december 2012 homes guide

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A Publication of the Granbury Association of REALTORS DECEMBER 2012 GranburyRealtors.com COMPLIMENTARY

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Homes for Sale in Granbury, TX

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Page 1: December 2012 Homes Guide

A Publication of the Granbury Association of REALTORS DECEMBER 2012

GranburyRealtors.com

C O M P L I M E N T A R Y

Page 2: December 2012 Homes Guide

www.LakeGranburyRealEstate.com

© 20

11 KN

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R RE

ALTY

, INC.

Custom home on private lot, granite, custom cabinets, built-ins, oversized garage, creek.

Offered at $279,000Very cute home in Pecan, lots of trees, great

shaded property, spacious floor plan.

Offered at $114,900

Beautiful setting, gated community, high ceil-ings, spacious living, covered back patios.

Offered at $239,900

Beautifully treed 6+acres with 50x60 metal building, 2 office spaces, wired for 110 & 220.

Offered at $149,900Riverfront home w/ tons of shade trees, country club living, large living space, deck.

Offered at $164,900Start building your future home! Huge 2+ acre lake lot surrounded by upscale homes.

Offered at $119,000

Adorable country home, 4+ acres, rustic en-trance, beautiful mature trees, covered deck.

Offered at $129,000

Fabulous riverfront home, golf community, tastefully decorated, generous space thruout.

Offered at $319,000Riverfront home, surrounded by trees, open views, vaulted ceilings, remodeled kitchen.

Offered at $247,500

Stone & brick home, beautifully treed, fenced yard, new roof, new flooring, new Seer HVAC

Offered at $179,500On the water & golf course! Comfortable home, versatile design, fishing dock at creek.

Offered at $229,000Waterfront condo! Lovely 3/2 design, well decorated, amazing views + fully furnished!

Offered at $245,000

Incredible curb appeal, crisp & clean inside & out, open concept with excellent kitchen.

Offered at $209,900

Waterfront home, tons of potential, large windows, covered patio, fishing dock & more.

Offered at $199,000

R E A L E S T A T E

Pam Knieper owner/broKer

. . . and THE Authority on Real Estate.

The Waterfront Experts

817.219.0456

86 acres of waterfront property! Several heavily wooded areas, rolling terrain & more.

Offered at $399,000

FromChristmas!Christmas!MerryMerry

807-MOUNTAIN LAKES! Peaceful setting on 2 acres, nice trees, large deck, above ground pool & workshop. Spa-cious 3/2/2, large open living room, 2nd living area could be formal dining. Great kitchen with granite, screened in porch. Access to private lakes, pool, club house. $214,900 MLS# 11794234

204-PECAN PLANTATION - 2+ ACRES! Bring your horse or just enjoy the privacy of this equestri-an lot. Custom home, just under 3000 sq.ft., 3 bd., 3 bath, study, plus exercise room & 3 full car garage. Large covered patio, well landscaped yard, beautiful trees. Quality through-out! $349,900 MLS# 11796390

277-NEW LISTING, PECAN PLANTATION! Custom home, built 2006, over 2800 sq.ft. 2 spacious living areas, 3 bed-rooms, study, 3 & half baths. New wood floors, stone fire-place, fantastic kitchen with granite. Large landscaped yard, pecan trees, incredible outdoor kitchen and patio. $339,500 MLS# 11825895

419-WATERFRONT HOME, WATERS EDGE! Recently updated, wood floors, granite kitchen tops, new paint. Great floorplan, 2 living areas, beautiful master suite, sun room, great view of lake. Boat dock, well landscaped lawn. $299,500 MLS# 11829067

829-RANCH STYLE STONE HOME on over 2 acres. Great floor plan. 3bd/3ba, large living area, rock fireplace, fantastic kitchen with granite, 2nd living area or study. Great location, easy access to Fort Worth, nice trees, seasonal creek. 2nd living area could be formal dining. $229,900 MLS# 11749576

832-TOLAR, 5 ACRES! Perfect for large family. Four bedroom, 3 & half bath, 2 spacious living areas, formal dining, beautiful master suite. Two separate kitchens, great for entertaining, sepa-rate guest house, & work shop. Large pecan trees, coastal. Immaculate home, reduced to $394,900 MLS# 11841521

910-IMMACULATE MANUFAC-TURED HOME ON OVER 1½ ACRES. Great views from hillside perch. Quiet & private. 30X30 insulated shop. Spacious home with island kitchen, whole house filter & reverse osmosis systems. $115,000 MLS# 11854180

600-WIDE OPEN WATERFRONT! Sit on your decks and take in the spectacular views! Darling 2 bedroom mobile, updated, 2 living areas. Rock walls, dock with lift, jet ski lifts & decks over the water. HAVE FUN! $169,900 MLS# 11855839

405-A LAKE LOVER’S DREAM! Awesome rock open concept home on huge level lot! Approximately 300’ MAIN-BODY, trees, decks, gazebo, tons of rock work, boat dock. True one of a kind OASIS! $320,000 MLS# 11849521

211-LIKE NEW WELL CARED FOR 2/2/2 PATIO HOME ON CUL-DE-SAC! Convenient loca-tion, open concept living/dining. Wood floors in living, beautiful kitchen, island and breakfast bar, appliances included. Split bedrooms. Landscaped, fenced, sprinkler system, covered patio. $129,000 MLS# 11844841

293-ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME IN FOREST OAKS! 3/2½/2 formal dining, study with granite, wood, separate craft/office/cedar room, stor-age with overhead door! ALL ON AWESOME 1/2 ACRE LOT! $254,900 MLS#11825030

205-STUNNING HILL COUN-TRY BEAUTY! Lake view, 1/2 acre, huge oak trees, pool! 3bd/3ba, 3 car carport. Soaring ceilings, living/dining/kitchen with scored laminate floors. 2 masters. Wrap around porch. Workshop. Unbelievable! MUST SEE! $215,000 MLS# 11824268

REALTOR® Associate

Cell: 817-219-5774 Broker Associate

Cell: 817-929-3905 RE/MAX Lake Granbury817-579-1504

4810 Hwy. 377 E. Granbury, Texas 76049Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

LINDABLANKENSHIP

26 Years Experience Multi Million Dollar Producer

Steve Cook32 Years Experience

Multi Million Dollar Producer

Page 3: December 2012 Homes Guide

807-MOUNTAIN LAKES! Peaceful setting on 2 acres, nice trees, large deck, above ground pool & workshop. Spa-cious 3/2/2, large open living room, 2nd living area could be formal dining. Great kitchen with granite, screened in porch. Access to private lakes, pool, club house. $214,900 MLS# 11794234

204-PECAN PLANTATION - 2+ ACRES! Bring your horse or just enjoy the privacy of this equestri-an lot. Custom home, just under 3000 sq.ft., 3 bd., 3 bath, study, plus exercise room & 3 full car garage. Large covered patio, well landscaped yard, beautiful trees. Quality through-out! $349,900 MLS# 11796390

277-NEW LISTING, PECAN PLANTATION! Custom home, built 2006, over 2800 sq.ft. 2 spacious living areas, 3 bed-rooms, study, 3 & half baths. New wood floors, stone fire-place, fantastic kitchen with granite. Large landscaped yard, pecan trees, incredible outdoor kitchen and patio. $339,500 MLS# 11825895

419-WATERFRONT HOME, WATERS EDGE! Recently updated, wood floors, granite kitchen tops, new paint. Great floorplan, 2 living areas, beautiful master suite, sun room, great view of lake. Boat dock, well landscaped lawn. $299,500 MLS# 11829067

829-RANCH STYLE STONE HOME on over 2 acres. Great floor plan. 3bd/3ba, large living area, rock fireplace, fantastic kitchen with granite, 2nd living area or study. Great location, easy access to Fort Worth, nice trees, seasonal creek. 2nd living area could be formal dining. $229,900 MLS# 11749576

832-TOLAR, 5 ACRES! Perfect for large family. Four bedroom, 3 & half bath, 2 spacious living areas, formal dining, beautiful master suite. Two separate kitchens, great for entertaining, sepa-rate guest house, & work shop. Large pecan trees, coastal. Immaculate home, reduced to $394,900 MLS# 11841521

910-IMMACULATE MANUFAC-TURED HOME ON OVER 1½ ACRES. Great views from hillside perch. Quiet & private. 30X30 insulated shop. Spacious home with island kitchen, whole house filter & reverse osmosis systems. $115,000 MLS# 11854180

600-WIDE OPEN WATERFRONT! Sit on your decks and take in the spectacular views! Darling 2 bedroom mobile, updated, 2 living areas. Rock walls, dock with lift, jet ski lifts & decks over the water. HAVE FUN! $169,900 MLS# 11855839

405-A LAKE LOVER’S DREAM! Awesome rock open concept home on huge level lot! Approximately 300’ MAIN-BODY, trees, decks, gazebo, tons of rock work, boat dock. True one of a kind OASIS! $320,000 MLS# 11849521

211-LIKE NEW WELL CARED FOR 2/2/2 PATIO HOME ON CUL-DE-SAC! Convenient loca-tion, open concept living/dining. Wood floors in living, beautiful kitchen, island and breakfast bar, appliances included. Split bedrooms. Landscaped, fenced, sprinkler system, covered patio. $129,000 MLS# 11844841

293-ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME IN FOREST OAKS! 3/2½/2 formal dining, study with granite, wood, separate craft/office/cedar room, stor-age with overhead door! ALL ON AWESOME 1/2 ACRE LOT! $254,900 MLS#11825030

205-STUNNING HILL COUN-TRY BEAUTY! Lake view, 1/2 acre, huge oak trees, pool! 3bd/3ba, 3 car carport. Soaring ceilings, living/dining/kitchen with scored laminate floors. 2 masters. Wrap around porch. Workshop. Unbelievable! MUST SEE! $215,000 MLS# 11824268

REALTOR® Associate

Cell: 817-219-5774 Broker Associate

Cell: 817-929-3905 RE/MAX Lake Granbury817-579-1504

4810 Hwy. 377 E. Granbury, Texas 76049Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

LINDABLANKENSHIP

26 Years Experience Multi Million Dollar Producer

Steve Cook32 Years Experience

Multi Million Dollar Producer

Page 4: December 2012 Homes Guide

ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE :ADVERTISING & STORY SUBMISSION Emily [email protected]

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT :Pat Angeley [email protected]

All real estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination”. This publication will not knowingly accept any listing or advertising for rental or sell of real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this publication are available on an equal opportunity basis. The Homes Guide is published by GAR, 2504 James RD, Granbury, Texas 76049 * (817) 326-2530. All information in this publication is be-lieved to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. All information should be independently veri-fied by the customer. GAR assumes no liability for any advertisement in this magazine. GAR reserves the right to refuse advertising space to anyone for any reason. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, or any commercial attempt to cover or alter the appearance of this publica-tion without the written permission of GAR is expressly forbidden. All rights reserved.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:PRESIDENT : Kay Bailey PRESIDENT ELECT : Kimberly Shook PAST PRESIDENT : Pamela Z. Miller SECRETARY : Freddie CrawfordTREASURER : Debbie Van DykeDIRECTOR : Denise RayDIRECTOR : Laura Life DIRECTOR : Jerry Williamson DIRECTOR : Joy Paris DIRECTOR : Lynn Dirks TAR DIRECTOR : Vickie Davies

2012 COMMITTEE CHAIRSBYLAWS : Pamela Z. Miller FINANCE : Debbie Van DykeGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS : Steve FosterMEMBERSHIP : Scott BradleyMULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE : Debbie Van DykePROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT : Felicia PetersPROFESSIONAL STANDARDS : Judy HallowellPUBLIC RELATIONS : Charlie Parrish/ Andrea Smith SPECIAL EVENTS : Carol Seitz TREPAC : Leigh York

2504 James Road, Granbury, TX 76049 · PHONE: 817-326-2530 · FACSIMILE: 817-326-2545 · WWW.GRANBURYREALTORS.COM

WWW.GRANBURYREALTORS.COM

12 Days of Christmas Home Improvements

Page 12

Holiday Fire Safety TipsPage 18

Scan the QR code to visit our website.

