Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ever notice how most homes are designed to fit the average family, with average needs and average incomes?
But what happens if you're not average? …………..Sterling Oak is a custom home builder in the North Tarrant, South Wise and South Denton Counties. We believe that houses can be beautiful, but the owner's taste and unique selections make houses homes. And when your house reflects your personality, you feel at home.

At Sterling Oak, we want to help you create your dream home regardless of the size or your budget.

At Sterling Oak each home is constructed the old-fashioned way – through quality construction and a commitment to serving our clients. It is the way homes used to be built and the way Sterling Oak builds them today - with pride and attention to detail. Yet, we rely on our state-of-the-art processes and technology to get you the best products and prices. We are committed to the highest standards in new home construction.

That is why we are designated as a Graduate Master Builder by the National Association of Home Builders and a Texas Star Builder by the State of Texas. Our goal is to build a home you will love every day you live there.We offer innovative designs that are not only flexible, but can reflect your distinctive tastes. And if you want to start from scratch, we can do that as well.We urge you to visit any one of our models and compare us to those of other builders. Once you do, we're confident that you will discover the unbeatable value Sterling Oak offers.

Gary M. Schecter
President

Monday, December 15, 2008

Real Estate Financial News

We’ve reached a juncture in the credit markets where it really doesn’t matter how low interest rates go -- banks are refusing to lend and consumers either have no desire to borrow – or they are in such troubled financial straits they can’t meet the qualification criteria for a loan.

So what’s the Fed to do?

Many believe the Fed will announce in their post-meeting statement tomorrow afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET) that the answer to rekindling economy growth is actually quite simple – print money like crazy.

In a nutshell the idea here is that by flooding the economy with money – banks will ultimately find themselves bursting at the seams with capital – and they will essentially have no other option than to start lending.

As the short-term credit market swings back into action, business confidence will rise, employment will improve and the engines of commerce will roar back to life.

For more information contact:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

Daily Real Estate News

Fed Expected to Cut Key Interest Rate Tuesday

The Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting today where it is expected to cut it's key interest rate, perhaps to an all-time low.

The Fed will likely announce Tuesday that it is cutting its key rate in half to just 0.50 percent.
However, a few economists predict the Fed will go even further and cut the rate to one-quarter of a percentage point.

If that happens, it will be the lowest rate on record going back to 1954, when records tracking the monthly rates were first kept.

However deeply the Fed decides to cut rates, the prime rate for many consumer and small-business loans would drop by a corresponding amount. The prime lending rate, currently at 4 percent, is used to determine rates on home equity loans, certain credit cards, and certain consumer loans, the Associated Press reports.

"It is not so much going to give the economy a big push forward. It's more a case of trying to help the economy from being pushed further backward by all these negative events," said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group.

Source: The Associated Press (12/14/12008)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Extreme Makeover: Keller, TX 76248

http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/12/08/extreme-makeover-house-revealed/

The tentative Build Schedule (all times subject to change):
* Monday, December 8: Knock Day. Media may arrive at 3:45 p.m. for a press conference with the family at 4:00PM is planned for approximately
* at the home site location, 2880 Keller Hicks Road, Keller, TX 76248. Please note: the street will be closed, and security will instruct media members where to park.
* Wednesday, December 10: Braveheart Walk to kickoff of the build. Media check-in is at 8:00AM; Braveheart Walk at approximately 9:00AM. Braveheart Speech by Steve Wall will follow the walk, then demolition will begin immediately thereafter.
* Thursday, December 11: Framing throughout the day, followed by non-stop building for the next several days and nights.
* Monday, December 15: House Reveal, also known as the time for “Move that Bus!”
* Tuesday, December 16: Press Conference at new home. Time for Press Conference will be announced later.

Posted on December 8th, 2008 11:06am by Tim Rogers
Filed under Entertainment, Media, Real Estate, Television

Monday, December 8, 2008

Click here Decatur,TX for Local Events, Community Corner, Groups & Organizations, Shops & Services, and much more....

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Treasury Department Considers Plan to Lower Mortgage Rates

Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower rates on 30-year mortgages to 4.5 percent.


