All the work has been done for you at this close-in home in the Richardson school district. From the beautiful wood and leaded glass front door to the lovely staircase with decorative iron spindles, this home is as clean as they come. Totally updated flooring includes neutral ceramic tile in the kitchen, Frieze carpet in the bedrooms and living area plus beautiful engineered plank hardwoods in the formal dining room. You will love entertaining in the spacious living area that features a brick fireplace with gas logs and a walk-through wet bar. And if you’re having a backyard party, you can serve right through the window of the wet bar to your patio guest. Lots of natural light fills this home and gives it a warm and appealing charm. The chef in the family will appreciate the ease of cleaning that comes with the kitchen’s tile counter tops. The back splash is tumbled marble and the stainless appliances include a built-in microwave. The upstairs master suite is spacious with double sinks in the bath and a walk-in closet that has room for an additional chest of drawers. The entire house has fresh paint in a modern, neutral color so just pack your bags and more right in. A large tree and mature landscaping in the front and a privacy fenced back yard are the finishing touches on a house that needs nothing except a new owner. Make it yours today!

This house is a diamond in the rough in one of the best neighborhoods in Lakewood.  This contemporary style home is minutes from White Rock Lake, Hillside Village and just a short commute to downtown Dallas.  Wonderful natural light fills the rooms thanks to a wall of windows along both living areas.  The den sports painted wood paneling and a large brick wall with fireplace and built-in library closet for all your book collections.  The high, beamed ceilings add even more charm and character to this pier and beam home.  The kitchen is spacious and has a stand alone gas stove.  The adjacent breakfast room has a built-in cabinet along one wall.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the large master bath, uncommon in many older homes.  There are two closets and a built-in vanity plus a square bath tub surrounded by white tile.  The house has many wonderful updates, like a tank less hot water heater and an air conditioning condenser that is only two years old.  If you like to entertain outdoors, you’ll fall in love with the incredible covered patio with an extremely high, beamed ceiling.  A privacy fenced yard and rear-entry two car garage round out this special home that is just waiting for its next owner.

Come see this lovely custom Tudor style home that exudes charm in the Merriman Park Elementary School attendance area.  This Lake Highlands beauty has spacious rooms and great “bones.”  Just a few of the outstanding features include gorgeous hardwood floors, plantation shutters and lots of beamed ceilings.  You won’t believe how big and beautiful the living area is!  When they coined the words “great room” this is what they were thinking.  Painted picture frame paneling, a big fireplace and a wall of French doors that look out over the backyard deck make this the room where you will want to live and entertain.  The formal dining room will make even the most casual dinner parties feel special with its beautiful ceiling and moldings.  The kitchen has neutral, cream-colored countertops and cabinets and is equipped with double ovens, a built-in microwave and a corner sink.  The den features a walk-in wet bar, another beamed ceiling and an incredible walk-in storage closet plus a half bath.  The master bedroom has plenty of space and another French door leading to the rear deck.  His and hers sinks and walk-in closets highlight the master bath along with a sunken garden tub and separate shower.  Don’t miss this lovely home in a great neighborhood…make it yours today!

Don’t miss this lovely two story home in a great Allen neighborhood.  Drive up to pretty landscaping and trees in front.  The soaring entryway opens to the elegant formal living and dining areas. Hardwood laminate floors, crown molding, updated, neutral paint colors and plenty of natural light set the stage for the open floor plan.  The spacious den, complete with stone fireplace, opens to the island kitchen with walk-in pantry and breakfast area.  What great flow for entertaining.  The downstairs master suite has large windows and a spacious bath with two vanity areas, jetted tub and separate shower.  Also downstairs is a separate utility room and convenient powder room.  Upstairs is a large game room and second master bedroom with its own private bath with jetted tub.  Also upstairs are three additional bedrooms and a third full bath.  The home is on a large lot with privacy fence and plenty of room for play equipment.  Sellers will leave the play set if the buyer desires.  This home is move-in ready and waiting for its new owner.  Make an appointment to see it today.

Perfectly located in the middle of the “L” Streets and benefiting by excellent Lake Highlands Elementary, this traditional home offers numerous updates and energy efficiencies to make your utility costs lower.  Refinished hardwood floors combine with frieze carpet and 18” tile to help the floor plan flow.  The kitchen is the heart of this home and has been completely updated with granite countertops, custom tile backsplash, painted cabinets, stainless steel sink and faucets as well as a stainless vent-a-hood and replaced appliances.  The refrigerator will stay with the house as well as the Elfa shelving in the closets.  Bay windows in the living room and master bedroom open up the space and are accented by wood blinds.  The wood deck adds space for outdoor entertaining and the basketball goal and tree house in the back yard stay with the house.  The home has lovely details including crown molding and vintage tile in the bathrooms.  Insulation and radiant barrier have been added and the home has a sprinkler system, French drain, wood fence, separate utility room and attached garage.  Storage space is abundant.  This home is a jewel!  Make it yours!

