Fort Worth Texas Real Estate
June 28, 2008
When you think about cowboy country, Fort Worth comes to mind immediately. Known as the “city where the west begins,” Fort Worth is home to the famous Stockyards as well as many other truly western traditions.
In recent years, Fort Worth has grown in popularity as a great place to live and work, and is consistently named in Fortune, Newsweek, and Money magazines as one of the most livable cities in the United States. The growth of the city has resulted in the expansion of Fort Worth Real Estate options, including many new upscale and modern condominiums that offer comfortable and elegant downtown living.
Museum Place
This new mixed-use community combines office spaces, retail, restaurants, and even a small cinema with apartments and condominiums. Living spaces are located above local businesses, all with balconies or terraces, so the residents can be engaged in the local activities and night life. The area has been designed with wide, pedestrian friendly sidewalks lined with trees and plenty of open spaces to add to the enjoyment of the residents. A parking garage and plenty of street side parking ensure ease of access for residents and visitors alike.
Le Bijou
Fourteen new luxury townhomes are available in this French inspired yet modern complex. Conveniently located near Sundance Square and The Fort Worth Club, each of these expertly appointed units comes with private front entrances and garages, re-circulating hot water heaters, Viking appliances, and private elevators that include rooftop service. Each private rooftop terrace includes gas, water, and television hookups and the roofs have been engineered to support optional hot tubs.
These are just a couple of examples of the new face of downtown Fort Worth Real Estate, which honors its cowboy country heritage but now offers chic urban living as well.
Weatherford’s Comanche Heritage
June 12, 2008
Weatherford is the county seat of Parker County, Texas. Weatherford real estate sits squarely within a territory steeped in Comanche history.
The county was founded and named for pioneer Isaac Parker, the uncle of a woman who became one of the most important people in the history of the Comanche tribe.
As a young girl, Cynthia Ann Parker and her family settled in Texas, near the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. Her family’s fort was one of the most remote white settlements at the time. When she was nine years old, Cynthia and her brother were kidnapped by Comanche warriors during a raid on the family’s homestead. Many of her family members were killed, and Cynthia and her brother were adopted and raised by Comanche families.
A Healer and a Warrior
Cynthia Ann Parker became the adopted granddaughter of one of the great Comanche healers. After learning at her knee, Cynthia also became a renowned medicine woman among her adoptive people. She married one of the great warriors, Nocona – the very one who had kidnapped her as a child. Her oldest son, Quanah Parker, became the Comanche chief who finally negotiated peace between his tribe and the white settlers.
Cynthia Ann was known among the Comanche as Naduah. She rode out on raids with the men, and was eventually recaptured by the white settlers. Her uncle, Isaac, recognized her and brought her home to live among her blood family. She tried to escape many times so she could return to her Comanche family, and finally died, supposedly of a broken heart, at the age of 35.
The entirety of Weatherford real estate sits in the heart of a territory that was once loved and explored by the Comanche tribe, and by a white woman who became Comanche at heart. She raised a son who honored her by taking her last name, and who finally led his people onto the reservation after realizing their way of life on the plains had finally run its course.
Fort Worth Texas Real Estate
April 10, 2008
As the revitalization of West Seventh Street rolls along, developers have begun to set their sights on redeveloping the east and southeast portions of Fort Worth. Development in these areas, specifically the Evans-Rosedale and Sierra Vista communities, has been non-existent in recent years. Crime that once plagued the area has dissipated, and opportunities can be found for tax incentives and inexpensive land purchases.
Mixed-Use Project Could Boost Evans-Rosedale
The Evans-Rosedale neighborhood could be the site of a new mixed-use development that would combine residential housing, restaurants, and retail. The project would give Fort Worth Real Estate a big boost in this area between East Terrell Avenue and East Rosedale Street along Evans Avenue. No official word has been released yet on when or if the project will move forward, but Cypress Equities is currently under contract to purchase this land from the city of Fort Worth.
Tax Breaks Boost Southern Neighborhoods
South of Evans-Rosedale, construction is underway in an historic neighborhood close to Downtown Fort Worth and the Medical District. Designated as a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone, a five-year tax abatement has made this community desirable to developers.
Terrell Heights, which is located just north of Evans-Rosedale, is also seeing revitalization. New single family homes reminiscent of the early 20th century are being built, with more construction planned for next year.
As job growth in Fort Worth continues, the redevelopment of Downtown is reaching out into surrounding neighborhoods, bringing much needed upgrades and revitalization to parts of the city that had been all but forgotten in recent years. This is good news for the entire city, as it will only serve to ensure the values of Fort Worth Real Estate remain stable in the coming years.
Fort Worth Real Estate
April 7, 2008
Fort Worth is a city that believes in planning ahead, and they have had a growth plan in place for over a century. As time passes, the plan is updated to meet the needs of the city, and now they enter their newest phase – a five year plan with some very specific goals in terms of growth and development.
