Featured – Dirt2Doorbell

Facebook Friday Contest!

THIS WEEKEND ONLY (April 7-9, 2017), we are holding a contest because we need your opinion! We have two similar homes, and we want to know which you like better.

How it works:

Go to our Facebook post here, and check out the pictures! This link will take you to see two of our homes that are for sale in our wonderful Saginaw Springs Community. You can vote by ‘liking’ or ‘loving’ the post to let us know which you think is better. That alone will give you ONE entry to win 2 gift cards! To gain a second entry, share the post with your friends. It’s really that easy!

The contest will end Sunday at midnight, central standard time. The winner will be drawn at random and announced this Monday, April 10th, at high noon!

FYI

Both of these gorgeous homes are currently for sale! 605 Rocky Haven Court features a dramatic design and a butler’s pantry that makes entertaining a breeze! 605 Ravenwood Drive has 5 bedrooms and a jetted tub! Plenty of room for the whole family to spread out and relax.

Arlington, Best in the South

How do you measure the ‘awesomeness’ of a city? Cultural and entertainment districts? Low unemployment? New jobs? Available housing? These are all metrics used by the magazine Money to choose Arlington as the “Best Big City” in the South, and we couldn’t agree more!

You may think that the big sports and adventure parks are the only big entertainment in the city, but leadership in Arlington has been working hard to invest in other options. Downtown Arlington was recently named a Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Over the last several years, the city has encouraged the growth of small businesses in this area and added features such as the Arlington Music Hall and the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts.

Job opportunities in the area also contributed to the distinction bestowed upon the city by Money. A recent expansion of the GM facility is obviously a large contributing factor to the low unemployment in the city (4.1% according to Money). Texas Health Resources also provides a significant amount of jobs in Arlington, and the commute from Arlington to job opportunities in Dallas and Fort Worth makes Arlington an advantageous place to live if you like having a job!

The city of Arlington has done its fair share to create desirable housing spaces through improved schools and traffic options. The city is home to one of the top most challenging high schools in the U.S. according to The Washington Post. The bike lanes throughout the city add to both the traffic infrastructure and the other outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the city. Talks are already in the works to link the bike trails in the city and public transit options to Fort Worth and Dallas systems.

If you’re impressed by the hard work done by the city, you might look into one of our communities in the quieter south Arlington. While Arlington schools are awesome and growing, the Mansfield ISD schools our homes feed have their own accolades. Fannin Farms West provides access to the entertainment and job opportunities in Arlington while offering a sense of peacefulness and solitude.

Until Next Time,

Rebekah R.

The Plan That Stole Our Hearts

We love all of our floorplans. When they’re still under design, we post them on a white board for all employees to comment on. Our company employs former chefs and interior designers amongst those with other specialties. We squeeze every possible cool feature into the allotted space in every floorplan together. Each plan is a work of the heart that involves every employee’s feedback.

As a parent, you try not to pick favorites, but we all know you do. Home builders can have the same sort of struggle. Especially marketers who get to work with the plans a lot after they’re finished and then spend hours editing and posing pictures. We definitely have a favorite. Don’t tell the other plans. We cannot get enough of our 2092 layout!

2092-rc-s-224-carson-drive-sg-high-res-9 — Kitchen Nook with Chandelier & 3-Sided Fireplace

The entertaining space is an ideal balance with a large open area and a closed-off formal dining. As a native Texan, I love having people over to watch some football, but not everyone likes to actually watch the game. These people (bless their hearts) can go into the formal dining and play games. The 3-sided fireplace is dramatic and elegant while providing separation for a third group to eat in the kitchen without interrupting the super serious football game!

2092-ld-225-frontier-drive-sg-3_high-res-13 — From the Nook to the Family Room

The really amazing thing is that the open-concept entertaining space only makes up half of the plan! This host-friendly house becomes a warm home when you move into the private rooms. The master suite is gorgeous and features a spacious master bathroom. The walk-in closet could really be a whole room on its own. The two other bedrooms are well-sized and share an ample bathroom.

2092-ld-225-frontier-drive-sg-3_high-res-24 — Master Bathroom

You can see why we have a special place in our hearts for the 2092, but at the end of the day we love all our floorplans. Antares Homes builds other plans that are also gorgeous, and they all have their own special features. We’d love to know what plans you love and why, so leave us a comment!

