Fort Worth Real Estate Online

I Had a Very Interesting Experience Yesterday.  I was sitting in Borders in Colleyville, Texas.  I was blogging my little heart out... answering some comments made to a few of my posts... and workig on three new blog posts I hope to submit sometime this week.

I had "set up shop" at one of the tables over near the side entrance... the doors are under the Borders sign at the right... in the picture below.  I had been there for about forty-five minutes, and had just come back from the counter after ordering a second cup of "Seattle's Best Coffee," and sat back down at my table... when a woman approached me.

She walked up to the table, and asked if I would answer a few questions for her.  She asked me if I was a Realtor, which I confirmed.  She said "I thought so.  I saw the computer, noticed the Mapsco book, and the file folders next to your laptop."

Of course, I invited her to sit down.  I gave her a copy of the Homes and Land magazine I have a two-page ad in, and asked her what kind of coffee she preferred.  Being the kind soul that I am, I scurried back over to the coffee bar, and brought her back a nice cup of Seattle's Best.

It turns out she is going to be relocating to the Fort Worth area from Oklahoma City early in 2008.  She had driven down to Fort Worth to visit some friends, and had stopped at Borders to pick up a Fort Worth magazine.  And... while she was browsing... she noticed me at my computer.

She asked me about some of the schools in the area.  She said she was concerned for her twin twelve year old daughters moving during the school year.  I immediately reached for some files I had in my laptop case, and gave her a copy of my blog post entitled "Moving During The School Year... Why It's a Good Thing."

She was very surprised when I handed her the article.  Actually, I was surprised, too.  I didn't think I had a copy of it with me... but there it was... right inside my briefcase.

We chatted for quite a while.  We exchanged information... including our email addresses and phone numbers.  She will be coming back down to Fort Worth in early January... and asked me if I had time to "show her around."  So... we set aside a time on the first Friday in January.

Am I thrilled ?  You Bet !  I met a new friend... and a new client.  She didn't have a Realtor when she walked in to Borders... but she was so excited that she had one... when she left !

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You could meet Karen Anne at Borders or Starbucks, but you could also visit her website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com .  Karen Anne can be reached at (817) 929-3400.  Her email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

There's a New Secret in Euless.  There's a New Neighborhood of Brand New Homes... and Almost Nobody Knows it's There !  But... Karen Anne Stone knows it's there.  Karen Anne is your very own New Home Hunter in Tarrant County.

This New Home Neighborhood is going to be very secluded.  Kind of hidden away from all the traffic and hustle and bustle you'd normally find around such a close-in location.

Brand New... All Brick and/or Stone, Covered Front Porches, Some Homes Even have a Second Floor Balcony !  Upgraded Appliances, High Efficiency Heat and A/C.

There are So Many Interior Custom Features to List, but some of them are Hard Surface Counter Tops, Custom-Built Wood Kitchen Cabinets, Lots of Ceramic Tile, Soaring Ceilings, and So Much More. 

Everyone Loves Getting to Pick Out the First Homes.  Everyone Loves Getting To Choose Their Favorite Homesite.  These Beautiful Homes Could Be First Homes for Some, but they will Probably be More For Either for the Move-Up Buyer, or the Down-Sizing, Move-to-A-Smaller-Home buyer.  The "Empty Nester."

Pricing Starts in the 200's.  To Get your Very Own Sneak Peek at all the Floor plans, All the Different Front Elevations that are Available, and to Set Up a Time to Take a Sneak Peek at the New Model, Please Call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400.

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Please visit Karen Anne's website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .  Or, call the New Home Hotline at (817) 929-3400.  Karen's email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

Hidden Away in Euless... just across from Wilshire Elementary School... is the entrance to Wilshire Park.  It's pretty well hidden, so you've really got to look for the "sign"... which is the large rock pictured below.

Kynette Street is on the North Side of Wilshire Elementary, and that's where you'll find the Wilshire Rock, and the entrance to Wilshire Park and Wilshire Pond !  There's plenty of parking, but Wilshire Park is easily within walking distance from all of the Wilshire area, and also from nearby Oakridge Estates.

Just a short distance into the park, you'll find a nice array of picnic tables, bar-be-que grills, playground equipment, and the walkway leading down to Wilshire Pond.  It's a great place to bring the kids... the little ones, your toddlers, and even your grade-schoolers and your teens.  Family fun... and it's Free !