Key Goals for Fort Worth
Fort Worth Real Estate goals entering 2008 include the increase of supply and quality of affordable housing, to expand home ownership opportunities, to revitalize existing Fort Worth neighborhoods, and to create mixed income communities where a certain percentage of housing is available to low or median income families.
The Berry/University neighborhood is a prime example of such a mixed income neighborhood, where 10 percent of the units will be available to families whose incomes are at or below 80 percent of the median income.
Housing Affordability
The affordability of Fort Worth Real Estate is affected by several factors: construction costs, land values, interest rates, and market demand. In recent years, lower mortgage interest rates have made home ownership in Fort Worth a reality for low income and low middle income families.
In general, Fort Worth homes are more affordable than homes in the neighboring city of Dallas or in the nearby community of Arlington. In the first half of 2007, one third of the homes sold in Fort Worth cost $140,000 and up.
There is a limited supply of high-end housing in Fort Worth to serve upper income households, and only a limited number of very high-income buyers.
The City of Fort Worth anticipates a large amount of growth in the coming years, and wants to do everything it can to keep housing affordable and neighborhoods intact in those years of expansion and development.
Fort Worth Developer Goes Green
March 27, 2008
Fort Worth Real Estate is getting more environmentally friendly thanks to Dallas-based developer Cawley Wilcox. They have broken ground on an office building in west Fort Worth that incorporates a number of earth-friendly features. The Wilcox Plaza at Green Oaks is set to open in 2009, and has earned ratings as the area’s most energy efficient building.
This three story office complex has been awarded the gold level of LEED certification, and is the first such building in Tarrant County to achieve this mark. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationally recognized building standard for environmentally friendly construction.
Wilcox Plaza to Incorporate Energy Friendly Features
Bricks from the historic Green Oaks, which once hosted such famous names as Elvis Presley, will be recycled and used in the new building. Approximately 70 percent of the site’s oak trees will remain, adding shaded open spaces that will help cool the area, as will reflective roof panels and paving materials. Vegetation will be planted that will help clean rainwater runoff, and a ponds will store the runoff for use in irrigation. Solar powered faucets and energy efficient glass top off the energy friendly features.
Overall the measures will cut energy use by 15 percent and reduce water consumption by four million gallons each year, which in turn will lead to substantial savings in the cost for utilities.
The builder plans to continue its energy efficient improvements to Fort Worth Commercial real estate by making a commitment to integrate “green” measures into all of its new construction projects. As energy costs continue to rise, such measures are likely to become standard. Cawley Wilcox has done a great job of setting the standard for others to follow.
Fort Worth Texas Real Estate Mineral Rights
March 19, 2008
The development of new, horizontal drilling has finally made it possible to access the enormous natural gas reserve located under Fort Worth and its surrounding neighborhoods, commonly known as the Barnett Shale. Oil and gas companies are drilling in the area, tapping this huge natural resource. As a result, the companies have been approaching owners of Fort Worth real estate and offering signing bonuses and royalties in exchange for lease agreements for drilling rights. Homeowners are being offered up to $18,000 in signing bonuses and 25 percent royalties for signed lease agreements.
Properties not Always Sold with Mineral Rights
Many neighborhood groups in the Fort Worth area have been forming to negotiate the best lease agreements and royalties for all residents. While homeowners in some areas have already signed lease agreements with energy companies, others are holding off, trying to secure a better deal.
If you are interested in purchasing Fort Worth Real Estate and are hoping to cash in on a lease for drilling rights, check to make sure the property you are interested in comes with mineral rights. These rights may be sold with the property or retained by the seller, which would mean the home buyer would not be entitled to royalty checks.
Keep in mind that many homes in the Fort Worth area are being sold without mineral rights, so securing such rights would seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Also, not every home owner has been approached and offered a lease agreement by the energy companies, so owning a piece of Fort Worth Texas Real Estate would not necessarily guarantee profits from the Barnett Shale.
Purchase a Piece of Fort Worth History
March 12, 2008
If you are looking to purchase a piece of Fort Worth TX Real Estate that is steeped in local history, look no further than the magnificent Reeves-Walker House. Built in 1908 for the founder of First Fort Worth Bank and Trust, this Victorian mansion offers 9300 square feet of beautifully restored office or living space. It was sold in 1917 to the president of the Walker Grain Company, James L. Walker, who owned the property for fifty years. Upon its sale in 1967 it served as a funeral home, and since the mid-1980’s has been used as business offices.
Modern Amenities Offered in an Old Classic
As part of this beautiful building’s restoration, it has been upgraded to include modern amenities such as zoned heating and air conditioning, upgraded electrical service that can handle modern technology, a security system, and automatic sprinklers for the 1.2 acres of lush grounds that surround the structure.
A brick driveway provides access to a parking lot that has a capacity to hold 18 automobiles, and the entire property is fenced. A carriage house at the rear of the property offers an additional 2,400 square feet of usable space, and the main structure includes a full basement.
