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5208 Corinthian Bay – Willow Bend Lakes
5769 Foard – Creekside at Stonebriar 1607
Unbelievable opportunity to stylize a fabulous floorplan that features custom millwork and moldings & huge rooms. Paradise back yard offers wrap around verandas, and waterfall pool & spa on approx. .63 acre greenbelt lot. 5 / 4.1 / 3 Car Garage / 4 Fireplaces / 2 Wet Bars / Gameroom / Study
Fabulous price on this custom Cambridge home! 3 Living Areas, gourmet kitchen with all the “I Wants”, extensive hardwood flooring downstairs, all bedrooms with bath access 3 / 2.1 / 2 Car / Gameroom
$899,000
$424,900
Byrn
–
Twin
Creeks
Panoramic golf course views from most rooms! Located on 11th Tee Box! European inspired design with elegant trim and finishout! Private study with built-ins. Oversized kitchen with all the ‘I Wants”! Master suite with cozy fireplace and breathtaking views! Gorgeous landscaping plus huge, extended patios and verandas offering golf course views! 4 / 4.1 / Study / Gameroom / Unfinished Bonus Room / 3 car
$899,500
$2,500,000
18167 Frankford Lakes – Frankford Lakes 4736 Druid Hills Drive - Heritage Green
606
One of the largest floorplans in Plano gated community. 3 balconies with lake and fountain views. Scraped hardwood floors, crown moldings, plantation shutters. Seller to leave washer & dryer & TV’s! 3 / 3 / 2 Car / Gameroom
Unobstructed views of Twin Creeks Golf Course fairways! Sparkling Pool, Spa and generous patio areas for entertaining. “Ready to Go” Media Room plus pool table size gameroom with balcony! Chef’s delight kitchen with gas cooktop and huge island! 4 / 3.3 / Study / Gameroom / Media / 2 Car Garage
$365,000
paulettegreene.com
Custom builder’s personal residence, the finish out is superb with handscraped hardwoods, designer lighting, custom cabinetry, & more! Treetop views from the sparkling pool, huge patios & balcony off gameroom. Butler’s pantry with wine refrigerator & ice maker. 5 / 4 / 3 Car
$575,000
Naples
–
Twin
Creeks
$650,000
THE
Paulette Greene
5405 Grasmere - Kingsborough
In Old Shepard Pl.
Former Builder personal residence with all the perks! 3 Living Areas including oversized gameroom! 3 Fireplaces! Saltwater pool & spa features outdoor shower! Radiant Barrier & Tankless water system ! Private cul-de-sac street! 4 / 4.2 / Study / Gameroom / 3 Car / Pool & Spa
972.733.5277 $750,000
8201 Stone River – Chapel Creek 4604 Tour 18 – Flower Mound Hard to find creek lot home with amazing room count and amenities! Casita plan offers private courtyard with fireplace; total hardwoods except for gameroom & media room; pool, spa, outdoor cooking center and still a large yard! 5 / 4.1 / 3 Car / Gameroom / Media /4 Fireplaces / Pool / Spa
$975,000
Fabulous drive up to this 2 acre homesite located on golf course! Paradise outdoor living includes multilevel waterfall pool with slide, spa, outdoor cabana with fireplace and grill! Master with his & her custom closet system! Treetop views of golf course from gameroom! 5 / 5.2 / 4 Car / Study / Gameroom / Media Room
$975,000
Doing the right thing, creates the right results. “One of the Best Realtors/ Power Brokers in Dallas” 2004 2005 2006 2007
5108 Longwood – Fairways of Gleneagles Southern charm in this updated Plano home on double cul-de-sac lot! Extensive hardwood floors; charming breakfast patio plus a large shady yard with gated drive, pool, spa and yard! Master with adjacent full study! 5 / 3 / 2 car / study / gameroom / pool / spa / dog run
1505 Foard – Creekside at Stonebriar
6401 Ladbrook Court - Kings Ridge
Former model home with impeccable finish out! Beamed and groin vaulted ceilings, iron details, bi-level media room, covered veranda & balcony with greenbelt view! 3 / 3.1 / 2 Car / Study / Gameroom / Media Room
Corner lot with a spacious floorplan that offers room to entertain! Gourmet kitchen has gas cooktop, Austin stone alcove, granite & huge pantry. Handscraped hardwoods, decorative lighting, plantation shutters, study, oversized gameroom, & media with huge wetbar. 5 / 4.1 / 3 Car
2008 2009 2010 2011 $570,000
$549,000
$483,400
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ON THE COVER
Picking the perfect pumpkin doesn’t have to be hard. Follow our simple tips to ensure success. See Page 11. COVER PHOTO COURTESY METROCREATIVEGRAPHICS . COM
CONTACT US KELSEY KRUZICH / STAFF PHOTOS
liz McGATHEY E DITOR 972-398-4206 lmcgathey@starlocalnews.com
cindy MOLINARI A RT D IRECTOR 972-398-4259 cmolinari@starlocalnews.com
