Exciting times at Chandler Crouch Realtors! We've been featured in a number of recent stories via local news outlets. We're happy to be in a position to help so many people.   Lauren Zakalik with WFAA Channel 8 interviewed Chandler on May 17th about the tax increases in Tarrant County, and what Chandler Crouch Realtors is doing to help the local community. You can read that story in its entirety and watch Chandler's interview with Lauren by clicking here.   When some folks found out that their homestead exemptions dropped from their TAD appraisal without warning, CBS's Jason Allen stepped in to help get the story out. Click here to read more and watch Chandler's interview.   In a follow up to WFAA's story on what Chandler Crouch Realtors is doing to help out local homeowners, Jason Wheeler invited Chandler to do a live interview on WFAA Channel 8 to discuss what homeowners should do to get their taxes lowered. To view that video, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page, and play the last video on the page titled "Is it worth it: How to fight your property taxes assessment."   We're thrilled to be able to provide a service like this to our local community!

Register on FreeTaxProtest.com and let us do the rest, all for FREE!    There are 3 levels of protest Automated online protest through the Tarrant Appraisal District website Informal in-person protest (no appointment needed, just walk into TAD's office) Formal Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing (file a protest on the back of your blue value notice)   Go HERE to begin your Protest Since releasing the video, we have helped thousands of homeowners and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars... all for FREE! Not only that, we were able to figure out the formula that TAD is using. Now, we're helping people get, what we believe to be, is the lowest possible value.  Links and Resources in Video Will protesting hurt my resale value What is the difference between Market Value and Appraised Value Checklist to find and fix property condition issues Use this property tax calculator to see exactly how much the change in value affects your wallet Get our 10 minute $5 brick mortar crack repair secret 

I was completely shocked and honored to see this. This company does a 50 point inspection reviewing customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, and cost to find the best practitioners in an industry.  They selected US!!! Chandler Crouch Reatlors is in the TOP 3 Realtors in Fort Worth! I just have to say thank you to the best clients on earth and thank you to the best team on earth!!! I feel humbled and honored. Check it out: https://threebestrated.com/real-estate-agents-in-fort-worth-tx          

There is quite a controversy surrounding a proposed 27 acre, 35 court private Birth Tennis Club at Rocky Top Ranch built by Taylor Dent will include two large bubble domes to provide a weather proof tennis facility for its members. The proposed development will be located in Keller near Johnson and Keller Smithfield Road. Opposition was so strong that the Keller City Council is now required to have a super majority (6 out of 7 votes) to approve the project.  The entire opposition of the Keller Bubble seems to be about property values. Will this create enough of an eye sore to detour people from buying houses in the area?In real estate the way we value residential property is through a “sales comparison approach.” We look at previous sales of properties that compare ("comps") with the subject property. That's all you have to do in this situation.Only 2 large bubble-like structures come to mind.Comparable Example 1:Valley Ranch Dallas Cowboys inflatable structure built 2003 (same one that collapsed in 2009):Median Sales price in 2003: $190kMedian Sales price today: $415k218% increaseComparable Example 2:The dome in Argyle TX for Cross Timbers Church built approx 2003Median Sales price in 2003: : $255kMedian Sales price today: $452k177% increaseCompare that with the entire Dallas Fort Worth metroplex:2003: $130kToday: $234k180% increaseA couple things to note:It’s impossible to isolate the 1 variable of installing an inflatable dome. Many other factors affect market value. I just think if you compare enough of these markets, you’ll be able to know whether or not installing an inflatable structure correlates with reduced increase in property values. Causation is different than correlation, but its the best we’ve got.Every inflatable structure is different. Valley Ranch was significantly more attractive than Cross Timbers. Distance and proximity of residential housing to the inflatable structure may also matter.Another thing, you just aren’t going to find a private tennis club in a low-class area. There is a status appeal to living near something like this. My hypothesis is that putting the inflatable structures closer to the interior of their 26 acre lot would be sufficient to mitigate any negative effect on property values. There are also many different types of inflatable structure products. Requiring a more attractive version may be in both parties best interest.  I'm not for or against the project. I'm 100% for the community. I just think if both sides work together, the community will benefit greatly. There's bound to be a middle ground in the situation.If you’re interested in learning more about the real estate market, check out this market analysis I recently did for North Fort Worth area.  If you have questions about the Dome or its effect on local property values, please feel free to contact me.Chandler Crouch, Broker / Owner Author of Proven Strategies to Sell Your House for Top Dollar

