Cody

Now that the gifts are open, the food is eaten and the family has gone back home, there’s still the daunting task of taking down the Christmas tree.  And if you have a live tree, what do you do with it?

If you haven’t already, 2010 is the year to go green, so recycle your live Christmas tree December 28-January 15.  And if you show proof of a Dallas address, you can get free mulch for your garden (be sure to bring your own containers and shovels).

Be sure to remove all tinsel, ornaments, stands, lights and nails from the tree before bringing to the recycling center.

Tree recycling and mulch are available from 9 am to 4 pm at:

McCommas Bluff Landfill

5100 Youngblood Road (Monday-Saturday)

Flag Pole Hill

Northwest Highway at Buckner Blvd. (Monday-Sunday)

Fair Oaks Transfer Station

7677 Fair Oaks Ave. (Monday-Saturday)

Southwest (Oak Cliff) Transfer Station

4610 S. Westmoreland Road (Monday-Saturday)

Northwest (Bachman) Transfer Station

9500 Harry Hines Blvd. (Monday-Saturday)

For more information, call 3-1-1.

Cody

NOTE: The following was sent to all employees and Associates of The Ebby Halliday Companies by Ebby and Company President & CEO, Mary Frances Burleson:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

As 2009 draws to a close, we would like to wish each of you the very, very best for the holidays and the coming New Year!

We have high expectations for 2010. There are many positive signs the economy is recovering, and along with it, the real estate industry. Our local housing market, too, is improving. Sales are up, and real estate is alive and well in Dallas, Fort Worth and North Texas!

At the Ebby Halliday Companies, our business is improving as well. Thanks to all of you, sales during the last several months have increased significantly over last year - a fine testament to your professionalism and hard work in a challenging market. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Thank you once again for all that you do, and enjoy the holidays!!

 
Ebby and Mary Frances

Cody

Earlier this month, when The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas needed a host for a recognition dinner in honor of their largest donors, they called upon their friend Ebby.  And she was happy to oblige.

Ebby has been a Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society Member for many years and hosted the party for 58 other couples who have generously given $25,000 or more to United Way this past year.  This prestigious group contains many of the most generous philanthropists and successful business leaders in our community.

The event was held at the incredible home at 10731 Bridge Hollow Court in the magnificent Creeks of Preston Hollow, listed by Jennifer Miller with Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, an Ebby Halliday Company.  This more than 13,000 square foot, Geoffrey Grant-built masterpiece served as an ideal setting for the elegant seated dinner by renowned Dallas chef, Kent Rathbun. 

Ebby is pictured above with Chuck Gummer, president & CEO of Comerica Bank Texas, the evening’s sponor, and Gary Godsey, president & CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.  To see more photos from the Tocqueville Society Dinner, visit the official Ebby Halliday Facebook page here.

To make a donation to the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, click here.

Cody

Each quarter, the Ebby Corporate Real Estate Services Department holds a contest for Associates who place the most qualified outbound referrals - and for Fourth Quarter 2009, the prize was “A Christmas Lunch With Ebby“. 

Last week, the six lucky Associates were invited to Ebby’s home where she hosted the lunch along with Martha Marshall, senior vice president & director of Corporate Real Estate Services and Merry Crawford Shuck, outbound referral coordinator.  Also in attendance was Betty Misko, vice president and director of sales offices for The Ebby Halliday Companies. 

The group enjoyed a great meal, great company, and, of course, you can’t get a group of real estate agents together without talking a little business.  We’re told the group unanimously agreed that it’s going to be a bustling spring market.

Winning Associates were:

                    Kathy Gibson - Frisco Office

                    Claire Krieger - Preston Center Office

                    Joan Lott - Southlake Office

                    Carol McCracken - Preston Plano Parkway Office

                    Dennis Stanley - Arlington Office

                    Carole Waugh - Flower Mound/Lewisville Office

Congratulations to you all!

