February 19, 2025 • 39 mins
Dallas-Fort Worth is booming, and with that growth comes a real estate market poised to be one of the biggest in the country. But what really drives homebuyers’ decisions? It’s about so much more than fancy countertops and high-end appliances. In this episode, we dive deep into the market with two top experts—Candy Evans of CandysDirt.com and luxury home builder and real estate agent Harrison Polsky. Plus, we take you inside a jaw-dropping $16 MILLION estate in Preston Hollow. If you’ve ever wondered what 11,000 square feet of pure luxury looks like, you won’t want to miss this!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (00:00):
Hey there, and welcome to Let's Talk
Local. I'm your host, SarahZubiate Bennett. And today,
we're diving into one of thehottest topics in Dallas, real
estate. And not just any realestate, we're talking high end
luxury with two of the best inthe business. I'm joined by the
incredible Candy Evans andHarrison Polsky, two top tier
experts who know this marketinside and out. We're busting
(00:21):
myths, breaking down what'sreally happening, and even
making some bold predictionsabout where things are headed.
And stick around because later,Candy is taking us to tour some
spaces right here in Dallas.It's gonna be a great episode,
so be sure to hit like andsubscribe so you never miss a
moment of Let's Talk Local.Let's get started.
(00:46):
I am here today with Candy Evansand Harrison Polsky. I cannot
thank you enough for being heretoday. So you both cover
different real estate and somereal estate dirt. You're a
builder. You're a realtor. Imean, you are kind of the real
estate agent hub for all thatyou do.
But can you both just kind ofsummarize what it is that you do
respectively so that our viewersand listeners who are not
(01:08):
familiar with you can learnabout you?
Harrison Polsky (01:11):
I'm scared to answer in front of her, but I
know.
Candy Evans (01:13):
I am so excited for sitting next to him. Let me tell
you, this is gonna be a great!You go first. Tell them what you
do because I've known you for solong.
Harrison Polsky (01:21):
I know you show up late for lunch. She's never
on time.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:24):
We did mention this.
Harrison Polsky (01:26):
Oh, it'd been a...
Candy Evans (01:26):
Today was a different
Harrison Polsky (01:28):
Yeah. It's okay. But, now, I run a home
building business called CatenaHomes. We do 10 to 14 homes a
year. Average price is 6 and ahalf million.
Park Cities and Preston Hollow.Nothing outside that little
bubble.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:39):
You don't do oh, yeah. Park Cities,
Highland Park, and that's...Okay. Thank you.
Harrison Polsky (01:43):
Stick to what I know. And then, run a sales team
of agents that all we do is newconstruction. We do about a
$160,000,000 a year, so numberone, new construction sales team
in Texas.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:52):
That's terrific. Thank you.
Candy Evans (01:54):
And I am Candy Evans of CandysDirt fame, which
is a website that started as ablog. I call myself an
accidental entrepreneur becauseI'm a journalist by training,
but I kind of got obsessed. I'vealways been obsessed with real
estate. And so I took it to theweb and realized there was a
niche in Dallas where therealtors did not have anything
that they could, you know, turnto that covered them, that
(02:17):
recorded them, that chronicledthem. So I started it when I was
on staff at a local magazinehere, and then it took off. And
so I kinda went out on my ownand took it on my own, and I run
the business. So we have writersall over town, actually, all
over the metroplex. And, we dovery well, and we love it
because we're obsessed with realestate. We cover everything
(02:37):
that's real estate, whether it'swhat's going on at City Hall,
whether it's home builders,which is how I know Harrison, of
course, and, you know, whetherit's agents. And so we track it
all, and that's why I'm heretoday. Thank you for having us.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:49):
Oh my gosh.
Harrison Polsky (02:50):
Thank you for being here.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:50):
Well, I I just love real estate. It's so
sexy. And it's something thatpeople will always just
Harrison Polsky (02:55):
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:55):
Listen to. I mean, your entire Insta,
all of your social, is youtalking about real estate, and
you've, I mean, you've garnereda really good following.
Harrison Polsky (03:04):
Yeah. I mean, you have to live it, you know,
day in and day out. Right? Youcan't fake it. I mean, that's
every time you go somewherewhere you're like, just now,
Candy's gonna ask you aquestion, you're gonna ask me a
question. So you're alwaysliving it day in and day out. My
wife gets annoyed about it, but,I mean, you know, she's over it
at this point. But, you justit's what we like to do, and you
have to be passionate about it.
Candy Evans (03:24):
It's better than being married to an OB GYN, let
me tell you.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:29):
He's my OB GYN.
Harrison Polsky (03:31):
I just learned a lot.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:33):
Also, so I love him. That's actually how
I moved into my house because,they knew the family that lived
in the house. And I was lookingfor a home in Highland Park. I
was like, we'd like an acre acreideally, but something that we
can renovate and make our own.
And then it wasn't listed. So Iwent to Candy, and I heard you
(03:57):
talk about this, how you'relike, people do not go to Zillow
when they're looking for thesekinds of houses.
Harrison Polsky (04:02):
They don't.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:03):
Yeah. I mean, it's it's definitely a
network. It's a community, andshe's been a longtime friend of
mine, my love, and, clearly,Walt has too. Yeah.
And so it's because of them thatI that that we live in the house
that we do now.
Harrison Polsky (04:14):
It's actually 50% now off market. It used to
be around 40, and now it'scloser to 50.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:19):
To 50. Really?
Harrison Polsky (04:20):
Yeah. I've been, it's been taking me a
while because we were raisingcapital, out of New York, and
they just kept hearing this.Like, yes. We understand. Miami
has a shadow market, so you havea shadow market. And, like, how
can you prove it? I'm like, Ican't. Yes. I can. Deed trades.
So if you figure out when thedeed trades, that's how you
could tell the difference. So Igot a guy to create an algorithm
(04:41):
that pulls the deed transfersoff the city website. So
whatever's on MLS versus what'sthe deed transfer, that's how
you know what the difference is.
And it's we used to say it's 40.It's actually closer to 50.
Candy Evans (04:52):
50. Interesting. Well, I just asked the brokers,
and they like, Briggs andCompass and all these guys, and
they will just tell me that 35to 50% of the business is off
market. Like, when we sell ourhome, I'm not gonna put it in
MLS. And the reason we don'twanna do that is because someone
buying our home wants to keepthat tax rate down. The taxes in
(05:13):
Texas are terrible. But gettingback to what you said, I say
that people in Dallas care aboutthree things, oil, football, and
real estate. And I would saythat real estate might be first,
and that's it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:25):
You don't think football trumps real
estate?
Harrison Polsky (05:27):
Not with the way the Cowboys play.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:29):
Oh my gosh. You. Don't even I know.
It's so abysmal.
Harrison Polsky (05:34):
Who's the new coach? Who who is this guy?
Candy Evans (05:37):
That's it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:38):
Okay. So you all are real estate experts.
I'm dying to hear how you kindabreak this part down. Where are
you gauging? And and I'mspecifically interested in in
the hub that you arespecializing in.
Where do you foresee a lot ofDallas real estate moving?
Because like you mentionedbefore we were even recording,
(05:59):
the bull's eye has moved north,and I want you to expand upon
that statement, for ourlisteners. But talk to me about
where you see the market beingin about five years. Since now,
we've had propositions S and Upass
Candy Evans (06:13):
Thank god.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:14):
And things are are different. Right?
Harrison Polsky (06:18):
It's it's still going up. I mean, in December,
there was a lot on Beverly thattraded at $425 a foot. Mhmm. And
then two weeks before that, itwas $385 a foot, and a week
before that, $325 a foot. Like,that's still $60 a square foot
higher than it was a year ago.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:32):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (06:33):
I mean, she knows this just as well as I do.
Six years ago, you could buy ahouse in the Fairway Of UP,
4200, 4500 square feet,$1.7 million. Now they're
trading for $3.2, $3.4 million.So you're gonna sell that house
to buy the same house? No. Yep.Plus your kids gotta go to
school, and they can't all jumpup to $67,000,000. Then if
you're not in Highland Park, youknow, Park Cities and your kids
(06:53):
are going to private school,where are you gonna live?
Preston Hollow, Bluffviewbecause you're not gonna schlep
from all over the metroplexforty minutes in the morning
unless you unless you wanna getdivorced. So you're gonna live
in Preston Hollow, so you'reclose to the schools. And where
are all the good schools? InPreston Hollow.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:07):
I know.
Harrison Polsky (07:07):
So I don't see that changing anytime soon, and
especially as more people keepcoming
Candy Evans (07:12):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (07:12):
It's just gonna get more congested. Now the
bullseye is moving north, butyou need more schools up north
to kinda offset that. So untilthat happens, I'm not buying it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:20):
Okay.
Harrison Polsky (07:21):
Well, So I disagree.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:22):
I have comments about this. So I wanna
hear your perspective, Candy.
Candy Evans: Yeah, I think it is moving north (07:27):
undefined
and
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:28):
Define north for me.
Candy Evans (07:29):
I would say North Of Dallas, Northward of North
Dallas, Northward of Plano evenbecause Frisco Fields is going
to be amazing when that is fullydeveloped. So it's early yet,
But, eventually, we will have, Ithink, the luxury of Highland
Park Village at Frisco Fields. Ithink what they're building,
(07:51):
what the developer told us waskinda funny. He said, if you
like if you think Legacy West isgreat, he said, what I'm doing
at Frisco Fields is in terms ofretail is going to make Legacy
West look like the uglystepsister. So it's going to be
a very huge thing, but it itneeds time because you've got
the PGA up there. You've got,all the entertainment. Universal
(08:13):
is coming, you know, up there.There's so much up there. The
schools up there are have youbeen to the PGA?
Harrison Polsky (08:20):
My passport expired a little while ago.
Candy Evans (08:24):
Well, I went up there, and I turned around as I
was leaving this beautifulcontemporary building. And I
said, oh my gosh. What is thatgorgeous building right across
the street? That is the highschool. So in Frisco now, if you
have a child who's veryinterested in golf, you can send
them to school there and they goto the PGA and play golf as
their sport. I'm telling you,parents who want a scholarship
(08:44):
for their kiddo, okay, they'regonna go there. They're gonna
love it. That's that's where Isee it going. But do I think
that, Park Cities is ever gonnalose its luster? No. I call that
blue chip real estate just forthat reason. I've got studies
that I can share with youshowing that the younger people,
they're finding now they'regoing out of the city. So, you
know, we once thought about tenyears ago, oh, everyone's gonna
(09:06):
be urban. Yeah. No.
And COVID is what kind ofaccelerated that because a lot
of young people, millennialssaid, you know what? We don't
really like this living on topof everyone. We kinda wanna get
out and be out there. I thinkthat's what's gonna help drive
the north to here too because...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:24):
Or even out to the you have a ranch
east. Mhmm. In Athens.
Candy Evans (09:29):
Athens.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:29):
Or it's really LaRue, but
Candy Evans (09:30):
Yeah. But that's
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:31):
where we're seeing a lot
Candy Evans (09:32):
of growth. And west Yes. Weatherford too. Yep. On
the other side of Fort Worth.
Harrison Polsky (09:35):
Yep. They've all come back. I mean, I was
just back home in New York, andthey had to put that congestion
tax in because there's there'stoo much traffic again.
Candy Evans (09:42):
Right.
Harrison Polsky (09:42):
So it's I mean, they're all coming back. They're
not, I mean, people her agearen't going out to the suburbs
to live. Are you crazy? No. Doyou know how long it would take
for them to get a green juiceand their five yoga classes?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:52):
Well, here's the thing. I would have a
very hard time living in asuburb. Very hard time. I love
the city. I love the ranch, butthey're two totally different
spaces.
Right? I mean, it's you do oneor the other for different
reasons. The appeal isdifferent. But I have never
lived north, north, north, northor west or you know, it's I that
(10:17):
would have been pretty tough forme.
Harrison Polsky (10:19):
I'd be dead. I can't do it.
Candy Evans (10:22):
I went to school in New York, so I know where you're
coming from. I love the culturehere. I love the Tate lecture
series. I'm obsessed with I havealways said that my dream would
be to live right next to acollege because I love having
all that constant learning goingon. As far as us moving, we had
planned to move and downsizebecause we really have too big
of a home, 6,800 square feet foryour
Harrison Polsky (10:42):
Working on it.
Candy Evans (10:44):
And, it's, it's a great home, and I'm going to be
in tears, and I'm gonna needlots of love and and Xanax, you
know, to get through thisbecause I built the home. And
we, like, we put our heart intoit. I mean, we walked it every
day and called the builder anddrove him crazy. And luckily,
Walter delivered three babiesfor him, so he was he's he put
(11:07):
up with us, you know. And wejust we love it.
We have had zero problems. Hetook care of things for ten
years until he he moved fromDallas. Imagine that.
Harrison Polsky (11:17):
She's trying to sign me up for this.
Candy Evans (11:20):
Oh my gosh. And, you know, we love the
neighborhood. We love everythingnow except the the maintenance,
but, I'm thinking I wanna go toa gated community because a
gated community is just anotherlayer of protection. And I hate
saying that, but I feel likegoing into a gated community, if
I accidentally leave my purse inthe car because the phone rings
and I've got this I'm doing andthe dogs are escaping or all
(11:42):
that madness that happens inlife sometimes, I don't want to
go, oh my god, I left the youknow, someone will take it.
There's another layer ofprotection there that we don't
get in Dallas, and that's myanalysis of this. And I told
Walter, I would move north if hebut he's still he's not
delivering, but he's never likedbeing far from the hospital. You
(12:03):
know? He's never liked that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:05):
I wish there was more outdoor activity
in Dallas. I wish downtown wasbustling a heck of a lot more
than it is now.
Candy Evans (12:14):
And people weren't being shot.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:16):
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the crime, it it
really does bother me. But butas far as what he's saying,
like, speaking to the people whoare sending their kids to school
here, I mean, I think we're oneof three or four Highland Park
families that drive our kids toa Dallas school, but it's
(12:39):
trending upward. I have severalof my neighbors on the
admissions list to try to getin, and they can't. So, you
know, there's still but it'sinteresting how that is
shifting. You're right. Mostpeople are moving to North
Dallas, right, to that entirePreston Hollow community. Yeah.
And but more and more withinthese pockets, there are these
(13:03):
smaller homeowners type ofcommunities where they'll pay
for a police, an off duty policeofficer to patrol. The
neighborhood patrols. And I wasinvolved in mine kind of right
behind Jesuit and Saint Ritabefore we moved to Highland
Park, but very much so. What doyou believe homeowners are
(13:28):
having to prepare themselvesmentally for?
So I know now you're like, I'msitting here talking about
defense. Do you find more ofyour clients being concerned
with security systems, or is itjust kind of wait. What's so
funny? I'm serious. Like, is itSo is it more of a topic that
they're bringing up?
Harrison Polsky (13:49):
I remember I was there when I was at Park
House, with my attorneys andtheir YPO group
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:54):
Uh-huh.
Harrison Polsky (13:55):
When BLM marched on Highland Park
Village. Yeah. And statetroopers, Highland Park cops
came in. We can't let you leave.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:03):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (14:04):
And every one of us said the same thing. Why?
They said, this is what'shappening. And we said, yeah.
We're cool.
We all have
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:10):
It's fine.
Harrison Polsky (14:11):
We all have whatever we need. Yeah. Because,
yeah, that's the problem. Sodoes everyone in Highland Park
that's on their roofs right nowwith, you know, with Rifles.
Like, they were more scared ofus shooting them than us getting
shot.
Candy Evans (14:22):
Interesting. Interesting.
Harrison Polsky (14:24):
So, like, you know, I had a buddy of mine that
was taking pictures on his roof.He's on his Beverly roof with
his, you know, his huntingrifles, like, come on. You know?
So I'm not I'm not worried aboutany of that stuff around here.
Look.
If you go from the Mansion allthe way up to about, you know,
635 name three other places inThe United States besides Palm
(14:44):
Beach, Greenwich, and here thatyou feel actually safe and has
that same sort of feel. There'sthere's only three places like
that, and maybe back in the day,Beverly Hills. There's nowhere
else. So
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:54):
I feel safe in Aspen.
Harrison Polsky (14:56):
Well, but, I mean, yes.
Candy Evans (14:58):
Well, okay. Four.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:59):
Well, sorry. Four.
Harrison Polsky (15:01):
Four. I don't think that's ever gonna change
because I just I mean, that'sjust the way it is. I mean,
everyone here, let's just behonest, is Texas. Like, how many
guns do you have in your car ata time? You know?
Yeah. I mean, I got three. So, Imean, I'm sure the guy next to
me has two.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:14):
I do too. But you know who I'm concerned
with? My girlfriends.
Candy Evans (15:18):
Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:18):
I'm concerned about my girlfriends.
