McKinney Texas - The best place to live in America!

America is a country full of diverse cities and has a vast of great places to live in. Choosing the best place for you and your family to live in is no simple task. But luckily Time Inc's Money magazine did the job of finding out the nation’s top small cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000.

Guess what, our very own - McKinney, Texas top the list.  With its small town feel and charm this friendly place was ranked as the best place to live in America!  Located just 30 miles north of Dallas this is one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Don’t be fooled by McKinney’s homey Southern charm because actually it is a thoroughly modern city. The area is a hotbed for growth-industry jobs. Companies in green energy, aviation, and medical services have already moved in the region and other Fortune 500 companies are just 15- to 45-minute commute away.

The downtown area offers a mix of art galleries, boutiques, and farm-to-table restaurants, farm-supplies stores and a lot more of unique shops to choose from.

Career and college prep are also big in McKinney’s schools. Housing options range from restored Victorians to Texas-style mansions With three-bedrooms averaging in the low $200,000s, the price is still right, though the market is heating up according to Time Inc.

This city offers excellent schools, beautiful parks and open spaces. Best of all are affordable and diverse housing with plenty of jobs and a vibrant downtown, what else are you looking for?

To search for Mckinney Homes go to www.OurDallasHome.com
To find out the your Mckinney Home's Value CLICK HERE

WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO DALLAS – FORT WORTH IN TEXAS

Although Texas’ history may be considered over rated to some, but a vast majority of the netizens are generally looking at Texas in a different light.  Many are taking the big leap forward. People from across the nation are seriously considering moving here – the Lone Star State. Texas has 6 of the country’s 20 biggest cities.  You can be in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth or El Paso. Each of these cities has their own unique charm and a character to them but will never compromise the quality of life that you want to achieve.

I live in Dallas and it is safe to say that it is one of the most in demand places to migrate to. I can’t blame them - it is the economic and cultural hub of North Texas. Toyota - the world’s number 1 automaker even chose Plano as its new home together with its employees.  You can list out a thousand reasons not to choose this community, but the pros just simply outweigh the cons. Here are some of the most common reasons why people want to move here in Dallas Fort Worth.

LOW TAXES - Texas in general has no personal or corporate income tax. Per resident, it collects roughly $3,500 in taxes overall (including all state and local taxes) every year. By way of contrast, California collects $4,900 per resident — New York collects a whopping $7,400 per resident. Both states, of course, have income taxes. People are going to Texas because it’s a low-cost, low-tax state. Texas has the lowest yearly tax bill per household in America.

LOW COST OF LIVING -  The lower house prices, along with a generally low cost of living — helped along by cheap labor, cheap produce and cheap gas (currently about $3 a gallon) — really matter when it comes to quality of life. You do not need to spend much to obtain a good quality of life. Food, rent and health care, consumer prices, utilities and transport are cheaper here compared to other state.

REAL ESTATE IS CHEAP - Texas is a huge state and constitutes a massive land area. Since land is cheap, housing is cheap. Land acquisition is also very efficient. Unlike in other states, most middle class family in Texas can find an affordable property and call it their own.

JOBS - According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas was able to add 274,700 new jobs – that is 12% of all jobs added nationwide and 51,000 more than California added. Texas created nearly one third of the country’s highest paying jobs.

EXQUISITE FOOD - Dallas Fort Worth has a list of amazing restaurants. From Japanese to Korean cuisine Mediterranean and American we have it all. Don’t be surprised. There are many other places springing up to provide sustenance and eating opportunities to the growing population. 

FAMILY FRIENDLY – Texas is very popular with raising families. San Antonio for one is home to the largest community of gay parents. In Texas, you can have a reasonable mortgage and pretty good schools. And restaurants are known to be family friendly. Texans in general are very friendly and down to earth. Race relations in Texas are good and most Texans are very tolerant of each other. The larger cities are also very diverse.

GOOD SCHOOLS - Texas has a strong educational system. They tale care of minority and economically disadvantaged students as graduation rates show. Texas is also home to many world class colleges like University of Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor and Rice University. Texas also allows parents the freedom to home-school their children.

ARTS AND CULTURE – Texas boasts many huge and magnificent art installations and exhibits. The museum district offers 19 different art museums all within walking distance. Highlights include the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses several unique and priceless collections, it also displays travelling exhibits.

TEXANS ARE NORMAL PEOPLE - The state likes to proclaim itself as an unpretentious, down-to-earth place where people are easy to get along with. As John Steinbeck wrote: "Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America." And for people with conservative values, it could be a natural home, although demographic shifts have prompted speculation it will be a Democratic state in the future.

NO PERMIT TO CARRY A GUN – It is important in Texas that your right to safety is being upheld. You can own and carry a gun without a jiffy. You do not need a license or permit to buy a gun. It is easy for law abiding citizens to get a concealed hand gun.

If the rules on taxes and budgeting are giving you a headache and you feel like you need to start fresh, and live a quality of life that you dream of, then it’s about time you sell your house and move to Dallas Fort Worth. And Catalyst Real Estate Experts will make it a smooth move for you. Contact us today 469-500-4663, move to your dream home in Dallas tomorrow!

Home Buyer Turn Offs

Selling a Home? Avoid these Home Buyer Turn offs

1. Odors

House odors are number one on the home sellinguh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.

If you smoke indoors--the house smells like cigarettes. If you have pets, the house might smell bad--even if you don't notice it. Ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth.

Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere--not a house that's full of perfumes to cover up the odors.

2. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway

Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You'll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets--dogs, cats, whatever.

You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area? Bad idea. Would you buy a house you can't inspect? Of course not.

Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can't, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

3. Dirty Bathrooms

Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels--do what it takes to make them shine. If you're serious about selling the home, the extra work is a must.

4. Dimly Lit Rooms

Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:

• Replace dim light fixtures
• Install additional light fixtures
• Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
• Remove heavy drapes to let the light stream through windows
• Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
• Trim tree limbs that shadow the house

Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Clean them inside and out to bring in more light. If possible, replace any double-pane windows with broken seals. You can find them by looking for a foggy residue that cannot be removed.

5. A House Full of Busy Wallpaper

Busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you've chosen. It's a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves.

It's the masses you must appeal to when you're selling a home, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide if it should be removed and replaced with paint. Don't paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did--and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.

6. Damp Basements

Dampness or damp smells in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the foundation leaks!

Most problems we see are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it.

• Clogged underground drains
• No rain gutters along roofline
• Downspouts aimed the wrong way

Go outside the next time it rains and determine where runoff water is going.

7. Bugs

Roaches, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them.

8. Poor Curb Appeal

You must grab a buyer's interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar. Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. You say you can't afford to paint? Okay, but get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors.

9. Gutters with Plants Growing in Them

I'm serious. Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained.

Remember the drainage issue in #6? Cleaning packed gutters might help.

10. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings