HOW TO FILE YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

This is the last time we will be saying - “It’s homestead exemption filing time” since now you are about to file for your homestead exemption as soon as your deed is recorded with the county. If you purchased a home last year before this change went into effect, now is the time to file for your homestead exemption.

How to File Your Homestead Exemption:

Step 1:  Ensure that your home address on your Texas Drivers License or Texas State ID matches that of your new home. THIS IS REQUIRED! https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/txdl/

Step 2:  Complete the hard copy mailed to you by your county appraisal district or apply online by visiting (CHOOSE APPROPRIATE COUNTY)

Dallas County Appraisal District, www.dcad.org

Collin County Appraisal District, www.collincad.org 

Denton County Appraisal District, www.dentoncad.com 

Rockwall County Appraisal District, www.rockwallcad.com 

Tarrant County Appraisal District, www.tad.org 

Step 3: Find your property by using the Search Appraisal Tab and enter your last name or Search by Address

• Click on the FILE HOMESTEAD ELECTRONICALLY and follow the prompts, if eligible to file online

• Note that some counties require you to print the application and mail in the completed form 

A complete application must be filed with the appropriate county before APRIL 30, 2022. 

IMPORTANT:  IF YOU ARE PART OF A JOINT OWNERSHIP OF A PROPERTY BUT ARE UNMARRIED, A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL IS REQUIRED.

WARNING: Please be aware of junk mail schemes! The sale of property is public information so you may receive calls or mail from so-called service providers who will offer to file your exemption for a fee. Please do not engage any of these services as filing for a homestead exemption is a free process. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! 

The Road to Becoming a Realtor - Melissa Touris

I didn’t grow up thinking about real estate.  There were no Realtors in my family.  We moved a few times, but I never went house looking with my family or ever met the Realtor when our house sold. It’s an industry I never really thought of at all until I was in it.  

In college, I first thought I would get a degree in marketing.  It was generic enough and advertising sounded appealing.  After all, in movies, advertising companies always had a sexy office, young good looking people working and it seemed fun.  My first economics class changed that route for me.  Economics seemed so interesting.  A way to study human behavior outside of physiology, to predict the future in some senses, and it wasn’t something everyone was doing.  So just like that, I changed my major to Economics and wanted to either work for the Federal Reserve Bank doing research and forecasting or become a professor since I loved the discussions happening on campus. 

My college advisor suggested I get some work experience before pursuing my masters degree so a few months before graduation, I started applying to entry level jobs rooted in financial work.  I was thrilled to get an offer from an investment company making $17 an hour and 2 weeks of paid vacation. 30 days after starting my job, 60% of the company was laid off, me included.  Welcome to the real world! 

At that point, I needed a job and applied to just about anything.  I had 2 job offers, one from Capital One Financial, the auto financing division and one from a small residential property management company.  The idea of working for a small company was really exciting. I would be able to actually talk to the CEO! I saw so much opportunity and even though it wasn’t in the exact field I saw for myself, I couldn’t let go of the idea of making a real impact on a company. In many ways, taking this job was the best decision I have ever made in regards to my career. It put me on the path to were I am now.

After a few months, I decided I wanted to get my real estate license so that I could take on more responsibility within the company.  I still had no desire to be a Realtor - work on the weekends - no way! Work without a guaranteed and regular paycheck - that’s crazy! I started managing the REO properties. Properties that had gone into foreclosure that were occupied by tenants in a lease or previous owners that qualified to stay month to month during the time the property was listed for sale. Towards the end of my time with the company, I worked directly with leasing and started listing and showing the properties we leased.

As I was working in property management, my dad started dabbling in the real estate world as well.  He started flipping houses and had a few projects under his belt by the time I became pregnant with my second child.  I knew I wanted to stop working a 9-5. The daily grind of rushing out of the office in time to pick up my oldest before the school closed and the limit on how much I could grow at the small company got to me. My plan was to solely represent my dad on the properties he bought and sold part time which would allow me focus on my kids. In March 2015, I quit my full time job and went part time Realtor. Well, the universe had other plans for me. Part time was never anything I could do as I struggled with work life balance.  I even handed over an option check to my dad at the hospital as I was in labor with my son. In January of 2016, I attended the Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s award ceremony and my eyes were open to what is possible to accomplish in real estate. That year, I sold almost $7 million in real estate, and have always looked to bigger goals. 

In 2019, I partnered with Compass Real Estate. Their focus on the future of the industry and their programs to help our clients in ways other brokerages didn’t, convinced me this was the best place for me to be.

In 2020, Marmie Leech and I formed the Touris Leech Group. Marmie and I share the same vision of service for our clients. We both offered complimentary staging for our sellers, and partnering together allowed us to extend our staging furniture stock and move into a storage warehouse instead of storing the pieces in our garages.

In 2020, my husband and I began to invest personally in real estate. It was time to put my money were my mouth is, and since I do not have a 401K through a company with company contributions, thinking of retirement was haunting me. We decided rentals would be a great way to generate additional income as well as take advantage of the appreciation of the properties. Becoming a real estate investor myself opened my eyes up even more to the challenges but also rewards that my clients experience.

Real estate is so much more than buying and selling a house.  We have the opportunity to build real relationships with our clients and guide them through life changing experiences.  Not every transaction is happy.  I have sold childhood homes after the passing of parents.  I have sold homes that no longer work for a family after divorce.  But with each transaction, I am able to provide hope for better days in the future. In happy transactions, it's exciting to think forward to all the loving memories that will be made in new homes. Bitter sweet selling first homes, but just think of the adventures of moving on.

I have goals to meet sales numbers.  It’s an easy way to track progress, but at the end of the day, the numbers are not what matters.  It’s the friendships, the hugs, the tears and the excitement for the future that keeps me doing what I do. 

Marmie's Path to Real Estate

My path to real estate started young! My parents have always been “project” people and when I was in middle school they bought a cabin in North Carolina that needed a lot of work. My siblings and I used to spend the summers in North Carolina at camp - Greystone and Mondamin. Our family fell in love with the area of Hendersonville, right outside of Asheville, and found a little cabin to fix up.

The cabin in North Carolina

At the time, I probably complained (a lot) but looking back, it was really fun fixing that place up. Of course we left most of the major renovations to the professionals. But we did a lot of DIY stuff too. I remember my parents gave each us of a budget of $100 to decorate and paint our rooms. I know you’re probably thinking, what can you even buy for $100 but remember this was 20 years ago and it was fun a challenge. Like, what could we find and make nice?! North Carolina is where all the nice wood furniture is made so we had some amazing options at the thrift stores.

I think the experience of working on that home in North Carolina really sparked an interest in real estate for me. My family went on to work on some other projects in Kentucky and Florida. And I learned the value of what a little sweat equity could do.

When I was in college I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I studied advertising because I liked creative things, but when I didn’t get into the “creative advertising” program I was really lost in my path. That was my plan and someone told me I couldn’t do it or wasn’t good enough to be in the creative program. I really hated that feeling! I was so upset with the situation and trying to figure out what I could do better than the creative program which I now called “stupid”. I thought my class in Trademark was interesting so I started thinking about law school. I was graduating in 2010, the job market was terrible, and I didn’t get in to the program I initially wanted. That, my friends, was the “why law school” for about 75% of the people who went to law school around that time. We didn’t know what else to do!

Law school was challenging to say the least! And I soon realized that there wasn’t a huge job market for Attorneys in advertising and trademark. Patents and Copyrights were more common and you needed to take the Patent Bar, a federal bar exam in addition to your state bar exam, as well as have a degree in some sort of science or engineering. So I definitely was not wanting to get get another degree and so the patent bar was off the table, plus reading patents is sooo boring.

I had just gotten married and my husband and I were thinking about buying our first house. On a whim I decided to enroll in a real estate law class to see what I might learn. At that point I knew I wanted to be in real estate and did not turn back.

After law school, I worked in a law firm that was a fee attorney for a Title Company. It was a fast paced, fires to put out everyday, and a big learning curve. I learned a lot but somehow couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to do something different. I did want to just be in the field of real estate but I wanted to BE in real estate, in a multi faceted way.

I left my job as an Attorney and decided to take the plunge to get my real estate license! Not being from Dallas originally, I wasn’t sure how I would find a client base. But I just used the network I had and the rest was history.

Our Flip Before

Our Flip After

My goal is to be diversified in real estate, not just a Realtor but an investor as well. So far my husband and I have owned 5 different houses - 3 personal residences, 1 flip that we bought and sold, and we just bought our first short term rental property that we are furnishing!

Some of the things I love most about real estate! (1) The opportunities are endless. You can literally make money while also satisfying a base human need - shelter. You have to pay to live somewhere, might as well be making money on that. What other product is a basic human need that is also an investment? (2) I love helping people accomplish their goals! I get to be a part of a little snip-it of people’s lives and advise them on their investment. I just love helping people make money. (3) You can be creative! As a realtor I get to use creativity all the time, staging a property, coming up with a marketing plan, furnishing my short term rental.

Annual Touris Leech Group Calendar Reveal

Every year we go through the pictures of homes we had the opportunity to sell to put together our calendar. Our favorite 12 pictures find a place above each month of the year with a collage of all the properties for the cover. This year was extremely difficult to pick the top 12 as we represented buyers and sellers of many breathtaking properties, but alas, we had to choose. Here are the ones that made the cut.

January - the kitchen of an M Street newer construction condo walking distance to Greenville Ave. This property was entirely staged by The Touris Leech Group.

February - the library of a Lake Highlands home that popped with perfectly placed color.

March - the den of another Lake Highlands Home located in Merriman Park Estates. This Grand Millennial style compliments the original features of this 1970’s ranch such as the stone fireplace.

April - the kitchen of a remodeled Highland Park home. White and bright with just the right amount of color.