The grand entrance of the main floor includes a beautiful herringbone patterned hardwood floor and expansive 14 foot ceilings. The large private office on the ground floor is equipped with two fireplaces, as is the conference room. The second floor offers six offices. The original ballroom is currently being used as a library but could be converted into another large office.
This magnificent piece of Fort Worth Real Estate is recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark, and is conveniently located among the other grand historic homes of Fort Worth’s Fairmount-Southside Historic District.
Fort Worth Neighborhood Capacity Building
March 10, 2008
As the City of Fort Worth continues to grow, city leaders recognize that the involvement of citizens within their communities is an integral part of helping each community reach its goals. To that end, the City of Fort Worth has begun encouraging citizens to participate in neighborhood organizations and associations.
Benefits of Neighborhood Organizations
The encouragement of neighborhood organizations by the City is helping boost the quality of Fort Worth Texas Real Estate because those organizations help foster a sense of community among the citizens of that neighborhood. Having a sense of community brings pride to the neighborhood and builds a strong neighborhood self image. In turn, resident involvement within those neighborhoods leads to a safer community and the completion of many neighborhood improvements. These neighborhood associations also monitor building proposals, and come up with a list of goals for their neighborhoods along with a plan of action and list of priorities for reaching those goals.
There are a variety of neighborhood organizations in Fort Worth, including neighborhood alliances and associations, community development groups, and nonprofit organizations such as Citizens on Patrol.
Fort Worth Neighborhood Activities
Since August 1997, the number of registered neighborhood organizations in Fort Worth jumped from 114 to 238. There are currently 14 registered neighborhood alliances, but many areas of the city as of yet remain unrepresented. The goal is for every piece of Fort Worth Real Estate to belong to a community group, ensuring representing every residential neighborhood within the city.
These organizations are responsible for such activities as planting trees, organizing clean-ups, procuring custom street signage, and for conducting neighborhood policing. A program run by the City of Fort Worth provides courtesy notices to citizen’s groups notifying them of any growth and development issues slated to go before the Zoning Commission so that concerned citizens have the opportunity to listen in and voice their opinions.
The Fort Worth Citizens on Patrol program has trained 5,200 residents in crime stopping tactics, and 189 citizen’s groups help patrol Fort Worth neighborhoods, resulting in a lower crime rate for those areas.
Fort Worth Real Estate Transactions
February 28, 2008
When you finally make your offer to purchase your new piece of Fort Worth Real Estate, there are certain disclosures the homeowner is obligated to make. If the seller does not voluntarily discuss disclosures with you, you should begin asking questions to ensure you will not run into trouble later on.
Functional Disclosures
The seller should tell you about anything in the house that does not work properly or is damaged. This is especially important for such things as electricity, plumbing and appliances like the water heater. Defects in these areas can lead to significant damage to your new home.
Natural Disasters
If the home lies within an area that is prone to certain natural disasters, such as on an earthquake fault line or in a flood plain, the seller must disclose such information to you. Normally you will receive a geology report that will include this information.
Endangered Species
This disclosure is particularly important if you are purchasing a piece of Fort Worth Texas Real Estate that is as of yet unimproved and you plan to build on it. If you have a resident endangered species on your property, such as a rare toad or lizard, you may not be able to build on the property. Make sure you know why the land is still vacant – even certain forms of shrubbery cannot be disturbed, so take the time to ensure the property is buildable.
Other considerations to keep in mind are whether your prospective piece of Fort Worth TX Real Estate has hazardous materials on the property, which can be difficult and costly to dispose of, or if it is in a noise zone, such as within the flight path of a major airport. In order to protect yourself you need to be aware of all of these important disclosures
Fort Worth real estate
February 27, 2008
Buying a home for the first time can be an intimidating process. Not only do you likely not understand the key words and concepts that pop up as you negotiate, but you may have no real understanding of exactly how a Fort Worth Real Estate transaction is processed. That is okay, though, as long as you have someone trustworthy guiding you through the process.
You Hold All of the Cards
This may not have been quite as true when the market was performing at its peak, but it is certainly true today. Sure, the seller may have to accept your offer, but you are the one with the money to spend. You may even find yourself bargaining with someone teetering on the edge of foreclosure, in which case you have the ultimate power.
Those who are facing certain foreclosure are desperate. They need your money to rescue themselves from financial hardship, so they will be very motivated to strike a deal with you. Be careful not to take advantage of a poor situation, though. In negotiating, maintain your character so the seller may retain his dignity. Do not be afraid to deal, but be careful not to take advantage. If you treat the seller with due regard, you will be rewarded in kind.
Do Your Homework
The best way to avoid intimidation by the process is to know what you are getting into in the first place. Before you ever go look at a home, research the real estate laws in your area and learn exactly how property transactions are carried out. This way, you can walk into a deal confident that you understand how the process works and whether it is being followed.
Always take the time to do your homework. The Fort Worth Texas Real Estate market is a good place to invest your money, so make sure you do it wisely.