kelsey KRUZICH PHOTOGRAPHER
972-398-4200 kkruzich@starlocalnews.com
leanne LIBBY A DVERTISING D IRECTOR 972-398-4203 llibby@starlocalnews.com
della HEMPHILL S ALES M ANAGER 972-398-4201 dhemphill@starlocalnews.com
MyCastle Frisco is published monthly by Star Community Newspapers, 624 Krona Dr Ste 170, Plano, TX 75074-8304. The entire contents of My Castle Frisco Copyright 2012 by Star Community Newspapers. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written permission of Star Community Newspapers. Additional copies are available for purchase by contacting customer service at 972-4249504.
4 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
japanese COMPOSTING
PLANO WOMAN PREACHES BENEFITS OF FEEDING YOUR GARDEN
Compost piles are nothing new. Thousands of North Texans routinely combine grass clippings and old vegetables, resulting in highly nutritious compost that adds to home gardens. What has always been excluded is table scraps such as chicken bones and dairy products. These types of
products are not typically compostable. That is, unless the homeowner is employing a relatively new compost procedure known as the “bokashi pot.” “The bokashi process was developed by a Japanese scientist not all that long ago,” said Jan Eppard, a Plano resident who regularly espouses the benefits of
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bokashi mixture will be near the bottom. If this seems like too much work, Eppard said there is an easy solution.
composting. “It is a way to ferment the food so it can subsequently be composted. The cool part is you can do every type of food. You can do meat, bones, cheese, dairy, oils and wine. That is very different that what you can do in your regular compost pile.” Composting items such as turkey carcasses and expired yogurt may seem complicated, but all it takes is two buckets, a package of special bran flakes and two weeks, said Tanis Roelofs, a Plano resident who attended a class taught by Eppard several years ago. “You drill holes in the bottom of one of the buckets and then place it inside the other bucket so there is about an inch gap between them,” Roelofs said. “You put the table scraps in the bucket, and then cover them with the bran flakes. You do this each time you put in food and when it is full, you seal it up and let it stay closed for two weeks.”
The bran flakes, which could double as a popular breakfast cereal, serve as a host for the microorganisms that do the hard work. Eppard said the combination of microorganisms, as well as molasses to provide nutrients, allows the food scraps to be turned into a compostable mix. Roelofs said she keeps her bokashi pot outside due to the smell, but Eppard said hers is kept in her kitchen without problems. Regardless of where the pot is kept, the key is to keep a tight lid on the pot and to encourage anaerobic bacteria to flourish, Eppard said. This is easily done by pressing a piece of newspaper down tightly on top of the food/bran mix, keeping as much oxygen away as possible. After two weeks of fermentation, the mix can be added to an existing compost pile to continue its transformation into a nutrient-rich soil additive. If added to an existing pile, the pile will need to be turned over so the
“You can store the mixture in your bio-digester until you are ready to use it,” she said. “All you need is a six-gallon metal trash can with lid and holes covering the bottom inch or so. You need to bury that in the ground about four inches so the holes are under the soil. You add the bokashi mixture to the pot and the earthworms and other organisms are able to feed off of that.” Adding soil and bran flakes to the mixture will encourage fermentation, Eppard said. Keeping a tight lid will keep out dogs and raccoons, while also allowing the microorganisms to do their best work. “The worms are getting their nice food, and therefore the area around the bucket is greatly enhanced. The vegetables you have planted around it grow by leaps and bounds,” Eppard said. “It is amazing how much nutrition that adds to the soil.” The bran flakes needed for a successful bokashi pot can be purchased from various Internet sites. However, for those gardeners who like to shop closer to home, Eppard produces her own bran flakes and sells them through her site www.jansbran.com. ■
billCONRAD, bconrad@starlocalnews.com MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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say what?
