Move-in Ready 2400 Sq Ft, 4 Bedroom Home in a Desirable Pantego Neighborhood

You don't want to miss this Move-in Ready 2400 Sq Ft, 4 Bedroom Home in a Desirable Pantego Neighborhood. Situated on a corner lot this lovely home has a side entry 3 car garage and parking for a RV or boat. The master bedroom has a separate sunny sitting area. There is a large kitchen with an island that has a breakfast area connecting to a sun room. There are 2 bay windows one in a living area and the other graces the formal dining room. This Pantego property is close to shopping, good schools and easy access to freeways. The interior of the home has been completely repainted with tasteful colors. For more information on this great home follow this link.

To schedule a showing please contact the Sullivan & Sullivan Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty

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Beautiful Home and Best deal in Robson Ranch

One of the nicest Active 55 Communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is Robson Ranch in Denton.  If you are looking for a  Beautiful Home and Best deal in Robson Ranch, look no further.  This home is 1818 sq. ft. with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a study.  The home has designer colors, crown molding, extended covered patio and a spacious master bedroom.
For more information 9504 Ravenwood Drive in Robson Ranch click on this link.
Watch this video of the property

Robson Ranch Home for Sale 9504 Ravenwood Dr. Denton, TX

If you have any questions about downsizing, buying and selling homes please contact the Sullivan & Sullivan team, we are happy to answer your questions.

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Safety Tips for Tornados and Severe Weather

It’s that time of year in the Dallas Fort Worth and North Texas area when Severe Weather disrupts our lives. Here are some Safety Tips for Tornados and Severe Weather. More tornadoes occur in the United States than any other country in the world, and more tornadoes occur in Texas than any other state.

Tornados

• When you faced with a tornado warning Below-ground shelters, and reinforced "safe rooms" provide the best protection against tornadic winds.
• Basements are rare in North Texas but if you happen to have a basement, seek shelter in the Northeast corner of a basement.
• If a basement is not available, go to the smallest, most-interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom. Cover yourself to protect your body from flying debris.
• In schools, hospitals, factories or shopping centers, go to the smallest, most-interior rooms and hallways on the lowest floor. Stay away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head. Sometimes in restaurants or grocery stores people seek refuge in walk-in cooler.
• In high rise buildings, go to the smallest, most-interior rooms or hallways. Stay away from exterior walls and windows. In some buildings like a banks people commonly seek shelter in vaults.
• In cars or mobile homes, abandon them immediately!! Cars and mobile homes provide no protection from tornadic winds. If you are in either of those locations, leave them and go to a substantial structure or designated tornado shelter. Do not attempt to seek shelter beneath an overpass or bridge.  They provide little or no shelter and have proved to be deadly options.
• If caught in the open, lie flat in a culvert, ditch or depression and cover your head.

Lightning

Lightning is a threat anywhere thunderstorms occur.  If you hear thunder, it is time to take shelter. 

• When inside:
  - Avoid using the telephone, or other electrical appliances.
  - Do not take a bath or shower, or stand near plumbing.
• If caught outdoors:
  - Seek shelter in a sturdy building.  A hard-top automobile can also offer protection.
  - If you are boating or swimming, get out of the water and move to a safe shelter on land.
  - If you are in a wooded area, seek shelter under a thick growth of relatively small trees.
  - If you feel your hair standing on end, squat with your head between your knees. Do not lie flat!
  - Avoid isolated trees or other tall objects, water, fences, convertible cars, tractors and motorcycles.

Flash Floods
Flash Floods develop quickly.  They can occur anywhere, along rivers or creeks, in low water crossings or in a dry stream bed. They can occur during any month and at any time during the day. In fact, flash floods often occur at night when it is difficult to find an escape route.  Flash floods can be deceptive. Flood waters are likely deeper and moving faster than you think.

