Rapid Transit System Brings Economic Prosperity to Carrollton~

Carrollton, a thriving Dallas community of 123,000 people, is set to experience a surge in growth, thanks to a new, mixed-use development and rapid transit system.


With a completion date of late 2010, this expansion of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System’s $1.8 billion, 28-mile Green Line, is sure to set off new growth in Carrollton. Combine that with a $38 million mixed-used development in the heart of the downtown district, and it’s clear that this small city is poised for big growth.

Looking Ahead

Once a thriving farm community linked to the larger cities with three, railroad lines, Carrollton is now renewing their past by erecting rail lines, which will certainly allow businesses - and real estate values - to thrive.

The transit-oriented development manager for the Carrollton project put it best when he said that “rail is the catalyst for this new growth.”

He also went onto say that the rail system is “important for the long-term sustainability of Carrollton.”

The mixed-use development will feature 295 apartment homes, a parking garage, retail shops and even a public park.

Carrollton, with its new transit-oriented development, is sure to promote urban living and an increased desired to live in the city.

About Carrollton

The residential and corporate community of Carrollton is conveniently located in the dynamic Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, making it an ideal spot to live and conduct business. In fact, its diverse community, low cost of doing business and close proximity to Dallas make Carrollton the ideal place to reside for many Dallas professionals.

There are a plethora of businesses and economic sectors in Carrollton, such as manufacturing, construction, wholesale, finance, insurance and real estate.

A high quality of life, which includes low taxes, family-friendly, safe neighborhoods and an excellent school system, has certainly been Carrollton’s attraction , but it is the progressive growth and new rail line development that will propel it forward for its continued success and sustainability.

Dallas MLS~

If you're searching for properties in Dallas, there is no greater or more powerful tool than our Dallas MLS search. Our personalized search allows you access to thousands of homes in the Dallas area. Customize your own search to ensure that you only see the kind of homes you want in a price range that you can afford. No matter what you are looking for in a new home, our Dallas MLS search allows to you define your own parameters, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, location, or price range.
E-mail me at sarah.halbrook@kw.com to get started with your personalized MLS search.

All About Uptown Festival: A Celebration of the Uptown Lifestyle~

All about Uptown Festival: A Celebration of Art & Living, which is presented by Uptown Dallas, Inc., is a free, three-day festival that celebrates all that Uptown Dallas has to offer.

Located at 2425 McKinney Avenue, in the heart of the historic Uptown district, the All about Uptown Festival begins on Saturday, September 26, from 11:00AM to 10:00PM.

The ideal behind the second annual All about Uptown Festival is quite simple: it is the opportunity for both residents and visitors alike to experience the amazing community atmosphere of Uptown and to surround explore the outstanding establishments found here.

It is an all-encompassing event that allows Dallas residents and visitors to appreciate the allure of this outstanding, Dallas community. From mouth-watering foods from some of the most renowned Uptown chefs, to some of Dallas’ best performing arts groups and cultural organizations - as well as some truly fun entertainment and music, - the All about Uptown Festival is a celebration of all that is uptown.

Just some of the fun to be had at the All about Uptown Festival includes:

Signature foods from more than 20 restaurants
Live theater, comedic performances and live bands
Chef Showcase, where some of Uptown’s finest chefs will provide cooking demonstrations
Wine pairings and tastings
Historic home tours
Educational trolley rides
Cemetery tours
Uptown Art Walk, an all-day tour through Uptown’s best local galleries

Children will also find plenty to do at the All about Uptown Festival, as there are arts and crafts, clowns and activities for children of all ages. And for the shoppers, the All about Uptown Festival will feature a great variety of artisan booths.

From Uptown’s fantastic, historic homes and beautiful neighborhoods, to live bands and cultural performances, there is something for everyone to experience at the All about Uptown Festival.

List of fun Dallas Uptown Restaraunt/ Bars~

BARLEY HOUSE
2916 North Henderson Avenue
214.824.0306
Great patios on which guests can enjoy a variety of drinks, and good food. Nice crowd, ranging from college students to younger professionals. Generally not many patrons over 30.
? Tuesday Specials: $2.00 drafts
? Wednesday Specials: 1/2 price food

BEAU NASH
400 Crescent Court
214.871.3200
? Must dress nicely. Absolutely no jeans. Although very chi-chi, this is a very fun, extremely nice bar in the Crescent. Good food, great entertainment, and nice-looking people.

