Anatole's "Sparkle" Ups the Game This Christmas

This holiday season will certainly be one to remember as the Hilton Anatole is set to roll on the newest addition to it's annual Christmas at the Anatole series, "Sparkle". From an ice skating rink built to resemble a pond, to a live stage featuring popular local acts, "Sparkle" is this year's must-see Christmas attraction. Visit http://www.christmasattheanatole.com/index.html for details on sceduled events including appearances from Dallas Stars players, and special pricing on room packages!

"Sparkle" starts Friday November 29th and runs through January 4th

Inventory on the Rise, Rates Staying Low

Housing inventory is beginning to rise again in North Texas after hitting an all-time low in the third quarter of 2013. But while many feared that the shaky position the Fed has taken on it's tapering of quantitative easement would cause rates to rise in consistent fashion, this has not been the case. Rates are staying low as more homes are beginning to come available and will likely cause more buyer's to enter to game early in the new year. If these are signs of what's to come, look for 2014 to be another record-setting year in real estate!

Walkability a Major Factor for New Home Buyers

One of the most important factos for home buyers is the community in which they choose to live, and research by the National Association of Realtors® has consistently revealed that Americans prefer walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and shorter commutes. NAR’s 2013 Community Preference Survey suggests that 60 percent of respondents enjoy neighborhoods with a mix of houses and stores and other businesses that are easy to walk to.

Survey responders were even willing to sacrifice the size of their new home for a more walkable area.. While 52 percent of respondents prefered a single-family detached house with a large yard, 78 percent said that the neighborhood is more important to them than the size of the house.

When asked to identify their ideal community, the most popular choice was a suburban neighborhood with a mix of houses, shops and businesses. The least popular was a suburban neighborhood with just houses.

When it came to commuting concerns, 41 percent said improving public transportation would be the best solution, while 29 percent would prefer the development of communities where people do not have to drive long distances to work or shop, and 20 percent would choose building new roads.

The survey of 1,500 adult Americans was conducted by American Strategies and Meyers Research from September 18-24, 2013.

Get the Most Bang For Your Remodeling Buck!

Not all upgrades are created equal. Here are the five home improvements that yield the highest returns!

1. Wood Flooring- Probably the most popular upgrade in recent years, swapping your downstairs tile and carpet mixture for hardwood will increase your home's interior appeal tenfold. In today's uber -competitive seller's market, this can be the difference between a bidding war and being overlooked entirely.

2. Entry Door Replacement- Replacing your stock front door with a steel model not only ups your home's curb appeal, it can also cut energy costs and provides 102.1% average payback when it's time to sell.

3. Kitchen Upgrades- Whether it's granite counter tops or state-of-the-art appliances, very few things turn a buyer's head like a fabulous kitchen. But be sure to consult your local real estate expert before upgrading. Kitchen trends are ever-evolving and it's important to what's "In" and what's "SO last year."

4. Master Bath Remodel- A luxurious master bath is every homeowner's dream. Be careful not to go overboard here. Overly personal installations can hurt resale value. Shower and floor re-tiling, adding a double-vanity, or swapping that old tub for a modern counterpart are some ideas that will appeal to the masses.

5. Wood Deck- With the long summer in Texas, having an outdoor escape can transform your backyard from wasted space into a major selling point. Not only will your home stand out among the competition, sellers can expect an average 90% return rate at the time of sale.

The Decision

A hush came over the crowd of assembled policy makers and media representatives September 18th as Fed Chairman Ben Bernake took the stage to announce, as reported for months prior, the tapering of the purchase of Treasury Bonds. A program the department has used as a way of  nursing the economy back to health.

Only he didn't.

Instead, the rumored $5-$40 billion monthly reduction in bond buying has been pushed back at least until the committee reconvenes in December.What does this mean for the real estate market? In the shadow of the announcement of the Fed's plans to taper buying, mortgage interest rates rose to a two-year high and refinances dropped 70% from the previous year. But in the wake of the hold-off, rates have dipped sharply to a 9-week low as of September 30th.

Those looking to buy can expect a reprieve from their anxiety over rates as they should remain competitive for the time being. This however, is positive news for sellers alike, with buyers no longer fearing getting priced out of this year's historically hot market, home values should keep from slipping as a result of depleted buying power.

While uncertainty remains as to the whens and ifs of the still-expected taper, for now homeowners and buyers alike will enjoy the atmospheric attributes that made this summer such a historic one in real estate. With the combination of comparatively low interest rates and equally low inventory, the metaphorical perfect storm is likely to continue into the coming year. But for homeowners looking for value appreciation over the next half-decade, only time will tell.

Home Sales Hit Record High!

The National Association of Realtors reported today that existing-home sales have reached their highest point in six and a half years! This surely do in large part to rising interest rates convincing on-the-fence buyers that now is the time to make their move.

Inventory at the end of August had increased 0.4  percent to 2.25 million homes, at the current rate of sales, this represents a 4.9 month supply. That's slightly down from five months in July and six months a year before that. Home are flying off the shelves and volume is predicted to stay high as interest rates threaten to jump. Down get left out in the cold, if you're on the fence about purchasing your new home, now is the time!