Southlake Real Estate Blog

Home styles have changed drastically over the last couple of decades.  For one thing, the layout for homes is a lot more open than it used to be.

And if you’re investing in a home designed by an older builder, you may be setting yourself up for some heartache when you decide to resale that home down the road.

That’s because some older builders are still working with dated ideas that might have worked several years ago but no longer work today.

Watch the video below to learn how you can identify forward thinking builders on the Southlake real estate market.

And be sure to view many other videos at my Southlake area real estate TV page, which is updated regularly with exclusive tips and information on the Southlake area real estate market.

Until next time,

Sharon

All Southlake REALTORS – including myself – are bound by a national real estate code of ethics and principles as well as laws pertaining to Fair Housing.

One of those principles, as described in various fair housing laws, is that we cannot steer buyers by saying things like “This is a good part of town” or “This is a bad part of town.”

However, I do always encourage interested Southlake home buyers to take certain steps to educate themselves on the area.

Watch my video below to learn about those specific steps you can take as a Southlake area home buyer in order to get to know the area better.

And be sure to watch all my Southlake real estate videos at my Southlake real estate TV channel for more exclusive tips.

Until next time,

Sharon

We here at Team Hodnett are pleased to announce that we will now be able to help more Southlake Texas area home buyers and home sellers than ever!

I, Sharon Hodnett, will be featured on a live webcast stream on Ustream every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. central time.

For the past several weeks, I have co-hosted a real estate segment on KVCE am 1160 with regular host Willie Lambright.

Now that the show has expanded to the web, we’ll be able to share our Dallas-Fort Worth real estate tips with even more Dallas-Fort Worth area home buyers and home sellers!

Our theme is “REAL ESTATE IS ON THE MOVE IN TEXAS!”

Southlake Texas Area Real Estate

Tune in from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/real-estate-talk to hear all the latest news and advice about the Dallas – Fort Worth Texas real estate market, including:

• How to effectively stage your  Southlake TX home as a Southlake home seller
• Advice on how to successfully complete a Southlake TX short sales
• Negotiating tips for Southlake TX home sellers
• Pricing Strategies for your Southlake TX home for sale
• How to find the perfect Southlake TX area home for sale for you and your family
• And so much more!

Plus, you’ll even be able to live chat with me during shows using Ustream’s “Check-in and Chat” feature!

Southlake Texas Real Estate Experts

Navigating the Southlake Texas area real estate market can be confusing and complicated if you’re not working with a Southlake Texas real estate expert.

Contact me, Sharon Hodnett, and the rest of Team Hodnett, today to learn more about all of the excellent resources we provide for both Southlake home buyers and Southlake home sellers.

Until next time,

Sharon

For the past several weeks, I have been co-hosting a  real estate segment on KVCE am 1160 with regular host Willie Lambright.

This radio show has addressed a variety of topics related to the  Southlake area real estate market, including how to to stage your Southlake home for sale as well as how to find the perfect Southlake, TX real estate agent.

Today I’d like to tell you about some of our upcoming show topics.  If you’re thinking about selling your Southlake TX home anytime soon, I would definitely recommend you tune in to one of our radio shows soon.

Selling Southlake Texas Real Estate

There are many steps that a Southlake TX home seller must take to ensure a successful outcome on the Southlake TX real estate market.

These include staging your home for Southlake home buyers as well as deciding on a reasonable list price for your Southlake TX area home.

Here’s a list of some of the topics that Willie and I will be covering in the couple of weeks.  All of these shows are guaranteed to prove quite helpful for Southlake TX home sellers:

• The easiest/least expensive staging tricks for your Southlake TX home
• How and when to do it yourself versus hiring a professional
• How to stage closets, kitchen cabinets and garages in your Southlake TX home for sale
• How to handle pets and their beds/dishes/toys for showings
• Southlake TX short sales
• Negotiating tips for Southlake TX home sellers
• How to find an area that will increase in value in Southlake TX
• And more!

Southlake TX Homes for Sale

I truly believe that our Southlake TX radio show is going to end up saving Southlake TX home owners time and money on the Southlake TX real estate market.

Although co-hosting a radio show is not a permanent job for me, helping Southlake home sellers like you certainly is!

If you’re thinking of selling your Southlake TX home, then contact me, Sharon Hodnett and the rest of Team Hodnett!

I’ll help make navigating the Southlake TX area real estate market easier for you and your family by employing all of my Southlake home selling resources, which include:

• Free home evaluation
• MOVA assessment
• Free moving kit
• And more!