CAFe MADRID
4501 Travis Street
214.528.1731
Enjoy a tremendous variety of tapas and authentic Spanish sangria. Bring a group, as the Cafe is a sit-down restaurant. A great way to spend happy hour, nonetheless.

CHRISTIE'S
2811 McKinney Avenue
214.954.1511
Traditional place, sporting a large, dark wooden bar. Neat. Well maintained. Big screen TVs. Great to watch a game, hang out, or eat. Can't miss.

CHUY'S
4544 McKinney Avenue
214.559.2489
Best for margaritas, Mexican food, and beer after work.

CUBA LIBRE
2822 North Henderson Avenue
214.827.2820
Chi-chi. Sunglasses, shiny shirts, spiky hair..the works. Younger crowd. Interesting people watching. Trendy crowd will love this place. Also a good restaurant downstairs.

FERE
3699 McKinney Suite 106
214.522.3888
Trendy. Arguably "the place to be". Nice layout. Attractive crowd. Good food & wine selection. Pricey.

FISHBOWL
3214 Knox Street
214.521.2695
Trendy place. Upscale crowd. Lively atmosphere. Lots of fun for happy hour, dinner, or drinks at night.

FRANKIE'S
3227 McKinney Avenue
214.999.8932
Another sports bar. Nice crowd, except for occasional, late-night, unruly, pugnacious Samoan contingent. Not too crowded. Great for watching sports, or just hanging out. Various bar games, beer, and big screen TVs.

GINGERMAN
2718 Boll Street
214.754.8771
? Arguably, the largest beer selection in town. Great patio. Wooden floors, furniture, and a few booths inside. Comfortable upstairs drinking room. Not too crowded, except on some Friday and Saturday nights after 10:00pm.

HARD ROCK CAFE
2601 McKinney Avenue
214.855.0007
Been in one, been in 'em all.

LOON
3531 McKinney Avenue
214.559.3059
Local place that's been serving some of the stiffest drinks in town for quite some time. Very crowded. Less formal than other nearby options. Recently expanded to give patrons a bit more elbow room. Twenties crowd, mostly from the surrounding area. Understaffed, so order your drinks two at a time, or get a waitress. Overall, a great place if you can deal with the crowd.

MARTINI RANCH
2816 Fairmount Street
214.220.2116
The best martinis in town. Lots of different kinds. They knock you on your ass. Good looking crowd.

MCKINNEY AVENUE TAVERN
2822 McKinney Avenue
214.969.1984
Great sports bar. One of the best places to watch a game. Great bar food. Wooden floors, bar, and decor. Usually plenty of room, except during "big games".

OLD MONK
2847 North Henderson Avenue
214.821.1880
Large, spacious, wooden bar. Small patio. Decent food. Fun with a smaller or larger groups. More of a laid-back option than other proximate alternatives.

ON THE BORDER
3130 Knox Street
214.855.0296
Consider OTB if you want Margaritas and beer.

BARLEY HOUSE
2916 North Henderson Avenue
214.824.0306
Great patios on which guests can enjoy a variety of drinks, and good food. Nice crowd, ranging from college students to younger professionals. Generally not many patrons over 30.
? Tuesday Specials: $2.00 drafts
? Wednesday Specials: 1/2 price food

BEAU NASH
400 Crescent Court
214.871.3200
? Must dress nicely. Absolutely no jeans. Although very chi-chi, this is a very fun, extremely nice bar in the Crescent. Good food, great entertainment, and nice-looking people.

CAFe MADRID
4501 Travis Street
214.528.1731
Enjoy a tremendous variety of tapas and authentic Spanish sangria. Bring a group, as the Cafe is a sit-down restaurant. A great way to spend happy hour, nonetheless.

CHRISTIE'S
2811 McKinney Avenue
214.954.1511
Traditional place, sporting a large, dark wooden bar. Neat. Well maintained. Big screen TVs. Great to watch a game, hang out, or eat. Can't miss.

CHUY'S
4544 McKinney Avenue
214.559.2489
Best for margaritas, Mexican food, and beer after work.

