Top 11 Reasons for SELLING a Home During the Holidays

Well it’s been a few days since you have heard from us – that’s because this fall has been incredibly busy! The cooler weather (finally!) has gotten the buyers moving and buying!  Two of the properties we listed in the last 30 days are already under contract! So if you have been considering selling – let’s talk because we need more homes to sell! Here are some great reasons to sell during the holidays…

  1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to make a decision.
  2. Serious buyers have fewer homes to choose from during the holidays, so property has less competition.
  3. Houses “show better” when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors.
  4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feeling they receive when viewing your house.
  5. Buyers may have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase.
  6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.
  7. January is traditionally the month for transfers.  Transferees can’t wait until spring to buy.  Your house must be on the market to capture these buyers.
  8. You may restrict showings during your own personal family events and still take advantage of your spruced up and decorated “show ready” house.
  9. You can sell now, but specify a delayed closing or extend occupancy until early next year if you so desire and if agreeable to the other party.
  10. By selling now you have an opportunity to buy as a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when more properties are on the market.
  11. You know a successful Realtor that can give you all the information you need to make the best decision for your family and help you accomplish your real estate goals!

To get your home on the market quickly and get your home sold, call The Marr Team at 214-448-6879

SOLD – 9105 Amber Downs, McKinney Texas

Welcome to 9105 Amber Downs in the convenient Westridge golf community.  As you drive down this quiet street you will notice this gorgeous home has the “wow factor” beginning with the exterior stone accents and upgraded coach lighting.  The two-story entry leads into the gorgeous kitchen with cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances and expanses of granite countertops.  The kitchen and breakfast areas open to the two-story family room that is light and bright with furniture alcoves and a cozy cast stone fireplace.

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                • Westridge Golf Community
                • 4 Bedrooms
                • 3 Baths
                • Second Master Down
                • Gameroom/Media Room/Study
                • Frisco ISD – lower taxes
                • Granite and Travertine in All Baths
                • Approx. 3,291 SF

 

SPACIOUS – 4 nice-sized bedrooms plus a gameroom, media room and study provides generous space for everyone.  The game and adjoining media rooms will be ideal for entertaining or quiet family game and movie nights.  The split master and two bedrooms are also upstairs along with 2 baths.  A downstairs living area with french doors will make a great office, playroom or gym.  A fourth bedroom downstairs has direct access to a full bathroom for guests or to be used as a second master.

WOW – You must see all the upgrades in this one! You will be wowed from the moment you enter the custom leaded glass door to see tile and engineered wood floors throughout downstairs.  Also at every turn you will notice the small details like the custom cabinet hardware that coordinates with the stairway’s iron spindles.  The hand-selected lighting and ceiling fans throughout the home are satin nickel and placed on dimmable switches with variable fan controls.  Every countertop is granite and every shower surround is travertine. Additionally, the custom mirrors and upgraded lighting makes each bath a luxurious space.

ENERGY EFFICIENT – This Meritage home includes low “E” high performance double pane windows, R-4 thermal sheathing behind non-structural bricked walls, and the baseplates polysealed around entire home.  Zoned units with programmable thermostats and two 50-gallon quick recovery gas water heaters allow the comforts of this large home without the high energy bills.

See more photos at www.9105AmberDowns.info

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Chicken Enchiladas – October 2011 Recipe Post Card

Know Someone who wants to spice things up with a new home?

If you or someone you know is looking for a great deal in today’s market – we can find it for them!  Whether moving or making a real estate investment we know the market and can negotiate the best deal for you!

Give us a call and let us show you the deals out there in the market now!

