Commercial Roofing Contractors in Melissa, TX

Melissa Kubala works as a realtor in Houston, TX and has personal experience in flipping properties. As an experienced real estate professional, Melissa understands the importance of location when buying and selling properties. In the following article, Melissa Kubala discusses how to identify a good location for a strong investment in real estate.

One of the only predictable things about real estate is its unpredictability.

The other? The longstanding mantra “location, location, location” still rings true.

Despite economic highs and lows and shifting tastes, one of the best predictors of a successful real estate investment is the exact location of the investment, often broken down by U.S. regions. Sometimes it even comes down to the community or street.

Melissa Kubala of Houston, TX says that whether it’s investing in an apartment or a single-family home, or if it’s a big flip or part of a pool of investors, here’s how to pinpoint the best location for a lucrative opportunity.

Melissa Kubala on the Qualities of a Smart Investment

Individual real estate markets tend to wax and wane year to year — even the hottest markets can cool down quickly. But there are a few key qualities to consider when looking for a solid real estate investment.

For a family with young children, proximity to quality schools usually tops a real estate wish list. It’s particularly important for people relocating to an area that are unfamiliar with. Some cities have good reputations overall for public and private school options, but sometimes it comes down to neighborhoods as well.

Melissa Kubala of Houston, TX explains that buyers are drawn to additional public amenities as well, especially if an area offers easy access to reliable public transportation (especially if colleges are close by), an abundance of parks and recreational options, and an array of dining and shopping options.

Melissa Kubala, Realtor notes that it pays to pay attention to the crime rates from city to city and neighborhood by neighborhood compared to population; it’s a very strong factor in whether an investment will be a success or not. Compare specific crimes as well, especially property crimes.

Another researchable factor is how economically stable an area is based on unemployment rates and the overall stability of the economy.

Melissa Kubala, Realtor says that a strong indicator of an area’s financial stability is whether real estate values have steadily grown and if rental rates are consistently high despite low vacancies.

Several economic factors play a part in whether a real estate investment reaches its full profit potential. An area’s population growth is important is a long-term investment in an area is a goal.

Melissa Kubala, Realtor says to look for cities or neighborhoods where there is new public and private construction and places that are attracting new industries and the jobs that come with them.

Whether an area is a tourist-heavy location or not is a safer bet for investors, whether it’s in apartments, condos, or home-share properties.

Be careful, though. Some markets are only hot for limited times during the year, such as a beach condo or a mountain home. Also, such properties tend to come with higher initial investments.

Unexpected Areas to Consider Right Now

Melissa Kubala explains that it’s one thing to take an educated approach to real estate investing, but on the other hand, it takes a certain level of aggressiveness to score a great find.

Translation: Get in on the ground floor when a market is getting hot. Real estate investors are reporting big successes in the following trendy areas that are showing job growth, infrastructure investment, strong rental markets, and affordable housing options.

Melissa Kubala explains that gross rental yield (GRY) isn’t the only way to make cash. While GRY is comparatively low in Boise City (a little over 4%), real estate in the area has appreciated rapidly in both the past year (just over 29%) and over the past five years (an eye-opening 97.4% jump).

Waco’s population is around 274,000 — not exactly Texas-sized — but the median price of a home is around 27% lower than the average for a U.S. metro area, making Waco steadily attractive to families relocating.

Much of North Carolina, including Raleigh and Charlotte, is experiencing an economic boom — and a rise in population and housing demand. Greenville, in the Eastern part of the state, is reaping rewards as well.

Melissa Kubala notes that the Eastern Carolina University college town is seeing rental prices as high as most of the United States and a 9% GRY that puts it in the top 20% of America. It also helps that it’s close to several popular beaches.

FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) - In 1971, Melissa Highsmith went missing when she was kidnapped by a babysitter at just 22 months old, but her family has just solved the case.

After 51 years, they are making up for lost time and getting to know one another.

Melissa Highsmith sat next to her parents and looked at photos of herself that she has never seen before.

“It is overwhelming, but at the same time it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world,” she said.

Her mother, Alta Apantencl, says she thought she would never see her daughter again.

“After 51 years, it’s so emotional,” her father Jeffrie Highsmith said.

The heartwrenching search to find Melissa Highsmith has been on the minds of the family for decades, but it was not until September when a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children thought there was a sighting of her in Charleston, South Carolina.

While the tip failed, it got the family to keep pushing to find her.

After a 23 and Me DNA test came back with a match linking Melissa Highsmith’s children with their family, they reached out to her over Facebook and at first, she thought it was a scam.

“My father texted me on messenger and he told me, you know, ‘I’ve been looking for my daughter for 51 years,’” she said.

The entire time, Melissa Highsmith did not know her real family was trying to find her.

“The person that raised me, I asked her, ‘Is there anything you need to tell me?’ and it was confirmed that she knew that I was baby Melissa, so that just made it real,” she said.