CUBA LIBRE
2822 North Henderson Avenue
214.827.2820
Chi-chi. Sunglasses, shiny shirts, spiky hair..the works. Younger crowd. Interesting people watching. Trendy crowd will love this place. Also a good restaurant downstairs.

FERE
3699 McKinney Suite 106
214.522.3888
Trendy. Arguably "the place to be". Nice layout. Attractive crowd. Good food & wine selection. Pricey.

FISHBOWL
3214 Knox Street
214.521.2695
Trendy place. Upscale crowd. Lively atmosphere. Lots of fun for happy hour, dinner, or drinks at night.

FRANKIE'S
3227 McKinney Avenue
214.999.8932
Another sports bar. Nice crowd, except for occasional, late-night, unruly, pugnacious Samoan contingent. Not too crowded. Great for watching sports, or just hanging out. Various bar games, beer, and big screen TVs.

GINGERMAN
2718 Boll Street
214.754.8771
? Arguably, the largest beer selection in town. Great patio. Wooden floors, furniture, and a few booths inside. Comfortable upstairs drinking room. Not too crowded, except on some Friday and Saturday nights after 10:00pm.

HARD ROCK CAFE
2601 McKinney Avenue
214.855.0007
Been in one, been in 'em all.

LOON3531 McKinney Avenue
214.559.3059
Local place that's been serving some of the stiffest drinks in town for quite some time. Very crowded. Less formal than other nearby options. Recently expanded to give patrons a bit more elbow room. Twenties crowd, mostly from the surrounding area. Understaffed, so order your drinks two at a time, or get a waitress. Overall, a great place if you can deal with the crowd.

MARTINI RANCH
2816 Fairmount Street
214.220.2116
The best martinis in town. Lots of different kinds. They knock you on your ass. Good looking crowd.

MCKINNEY AVENUE TAVERN
2822 McKinney Avenue
214.969.1984
Great sports bar. One of the best places to watch a game. Great bar food. Wooden floors, bar, and decor. Usually plenty of room, except during "big games".

OLD MONK
2847 North Henderson Avenue
214.821.1880
Large, spacious, wooden bar. Small patio. Decent food. Fun with a smaller or larger groups. More of a laid-back option than other proximate alternatives.

ON THE BORDER
3130 Knox Street
214.855.0296
Consider OTB if you want Margaritas and beer.

PRIMO'S
3309 McKinney Avenue
214.220.0510
Another extremely trendy locale. All age ranges frequent this joint, which serves as a great bar and Mexican food restaurant. Patio is great. Good looking clientele provides for good people watching. Next door to the Quarter, so makes a nice 1-2 punch.

QUARTER
3308 McKinney Avenue
Dark, traditional bar with a couch room, two small sitting rooms, and a small patio. As long as the quarter is not too crowded, it is a great place. Friendly, well-dressed clientele. Mainly twenty and early thirty-somethings.


SAMBUCA UPTOWN
2120 McKinney Avenue
214-744-0820
Four Star Dining With Live Music Seven Nights A Week. Open Air Patio Bar With Putting Green. Happy Hour Monday Thru Friday:
$2 Beer (Domestics)
$3 Wine & Well Drinks
$4 Martinis (House)


SAMBA ROOM
4514 Travis Street
214.522.4137
Very upscale, and very trendy. Don't even think about wearing jeans. Cover charge, at times. All ages. Good looking crowd. Stereotypical Dallas. Proximate to Sipango. Also a very good restaurant.

SIPANGO
4513 Travis Walk
214.522.2411
Very upscale, and very trendy. All ages. Must dress nicely. Several different bars, including VIP area. Live music and entertainment. Also a very good restaurant. Proximate to Samba Room.

SLIP INN
1806 McMillin
214.370.5988
Dark. Often very loud. Crowd varies, but young, for the most part. Fun for a high-energy alternative.

SUSHI ON MCKINNEY
4502 McKinney Avenue
214.521.0969
Great for Sushi and sake after work.

TACO DINER
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 307
214.521.3669
Trendy, upscale taco joint. Nice looking place and crowd. Best visited for a quick bite and drink before hitting the town, or for a light dinner.

THOMAS AVENUE BEVERAGE COMPANY
2901 Thomas Avenue
214.979.0452
Upscale, but not snooty. Dress is casual to somewhat formal. Generally a twenty-something, young, professional crowd. Great patio. Great restaurant. Even have TVs and a pool table. A safe bet.

