Why Fort Worth?

You can ask different Fort Worth natives what they love about this city, and I guarantee that you will get a different answer every time. I love that, because to me, it gives a beautiful picture of the diversity that makes up our city.

To me, selling Fort Worth is the best job I could have! I truly love this place. I love the parks along the Trinity River. I love meeting up with friends on Magnolia Avenue and grabbing dinner at one of the myriad of amazing local restaurants. I love listening to live music at Brewed, grabbing a slice of cake at Stir Crazy Baked Goods, or sipping a cup of coffee at Buon Giorno.

To me, Fort Worth is the best of everything: big city with a small town feel and kind people who are very proud to be Texan. It’s an easy city to have pride in, to get involved with locally, and to live your life to its fullest.

So, whether you’ve been here for awhile and are looking for a change with a new season of life, or if you are trying to get to the Fort as fast as you can, I’d love to help you find your home.

 

Sincerely,

Emily Wardlaw

 

 

 

 

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Welcome to the Table!

Tavolo is the Italian word for table. And the designers behind the newest Fort Worth neighborhood are bringing something new to the neighborhood development game: community.

Located off of Bryant Irvin Road and Altamesa Boulevard in Southwest Fort Worth, Tavolo Park is a prime location for a new neighborhood. Near great schools, easy access to the Chisholm Trail Toll Road, restaurants and grocery stores just minutes away, and with prices for homes starting in the 300s,  Tavolo Park is set to be a very hot commodity.

 

One of my favorite things so far about Tavolo Park, is their emphasis on the availability for the neighborhood to gather. The center of the neighborhood has a beautiful pool and an amenity center called, “The Big Table”. Complete with a hammocks, a catering kitchen, and a beer garden, this place is meant to have people gather.

Because of its ideal location, school options are plentiful! Tavolo Park will be in Crowley ISD, and has set aside land for an elementary school to be built within it. There are also 4 superb private schools located within a 5 mile radius of the neighborhood: Southwest Christian School, Fort Worth Academy, Trinity Valley School, and Fort Worth Country Day. 

The two builders in the neighborhood are David Weekly Homes and Highland Homes. Lots will become available by the end of the summer, and homes will take 6-8 months to complete. Because Fort Worth is such a well established city, new neighborhood builds like this, that are still close enough to get to everything in the city without having to drive in to the city makes Tavolo Park a rare gem! If you are interested in learning more about Tavolo Park, give me a call and let’s talk.

 

 

 

Who’s Paying For What? (The One About Closings)

You’ve found THE house. You love it and can’t wait to move in. You count down the days until you get to call the house yours, and 3 days before closing, you receive a document that tells you how much you will need to pay at closing. You are shocked! Blind-sided! What is all of this??

It seems likes closings have a little bit of a mystery around them. It’s a strange lump sum of money that you are told to pay to get your hands on your house, and it can be confusing, frustrating, and intimidating. I’m here to help debunk the mystery that is Closing Costs!

On average, the buyer will pay 2% – 7% of the cost of their home in closing costs. So if you buy a home for $200,000, you could be throwing down $4,000 to $14,000 at closing. Why is there such a variance in the percentage? Well, it depends on what state you live in, property taxes, and insurance premiums. Your lender will be able to give you a much more accurate estimate once you have found a house that you like!

Typically, this is what the Buyer pays for at closing:

• Appraisal Fee
• A fee for running your credit report
• Underwriter fee- This is to assess your credit worthiness
• A loan origination fee – The lenders will charge this for processing your loan.
• A fee for a title search – This will unearth if there are any liens on the house.
• Prorated Property Taxes- You will pay remaining property taxes for the year on the house upfront.
• Inspector Fee
• Taxes on the money you’ve borrowed for your loan
• Your down payment

This is typically what the Seller will pay at closing:

• A Title Transfer Fee
• Taxes on Sale of Home
• A Closing Fee- This is paid to the Title Company
• Agent Fees – The Seller pays the real estate agent’s commissions which averages around 6% of the sale price of the home. (3% goes to the buyer’s agent and 3% goes to the seller’s agent.)
• Attorney Fee – This is optional for the Seller, but sometimes they will hire an attorney

It might look like the buyers have to pay a ton more than sellers, but in reality, no one is getting to skip away without having to cough up some cash. As always, this list could look different in each transaction as sometimes negotiations change who pays for what.