There's a nice walkway/jogging path all the way around Wilshire Pond.  And... one great thing about Wilshire Park... nobody seems to know about it... because it is never crowded.  So... if you're like I am... and want to walk or job, but don't want a crowd of people around... this is a great place to do it.

In addition to picnics and barbeques, jogging and playground equipment, Wilshire Park also features it's own fishing pier.  Bring your rod, sit right down, dangle your legs, give your rod a "whirl"... and fish your cares away.  Sometimes you might even but some bait on the hook... but many folks who like to fish tell me that fishing isn't always about catching the fish... it's more about "the fishing."  Either way, baited or not, fishing off the pier is very, very relaxing.

Another really fun thing you can do at Wilshire Park is take a blanket across the Wilshire Pond to the other side of the southern fountain (there are two of them)... , spread out the blanket, and just relax, read a book, listen to your I-Pod, or just chill.  Many times I have taken a book with me, spread out my blankie, and just read a chapter or two.  Once again... very, very relaxing.

So... give yourself a real treat.  Come on down to Wilshire Park.  Bring the kids, bring your sweetie, or just bring yourself !  The weather these days is still very much early-Fall-like... so there's still lots of time to let go of your stress.  Come on Down... to Wilshire Park !

If you like what you see here, there are many very affordable homes within walking distance of Wilshire Park.  Just give Karen Anne Stone a call at (817) 929-3400.  She can show you how easily you can purchase a home... and be within walking distance to Wilshire Pond.  Call her today !

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To view some of the great homes in Euless, Texas... visit Karen Anne Stone's website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com .  Karen Anne can be reached at (817) 929-3400 .  Her email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

Hidden Away in Euless, Just South off Highway 10, is Raven's Grille and Conference Center.  It is so well hidden away that I lived in Euless for two years before a neighbor invited me to lunch there. 

What a nice surprise !  Pictured below is the Huge Raven's Grille Rock... at the Grille entrance.  The entrance has a convenient covered carport for the very few days it rains.  Entering through that door will bring you to both Raven's Grille and to the Conference Center Ballrooms and Meeting Rooms.

Raven's Grille is part of the Texas Star Conference Center.  The Eighteen Hole Award-Winning Golf Course is the main attraction, although the Conference Center itself has several ballrooms and meeting rooms that are perfect for conferences and sales meetings of all types.  Want to be a hit with your sales and marketing staff... bring them here for a meeting !

The Raven's Grille Restaurant, in my humble and more-than-slightly-overweight opinion... makes one of the best Blackened Catfish Dinners I have ever had.  I would rather eat here than at "name brand" chain restaurants that charge twice the price for a meal. 

Another favorite of many visitors is their Super Sized Chicken Fried Steak Platter.  It is delicious, and it is HUGE.  Trust me... after having this for lunch or dinner... you will NOT walk away hungry. 

I mentioned above that I lived in Euless for three years before finding Raven's Grille.  So, how do you find it, you ask ?   As you drive west on Highway 10 in Euless from Highway 157, look for the gigantic Texas Star on your left... on the south side of Highway 10.  Turn south, and about a half-mile down on the right... you will find the most delicious Blackened Catfish and Chicken Fried Steak within miles and miles and miles.  

Please Tell Them Karen Anne Stone, the Blackened-Catfish Lady Realtor sent you ! 

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Karen Anne Stone is a long-time Realtor serving Euless and all of Tarrant County.  Visit her website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com .  She can also be reached at (817) 929-3400.  Her email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .  Happy Dining !

Several Years Ago I received a call from a woman who wanted to talk about selling her home.  Her name was Valerie.  We chatted for awhile on the phone, and then we set aside a time to get together.

When I visited her home, I didn't find a "house"... I found an immaculately taken-care-of "home."  There were pictures of all her family members on her "wall of fame."  This wall was all along the right side of the stairway leading from the first floor to the second floor.  It was very easy to tell that she was very proud of her family.

One of Valerie's prized possessions that was on her wall... was the quilted wall-hanging below.  I complimented her on it, and asked her if I could take a picture of it.  She seemed very proud that I asked, and quickly gave her ok.  I know the picture is on an angle, but the quote at the top reads...