Dave Ramsey Real Estate ELP and Advice | Fort Worth Texas If you're thinking about buying or selling a home, it would be smart to do your homework and make the best decision you can for your finances. Any real estate transaction you have is going to be among the largest financial transactions of your entire life. The funny thing is, some people actually put more time into thining about what they're going to have for dinner than they do about planning to enter the real estate transaction with a smart financial plan.  There are plenty of financial advisors that will give you advice on how to buy a house. From Suze Orman, Clark Howard, David Bach, Robert Kiyosake, to Dave Ramsey. Everybody has an opinion. I've studied them all. These people are full of wisdom. I tend to think, if you are the kind of person that is going to research and submit yourself to the authroity of a set of guiding principles, you're going to probably be ok no matter who you listen to. The folks that really get themselves into trouble are the ones that don't seek any kind of guidance whatsoever. With that being said, I am quite partial to Dave Ramsey. He teaches based on Biblical principles, which is important to me, and he just doesn't give advice that is questionable. He is very conservative, and for this reason, it's difficult to fault him for anything except being too conservative. I'm ok with this. In December 2007 I found myself in a position, as a result of paying a LOT of dummy tax, in debt up to $300,000, much of which was revolving credit (business unsecured lines of credit). It is only because of adhearing to the principles that Dave Ramsey teaches that I can now say I'm on baby step #7 and I'm DEEEEEEEEEEEEEBBBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! (he features callers on his radio show yelling "I'm debt free." That was my version of yelling in text). Where to begin? The best first step would be to just call my office. There is far too much to share on a blog post. We can tailer a plan of action according to Dave's principles as demanded by your specific uniqe situation. Our number is 817-381-3800 or email at hello@chandlercrouch.com If you'd like to self study, these are good resources to begin with:   Dave Ramsey Mortgage Do's and Don'ts  You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to financing the purchase of your home. Dave doesn’t recommend most of them, but it’s a good idea to know what’s out there and why you need to avoid some of the more popular mortgage options. Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) ARMs hook homebuyers with a low initial rate, then, after a designated period, the rate fluctuates for the remainder of the life of the loan. This kind of loan actually transfers the risk of rising interest rates to you, the homeowner. Right now, interest rates are incredibly low, and they have been for some time. But once rates start to adjust, there’s only one direction they can go: up! This risk makes an ARM one of the worst mortgage options available. Do not finance your home with an ARM. Federal Housing Administration Loan (FHA) FHA mortgages are backed by the government, which means the government insures the bank so it won’t lose its money if you don’t make your payments. You can qualify for an FHA loan with a down payment as low as 3%. But new regulations require you to keep private mortgage insurance (PMI) for the life of the loan. PMI can cost around $100 a month per $100,000 borrowed.   Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loans designed to make it easier for our country’s military veterans to purchase homes are a great idea in theory, but the program falls short in practice. VA loans are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and allow veterans to purchase a home with practically no down payment. VA loans also have lot of fees, and interest rates are usually higher than those for conventional loans. Buying the Right Way The best way to buy a home is to pay cash for it—the 100% down plan. It sounds unrealistic, but people do it every day. And not just those with super-deep pockets. Many save for years to achieve their goal. If you’re going to buy a home with a mortgage, you need to be on Baby Step 3, debt-free with a three- to six-month emergency fund in place. In Baby Step 3b, save up your down payment—at least 10%, but 20% will allow you to avoid PMI payments. Your home loan should be a conventional, fixed-rate mortgage with a 15-year (or less) term. Do not get a 30-year mortgage! A $175,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% interest rate will cost you $68,000 more over the life of the loan than a 15-year mortgage will. That’s a lot of money you could use to build up your retirement fund or save for your kids’ college.   Your monthly payment should not exceed 25% of your take-home pay. Any more than that will tie up too much of your income and slow your progress through the remaining Baby Steps. House Hunt With a Pro Once you have your bases covered financially, it’s time to start house hunting. Talk with a professional agent about your financial goals so they can help you find a home that fits your budget. (Call Chandler Crouch Realtors at 817-381-3800)   Take Control of Your Money One Step at a Time Building a new future with money is a lot like building a home. You don't add the roof until you've finished framing, and you don't frame until the foundation is secure. Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps are designed to help you out of debt and stress and into a life of saving and giving. We're all in different places with money. Start right where you are and get where you want to be. Know-how is 20% of the equation. Behavior change and self-discipline make up the other 80%. You can do it! Just follow the steps. Here's The Process: $1,000 to Start an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is for those unexpected events in life you can't plan for. Whether there's a plumbing issue and everything but the kitchen sink is draining, or your brakes are squealing at every stop sign, you can be ready! Pay Off All Debt but the House List all debts but the house in order. The smallest balance should be your number one priority. Don't worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs. If that's the case, then list the higher interest rate debt first. 3 to 6 Months of Expenses in Savings This step is all about building a full emergency fund. It's time to kick debt for good, with 3–6 months' worth of emergency savings. Sit down and calculate how much you need to live on for 3–6 months (for most that's between $10,000–15,000) and start saving to protect yourself against life's bigger surprises like the loss of a job. You'll never be in debt again—no matter what comes your way. Invest 15% of Household Income Into Retirement Now it's time to get serious about retirement. With no payments and a full emergency fund, put 15% toward the retirement of your dreams. Between your 401(k), Roth IRA, and Traditional IRA, you have a lot of options. Find the fit that is right for you. The money you were using to attack debt can now help build your future. College Funding for Children College tuitions and housing expenses continue to rise. Don't let college sneak up on you. Saving now will put you ahead of the game when your kids graduate from high school. Two smart ways to save for your kids' college are a 529 college savings fund or an ESA (education savings account). These are both tax-advantaged savings vehicles that let you save money for your kids' education expenses. Pay Off Home Early It takes the average family five to seven years to pay their home off early. Just imagine life with no mortgage. There's only one more debt standing in the way of freedom from all debt! Apply all the extra money toward paying off your home. Not only are you paying off your home early, you'll be saving tens of thousands of dollars in interest fees. Build Wealth and Give This is the last step and by far the most fun. It's time to live and give like no one else! Build wealth, become insanely generous, and leave an inheritance for future generations. You know what people with no debt and no payments can do? Anything they want! Now that's leaving a legacy. Great, So Where Do I Start? The first step in taking control of your money is to create some cushion between you and life's little emergencies. Start by getting $1,000 in savings. It's easier than you think, and it's absolutely worth it. Most people can do it in a month or less, and these tools can help you get started.   Dave Ramsey Background and Bio - Dave's Story   

