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Van Alstyne Iron Horse Farm in morning mist

Buying Texas Rural Property – What You Need to Know

Buying Texas Rural Property – What You Need to Know Misty Morning – Iron Horse Farm There is no perfect property, whether in the city ...
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Snake in HVAC - Home Inspection Surprise - www.VanAlstyneHomes.com

Home Inspection Surprise

It’s Not Just Your Home! If you are buying or selling a home you should have your home thoroughly inspected.  Even if you are not ...
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FM121 Sign - Van Alstyne, TX - Photo Keith Laursen

Farm To Market Roads and Country Road Etiquette

Moving From The City? Wondering what a FM (Farm To Market) road is? Most people moving to the country don’t give that FM road sign ...
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Old Van Alstyne hom before rehab

How Home Showings Are Like A First Date

Think of every home showing as a first date.  Someone is coming to your home for the first time, they don’t know if it will ...
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Home Warranty Plumber

Home Warranties – Good or Bad?

Are you afraid of buying or selling a home and having major repair issues?  I have clients who have had thousands in repairs taken care ...
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shopping cart with home for sale and umbrella to depict a rainy day

Rainy Day Home Hunting Can Pay Off

Should you go home hunting in the rain? Many people forgo rainy day home hunting and miss out on perfect opportunities to judge the home ...
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John Hancock Signature

Real Estate Reality – After the signature

What happens after the contract is signed?  Real estate reality shows make selling real estate look easy. Realtors show only three homes, sellers accept low offers ...
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Badly worn front door (c) Can Stock Photo

Selling Your Home? Key Reasons Realtors Hate Your Front Door

Don’t let Realtors hate your front door! The key to selling your home starts at the front door. Many of today’s busy families come and ...
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Frustrated buyer or seller

4 Mistakes to Avoid the First Time You Buy Or Sell A Home

If it’s your first time you buying or selling real estate, you don’t know what you don’t know.  There are tons of potential pitfalls and ...
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Image of a Sample Texas Seller's Temporary Lease

Seller’s Temporary Lease – What You Need To Know

The Seller’s Temporary Lease – When is it used, for how long and what can go wrong?  The Seller’s temporary lease is used when a seller ...
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Picture of rural acreage that could be annexed into a city as growth moves into North Texas

Home Buyer Info – Annexation Costs

As a rural property home buyer, you should be aware that there could be the potential of annexation and with it increased taxes and regulation. ...
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Two Appaloosa horses fighting in Van Alstyne, TX

Moving to the country? Consider Liability Issues

Moving from McKinney to Van Alstyne or another rural town and getting horses, cows, chickens and other animals?  Have you considered what may happen when your horse ...
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Dog standing next to torn up pillow

Don’t Get Dogged Selling Your Home!

10 Dog Questions to consider when you list your home for sale. How you handle these pet issues will help you sell and keep your ...
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Mad guy with steam blowing out his ears over taxes

Property Tax Madness – Six Points To Consider

Property Tax Madness – Six Points To Consider It’s that time of year when the notices of appraised value go out and the tax madness ...
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Picture of an old house for article Buying A Home As Is

Buying A Home As Is – Ten Things To Know

Is buying a home As Is a good deal? Does it mean no repairs will be made? Like everything in real estate, it depends and ...
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1414 Post Oak Trail -Anna, Tx Front of home

Anna, Tx Home For Sale -1414 Post Oak Trail

SOLD! 1414 Post Oak Trail, Anna,TX 75409 You can own this 1388 sf. 3 bedroom home at 1414 Post Oak Trail in Anna, Tx. for ...
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American and English flag to illustrate how Brexit will lower interest rates for Van Alstyne home buyers

Home Buyers, Interest Rates and Brexit

BREXIT: What’s the FIXIT for U.S. Home Buyers and Sellers? Now that much of the dust has settled and the panic has waned, let’s take ...
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Money House

Preapproved Home Buyer Tips

This is good common sense information and tips from top mortgage experts on how to get preapproved for a home mortgage from the Texas Association ...
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News Flash – Lake Levels Fluctuate!

If you are buying a lakefront home the Texas Legislature now requires the real estate contract to notify you that Lake Levels Fluctuate!  This is ...
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Graphic of Option Fee - Canstock Photos

Undelivered Option Fee

Van Alstyne Homes Real Estate Question of the Week Undelivered Option Fee Yes!  If you have included an option period in your real estate contract (and ...
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Whispering the two overlooked secrets to selling your home.

Selling Your Home? – Two Overlooked Secrets

Know Your Real Estate Market Sweet Spot Two overlooked secrets to selling your home are knowing the real estate market sweet spot and the current area ...
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Cancelled real estate contract

Who Pays The Closing Costs?

Who pays a home sale closing costs can be complex.  Each type of loan (FHA, VA, Conventional) and cash can have the home seller and buyer ...
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Too many hands on Realtor Team

Seven Things To Know About Real Estate Teams

Don’t be deceived; real estate agent teams are no better and sometimes worse than independent agents.  They will have listing and buyer agents, transaction coordinators, ...
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Cancelled real estate contract

Cancelling The Contract – Undelivered Option Fee

Van Alstyne Homes Real Estate Question of the Week  Cancelling The Contract – Undelivered Option Fee  If I cancel the contract, do I still owe ...
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Money House

Tell The Central Appraisal District Your Home Sales Price?