 

So, if you’re looking at this list and starting to stress, don’t! Some of the most simple things you can do are:

1. Meet with a financial planner. See what is really going on with your finances and make a plan with a goal in mind, like moving into a house!
2. SAVE. It is CRAZY how much money we spend on eating out and entertainment. Cut back on some of that and you will be shocked at the money you have saved.
3. Contact Me! If you are thinking that you might be getting ready to move or look to find a home, let’s start talking! Part of my job is walking you through the process so that I can take as much stress off of you as possible!

 

Though purchasing a home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, think about what you are getting:

A HOME. A place that is safe. That shelters you. That welcomes family and friends. A place where a family is built. For some, a creative space. For others, a place to relax after a long day’s work. Where you laugh, where you cry, where you dream of new things.  When you find what you’re looking for in a home, it becomes something more than just four walls and a roof. And it’s hard to stick a price tag on that.

 

 

 

 

Sources for Blog found on http://www.realtor.com

To Buy, or not to Buy. That is the Question.

We’re headed into the holiday season, and as I talk to my friends about work, one of the questions that has been popping up recently, is, “Is now a good time to buy a house?”

The short answer?

YES.

And no, it’s not just because I want to help you find a house for you to call home, which I totally do! There are SO many reasons why now REALLY is a good time to buy a house.

Now, I will say first, that buying a home is huge decision to make on both a personal level and a financial level, whether you’re a first time homebuyer, or you’ve taken a ride on the home buying express before. But, if you are considering buying a house and are trying to figure out if it’s time to jump in, here are a couple of reasons why I would say, Go For It!

• Less Buyer Competition – Over the summer the average Days on Market (DOM) for a listed home(at any price range) was less than 30, which is crazy! Buyers were having to be extremely aggressive to have their offers considered and many homes had multiple offers. It creates a stressful environment in which to look for homes, as you never know if a house that you just looked at, may have a contract on it by the end of the day! Right now, the season has slowed down a bit, giving buyers the time to actually see the homes, and make a less stressed out offer. Chances are, you won’t be fighting tooth and nail to get your offer in before someone else’s.
• Interest Rates– Good News! Interest rates are STILL at or near record lows. Even small reductions in the interest rate can significantly boost the purchase price you can afford when buying a home.
• Motivated Sellers – For some sellers, if their house has been on the market since the peak season, they are probably really ready to sell that house! Negotiating may be easier, and you could get a better deal on your new house!
• Housing Prices are on the Rise – Over the last several years, the housing market in Texas has done splendidly, and home values continue to rise at a moderate pace, even when the national housing market fluctuates. Much of this is due to the economy in Texas (always bigger and better here!)  Investing in a home now, allows you to build equity, and if you decide to sell down the road, can lead to great reward for you as well.

As a Texas REALTOR®, I can show you how our current housing market conditions factor in to your goal of buying a home. You can count on me to put your interests first while I assist you during this exciting process. Let me know how I can help!

 

 

 

cited source: http://www.texasrealestate.com

 

Fall in Love with Your Porch!

It’s finally October, and though Texas really doesn’t start cooling down till November, there is something special about this month. It’s officially Fall, and Texans everywhere will be spending more time outside as the temps fall below the 90s (HALLELUJAH)! Some of my favorite restaurants in Fort Worth (HG Sply Co., Rodeo Goat, & The Reservoir to name a few)  have one thing in common: outdoor dining. There’s just something so wonderful about sitting outside with good food and even better friends. And one great thing about being a homeowner is that you have the ability to replicate that same feeling at home!

Porches and Patios are one area of the home that can be overlooked when it comes to renovation and adding value. Sometimes it can be an “out of sight, out of mind” situation, where the inside of the home takes precedent, because you the homeowner spend the most time there! Sprucing up your front porch or back patio can add big dollars to your home and for buyers that are looking, it comes down to 5 words:

“I can see myself here!” 