How To Find Senior (or 55+) Housing Your first step will be to make a plan on what to do with your current house. We specialize in helping seniors. Contact us for a free home valuation and to map out the best strategic plan to maximize your return and have a smooth hassle free transition into housing that fits your needs 817-381-3800 hello@chandlercrouch.com The term "Senior Housing" is really too broad to accurately describe exactly what you're looking for. If you are uncertain about exactly what kind of housing you need, please scroll down to see "What is Senior Housing." However, when people ask me about Senior Housing, they are usually looking for a retirement community or housing that specifically caters to senior citizens offering additional amenities, socialization opportunities, and a cruise-like atmosphere. One of the best 55+ housing developments I've ever seen is Robson Ranch. This is a master-planned active adult community with clubs, classes, and social opportunities like no place I've ever seen. Villas of Stone Glen is another housing development in Keller Texas that is 55+ restricted. Developed by Epcon Communities, the neighborhood will host 115 single family homes from 1607-2000sqft. Amenities include a 3000sqft clubhouse with exercise room, multipurpose event room, media area, and kitchen. Year built construction dates range from 2013-Present and house prices range from the low $300's to mid $400's. If you would like a tour of the premesis or to view the interior of any homes, please give us a call at 817-381-3800. If you are more interested in leasing, take a look at this list of local apartments and additional housing options at a more affordable price: Heritage Senior Living 877-757-1003 701 Heritage Way, Hurst, TX 76053 http://www.seniorhousingnet.com/seniorliving-detail/heritage-senior-living-ltd_701-heritage-way_hurst_tx_76053-564346 Rent: $1389-$1689 Sqft: 810-1204 Services offered: 1 and 2 bedroom floor plans. Wait list for 1 bedrooms. Smoke-free. rent includes continental breakfast, coffee bar, membership to Hurst Senior Center (community shares parking lot), aerobic classes at pool, and discounted At&T package (resident pays $25 and community pays any additional. normal bill is $80), travel to Winstar for $10. pets are allowed for a small monthly fee. Residents pay for electric, water, trash Evergreen at Keller 817-741-6000 501 Bourland Rd, Keller, TX 76248 http://www.evergreenkeller.com/ Rent: $730-$882 Sqft: 700-925 Services offered: floor plans include 1 and 2 bedroom options. Only 2 rent rates. No wait list. Smoke Free. Rent includes bus to grocery store every Tuesday, computer room with printer, community organized activities including fitness 5 days a week, bingo, computer classes, library on site, games nights etc.   Conservatory at Keller Town Center 682-593-2742 200 Country Brook Dr, Keller, TX 76248 http://www.conservatoryseniorliving.com/ Rent: Waiting to confirm Sqft: 717-1110 Services offered: LM for sales team. Unable to get questions answered immediately. 1 and 2 bedroom floor plans. Kitchen in unit or full menu dining service. Professional team onsite 24 hours a day.   Silver Ridge Assisted Living (and Independent Living Cottages) 817-517-3826 5314 Bransford Rd, Colleyville, TX 76034 http://www.sedonavillageseniorliving.com/ Rent: $2,700-$3,500 Sqft: 500-700 (approx) Services offered: 6 month minimum lease which can be canceled if medical conditions change. 4 total units with no wait list studio or 1 bedroom only. Can participate in assisted living activities such as bingo, but nothing really set up for independent living people. Units include with rent all utilities, internet, phone, complimentary meals 3 times a day (kitchen is available in the unit), snacks and beverages, weekly housekeeping, weekly medication set up (such as pill boxes), bed linens laundered, and more.  Sedona Village 817-232-9300 2800 Sedona Ranch Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76131 http://www.sedonavillageseniorliving.com/ Rent: $600-$880 Sqft: 716-1007 Services offered: 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom floorplans. Tax based credit property for fixed income seniors. Rent rates vary depending on what you qualify for. Waitlist also varies. Can be added to waitlist from a short phone call. 2 person income cap to qualify is $33,480. ! person income cap is $29,280. Have activities every day that are mostly resident run. 3 waitlists for 30%, 50% and 60% reduction. 30% has a 3 yr wait-list, 60% has a 1-3 month waitlist. cost of 1 bedroom at 30% is 339/month, 50% 600/month, 60% 731/month. 2 bedrooms at 30% is 409/month, 50% 723/month and 60% is 880/month. No application fee, but $100 deposit for 1 bedroom or $200 deposit for 2 bedroom. Pets under 35 pounds are allowed for $250 deposit and $15/mo rent What is Senior Housing or 55+ Housing? The first step is to accurately define exactly what you're looking for. After you do this, the search gets easier. Obviously, some of these are housing situations you probably wouldn't choose for yourself (eg Alzheimer care). This information might be helpful for someone trying to care for an aging parent. If you are looking at this for personal needs, the more education we have about different types of living situations, the better we can accurately communicate our future wishes and desires to our loved ones that may be helping care for us in the future. Doing a little homework in advance is an incredibly loving and generous gift you can give to those that you may depend on at some point. Here is a list of different kinds of Senior Housing terms and what they mean: CCRC - Seniors buy-in for care for the rest of their lives. Includes all levels of care from independent living to skilled nursing care in one location. In Home Senior Care - This can include anything from scheduling entertainment to Hospice supervision in your own home. Lowest cost if only need for part of the day. Usually requires a family member / friend as the primary caregiver Retirement community - Own or rent in a community just for seniors. Access to social activities, valet services and often an emergency call system. Other terms that might be considered retirement communities are: Senior Co-op Congregational Active Senior Senior Apartments - Total freedom with access to other seniors Independent Living - Total freedom with access to other seniors, entertainment, and emergency help Respite Care - Includes a wide range of temporary care in a facility Assisted Living - Personal Care Homes (PCM's - unique to certain states) care including ADL's plus help with medication and finance (paying bills). Often includes more socialization Personal Care Home - Help with meals, hygiene, entertainment, and transportation Dementia / Alzheimer Care - Assisted living plus high level of daily supervision Nursing Home - Rehabilitation and 24 hr supervision by a skilled nurse Hospice Care - End-of-life support at home or at a special care facility   Call us today to get help on mapping out a plan on what to do with your current house. We specialise in helping seniors. Contact us for a free home valuation and to map out the best strategic plan to maximize your return and have a smooth hassle free transition into housing that fits your needs 817-381-3800 hello@chandlercrouch.com

