Wes Ashworth Blog

Remodel Cost vs Value Report for 2009-2010

2010-01-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't you know it. As soon as I post the 2008-2009 report the new one comes out. So, here is the updated Cost vs Value Report. The numbers are basically the same with some small differences. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance in helping you decide what to do and how to go about doing it. I am always willing to come out to your home for a birds eye view and provide you with an honest opinion.

http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/articles/1001_costvsvalue_2009

You can contact me by phone at 972-393-9604, email at Wes.Ashworth@verizon.net, or through my website www.WesAshworth.com.

Remodel Projects That Pay Off When It Comes Time To Sell Your Home

2009-12-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of remodeling or giving your home a facelift the link below is to the Cost vs. Value Report for 2008-2009. I often encourage my clients to do lots of the little inexpensive things to help a home show and sell. Selling a home is as much about eliminating objections as it is about identifying positives. Obviously, some updating can be quite expensive, but other things can be done relatively cheaply and go a long way toward enticing a buyer. Of course if you want to enjoy the fruits of a more extensive renovation or addition then this report will help you determine where you will get the most bang for your buck.

http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/articles/2008/0812_costvsvalue_2008

Call or email me anytime for all your real estate needs.

November Home Sales Soar in Dallas Fort Worth Area

2009-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

November 2009 homes sales in North Texas including the Dallas/Ft Worth market increased by 31 percent over 2008 a recent study shows. Fueled by the fear of the home buyer tax credit expiring buyers were out in force in October to capitalizee on the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit. Now it has been extended until the end of April 2010 and a $6,500 tax credit for eligible home owners wanting to make a move up or down being added. With intereste rates incredibly low, and the tax credit the time to buy a home has never been better. See the article here:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/homecenter/realestate/stories/120809dnbizhomesales.32d657683.html

Call me with any of your real estate needs at 972-393-9334, or email me at Wes.Ashworth@verizon.net.

Foreclosures Are Down In Dallas and Denton Counties for 2009

2009-12-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not foreclosures are actually down in Dallas and Denton Counties from 2008 to 2009. Read about it in this article from the Dallas Morning News.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/homecenter/realestate/stories/112509dnbusforeclosures.2ea7574f1.html

If you or anyone you know would like to benefit from my real estate consultation please give me a call at 972-393-9604. I've been helping people and families buy and sell homes for over a decade. Let me show you how easy it can be to buy or sell a homes in the DFW area. Visit me at www.WesAshworth.com.

DFW Area Map of Home Sales Statitistics

2009-12-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

Interested in knowing what has happened recently as far as home sales activity in your area? Then check out this link. Learn what your area has been doing, then call me if you would like more in depth information or a comparative market analysis for you home.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/graphics/homesales/

You can always visit my website at www.WesAshworth.com and search for homes for sale or lease in all of North Texas.

New Homes Sales On The Rise

2009-12-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

Sales of new homes rose in September from a year ago for several markets in the U.S. including in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Here is a link to the Dallas Morning News article by Steve Blow with the details. Searching for a home or selling your home can be made easy with a Certified Residential Specialist on your side. Give me a call with all your real estate questions or if you know of anyone thinking of buying or selling a home.

Article link http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NEW_HOME_SALES?SITE=TXDAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=BUSINESS.html&CTIME=2009-11-25-10-20-20

Homes Sales Up In September and Area MLS Map

2009-11-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

The trend in encouraging in most of the country, including North Texas for homes sales. The link below is a worth while read. Check it out and while there click on the MLS Area Map to see how things are going in your area(s) of interest. Search for homes in DFW at http://www.wesashworth.com/.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/homecenter/realestate/stories/102409dnbusushomesales.14438c8.html

Affordable Renovations for Home Owners

2009-11-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Renovations that bring the most bang for the buck are not always easy to figure out. The link below is to an article which will help you determine which home improvements will reap the biggest return on investment from a monetary standpoint. Of course don't overlook the enjoyment value of a dollar spent. And, when considering improvements with the homes resale in mind you will want to reconsider those color schemes and bolder designs. It's fine to renovate to a particular style, but remember you may be limiting your buyer pool when it comes time to sell the home. So, you may want to consider what would go into putting it back to appeal to the masses.

http://www.newsgeni.us/articles/10_Affordable_Home_Makeover_Ideas.html

Search for homes in Dallas County Texas, Denton County Texas, Tarrant County Texas, and Collin County Texas, by city with just one click of the mouse at www.WesAshworth.com.