                                "Families That Are Stitched Together With Love Seldom Unravel."

As my seller and I walked slowly up the stairway, Valerie pointed out her children, her grand-children, and her youngest child... who was her first child with her new husband of three years.  (Her first husband had passed away some years before.)

After showing me all through her lovely home, we finally made it to the kitchen table.  We went over pricing, and after sharing with her all the neighborhood comparables, we agreed on a price.  We went over all the details, we signed all the listing paperwork, and then she asked me if it was ok for her to bring up something "personal."

Very nervously Valerie began to "explain."  It seems her second husband was a very dear man she originally met at her church.  Valerie shared with me how kind and loving he was, and then... after hesitating... she said that he was an African American.  Her first child with her new husband is in the picture above... on the lower right side.

Valerie had said that she had heard from some friends of hers, who said their Realtors had told them they needed to de-personalize their home of all family pictures before they put their home up for sale.  Valerie shared with me that before I had arrived at her home, she wondered if she needed to remove all of the pictures of her husband... just because he was "black."  She said her friends told her she needed to do that... because it might "hurt the sale."

I could see from the look on Valerie's face that she was hurting inside, and was already dreading my answer.  I told her that, unfortunately, there was some truth to what her friends had told her.  She was silent for a few moments.  Fortunately her silence allowed me about ten seconds to think.  I felt ashamed that I even needed that long to give her an answer. 

As I mentioned above, I had told her there was "a bit of truth" to what her friends told her, but that I really, really wanted her to keep the pictures of her husband and their child up on the wall.  I told her that I felt her home was so gorgeous... and had so many amenities that the typical buyers were looking for... that I really felt she would be fine leaving her home just as it was.

I also share with her that personally... I wanted her to leave her home just as it was... a warm, caring home for the family she loved.  I told her I thought her home very probably would appeal to a similarly "family-oriented" buyer... one who would immediately fall in love with it.  So together we decided to leave all her pictures... just as they were.   As I was leaving to plant the sign in the ground... we stopped in the foyer for a hug.  What a very nice lady... what a very nice family.

Valerie must have said some extra prayers... because within a week I presented, and they accepted a full price offer on their home.  I know I went against the "conventional wisdom" by not going along with Valerie's fears... but I felt in my heart... way down deep... that what she personally stitched on her wall hanging was true...

                                        Families That Are Stitched Together with Love Seldom Unravel

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For information on more wonderful family homes, please visit Karen Anne Stone's website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .  Or, call the New Home Hotline at (817) 929-3400.  Karen's email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

Open Sunday Nov 25th - $147,990...

This Home Has Such Great Curb Appeal... the Neighbors Across the Street Will Love You !  The first thing that strikes you is the Triple-Bay-Window on the front of the home.  This gorgeous feature is seldom seen in homes for this price.

The Gourmet Kitchen is one you'll feel so comfy in, you may never want to leave.  Wrap-around serving bar, hand-stained cabinets, walk-in pantry, and the oven and range, built-in dishwasher and built-in microwave are all included.

The Breakfast Room also has an angled wrap-around window, and a sliding door leading to a covered patio.  If you like to barbeque, the roomy covered patio will keep you cookin' all through the year.

Here's a view of the Breakfast Room shown from the Family Room.  If you watched the Cowboys Beat Da Bears, you can imagine how much fun it would have been if you had your Cowboy Party HERE !

There are many custom-like features throughout, but just one of them is this Art Niche at the Entry.  It's perfect for a vase or picture, but some Newlywed Grooms have been known to put a Picture of Their New Bride right here, along with two bud vases and two candle holders.  What a nice touch !

The Master Bedroom is quite spacious, and the master walk-in closet is large enough so that after moving in, you just might have to go shopping because of all the left-over room for more clothes.  As you can see from peeking through the door to the Master Bath, both a stall shower with marble surround, AND an extra-deep garden tub are also part of the amenities package.  Call Karen Anne NOW at (817) 929-3400 to grab the Grand-Opening Pricing before it goes away !

Directions:  From North Fort Worth, at I-35 and North Look 820, take 820 west to Old Decator Road, exit and turn right... driving north approximately one half mile.  Turn left when you see the Open House and American Flags.