3309 McKinney Avenue
214.220.0510
Another extremely trendy locale. All age ranges frequent this joint, which serves as a great bar and Mexican food restaurant. Patio is great. Good looking clientele provides for good people watching. Next door to the Quarter, so makes a nice 1-2 punch.

QUARTER
3308 McKinney Avenue
Dark, traditional bar with a couch room, two small sitting rooms, and a small patio. As long as the quarter is not too crowded, it is a great place. Friendly, well-dressed clientele. Mainly twenty and early thirty-somethings.


SAMBUCA UPTOWN
2120 McKinney Avenue
214-744-0820
Four Star Dining With Live Music Seven Nights A Week. Open Air Patio Bar With Putting Green. Happy Hour Monday Thru Friday:
$2 Beer (Domestics)
$3 Wine & Well Drinks
$4 Martinis (House)


SAMBA ROOM
4514 Travis Street
214.522.4137
Very upscale, and very trendy. Don't even think about wearing jeans. Cover charge, at times. All ages. Good looking crowd. Stereotypical Dallas. Proximate to Sipango. Also a very good restaurant.

SIPANGO
4513 Travis Walk
214.522.2411
Very upscale, and very trendy. All ages. Must dress nicely. Several different bars, including VIP area. Live music and entertainment. Also a very good restaurant. Proximate to Samba Room.

SLIP INN
1806 McMillin
214.370.5988
Dark. Often very loud. Crowd varies, but young, for the most part. Fun for a high-energy alternative.

SUSHI ON MCKINNEY
4502 McKinney Avenue
214.521.0969
Great for Sushi and sake after work.

TACO DINER
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 307
214.521.3669
Trendy, upscale taco joint. Nice looking place and crowd. Best visited for a quick bite and drink before hitting the town, or for a light dinner.

THOMAS AVENUE BEVERAGE COMPANY
2901 Thomas Avenue
214.979.0452
Upscale, but not snooty. Dress is casual to somewhat formal. Generally a twenty-something, young, professional crowd. Great patio. Great restaurant. Even have TVs and a pool table. A safe bet.

D-FW economic, housing markets among top in U.S., analysis finds

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has one of the strongest economic and housing markets in the country, according to a just-released analysis.

D-FW ranked fourth in a second-quarter economic comparison of 100 U.S. cities that was released Tuesday by the Brookings Institution. Austin was at the head of the list of cities with the strongest-performing economies.

And D-FW ranked third among markets with the best home price performance, the study found.

The quarterly report ranks the country's largest metropolitan areas based on employment, unemployment, economic output, home prices and home foreclosure rates.

"Several metro areas showed signs of beginning to recover from the recession, and the rate of economic decline slowed in many more," the study says.

"Twenty metro areas, including Albuquerque, Baltimore, Bridgeport, Conn., Charlotte, Dallas and Seattle, posted at least small increases in economic output in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter."

The D-FW area ranked 11th nationally in the comparison of gross economic production – up 0.1 percent from the first quarter.

And the area has had a 1.9 percent drop in total employment since the peak of the economy in mid-2008. That compares with a 4.1 percent nationwide decline, the Brookings study said.

The best news in the local report card was in the housing sector.

Local home prices, when adjusted for inflation, have increased in the D-FW area 3.8 percent during the last year, Brookings researchers estimate. That's the third-best performance in the country, behind Houston and Wichita, Kan.

The Brookings Institution report is the latest in a series of recent economic report cards that suggest that the recession is waning in North Texas.

Other data also suggest that the housing market decline here is bottoming.

Dallas Homes For Sale

Are you thinking about selling your home? If so, then why not visit our free home evaluation page? We can help you to learn what the proper value of your home is - just fill out the form and we'll compare your property with other Dallas homes for sale. Once you have this vital information, you'll be better informed and able to decide on an asking price for the home that suits all of your requirements.


Is there a new home in Dallas in your plans? Why not become one of my VIP Buyers? There are thousands of Dallas homes for sale, and they will not all be to your liking. Separate the wheat from the chaff! My VIP Buyer program searches the listings of Dallas homes for sale daily, taking into account your requirements and needs - then the listings that fit your criteria are emailed directly to you!

