Irving Texas Relocation Package

I have talked quite a bit about life in Irving in previous blogs. Here is the complied list of blogs about life in Irving so you get a good idea of where you are moving to. Need information you don’t see here? Call me today, I am a specialist for this area. Also, be sure to visit me here to search all available homes in the MLS.

• Welcome to Irving Texas
• Schools in Irving
• 48 Things to do in Irving
• Irving Texas Market Reports

Irving Market Report October 2013

A quick look at the price per sq. ft. trend in Irving as of October 2013.

* All reports are published November 2013, based on data available at the end of October 2013. All reports presented are based on data supplied by the NtreisMLS. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Associations or their MLS’s may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

A quick look at the current market trends in Irving let you know now is the time to buy! Currently, the average price per square foot is declining from the previous months. However, the average price per sq. ft. is up more than 10% than the same quarter last year.

If you are interested in looking for a home in Irving, please visit me here to search the MLS or call me today.

If you need additional information to consider before moving, please call me for other market reports, a free service I offer to my clients. Also be sure to check out things to do in Irving,  schools in Irving, and this blog for a taste of what life in Irving is like.

48 Things to do in Irving

I have spent a little time in a prior post talking about the diverse cultural center Irving, Texas has become. There is so much to do in this area, and if you are willing to take a short drive, there is even more to do in the surrounding areas. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of activities in Irving, but a small list to give you an idea of the flavor of Irving. First, we will start with what comes to mind to many when “Dallas” is mentioned: shopping.

1. Grapevine Mills Mall –  Many cities all over boast a Mills family Outlet mall. Grapevine Mills is like many in surrounding areas, only with a 30 screen movie theater and ice skating rink!
2. Antique shopping in Grapevine and Irving – There is a variety of antique shops all over the Grapevine and Irving area
3. Irving and North East Malls – These are your more classic malls featuring Dillard’s, Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, Nordstroms etc.
4.  Stockyard’s Station – Located in Fort Worth’s Stockyard’s Historic District, Stockyard’s Station features antiques to western wear, wine, crafts and more.
5. Southlake Town Center – Best known for its boutique shopping
6. Dallas Galleria – The crown jewel of Dallas shopping: four levels of shopping including Nordstorm, Macys, Saks Fifth Ave, Tiffany and Company and more as well as dining and even centerpiece ice skating! Feeling a litte overwhelmed or slightly lost? Stop by the guest reception for answers on the mall and the area.
7. Highland Park Villages – Couture boutiques.
8. Dallas Market Center – Another set of outlets sometimes referred to as the “Galleria of Home Goods” with shops such as Home Depot Expo, Bed Bath and Beyond, The Great Indoors to personalize your home from big to little.
9. West End Marketplace – Over fifty specialty shops located in the Historic West End with beautifully renovated historic buildings.
10. Deep Ellum ArtsDistrict – Eclectic taste, modern, hip and funky.
11. NorthPark Center – 160 specialty shops with amazing amenities and an internationally renowned 20th and 21st century arts exhibit.

If you’ve shopped til you’ve nearly dropped and are ready to explore something a little more educational or artsy be sure to check out these amazing museums and more:

1. Mustangs of Las Colinas – The largest equestrian sculpture in the world, these nine larger than life bronze mustangs surrounded by pink granite have warranted their own museum.
2.  Las Colinas Equestrian Center – Home of the Las Colinas Polo Club where you can get an up close look at the animals that have made such an impact on Irving.
3.  National Scouting Museum – Official museum of Boy Scouts of America, honoring the 100 year tradition and one of the largest collections of the original works of Norman Rockwell.
4. Circle R Ranch – All that a ranch should be: horseback riding, hayrides, campfires and singing cowboys.
5.  The Sixth Floor Exhibit – Chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history.
6.  Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Fair Park – Fascinating displays, I recently attended the Inside Out Animal Exhibit, see my blog post here.
7. Dallas Heritage Village – Largest and finest collection of 19^th century homes and commercial buildings meant to let you  see what life was like in Texas 100 years ago.
8. Dallas Zoo – The already impressive Giants of the Savanna and “SOAR, A Festival of Flight” will be joined by new and exciting eduactional centers and renovations over the next 5 years.
9. Dallas  World Aquarium – Located in a repourposed 1924 warehouse, this aquariam boasts both fresh and salt water exhibts as well as a rainforest aviary.
10. Fort Worth Zoo – Texas Wild! Exhibit shows animals native to every type of Texas geography, allowing you to walk Texas in a day.
11.  Armon Carter Museum – Home to the impressive Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art.
12.  Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyard District –  There is also a petting zoo, rodeo, dance lessons, dining and more!
13. Rhythm and Wine at Delaney Vineyards – Every Thursday April 10 – October 30, 2014, music, dancing, wine tasting and light appetizers.
14. Legend of the Games Museum – Contains over 100 items from the baseball Hall of Fame.
15. Six Flags over Texas – An exciting adventure that includes the inverted BATMAN THE RIDE™.
16. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in the Cultural District
17. Irving Arts Center –10-acre complex features two fully-equipped theaters; four galleries; meeting, classroom, reception and rehearsal facilities; and a verdant sculpture garden.
18. Jaycee Center for the Arts – New events monthly
19. Gondola Cruise in Las Colinas – Romantic, elegant and unique date night!
20. Dallas Arboretum – A beautiful way to spend a day! See this post for in-depth information
21. Grapevine Public Art Trail –  A self-guided tour through the historic side of town, featuring amazing bronze sculptures.
22. Dallas Museum of Art – Fascinating and fantastic displays and, best of all, FREE admission!
23. Meyerson, Majestic or Fair Park Music Hall Theatres
24. National Cowgirl Hall of Fame – The only museum in the world like it!
25. Fort Worth Kimbell Modern Art Museum – Art from all over the world
26. Fort Worth Botanical Gardens –  The oldest botanical garden in Texas.
27. Fort Worth Theatres: Caravan of Dreams, Casa Mañana, the Bass Performance Hall or Casa on the Square
28. Dallas and Grapevine Winery tours – About a 4 hour journey to 3 amazing venues.

Surely after all that culture, you’ve worked up an appetite! Here are some unique restaurants to visits, from fine to fun

1. Big State Drug – Family-owned pharmacy, soda shop and grille in business for 65 years. Good old fashioned milkshake and hamburgers!
2. Zodiac Room – Formal dining inside Neiman Marcus flagship store – two birds with one designer stone.
3.  Trail Dust Steakhouse – Featuring a dance floor and two story slide but be warned: ties are not tolerated!
4. Joe T. Garcias – Famous Tex Mex with beautiful patio dining.
5. Cattleman’s Restaurant – Internationally renowned and located in Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyard District for over 60 years.
6. Medieval Times Restaurant – All the jousting you can handle!
7. Avanti Restaurant – European and Italian Style Cuisine with patio dining and nightly jazz.
8. Esparza’s Tex Mex – Famous (or infamous?) for their margaritas.
9. Wilhoite’s – Eclectic American with live music Tuesday through Saturday.

Isn’t Irving amazing? Ready to make Irving your home? Visit me here to search houses or give me a call!

Any Irving-ites see something I missed that can’t be missed? Leave me a comment below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Historic House Specialist

I just completed the Historic House Specialist course through Preservation Dallas. This class was incredible. Not only did we learn about the history of home and population growth in Dallas, but also went over design styles, had a bus tour, learned about Dallas architects and historic neighborhoods. Lots of great information that I will be sharing here are there. But I wanted to share a couple of pictures while I had a few minutes.

Here is a class photo, I am actually the tiny bump of a head about 4 over from the left on the top row… The “if you can see the camera, it can see you” trick didn’t work out so well 😦

The home pictures were taken from a moving tour bus, so be kind. I will get more pictures and do blogs on the different styles in the coming weeks.

Here is a great Neoclassical home.

Classical White Rock Tudor

Craftsman home

Then we have this massive beauty on Swiss Ave. It is mix of Neoclassical, Mediterranean, with hints of all kinds of elements.