Page 5: December 2012 Homes Guide

Protecting home ownership,now and for future generations.

A child doesn’t know that owning a home helps build communities. That home ownership contributes to higher self-esteem and better test scores. They just know that home is where they belong. It’s where they play, grow and learn.

The National Association of REALTORS® will always stand up for home ownership and strive to protect it. Because home ownership matters – to our families, our neighborhoods and our country.

HouseLogic.com/homeownership

©2012 REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Granbury Association of REALTORS

®

Granbury, TX

817-326-2530

www.granburyrealtors.com

2504 James Road, Granbury, TX 76049 · PHONE: 817-326-2530 · FACSIMILE: 817-326-2545 · WWW.GRANBURYREALTORS.COM

Page 6: December 2012 Homes Guide
Page 7: December 2012 Homes Guide

Cell: 817- 578-4841

LYNN DIRKS ABR, CRS,GRI,SRES

817- 579-1504

RE/Max Lake Granbury 4810 E Hwy 377 Granbury, TX 76049

WWW.REMAX-LAKEGRANBURY.TX.COM

240-TOTAL UPDATE describes this 3/2/2 brick home in Span-ish Trail subdivision. What a deal for some lucky family. All new appliances, new carpet, new vi-nyl, new kitchen cabinets and countertop. Hurry on this one! $124,900 MLS# 11858999

[email protected]

Each office independently owned & operated

407-GREAT WEEKENDER 20X21 covered deck, boat slip, new foun-dation, steel piers in 2009, new roof 2008, close to stores, shop-ping & the historic town square. A polished jewel just waiting for you. $129,900 MLS# 11771637

423-WATERFRONT IN EXCLUSIVE HARBOR LAKES. 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, game room, double boat dock with lifts, covered outdoor kitchen with granite counter tops, saltwater pool and heated spa. Lots of extras. $479,900 MLS# 11830767

914-OVERSIZED DOUBLEWIDE LOCATED ON 2 LOTS. Very roomy with 2 living areas, 2 dining ar-eas, great kitchen with tons of cabinets & spacious work area. Separate utility room. Clean & ready for the lucky fam-ily. $67,900 MLS# 11635328

288-ANCIENT OAKS shade this home and the big backyard with wonderful golf course views. Spacious kitchen/breakfast room. Living/formal dining room has vaulted beamed ceiling & WBFP. 31x11 heated/cooled sunroom overlooks golf course. Split master bedroom with large sitting area. New paint. Sprinklers, oversized garage. $169,900 MLS# 11854524

4006-DECORDOVA BEND ESTATES. Build your dream home on one of the last available water access lots that comes with a covered boat dock! A rare opportunity - hurry! Price reduced from $100,000 to $60,000 MLS# 11838811

RE/MAX Lake Granbury4810 E. Hwy. 377, Granbury, Texas 76049 cell: (817) 578-5408 or

office: (817) 579-1504Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Broker/ Owner

DCBE

Golf Course

Joy ParisCell 817-578-5408

DCBE

Waterfront

Have you visited our website lately? Be sure to check out our

online Homes Guide at www.GranburyRealtors.com

Page 8: December 2012 Homes Guide

Shirley Hooks, Inc.

- GRANBURY -817-573-8801

122 N. Crockett St.

WWW.CENTURY21SHOOKS.COM1-888-770-7356

#156 De Cordova Hills 3/3/2 Excellent location on 2.5 acres with small vineyard and room for farm living! $219,000

#102 Lakewood Hills 3/2.5/2 Golf course custom home with NO HOA! Huge back patio overlooking the golf course. $216,300

#214 Holiday Estates 2/2.5/2 Custom Builder’s home on Deep Main Body Walk-Out Water! $349,900

#110 Mallard Point 4/3/3 Ex-clusive Lake Granbury wa-terfront neighborhood. You’ll fall in love! $375,000

#145 Port Ridglea 2/1/1 Wa-terfront home with dock and boat lift. Open concept. Jack N Jill bath – Reduced $150,000

#113 Sky Harbor 3/2/0 Custom home on large lot. Screened in area with fireplace. Stain-less appliances. Large car-port. High ceilings $180,000

#224 Harbor Lakes 3/3.5/3 The best of lake front & golf club living. Exclusive Har-bor Lakes Executive Home $689,000

#135 Pecan Plantation 5/4/2 Spacious home on corner lot. Plenty of room for your family. Has large fenced backyard with in-ground pool! $230,000 - Reduced

#215 Waters Edge 4/3.5/2 An amazing lake house with room for all! Wood floors, granite countertops and a game room for entertain-ing. $389,900 – Reduced

#308 De Cordova 3/2.5/3 Lots of beautiful built ins in breakfast room and family room. A must see! Just Re-duced! $149,000

#710 Acreage - Beautiful hill-top overlooking large valley. Newly dug tank. Large trees. Deep Trinity water well, Aero-bic Septic, Electricity on prop-erty. $375,000 – Reduced

#507 Acreage 3/2.5/3 Won-derful country home on 26+ acres. Has a sparkling salt water pool. Great view of Comanche Peak $529,000

#108 Cresson 3/2.5/3 El-egant Country Estate Situ-ated On 2 Acres Of Rolling Hills & Mature Trees. Fea-turing An Open Floor Plan $364,900

#307 De Cordova 3/2/2 Bet-ter than new! Home was very lightly lived in. New carpet. Custom home with tons of features. $209,000

#123 The Peninsula 4/2.5/2 Beautiful home in one of Granbury’s BEST communi-ties. Spacious Family Room & brick fireplace $239,900

#119 Cove Timber 4/3/2 Great home at a Great Price! Granite counters. Gated subdivision with low HOA dues! Bring us an offer! $210,000

#408 Pecan Plantation 3/2.5/3 Airpark home by Steve Miller. Gated golf course community, marina, lake access, etc. $369,921

#107 Hills Of Granbury 3/2.5/2 Beautiful custom home built in 2006 on one acre lot. Home is open concept with large living area with fireplace. $178,000

#221 Historic Division 3/2/1 Beautiful early Craftsman home. Enjoy being in the heart of Granbury with a quick walk to the square! $249,000 Reduced

#128 Piece Of Tranquility 3/2/1 Country Home on 4 Acres. Covered RV parking with all connections. A great barn. Garage and workshop! This place has it ALL $149,900

WATERFRONT AND GATED

HOMES WITH ACREAGE

Page 9: December 2012 Homes Guide

America needs jobs.Housing creates them.

For every two homes sold, one job is created.1

HouseLogic.com/jobs

Every time a house is built, bought, or sold, American jobs are created. In fact, for every two homes sold, one job is created.1 That’s 2.5 million jobs, created or maintained, in average year of homes sales.2 Strong federal government support for home ownership equals strong support for American jobs. The National Association of REALTORS® supports responsible housing finance reform and we believe that home ownership must play a pivotal role in growing our economy. Learn more today at HouseLogic.com/jobs.

©2012 National Association of REALTORS®. 1Based on estimation. Jobs Impact of an Existing Home Purchase 2010, National Association of REALTORS®. 2Homes sales estimate is 5.36 million homes as of January 2011. U.S. Annual Existing Home Sales, National Association of REALTORS®.

Granbury Association of REALTORS

®

Granbury, TX

817-326-2530

www.granburyrealtors.com

Page 10: December 2012 Homes Guide

Porter Title Company is a title and escrow company that has been serving Hood County real estate needs since 1937.

www.portertitle.com

Porter Title CompanyThree Locations

To Serve You!

Main Phone: 817-579-3100Metro: 817-578-2000

Fax: 817-573-5467

377 Office4425 Hwy. 377 E.

Suite 101Granbury, Texas 76049

Waters Edge Office1099 Waters Edge Dr.

Suite 200Granbury, TX 76048

Plant Office1924 Acton Hwy

Granbury , TX 76049

Laurel W Pirkle, Agent301 S. MorganGranbury, TX 76048Bus. 817-573-5504 Fax. [email protected]

24 Hour Good Neighbor Service ®

The Granbury Association of REALTORS recommends you do business with our GREAT

affiliates.

moregreat rates, low feesfriendly, responsive servicequick approvals

Melissa SchaeferNMLS #441943 817-579-4902www.communitymortgage-tx.com

ENJOY THIS LOVELYMAINBODY WATERFRONT

VIEW EVERYDAY PRIME COMMERCIAL WATERFRONT WILL SUBDIVIDE 5.29 acres/surveySherri Reynolds - Broker/REALTOR 817-578-1559 - Granbury Realty

[email protected]

Page 11: December 2012 Homes Guide

Porter Title Company is a title and escrow company that has been serving Hood County real estate needs since 1937.

www.portertitle.com

Porter Title CompanyThree Locations

To Serve You!

Main Phone: 817-579-3100Metro: 817-578-2000

Fax: 817-573-5467

377 Office4425 Hwy. 377 E.

Suite 101Granbury, Texas 76049

Waters Edge Office1099 Waters Edge Dr.

Suite 200Granbury, TX 76048

Plant Office1924 Acton Hwy

Granbury , TX 76049

Laurel W Pirkle, Agent301 S. MorganGranbury, TX 76048Bus. 817-573-5504 Fax. [email protected]

24 Hour Good Neighbor Service ®

The Granbury Association of REALTORS recommends you do business with our GREAT

affiliates.

moregreat rates, low feesfriendly, responsive servicequick approvals

Melissa SchaeferNMLS #441943 817-579-4902www.communitymortgage-tx.com

Page 12: December 2012 Homes Guide

Articles From HouseLogic.com By: John Riha On the First Day of Christmas ... New Fil-ters for Their HVAC

If you can’t conjure up maids a-milking or swans a-swimming as Christmas presents for those near and dear, give an inexpensive gift they’re sure to love -- yourself, and a home improvement or maintenance helping hand. Show up ready to fix, repair, and renew the house of a friend or family member who needs your time and energy. Even if you’re not the handiest, your willingness makes a gift that lasts long after the spirit of the holiday has started to fade.

We’ll help you by offering up an idea every day for the next two weeks. (Did you know that the 12 Days of Christ-mas actually begin on Christmas Day, and the Twelfth Night is always celebrated on the evening of Jan. 5? Neither did we! Thanks, Wikipedia!)

But we’re moving up the 12 Days timeline, so you can give your helping hand before Christmas - when folks might need it most - or to schedule your gift when it’s most convenient.

We’ll compile all our tips on their own page. Check over the coming weeks for other inspirational gift ideas.

New filters for their HVAC

Keep your special someone’s heating system working properly by offering to change out their furnace filters. This often-overlooked maintenance task can be a hassle, so you’ll be a holiday hero for taking it on. Bring a large garbage bag for disposing of the old filters.