10 Housing Markets Likely to Rebound Soon ~

Real estate forecasting service Local Market Monitor, which predicts housing market trends for investors and banks, forecasts that housing prices will decline an average of 5 percent through 2010. This prediction includes double-digit decreases in Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas.

But then the worst could be over, says CEO Ingo Winzer. As the recession eases, “We’ll see good price increases in many markets,” he reports.

In the following markets, home values are expected to remain level this year but increase in value next year:

Baton Rouge, La.
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas
Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Ark.
Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
Pittsburgh, Pa.
San Antonio, Texas
Syracuse, N.Y.

Here are the 10 largest markets where prices are expected to continue to decline through 2010:

Fresno, Calif.
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.
Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
Stockton, Calif.
Tacoma, Wash.
Tucson, Ariz.



Source: Local Market Monitor (09/09/2009)

Who Likes Freebies?!

For Free Stuff - here is a list just for you~

1. Free Video Games

If you're looking for games for the kids -- or an excuse to act like a kid yourself -- head to Kongregate.com, Popcap.com, Pogo.com and OnlineFlashGames.org for thousands of free online and downloadable games of all types.

For educational or just-for-fun games suited to young kids, check out PBSkids.org, DiscoveryKids.com, NickJr.com and Scholastic.com/kids.

2. Free Birthday Goodies

A slew of businesses will give you prime freebies on your birthday that almost make getting older worth it. For instance, anyone can get free admission to Disneyland or Disney World parks in 2009. Join the birthday club at Toys R Us and your child (younger than 10) will get a free toy or gift card every year.

If you sign up in advance to join the club at your favorite eatery, you could score free food on your birthday too. For example, you can get a free meal at Famous Dave's BBQ and free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery and Baskin Robbins. Search the Web for "birthday freebies," then call your local restaurants to ask whether they participate in the deal.


3. Free Shipping

Special delivery! Some retailers still offer free shipping on every order, including Alyssagiftbaskets.com (special-occasion gifts), Bluenile.com (jewelry), Piperlime.com (shoes), Shopbop.com (clothes) and Zappos.com (shoes).

Many merchants offer free shipping if you can pick up the item at your local store, including Walmart.com, Payless.com and REI.com. This comes in handy for online-only items, oversize purchases or goods that have sold out at your local store. Or, look for free shipping deals when you spend a certain amount, such as orders over $25 at Amazon.com. See FreeShipping.org for more deals.

4. Free Software

For most of your computing needs, you can get free software. For word processing and spreadsheets, go to OpenOffice.org. For antivirus protection, head to http://free.avg.com. For free basic photo editing, check out http://picasa.google.com, or for more advanced touch-ups, try Gimp.org. And to manage your finances, use the free programs at Mint.com or Wesabe.com.

5. Free Stock Trades

At Wells Fargo, you get 100 commission-free online trades per year if your cumulative account balance is $25,000 or more (including your Wells Fargo checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and brokerage accounts).

Also, Zecco.com offers ten free trades per month if you have $25,000 in your brokerage account.

6. Free Credit Report

By law, you're entitled to one free report once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to find out what lenders can see about your credit history.


7. Free TV and Movies

Head online to watch free episodes from hundreds of TV shows -- old and current -- as well as free movies. And it's perfectly legal.

At OVGuide.com you'll find a list of TV and movie sites including Hulu.com, Veoh.com and Fancast.com, as well as individual network Web sites, such as ABC.com and CBS.com.

8. Free ATMs

A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal, but if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly.

Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. Money Pass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs.

9. Free (and Risk-Free) Interest

Many banks offer free savings accounts, but they won't help your money grow. Instead, use a high-yield online savings account for your short-term savings, such as ING Direct, HSBC Direct and Emigrant Direct. They're FDIC-insured and were recently paying around 1.4%. They have no minimum-balance requirement, so you earn that rate whether you have $1 or $100,000 saved.

And consider the free interest-bearing checking accounts from ING Direct and Everbank. They're also FDIC-insured and were recently paying between 0.25% and 1.96%. (Most traditional banks' free checking accounts pay you nil.)

10. Airline Freebies

Airlines may be scaling back their perks, but some still have freebies for fliers. For instance, Southwest lets you check two bags for free, while most others charge extra for luggage. JetBlue lets you check one bag free, plus gives you access to free TV, satellite radio and all-you-can-eat snacks. Continental still serves free meals on several routes. And all kids under age 2 can fly free on your lap on any airline.