 

Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients:
1/4 c. salsa
1/4 c. water
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
4 chicken breast, cooked and shredded

8 large flour tortillas
1/2 c. sour cream
1 c. shredded Mexican cheese


Directions:
Combine the salsa and water; spread evenly in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan. In a bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup together; add the chicken and blend together.  Divide the mixture evenly into 8 flour tortillas, saving enough of the mixture to cover the top of the enchiladas after folding them up and arranging them in the pan.  After covering the enchiladas with the leftover mixture, spread sour cream and sprinkle cheese on enchiladas.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. 
October 2011 Postcard

10 Haunted Houses Available for Sale – Happy Halloween

The following homes for sale are some of the spookiest on the market, as gathered by TopTenRealEstate.com.

10. Ozzie the Ghost
Some people believe the Ozzie & Harriet home is haunted, but of course in Hollywood where creativity is the norm, there will always be creative gossip. If we had to pick a ghost, charming Ozzie would be a pretty nice guy to have around.

This traditional 5,813sf home was built in 1916 and was the set for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet that ran from 1952 to 1966, the longest running TV show until The Simpsons recently topped it. Located on almost a half acre, the home consists of 5 bedrooms and 4 baths. The house is very private at the end of a cul-de-sac and is gated. The grounds contain a guest house, separate office and pool. The interior has period details throughout and the home is ready to move into as is or can be renovated at the new owners‘ option. If you’re extremely lucky, maybe you’ll see Ozzie happily puttering around the yard, though we wouldn’t suggest you hold your breath. Priced at $4,245,500.
Deal Source: hauntedhouses.com

9. Abandoned Ohio Mansion
Ghosts might be afraid to go anywhere near Mike Tyson, but it looks like something very scary happened at Tyson’s former Ohio mansion. The home is complete with a spooky moss covered indoor swimming pool, a massive trashed living room, holes punched through walls, and rusty tiger cages. The boxer lived here for a period in the 1990s and it has sat abandoned ever since. Now on the market, possibly many of the problems have since been resolved, though the agent is clear about the buyer needing to return it to its former “luster.“

On a very private 60 acres of open and wooded land that adjoins a golf course, this almost 10,000sf property in rural Ohio has 5 bedrooms, 7.5 baths and large indoor pool. There is also a separate guard house with another 4-5 additional bedrooms. Grounds have paved walking paths, a basketball court, large decks and . . . large animal cages. We suggest a large Halloween party before renovations begin. No decorating will be involved. Priced at $1,300,000, tiger cages included.
Deal Source: realliving.com

8. $15 Million LA Haunted House?
Sitting vacant for over 16 years unfinished, this house was said to be plagued by alien spacecraft, sitting on top of an Indian burial ground, beloved by gangs, addicts and Satanists. The butt of the rumors have become urban legends, and the house’s history has even become a storyline on a “Law and Order” episode. It is currently for sale at the listed price of $15,200,000. Sitting on 22 acres of the last undeveloped land in LA, the 9,800sf house has 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a 200 bottle wine cellar, six-car garage, stone floors and a pool with Jacuzzi that has a view over the acreage, the city and the Pacific. From the windows you can see snow-capped mountains and the Hollywood sign. There is a 24/7 armed guard on duty to keep bad spirits away and prevent damage. Though unlikely that aliens will land or that spirits will arise from some unproven Indian burial ground, the property will likely entice a developer attracted to the land. Ghostly rumors, however, will likely be around for many years to come.
Deal Source: redfin.com

7. John Brown Hanging Site
In historic Charles Town, WV, where Abolitionist Brown met his demise in 1859, 30 years later this grand Victorian was built on the site of his hanging. The land on which it sits was owned by one of the men that captured Brown and who later built a home here. Though the house itself has never been considered to be haunted, its location is one of the most historic in the country. The craftsmanship both in the exterior brick work, turret and widow’s walk and in the interior millwork sets this house apart, making it the most notable piece of architecture in Charles Town. The 4-story, 7,037sf home has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths Tiffany glass, handmade shutters and exceptional mantels.