• When driving:
  - Avoid low water crossings.
  - Use alternate routes to avoid flood prone areas.
  - Leave your vehicle immediately if it stalls in flood waters.
  - Move to higher ground if you can do so safely.
  - Most cars and light trucks will begin to float in as little as 12 inches of water.
  - Act quickly, rising waters make vehicle doors difficult to open.
• If you are outside:
  - Everyone, especially children, should stay away from flooded creeks, streams or drainage ditches.
  - Swiftly flowing water can quickly sweep away even the strongest swimmers.
  - Soggy banks can collapse, dumping you into flood waters.

Hail

• In a car: Stop driving. If you can see a safe place close-by to drive to (like inside a garage or under a service station awning), do so as soon as you can. Make sure you pull completely off the highway. Do not stop under bridges or overpasses!
• Do NOT leave the vehicle until it stops hailing. Your car will furnish reasonable protection. Stay away from car windows. Cover your eyes with something (Carry a blanket in your car or use a piece of clothing). If possible, get onto the floor face down, or lay down on the seat with your back to the windows. Put very small children under you, and cover their eyes.
• In a building: seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building. Stay inside until the hail stops. Stay away from skylights and windows, especially windows that are being struck by hail.
• If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter immediately. If you can’t find something to protect your entire body, at least find something to protect your head. Stay out of culverts and lowland areas that might fill suddenly with water. Trees are a last resort. It is common during severe storms for trees to lose branches. Also, large isolated trees attract lightning.

After a severe weather event if you are faced with roof or other damage that needs to be repaired and need a recommendation for a good roofing company or construction contractor who can help you with home repairs, contact the Sullivan & Sullivan team, Your Real Estate Professionals.

Technorati Tags: Severe Weather,North Texas,Safety Tips,Dallas Fort Worth,Tornados,Lightning,Hail,Flood

The Wimbledon Neighborhood in Arlington, TX

The Wimbledon neighborhood in Arlington, TX  is a 2-square-mile area just south of I-20. Some of the residents still live in the first houses built, since they were built in the late 1970s and early ’80s. There are residents who grew up in Wimbledon, left then came back with their own children. Newcomers are attracted to the upscale houses with large yards and mature trees and landscaping.  The tennis-theme neighborhood name and street names pay homage to a popular racket club that anchored the neighborhood which burned in 1991 and was not replaced.

The homeowners association covers 177 lots in the original neighborhood, bounded by Bowen Road on the west, Bardin Road on the north, Old Mansfield Road on the east and Wimbledon Drive on the south. Home prices range from $220,000 to $600,000. The Wimbledon neighborhood is serviced by both the Arlington and Mansfield school districts.

Newer developments within Wimbledon have grown around the original neighborhood include: Wimbledon on the Creek, The Estates Above Wimbledon, Deerwood Park, Ouro Verde, and Buckingham Estates.

The Wimbledon Garden Club was formed in 1980 and is the principal organization of the neighborhoods. The Garden club has been beautifying the neighborhood since its inception doing chores like planting flowers and trees, pulling weeds, and spreading mulch. Click here for more information on the Wimbledon Garden Club found on the City of Arlington website.

The Garden Club was instrumental in getting the neighborhood’s main feature, the 
1,592-acre Wimbledon Park, built in 1985 at 2300 Wimbledon Drive. A major highlight of Wimbledon Park, on Wimbledon Drive is a fitness course that includes three fitness areas. There is a 1.1 mile trail with numerous curves and hills, great for runners and walkers.

Wimbledon is conveniently located close to shopping at the Parks Mall, Arlington Highlands and The Village at Sports Center shopping plaza which is located right at the corner of South Cooper and Wimbledon Drive. The neighborhood offers easy access to I-20 for commuting around the metro area.

Click here to see homes for sale in the Wimbledon neighborhood.

Technorati Tags: Wimbledon,Arlington Texas,Wimbledon neighborhoods,Homes for Sale in Wimbledon,Deerwood Park,Wimbledon on the Creek,Buckingham Estates,The Estates Above Wimbledon,Wimbledon Park

Town Village is the Premier Independent Living Community in Arlington, TX

 If you are looking for an Independent Living Community in Arlington, you’ll like what you see at Town Village. Brookdale’s Town Village is the Premier Independent Living Community in Arlington, TX. Town Village Arlington is an exceptional Independent Living Community option for seniors.

