By Tom Branch, on May 29th, 2011 
As a retired combat veteran, Memorial Day holds a special meaning to me. I’ve lost friends who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our way of life. While the memory of the personal loss fades with time, the ideals that they believed in have grown stronger.
Seeing the flag raised and hearing the National Anthem played still brings tears to my eyes. I’m beginning to think that only those who have served her and accepted the unlimited liability clause can love her and see her the way we do.
Ronald Reagan may have captured it best in his farewell address to the nation. Reagan said, “I’ve spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.”
I’m not naïve enough to believe we don’t have problems and challenges, but I do believe that the founding fathers of this great nation had extraordinary vision. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are timeless in their statement of those beliefs.
John F. Kennedy wrote, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
By Tom Branch, on May 29th, 2011 
For the fourth year, Gina and I sponsored the Ridgeview Ranch Splash Day. Hosted at the Bellerive Pool, the annual event was attended by over 200 homeowners and their families. In addition to food and drinks, there was a huge waterslide, a DJ, games, and lots of prizes.
Splash Day is one of many social activities hosted by the Ridgeview Ranch Homeowners Association. Located in North Plano, Ridgeview Ranch offers golf course living in four distinct sections.
About Ridgeview Ranch in Plano, TX
Ridgeview Ranch Homes For Sale
Golf Course Homes For Sale
By Tom Branch, on May 28th, 2011
 - Happy Home Buyers are Handed Their Keys
Handing over the keys is one of the best parts of working with home buyers. It’s the culmination of weeks or months of work.
Friday evening Gina handed the keys to a new home to her clients after a celebratory dinner at The Outback in Frisco, TX. Larry and Theresa purchased a nice home in Frisco’s Saddlebrook Village.
Part of Lone Star Ranch, Saddlebrook Village is located just west of Teal Parkway and north of Lebanon Road. The location offers easy access to highways, shopping, recreation, and dining in Frisco and North Dallas.
See Saddlebrook Village Homes for Sale.
See Frisco TX Homes for Sale.
By Tom Branch, on May 20th, 2011 
I was out showing homes the other day to some out of state buyers. As they looked at homes, they would spot some hairline cracks in the sheetrock of some of the homes. They were concerned about potential foundation issues. Welcome to Texas!
North Texas is notorious for expansive clay soil. Why is this important? The foundations of our homes are built on top of this soil and this causes the foundations to move with changes in the water content of the soil. When the foundation moves, hairline cracks can appear in the sheetrock.
The key to minimizing the movement is to keep the soil around the foundation at a consistent moisture content. What does that mean? Water the lawn or add soaker hoses around the foundation. Dried up soil contracts and allows the foundation to move.
Foundation movement is not the only reason that cracks appear in the sheetrock. In new construction, the studs may not have been completely dry when the home was built. As the wood dries, it shrinks and can cause minor cracking.
If you’re purchasing a home and you have concerns, hire an engineer to inspect the foundation of the home. The cost ranges from $250 and up depending upon the size and type of foundation.
Dallas Foundation Repair and Inspection
By Tom Branch, on May 19th, 2011 
When I retired from the Air Force, I relocated to the Dallas area. As I began my search for a place to live, I was amazed at the number of golf courses in the area. I eventually settled on the north Dallas suburbs in Collin County. Collin County includes the cities of Plano, Richardson, Allen, Fairview, Lucas, McKinney, and Frisco.
While I don’t golf, the idea of living on the course is appealing for a number of reasons. Living in the suburbs usually means subdivisions with homes on smaller lots. I really don’t want to have to look into my neighbor’s window every time I look out mine. I also noted that those homes seem to sell quicker and at a higher price.
I recently sold a new home on the Westridge Golf Course in McKinney. My client was able to purchase the home for about $205k! The builder is closing out the subdivision and the lot premiums are being reduced so they can finish out.
Prices for homes on golf course lots range from $175k to several million dollars. The good news is there is something for almost everyone.
See all Collin County Golf Course Homes.
Looking for a golf course home in the Dallas suburbs? Contact us!
By Susan L. Johnson, on May 16th, 2011 
Like the Dallas Mavericks over the LA Lakers, The Branch Team swept all office awards for April 2011 including Top Listings, Top Closings, and Top Closed Volume. A First Place sweep in all three categories sweep is very rare.
The Branch Team is part of RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, the #1 RE/MAX® office in the Dallas Area. The office swept all 2010 Production Awards and was ranked #14 (ranked by number of closed sales) in all of North Texas by The Dallas Business Journal.
Want to work with a team with a proven track record of success? Contact The Branch Team.
Source: RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs
By Tom Branch, on May 16th, 2011 
I dropped by The Preserve in Allen yesterday to see how things are progressing. I went around the backside and got a good look at the construction of the main lake.
The original lake has been drained (you can still see the old dock) and the heavy equipment is reshaping it to fit the new development plan. Once completed, the dam will be built on the east end and it can be filled.
Gina spoke to the builder last week and they are still progressing on-schedule for November presales and initial move-ins in early 2012.
We will post more information as it becomes available.
You can see all homes for sale in Twin Creeks, Allen, TX here.
Read more about The Preserve in Allen.
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