As I write this, it is a lovely first day of fall, and the temperature is gloriously cool. It won't last. We know this.
But at least this brief drop in temps and humidity signals a change is coming. I actually love summer, and I am (somewhat) sorry to see it go. But onto fall, which brings with it football (Pony Up!) and yummy things made with pumpkin. People have been asking us lately if the real estate market is cooling down along with the weather. The answer is, essentially, No. I do not see that there is much less demand for good homes. I've probably got 6 people I'm working with right now who would happily make a purchase if we could find the right property. It's all about the inventory...or lack thereof. There still are simply not enough options. That said, there are work-arounds for this scarcity. First of all, I try to be first-in-the-door when a solid property comes on the market that I think one of my clients will love. It does not always make a difference to be first one in, but the sooner you get in, the sooner you can start the contract-writing process if the home is The One. And Chris and I have always said that your first offer is often the best one, so we try to use that principle to our advantage on the buying side. The Blackman Group had an incredibly busy summer--so much so that we took no vacation! Oh, don't start the pity party! We will get somewhere soon! What we did do this summer was get lots of folks in great new homes of all sizes and price points. It is so gratifying to hear our clients tell us that they are loving their new home. Wishing you a joyful, healthy start to fall!
Day Trippin': Granbury
As you know, I typically use this space to feature a historic or interesting Dallas neighborhood. Granbury is not a Dallas neighborhood. But it is fun, pretty, and interesting; and it is just a fairly-quick drive away. Of course I had heard of Granbury and its quaint downtown, but it truly came on our radar when some friends bought a lake house there and then ended up going all-in and moving there full-time and buying a business in that cute town square. Now that Chris and I have visited a few times, we are sold on the charms of this small, but sophisticated town. Granbury, comparatively-speaking, is a Texas town with a long history. Established around 1870, its town square includes many original buildings, including the Hood County Courthouse and the Granbury Opera House (1886), which still hosts musicals and other productions. Built at a bend in the Brazos River, the town got a boost in the 1960s, when the river was dammed up to form Lake Granbury. This gave rise to marinas and a true lake-culture that continues to bring tourists and recreational visitors to the area. I can tell you from first-hand experience that Lake Granbury is a gem. It is crystal clear and pretty, with a gorgeous shoreline that recalls Lake Austin.
In town, you will find restaurants and shops that stand up to Dallas tastes and expectations. For yummy meals, we have enjoyed Christina's, and we hear good things about Ketzler's Schnitzel Haus, and Eighteen Ninety Grille & Lounge. And then I must mention our friends' shop: St. Helen's on the Square. It is an absolutely charming gift boutique, with home (and lake house) goods, jewelry, art, and giftables for every occasion. Follow them on Insta: @sthelensgranbury. If you stop in, say the Blackmans sent you!
Meet Doak Doak is our younger, littler dog. He's a Sheltie, just like Kai. Named after football-great Doak Walker, Doak is a little ray of sunshine. Ok, he's a little ray of sunshine that barks a TON (it's a Sheltie trait). More than any person or dog I've ever met, Doak is defined by his FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Truly, he cannot bear to miss anything happening that could be interesting to him. If he's in the room with me, but it seems that Chris is doing something potentially more interesting, then Doak has to go back-and-forth between us, making sure he's not missing anything. Doak's most miserable moment is when I take Kai on a walk without him. I do not do this to be mean. I simply cannot always handle the two of them. On these occasions, Doak howls as if the greatest tragedy in the world has just happened. God love him, he's a little nut. We adore our little Doak.
Stuff I Adore
--Ted Lasso: All I can say is that this show warms my heart. First of all, it is hilarious, and I love the characters; but it also meets the needs of this moment in time by offering pure lightness and fun. Here's the premise: An American football coach, Ted Lasso, is hired to coach an English soccer team (football, to them). He knows nothing about the sport, but he gets the team going with his relentless optimism. It is just a great, great show. Also, it is 30 minutes long, which apparently matches my attention span. Heads up that we will host a Ted Lasso season finale watching party in our new indoor-outdoor space on Friday, Oct. 8. Be on the lookout for details. Yes, we will be serving the Ted Lasso biscuits that my friend Cathy makes (Lemma's Bakeshop). --Yacht Rock: In case you don't know, here is my best definition of yacht rock: Yacht rock is rock music of the sort that one might listen to on a yacht while drinking iced tea or chardonnay. It is not edgy. It is not aggressive in tone or theme. It is nostalgic. It is easy on the ears. If it were a food, it would be banana pudding. Let me give you some examples. Ambrosia, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Christopher Cross. These are the kings of yacht rock. Oh yes, women sing yacht rock, too. A song like "Midnight at the Oasis" is a perfect example.
Why do I like this music so much? It soothes me, and it makes me think of driving around with my mom when I was a child, and KVIL was always on the radio. Songs like "the Pina Colada Song," "Easy Like Sunday Morning," and "What a Fool Believes" just take me to a time and place when things were (relatively) simple and just running errands with my mom was all that was required of me. You can listen to yacht rock on XM radio--it has its own station; or you can listen to 88.1 FM. Try some Yacht Rock! It'll make you smile!
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Diana Blackman Cell: 214-773-3454
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