Click here to get a home repair checklist or scroll down for brick repair secrets.     Brick Mortar Crack Repair   The Problem If you're selling your home and have a crack in your brick, buyers will assume the worst and go buy another house. They don't assume they can fix the issue. They just move on. This can cost you thousands.  What to Buy   Use pre-mixed sanded tile grout, not mortar repair. Mortar repair usually has only 3 different color options. Sanded tile grout usually offers 20+ color options, which allows you to color match to near perfection. Also, sanded tile grout is suitable for swimming pools, showers, and exterior uses because it is highly weather resistant, and the texture is virtually identical. Brand doesn’t matter much. Any home improvement store will have a nice selection, however each store will carry different color selections due to available inventory. They come in quart or gallon size buckets. Get quart size. See the image below for colors we have found work well on most homes. The colors below with arrows are ones that work well on most homes. Purchase a few good colors. The biggest time waste is driving to the store. If you see all the ones I marked, buy them all. If you don’t see them all but you see something else that looks close (linen, earth, or another), by all means grab it too. Home Depot and Lowes have excellent return policies.   Application Instructions Put your artist hat on. Get an empty shallow sturdy container to serve as your palette. Scoop a spoonful of a brownish color and grey color onto the palette. Next mix the colors together in portions that would help you achieve the best match. Keep mixing the colors until it matches to 80% perfection. The color will appear slightly different after it has dried. Effective blending will mitigate any color match imperfections. Next, begin a test area by finding an inconspicuous area of the house, dip your finger in the mixed solution then run it along the mortar area (between the bricks). If you have several cracks, you may need gloves. As you drag your finger down the mortar line, the mix will naturally taper off and blend really well with the existing mortar color.   Cracks Running Through the Middle of a Brick Most of the time the thing that makes a crack stand out is the shadow inside the crack. If there is a small crack in the brick, fill the crack with a very small amount of the mortar solution. Just use a minimal amount so its not caked on. Then wipe off any excess. It’s always best to test a little area to see how it looks before covering a large area. Keep in mind, you know where the cracks were before you attempted to fix them, so you’ll always know exactly where to look to find the patch job. Someone that didn’t know where the crack was before your repair job likely won’t be able to find the repaired area if you did a good job matching colors and blending. Other Solutions: Sell As-Is - Get a Free Cash Offer on your Home Today: call or text 817-381-3800 Get our checklists and strategy on how to invest a little to get top dollar: call or text 817-381-3800 Plan ahead by getting an instant free home valuation      

