As a mission to make quality and affordable housing available to hard working families in the Fort Worth community the Tarrant County Housing Partnership administers several programs that provide Down Payment, Closing Cost or Principle Reduction Assistance for homebuyers of lower and moderate incomes.

This assistance combined with education helps prospective homeowners learn about the process of purchasing a home and what it takes to be a life long homeowner.  Home buyers must complete the orientation class to be considered for this program.  This is the first step.

Homebuyer Assistance Programs

Tarrant County Housing Partnership Neighborhood Stabilization(TCHP NSP)

The TCHP provides property-specific down payment or principle reduction assistance of up to $30,000 for qualified buyers who don’t currently own a home and mett income eligibility and other requirements.  These funds may also pay for normal and customary closing costs.  Homes must have a TREC or home inspection and a minimum housing standards inspection completed and the home pass these inspections.

Arlington Homebuyers Assistance Program (AHAP)

This program offers up to $7500 in down payment assistance for qualified first time buyers with household incomes not to exceed $55,350 for a family of 4.  Up to $10,000in assistance is available to buyers with a disabled household member who are purchasing homes in a NRSA area.

The AHAP program may be applied towards the purchase of any home in the city limits of Arlington.

Tarrant County Community Development Homebuyer Assistance program (TCCD)

This program provides property specific down payment and or closing cost assistance to qualified buyers whose 4 member household does not exceed $55,350.

Development Corporation Of Tarrant County (DCTC)

This program provides up to $10,000 in property specific down payment assistance for buyers with 4 person household income of less than $55,350.

Arlington Neighborhood Stabilization Program (Arlington NSP)

This program provides property specific down payment assistance or principle reduction of $10,000 or $20,000 for qualified buyers who don’t currently own a home.  The City of Arligton will normal and customary closing costs.

For more information about these great programs call me at 817-932-4900

Happy Trails,

Donnie

Last year Texas Farmland led the market with price increases and high demand.  Demand for irrigated land was especially strong.  Prices in the Panhandle and West Texas regions were 20% higher while prices were falling for recreational land and large tracts across Texas.  Combining the two markets the price increase Statewide was just a 2% increase for all land in Texas.

Tract Size and Volume

Small tract sizes dominated the Texas land markets with a median size of 74 acres and that market was steady compared to 2010.  The number of sales were down slightly from 2010, down 4.8%.

Market Trends

The higher demand for cropland was sparked by concerns of inflation and higher crop prices.  This is the third straight year for this trend.  Sales volume was down due to farmers holding on to the land, there was just less for sale a trend I believe will continue.

Buyers are hesitant to pay the higher prices and many are siting on the sidelines.  The move to recreational not has received any traction unless there are posibilites of oil and gas production.

My Predictions

Irrigated farmland will continue to see strong demand while the reality of last years drought will temper demand for dry land ground.  Recreational land will continue to be slow and sales prices will be lower.  Buyers are looking for a deal and many sellers aren’t willing to sell at lower prices being offered by buyers.

Inventory of this kind of land is very high and will continue that trend.

Small tracts of land around urban areas will continue to feel downward pressure as developers are extremely cautious and high gas prises are keeping many folks in town instead of making the move out to the country.

Happy Trails,

Donnie

Recently voted as a walker’s paradise,Sundance Square is a 35-block site that offers every kind of entertainment you can imagine. From morning, noon, to night this vibrantly exciting district can cater to your every pleasure whether you are in the mood for a romantic date, a quiet stroll, or a fun-filled day with your family.

Dining Delights at Sundance Square

Visitors won’t lack for choices when they visit Sundance Square. If traditional Southwestern food is what you’re looking for then be sure to head to Reata Restaurant Fort Worth. To cool down after spending the day under the Texas sun, you can enjoy gourmet and authentic Italian ice cream at the Paciuggo Gelato and Caffe.

Other exciting options include a to-die-for Japanese dishes at Piranha Killer Sushi, a Mexican fiesta at Cantina Laredo, and the best casual dining options at the Flying Saucer.

Exciting Events

Entertainment at the Sundance Square is available for all ages and with so many choices to choose from, you can come back weekend after weekend and there’ll always be a new and exciting experience for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

The Jubilee Theater is the best place to visit if you want to check out the latest musical, drama, comedy, and theater offering to hit the town. For something more musically inclined and traditional in nature, be sure to visit the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. For a jazz-filled night, check out the Scat Jazz Lounge and sports aficionados can spend a couple of hours at the 8,000 sq. ft. Frankie’s Sports Bar. It boasts of state-of-the-art audio system combined with 30 HDTVs and wireless receivers for each table.

