Wichita Falls Real Estate by The Bishop Team

New Housing Development

New Housing Development
A new housing development on the northside of Wichita Falls near Sheppard Air Force Base caled Patriot Place had its opening this week. New homes priced in the $125,0000 price range will be featured at the Patriot Place. Rhone Building Corporation is the developer of this tract. Homes will be either 3 or 4 bedroom plans. For additional information contact The Bishop Group at bishop@wf.net or 940 691-7355

Notable restaurant in Wichita Falls Sells.

Notable restaurant in Wichita Falls Sells. The Pumpjack Diner restaurant in Wichita Falls, Texas was recently sold to Wichita Falls businessman Mike Shallenberger. The Pumpjack Diner had burst onto the restaurant scene only to be closed after approximately eighteen months of operation. The unique style of the structure is a certain eye-catcher in the city.

Shallenberger is a partner in several other restaurants in Wichita Falls, Fat McBride's Steak House and two Pioneer restaurants. The listing and sale of The Pumpjack Diner was handled by Denny Bishop and Ashton Gustafson of the Ann & Denny Bishop Realtor Group.

Wichita Falls ISD Earns State's Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating for Sixth Year

Wichita Falls ISD Earns State's Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating for Sixth Year Wichita Falls Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of "Superior Achievement" under Texas' Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system, the sixth year in a row at the highest rating. The Superior Achievement rating is the state's highest, demonstrating the quality of Wichita Falls ISD's financial management and reporting system. This is the sixth year of Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 218 of the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001. The District has received a "Superior Achievement" every year. The primary goal of Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts' financial resources, a goal made more significant ..(read more)

BCI Name Change

BCI Name Change
The Wichita Falls Board of Commerce and Industry (B.C.I.) is contemplating a name change to better reflect their position and work in current times. A task force committee of citizens from various business backgrounds has met and discussed this issue over a four month period. BCI excecutive head, Tim Chase and this committee will present the proposed name of Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.

Bishop Group on Record Pace

Bishop Group on Record Pace
Although most real estate markets have had a downturn in 2008, the Ann & Denny Bishop Real Estate Group is on a pace of production that is commensurate with their record breaking year of 2005. Through July 2008, the Bishop Team has closed approximately $25 Million in property, far ahead of their closest competition in the real estate market. The Wichita Falls Multiple Listing Service revealed a 13% decrease from the 2007 members but The Bishop Team continues a positive position from 2009.

Chad Hennings Speaks at MSU

Chad Hennings Speaks at MSU
Former Dallas Cowboy defensive tackle and fighter pilot, Chad Hennings was the featured speaker at the Welcome Back Dinner for the Midwestern State University football team. Chad played on 3 Super Bowl teams while a Dallas Cowboy after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy where he earned the Outland Trophy as the top college lineman in the country. Between his collegiate graduation and his stint as a pro football player, Mr. Hennings served his country in the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot. Hennings inspirational message focused on Commitment to faith, family, friends, freedom and future.

Wichita Falls Schools

Wichita Falls Schools Wichita Falls School to begin 2008 classes August 25th. There are 2 newly built elementary schools that will be opening this semester, Southern Hills Elementary and Scotland Park Elementary. As a reward for his dedicated service to the community and his profession, Superintendent of Schools for the WFISD, Dr. Dawson Orr was given a 3% salary increase by the school board.

Midwestern State University

Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls, Texas
Announces slight tuition increase, but still remains one of most affordable universities in Texas. The Board of Regents at Midwestern concluded their board meeting on Friday and slightly increased the tuition (5%). Only 5 universities in Texas have a lower academic cost than Midwestern. The regents also approved a major renovation for the D.L. Ligon Coliseum on campus. Ground was just broken for a new dormitory on campus.

Facing Foreclosure in Wichita Falls?

Are you facing foreclosure in Wichita Falls? You May Have A Better Way Out! There are countless hardships that can turn home ownership from a joy into a burden. The loss of a job, medical bills, or an unexpected hike in monthly payments can all make a mortgage unaffordable. But ignoring the bills will not make them go away, it will only make things worse. If you need help, there are approaches that can help, but you may not be familiar with them. One of these is a "short sale." In an approved short sale, the lender agrees to accept less than is owed for the property, and the homeowner is relieved of the debt. A lender may be willing to do this because it spares a lot of hassle and expense involved in executing a foreclosure. And typically, a short sale does far less damage to the homeowner's credit than a foreclosure does. If you would like to explore the possibility of a short sale for your property, avoid foreclosure, and potentially save ..(read more)

Housing Act May Help Some Struggling Texomans - Ashton On The News

http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=11601 Click to watch Ashton's News Story Reported by: Erica Rosales
Friday, Aug 1, 2008 @06:32pm CST It's being regarded as one of the most significant housing bills in decades.

