Drea’s Favorites: Dallas Happenings

Drea's

If you follow my Instagram page, @NewAveRealty, then you will know that I always share my experience of my Dallas “happenings”. I love to get out and explore Dallas in my free time. This is usually on Sundays. I work Monday – Saturday and all I ask for is some time to myself on Sundays. That basically means to catch up with girlfriends and brunch. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorites places. If you have a place that you’d like to mention, place it in the comments and I will hit it up.

*BONUS: There is a new Instagram page called @YouPeopleReviews, that highlight a lot of places to eat around the metroplex. I’ve gotten some places from them as well.

FOOD:

I’m a Louisiana girl so I love me some Cajun food. I am not big on Creole (there is a difference) but I love me some Cajun food. Here is my list of my top favorite cajun food spots.

  1. Cajun Tailgators (Plano)
  2. Bayou Market (Lewisville)
  3. Good Times Cajun Cuisine (Lewisville)
  4. NOLA Grill (Frisco) – Had this last night and I must say the food was amazing. The collard greens tasted just like my Mama Elsie’s.

If they don’t have anyone from Louisiana as the owner or cook, I don’t believe it to be Louisiana cooking. There is no debate about that.

Soul Food/Chicken Spots

Now for some good down home cooking, you have to head south of the metroplex. My favorite spots to get food just how I like it is in Oak Cliff. Seriously, I will wait in line for these places.

  1. South Dallas Cafe (Oak Cliff – Red Bird Area)
  2. Rudy’s Chicken (Oak Cliff – Bring cash…be prepared to wait, no seriously. If time is not on your side, you may not be eating Rudy’s THAT day. It has happened to me before.)
  3. Floyd’s Catfish (Oak Cliff) – Now I am not sure if this place is still open. If it is, you’re in luck. If not, I am so sorry that you missed out.
  4. Chicago’s Chicken Coop (Carrollton) – So this one isn’t in the southern part of the metroplex. It opened up last year and I went like everyday the first week. I have to admit that it was mainly for the butter cookies.
  5. Pluckers (Various Locations) – This should really have a category of its own but since I included chicken in this category I thought to place it here. There is no other wing spot that can beat Pluckers to me.
  6. Wing Daddy (Little Elm) – this little gem in Little Elm has some fun margaritas and fried pickles are to die for.

Bars/Hip Places

By any means, I am not a party animal. I do like to get out and enjoy myself every now and then

  1. Beauty Bar (Dallas – Knox/Henderson)
  2. Happiest Hour (Dallas – Hardwood/Victory Park) I have found a way to make my way here so often (Brisket Nachos…though)
  3. Decks in the Park (Klyde Warren Park) – This is my favorite summer time event in Dallas. It’s a perfect unwind in the park at night and just vibe along the music.

Brunch

This category is my all-time favorite. This is what I love to do and I will try new places often. So please send me some awesome brunch spots.

  1. Smoke – Plano and Bishop Arts (BBQ for brunch, need I say more)
  2. Black Walnut Cafe (Various Locations)
  3. Julia Pearl (Plano) – I went here for brunch last weekend. I want to go back for dinner soon to give it another chance but it wasn’t bad at all.
  4. Public School 214 – It is all about concept to me (sometimes) and this one steals the show.  It has a grade school concept with menus being on composition books and drink menus on scantrons. It is the cutest thing to me.

Those are just a few of my favorite places to go. They aren’t in any order. Try them out and let me know what you think. If you ever need a recommendation on a place, contact me or just follow my Instagram. I am sure I will post it there.

 

 

Find Your Castle. Live Like Royalty.

Find your castle. Live like royalty.

That’s the mantra of #CrowningHomeowners. I learned early on in my career as a Realtor that clients wanted to feel special. It didn’t matter what size their new home was it was their domain. It was their sanctuary. Lastly, it was the one place where they ruled the throne.

That’s the feeling I love for my clients to have. It is never about me but about how they feel. To this day, it still amazes me when their face lights up at “the one” The one home that they will call their royal place in their life. It may be the first one or it may be the fifth one but it is a special place for them during this moment of their life.

Don’t believe me. Just watch.

You can you live the dream. You can start by signing up for the #CrowningHomeowners workshop next Saturday in Lewisville. #CrowningHomeowners Workshop Registration 

5 Reasons Why Owning a Home Makes Sense Financially

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If you have noticed by Instagram or Facebook posts, then I am here to reassure you that the American Dream of homeownership is alive and well. The personal reasons to own a home differ for each buyer, but there are many basic similarities.