If you’d like to dance the night away at Sundance Square then wear your best outfit and get ready to sparkle and mingle at the district’s hottest clubs and bars such as the McDavid Studio and Lone Star Nightclub.

Cultural Cravings

As Sundance Square is also located in the 3^rd largest cultural district of the country, it’s impossible for the area not to have several top-notch cultural attractions to offer. To view works of art from varying genres and local and regional artists alike, be sure to visit the Milan Gallery.

If you want to know more about the Old West and enjoy gazing upon some of the most beloved works of homegrown talents such as Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington, a visit to the Sid Richardson Museum and Gift Shop is definitely in order.

Shopping Surprises

Lastly, Sundance Square is also every shopper’s haven. The district has a wide range stores and boutiques available, selling every kind of edible good and consumer merchandise you can think of.

I had the pleasure to sit down with Carlin Gregory the other and learn about Go Homes which she is one of the principles.
GoHomes is a specialized builder of high quality utility moveable homes designed for the oil and gas business here in Texas. Especially in South Texas where the is a real shortage of housing for the workers, this company is filling a much needed niche.

These are not travel trailers or mobile homes but fully furnished stick build mini homes that are fully self contained and on skids. So the homes can be easily moved across the State as the workers need. GoHomes provides a high quality home with flexible floor plans and amenities and furnishings at an affordable price.

GoHomes sells these furnished 1 bedroom or larger efficiency homes or offices that can be constucted onsite or at their factory location.  The homes can easily sleep 4 adults.  Other customers are using them for hunting camps, weekend lake homes and job site offices.

GoHomes can easily modify the size and interiors to fit the clients need.  This is a new idea in job site housing.  Something worth checking out.

For more information on these great homes, please call me.

Happy Trails, Donnie

Permanent Exhibits

The permanent exhibits that make up the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History are quite comprehensive and vast enough to seem like they are museums within museums.

The Fort Worth Children’s Museum offers a fun-filled learning adventure for kids age 8 and below. Dino Labs and Dino Dig, on the other hand, take visitors in a wildly exciting journey to the prehistoric era as they “unearth” skeletons in a replicated paleontological dig site and learn more about dinosaurs that once roamed the land of North Texas. Cattle Raisers Museum, on the other hand, is a huge 10,000 sq. ft. exhibit that provides an all-encompassing introduction to the art of cattle raising. And finally, there’s Energy Blast, which features a wide range of interactive exhibits and learning stations that tackle the somewhat complex theories revolving around alternative and regional energy sources.

Innovation Studios

If your child is too old for the games and activities at the Children’s Museum, then he or she will probably be more at ease and interested with the interactive and imaginative exhibits awaiting them at Innovation Studios. This 6,000 sq. ft. exhibit space has also excellent resources available for parents, educators, and visiting adults. It’s a place where age means nothing and imagination becomes everything.

Noble Planetarium

The Noble Planetarium can accommodate up to ninety viewers and utilizes the first ever hybrid planetarium system invented by Zeiss, which is capable of showing over 7,000 stars that brighten the skies of the Southwest U.S. The planetarium also has an exhibit area where you can enjoy the latest views of the sun as well as laser shows during the weekends. It’s also the perfect place to hold a party if your child’s birthday is coming up.

Omni Theater

Finally, a  visit to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History would not be complete without watching any of the latest presentations in the Omni Theater. Reopened in 2008 after a short period of renovation, the theater now boasts of the latest IMAX technology in order to offer screenings of films that are up to 300 minutes in length. The Omni Theater has been open for over twenty-six years already and now boasts of having the largest screen in the SW region.

Rotunda and Hall of Fame

This is without a doubt the most awe-inspiring part of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The museum’s rotunda features a dozen of glass-tiled murals that change optically when viewed at different angles. These “Lifetiles”, as they’re called, are invented by Rufus Seder and meant to serve as Movies for the Wall and a wonderful introduction to the lives of history’s most beloved cowgirls.

Afterwards, be sure to watch from start to end the Spirit of the Cowgirl presentation in the theater before acquainting yourself with the almost 200 honorees of the museum’s Hall of Fame.

Into the Arena

The Arena, on the other hand, is probably the most popular area of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and it’s all thanks to its fun rodeo presentation. Not only do you get to learn and gaze upon wonderful rodeo memorabilia, you also get to ride a life-sized training bull that rodeo riders typically use for practice. Moreover, you get to commemorate this experience for eternity with a free 10-second video of your first “bronc” ride which would be immediately edited to look like footage of rodeos in the past.