Homes Sales Were Up In September from Year Ago

2009-11-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

Things are looking up. Nationwide home sales were up in September from a year ago. Check out the article by clicking the hyperlink below. Search for homes in are parts of Dallas/Fort Worth, Coppell, Southlake, Flower Mound, Plano, Frisco, Lewisville, and more with one click at www.WesAshworth.com.

National Home Sales http://www.newsgeni.us/articles/Existing_Home_Sales_Jump_9-4_in_September.html

Home Values in North Texas have Turned the Corner!

2009-10-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

The latest S&P Case Shiller Home Price Index Report on home prices in the U.S. shows North Texas, primarily the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan market has turned the corner. Home prices are down a scant 1.6% for the period June through July of this year. This is the lowest figure in the country. Read the article by clicking the link below. It says that Home Sales in North Texas have seen the worst of the recession and downturn in the housing market. Things are looking up!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/homecenter/realestate/stories/093009dnbuscaseshiller.c8b019.html

Please visit my website www.WesAshworth.com to search for homes in the DFW area including Homes for Sale Coppell, Southlake, Irving, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, Grapevine, Keller and more.

FHA Down Payment Amount Going Up?

2009-10-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

There is a proposal being floated around U. S. Congress to raise the FHA Down Payment amount to 5% of a homes purchase price. It gets worse. The bill would also disallow inclusion of closing costs with FHA loans. Passage would mean thousands of people struggling to save enough for a downpayment would be shut out, or delayed in buying their dream home.

For more information follow this link: http://http//www.housingwire.com/2009/10/06/bill-raises-required-down-payment-to-5-for-fha-loans/

To search for homes in Coppell, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Irving, Southlake, Grapevine, Plano, Frisco, Highland Village, Trophy Club, Keller, Carrollton, Little Elm and many other cities in Texas go to http://www.wesashworth.com/. With just one click you can see all the available homes in multiple listing service MLS for every real estate company.

Dallas Homes Prices Strongest in Nation!

2009-10-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Optimistically speaking home prices in North Texas which includes the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex are doing well. I say this even though prices are down 1.6 percent since the same month last year. Why? Because that is the lowest decline in the United States for the same period according to Steve Brown in his article in the DMN this week. See the link below for the complete story.

Some areas of the DFW area are doing quite well mostly due to the lower number of homes on the market like parts of North Dallas, Coppell, Plano, and others. There are also some real good deals on homes in other parts of the metroplex like Southlake, Frisco, Flower Mound, Keller, Far North Fort Worth, and almost everywhere on the south side of the metroplex.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/homecenter/realestate/stories/093009dnbuscaseshiller.c8b019.html

As always give me a call or send an email for assistance with all your real estate needs. And, don't forget to visit my website www.WesAshworth.com to search for homes for sale, no matter what real estate company has them listed. All homes are available on www.WesAshworth.com.

Shop For Plano Texas Homes and Real Estate and Real Eatate For Sale

2009-09-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

I am committed to making your home search easy. Today I have created an easy link for Plano Real Estate Listings.

Check it Out:
http://www.wesashworth.com/Homes/TX/Denton/Plano/Plano_Real_Estate_Listings.html?aid=017500015

Just Listed Real Estate For Sale In The Dallas Metroplex

2009-09-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Finding new listings in the Dallas Metroplex is easy when you use wesasworth.com.

View Just Listed and Recently Listed Homes for Sale in Dallas.

or visit

http://www.wesashworth.com/listings/query.php?newlisting=yes&aid=017500015&oid=017500000&temp=1193&aname=Wes+Ashworth&aimg=1&agent_hasfeat=6&

J D Power Ratings for New Home Builders

2009-09-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the J.D.Power Study of New Home Builders. This article gives ratings of the top three builders in the major U.S. markets including Dallas. If you are thinking of buying a new construction home in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton or Collin Counties then check it out. But, do yourself a favor. Before you take any real action in this area call me! Also, check out my website:

www.WesAshworth.com

Here is the JD Power link to download the PDF

Search and Find Texas Real Estate Listings For Sale -

2009-09-23T20:34:00.001-07:00

Check Out My Updated Real Estate Website...