Melissa Highsmith agreed to take a DNA test and on Thanksgiving, she met her brother and later, her parents.

“That was the best day that I ever had my whole life, when I saw Melissa again,” Apantencl said.

Melissa Highsmith’s brother, Jeff Highsmith, said meeting her for the first time was “a dream come true.”

“I’m thankful to have her back,” her sister Victoria Highsmith said.

Copyright 2022 KTVT via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

A California garden center company will open its second Texas location on nearly 10 acres along U.S. Highway 75 in Melissa, adjacent to Buc-ee’s, according to Dallas-based Stream Realty Partners.

Green Acres Nursery & Supply bought Lot 4 at Willow Grove Crossing at 1922 Central Expressway for an undisclosed amount, Stream said.

Green Acres, which has seven locations, opened its first Texas store this spring in Irving.

Stream Realty Partners’ Senior Vice President Demian Salmon said that the real estate markets in the northern regions of McKinney, including Melissa and Anna, have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years.

Melissa’s annual population growth rate is 18.19%, which has attracted the attention of developers specializing in single-family homes, multifamily dwellings, and retail ventures in the area along the U.S. 75 corridor.

“This particular plot is perfect for retail and benefits from great visibility and easy access to Central Expressway,” he said in a statement.

Salmon and Associate Chap Bernet represented the sellers, Flamingo Daze LP, in the transaction. David Sacher of SHOP Companies represented the buyer.

Stream said its land experts leverage industry-leading technology to provide market analysis, feasibility studies, strategic site selection, residual valuations, highest and best uses, mapping, and demographic research.

The nearly 10-acre Melissa property is zoned for commercial development and offers city water and sewer utilities.

The location fronts U.S. 75, which sees more than 80,000 vehicles daily, Stream said. The Willow Grove mixed-use development, comprising 650 multifamily units and 270 single-family lots, is directly behind the property.

The Quarry at Stoneridge, Trinity Falls, Auburndale, and Hunters Ridge are among single-family developments in the immediate area, Stream said.

Stream said its land division has brokered more than 200 transactions of more than 3,929 acres in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the last several years with a total value of those deals at $481 million.

Green Acres Nursery & Supply expanded into Texas in March, starting with its Irving store. The company’s Texas CEO, Steve Gill, at the time described the company’s mission as trying to be the “Bass Pro Shops or Buc-ee’s of garden centers.”

Green Acres has plans to open two more stores in Texas in 2024 and a fourth in 2025, according to the Dallas Morning News. In addition to the Melissa site, the company has purchased sites in Southlake and Frisco.

In May, Dallas-based cross-cultural agency BeautifulBeast said it’s helping the “business bloom” in Texas while growing its brand on the West Coast through a digital marketing campaign. According to the agency, they’re collaborating on a digital communication strategy and the implementation for a major push as the company expands.

The family-owned plant place, which started in 2003 in Roseville, California, with its first location at a former dump site, also operates seven stores in California and plant farms in California and Tyler, with annual sales that exceed $100 million.

The Irving store is a massive 120,000 square-foot indoor and outdoor retail space with a 13,000-square-foot annuals and perennials greenhouse, 6,300-square-foot greenhouse for houseplants, and 30,000-square-foot store.

The company’s products range from patio furniture, pottery, and décor to grills, irrigation and drainage supplies, plant foods, and specialty soils. The store, on the north side of Interstate 635 at Belt Line Road next to the Cypress Waters development, also includes a planting bar for customers.

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Melissa, Texas, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, and there’s no shortage of stunning listings available.

It might be due to the sprawling acreage and lower property tax rate, but it doesn’t hurt that the high school recently unveiled a 10,000-seat, $35 million football stadium.

They’re clearly expecting a lot of visitors from out of town — enrollment at Melissa High School is about 1,300.

Realtor Jenevieve Croall with JLux Homes Southlake Realtors, said excitement is in the air around Melissa.

“There is a deep sense of community and pride within the town,” she said. “I have seen this over and over again not only for new residents but also for longtime homeowners. I think this is mainly rooted in, of course, its small-town charm but most recently has been attributed to the incredible strategic growth plans the town has put into place, with an intense and intentional focus on the A-rated, state-of-the-art new schools.”

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose

Nearby Allen High School opened its $60 million, 18,000-seat stadium in 2012,

A high school football stadium may be a worthwhile community investment, as Texas produced more professional players last year than any other state, according to NFL.com. The Melissa stadium is already catching the eyes of the NFL — and pretty much everyone else with Internet access, the Houston Chronicle reports.