Admin

Ok, not literally a trip to Laguna Beach (although we doubt anyone would turn it down), but leave it to Luxury Portfolio to find a way to bring Laguna Beach to the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Southlake, or any DFW city. 

Check out their post about Laguna Beach-based Laguna Candles - eco-friendly candles made of soy and natural beeswax. 

The perfect gift for the luxury home owner who has it all.  And it’s green! 

How can you beat eco-chic for the holidays? 

Learn more about Laguna Candles here.

Admin

For those of you looking for a great last minute holiday gift, check out Luxury Portfolio’s blog post featuring Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009.

The best part - the average price of these wines is $40!

Check out the full blog post here.

Admin

Luxury Portfolio continues to provide national and international exposure for luxury homes for sale by the Ebby Halliday Companies. 

This time it’s the impeccably designed home at 14225 Hughes Lane in North Dallas, listed by Gena Richards of the Ebby’s Little White House office in Preston Center.

A quick glance at the photos and you won’t be surprised to learn that this is the home of a designer. 

The current home owner’s resume includes 10 years as creative director of interior design for Neiman Marcus and senior vice president of design for Wedgewood china and Waterford crystal.

This home, which is one of the most incredible Dallas homes for sale, will also be featured in Traditional Home magazine this spring.

To read the full post from the Luxury Portfolio Blog, click here.

Cody

The Ebby Halliday Corporate Office hosted the Happy Hill Farm Academy Choir yesterday.  Each year, HHF Founder Ed Shipman and the choir make their rounds to spread holiday cheer to corporate supporters of The Farm. 

Everyone looks forward to this event each year and it’s always incredible - see for yourself from the video below. 

For more information or to donate to Happy Hill Farm, click here.

Coordinated by Sandra Hughes, the Ebby Corporate office also collected Teddy Bears over the past few weeks which were donated today to the Dallas Police Department’s Teddy Bears In Patrol campaign. 

Started in the early 1990’s, this program is designed to help reduce stress and anxiety that children feel during crisis situations.  Officers carry the bears with them while on patrol and use them as needed to bring comfort and joy to children in times of need. 

Sergeant Cheryl Cornish, Senior Corporal Rikicia Robinson and Corporal Laurie Wigley represented DPD at today’s Christmas Lunch where they were presented with almost 10 large bags full of bears.

Pictured above are Senior Corporal Robinson, President & CEO Mary Frances Burleson, Sergeant Cornish, Ebby and Senior Corporal Wigley. 

For more information about Teddy Bears In Patrol or to make a donation, contact Senior Corporal Wigley at 214-671-4028.

Cody

Each year, the Dallas Business Journal publishes their “Book of Lists”, which they describe as

“The scorecard of the people, companies and industries that make up our entire North Texas economy.  With this tool, you can track the trends of who’s coming and going, who’s got the money and which company is up or down.”

And if you flip to page 178, you’ll find Ebby Halliday Real Estate as #1 (again) on the list of Largest Metroplex Residential Real Estate Brokerages!  That includes our almost 16,000 closed transactions resulting in a sales volume of almost $4.5 billion in 2008.  And our 1,368 Sales Associates had an impressive average sales volume of $3.28 million! 

We’re particularly proud of this accomplishment given all the changes in ranks in this year’s list. 

The Ebby Halliday Companies, Ebby Halliday Realtors, Ellen Terry Realtors and Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, thank all of our Sales Associates and clients for their support and trust - it’s because of them that we continue to be the #1 real estate company in North Texas. 

As we head into our 65th Anniversary Year in 2010, we will continue to be dedicated to our founding principle, service; service to the client, service to the industry and service to the communities in which we serve.

To download a full copy of the Dallas Business Journal’s Book of Lists, click here.

Admin

Our friends at Luxury Portfolio enjoyed our holiday ad homes almost as much as we did. 

Their recent blog post brought even more national and international exposure to the incredible luxury homes for sale at 2506 Perkins Road in Arlington and 6239 Deloache Avenue in Preston Hollow.

Read the full post here.