Tag: Matador Ranch

Best Eats!

This week, we’re featuring 1 or 2 great places to eat near each of our awesome communities!

  1. Fannin Farms – Istanbul Grill

If you’re ever in the neighborhood, Istanbul Grill is THE place for Mediterranean Cuisine!  This family-run diamond in the rough offers Mediterranean favorites like kebobs and gyros.  With a BYOB option, this is a great spot to sit and relax with friends when they have the space! Find them here.

  1. Selection Studio – Savor Coffee Bar and Eatery

If you are visiting our design studio, there is no better place around to gather your thoughts.  Their specialty drinks and delicious food will replenish your spirit while the beautiful atmosphere inspires your mind.  Find them here.

  1. Meadow Creek Estates – Moni’s Pasta & Pizza

Moni learned his trade working at a restaurant in Italia as a younger man.  He has passed on everything he knows to his son, who has owned and operated this particular location for the last 9 years.  Everything about this BYOB Italian restaurant is authentic from the pasta to the delivery!  Find them here.

  1. Settler’s Glen – Catfish Plantation

Don’t let the ghost stories keep you away!  All of the spirits there are friendly, and the delicious catfish is more than worth it!  Located near historic downtown Waxahachie, the Catfish Plantation is the very definition of good food, great service, and a beautiful location.  Find them here.

  1. Settler’s Glen – Lonestar Burger Bar

Texans love our burgers, and Lonestar Burger Bar is the best place to grab one near Settler’s Glen!  Their Black Angus burgers are dressed up with everything from bacon and BBQ sauce to peanut butter.  If it’s too early for a burger, they have great breakfast options!  Find them here.

  1. The Cove at North Grove – The Dove’s Nest

‘It’s Worth Flying South’ according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, and certainly worth the short drive from The Cove at North Grove.  This charming eatery serves New Southern Cuisine and delicious desserts! Nestled in historic downtown Waxahachie, eating at this acclaimed restaurant is both relaxing and invigorating.  Find them here.

  1. Matador Ranch – Antonio’s Homestyle Cooking

This family-owned Mexican food restaurant works hard to make every customer feel at home.  From made-at-your-table guacamole to fresh flan, it’s hard to find a more authentic Mexican eating experience.   Find them here.

  1. Summer Creek South – Bonnell’s

Dedicated to working with local farmers and right off the Chisholm Trail Toll Road, Bonnell’s is both convenient and delicious.  Opened in 2001 by Chef Bonnell, this restaurant combines Southwestern, Creole and Mexican flavors to create a taste that is authentically Texan.  Find them here.

  1. Summer Creek South – The Woodshed

This delicious smoke house is conveniently located just off of the Trinity Trails and the Chisholm Trail Toll Road.  The ever-changing menu is a thing that must be experienced to believe.  Chef Tim Love loves to bring in creative meats that can be enjoyed indoors or on the patio overlooking the river.  Find them here.

  1. Ashford Park – Bella Vita II Italian Restaurant

The second location for this family-owned Italian restaurant, this is a great option for dinner in the Burleson area.  The service is excellent, and the fresh food is constantly being updated by their innovative chefs.  When you walk through that door, they’ll make you feel like family.  Find them here.

  1. Chisholm Trail Ranch – Press Café

Located at the new trail head, Press Café is easily accessed from the Trinity Trails, and from Chisholm Trail Toll Road.  Whether you bike, run or drive to this fantastic location, you will be treated to some of the best healthy food in the area.  Their modern bar serves alcohol and coffee.  You can’t go wrong relaxing and enjoying the view.  Find them here.

  1. Saginaw Springs – Boo-Ray’s

Cajun food is widely loved, and not always done well.  With Boo-Ray’s zesty recipes and daily fresh fish, they do right by the owner’s Cajun heritage.  Along with authentic flavor, Scott Marks brings the New Orleans atmosphere to Eagle Mountain Lake.  Find them here.