Go the extra mile and buy new filters as a gift. Sound corny? It’s not, because you’ll be showing someone how much you care about their health. The EPA estimates that indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Standard home furnace air filters have microparticle ratings that indicate how efficient they are. The higher the rating, the more dust, mold, and pet dander the filter removes. Minimum efficiency rating values (MERV) range

from 5 to 12; pollen-and-dust microparticle ratings range from 600 to 2400.

Inexpensive filters cost about $2. You’ll pay about $12 to $17 for a pleated filter with a 1250 pollen rating, and $20 to $25 for a filter rated 2400.

Don’t forget: Before you buy, you’ll need to know the exact size of the filters you’re replacing.

Got an idea for helping out a neighbor or family member with home improvement and maintenance chores?

On the 2nd Day of Christmas ... Repair Countertop Scratches

A home improvement or maintenance helping hand is a meaningful gift that really shows you care. It doesn’t cost much, and it’s so much easier to give than 10 lords a-leaping. Welcome to the second day of our 12 Days of Christmas giving from HouseLogic. Today, we’re offering up ideas for low-cost gifts: Simple home fix-ups that you can do for a family member or friend in a couple of hours or less. Your generosity will have a high impact even if you’re not the handiest hammer in the tool box.

Repair countertop scratches

Among the most annoying of little home mishaps, stains and scratches in countertops usually go unnoticed - until the light strikes them just right. They seem to blossom during the holiday season, when guests come by and just when we want our kitchens looking their best.

Help someone you know restore a little pride of owner-ship by offering to buff up their countertops. The good news: kitchen countertops are easy to fix. You can hide most scratches in laminate countertops with laminate re-pair paste, available for about $7 at hardware stores and home improvement centers.

•Remove stains with a paste made of baking soda and warm water. Let the paste sit on the stain for a couple of hours, then gently wipe off with a clean rag.

Continued on page 14

12 Days of Christmas Home Improvements

Page 13: December 2012 Homes Guide

3405 E. Hwy 377, Suite BGranbury, TX 76049

Albert Land,Owner Broker817-279-2676

817-573-7564Visit us on the web - www.albertland.com email: [email protected]

# 115 NICE UPDATES IN THIS 3-2-2 BRICK HOME just a few blocks away from community pool, tennis & basketball courts, park area, boat ramp, and fishing pier; large fence back yard with lots of patio space for outdoor entertainment; recently updated flooring, baths, and granite kitchen; close to schools, shopping, and the Historic Granbury Square; but no City Taxes. Asking $119,900

# 110 SPACIOUS 3-2-2 BRICK ON GREAT PRIVACY FENCED CORNER LOT; only a few blocks from hospital, schools, & shopping; Oak tree shaded privacy fenced rear yard with a large patio; Spacious living room, separate office space off kitchen, large spare bedrooms, recently upgraded energy efficient low-E tilt-n-sash windows. Priced @ $115,000 of-fers welcome.

BUILDING LOTS AVAILABLE

# 140 GREAT STARTER HOME / INVESTOR POTENTIAL: 3-2-1 Brick on large lot with fenced yard; offers fresh inte-rior paint, just updated ceramic flooring and carpet; great location on Fort Worth side of Granbury; a great value @ $92,500.

#735 BEAUTIFUL 8.5 ACRES IN PREMIER NEIGHBORHOOD OF LANTANA FEATURING ESTATE HOMES & PROPERTY. Perfectly located just minutes from Granbury or I-20 to anywhere. Breathtaking views, mature trees, several great building sites, and horses welcome. $74,900

# 210 A WALL OF WINDOWS VIEWS LAKE GRANBURY beauti-ful 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 story home in Gated – Golf Course Community: home offers 2 master suites; recently completed remodel shows off an elegant home loaded with amenities : Granite kitchen tops, stainless whirlpool gold series appli-ances, ceramic flooring, custom lighting & faucets, zoned A/C –Heat system and more; a 2 year old covered dock offers boat lift and double jet ski lift. $355,000

# 145 BEAUTIFUL HILLTOP 9.9 ACRE WOOD TRACT with this spacious 3 BR, 3 BATH, 2 CCP manufactured home offering a shop building, 34 X 40 livestock barn, and a very secluded setting; open concept split bedroom floor plan with 2 living areas and a large island kitchen; lots of large oak trees provide ample shade and covered front and rear decking to view wildlife and scenery; enjoy the outdoors. ASKING $150,000

MANDATORY ETHICS TRAINING. NOT MANY PROFESSIONALS CAN CLAIM THAT ON THEIR RESUMÉ.

©2010 National Association of REALTORS®.

Every market’s different, call a REALTOR® today.

HouseLogic.com/buyandsell

When REALTORS® complete mandatory Code of Ethics training,

they not only set themselves apart from other professionals in the real

estate industry, they set themselves apart from many industries. When

it comes to the business of buying or selling a home, it’s nice to know

that there’s someone you can count on to be honest and maintain high

standards of practice. Visit realtor.org/codeofethics to learn exactly

what the Code of Ethics is and how it benefits you as a customer.

  REALTORS® are the best source for real estate information. Workingwith a REALTOR® gives buyers, sellers and investors the advantage theyneed to succeed in today’s market.

Granbury Association of REALTORS

®

Granbury, TX

817-326-2530

www.granburyrealtors.com

Page 14: December 2012 Homes Guide

Granbury Association of REALTORS Page 14

If that doesn’t work, try paint thinner or nail polish remov-er - dab an inconspicuous area first to make sure you won’t damage the surface of the laminate. •To fix deep scratches, find a crayon that matches your countertop color. Peel off the paper, put the crayon in a microwave-safe bowl, and zap it until it melts. Pour the hot wax over the gouge, let it harden, and scrape off the excess with a putty knife.

You can also remove stains and small scratches from granite, solid surface, and other countertops. On the 3rd Day of Christmas ... New Low-Flow Shower Heads

This Christmas, give some-one you care about a little bit of your time -- a helping hand with a home improve-ment or maintenance task is truly the spirit of the season. It won’t cost much, and it beats eleven pipers piping. On this third day of our 12 Days of Christmas giving, we’re thinking of a gift that will remind the recipient of you every day (or every wash day at least). Helping switch out old shower heads for new low-flow models is a sweet, low-cost way to spiff up a bathroom. Plus, you’ll be helping your special someone save money - an ultra low-flow shower head saves up to 50% of the energy consumption used to heat hot water for showers. That’s up to $200 worth of savings in their Christmas stocking every year.

Replace old shower heads with new low-flow models

At $15 to $150, a low-flow shower head isn’t that ex-pensive, and makes a terrific gift all by itself. You may even be able to score one for free with a rebate through your local utility. To help you choose, the EPA now puts WaterSense labels on the most efficient low-flow shower head models.

Replacing an older shower head with a new one is an easy DIY job that you can do in about 10 minutes.

You simply unscrew the old shower head, and screw on the new one. The key is to not disturb the shower arm - the pipe that comes out of the wall. To do that, you’ll want to hold onto the shower arm with a pair of pliers while you unscrew the old shower head. Here’s how: •Wrap a clean rag around the shower arm so you won’t scratch the finish with the teeth of your pliers. Grab the arm with a pair of pliers and hold steady.

•Put a clean rag around the old shower head and use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the head. It’s that simple.

•Put new Teflon tape or plumber’s putty around the shower arm threads, and screw on the new shower head (still holding onto the shower arm with the pliers to prevent it from twisting).

Voila! A great new look and energy savings in one smooth move. You deserve milk and cookies!

On the 4th Day of Christmas ... Fix Inte-rior Doors

Give a great gift this Christmas by devoting some time and energy to fixing up the house of a friend or family member who could use your helping hand. It won’t cost much -- in fact, it’s way cheaper than five golden rings. Everybody’s got a balky door or two - ones that stick, won’t close properly, or have hinges that sound like fight-ing cats. Here’s some basic maintenance tips on how to get everything working smoothly - and quietly.

Loose hinges (and door won’t shut) When a hinge gets loose, it’s because the screws hold-ing the hinge to the door frame have come loose. When that happens, the door won’t sit in its frame nice and square, and it won’t close properly.

Screws come loose because constant opening and clos-ing the door puts pressure on the screws, and eventually the threads wear away the wood holding them in place.One way to fix things is to use larger, longer screws. A better way is to repair the screw holes by filling them. To repair:1. Remove the screws.2. Take wooden match sticks or golf tees, coat the tips (not the match head - the other end!) with white glue, and jam them into the screw holes.

3. Let everything dry for a couple of hours.

4. When dry, snap off the matchsticks or tees so they’re flush with the surrounding wood. To get a clean break,

12 Days of ChristmasContinued

Page 15: December 2012 Homes Guide

score them with a utility knife first.

5. Drill small pilot holes in each of the fillers, and screw the hinge back in place.

Squeaky hinges

You can oil a noisy hinge using WD-40 or light-grade machine oil, but that fix is only temporary. Usually, hinges make noise because they’re dirty. To fix, remove the hinge pin and clean it.

1. Put the tip of a nar-row-blade screwdriver against the bottom of the pin, and lightly tap on the screwdriver with a hammer until the pin pops out.

If you’re working on a door that only has two hinges, support the door and keep it from sagging (and putting pressure on the remaining hinge) by putting a magazine or two under the bottom of the door to help hold it up.

2. Once out, clean the pin with oil and a soft rag.

3. Give the pin a fresh coat of oil or lithium grease and replace it, using your hammer to gently tap it back into place.

On the 5th Day of Christmas ... Repair Drywall

Devote a little time and energy to fixing up the house of a friend or family member, and you’ll be giving the true spirit of Christmas. It doesn’t cost much to offer a help-ing hand (even if you’re all thumbs), and you’ll brighten everyone’s holiday -- especially your own. Good old drywall is everywhere in our houses, and it comes in for its share of daily wear and tear: We drill holes to hang mirrors and artwork, ram it with remote-controlled toys, and occasionally bump furniture into it, leaving large cracks and holes. (The classic: An interior door swings open and the doorknob punches a hole into an adjoining wall.)

The good news: Minor wall repairs are easy fix-its and use simple drywall tools. The other side of the coin: You’ll probably have to repaint walls to cover the patch job.

Here are some tips to make walls as good as new:

Patch small holes - those ½-inch or smaller - us-ing lightweight spackling compound, available at hard-ware stores and home improvement centers for $2 to $4 for an 8-oz. tub.

1. Place a small dab of spackle on a putty knife.

2. Press the spackle into the hole.

3. Scrape the knife clean on the edge of the spackle tub.

4. Hold the knife at a slight angle and scrape it across the hole to remove excess spackle.

5. Let dry. If necessary, sand lightly to re-move any bumps.

Repair larger drywall holes - those bigger than 1/2-inch across - using commercially

available patches. The sanity-savers come in various sizes - pick one that extends past your wall boo-boo by two inches all the way around.

Patches are made from rust-proof aluminum or fiber-glass mesh. They’re designed to hold spackle so you can completely cover the offending hole. Peel-and-stick backing clings to walls permanently, and makes repairs virtually fool-proof. An 8-by-8-inch patch is about $4.

1. Remove the backing from the patch, and place it over the hole so that the hole is right in the middle of the patch.

2. Press the patch into place so it adheres tightly to the wall.

3. Load up a putty or drywall knife with spackle, and press the spackling compound into the mesh. The ob-ject is to completely cover the mesh.