May - the back patio of a forever family home in Richardson. This home offers indoor/outdoor living with large sliding doors leading to the backyard.

June - the prettiest backyard located in The Disney Streets. A backyard oasis with a sprawling creek lot.

July - a backyard made for pool parties in Parker. Entertainer’s delight with a complete outdoor kitchen, covered patio area and large pool with spa.

August - the kitchen of a White Rock Valley home. Dark cabinets and furniture pop with the amount of natural light and white quartz counters.

September - the primary bath of a Richardson home that leaves nothing to be desired. Natural light pouring in through the large privacy window, stand alone bathtub and tastefully designed shower tile.

October - cozy den of a renovated ranch style home in Richardson.

November - elegant dining room of a home in Highland Park. Plenty of room for a large Thanksgiving dinner.

December - gorgeous kitchen and perfectly style family room of a townhome in East Village.

Thank you for choosing us to assist with your real estate needs! We are so grateful for our amazing clients! Some of our other favorite pictures from 2021 are below. Cheers to a wild but amazing year!

- Melissa and Marmie

Buying a House for my Fur Baby

Want to know who two of my favorite people in the entire world are?! My dogs! Walter and Rosie, 2 smelly, hairy, noisy, rambunctious and oh-so-cute golden retrievers. What I would do for my fur babies!

It’s a dog’s world, I’m just living in it

These days, way more households have pets than before. And this recent increase in the pet population has influenced home buying and remodeling decisions. How we use our space with our fur babies is important to homeowners. 

Seventy percent of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). This is up from 56 percent of U.S. households in 1988, the first year the survey was conducted, and 67 percent in 2019.

Top 5 Home Purchase Decisions for your Pet

• Fenced Backyard

• Proximity to Busy Road

• Durable and Non-Carpeted Flooring

• Outdoor space has grass, shade, non-toxic plants

• Stairs versus single story (especially for geriatric pets)

5 Home Design Trends for your Pet

• Large Mudroom with Built-In Washing Station

• Built-In drawer with water / food bowls

• Cat closet

• Durable Flooring

• Faux turf with drainage system 

Let’s not forget about renting! If you are a Landlord, chances are you have succumbed to the idea that you will have more tenant options if you allow pets. What are some ways you can protect yourself and your property?

• Contact your insurance agent to discuss pet restrictions

• Obtain records and information regarding the potential pets

• Contact previous landlords to find out if the pet was destructive

• Require an appropriate pet deposit for damage

We LOVE our fur babies and are here to help you with home buying, leasing and any remodeling ideas! 

The Real Life of a Real Estate Agent

I meet up with a friend considering a career change to real estate today.  When she thought of a Realtor to talk to she thankfully thought of me.  I say thankfully because in my opinion, that is one of the top goals of a Realtor, to be top of mind when people think of real estate in general.  

When talking to her about what she thought of the field what the job looks like, I realized how different the reality of being a Realtor is to how it looks from the outside.  I shouldn’t be surprised about this.  Real estate is a highly glamorized job with shows about luxury real estate like ‘Selling Sunset’ but the majority of the real estate reality is shockingly different.  So what is the life of an average Realtor? 

According to salary.com, the average yearly salary of a Texas realtor is just over $42,000; however, that can vary dramatically depending on the success and location of the actual agent.   The point is, not all agents are making tons of money, and earning a commission is anything but easy. 

Yes, we look at houses, but the majority of real estate agent’s work happens outside of the showings. 

Yes, we look at houses,

but the majority of real estate agent’s work happens outside of the showings. 

First, we have to find a client. Real estate agents market the services they offer, and the marketing strategies vary from agent to agent.  Some agents make cold calls, buy online leads such as Zillow leads, run ads on social media, send out email campaigns, etc. 

Marmie and I have been very fortunate that the majority of our business comes from people we know, past clients and client referrals. 

So now we have a client. If it is a buyer client, searches are set up to begin looking online at homes that meet their criteria. Then showings start, and so much driving. If it is a seller client, research begins on how to price the property and we determine what needs to be done to get the home to show the best and sell for the highest price.  

At the Touris Leech Group, we stage our listings, plant flowers, hire a professional photographer to take pictures, etc. We have even assisted with picking out paint colors and other renovations to maximize the property’s value. Once the property is ready to list, we begin the marketing champaign by putting the property on MLS, social media ads, email campaigns, print marketing and open houses. 

We write up contracts once a property is found for a buyer, and negotiate terms with the other party. We schedule inspectors and contractors to investigate the property’s condition and follow up with lenders, title companies, appraisers and surveyors to make sure all the necessary steps are being completed to be able to close as scheduled. We deal with the unexpected regularly, and come up with creative solutions.

There is no hard job description of a Realtor. Bottom line, we do what needs to be done.  I have hauled off trash, comforted discouraged or stressed clients, chased after cats that have darted out of the front door of the house I am showing, cleaned windows, floors, counters, yes, even toilets……the list goes on. 

Our job may not be all sunshine and cocktail parties, but I love what I do, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.