Of John Brown, historian David Reynolds contends that “not only was Brown ‘right’ on slavery and other racial issues of his day, but that his conduct—in causing the Civil War to begin in 1861 rather than, say, 1881–potentially saved hundreds of thousands of lives that could have been lost in a war fought in a time of much greater population and more deadly weaponry and, at the same time, might well have spared an entire generation of African-Americans the humiliating experience of human bondage.” Asking $1,200,000.
Deal Source: historichometeam.com

6. Evil Clown Haunted House
This is either the chance to out-do your neighbors once and for all, or for a town to become known for having the most spectacular Halloween event for miles around! All you Jaycees and civic organizations – heads up! We’ve all seen ads to come to the Haunted House everywhere you look around this time of year, but did you ever stop to think from where they actually come? We didn’t either, but since it’s almost Halloween 2011, we thought we’d do a little digging on all things Halloween and this is what we found!

There are companies that consult, design and build custom Halloween venues, or you can rent, but here’s a clever company that makes it possible for you to buy a used haunted house kit! (Or how many ways can you say Prefab?) This entire mobile haunted house comes in a complete package and even offers optional add-ons. This scary package includes Evil Clown Town, Alcatraz Prison and Hot Seat electric chair and so much more! It will put Your Town, USA on the map. For $130,000, you can buy the Frightmare Package through the Texas-based Hauntrepreneurs®, a broker for used Halloween Attractions. The package comes complete with production equipment such as tents, lighting and a sound system, fog machine, effect lights, costumes, emergency lighting and exit signs. It’s the perfect Halloween haunting.
Deal Source: hauntrepreneurs.com

5. Psycho Murder Victim’s House
What do you immediately think of when you hear the name “Janet Leigh?” “Psycho,” of course! You picture her in the shower and you picture that dark Victorian horror of a house on top of the hill overlooking the Bates Motel. Right? We all do! Produced by Alfred Hitchcock, it was a well-scripted, well-cast horror film, with scenes that would terrify even the most avid horror lover. . . the Victorian house in the film was likely the scariest movie house of all time.

Now Janet Leigh’s own former home is for sale and far from being a horror. It has understated clean architectural lines, paved car park, privacy, gated entrance and no ghosts anywhere in sight. Styled in Contemporary Transitional, the design is timeless both inside and out. The perfect home for an avid art collector, the floors are ebony and the walls white, offering exceptional display options. The layout is perfect for entertaining as the public rooms spill out to the patios and stunning views over Hollywood and out over the Pacific. At just over half an acre, the 4,432sf home has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, pool and tennis courts. This property will give your mind a new vision when hearing the name “Janet Leigh” and all thoughts of horror will be long forgotten! Asking $3,950,000.
Deal Source: 1625summitridge.com

4. America’s Scariest Haunted House
Not for the faint of heart, this 100-year-old farm house near Olean, NY, is very well- known to locals and to all paranormal investigators across the country. Even the History Channel featured it in a special. The house has a history of frightening off its past owners since the 1850s with its 12 or more not-so-friendly ghosts who are frequently seen in their entirety by neighbors, friends, guests, researchers, paranormal investigators and the clergy. In her book, “Echoes of a Haunting,” by one-time resident, Clara M. Miller, she explained the feeling about the house as a build up of pressure under an umbrella that finally releases in the form of activity from these clearly visible spirits. Clara wrote her book from her daily diary and goes into great detail about events that happened there and some she felt might have been related to the house years after moving to Oregon.

Though obviously needing a total renovation, there are many who will be hugely excited about its availability. On 8 acres, the house presently consists of a kitchen, bath, living room, 3 bedrooms and two enclosed porches and a large spring-fed pond. Many seem to think it would make a great research facility for paranormal researchers or equally as an attractive single-family home after renovation…if you have nerves of steel! 100 + year old farm house & stage-coach stop has 12 ghosts. Asking $289,000.
Deal Source: wnyhauntedhouse.com