Candy Evans (15:20):
I won't be.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:20):
Does your wife carry?
Harrison Polsky (15:21):
What? No. Yeah. Sometimes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:24):
See? It it depends on the outfit. It
depends on the that's the thing.And it is the women that are
attacked. It's my friends. Sohow are you having these
conversations with, let's say, aa couple? And let's say someone
in the relationship travels alot, and it's a mom at home with
a bunch of kids. Like, what doyou tell them? Hey. Let's talk
let me talk to you about thesecurity system. Are you having
(15:46):
those conversations?
Harrison Polsky (15:47):
I mean, yeah. Look. We have the same
conversations all the time.Like, it doesn't change
anything. It's well, it's gonnahappen or it's not gonna happen.
It's gonna happen here or it'sgonna happen there. Once again,
I don't live in fear, so just beprepared for every moment.
That's the way I live. So Well,
Candy Evans (16:04):
and I'm not gonna live in fear either.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:06):
I just want people to be prepared.
Candy Evans (16:08):
Yeah. I'm gonna be prepared.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Especially my girlfriends. (16:09):
undefined
Candy Evans (16:10):
You know?
Harrison Polsky (16:10):
Should we take tactical classes together?
Candy Evans (16:12):
I know.
got and he's got a lockbox, andwhich I said, where is your gun?
He said, well, it's it's locked.He put a little box thing that's
strapped in the box. Because hegoes out at night, and I worry
about him, but he he's got it.You know? He we went to the
Perot Museum, and they had tohold his gun while we went
(16:32):
inside.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:33):
Oh, yeah.
Candy Evans (16:33):
I was because he couldn't take it in. But I don't
because I'm just I don't want itto get in the wrong hands.
That's not what I'm concernedabout. But I totally could
shoot, and I would totallyprotect my grandchildren or my
dogs. You know?
But what I'm concerned aboutwhat I'm hearing more concerned
about is people are very safe intheir neighborhoods because they
have their alarms andeverything. It is our shopping
(16:54):
centers. And I think we have towe have to get the the
developers have to start beingmore proactive. Now I'm seeing
more of that at Preston Forest.They have the lights and the
cameras and the police.
Harrison Polsky (17:06):
They've done Preston Center.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:07):
They have.
Candy Evans: They've done Preston Center (17:08):
undefined
because so much well, I have amy jewelry friend there, the guy
came in with a gun, pointed ather, you know, employees. It
was bad for a little bit. Andthen they have the the the guy,
the security guard who waskilled in the parking garage. So
Harrison Polsky (17:23):
When did that happen?
Candy Evans (17:24):
Oh, I'll send you the story. It's on CandysDirt!
You're not reading it every day!
Harrison Polsky: I don't have enough to read every (17:28):
undefined
day!
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:31):
Yeah. Same. Same.
Let me ask you this. Do you everhave someone buy a home who
says, I don't want an alarmsystem?
No. See? Well, especially nothis his target market. These
people are just like, you'regonna put in the best security
system. It's just part of theconversation. But okay. Kind of
moving away from this. So youhave been you've been house
hunting. You're downsizing. Andso you are now are so you're not
(17:58):
gonna build. I know you thoughtabout building for a moment.
Candy Evans (18:01):
Well, we you know, it never say never because I
have been this is I'm gonnaconfess. I do have a real estate
license, and, of course, I'm notan experienced realtor. I use my
license to research and youknow, stay on these guys and
find out what they're doing tohang with them.
Harrison Polsky (18:19):
She's the one disclosing the sales to to the
city. That's how they know whatour properties are valued.
Thanks, Candy Got it.
Candy Evans (18:29):
One of the things I have done is that we I've been
really pokey about this becauseI we overanalyze everything, my
husband and I. I mean, mostpeople will look at a home three
times. We look at a home 16times, you know, and just go
over it. So we found we, youknow
Harrison Polsky (18:43):
You know, you're scaring everyone right
now, but
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:46):
No. I think it's very interesting. I'm
like, tell me more.
Candy Evans (18:51):
It's like, yeah. It's you're getting the inside
story now. So we had found thishome in, in well, actually, we
found two homes in Lake Forestthat we kinda like because, A,
it's a gated community, B, it'snext to the hospitals. It's near
the hospital. So it'sclose to the hospital. It's on
the corner of the NortheastCorner of Hillcrest And Forest
in Dallas, and it was developedby, oh, I'm think I'll think of
(19:16):
the name in it because it wasdeveloped in the 1990's. And I
actually wrote about Lake Forestwhen it was being developed. I
went to the open houses. I thinkI I toured some of the houses
that I went to, you know, andwrite about for when I was at d
or when I was, you know, startat Candy Sturm. So anyhow, I
know that it's there. TheStrauss family is the developer.
It was a former, golf course.And it's Here. very small lots.
(19:40):
I'm going to go from an acre topoint one nine of an acre, which
is going to be shocking. But onthe other hand, it's less
maintenance. Right?
So and all the homes are there'smost of the homes there are four
to 5,000 square feet. There'ssome that are much larger than
that. There's one there that's10,000 with, like, a three car
garage and a shooting gallery inthe basement. There's all kinds
of things there. But it's it'ssecure, it's gated, and there is
(20:04):
a twenty four hour guard there.
So as people who are gonna betraveling a lot, we're thinking,
you know, this is good. This isa good place to go. So I found
one house I liked and, you know,three days later it was gone.
I'm like...
Harrison Polsky (20:17):
Why don't you just go vertical and go to a
condo?
Candy Evans (20:19):
I have two doodles.
Harrison Polsky (20:21):
So? Oh, you don't wanna do the schlepping up
and down the...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:23):
Yeah. It's a lot.
Candy Evans (20:24):
And they are children now. You know? So I we
looked at that so that house wasgone. That was fine. So we
looked at another one, and, itseems like every time I start
looking at a house, it sells.Someone else buys it. But now
we're going back and we'relooking at the house with with
the guy who bought it becausehe's a builder, and he wants to
sell it. And so we're workingwith him now to see if we can
(20:47):
buy it now, and then we can , dothe finish out and everything
and put up with me.
Harrison Polsky (20:55):
Oh my goodness. After watching this, he's gonna
be like, oh, no.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:00):
He's like, pass.
Harrison Polsky (21:01):
Yeah. Pass.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:01):
So okay. So I love this just kind of
insight. I think it's reallyhelpful. But kinda over to you
whenever you have theseconversations with people. So
you said that you have about howmany how many builds versus
Harrison Polsky (21:15):
So right now, we have we're about to start
we're finishing up four. We'reabout to start another four,
right now, and then my teamwill, this year, deliver about
80 Yeah. Between Lakewood andMidway to Hall. Their average
for the team, their new buildsare about 2.5.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:30):
Yeah. Okay.
Harrison Polsky (21:31):
Mine are about six and a half.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:32):
Yes. That's great. There is one home
that I saw, remind me, to sendit to you that I saw in his
portfolio, and it has so muchcharacter. Mhmm. It's
Harrison Polsky: So the next one we have that (21:45):
undefined
we're delivering. So we made areally good strategic
partnership with Harris Briggs,And, Sees Design. So you know
Sees they did Mister Charles.And so all of our product moving
forward is, like, every house iscompletely different. Like, we
just finished the Cape Dutchhouse. University is very, old
like, old world French. I justwas back in New York, so we're
(22:06):
doing a house on Wildwood that'sbasically gonna look like
Wildwood. It's gonna look like aa townhouse. Not a townhouse.
Again, like, Fifth Avenue, like,Brownstone.
And so, like, everything we dois completely different. We have
a Hacienda that we're doing alsoon Pomona with them. It's gonna
feel like you're at LasVentanas. Seems like everything
that
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:22):
We're doing Spanish Mediterranean.
Harrison Polsky (22:24):
So we try to always do that on every project.
Like, it's something nothing'sever rinse, repeated. It's
somewhere I've been, Sal's been.And it's just like it's unique.
Right? And it like, you'll noteven if you drive past it, you
won't even think it's new. Like,that's always a goal.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:38):
It is. That is an absolute goal.
Harrison Polsky (22:41):
Ultimate goal for us. Like, we don't want you
to think it's new at all.
Candy Evans (22:44):
Yep. And we love those homes. We I love to find a
home and go, oh my gosh. How oldis that? Oh, it's new.
I'm like, that is a huge thatgives us
something to write about.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:51):
That's right.
Harrison Polsky (22:52):
It's not cheap to do that. No.
Candy Evans (22:54):
It's not.
