This latest news has amazing implications for future graduates of Woodrow – the school is in the final stages of creating an International Baccalaureate program that will give students who complete the program up to 24 hours of college credit (and an amazing education, to boot).  And Woodrow is the first school in DISD to receive this honor.

The IB classes will be taught in a 40,000 square foot addition behind the existing, historic main building of the school.  Freshman have already begun prep classes for the IB classes that will be offered their junior and senior years (when the entire program is officially finalized after an IBO visit this fall).

Woodrow, most commonly recognized for its outstanding musicals and theater arts programs, may soon be touted for outstanding college prep as well.  I’m excited about it, and you can bet that other East Dallas residents are too, as property values are bound to increase as Woodrow’s academic reputation grows.

Read more about Woodrow’s exciting new IB program here and here.

As new homes are becoming smaller in stature, its only natural that they are also boasting fewer rooms – activity-specific spaces such as media rooms and game rooms are getting left out of new construction so that precious square footage can be devoted to necessary rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms.

Do you think that the days of “bigger is better” are gone for good, or is it just a symptom of our lackluster economy?

This young couple was looking for an updated home with enough room to grow, and this property hit the mark perfectly. The couple had been looking for months, and Haynsworth Realty was prepared once this home was offered privately. The home was secured less than 3 weeks after being listed, and the couple plans to move in shortly. Interested in looking at other Dallas homes for sale? Check out our advanced Dallas MLS search that includes Zillow “Make-Me-Move” listings.

Lenders require an appraisal of the property before they will loan you the money to buy the house – it’s just smart business because it allows the lender to ensure that the property is actually worth the amount of money that is being loaned to you.

In the past, lenders could choose an appraiser that was familiar with the neighborhood that the home is in, typically resulting in an extremely accurate appraisal due to the appraiser’s experience in and knowledge of that particular market.  Recently, however, the guidelines were changed so that appraisers are randomly assigned to appraise any given property – this means that the appraiser might be from another city and have absolutely no familiarity with the market conditions in your new home’s neighborhood.  This can sometimes mean that the appraisal comes in on the low side.

So what happens if the appraisal is lower than the loan amount?  Well, your options are limited.  If the seller won’t agree to reduce the purchase price, then the buyer can either pay the difference between the appraisal and the loan amount, or terminate the contract (assuming that the buyer is still within the financing contingency).

This young professional was looking for an updated home close to Uptown, and this State-Thomas property was a perfect fit. The Manor at State-Thomas provides its’ owners with virtually maintenance-free living, allowing them to enjoy the nearby amenities of McKinney Avenue.

Interested in searching current homes for sale in Uptown? Contact us to get started.

But there’s a bright side to the investment that you’re making in your home – all of those yummy tax incentives.

Take a look:

• When you buy your home – deduct loan discount points and origination fees (even if the seller paid your closing costs).
• While you own your home – deduct interest on your mortgage in the year that it is paid.
• When you sell your home – skip paying income taxes on the sale of your home if you have owned and occupied your principal residence for at least 2 of the past 5 years (subject to a cap on the amount of profit).

Sounds pretty great, right?  Just get in touch with Haynsworth Realty if you’re ready to start looking for your new home.

Note: the foregoing information sets forth general principles and is not a substitute for the advice of a tax professional.

The ratings are based on 2010 TAKS test passage rates, school completion, and school dropout rates for 2009. These ratings are extremely important not only to parents with school-aged children, but to all property owners as well. As under-performing schools improve, so do property values in the feeder areas. Likewise, when exemplary schools begin to receive lower ratings, homes in the area become less attractive to would-be buyers. Even if you don’t have children in the public school system, you should want highly rated neighborhood schools since it makes your home more desirable.

To browse district and school ratings, check out the comprehensive Texas Education Agency ratings for Dallas-Fort Worth.

According to Move.com, avoid doing any of these things to greatly decrease the chances that selling your home will turn into a major headache (or worse):

1. Putting your home on the market before it is ready.

2. Over-improving your home for the neighborhood.

3. Pricing the home based on what you want to net.

4. Getting emotionally involved in the sale of your home.

5. Trying to cover up problems, or not disclosing them.

6. Not getting your affairs in order before you list your home.

Want to talk to Haynsworth Realty about whether you’re ready to put your home on the market?  Just get in touch with us, we’d love to talk with you.

Information via Move.com.

Vickery Place is known for its charming historic homes, and Haynsworth Realty just listed an absolutely gorgeous, updated 1917 Craftsman in this desirable neighborhood.  Walking distance to both Knox-Henderson and Greenville, this home is perfect for those buyers that want it all – nightlife, restaurants, an easy commute to Downtown Dallas, and a friendly, established community.

Entertain on the screened porch or on the large patio in the huge backyard.  All of the period details were preserved during the renovation, from the stunning moldings and trim around the new windows to the beamed ceiling in the living room.  The kitchen has all of the amenities, including stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.  This home is ready for you to move right in!  And we haven’t even told you the best part yet – this great house is listed almost $45,000 under its appraised value making it an amazing deal!!

View the full listing for 5408 Miller here, and just contact Haynsworth Realty if you’d like to make an appointment to view this property.

Property Details

Property Photos (View slideshow here)

This client was a family who had recently lost their home in Preston Hollow to fire. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Haynsworth Realty was able to secure a fully furnished home at one of the most unique buildings in Dallas. This property has it all, including one of the best wraparound balconies in Dallas. The downtown and Victory Park views are spectacular enough, but this home also boasts a gas burning fire-pit, outdoor hot-tub, full outdoor kitchen and electronic heating system for chilly nights. Take a peek at other 1999 McKinney condos available for sale. As always, contact us to arrange a private showing of any property!