Fort Worth Real Estate Online

 About two years ago I discovered a hidden-away (at least, for me it was) restaurant right in the middle of Euless, Texas.  It is part of the Texas Star Conference Center.  The place has a fabulous public golf course, and holds many conferences and get-togethers each year. 

The restaurant... Raven's Grille... in my well-travelled opinion... makes one of the absolute best blackened catfish dinners I have ever had.

Well... I have been in mourning for about the last four months.  Raven's Grille has been temporarily closed for remodelling.  They tell me it is going to be even better than it was before... but they promised me they will not lose the special-ness this hide-away has held for me since I found it.

I called and spoke to the restaurant manager a few weeks ago... inquiring about then it was going to be complete... and back in business to serve me my favorite blackened catfish.  I was promised... (uh huh) that they would be serving again in mid-March.  We shall see.  I sure hope so !

I have included with this post the original article I wrote about Raven's Grille.  Maybe I'll see you there.

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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 ! 

I recently read a post on Active Rain by my good friend Chris Ann Cleland in Prince William County in Virginia... just west of the Fairfax area.  In it she wrote, and then discussed with her commentors about a more traditional grading system for high schools versus a more currently used one.  It spoke of "dumbing down" (my words) the score required for an "A" from "93 to 100" to "90 to 100."  

Chris Ann's post, and the ensuing comments reminded me of something I used to do when I was teaching in the seventh and eight grades many years ago.

It involved my periodic use of tests... those nasty things that provided the basis for the grades my "kids" would get every six weeks.

Many teachers try to keep what they are going to ask on the tests... (the questions) very hidden.  "We sure wouldn't want the kids to know what was going to be on the tests... would we."

Well... I always took a different approach... my own approach... when it came to math tests.  I gave the kids the problems that were going to be on the test... about a week before the test was to be given.  I know it sounds crazy... but I actually gave my students a "list" of all the things I wanted them to learn... to master... for that grading period... and then told them that in their hands... they had all the problems that were going to be on the upcoming test.

They gasped... at least the first time each year I did this... they did.  I gave them a list of about twenty five problems, concepts, word problems, and formulas... and that is what we all studied together for the ensuing week... the week just before I was to give the test.

I told them that if they could master all these concepts, problems, formulas and other stuff... the stuff that I said I was actually going to give them... that they could be assured of getting an "A" on my test.

They of course wanted to know if I was really serious.

I told them that YES... I really was.  What they had was the test.  Or more truthfully... close to it.  I then shared with them that the only thing different about what was going to be on the test... was that all the numbers were going to be different... but the type of problems would be the same.  So... if they could learn how to "work" and "solve" the problems on the list they had... with the numbers they had... all they had to do on my test was work the problems using the different numbers I used for the test... and they'd get their "A."

The week between my giving them "the test" and them actually "taking" the slightly different test... was pretty frantic.  They'd come into class each day, and from what they tried to do at home the night before... they'd frantically raise their hands... wanting to learn.  

In about a week... when the real test was over... not only did just about everyone in the class do well... they all pretty much knew exactly what they needed to know... to get along in life using the math concepts they had learned.

Funny thing.  When I first used this tactic on them for the first six-week grading period... they thought I was more than a little bit crazy.  But... somewhere along the way during the year... maybe at about the fourth of the six week grading periods... they figured out that they had become better in math than they ever had before.

It was also funny when I would get little notes from their parents telling me that their kids used to hate math... and now it had become their favorite subject.  

Isn't it interesting what happens when a child actually realizes that they are really capable of learning something they never thought possible before.

 This re-posting is courtesy of Shameka Tankerson, a mortgage financing specialist from Redlands, California.  Thanks for sharing, Shameka.     

With Congress reaching agreement on a $789 billion stimulus package for Americans and the President expected to sign it into law, the clock may be ticking for this year's home buyers and homeowners.

Yes... I've been waiting for this Brand New North Carrollton Townhome neighborhood to open, too.  I have been visiting the neighborhood for months now... watching the big boys play in the dirt with their tractors, their dump-trucks, and their other big boy toys.

It appears the time is almost here.  Three and four bedroom semi-custom townhomes in Carrollton, Texas.  I know... everyone wants an end unit.  Well... we've got an answer for that.  No more than three townhomes in each building.  So... no more eight and ten unit buildings.  Just a wonderfully arranged neighborhood of three-unit townhomes... probably the nicest neighborhood arrangement I have seen in this price range.

