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Sneak Peak Inside The Bush House: George and Laura Seem Quite Secure

Wow, things are sure buttoned up over there on Daria.… the house looks great, yes, but I think Laura looks fabulous as well, and younger than ever.

Bush Gate In Motion On Daria

I twittered the news this weekend when I saw the crews at work Saturday afternoon. DFW Around Town posted details six hours ago. (I am so competitive!) But what I am really wondering — what is that Tatum Brown homebuilders sign (tan colored) all about? My fingers are walking right over to my cell phone… could it be that construction will begin on a new Bush abode once the gate goes up? Or is this a spec home (Tatum Brown are master home builders; you will note most of their inventory is SOLD) sure to sell like hotcakes on the Darias…  dialing, ringing, hi, may I please speak with Mark Danuser?

Matthew McConaughey Just Spotted In Dave PM’s Office Building

In the lobby , coming down from an apparent pow wow with former President George W. Bush, who is officing at 5950 Berkshire Lane. (Dave Perry-Miller’s office is in suite 100, with a full view of the lobby.) Matthew was wearing faded 501 jeans, a white cotton button down, had a leather satchel tossed  over his shoulder…  just sauntered right through the lobby over there before we could grab any shots.  Or him.

Dallas Police Removed From Bush Home Detail

Bushgate. Again. So says Zac Crain, but my question is this: how long does it take to build a darn tootin’ gate?

Laura Bush Brings The World To Preston Hollow

On Good Morning America, first interview from Daria Place. So no wonder Cindy Sheehan was also in the hood, recently.

Update: Mrs. Bush says she and the former president really do have a private life.

What Will President George and Mrs. Laura Bush Do To Dallas Real Estate?

Be pretty darn good for it, I think. What do you think? �

Zillow Explains Obama’s New Home Loan Modification Plan

Many of you probably read the news last week regarding the Obama administration’s plan to come up with a rather aggressive effort to stem the tide of foreclosures. In short it’s a way for homeowners to reduce their monthly payments (not including PMI) to 31% of their pre-tax monthly income. For the full monty visit Zillow’s blog post here that explains the process in detail and even points you to the right documents.

Here are the dirty details on qualifying:

• Must have originated mortgage before Jan. 1, 2009.
• Be an owner-occupant.
• Have an unpaid balance that is equal to or less than $729,750 (for a single-family home).
• Have trouble paying your mortgage due to financial hardship.
• Your monthly mortgage payment must also be more than 31% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income. Duh.There’s a three-month trial period before you lock in the lower rate for five years and if your home is in danger of foreclosure the process will be halted while you apply for the program.

Former First Family Loves Restoration Hardware

Laura Bush was testing out the sofas at Restoration Hardware at Knox-Henderson yesterday afternoon, according to one of my sources, and charming everyone in the store. My source, who almost bumped into her, said the SS guys were all there, but pretty low-key. The former first lady fancied a fabric sofa near the store entrance. We all know she has great taste.

Bushes Need Furniture, And Their Newspaper

The Dallas Morning News says it is being delivered, but the security detail at Daria Drive and Meaders has to intercept it and then the Secret Service has to scan it — maybe they should just read everything online? But what I want to know: if the Bushes don’t have any furniture, what was in those moving vans?

This Sounds Vaguely Familiar

Not that I have a monopoly on this subject, but it sounds a lot like my story, with a few extra quotes tossed in.

Bush Gate Taking Longer

I went to TREC “Young Guns” tonight at The Tower Club and learned so much. Like when I heard that the Bushes are looking at a re-design of the gate they ordered for Daria Drive — seems the first design priced out too high, and since they are footing the bill for the gate (which is so nice of them!) they wanted to go back for something a little less simpler. Tell you what, I’ll bet they are just shocked by how high building prices are.

Moving Day For The Bushes

Channel 5 and Channel 8 have crews staked out on Meaders Lane all day long to catch a glimpse of the former president settling into his new home, sweet home. Also heard there may be flying restrictions in force over the house.

Moving Day For The Bushes: Hope The Paint Is Dry

This was the scene in front of the Bush home yesterday — pre-security block off — with all the maintenance crews getting the house ready for them.

Moving Day For The Bushes: Fed Ex On The Go

Moving Day For The Bushes: What About My Fed Ex?

Moving Day For The Bushes: Manning The Entrance

Man-ing all right. Contenders for the next season of The Bachelor? (Can you imagine a DPD officer handing off a rose to a group of tearful, tense ladies?) The DPD declined to tell me if they would be staked out 24/7 at the entrance to Daria Drive off Meaders Lane until the gate is erected, for security reasons, of course. When asked if I could drive into the cul de sac(s), they said not unless I had business there.Also: the one officer I chatted up said all the neighbors were happy with the extra police protection — not one complaint.

Moving Day For The Bushes: Still No Gate

Moving Day For The Bushes: Daria All Blocked Off

It’s Move-In Day For The Bushes

This sign in a yard at one of the homes on Daria Place greeted the former president and his wife, Laura. The entire street is now blocked off by police. Earlier today, a Mayflower moving van was spotted coming into the cul de sac along with a large storage truck.

Steve Brown: DFW Average Home Prices Near 2001 Levels

News that housing prices have dipped is making the financial world all jittery today. I don’t know why this should be such a eureka — we have been saying for months now — homes that are moving are reasonably priced and buyers with cash in hand or financing are asking for deals. Everyone wants a deal. Even former presidents.

“Last month’s median house sales price, $129,000, was the lowest since early 2001.”

PRE 911. OK, but look at this:

“There are 37,224 homes offered in the Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service, meaning the area has about a six-month supply, which is considered a healthy inventory.”

Knock knock, Appraisal District, who’s there? 2001 home values…

Solution To Stealing GWB Signs

Remember those reports about “Welcome Home George and Laura” signs disappearing? Well, this home on Meaders, a few homes east of Daria Drive, solved the problem. This sign is tied down to an exterior rafter — try to get it, you could break something. Like maybe your neck. The fine print reads: “Thank You For Making America A Safer Place For Our Family.” The print below reads: “You can steal our signs but you cannot steal our appreciation!”

The Disappearing W Signs ???

I was on Daria Drive Monday, waving to the Secret Service dudes, and there are “Welcome George and Laura” signs in all but two yards on the street. Didn’t see any missing. Meantime, you heard about Patrick Bibb here, first.

President Bush Stays At The New Office Until 3:00 PM

Sources over at 5950 Bershire Lane, where President Bush has his temporary office, tell me the Secret Service arrived at about 8:00 a.m. yesterday morning, getting the parking garage all secure. (Lots o Maryland plates in that parking garage.) The president entered via the Lomo Alto entrance, avoiding the lobby, then went upstairs to his new office on the 9th floor to work. Hope all was ready for him. He left about 3:00 pm.

Texas Monthly’s Welcome Home, Mr. President

I keep meaning to post this: this month’s Texas Monthly, Skip Hollandsworth does a nice job of welcoming President and Mrs. Bush home to Dallas, and warning them that things have changed a bit in Preston Hollow. And he cited Dallas Dirt — love you, Skip!

Across The Street: Soccer Net Or Shoe Recepticle?

Update: yep, that’s a LaCrosse net. I stand corrected. Been out of carpool for many moons now.