WASHINGTON
-- Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower mortgage rates and help stabilize the battered U.S. housing market.

Under one proposal, Treasury would seek to lower the rate on a 30-year mortgage to 4.5 percent by purchasing mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist at the Financial Services Roundtable, said Wednesday.

If enacted, such a plan would be an unprecedented opportunity for anyone with good credit and a solid income who could qualify for a mortgage at the lowest rates on records dating to the early 1960s, said Keith Gumbinger, senior vice president at financial publisher HSH Associates.

"You would have the mother of all re-fi booms," said mortgage industry consultant Howard Glaser.

The goal of the industry's proposal would be to take advantage of the unusually large difference, or spread, between mortgage rates and yields on government debt. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note yield sank as low as 2.65 percent, while the national average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgages was 5.75 percent, according to HSH Associates.

In recent years, there has been about a 1.8 percentage point difference between the yield on a 10-year Treasury note and a 30-year mortgage rate, but that spread currently hovers around 3 percentage points.

Analysts said that the government could use its ability to borrow money at low rates to in essence flood the market for mortgage-backed securities. This increased demand would tend to push down the yield on mortgage securities sold by Fannie and Freddie, which now average about 5.5 percent because of investor concerns about default risks. Once those yields fall, the theory goes, lower mortgage rates should follow.
That would have two benefits for the economy: Immediately adding money to the pocketbooks of homeowners who can refinance their mortgages and reduce their monthly payments, and eventually help arrest the slide in home prices since much lower mortgage rates would allow more potential buyers to qualify for loans.

"The goal is drive mortgage rates so low that home prices not only stop falling but begin to rebound," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
If the government does buy up mortgage securities, it would be similar to the effort announced last week by the Federal Reserve to purchase up to $500 billion of mortgage-backed securities from Fannie and Freddie. The two mortgage giants, which were seized by federal regulators in September, own or guarantee about half of the $11.5 trillion in U.S. outstanding home loan debt.

The Fed, however, did not announce a specific target for mortgage rates, which plunged about a half percentage point after the announcement.

That caused new mortgage applications to more than double last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey released Wednesday. Refinance volume more than tripled, and made up for nearly 70 percent of all applications.
Still, the industry plan is not likely to help borrowers whose credit is so damaged that banks don't want to lend to them.

"It doesn't do anything to help all the borrowers facing foreclosures," said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication. "It's going to benefit the people who have equity in their home, who have decent credit and can refinance."

Treasury is considering several options, and could announce a decision as early as next week, industry sources said.

Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said she would not comment on speculation about actions the department may take in the future.

The proposal was reported Wednesday afternoon on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Treasury could make such a proposal as part of a request for the second $350 billion of the $700 billion financial rescue fund, industry sources said.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has been criticized by members of Congress for using the bailout money to shore up Wall Street banks, while not doing enough to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

In recent weeks, a diverse set of industry groups from real estate agents to carpet makers have called on lawmakers and the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to subsidize lower mortgage rates and beef up tax credits to help stimulate housing demand.

The National Association of Realtors has been pushing a plan under which the federal government would spend $50 billion to lower mortgage rates. It says doing so would yield about 500,000 more home sales.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders is leading a new "Fix Housing First" coalition to push for aid to the ailing housing sector, including a tax credit of up to $22,000 for anyone who buys a home before the end of 2009.

Click here to read more in The Wall Street Journal.


Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance


The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.

The maximum credit amount is $7,500.

The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.



NAHB is providing the information on this web site for general guidance only. The information on this site does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind nor should it be construed as such. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action on this information, you should consult a qualified professional adviser to whom you have provided all of the facts applicable to your particular situation or question. None of the tax information on this web site is intended to be used nor can it be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-266-8200
800-368-5242

Copyright © 2008 National Association of Home Builders. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Exterior Door Selection and Installation

New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. If you're building a new home, you should consider buying the most energy-efficient doors possible.

When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it's important to first consider their energy performance ratings in relation to your climate and home's design. This will help narrow your selection.

