Some Highlights:

• Buyer demand continues to outpace the supply of homes for sale which means that buyers are often competing with one another for the few listings that are available!
• Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply needed to sustain a normal housing market.
• Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com
 

There’s More to a Bubble Than Rising Home Prices

What truly causes a housing bubble and the inevitable crash? For the best explanation, let’s go to a person who correctly called the last housing bubble – a year before it happened.

“A bubble requires both overvaluation based on fundamentals and speculation. It is natural to focus on an asset’s fundamental value, but the real key for detecting a bubble is speculation…Speculation tends to chase appreciating assets, and then speculation begets more speculation, until finally, for some reason that will become obvious to all in hindsight, the ‘bubble’ bursts.

I have taken to calling the housing market a ‘bubble’.”

– Bill McBride of Calculated Risk calling the bubble back in April 2005

Where do we stand today regarding speculation?

There are two measurements that are used to determine the speculation in a housing market:

1. The number of homes purchased by an investor and
2. The number of homes being flipped (resold within a twelve-month period)

As compared to 2005, investor purchases are down dramatically (from 23% to 13%) and so is flipping (from 8.2% to 5.7%). McBride explains:

“There is currently some flipping activity, but this is more the normal type of flipping (buy, improve and then sell). Back in 2005, people were just buying homes and letting them sit vacant – and then selling without significant improvements. Classic speculation.”

What are the experts saying about speculation in today’s market?

DSNews recently ran an article which asked two economists to compare the speculation in today’s market to that in 2005-2007. Here is what they said:

Dr. Eddie Seiler, Chief Housing Economist at Summit Consulting:

“The speculative ‘flipping mania’ of 2006 is absent from most metro areas.”

Tian Liu, Chief Economist of Genworth Mortgage Insurance:

“The nature of housing demand is different as well, with more potential homeowners and far fewer speculators in the housing market compared to the 2005-2007 period.”

And what does McBride, who called the last housing bubble, think about today’s real estate market?

Sixty days ago, he explained:

“In 2005, people were just buying homes and letting them sit vacant – and then selling without significant improvements. Classic speculation. And even more dangerous during the bubble was the excessive use of leverage (all those poor-quality loans). Currently lending standards are decent, and loan quality is excellent…

I wouldn’t call house prices a bubble – and I don’t expect house prices to decline nationally like during the bust.”

Bottom Line

Speculation is a major element of the housing bubble formula. Right now, there are not elevated percentages of investors and house flippers. Therefore, there is not an elevated rate of speculation.

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com

Keller Williams Continues to Lead the Pack

2017 has been a great year and Keller Williams has been honored to receive a number of prestigious awards.  We are excited to continue excelling in our field!

• Training Magazine
  #1 training organization across all industries
• REAL Trends 500
  Keller Williams had more offices (161) represented on top real estate brokerages list than any other franchise
• REAL Trends/ Wall Street Journal "The Thousand"
  Keller Williams had more agent teams ranked by closed transactions and sales volume than any other franchise
• RIS Media Power Broker Report
  Keller Williams ranked #1 Power Broker by Brand - home to 32 percent of top brokers
• REALTOR Magazine
  Keller Williams home to industry-leading five 30 Under 30 winners
• Swanepoel Power 200
  Eight representatives on list of most powerful people in residential real estate, including Gary Keller, John Davis, and Mary Tennant
• Inman Real Estate Influencers of 2017
  Seven representatives on list of industry influencers, including Chief Innovation Officer Josh Team
• National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals 250
  Keller Williams is home to 37 agents on NAHREP's list of top-producing Latino agents including 7 of the Top 10
• Forbes
  #3 on list of Happiest Companies to Work for in 2017
• Entrepreneur Magazine
  Top Company Cultures
• Entrepreneur Magazine
  Moved up 63 spots on Franchise 500 list of top franchises
• Franchise Business Review
  Top-rated real estate franchise based on franchisee satisfaction
• Franchise Business Review 
  One of the Top 50 Franchises for Women
• Franchise Times
  Only real estate company on "Fast & Serious" list of 40 smartest-growing brand

Just one more reason Keller Williams is ranked #1 happiest place to work in 2018!!​​

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com

500 High-Skill Jobs Coming to Sherman

More companies are deciding that North Texas is the place to be! Apple recently announced that it has awarded Finisar, an optical communication components manufacturer, $390 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund.  Finisar is expected to create 500 high-skill jobs, including engineers, technicians and maintenance teams right here in North Texas.