Until next time,

Sharon

According to Forbes, the Dallas Texas Area Real Estate is seeing an end to the nation-wide economic recession. Though jobs through out the country have been lost over the last three years, the Southlake and Colleyville areas right outside of Dallas/Fort Worth have held strong, and are now even showing signs of improvement.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area Real Estate Market

Between December 2007 and December 2009, jobs in the Dallas area rose .98% more than any other major city-and job numbers are projected to jump another 7.19% in the next three. Overall, the trend in job growth shines strongly for a predicted stronger real estate economy, as well.

Beyond the Southlake and Colleyville, TX Market Stats

Forbes picked the Dallas area-which includes Southlake and Colleyville-as well as the Austin, San Antonia and Houston areas that are faring well and turning around with strong economies.

The oil state also is faring well because of its energy, technology, government and education industries, which in turn supports a strong, steady and growing housing economy.

Learn More About Southlake and Colleyville TX Homes For Sale

Relocating to the Southlake Texas area is a wonderful choice right now, as home prices have held steady and home equity has not plummeted like in other cities around the country and investing in Colleyville TX real estate is almost certain to hold strong value. Would you like to learn more? Feel free to contact me, Sharon Hodnett, your Southlake and Colleyville TX real estate expert, or request my Southlake Real Estate Buying Guide to learn tips and advice for making your home buying process smooth and easy.

Until next time,
Sharon

I was very excited to open my mail this morning and see a letter from Century 21 Real Estate-I had known that my Southlake Real Estate Team had preformed very well this year; however, until I opened the official letter I didn’t realize quite how well we had done.

Not only were we the #1  real estate team for January 2010, with sales over $1.0 Million and listing over $8.2 Million,  we are also up 92.87% from this time last year.

All of the Southlake Real Estate Agents are extremely proud and happy all of our hard work this past year has paid off for our Southlake home sellers, as well as all of the wonderful Southlake home buyers we work for.  We are all blessed to have such wonderful clients.

Southlake Texas Real Estate

Are you looking for a Southlake Texas real estate agent? Why trust the Southlake TX home buying or selling  Southlake Texas real estate to just anyone-especially in such a slow market?

Team Hodnett Southlake real estate is currently ranked as the number one Team in a two state region for the Century 21 System. We have been recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the “Super Agents”,  named “FIVE STAR REALTOR – “BEST IN CLIENT SATISFACTION” per the Fort Worth Business Press and have an eight member team of Certified Relocation Specialists and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialists.

Ready to search Southlake Texas homes for sale? Only trust the experts; let Team Hodnett take care of you and all your real estate needs.

Until next time,

Sharon

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the at the “Night Of Champions”, sponsored by C21, as part of Diwali, the 5 day New Year’s celebration for Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Diwali is also known as “The Festival of Lights” because part of the celebration involves lighting small clay lamps with oil to signify good over evil within an individual. The celebration is quite breathtaking and I was honored to be a part of it.

So you may be asking, why is a Southlake Real Estate Agent speaking at a New Year’s celebration? Another big part of Diwali is the start of the financial year, and celebrating business offers business owners good luck in the following year.

What gems of wisdom can Team Hodnett Southlake and Colleyville  real estate offer? Since I have been licensed for 20 years, a Hud agent for 5 years, raised 5 children and enjoy 5 grandchildren, I offered a bit of advice to anyone wanting to become a Southlake, TX REALTOR by touching on topics many starting out in the Southlake and Colleyville real estate market may not realize:

• You will need constant education to stay on top of the game and actually make money. Just like Tiger Woods has a coach even now that he is a pro player, an expert Colleyville real estate agent needs to constantly study his or her chosen market.

• Stay positive. There will always be ups and downs in the market. Don’t stress if the market is doing badly; just do your best, stay on top of your game; and provide outstanding customer service-the clients will come.

• You have to spend money to make money. I know it sounds cliche, but it is true. Take people to lunch, net work, reward referrals immediately, do newsletters, use your database, and make yourself stand out as a trust worthy  professional Southlake Buyers and Sellers real estate agent.

• Take a look at some of the real estate agents you admire or would like to mimic. Many years ago I took a look at what the top REALTORS were doing and tried to see what the common denominator was. I quickly realized that all the big agents had builders and did build jobs, so I quickly worked towards teaming with a Colleyville real estate builder. Sales shot through the roof after I was able to land my first production builder account.

• WORK, WORK, WORK. Though I have been a Colleyville and Southlake REALTOR for 20 years and Team Hodnett real estate is doing very well in our not so great economy, I still work 12 hour days, with only Sundays off. Why? Because that is what it takes to be the best.

To find business success in Selling Colleyville property, you must constantly study, analyze, and market Colleyville homes for sale. I must put in the leg work and the time, but it all pays off because when a Southlake home buyer or Colleyville property seller comes to Team Hodnett, there is no question I can’t answer, and no situation I can’t handle for them. That is the key to superior customer service in Colleyville real estate; let your clients enjoy the ride while you take care of everything else.

I was so honored to take a part of the Diwali celebration and to share my business advice with everyone there. It was truly a very special and fun night. Should you find you have questions about Southlake  home buying, Southlake and Colleyville relocation, or want to browse the Southlake and Colleyville MLS home search, feel free to contact me, Sharon Hodnett, your Southlake and Colleyville expert REALTOR.

Until next time,
Sharon

Serving the needs of our Southlake and Colleyville clients is indeed a tremendous honor. Team Hodnett is firmly committed to delivering the absolute best Southlake real estate experience in our area. When you succeed, we succeed and apparently that success has been noticed by our peers in the greater Metroplex area. Team Hodnett has been selected to participate in a Metroplex real estate power panel event scheduled for November 20th at the Colleyville Convention Center on 5301 Riverwalk Drive in Colleyville. We are so excited to take part in this event along with many of our outstanding peers who have been fortunate enough to experience similar success in 2008. This special power panel event is sponsored by Metroplex real estate stalwarts and they include:

(more…)

Custom Built Southlake and Keller Luxury Homes on Parade

Mark your calendars for the Passport To Luxury Home Tour which will be held on January 26th & 27th from Noon to 3pm. Brought to you by Garabedian Properties, Team Hodnett is acting as host for several of the finest luxury estate homes in Tarrant County. Friends, families and guest are invited to attend this spectacular tour. Garabedian Properties will have representatives at each of their homes to answer your  questions and offer you a personal tour of these exquisite homes. Garabedian is opening up all of their luxury homes to debut their new styles, floor plans and custom crafted features.

Don’t Forget Your Passport!

Be sure to download your Passport right here or you can pick up a Passport on the Tour. The download provides a map and details of the tour.  As you visit each Garbedian luxury home don’t forget to have your Passport validated by a Team Hodnett agent or on of the Garabedian tour representatives.  Once you have received all 5 validations, turn your completed Passport to one the Garabedian representatives. Please pay close attention to all rules, conditions and deadlines for an opportunity to win one of two outstanding prizes.

Passport To Luxury Home Tour Prizes

Prizes consist of a Hannah Montana 3-D Concert Movie Package (tickets and prizes) Or a Nintendo Wii consol and game pack. Winners will be announced during the Radio Disney Party which will be held Sunday, January 27th from 2 to 4pm on Sunday the 27th at one of our designated homes.  Check your Passport for complete details on the drawing location.

Contact any member of Team Hodnett or call at Southlake office if you have questions or require additional information. I encourage you to be the first to comment and let me know your thoughts on the direction of the Southlake luxury real estate market.

Until my next post,

Sharon

Now more than ever the wealthy are increasingly becoming citizens of the world. Driven by a weaker US dollar, more wealthy foreign home buyers will continue to view U.S. real estate as the ultimate bargain. The common elements these international buyers seek are areas which offer attractive lifestyles and sound real estate investment opportunities. At the same time, more wealthy Americans will entertain a second home or possibly a retirement home purchase abroad. Many of the “super-rich” seek tax shelters in locations which will increase real estate purchases at the über level.

Key points:

• Major US markets like the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex offer a growing opportunity and interest from the international home buying segment due its market resilience.
• More wealthy American home buyers are seeking to make an overseas real estate purchase for 1. obvious tax reasons and 2. a lifestyle change and chance for more privacy.
• Those with the have-yachts desire to distance themselves from the have-nots. There is a growing disparity between the super-wealthy and those with less income producing power will cause some of the super-rich live a life “under the radar.”
• Greater exclusivity is the name of the game. This means remote exotic international locations primarily serviced by private air strips, deep-water yacht clubs and heliports are growing in popularity. Hot international locales might include Costa Rica, Baja Mexico and other warm water climates possessing solid real estate investment opportunities.
• Many wealthy international and American real estate buyers are careful to buy “green” meaning they are eco-sensitive home buyers. The green wealthy buyers are looking for properties built with Eco-friendly systems that incorporate energy-efficient HVAC systems, building materials made from recycled products and many other earth-friendly products that reduce a “carbor footprint.”

Coming Soon to the Southlake Real Estate Blog?

In the future expect to read about the “Passport To Luxury Home Tour” presented in cooperation with Garabedian Properties. If you have a topical request for the Southlake Real Estate blog, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you would like to read about.

I encourage you to be the first to comment and let me know your thoughts on the direction of the Southlake luxury real estate market.

Until my next post,

Sharon