One of the many things I just love about these townhomes... is that many of the front doors are kinda sorta hidden from the view from the street.  Because of that... at times each group of three... can almost look like a 5,500 sq ft single family custom home.

If you've been looking for a great home at a great price in Carrollton... and are ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... give me a call... Karen Anne Stone... at (817) 929-3400.  These homes are really even more gorgeous on the inside than they appear on the outside.  Call Karen Anne today.

If you're looking for a home that will really grab your heart... but not your wallet... but you want it to have lots and lots of "custom features..." this might be the one.

The octagon bay window in the front bedroom catches everyone's eye.  Even though it's in the third bedroom, there's more than enough room to stretch out... using it for either a bedroom... or a home office to work out of.

The family room below is open both to the kitchen and the morning/breakfast room.  Vaulted ceilings at to the "Great Room" feel.  The corner fireplace in the family room is placed so it can be enjoyed both from the family room and the country kitchen.

This pretty home has so much going for it.  The split master is huge, and the two secondary bedrooms are nicely sized.  There's even a covered patio for year-round outdoor cooking and barbeque.  All

If you're ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... give me  a call at (817) 929-3400... and we'll set aside a time for your own personal visit.  Or go to my website... Karen Anne's www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com for more pictures.  And remember... there's that $8,000 tax credit out there for new home buyers. 

If you're a Fort Worth New Home Buyer, and you've been looking for a new home, you need to call me.  Why ?  Because I've found a really cool home... with lots of space... and you don't need to spend anywhere near what you thought you'd have to... to get it.

This four bedroom, two bath, one living, two dining home is just a great place to come home to.  I kind of think the outside is really striking... lots and lots of curb appeal.  But... that just the beginning of the "magic" this home has.

Here is just one part of what I call the "magic" this home has.  A great kitchen.  In fact... the kitchen is so nice... I had to take two pictures of it to show you just how cool it is.

Here is another view of this great kitchen... this one looking at it from the family room.  It has lots of cabinets and counter space, a roomy breakfast area, and a "work desk" at the end of the cabinets to the left of the sink... which is great for either hooking up your laptop... or putting a small flat screen on the wall to watch the morning news on... before you take off for work.

Above is a great picture of what is actually shown as a "formal dining room."  Because not all families are into formal dining rooms... I have seen several homeowners change this room into a second living area.  It makes a great media room.  Take the mirror off the back wall... and put up a bigger flat screen.  Get some "media chairs" at one of the furniture outlets... Stacy's in Grapevine has a great outlet store... and there you go... a great media room.

Ok... I know... how much is this pretty home I've been babbling about ?  Ok... it's in the mid 130's... $133,990 to be exact.  Oh...I almost forgot.  It's not itty-bitty.  It has 2,086 sq ft.  Bigger than you thought for the price, huh ?

So... what are you wating for ?  If you're finally ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious"... give me a call at (817) 929-3400.  Or... go to my website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .  Call me :)  Call Karen Anne today.

What a great home to come home to.  Almost 2,400 sq ft of home... with barely an inch of wasted space. 

Entering through the foyer... we find a "stacked" living and dining room on the right, and a fourth bedroom, den/study on the left.  The study had a great window to the front... making it perfect for an office for those who tele-commute... or those who work from home.

The stacked living and dining rooms... if need be... could be lined with chair rail and crown moulding, and two ceiling fans... and turned into a fabulous game room or media-room that could seat every friend and neighbor you could think of.

The kitchen has custom 42" cabinets... hand-stained " to your own selected shade... right on the job."  There is an island with a sky-light above, and a matching set of cook-book shelves on either side of the range, micro and vent hood.

The kitchen opens to the morning room by way of a wrap-around serving bar.  Off the morning room is a sixteen foot covered rear porch/patio... great for weekend morning breakfasts... or barbeque dinners with family and friends.

Off the kitchen and morning room is an oversized family room... complete with fireplace and cast stone mantle and surround.  Along the back wall of the family room AND the morning room is a wall-of-windows.

The master and secondary bedrooms are in a "split-master" arrangement.  The master is huge, the master bath suite is sumptuous, and the master closet... why... you could almost park your mini-cooper or beetle-bug in there !

Bedrooms two and three are over-sized.  They are served by a not-your-typical-skimpy-sized hall bath.  Lots of room... with a linen closet, too.

Why wait ?  Rates are down !  The $8,000 Tax Credit is right there in front of you... waiting for you to grab it.

