Kendall

After this week’s news that buying a home might not ever get any cheaper, there is no better time to keep an eye on fresh listings.

Today’s edition takes us to a home at 4048 Courtshire Drive in Midway Hills with the perfect blend of traditional and modern styles. This home has an open floorplan with floor-to-ceiling views of the large backyard and the wooded lot. The kitchen is beautiful and sleek while the downstairs master suite is warm and inviting. Amenities in this uniquely designed home include museum-finished walls, and granite and hardwood floors.

Come out on Sunday from 2-4pm to see this home, in a great location near the Dallas North Tollway, 635 and great private schools.

Or, click here for more information on 4048 Courtshire.

And, as always, you can start a home search of your very own at the award-winning ebby.com.

Cody

Yesterday’s Dallas Morning News reported what real estate agents have been telling us for months – the Dallas/Fort Worth housing market is hot!

Real estate editor Steve Brown reported that the North Texas housing market rebound continued in April with a double-digit percentage rise in pre-owned home sales.  According to The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems Inc., there was an 11 percent increase in single family home sales over April 2011.  And April marked the 10th straight month that homes sales have increased compared to the same time period last year. 

In addition, median home sales prices were up 9 percent compared to last year.  This increase is largely attributed to the decrease in home inventory – available homes were down 24 percent in April and there was only a 5.5 month supply of homes on the market.  This shortage is also causing local real estate agents to report a drastic increase in multiple offers.

DallasNews.com subscribers can read the full article online here.

And if you’re curious about what’s available for sale in your neighborhood and at what price, visit ebby.com.  Helpful hint: find homes within a specified radius of your exact address by using the Ebby Proximity Search.

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® has appointed Keith Newman sales manager of its Plano/Willow Bend Office. Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer, recently made the announcement.

“Keith brings extensive real estate sales experience, as well as a strong desire to assist our Plano/Willow Bend agents in taking their careers to the next level,” Burleson says. “Intensely focused on education, Keith truly appreciates the wide-ranging educational opportunities available to new and seasoned agents at Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®.”

Newman will report to Betty Misko, executive vice president and director of sales offices.

“Recognized as a Top Producer at his previous brokerage, Keith often served as a mentor to other agents,” Misko says. “I am confident his background and sales experience will benefit the Plano/Willow Bend Office in many ways.”

A native of Dallas, Newman has been in real estate sales since 2001 and has extensive experience representing buyers and sellers in a variety of Dallas neighborhoods. Recognized as a D Best real estate agent multiple times by D magazine, he enjoys exploring new and innovative ways to be successful in real estate.

“I am passionate about technology, particularly mobile technology and the opportunities it offers today’s buyers and sellers,” Newman says.

“One of the reasons I chose Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® is the company’s appreciation for both new-agent education and continuing education for seasoned agents,” Newman says. “I really look forward to helping our Plano/Willow Bend agents develop successful business plans to take their business to the next level.”

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®’ affiliation with Luxury Portfolio International®, the luxury division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® — the largest global network of premier independent luxury brokerages — is another reason Newman chose Ebby Halliday. The 48-year-old network is responsible for more transactions than any other real estate network. Its website, LuxuryPortfolio.com, markets more than 25,000 of the world’s most remarkable homes annually and attracts more than 1.2 million high-net-worth visitors a year.

“I am truly excited about my move to Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® and the future of the Plano/Willow Bend Office,” Newman says. “My door will always be open for my agents, and our valued clients will reap the benefits.” 

For more information on Ebby’s Plano/Willow Bend, visit planowillowbend.ebby.com.

Kendall

Today’s Fresh Listing Friday takes us to a gorgeous and secluded cul-de-sac lot in Lakewood.

This four bedroom, four bath home at 6826 Meadow Lake Circle sits on a beautiful lot with a pool and outdoor pavilion.

The more than 4,000 square foot ranch-style home has multiple rooms including a spacious living area with vaulted ceilings and surround sound – and many rooms have gorgeous views of the backyard oasis.

You have to see this home to truly appreciate all of the amenities and details, so be sure to check it out during the open house this Sunday from 3-5 pm or visit the property website for more details.

And, if there are any more homes on your radar, be sure to use the Open House Tour function on Ebby.com and create your own tour map!

Be sure to check back next Friday to see where the next Fresh Listing Friday takes us!

Cody

We’re proud to announce that yesterday’s Herald-Democrat unveiled its annual “Best of Texoma” awards and Ebby Halliday, REALTORS was named “Best Real Estate Company” for the the third time (and the second year in a row)!

“Our offices are made up of Sales Associates who have a commitment to client service, continuing-education programs, dedication to our industry and devotion to the communities we serve,” says Sherry Smith, manager for the Ebby Sherman and Whitesboro offices which represent the Ebby name in the Texoma area.

These offices in Texomaland have always strived to the best and we are so proud and honored to be recognized with this award. We’ve always known they are the best in Texoma and we’re sure their efforts will bring them this honor for many more years to come. 

You can follow these offices and their sales associates at Facebook.com/EbbySherman and Facebook.com/EbbyWhitesboro.

Kendall

Today’s edition of Fresh Listing Friday takes us to an award-winning home in Plano. This modern estate won the 2009 Best Whole House Renovation from the Homebuilders Association and it’s easy to see why. The gorgeous modern contemporary features a large chef’s kitchen with a 6-burner range, sub-zero fridge, double dishwashers, and custom tiger wood cabinetry.  Windows throughout the home look out to a saltwater pool in the spacious backyard. Other rooms included in the open floorplan are a media room, mudroom, library and wine cellar.

