1. Review your finances. It would be very frustrating if you found a home to buy, and then realized you couldn’t afford it. Avoid that scenario by reviewing your income and debt, and then meet with your bank or other financial expert to determine what your ideal mortgage payment would be.

2. Be aware of all costs. An existing home may cost less than a new home, but the upkeep and unexpected repairs could cost you much more in the long run. A brand new home in McKinney, TX built by Landon Homes includes many energy efficient features that can save you money on your utility bills.

3. Gather search tools. When you’re out for a drive, carry a mobile phone – preferably one with a camera and Internet access – so you can use it to take pictures and notes about neighborhoods and new home builders. You can search online for information about schools in the area, for instance, and other amenities you may be interested in.

4. Review and study areas. Choosing a neighborhood to live in affects many aspects of your life, including your work commute, where your children go to school, where you shop, etc. As you whittle down your possibilities, study the areas for traffic and activity. You might even talk with your potential neighbors to see how they like living there, and what type of experience they’ve had with the home builder.

The more prepared you are to buy a new home in McKinney, TX, the happier and more secure you’ll feel when you sign the contracts. Visit the Landon Homes website to see the different new home models that are available in McKinney. If you have any questions, you can conduct a live chat online with our Internet Sales Manager Tanya Smith or call 800-898-3603.

School administrators and the citizens of Frisco are committed to providing their children with a quality education. The district has enough funds on hand to continue building new schools that maintain a small, personal learning environment. Having smaller schools enables more students to be involved in outside activities, and allows for meaningful relationships to develop between students and teachers.

Living in a new home in Frisco, TX means your children will have access to the latest educational technology. Computer labs are available in the elementary and secondary schools; classrooms are equipped with projectors, educational videos, wireless keyboards and smart tablets.

The Frisco ISD offers students the opportunity to push themselves academically. High school students can take Advanced Placement and Honors courses, and dual credit classes with Collin County Community College. A variety of athletic programs are also offered as well as clubs and activities including Band, National Honor Society, Drill team/Dance, Academic Decathalon, Drama, Robotics and more.

Students in the Frisco ISD score well above the state and national averages too. More than 75 percent of seniors take one or more college entrance exams, and 90 percent of graduates plan to continue their education.

Parents who buy a new home in Frisco, TX will also appreciate the safety measures school officials have taken to protect students. Digital technology and high resolution cameras capture images in common areas, parking lots and building entrances to deter poor behavior. Controlled access and advanced visitor registration systems are in place as well.

These are just some of the benefits that your family will enjoy when you buy a new home in Frisco, TX.  You’ll also find a family-friendly atmosphere, exceptional arts, entertainment, and recreation facilities. To find the perfect source for your new home, look no further than Landon Homes. Rated as one of the finest home builders in North Dallas, Landon engineers better built, affordable green homes for sale in premier Frisco neighborhoods. Contact us today to schedule your new home tour.

By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY

Texas became the USA’s second-largest economy during the past decade — displacing New York and perhaps heading one day toward challenging California — in one of the biggest economic shifts in the past half-century.

The dramatic realignment of the nation’s economy was illustrated by North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia all overtaking one-time industrial powerhouse Michigan in economic size from 2000 to 2010. The economic winners of the last decade are states that focus on raw materials, government and senior citizens. The big losers are places that make things — industrial states and even California.USA TODAY examined each state’s gross domestic product to determine how the country’s economic output has shifted within its borders. The data, recently released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, reflect both population growth and income increases — in short, the economic weight of each state.Texas notched one of the biggest increases in size in a half-century, surpassing $1 trillion in annual economic output. The state gained nearly a full percentage point in its share of the U.S. economy during the decade, reaching 8.3% in 2010. This growth in economic clout has been matched only twice in the past 50 years — by California in the 1980s and Texas itself during the 1970s oil boom.”We’re growing faster than everyone else, and this trend should last a good while,” says economic forecaster Raymond Berryhill of Waco, Texas. His state enjoyed “good fortune and good planning” from having natural resources, immigration and successful technology businesses while avoiding the real estate bubble, he says.

Florida’s share of the national economy grew more than any state except Texas as seniors took their wealth south. But it was the long-booming state’s smallest growth of any decade since the government began keeping track in the 1960s.Other ups and downs:•California. The state’s share of the national economy peaked in 1990 but shrank faster than all but three states from 2000 to 2010. It’s hard for a large economy — at $1.9 trillion, the nation’s largest — to keep growing fast, especially when hit by a housing downturn, says Stephen Levy of the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. •Virginia. The federal government-fueled suburbs of Washington, D.C., led this state and neighboring Maryland to a decade of prosperity.•Michigan. Michigan and Ohio were the only states to end the decade economically smaller than when it began. “Michigan was the place that created the 20th-century middle class — the well-paying factory job,” says Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future, an economic research group. “It ended so quickly we fell off the cliff.”

Economic rank	State	2010 GDP	% change from 2000
1	California	1,901	17.8
2	Texas	1,207	26.8
3	New York	1,160	19.8
4	Florida	748	22.7
5	Illinois	652	8.2
6	Pennsylvania	570	11.8
7	New Jersey	487	11.6
8	Ohio	478	-0.7
9	North Carolina	425	20.3
10	Virginia	424	27.6
11	Georgia	403	9.8
12	Michigan	384	-7.1
13	Massachusetts	379	13.5
14	Washington	340	18.3
15	Maryland	295	26.3
16	Indiana	276	10.6
17	Minnesota	270	15.3
18	Colorado	258	20.5
19	Tennessee	255	15.5
20	Arizona	254	27.5
21	Wisconsin	248	11.1
22	Missouri	244	6.1
23	Connecticut	237	14.1
24	Louisiana	219	16.2
25	Oregon	174	37.5
26	Alabama	173	16.2
27	South Carolina	164	10.9
28	Kentucky	163	12.7
29	Oklahoma	148	21.0
30	Iowa	143	21.3
31	Kansas	127	16.5
32	Nevada	126	26.7
33	Utah	115	29.1
34	Arkansas	103	18.8
35	Mississippi	97	14.6
36	Nebraska	90	22.3
37	New Mexico	80	24.4
38	Hawaii	67	21.8
39	West Virginia	65	13.0
40	Delaware	62	19.9
41	New Hampshire	60	12.0
42	Idaho	55	28.6
43	Maine	52	10.3
44	Rhode Island	49	14.8
45	Alaska	49	32.0
46	South Dakota	40	35.1
47	Wyoming	39	48.7
48	Montana	36	23.4
49	North Dakota	35	47.1
50	Vermont	26	15.9
-	United States	14,552	16.7
-	Washington, D.C.	103	29.9

Strong employment prospects and affordable housing have been attracting people to Dallas for several years now. The median price of a home in the area rose just 1.2% in 2010. And the Dallas Economic Development Council recently announced plans to revitalize the city’s downtown to cater to young professionals.

Builder magazine says home builders remain bullish on the area’s prospects – pulling 19,500 single-family permits last year, 33% more than in 2009.  One of the premier home builders in North Dallas is Landon Homes. Headed by John Landon, a leading force in homebuilding and development since the 1980s, Landon Homes has quickly become a dominant player in the Texas housing industry.

Landon Homes has raised the standard among home builders in North Dallas in the area of energy efficiency – becoming one of the first to use 2×6 exterior wall construction, instead of 2×4. The thicker walls hold 57% more insulation, reducing unwanted heat loss or gain.  That lower demand for energy translates into lower utility bills for Landon customers.

Landon Homes builds affordable, eco-friendly homes in Frisco, Little Elm, McKinney, and North Dallas, TX. Visit our website to see the variety of floor plans and options available to create the home of your dreams.

Why should you buy a quick move-in home versus a resale? There are several reasons. 

1. Builders Warranty – A brand new home comes with a warranty from the home builder, so you have peace of mind should anything break down in the house. With a resale, you’re dependent upon how well the previous owners maintained the property. Even when you have a home inspection performed before the purchase, there’s a chance for problems to be missed.  
2. Upgrades – A move-in ready home often includes options and upgrades that are appealing to new home buyers. Plus, the builder often includes features that have been popular with existing home buyers, so you know the design has been tested by families like yours. 
3. Pricing – Builders typically include large incentives on move-in ready homes, so you could get a better deal on a brand new home than you would on a resale.  
4. Energy Efficiency – A new home includes the most up-to-date energy saving features and construction techniques, enabling buyers to save money on utility bills and insurance premiums compared to an older home.  

If you’d like information on the available move-in ready homes for sale in North Dallas, contact Landon Homes at 866-898-3603. Landon Homes is rated among the best Dallas area home builders. Our better built by design, affordable green homes are ready now in premier neighborhoods.

Landon Homes is proud to feature the Villages at Lakeview a new home community in Little Elm. Whether you’re shopping for your first home or an empty nester looking to downsize, Landon has your perfect home.

The Enclave at Lakeview offers some of the best prices in the Frisco Independent School District. This master-planned community includes four amenity centers, with pools, parks, trails and more. If you have a growing family that needs a bigger backyard and more space, consider the Reserve at Lakeview. This community offers estate-sized homesites – 74’ and 84’ wide and 3-car garages. In the middle of those two neighborhoods you’ll find The Dominion at Lakeview. It’s conveniently located just east of Lewisville Lake and is served by the area’s newest and best schools. Panther Creek Parkway leads directly into the Lakeview location from the Tollway.

Lewisville Lake offers a diverse water experience for homeowners in the area and we are just 4 short miles away from, fishing, water skiing and sailing,  just to name a few of the options available to you. The newest marina on the lake is Cottonwood Creek Marina. This meticulously maintained, fun, family-oriented facility is the only marina with fuel docks and ships store that is open year round on Lewisville Lake.

Cottonwood Creek Marina offers both open and covered slips with electricity and city water available at each slip. The marina also offers personal watercraft docking areas and courtesy slips. In addition, Cottonwood Creek is an annual sponsor of the “Anything Floats Derby” held in conjunction with the Town of Little Elm’s Autumn Festival.

For more information about Little Elm or our other new homes in the North Dallas area, visit our website at LandonHomesUSA.com or contact Tanya Smith anytime by phone at 214-707-0347.

By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News

eaasen@dallasnews.com

http://www.dallasnews.com/…/062310dnmetcensus.19e354d.html

In North Texas, the newcomers keep coming and coming and coming.

Frisco was the nation’s fastest-growing city last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. McKinney wasn’t far behind, ranking third.

The top 25 list is studded with several other North Texas cities, including Lewisville , Fort Worth, Carrollton and Denton.

Frisco claimed the top spot among cities with more than 100,000 people, thanks to a 6.2 percent population increase during a 12-month period starting in July 2008. Its Collin County neighbor, McKinney, scored a 5.5 percent jump.

Any way you slice or dice the census data, Frisco and McKinney remain chart toppers. Over the past decade, Frisco also had the country’s biggest population growth, while McKinney ranked No. 2.

More than 102,000 residents were in Frisco in 2009, compared with fewer than 34,000 in 2000, a take-your-breath-away 204 percent jump.

In 2009, McKinney’s population was nearly 128,000, up from about 54,000 in 2000 – a 135 percent increase.

All that city growth has helped pump up Dallas-Fort Worth. The area added more residents than any other metropolitan area in the country, both in the last year and the past decade, according to census data released in March.

Credit the population growth to good jobs, as well as an economy and housing market that aren’t as bad as in other parts of the country.

All of last year’s 10 fastest-growing cities are in Southern states, including North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Of the 50 fastest-growing cities, 19 are in Texas.

Texas’ robust population growth – it’s the fastest-growing state – means it’s bound to add at least three new seats in Congress after the 2010 census, which is under way.

Dallas-Fort Worth grew by an estimated 25% in the past decade and now has an estimated 6.5 million residents.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The booming Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area added more residents during the past decade than any other city in the United States.

According to the latest Census Bureau figures, the population of the sprawling Texas metro area grew by about 1.3 million people, or 25%, between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2009.

The population is now estimated at 6.5 million residents, but an exact count won’t be available until the 2010 census is complete.

Dallas’s attractions include a very favorable business climate, according to Mayor Tom Leppert.  There’s no corporate income tax, building costs are relatively reasonable and regulations are minimal.

“It’s a great place to do business,” he said, “especially attractive for companies from high-tax states.”

Helping to drive growth is the area’s main airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International, the third busiest in the nation. Its location is far enough south to ensure good weather yet central enough to make it easy to fly to the Northeast, the Midwest and the Pacific Coast. It is also well positioned for air traffic with Latin American markets.

“Dallas has no port,” said Leppert. “The airport became a 21st century port.”

What it has lacked in the past — a vibrant downtown — is starting to develop. Recent additions include a huge new arts center, urban park, light rail system and new housing. These have bolstered the city’s density and made downtown more interesting and fun.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/22/…/fastest_growing_metro_areas/

As a resident of Lone Star Ranch, Liter knows first hand about the terrific amenities that will be available to Austin Ridge residents. The community has a three-tiered, resort-style swimming pool with waterfalls, a large clubhouse that can be rented, and a fitness center loaded with state of the art equipment. Plus, Austin Ridge is close to the North Dallas Tollway and Highway 121, making it convenient for commuting.

Liter has a unique history with Landon Homes and its president, John Landon. Dean built his first home with John, and enjoyed the process so much, that he asked to come to work for Landon.

The first models in Austin Ridge are expected to be ready in about three months. Until then, visitors are welcome to stop by our sales trailer and view our floorplan designs and under construction inventory.

If you’d like to schedule a tour of Austin Ridge, contact Tanya Smith at 214-707-0347 or visit the website at Landonhomesusa.com for more information.

Austin Ridge will be part of Lone Star Ranch, a master planned community situated in  southwest Frisco, Texas among rolling hills with hike and bike trails, streams, lakes, fountains, open spaces and thousands of trees.

The community includes an amenity center featuring a three-tiered resort-style swimming pool with waterfalls, a large clubhouse that can be rented for private events and a fitness center loaded with equipment. 

Austin Ridge will have the perfect combination of:

>Competitively priced homes starting from the mid $200s

•  >Superb quality of life

>Highly rated schools (Frisco Independent School District)

>Strategic Frisco location with easy access to the North Dallas Tollway and Highway 121. 

Austin Ridge joins two other Landon Homes communities in Frisco: Grayhawk Estates and the Villages at Willow Bay.  

For more information about Austin Ridge or our other new homes in North Dallas, visit our website at LandonHomesUSA.com or contact Tanya Smith anytime by phone at 214-707-0347.