With more than $300 billion being invested to stabilize a shaky market, some Texoma housing professionals say it can only help. Ashton Gustafson Bishop Group realtor associate
"Home values here are very, very affordable and for a first time home buyer it makes this new house bill very promising."
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 offers a tax credit to first time home buyers of up to $7,500. The credit is essentially an interest-free loan that buyers will repay to the government over a 15-year period.
Ashton Gustafson Bishop Group realtor associate
"There's been numerous first time home buyer incentives over the past few years but we haven't seen anything like this." (read more)

Wichita Falls Real Estate Update - Breaking News and Information

Many of you have asked me about what exactly House Bill HR3221 means for us in Wichita Falls? This Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed into law by the president this morning. Many homeowners will soon have access to more affordable financing, and first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home for three years) will receive a tax-credit to help them enter the market. This bill is not intended or crafted to allow irresponsible borrowers to escape foreclosure by refinancing their homes and then turning around to sell them. Lenders will be asking borrowers to qualify for these funds and the borrower will have to have a verifiable hardship such as illness, loss of job, divorce, etc. The following are some of the criteria to be eligible: Must be your primary residence Must have received a loan between January 2005 and June 2007 Debt ratio cannot be less than 40% <script type="text/javascript"></script> May ..(read more)

House Bill HR3221 Passes - First Time Home Buyers Get $7500 Credit

Key Provisions in H.R. 3221, The American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act · Provides mortgage refinancing assistance to keep at least 400,000 families from losing their homes, to protect neighboring home values, and to help stabilize the housing market at no cost to American taxpayers. · Expands the FHA program so many borrowers in danger of losing their home can refinance into lower-cost government-insured mortgages they can afford to repay. · Protects taxpayers by requiring lenders and homeowners to take responsibility. This is not a bailout; in order to participate, lenders and mortgage investors must take significant losses by reducing the loan principal. In exchange for an FHA guarantee on the mortgage, borrowers must share any ..(read more)

The Bishop's and Ashton Return From Conference

It was another successuful conference for Ann, Denny, and Ashton. For 3 days they spoke with and taught with some of the best agents in America. More than anything, they found that the current market in Wichita Falls is one to be thankful for. While most of the country is suffering from a down market, it was joy to express and show how the city of Wichita Falls is a HEALTHY real estate market. Year to date, they have sold over $25 million in sales, and could be having the best year of their history. For anything real estate call Ashton @ 940.691.7355.

June Update - Wichita Falls Real Estate Stats

The Wichita Falls Real Estate statistics for June showed great signs of growth with over almost a $5 million jump from May. This proves that we are still showing great signs of a market that is healthy and stable. If you are in the market for a home, I would suggest going to www.WichitaCountyListings.com. If you are looking or thinking about selling, please see www.WichitaFallsHomeValues.com. Whether you are looking for a home in Wichita Falls, Iowa Park, Burkburnett, or in anywhere in North Texas, these sites are a great avenue to stay abreast in Real Estate market. For everything else Real Estate, please call me a 940.691.7355

8 Points For Wichita Falls Home Buyer

1. Be a Pre-Approved Buyer: A pre-approved buyer always has the advantage in an offer situation. Becoming pre-approved is very easy: you complete your loan application with a credit check prior to beginning your home search process. Pre-approval means that you have actually been approved for the purchase by a lender, which gives you the edge in home purchase negotiating. 2. Beat The Competition to The Best New Listings: The search process can be both fun and trying. You will notice that some homes sell very fast and others hang around for long periods of time. The best homes at the best prices sell fast. Keeping on top of this is essential. Connect with a professional Real Estate agent that knows the market and keeps you updated. 3. Do The Research: Make yourself a "home value expert." Investigate the areas and price ranges for the kind of home you are looking for. Get a good idea of the price ranges these homes sell for and how long the market time is for them. Your ..(read more)