Kinship with the Land

In this area, you will learn more about what cowgirls do when they’re off their horses. Cowgirls – just like cowboys – may also be in charge of their own ranches and exercising their duties as land stewards.

Claiming the Spotlight

The Old West had once been prominently featured in Hollywood, and this particular section of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame pays tribute to screen legends who lent glamor and glitz to a cowgirl’s life. Highlights in this section include a ornately designed velvet-draped theater, exotic saddles, jukeboxes and clips being played in a 1950’s TV set.

Operating Hours

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame would be reopening on May 28, 2012. Admission fees are $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. It is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during Sundays. After a visit to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, consider dropping by at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on the same day and you will be entitled to enjoy 50% off on admission prices.

Oval Rose Garden

Renovated in 2002, this part of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden features “The Oval”, which consists of a ring of Texas’ finest roses. This historic garden also comes with a picturesque gazebo that makes it perfect for more intimate parties.

Japanese Garden

This seven-acre section will transport you to a land of timeless Oriental beauty. Beautiful discoveries await visitors along every twisting path of the garden. Thousands of koi swim in its pond, and if you are lucky they may just stay still long enough to let you feed and pet them.

Perennial Garden

A photographer’s paradise, the Perennial Garden is a place guaranteed to steal everyone’s hearts. While chefs are sure to love the amazing collection of herbs in the garden, children are sure to enjoy countless minutes frolicking along its ponds and its majestic waterfall. Parents can watch over them from any of the cozily shaded spots in the area while enjoying the breathtaking views.

Fragrance Garden

The pocket-sized Fragrance Garden is one of Fort Worth’s best-kept secrets. Simply rub the leaves of any bloom that catches your eye, and the air will be tinged with one of Earth’s loveliest scents.

Trial Garden

To know more about plants and flowers that local gardeners are presently cultivating and studying, visit the Trial Garden. While lounging at its octagonal gazebo, you will be able to see which blooms are being considered for permanent residency in the Garden.

Four Seasons Garden

Colors blaze into life in the Four Seasons Garden, where each passing of season is represented by its special selection of blooms.
Other areas that you should take time to explore in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden include the Conservatory, Fuller Garden, Water Conservation Garden, the Texas Native Forest Boardwalk, the Water Wise Entrance, and the Begonia Species Bank, in which local efforts are being done to save the species from extinction. Public events ranging from workshops to concerts are also regularly scheduled so there’s never a dull moment to experience while taking the pathways of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

What to Expect from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Tickets sell out pretty early so advance reservations are definitely encouraged. You don’t have to worry much about parking as well since shuttle service is offered at very affordable places. Just be on the lookout for the list of pick-up and drop-off points for the year you’ll be attending the event.

In 2012, the 23-day event boasts of a record-setting attendance of more than 1,200 athletes. Purchase of this year’s Grand Champion Market Steer had also made it to the stock show’s history records. Each day, new shopping opportunities are offered together with a wide range of rodeo and livestock shows as well as food and live music to keep you entertained throughout the day.

Special treats such as the “moo-seum” experience have also been prepared to delight the kiddies. In the FFA Children’s Barnyards, young ones are able to enjoy live encounters newborn calves, baby lambs, and their respective parents as well as fun but educational talks about how they are raised.

In the Milking Parlor, children are sure to find themselves amazed with the live milking demonstrations showing how milk actually makes its way to their doorsteps every day. Meanwhile, kids learn about the little-known benefits of farming in Planet Agriculture. Their understanding of this all-important activity is further deepened in the AG Magic Show, which revolves around the story of the American Farmer.

Other children’s attractions that are not to be missed during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo include the Petting Zoo, the Star Telegram Stock Show Art Contest, and programs featuring the show’s famous Ambassadors Moos Brothers and Hoss & Elwood.

Exhibits

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo have exciting exhibits to offer throughout the year – on, before, and after the highly anticipated rodeo show. Aside from a wide range of commercial exhibits, there are of course also exhibits featuring horseflesh, livestock, pigeons, rabbits, and poultry.

Calf Scramble

The Calf Scramble is a fun and family-friendly event to watch. It’s also quite a meaningful one as kids who have successfully beaten the scramble and nab calves for themselves are awarded scholarships by the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

When visiting the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, make sure you drop by its on-site museums, which include the Cattle Raisers Museum, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Restaurants on site as well include the Reata at the Rodeo, Stockman’s Café Barn, La Espuela, and the Round Up Inn Food Court.