Eric Belsky is the Managing Director of the Joint Center of Housing Studies (JCHS) at Harvard University. He authored a paper on homeownership titled – The Dream Lives On: The Future of Homeownership in America. In his paper, Belsky reveals five financial reasons why people should consider buying a home.

Here are the five reasons, each followed by an excerpt from the study: 

1) Housing is typically the one leveraged investment available.

“Few households are interested in borrowing money to buy stocks and bonds and few lenders are willing to lend them the money. As a result, homeownership allows households to amplify any appreciation on the value of their homes by a leverage factor. Even a hefty 20 percent down payment results in a leverage factor of five so that every percentage point rise in the value of the home is a 5 percent return on their equity. With many buyers putting 10 percent or less down, their leverage factor is 10 or more.”

2) You’re paying for housing whether you own or rent.

“Homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord.” 

3) Owning is usually a form of “forced savings.”

“Since many people have trouble saving and have to make a housing payment one way or the other, owning a home can overcome people’s tendency to defer savings to another day.”

4) There are substantial tax benefits to owning.

“Homeowners are able to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from income…On top of all this, capital gains up to $250,000 are excluded from income for single filers and up to $500,000 for married couples if they sell their homes for a gain.”

5) Owning is a hedge against inflation.

“Housing costs and rents have tended over most time periods to go up at or higher than the rate of inflation, making owning an attractive proposition. 

Bottom Line

Homeownership makes sense for many Americans for an assortment of social and family reasons. It also makes sense financially. If you are considering a purchase this year, contact me so we can evaluate your ability to do so.

The Alexanders: One Year Follow-Up

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In our latest section of the one year-follow up, we have my dear friends, Evan and Candisse Alexander. Their story is a whirlwind one with a lot of events happening in a short amount of time. As most people say, 2015 was definitely THEIR year.

Candisse is one of my sorority sisters from LSU so we have a long history together. Her and Evan were engaged in 2014 and were married February 2015. They wanted a home but was like we have to do one thing at a time. After the wedding and honeymoon, we are seriously buying a house. As Candisse often let me know, “this 600+ square foot apartment isn’t working and you have to get me out of here.”  LOL

So by May 2015, we were house searching with the newlyweds. Now it has been a seller’s market in DFW for the past few years and the summer is the most competitive time to search. We started a search immediately after the buyer’s consultation. We started in The Colony but Candisse and Evan were used to Tarrant County so the next day we ventured there and the rest was history on day 2 of the search. I was in awe too because it normally takes a few searches and offers before my buyers get under contract but not Evan and Candisse. Read their follow up interview below.

1. What type of home were you considering?

My husband and I were originally looking for a starter home.

2. What city did you purchase your home in?

Fort Worth, TX

3. Was it your first choice location? If not, what areas did you consider?

No, south Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield were our top picks.

4. Now that you have lived in your city for a year, what is it that you like about your city?

I love downtown Fort Worth, and being so close to restaurants and malls and movie theaters!

5. What attracted you to your neighborhood?
Our home!

6. What is something that you like about your neighborhood now that you have lived there for a year?

It is quiet and peaceful.

7. What advice would you give a first time homebuyer?

Trust your instincts. Taking the jump is hard, but once you know you are ready… Don’t be afraid to go for it!

How Does Housing Help Build Family Wealth?

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What’s the best thing about owning a home? Making money while you sleep and who wouldn’t love that? June is National Homeownership and we will celebrate the good things about homeownership.

As the economy continues to improve, more and more Americans are seeing their personal financial situations also improving. Instead of just getting by, many are now beginning to save and find other ways to build their net worth. One way to dramatically increase their family wealth is through the acquisition of real estate.

For example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January. What will that home be worth five years down the road? 

Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists every quarter. They ask them to project how residential prices will appreciate over the next five years. According to their latest survey, here is how much value that $250,000 house will gain in the coming years.

How Does Housing Help Build Family Wealth? | Keeping Current Matters

Over a five-year period, that homeowner can build their home equity to over $40,000. And, in many cases, home equity is large portion of a family’s overall net worth.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to better your family’s long-term financial situation, buying your dream home might be a great option.