Until Next Time,

Rebekah

Feature Team Member- Becca Rogers

We sat down and had a chat with the fabulous Becca Rogers today. She’s the newest member of our sales team and represents some exciting changes for us. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

There are a few things you should know about Becca before we get to her position here. She is an avid reader. Any book will do, but cliché love stories and Harry Potter books are her niche. When she’s not reading, you’ll likely find her coming to the rescue for some lucky pooch. Like many in the office here, she has an open heart and loves her fur babies! She’s a true DFW native who loves rooting for our Rangers, so Bark at the Park is basically the best thing ever for her (especially if she can swim there while reading the new Harry Potter book). She shares these passions with her fiancé, Tyler, and stepson, Ryder.

We love her for all of these things, but we chose her for a couple of other passions. Specifically, her love for customer service and for home building. At her last workplace, Becca got a taste of 24/7 customer service. She loved it. She really enjoyed being available to participate in the exciting process alongside clients. Her passion for home-building comes from her experience as a child. Her father was a home-builder, and she loved to visit the model homes and find out how things were made. These fit well into our needs for a New Home Specialist. She’s the friendly voice on the phone when you call in asking about a new home. We are always striving to be better, and this position is one way we make sure you have the best home-buying experience with us.

Until Next Time,

-Rebekah

All Things New

As many of our communities finish their last homes, we look forward to the new and exciting things to come. In addition to the two communities we introduced in May, we are now able to introduce two brand new communities on opposite sides of the Metroplex.

The Cove at North Grove

You may be familiar with our other communities in Waxahachie, and this one will be even better. The Cove is the first section of the master-planned North Grove. When all is complete there will be new schools and trails all with the convenience of being near an established shopping center. We recently explored our new homesites amid the sunflowers!

Weatherford Heights

This area is entirely new to Antares Homes, and we are so excited to join the tight-knit community of Weatherford. We have carefully selected this community to continue providing big city living with country ease. From Weatherford Heights, you can visit a nearby farm, take a short trip to a locally owned eatery near downtown, or drive into Fort Worth when you have that ‘big city’ itch.

Weatherford Heights

If you missed the announcement of Chisholm Trail Ranch and our last phase of Summer Creek South, you can read the blog here.

Until Next Time,

Rebekah

13 Things to Do in DFW Before the Summer Ends

As the summer draws to the close, it can begin to feel like you have done all the things there are to do! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite summer activities around the area, and hopefully they will help you make it through the final stretch of summer heat.

Sunrise Sunflowers lighten

Berry Picking

Nothing says ‘summer’ like fresh berries. They’re easy enough to find wherever you get groceries, but there’s something special about picking them yourself. Fortunately, the entire Metroplex is surrounded by farms dedicated to providing just such an experience. Click here for a list of farms by city.

Museums

Taking your children (or just yourself) to a museum provides many benefits. You’re generally out of the heat, you’re physically active, and you’re being inspired! Schools are great, but there’s no substitute for the look in a child’s eyes when their curiosity is sparked. Treat yourself and the kiddos to these awesome free museums in the area, and watch the magic of learning happen!

Animal Encounters

If you and your children are aching for a more outdoorsy learning activity, the DFW area offers a several venues for interacting with and learning about animals. For a more common experience, visit either of the acclaimed zoos in Fort Worth or Dallas. If you’re looking for something more hands-on, try the Dallas World Aquarium (try to go during the week, when it’s less crowded) or Fossil Rim (beware the ostrich).

Six Flags

The dedicated children’s park makes this ideal for outings with kids of all ages. There are adventures to be had for all, and enough souvenir shops to make the hottest day more bearable. If you go early, you can hit several rides before it gets too hot. Then you have plenty of time to shop and ride one of their water features! Plan your trip here.

Water park

If the adventure of Six Flags sounds great but you’re looking for something a little more ‘watery’, the Metroplex has an abundance of options for you. If you’re looking for the big rides, you can go across the street to Hurricane Harbor (protip: if you buy a season pass at Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor is included). For a list of the top 13 parks, look here.

Ranger’s Game

There’s a special joy that comes from hanging out in the nosebleeds at Globe Life Park. It’s shaded with the best breeze in the whole stadium, and I love being able to see everything going on from the vantage point. Our Rangers have had tough few weeks, but it feels like they’re getting their groove back! There’s no better time to catch a game! Buy tickets here.

Kayak

Something about growing up in North Texas breeds a love for being on the water. We have plenty of lakes that are great for boats and skiing, but my favorite way to enjoy the water is from a kayak. Texas State Parks have recently introduced ‘Paddling Trails’ and we have more info here. If you’re looking for a more urban experience, you can look at Panther Island in Fort Worth or White Rock Lake in Dallas.

Drive-in Movies

Feeling nostalgic? DFW is home to a growing number of Drive-In theaters! Most offer new releases with the occasional throwback. My family loves to pile up our truck with blankets and pillows and head out around 6! More information on theaters and what they offer here.

Food Trucks

Food truck are one of the best ways to sample the artistic creations of talented chefs, and the best atmosphere to experience them is definitely at a food truck park. These parks are the best place to meet up with other foodies, and let the kids play while expanding their culinary horizons.

Stargazing

‘The stars at night/Are big and bright’ and this is, indeed, the heart of Texas. If you and your kids are night owls, this could be one of the more exciting things you do this summer! Whether you drive out to one of the stargazing tours at a state park or visit one of the planetariums in the area, the stars are sure to leave you and your kids in awe. Information on great spots here.

Gardens

If you’re not into picking fruit, you can still enjoy the fruit of the earth at one of these fantastic North Texas gardens! Fort Worth and Dallas compete for best gardens, so there is plenty to enjoy. The seasonal flora and fauna are top notch at each of these locations around the Metroplex.

Pokémon Go

Sometimes, we can get too carried away with our devices, but Pokémon Go has done more than its fair share to make our smart phones good for us. Bring your kids out to one of these great spots or events. Take some time walking about and enjoying the scenery as your hatch virtual eggs and catch virtual Pokémon.

Library – Dallas, Ft. Worth and Arlington Library events

With all the adventures to be had in the Metroplex, there are a few things that you just can’t do, unless you have a book. The story times and other events at the Fort Worth, Dallas, and other Metro libraries are sure to awaken the imagination and take your kids on grand adventures (without leaving the a/c!)

Until Next Time,

Rebekah

Settlers Glen

This week, we are all abuzz about Settlers Glen in Waxahachie! The Grand Opening for the 3rd phase in this fantastic community is around the corner and amazingly we are in closeout already! We only have 8 homesites left. There is mixed anticipation and pride as we see glimpses of the amazing things to come in this area and look toward our 4th phase. We’re getting in pictures as our first homes go up, and it’s hard to focus on much else. More stunning than the final product is the knowledge that we made that happen. To give you an idea of how that feels, please enjoy some photos of said final product:

231 Frontier Drive

As if the homes themselves weren’t enough, this beautiful community is quietly nestled between I-35E and HWY-287. The location alone offers an amazing balance of big city living and country ease. A 10 minute drive south will take you to beautiful downtown Waxahachie. Featuring some of the most unique shops and dining options north of Austin, the town square is beautifully preserved around it’s famed courthouse pictured below. If you’re itching to drive north, a 30 minute drive up 35E will land you in the heart of Downtown Dallas. From there, you can explore the arts, entertainment and nightlife offered by the big city.

Waxahachie_Courthouse

This convenient community is also masterfully planned. The quiet streets access only this community, creating a family-friendly neighborhood. The beautiful park is well landscaped, and perfect for the long summer days. The HOA in the area keeps everyone on the same page and looking great. This little community has everything you could want in a place to call home! Check out the video for more information and pictures of the awesome community.

Realtors to Follow on Social Media

Looking for realtors to follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook who bring their A game when it comes to social networking? These people and companies have lots to say with today’s audience and they all have their special way of communicating. Whether it’s by sharing helpful articles, home listings, or tips of where to go in your local area, they’re here to serve! We want to share our list of Realtors that we think you should follow (if you’re not already) on social media!

Realtor Pages to Follow on Facebook

#1 National Association of Realtors- Facebook page

I feel like it wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t mention this Facebook page; this is a public domain for all of the Realtors out there and it celebrates them simply by posting articles, funny memes, and exciting throwbacks from the home industry! This is the place to “like” and “follow” if you’re a realtor because you can to relate and gather info from the articles they post that could help you in the home buyer business. The Realtors page has something for every Realtor!