Lovely Lake Highlands home with all the room your growing family could need.  Gorgeous, traditional drive up on this four bedroom two story home which features a backyard diving pool, spa, large patio deck and a grassy area.  You will want to spend lots of time outdoors, even in the Texas heat.  Inside, a spacious master suite is on the first floor and has a master bath with two sinks, separate vanities, separate tub and shower plus a large walk-in closet.  This home boasts three living areas including one with painted picture frame paneling, a see-through fireplace and wet bar.  The other downstairs living area is adjacent to the kitchen, has been used as a game room, and features a wall of built-ins with glass front cabinets and a built-in desk.    The updated kitchen has beautiful neutral Corian counter tops, double ovens and a built-in microwave.   The smooth, electric cook top will make clean up a breeze.  Upstairs you will find three bedrooms, two full baths and a spacious living area with another fireplace.  If you still need more room, there is a large, floored attic over the garage and even a mud room off the garage.  One of the half baths opens to the pool, so you will never have wet feet inside.  This house has been lovingly maintained and updated by one family for more than twenty years and is ready for its owners.  Make it yours today!

So much living space both inside and out!  The corner lot location gives you extra space for patios and a dog run.  This inviting home is built around an atrium which provides natural light throughout the home and features include three living areas, an open, island kitchen and breakfast area, a spacious master suite, a wonderful backyard pool and patio area plus a low maintenance yard. Everything you need for a relaxed lifestyle!  The light, bright entryway opens to the formal living and dining area with fireplace.  What a great place to entertain!  The second living area, which also has a fireplace, is open to the updated island kitchen with granite countertops, built-in microwave, dishwasher and Jennaire cook top.  A curling staircase leads to the second floor loft with updated berber carpet, which has so many possibilities.  It could be a game room, exercise room, craft room or studio.  The master suite is spacious and opens to an atrium area and the backyard pool can be accessed through the updated master bath.  You will enjoy the privacy of the master which this excellent floor plan provides.  The current owner has changed the fourth bedroom into a huge walk-in closet.  This could be easily reconverted into a bedroom…unless you fall in love with the closet!  The flooring flows with satillo tile and berber carpet throughout.  Ample storage space is a bonus along with lovely features like wood plank ceilings in the den.  You will enjoy the flexibility and flow in this terrific home.  Make it yours today!

Beautifully updated and maintained by the original owner, this spacious Richardson home has it all!  Hardwood floors, plantation shutters, crown molding and tall ceilings are just some of the amenities you will find. Three spacious living areas, five bedrooms and three full baths provide the space that you need.    On the first floor are a large living area with stone fireplace and a large game room with wet bar.  The updated kitchen features stainless appliances, granite tile counters, tile backsplash, 18” tile flooring and plenty of cabinet and countertop space. The first floor master suite has a totally updated bath with jetted tub, separate glass shower with creative custom tile, two separate vanity areas with granite countertops plus two walk in closets.  Also downstairs are bedrooms two and three.  The skylight at the top of the curved staircase provides so much natural light.  Upstairs is a third oversized living area with a custom entertainment center and lots of built-in shelves and storage.  Also upstairs are bedrooms four and five, plus a third full bath.   There is lots of storage space, including a cedar closet in the downstairs hallway.  Fresh paint and carpet in neutral colors complete the picture.  This home is move-in ready and waiting for you.  Make an appointment to see it today.

It's a good life!  Nancy White

The timing of the ad, titled, “Think You Can’t Get a Home Loan? Well Think Again. You May Be Pleasantly Surprised.,”aligns with the recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, and lets consumers know that: money is available for those who meet basic requirements; affordability has improved; rates are attractive; and inventory is plentiful.

In an exclusive interview with Alex Perriello, president & CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, he said the ads aim to educate consumers who might be at the positive tipping point on buying a home.

“We want to educate the consumer with relevant facts about today’s real estate market,” he said.  “There are a lot of positives, and we feel that reinforcing the positives will help clarify things for consumers who are on the fence what to do in today’s market.  I travel a lot to real estate offices and I hear from a lot of our agents that buyers are out there, but that they are not sure what to do.  We felt that talking openly about the opportunities may help people to see that it is a good time to get into the market, and we believe it is.”

Perriello said there are three common misconceptions consumers have about the real estate market right now: people can’t get a loan: affordability is out of reach: and consumers should wait for rates to go lower.