terms you should know when buying your first home Did you know that buying a home can require new vocabulary? As part of your home buying research, learning these real estate-related terms will make you an educated buyer and put you in a more powerful position to purchase your first home.
appraisal When you purchase a home, your lender will require a property appraisal. Lenders are not likely to loan you $300,000 for a home that is only worth $150,000. An appraisal assists the mortgage lender in assessing the actual value of the property and looks at the condition of the house, its location and comparable sales in the same area. As a buyer, you’re usually
NO INTEREST FINANCING IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 18 MONTHS OFFER EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period
responsible for covering the cost. The appraisal is done prior to closing on a property. Don’t confuse your appraisal at this stage with the annual appraisals that determine how much you will pay in property taxes. Those are done by the local appraisal district.
survey A survey is not the same as an appraisal. A survey verifies the home’s boundaries – where your land begins and ends. The surveyor determines whether the house is within the property borders, whether there are any neighbors encroaching upon the property, and if any easements on the property may affect legal title. Easements include sewer manholes, drainage ditches, and utility lines. Knowing where the easements are located will also help you if you are considering future home improvements. If you have plans to build a deck or any other addition, you should know how far it is from easements. There are stringent regulations that determine how far decks or even swimming pools can be from certain easements, or even the lot line. Surveys have grown in popularity because many title insurers require one before issuing a title insurance policy. The survey acts as a map, determining precisely the property limits of each neighbor’s home. The last thing that the insurance company wants is a land dispute.
title insurance 214.733.5711 • www.myACworks.com 1513 S. Tennessee St. Ste. 123 McKinney
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6 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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Title insurance is just as important as the many other types of insurance you probably have. If there are any problems associated with your property’s title, this insurance plan protects against loss. If you are purchasing an older home, the title
is likely to have changed hands quite a bit and the land that it sits on, perhaps even more. What do you think would happen if a stranger showed up at your door one day and demanded that you get off his land? You’d probably tell him to get lost, but he may really have a case. Maybe somewhere down the line a signature was forged or the seller failed to sign in the appropriate box. That could mean trouble for both you and the lender. Title insurance covers the injured party, which in this case would be the lender. The policy protects the lender up to the amount of the mortgage, but it doesn’t protect your equity in the property. To protect your equity, you would need a supplemental policy called an owner’s title policy, which covers the full value of the home. Here in Texas, it won’t do you any good to shop around for a competitive title insurance policy. The state of Texas sets the rates for title insurance.
Learn more from your Realtor These are just a few terms that you should know before diving into the home buying process. You’ll encounter a lot of real estate industry-specific language and abbreviations. But it doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Your Realtor can guide you along the way. Don’t be shy about asking questions, and learn as much as you can during the process. You will feel much more comfortable about buying that first home if you have a basic knowledge of the terminology and advice from an expert. For more tips on buying or selling property in North Texas, visit LoneStarHomes.com. ■
Collin County Association of Realtors
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Lynn Slaney Silguero Ebby Halliday Realtors lynnslaney@ebby.com 214-668-3079
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Michelle Campbell Keller Williams Realty michellecampbell@kw.com 972-365-0916
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CHRIS BEATTIE / STAFF PHOTOS
chalk
l e t ’ s
t a l k
Inviting arches, worn brick paths and a green utopia hint at a French romance a world away. Rustic chairs and iron décor bear semblance to a surprising cottage, etched into the fabric of Historic McKinney. 8 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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Karla Ritchey’s home beckons of creative secrets, but there’s only one: Chalk Paint. “You don’t have to sand, strip or prime anything,” said Ritchey, a teacher of 29 years who retired to become North Texas’ distributor of the England-born paint. “That’s the beauty of it.” Since she discovered inventor Annie Sloan’s product a few years ago, the beauty abounds. Used on walls, shutters, furniture, floors – anything, really – the water-based, quick-drying Chalk Paint decorative paint has “taken the United States by storm,” Ritchey said. The paint has also made its way to DFW because of her. About two years ago, nearly two decades after Sloan put Chalk Paint on the English market, Ritchey became one of the first 12 distributors, or stockists, in the U.S. There are now more than 200.