Harrison Polsky (22:54):
But it's good. You know? Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:56):
Where in the Dallas area, and I'm saying
north, east, southwest citycenter, what two areas in your
opinion, separate opinions arethe prime spaces to possibly
look at investing in?
Candy Evans (23:14):
That's a tough one.
Harrison Polsky (23:15):
Bluffview, and then I would say Tollway to
Midway, Walnut to Royal.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:22):
Okay.
Harrison Polsky (23:22):
Oh, Northwest Highway to Royal.
Candy Evans (23:25):
Northwest Highway. I was really surprised. Where's
Bluff View? Bluff View.
Harrison Polsky (23:28):
Like, Wildwood. Yeah.
Candy Evans (23:30):
So the number of homes sold there January,
December 2024 were down 10%Where? In Greenway Park, and
Bluffview. And then the mediansales price was down 8%.
Harrison Polsky (23:43):
You need off markets.
Candy Evans (23:46):
Oh, off markets will change.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:47):
Okay. So okay. So see. This is so good
that you you knew she was notaccounting for that.
Candy Evans (23:52):
No. Because there's no one accounting for it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:53):
So that's what I was gonna say. Is there
no one accounting for it?
Candy Evans (23:56):
Yeah. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: So is what you have; Is that (23:57):
undefined
proprietary?
Harrison Polsky (23:59):
Have to call Brian or you have to call Mark.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:01):
Is this proprietary?
Harrison Polsky (24:02):
Is we're a nondisclosure state.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:04):
Right. Okay. But So we don't have to So
so but question. Is there anyonewho could possibly pay you for
this data?
Harrison Polsky (24:13):
I don't think you're allowed to disclose it. I
think, even, like, theappraisers, the only way you can
actually know is if you'regetting a house appraised, and
they have and they include thoseoff markets.
Candy Evans (24:23):
Did they find from the realtors themselves? Because
they can't find it online.
Harrison Polsky (24:27):
No. They actually have to technically
have appraised that house.
Candy Evans (24:30):
Gotcha.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:31):
But okay. Aside from that, so let's say
someone is is going through allof these steps and they ask you
for this data. The data that youquoted me about the 50% being
done off market. What area isthat covering?
Harrison Polsky (24:45):
That's so that's, Park Cities. And so
that's off the deed transfers.Right? So what we did Because I
mean, and Sal, and my partnersnerd out about this stuff, is we
were trying to figure outexactly how much this was.
Because if you're trying toraise money Like, no one's like,
I believe you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.Like, I'll I'll take you for
your word.
Candy Evans (25:04):
Mhmm. Right. So what we did is we figured out
how to scrape everything off thedeed transfer so we knew what
sold on MLS and what didn't.What there's a delta right
there. Mhmm. And then based uponcomps that sold, we created a
formula to create the value forthose off markets. And knowing
the market pretty well, we werelike, it's on point. Then
Preston Hollow was the samething. It was 28%. Bluff View is
(25:26):
about 30%. They're all about thesame. I mean, it's it is what it
is. There's not a lot oftransactions in Bluff View,
period.
Right.
Harrison Polsky (25:34):
There's maybe fifteen, twenty a year.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:38):
I know.
Candy Evans (25:38):
That was the thing that happened last year, and we
all know that's because ofwhether it affects your buyers
or not, the interest rate. Theycreate a psychological block for
people. Oh my god. No one'sbuying or selling because of
interest rates.
And if you're sitting with thetwo
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:51):
But people are paying cash.
Candy Evans (25:53):
Yeah. They're paying cash.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:54):
Right. For these homes
Harrison Polsky (25:55):
Exactly.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:55):
I mean, you're not gonna go get a a note
on a $10,000,000 home.
Harrison Polsky (26:00):
And Sal laughs about this story every time I
tell it. So we were selling thishouse on, in Preston Hollow, and
the buyer kept delayingeverything. It's coming change
order after change order tochange order. And his wife was
like, how are we gonna be ableto afford this house with the
mortgage going up?
And he talked in hotel roomrates. He goes, now we go to Las
(26:20):
Ventanas for three weeks. Yeah.We're only gonna go for a week
and a half. And I'm like, $2,200a night times ten days plus $800
a day for food and booze, notforgetting fishing. Yep. That's
about $30-40 grand. That's themortgage difference. Thank you.
Bye. That's how they think.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Interesting. (26:36):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (26:37):
That's all it is. You're just gonna swap
something out. You know? They'renot thinking about that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (26:42):
No. That that's what I'm saying. Those
buyers, you're just not.
Harrison Polsky (26:45):
They're talking in hotel rates.
Candy Evans (26:48):
Hotel rates. Which, by the way, we were discussing
this last night at the at thepanel I had, and Blake Stevenson
from Modern Luxury was so funny.She's talking about second homes
and people that's picking upagain. And she said, well, you
know, look at hotel rates. Imean, they're they're going up,
and I go, and don't I love it?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:06):
I know.
Candy Evans (27:06):
I said, don't I love it?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:08):
Please.
Candy Evans (27:09):
Give me those $2,400 a night
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Absolutely. (27:11):
undefined
That's right.
Candy Evans (27:13):
Five of them.
You know? So you're so rightabout that, though. And that's
it's the trade off that it's notthat much of a difference. It's
not. It's really in the holesthe whole spectrum of time of
thirty years or whatever. It's adrop.
Harrison Polsky (27:29):
It's a drop. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:30):
Okay. So I love that. Did you did you
give me your answer on the twoareas?
Candy Evans (27:34):
Oh, no. I didn't because I'm thinking about them.
So and I I think what'sinteresting is...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: She's processing aloud. (27:38):
undefined
Candy Evans (27:39):
I'm processing. Right. What I'm thinking and I'm
looking at this is the MLSfigures that I pulled from,
because Lori always sends methese things. Plano actually
went up, and their theirinventory went up 7%, and their
prices went up 1%. North Dallas,North Of LBJ also went up 4%.
Northwest Highway, South Of LBJ,up 15% in prices. So our prices
(28:01):
were all up except for PrestonHollow, which was down 2%.
Greenway Park's Bluff View isdown eight percent. And, of
course, Highland Park,University Park up 1% because
it's blue chip real estate. So Iagree with you on Bluff View
because I think it's beautiful,and I think as people discover
that, especially people comingfrom Pacific Palisades, they're
(28:22):
gonna love that that look, thattopography that you cannot, you
know, you just cannot
Harrison Polsky (28:27):
Preston Hollow for a million and a half? I
don't think so.
Candy Evans (28:30):
You don't think so?
Harrison Polsky: That doesn't sound right. That's (28:31):
undefined
what I'm telling you.
Candy Evans: No. Those are tear down. (28:33):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (28:34):
A lot cost $1.08 million.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:35):
Yeah.
Candy Evans (28:36):
I think you'd still get a tear down
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:38):
The lots are still a pretty good size.
Harrison Polsky (28:40):
Five five, like, between Walnut and Royal
on, like, Mimosa. But belowthat, you're at, like, $1.8,
$1.95.
Candy Evans (28:46):
Right.
Harrison Polsky (28:46):
That's what I'm saying. Like, the off market
data skew like, we'll skew thatand not
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:51):
I appreciate you both being here.
Is there anything else that youthink we need to touch upon?
Because we're at 15 after.
Candy Evans (28:57):
One thing I wanted to point out was that this is
kinda sad, but catastrophesreally accelerate for the real
estate business.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: What do you mean? Can you (29:06):
undefined
clarify that?
Candy Evans (29:07):
Catastrophes make people wanna buy homes because,
like, they either lose themduring a tornado
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (29:11):
I see what you're saying.
Candy Evans (29:12):
Which is what happened, you know, in our
neighborhood in 2019. So this iswhy I'm very rest assured that
something will transpire withour home
If we move. They want itfurnished. And he said, they're
even saying they'll pay up to$50,000 a month in rent. I'm
like, are you kidding me? I'mold enough to remember what a
house cost $50,000.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Candy! That is (29:35):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (29:36):
I know. That is no bueno.
Candy Evans (29:38):
We are in an affordable housing crisis, and
and we we are not dealing withthat. But it is a problem, and I
feel badly that young peoplecannot like, my kids, thank God,
all have homes, their own homes,because I beat on them. And said
in fact, Trey, my son, who, youknow, bought three homes in
California, I was like, are youkidding me? What are you doing?
Be quiet, mom. I know what I'mdoing. You know? And he did. He
(30:00):
knew what he was doing.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:00):
Yeah. Yeah.