Don't forget about the free flights you can score by signing up for an airline's frequent-flier program (enrollment is also free). See the "Program Guide" at WebFlyer.com for the lowdown on each airline's rules.

11. Free Money for Grad School

On average, a year of graduate school costs $28,375 for a master's degree at a public school and $38,665 at a private school. But free money abounds, from grants and scholarships to assistantships and fellowships.


12. Free Rewards

You have to buy groceries and gas anyway, so why not use those purchases to get a little more green in your wallet? Sign up for a rewards credit card and get free money, gift certificates, airline miles or other perks. (Of course, it's only free if you pay the balance in full each month without incurring interest charges.)

When you have to make a purchase online, start at BondRewards.com to earn another cool freebie: You click on an affiliated online retailer (there are hundreds) to do your shopping as usual, and a percentage of your purchase is given back to you in your BondRewards account. You then redeem your rewards for U.S. savings bonds or cash.

13. Free Financial Advice

Not to toot our own horn (okay, maybe just a little), but Kiplinger.com is a treasure trove of free financial advice. Our tools and calculators will help you get on the right financial track.

Our expert columnists will answer your personal-finance questions. For instance, Kim Lankford answers your general financial questions, Janet Bodnar tackles family and kid topics and Knight Kiplinger advises readers on ethics and money matters.

14. Free Mobile Apps

You spent all that money on a new iPhone. Now download some free apps to help you save money and recoup the cost. For instance, the free Mint.com or Quicken apps help you track your spending and manage your money and investments on the go. AMT Hunter can help you find a surcharge-free machine near wherever you are. And iShop can help you search for the lowest price on an item before you buy.

There are plenty of other useful applications at the iTunes App Store, with free recipes, weather updates, diet help, music, games and more.

15. Free Books, Movies, & Music

If you haven't been to the public library lately, dust off your card. It's your ticket to mounds of free books, magazines, CDs and movies.

Many libraries also offer free lectures, book readings and community clubs to residents.

16. Free Online Bill Paying

Stop paying your bills by check and put their payment on autopilot. At many banks, including Bank of America, BB&T, SunTrust and Wachovia, you get free bill paying with every online checking account. (Be sure you read the fine print -- some banks may require you to maintain a certain balance in your checking account to get the freebie.)

But even if your bank doesn't give you this freebie, you can probably arrange for automatic bill paying directly with the parties sending the bills, such as your utility, credit-card, phone and mortgage companies.


17. Free Kids' Meals

Yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch -- or dinner. Kids eat free at Denny's, Lone Star Steakhouse and Roadhouse Grill every Tuesday night (and some Saturdays) with a paying adult. IHOP, Golden Corral, Marie Callender's and Chevys restaurants offer kids-eat-free deals at select locations.

You can search for eateries in your area at KidsMealDeals.com.

18. Free Digital Storage Space

With free online backup storage, you can protect your important files and photos from computer crashes, theft or natural disaster.

For instance, Spideroak.com and Myotherdrive.com each give you 2 gigabytes of free and secure digital storage space. You can also store your cherished photos and videos at sites such as Photobucket.com and Flickr.com. You can also store your pics at photo-print ordering sites such as Snapfish.com, Shutterfly.com or Walmart.com, as long as your account is active.

19. Free Tech Recycling -- With Benefits

Not only is it getting easier to keep your old electronics out of the landfill, but you may even get some free cash in exchange. Services such as BuyMyTronics.com, Gazelle.com, MyBoneyard.com and GreenPhone.com recycle or refurbish your old tech and send you a check in return. They take cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, game consoles and more.

If you can't find anyone willing to pay for your dinosaur, look for other free places to recycle. For instance, Best Buy will take many of your tech castoffs at no charge. And keep your eyes open for free e-recycling days in your city.

20. Free Capital Gains

Who wouldn't love to let their investments grow 100% tax-free? Take a pass on paying capital-gains taxes by investing in a Roth IRA. Any money you put into your Roth grows tax-free, and you won't owe Uncle Sam a dime when you cash out in retirement. It's all yours.

Making the Right Decision – Is it Time to Buy your First Home?