But first came the workshops, which Ritchey still teaches every month in McKinney. She attended Annie Sloan School, training for distributors, and her classes outside the classroom commenced. Her days as home economics Teacher of the Year in Garland and Van Alstyne are over, but the educating continues. “This was a way I could sell a wonderful home décor product and keep teaching,” she said. “It all just kind of went hand in hand.” Indeed, all in two months. She and husband Steve married March 25 of last year, then a month later started Lady Butterbug, a workshop-sales combo business featuring Sloan’s quick-finish paint and wax products. Workshop participants learn to apply it to
their home and garden elements, like urns, iron fencing and statues. Ritchey gives them a notebook of Chalk Paint possibilities. However, her home’s cottage-like surroundings prove noteworthy enough.
ANNIESLOAN.COM
“I wanted to bring the Chalk Paint into my garden so I could show customers that it’s for furniture, but can also be used outside,” she said. MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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The product’s wonder didn’t fall on deaf ears or dry brushes with Ritchey, who said she’s been refinishing furniture since she was 12. With Chalk Paint, projects that typically take five or six coats are done in one or two. It can be applied to interior and exterior surfaces and furnishings, even fabric, has very low VOC (volatile organic compound) content, and has little to no odor. It’s good for old and new appeal. “It’s very fast and very easy,” she said. “You just start slapping it on, and it gives you a very vintage look. It can really make it look like a 100-year-old piece of furniture when it’s not.”
try Home in Dallas. It’s soon to be at Plaid Peacock in Roanoke.
Overgrown trees, rocks and dirt awaited. She spent her days teaching and nights gardening, often “until I fell into my bed,” she said, and the landscape became a beautiful escape, one at which passers-by and garden magazines now marvel. Giant piles of porch stone turned to stepping paths, 1,600 buried bricks were uncovered, and Ritchey did most of it.
Ritchey is the DFW/North Texas stockist of Chalk Paint, one whose business title will soon be trademarked. Her daughter called her a butterfly who “flits around from project to project,” and her husband calls her “Bug,” hence Lady Butterbug.
“Once I get onto a project, I’m kind of a maniac,” she said.
And while buzz seems to surround her own home (featured in the February/March 2013 issue of Flea Market Garden Magazine), Ritchey keeps it on her favorite product. She has surrounded her backyard greenhouse with Chalk Paint-finished tables, chairs and a fireplace mantle. She recently used just a fourth of a cup of the paint to finish a rustic, European-style glider.
Her other constant project centers on Chalk Paint, which is sold at Frisco Mercantile, My Favorite Room in downtown McKinney and Uptown Coun-
“For maybe $150, you can totally redo your kitchen cabinets and have a completely different look,” she said of the paint. “It adheres to almost anything.”
ANNIESLOAN.COM
Ritchey’s garden – a habitat of colorful plants and walkways – looks like the work of so many years, but it took just five. She bought the adjacent house, built in 1952,
from the previous owners, the Houstons, a prominent McKinney family.
Other benefits of her outside Chalk Paint décor are birdbaths, shutters, a propeller and the front door. Driving by, one nearly feels out of place. Among flat grass yards and edged landscapes, there’s no hiding the Ritchey cottage. And its secret is out. “Usually the desired effect is kind of a shabby European look,” Ritchey said. “Depending on how you handle the paint and the wax, you can get almost any look you want.” For the shops’ addresses, store hours and Ritchey’s workshop schedule, visit ladybutterbug.com. ■ chrisBEATTIE, cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
10 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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picking
the perfect
n i k p m pu
Jenny Moots of Calloway’s Nursery in McKinney offers tips on finding and taking care of your natural fall décor.
pick it
Determine your need – think about size, shape and color. Each year, Calloway’s regularly stocks about 15 varieties that run the gamut from short and fat, tall and thin, red, pink, white, green and, of course, orange.
