it’s welcome news that by this time tomorrow we’ll be enjoying temps in the mid-70s in North Texas.

And, you can bet that with our spring weather potential buyers will increasingly be out and about discovering homes for sale across the region. Not surprisingly, those with the best “curb appeal” are often the first to sell.

Buyers often pass quick judgment on a property based on its drive-up appeal. A small investment in time and money to spruce up your property’s appearance could mean fewer days on the market and a higher sales price.

Below are a few areas in particular on which you should focus:

* For a burst of color, plant spring flowers.

* Tidy up your gardens.

* Remove glass from light fixtures around your home’s front door and clean thoroughly.

* Wash down your front door. If the sun has faded the paint, consider repainting.

* Clean and polish your front door’s hardware. Replace it if necessary.

* Check your house numbers. Are they still in good shape and visible from the street? If not, replace them.

* Wash the windows. If this isn’t your strong suit, hire a professional.

* Check your roof to make sure no shingles are missing or are damaged.

* Remove debris from your gutters and drain spouts.

* Clean your patio furniture. You want potential buyers to be able to visualize your outdoor living area’s potential.

If you’re considering listing your home, contact an Ebby Associate to learn more about how to prepare it to sell in today’s ultra-competitive market and how Ebby Halliday Realtors will market your home, both locally and globally, to produce the most-favorable results for you. To get started, visit the award-winning ebby.com.

March 18, 2016

Buying a Home Is Complicated

Setting a budget, sticking to it; making an offer, financing a property once the offer is accepted; seemingly endless paperwork … let’s face it, buying a home is often a daunting process that can strip the anticipated fun and excitement away completely.

Fortunately, there’s an Ebby Halliday Realtor to guide you through the process. We’ve been helping people through the process for more than 70 years.

“It’s fun to look at all that’s changed since 1945, but what hasn’t changed is our sales associates and employees tirelessly building our brand on trust, coming through when clients need us most,” says Mary Frances Burleson, president & CEO. She adds that the goal for the company and its sales associates remains simple: to transform and elevate the home buying and selling process into the wonderful life-changing experience it can be.

“We hold homebuyers’ hands through it all, from start to finish, making it an easy, comfortable and enjoyable experience,” Burleson says. “We listen closely to their wants and needs, their worries and their fears. With more than 70 years of success in this business, we offer what no other North Texas real estate company can: a longtime culture of caring. That’s how Ebby built our company. She fostered an internal culture that attracts humble, hardworking people like herself who just plain do the hard work.”

To find just the right Realtor for your residential real estate needs, visit ebby.com.

Fresh Listing Friday: Stately Traditional

Happy Friday! This week’s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to sought-after Preston Hollow – one of Dallas’ most coveted neighborhoods. Here, architecturally significant homes sit on some of the most beautiful acreage, and the home at 6453 Pemberton Drive is no exception. This exquisite traditional features a custom floor plan full of designer finishes.

Need-to-know-details:

• Exceptional traditional, offered for $1,625,000
• 5,206 square feet: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2 half-baths
• Two living areas, two stone fireplaces, professional-grade appliances
• Game room, climate-controlled wine vault, automatic gate entry
• Large, covered outdoor patio, built-in grill, pool, spa