With spring in the air, the thoughts of many homeowners have turned to their gardens. But with water restrictions still tight in North Texas, you might fear that your garden will wither in the summer sun. Well, perhaps not, if you know how to keep your garden healthy in a drought.

The Restrictions

As of April 2014, the North Texas Municipal Water District still has restrictions for landscape watering at Stage 3. This means you can water only once every two weeks with sprinklers or irrigation systems. Lack of adequate rainfall, declining water levels at NTMWD reservoirs, and the temporary loss of the Lake Texoma raw water

supply due to the zebra mussel infestation are the main reasons we're in Stage 3 and likely will be for the coming months.

30473 Views, 0 Comments

In case you haven't noticed, a lot of new people have moved into the DFW area in the past year or so. More than 100,000 people moved into the region between July 2012 and July 2013, according to the U.S. Census. In fact, the whole area has grown to a whopping 6.8 million residents since 2010, and that means a boom in the housing market that just keeps on booming.

A Good Job Market

Part of the allure for those immigrating to DFW is that the region offers a stable economy and good jobs. In fact, Forbes magazine recently ranked the Dallas-Irving-Plano section of the Metroplex the 13th best place in America to do business and work, and recognized a 2.9 percent growth rate in new jobs here in 2012, the last time the numbers were calculated.

A…

50887 Views, 1 Comments

In the United States, asphalt shingles are the preferred way to protect a home's roof. They're durable, water-resistant, and easy to replace if one goes awry. But metal roofs are an increasingly popular option for those looking to combine strength with energy savings, particularly in hot climes like North Texas.


Wait, Metal Roofs Make it Cooler?

While it may sound backwards ‒‒ especially to anyone who's ever been unlucky enough to put bare skin on a piece of metal that's been sitting out in the sun ‒‒ a properly built, properly installed metal roof could actually save you significant money on your cooling bills. Asphalt shingles soak up and hold onto a lot of heat. Soon enough, this heat migrates throughout the structure and the temperature…

30452 Views, 1 Comments

Sundance Square Plaza

 

1. SUNDANCE SQUARE

 

Best known as a former hangout for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Sundance Square is now Widely acknowledged as the most exciting downtown area in Texas. Sundance Square is a 35-block entertainment and shopping district that attracts millions of visitors each year and has been just recently remodeled. With world class entertainment at Nearby Bass Performance Hall, and dozens and dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops, Sundance Square is a must see attraction when visitors come to town. A very visible local police and private security force make this one of the safest places in the United States at night.

2. The FT. WORTH ZOO

Opened in 1909, The Ft. Worth Zoo is lauded as one of the Top 10 Zoos in the…

28386 Views, 0 Comments

DAllas Texas

A Tourist's Guide Of Things to Do In Dallas

Being the 9th largest city in America, and the 3rd biggest in Texas, it is no wonder there are endless opportunities in Dallas for fun,, shopping, musical vunues of every variety, dining establishments of countless cuisines representing every area on the globe, cultural exhibits, and major sporting events.

Top Ten Attractions In Dallas (From Trip Advisor)

Thousands of reviews and recommendations from Trip Advisor offer up the best attractions for tourists in Dallas.

1. Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

2. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

3. Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park Dallas

4. The Sixth Floor Museum/Texas School Book Depository

5. The George W. Bush Presidential Library…

32065 Views, 0 Comments

8 year old Caleb Soto, the much heralded point guard from Dallas Texas, will be on hand
with his dad, VIP Realty Broker Richard Soto, when Kentucky takes on Wisconsin in the
Final Four tonight at AT&T Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. With the amazing talent this
youngster has...and make no mistake, he can shoot and pass like a pro already...he will
more than likely be playing in his own final four here about 10 years from now. Watching
tonight's game, which has a decidedly local attraction in Kentucky's prize forward Julius Randall from Plano, will undoubtedly spur young Caleb to work even harder to achieve similar success.

Julius Randle played high school basketball in Plano, a North Dallas suburb, and led
Plano Prestonwood Christian to three TAPPS state…

39531 Views, 0 Comments

Almost all people in the past would have unanimously agreed that buying a house is a much better alternative than renting. However, the subprime crisis and economic downturn of the past decade have shaken this wisdom to the very foundation. Now, again the real estate market seems to be reviving and showing a lot of promise. Here are some points that are worth considering in the present scenario, when you want to decide between buying and renting a house.

Is Buying a House a Marvelous Investment

Housing normally shows decent appreciation (besides the housing crisis in 2008), especially since 1975, and the average appreciation has been about four percent per year. Housing is normally a sound investment during robust economies, since it is leveraged…

1707 Views, 0 Comments

Dallas has sterling attractions and some of the most entertaining options for the full family. When you are visiting Texas with your family, plan at least a week stay in Dallas, to enjoy these excellent attractions.

The Dallas Zoo

It is not just a zoo, but you are guaranteed to have a complete zoological experience on this 95-acre park. It is home to many endangered and rare species, including Indonesian and Sumatran tigers. Kids can have lots of fun at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, which has pony rides, petting zoo, and a running stream. The zoo even has a section on bugs, and a delightful Betty Moroney Norsworthy Otter Outpost where you can watch the antics of Asian otters. The zoo also hosts fascinating programs for all ages.

Bahama Beach…

1622 Views, 0 Comments

By most accounts, the first half of 2013 was a keeper.

Although July saw a slight dip in housing sales, analysts see this as just a small bump in the road, with consumer confidence remaining high.

The first part of 2013 was a banner year for both housing sales and consumer confidence. Buyer traffic in July may have dropped, but that was likely due to the increase in interest rates. With a surge in the spring due to impending interest rate hikes, the housing market has quieted down, as those on the fence are hanging back and re-evaluating their options. But that surely doesn’t spell doom for a housing market that has rallied since December.

A new Fannie Mae survey, along with a 14 percent jump in mortgage applications in July, further highlight…

2344 Views, 1 Comments

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-backed mortgage lenders that were part of the major housing market implosion that occurred just a few, short years ago, are now part of a debate about whether these agencies are becoming obsolete.

President Obama recently said that it may be time to “wind down” these two agencies, and Republicans in the House say that mortgages should be funded primarily by private investors. However, the Senate recently proposed a bill that would still keep the government involved in the mortgage industry, thereby allowing individuals easier access to mortgages.

What is agreed is that, if the two government agencies of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were eliminated, it would likely cost the consumer more to obtain a…

2004 Views, 0 Comments