As you enter the community you are greeted by gorgeous landscaping and a cozy wrap-around covered porch with seating areas. Once you enter the front doors you will enjoy the tastefully decorated living and meeting areas.

Town Village offers 215 apartments with full kitchens. There are studio, one bedroom, and two bedrooms apartments with several different floor plans to accommodate resident’s needs.

Residents dine in the beautiful dining room and can choose from a number of delicious meal choices at each meal. The healthy meals are prepared by trained chefs and served by an attentive wait staff. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday, on Sundays and Holidays there is a wonderful brunch and various breakfast choices are served daily.

Some of the areas enjoyed by residents are the library, billiard room, fitness facilities, and an arts and craft room. There are a number of public living areas where residents enjoy other activities like dominos, card games, puzzles, and visiting. Services that set Town Village apart from other Senior Communities are the very accommodating transportation services with 4 vehicles and 5 drivers, Call Pendants with GPS tracking, Exercise and Wellness programs, and Housekeeping, all of which are included in the monthly rent. Additional services offered by Town Village Arlington include: On-site therapy, Beauty Salon, Pet Walking, Laundry, and Medication Reminders.

Residents at Town Village range in age from 62 to 100 years old. There are a few residents who have lived at Town Village since it was built about 13 years ago. The friendliness of the residents and staff is what residents say they love about living at Town Village. Favorite activities of the residents include: Bingo, Visits to local museums, Outings to the Symphony and Plays, and monthly trips to the Casino. Click here to see the monthly calendar of activities at Town Village Arlington. Watch this video to see what residents and families have to say about Town Village.

Stop by Town Village at 1250 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, TX or contact them at 817-226-0500

 

Technorati Tags: Town Village,Arlington TX,Senior Living,Independent Senior Living Community

Texas Leads Nation in Senior Housing Boom

With construction reemerging in the senior housing sector, one area that experiencing a higher rate of development is Texas. Senior living construction activity may have been down in the third quarter of 2012 on a national level, according to the National Investment Center (NIC) for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry, but Texas appears to be bucking that trend with a “growth explosion.”

The state’s demographics with highly populated metros including Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, have led operators, including new entrants, to seek opportunities within the Lone Star State. A lot is due to population growth. Dallas and Houston are growing exponentially with jobs in Texas and the state being overall more business-friendly. We’re seeing transplants from Michigan and California.”

More than one in ten Lone Star State inhabitants is 65 or older, accounting for 10.5% of the population. While that’s beneath national average of 13.3%, developers say they’re seeing an influx of boomers thanks to some of the state’s retirement-friendly attributes.“Texas really has become a hotbed for snowbirders. People like to retire in Texas, because there’s no state income tax and the winters are mild,” says Michael Bellotto, vice president of sales for Harden Healthcare’s Long-Term Care Division. “We’re seeing an explosion of growth in certain areas.”

“This month, Avanti Senior Living, a company led by executives bringing hospitality and senior living experience, launched in the high-end suburban market outside of Dallas with plans for a dozen new communities in the coming two to three years.

Consumer demand for memory care remains high. The LaSalle Group, headquartered in Irving, Tex., is developing multiple memory care communities under its Autumn Leaves brand, including its eighth in the West Houston metro area.

Meridian Realty Advisors, a Dallas, Tex.-based company, is currently developing two memory care communities in partnership with Silverado Senior Living in Austin and Fort Worth, and is planning the development of a care continuum campus including memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing care in northwest Austin.

 

Technorati Tags: Texas,Senior Housing

Viridian Lake Club Is Coming

The ground breaking of Viridian Lake Club will take place this month. There will be two phases in the construction of the Lake Club which will be located on the north shore of Viridian Lake. Phase one will include 3 pools, a party pavilion in which the HOA offices will also be housed, locker rooms and shaded structures along with an amphitheater that will overlook the Lake. Completion of the first phase is scheduled for May 2014. Viridian is a 2,300 acre lakefront mixed use master planned community in Arlington, TX.  Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the community is minutes from Arlington’s entertainment district and 30 minutes from Dallas and Fort Worth with easy access to Interstate 30, Highway 360, Interstate 183 Interstate 121 and Highway 161.  There are miles of trails and nature to explore connecting to the River Legacy Park and Living Science Center. The 3,500 homes will be starting at $180,000, with homes on the island priced over $2,000,000.   For more information on the Viridian Community in Arlington, TX click here.

