Mary Frances

Thinking of buying a home?  2009 may be the best time ever!

Home prices in the Dallas - Fort Worth area are moderate and tax incentives of up to $8,000 are available for first-time buyers. Mortgage interest rates remain low, resulting in lower monthly house payments.

Today, however, credit worthiness is more important than ever when qualifying for a mortgage. A little up-front work can expedite the qualifying process.

Learn your credit score. Your credit score reflects your borrowing history and is considered by lenders an indication of how likely you are to pay back money you borrow.

Determine your debt-to-income ratio. This ratio expresses the amount of money you owe compared to the amount of money you make. Generally, a debt-to-income ratio of 38% or less is needed to qualify for a home loan.

Assemble the documentation the lender will require. Lenders usually require six months of bank statements and recent tax returns to verify income.

Obtain a pre-qualification letter from a dependable mortgage lender. Ask an Ebby Halliday, REALTORS sales associate to introduce you to a Home Team Mortgage loan officer who can quickly and easily pre-qualify you for a mortgage.

Now, you’re ready to work with your Ebby Halliday, REALTORS associate to find your perfect home!

Mary Frances

Congratulations to our Top Sales Associates for First Quarter 2009.  The official announcement of winners was made in a full page ad in the Business Section of today’s Dallas Morning News. 

These associates exemplify the utmost in professionalism, having established themselves as leaders in our industry.  We applaud their accomplishments and join in celebrating their success.

You can see our First Quarter 2009 Honor Roll here.

Mary Frances

The Dallas - Fort Worth area continues to thrive compared with many other parts of the country.

A recent study of large metropolitan areas ranked the Fort Worth and Dallas markets number 4 and 5 on a list of 333 “Best Cities for Jobs”, according to Forbes.com.

Here are the top 10 large metro areas:

1. Austin - Round Rock, TX

2. Houston - Sugar Land, TX

3. San Antonio, TX

4. Fort Worth - Arlington, TX

5. Dallas - Plano - Irving, TX

6. Seattle - Bellevue, WA

7. Salt Lake City, UT

8. Raleigh - Cary, NC

9. Oklahoma City, OK

10. Portland - Vancouver, OR-WA

The dynamic job market and high rate of employment in Texas, especially in the DFW area, continue to support a strong real estate market.

That, coupled with historically low interest rates, moderate real estate prices, tax credits for some buyers, and a wide selection of properties for sale, makes the DFW market especially strong.

It’s a great time to buy a home!  And there’s no better place to start your search than ebby.com.

Mary Frances

There may never have been a better time to buy a home than today! Interest rates are at record lows - less than 5% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.  Home prices in the DFW area are some of the most affordable in the nation.  With more than 43,000 DFW Metroplex homes on the market, there is an excellent selection of homes available to suit any buyer’s needs.

Those who have not owned a home in the past three years may be eligible for a Federal Income Tax credit of up to $8,000 on a home purchased by December 1, 2009.  A Home Team Mortgage loan officer can provide complete details on qualifying for a home loan and the 2009 Tax Credit.  You can also find more details here.

Today’s real estate market offers a truly unique opportunity to buy! Don’t miss it!