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This home, and many more in all price ranges can be seen on Karen Anne's website http://www.newhomehuntersoftarrantcounty.com/ .  For your very own personal tour of this great home, along with more information on the upcoming Grand Opening of this Great New Neighborhood, please call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400.  Karen Anne may also be reached at KarenAnneStone@aol.com .

When Looking For a New Home in Euless, Texas, homebuyers quickly find that there isn't much to choose from.  There is so little land left in Euless, that even if a builder finds vacant land to build on, the prices of the homes are often out of reach of many new home buyers.

To Remedy that Problem, Lennar Homes built Oakridge Estates about three years ago.  Oakridge Estates is located just south and west of the intersection of Highway 157 and the Airport Freeway.

Pictured below is one of Lennar's most popular floor plans, the Fairfield model.  It is one of three different one-story plans in Oakridge.  It measures approximately 1846 sq ft, and has three large bedrooms, two baths, a great kitchen with wrap-around serving bar, breakfast nook, large boxed window, and a very nice-sized family room with woodburning fireplace and wood mantle.

The Master Bedroom is oversized, and can handle just about any bedroom furniture arrangement.  The master is split from the secondary bedrooms for extra privacy.  There is a bonus room in front that many families use as a second living area.

Pictured below is one of the Oakridge Estates Two Story Homes.  It measures approximately 2400 sq ft, and features four bedrooms with an oversized master, two and one-half baths, formal dining, huge kitchen with breakfast area, and two living areas.

Lennar Homes selected many amenities when they build Oakridge Estates.  They include ceramic tile in the entry, kitchen, and master and hall baths, rounded corners, double-pane triple-thermal insulated windows, high-efficiency heating and A/C, upgraded carpet and pad, and a wood-burning fireplace with wood mantle.

Oakridge Estates is served by the highly acclaimed HEB Independent School District.  Another unique feature about Oakridge is that the homesites are larger and wider than many of the lots buyers typically find for homes in this price range.  This means more space between the homes, more privacy, more on-street guest parking, and less neighborhood traffic.

For more information about Oakridge Estates in Euless, please call Karen Anne Stone at (817) 929-3400.  One of the many good reasons Karen Anne is your Oakridge Expert is that she bought the very first home in Oakridge Estates.  Karen Anne knows how great it is to be so close to everything... first-hand !

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To see more of Karen Anne's homes, please visit her website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com . Karen Anne can also be reached at (817) 929-3400.  Her email address is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

It is such a nice luxury to have so many offices.  Most Realtors only have one office.  Some Realtors who belong to multi-office companies sometimes have several offices they can meet clients at.

Luckily... I have many "offices" I can use.  Room to meet my clients... often in somewhat of a private area.  I am sure many of you have met a client at your "main office"..., seated them in the conference room, and then walked into the "break room" for some coffee for them... only to find the coffee someone made six hours ago has turned into something just this side of mud.

That never happens to me !  Fresh coffee is always available... and in many different flavors.

That's because all of my "other offices" are Starbucks.

Here is a picture of one of my "offices."  This one is in Colleyville, Texas.  I have met clients there many times.  Starbucks is so easily recognizable... nobody has to search and search... drive all around to meet me.  I am so pleased.

I have probably visited five or six Starbucks locations and have used them as one of my "offices away from home."  I always try and visit each Starbucks just for coffee several times before I choose to meet clients there. 

On my second or third visit, I usually chat with the manager or one of the cheerful folks at the counter... and the conversation usually gets around to real estate.  I then "ask permission" to occasionally meet clients there... and I am always cheerfully encouraged to do so.

I have never had anyone at Starbucks be anything but wonderful to both myself and my clients.  In fact, once the staff gets to know me... they cheerfully greet me by name, and seem to be even more friendly to my clients... if that is possible.

So... here's to Starbucks !  Thank you so much for your boundless hospitality !

Have you ever met clients at Starbucks ?

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For the new home of your dreams, and a delicious cup of Starbucks coffee... please visit Karen Anne's website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com .  Karen Anne can be reached at (817)929-3400.  Her email is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

It is very difficult to write this, but so many of you have asked me to keep you updated.

Robin and Lady, her sixteen year old Shih Tzu, were doing ok... until this past Sunday night.  Lady started throwing up again, and started getting weaker.  