2009-09-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Make sure to check out my updated Real Estate website at www.wesashworth.com. I recently updated my home page's look and feel as well as added some important links to help you find the home of your dreams. Let me know what you think.

Real Estate Corner...

2009-09-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Corner…

Q. We’re planning to move to a new city in a few months. How should we go about finding the right area and home?

A. When moving to a new city, it’s often difficult to know your ideal area to live. Many personal factors contribute to the “right” home or neighborhood. They include schools, housing costs, home styles, population density, crime rates, convenience of location to your workplace, recreation, and more.

The first step is to start with the big picture. Some families like to live in rural areas, others like the city. Don’t forget to consider proximity to your work. Once you have decided what is important in your surroundings, you can contact local school districts for information about schools, libraries, recreation, and local law enforcement agencies for crime rates. This will help narrow the general parameters of your ideal area to live.

You also can research specific cities or neighborhoods at www.realtor.com. The site will help you search for a neighborhood similar in characteristics to your current neighborhood, or search by specific criteria such as home pricing and specific features or styles of homes.

It’s also a good idea to spend time in areas that interest you and see where you feel most “at home.” Talking to long-time residents of the city where you are moving is always helpful. They usually have insights about housing style, amenities, schools, and other factors.

Your REALTOR® Wes Ashworth is a great resource and can help you find a home that meets your personal criteria. If you are thinking of selling or buying soon, and require competent and caring representation, please call me at
(972) 393-9604.

How Planets Got Their Names

2009-09-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

How Planets Got Their Names

Have you ever wondered how the planets in our solar system got their names? Like the names of days of the week, they were named after Roman and Greek gods. For example…

➢ Mercury was named for the winged Roman deity of travel because it moved through the sky so rapidly.
➢ Venus is the namesake of the Roman goddess of love because it was considered the brightest and most beautiful heavenly body.
➢ Mars, with its angry red color, was named for the Roman god of war.
➢ Jupiter was given the name of the king of the Roman gods because it is the largest planet in the sky.
➢ Saturn was the Roman god of farming and the father of Jupiter.
➢ Uranus bears the name of the Greek god of the sky.
➢ Neptune, a blue planet, was named for the Roman god of the sea.
➢ Pluto, the smallest planet in our solar system and farthest from the sun, was named after the Roman god of the underworld, who was able to make himself invisible.

From Wes Ashworth's Service For Life Newsletter

Thinking of Selling Your Texas Home?

2009-09-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Thinking Of Selling Your Texas Home Soon?

Don’t attempt to sell your home without contacting me first. I’d be happy to come over and talk with you about taking the necessary steps to get your home ready to put it on the market and provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis for your neighborhood. Call Wes Ashworth at (972) 393-9604.

From Wes Ashworth's Service For Life Newsletter

2009-09-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

How To Protect Your Family From Harmful TV

Is your family being exposed to inappropriate TV programs? The television rating system designed in 1997 was supposed to help people monitor the viewing habits of their families. But, does the system really work?

According to the rating guidelines, all programs except news, sports, and premium channel movies are required to display an on-screen rating. The rating system can be a very useful tool if you understand it and recognize its flaws.

Television ratings have been divided into six categories. For the sake of your family, you must educate yourself on the requirements of each category so that you can determine which programs are appropriate for your children.
➢ TVY – Appropriate for all ages of children. So innocent it wouldn’t even frighten a small child.
➢ TVY7 – Appropriate for children ages seven and above. These programs usually include mild violence.
➢ TVG – Appropriate for both adults and children. They usually contain limited or no violence, no strong language, and no sexual content.
➢ TVPG – Parental Guidance is suggested. The program may have some violence, crude language, or sexual content. It also may have an overall theme that is too mature for young children.
➢ TV14 – Parents are strongly cautioned when letting children under 14 view these programs. They may have mature themes, violence, sex, and strong language.
➢ TVM – For mature audiences only. Due to their overall mature content, these programs are meant for adults only.