Candy Evans (30:01):
Yeah. So, you know, it's just I feel so sorry for
the younger people because Ithink we're gonna start seeing
homes being passed downgenerationally, and some of the
ones you're building probably.
Harrison Polsky (30:11):
You know, I mean, if these people are making
so much money in Bitcoin, Idon't think they're worried
about it.
Candy Evans (30:16):
He's got such a positive attitude. I love it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:18):
He does. He's like, time is not gonna
bother us. Yeah. It's great.We're fine.
Harrison Polsky (30:23):
Life is life is beautiful. Life is great.
Candy Evans (30:25):
Harrison is better than a Xanax.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:27):
No. Really?
Harrison Polsky (30:28):
I'm I am. I am Xanax. I am Xanax.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:31):
Oh my gosh. I think it's hilarious.
Candy Evans (30:36):
It must be that running. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:39):
Well, thank you guys for being here.
Harrison Polsky (30:40):
Thank you so much.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:41):
Yes. I appreciate it. That was an
awesome conversation, and I'm sohappy they were both able to be
here. But I thought it'd bereally fun if we could actually
see something in person. It'sone thing to just talk real
estate, but it's an entirelydifferent thing to actually go
visit it. So I asked Candy ifshe'd take us on a tour of some
spaces in the market. Lucky forus, she said yes. Stick around
(31:02):
as we step inside and seefirsthand what all the buzz is
about. You won't wanna missthis, so thank you for being
here.
Hey there. It's Sarah. I know Ioriginally said we'd be checking
out more than one space withCandy, but full disclosure,
plans changed the moment Istepped into this first house,
and trust me, you're about tosee why. Let me paint a picture
(31:23):
for you. This Crescent Estate'smasterpiece is more than 11,000
square feet of pure luxury.That's five times the size of a
typical new build in Texas. It'slocated in Old Preston Hollow,
and this estate is listed justunder $16,000,000. Once you see
it, you'll understand everypenny. Here's the rundown. Seven
bedrooms, over nine and a halfbathrooms, and a sprawling 1.8
(31:46):
acre lot. And if the stunning 42foot pool view from the living
area ever gets old, veryunlikely, just head out to your
own tennis or pickleball courtfor a little friendly
competition. The backyard, it'sa perfect mixture of turf and
real grass, so you get the bestof both worlds. Plus, a gorgeous
indoor, outdoor enclosed kitchenfor all your entertaining needs.
(32:07):
And let's talk about the primarysuite. Not just separate sinks,
but his and hers bathrooms andwalk in closets that could
double as little boutiques. Anddid I mention the media room?
A mother-in-law suite with twobedrooms and an oversized six
car garage. You really have tosee this home to believe it. So
come with us as we explore everyjaw dropping detail of this
(32:28):
stunning new build on Hollow Wayin Dallas.
Okay. So we are here today. Inthis beautiful home, and we're
here with Charles Gregory.Charles, tell us who you are.
Charles Gregory (32:43):
I'm first of all, the listing agent for this
property, and I'm with the PerryMiller Streiff team at Dave
Perry Miller Real Estate.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (32:51):
Can you tell us a little bit about the
history of this place? Well Howit was built? Why?
Charles Gregory (32:55):
It was custom designed and built for the
current owner. It was built forthis lot, and it's
extraordinary. The mostextraordinary thing about this
house is that it's almostentirely on one level.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:07):
And so tell me really quickly before we
walk in tour, what are yourfavorite spaces? Your personal
favorite spaces in thisgorgeous home?
Charles Gregory (33:16):
Personal favorite spaces. I love the
living room with that gorgeousview across the backyard.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:21):
Yep. As I chatted with Candy and Harrison,
and we talked about what'simportant to people that live or
that are looking at theseparticular types of homes, or
even remodeling their existinghome to be something like this
home. You'll then see some ofthose pieces of conversation
that are important to to us. Solet's get looking.
Charles Gregory (33:44):
Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:45):
Can we?
Charles Gregory (33:45):
Yes. Sure.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:45):
Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. I can't
wait. So this is actually whatit looks like whenever you come
in, and there's, of course,another huge home being built
over there across the way.
There's a nice gate for privacyin the front, and this is
remarkable. This is a gatheringspace, and there's four
kitchens?
Charles Gregory (34:05):
Yes.
You have the main kitchen.Family kitchen.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:09):
Okay.
Charles Gregory (34:10):
And then you have an incredible chef's
kitchen for catering.
The condominium I told you aboutupstairs has a full kitchen. And
then the guest house, theentertainment house, has a
kitchen and a pizza oven.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:23):
Well, let's go see it. Look at this.
Oh my goodness. And it's oh, Ilove I love it.
Charles Gregory (34:28):
This is where you were asking about views?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:30):
I love it for the entertainment aspect. Oh
my gosh, Charles. So this leadsus out. Yes. Do you mind if I
walk over with that reallyquickly? Oh. This is nice.
Charles Gregory (34:47):
The bulk of this backyard is this super high
quality turf.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:51):
Uh-huh. Yep.
Charles Gregory (34:52):
But behind, there's a huge play yard that's
grass.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:56):
Oh, really?
Charles Gregory (34:57):
Uh-huh. Okay. All behind that wing.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:00):
How divine. So you could just sit
here. This is kind of like yourlittle break area if you don't
wanna be inconvenienced to goover there.
Charles Gregory: But I mean that's really (35:12):
undefined
designed for a family everydaygrilling and outside.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:15):
Exactly. Exactly. But, you know, I'm just
thinking, if you have peoplehere, you need to have some nice
refrigeration.
Charles Gregory (35:23):
Sure.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:24):
Right? Things, amenities for kids.
Charles Gregory (35:26):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Especially, we have three 11 (35:26):
undefined
year olds and a nine year old.So they're very active. Active.
Lots of friends over all thetime. And so for me, it's always
kids centric.
Charles Gregory (35:37):
It'd be a great recharging space for their moms
and a glass of wine while kidsare at their place.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:41):
Amen to that.
Charles Gregory (35:43):
It's a multiuse facility.
Candy Evans (35:45):
It is.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:47):
Oh, look at this media room. How
fantastic. Isn't this great? Sothis is the the space that he
was talking about. So there'stwo car garage and then a few of
the others.
This is great. See, this isperfect. So Candy and I are both
(36:11):
in this crazy phase. I'm totallygutting the interior of my home
here in Dallas, and Candy isdownsizing. Like we talked about
on the on the show, from herhome for many years
Candy Evans (36:22):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (36:23):
And is gonna be moving into a new
space.
Candy Evans (36:25):
We're redoing the home. We're kinda doing I call
this almost like a ludicrousspeed remodeling. I was telling
I was teasing the, the builderyesterday in email, and I said,
you know, we're doing this soquickly. I have to go tomorrow
and pick out lavatories and allthat stuff. And it's a and so
I'm really looking at all thelittle things here to see what I
want.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (36:45):
And so now we're gonna see something
like I I don't know if youcaught it, but what's super
unique about this place is thatit's not just a separate
bathroom. They're separatespaces entirely. So let's go see
what this custom area lookslike.
Candy Evans (36:59):
I could not look at a home with a closet that I
shared with my husband. Nope.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:02):
Isn't that interesting?
Charles Gregory (37:03):
This must be his side because He's got the
hoop shower. Exactly. The bodywash. Okay.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:12):
And then he yeah. And look at the large
closet space. So this is justone closet in the primary suite.
Right? So this is onecloset in the primary suite and
then we'll go and see what theother...
I would claim this is mine Oh.Because there is a
Candy Evans (37:30):
Look at this. There's a shower and a tub.
Yeah. I love it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:35):
Because I'm the I'm the only one that
takes baths.
Candy Evans (37:40):
Do you mind if I try getting in this tub,
Charles? Because you know what?I have to I'm trying to figure
out, seriously, if I should do avessel.
Okay. Now I just don't wanna,like, be unladylike. But okay.
So you could sit here. Okay.One, two, three, this way. Okay.
So I could, like, very lovelyokay. Like this. Okay. Down we
go. Oops. Okay. Okay. This isgood. Okay. So you could lay and
just relax. I'm crazy. No.Seriously. No. This is not and
(38:04):
this is not that hard to get outof, I don't think. We'll see.
Okay. Let's see.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:09):
Give it a test here. I'll make sure I
block any kind of like
Candy Evans (38:14):
Look at that. Even with cowboy boots. One, two,
three, over. That's not bad.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:20):
And these have to be heated. Right?
