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.

Designed to be “green,” it will become the first and only Audubon International Gold Certified Community in the state of Texas. The mixed-use aspect of the project’s design combined with commuter-friendly options and vast open spaces make Viridian friendly to the environment.

Viridian Strives for Ease of Access

In the future, there is a chance that Viridian could be the site of a passenger rail station, since the Trinity Railway Express already runs along the northern edge of the building site. In the meantime, the development is designed in such a way as to encourage pedestrian traffic, with easy access to Viridian’s many shopping venues or to town.

This one-of-a-kind project will become one of the largest infill developments in the United States, and will certainly be the largest of its kind within the state of Texas. In total, this development of Arlington real estate will encompass 1.2 million square feet of space north of Green Oaks Boulevard, around the lakes at Bird’s Fort.

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.

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 20^th 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.

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.

The community of Grapevine is steeped in history, including the site where the famous villains known as Bonnie and Clyde killed two Texas highway patrol officers in 1934.

The town, originally settled in the 1840’s and 1850’s, had been named after the Wild Mustang grapes that were abundant in the area during that time. Over time, and as the town grew, the Wild Mustang grapes became fewer and fewer. Many people, though, recognized the fertility of Grapevine real estate and its suitability for growing grapes. In recent years, many wineries have sprung up in the area, paying homage to the town’s beginnings.

Taste a Bit of North Texas History

Grapevine real estate once again is producing flourishing vines, and over a dozen wine tasting rooms and wineries can be located throughout this historic town. Many are in the heart of Grapevine, while others can be found on old homesteads spread among acres of gorgeous North Texas countryside.

Each winery offers its own varietals, so it is worthwhile to take the time to visit each one. Many tastings are offered with food samplings, and many of the wineries host themed or special events, maximizing the experience of each visitor.

Grapevine’s wine ambassadors, the Grapevine Wine Pouring Society, can be found at festivals and events within the city, promoting Grapevine’s many wineries throughout the year.

In a land known for its wild frontier days, the elegant wineries of Grapevine masterfully blend a bit of European character with cowboy heritage, providing a truly unique experience for the many tourists who call on Grapevine each year.

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.

As the economy slows, the Fort Worth – Arlington area is expected to have a less than one percent chance of experiencing any decline in home prices, which is consistent with the rest of the north Texas and Dallas region. Meanwhile, there are many areas of the country that are almost guaranteed to experience drastic drops in home values.

Slow, Sustained Growth has Helped Fort Worth

What has helped keep the real estate market upbeat in Fort Worth and Arlington is the slow, sustained growth these neighborhoods experienced while the rest of the country was booming. Now those areas that skyrocketed in value are paying the price as the market tries to normalize back to the levels home values historically should be at.

In areas such as California, Nevada, and Florida, home prices exploded while job growth fell, and the affordability of homes plummeted. In some areas, only five percent of the population can afford the average home.

In Texas, however, home values have remained very affordable compared to the average income for residents, and job growth has continued at one of the fastest rates in the country. This keeps the demand for real estate high and the values holding steady in a time where others are seeing economic strife.

Overall, the picture for Fort Worth Real Estate and Arlington real estate looks good, and homeowners should take comfort in knowing their home values are expected to hold steady in the coming months.

Get Rid of All of Your Trash

Nearly any type of household or yard waste other than hazardous materials can be dropped off at the Arlington Sanitary Landfill, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, or Sam Houston High School.

Allowable items include trash, yard waste, furniture, appliances, car batteries, carpet, lumber, building materials such as sheetrock, chunks of concrete, and up to four car tires per household. Old lawn mowers and barbecue pits that have had the fuel removed will also be accepted.

Items such as paint, pesticides, and motor oil will not be accepted, nor will roofing materials.

Organizers of the event ask that residents separate yard waste, such as tree limbs and brush, from the other trash. Yard waste will be mulched and stored at the Arlington landfill, which is available for Arlington residents at no charge.  

The Event is Free for Arlington Residents

In order to dump your unwanted rubbish, you must be able to provide proof of residency in Arlington by presenting a current driver’s license or a copy of your current water bill. This event is held twice each year, in April and October, and not only ensures rubbish is handled in an environmentally responsible manner, but goes a long ways towards maintaining the beauty and value of Arlington real estate.

Trail Makes Arlington Pedestrian Friendly

The new trail system will be completed in two phases. With Phase I underway, Phase II is now in the design process.

Phase I will run through downtown and connect with the new Founder’s Plaza, and will provide pedestrian access to the new Levitt Pavilion outdoor amphitheater, which will also open in fall.

Along this two-mile walkway, there will be over a mile of upgraded landscaping to add visual appeal to the area. Seating areas will be available in several locations, as well as interesting information about the city’s history.

Minor inconveniences during the construction process include the closing of access driveways to the Central Library and City Hall. These minor inconveniences should only last a short period of time.

Phase II to Access UT Arlington

When Phase II is built, it will begin south of Founder’s Plaza and connect through UT Arlington, then continue on to Johnson Creek. The completion of the trail will provide greater connectivity among downtown attractions.

In addition to the new trail system, other upgrades to downtown Arlington real estate include upgrades to building fronts of existing businesses, the addition of mixed-use developments, and an expansion of owner-occupied housing to bring new life into the core of this historic city.