Click here to look for a home in Viridian.

Technorati Tags: Viridian,Lake Club,Homes for Sale,Arlington

Ingrid Sullivan Recognized for Expertise in Senior Housing And Late-in-Life Transitions

Prestigious Real Estate and Senior Housing Certification Reflects Knowledge of Distinct Market and Passionate Commitment to Service

Having recently completed a rigorous two-day curriculum, Ingrid Sullivan real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty has achieved the prestigious Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP) designation from the Seniors Real Estate Institute.

Awarded only to a select number of real estate professionals in any market, the CSHP designation equips senior housing professionals to serve the distinct needs of seniors and their families with an unsurpassed level of compassion, expertise and connectedness.

Demographic shifts and improvements in life expectancy have given rise to senior housing options that far exceed those of previous decades. CSHPs are not only in touch with the full range of options within their communities, they have the specific skills needed to help seniors to get where they want to go – unraveling the complexities involved in downsizing and selling a family home.

“Despite the fact that seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population, this segment of the market remains largely underserved,” noted Nikki Buckelew, Founder and President of the Seniors Real Estate Institute.

Buckelew, who has a graduate degree in gerontology, pointed to the fact that 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 60 every day for the next 18 years. At the other end of the senior spectrum, the 90-plus segment of the population nearly tripled over the past three decades, and is expected to quadruple over the next 40 years.

“Professionals such as Ingrid, have a clear vision of how the real estate market is evolving,” Buckelew added. “As such, she has sought out the training, the resources, and the access to trusted experts within the Dallas-Fort Worth metro market, in order to serve senior clients and their families at a high level.

“This expertise, combined with a passion to ensure the dignity of elderly clients, is not just a benefit to seniors and their families,” Buckelew emphasized. “It’s a profound asset to the entire community.”

For more information on the Seniors Real Estate Institute or the Certified Senior Housing Professional Designation, visit http://seniorsrealestateinstitute.com/

To find out more about Senior Downsizing Services provided by Ingrid Sullivan visit her website here.

Technorati Tags: Senior,Downsizing,Certified Senior Housing Professional,Arlington TX

November is Senior Pet Adoption at Arlington Animal Shelter

November is Senior Pet Adoption Month at the Arlington Animal Services 1000 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd.  All senior pets 6 years or older may be adopted for a $25 fee through Saturday, November 30th.  The adoption fee includes a city license, sterilization, microchip, core vaccines, rabies vaccine and FeLB/FIV test. Time is running out so, go find your perfect pet!
  For more information visit www.Arlingtontx.gov/animals

Technorati Tags: Senior,Pets,Animal Shelter,Adoption,Arlington TX

Holidays Can Be a Depressing Time for Seniors

Holidays are supposed to be times of joy, celebration and most importantly family.  But for many of our elderly, holidays can mean something totally different.

The holidays may serve as reminders of friends who may have passed away, their distance away from loved ones, lack of visitation (if they are in an assisted living facility) and the inability to take part in many holiday events.

Signs of depression in your elderly loved one can be difficult to identify and are often times overlooked when they overlap with other medical illnesses or health problems.

Some of the most common symptoms of elderly depression during the holidays may include:

•   Decreased Appetite
• Change in sleeping patterns or lack of sleep
• Lack of Personal Care or Hygiene
• Irresponsible Behavior
• Decreased interest in socializing
• Increased Irritability

Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays:

Stroll down memory lane. Holidays provoke memories, which can be especially powerful in the later years of life.

Plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of time they are included.

Eliminate obstacles. If a holiday get-together is held in the home of an older person with memory impairment or behavioral problems, don’t rearrange the furniture.

Avoid embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family member who may be experiencing short-term memory problems.