You might be thinking, “Emily, we don’t have $20,000 to throw at a porch renovation at the moment…” and that’s not a problem! There are lots of small things you can do to add that “special something” that makes you want to spend time on your porch. If you want to be out there, chances are buyers will too!

Pergola

If you don’t have a covered patio, a pergola is a beautiful way to add texture and shade to your backyard.

Pergolas can be attached to the roof of your home or can be free standing. Because they are made entirely of wood, there are countless options for color schemes to match your home, or you can keep the natural wood look.  There are tons of DIY blueprints online for these (please be safe) or you can hire a contractor to build it. What I love about  pergolas, is that it centers your patio and creates an actual space for you to sit under and enjoy the sun, or watch the stars!

Porch Furniture

Outdoor Furniture is SO fun! Choose the style that you are wanting to achieve and just go for it!

Some of my favorite places to find furniture for your patio or porch are:

Wayfair, HayNeedle, and Target.

Some of my personal favorites:

 

An Outdoor Movie Screen

Patio Swings

Porch Curtains

 

The biggest piece of advice I can give is to bring your Inside, Outside. Bring your decorating style and the things that you love to do inside, to your outdoor spaces. Doing this will insure that you actually use the space that you paid money to renovate,  and will also add mental square footage to your home! You now have more space to just be, and another area of your home to fall in love with, and help someone else fall in love in the future!

 

 

 

 

The River District Fort Worth

New Neighborhood Alert!

This is so exciting! As someone who now specializes in knowing what’s going on in the Fort, I am so excited to share about one of our newest neighborhoods:

The River District in Fort Worth is an up and coming neighborhood revitalization on Fort Worth’s Westside. The River District will be comprised of 276 acres of residences, commercial buildings, a retail area, and  an outdoor amphitheater and entertainment center! All of this will be nestled along the Trinity River.

Sounds pretty great doesn’t it?

In a quote by one of the highlighted builders for the development, CEO Chris Powers of Fort Capital, says,

“Fort Worth doesn’t need just another build project. We need more gathering spots, more well designed neighborhoods, more uncommon restaurants, more concert venues, more walkable areas and more places to enjoy all that our city (and especially the Westside) already offers us – the Trinity River, trails and nature among them

I love that the passion for our city flows through everyone, from builders to residents, and that the desire for places to enjoy the natural beauty of our city is being made tangible. This is pretty exciting.

So, what exactly is going to be in The River District?

Residences

1. Elan at The River District – apartment complex with BEAUTIFUL amenities. And yes, there is a lazy river! The Elan apartment complex is accepting tenants now. 
2. Rivercrest Bluffs – Gorgeous luxury housing between $850k – $2M. Boasting riverfront residences, Rivercrest Bluffs will be another location in Fort Worth for luxury living.
   
3. River Heights – 64 lots ranging between $400k – $1M. River Heights will also be luxury housing.
   
4. The Grove at The River District – These 16 homes will be single-family residences beginning at $450k.

Development on all residences other than the apartment complex started in Summer 2017.

Shops/Restaurants

1. Heim BBQ – Heim will be opening their second location in TRD and will be happily welcomed!
2. Salsa Limon – Remember when Salsa Limon picked up their building and moved it? Well, you can find it now in The River District!
3. Lettuce Cook Gourmet – Gourmet Food to Go!
4. Abundio’s Fitness Studio – Because with all that good food, you’re going to have to work it out!
5. Flowers on the Square – Floral gifts

Commercial Buildings

There will be at least two commercial buildings used for office space and retail.

And finally, Crystal Springs on the River

An entertainment center that houses food, shopping, recreation, and healthy living all in one will be found at Crystal Springs on the River. Dining options will include the River House, Nourish, and the Truck Yard. There will be an outdoor amphitheater and an indoor concert space. The vision for Crystal Springs on the River is that this will be a place that fosters community, by hosting marathons, farmer’s markets, and concerts as well! There will be a state of the art wellness center and apartments connected. With the tagline, “Your escape in the city”, it sounds like they are doing just that!