The market in North Texas is hot. Watch this video for an complete market update:    

Chandler Crouch Realtors Ranked as 2017 Top Realtor by Fort Worth Magazine I am humbled to work with such a great team.  Fort Worth Magazine recognized us in their Top Realtor List for 2017! We are so honored to serve this community! I can't thank you enough for your support! It's truly our pleasure.        

Poorly Rated Schools in Keller ISD First, I just have to say, there really isn't such thing as a bad school in Keller ISD. Some may not be rated quite as high as another, but if you've ever been to a truly bad school, you'd this article is just focused on the difference between GREAT schools and BEST schools... lets proceed. School District Affecting the Heritage Subdivision Among Others Several people have contacted me recently asking about elementary school redistricting. I thought other people might appreciate the information so, here it is: Redrawing Cape Cod from Lonestar Elementary to Friendship Elementary Old news: Plans to redistrict the attendance zones were discontinued. The reason the plans were discontinued is because of your involvement at the public forums. Find forum agenda and the presentation they used here: https://goo.gl/eqEV2r Lonestar is however very full and the area is still growing, so they may propose this change again in the future. If I want to appeal to have boundary lines redrawn, what do I do? Waiting until the redistricting is proposed then attending the public forum will be the most effective route. Less effective (and possibly counterproductive) would be to contact Billy Kidd (contact info below). When do they notify of changes? One person told me it takes 1 year to fully pass. Previous meeting where the board of trustees voted on it was Nov 30. Previous dates for public forums were mid to late January held in the evening. How do they notify of changes? They do a press release, so news organizations pick it up and disseminate widely. If you have personal experience, please share how you found out and I’ll update this. Can I transfer my child? List of schools accepting transfers: https://goo.gl/DJuMCu Transfer application: https://goo.gl/1ygxSR Dates to submit application for fall semester: March 1 - April 30 (reviewed by June 21) Dates to submit application for spring semester: Oct 1 - Nov 30 (reviewed by Jan 14) They only allow transfers to certain schools. The list changes periodically. Even if your school is listed, transfers may still be denied. If the child has disciplinary issues or is trying to transfer to a school far away, odds are less likely they will be approved. Transferring from one school district to another (not just from one school to another inside the same district) requires a different process. If your child is granted a transfer, it can be rescinded due to academic issues, behavior issues, or changes in overcrowding. Communicate with the school principals about transfers For elementary: If class sizes are at 90%+ capacity, requests will likely be denied For questions email: leanne.shivers@kellerisd.net Address lookup - Which schools would this address go to?: https://goo.gl/jfroHU Feeder pattern - Which middle school and high school does my elementary schools feed to: https://goo.gl/74UXsx Who to talk to: You’re more than welcome to call me (Chandler Crouch). My team is happy to research to find answers. 817-381-3800 broker@chandlercrouch.com Billy Kidd is in charge of analyzing demographics and proposing redistricting billy.kidd@kellerisd.net, 817-744-3971 Hudson Huff was in charge until Billy took over, so he is familiar with the history of any redistricting that took place. hudson.huff@kellerisd.net Karen Davis is Hudson’s assistant: 817-744-3955 March 4, 2017 Update Lone Star rezoning. The change they were proposing wouldn't have immediately changed the overcrowding at the school. It was designed as a phase out that really wouldn't have had an impact for 5 years. They were basing it on saying homes were going to be built in the land next to the YMCA. That was proven to be false information because that land belongs to the Catholic church which still has plans to build a High School there. The demographer was basing his projection on A5 residential going there in about 5 years. It did not change just based on complaints If you're curious whats going on with the Catholic High School plans that you may have heard about for years, just wait, but don't hold your breath. The Catholic Diocese is still raising funds for it, and they don't plan on selling the land. March 3, 2017 Update: I just got some more information from the gentleman that is in charge of proposing changes. He has been very helpful: Boundaries are decided by the need to meet TEA requirements for number of students per class based on the population of the district.Boundaries can be adjusted to address highly populated areas, when space is available at existing campuses or by adding a new school and making adjustments.The conversation begins in house, is shared with the school board, and is presented to the community through public meetings. The School Board will vote on the boundary changes, if passed, it is put in place and communicated on the district website.Parents can request a campus transfer, those transfers are dependent on space availability K-12. A parent could send a request for a boundary change, but it’s subject to the information above #localcommunity #heritagesubdivision

