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Home is Important
I grew up in Dallas and have always been interested in architecture, beautiful interiors, and the importance of home both for families and as a basis of wealth. For me, it is a pleasure to go to work everyday and look at gorgeous homes both great and small. Some may underestimate the importance of a home and consider it merely shelter. To the contrary, I doubt that there is anything more important than our home to our sense of belonging. Homes can create a legacy and an inheritance. They capture all the wonderful moments that families and time create. Homes store our childhood memories, gives us roots, and pride of ownership. Homes can tell the story of their owners as clearly as written history. After touring thousands of houses, I can tell you that it is very easy walk in a house (vacant or occupied) and tell if the owners were happy there and if love made that house a home. Those are the homes that are interesting to me and in my experience, the next owners will be happy there also. Homes can shape our lives.
Early History:
The first time I became licensed to sell real estate was right out of high school in 1982. Anyone who remembers the 1987 Savings & Loan crisis can attest to how tough the real estate market was at the time. Inflation in the early 1980’s made homes appreciate fast so buying and flipping homes was a big phenomena. Then interest rates climbed to 17% and the bust cycle began in earnest. There were tons of foreclosures and condos were a big flop in the 80’s. I remember you could buy a foreclosed condo with your credit card, the prices were so low. Back then, 2nd loans were not offered and you had to put 20% down on a home and have an excellent credit rating or no go. Home ownership was enjoyed by the elite, not the great majority. By comparison today, we have very low interest rates and with FHA loans you can buy with as little 3% down payment.
Education
In 1987, I reluctantly left real estate and went back to college. I graduated from University of Texas at Dallas (cum laude) with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Economics & Law). For the next 14 years, I worked in the corporate world for EDS and Nortel in the external sales division. Along came the benchmark year 2001, Nortel offered severance packages and I accepted. I got my real estate license for the second time a few days later. I figured it was time to go back to doing what I really loved and that was real estate. In 2004, I received my Broker’s license. Presently, I am completing final requirements as a candidate for GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) and CRS (Certified Realtor Specialist).
First Love:
My husband, Dominick and I are college sweethearts from our days at University of Texas at Dallas. We met in 1993 and married in 1998. We are lucky that both sides of our families live here in the Plano and Richardson area. We have lots of nieces and nephews to enjoy. We also have a few cats. The number is not relevant. We find them entertaining in a circus kind of way.
Second Love:
Our first home together was new construction in Carrollton and what a nightmare for us! I have a lot of sympathy for those that are brave or naïve enough to sign up for a builder. As a result of that experience, I began specializing in buyer’s representation for those that wanted to build. As a liaison to the Buyer, I can stop a lot of mistakes before they happen and keep the buyer free to enjoy their life. Our second home was a build-to-suit. Before it was completed, there were over 175 change orders submitted. I got to move walls, change elevations, and add square footage. What a Joy!!
Interior Design:
Dominick noticed how much I enjoyed space planning and creating interiors. He suggested I take it to the next level and get an education in interior design. A week later, I had been accepted into the four year program at The Art Institute of Dallas. Art school is truly a dream come true for me because the classes are predominantly art history, drawing and space planning. On a daily basis I am forced to research and create beautiful interior design styles and break them down into component elements of scale and proportion. I told you it was a fantasy! I have had the good fortune of having my own or my team’s work showcased a few times in the display cases where the school’s new recruits walk pass and the Admissions Advisor says “This is what its supposed to look like when you’re good!” Ahhh, . . . the fantasy continues. I plan to graduate in 2009 with a B.A. in Interior Design. I am already studying under a licensed Architect and will sit for my Interior Design license (building codes) after two more years of required apprenticeship.
Decorating
While studying at the Art Institute, I created a growing decorating business specializing in accessorizing, window treatments, draperies, and furniture. I have many working accounts at the Design District, Decorative Center and World Trade Center that allow me to buy at wholesale + 20% for my clients. For my design services, I charge an hourly rate. It’s all quite affordable and being able to buy product that isn’t even in retail stores yet is an exciting bonus.
Parsons Paris School of Design
In 2007, I applied and was accepted to Parson School of Design in Paris. I spent the summer abroad in Paris, Nice and on the French Riveria. Summer session started in Paris proper at the Universitaire Internationale in the heart of the City. Our class of 16 spent 8-10 hours a day touring in Paris’ most beautiful interiors. The students were democratically housed in a famous, mid-rise dormitory called “Fondation Suisse” built by the famous French Architect, Le Corbusier. This mid-century architect knew how to design for healthful living and although the seven story dorm had no air conditioning, it was comfortable in the sweltering Parisian heat. The building faced North/South and captured the prevailing breezes. Horizontal windows that stretched the width of each room had lever like exterior shades blocking the sun but allowing the wind to pass. The ceilings were tall (12’) and allowed the hot air to rise and exit over the transom door. The roof had a garden of sod on it to keep it cool. It was an amazing creation to be housed in and then you recall it was created in 1938, seven decades ago. It must have looked like a space ship to others at the time.