The news is enough to scare anyone these days. We all hear the doom and gloom terms: recession, credit crisis, market free-fall. But what does it all mean and should it have an impact on whether we purchase our first home?

The answer is decidedly both yes and no. If you have been impacted directly by the ailing economy and your job is at risk, for example, you may want to think twice before diving into a major purchase such as a home. However, if you are fortunate enough to have a steady job, a nice nest egg and excellent credit then it may be time to consider purchasing your first home.

Low Interest Rates
There’s no doubt about it. Lenders have tightened their belts and only those individuals with the best of credit have a shot at getting approved for a mortgage. However, if you’ve paid your dues and have a sparkling credit history, then you are one of the lucky few whom can take advantage of the near-historic low interest rates.

Nice Inventory of Homes
The sour housing market may also be in your favor, as there is a nice inventory of Coppell homes on the market with reasonable price tags. We are definitely still in the middle of a buyer’s market, which means that there is likely a nice supply of homeowners looking to unload their properties.

Down Payment Concerns
Finally, it may be the right time to purchase your first home if you have saved a considerable amount of money for a down payment. Most lenders require at least 20 percent down, so if you haven’t secured that much money, then it may not be the time to dive into your first home purchase.

Buying your first home is a very personal decision. You must take your own, individual circumstances into consideration before making this major purchase. There are many incentives for new homeowners these days, such as low interest rates and tax rebates, so it pays to educate yourself on both the positive and negative aspects about purchasing your first home.

What you Need to Know to Sell your Home in Today’s Market:

As a seller, it is extremely important that you have a firm grasp of the conditions of the real estate market in which you are selling. Understanding market conditions and being prepared to deal with them is the best way to sell your home in a reasonable amount of time.

Price your home right - from the beginning.
This is not the time to price your home according to what you think it is worth, instead of what the local market is bearing (unless, of course, you are in no hurry to sell your home). Instead, it is vital that you price your home right from the beginning so that you can attract a wide group of buyers. Listen to the advice of your real estate agent, take cues from the other homes in your neighborhood, and pay attention to local market trends so that you can price your home to sell.

Be prepared for low ball offers.
Unfortunately, sellers in today’s market must deal with buyers who think that, because the real estate market is fairly stagnant, that they can make ridiculously low offers on your home. However, instead of firmly rejecting a low ball offer (and shooting yourself in the foot at the same time), put your ego aside and counter offer. A counter offer may very well let the buyer know that you aren’t prepared to accept a low ball offer. At that point the buyer can either submit a reasonable offer or move on.

Get your home in tip-top shape and be prepared for serious competition.
Unlike the seller’s market of even just a few years ago, homes are sitting on the market for a much longer period of time, which means that you must be prepared for plenty of competition. A great way to compete against other homes for sale in your area is to make sure your home is the best looking one on the block. Clean it up, clear out the clutter and make it shine. Take care of upgrades and renovations, and entice buyers with new appliances or extra features and amenities.

Remain open minded and flexible.
If you want to sell your home in a buyer’s market, you will need to first remember that it is vital to remain flexible during the process. This essentially means that you will want to be accommodating during showings and open houses (even if the times aren’t particularly convenient for you); you will want to entertain all offers and remain flexible regarding the buyers’ terms and conditions; and you will want to always remember that the ultimate goal is to sell your home, so egos have no place during the selling process.

Although a buyer’s market may prove to be challenging for many homeowners, it is important to realize that there are still plenty of buyers out there, just waiting to purchase your home!

Ft. Worth Zoo Trip

I can't believe how quick this summer has flown bye. This summer has been full of fun trips and weekend concerts. There hasn't been a weekend all summer where we did not have something planned. I have always been obsesed with monkeys, and I have been wanting to go to the Zoo for a while. We ended up going to the Ft. Worth Zoo this past weekend and spending the day there walking around and looking at all of the animals. Not only am I obsessed with monkeys, but also with taking pictures. I bet I took close to 100 pictures at the zoo of the different animals. I had several favorites at the zoo...one was when we were in the bird area and had the opportunity to feed the birds.




That was fun! Of course, the monkeys were another of my favorites.


Two others that I really enjoyed were the Penguins and the Bears. The Penguins put on a show for us and the others looking on. The bear picture is probably one of the cutest ones I took. Someone had dropped a water bottle in with the bears, and this one bear was trying to get the water out but couldn't figure out how to get the top off. We enjoyed watching him for a while.