Candy Evans (38:21):
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The floor is oh, sorry, guys. I
just had to try that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:25):
This is great.
Candy Evans (38:26):
Okay. That one would work.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:27):
Well, this, I think, kind of shows all
the highlights of thismagnificent space. Space that
you look at has a story, hasunique character traits that can
be customized or not for yourfamily. But in small space
spaces, small homes, big homes,you can always take ideas from
(38:53):
spaces like this. I loveit. I love it. Absolutely!
Hey there, and welcome to Let's Talk
Local. I'm your host, SarahZubiate Bennett. And today,
we're diving into one of thehottest topics in Dallas, real
estate. And not just any realestate, we're talking high end
luxury with two of the best inthe business. I'm joined by the
incredible Candy Evans andHarrison Polsky, two top tier
experts who know this marketinside and out. We're busting
(00:21):
myths, breaking down what'sreally happening, and even
making some bold predictionsabout where things are headed.
And stick around because later,Candy is taking us to tour some
spaces right here in Dallas.It's gonna be a great episode,
so be sure to hit like andsubscribe so you never miss a
moment of Let's Talk Local.Let's get started.
(00:46):
I am here today with Candy Evansand Harrison Polsky. I cannot
thank you enough for being heretoday. So you both cover
different real estate and somereal estate dirt. You're a
builder. You're a realtor. Imean, you are kind of the real
estate agent hub for all thatyou do.
But can you both just kind ofsummarize what it is that you do
respectively so that our viewersand listeners who are not
(01:08):
familiar with you can learnabout you?
Harrison Polsky (01:11):
I'm scared to answer in front of her, but I
know.
Candy Evans (01:13):
I am so excited for sitting next to him. Let me tell
you, this is gonna be a great!You go first. Tell them what you
do because I've known you for solong.
Harrison Polsky (01:21):
I know you show up late for lunch. She's never
on time.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:24):
We did mention this.
Harrison Polsky (01:26):
Oh, it'd been a...
Candy Evans (01:26):
Today was a different
Harrison Polsky (01:28):
Yeah. It's okay. But, now, I run a home
building business called CatenaHomes. We do 10 to 14 homes a
year. Average price is 6 and ahalf million.
Park Cities and Preston Hollow.Nothing outside that little
bubble.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:39):
You don't do oh, yeah. Park Cities,
Highland Park, and that's...Okay. Thank you.
Harrison Polsky (01:43):
Stick to what I know. And then, run a sales team
of agents that all we do is newconstruction. We do about a
$160,000,000 a year, so numberone, new construction sales team
in Texas.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:52):
That's terrific. Thank you.
Candy Evans (01:54):
And I am Candy Evans of CandysDirt fame, which
is a website that started as ablog. I call myself an
accidental entrepreneur becauseI'm a journalist by training,
but I kind of got obsessed. I'vealways been obsessed with real
estate. And so I took it to theweb and realized there was a
niche in Dallas where therealtors did not have anything
that they could, you know, turnto that covered them, that
(02:17):
recorded them, that chronicledthem. So I started it when I was
on staff at a local magazinehere, and then it took off. And
so I kinda went out on my ownand took it on my own, and I run
the business. So we have writersall over town, actually, all
over the metroplex. And, we dovery well, and we love it
because we're obsessed with realestate. We cover everything
(02:37):
that's real estate, whether it'swhat's going on at City Hall,
whether it's home builders,which is how I know Harrison, of
course, and, you know, whetherit's agents. And so we track it
all, and that's why I'm heretoday. Thank you for having us.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:49):
Oh my gosh.
Harrison Polsky (02:50):
Thank you for being here.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:50):
Well, I I just love real estate. It's so
sexy. And it's something thatpeople will always just
Harrison Polsky (02:55):
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:55):
Listen to. I mean, your entire Insta,
all of your social, is youtalking about real estate, and
you've, I mean, you've garnereda really good following.
Harrison Polsky (03:04):
Yeah. I mean, you have to live it, you know,
day in and day out. Right? Youcan't fake it. I mean, that's
every time you go somewherewhere you're like, just now,
Candy's gonna ask you aquestion, you're gonna ask me a
question. So you're alwaysliving it day in and day out. My
wife gets annoyed about it, but,I mean, you know, she's over it
at this point. But, you justit's what we like to do, and you
have to be passionate about it.
Candy Evans (03:24):
It's better than being married to an OB GYN, let
me tell you.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:29):
He's my OB GYN.
Harrison Polsky (03:31):
I just learned a lot.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:33):
Also, so I love him. That's actually how
I moved into my house because,they knew the family that lived
in the house. And I was lookingfor a home in Highland Park. I
was like, we'd like an acre acreideally, but something that we
can renovate and make our own.
And then it wasn't listed. So Iwent to Candy, and I heard you
(03:57):
talk about this, how you'relike, people do not go to Zillow
when they're looking for thesekinds of houses.
Harrison Polsky (04:02):
They don't.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:03):
Yeah. I mean, it's it's definitely a
network. It's a community, andshe's been a longtime friend of
mine, my love, and, clearly,Walt has too. Yeah.
And so it's because of them thatI that that we live in the house
that we do now.
Harrison Polsky (04:14):
It's actually 50% now off market. It used to
be around 40, and now it'scloser to 50.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:19):
To 50. Really?
Harrison Polsky (04:20):
Yeah. I've been, it's been taking me a
while because we were raisingcapital, out of New York, and
they just kept hearing this.Like, yes. We understand. Miami
has a shadow market, so you havea shadow market. And, like, how
can you prove it? I'm like, Ican't. Yes. I can. Deed trades.
So if you figure out when thedeed trades, that's how you
could tell the difference. So Igot a guy to create an algorithm
(04:41):
that pulls the deed transfersoff the city website. So
whatever's on MLS versus what'sthe deed transfer, that's how
you know what the difference is.
And it's we used to say it's 40.It's actually closer to 50.
Candy Evans (04:52):
50. Interesting. Well, I just asked the brokers,
and they like, Briggs andCompass and all these guys, and
they will just tell me that 35to 50% of the business is off
market. Like, when we sell ourhome, I'm not gonna put it in
MLS. And the reason we don'twanna do that is because someone
buying our home wants to keepthat tax rate down. The taxes in
(05:13):
Texas are terrible. But gettingback to what you said, I say
that people in Dallas care aboutthree things, oil, football, and
real estate. And I would saythat real estate might be first,
and that's it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:25):
You don't think football trumps real
estate?
Harrison Polsky (05:27):
Not with the way the Cowboys play.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:29):
Oh my gosh. You. Don't even I know.
It's so abysmal.
Harrison Polsky (05:34):
Who's the new coach? Who who is this guy?
Candy Evans (05:37):
That's it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:38):
Okay. So you all are real estate experts.
I'm dying to hear how you kindabreak this part down. Where are
you gauging? And and I'mspecifically interested in in
the hub that you arespecializing in.
Where do you foresee a lot ofDallas real estate moving?
Because like you mentionedbefore we were even recording,
(05:59):
the bull's eye has moved north,and I want you to expand upon
that statement, for ourlisteners. But talk to me about
where you see the market beingin about five years. Since now,
we've had propositions S and Upass
Candy Evans (06:13):
Thank god.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:14):
And things are are different. Right?
Harrison Polsky (06:18):
It's it's still going up. I mean, in December,
there was a lot on Beverly thattraded at $425 a foot. Mhmm. And
then two weeks before that, itwas $385 a foot, and a week
before that, $325 a foot. Like,that's still $60 a square foot
higher than it was a year ago.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:32):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (06:33):
I mean, she knows this just as well as I do.
Six years ago, you could buy ahouse in the Fairway Of UP,
4200, 4500 square feet,$1.7 million. Now they're
trading for $3.2, $3.4 million.So you're gonna sell that house
to buy the same house? No. Yep.Plus your kids gotta go to
school, and they can't all jumpup to $67,000,000. Then if
you're not in Highland Park, youknow, Park Cities and your kids
(06:53):
are going to private school,where are you gonna live?
Preston Hollow, Bluffviewbecause you're not gonna schlep
from all over the metroplexforty minutes in the morning
unless you unless you wanna getdivorced. So you're gonna live
in Preston Hollow, so you'reclose to the schools. And where
are all the good schools? InPreston Hollow.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:07):
I know.
Harrison Polsky (07:07):
So I don't see that changing anytime soon, and
especially as more people keepcoming
Candy Evans (07:12):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (07:12):
It's just gonna get more congested. Now the
bullseye is moving north, butyou need more schools up north
to kinda offset that. So untilthat happens, I'm not buying it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:20):
Okay.