Types of Doors

One common type of exterior door has a steel skin with a polyurethane foam insulation core. It usually includes a magnetic strip (similar to a refrigerator door magnetic seal) as weatherstripping. If installed correctly and if the door is not bent, this type of door needs no further weatherstripping.

The R-values of most steel and fiberglass-clad entry doors range from R-5 to R-6 (not including the effects of a window.) For example: A 1-1/2 inch (3.81 cm) thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.

Glass or "patio" doors, especially sliding glass doors, lose heat much faster than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator. Most modern glass doors with metal frames have a thermal break, which is a plastic insulator between inner and outer parts of the frame. Models with several layers of glass, low-emissivity coatings, and/or low-conductivity gases between the glass panes are a good investment, especially in extreme climates. Over the long run, the additional cost is paid back many times over in energy savings. When buying or replacing patio doors, keep in mind that swinging doors offer a much tighter seal than sliding types.

Also, with a sliding glass door, it's impossible to stop all the air leakage around the weatherstripping and still be able to use the door. Also, after years of use, the weatherstripping wears down so air leakage increases as the door ages. If the manufacturer has made it possible to do so, you can replace worn weatherstripping on sliding glass doors.

Installation

When you buy a door, it will probably be a pre-hung frame. Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames. You will need to remove an existing door frame from the rough opening before you install a pre-hung door. The door frame must be as square as possible, so that the door seals tightly to the jamb and swings properly.

Before adding the interior trim, apply an expanding foam caulking to seal the new door frame to the rough opening and threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house. Apply carefully, especially with a wood frame, to avoid having the foam force the frame out of square.

If needed, you'll also want to add weatherstripping. Check the weatherstripping on your exterior doors annually to see if it needs replacement.
Storm Doors

Adding a storm door can be a good investment if your existing door is old but still in good condition. However, adding a storm door to a newer, insulated door is not generally worth the expense since you won't save much more energy.

Storm door frames are usually made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or wood (painted or not). Wooden storm doors require more maintenance than the other types. Metal-framed storm doors might have foam insulation within their frames.

High-quality storm doors use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or glazing. Some doors have self-storing pockets for the glass in summer, and an insect screen for the winter. Some have fixed, full length screens and glass panels that slide out of the way for ventilation. Others are half screen and half glass, which slide past each other. Some are removable for cleaning, others are not. All of these features add some convenience and higher costs.

Never add a glass storm door if the exterior door gets more than a few hours of direct sun each day. The glass will trap too much heat against the entry door and possibly damage it.

Storm doors for patio doors are hard to find but they are available. Adding one to a new, multi-glazed, Low-E door is seldom economic. Insulated drapes, when closed for the night in the winter (or on sunny days in the summer) are also a good idea.
Weatherstripping

You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. To determine how much weatherstripping you will need, add the perimeters of all windows and doors to be weatherstripped, then add 5%–10% to accommodate any waste. Also consider that weatherstripping comes in varying depths and widths. Before applying weatherstripping in an existing home, you need to do the following (if you haven't already):
Detect air leaks
Assess your ventilation needs for indoor air quality.
Selection

You need to choose a type of weatherstripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weatherstripping could drag on carpet or erode as a result of foot traffic. Weatherstripping in a window sash must accommodate the sliding of panes—up and down, sideways, or out. The weatherstripping you choose should seal well when the door or window is closed while allowing it to open freely.

Choose a product for each specific location. Felt and open-cell foams tend to be inexpensive, susceptible to weather, visible, and inefficient at blocking airflow. However, the ease of applying these materials may make them valuable in low-traffic areas. Vinyl, which is slightly more expensive, holds up well and resists moisture. Metals (bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum) last for years and are affordable. Metal weatherstripping can also provide a nice touch to older homes where vinyl might seem out of place.

You can use more than one type of weatherstripping to seal an irregularly shaped space. Also take durability into account when comparing costs.