“I was watching a news show last week after the Federal Reserve made its second rate cut on Tuesday, and the host of the program said, ‘I don’t know if it will help because you can’t get a mortgage.’  You hear this over and over again.  We want to set the record straight on that.  If you meet very basic requirements – you have a job for the past two years, you can make the payments, you plan to live in the property and you have a credit score that suggests you are responsible, you can get a mortgage. These are all reasonable requirements.”

He added that affordability today is better that it has been in almost three years, and that interest rates are now at 40-year historic lows, so people shouldn’t wait to buy.

At the same time, the chances of a house price decline rose in almost four out of five U.S. markets, according to a report released Tuesday by mortgage insurance firm PMI Group

Dallas and Fort Worth ranked dead last in PMI Group’s latest forecast of cities with the biggest chance for a home price shakeout.

Analysts with the California-based company estimate that Dallas-Fort Worth has less than 1 percent chance of marked home price drops in the next two years.

By comparison, cities in California, Nevada and Arizona have more than an 80 percent likelihood of falling residential values.

“We’re seeing an increasingly polarized market,” PMI economist David Berson said in a news release.

“The risk that home prices will be lower in two years has increased for many of the largest cities in the nation, although areas that saw only moderate home price gains during the 2002-to-2005 period still generally have low risk of price declines,” he said.

That’s certainly the case in Dallas-Fort Worth, where home price appreciation during the last five years has been a fraction of the national average.

“Because Texas did not participate in the double-digit home price gains in the first half of the decade, it doesn’t have to take the great pain of the areas that are compensating for that now,” Mr. Berson said in an interview.

Now that the housing sector is in a slump, home values in North Texas have been relatively flat while they are falling in m any other major U.S. cities.

In 2007, the median price of homes sold through the North Texas Realtors’ multiple listing service was up 1 percent in 2006.

Texas markets-including the D-FW area – were also less affected by investors who ran up prices in some cities, Mr. Berson said.

And most Texas cities are outpacing the rest of the country in overall economics, he said.

“The state economy is doing pretty well, and job growth is above the national average,” Mr. Berson said.

“It’s quite likely Texas will be doing better than the national average for the foreseeable future,” he said.

The D-FW area has gotten high marks in the PMI risk report before.

And other national surveys show that North Texas’ housing market is outperforming those in the rest of the country.

Even so, pre-owned home sales were down about 8 percent last year, and sales of new homes fell about 17 percent in 2007.

Foreclosure rates also continue to rise.

Analysts are therefore keeping a close eye on D-FW home prices for signs of deterioration.

“I can’t argue with the PMI risk assessment, but it doesn’t mean that it still couldn’t happen – just not as likely as elsewhere,” said Dr. James Gaines, an economist with Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.” So far, most Texas markets are doing well.

“The metroplex probably will do well to have positive overall appreciation, but pockets within the metroplex will have a rough time for a while.”

Indeed, Mr. Berson said, the Texas housing market isn’t bulletproof.

“There are no sure things,” he said.

“It’s possible that some parts of Texas will see some declines in the near term.”

But overall, the outlook for the local housing market is good, he said.

HOW RISKY IS THE HOUSING MARKET?

Markets with the most and the least risk of a home price decline, based on price appreciation, economic growth and affordability according to PMI Group, one of the country’s largest mortgage insurance firms.  An index of 100 means there is a 100 percent chance of home prices falling in the next two years.

MOST RISKY

Riverside, Calif.                                    94

Las Vegas                                            89

Phoenix                                                83

Santa Ana, Calif.                                  81

Los Angeles                                         79

LEAST RISKY         

Fort Worth                                           Less than 1

Dallas                                                   Less than 1

Pittsburgh                                             Less than 1

Houston                                               Less than 1

San Antonio                                         Less than 1

SOURCE:PMI Group

The website is: www.housingmarketfacts.com

                   The news surrounding the mortgage industry has certainly been a topic of conversation for the past six months.  In my thirty years of being in the industry, there have been a handful of times when the industry went through a cyclical downturn.  This downturn is, for the most part, a self-inflicted scenario which was caused by irrational lending parameters.  This strategy coupled with a normal economic downturn has created the scenario we now are hearing about everyday.

                   I have found that these times serve as "barometers" for our industry.  We now find out who is serious about serving, and who were the "pretenders" who were only in it for the money.  realtors and mortgage companies who had a "short-term" vision to their approach cannot handle these times.  The sevice-oriented businesses seem to always perform as good and maybe even better during these times.  These "shakedown" periods will only make the entire real estate and mortgage industry be even stronger as we get into the middle of 2008 and beyond.

                   THE NANCY WHITE TEAM and INTEGRITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION have a strong commitment to "MAKING HOMEBUYING DREAMS COME TRUE."  Their approach to their industry coupled with their lasting partnership is evidence that they are most interested in making sure every transaction is a "WIN-WIN-WIN."