Finisar will transform a shuttered, 700,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Sherman, Texas, into a high-tech facility developing VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) chips. VCSEL technology is used to power Apple product features such as Face ID, Animoji, portrait mode selfies and proximity-sensing capabilities. One hundred percent of the VCSELs Apple buys from Finisar will be made in Texas. The hiring process has already begun and the Sherman plant is scheduled to start shipping out products by late 2018.

The City of Sherman has been investing significantly in improved infrastructure and amenities, creating an unparalleled quality of life for its citizens. One more reason DFW is one of the fastest growing areas in the US!

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com
 

High-Speed Texas Bullet Train Takes Another Step Forward    

The proposed Texas bullet train would connect Dallas and Houston. (Photo courtesy of Texas Central Partners)

It may soon be a whole lot faster to get from Dallas to Houston!  The Federal Railroad Administration approved a route for the high-speed Texas Bullet Train that would connect Dallas to Houston, the state’s two largest urban areas.  According to the Texas Tribune, there aren’t many surprises in the announced route, as it had already been largely solidified. Now that the route has been finalized, there will be a public process in the early part of the year to gather feedback about the route. The release of the draft Friday marked a major step toward getting federal clearance for the project. The high-speed rail project will require the developer to buy up thousands of rural properties across the state.

Central Texas Partners released this map showing the likely route of a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston.  Graphic by Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune

Texas Central promises to run high-speed trains that would travel up to 205 mph as they carry people between the state's two biggest urban areas in only 90 minutes. The $12 billion project will have stations in Dallas, Grimes County & Houston. The Dallas Station will be located just south of Downtown, while there are three potential Houston station locations. They are planning on breaking ground in late 2018 or early 2019 with expected operations to begin in 2023. A high-speed rail line between two of the country’s biggest, fastest-growing metros could have a major impact on transportation, jobs and economic development!

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com
 

Before You Make an Offer, Here Are 4 Tips for Success!

So, you’ve been searching for that perfect house to call a ‘home,’ and you finally found it! The price is right, and in such a competitive market, you want to make sure that you make a good offer so that you can guarantee that your dream of making this house yours comes true!

Freddie Mac covered “4 Tips for Making an Offer” in their Executive Perspective. Here are the 4 tips they covered along with some additional information for your consideration:

1. Understand How Much You Can Afford

“While it’s not nearly as fun as house hunting, fully understanding your finances is critical in making an offer.”

This ‘tip’ or ‘step’ should really take place before you start your home search process.

Getting pre-approved is one of many steps that will show home sellers that you are serious about buying, and will allow you to make your offer with the confidence of knowing that you have already been approved for a mortgage for that amount. You will also need to know if you are prepared to make any repairs that may need to be made to the house (ex: new roof, new furnace).

2. Act Fast

“Even though there are fewer investors, the inventory of homes for sale is also low and competition for housing continues to heat up in many parts of the country.” 

The inventory of homes listed for sale has remained well below the 6-month supply that is needed for a ‘normal’ market. Buyer demand has continued to outpace the supply of homes for sale, causing buyers to compete with each other for their dream homes.

Make sure that as soon as you decide that you want to make an offer, you work with your agent to present it as soon as possible.

3. Make a Solid Offer

Freddie Mac offers this advice to help make your offer the strongest it can be:

“Your strongest offer will be comparable with other sales and listings in the neighborhood. A licensed real estate agent active in the neighborhoods you are considering will be instrumental in helping you put in a solid offer based on their experience and other key considerations such as recent sales of similar homes, the condition of the house and what you can afford.”

Talk with your agent to find out if there are any ways that you can make your offer stand out in this competitive market!

4. Be Prepared to Negotiate

“It’s likely that you’ll get at least one counteroffer from the sellers so be prepared. The two things most likely to be negotiated are the selling price and closing date. Given that, you’ll be glad you did your homework first to understand how much you can afford.

Your agent will also be key in the negotiation process, giving you guidance on the counteroffer and making sure that the agreed-to contract terms are met.”

If your offer is approved, Freddie Mac urges you to “always get an independent home inspection, so you know the true condition of the home.” If the inspector uncovers undisclosed problems or issues, you can discuss any repairs that may need to be made with the seller, or cancel the contract.

Bottom Line 

Whether buying your first home or your fifth, having a local real estate professional who is an expert in their market on your side is your best bet to make sure the process goes smoothly. Let’s talk about how we can make your dreams of homeownership a reality!