#2 Realtor.com- Facebook Page

If you liked the previous Realtor page, this is a Facebook page that all Realtors should follow. First, because it’s a domain where you can see all of the news and updates in the Realtor universe. Second, this is a great place to network with other Realtors. Lastly, you should follow this page because they post terrific articles about how to speed up home sales, how to close, DIY house decor, and economic stats in the housing market!

#3 Maria Zambrano- facebook Page

Maria’s Facebook page has distinguished itself through some very interactive features. She consistently posts new home listings, adds comments, re-tweets, shares DIY crafts for your home, and posts relevant stats in the housing market. Plus she posts articles about the local cities activities and restaurants to visit for other Realtors and customers looking at her page.

#4 bob Hardie- FACEBOOK Page

Good Ol’ Bob, his Facebook page covers every aspect of social media interaction from his helpful home repair articles, local places to travel, nearby spots to get some grub, and all around insightful posts. Bob knows what his audience wants to read, and he delivers with enthusiasm in every post! Plus he likes to travel and share his adventures with everyone, and we all know living vicariously through world travelers is always fun.

#5 danny Force- FACEBOOK Page

May I say, Danny has the coolest name, it sounds like a super hero “Danny Force” so that’s pretty awesome! In my opinion, that is reason enough to follow this guy, he’s also pretty original and up-to-date with today’s audience. He made a video of the “Appraisal Process” where he goes step-by-step and discusses the process of getting a home appraisal. This is a terrific way to communicate with your followers and the video gets the message out there in a direct way. He’s also made some other videos discussing the home buying process, here’s the link to his Youtube Channel!

Realtors to follow on Twitter

#1 Jennifer Kuhlman- @jenkuhlman

Jennifer’s twitter is a perfect example of somebody who stays in touch with her audience. She knows what homebuyers are looking for, and finds important articles to share that are helpful for mortgage owners and people looking in the market (like the ones she has already posted above)! She also posts stats every chance she gets because, as we know the home buying industry, it’s changing every day and Jennifer is helping us stay aware! Jennifer is currently a Realtor with Remax Synergy.

#2 Theo Holba– @theoholba

Where do we begin with Theo’s twitter? First of all, he posts motivational quotes quite often, which are great in the competitive world of sales. Also, has makes it fun by sharing unique vacation photos!

I believe in professionals working hard and playing hard and Theo is an excellent example of that. He knows real estate but likes to have fun and share it with his followers.

#3 Tony Deziel– @tony_deziel

Currently at 24.5k followers, Tony knows how to entertain on his online platform with lots of retweets of cooking recipes, interior design, distinguished home articles and more! Tony isn’t new to Twitter and definitely knows how to engage with his followers! To top it all off, he’s a musician as well as a successful Realtor with West View Properties! Here’s a link to his album on I-Tunes, https://itun.es/i6YH9h8 #iTunes

#4 Jean Clark- @JEClarkRealtor

Jean Clark owns her Twitter account by posting about her hardcore runs should be motivation enough to follow her. You can tell she’s goal oriented and working towards getting in shape! She’s also living a healthy lifestyle by clean eating so she posts pics of her garden and shares articles of healthy grocery stores to shop! Jean is currently a realtor at REMAX DFW Associates and is a major trend setter!

#5 Hannah Gigley- @HGigley

When I stumbled across Hannah’s twitter I was immediately drawn in by her eye catching profile cover photo, her market statistics to keep Realtors updated, and the articles she shares with terrific design tips! She also points out unique ways to decorate your bathroom, closet, and more! Hannah is a realtor but has incredible taste of how a home could look and loves to share her ideas with her followers. Hannah is currently a realtor with Luxury Homes.

Realtors to follow on Instagram

#1 Brosda and Bentley Realtors- @Brosda and Bentley

Wow! I have to say when I first looked at this account I didn’t know this was a Realty company! I was blown away by the artwork, colors and gorgeous floor plans! Many of their homes are off of the beach so you get to see beautiful landscapes outside the windows, plus they have completely luxurious and spacious kitchens! These are definitely dream homes, but it never hurts to dream!

#2 Ebby Halliday Realtors- @ebbyhalliday_realtors

I like it when you can look through a company’s social page and it tells a story. This Instagram account does just that by sharing throwback pictures of their owners. Not only does this present depth, but history is considered “vintage” by today’s market and it’s a sentimental and fun way to look at a company! I also like their “freshlistingfriday” videos, it’s a new home listing that the audience has come to expect and look forward to!

