Articles for April 13th, 2009
Pre Tax Day House Porn: Here Are The Deductions You’ve Been Scouting
Seriously, trying to get financial info together and what do I do, surf the web looking for House Porn! I cannot help myself — look at this virile lake house, just what the Doctor would have ordered for a holiday weekend family get together. (Add a few piles of clothes, dog toys, magazines and mail to this pristine, clean great room!) I am loving the interiors and the exteriors, I am hoping we have a nice bug system installed to keep away those microscopic carnivores. I am loving the square footage of 2431: three bedrooms, two and a half baths so we don’t get too many visitors (and can pack up, leave her while we jet to Europe). Built by an architect, located on Lake Cypress Springs (the Pebble Beach equivalent to Dallas, east of Sulphur Springs) complete with country club, marina, just two hours east of Dallas. We visited friends who are right on the lake this summer in the heat of July and loved those bubbling little cool springs. Best news of all: $900,000. Perfect for last-minute deductions.
Crime And Open Houses: Sellers Beware, Be Careful, Lock Up!
This story in today’s NYT on escalating crime at open houses in unoccupied homes sparked my memory to the many stories agents have told me about open house crime in Dallas. First of all, sellers, please lock up your jewelry and valuables during an open house or better yet, take them to a friend’s home. (When we held our open houses, while our last home was on the market, I took my sterling and jewelry box out for safe-keeping.) FSBO’s, be doubly cautious and consider hiring a security guard. Most agents are open-house savvy and keep an eye on everyone who troops through that door — having them sign in. Others know safety from personal harrowing experience: I know of an Ellen Terry agent who was tied up, roughed up and robbed during an open house off Midway Road several years back — thank God she survived. Thieves know they can walk into an open house, pretend to be looking at some architectural detail and slip into a drawer lickety-split, making off with sterling teaspoons, jewelry, even cash. Now we hear thieves are going after staged homes, stealing towels, bedding, whatever they can walk out with. Home stagers such as Ann Schooler fill these unoccupied homes with gorgeous antiques. Homeowners, you might want to stick around the open house, too. Years ago, one agent tells me, thieves backed a truck up to a home that was on the market and pretended they were interior designers taking away furniture for re-upholstery. When the homeowner came home, she asked her agent what had happened to her chairs and sofa. Oh, said the agent, your designer came by to pick them up. But, said the homeowner, I don’t have a designer.
Bo, The New First Dog, Takes Texas Roots To D.C.
This angel is about to jettison the Portuguese Water Dog into fame and fortune, but in Dallas we know the PWD is the power broker’s preferred pup.
Portuguese Water Dogs: The New First Dog Has Dallas Area Roots
I have to say, we told you so back in February. Dave Perry-Miller gave me the low-down on the Portuguese Water Dog, since he has one, and we knew that pup would be perfect for the First Family. Now comes word that this is the official First Dog and the First Daughters have a precious new Portuguese Water puppy named Bo, bred by Art and Martha Stern, long-time PWD breeders who live near Dallas and call their kennel Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs. The pup is six months old. I can’t help but wonder if Dave PM had advance knowledge on this deal: apparently Bo is a gift to the First Family from Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, who owns Bo’s litter-mate and is fond of the PWD. I know Dave is rather fond of New England, and spends time in Nantucket when he’s not selling Dallas mega mansions. Could there be a connection? (That’s Edith Wharton, right, and Henry James, Dave’s PWD — white dog on the left.)
Awards | Archives | Reprints | Custom Publishing | Jobs | Advertiser's Index