Application

Weatherstripping supplies and techniques range from simple to the technical. Consult the instructions on the weatherstripping package. Here are a few basic guidelines:
Measure the area to be weatherstripped twice before you cut anything.
Apply weatherstripping snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
When weatherstripping doors:
Choose the appropriate door sweeps and thresholds for the bottom of the doors.
Weatherstrip the entire door jamb.
Apply one continuous strip along each side.
Make sure the weatherstripping meets tightly at the corners.
Use a thickness that causes the weatherstripping to tightly press between the door and the door jamb when the door closes, without making it difficult to shut.
For air sealing windows, apply weatherstripping between the sash and the frame. The weatherstripping shouldn't interfere with the operation of the window.


Copyright © 2008 ( DFW Metro Green Consulting ) All rights Reserved.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Street Smarts
The Gift that Keeps on Taking


Gift cards have become extremely popular. In fact, the variety of cards offered and the sheer convenience of these little plastic gems have created a new global culture of gift–giving that few could ever have anticipated. The National Retailers Federation estimates that a total of $97 billion in gift cards – $26.3 billion during the holidays alone – were purchased in the US last year. This year, however, experts say that this hassle–free holiday gift may have met its match: a tough economy.
Earlier this year, when Sharper Image declared bankruptcy, nearly $20 million in gift cards were instantly voided, forcing shoppers to suddenly reconsider the merits of the gift card. Remember, unlike banks accounts, gift cards are not protected by the FDIC or anyone, and there is no guarantee that you can redeem the value of the card if a company goes under. And with other major retailers filing for bankruptcy protection recently (Circuit City, Mervyns, and Linens–N–Things, to name a few) giving gift cards this year could be as risky as playing the stock market.

The good news is, with US retail sales expected to shrink this holiday season, retailers will be working hard to get their share of your holiday budget, no matter how large or small. This means major sales and deals that could make going to the mall this year a much better option than simply handing out gift cards anyway. Because of these deals, what a $50 gift card would have purchased last year could turn into a much more valuable and memorable gift for everyone on your list.

Either way, if you receive any gift cards this year, or you still have a few you haven't used yet, be sure to redeem them right away.

by
Lisa Warren
Southlake Branch Manager
Silver Oak Mortgage
Phone: (817) 410-2518
Fax: (817) 410-2519
lwarren@somlp.com
href="http://www.silveroakmortgagelp.com/">www.silveroakmortgagelp.com

Saturday, November 22, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER


Holiday Happenings in the area.....


Nov. 14 - Jan. 3 - ICE! and Lone Star Christmas (Grapevine)

Nov. 22 - Jan. 4 - The Trains at North Park (Dallas)

Nov. 28 - Jan. 4 - Holiday in the Park (Six Flags in Arlington)

Saturday, Nov. 22 - 3:00 to 9:00 pm

Home For the Holidays (Southlake Town Square)

Tree lighting at 6:30 pm

Saturday, Nov. 22 - 24 - www.SouthlakeFestivalofTrees.com

Friday, Nov. 28 - FW Sundance Square

2:00 to 5:30 pm - Holiday Fun Zone

6:00 to 8:00 pm - Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting

Nov. 29 - Dec. 21 - Snowflakes, Sugarplums, and SANTA! (Fort Worth)

Saturday, Nov. 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Hurst Annual Tree Lighting Spectacular

Monday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 pm

Historic downtown Grapevine Carol of Lights

Thursday, Dec. 4 - 7:00 pm

Historic downtown Grapevine Parade of Lights

Friday, Dec. 5 - 6:00 to 9:30 pm

Holly Days at Keller Town Center

Saturday, Dec. 6 - 10:00 am

Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children’s Parade Dallas

Saturday, Dec. 6 - 4:00 to 8:00 pm

NRH Night of Holiday Magic at NRH20 Family Waterpark

Saturday, Dec. 6 - dusk

Twinkle Light Parade on Grapevine Lake

Happy Holidays!!!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Foreclosure Prevention
The two secondary-mortgage-market companies are well aware of the market pain and are taking a number of steps to provide relief, particularly to prevent foreclosures.

Among other things, Freddie Mac is allowing lenders to modify their at-risk loans into 40-year, lower interest-rate mortgages and to reduce borrowers' burdens by permitting them to roll up to six months of missed payments into what amounts to an unsecured second loan. The two companies are also ramping up their staff and adjusting compensation so their internal structure better matches the size and complexity of the processing demand they face.

