By Tom Branch, on November 11th, 2011 
It’s a terrible feeling. You drive up to your home after being gone all day or from a short vacation and find a river of water running down the driveway. Did a water pipe burst? Probably not. The number one source of home flooding is a broken washing machine hose.
Most hoses are nothing more than reinforced rubber. Yet they sit behind the washing machine under full pressure for years. Some will give you a warning when they develop a bulge, but few people even check them.
Check the hoses on your washing machine regularly.
Even better, invest in reinforced or flood-proof hoses. Reinforced hoses are encased in braided steel or other materials that help prevent them from blowing out. Flood-proof hoses have a built-in valve that detects uncontrolled running and cuts off the flow of water.
Save yourself the nightmare and tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Photo: Copyright 2011 Tom Branch
By Tom Branch, on November 10th, 2011  Click for Larger Image “We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.”
– Ronald Reagan
Photo: Copyright 2011 – Tom Branch
By Tom Branch, on November 10th, 2011 
Looking for townhomes in Plano? You’re in luck! Over the past few years we’ve seen a number of townhome communities pop up in Plano. Many of them are located close to work, shopping, or transportation hubs.
Townhomes offer ownership with low maintenance. In most townhome communities, the HOA takes care of the yards, exterior maintenance, and even insures the building with a blanket insurance policy.
If you have questions about townhomes or Plano TX real estate, please contact us.
Photo: Copyright 2010 – Imaged2Sell
By Tom Branch, on November 10th, 2011 We’re pleased to announce the addition of a Lifestyle Home Search! While traditional home searches are based upon location and features of the homes, our new search allow buyers to search for home based upon their lifestyles.
The search is completely map-based and allows the user to not only see homes for sale but also to overlay data on the map.
Want to know where the schools are located? Add them to the map. Want to know more about a school? Click on the school and you can view details about the school including number of students enrolled, full-time teachers, student-to-teacher ratio, and much more.
Houses of worship, shopping, transportation, dining, hospitals, recreation, and a host of other data can be added to the map.
Start a Lifestyle Home Search.
By Tom Branch, on November 8th, 2011 This month I broke out the market data for Plano by price range. The ranges used are: under $165k, $165k-$220k, $220k-$319k, and $319k and above. Click on any chart for a larger view.
The Median Sales Price shows a modest 1 percent growth in sales prices in the upper two groups, a.3 percent increase in the $165k to $220k group, and a 1.5 percent decrease in the Under $165k group. While foreclosures are not a large part of the market, the lower two groups have a higher percentage of distressed sales which drags down housing values.
The Days On Market continues to climb. The good news is that all four groups are still under 180 days on market. The lower three groups average about 85 days on market while the highest priced group averages about 120 days on market. The National Association of REALTORS® considers a 6 month supply of housing to be a balanced market. Areas with supplies under 6 months are a seller’s market, and supplies over 6 months are a buyer’s market.
The impact of the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credits can be seen in The Percent of Original List Price Received charts. The rise in the percentage during the first two quarters of 2010 was caused when buyers were scrambling to get homes under contract and closed in order to qualify for the tax credits.
The housing market in Plano, TX remains relatively stable. The lower prices of the lowest group combined with low mortgage rates makes this a good time for first time home buyers and cash-flow investor to purchase property.
Source: NTREIS on November 7, 2011
By Tom Branch, on November 7th, 2011 
4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2743 SF/Tax
Richardson TX Homes For Lease – Open single story floor plan with tall ceilings in Plano ISD. Secluded master suite has jetted tub, separate vanities, walk in closet, and patio access. Chef’s island kitchen with built in desk features granite counters, double ovens and recent stainless steel sink. Living area has wall of windows overlooking extended covered patio and back yard. Walk to exemplary elementary school and Breckenridge Park. New high school opens fall 2011.
Current status, pricing, photos, and a virtual tour for this Richardson TX Home for Lease.
See all Homes for Lease in Richardson, Texas.
Source: NTREIS
By Tom Branch, on November 7th, 2011 
Since as much as half of all energy used in a homes goes to heating and cooling, CB JENI Homes and York Heating and Air Conditioning provide HVAC systems to reduce energy usage and utility bills for homeowners.
CB JENI Homes Energy Savings Flyer
Source: CB JENI Homes
The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs is the exclusive listing broker for CB JENI Homes
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