The federal estate tax exemption has been extended for two years (2011 & 2012). The extension also increased the amount to $5 million ($10 million for couples) and the tax rate has been lowered to 35%. This means that you can leave $5 million to your heirs free of federal estate tax and that most married couples can leave up to $10 million free of federal estate tax.

For gift tax, the new law changed from the $1 million Lifetime Gift Tax Exclusion in 2010 to a $5 million Unified Gift Tax Credit. The new law creates an important planning opportunity. This means, as of 2011, individuals will be able to make gifts of $5 million ($10 million for a married couple).

The value of your estate includes all of your assets (ex: cash, investments, your personal residence, other real estate, etc.) generally determined at the fair market value on the date of death. Since the law may revert back to $1 million, serious tax planning is necessary if your assets exceed the $1 million.

As stated earlier in this blog, the provisions are temporary. They are assured for this year and next. If the law is not extended or amended, it will sunset and the Federal estate tax exemption will revert back to $1 million with a maximum tax rate of 55%!

78 Hackberry Road | Van Alstyne, TX 75495

Approximately 23 acres with classic 1920′s barn, 3 acre stocked lake & custom playhouse with water, heat & air! Stunning features include: extensive use of classic hand scraped solid oak floors, exquisite leaded glass doors with & leaded glass transoms, large open kitchen w subzero built-in refrigerator and granite. Master suite is conveniently connected by French doors to the handsome study. Master bath is luxurious with extensive travertine and inviting oversized walk-in shower. Large corner jetted tub, spacious walk-in closet and dual sink cabinets. Study, luxurious master suite & guest bedroom suite on main level. Upper level offers 3 bedrooms, two of which are oversized! One bedroom with completely private study and full bath could be a second master suite. A huge gameroom with beautiful custom entertainment unit plus a useable loft area overlooks the greatroom below! Incredible full wrap-around wide covered porches for great outdoor entertaining & views of property.

Click here for more details, photos and a virtual tour: 78hackberry.com/

For example: if you already have a QR App aim your phone at  either of the QR codes below and you will instantly see how it can take you to all of the online information you need without having to spend hours searching with Google or one of the many real estate sites.

Click here for more information about the FREE apps available for iPhone and Droid phones.

Click here to watch a short informative video on how the QR Codes work in real estate.

“We have worked extremely hard day in and day out to make McKinney an even safer place to live, work and play despite challenges like a down economy and continued rapid growth. Our officers and detectives work hard at deterring and investigating crime, and this report shows their dedication really pays off,” said Police Chief Doug Kowalski.

Overall, of all cities with a population of more than 75,000 McKinney was ranked 51st of the 400 cities across the country measured. The crime rate rankings of the cities and metropolitan areas are calculated using six crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. These categories have been used for determining city crime rate ratings since 1999. The rankings include all cities of at least 75,000 residents that reported crime data to the FBI in the categories noted for calendar year 2009.

“The McKinney Police Department attributes much of our success to great working partnerships with our City Council and the citizens and businesses of McKinney,” said Kowalski

Frisco was the nation’s fastest-growing city last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. McKinney wasn’t far behind, ranking third.

The top 25 list is studded with several other North Texas cities, including Lewisville , Fort Worth, Carrollton and Denton.

Frisco claimed the top spot among cities with more than 100,000 people, thanks to a 6.2 percent population increase during a 12-month period starting in July 2008. Its Collin County neighbor, McKinney, scored a 5.5 percent jump.

Any way you slice or dice the census data, Frisco and McKinney remain chart toppers. Over the past decade, Frisco also had the country’s biggest population growth, while McKinney ranked No. 2.

More than 102,000 residents were in Frisco in 2009, compared with fewer than 34,000 in 2000, a take-your-breath-away 204 percent jump.

In 2009, McKinney’s population was nearly 128,000, up from about 54,000 in 2000 – a 135 percent increase.

Click here to read the full article.

In 2008 to 2009, Texas had 18% of the nation’s population growth and by far the highest domestic inflow of any state . . . 143,423 people moved from other states to TEXAS! Take a look at this Texaplex video to see why so many people are interested in Texas and the DFW area.

That would be the great news about Texas . . . . But to top it off FOUR of Collin County’s five largest cities (Frisco, Plano, Allen, & McKinney) are now nationally ranked in the TOP 100 Wealthiest Cities, IN THE USA.  McKinney is Ranked #7 regionally and #85 nationally! Frisco is ranked #2 regionally and #27 nationally.  Way to go Texas and way to go McKinney and Frisco!

Lots of towns near Dallas have low crime, affordable homes, and good jobs; McKinney is no exception. What makes it stand out is its gem of a downtown. Lovingly restored 19th-century buildings house restaurants, boutiques, and galleries; the 1875 courthouse contains a new performing-arts center.

McKinney’s employment opportunities are robust, sparing many residents a rush-hour drive of up to an hour to Dallas. Defense contractor Raytheon has a 3,700-person division here, and a mix of businesses in financial services, medical technology, and eco-friendly manufacturing are moving in.

Though McKinney has grown like mad over the past decade, you’d never suspect it when driving through its tree-filled communities surrounded by ponds, parks, and hiking trails.

~Vanessa Richardson, CNN Money Magazine

Click Here To See A Video About This Article

Located on over 5,000 acres, with 1,200 acres preserved as open space, Stonebridge Ranch is the largest Master Planned Community in North Texas. The population at build out is projected to be 30-35,000 residents. The community includes six parks, 830 acres of golf courses, lakes, ponds, sailing, fishing and 8,000+ single family homes, 1700 multifamily units, 280 acres of retail, and 270 acres of office space.

Stonebridge Ranch is one of the nation’s most recognized master-planned communities. Since it’s opening in 1988, it has grown to a balanced mix of residential, retail, and office uses with multiple amenities, and a wide array of exemplary rated educational choices, and a variety of worship opportunities.

 Today, Stonebridge Ranch is a community with 68 distinctive villages with homes ranging from the $160’s to over $2 million, and  a diverse population of young families, empty nesters, retirees and singles. There is no place like it in the Metroplex.

 Click here to read more about McKinney’s diverse housing options.

McKinney businesses, residents, schools and city government aren’t simply following a trend toward green living and sustainable development – they are leading the way.

Businesses with operations in McKinney have led the environmentally sustainable development movement in McKinney by building offices using green building techniques and meeting stringent platinum standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification.

In 2006 , McKinney welcomed one of the nation’s first privately developed LEED certified platinum office buildings,.  Built by a subsidiary of a Netherlands firm, Wereldhave, the McKinney Green Building is a $11.4 million structure that recycles rainwater and has carpeting made from old soft drink bottles.

McKinney is also home to one of the nation’s two green Walmart Supercenters, as well as the Pat Lobb Toyota dealership – the first automotive dealership in the nation to earn LEED certification.

The McKinney Economic Development Corporation has continued to encourage green development by launching the Coalition for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology, or CREST, to develop ways to make the city a leader in sustainable technology.

McKinney leaders have embraced green initiatives, recently hiring the city’s first Green Program Manager, heading the Office of Environmental Stewardship (OES) for the city.  She quickly formed the city Green Team to help develop mcKinney’s Sustainabilty Strategic Plan (SSP).  The team of 30 city staff members provides a forum to explore the green initiatives currently under way and those that city staff would like to consider incorporating in the future.

Click here to read more about how McKinney is leading the way for a greener world.