The rating system has some major flaws. One is that programs are only required to show the rating at the beginning. So, if you tune in mid-show, you won’t know the rating of the program you’re watching. Second, the ratings are inconsistent because producers are allowed to rate their own shows. Thus, the producer’s interpretation of the guidelines may vary from your own. Finally, the TV rating system designates age groups for which the program is appropriate. But, unless it contains an “extra-defining content rating” you can’t tell specifically what offensive items it contains. Watch for content ratings of V for violence, S for sexual content, L for strong language, D for sexual dialogue, and FV for fantasy/cartoon violence.

Many newer TV’s are equipped with the “magical” V-chip, which helps monitor what is being viewed. But, if the ratings are skewed because of one of the mentioned flaws, your family may still be viewing shows you would categorize as inappropriate. Most watchdogs suggest the V-chip not be trusted to screen out all inappropriate programming. Adult supervision is still the best screening device. You can visit www.fcc.gov/vchip/ for more information on this subject.

Deciding what shows your family watches is a challenge. Think about your family’s reaction to specific content. For instance, if your older children are unable to handle strong language, you may need to steer them toward programs rated for younger children. Programs need to be chosen based on the maturity level of the viewer, not the chronological age. For assistance in choosing appropriate programming visit www.tvguidelines.org.

Links to Find Dallas County Real Estate

2009-09-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

Coppell Texas Real Estate Search Made Easy!

2009-09-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

Searching for Coppell Real Estate and Property Listings? Find what you are looking for by using the following Texas Real Estate and Homes for Sale resources:

coppell-texas-real-estate-and-homes-for-sale.com
coppell-real-estate-and-homes-for-sale.com

More Real Estate Resources At WesAshworth.com

The Best Time To Buy A Home Is Now

2009-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

There has never been a better time to buy a home especially for First Time Home Buyers. Or, more acturately someone who has not owned their own home for at least 3 years. In my blog post below from September 17th you will find a link to qualifications for the tax credit. Check it out.

Now interest rates have fallen even further from the great rates of just a month ago.

http://www.newsgeni.us/articles/Rates_Down_for_Third_Straight_Week.html

Combine the Tax Credit with Great Interest Rates and this makes for a perfect time to buy a home. You can't say I didn't tell you!

For more information go to www.WesAshworth.com.

$8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers

2009-09-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

TIME to take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is RUNNING OUT! This program is currently set to expire November 30th. You must close the purchase of a home by this date. We in the real estate profession are lobbying congress hard to extend this program, but we can’t count on it. So, don’t take a chance and miss out on this super opportunity to own your own home. TAKE ACTION NOW!
You could just take my word for it, but don’t.

Here is a link to a short YouTube video explaining the program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2leBqxcwhvI
Here is a link to a CNN Money article about the program.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/real_estate/homebuyer_tax_credit_finalized/index.htm
Here is a link to the Federal Housing Tax Credit webpage which outlines program eligibility.
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/faq.php

The truth is that with this program you can move into a home that you own, cheaper than a new rental property. Call me and I will explain how!!!!

Great deal in The Colony, Texas!

2009-03-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

You can own nearly 2,000 square feet in the Cedars at Stewart Peninsula subdivision for less than $170,000.

Click here to view more photos and details

This beautiful home was built in 2002, and offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The island kitchen is open and connects to the large family room. It offers convenient appliances like a built-in microwave, self-clean electric range, and rich wood cabinets.

You have to see the dual-vanity master bath complete with jetted garden tub, and the screened-in, covered back porch. Contact Wes Ashworth to schedule a showing.

The Colony, Texas is a beautiful lake-side city in Denton County, directly north of Carrollton, northwest of Plano, and southwest of Frisco.

Click here to search additional homes and real estate for sale in The Colony, Texas.

Welcome to the Wes Ashworth Real Estate Blog

2009-01-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

Hello, I am Wes Ashworth, Real Estate Specialist in the Greater Dallas Texas Area. I have recently launched www.wesashworth.com to help you with your Texas Real Estate Search. You can also check this blog often for up-to-date Real Estate Market conditions. Don't hesitate to contact me for any of your Texas Real Estate Needs.

You can use several tools on WesAshworth.com to help you find Real Estate and Homes for Sale in Texas:

Popular Real Estate Searches Include:

Other Tools on WesAshworth.com Include: