By Tom Branch, on January 23rd, 2013  Gina and I attended a VIP Party and Ribbon Cutting for Quaker Steak and Lube last night. Located on the southeast corner of Parkwood and SH121, Quaker Steak and Lube is a unique sports bar.
They offer a LubeStation with over 20 different flavors of wings ranging from Ranch to Triple Atomic. I tried several different flavors and heat levels. Note to self…avoid the “insane” ones in the future!
Along with a full-service bar, they have a huge menu with salads, wings, sandwiches, hamburgers, appetizers, as well as steak and seafood.
If you’re looking for something new and different, stop in and give Quaker Steak and Lube a try.
Photo: Copyright 2013 – Tom Branch
By Tom Branch, on January 17th, 2013 
Plano Texas was recently named “The Best Run City in America” by 24/7 Wall Street.
24/7 Wall St. has completed its second annual ranking of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., based on local economies, fiscal management, and quality of life measures. To evaluate how well a city is managed over the long-term, we looked at factors like the city’s credit rating, poverty, education, crime, unemployment, and regional GDP. The best-run city this year is Plano, Texas.
Plano was credited with the 2nd lowest crime rate and the 13th lowest unemployment rate among the 100 largest cities in the nation. 24/7 Wall Street also noted that 14% of Plano residents earn more than $200k per year while “a mere” 1.9 percent earn less than $10k per year. Plano, Texas is a great place to live and work!
Click here to see all homes for sale in Plano, Texas.
Contact us at 214-227-6626 if you have questions about Plano Texas real estate.
Source: http://247wallst.com/2013/01/15/the-best-and-worst-run-cities-in-america/
Photo: Licensed from Unique Exposure Photography
By Tom Branch, on January 17th, 2013 
“You know, we would really like to find a home on water.”
We hear these words quite often as people move into the north Dallas area. While there are many homes on water, the prices are considerably higher.
Why? Water is scarce in Texas.
Many of our lakes were built by the Army Corps of Engineers and while these lakes are available for recreational use, the Corps owns much of the land adjacent to the lakes and they do not allow homes on the water. In those places where they do allow access, land prices are quite high driving up the price of waterfront homes.
Many Waterfront homes in the urban and suburban areas are built on smaller, private lakes or running creeks. Most of the lakes are too small to allow docks or motorized watercraft.
If you’re willing to live in the more rural areas, lake homes and lots can be found at affordable prices.
Click here to view all waterfront homes for sale in the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area.
Click here to view all waterfront homes for sale in north Texas.
Contact us at 214-227-6626 if you have any questions about lake-front or other homes in the north Dallas suburbs.
Photo: Copyright 2011 – Imaged2Sell
By Tom Branch, on January 10th, 2013  Homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for your house and contents. In states like Texas, homeowner’s coverage starts high and goes higher. Texas had the highest homeowner’s insurance in the nation in 2011. States regulate homeowner’s insurance, approving the policy language and rates. One solution to rate increases is to shop around for your homeowner’s insurance. High price does not necessarily give you better insurance.
Homeowner’s insurance comes in three basic types. HO-1 is too basic, and some states and companies no longer use the form. It covers 11 items or perils and no others. HO-2 includes the 11 basic perils and 6 more for a total of 17 perils. HO-3 provides better coverage for the home and contents ans is more expensive than the H0-2. HO-3 covers 17 perils and any others it does not specically exclude. Exclusions might include flood, earthquake, war and nuclear accident.
Your homeowner’s policy costs will go up based on certain factors. Premium calculations are based on location, sometimes down to the county or city, and the distance from a fire hydrant. So if those risk factors changed in the past year, you could see a premium hike. The Federal Trade Commission reports that auto and homeowner’s insurers use credit scores for determining insurance costs too, because better credit scores represent more stability and less risk. If your credit scores have decreased, your homeowner’s insurance premium may increase.
Most polices increase the policy limits based on inflation rates. Your premium cost goes up each year, but so do your coverage limits. If you have a replacement cost insurance policy instead of actual cash value, premiums will increase with the cost of construction materials. Actual cash value considers depreciation and age of the home and contents; replacement cost considers only the cost of replacing the item in today’s market.
C.L.U.E. -The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange database retains records of information about any claims you make . Homeowner’s insurers use C.L.U.E. reports for your history to evaluate your likeihood of making a claim. If you have made a claim in the last seven years, C.L.U.E. has it in the database and the insurer rates your policy premium based on the report. A recent claim will cause your homeowner’s insurance to increase.
Photo: Licensed from iStockPhoto | Source: John Wendell, Risk Guru
By Tom Branch, on January 7th, 2013 
If you’re a golf enthusiast, McKinney Texas is a great place to look for a golf course home!
McKinney is home to eight golf courses including Stonebridge Ranch (two courses–one private by Peter Dye and the other public), TPC Craig Ranch (designed by Tom Weiskopf), The Eldorado Country Club (designed by Gary Roger Baird), The Golf Club at McKinney (designed by Lyndy Lindsey), Oak Hollow Golf Course, Hank Haney Golf Ranch at Westridge, and the Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club (an over 55 community).
Click here to see all golf course homes in McKinney Texas.
Contact us at 214-227-6626 if you have any questions about golf course homes in McKinney or the surrounding areas.
Photo: Licensed from iStockPhoto
By Tom Branch, on January 1st, 2013 
The Shops at Legacy in Plano, Texas has become one of the premier areas in north Plano for dining, shopping, entertainment, and urban living. Gina and I enjoy Sambuca 360, Nicola’s, Jasper’s, Taco Diner, and Seasons 52.
The holiday lights are spectacular. After enjoying a nice meal, we often stroll along Bishop enjoying the lights and stopping in for an after-dinner Irish Coffee or a nice glass of wine at one of the many local stores that line the street.
Click here to see Homes For Sale near The Shops at Legacy in Plano, Texas.
Photo: Copyright 2012 Tom Branch
By Tom Branch, on December 31st, 2012  Mention Dallas to someone not from Texas and they see oil wells and horses. Much of the stereotype comes from watching JR Ewing in the television series, Dallas. Most of the greater Dallas area is like any other suburban area in the country with homes on smaller lots and not an oil well or horse in sight.
The good news for people looking for horse-friendly homes is that there are plenty of homes in the North Dallas area where you can enjoy your horses. While there are a few in Plano, the vast majority of horse-friendly homes are located along the out edges of the North Dallas area.
While there are plenty of older homes, you’ll find a fair-share of new construction in areas allowing horses. The North Dallas area truly has something for every type of home buyer!
Click here to see Horse Friendly Homes For Sale in Collin County Texas.
Contact us at 214-227-6626 if you have any questions or want to set up a time to view homes in the area.
Photo: Licensed from iStockPhoto
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Gina and I attended a VIP Party and Ribbon Cutting for Quaker Steak and Lube last night. Located on the southeast corner of Parkwood and SH121, Quaker Steak and Lube is a unique sports bar.
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