Get out and enjoy the great weekend weather and come see this home’s modern elegance in person during open houses this Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 pm. And be sure to visit the property website for more information.

Don’t forget to check back next week for another edition of Fresh Listing Friday!  Until then, you can always start a custom home search of your own at ebby.com.

The National Association of Realtors has designated this weekend, April 28-29, National Open House Weekend. If you’re considering buying a home the large number of open houses this weekend in North Texas offers an ideal opportunity to tour available properties.

From urban to suburban, large to small, there’s something for everyone – and the best place to start your search for a home is the award-winning website ebby.com, where you can search all the open houses in the North Texas MLS.   

The site offers two exceptional ways to search for your dream home: the Ebby Open House Tour and the new, state-of-the-art Proximity Search.

The Ebby Open House Tour feature allows users to create their own custom open house tour, complete with turn-by-turn driving directions. Visitors may browse all open houses for a specific day or time period based on their criteria. Properties of interest are added to a cart, which is used to generate a tour map. To create an Open House Tour, visit ebbyopenhouses.com.

The Proximity Search feature is perfect for finding homes within a certain distance of a specific location or landmark. Users may search by proximity to jobs, schools, parks, entertainment centers, medical care, or just about anything they choose.  Additional fields are available to further narrow your search. To use the Proximity Search, visit proximity.ebby.com.      

“Best of all, these features are available for all open houses in the Multiple Listing Service, not just properties listed by Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®,” says June Feltman, Director of Special Projects for The Ebby Halliday Companies.

The National Association of Realtors estimates 90 percent of today’s buyers use the Internet in their home searches.

“At Ebby Halliday we are constantly focused on innovation, and to do that in today’s market, you must be focused online,” Feltman says. “We are actively pursuing online features that will continue to make ebby.com the go-to source for North Texas real estate.”

Ebby.com recently added another award to its long list of accolades. The Website Quality Certification (WQC) is presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the ebby.com site was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in numerous key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search-engine optimization.

“It is vital for a real estate firm to have a current, easy-to-use and relevant website,” says Pam O’Connor, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “By earning the Website Quality Certification, Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® has demonstrated that it offers fundamental online resources to home buyers and sellers, which are further supported by the expertise that only a dedicated real estate professional can provide.”

For more information about Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®, visit ebby.com.

Cody

Be sure and check out the back page of the Main Section in today’s Dallas Morning News. There you’ll find the Ebby Halliday Companywide Top Associates for First Quarter 2012!

You can also see the complete list at ebby.com.

The Ebby Halliday Companies salute these Associates for their tireless dedication to providing preeminent service to their clients.

Congratulations to you all!

Kendall

Welcome back for another edition of Fresh Listing Friday! Not only does this mean the weekend is upon us, but we are starting your Friday off with another new and gorgeous Ebby Halliday listing.

Today’s featured home takes us to the historic neighborhood of Vickery Place, in the heart of Dallas. Built in 2006, this elegant 4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home features coveted details like gorgeous handscraped hardwoods, plantation shutters and crown moldings. The spacious kitchen offers a commercial-grade range cooktop, breakfast bar and butler’s pantry. With more than 4,500 square feet of elegant architecture and amenities including a gameroom, media room and study, you will never want to leave your home at 5412 Goodwin Avenue. Click here for more details on this amazing home or visit ebby.com to start your own home search today.

And, don’t forget to visit us here again next Friday for another new Ebby listing!

Ebby Halliday, REALTORS has appointed Sylvia Sotelo Kidd sales manager of its Rockwall Office. Mary Frances Burleson, president and chief executive officer, recently made the announcement.

“Always energetic and a proven Top Producer, Sylvia will undoubtedly bring the already very successful and well-known Rockwall Office to the next level,” Burleson says.

Sotelo Kidd will report to Betty Misko, vice president and director of sales offices.

“I have great confidence in Sylvia,” Misko says. “With her successful real estate background, I know that she will continue to perform with distinction.”                            

For the past 10 years Sotelo Kidd has been a top agent in the White Rock/Lake Highlands Office of Ebby Halliday, REALTORS. She was the first recipient of the “Yellow Rose of Distinction” Award, a companywide award for her numerous and significant contributions to the community and her positive impact on the lives of others.

“Among the reasons for my success are the extensive training and tools that come with being a member of the Ebby Halliday Family of Companies,” Sotelo Kidd says. “The Ebby Rockwall Office has long been No. 1 in Rockwall County. My job is to keep it the leader — and make it even better.”

Sotelo Kidd, who is bilingual, has extensive experience in management, operations and human resources for both corporate and non-profit organizations. She is well known for her significant service in a variety of community activities.

Sotelo Kidd has served as a board member or officer with the Dallas Zoo, YWCA, Center for Non-Profit Management, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas – Dallas Chapter, Dallas Summit for local businesswomen and AVANCE for at-risk Hispanic children. She has served as a member of the DISD Superintendents Advisory Council, Women’s Museum Board and SMU Meadows School of Art Executive Board.

She also has served as chair of the Mental Health Association of Metropolitan Dallas and chair of the Hispanic 100, a group of senior executive Hispanic women. She currently is on the Parkland Foundation Board, is the Chair of MomentumTexas and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Theater Center. Sotelo Kidd was 1 of only 20 women nationwide selected to the National Latina Leadership Institute to participate in an intensive leadership program.

“I very much look forward to using my executive management and community experience as resources to support the Rockwall office’s agents, our buyers and our sellers,” Sotelo Kidd says. “My door will always be open.”

For more information on Ebby’s Rockwall office, visit rockwall.ebby.com.