Plano Texas Real Estate Blog - Local Plano Real Estate.

Now that we're past the Easter Holiday, open houses are plentiful this weekend.  Looks like the clouds are coming in but 35 homes in West Plano zip codes will be open.  Check out this open house link from the MLS of all open houses not just a particular broker or agent.  This is a great way to check out neighborhoods and the quality in homes.
[Plano Open Houses, 75093,75024,75025]

Good Friday Peep!

photo by Disco Fern

What's Your Home Worth?

Tax value forms from the county will be arriving very soon.  Watch for your new appraised home values.  The real estate market had corrected a great deal since last year and in many cases the county is behind in catching up with the true market value of your home.  Although your market value and assessed value are two different values the county does use market sales comps as a form of tax assessment.  Let's face it, Texas is one of the highest property tax states in the country.  If you disagree with this it is YOUR RIGHT AS A TAXPAYER to dispute it!  You'll have until May 31st 2011 to file a protest with the review board. Here are links for more information:  Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County.  You'll find different ways to protest on the sites. 

What about Home Price Appreciation....

If you want to pay attention to good trends and real estate information involving the state of Texas the best place to go is The Real Estate Center.  They have the most accurate information about the business and real estate climate in Texas.  This is a jammed packed report of 25 Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas, it contains a wide range of MSA-specific data, including demographic, employment, multifamily, retail, hotel, office and development land.  Go to the site and take a look.  Below is a chart of national home price appreciation from 2000 to the current melt down.  Texas looks much better compared to other states.  The one thing to remember with real estate is you need to hold your properties 7 to 10 years or longer to achieve your financial goals. 

JC Penney's Bluebonnets

I'm sure it will be busy today but the bluebonnets at JC Penney's corporate sprawl are awesome this year.  No rain...great bluebonnets! Lots of photo ops here, check it out, it's worth a drive by!

Top 10 Defects of New Construction

Did you know that according to a Realty Times article, many county building inspectors are seeing over 30 homes a day? That's less than 15 minutes at each site. That's simply a lot to see in a very short amount of time. It's just one of the reasons why home inspections on new homes can be so beneficial.

With over two million inspections performed to date, U.S. Inspect has compiled a list of the most common defects found in new construction:

1. No insulation installed in the attic: A well-insulated attic will make your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, saving you money and keeping you comfortable.
2. Missing proper roof vents, or vent holes cut, but roofed over: Good attic ventilation reduces heat build-up in the summer, cutting cooling costs and prolonging shingle life. In the winter, proper ventilation allows the heat and moisture to escape, keeping your attic dry and reducing ice dams.
3. Windows installed improperly: Improperly installed windows can result
   in moister and leakage problems as well as reduced energy efficiency.
4. Hot and Cold water reversed at faucets, tubs, and showers: This defect is not only a nusance, but a safety hazard for individuals expecting one thing, and getting another!
5. Other Pluming issues: Toilets that overflow, run constantly, or leak due to incorrect installation, or tubs that don't drain properly due to drains clogged with debris during the construction process.
6. Inoperable or missing GFCI's in required areas: GFCIs are designed to protect people from severe or fatal electrical shocks, missing or inoperable GFCIs are a safety concern.
7. Heat vents missing, not connected: The home will certainly not heat efficiently if heat vents are missing or disconnected.
8. Cut trusses in roof or floor trusses: Cut trusses can compromise the integrity of the structure.
9. Tempered glass missing in required areas: Safety glass is installed in certain areas to protect those in and around your home from injury.
10. Improperly installed roofing, flashing, or roof jacks: Correctly installed roofing materials avoids moisture penetration into the home or siding materials. Following the manufacturers recommended installation instructions is crucial to ensure that these materials perform as intended and that their lifespan is prolonged.

U.S. Inspect has a popular "Top 10 Defects of New Construction" handout that was designed based on this article.

Article courtesy of U.S. Inspect.

Understated & Wow Factor

Not only is the photograph awesome, this is a fantastic idea for built in wine storage. I bet you could make this a wine cooler too. Nice idea for a contemporary built in as a piece of art as well as being functional. What do you think?
You can click the photo to see other Milschicky photos on Flickr...