During the first two weeks, our tour guides were docents and lecturers at the Louvre Museum and we had access to parts of the Louvre, Versailles and the other major museums not available to the public. On average, we toured four palaces or chateaus a day and listened to over six hours of history lectures studying Renaissance & Baroque Architecture daily. Weekdays were spent at Amboise, Chambord, Chantilly, Chenonceau, Eiffel, Fontainebleau, Musee de Orsay, Opera Garnier, Reims and Villa Savoy. Weekends were spent on excursions to Chartres or the Loire Valley. Examinations were rigorous and consisted of a 3 hour written essay comparing and contrasting design styles and the monarchies of the time.
The second two weeks were spent on a walking drawing tour of Paris. This was when it got really exhausting as the Architecture Professor was from Germany (and all that implies) and wanted a great deal of drawings daily. She insisted that we had to draw perspective views without the aid of erasers or rulers, just charcoal pencils. We would walk to a famous bridge or monument, draw for 10 minutes and everyone would lay down their sketchbooks for all to critique randomly. Ten minutes later we were walking to the next monument and frantically drawing again. Needless to say, all of us improved markedly with that kind of pressure to perform. We drew hundreds of Parisian scenes all day into the evening and beyond. The sun doesn’t set in Paris in July until 10:00 p.m. For finals, we exhibited at Parsons Paris School with 100 other Parsons students from all fields. As you may imagine, the architectural students received best in class as our work was judged outstanding. I credit the teacher for pushing us and imparting her own perspective on our drawing styles. As a result of that summer abroad, I can draw perspectives on the spot, any time and anywhere.
God Bless America!:
Although we Americans might not have a thousand years worth of exquisite architecture created by monarchies to look at as we go to work, we have the best standard of living in the world. Our grocery stores such as Central Market and Whole Foods provide a level of quality, price and selection not to be found in even the best green grocers of Paris. Our restaurants produce fabulous cuisine at cheap prices and give us large portions. We don’t pay for drink refills. Our waiters actually serve us and do not control our schedule when we dine out. Our homes are large and relatively inexpensive. Owning a car is not a luxury as it is in Paris where you must walk, pay for a cab, or ride the Metro, scooter or bicycle. You would have to be an upper class Parisian to live as well as the vast majority of middle class Americans live and enjoy in the United States.
Observations on French Culture
The only complimentary thing I have to say about Parisian culture is that it is easier to stay slim in France than it is in the U.S. Here’s why, although the food is very high in fat, the menu does not offer a lot of carbohydrates. It is impossible to find a coke or a candy bar machine. Carbs are just not readily available. Bottled water is the preferred drinks over sodas. In restaurants, plates and portions are much smaller with servings ¼ of a cup. They make time for meals. The business day starts at 9:00 am and ends around 4:30 pm. Lunch is 1-1/2 hours and dinner is at 8:00 pm. Wine is routinely consumed at both lunch and dinner and is relatively cheap; $4 euros for a house cabernet vs. $3 euros for bottled water. French butter, yogurt and cheese are not pasteurized, occupy a huge space in the grocery store and are consumed at every meal. The famous French baguette is baked daily without preservatives and can be purchased for under a dollar. In summary, the bulk of their diet is unadulterated wine, yogurt, butter, and fresh bread with leisurely meals of small portions and they walk a lot more than we Americans do. In fact, the only people I saw in Paris that were overweight were tourists.
Insurance
In 2008, I received my Life & Health Insurance License and Property Casualty License. These licenses were also renewals from the early 1980’s when I sold insurance for a brokerage firm. So many times while helping clients buy a home, I am called on for advice regarding insurance that it was a natural extension of my services. Education is a very big part of the value I offer my clients. My opinion is that I don’t feel I can properly advise you unless I understand the issues thoroughly.
Cynthia Greco Properties:
My goal is to provide my clients with a one-stop shop for real estate services with additional specialties in staging, construction, decorating, and insurance. I have a team of real estate partners such as Bob McCranie that I rely on to support my clients and give them the red carpet service that they have come to expect. My business is based on satisfied customer referrals. To that end, I work hard to give each client my utmost attention to their needs and goals. When you hire me, you can expect a high level of service, counsel and results.
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