The Cambridge Blog

According to various news media, business leaders, and government agencies, the Dallas - Fort Worth real estate market is improving and the outlook for 2011 is GOOD:

“We think that new home construction will be up by about 15%, so we’ve got 18,300 new homes in the forecast.”
Ted Wilson, Residential Strategies, Inc.
Dallas Business Journal 12/16/2010

“We’re very optimistic about 2011, primarily because corporate America seems to have a lot of pent-up demand, and they’re opening up their pocketbook and capital is flowing.”
Steve Van Amburgh, CEO, KDC Real Estate Development and Investments
Dallas Business Journal 12/16/2010

“We at the Dallas Federal Reserve predict that Texas could gain 250,000 jobs next year.”
Mine Yucel, Sr. Economist and VP, Dallas Federal Reserve
Dallas Morning News, 12/17/2010

“Housing starts in the four largest metro areas in Texas increased 19.9% and new housing permits increased 5.8% in November.”
Texas Economic Indicators - January 2011
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

“Pending sales at the end of December 2010 are greater than at the end of December 2009. We are predicting an increase in closed sales during the first months of 2011.”
Ebby Halliday Companies

Conclusion: The Dallas - Fort Worth economy is improving, the real estate market is recovering, and the outlook for the coming year is very good.

THIS TIME…

Most of us who have owned several homes during our lives have tended to limit ourselves to neutral palettes because “re-salability” was usually a priority.

When planning the new home that may actually turn out to be your “last new home”, why not choose the style & colors that you’ve always wanted?  This time, have it Your Way!

If years of compromising have left you unsure what “your way” IS, the following Questionnaire may be of help.  Be specific and provide as many details as possible in your answers.

PERSONAL STYLE QUESTIONNAIRE

How would you describe you “style”?__________________________________________________

Why?______________________________________________________________

What is your favorite color?__________________________________________________________

What color do you most often wear?___________________________________________________

What is it about that color that appeals to you?_________________________________________

Do you consider yourself to be a fashionable person?        ________Yes   ________No

Do you like your surroundings to reflect current fashion   ________Yes  _________No

Do you not much care about what’s fashionable and what’s not?  ________Yes   ________No

Where is your favorite place to vacation?________________________________________________

Why?___________________________________________________________

What color do you most associate with that location? _____________________________________

What “style” do you most associate with that location? ____________________________________

Describe the most beautiful room you’ve ever seen: _______________________________________

What was it that made you like it so much? _______________________________________________

What color do you most associate with that room? ________________________________________

What “style” do you most associate with that room? _______________________________________

If you could adapt that room to have it as your own, what changes would you need to make to it so that it would be truly comfortable and pleasing to you? ___________________________________________

What is your favorite flower? _____________________________________________________________

Why? _________________________________________________________

What color do you most associate with that flower? _________________________________________

If you have a favorite painting, what is it? __________________________________________________

What color do you most associate with that painting? _______________________________________

If you read home decorating magazines, what kids of photos most appeal to you? _________________

Why? _____________________________________________________

What are your hobbies? ______________________________________________________________________

What is it that you enjoy about them? _________________________________________________________

What do you most enjoy doing when you’re at home? ___________________________________________

Why? __________________________________________________________

What do you most enjoy doing when you’re away from home? ____________________________________

Why? ________________________________________________________

Circle all that describe you:

Reserved         Understated         Gregarious        

Flamboyant         Fun-Loving        Serious           

Shy                      Quiet                  Private                

Intellectual        Bookish            Sophisticated     

Minimalist          Practical              Joyful

Morose            Out-Doors-y        Urban               

Suburban             Small Town       Country          

Wilderness            Likes Sci-Fi       Likes History        

Likes Fiction        Likes Current Events     Likes Travel        

Likes Spectator Sports      Participates in Sports

Formal              Informal               Casual              

Very Casual          Homebody        Lots of Friends       

A few very close Friends           Family as Friends

Prefer to Entertain Large Groups          

Prefer to Entertain Smaller Groups

Prefer to Entertain Family                    

No Longer Enjoy Entertaining - Been There, Done That

Prefer Casual Entertaining                   

Prefer Formal Entertaining

Like to Entertain Outdoors When Weather Permits

Prefer to Entertain Indoors, Regardless of Weather

Save your answers!  The next BLOG will help you interpret your responses to the questionnaire!