If you are finally ready to go from "Just Looking" to "Let's Get Serious..." let's set aside a time to get together and see this gorgeous home.  (817) 929-3400.  Or... go to www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .

My daughter Robin had been thinking about visiting her aunts and uncle, and all her cousins and friends in Cleveland, Ohio.  Well... Mentor, actually.  Mentor is about fifteen miles or so east of Cleveland... which means it is plopped right in the middle of what Northeast Ohioans call "The Snow Belt."

Robin had been planning this trip for months and months... which is just how Robin does things.  She tries to leave nothing to chance.

Oh well... there goes THAT theory !  I guess it started snowing AGAIN in Cleveland... while Robin was on the runway at DFW Airport.  She was sitting in a nice, clean, warm, cozy Continental Airlines jet... which was beginning to taxi down the runway.

As far as she knew... things were cold and crisp in Cleveland... and she could handle that.  The above picture is what she found when her plane landed at Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland. 

Sometimes things just don't quite go as planned.  Brrrr !                  

Mr and Ms Home Seller have decided to sell their home. They have a fairly good idea of what they think their home is worth. After doing their own homework online with some of the automated pricing web sites, The Sellers, being very sensible sellers, schedule appointments with three local Listing Agents who've been hanging stuff on their front doorknob for years.

Each Agent comes prepared with a "Competitive Market Analysis" (called a CMA). It is on fancy paper, and two of the three even have "professionally done" flip charts as part of their presentations. Each of the three Listing Agents recommends a specific sales price.

Amazingly, a couple of the Listing Agents have come up with prices that are lower than the Sellers expected. Although they back up their recommendations with recent sales data of comparable homes, The Sellers remain convinced their house is worth more.

When the third Listing Agent arrives, The Sellers find his pricing numbers are much more in line with the Listing Price they had hoped for, or maybe even higher. Suddenly, they are two very happy and very excited home sellers, already counting their money.

Which Listing Agent Should The Sellers Choose ?

If they're like many people, they pick Listing Agent Number Three. They feel that this is an agent who seems willing to listen to their input and work with them. This is an agent who cares about putting the most money in the Seller's pockets. This is an agent who is willing to start out at The Seller's price, and if they need to drop their price later, they can do that easily, right ? After all, everyone else does it.

The truth is... that The Sellers may have just met a Listing Agent using an unfair listing practice called "buying a listing."  He "bought" the listing by suggesting that The Sellers might be able to get a much higher sales price than the other agents CMA's recommended. Most likely, he is quite doubtful that their home will actually sell at that price. The intention from the beginning is to eventually talk The Sellers into lowering their price.

Why do some Listing Agents "buy" listings ?

There are basically two reasons. A well-meaning and hard working agent can feel pressure from homeowners who have an inflated idea of their home's value. On the other hand, there are some agents who engage in this unfair sales practice routinely.

Which makes more sense ?  Which Listing Agent should the Sellers choose ?

It depends on whether The Sellers just want to "list" their home... or if they really want to "sell" their home.

This Exciting Brick Single-Story Home... has so much going for it.  All you need to do is see this home just once... and You'll Want To Go Home and Start Packing.

The Gourmet Kitchen is incredible.  The cabinets are hand-stained, and look absolutely gorgeous.  There's more room, more counter space, and more cabinets in this spacious kitchen than in some homes selling for much more.

The Breakfast Serving Bar opens int the Morning Room/Breakfast nook, and is such a peaceful setting to enjoy your morning coffee.  The kitchen also opens into the Great Room/Family Room, and is the perfect setting for some great Cowboys parties once the new season starts in the fall. 

The Master Suite is quite large, and features an extra-roomy walk-in closet so big you just might need to go shopping right after moving in.  It's also a "split-Master"... so you'll have something you haven't had in awhile... Pricacy ! 

The Front Secondary Bedroom features a Triple-Bay-Window, and makes a really great kid's room, or an awesome home office. 

Right now, even with the credit crunch, the builder has financing plans providing zero down payment, zero closing costs, and even Zero Move-In.

This exciting New Home is priced at $148,990, and is available for quick move-in.  You can also build one from the beginning... adding all of your custom personal touches.

To see more of the inside of this really pretty home, visit www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com .  Or, call the New Home Hotline at (817) 929-3400 to see a decorated model of this home today.  And... don't be surprised if you find yourself saying... Honey... Call The Movers !