“I think [the stadium ]is definitely a big draw for many families who have young athletes,” Croall said. “There are many small towns in D-FW that are also experiencing expansive growth similar to Melissa. However, many of these towns are playing catch-up in trying to build new schools at a record pace and these school amenities, like larger stadiums and practice fields, are still not built out and won’t be for a number of years. Yet in Melissa, the leadership has made it a priority to focus on the future generation and make it a town effort to bring the dreams of so many Melissa residents to fruition.”

The Melissa Cardinals played their first game of the season Friday night at the massive Kenny Deel Stadium, defeating Argyle, 50 to 14.

But there’s another draw to the booming Collin County town: its real estate.

18 Shadywood Lane

You can’t visit Melissa without checking out the $1.35 million estate at 18 Shadywood Lane.

The home, listed by Croall, is less than five miles from Kenny Deel Stadium.

“The first time I walked into 18 Shadywood Lane a few years ago when helping my clients relocate to Texas, I simply fell in love with the large private lot,” Croall said. “The incredible entertaining opportunities of this home are what most dream of, with the first floor sporting a game and media room, which flow outside into one the best outdoor living setups I’ve seen. And to be truthful, the laundry room blew all of us away.”

The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home sits on 1.5 acres on a private road in the gated Country Ridge Estates. It features extensive custom touches, an outdoor living retreat with a pool and spa, and incredible living spaces, Croall said.

Just in time for fall tailgating, an outdoor screened-in patio features a kitchen with a fireplace, space heaters, and surround sound.

The interior boasts hand-scraped hardwoods, cedar beams, and Old Chicago brick accents. The kitchen has a quartz island with a prep sink, a gas range with pot filler, double ovens, and a white farmhouse sink.

A game room and wet bar flow into a fully outfitted media room. A shiplap attic playroom and Pinterest-worthy laundry room are included among many bonus features.

Housing Boom in Melissa

More than 500 Melissa properties are currently listed, including several new builds and a lot of land ready for a dream home.

Even those who don’t have a football player in the family are drawn to the Friday Night Lights vibe of small-town Melissa.

“Many of the neighborhoods, both new and established, are golf-cart friendly, which families love,” Croall said. “They can zip around to neighbors’ houses and community amenities. I have found that Melissa has been a hot place for many relocating families to settle into due to its quick highway access to [Interstate] 75, affordability compared to Plano, Frisco, and McKinney, new construction opportunities, and the draw of large-acreage lots.”

Suburbs have always been a big draw for families who want room to roam and high-rated school districts with a low teacher-to-student ratio, Croall said.

Melissa High School is above the state average in key measures of college and career readiness, according to GreatSchools.org.

“Now with work-from-home and the overall growth of D-FW, living in the suburbs is more attainable for many families,” Croall said. “The National Association of Realtors just released a report that for 2022, the median distance moved was 50 miles, with one-quarter of buyers traveling over 470 miles to find their new home. Traditionally, buyers have stayed close to their past homes. From 1989 to 2021, the median distance moved was just 10 to 15 miles.”

As residents continue looking for their dream home, it sounds like Melissa, Texas, is gearing up for an end-zone victory dance.

Posted in Collin County

Dallas-based multifamily real estate development company Welker Properties announced a new project in Melissa that it says will establish it as a leader in the build-to-rent market in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The $95 million development, Wolf Creek Farms Melissa Build-to-Rent, will bring 343 Class-A units to Collin County.

“In the past 10 years, Dallas-Fort Worth’s population has increased by more than 20%, creating an increased need for housing,” Andrew Welker, founder and CEO of Welker Properties, said in a statement. “This project is designed with best-in-class specialists to create a community that optimizes resident satisfaction across generations.”

Welker Properties said it’s leveraging the caution of other developers and doubling down on its resources to build and provide what it calls much-needed housing options for residents.

Located between U.S. Highway 75 and Sam Rayburn Tollway, the gated community will bring together the best aspects of single-family homes with detached units that have their own private yards, along with the flexibility, amenities, and maintenance-free living that comes with living at a Class-A apartment, Welker said.

Wolf Creek Farms’ amenities will include a resort-style pool, dog park, fitness center, resident lounge, multiple open courtyards, Wi-Fi in all common areas and units, and controlled property access.

The units will range from one- and two-car garages to cottage-style homes with the option to rent a detached garage.

Highly rated public schools and abundant retail and services, including McKinney Town Square, The Star in Frisco, and The Shops at Legacy are within easy reach of the community, Welker noted.

“Luxury BTR communities are emerging throughout the United States, especially in the Sunbelt markets. As these areas increase in popularity, we’re proud to prioritize BTR communities that provide residents with high-quality living and the opportunity to experience everything Melissa has to offer without the long-term commitment of homeownership,” the company added.

Welker Properties plans to begin construction this fall. Development will take place over the next two years with the goal of completion by the end of 2025, the company said.

Welker Properties entered the multifamily industry in 2018 with a focus on both value-add multifamily opportunities and new development in areas with strong market fundamentals and the potential for high growth.

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