Recently Cambridge Homes hosted its second annual fund-raiser for the Collin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  While last year’s event was held at the Cambridge model home at Chapel Hill in McKinney, this years fundraiser was held at the model home in CAMBRIDGE GATE in Far North Dallas.  This year attendees donated more than $600 to the Habitat for Humanity while enjoying hors d’ oeuvres prepared by Regarrio’s and desserts contributed by Whole Foods.  Event coordinator for Cambridge Homes was Christie Douglass.  In attendance were Cambridge homeowners, area merchants and business people, City dignitaries, representatives of Habitat for Humanity, and, of course, enthusiastic members of the Cambridge Team.

 

Cambridge Homes is sponsoring Zane Williams at the McKinney Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 19th at 8:00 pm!

Zane is a Texas musician who lives in McKinney, TX.  Below is a portion of his Bio from his website: http://www.zanewilliamsmusic.com/fr_index.cfm

 “Zane Williams is a great singer, and even better, he is a great songwriter and story-teller.  I LOVE what this guy does.”   —Radney Foster

    “Refreshing, honest, melodic…  Music that just makes you feel good.”  —Big Gus, KHYI 95.3 The Range

    Zane Williams is a man on a mission—-to become one of the great Texas singer-songwriters.   The Abilene, TX native moved to Nashville in 1999 after graduating from Abilene Christian University.  “I’m a late bloomer,” says the 31 year old performer.  “It took me 9 years in Nashville to figure out who I am musically and find my sound.  And sure enough once I found it, it sounded like Texas.”

    The Nashville years were not wasted, however—Zane honed his songwriting and performing skills on the road at over 500 colleges nationwide and claimed top honors from the John Lennon and Nashville Songwriter’s Association song contests, among others.  In 2009, Arista artist Jason Michael Carroll recorded Zane’s song “Hurry Home” for his sophomore album and it is currently rising the country charts as a hit radio single.

    At home now in his wife’s hometown of McKinney, TX, Zane says he has been overwhelmed by the positive response to his music in the Lone Star State.  With famed writer/producer Radney Foster on board to record his new album in the summer of ’09, and an ever-growing fan base coming out to his high-energy live shows, Zane is more optimistic about the future than ever before. “Nashville was good to me, but in Texas I can totally be myself and people get it,” he says.  “The sky’s the limit, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Please come join us for a wonderful evening of great Texas music!  Tickets can be purchased at: http://tickets.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent220.html

See you there!

 

The TOP FIVE Biggest New Home Markets in the USA are in TEXAS, according to a recent Study commissioned by the National Homebuilder Association and published by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence in BUILDER Magazine.  Lone Star State Cities on the National Top Five list for 2008 are:  Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, & San Antonio.

The major factor influencing Dallas’ & Ft. Worth’s continued appearance on the Top Five list is the fact that the Dallas/Ft. Worth area continues to be popular for corporate relocation and expansion.  In 2008, a year when job growth rates declined throughout most of the country, Dallas added 42,000 new jobs — up 2% from the previous year!  And 2009 is anticipated to exceed 2008:  According to TWC and the Dallas Federal Reserve, job growth in Dallas/Ft. Worth is expected to exceed 50,000 this year.

Because Job Growth determines the velocity of the residential real estate market, the forecast that more than 50,000 new jobs will be created here this year should be an impetus to those thinking of purchasing a new home.  In particular, those thinking of moving to a carefree, “lock & leave” patio home, may feel more confident that there will be plenty of buyers in the market to purchase their current homes.

At Cambridge Homes, we are gratified that our special “niche” in the market has held strong, and that discerning,  adult households seeking carefree patio home living are still choosing Cambridge to build their new homes.  With private, patio home enclaves located throughout the D/FW Metroplex, we, at Cambridge Homes, offer a wide choice of locations & architectural styles.