#3 Raleigh Realtors- @raleighrealtors

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again! I believe that the key to life and success is to work hard and play hard! Knowing how to lay back and have fun with your career is tough to do, and these Realtors know how to do just that. It looks like they sell their good share of homes, and they share it in a fun/creative way with the realtors holding a “SOLD” happy sign. Plus, you can tell that this group of people like to laugh by posting funny quotes and making “Anchor Man” references, which is great because Anchor Man rocks!

Chisholm Trail Ranch and a Cow Herding Palette

One of our upcoming neighborhoods is in South Fort Worth, right off the Chisholm Trail Parkway. If you are a Fort Worth native, you’ve heard of the Chisholm Trail all of your life. In elementary school, we took a field trip to the Stockyards and saw the old Swift Meat Packing plant falling into ruin. The magnificent decay continued to instill a sense of pride that our little town was once a hub for cattle on the Chisholm Trail.

From 1867 to 1884 the Chisholm Trail was the route taken by cowmen to bring their cattle north in order to supply beef to the Eastern United States. They drove cattle all the way from South Texas to Abilene, Kansas where there was a cattle shipping terminal to take the livestock East. Over five million cattle traveled this route during its use. It is considered the largest man made animal migration in history.

Since Fort Worth was the last stop for rest and supplies before moving north to Abilene, it quickly became known as Cowtown. In 1876 the railroad came to Fort Worth, making Cowtown the final destination for many cowmen on the Chisholm Trail. Their cattle and other livestock could now be shipped from Fort Worth rather than continuing to drive North risking further weight loss and, in turn, value per head. In 1900 both Armour & Co. and Swift & Co. began construction of meat packing plants adjacent to the stockyards and refrigerated cars began moving meat North and East. This had a huge impact on Cowtown economics. After opening their plants, Armour and Swift were responsible for bringing over six million dollars into the local economy. The rise and fall of this industry in Fort Worth lasted through the 1960’s. Armour closed their doors in 1962 and Swift followed suit in 1971.

In honor of this heritage, which has inspired the name of Chisholm Trail Ranch, I have created a palette based on Steve Devenyns’ beautiful painting In Good Hands. Although the cows in his paintings aren’t the archetypal longhorns associated with Cowtown, the setting and tone are what I imagine a moment in time on the trail would look like. When I was speaking with Steve about this painting he told me that he has “always portrayed the cowboy in my paintings as a good steward. This painting is a good example of that. In this painting, the horse, cattle and the land are all In Good Hands.” If you like this painting as much as I do, you can view and purchase his paintings and prints on his site.

-Carrie Davis

Sources:

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ayc02

http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/history.aspx

http://texastimetravel.com/node/28751

Summer Creek South and Chisholm Trail Ranch- Coming Soon

Hi everybody, I hope your week has been as amazing as mine! I can’t believe April is over already! This may (no pun intended) just be me but it still feels like January. But since it is definitely May, I checked my calendar to make sure… I can share some of Antares fabulous news!

We have a bunch of new communities coming this summer, and we have two as of right now that have promo videos made to share!

First, without further ado… Here’s the promo for our Summer Creek South Phase 2 community coming soon!

Summer Creek South is South of of interstate 20 at the intersection of Summer Creek and Risinger Road. This community is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, and it’s located minutes from shopping, entertainment, city parks, and the new Chisholm Trail Parkway.

Here’s the promo for our second community, Chisholm Trail Ranch!

We at Antares are very excited for this community as well, first because this is a brand new neighborhood and second, it’s near the new Chisholm Trail Parkway, on McPherson! This area is perfect because it gives you the advantage of living in a master planned community that will have it all! It has a country feel yet it has great amenities near by. There will be a neighborhood pool and cabana, parks and walking trails and a fishing pier. Right now homeowners can take advantage of the The Chisholm Trail Community Center which offers memberships. Viewing this neighborhood is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY as well.

As of right now, we plan to begin construction this summer. I’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on the progress of the neighborhoods as we go along and when we hope to have models built! But for now, enjoy these videos and be sure to talk to our sales consultants if you have any questions about our upcoming neighborhoods!

Summer Creek South: Sharon White 817-701-3010

Chisholm Trail Ranch: Monique Tinsley 817-701-3012

Until next time,

Alexa Katchinska