Buying a house is one of the largest purchases you will make. Does it seem daunting? It doesn’t need to be! First-time home buyers can feel in over their head, but with some basic planning, the process can go smoothly.

1)      Determine What you Can Afford

You want to buy only what you can afford. Make sure you consider all of your monthly payments to determine how much house you can buy.

2)      Obtain Pre-Approval

To be on the safe side, jump on getting preapproval so there won’t be any question of financing. After choosing the right lender, ask for a pre-approval letter so sellers will be comfortable in accepting your offer.

3)      Define your Wants and Needs

Make a list of everything you need and items you want. Choose a house that meets all of your needs and as many wants as possible

4)      Do your Due-Diligence

After your house is under contract, schedule an inspection and any professional applicable during the option period. You want to know and anticipate any repairs needed, and gain any negotiating power.

As first time home buyers, you need real estate agents that will have your back and will walk you through the process. Call the Carroll/Eltis Group for a dependable team you can count on! 214-702-3535

You’ve seen the “for sale by owner” signs in front yards of homes. It’s tempting to try and sell your own house. Who doesn’t want to save on realtor fees? While saving money is enticing, there’s a reason real estate agents have jobs.

There are two main reasons it’s smarter to enlist the help of a realtor. First, you are more likely to sell your home at full or above asking price. Second, the internet alone can’t sell your home.

Real estate agents know the market and your neighborhood. They can accurately price your property so your home will not sit on the market without offers. Some sellers make the mistake of setting a price, and underselling their home. Trust your real estate agent and have them list your home with the right price.

In the age of the internet, it’s tempting to think it will help sell your home. Using a couple of websites to advertise your home may not do the trick. It’s your agent’s job to be out selling your home, and they do a great job of advertising for you.

Real estate agents are valuable to the selling process. Let them do their jobs. If you’re looking for agents that work around the clock, call the Carroll/Eltis Group at 214-702-3535!

Image from Ellenterry.com

Do you enjoy walking around Greenway Parks? The Dallas neighborhood was specifically designed as the first pedestrian oriented neighborhood in 1927 by David R. Williams. There are large lots, private parks, and mature trees lining the streets. The sought after area has gained prestige over the years through the residences and their contributions to Dallas.

The prestigious businessmen, philanthropists, and educators that have resided in Greenway Park have helped shape the Dallas we know today. John M Stemmons, who built Stemmons Freeway and developed over ten thousand acres of land in Trinity Levee district, lived in the neighborhood. Dr. Norman R. Crozier was a superintendent of DISD from 1924-1940 and constructed 27 new schools and 17 additions. Dr. Crozier lived on Drane Dr. and the Dallas Technical School was renamed after him.

The architecture in Greenway Parks is varied and rich. Driving through the Dallas neighborhood, one finds 1920s romantic revival storybook styles, 1950s modern ranch styles, and 1990s large European homes.

Greenway Parks is a well-developed and stately Dallas neighborhood. The rich history and valuable real estate is sure to entice homebuyers. Call the Carroll/Eltis Group at 214-702-3535 to buy your next home!

Residents who live in the Disney Streets give directions that include, “turn onto Peter Pan” or “take a left on Cinderella Lane.” The Midway Hills neighborhood is a well-known area in North Dallas. The neighborhood was developed in the mid-1950s by Developers Gump and Gaynier, who named the streets in the area after Walt Disney characters and places.

The neighborhood is one of Dallas’ postwar developments. The housing boom that followed World War II created a surge in developments due to the shortage of affordable housing. The new subdivisions that popped up were not in and around cities, so a market for new commercial development opened up on the fringes of town. Many of the homes in this development are traditional ranch and contemporary designs. The average home in the neighborhood sells for around $510,000.

The Carroll/Eltis Group has worked in the Disney Streets and can attest to the great area. There are many ranch homes with a modern feel that offer open living spaces and sophisticated updates. The North Dallas location is close to many Dallas private schools as well as desired public schools. If you want a story book ending to your next home purchase, call the Carroll/Eltis group at 214-702-3535!

Did you ever wonder if Swiss Avenue had any Swiss influence? Well, the name is fitting. A group of French, Belgian, and Swiss settlers established the community in Dallas to get a fresh start. Two of the settlers, Swiss businessmen Jacob Nussbaumer and Henry Boll, settled in 1859 on neighboring properties along White Rock Road. They called the street Swiss Avenue as homage to their native county.

In 1905, two brothers who grew rich from the cotton gin industry developed an area north of Old East Dallas, with Swiss Avenue as its center. In order to keep the area of high class, the Munger brothers mandated that houses on Swiss Avenue be two stories, be setback sixty feet, and cost a minimum of $10,000. From then on, the area has been prime real estate for Dallas residents.

Today, the houses that form the Swiss Avenue Historic District continue to mirror the prestige of the old era.  Average sales prices for Swiss Avenue from November of 2012 through now are $720,000. The prominent area of Dallas is known for the historical and high end homes.  There is an old world luxury that comes with the area. If you’re looking for real estate in the Swiss Avenue Historic District, call the Carroll/Eltis group at 214-702-3535!

With the help of the right real estate agent, your house will receive the perfect marketing package in order to sell quickly.

Selecting the right real estate agent is the first step in marketing your home. The selection process may seem a little like a dating game, with lots of options in front of you. However, finding the right fit is crucial. You need a knowledgeable agent who not only knows your neighborhood, but who understands the real estate market.

The connections of your real estate agent can give your home the edge it needs to sell, even before it hits the market. If your agent is well-connected and out talking up your home, you could get an offer before your house is even listed. Good marketing also entails professional pictures. The worst representation of a home is in pictures taken from real estate agent’s iPhones. Your home is a product now, and you want a luxury package that matches your high-end home. Mail outs, advertising in the local newspaper or advocate, and online marketing will help spread the news and bring buyers.

We at Carroll/Eltis Group do all of these marketing strategies for every house we list on the market. There is no such thing as cutting corners when it comes to the service we provide. We are confident you will find the perfect real estate agent in Dallas from the Carroll/Eltis Group!

Completely renovated home has all modern day amenities but still maintains 1950s charm. Kitchen has been completely remodeled & opened up to living areas w custom cabinets, tile backsplash, & SS appls. Master fits your modern day lifestyle w oversized bath featuring Carrera marble floors, plenty of storage w custom cabinets, & large walk-in closet. You will surely appreciate the meticulous updates in this beautiful home.

Preston Hollow is one of the most esteemed areas to live in Dallas. With an address in Preston Hollow, you gain privacy, security, and luxury. The high-end neighborhood has one of the most desirable real estate markets in Dallas.

The name perfectly describes the wooded area that has creeks and hollows throughout. Large estates surrounded by plenty of land make up the wealthy community. Many of the homes were built in the 1940s, and any tear downs are being turned into beautiful mansions. Preston Hollow has a history of attracting well-known residents, such as former US President George W. Bush., Tom Hicks, Mark Cuban, Roger Staubach, and H. Ross Perot.  It’s easy to guess the luxury in having a Preston Hollow address doesn’t come cheap. The average sales price for Preston Hollow homes from September 2012 through February 2013 was around $1,033,740.  The high secure area is worth the price for many famous and wealthy people of Dallas.

The Plaza at Preston Center is close by, and offers plenty of restaurants and shops for Preston Hollow residents. The Center perfectly caters to the expensive tastes of Preston Hollow residents. R+D Kitchen, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and Taco Diner are some of the favorite places to eat.  Bachendorf’s and Tootsies are just some of the types of shops you can wander in and out of. The Center will soon have a British clothing store. This spring, Aftershock London will open its first US location at the Preston Center.

If Preston Hollow is good enough for former US presidents, it’s more than good enough for us. If you’re looking for real estate in Preston Hollow, call the Carroll/Eltis group at 214-702-3535!

Young professionals choose to live and work in uptown. Uptown is a trendy and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in Dallas. The fairly new developed community offers restaurants, shops, office space, and housing. The McKinney Trolley helps pedestrians travel from place to place and the tree lined sidewalks encourage people to walk around. The fact that the area is walkable creates a city feel unlike any area of Dallas.

The multi-use area makes Uptown a popular place to spend time in Dallas. The new Klyde Warren Park is packed whenever the weather is nice. You can give your dog some needed exercise, eat lunch from your favorite food truck, or rest easy at one of the tables. The hip and trendy city dwellers of Uptown have welcomed the added green space. The eco-friendly demographic will soon have a Whole Foods located on McKinney Ave. The Whole Foods president of the southwest region stores said, “the Uptown area’s vibrant restaurant and retail scene, established neighborhoods and new construction, plus its proximity to downtown and the Arts District make it an attractive location.” Businesses are aware of the smart location and the buying power of Uptown’s residents.

Most of the housing in the Uptown area is rental properties. The average rent is around $1,500, and goes up from there. The average listing price for homes in the neighborhood is around $397,500. Uptown is an ideal place to live. The area only expects to grow as businesses keep flocking to the neighborhood. The young population creates a competitive market when it comes to restaurants, shops and bars. The real estate market has only grown in this area.  Dallas has seen sharp changes in the demographics in this area over time. The neighborhood once was outside of city limits of Dallas and was not the place to see and be seen such as the Uptown we know today.

If you’re looking to live in Uptown, call the Carroll/Eltis Group 214-702-3535!

It takes more than sticking a “for sale” sign in a yard to sell a home. There’s an art and a science behind it all. Real estate agents need to maximize all strategies. There are two methods in listing a home for sale. Agents can list the house on the market for the public to find, or they can keep the house as a hip pocket. Let’s discuss the pros and cons to keeping a house as a hip pocket.

Pros

• Maintains privacy- there’s no for sale sign in your yard so your neighbors and friends won’t even know you’re selling.
• There is less of a hassle on showings- your agent will screen the showings and filter out unmotivated buyers.
• Seller usually has the upper hand
• Agents use only their personal network to try and sell
• Sellers can demand a slightly higher price- usually buyers want what they can’t have

Cons

• Most buyers look online for houses- your house won’t be available to the mass public.
• Adds a challenge for agents to sell a secret listing

Ask your realtor what the best option is in order to sell your home. If you want to sell your house as quickly as possible, then it’s advantageous to put your house on the open MLS system. It will help give the public access to your listing by putting the information online. However, if you want to keep quiet about selling your home, you don’t need to make a public announcement. You can have your agent privately market and sell your home, and not worry about the fanfare. Contact the Carroll/Eltis group to list your house today- 214-702-3535.