What’s more, to help facilitate short sales, Lockhart’s agency will be releasing a large-scale, streamlined, standardized process for expediting short sales, which he said will give lenders flexibility and tools like principal forbearance that they can’t easily use right now.

But Lockhart made it clear that the bulk of the problem isn’t with Fannie and Freddie loans, but debt in what the financial services industry calls private-label securities, the Wall Street loans, many of them subprime, that are held by investors all over the world.

The streamlined short sale process his agency will be announcing soon—he didn’t give a time line—could go a long way to focusing the minds of lenders on the problem. But ultimately the problem won’t go way until interest rates come down, buyers start streaming back into the market again, and prices firm up, he suggested.

—Robert Freedman
Realtor Magazine

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Mortgage Loans


URGENT!!

Dont let the media spook you!!
You do not have to have 20% down to obtain a home loan, we are financing people with a minimum of 3% down and even 0% down on special programs and areas.
Right now is the perfect time to buy a home, it is the largest investment you and your family will make. If you do not own a home or are interested in moving to a new one please call us. We can find a program that will best suit your needs.

by:

Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Real Estate Update

October 2008

Rates Tick Up

In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.09% for the week ending September 25, 2008, up from the previous week when it averaged 5.78%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.42%.
"Mortgage rates followed Treasury bond yields higher this week amid market uncertainty over the current state of the economy," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

Mortgage Rates

Source: Realty Times

U.S. averages as of September 25, 2008:30 yr. fixed: 6.09%
15 yr. fixed: 5.77%
1 yr. adj: 5.16%

And while up, interest rates for 30-year FRMs are still more than 0.5 percentage points below this year's peak of 6.63 percent set the week of July 24th.


Where Are Lenders Getting Credit Scores?


Consumers often mistakenly believe that mortgage lenders use only credit scores from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Fair Isaac's myfico.com to gauge creditworthiness. However, Consumer Reports recently found that lenders also use NextGen FICO scores, FICO Expansion Scores, and Industry Option FICO scores — which take car loans into consideration — as well as custom formulas. Given that these scoring models are not available to consumers, experts say that consumers should not rely solely on available credit scores to determine their likelihood of getting a loan. They would be wise to make timely bill payments, make more than the minimum payment, and hold down credit card balances.


Buyers Crave Green More Than Extra Space


Buyers of custom homes are increasingly interested in money-saving features like extra insulation and energy-efficient furnaces, rather than game rooms and space for in-laws, according to a Home Design Trend Survey by the American Institute of Architects. Sixty-eight percent of the survey's respondents said customers were requesting extra insulation in the attic compared with 56% a year ago. Two-thirds of respondents said green products such as tankless water heaters, double or triple-glazed windows, and sustainable flooring products such as bamboo or cork were gaining in popularity.
Only 8% of the survey's respondents said game rooms were increasingly popular among their customers, down from 23% last year.

Eight WaysTo Help a Home Sell Faster

Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers' attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.
Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV's The Stagers.
Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
Pack up the too-personal. Don't leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home's appeal.
Think "white-glove clean." Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you've turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.

Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

What's At Stake?

Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT
Click here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation

Friday Night Predictions: Slow week will mean success for WC teams

Friday night will be the calm before the storm for most Wise County high school football teams. Four of the seven varsity squads have a bye this week as they gear up for the start of district play.


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The break comes at a great time for teams such as Boyd, Decatur and Chico, who are all 2-3 and physically beat up. However, there will be a little action on the gridiron with Bridgeport, Alvord and Northwest shining bright under the Friday night lights.

I don't need a bye this week because I'm already in midseason form. I went 6-1 in picking the winners, and fell one five-minute collapse by the Decatur defense from going perfect.

My season mark jumped to 26-8 and that's not too shabby. Especially when I'm going to score a hat trick this weekend.

Bridgeport vs. Graham

How 'bout them Bulls? They have won as many games this preseason as they have in the last five years combined. Yep, Bridgeport has a 4-16 nondistrict record dating back to the 2004 season.