4. Feather the spackle out 2 inches beyond the patch in all directions so that the edge of the patch is hidden.

5. Let dry completely, then sand lightly to remove bumps.

If the job isn’t perfect and the screen shows, that’s OK. Go back over the patch with fresh spackle until the mesh screen is hidden. Paint the wall to complete the repair.

Congratulations! You’ve just one-upped Santa!Continued on page 22.

Page 16: December 2012 Homes Guide

Outstanding Agents « Outstanding Results

Lake GranburyOPEN

SUNDAYS! remax-lakegranbury-tx.com

Visit Our Website to View ALL Listings!

Joy Paris, CRS, ABRBroker/Owner

817-579-1504

Jeff Alexander

817-219-2939

LindaBlankenship817-219-5774

SteveConley

254-205-2733

SteveCook

817-929-3905

PatCorrell

817-776-0323

817-579-1504 or 800-749-8199 Outside of Granbury

283-HANDSOME COUNTRY HOME - 1 acre near Springtown! A total refurbishment in 2009 brought this lovely home to life. 4bd/2ba with 2 large living rooms, heavily treed lot, 1975 sq.ft. Bring kids & horses-Move in! $144,500 MLS# 11861183

801-WOW! SO MUCH TO OFFER! Great home on 2+ acres with heated diving pool, basketball court, pasture plus fenced yard, 30x40 insulated building. Austin stone 4bd, 2.5 bath, 2000+ sq.ft. $259,900 MLS# 11854330

209-NICE 3 bedroom, 2 bath stone house. Vaulted ceilings. Large fenced backyard. Great location. $91,000 MLS# 11846318

816-SCENIC HILLTOP SETTING ON 5 ACRES IN MOUNTAIN LAKES. Energy efficient 2392 sq.ft. home. Open concept. 2 living areas. 38X15 screened porch. Huge 70X30 metal shop with full living quarters. $335,000 MLS# 11777074

217-YOU’LL LOVE THE LOCATION - Just blocks from Historic Granbury Square, the Beach, Park and Shopping. Brick home with nice floor plan has 3 BR, 1½ BA, 2 Car CP and storage buildings. $64,900 MLS# 11829563

224-BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE HOME, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Open floor plan close to clubhouses. Elegant granite counter tops, split bedrooms, walk-in closets, gas logs, sprinkler system. Plenty of trees. What a view! $162,000 MLS# 11798835

206-TOWERING TREES AND A GREAT LOCATION go with this nice 4 bedroom, 1½ bath home with 2 living areas. There’s lots of concrete parking, walkways, porches and gazebo. Community features clubhouse, pool, playground and boat ramp. Hurry – only $64,500. MLS# 11822551

216-DRASTIC PRICE REDUCTION! Take another look. Great 2/2 condo in DeCordova Bend Estates, unlimited golf, marina, club house, pool, gated-guarded entrance & much more. Small fenced area too! This is a bargain!! $78,500 MLS# 11661101

226-NEARLY NEW CUSTOM HOME in gated golf course community - Inviting Very Open 3 BR + Study, 2 BA, 3 Car Garage - Very Energy Efficient - Many Windows - 10’ Ceilings - Outstanding Spacious Master Suite. $199,900 MLS# 11797024

259-BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED! Open concept living/dining/kitchen with beautiful views. Hardwood floors, 2nd living area, study. Wonderful lakeview! Covered patio, courtyard, deck, gazebo, waterfall! Close to club, golf, back gate! $129,000 MLS# 11860810

811-WELL MAINTAINED HOME ON 4 ACRES - Bring your horses 25X30 workshop, two roll up doors + 2 other outbuildings. Ready to move in! $188,900 MLS# 11831659

235-GREAT 3/2/2 FAMILY HOME IN DCBE. Large lot. Great workshop. Enjoy all the amenities, free 27 holes of golf; tennis, swimming, clubhouse, marina, parks & more. Gated & guarded entrance with 24 hour patrolled security. Tremendous buy! $110,000 MLS# 11786110

241-WELL MAINTAINED 3/2/2 IN ROYAL OAKS. Large trees, mature landscape, corner lot partially updated. Great floor plan, vaulted ceiling, formal dining. Fireplace with large hearth. $129,500 MLS# 11853993

268-PECAN PLANTATION! Immaculate 3/2/2 brick home, fresh paint, flooring & new appliances. Large front porch & patio, great floor plan, divided bedrooms, large open living area. Large fenced yard, backs up to the orchard. Very private. $159,900! MLS# 11773821

400-HUGELY LOVED, LIGHTLY LIVED IN, immaculate 3bd/2ba modular. Main body walk-out water on Lake Granbury. Newer boat dock, new covered patio, both with composition decking. Only $225,000 - Call Evelyn at 817-243-9089 MLS# 11820642

Outstanding Agents « Outstanding Results

Lake GranburyOPEN

SUNDAYS!

www.remax-lakegranbury-tx.com

RodDavis

817-578-0660

LynnDirks

817-578-4841

EvelynJoseph

817-243-9089

4810 E. Hwy. 377 Granbury, Texas Each office is independently Owned and Operated

Gloria MackCRS, GRI, ABR817-279-3380

SallyMoore

817-219-0896

MarthaDugan

817-219-2517

603-WATERFRONT, FANTASTIC VIEW! Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath, manufactured home. Huge open living area with fireplace and vaulted ceiling. Large sunroom and deck overlooking the lake. Great location. $84,900 MLS# 11510875

831-TOLAR SCHOOLS. Over 4 acres, 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home. Oversized 2 car carport, 10x20 work shop. Sandy soil, large oak and pecan trees, great location. $89,900 MLS# 11837202

424-GORGEOUS RIVERFRONT! 4bd/3ba with formal dining, 2 living areas, soaring stone fireplace. Beautiful views from living, kitchen, family room & breakfast areas. Tons of updates. Security, golf, tennis, clubhouse! ENJOY IT ALL! $319,900 MLS# 11819721

242-FISH FROM THE POND on this beautiful tree-covered lot! 3bd/2ba with tile throughout. Granite counters and island in kitchen. Large patio, workshop, 2 car garage. Gorgeous views! ALL in exclusive DeCordova Bend Estates! $139,500 MLS# 11862697

406-WATERFRONT HOME with spectacular views of water and trees. 3bd/3ba, open living, dining and kitchen. Glassed sunroom with mini kitchen. Inground heated, pool and spa. $297,000 MLS# 11779825

812-ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME ON 60 ACRES. Beautiful views. Geo-thermal A/C, heat & water heater. House & barn are hail & wind resistant. 60X40 barn/workshop/garage with full bath & concrete floor wired for 220 capacity. Fenced & cross fenced. Handicap accessible. Owner will finance $200,000. $399,900 MLS# 11603792

297-HOME IN DCBE UNDER $100K. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, ceiling fans, walk-in closets, large family room. Beautiful treed lot. Dining, pool, tennis and golf course in great gated community on Fort Worth side. $95,000 MLS# 11860227

820-MOVE TO THE COUNTRY! Over 4000 sq.ft., 5 bedroom, 3½ baths, 3 living areas, & study. Hardwood floors, fantastic kitchen with island, granite. 20.9 acres, in ground pool, 30x50 4 stall horse barn/shop, pond, nice oak trees. $594,500 MLS# 11729047

810-COUNTRY ESTATE! 25 acres, custom 4/3½/3 brick and stone home. Incredible kitchen w/granite, breakfast bar, island, stone cooking area. Huge master suite. Pool, Porte-Cochre, 30X50 barn/workshop, RV storage. Great coastal. $715,000 MLS# 11837388

245-IF YOU NEED A LITTLE LAND AND YOU LIKE GOING TO LAKE PAT CLEBURNE this could be the one for you. This 3bd, 2ba brick needs a lot of work but will make a great starter home for some lucky family. $41,000 MLS# 11850495

208-GREAT 4 BEDROOM NEW CONSTRUCTION! Open concept, custom kitchen with granite & stainless steel. Split bedrooms. Separate shower & tub in master. Numerous upgrades! Brick/stone exterior. On Fort Worth side of Granbury. $174,900 MLS# 11813740

212-WELL MAINTAINED HOME ON THE CREEK IN DCBE. Park-like backyard, granite counters, great floorplan. $165,900 MLS# 11843741

266-PECAN PLANTATION CONDOMINIUM! Relax and enjoy the many amenities of the country club, and let someone else mow and maintain your home while you play. Two bedroom, 2 bath, covered parking, golf cart storage, large patio. $79,500 MLS# 11858458

267-PRISTINE HOME IN WILLOW RIDGE! 4/2/2 with granite countertops, open floor plan, stainless appliances, WBFP, split bedrooms, covered patio & privacy fenced backyard! $189,500 w/$2,000 buyers allowance. MLS# 11753059

219-BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE HOME ON 16TH FAIRWAY. 3 bedroom, 2 bath with a sun room. Open floor plan, second living area, formal dining. Completely updated home. Fireplace in the family room. Sprinkler system. Great views. $214,000 MLS# 11815918

Page 17: December 2012 Homes Guide

Outstanding Agents « Outstanding Results

Lake GranburyOPEN

SUNDAYS! remax-lakegranbury-tx.com

Visit Our Website to View ALL Listings!

Joy Paris, CRS, ABRBroker/Owner

817-579-1504

Jeff Alexander

817-219-2939

LindaBlankenship817-219-5774

SteveConley

254-205-2733

SteveCook

817-929-3905

PatCorrell

817-776-0323

817-579-1504 or 800-749-8199 Outside of Granbury

283-HANDSOME COUNTRY HOME - 1 acre near Springtown! A total refurbishment in 2009 brought this lovely home to life. 4bd/2ba with 2 large living rooms, heavily treed lot, 1975 sq.ft. Bring kids & horses-Move in! $144,500 MLS# 11861183

801-WOW! SO MUCH TO OFFER! Great home on 2+ acres with heated diving pool, basketball court, pasture plus fenced yard, 30x40 insulated building. Austin stone 4bd, 2.5 bath, 2000+ sq.ft. $259,900 MLS# 11854330

209-NICE 3 bedroom, 2 bath stone house. Vaulted ceilings. Large fenced backyard. Great location. $91,000 MLS# 11846318

816-SCENIC HILLTOP SETTING ON 5 ACRES IN MOUNTAIN LAKES. Energy efficient 2392 sq.ft. home. Open concept. 2 living areas. 38X15 screened porch. Huge 70X30 metal shop with full living quarters. $335,000 MLS# 11777074

217-YOU’LL LOVE THE LOCATION - Just blocks from Historic Granbury Square, the Beach, Park and Shopping. Brick home with nice floor plan has 3 BR, 1½ BA, 2 Car CP and storage buildings. $64,900 MLS# 11829563

224-BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE HOME, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Open floor plan close to clubhouses. Elegant granite counter tops, split bedrooms, walk-in closets, gas logs, sprinkler system. Plenty of trees. What a view! $162,000 MLS# 11798835

206-TOWERING TREES AND A GREAT LOCATION go with this nice 4 bedroom, 1½ bath home with 2 living areas. There’s lots of concrete parking, walkways, porches and gazebo. Community features clubhouse, pool, playground and boat ramp. Hurry – only $64,500. MLS# 11822551