This is exciting! I hope this never gets old. I found this in my inbox this morning:   After discussing real estate bubbles with superb journalist Andrew DePietro, he wrote 2 articles and used our company as a source! This guy writes incredibly well. See what Andrew has to say about real estate bubbles in his article 6 States With the Biggest Real Estate Bubbles. And the article Top 20 Cities Where Home Prices Are Skyrocketing. To get all my thoughts on real estate bubbles and how Texas is affected by the current economic conditions see the blog post Is TX in a Housing Bubble (and my forecast).

I wrote this in bullet point format to save you time. My take on housing: Employment and housing are related.  We have experienced way above average growth in employment, incomes, and overall prosperity and it’s reflected in home values increasing. Not to mention in a period before our boom home prices were essentially flat for 5 years. When people think of the TX economy oil is top of mind, however TX actually has a very nice range of diversity among various (less thought of) job sectors/industries - manufacturing, construction, trade/transportation, education, info/tech mining/logging, financial, leisure/hospitality/tourism. When one is doing poor others are great. The oil bust isn’t devastating for this reason. Housing is driven by supply and demand Demand: Twice as many people migrated to TX than any other state since 2005 (this includes over 1.4 million folks through domestic migration). Supply: Home starts are way up, but home construction in the DFW area is still less than 60 percent of the volume before the recession. Existing home inventory is  3.5 months compared to 4.9 US average. Cost of housing: Despite high demand and low supply we still have some of the most affordable housing in the country. It’s still cheaper to buy than rent (by roughly 3%). Other supporting factors: Home equity laws help support fluidity of sales. No state income tax. Large tax base coming from RE taxes means govt interest in stable housing long term.  Concluding question: We lead the country in population growth, job growth, our housing is cheap, its more expensive to rent, and we have a housing shortage. Why shouldn’t we lead the country in housing? (answer: We should. And we are. And we’re not in a bubble)  My current assessment: TX as a whole is not in a bubble. Midland is in a bubble (they’re economy is primarily fueled by oil). Houston, Austin, San Antonio are borderline. DFW is healthy. My Forecast: Housing will slow down, however there will be no bubble pop. It’ll go from mind blowing to just pretty good (which will still better than almost anywhere else in the country). Bonus: My take on bubbles: A bubble happens when a boom is caused by something other than supply and demand… Usually when high (but false) expectations lead to speculative purchasing which drives prices into misalignment with market fundamentals. If the rise is sharp, but still supported by market fundamentals, it isn’t a bubble no matter how big the boom is.  My take on the Fitch report: Fitch has been reporting that we’re overvalued since 2014. If they just say it long enough, they’ll eventually be right. The reality is we weren’t overvalued in 2014 and we aren’t now. Fitch and others point toward a bubble in TX because they know oil is down and they don’t realize that the TX economy is well diversified among many sectors outside of energy.   

