16 minute read
Real Estate Quarterly
THE LAY OF THE LAND
Appealing to home buyers starts at the curb, real estate expert says
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By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
Even when the market is as hot as the Dallas real estate market is, to get top dollar for a home — and as many offers as possible — making a first impression starts at the curb.
Just ask Lucinda Buford. The real estate professional with Allie Beth Allman & Associates says any to-do list for getting a property ready to put on the market needs to include at least a little bit of yard work. That’s especially true in a market where many homes go for millions of dollars.
“I would recommend even though there is low inventory, that if you want to get top dollar that you need to have fresh color,” she said, adding that the endeavor can be easy and comes by the bagful. “You can hide a multitude of sins with fresh mulch.
“There are just so many messages you’re sending on that walk up to the front door.”
Buford also recommends — especially after the last winter storm — having professionals inspect your landscape, paying attention to one of the most prominent aspects of it — your trees.
“Have someone come out and look at your landscape and see what’s going on after that storm,” she said. “Make sure you’re taking care of your trees — I think everyone became aware of the value and expense of trees with the tornado — people started realizing, ‘You know, this is a hundred-thousand-dollar investment, I’ve got to take care of these trees.’”
After that, she said, look at
4121 Windsor Pkwy. | Real estate professional Lucinda Buford loved this University Park listing at 4121 Windsor “because of the curb appeal
and architecture - I loved selling this property.”(PHOTO: COURTESY LUCINDA BUFORD)
3217 Lovers Ln. | “This DARLING cottage in University Park,” Buford said,
was a great example of cozy curb appeal. (PHOTO: COURTESY LUCINDA BUFORD)
7514 Northaven Rd. | Buford said this home at 7514 Northaven Road languished on the market for a year. After a refresh that included repainting and landscaping,
“I had it under contract in multiple offers in six days.” (PHOTO: SHOOT2SELL)
your paint and front door.
“Look at the curb appeal, touch up the paint, repair your wood rot, freshen up your front door,” she said. “Buyers are looking for everything to be move-in ready.”
Buford also said that while there is no shortage of grandly landscaped estates in Preston Hollow and Park Cities, any home can benefit from an exterior refresher before it goes on the market.
Case in point, she said, was a home on Northaven Road she sold last year after it had languished on the market.
“This property was on the market for over a year with other agents,” she said. “I had it painted, re-did the landscape, staged, made some minor repairs, and had it under contract in multiple offers in six days.”
February may be a little too early for spring planting, Buford said, but she still recommends maintenance items like weeding the flower beds, cleaning out the gutters, and trimming the trees.
And don’t forget the backyard, either.
“If you have a pool, make sure it’s well maintained because people really are looking for turn-key when they’re looking at a house,” she said.
How’s working from home working for you?
A Classic Beauty
5138 Deloache Avenue
$12,000,000 6 Bed / 7.2 Bath / 11,185 Sq.Ft.
Alex Perry
214.926.0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com
University Park Estate
3005 Rosedale Avenue
Susan Bradley
214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com
Recently Sold
7507 Baxtershire Drive — Off Market Sale Represented Buyer
Kimberly Cocotos and Kristen Scott
Marc Ching’s Market Insight
Park Cities and Preston Hollow markets are prime for anyone looking to sell. Low interest rates, elevated values from increased demand & low supply are a few factors allowing home owner’s to prosper in this market. Call me for any real estate needs.
Marc Ching
214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com
Recently Sold
3817 Normandy Avenue — Highland Park
Susan Baldwin
214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com
Clarke Landry’s Market Insight
California buyers are still the majority of infl ux to Dallas, bringing cash, nonappraisal closings and sellers the highest price imaginable. With the low inventory, working with a top agent is essential in connecting to all the off market listings!
Clarke Landry
214.316.7416 clarke.landry@alliebeth.com
Quintessential Showplace SOLD!
3616 Greenbrier Drive — SOLD
Doris Jacobs
214.537.3399 doris.jacobs@alliebeth.com
7032 Town Bluff Drive — PENDING
$499,000 3 Bed / 3.1 Bath / Study
4609 Mockingbird Lane — SOLD
$825,000 4 Beds / 3 Bath / 2,870 Sq.Ft.
The City Council’s Economic Development Committee in January reviewed a plan for the 450-acre multicultural Dallas International District.
(PHOTOS: COURTESY DID)
By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
The area north of Interstate 635, between Preston Road, the Dallas North Tollway, has had many names. Valley View-Galleria. Midtown. The giant crater with the AMC Theater.
But now it has a new name — the Dallas International District — and advocates for the project say it also has fresh energy and a vision that they insist will take it beyond the rubble and on to a thriving business, entertainment, and residential destination.