If you want more information about historic or conservation district homes, let me know! There are lots of homes on the market and my expertise in navigating these areas is at your fingers.

Schools in Irving, Texas

With its namesake being a famous author, it should come as no surprise Irving is known for its excellent schools. From public to private, elementary to college, a great education is not a hard thing to come by in Irving.

Most of Irving’s public school system is serviced by Irving ISD, but there is some overlap with Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Coppell ISD. Irving ISD is an accomplished school district in every category.

• From a fiscal point of view, Irving ISD was awarded the five-star rating from Texas State Comptroller’s FAST program for having the lowest level of relative spending compared to the highest level of student academic progress. Irving ISD is one of only 15 school districts in the state to receive a five-star rating for three consecutive years from the Texas State Comptroller’s FAST program.
• These feats are even more impressive when you take into consideration the arts and culture programs they have set forth. Irving ISD partners with Irving Arts Center to host a Holiday Open House displaying over 1,200 pieces of art from all 20 elementary schools. It offers the district a gallery exhibit for elementary, middle school, and high school students with over 3,500 student generated works of visual art. They also have instituted dual language, two-way immersion programs at two elementary, one middle, and one high school with more coming in the future. During the summer Irving Reads distributed more than 85,000 books to students from K-7 to promote summer reading.
• For those a little more scientifically minded, there is also a Hands-on Science center that distributes lab materials not only for Irving ISD, but also for 14 neighboring school districts,  one charter school, and one private school.
• From a green standpoint, Irving boasts Lady Bird Johnson Middle School, the largest net-zero middle school in the United States. This means that the school produces as much energy as it consumes.
• In 2012, Irving ISD seniors earned $16 million in scholarship offers.

Irving is also the home to several private schools such as the Highlands School and Cistercian Preparatory School. It is also home to the University of Dallas, a private college with an impressive study abroad program, not to be confused with the University of Texas at Dallas. North Lake College, a community college that is part of Dallas County Community College District, also resides in Irving.

What is your experience with Irving schools? Looking for a school is this district? Check here or call me today!

Welcome to Irving, Texas

The Dallas/Fort Worth area is known for a collection of amazing communities. Irving is, by far, one of my favorite. Originally a sleepy little town, Irving is emerging as an expansive urban city for up-and-comers of all ages and fields. It has come to embody the ideals of modern while still remembering and honoring the past, a beautiful example of how to use what you have with as little waste as possible. Basically, Irving is one example of the ideals of DownHome Urban come to life.

One of Irving’s most impressive and well-known features is Las Colinas. Las Colinas is one of the first master planned, mixed use communities. This bustling urban center contains such marvels as the Mustangs at Las Colinas, the largest equestrian sculpture in the world, as well as many office buildings, diverse businesses and fabulous eateries.  The Mustangs at Las Colinas are fitted in between the Towers of Williams Square, a beautiful and amenity filled mixed use space, and where you will need to visit me in the coming spring as our offices make the transition.

Amazing Mustangs of Las Colinas

There is even a transit within the community to make navigation simpler and to reduce the carbon footprint, whether you are there for business or pleasure.

Transit for Las Colinas Urban Center

Las Colinas is soon to be the home of Water Street, a master planned community within the master planned community. Water Street will contain another series of luxury apartments and office spaces, a sleek and sophisticated hotel as well as fine dining and eclectic shops. Truly, Las Colinas has something for everyone.

Water Street Masterplan

If the downtown, urban feel is a little too modern for you, be sure to check out all that Irving has to offer. There are museums and arts center that touch on interests that range from baseball to JFK to boy scouts to cowgirls and everything in between. There are theaters and musical arts centers, there is even a collection of 19th century homes and commercial buildings to get a true feel of what Texas was like in days gone by. There is shopping for every taste and foods that range the gambit from fun to fine and everything in between. Too much to cover in one blog, so be sure to check back, as these and other facts about Irving will be posted later this week.

If you have ever been to Irving, what is your favorite spot or activity? If you haven’t been to Irving yet, what are you waiting for? Visit this page to find the perfect Irving home for you or call me and let me do the work for you!