Make sure it’s firm, but carve-able. If it’s too soft, it won’t last long. Gourds can last a month or more if they haven’t been carved. Moots said once a pumpkin has been carved, its lifespan can last as long as three to four days. there are tons of d e c o r a t e i t stencils available – If you’re carving,
from scary patterns to movie characters. Freehand carvings are naturally another choice in the classic jack-o-lantern style. To stay clear of real candles, pick up a battery-operated flickering light, available at
most retail stores. They are the safest option, and you can leave them “burning” all night. The surfaces of many varieties are also conducive to painting. Inexpensive poster paints work fine, just make sure the surface is free of dirt. Painting a pumpkin design will give your gourd a lot more mileage and gives more room for error; if you make a mistake, just wipe it off and start over. If the jack-o-lantern isn’t your style, you can dress your pumpkin up like a centerpiece that can be used indoors or out. Moots said
Calloway’s is offering decorating seminars on Saturdays. The seminars show how to use ribbon and sprays to add to the natural beauty of the pumpkin. The cost is $24.99 and covers all materials.
i t to cut the top t a k e c a r e o f offisaround the Another option
stem and gut the pumpkin like you would if you were carving. Fill it with fresh or silk flowers and turn your pumpkin into a seasonal planter.
Moots said in order to get a long life from your pumpkin, treat it gently. Don’t carry it by the stem and try to avoid scratching and bruising the surface. Keeping it dry will also avoid premature rot. lizMCGATHEY, lmcgathey@ starlocalnews.com
■
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA KIMBRELL
PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA KIMBRELL
THE PERFECT
AUTUMN
getaway Big Orange Pumpkin Farm
There are rumors that the Great Pumpkin spends a lot of time at the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina. Though the rumors have never been confirmed, it looks like the kind of place where an itinerant squash would feel right at home. The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm has just started its 16th season as an active farm open to the public through Nov. 6. The farm is owned by Rick Kimbrell. He, his wife Melissa, and their blended family of six children live and work on the farm. Kimbrell started the farm because he always felt that it would be a great way to give children a hands-on experience with farm-related activities. “This is very much a family business,” Kimbrell said. “You don't have to worry about your children out here. It's a real working farm. We want to keep it a farm. A lot of kids have never seen pumpkins on the vine or played in a hay maze.”
and a hayride. Two hayrides happen every 16 minutes. The hayride takes passengers all over grounds and lasts about 20 minutes. Children can also go on a ride in a small motorized train. Children and adults enjoy feeding the goats and sheep there on the farm. There is also a number of friendly dogs and cats on the place. There are also a few longhorn steer. Melissa manages the business and oversees the many events that take place there. She said there are about four weddings a month at the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm all year long. The place is also the scene of many school dances, club banquets, corporate events and birthday and anniversary celebrations. The pumpkin proprietress said she loves seeing families and school classes visit.
