Over the past several years, the Dallas real estate market has struggled with sluggish activity and declining median sales prices, but over the past year, some neighborhoods throughout Dallas have been showing signs of a recovering real estate market.  However, real estate experts have found it difficult to determine the state of the Dallas real estate as a whole, given that the recent real estate improvements have been evident only in certain neighborhoods.  Some parts of Dallas are posting increases in activity and median prices, some are reporting decreases, and some are reporting fairly stable levels, with little change for the better or worse.  Realtors believe that the consumer confidence is the main obstacle to the overall recovery of the Dallas real estate, and many believe that the coming months will show signs of what’s to come.

According to the Dallas Morning News, 2009 was a strange year for Dallas real estate and local realtors due to the inconsistent fluctuations in the market and the inability of real estate experts to find any trends in the Dallas real estate market.  Several neighborhoods such as Westlake, Richardson, Garland, and Duncanville have posted significant increases in median sales prices, while other communities such as Park Cities, North Dallas, and Lancaster posted declines in the median sales prices by as much as double digits.  Many realtors have noted that the Dallas is currently a good market for buyers, but many are finding that there is very little consumer confidence, despite the discounted home prices, negotiable sellers, and attractive interest rates.  Nevertheless, many realtors are optimistic that consumer confidence will increase in the coming months to allow for the Dallas real estate market to recover.

The Dallas Morning News has also reported that the commercial real estate continues to be sluggish as well, with high vacancy rates and few retail projects planned for the 2010 year.  Dallas is currently experiencing the lowest occupancy rates of the decade, with only 86.4 of shopping center space being leased.  Financial experts also estimate that there are about $4.5 billion worth of commercial real estate considered to be in various stages of delinquency, default, bankruptcy, or foreclosure.  Many experts are also telling people not to expect the normal two-year cycle of commercial real estate corrections, and that the Dallas commercial real estate may not return to previous years’ levels for another year or two, even though it has been more than a year since the onset of the economic recession of 2008.

Dallas is very much a city for those who consider themselves to be outdoorsy types, and who want to have a fun lifestyle. With Fort Worth only a few miles up the road, Dallas is, for all intensive purposes, two cities in one. The combination of populations reaches over 5 million people, there is always something fun to do, whether you are here in winter or summer, and especially if you are keen on the outdoors.
Besides from religion, which is largely the most important thing to the majority of Texans, and residents of Dallas, are outdoor sports. Here, a high school football match sees a huge turn out of supporters, at times it has known to be even greater than the crowds at the games played by the three largest college teams, and rivalries between different schools here go back generations. Of course both the professional and college games here are also very popular, with three different colleges having Division 1 teams in the district.
Another popular pass time in Dallas is golf, with over two dozen different courses that meet professional standards in the area, as well as one golf course that holds a regular PGA event. Because of the overabundance of courses in the area, you will never have to worry about getting the tee off time you want, or about overcrowding – and as the courses are popular with pros and beginners alike, there is no need to worry about your score if you are new to the game; everyone was once.
Another of the draws to residing in Dallas is the impressive network of bicycling trails, running and jogging paths and trails suited to just walking around and admiring the area. The paths and trails twist and wind throughout the city and some even stretch into neighboring towns. The Dallas city government has proven their commitment over the past decade in making the area ideal for exercising by making people want to walk, not just drive everywhere in their cars.
If you want to spend a fun and educational day out, alone, with friends or even better still with your children, then a sculpture tour of downtown Dallas is the way to go. You get to be outdoors while seeing over 30 different sculptures, all unique in their own ways. Although it will make for a very full and busy day, you are able to fit them all in provided you can handle a fair amount of walking; and if you can then it is certainly worth it – although I would advise you to bring water and stay hydrated if planning your trip for in the summertime.
You can also plan a visit to the John F. Kennedy memorial, although this is certainly more serious than a regular day out in Dallas, it is still worth seeing. It was erected to remember the well loved man who was murdered in Dallas in 1963 – it is free to visit.
The last major point of interest here is the West End architecture – you can take a tour and admire some of the oldest buildings in the city that still stand today in a protected area. It’s a walking tour, but Dallas is certainly made for enjoyable walking, so give it a go if you appreciate history.
In Dallas, there is always plenty to do, to the extent that you could make plans for every day you have off work for the next decade, and still not be able to see everything it has to offer. Whether you are a local or a tourist, get out there and see what the beautiful city of Dallas has to offer!

Dallas has countless options when it comes to real estate, and waterfront homes sitting around lakes play an important part in that. There are over 40 lakes all within 100 miles of the greater Dallas metro area. Lake Ray Hubbard, with a size of over 22,700 acres, is easily one of the biggest lakes in the zone and runs straight though the middle of Dallas County.
Real estate around the lakes is made up of several homes all either sitting on the edge of the water, or else close enough to have a good view of the lake. This kind of housing is especially attractive to those who enjoy fishing, boating, various different kinds of water sports or alternatively who just love to be near to the water – of course many of the homes have their own fishing docks, which means many residents find a love of fishing for the first time after moving here. Most of the houses also have boat slips that come with decks, so going out on your own boat for fishing or just to relax is also made easy.
The lake side homes here can be found around both the larger, grander lakes as well as the smaller ones that occupy a fairly large part of Dallas. Some of the largest lakes here can be found in the subdivisions of Flower Mount, Rockwall and Rowlett, while the smaller lakes, some of which were artificially created by man, are in McKinney, Plano and Frisco. Aside from there, there is also lake side property available in the city of Dallas proper, and in Arlington. Price tags on these properties start at around $100,000 in further out suburbs, while reaching over $1 million in Plano or central Dallas.
Two of the more popular lakes within the city of Dallas are the While Rock Lake and the Lake Highlands, with the Highlands located close to the well known real estate subdivision of Casa Linda. Housing in Dallas on the lake side is a great place to live for those who want to be near all the modern amenities a person could need while still enjoying nature, and boating, with their families.