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com

Reasons to Smile: Keller Williams Ranked #1 Happiest Place to Work

Ask most business leaders and they’ll tell you that success starts with smart hiring & satisfied workers.  Keller Williams is undoubtedly following this key business guideline and giving its employees plenty of reasons to smile these days. According to career site CareerBliss, Keller Williams is ranked the number one happiest company in America to work for in 2018. The rankings recognize businesses that are dedicated to to creating a happier work environment for their employees.  Each company’s BlissScore includes factors such as company culture, leadership, overall work atmosphere, and one’s relationship with coworkers. Keller Williams tops this list because it prides itself on a unique, agent-centric culture that focuses on cutting edge technology, education & services.

The Christie Cannon Team is proud to be partnered with Keller Williams Realty and look forward to passing on its high level of professionalism & expertise to our clients. You can view the full list of Happiest Places to Work in 2018 here.

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Christie Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com
 

Many people understand & believe that home ownership is key to fulfilling the American Dream.  In a world where affordability varies so widely and is affected by so many factors, the folks over at HowMuch.net created an amazing visual aid to offer an easy apple-to-apples comparison.  Using US Census Data  to determine median incomes v/s media sale prices, these experts broke down each cities respective housing costs to the number of hours required to cover an average mortgage.  While Memphis, TN can be home by Wednesday, New York, NY will be putting away some late night hours.

Want to see how your individual city faired, be sure to check out the source data found here: https://howmuch.net/sources/hours-work-afford-home

Christie Cannon | REALTOR
The Christie Cannon Team
Keller Williams Realty Frisco
469-951-9588
www.ChristieCannon.com
 

The DFW area literally lights up and twinkles as the holidays draw near.  Everywhere from Dallas to Frisco to the Ft. Worth Stockyards light up in spectacular displays.  With looks of excitement on children's faces, the sound of carolers singing familiar tunes, the taste of sweet holiday favorites and the smell of Christmas pine flooding the area, you can't help but get into the holiday spirit.  We have compiled a list of our favorite spots to view holiday lights in the DFW area.  Make the rounds and find your family's next holiday tradition!

•         Frisco Square - Drawing over 750,000 visitors annually, Frisco Square offers North TX largest choreographed light display!  Boasting snow flurries every 15 minutes, ice skating, inner tubing snow slide, horse drawn carriage rides, light & music shows, trackless train rides & even a parachuting Santa - this place has it all!  Going on now through Dec 31st!
•         Deerfield, Plano - Running from December 1st - 30th, this quintessential Plano neighborhood is jammed packed with gorgeous homes competing for the best, funniest & most traditional displays.  Check out their website for best routes & carriage ride info!
•        Vitruvian Lights in Addison - Wander through Vitruvian Park’s 12 Acres and view over 550 illuminated trees wrapped in 1.5 million sparkling LED lights.  Enjoy free live music in the park, food trucks & free pictures with Santa!     
•         Highland Park & Highland Park Village - What can I say?  Gorgeous architecture complemented by professional Christmas lighting.  Spanning about 20 blocks, this is the perfect time to splurge on a horse drawn carriage ride.
•         Enchant Christmas - A world of Christmas wonder awaits you in Arlington at Globe Life Park! Surrounded by millions of dazzling lights, experience the world’s largest Christmas light maze, ice skating, Santa’s palace, live entertainment & a Christmas marketplace.
•         12 Days of Christmas - The Dallas Arboretum plays host to this elaborate exhibition featuring 25ft Victorian style gazebos filled with costumed characters, whimsical animals & music made famous the beloved Christmas carol.
•         Prairie Lights - Growing larger each year, this Grand Prairie display is located in Lynn Creek Park and has become a destination in its own right.  Offering a 2-mile path of lights, a snow maze, holiday lighted walk-through forest, holiday village, & more.  Be sure to check out their website as there are costs for this one!
•        Interlochen in Arlington - This year marks the 42nd Anniversary of one of the largest drive-thru Christmas light displays in North TX.
•        Tour of Lights in Farmers Branch - A drive thru animated display of over 500,000 twinkling lights. Located in the Farmers Branch Historical park with a variety of different scenes & themes.
•        Texas Motor Speedway - Supporting Toys for Tots, this huge display boasts a drive-thru display & Santa's Village.  Be sure to check out the website for pricing!
•        ICE & the Gaylord Texan Resort - Ice skating, gingerbread house building, sled riding, Santa photos, Holiday village, light displays, 2+ million pounds of ice, what do they not have?

Have some ideas & comments that will help our list?  We would love to hear from you! 

Thank you & we wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday Season!