216-DRASTIC PRICE REDUCTION! Take another look. Great 2/2 condo in DeCordova Bend Estates, unlimited golf, marina, club house, pool, gated-guarded entrance & much more. Small fenced area too! This is a bargain!! $78,500 MLS# 11661101

226-NEARLY NEW CUSTOM HOME in gated golf course community - Inviting Very Open 3 BR + Study, 2 BA, 3 Car Garage - Very Energy Efficient - Many Windows - 10’ Ceilings - Outstanding Spacious Master Suite. $199,900 MLS# 11797024

259-BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED! Open concept living/dining/kitchen with beautiful views. Hardwood floors, 2nd living area, study. Wonderful lakeview! Covered patio, courtyard, deck, gazebo, waterfall! Close to club, golf, back gate! $129,000 MLS# 11860810

811-WELL MAINTAINED HOME ON 4 ACRES - Bring your horses 25X30 workshop, two roll up doors + 2 other outbuildings. Ready to move in! $188,900 MLS# 11831659

235-GREAT 3/2/2 FAMILY HOME IN DCBE. Large lot. Great workshop. Enjoy all the amenities, free 27 holes of golf; tennis, swimming, clubhouse, marina, parks & more. Gated & guarded entrance with 24 hour patrolled security. Tremendous buy! $110,000 MLS# 11786110

241-WELL MAINTAINED 3/2/2 IN ROYAL OAKS. Large trees, mature landscape, corner lot partially updated. Great floor plan, vaulted ceiling, formal dining. Fireplace with large hearth. $129,500 MLS# 11853993

268-PECAN PLANTATION! Immaculate 3/2/2 brick home, fresh paint, flooring & new appliances. Large front porch & patio, great floor plan, divided bedrooms, large open living area. Large fenced yard, backs up to the orchard. Very private. $159,900! MLS# 11773821

400-HUGELY LOVED, LIGHTLY LIVED IN, immaculate 3bd/2ba modular. Main body walk-out water on Lake Granbury. Newer boat dock, new covered patio, both with composition decking. Only $225,000 - Call Evelyn at 817-243-9089 MLS# 11820642

Outstanding Agents « Outstanding Results

Lake GranburyOPEN

SUNDAYS!

www.remax-lakegranbury-tx.com

RodDavis

817-578-0660

LynnDirks

817-578-4841

EvelynJoseph

817-243-9089

4810 E. Hwy. 377 Granbury, Texas Each office is independently Owned and Operated

Gloria MackCRS, GRI, ABR817-279-3380

SallyMoore

817-219-0896

MarthaDugan

817-219-2517

603-WATERFRONT, FANTASTIC VIEW! Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath, manufactured home. Huge open living area with fireplace and vaulted ceiling. Large sunroom and deck overlooking the lake. Great location. $84,900 MLS# 11510875

831-TOLAR SCHOOLS. Over 4 acres, 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home. Oversized 2 car carport, 10x20 work shop. Sandy soil, large oak and pecan trees, great location. $89,900 MLS# 11837202

424-GORGEOUS RIVERFRONT! 4bd/3ba with formal dining, 2 living areas, soaring stone fireplace. Beautiful views from living, kitchen, family room & breakfast areas. Tons of updates. Security, golf, tennis, clubhouse! ENJOY IT ALL! $319,900 MLS# 11819721

242-FISH FROM THE POND on this beautiful tree-covered lot! 3bd/2ba with tile throughout. Granite counters and island in kitchen. Large patio, workshop, 2 car garage. Gorgeous views! ALL in exclusive DeCordova Bend Estates! $139,500 MLS# 11862697

406-WATERFRONT HOME with spectacular views of water and trees. 3bd/3ba, open living, dining and kitchen. Glassed sunroom with mini kitchen. Inground heated, pool and spa. $297,000 MLS# 11779825

812-ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME ON 60 ACRES. Beautiful views. Geo-thermal A/C, heat & water heater. House & barn are hail & wind resistant. 60X40 barn/workshop/garage with full bath & concrete floor wired for 220 capacity. Fenced & cross fenced. Handicap accessible. Owner will finance $200,000. $399,900 MLS# 11603792

297-HOME IN DCBE UNDER $100K. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, ceiling fans, walk-in closets, large family room. Beautiful treed lot. Dining, pool, tennis and golf course in great gated community on Fort Worth side. $95,000 MLS# 11860227

820-MOVE TO THE COUNTRY! Over 4000 sq.ft., 5 bedroom, 3½ baths, 3 living areas, & study. Hardwood floors, fantastic kitchen with island, granite. 20.9 acres, in ground pool, 30x50 4 stall horse barn/shop, pond, nice oak trees. $594,500 MLS# 11729047

810-COUNTRY ESTATE! 25 acres, custom 4/3½/3 brick and stone home. Incredible kitchen w/granite, breakfast bar, island, stone cooking area. Huge master suite. Pool, Porte-Cochre, 30X50 barn/workshop, RV storage. Great coastal. $715,000 MLS# 11837388

245-IF YOU NEED A LITTLE LAND AND YOU LIKE GOING TO LAKE PAT CLEBURNE this could be the one for you. This 3bd, 2ba brick needs a lot of work but will make a great starter home for some lucky family. $41,000 MLS# 11850495

208-GREAT 4 BEDROOM NEW CONSTRUCTION! Open concept, custom kitchen with granite & stainless steel. Split bedrooms. Separate shower & tub in master. Numerous upgrades! Brick/stone exterior. On Fort Worth side of Granbury. $174,900 MLS# 11813740

212-WELL MAINTAINED HOME ON THE CREEK IN DCBE. Park-like backyard, granite counters, great floorplan. $165,900 MLS# 11843741

266-PECAN PLANTATION CONDOMINIUM! Relax and enjoy the many amenities of the country club, and let someone else mow and maintain your home while you play. Two bedroom, 2 bath, covered parking, golf cart storage, large patio. $79,500 MLS# 11858458

267-PRISTINE HOME IN WILLOW RIDGE! 4/2/2 with granite countertops, open floor plan, stainless appliances, WBFP, split bedrooms, covered patio & privacy fenced backyard! $189,500 w/$2,000 buyers allowance. MLS# 11753059

219-BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE HOME ON 16TH FAIRWAY. 3 bedroom, 2 bath with a sun room. Open floor plan, second living area, formal dining. Completely updated home. Fireplace in the family room. Sprinkler system. Great views. $214,000 MLS# 11815918

Page 18: December 2012 Homes Guide

Granbury Association of REALTORS page 18

Holiday Fire Safety TipsBy: Pat CurryPublished: November 18, 2009 The holiday season is one of the most dangerous times of the year for household fires, so take note of these tips to reduce your risk. Residential fires during the holiday season are more frequent, more costly, and more deadly than at any other time of the year. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reports more than double the number of open-flame fires on Christmas Day than on an average day, and about twice as many on New Year’s Day. And when those fires occur, they do more damage: Property loss during a holiday fire is 34% greater than in an average fire, and the number of fatalities per thousand fires is nearly 70% higher. When the source of the fire is a highly flammable Christmas tree, the toll in property and lives is even greater.

To keep your household from becoming a holiday fire statistic, here are some safety tips to follow.

CookingCooking is the top cause of holiday fires, according to the USFA. The most common culprit is food that’s left unattended. It’s easy to get distracted; take a pot holder with you when you leave the kitchen as a reminder that you have something on the stove. Make sure to keep a kitchen fire extinguisher that’s rated for all types of fires, and check that smoke detectors are working.

If you’re planning to deep-fry your holiday turkey, do it outside, on a flat, level surface at least 10 feet from the house.

CandlesThe incidence of candle fires is four times higher during De-cember than during other months. According to the National Fire Protection Association, four of the five most dangerous days of the year for residential candle fires are Christmas/Christmas Eve and New Year’s/New Year’s Eve. (The fifth is Halloween.)

To reduce the danger, maintain about a foot of space between the candle and anything that can burn. Set candles on sturdy bases or cover with hurricane globes. Never leave flames unattended. Before bed, walk through each room to make sure candles are blown out. For atmosphere without worry, con-sider flameless LED candles. Christmas treesIt takes less than 30 seconds for a dry tree to engulf a room in flames, according to the Building and Fire Research Labora-tory of the National Institute for Standards and Technology. “They make turpentine out of pine trees,” notes Tom Olshan-ski, spokesman for the U.S. Fire Administration. “A Christmas tree is almost explosive when it goes.”

Page 19: December 2012 Homes Guide

To minimize risk, buy a fresh tree with intact needles, get a fresh cut on the trunk, and water it every day. A well-watered tree is almost impossible to ignite. Keep the tree away from heat sources, such as a fireplace or radiator, and out of traffic patterns. If you’re using live garlands and other greenery, keep them at least three feet away from heating sources.

No matter how well the tree is watered, it will start to dry out after about four weeks, Olshanski says, so take it down after the holidays. Artificial trees don’t pose much of a fire hazard; just make sure yours is flame-retardant.

Decorative lightsInspect light strings, and throw out any with frayed or cracked wires or broken sockets. When decorating, don’t run more than three strings of lights end to end. “Stacking the plugs is much safer when you’re using a large quan-tity of lights,” explains Brian L. Vogt, director of education for holiday lighting firm Christmas decor. Extension cords should be in good condition and UL-rated for indoor or outdoor use. Check outdoor receptacles to make sure the ground fault interrupters don’t trip. If they trip repeatedly, Vogt says, that’s a sign that they need to be replaced.

When hanging lights outside, avoid using nails or staples, which can damage the wiring and increase the risk of a fire. Instead, use UL-rated clips or hangers. And take

lights down within 90 days, says John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety for Underwriters Laboratories. “If you leave them up all year round, squirrels chew on them and they get damaged by weather.”

Kids playing with matchesThe number of blazes--and, tragically, the number of deaths--caused by children playing with fire goes up significantly during the holidays. From January through March, 13% of fire deaths are the result of children play-ing with fire, the USFA reports; in December, that percent-age doubles. So keep matches and lighters out of kids’ reach. “We tend to underestimate the power of these tools,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the nonprofit Home Safety Council. “A match or lighter could be more deadly than a loaded gun in the hands of a small child.”

FireplacesSoot can harden on chimney walls as flammable creo-sote, so before the fireplace season begins, have your chimney inspected to see if it needs cleaning. Screen the fireplace to prevent embers from popping out onto the floor or carpet, and never use flammable liquids to start a fire in the fireplace. Only burn seasoned wood--no wrap-ping paper.

When cleaning out the fireplace, put embers in a metal container and set them outside to cool for 24 hours before disposal.