3. The Dean Martin Ghost of Edina, MN
According to their story, Dean Martin stayed at this Minnesota home in 1970 when he was filming the movie “Airport” and he never left. They believe that “Dino” is just one of a number of spirits that haunt this house, which was built near an old Indian funeral site. The owners report numerous incidents of flying tables and beds, exploding water pipes, invisible people and dogs, pounding noises, images of a bloody face in their mirror, missing objects, and a grotesque, hairless cat with glowing eyes and a human’s smile. The spirit activity was noticed to increase when the family was preparing to move. The son seems to feel that the most violent spirit got in due to him and his friends using the Ouija board in the basement, as the violent activity began shortly after that. It is probably no surprise that the home is now vacant and has been on the market since May.
Deal Source: squidoo.com

2. Haunted Horse Farm
Don’t expect to see ghostly horses grazing the fields or be so lucky as to have a ghostly farmhand stacking hay bales. Instead, turn your attention to your digital camera equipment. For some reason, the normally elusive ghosties on this farm love to have their pictures taken! They will pop up in your pastoral shots and in your family videos and have made themselves apparent over 90 times in the last nine years in and around the farm. They show themselves as orbs, darting lights and misty forms when you’re trying to capture that perfect sunset or new foal. Having enjoyed writing about her experiences on this property as a paranormal author, the owner is willing to pass this farm on to the next ghost buster to enjoy.

This 5-acre, fully fenced farm consists of two barns and a 2002 constructed 3-bedroom, 2-bath house of approximately 1,150sf and is selling furnished. Fields are well-maintained grazing land in the horse country of Lexington, Kentucky. There have been five paranormal investigations in the past two years – all had positive findings. The next chill running up a spine could be yours! Asking $120,000.
Deal Source: sdparanormal.com

1.New Orleans Haunted B&B
While most going businesses want to keep their ghosts in the closet so as not to frighten off clientele, the Magnolia Mansion has cleverly built its business around multiple ghosts and wish its ghosts would invite their friends! Here the ghosts are friendly with a sense of humor, where ghostly children tease you by moving things around during the night to watch your reaction the next morning. There are reports of a ghostly maid who will tuck you in at night, a child who walks the halls and a bearded man who spends his time downstairs.

Designed by architect James H. Calrow and completed in 1858 from fortunes made from cotton, Magnolia Mansion is one of New Orleans most photographed homes in the Historic Garden District and considered to be one of the most important examples of Antebellum architecture. It was also the headquarters of the American Red Cross during World War II. A raised Greek revival mansion of approximately 13,369sf, there are 13 bedrooms and 14 full baths that could be changed back into a single-family estate.

A perfect place to hold your “Spooktacular Gatherings” and “Ghostly Galas.“ Asking price is $3.2M.

Article adapted from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com/2011-10-30/happy-halloween-the-top-10-haunted-homes-for-sale/

SOLD – 1622 Chestnut Street, Anna Texas

A great place to call home at a superb price! Very livable floor plan, split bedrooms, wide entry, separate dining – island kitchen open to living area. Large open backyard with retaining wall for privacy. Within walking distance to Elementary. Community pool and playground – fast access to 75, dining choices and grocery stores.

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  • Oak Hollow Estates
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Baths
  • 2 Car Garage
  • Approx. 1,369 SF

 

 

 

This home has a nice wide entry leading into a great floor plan.  The family room has a wall of windows that view the backyard.  The kitchen is open to both the living and dining areas and is truly the heart of the home.  The kitchen is lined with attractive honey-colored cabinetry with a center island workspace and a pantry.  A separate dining area provides space for everyone around the table away from the bustle of the home.

The master bedroom is a relaxing retreat away from the other two bedrooms with a walk-in closet and private bath.  The master bath features a large garden tub that provides quiet sanctuary after a long day.

The backyard has a spacious grassy area, open patio and a small rock ledge giving you space to get outside on cool, fall evenings.

The Oak Hollow community is close to the growing Anna amenities and provides quick access to 75 and Highway 5 for quick travel.  Oak Hollow HOA also offers a community pool and playground area for residents. It is a short walk to the exemplary rated Rattan Elementary and you are within a couple minutes of the new grocery store and fast food dining options.

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