  1. Saginaw Springs – Ginger Brown’s

If you’re looking for something in Saginaw that’s a bit less spicy, Ginger Brown’s is the place for you.  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Ginger brings delicious, home-style cookin’ to your table.  This laid-back bakery and diner keeps its cinnamon rolls and customers at its center.  Find them here.

 

Until Next Time,

Rebekah

Tick Tock

404 Poppy in Garden Heights is Move In Ready!

We have a few Neighborhoods that are in close out this Fall.  In fact we have many!  So, if you have visited Garden Heights in Mansfield or Hidden Creek in Burleson and are thinking of buying in those neighborhoods, it’s time to get off the fence.  We have one home site left in each of those neighborhoods and 3 move in ready homes between the two.

On the North Side of Fort Worth, Parkview Hills has only four home sites remaining and three of those are the coveted Meandering Creek Lane greenbelt sites.

Looking for a value in South Fort Worth?  Matador Ranch has less than ten home sites remaining and those are going fast!

Do you want to move in before the end of the year?  We can help!  We have several homes available now ranging from 1430 to 3098 square feet, three bedrooms to five bedrooms with Media and Game Rooms!

Need a Lease Buyout?  No Problem?  Have a Realtor?  Great!  Credit Issues?  We can help!

Tick, Tock!

Are You A First Time Home Buyer?

We have the Best Kept Secret In Fort Worth- An Exceptional First Time Home Buyer Program! Call us now to find out more 1-800-ANTARES 1800-268-2737

If you have never owned a home or have not owned a home in the last three years you’ve got to take advantage of this great First Time Home Buyer Program we are offering!  Would you like help with Down Payment and Closing Costs?  How about help that you don’t have to pay back?  With interest rates so low and home prices on the verge of dramatic increases the time is now!  Don’t miss out.  Call one of our Fort Worth Neighborhoods for more details on how to qualify for this great program!

 

Parkview Hills  817-259-1907

Glen Mills Village  817-259-1909

Matador Ranch  817-350-6298

Villages of Sunset Pointe  817-701-3010

Parks of Deer Creek  817-704-7530

Mission Ridge Estates  817-704-7530

Summer Creek South  817-350-6298

Bricks Are The Home’s Outerwear, And Yes, It’s Fashion-y

From Hanson's Online Brochure "Texas Collection"

Clay Bricks or Limestone Bricks or Cementious Limestone, which do you prefer?  Or have you ever given it much thought?  At Antares Homes we are very interested in Brick.  Bricks are used in the construction of a new home as sheathing.  Bricks are not a structural part of your home in the same way that the frame is.  Bricks prevent water seepage into the backup walls just like the roof shingles prevent water from seeping into your home from the top.  Bricks are breathable and do allow for moisture to penetrate and drain through the weep holes at the bottom of the veneer.  They also provide for some R-Factor on the exterior of your home as well.  But what most of us notice about bricks are how they look on your home!

A home with little to no brick detailing is very drab.  We try to include some architectural detailing on every home of ours even on the least expensive “A” elevations.  These details are called Row Locks, Soldiers, and Herringbone patterns.  Combined with different roof pitches and types, we allow for the creation of a very diverse look to our neighborhoods.  Who wants to live in a neighborhood where every home looks the same?  Not me either, but I have seen neighborhoods just like that!

We use three brands of Brick at Antares Homes and four types of Brick: Limestone Brick, Cementious Limestone and Clay.  Bilco Bricks are one of the options that we offer standard in most of our Neighborhoods.  They have a 110 year warranty and are made of a Limestone and Cement Mixture that is very durable.  Hanson Limestone Bricks are the other option that is standard in most of our neighborhoods.  It has a 101 year Warranty.   We also use Hanson Clay Brick and Acme Clay Brick.  Acme Bricks have a 100 Year Guarantee.  Wow!  Any item that has warranties that long is durable!  Did you know that bricks can be reused and recycled?  I watched a building being cladded with recycled brick.  Once they finished, they painted it.  Beautiful!