Why the name change?
“As the area was being redeveloped, one of the owners proposed Midtown as a possible name,” Suzanne Smith, CEO of Social Impact Architects, explained to People Newspapers.
At the same time, another development near Walnut Hill and U.S. 75 also began to call itself Midtown, she said.
“That development has successfully embraced this brand and now calls itself Midtown Improvement District,” Smith, a consultant who has been working with the city for a year or so, said. “Since the Valley View mall no longer exists, and Midtown is taken, we have renamed the area – Dallas International District.”
In January, the district’s strategic plan was presented to the Dallas City Council’s Economic Development Committee by Smith and assistant director of economic development Kevin Spath.
Funding for the district will come from a mix of public-private sources, including the city, local developers, businesses, private foundations, and others.
Plans still include a much-discussed 20-acre park with the Prism building at 5580 Peterson Lane purchased in April 2021 to anchor the park as a cultural center and home to a District 11 city council office.
“As Dallas’ vibrant global community continues to develop, our new office at the Prism Center helps form deeper connections with PROGRESS REPORT
• Three new multi-family projects and a new 256-room hotel are complete, and ZOM Living has turned dirt on a 3.5 acre luxury apartment property at Noel Road.
• Dallas ISD’s 2020 bond package was passed, which includes funding for a new K-12 STEAM school in the Dallas International District.
• A complete street project at Montfort Drive will be finished by the end of 2022.
• The Prism Center building was purchased by the City of Dallas.
Follow our ongoing coverage of the Dallas International District.
residents and better serve constituents’ needs,” District 11 Council Member Jaynie Schultz said.
A complete street project anticipated to wrap up by the end of the year will see Montfort Drive going from six to four lanes, with improved walkability and new bike lanes.
Smith also pointed out that the name change wasn’t just a rebranding. The location — already home to a diverse array of residents and businesses — is perfect for such an endeavor, she said. “It’s more … an opportunity to leverage all our assets — physical and people.”
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SOLD IN 2021
2724 Daniel Avenue 3416 Cornell Avenue 4032 Marquette Street 4325 Stanhope Street* 4510 Normandy Avenue 3100 Rosedale Avenue #C 4108 Emerson Avenue #1 7108 Joyce Way 5519 Bryn Mawr Drive* 8937 Devonshire Drive 3930 Bluff view Boulevard 3535 Gillespie Street #201 9223 Biscayne Boulevard 9416 Highedge Drive* 9531 Spring Branch Drive* 8311 Coral Drive* 9226 Livenshire Drive* 9635 Livenshire Drive* 8411 Oak Stream Drive 7204 Bennington Drive 3151 Whirlaway Road 3227 Woodwind Lane* 40 Crown Place* 4235 West Creek Drive 14508 Overview Drive* 7515 Overdale Drive* 4119 Holland Avenue #103* 4508 Bowser Avenue #B 4212 Bowser Avenue #C 4010 Gilbert Avenue #B 4010 Gilbert Avenue #D 419 Lynn Street* 4903 Wenonah Drive** 3705 Country Oak Court** 3706 Dorothy Avenue**
*Represented buyer **Lease
Malinda Arvesen
214-354-7029
marvesen@briggsfreeman.com
Exceptional service. Record results.
Collec tions are so important to interior design that
MARGARET CHAMBERS I can’t help but be surprised when I meet a client who doesn’t collect anything.
Collectibles give a home personality, pull the house together, and serve as conversation starters when guests come over. In this article, I’ll discuss how an interior designer would display a client’s collection and list ideas for those interested in collecting who don’t know where to start.
Step 1: Starting Your Collection
Whether you are drawn to blue-and-white Delft, ceramics, black-and-white photography, tortoiseshell boxes, or snuff bottles, many kinds of collectibles are suited for different styles of homes.
If nothing comes to mind, consider collecting something that will complement your home’s existing decor and architecture. For example, I like to decorate modern homes with African art and textiles. For a Santa Fe-style home, I would recommend Native American pottery and baskets.
Step 2: Curate Your Collection
Before you find a place for your collection, make sure to curate it first. Prioritize the pieces that are in the best condition and fit your decorating scheme.
Items in your collection don’t have to be a part of a matching set but do need to harmonize in terms of color, scale, and texture. If you’re displaying prints on a wall, start with the largest in the middle and arrange smaller prints around it.
Step 3: Artfully Arrange Your Pieces
Next, you’ll want to design the display area. Open shelves, for example, can be painted the same color as the wall to help them fade into the background. You can create a more formal look by displaying items in a lighted curio cabinet. For collections of small items — like perfume bottles, tiny ceramics, seashells, or glassware — try using a decorative tray to bring everything together.