We recently hired to fill an entry level position at our company. When a job posting includes "No experience is required," "full benefits," and being voted "Best Place to Work in Keller," it attracts a good amount of attention... We were shocked (and very thankful) to receive 257 applicants in about 10 days. It's absolutely incredible to see. My conclusion: A TON of people have no clue how to apply for a job, but a few absolutely blew our socks off. I wanted to share what the few did in the hopes that it might help you land your next job. 15 steps to be in the top 1% under consideration for the next job you apply for: Step 1: If you've ever considered a career in real estate, give us a call first. We will begin interviewing for Realtor associates soon. Step 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AKH8qYt9guV3krEwrOWWrXBXgioJnakOdI5Z3cCeZTs/edit?usp=sharing  

I was shocked to learn where a prospective buyer found our website... foxnews.com!!!! It turns out that Realtor.com published another quote from us. This time Fox News and all sorts of other folks are re-posting the article. Take a look, its worth a read:  http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/06/14/secrets-to-selling-home-for-over-asking-price/ If you want to know what advice we agree where we've seen different strategies prevail, contact our office for a free copy of our book Proven Strategies to Sell Your House for Top Dollar

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is calling on local governments to lower their tax rates to offset higher property valuations. That way, they would still get the money they were planning on without "overtaxing" home and business owners. DALLAS -- Last spring, the Dallas County Central Appraisal District conducted one of its most comprehensive review of property values in years. Crews went out and snapped digital photos of every single parcel on the tax rolls. Each picture may have said a thousand words. But Jeanne Loman needed just one when she saw the new value assigned to her property. “Shock," Loman said. "Because it went up significantly. We had been in the $400,000 range and now we're in the $500,000 range." Wednesday, she had a hearing to appeal the increase and made some headway. Then, she learned that more relief may be coming for her and the other 525,000 property owners in Dallas County whose values went up -- many by double-digit percentage points. "What I'm proposing is that we capture the money that was budgeted for, but not this windfall," County Judge Clay Jenkins said on Wednesday. Jenkins is calling on local governments to lower their tax rates to offset the higher valuations. That way, they would still get the money they were planning on without "overtaxing" home and business owners. Jeanne Loman likes the sound of that. "I think it's a great idea, because the average person significantly struggles with such a leap in tax values," she said. But some cities and school districts might not like it. If they don't lower their tax rates, the higher property values will give them extra money they didn't count on. "I think it will be hard, but anything that is worth doing is hard, and we'll get it done," Jenkins said. The county judge says he has already informally discussed the idea with some local mayors and council members and they have all indicated they are open to discussing the idea.   Jenkins would like to see a 40-percent reduction in property tax increases. In other words, he’d like to give back to homeowners $40 for every $100 extra they owe in taxes this year. To help push the plan, Jenkins is asking property owners to sign a petition, which you can find at this link.

You guessed it! Chandler Crouch Realtors was voted #1 in Fort Worth! We are very grateful for all your support. We definitely have the best clients in Fort Worth! This is only because of YOU! Thank you! http://blog.choicehomewarranty.com/the-15-best-real-estate-agents-in-fort-worth-tx/

We're blown away... Realtor.com featured us again in one of their articles. This time Chandler is quoted about savvy buyer negotiation techniques.  http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/craziest-tactics-to-buy-a-home/

We did it again! Realtor.com recently interviewed Chandler to be featured in an article they published about wacky home buyer stories.  This article is hilarious and contains some good tips. See for yourself:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/home-buyers-from-hell/