Harrison Polsky (07:21):
Well, So I disagree.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:22):
I have comments about this. So I wanna
hear your perspective, Candy.
Candy Evans: Yeah, I think it is moving north (07:27):
undefined
and
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (07:28):
Define north for me.
Candy Evans (07:29):
I would say North Of Dallas, Northward of North
Dallas, Northward of Plano evenbecause Frisco Fields is going
to be amazing when that is fullydeveloped. So it's early yet,
But, eventually, we will have, Ithink, the luxury of Highland
Park Village at Frisco Fields. Ithink what they're building,
(07:51):
what the developer told us waskinda funny. He said, if you
like if you think Legacy West isgreat, he said, what I'm doing
at Frisco Fields is in terms ofretail is going to make Legacy
West look like the uglystepsister. So it's going to be
a very huge thing, but it itneeds time because you've got
the PGA up there. You've got,all the entertainment. Universal
(08:13):
is coming, you know, up there.There's so much up there. The
schools up there are have youbeen to the PGA?
Harrison Polsky (08:20):
My passport expired a little while ago.
Candy Evans (08:24):
Well, I went up there, and I turned around as I
was leaving this beautifulcontemporary building. And I
said, oh my gosh. What is thatgorgeous building right across
the street? That is the highschool. So in Frisco now, if you
have a child who's veryinterested in golf, you can send
them to school there and they goto the PGA and play golf as
their sport. I'm telling you,parents who want a scholarship
(08:44):
for their kiddo, okay, they'regonna go there. They're gonna
love it. That's that's where Isee it going. But do I think
that, Park Cities is ever gonnalose its luster? No. I call that
blue chip real estate just forthat reason. I've got studies
that I can share with youshowing that the younger people,
they're finding now they'regoing out of the city. So, you
know, we once thought about tenyears ago, oh, everyone's gonna
(09:06):
be urban. Yeah. No.
And COVID is what kind ofaccelerated that because a lot
of young people, millennialssaid, you know what? We don't
really like this living on topof everyone. We kinda wanna get
out and be out there. I thinkthat's what's gonna help drive
the north to here too because...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:24):
Or even out to the you have a ranch
east. Mhmm. In Athens.
Candy Evans (09:29):
Athens.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:29):
Or it's really LaRue, but
Candy Evans (09:30):
Yeah. But that's
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:31):
where we're seeing a lot
Candy Evans (09:32):
of growth. And west Yes. Weatherford too. Yep. On
the other side of Fort Worth.
Harrison Polsky (09:35):
Yep. They've all come back. I mean, I was
just back home in New York, andthey had to put that congestion
tax in because there's there'stoo much traffic again.
Candy Evans (09:42):
Right.
Harrison Polsky (09:42):
So it's I mean, they're all coming back. They're
not, I mean, people her agearen't going out to the suburbs
to live. Are you crazy? No. Doyou know how long it would take
for them to get a green juiceand their five yoga classes?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:52):
Well, here's the thing. I would have a
very hard time living in asuburb. Very hard time. I love
the city. I love the ranch, butthey're two totally different
spaces.
Right? I mean, it's you do oneor the other for different
reasons. The appeal isdifferent. But I have never
lived north, north, north, northor west or you know, it's I that
(10:17):
would have been pretty tough forme.
Harrison Polsky (10:19):
I'd be dead. I can't do it.
Candy Evans (10:22):
I went to school in New York, so I know where you're
coming from. I love the culturehere. I love the Tate lecture
series. I'm obsessed with I havealways said that my dream would
be to live right next to acollege because I love having
all that constant learning goingon. As far as us moving, we had
planned to move and downsizebecause we really have too big
of a home, 6,800 square feet foryour
Harrison Polsky (10:42):
Working on it.
Candy Evans (10:44):
And, it's, it's a great home, and I'm going to be
in tears, and I'm gonna needlots of love and and Xanax, you
know, to get through thisbecause I built the home. And
we, like, we put our heart intoit. I mean, we walked it every
day and called the builder anddrove him crazy. And luckily,
Walter delivered three babiesfor him, so he was he's he put
(11:07):
up with us, you know. And wejust we love it.
We have had zero problems. Hetook care of things for ten
years until he he moved fromDallas. Imagine that.
Harrison Polsky (11:17):
She's trying to sign me up for this.
Candy Evans (11:20):
Oh my gosh. And, you know, we love the
neighborhood. We love everythingnow except the the maintenance,
but, I'm thinking I wanna go toa gated community because a
gated community is just anotherlayer of protection. And I hate
saying that, but I feel likegoing into a gated community, if
I accidentally leave my purse inthe car because the phone rings
and I've got this I'm doing andthe dogs are escaping or all
(11:42):
that madness that happens inlife sometimes, I don't want to
go, oh my god, I left the youknow, someone will take it.
There's another layer ofprotection there that we don't
get in Dallas, and that's myanalysis of this. And I told
Walter, I would move north if hebut he's still he's not
delivering, but he's never likedbeing far from the hospital. You
(12:03):
know? He's never liked that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:05):
I wish there was more outdoor activity
in Dallas. I wish downtown wasbustling a heck of a lot more
than it is now.
Candy Evans (12:14):
And people weren't being shot.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:16):
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the crime, it it
really does bother me. But butas far as what he's saying,
like, speaking to the people whoare sending their kids to school
here, I mean, I think we're oneof three or four Highland Park
families that drive our kids toa Dallas school, but it's
(12:39):
trending upward. I have severalof my neighbors on the
admissions list to try to getin, and they can't. So, you
know, there's still but it'sinteresting how that is
shifting. You're right. Mostpeople are moving to North
Dallas, right, to that entirePreston Hollow community. Yeah.
And but more and more withinthese pockets, there are these
(13:03):
smaller homeowners type ofcommunities where they'll pay
for a police, an off duty policeofficer to patrol. The
neighborhood patrols. And I wasinvolved in mine kind of right
behind Jesuit and Saint Ritabefore we moved to Highland
Park, but very much so. What doyou believe homeowners are
(13:28):
having to prepare themselvesmentally for?
So I know now you're like, I'msitting here talking about
defense. Do you find more ofyour clients being concerned
with security systems, or is itjust kind of wait. What's so
funny? I'm serious. Like, is itSo is it more of a topic that
they're bringing up?
Harrison Polsky (13:49):
I remember I was there when I was at Park
House, with my attorneys andtheir YPO group
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:54):
Uh-huh.
Harrison Polsky (13:55):
When BLM marched on Highland Park
Village. Yeah. And statetroopers, Highland Park cops
came in. We can't let you leave.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:03):
Yeah.
Harrison Polsky (14:04):
And every one of us said the same thing. Why?
They said, this is what'shappening. And we said, yeah.
We're cool.
We all have
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:10):
It's fine.
Harrison Polsky (14:11):
We all have whatever we need. Yeah. Because,
yeah, that's the problem. Sodoes everyone in Highland Park
that's on their roofs right nowwith, you know, with Rifles.
Like, they were more scared ofus shooting them than us getting
shot.
Candy Evans (14:22):
Interesting. Interesting.
Harrison Polsky (14:24):
So, like, you know, I had a buddy of mine that
was taking pictures on his roof.He's on his Beverly roof with
his, you know, his huntingrifles, like, come on. You know?
So I'm not I'm not worried aboutany of that stuff around here.
Look.
If you go from the Mansion allthe way up to about, you know,
635 name three other places inThe United States besides Palm
(14:44):
Beach, Greenwich, and here thatyou feel actually safe and has
that same sort of feel. There'sthere's only three places like
that, and maybe back in the day,Beverly Hills. There's nowhere
else. So
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:54):
I feel safe in Aspen.
Harrison Polsky (14:56):
Well, but, I mean, yes.
Candy Evans (14:58):
Well, okay. Four.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:59):
Well, sorry. Four.
Harrison Polsky (15:01):
Four. I don't think that's ever gonna change
because I just I mean, that'sjust the way it is. I mean,
everyone here, let's just behonest, is Texas. Like, how many
guns do you have in your car ata time? You know?
Yeah. I mean, I got three. So, Imean, I'm sure the guy next to
me has two.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:14):
I do too. But you know who I'm concerned
with? My girlfriends.
Candy Evans (15:18):
Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:18):
I'm concerned about my girlfriends.
Candy Evans (15:20):
I won't be.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:20):
Does your wife carry?
