Water-Wise Gardening

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from readers who enjoyed last week’s real estate story on water-wise gardening. Different versions of the story ran in some of our other papers, including our East Dallas editions, Lake Highlands People and Lakewood People. At least one reader was less than impressed: (more…)

Vacation Clubs

I’m working on a story about vacation clubs for an upcoming edition of the print product. If you’re unfamiliar, vacation clubs are groups where, for a fee, you can have access to a wide range of private residences at exotic locations around the world.

There are many types of these groups that provide different amenities. If you, or used to, belong to one of these groups and are interested in sharing your experience with me, shoot me an e-mail at austin.kilgore@peoplenewspapers.com

The PC Must Not be “Small Cities”

CNNMoney.com came out with a list of “best small cities.” Included on this list is McKinney (14), Carrollton (15), Richardson (18), Allen (20), Euless (34), Frisco (38), Denton (57), Garland (67), Lewisville (69), and Grand Prairie (96).

Does CNNMoney.com have any credibility left?

Somebody’s Not Worried About High Gas Prices

So, word on the street is that the nearly two-acre site on St. Johns Drive that’s been listed for $15 million for more than a year finally sold. (more…)

New York Times Opines on Teardowns

The Park Cities’ proficiency at tearing down houses got a shout-out in yesterday’s New York Times editorial.

Don’t Let the Park Cities Become Frisco

Our award-winning editorial board just this week received a response to a recent editorial. Unfortunately, because the writer did not provide a name, it can’t be printed in our newspaper. So I provide it here:

Thank you for your May 23rd article on “Tearing Down Our History.”

We all know change is inevitable and that some is beneficial and some is detrimental. It would seem that it would behoover us to carefully examine change initiatives and if we determine that we are note resisting change because we are just reactionary, we should try to deter detrimental change. (more…)

Buyers Coming to the Park Cities?

This just in from the Dallas Morning News.  Maybe the hockey player will find a buyer for his house.

Hard Times for Hockey Players?

A certain Dallas Stars’ player whose home has been on the market off and on for several years, recently reduced the asking price on his home by $26,000. Any Overheardians interested?   We’d be neighbors!

D Mag Throws Real Estate Agent Shindig and I Hear a New Theory on the Bush’s New Home

My D Magazine brethren were gracious enough to invite me to last night’s Best Real Estate Agents of 2008 party to celebrate this year’s list of the best agents in town, (more…)

SMU, You May Want to Call Your Lawyers

Staff writer Josh Hixson shared this shot of Mustang Realty Group’s new signs. Note the pony logo on the left side. Is this infringement on SMU’s trademark? They’re the new agents selling the house of John Harris. You know, this guy.

<Putting on publisher’s hat> And Mustang Realty, you’re welcome to advertise your fine company in the pages of People Newspapers anytime. You might just want to rethink that logo.

UPDATE: Erroneous information in an earlier draft of this blog was corrected.

I’ve Finally Made It

My career as a real estate reporter/editor is at it’s peak. I heard Ebby Halliday play the ukulele last night. (more…)

New Listing?

This property at the north east corner of Hillcrest and Lovers still says new listing. I understand it’s been on the market, this time, for 74 days. But I hear Doris Jacobs, the current agent, also had it listed for 119 days from Oct. 2007 to Feb. 2008 and put it back on the market in April.

New listing? Let’s switch the sign up a bit, maybe something like great schools or near a park. Just a thought…

And Now It’s Time for Your Thursday Real Estate Tease

I know Overheadians worldwide can’t wait to read the Real Estate section in tomorrow’s editions of Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People, and online at www.peoplenewspapers.com so I’ll give you a little tease for what you can expect.

Later this year, both of the Park Cities will require residential sprinkler systems in all new homes. But how do these systems work? Are they effective? How much do they cost? How are builders reacting to the change?

The answers to all of this and more in tomorrow’s Real Estate section, available only in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People.

Fence Staining More Popular Than I Thought

Since the release of the story I wrote about fence revitalizing company Stain That Fence, I’ve received five emails from readers wanting contact info for the Rob Shepherd and Tim Nichols. For those of you who haven’t emailed me, but want the same information, the company’s site is www.stainthatfence.com and they can be reached via e-mail at info@stainthatfence.com. You can call them at 214-303-9939.