So, do the Bridgeport fans have reason to be happy? You bet'cha.

The best part of it all is that the defense is one of the biggest reasons the Bulls are one win away from coach Danny Henson's first 5-0 start.

That shouldn't be a problem unless the Bulls have a letdown after playing two solid teams that will be in the playoffs. That is always a concern when playing a game that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Graham is a good team, but not on the same level as Argyle and Prosper. These two teams have flip-flopped roles in just a year as the Steers are now jut a pretender and Bridgeport is the contender.

Henson won his 100th career game last week, all at Bridgeport. Let's chalk up No. 101 and get ready for the playoff run.

Bridgeport by 21

Alvord vs. Sacred Heart

The Bulldogs have faced the Tigers twice in coach Mike Chaney's eight years. They are 0-2 against the Muenster boys and have been outscored 67-22.

Sacred Heart has not faced a team as potent on the ground as it will Friday night. The Alvord smash-mouth football attack will give the Tigers plenty to worry about.

However, the Bulldogs have only been tested once this season as their opponents are a combined 5-13. In fact, Windthorst is the only team that has won more than one game.

That competition doesn't get much better this week as the Tigers are thin on depth and will be out-manned on both lines of scrimmage.

Despite the schedule, Alvord has only allowed 12 points all season. That is impressive no matter who you play at this level. It's easy to give up scores late in games that have already been determined, but not these Bulldogs.

The games begin next week, but tailback Shane Watkins and his boys will have a little fun first.

Alvord by 20

Northwest vs. Colleyville

The Texans defense has stolen all the headlines this season. They have whipped up on teams that actually have more issues on offense than Northwest.

Northwest carries a 3-1 record into this ball game. Those three wins have come against teams with a combined record of 3-10, while its lone loss was to a 4-1 South Grand Prairie teams.

This week's serving: A 4-0 Colleyville Heritage team. If the Texan defense is the real deal, then they must prove it against one of the most prolific 5A offenses in theMetroplex.

The Texans have surprised me this season in winning three of their first four games. With the loss of tailback Drew Ashley and receiver/safety Ricky Broxton, I didn't think this team had a chance this season.

Coach Leonard McAngus has done a great job in keeping this team competitive. But it will take a miracle worker to win this one. Is that McAngus?

Colleyville by 28


By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, October 2, 2008
http://www.wcmessenger.com/sports/football_content/EkkklZplpEFTthpuyP.php

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Decator's Information

POPULATION
City: 5,200
County: 43,600

EDUCATION:
2,450 Students in 4 Schools

COMMUNITY AMENITIES
Decatur Municipal Airport
John A. & Katherine G. Jackson Public Library
Senior Citizens Center
Three Convalescent Centers
24-Hour Ambulance Service
Five Private Clinics
148-Bed Hospital: 20-Bed ICU, 6-Bed Nursery, 17 Birthing Suites
Fit-N-Wise Health Center

LOCATION
Just 30 miles north of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex

CHURCHES
27 Churches representing 9 Denominations

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Events in Decatur

Chamber and Community Events



09/20/2008
City Wide Garage Sale
For more information or to be placed on the map please contact Frieda Hanley. 627-2741

09/20/2008
Decatur Municipal Airport Fly-In 2008
Saturday, September 20th 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Airplane Rides, Static Aircraft Displays,Antique Automobiles, Remote Control Aircraft Exhibit,Jump House & Train Rides for the kids, Live Music, Food, Drinks!

09/20/2008
James Wood Motors 30th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrating 30 years of James being in the new car business!! Live Entertainment by Pat Waters, Giveaways every 30 minutes, free food, hay rides, bounce houses, open to the public!

09/23/2008
September Luncheon
EMBARQ Business Leader of the Year Award Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Decatur Civic Center Guest Speaker Phil King RSVP by calling chamber office.

10/18/2008
17th Annual Decatur Chamber of Commerce Auction
"Eighter from Decatur Auction/Casino Night" Saturday, October 18th Decatur Civic Center 6-10 p.m. Tickets available at the chamber office. 627-3107