If you have some ideas for a collection but aren’t sure where to start shopping, consider working with an interior designer. People who already own an extensive collection can also benefit from working with a professional. A designer will enjoy finding the best way to showcase your prized
CLOCKWISE: Wallpapering the back of these bookshelves with a Schumacher star pattern helps highlight the collections – blue and white porcelains, surrounded by accessories that match them in color, including books with blue spines. Sepia animal prints decorate the walls of this upstairs den. Chinese porcelain birds add a three-dimensional element to this display
of Rose Medallion porcelains. (PHOTOS: MICHAEL
HUNTER. DESIGNS: MARGARET CHAMBERS)
collection, and by having it on display, you can ensure that the space is truly a reflection of you and your taste.
Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Find more design advice at chambersinteriors.com/blog.
3616 Lovers Lane
(PHOTOS: COURTESY COMPASS)
Find this exclusive enclave known within the community as the “Culture Gulch” at the headwaters of the west branch of Turtle Creek. Richard Drummond Davis custom designed this tranquil retreat nestled discreetly within the big city. The zero-lot design is low maintenance with high-quality construction. The living areas and primary suite are on one level. Two expansive terraces cantilever over the water and provide multiple spots to enjoy nature. The floor plan affords excellent flow for entertaining. The primary suite features two separate marble baths and walk-in closets. The second nearby bedroom could serve as a game room or exercise room. The paneled library-study is handsome and enhanced by a fireplace. Across the street, enjoy Curtis Park, the University Park pool, tennis courts, and space to play with kids and dogs.
MARKET NUMBERS: PRESTON HOLLOW
Month Closed Median Price per Sold to Active Days on Months’ sales price sq. foot list price listings market supply Dec. 2020 87 $1,176,800 $324 95% 192 104 3.0 March 2021 90 $1,040,000 $331 96% 106 77 1.6 June 2021 82 $1,197,500 $359 98% 116 43 1.5 Sept. 2021 64 $1,170,000 $338 97% 104 31 1.4 Dec. 2021 70 $1,095,000 $370 97% 46 41 0.7
MARKET NUMBERS: PARK CITIES
Month Closed Median Price per Sold to Active Days on Months’ sales price sq. foot list price listings market supply Dec. 2020 83 $1,480,000 $459 96% 153 68 2.2 March 2021 89 $1,587,500 $445 98% 93 58 1.3 June 2021 83 $1,560,000 $486 99% 94 35 1.2 Sept. 2021 59 $1,434,000 $536 98% 89 27 1.2 Dec. 2021 53 $1,964,500 $551 95% 50 27 0.7 Multiple renderings envision a park where the Preston Center garage is now. (RENDERING:
COURTESY CITY OF DALLAS)
Letter to the Editor
Envisioning Preston Center
People Newspapers covered the Preston Center garage saga for months, and months have passed without progress toward a three-level garage for 1,200 cars below grade with a community park at grade level.
I’m disappointed the city of Dallas hasn’t issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to attract developers, architects, engineers, and general contractors.
Blame it on the pandemic if you must, but the city should be leading in “building for a better future.”
I “envision Preston Center” in a dream world where it has become a destination for shopping and dining:
The two-way traffic around the square welcomes strangers, as does the east garage entrance off Kate Street. I don’t know of a more unique entrance to a garage than this one with ramps in a light well and a glass weather shelter that allows daylight to the lower level. LED lighting duplicates that surprise at night. The technology at the garage entrance identifies where open parking is available and specific locations for accessible parking and for charging our cars.
maintenance personnel keeping the garage and park “Disney World clean,” will prompt you to plan a return visit.
The high rise is 90% leased/60% occupied and the restaurants and shops on the park are open and busy. Where else in Dallas do you find a pedestrian street a block long that attracts dining and shopping choice in a park environment? Where else in Dallas do you see shopping carts beside someone having lunch in a park environment with “man’s best friend” comfortable at their feet? Where else in Dallas is there this much shade when you shop? Where else is there a performance venue “on the green” where you shop? The Preston Center experience is unique.
I know the wait was long (time is money) but the rainbow is that all of Dallas will benefit because Preston Center has become a destination. The attractions will put money in the bank for the city, the property owners, and the businesses; and “building for a better future” will influence development in all directions.
The city, which owns the garage block, and the Preston Center property owners must work together to support redevelopment. As friends of Preston Center, you, the reader, can cause that to happen by sharing your vision with People Newspapers.
Howard C. Parker, FAIA.E, Dallas
DREAMING BIG?