What Did You Say About Bubba’s?

Rumors are flying but can it be true? I heard Bubba’s lost their lease. I say false. Anyone have a scoop on this possible tragedy?

Solar Power

In the comments to the post about the soon-to-be-opened Zea Woodfire Grill, there seems to be a lot of interest in solar panels.  I’m wondering if anyone knows of homes in the PC with solar panels and also where one would get them installed on and hooked into the power supply of a pre-existing house here.

Progress?

So, in place of the late strip club “The Fare,” we will now have … another bank, in this case Washington Mutual. Supply your own punchline.

Another Big Hole in the Ground

Anyone know why that huge, newly renovated French country-looking house on the north west corner of Armstrong and Rheims was torn down last week? Two or three years ago, former racecar driver Bill Tichenor finished a spectauclar reno and now? It’s gone.

PH Pit Bull Owners Sue Ebby Halliday, Victim

In an exclusive story you’ll only find on peoplenewspapers.com, [at least until Channel 5 swipes it] NEW Ace Preston Hollow Reporter Josh Hixson and myself report that John and Cathy Harris, owners of the two pit bulls that attacked two pedestrians over the course of five weeks in Preston Hollow, have filed a lawsuit against their real estate agency, Ebby Halliday, Realtors, Ebby Halliday Realtor Karen Smiley, and attack victim Debbie O’Connor.

The Harrises claim Halliday officials failed to secure their home after a showing, which led to their the two dogs escape and attack of a man walking his dog. The suit also says O’Connor exaggerated the extent of her injuries, and claims she and Smiley, who is not the Harrises’ agent, made defamatory statements about the couple.

Tackett’s Desperate Search

D Home’s Amanda Tackett is in search of super fab outdoor living spaces in her Richardson neighborhood. This is what she came up with. I like the giant head in the bushes. Anyone have some Parkie patio pix so we can show her the difference.

I would photograph mine but the yellow treehouse with cheetah spots isn’t the classy image I had in mind. We need something that screams elegance.

Watering Cement: Update

It’s kind of hard to make out the sprinklers in this photo because of the rain pouring down around them, but, trust me, they’re on. So, let’s be a bit more specific than I was in my original post. The house at the southwest corner of Hillcrest and Marquette has run the sprinklers over the sidewalk and street every single day since at least the beginning of March, when I first noticed.

And it’s for sale, listed by Virginia Cook agent, Jeanmarie Geis. So maybe the owners aren’t in there, I don’t know. Jeanmarie, can you do something about this?

The Bubble or Not?

I need some votes on this reader inquiry concering today’s Bulletin From the Bubble. I think this guy is “welcome” around here because we’re nice but he lives in a gray area and needs to stay low profile with his exact address. Or he could move to the real Park Cities?

Ms. Patterson, 

I read your article, and I have intuitively felt that way since my wife and I moved to HP.  But as I read your article you said…..” Anyone is accepted here as long as their zip code ends in 25 or 05 and their street name doesn’t start with “W,” the abbreviation for west, as in West Beverly or west of the toll road.  Well, my wife and I live at [address], 75209 which is in West Highland Park.  Do you mean that we are not considered part of HP and that we are not welcome here?  HP actually has several zip codes, that include, 75205, 75219, and 75209. I would appreciate your kind clarification.  In advance, thank you and, 

Respectfully submitted.

Park Cities Realtors Have Boys For That?

Just Overheard an area realtor discussing “the boy that takes care of the signs.” I thought that was something the realtors did themselves, no?

Is there really a “sign boy?”�

Sincere Apologies to the Good Folks of Deloache Avenue

The Preston Hollow half of our special Bush story contains a serious error. It pictures and identifes a home on Deloache Avenue as the former home of President George W. Bush and his family.

Trouble, the Bushes actually lived in a home on Northwood Road. The story has been corrected in the online version.

Where Should the Bushes Live?

The rumors abound about where President George W. Bush and his wife Laura will settle after they leave the White House next year. Laura said last month they’re headed back to Dallas, but where exactly?

People Newspapers undertook a special project to allow each of the neighborhoods we serve to make the case for why a former president might want to call their area home. You can read the debate between the Park Cities and Preston Hollow here.

Other neighborhoods making the case are Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Oak Cliff, and West Plano.