 

 

New Year, New Home

Open the door to a Brand New Year!

Have you been thinking about a new home for a long time?  Have you watched interest rates and home prices drop?  Have you noticed that home prices are now rising?

We are at the beginning of the upswing in pricing for Real Estate in our area.  Guess what else is happening?  Loan costs are on the rise too.  That means both interest rates and mortgage insurance premiums will be higher on FHA loans.  What does that mean to you?  Move quickly!  Claim your inventory home and lock in your rate and current MIP rates before they skyrocket at the end of this month.  This could save you thousands of dollars over a 30 year loan.

 It’s a New Year.  Don’t you deserve a New Home?

It’s Easy!

Buying a New Home is Easy! We’ll show you how.

Did you know that buying a new home is a very simple process? You have one major choice to make before you begin the process: do you want to build your new home from the ground up or do you want to move into your new home in the next 30 days or less?

 

If you want to move quickly, let’s say your home has sold or your lease is up, or you have just re-located, an inventory home is the best option for you.    An inventory home is one that the builder chose to build knowing that it is a popular floor plan and anticipating that some people may need to move into their new home in 30 days or less. There are about five steps to buying a completed inventory home:

 

-Gathering Your Paperwork 

Now this is the first step no matter what type of home you are buying.  You will need to provide your lender with a copy of your last two year’s W2’s, the two most recent paycheck stubs, a copy of your driver’s license, a copy of your social security card and your most recent checking and savings account statements.  Getting this paperwork together before you begin looking will streamline the process when you are ready to make your decision.

 

-Loan Application

Most Home Builders will have their list of preferred or in house lenders.  At Antares we have a list of over six Lenders that we prefer to work with.  These people have earned their place on our list by providing great customer service to our Home Buyers and to our Sales Consultants.  They are Lenders we can depend on to answer our phone calls even on weekends and after hours and they take care of our Buyers.  You can submit a loan application at any of our Model Homes any day of the week.  You are also welcome to use your own Lender that has already pre-approved you.  Getting this part out of the way early on in the process helps you to determine what price range you want to stay in.  It can also help with planning a budget for after you close.  Having a realistic plan for your lifestyle is very important.  For example, if you love to travel, you may want to keep your mortgage payment way below the maximum you can qualify for.

 

-Choose Your Home

This is the fun part!  Visiting our Model Homes, looking at our completed inventory and imagining where you’ll place your furniture!  Not sure what exactly will be the best style home for you?  No problem.  Our Sales Consultants are very good listeners and they will ask you lots of questions to discover which home will best suit your needs.

 

-Go to your Home Owner Orientation

Meet with the Construction Manager and find out all about the unique construction of your New Home.  You’ll learn more about Water Heaters, Grout, Foundations and Insulation than you every wanted!

 

-Go to Closing

Signing on the dotted line and getting the keys to your future!  Congratulations!

 

Have you decided you would like to pick all of the colors for your new home?  Need a few months to save up your down payment?  Want a floor plan that we don’t have as a completed inventory home?  In love with that over sized Cul-De-Sac Home Site?  Build!  After the first two steps above, the next step is:

 

-Choose Your Floor Plan and Home Site

It can be overwhelming when we have so many different plans and locations to build.  But don’t worry we are here to help!  With plans ranging from three bedrooms to six bedrooms, we will have the perfect plan for you!

 

-Visit the Selection Studio

This is my favorite part!  Since we don’t limit our Buyers to pre-selected packages, every home can be customized in many different ways.  We will help you choose options that are beautiful and within any budget!

 

-Watch Your Home Emerge!

The construction process is very interesting if you ask me!  A lot of our buyers will visit their home weekly to take pictures and observe their dreams taking form.  You will meet with the Construction Manager during this time to get an overview of the construction process.  He will also be able to answer any questions you have about how your home is being built.  All of the Construction Managers at Antares Homes are Graduate Master Builders!  Where else can you find that?

