SWAPO 2011 news...Gas Well Emergency Plans...

Arlington fire chief has a good gas well emergency plan...
Click link for story:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/26/3764297/arlington-fire-chief-has-a-good.html

Housing Trends Newsletter by David Hart February 2012

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. 

Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends FEBRUARY-2012 Newsletter http://dharthomes.housingtrendsenewsletter.com 

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources. 

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and REALTOR.com local community reports. 

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report: 

http://dharthomes.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/dispContent.cfm?loadid=2&loadtype=0 

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the future. 

Sincerely yours, 

David Hart, Realtor                                                                  Buy Sell Invest with Hart

Fix It Anyway

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is certainly popular advice, but if you've ever had a serious plumbing leak, you certainly wished you had taken care of the problem earlier.
Washing machines, like all appliances, are supposed to work and when they don't, it's time to have them fixed or replaced. However, there is a critical connection from your water supply that may even be older than your washing machine itself.
Ask someone whose hose broke while they were asleep or out of town and you'll hear stories of how quickly the water can damage walls, flooring and furniture. Almost anyone can replace the hoses with a pair of pliers for under $30.00 to avoid this potential catastrophe.
As you're shopping for the replacement hoses, consider the braided stainless steel connectors. The advantage is that the stainless steel offers additional protection should a soft spot develop in the hose beneath. They'll cost a little more but offer considerably more protection for a nominal price.  Buy Sell Invest with Hart

Arlington promotes deputy city manager after search...

Read more here:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/21/3752663/arlington-promotes-deputy-city.html

SWAPO 2011 News...Congratulations to the residents of Hot Spot 1...

                                                                         Drill Rig

                                                         Drill Site Entrance from Eden Rd

The EDGE Resource Pad Site was approved by City Council tonight upon the recommendation of the City Planning and Zoning Commission held 2/1/12 and those in support who attended the meeting tonight, approximately 65, including SWAPO leadership and Overcoming Faith Leadership. Those against the site attending tonight numbered 4. There were about 7 speakers for and one against. In summary, the primary reasons for approval:

·         The well thought out location, low visibility

·         Sensitivity to blending the site within the surroundings and sound proofing

·         Pad site located far from neighborhood homes

·         No other location to drill that can reach these 530 acres

·         Connectivity into the hike and bike system master plan from MLK to Sublett Creek Park with the East property side portion dedicated as a hike bike trail

·         Existing nearby pipeline already in place

·         No retention pond

·         Truck traffic route only entering on Eden Rd from Hwy 287

·         Reduced truck traffic during major events at MLK or Tierra Verde Golf Club

·         Acceptance of EDGE property into the Audubon International Signature Program

Approximately 450 mineral home owners will benefit from Royalty checks, after production. SWAPO will continue to follow the construction plans and time tables.

Notice of Public Hearing, posted previously:

                                                      Case Number: SUP11-13

1)    Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing Date: 2/1/12, 5:30pm.

2)    City Council Public Hearing Date: 02/21/12, 6:15 pm

Applicant: Brad Pittman

Edge Barnett Operating Company LLC

Address: 4388 Vickery Boulevard, Suite 100

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Telephone Number: 817-870-0130

Site Location: 4700 Eden Road generally located south of Eden Road and west

of U.S. 287 Highway.

Current Zoning: Village on the Green – Residential (VG-R)

Request: Specific Use Permit (SUP) for gas drilling

General Description of Applicant's Proposed Uses: Gas Drilling and Production

The IDEAL Investment

Rental homes can be the IDEAL investment in today's market because they offer a much higher rate of return than alternatives without the volatility of ups and downs in the stock market.
IDEAL serves as an acronym to identify the advantages of rental properties:

• Income from the monthly rent contributes to paying the expenses and a return on the investment
• Depreciation is a non-cash deduction that contributes a tax shelter
• Equity grows monthly as the mortgage amortizes due to some of each payment being applied to the principal
• Appreciation is achieved as the value of the property goes up
• Leverage can increase the return on investment by using borrowed funds to control a larger asset

The combination of these characteristics working together makes rental real estate a very good investment for today's economy and years to come. Increased rents, high rental demand, good values and low non-owner-occupied mortgage rates contribute to positive cash flows and very favorable rates of return.

Contact me for more information about actual opportunities in our local market.
                                                          Buy Sell Invest with Hart

SWAPO 2011 News...Chesapeake Energy retreats from the Barnett Shale

Big natural gas driller Chesapeake Energy retreats from the Barnett Shale

Read the Star Telegram article:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/23/3681339/big-natural-gas-driller-chesapeake.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/23/3681339/big-natural-gas-driller-chesapeake.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Great Investment

If you invest in a savings account, you'll make less than 1% and will have to pay income tax on the earnings. On the other hand, contribute something extra to your house payment on a regular basis and you'll essentially, earn at the mortgage interest rate which is certain to be more than you're earning in the bank.
Making additional principal contributions on your mortgage will save interest, retire debt and build equity. An extra $100 a month in the example shown will save thousands in interest and short the term of the mortgage as well.        

Reducing your cost of housing is another way to improve the investment in your home. Becoming debt-free is a worthy goal that is achieved with discipline and good decisions. Suggestions like this are part of my commitment to help people be better homeowners when they buy, sell and all the years in between.
 Buy Sell Invest with Hart

Risk Determines Rate

Regardless of what a lender quotes on mortgage rates, the actual rate paid by a borrower is based on a number of variables. Lenders determine whether to loan money and at what rate based on the risk involved with the transaction.
Factors that increase the risk that the loan will be repaid will proportionately increase the interest rate charged to the borrower. If the risk becomes too high, the loan will not be approved.

• Loan amounts - conventional loans for more than the conforming limits set by Fannie Mae are considered jumbo loans and generally have a higher interest rate.
• FICO score - the lowest interest rate is reserved for the highest credit scores; the lower the score, the higher the rate borrower will pay.
• Occupancy - borrowers occupying a home as their principal residence are considered a better loan risk than second homes and investment properties.
• Loan purpose - purchase transactions generally have the lowest interest rate while refinancing a home is generally higher.
• Debt-to-Income ratio - a borrower's monthly liabilities divided by their gross monthly income develops a ratio that helps lenders to assess the borrower's ability to repay the mortgage.
• Loan-to-Value ratio - the lower the percentage of the loan to the appraised value of the property will generally lower the interest rate.

Any combination of these factors could limit a borrower's ability to secure a mortgage at the rate initially quoted. Being pre-approved by a trusted mortgage professional is the best way to know what rate you can expect to pay. Please call for a recommendation. Buy Sell Invest with Hart