Yesterday morning Robin called me.  She was sobbing.  Robin was afraid she was going to have to put Lady to sleep today if she continued to get worse.  Robin was so torn up watching Lady suffer.  And of course, anyone would be.

This morning I called Robin.  She said Lady was failing, and that she had an appointment this afternoon with the vet at 4:30pm.  The way Robin was talking, she was expecting the vet to recomment that Lady be put to sleep.

Robin spent the this morning and early afternoon snuggling with Lady... expecting that today would be her last day with Lady.  I told Robin I would be right over, to be with her and Lady... and also to hold Lady... one more time... before perhaps having to say goodbye... but Robin said she wanted to be alone with Lady.  She also said she wanted me to remember Lady as she was when she was well... not how she was today.  Robin again said that she just wanted to be alone with Lady.  It was so very hard to... but I respected her wishes.

I called her about two o'clock, and she was crying, and just sitting... holding Lady.  Four-thirty has come and gone.

I gave Robin until 7:00pm and then called her... leaving a message on her cell, and at home.  It is 9:40pm... and she has not called yet.  I am assuming the worst... and that Robin simply wants to be alone.  Everyone grieves in their own way.  I will let you all know something with an update to this post when I hear anything new.

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Thirty seconds after I hit the "send post" button... Robin called.  It was just as I thought.  Robin and her boyfriend Guy took Lady to the vet today at 4:30.  With both the vet and Robin agreeing that it would probably be best for Lady... Robin had Lady put to sleep.  I just spoke with Robin now... and we are both very sad... but Lady is now at peace.

Thank all of you who cared enough to send personal emails to Robin (there were quite a few of you) and thank all of you who have commented on the posts about her and Lady while Robin and I have been struggling with this.  Robin would love to hear from any and all of you personally if you wish.  Her email is guyandrobin@sbcglobal.net .   Again... thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and the prayers you sent... to Robin, to Lady, and to me.  We are all so grateful...

Karen Anne

After What Seemed Like An Entire Month of getting better from being sick... this afternoon I treated myself to a trip to Shelton's Salon and Day Spa in Fort Worth, and had a pedicure.  Wow... it was so relaxing.

Seeing all the nail techs busilly working on their clients nails... making them all even more beautiful...reminded me of a story I was told years ago when I first moved to Dallas/Fort Worth in 1982... and actually settled in Plano, Texas.

During my first few weeks there... I noticed that Plano seemed to be the place where all the "beautiful people" lived.  Rarely did I see even one set of nails be anything other than a gorgeous set of "pink'n'whites."  It was then that I first heard the story of "Checkpoint Acryllic."

For those of you who are not familiar with Dallas, Highway 75 drives northeast from Dallas, goes through Richardson, and then at the northern edge of Dallas County... it crosses into Collin County... and the fine city of Plano.  Plano is a great city.  It was then that a new friend of mine told me the following story. 

She first reminded me of my World War II history... and of the divided city of Berlin, Germany.  It was divided into four sections, and when driving from the section controlled by the United States, and entering the section controlled by Russia, everyone had to pass thru Checkpoint Charlie.  Armed guards were there... and every entrant faced a full inspection... making sure they were not smuggling any contraband into Communist East Berlin.

So, I was told that there was a similar checkpoint at the border of Richardson entering into Collin County and Plano.  It was known as Checkpoint Acryllic. 

All cars had to stop at this eight or ten station string of "toll-booth" type mini-buildings.  Every woman hoping to enter Plano had to hold her hands out the window, and have her nails checked... to make sure they met the high standards required for entrance into "stylish Plano, Texas."  If your nails passed inspection, the gate blocking you was raised up, and you were allowed to continue your drive into Plano.

If your nails did NOT pass the rigorous inspection... you had two choices.  First... you either had to pull into the median strip of Highway 75, and stop at the emergency nail salon and have your nails either filled... or totally redone... or second... you and your car were escorted into the "acryllic nail emergency u-turn lane, and sadly sent back to Dallas.

It was then that I truly knew... that I finally found the City of My Relocating Dreams... Plano, Texas.

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Karen Anne Stone is a Realtor in Fort Worth, Texas.  You may visit her website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com .  Karen Anne has a talent for finding all the best new home values around.  She also knows where the best nail salons are!  Call Karen Anne at (817) 929-3400... or email her at KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .