Military Tax Credit

Did you know that the Homebuyer tax credit was extended for qualifying members of the military? If you qualify you have one more month to have an executed contract on a house. For more information visit the IRS website

If you know anyone that might qualify, have them give me a call. I'd be happy to help!

Welcome

Your front door is such an important part of your home, it is the welcoming centerpiece for your guests, and it also says a lot about your taste. Here are a few front doors of the homes that I love......one of them is mine!

How does your door greet your guests? If you are in the market to sell make sure your door greets potential buyers with a smile :)

I need more fans!

I'm trying to get up to speed and leap forward to 2011! Please "like" my facebook page! You can do so by clicking here and clicking "like" at the top of the page. What do you get from it? All of the latest & greatest real estate news and info!! Thanks!

Covered Bridge Canyon

New Listing!!! Covered Bridge Canyon.

Gorgeous Home has Plenty of Room Inside and Out!Great for Entertaining with Open Concept, Rock fireplace, Huge Game Room Upstairs with Balcony.Stunning Master Suite & Bath with Jetted Tub, Separate Shower & Walk-In Closets,+ see thru fireplace. Travertine tile & Carpet. Granite Countertops,Dream Kitchen,Brkfst Bar,Island & Walk-In Pantry. Foam Insulation. Beautiful Grounds, Sparkling Diving Pool, Great Neighborhood, Playset negotiable. Aledo ISD

4-3.5-3

3378 square feet, 1.23 acres

Click here to view a virtual tour of the property

Bathroom Update Trends

Another Great Article from my favorite website If you're thinking about remodeling your bathroom you might consider this information:

Granite is slowly beginning to lose some of its popularity in favor of other bathroom vanities, and green–the color, that is–is catching on, as these trends–along with others–gain steam in bathrooms this year, according to a National Kitchen & Bath Association survey of 100 designers. The survey offers insights into the hottest trends in bathrooms for 2011. Here are four trends to watch in bathroom home design. 1. Quartz countertops more in demand. While granite still reigns in bathroom vanity tops, it’s popularity is slowly sinking as quartz continues to steal some of the market share, according to NKBA. While 83 percent of designers still opt for granite, that number has gradually been narrowing in recent years as quartz increases in demand (54 percent of NKBA designers opted for quartz). A year ago, 85 percent of NKBA designers used granite, compared to 48 percent for quartz. Meanwhile, solid marble vanities have also been on the decline (from 46 percent to 37 percent), while cultured marble has increased slightly in use among NKBA designers from 12 percent to 19 percent. 2. Bathrooms go “green”–literally. Green color palettes for the bathroom are on the rise. Twenty-four percent of NKBA designers say they are using green colors to spice up bathrooms–up a year ago from 14 percent. However, the three most most common color choices in the bathroom remain: Whites and off-whites, beiges, and browns. 3. Sink preferences mount. Under mount sinks continue to dominate newly remodeled bathrooms, but vessel sinks are increasingly becoming a more popular choice. Integrated sink tops are also on the rise, as well as pedestal sinks. 4. Satin finishes shine. In following recent kitchen trends, satin nickel faucets in bathrooms are rising in popularity, while brushed nickel faucets are falling out of favor. Other popular faucet finishes in the bathroom include bronze and oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, and polished nickel. Meanwhile, stainless steel finishes are becoming less popular in the bathroom.

Love this Kitchen!

Isn't this kitchen beautiful??!! It's so clean, light and bright! This kitchen was in a spec house in Creekside that we just closed on and I just had to share.

Before you file your taxes

Make sure that you are taking advantage of all of the tax credits for energy efficiency. Did you buy a new AC unit? Install some additional insulation? Install a new water heater? Windows? Doors? You can qualify for energy efficiency tax credits. For items completed before December 31, 2010 you can get 30% of the cost up to $1500. Here is the website for more info: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Boost Re-sale Value

Found this awesome article on this website. Great info and great ideas on simple inexpensive things you can do to boost re-sale value!

Simple, affordable do-it-yourself projects such as cleaning and decluttering and just adding lighting can help increase a home’s resale value, according to HomeGain’s annual home improvement and staging survey. HomeGain, an online real estate marketing resource, surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals in creating a list of the top do-it-yourself home improvement projects that offer the biggest return for your buck. Overall, the home improvement projects that boasted the highest price returns were updates to the kitchen and bathroom–an estimated $3,435 price increase for resale. Painting the outside of the home ($2,222 price increase) also offered one of the highest returns, according to HomeGain’s Home Sale Maximizer study. Here are six do-it-yourself projects–all under $1,000–that made HomeGain’s list, as well as the estimated increase to the home’s price at resale for each project. 1. Cleaning and decluttering: Remove any personal items, unclutter countertops, organize closets and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean. Cost: $290 Estimated return: $1,990 2. Light and bright: Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows. Cost: $375 cost Estimated return: $1,550 3. Staging: Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, including artwork and playing soft music in the background. Cost: $550 cost Estimated return: $2,194 4. Landscaping: Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and backyards by adding bark mulch, bushes and flowers, and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured. Cost: $540 Estimated return: $1,932 5. Repair electrical or plumbing: Repair any leaks under the bathroom or kitchen sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety fixtures. Cost: $535 Estimated return: $1,505 6. Replace or shampoo dirty carpets: Steam-clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks. Cost: $647 Estimated return: $1,739