Gina Branch was a guest on Real Estate Talk with Willie Lambright on August 30, 2012.
Heard locally on KVCE 1160 and syndicated nationwide, Willie Lambright’s goal is to not only help anyone interested in the real estate market make smart, informed decisions, but to help them profit as well.
Gina covered topics including short sales, new home buying, first time homebuyers, and investing in residential real estate. You can listen to the show below.
Last night Gina and I had the pleasure of dining at Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck. This fine dining establishment derives its name from its location in the 560-foot tall Reunion Tower, Dallas’ most notable landmark.
Five Sixty is located within the tower’s glowing ball and the dining room slowly rotates giving every seat a 360 degree view of Dallas and the surrounding areas. Reservations are a must in Dallas on Friday and Saturday evenings. The dress code is business casual but many of the men were in business attire.
We were surprised by the Asian-influenced menu (we should have checked out the menu online first, but that takes some of the fun out of it!) but the food was quite tasty. Like many finer restaurants, portion sizes are much smaller allowing you to enjoy several courses without being stuffed.
The Chrystal Chive Dumpling appetizer was playful with just a hint of spice. “Best Presentation” went to the Sea Bass which was brought to the table whole to be deboned and plated. My “Au Poivre” Filet was paired with a spicy wok-fried corn and a nice Malbec.
During our dinner we witnessed a wonderful sunset and watched as the Dallas skyline put on its lighted evening attire. The skies were clear and the views were spectacular.
No meal is complete without coffee (or an after dinner cocktail) and a nice dessert. Gina enjoyed the chocolate soufflé while I had a single scoop of the 50 Bean Vanilla Ice Cream.
Prices are on the upper-end yet similar to many other of Dallas’ best restaurants. The meal and the service were quite good and the views were incredible. Overall I’d give the experience an 8.5 on a scale of 10.
Don’t forget to have your valet parking receipt validated and to stop by the valet cashier in the lobby as they have your keys!
Top Photo Copyright 2012 – Tom Branch | Reunion Tower Licensed from iStockPhoto
I was recently talking with an out-of state friend who was visiting us. He told me if he were to move to Dallas, he would want to find a home for sale with a basement.
Homes with basements are very uncommon in the Dallas area so I asked him about his reasoning. He had visited Dallas a couple of years ago. During his visit, we had one of our typical spring thunderstorms and those storms produced a couple of tornadoes in the area.
It’s difficult to find newer homes that are built with basements although we do see the occasional wine cellar.
Why?
The expansive clay soil in the Dallas area makes it structurally difficult and cost prohibitive to build a home with a basement. If you’re worried about tornadoes, special tornado shelters can be built offering homeowners a place to retreat from the storms.
Over the past couple of months we’ve seen lots of first-time homebuyers entering the market. They are enthusiastic, pre-approved, and ready to buy a home. The problem is a general lack of good homes under $150k.
Gina and I are currently working with four first-time home buyers looking in the Allen Texas area and we have only been able to find one of them a home. Don’t get us wrong, there are homes on the market in this price range, but the vast majority of them are foreclosures, short sales, or are in poor condition.
If you are a home buyer, you need to move quickly when you find a home to view. You simply cannot wait because the good homes are moving quickly. Homebuyers can click here to sign up for home alerts on The Branch Team website. This free service sends you an alert as new homes come on the market that meet your needs.
If you are considering selling your home this may be a great time to list it as homes that show well and are priced right are going quickly. Further, plenty of qualified buyers and low inventories present an opportunity to sell quickly. While prices are down in some areas, Collin County and DFW in general have weathered the storm well. Click here to read “Internet Marketing – The New Curb Appeal” and click here to read “Are You Show Ready?“
Please feel free to contact us at 214-705-2470 if you have questions or need help buying or selling a home.
Gina and I celebrated our wedding anniversary last night. We love trying different dining spots and we were refered to Dakotas by one of our recent past clients.
What’s really unique about the location is that it’s actually located under the streets in downtown Dallas. According to the staff, alcohol sales were not permitted at street level at some point in the past, so the developers went “underground” so to speak. The photo above was shot looking out the window from our table. Dakotas has a great outdoor patio complete with a lighted wall of water coming down from street level.
The food was fantastic. Dakotas is a steak house and the Filet Mignon was wonderful with a nice soft texture and just the right amount of seasoning. Side dishes are served family-style and are large enough for two people. The wine list is extensive and I thought the prices were very good. The wait staff was first class–there when you needed them but not hovering all the time.
Dakotas is located at 600 North Akard. It can be hard to find because the entrance is the top of the elevator shaft sitting in the triangle created by Akard, Erway, and San Jacinto. I drove past it the first time. Parking is very limited but they have complimentary valet service so take advantage of it.
If you’re visiting Dallas or a local looking for something new to try, stop by Dakotas.
Opportunity knocks! One of a kind residential lot located in the heart of Turtle Creek Park. This lot offers the rare chance to build your dream home among the majestic trees on this heavily-wooded creek lot in the shadow of downtown Dallas. Located less than 3 miles to UTSW and Parkland Hospital. This lot is being subdivided from a larger estate and is subject to final city approval. Click on any image for a larger view.
This heavily wooded lot has majestic trees dating back over 50 years. The lot is located on an interior lot and backs to the Katy Trail.
The lot has had a drainage study completed and the preliminary plat has been approved by the City of Dallas.
The higher portion of the lot has a lush Saint Augustine lawn and is terraced down to the creek.
There are two preliminary plat maps. Final plat will depend on the buyers needs and desires.
Opportunity knocks! One of a kind residential lot located in the heart of Turtle Creek Park. This lot offers the rare chance to build your dream home among the majestic trees on this heavily-wooded creek lot in the shadow of downtown Dallas. Located less than 3 miles to UTSW and Parkland Hospital. This lot is being subdivided from a larger estate and is subject to final city approval. Plat, recent appraisal, and drainage studies are available.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Gina Branch with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender.
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan. If you stop paying your mortgage, you could lose your
home and damage your credit rating.
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We were surprised by the Asian-influenced menu (we should have checked out the menu online first, but that takes some of the fun out of it!) but the food was quite tasty. Like many finer restaurants, portion sizes are much smaller allowing you to enjoy several courses without being stuffed.
I was recently talking with an out-of state friend who was visiting us. He told me if he were to move to Dallas, he would want to find a home for sale with a basement.
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