Welcome to 2024! Over the past four years, the housing market has been grappling with a lack of normal seasonal growth, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we enter 2024, I am hopeful for a change in this trend and anticipate a much-needed increase in new listings during the spring. As  we have not witnessed a fully functioning housing market for quite some time, I do feel as though I have had more calls to list than I have in the prior 4 years. One major factor affecting mortgage rates is the 10-year rate, which has become central to the real estate market and mor ..read more

Winter Waxed Amaryllis Bulb $26 They come in a variety of colors and you do not have to do a thing but watch them grow! Gorgeous. Oventure Big O Key Ring $25 Once you have one you will not know how you survived without one! Trust me! Market Highland Park - James Bond Assouline Book $120 For the man who has everything! And who knows it might even inspire them to book a trip for you or a loved one! OKA- Set of four $35 These make great hostess gifts or perfect to have on hand for any guest appearance. Society by Jackson Vaughn- Kinfolk Candle $44 This is the perfect Christmas candle! Do not ..read more

2023 CHRISTMAS EVENTS TO BRING A LITTLE EXTRA MAGIC INTO YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON. As the air turns crisper , hopefully soon, and the scent of evergreen and cinnamon fills our homes, it can only mean one thing: one of my most favorite times of the year is here! And what better way to celebrate the joy and warmth of the holiday season than by exploring the enchanting Christmas events right here in the heart of Dallas -Fort Worth? In the true spirit of community and togetherness, I've curated a list of five must-see Holiday events that will bring a little extra magic into your special season. Whether ..read more

AT Bistro 8305 Westchester Drive A former chef to the stars in Aspen, Palm Beach and beyond has opened the most delicious neighborhood bistro in the former Pei Wei spot. Bobby Polette and his attentive staff serve a seasonal food and drink menu that changes monthly; however, I recommend the bang bang shrimp. I have the funniest story as to how I met Polette and that’s another story for another time. Ask me the next time we are sharing a beer at happy hour. Hours: Tuesday- Thursday 11 am to 9 pm Friday 11 am to 10 pm  Saturday: 5 pm to 10 pm Sunday: 5pm to 9pm The Gem 6102 Luther Lane Be ..read more

AT Bistro 8305 Westchester Drive A former chef to the stars in Aspen, Palm Beach and beyond has opened the most delicious neighborhood bistro in the former Pei Wei spot. Bobby Polette and his attentive staff serve a seasonal food and drink menu that changes monthly; however, I recommend the bang bang shrimp. I have the funniest story as to how I met Polette and that’s another story for another time. Ask me the next time we are sharing a beer at happy hour. Hours: Tuesday- Thursday 11 am to 9 pm Friday 11 am to 10 pm  Saturday: 5 pm to 10 pm Sunday: 5pm to 9pm The Gem 6102 Luther Lane Be ..read more

With warm weather here and hot temperatures on the horizon, it is important to enjoy our outdoor living spaces. With all the new products out, such as phantom screens that turn a room into a screened in porch, fire tables and door walls that open the outside in, our focus on being outdoors has accelerated. There are also new ideas in outdoor features that we will be seeing in 2023 take shape. No longer is it just the front porch that sits in the front of the house. Covid changed this and now you see fire pits, large seating gathering spots and even pools in the front or side of the home. With ..read more

I have just learned to garden. After we rebuilt our home, my youngest son and I realized we had a huge soil bed on the side of the greenhouse, and instead of putting shrubs back in we decided to take up gardening. It has been quite a learning curve to say the least. Last year , our first year, we had a swarm of caterpillars eat the entire harvest of sweet potatoes ( they said it was fluke thing that hit Dallas and surely will not happen again), watermelons that took over everything literally and a great crop of tomatoes. This year we have a better understanding of what thrives in the Texas hea ..read more

Protesting Taxes in Dallas County. By now everyone should have received their new 2023 tax valuation from the Dallas Central Appraisal District. Everyone is in sticker shock so do not be surprised if yours increased as much as 50 percent. Your market valuation date is January 1, 2023. Market value is defined as if your property were put on the market today, the amount it would transfer for in cash or its equivalent with a reasonable time to procure a buyer. It seems useless to not have a state income tax with property taxes ranking the sixth highest in the country (TRERC). Your market valuatio ..read more

This is the year of well-being. Connecting with Mother Earth and exploring healing spaces within our homes has become a top priority this year. With Earth Day upon us, now is the time to think about these five easy home upgrades that are easy on your wallet and the planet. 1. Install a smart thermostat. How many times have we all forgotten to turn the heat off when we leave the house for the day or let the air conditioning run all day and night? Think back to the good old days when you manually turned the dial of the thermostat wheel, The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is a combination of th ..read more

Spring has sprung and although we got a late thaw to our spring market, we are heading towards normal. Usually, our spring market starts around the first of March, but with a later spring break this year, it seems to now be returning to somewhat normal. With higher mortgage rates and inflation still on an upward trend, I would expect our home prices to remain flat this year. That is, of course, except for those great move-in ready homes that are trading quickly for higher prices. I estimate that 40 percent of homes in North Texas are trading off market, however, do not let that be a discourag ..read more