Page 20: December 2012 Homes Guide

REALTOR Associate

817-219-1969CALL ANYTIME

[email protected]

PAT Swisher REALTOR®

READY TO MOVE YOUR WELCOME MAT - CALL PAT

BRAZOS

HARBOR

#77183 Shade & Privacy Pro-vided By The Many Trees to En-joy the Enormous Deck Overlook-ing the Brazos River. One Owner Custom Home 2922 sq.ft., built by Brian Gaffin. Beautiful Wood-work Throughout. Huge Kitchen has an Abundance of Cabinets & Counterspace. 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths. Sunroom with heat and A/C. $279,000

#74093 Pecan Tree Shaded 1.639 ac. corner lot. One Owner Custom 2971 sq.ft. Formal Home. Open Living & Dining with Fire-place. Large Den/Study. Big mas-ter suite + 2 guest bedrooms. 2 Utility areas. Covered Patio, Beau-tiful Landscaping. Circle Drive at front. 2-Car Garage + Storage/Golf Cart Bldg. $379,000

THE R

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Fort W

orth

#14133 Ready for move in. Freshly painted. Refin-ished hard wood floors. Big kitchen with island + lots of cabinets. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath,attached 1 car garage, de-tached garage/shop. Reduced to $69,999

#1163 Stone home with metal roof on 2 large lots. 2095 sq.ft has 4 bedrooms & 2 full baths. Carports for 4. Extra lot has RV cover for 2, storage building, + water well for lawn & garden. *All offers considered. List Price $89,900

RIVERFR

ONT

Walnut

Sprin

gs

4816 W Wedgefield Pecan Plantation 4 BDR 2 ½ Bath Mature Oak Trees, Close to Backgate & Clubhouse. Fenced Backyard & Storage/

Workshop $169,900

8700 Ravenswood Pecan Plantation River House built by Brian Gaffin Liv Din Master & Study with River views. Lots of trees, screen porch & stone patio. Kitchen has newer appliances & granite countertops. 3/2/2 + golf cart garage. This home is a charmer! $289,900

5219 River Ridge. Canyon Creek Home on Big Cove 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Manufactured Home has great view of Lake from Covered Porch and from Sun Deck down by the Lake. Boat Dock with Lift & Covered Deck down by

the lake. $113,900

1009 Hayden Court Well Cared for Home in Heather Place. 2/2/2 + Small Study. Living Space has cherry wood floors. Move In

Condition $139,900

Page 21: December 2012 Homes Guide

4816 W Wedgefield Pecan Plantation 4 BDR 2 ½ Bath Mature Oak Trees, Close to Backgate & Clubhouse. Fenced Backyard & Storage/

Workshop $169,900

8700 Ravenswood Pecan Plantation River House built by Brian Gaffin Liv Din Master & Study with River views. Lots of trees, screen porch & stone patio. Kitchen has newer appliances & granite countertops. 3/2/2 + golf cart garage. This home is a charmer! $289,900

5219 River Ridge. Canyon Creek Home on Big Cove 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Manufactured Home has great view of Lake from Covered Porch and from Sun Deck down by the Lake. Boat Dock with Lift & Covered Deck down by

the lake. $113,900

1009 Hayden Court Well Cared for Home in Heather Place. 2/2/2 + Small Study. Living Space has cherry wood floors. Move In

Condition $139,900

Page 22: December 2012 Homes Guide

On the 6th Day of Christmas ... Repair Sagging Rain Gutters

If you’d like to play Santa this Christmas but are keep-ing an eye on your budget, save your cash. Instead, spend some time and energy repairing the house of a family member, friend, or neighbor in need of a helping hand. It’s the true spirit of the holiday! Repairing sagging and leaky rain gutters isn’t just a summertime job - in fact, it may be vital during winter. Healthy gutters won’t ice up during colder months and lead to ice dams, a major cause of damage to eaves, siding, roofing, and foundations.

Of course, common sense prevails. If it’s snow-ing, blowing, and freezing, you won’t want to be outside on a ladder. But if you catch a break in the weather, make sure to take care of this important home maintenance job. •Plug leaky gutter joints and holes less than ¼-inch across with gutter sealant. A tube of sealant costs about $5 at hardware stores and home improvement centers. Apply the sealant from the inside your gutters.

•Patch larger holes with pre-made gut-ter patches. A kit with four 3-by-6-inch patches costs about $5. These self-adhesive patches are easy to apply and can be used on both aluminum and vinyl gutters. They work best if it’s a bit warmer, so wait for a day that’s above 45 degrees.

Straighten up sagging rain gutters

Rain gutters that sag will trap water - and can cause ice dams. To straighten up a sagging gutter, remove and reposition the gutter hangers.

Gutter hangers typically have two parts: Long screws, and metal collars or straps inside the gutter. The screws go through the gutter and the collars, and then into the fascia - the board that covers the rafter ends.

The collars add stiffness and prevent the screws from collapsing the gutter when the screws are tightened.To straighten a gutter, you’ll need a cordless drill so you can remove the screws. Here’s how to get the job done:

1. Get up on a ladder and remove hanger screws near the sag.

2. Sight along the gutter so you can see if it’s straight. Trust your eye here - if it looks straight, it is.

3. Remount the screws. If needed, you can add a new

hanger or two for additional support. They cost about $3 each. Simply drill a new hole through the gutter edge for the additional hangers.

On the 7th Day of Christmas ... Seal Air Leaks at Windows and Doors

When you help repair the house of a family member, friend, or neighbor in need of a helping hand, you’re truly giving in the spirit of Christmas. Simple fix-ups don’t have a lot of out-of-pocket expense, and the good will lasts forever.

Staying warm this winter is more than just cranking up the heat; you’ll want to prevent air leaks - a leading cause of drafts, cold spots, and high energy bills.

You can help someone stay toasty - and save on their energy bills - by sealing up air leaks where they’re most likely to occur: around windows and doors.

Spot air leaks by temporar-ily turning off the HVAC (to prevent blowing air), then holding a burning stick of incense near door and win-dow frames (make sure it’s a fragrance you like!) Watch the smoke for movement that shows air is penetrating

the window or door seals. Note the problem spots.

Add new weatherstripping to block leaks. Remove the old weatherstripping and install the new stripping - you can cut it to length with a pair of scissors (use tin snips for bronze weatherstripping). Allow an hour per window for installation.

•Bronze weatherstripping ($12 for 17 feet) is good for repairing leaking and rattling wood windows. It has a V-shaped cross section that acts like a spring to hold window sashes tight in their frames and fill up small gaps, yet the flexible shape lets the sash move freely.

•Peel-and-stick vinyl weatherstripping is good for vinyl windows. It’s inexpensive ($5 for 10 lineal feet) and easy to install, but it doesn’t last very long. Adhe-sive-backed EPDM rubber ($8 for 10 feet) costs a bit more but will last 10 years.

Page 23: December 2012 Homes Guide

•Pulley seals ($9 a pair) prevent air leaks on older windows by blocking the place where sash weight cords disappear into the frames.

•Door thresholds have rubber gaskets that seal against air leaks, but they get a lot of use and frequently wear out. You won’t have to replace the entire threshold - just remove the worn gasket and take it to your hardware store or local home improve-ment center for a

matching replacement. A new threshold gasket costs $3 to $5.

Don’t forget - proper weath-erstripping works in the sum-mer, too, preventing cool, air-conditioned air from es-caping. Your “Days of Christ-mas” gift will keep paying out in energy savings all year round!

On the 8th Day of Christmas ... Shiny New Cabinet Hardware

Looking for a meaningful Christmas present for a special friend or family member? Fixing up the house of someone who needs a helping hand makes a terrific gift. It doesn’t cost much, but your generosity will have a lasting impact. Few home improvements have as much bang for the buck as new cabinet hardware. For a few dollars worth of handles and knobs, you can give a bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets a whole new outlook on life.

Changing out hardware is a simple job you can complete in a couple of hours or less, using only basic tools - a screwdriver and a cordless drill/driver.

Do you measure up?

If you’re helping out with the hardware purchase, note that there’s a number of standard sizes for cabinet hard-ware. Carefully measure the space between the screws of the existing hardware so you won’t have to drill any new holes.

Measure from the center of one screw or screw post to the center of the other. Measuring this way is called “on-center,” and it’s the most accurate way to figure out what you’ll need.

Installation tips

Installing the new hardware is simply a matter of screw-

ing on the new pulls, handles, and knobs. If you have hardware pieces that require two screws, get both screws started before tightening. That way, you’ll have a little wiggle room so both screws are seated properly.

If you’re installing new hardware that doesn’t match the existing holes, fill the old holes with wood putty and

disguise the repair with fresh paint or stain. (Note: Some types of hardware have back plates that will completely cover old mounting holes.)

When drilling new holes, make sure your holes are parallel to the top drawer edge so the hard-ware won’t look crooked. Keep things parallel (and speed up the whole process) by using a drilling jig. You can make one from scrap plywood, or buy one at a hardware store of home improvement center for about $7.

You can also keep holes nice and straight by hav-ing a partner off to the side who can eyeball the

angle of your drill bit and let you know if you’re tilting too far up or down.

When your low-cost facelift project is done, stand back and admire your happy holiday efforts!

On the 9th Day of Christmas ... Repair and Replace Worn Trim and Molding Fixing up the house of a special friend or neighbor who needs a helping hand is a Christmas gift that shows you care. It doesn’t cost much, and it’s easier than giving nine ladies dancing. Over time, interior trims can take quite a beating. While some trims, such as decorative crown molding, are out of the way and don’t get nicked, others are in the thick of the action. Baseboards, chair rails, and door casings get everyday bumps and bruises, and usually have the scars to prove it.

With some simple repair tips, however, you can repair dinged trim to near-original condition. You’ll be amazed at how blemish-free trims make an entire house feel clean and vibrant.

Spot cleaning

Some spots and scuffs are surface blemishes that you can erase with a little elbow grease. Try a microfiber cloth dipped in a little commercial cleaner. If you’re eco-con-scious, green clean with a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and warm water.

Continued on page 25.

Granbury Association of REALTORS page 23

Page 24: December 2012 Homes Guide

NEW LOCATION!The First National Bank Mortgage Group has a

We will be moving into our new location at 4062 E. Highway 377 on Monday, August 13th.

First National's group of dedicated mortgage lenders and support staff, can find the right solution for nearly every buyer's situation and help match you with a mortgage you can live with. Along with skills and experience, they have the Home Team advantage - loan decisions are made locally, so

you get fast loan approval. Come see us today at our NEW location!

mgfnb.com

Lee Overstreet, GRI

817-219-5246REALTOR ®115 W. Pearl St. Granbury, TX 76048

MLS #11780935 Pecan Planta-tion - Updated 3/2/2 brick home on a shady orchard lot. Fea-tures include two living areas, granite countertops, hardwood flooring, ceramic tile & carpet, split bedroom arrangement, walk-in closets. Fenced yard, separate golf cart/shop building. Ready for move-in. $152,000

MLS #11811551 The per-fect lake getaway. 2 BR, 2 bath with attached, over-size 2 car garage. Upgraded cabinets & wood flooring in kitchen, outdoor cooking area on a very large covered deck. Boat dock with lift. Must see to appreciate. $115,000

MLS #11782399 Scenic acre-age tract overlooking Historic Comanche Peak. 84 acres of land with extensive frontage on the Glen Rose Hwy (FM 144). Elevated views; Par-tially wooded; Great Devel-opment Potential. $999,000

MLS #11729594 Commercial Office/Warehouse facility on Fall Creek Hwy. Large office building; separate modular office building; 3,500+ sq.ft. shop/warehouse bldg; metal storage shed. Paved parking, security fencing. Great loca-tion, easy access, high visibil-ity. Possible owner financing. Price Reduced. $299,500

MLS #11731540 Commer-cial office building located on the main traffic area in Acton. Cut stone exterior, open lobby area, 2 restrooms, multiple of-fices, 2 large file storage areas. Paved parking; Located on a large corner tract with high vis-ibility & easy access. $225,000

ORCHARD LOT

WATERFRONT

COMMERCIAL

MLS #11825195 Very unique lake property. Peaceful & pri-vate location on the northern end of Lake Granbury. Two BR, 2 bath, 2 story home on 5 wooded lots. Extensive wood decks & walkways, 2 storage bldgs, balconies off the Mas-ter bedroom & bath. Great place for a weekend retreat or full time living. $169,000

WATERFRONT

[email protected]

COMMERCIAL

ACREAGE

Page 25: December 2012 Homes Guide

12 Days of Christmas Continued

Be sure to swipe the top edges of moldings and trims - those little places are notorious for grabbing dust.