Dinner night~

I've been neglecting updating my blog about my cooking adventures. I'm sorry! Well, we had another cooking night earlier this week and decided to make Taco Soup for a couple of our friends. Since we were cooking for more than just 2, I decided to triple the recipe. Mostly because I wanted to take home the left overs to eat on :). Taco Soup is healthy, easy to make, and doesn't take long to cook.

For 1 serving (double or triple for larger servings)

1 can of Kidney Beans
1 can of Ranch Style Beans
1 can of Rotel
1 can of whole kernel corn
1 packet of Ranch style seasoning
1 packet of Taco seasoning
1/2 lb of hamburger meat

First thing I always do is wash the tops off the cans and go ahead and open them all up. Start cooking the hamburger meat in a skillet until fully cooked. In a large pot add all the cans and seasoning. Continue to stir every 5-10 minutes, making sure it's not sticking to the bottom of the pot. Let it cook for 40 minutes until heated all the way through. Pour into a bowl and enjoy! The way I always enjoy eating it is by adding cheddar cheese and sour cream. I usually eat the soup with wheat things or baked chips. If you are on weight watchers....one cup=2 points.

Preparing Your Home for Sale – Inexpensive Kitchen Solutions

You hear it all the time – kitchens sell houses. But you need to get your house sold and you certainly don’t have the time or the budget required for a kitchen makeover. Now what?

Dealing with the Cabinets
Grab a scrub brush, a bucket and some elbow grease and thoroughly clean the cabinets of fingerprints, grease and residue. If that does the trick then consider yourself ahead of the game. Otherwise, read on.

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint and new cabinet hardware are all it takes to update cabinets. You may also want to consider paying a professional to resurface the cabinets. This will obviously cost more than a can of paint, but a lot less than the cost of new cabinets. And the results are typically impressive.

While you’re at it, organize your kitchen cabinets’ contents. Buyers will be opening cabinet doors and if they see cluttered cabinets they will naturally assume that the home does not have adequate cabinet space.

On to the Countertops
Clearing the countertops of clutter is a great first step in freshening up your kitchen and giving the appearance of more countertop space. Give the countertops a good scrub-down, and don’t forget the stainless steel sink. Scouring out the sink with a Brillo pad is an easy way to instantly shine it up and make it look brand new.

If it’s in your budget, you may also want to consider replacing the countertops. And you don’t need to install granite, either. Today’s laminate countertops are attractive, durable and generally inexpensive. And they can make a big impact on an outdated kitchen.

Don’t Forget the Appliances
Once again, if new appliances are in your budget, go ahead and splurge. New appliances impress buyers and can serve as a useful bargaining tool when determining the sale price of your home.

Otherwise, roll those sleeves up again and get to work. Wipe down the exterior of all your appliances, and then scrub the inside of the stove, the microwave and the refrigerator until they shine. Always remember that you can’t take back a buyer’s first impression, so clean it up!

The Big Rock and the Jar

After talking to his students about scheduling all their activities, a high school science teacher takes a large mouth jar and places several large rocks in it. He then asks the class, "Is it full?"

Unanimously, the class replies, "Yes!"

The teacher then takes a bucket of gravel and pours it into the jar. The small rocks settle into the spaces between the big rocks.

He then asks the class, "Is the jar full now?"

Most of the students reply, "Yes." Some were reluctant to agree a second time.

The teacher then produces a large can of sand and proceeds to pour it into the jar. The sand fills up the spaces between the gravel and the big rocks. For the third time, the teacher asks, "Is the jar full?"

Convinced nothing else could go into the jar, many of the students answered, "Yes."

Then the teacher brings out a pitcher of water and pours it into the jar. The water saturates the sand and encases the gravel and rocks. At this point the teacher asks the class, "What is the point of this demonstration?"

One bright young student raises his hang and respond, "No matter how full our schedule is, we can always squeeze in more things to do."

"You might think that." replies the teacher, "but the point is that unless you first place the big rocks into the jar, you are never going to get them in. The big rocks are the important things in your life...your family, your friend, and your personal growth. If you fill your life with small things, as demonstrated with the gravel, sand, and water, you will never have the time for you important things."