Create new memories. In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Add something new to the holiday celebration, or volunteer for your family to help others.

Be inclusive. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members.

Reach out. Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times. Reaching out to older relatives and friends who are alone is something all of us should do.

Beat the blues. “Holiday blues” are feelings of profound sadness that can be provoked by all the activities of the holiday season.

Keep on the sunny side. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression is an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter.

Monitor medications and alcohol. If you have senior family members, be sure to help them adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays.

Technorati Tags: Seniors,Depression,Holidays,Elderly,Senior Citizen

Arlington Music Hall–A Historic Arlington TX Landmark

Arlington Music Hall is a classy historic theatre that provides an excellent entertainment venue. The 1,100 seat auditorium includes state-of-the-art sound and lighting, an expanded stage and a classic new decor. I love that the original marquee has been beautifully restored. I remember as a child going to movies at the theatre. I don’t want to date myself, but I remember my parents would drop me off with a dollar and that was more than enough to get into a movie and have snacks.

Arlington Music Hall was built in 1949 and opened in February of 1950. The theatre was considered state of the art at the time and featured a stage for bands. The opening show was the movie “Seabiscuit staring Shirley Temple and Barry Fitzgerald. Opening night live music was provided by a local band known as The Light Crust Doughboys

George Jones, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Rick Springfield, Sara Evans, Clint Black and Merle Haggard are artist who have played on the Arlington Music Hall’s stage.  Country star

Technorati Tags: Arlington TX,Arlington Music Hall,Johnnie High,Downtown Arlington TX

Leann Rimes got her start as a child performing in the then-popular Johnny High Revue.

Developer Burk Collins who purchased the property in 2006 provided the Music Hall a major upgrade through a $7 million renovation. Upgrades to “the Hall” included doubling the stage size and increasing seating capacity. In addition to national acts, Arlington Music Hall supports and hosts local community events like Symphony Arlington.   Click here to see a calendar of events for the music hall.

Scams That Target Senior Citizens

 

In our business, we are blessed to work with Seniors and helping them in downsizing their living situation. We have seen first-hand how unscrupulous contractors try to take advantage of our Elder clients. On more than one occasion, our clients have called contractors who they’ve trusted in the past, to come in for home repairs and were taken advantage of with outrageous quotes for the repairs. Fortunately, we were working with our clients and encouraged them to get second opinions from trusted contractors who we recommended. In one case, our client was given an estimate of over $20,000 to take care of a bathroom leak repair. Our recommended contractor ended up being able to fix the problem for just a few hundred dollars. Because we’ve seen these problems first hand, we decided to share some common scams perpetrated on senior citizens.

According to the most recent Elder Fraud Survey, the 10 common scams that target senior citizens are:

Health Care/Insurance Fraud
Scammers pose as Medicare representative to get seniors to give them their personal or financial information. Scammers are known to set up makeshift clinics

Door-to-door Sales/Repairs
Products may never be delivered or repairs never done

Funeral/Cemetery Fraud
Scammers attend funerals and aggressively demand payment for debs they claim the deceased owed them

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs
Unauthorized sites with the best prices may send ineffective or harmful drugs

Telemarketing Fraud
Offers for free prizes, health care products, low-cost vitamins. Once deal is made, the buyers information is shared with similar schemers

Fraudulent Anti-Aging Products
Scammer distributors offer bogus homeopathic remedies that do nothing or can possibly have health consequences

Internet Fraud
Pop-up browser windows will fool victims into downloading fake anit-virus software that could download a virus that could steal personal and financial information

Grandparent Schemes
Scammers will contact the senior citizen and pose as their grandchild or relative saying they are trapped in a foreign country and request cash.

Investment Schemes
From pyramid schemes to real estate investments, scammers target seniors who are looking to safeguard their cash for their later years.

Reverse Mortgage Scams
Scammers will send fraudulent letters offering to arrange a reassessment of the seniors property for a fee.

Please feel free to contact us if we can help you avoid potential fraud and provide you with resources for a second opinion.

Technorati Tags: Senior citizen,Elderly,Scams,Fraud