Fixing gaps

Wintertime usually means drier indoor air, which makes moldings shrink lengthwise a tiny bit. When that hap-pens, seams between trim pieces open up, creating gaps.

Fill these gaps with color-matched caulk. Use a good grade latex caulk that will flex when moldings expand and contract with changes in humidity. If the molding has a custom color, make sure your caulk is paintable, and touch up to match when the caulk has dried.

Nail holes

These little trouble spots show up when old filler or paint falls out of the indentation made by the nail. First, check the hole - if the nail isn’t set deep enough, the head probably prevented any putty from taking firm hold.

Reset the nail, using a narrow nail set. Hold the set firmly and strike it gently with a hammer until the nail head is 1/16- to 1/8-inch below the surface.

Refill the hole with color-matched wood filler (it’ll work for composite trim, too). Scrape the top of the repair gently with a putty knife to remove excess filler - other-wise you’ll leave a noticeable bump.

If you can’t find color-matched filler, repair the hole and gently sand the area smooth. Spot paint to match.

Gouges and cracks

You can repair larger dings using wood filler. However, you may have to build up the filler in stages to get a good repair. Take your time, and plan on repainting the entire length of trim to hide the blemish.

Replacing trim

This surefire fix-it is the more elaborate approach, but it really doesn’t take that long and new trim is relatively cheap - you can find 5-inch-wide baseboard for about $2 per lineal foot.

First, use a utility knife score along the edges of your trim where it meets wall and floor surfaces. That’ll help prevent pulling off paint when you remove the trim.

Gently pry off the trim. To get started, use a tool with a fine blade - Continued on page 27.

Jerry WilliamsonLicensed Texas Broker 817-706-6582

155 – BUY THE BUSINESS AND THE LAND – This historical Loco Coyote Grill is located in the hill country of Texas just a few miles from Glen Rose. Rustic building sits on 16 beautiful acres of pasture and hardwoods, and includes equipment. $700,000MLS# 11827638

200 – NEW CONSTRUCTION IN HARBOR LAKES – Gorgeous Golf Course home with view of main body water. 4-bedrooms, study, 3-bath, 2-car + golf cart garage. Almost 2,700 sf. Designer colors, hardwood floors, granite counters. Balcony overlooks golf course and water. Energy efficient package includes spray foam insulation & climate controlled attic. $340,000

150 – UPSTAIRS BONUS/MEDIA ROOM – Large open lot, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1800+ sf, brick fireplace, covered patio with hot tub, on the west edge of Granbury. $176,640MLS# 11808876

160 – PRIME LOCATION NEAR HISTORIC SQUARE of Granbury. Located in the central business district. Over one half acre. Property has water frontage on the Lambert Creek inlet of Lake Granbury. Large trees. Quality location for a business. $400,000MLS# 11843720

164 – REDUCED!! GOLF COURSE HOME IN DECORVOVA BEND ESTATES – Recent updates include HVAC, water heater, hand-scraped wood floors, tile surrounds, granite. Large back patio/pergola with outdoor fireplace. $229,000 MLS# 11852733

www.ComanchePeakRealty.com

Page 26: December 2012 Homes Guide

248-PERFECT-SIZED RETIREMENT HOME ON GOLF COURSE with $25K workshop. On quiet cul-de-sac, this home features open floor plan with island kitchen. Split bedrooms Wide handicap doorways, plantations, fenced yard, golf cart garage. $249,000 MLS# 11794118

272-WOW! You’ll think you’re in a new home. New paint & carpet, c-tile floors. Granite c-tops & mosaic backsplash in kitchen. New appliances. Refinished cabinets & doors, new lighting fixtures & c-fans. New wood deck. $219,900 MLS# 11787190

262-INVITING STREET APPEAL WITH FRONT PORCH & DORMER ROOF. Open floor plan. Kitchen has wood floors & granite. Fireplace, high ceilings & molding. 30X10 sun room. Yard has 25X25 slab for workshop. Golf cart garage. $170,000 MLS#11848099

297-HOME IN DCBE UNDER $100K. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, ceiling fans, walk-in closets, large family room. Beautiful treed lot. Dining, pool, tennis and golf course in great gated community on Fort Worth side. $95,000 MLS# 11860227

[email protected]

Rod Davis, ABRREALTOR Associate

www.roddavis.remaxtexas.com4810 E. Hwy. 377

Granbury, Texas 76049

817-579-1504

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

229-ATTRACTIVE PRICE for those looking at making cosmetic changes. Open kitchen/family room with double doors to wood deck for entertaining and cooking. Corner lot, circular drive, storage building, huge pecan trees. Seller will pay 1/2 of HOA initiation fee. Seller will consider owner financing with acceptable offer. $129,900 MLS# 11653672

285-EASY TO LOVE! Light & bright. Granite countertops, plantations, open floor plan with 2 living areas, and covered wood deck with stone patio looking out on #4 fairway in gated, guarded, DCBE. MLS# 11854894

282-MULTI-LEVEL RIVERFRONT HOME in Pecan with 2-level deck overlooking river. 4 bd, 2½ baths, about 2862 sq.ft. 2 lots & 1 assessment. Updated island kitchen with granite, wood floors. Attached 2-car garage with walled off golf cart or workshop space. $289,000 MLS# 11778729

SALLY MOORE(817) 579-1504

Cell: (817) [email protected]

BROKER/ASSOCIATE

RE/MAX Lake GranburySALSELLSGRANBURYREALESTATE.COM

4810 E. Hwy. 377, Granbury, Texas 76049 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

269-LOTS OF ROOM IN THIS FIXER UPPER. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living areas & study/office area. Garage conver-sion. Large fenced backyard, covered patio & storage building. $75,000 Verify square footage. MLS# 11835174

249-5 BEDROOM, 3½ BATH, 3 CAR GARAGE WITH WORK BENCH AND HALF BATH. Fantastic views of fenced, landscaped yard on 17th golf course fairway. Open con-cept floor plan, split bedroom arrangement, lots of storage space. Deeded boat slip. $355,000 MLS# 11865149

406-WATERFRONT HOME with spectacular views of wa-ter and trees. 3 bedroom, 3 bath, open living, dining and kitchen. Glassed sunroom with mini kitchen. Inground heated, pool and spa. $297,000 MLS# 11779825

902-PLENTY OF SPACE. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 living areas. Large kitchen with breakfast bar, island and loads of cabinets. Split bedroom arrangement with study off of master bedroom. $32,000 MLS# 11858546

Page 27: December 2012 Homes Guide

248-PERFECT-SIZED RETIREMENT HOME ON GOLF COURSE with $25K workshop. On quiet cul-de-sac, this home features open floor plan with island kitchen. Split bedrooms Wide handicap doorways, plantations, fenced yard, golf cart garage. $249,000 MLS# 11794118

272-WOW! You’ll think you’re in a new home. New paint & carpet, c-tile floors. Granite c-tops & mosaic backsplash in kitchen. New appliances. Refinished cabinets & doors, new lighting fixtures & c-fans. New wood deck. $219,900 MLS# 11787190

262-INVITING STREET APPEAL WITH FRONT PORCH & DORMER ROOF. Open floor plan. Kitchen has wood floors & granite. Fireplace, high ceilings & molding. 30X10 sun room. Yard has 25X25 slab for workshop. Golf cart garage. $170,000 MLS#11848099

297-HOME IN DCBE UNDER $100K. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, ceiling fans, walk-in closets, large family room. Beautiful treed lot. Dining, pool, tennis and golf course in great gated community on Fort Worth side. $95,000 MLS# 11860227

[email protected]

Rod Davis, ABRREALTOR Associate

www.roddavis.remaxtexas.com4810 E. Hwy. 377

Granbury, Texas 76049

817-579-1504

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

229-ATTRACTIVE PRICE for those looking at making cosmetic changes. Open kitchen/family room with double doors to wood deck for entertaining and cooking. Corner lot, circular drive, storage building, huge pecan trees. Seller will pay 1/2 of HOA initiation fee. Seller will consider owner financing with acceptable offer. $129,900 MLS# 11653672

285-EASY TO LOVE! Light & bright. Granite countertops, plantations, open floor plan with 2 living areas, and covered wood deck with stone patio looking out on #4 fairway in gated, guarded, DCBE. MLS# 11854894

282-MULTI-LEVEL RIVERFRONT HOME in Pecan with 2-level deck overlooking river. 4 bd, 2½ baths, about 2862 sq.ft. 2 lots & 1 assessment. Updated island kitchen with granite, wood floors. Attached 2-car garage with walled off golf cart or workshop space. $289,000 MLS# 11778729

12 Days of Christmas Continued

a chisel or stiff putty knife works well, or a small pry bar with a thin blade made of tight spaces.

Never pry directly against a wall or other surface - you could easily break through, making a hole in the drywall.

Instead, put a drywall knife or a piece of plywood between your prying tool and the wall, and pry against that.

Once you’ve started to move the trim away from the wall, you can graduate to a bigger plying tool with more lever-age if you need - a good-sized claw hammer is great.

Take the old trim to your home improvement center so you can find an exact match.

On the 10th Day of Christmas ... Water Heater Maintenance This Christmas, help out a neighbor or family member with a much-needed maintenance task. It won’t cost much, and it beats trying to come up with ten lords-a-leaping! Hot water is one of life’s conveniences that’s always there - except when it isn’t. Hot water heater malfunctions are rare, but when they happen, life gets turned upside down, especially during the colder months.

Water heater maintenance isn’t on everyone’s radar, which is why taking the time to help someone out with this little chore is such a good idea. Here’s what you need to do to keep the hot water flowing:

•Make sure there’s at least 2 feet of clearance around the water heater so air can circulate freely and there’s no combustible materials near the heating element.

•Flush the appliance to remove any debris and sediment in the bottom of the tank. Hook up a garden hose to the drain valve and put the discharge end of the hose next to a floor drain. Run until the water is clear. This also helps the appliance operate more efficiently, saving money on energy costs.

•Check the temperature-pressure relief valve by putting a pan or heavy towel under the end of the valve discharge pipe, then quickly opening and shutting the valve a couple of times. After the test, check for leaks from the valve.

•Check the sacrificial anode rod by loosening the screw that holds it in place - look for a large, hex-head (six-sided) cap on top of the tank. Unscrew the cap and remove the rod. (The purpose of the rod is to attract cor-

rosive elements inside the tank so those elements won’t attack the tank itself.)

If the rod is eaten away (this is normal) and more than six inches of the inner core wire is exposed, replace the rod. Replacement rods are readily available at home improve-ment centers or heating supply stores, and cost $20 to $30.

Here are some tips to keep a water heater running safely and at peak efficiency: •Set the thermostat to 120 degrees to reduce wear on the heating elements and to avoid accidental scalding.

•Insulate the water heater with a fiberglass jacket (about $25) to improve thermal performance.

•If you’re leaving town, set the thermostat on a gas heater to the “vacation” setting; that’ll keep the pilot light on without heating up the water in the tank.