You can find the original article here: http://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/whip-your-home-into-shape/ I have pasted it below for your convenience: So You Wanna Sell Your Home? Step 1: Whip It Into Shape If you’re looking to sell your home during prime house-shopping season this spring, you’d better get cracking now. After all, it’s not as easy as slapping an ad on Craigslist; if you want your humble abode to stand out from the competition, that could take months to do right. That’s why we’re kicking off our 2016 Home-Selling Guide—a series of articles in which, each week, we’ll show you the next step to prep your house for sale and ace the deal. (In case you’re also on the hunt for a new home, we kicked off our Home-Buying Guideyesterday.) Step 1 to selling a home is a New Year’s classic: Whip your place into shape by fixing any problems and upgrading the eyesores. Because like it or not, your home has sustained some wear and tear over the years. Here’s how to assess the damage and find out which renovations will pay off down the road. 1. Tally the age of various items No matter how great your home looks at first glance, any savvy buyer will point to various parts and pop the question: How old? And since guesstimates won’t cut it, it’s time to gather some paperwork. If you’ve purchased your home in the past few years, check your home records or seller’s disclosure for the age or last repair of big items (namely your roof, HVAC system, water heater, and gutters), or dig up copies of your own maintenance records or receipts. How long items last depends on a lot of factors such as the model and how well it’s been maintained, but you can get a general idea of average life span from the National Association of Home Builders. For example: Wood shingle and shake roof: 15 to 30 years Central air-conditioning unit: 15 years Electric water heater: 14 years Gutters: 30 years   2. Do your own walk-through Channel Sherlock Holmes and go through your home, room by room. Look for signs of damage that might drag down its value. Chandler Crouch, broker for Chandler Crouch Realtors in Forth Worth, TX, suggests looking for these common problem spots: Wood rot around outside door frames, window ledges, and garage doors. Condensation and rain can cause these areas to weaken and rot. Water stains on the ceiling or near doors and windows. This can indicate a leaky roof or rain seeping in from outside. Leaks under sinks or around toilets. Bulges under carpet or discoloration on hardwood floors, which can indicate flooding problems or an uneven foundation.   Next, test what’s called the “functionality” in every room. For example, “Cracks visible in the walls and floor, doors that don’t shut right, broken handles on cabinetry, basically anything that doesn’t work perfectly should be repaired,” Crouch says. And don’t forget to inspect the outside. “A lot of sellers skip the outside, but it is so important. That is where buyers will make their first impression,” says Darbi McGlone, a Realtor® with Jim Talbot Real Estate in Baton Rouge, LA. 3. Bring in the pros Once you’ve done your own walk-through, you may want to have a pro take a second look. These people can spot flaws you overlooked, because either you’re used to them or you didn’t realize they could cause trouble. You can enlist a Realtor or hire a home inspector to do an inspection (or pre-inspection) to pinpoint problems from bad wiring to outdated plumbing. While the cost varies, people pay an average of $473 for a home inspection, according toAngie’s List. Go to the National Association of Home Inspectors to find an inspector in your area. It may cost a bit, but it will buy you the peace of mind of knowing you’re not in for any surprises down the road. In fact, having a home inspection report handy to show buyers can inspire confidence that they (and you by association) aren’t in for any nasty surprises as you move toward a deal. 4. Decide what needs renovating Once you know what in your house could stand for repairs or upgrades, it’s time to decide where to infuse some cash. Don’t worry, not everything needs to be done before your home’s on the market. And while you’re probably not jumping at the idea of renovating a property you’re going to sell, certain fixes will give you an edge over the competition, which means more/better offers. Remember, real estate is an investment! Please, Mr. Postman Send me news, tips, and promos from realtor.com® and Move.  Sign Up But don’t just obsess over the obvious—e.g., your kitchen could stand for new cabinets. After all, many buyers will want to tweak cosmetic details to their own tastes, so you could be throwing money down the drain. Instead, focus on fix-its that are less susceptible to personal preferences that buyers like to know are in good shape. For example, a recent study by the National Association of Realtors® found that upgrading hardwood floors reaps an estimated 100% return on investment, essentially paying for itself. Upgrading your insulation can net you a 95% ROI, a new roof a whopping 105%! Because what buyers don’t like to know they’ve got a solid roof over their heads? Once you’ve got the ball rolling on getting your place in shape, you’ll be ready for the next step—stay tuned next week for more details on what to do! Angela Colley lives in New Orleans, where she writes about buying, selling, and renting news for realtor.com. Her passions include animal rescue, photography, historic homes, and Southern architecture.  Follow @angelancolley View Angela's Stories   

Doesn't this sound horrible: "Dipping job growth will slow Dallas area real estate market" On the surface, I would assume this is bad news... But is it REALLY? ... no, not even close. This is actually the exact thing that I predicted in my Bubble or Blast Off post when I said this:  "One thing to be aware of... news outlets will begin reporting on "slowed appreciation" and make it sound like we're crashing. When you hear the alarmist reports just keep in mind: slow appreciation is still appreciation." So how is our economy? In the Dallas Morning News, Steve Brown reported on the 2016 North Texas Real Estate Market Forecast delivered by Jim Gaines, the chief economist at the Real Estate Center (TAMU), at a recent Metrotex Association of Realtors meeting... Jim says all is well. These two quotes sum up the entire forecast: “We’re still going to grow next year,” he said, “but at a slower rate.” “But the slowdown is from a record high to a little bit less,” he said. “Growth in Dallas-Fort Worth has accelerated enormously."