Have you recently purchased a new home?  It seems like everyone wants to know if you got a good deal, including the Central Appraisal District.  ...
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Georgetown Entrance Sign - Van Alstyne,TX

Georgetown Market Report – Dec 2014

Georgetown remains the most popular subdivision within the Van Alstyne ISD with 23 MLS listed homes sold last year.  One of the main reasons buyers are ...
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Keith Laursen spotting homes for sale

To Sell Fast, Get Spotted!

Van Alstyne Realtor Keith Laursen believes to get your home sold, it must be spotted!  Call me at 469.233.1234 to find out ways to get ...
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Van Alstyne home being auctioned

Buying A Home At An Internet Auction? – Read The Fine Print

Can you save money buying a foreclosure home at an internet auction site? Is buying a Van Alstyne home or other area home for sale ...
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Dallas Area Housing Market Headlines

How Is The North Texas Real Estate Market?

Remember foreclosures, weekly price reductions and low ball offers? In case you haven’t heard, the market has changed! In Van Alstyne and other North Texas ...
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Welcome to Van Alstyne,TX Sign - Van Alstyne Homes

How is the Van Alstyne Real Estate Market?

This is a snapshot of the Van Alstyne real estate sales market. If you are considering buying or selling a home, these are items your ...
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Get The Lead Out – Consider Homes For Sale Built After 1978?

Why should investors and home buyers seek Van Alstyne real estate built after 1978?  There are many considerations when choosing rental property, flips or your family’s ...
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Front door of home for sale

Do Property Taxes Matter When Buying A Home?

Why Real Estate Tax Rates Matter – I am often asked by prospective home buyers what the property tax rates are in the North Texas ...
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Van Alstyne Tx Horse Property With Ag Exemption

First Time Acreage Buyer – What You Should Know

First Time Acreage Buyer?  You’ve made the decision to buy acreage but do you know what to ask or some of the important things to ...
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Van Alstyne Realtors Shoes - Photo www.VanAlstyneHomes.com

Walk In Your Realtor’s Shoes!

Walk in your Realtor’s shoes! To understand the fastest way to sell you home, try on your Realtor’s shoes.  Think about who the home must ...
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Grayson County Tx. Zillow Zestiment Accuracy Table by County

Pricing Your Home By Zestiment – Read The Fine Print

Should you use a Zillow Zestiment to determine the value of your home? Some real estate agents hate Zillow. Realtors spend a lot time researching sold homes, adjusting ...
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Money bag picture

Show Me the Earnest Money – What You Need To Know

What is earnest money, how much is required, how do you get it back and are there any alternatives?  Learn how it is used when purchasing ...
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Cell Phone Home Search - VanAlstyneHomes.com

Failure to Communicate – Why The Realtor Didn’t Return Your Call

Real Estate Communication Breakdowns Have you ever called a Realtor and your call was not returned promptly or at all?  What we have here is the ...
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Upside down MLS listing picture

Limited Service Listing – Good Or Bad Idea?

Is a Limited Service Listing a good idea?  The old adage that you get what you pay for truly applies here. Notice The Upside Down ...
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Picture of west Van Alstyne pasture off of FM121 with horses

Buying Land? Don’t Get Rolled With Rollback Taxes!

Change Of Land Use Can Trigger Rollback Taxes If you change what you use land for, you could be subject to five years of rollback taxes ...
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Another Happy Van Alstyne Real Estate Client

Need a Van Alstyne Realtor that you can depend on when buying Grayson County real estate?  This recent Buyer Satisfaction Survey has been added to my growing ...
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Open House Safety

I am not a big fan of open houses but some clients expect them. Normal scheduled showings are recorded by agents, showing services, lockbox key ...
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Greenbelt view

Where is my property line?

The only real way to know where your property lines are is to have a survey. Not only will a survey show your property boundaries, it ...
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Gunter Tx 4 Bdrm Home with master fireplace in Gunter,TX listed by Keith Laursen - Realtor - Van Alstyne ,TX.

Back On Market – Why Some Sales Don’t Close

Have you ever wondered why a property didn’t close and shows on MLS as back on market?  There can be numerous reasons but these are ...
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Money bag picture

Cash Is King In Van Alstyne Real Estate

Everyone likes cash and a cash offer for Van Alstyne real estate could be your key to getting your offer accepted quickly. Consider the following ...
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22 Reasons to Sell Your Home

22 Reasons To Sell Your Home

One of the frequent questions asked is why someone is selling their home?  This sign illustrates one reason, a spouse ran off with a 22-year-old! If you ...
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I Can Do That Myself!

Where is Van Alstyne? I was recently called about scheduling a showing for a Van Alstyne real estate listing. I had to inform the potential buyer ...
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We Can Always Come Down!

It is extremely important to price your home right from the beginning. Thinking you need room to negotiate or “we can always come down” is an ...
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Dented Garage Door - Van Alstyne Homes

Home Sale Negotiated Repairs – What You Need To Know

One of the fun parts about buying or selling a home is addressing needed repairs, who will do them, when will they be done, how ...
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Buying or Selling In Van Alstyne? How Is The Market?

Everyone wonders how is the market?   It’s different things for different people but you can see from the chart below that the Van Alstyne real ...
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Anna,TX Home For Sale with Butcher Block Island Countertop

Tract Home For Sale? Make it Stand Out!

If you have a tract home for sale it’s important to make it stand out in your potential buyers mind. This is an example of ...
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