When you’re done, give your loved one a bonus gift by washing their dishes!

On the 11th Day of Christmas ... Cleaning Out Behind the Fridge

This Christmas, the best gift doesn’t cost much at all: Helping out a neighbor or family member with a much-needed home maintenance task is better than eleven pipers piping! Give a hand to a friend or next-door neighbor and help save energy costs in the kitchen when you take on one of the most-procrastinated jobs in any house - cleaning out behind their refrigerator.

With all its lights and nifty appliances, the kitchen is the biggest energy user in your home - and your refrigerator has the biggest appetite, gobbling up more energy than any other appliance, except for your HVAC system.

You’ll spend about $90 per year to operate your fridge, based on stats from the U.S. Department of Energy. With a few simple adjustments, you can trim up to $45 from that cost. Plus, you’ll help your refrigerator last longer, saving money on repair and replacement costs.A good place to start is that behind-the-fridge cleaning. Look at it as an adventure: Who knows what you’ll find back there?

Your object is to clean the coils of dirt and dust, using a vacuum cleaner. That’ll help your refrigerator run up to 30% more efficiently.

Continued on page 29.

Granbury Association of REALTORS page 27

Page 28: December 2012 Homes Guide

Kay Bailey, GRI

817-776-1668 UNITED REALTYPROFESSIONALS

100% Financing Available for Qualifying BUYERS.SHORT SALES & FORECLOSURE

Resources Certified

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BUY..... Lowest Interest Rates

in Decades

9319 RAVENSWOODPecan Plantation ORCHARD View with GREAT Screened Porch to Watch the NATURE*4/2/2 with Golf Cart area*Living Area with WBFP* OPEN Concept*4th Bedroom UP currently

used for OFFICE*$165K

5008 BUENOBRICK & STONE Newbie in DeCordova Bend*AUSTIN STONE FP & BREAKFAST

BAR*Custom UPGRADED 3/2/3 & MAKE READY BONUS ROOM UP STAIRS * Storage for DAYS*12”CROWN* MOTIVATED @ $229,000

5120 FAIRWAY CIRCLEROCK Home on Corner Lot canopied with Gi-ant Trees*3/2/2 with WBFP*Huge Wraparound DECK*New PAINT, FAUCETS & FIXTURES *MOTI-

VATED SELLERS*$128,995

www.DeCordovaBend.com for ALL the listings in DeCordova2.11 acre home site in Tres

Vistas Est a convienent location with access to FW and Granbury. Very nice neighborhood with large lots and gated access. $98,000

Tres V

istas

UNITED REALTYPROFESSIONALS

[email protected]

Felicia Peters,ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES

Broker Associate

Lovely custom home in Stoney Creek has all the bells and whistles. Beautiful salt water pool in the landscaped back yard still leaves room for large play area on the over half acre lot. $210,000

Unbelievably beautiful custom home in DeCordova Bend Est. with upscale fixtures, appliances crown molding and design features you’ve dreamed about. Attention to detail is evident everywhere. $280,000

Stoney Creek

DeCordova

Delightful brick home in Knob Hill with unrestricted view of Comanche Peak. Immaculate and charming home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The kitchen has oodles of cabinet space, even a folding counter in the utility. $149,000

Knob Hill

Quaint 1948 house on large city lot. On busy corner of Houston and Arnold St. just north of the Granbury Square, would make a great place for a business! $55,000

Downtown

Tolar City limits with almost 2ac. Allows horses,other livestock. 30x50 steel shop on slab with elec., 12’walls, 2 drive-thru doors. Quality upgrades include sheetrock walls, new windows, non mobile doors, vinyl siding with insulation. $99,500

Tolar

Page 29: December 2012 Homes Guide

12 Days of Christmas Continued

Granbury Association of REALTORS page 29

If you have a front-facing grill on the bottom of your refrig-erator, remove that to vacuum the condenser coils un-derneath. If the coils are in back, you’ll have to move the fridge.

Let’s get moving

Most refrigerators made in the last decade have wheels that make rolling them out fairly easy. Still, it’s better to have two people, one on each side, so you can ease the fridge out gradually, making sure not to ding cabinets or the appliance.

Older refrigerators stand on adjustable feet - great for getting the refrigerator nice and level, but trouble when it comes to moving the unit. Those adjustable feet are no-torious for trapping dirt and then grinding the grit into your kitchen flooring as you drag your out your heavy refrigera-tor.

Clean around the adjustable feet as best you can, and make sure your kitchen floor is swept up.

Options for moving a fridge include lifting the front feet onto a piece of scrap carpeting, placed nap-side down. Then, you can grab the carpet and pull; the rug cuts fric-tion and your fridge slides easier.

Or, you can put nylon caster disks under the front feet. The Catch-22 of those operations is lifting the fridge; you’ll need some serious muscle. Be sure to stabilize tall items inside your fridge so they don’t fall over.

Clean the machine

Once out, vacuum the coils at the back of the unit. This dust usually is stubborn, but you can loosen it up for vacu-uming with a refrigerator coil brush ($9).

Of course, don’t stop there - thoroughly clean the refrig-erator alcove, too. If you’re lucky, you might find that cell phone you lost last year.

3 tips for to saving refrigerator energy costs

1. Set your refrigerator thermostat between 37-40 degrees F and the thermostat in your freezer at 0-5 degrees F. No thermostat? Buy two appliance thermometers at $3-$20 each.

2. Use an ice tray. Old-fashioned? Not when an automatic, built-in icemaker increases your refrigerator’s energy con-sumption by 20%.

3. Unplug your extra fridge. Consolidate your perishables into one unit - consider it an exercise in organization.

As a holiday bonus, green clean outside and inside the re-frigerator, using inexpensive ingredients you have around the house. On the 12th Day of Christmas ... A Helping Hand This Christmas, make more joyful noise than twelve drum-mers drumming when you lend a helping hand to some-one you care about. Want a terrific idea for a last-minute Christmas gift? Here’s a no-fail present that’ll give you a reputation as the ulti-mate Santa.

Take a Christmas card, and include a hand-written mes-sage from you that pledges a few hours of your time and energy to help out with maintenance and repair tasks. Give that card to someone you know who could put your generosity to good use - a neighbor, family member, or friend.

Not sure where to start? Ask your special someone what their most-pressing fix-up needs might be. Or, try all the terrific ideas we’ve gathered for our 12 Days of Christmas Giving blogs.

By helping out, you’ll be giving the true spirit of the season - your willingness to lend a needed helping hand.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL AS-SOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

Kay Bailey, GRI

817-776-1668 UNITED REALTYPROFESSIONALS

100% Financing Available for Qualifying BUYERS.SHORT SALES & FORECLOSURE

Resources Certified

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BUY..... Lowest Interest Rates

in Decades

9319 RAVENSWOODPecan Plantation ORCHARD View with GREAT Screened Porch to Watch the NATURE*4/2/2 with Golf Cart area*Living Area with WBFP* OPEN Concept*4th Bedroom UP currently

used for OFFICE*$165K

5008 BUENOBRICK & STONE Newbie in DeCordova Bend*AUSTIN STONE FP & BREAKFAST

BAR*Custom UPGRADED 3/2/3 & MAKE READY BONUS ROOM UP STAIRS * Storage for DAYS*12”CROWN* MOTIVATED @ $229,000

5120 FAIRWAY CIRCLEROCK Home on Corner Lot canopied with Gi-ant Trees*3/2/2 with WBFP*Huge Wraparound DECK*New PAINT, FAUCETS & FIXTURES *MOTI-

VATED SELLERS*$128,995

www.DeCordovaBend.com for ALL the listings in DeCordova

Page 30: December 2012 Homes Guide

©2011 National Association of REALTORS®.Download a free copy of the Field Guide to the Benefits of Home Ownership at HouseLogic.com/buyandsell. ©2011 National Association of REALTORS®.

Studies show that home ownership has a significant positive impact on educational achievement, civic participation, health and

overall quality of life. That’s why, for more than 100 years, REALTORS® have helped people find their piece of the American

Dream. To find out how home ownership can benefit you, talk to an agent who is a REALTOR®®, a member of

the National Association of REALTORS®®.

Every market’s different, call a REALTOR® today.

Some lessonsleave an impression

that will last a lifetime.

Page 31: December 2012 Homes Guide

54133 Excellent Starter-Downsize or Investment Home on .6acres. ROOM for Big Boy Toys! Fenced with Storage Building. RV or Boat Parking Pad! Invit-ing front porch sitting area, deck in back. GREAT views & Neighbors!! $128,900

92073 No “Honey Do” List! Elegant With Attention to Detail. AMAZING Kitchen, Master and Media-Man Cave! HUGE lot & 2nd lot negotiable!! Water feature, palms and covered patio with OUTDOOR KITCHEN! $289,000

93203 Light, BRIGHT Brick 4/2/2.5 BEAUTY on the OR-CHARD side of Pecan. COMPLETE with nature show & 15x12 SCREENED Porch to watch from! MASTER looks at ORCHARD, too. Living area with Fireplace. $165,000

87003 Comfortable living on 18th fairway, close to club house and back gate. Open concept, STUN-NING kitchen, lots of cabinets, supersize pantry. LARGE Master with TWO walk in closets! Covered porch, great for relaxing. $215,000

43103 AMAZING custom home with upscale fix-tures, appliances crown molding and design fea-tures you’ve dreamed about. Attention to detail is evident everywhere. Back patio has charming per-gola and tidy garden area. $280,000

96113 Charming home with a decorator’s touch. Located in the prestigious community of Pecan Plantation overlooking the large pecan orchard. A lovely deck allows you to relax, read or entertain. Lots of Charm! $163,000

4063 Well maintained home includes 2 dining & living rooms! Granite in Kitchen, Screened back porch. Additional lot INCLUDED in sale at 404 Timberline Dr. Comminity access to lake includes boat ramp, fishing, etc. $129,000

31103 BEAUTIFUL salt water pool in landscaped back yard still leaves room for large play area on the over half acre lot. Lovely custom home in Stoney Creek has all the bells and whistles. This is a MUST SEE!! $210,000

63073 THE TIME IS NOW!! Neat One Owner Home with Open Floor Plan! Sits Pretty on Quiet Corner in Gated Community of DeCordova Bend Estates! Lovely View! A BARGAIN for the Price! Must be seen to be appreciated! $124,900

33053 1950 Farm House. Owners have taken great pride in adding the Modern Touches to this Great House. Large Garage,Workshop Building. Sits on Over Two Acres in a great location. $97,350

77183 Shade and Privacy provided by the many trees let you enjoy the enormous deck overlook-ing the Brazos River. One owner custom home, 2922 sq.ft. built by Brian Gaffin. Beautiful woodwork throughout. $279,000

51203 GREAT ROCK HOME on Corner Lot, cano-pied with Majestic TREES*Tree Swing with a HUGE Backyard DECK that wraps around the back of the House and even has access from the Master Bedroom! SELLER MOTIVATED!! $128,995

To access info on all MLS Listings, visit

GranburyColdwellBanker.comor with your SmartPhone at

MyCBmobile.com

817.579.5355For info by phone 24/7, call 817.573.4663

For information on all our properties 24/7,call 817.573.HOME

Jeannette Black - Owner/Broker

Page 32: December 2012 Homes Guide

. . . and THE Authority on Real Estate.

The Waterfront Experts

817.219.0456

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