 

-Save Your Down Payment Money

Most of our buyers are using FHA loans.  These loans require 3.5% of the mortgage value of the home as a down payment.  A lot of people don’t have that amount sitting around and have to budget to save it.  Since it takes us four months to build your new home, most of our buyers are able to save down payment money in that time period.  We also have various Zero Down loans available for qualified buyers.  If you want more information on those programs, please contact one of our Sales Offices.  Our Sales Consultants will be able to tell you very quickly if you qualify for one of those programs.

 

-Meet with the Construction Manager

You will meet with your Construction Manager at least three times during the building process.  He is a great educational resource for our buyers.  Every wonder why we do what we do?  He’ll be able to tell you!

 

-Go to closing!

The same last step: Signing on the dotted line and getting the keys to your future!  Congratulations!

 

Now Wasn’t That Easy?

STOP! Don’t work on improving your credit all by yourself!

Think you know how to repair your credit score? You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make it worse. Best advice: Talk to an expert before you take any action. There are plenty of dos and don’ts when it comes to credit repair.

Photo Credit: money-for-single-moms.com

Sorry for yelling STOP in all upper caps but this topic is way too important to let slide. A prospective home buyer–let’s call her “Melanie”–just stopped by one of our sales offices to share some exciting news. Turns out she’s been trying to repair her credit score on her own. (Insert big “oh, no” here.) Ms. Melanie said her credit score (pulled just two months ago) was only 20 points short of qualifying for a loan. She had taken on the challenge to boost her score and proudly announced, “I’ve been paying on some old stuff.” (Insert another “oh, no” and throw in a sigh.)

So what’s the big deal?

The problem is that credit repair is very tricky these days. Recent credit items are more important than old debt, and most lenders can overlook some dings to your credit if they occurred a long time ago. Believe it or not, paying on an old debt breathes new life into that carcass and makes it show up on your credit report as a recent item. This can cause your score to tank.

No one told Melanie to do this. Despite a consultation with Marcy Rutherford, a veteran sales counselors who is very knowledgeable in credit repair, Melanie didn’t take her advice.  The result is that Melanie may very well have set herself back over 100 points!  This will take a very long time to undo.

Please take a lesson from our unfortunate friend and stop working on your own credit.  We can help!  Just call one of our Sales Offices and make an appointment to find out more about our Credit Watchers Program.  Call toll free: 1-800-Antares (800-268-2737) or choose your favorite neighborhood and phone number from this list.

It’s Snow Pretty!

Although I was born and raised right here in Fort Worth, Texas, I am no stranger to snowy cold weather.  I went to college in Iowa and followed that up with a job at a therapeutic wilderness camp in East Texas that was year ‘round.  It was par for the course to wake up in your tent to a few mornings below 20◦ during January and February.

After that I worked at a high ropes course in Maryland that ran from March through October.  More snow and cold.  So, I have cold weather gear to say the least. 

After several days of being snowed in I decided to hike over to Matador Ranch which is relatively close by to my home.  Bandit, my American Mutt came along.  My husband and I adopted him this summer to save him from a very bad situation.  We were delighted to find a couple of days ago that he loves the snow and ice.  We have taken him out and played every day and he loves it.  So I knew he’d be up for the trip.

It Was Beautiful!  Here are the pictures: 

North End of Matador
Looking South on Crowley Road

 

 

Me in my Expedition Gear and Bandit in his fur coat

 

Monique Tinsley, Fearless Salesperson at Matador Ranch
Happy Homeowner!

 

 

 

Frozen Park!

 

 

Lonely Park Bench
Bandit!
Here Comes the Sun

One of these home sites could be yours!

The only one of it's kind! A new floor plan completed.
Looking north on Crowley Road
Heading Home, re-tracing our tracks...

By the way I forgot that it is possible to suck a snowflake into your nostril.  Brain Freeze!