The hay maze is formed by bales of hay and is designed for romping. The $8 admission cost includes a small pumpkin, feed for the animals
12 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
PENNY RATHBUN / STAFF PHOTO
PENNY RATHBUN / STAFF PHOTO
Melissa said children have a great time running through the hay maze, climbing among the pumpkins, feeding and petting the animals. “Visiting the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is cheaper than the movies and more entertaining,” she said. Children under 2 are admitted free. Groups of 20 or more can visit the farm for $7 per person if they book in advance. Concessions are available for visitors that do not have time to pack a picnic lunch. The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is located at 5518 C.R. 126 in Celina. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon until 6 p.m. For directions and information call 972-381-4995, 214-326-2706 or visit bigorangepumpkinfarm.com. ■ pennyRATHBUN, prathbun@starlocalnews.com
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KELSEY KRUZICH / STAFF PHOTOS
goretro Comb your castle for an original costume Who remembers the days when parents made their children’s Halloween costumes? These days, dressing up for Halloween can be as simple as pulling a pre-packaged character off the shelf and hoping it fits right. However, that’s not the childhood tradition McKinney resident Sherry Fletcher said she remembers. “Our mother was our mentor; she made our costumes and we were something different every year,” she said. “I remember when we were kids, our parents always made our costumes for us and I thought how fun that would be to do the same thing. I’d rather put something together myself and use my own creativity.” Fletcher has been a costume fashionista and vintage recycler for 20 years and has the style and collection all her own to prove it. Tucked away in an upstairs booth at the Antique Co. Mall on the square in McKinney is a treasure trove of all things retro. It is just one of the many places one can find lightly used, authentic garb and accessories from yesteryear. “It’s the thrill of the hunt – it’s my adventure,” Fletcher said. Dubbed the Pink Flamingo, Fletcher’s racks are adorned with the perfect pieces to mold and accentuate virtually the most creative costume for those who dread fighting the mob at specialty stores the weekend before Halloween. Western wear, petticoats, saddle ox-
fords, silk robes, roller skates, canteens, eyeglasses, boas and berets, the Pink Flamingo is a classic example of how creating a Halloween costume can be as fun as wearing it.
A manufacturing sales rep by day, Fletcher travels to thrift stores, estate sales and antique malls throughout the U.S. in search of vintage apparel. Having a weakness for clas-
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sic costume jewelry that stems from the trinkets passed on from her mother and grandmother through the years, Fletcher said each item she brings back must be special in its own right. Whether it’s a stethoscope bought in Amarillo or a find from one of her favorite shops in Memphis called Flashback (“to me that says it all,” she mused), one thing she said the Pink Flamingo is not a garage sale. “That’s the fun of it, instead of coming out of a paper sack or a box and there’s six other people just like you there [you have something original]. It’s not real,” Fletcher said. “I think that’s what makes the difference and the hunt so much fun.”
14 MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
If you start early, Fletcher said, you can take more time envisioning what you want your costume to be. The key is to take your time, shop around and take advantage of the variety of area thrift stores and vintage shops. The extra effort will leave partygoers and trick-ortreaters with a look they will appreciate more because it’s all their own, she said. “You might even change the direction of your thought and go into something else because you’ve seen more pieces to go with that costume,” Fletcher said. “I think that’s more fun instead of going out and buying something brand new.” While specialty stores may provide convenience, they lack in quality and affordability, Fletcher said. Homemade costumes are also favored among many Halloween enthusiasts for their versatility since many accessories and clothing can, depending on the character, be reused in everyday dress
or for other party functions. However, don’t think a unique costume has to be pulled together – even vintage can come in a box. Last week, Fletcher sold a Mr. Potato Head costume to some lucky trick-or-treater, who will be sure to stand out on Oct 31. “It must have been from the 50s, it was so cute,” Fletcher said. ■ kelleyCHAMBERS, kchambers@starlocalnews.com
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sales stats ■
75033
■
75034
■
75035
$323,012
$374,531 $250,173
334215 312
73
44
SALES PRICE
SALES CLOSINGS
51 DAYS ON MARKET
ON AVERAGE
NUMBER OF SALES
ON AVERAGE
Information courtesy of Collin County Association of Realtors, June 1, 2012 - August 31, 2012
CHRISTINA KLEMENT Christina@sellingdallashomes.net
214-923-5920 www.sellingdallashomes.net
THE KLEMENT NETWORK Opening One Door At A Time Visit my web site for a FREE Market Snapshot in your area! Remember, working as a Buyers Agent is FREE!
Ask Me About A 2 Year FREE Extended Home Warranty! We work with the hearing impaired.
For your mortgage and financing, call me today... NMLS # 299853 # 300295 Robert Gerwer - President • 972-265-0089 6833 Coit Rd. Ste. 103 • Plano, TX rob@bluestarlending.net • www.bluestarlending.net MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2012
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