 

We live in an incredible city, that is ever-changing. I love that my job is to keep learning about Fort Worth and showing others how great it is. And I’m not going to lie, I want to keep learning about The River District. Seems like it would be a GREAT place to live, but that’s just my opinion!

 

Sincerely,

Emily Wardlaw
Moore Real Estate, LLC.

What’s the Hype with Hygge?

In my latest newsletter, I wrote a little bit about the word “Hygge” and how it fits into home decor and making your home a peaceful wonderful place to live. For those that don’t get the newsletter (you should, so subscribe!), I wanted to delve into it a little here.

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a danish word that expresses joy, calm, coziness, and pleasure in moments. The design style was adopted by the way that the Danish people decorate their home to withstand the dark cold winter months. With minimalist Scandinavian decor on the rise, I started seeing this Hygge concept begin to pop up in home design blogs and articles that I follow.

And let me tell you, I LOVE IT.

It gives the minimalist feel, which though clean, aesthetically pleasing and simple, can sometimes feel a little cold. Because Hygge really is a “feeling” word in the Danish language, it requires to designer to be present in the space and enjoy it!

Some of the elements that stand out to me in a Hygge decor scheme are:

 

• Candles, Lamps, and as MUCH natural light as you can shove in through your windows! As most of you know, natural light helps to foster a clean, bright atmosphere in your home, while candles and warm lamp light help cozy up your room!
  
• Color. In scandanavian and minimalist design, you see more monochromatic tendencies where with hygge decor, there is a little more color, which I love! Pops of color draw the eye and warm up spaces that can seem a little chilly with all neutrals. 
• Throws. There is always some type of beautiful, chunky, wooly, woven, blanket in almost every picture that I look at. A throw adds texture to your space and gives the feel of the room being “lived in”. Its takes the comfort level up a notch, where people may feel a little more welcome to “put their feet up”. 

 

There are tons of studies and books on hygge, and how healthy it can be to slow down and choose to be cozy and comfortable with people that you love. The word is both a verb and noun, and now is also a type of decor. How cool is that!?

If you want to see some of my favorite Hygge home decor, click here!

Thanks for reading!

Emily

So What Exactly Does A Real Estate Agent Do?

Over the course of the last several weeks, I have had multiple people give me a similar statement, :

“What exactly does a real estate agent do?”

Of course when asked that question, there are SO many things that could be said, but honestly, as soon as I started working with clients, it became even more evident how important it is to have a real estate agent.

 

 

1. Education – Real Estate Agents must pass the national and state exam to be licensed. Everything from contract writing to ethics is covered in these classes, and real estate agents learn in depth how to serve their clients. On top of that, a real estate agent can’t officially sell homes until they are backed by a broker, and the great part about this, is that the brand new real estate agent gets to learn from experienced agents around them. What a great way to set agents up for success.
2.  Neighborhood Knowledge – I spend big chunks of my day driving around the Fort, and learning about the city and the neighborhoods. I’m on MLS every day looking at new listings and checking to see what’s hit the market, and what has sold. It’s a time investment, something that people usually don’t have the time to do as they are working during the day. Trusting that your agent is on top of what’s happening in the city and what homes are available should be a big encouragement and stress reliever!
3. Paperwork – A normal contract is 9 pages long and that isn’t counting addendums, contingencies, and acknowledgements! What a relief to know that you’ve chosen someone who understands that signing your name multiple times connected with a substantial amount of money can be stressful, and is okay answering questions and explaining when you have questions.
4. It’s About YOU! – As a real estate agent, my job, literally, is to work as hard as I can to benefit my clients. Not only am I contractually obligated to do it, I want to! You are making one of the biggest decisions that you will make financially in your life. Talk about exciting, stressful, scary, and filled with the potential for an amazing future. I’m here to walk you through the big decisions, the emotional ups and downs, and to work excellently to help you find your home.

And THAT, is why you want me to be your realtor!

Sincerely,

Emily Wardlaw
Moore Real Estate