Harrison Polsky (15:21):
What? No. Yeah. Sometimes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (15:24):
See? It it depends on the outfit. It
depends on the that's the thing.And it is the women that are
attacked. It's my friends. Sohow are you having these
conversations with, let's say, aa couple? And let's say someone
in the relationship travels alot, and it's a mom at home with
a bunch of kids. Like, what doyou tell them? Hey. Let's talk
let me talk to you about thesecurity system. Are you having
(15:46):
those conversations?
Harrison Polsky (15:47):
I mean, yeah. Look. We have the same
conversations all the time.Like, it doesn't change
anything. It's well, it's gonnahappen or it's not gonna happen.
It's gonna happen here or it'sgonna happen there. Once again,
I don't live in fear, so just beprepared for every moment.
That's the way I live. So Well,
Candy Evans (16:04):
and I'm not gonna live in fear either.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:06):
I just want people to be prepared.
Candy Evans (16:08):
Yeah. I'm gonna be prepared.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Especially my girlfriends. (16:09):
undefined
Candy Evans (16:10):
You know?
Harrison Polsky (16:10):
Should we take tactical classes together?
Candy Evans (16:12):
I know.
got and he's got a lockbox, andwhich I said, where is your gun?
He said, well, it's it's locked.He put a little box thing that's
strapped in the box. Because hegoes out at night, and I worry
about him, but he he's got it.You know? He we went to the
Perot Museum, and they had tohold his gun while we went
(16:32):
inside.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:33):
Oh, yeah.
Candy Evans (16:33):
I was because he couldn't take it in. But I don't
because I'm just I don't want itto get in the wrong hands.
That's not what I'm concernedabout. But I totally could
shoot, and I would totallyprotect my grandchildren or my
dogs. You know?
But what I'm concerned aboutwhat I'm hearing more concerned
about is people are very safe intheir neighborhoods because they
have their alarms andeverything. It is our shopping
(16:54):
centers. And I think we have towe have to get the the
developers have to start beingmore proactive. Now I'm seeing
more of that at Preston Forest.They have the lights and the
cameras and the police.
Harrison Polsky (17:06):
They've done Preston Center.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:07):
They have.
Candy Evans: They've done Preston Center (17:08):
undefined
because so much well, I have amy jewelry friend there, the guy
came in with a gun, pointed ather, you know, employees. It
was bad for a little bit. Andthen they have the the the guy,
the security guard who waskilled in the parking garage. So
Harrison Polsky (17:23):
When did that happen?
Candy Evans (17:24):
Oh, I'll send you the story. It's on CandysDirt!
You're not reading it every day!
Harrison Polsky: I don't have enough to read every (17:28):
undefined
day!
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:31):
Yeah. Same. Same.
Let me ask you this. Do you everhave someone buy a home who
says, I don't want an alarmsystem?
No. See? Well, especially nothis his target market. These
people are just like, you'regonna put in the best security
system. It's just part of theconversation. But okay. Kind of
moving away from this. So youhave been you've been house
hunting. You're downsizing. Andso you are now are so you're not
(17:58):
gonna build. I know you thoughtabout building for a moment.
Candy Evans (18:01):
Well, we you know, it never say never because I
have been this is I'm gonnaconfess. I do have a real estate
license, and, of course, I'm notan experienced realtor. I use my
license to research and youknow, stay on these guys and
find out what they're doing tohang with them.
Harrison Polsky (18:19):
She's the one disclosing the sales to to the
city. That's how they know whatour properties are valued.
Thanks, Candy Got it.
Candy Evans (18:29):
One of the things I have done is that we I've been
really pokey about this becauseI we overanalyze everything, my
husband and I. I mean, mostpeople will look at a home three
times. We look at a home 16times, you know, and just go
over it. So we found we, youknow
Harrison Polsky (18:43):
You know, you're scaring everyone right
now, but
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:46):
No. I think it's very interesting. I'm
like, tell me more.
Candy Evans (18:51):
It's like, yeah. It's you're getting the inside
story now. So we had found thishome in, in well, actually, we
found two homes in Lake Forestthat we kinda like because, A,
it's a gated community, B, it'snext to the hospitals. It's near
the hospital. So it'sclose to the hospital. It's on
the corner of the NortheastCorner of Hillcrest And Forest
in Dallas, and it was developedby, oh, I'm think I'll think of
(19:16):
the name in it because it wasdeveloped in the 1990's. And I
actually wrote about Lake Forestwhen it was being developed. I
went to the open houses. I thinkI I toured some of the houses
that I went to, you know, andwrite about for when I was at d
or when I was, you know, startat Candy Sturm. So anyhow, I
know that it's there. TheStrauss family is the developer.
It was a former, golf course.And it's Here. very small lots.
(19:40):
I'm going to go from an acre topoint one nine of an acre, which
is going to be shocking. But onthe other hand, it's less
maintenance. Right?
So and all the homes are there'smost of the homes there are four
to 5,000 square feet. There'ssome that are much larger than
that. There's one there that's10,000 with, like, a three car
garage and a shooting gallery inthe basement. There's all kinds
of things there. But it's it'ssecure, it's gated, and there is
(20:04):
a twenty four hour guard there.
So as people who are gonna betraveling a lot, we're thinking,
you know, this is good. This isa good place to go. So I found
one house I liked and, you know,three days later it was gone.
I'm like...
Harrison Polsky (20:17):
Why don't you just go vertical and go to a
condo?
Candy Evans (20:19):
I have two doodles.
Harrison Polsky (20:21):
So? Oh, you don't wanna do the schlepping up
and down the...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:23):
Yeah. It's a lot.
Candy Evans (20:24):
And they are children now. You know? So I we
looked at that so that house wasgone. That was fine. So we
looked at another one, and, itseems like every time I start
looking at a house, it sells.Someone else buys it. But now
we're going back and we'relooking at the house with with
the guy who bought it becausehe's a builder, and he wants to
sell it. And so we're workingwith him now to see if we can
(20:47):
buy it now, and then we can , dothe finish out and everything
and put up with me.
Harrison Polsky (20:55):
Oh my goodness. After watching this, he's gonna
be like, oh, no.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:00):
He's like, pass.
Harrison Polsky (21:01):
Yeah. Pass.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:01):
So okay. So I love this just kind of
insight. I think it's reallyhelpful. But kinda over to you
whenever you have theseconversations with people. So
you said that you have about howmany how many builds versus
Harrison Polsky (21:15):
So right now, we have we're about to start
we're finishing up four. We'reabout to start another four,
right now, and then my teamwill, this year, deliver about
80 Yeah. Between Lakewood andMidway to Hall. Their average
for the team, their new buildsare about 2.5.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:30):
Yeah. Okay.
Harrison Polsky (21:31):
Mine are about six and a half.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:32):
Yes. That's great. There is one home
that I saw, remind me, to sendit to you that I saw in his
portfolio, and it has so muchcharacter. Mhmm. It's
Harrison Polsky: So the next one we have that (21:45):
undefined
we're delivering. So we made areally good strategic
partnership with Harris Briggs,And, Sees Design. So you know
Sees they did Mister Charles.And so all of our product moving
forward is, like, every house iscompletely different. Like, we
just finished the Cape Dutchhouse. University is very, old
like, old world French. I justwas back in New York, so we're
(22:06):
doing a house on Wildwood that'sbasically gonna look like
Wildwood. It's gonna look like aa townhouse. Not a townhouse.
Again, like, Fifth Avenue, like,Brownstone.
And so, like, everything we dois completely different. We have
a Hacienda that we're doing alsoon Pomona with them. It's gonna
feel like you're at LasVentanas. Seems like everything
that
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:22):
We're doing Spanish Mediterranean.
Harrison Polsky (22:24):
So we try to always do that on every project.
Like, it's something nothing'sever rinse, repeated. It's
somewhere I've been, Sal's been.And it's just like it's unique.
Right? And it like, you'll noteven if you drive past it, you
won't even think it's new. Like,that's always a goal.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:38):
It is. That is an absolute goal.
Harrison Polsky (22:41):
Ultimate goal for us. Like, we don't want you
to think it's new at all.
Candy Evans (22:44):
Yep. And we love those homes. We I love to find a
home and go, oh my gosh. How oldis that? Oh, it's new.
I'm like, that is a huge thatgives us
something to write about.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:51):
That's right.
Harrison Polsky (22:52):
It's not cheap to do that. No.
Candy Evans (22:54):
It's not.
Harrison Polsky (22:54):
But it's good. You know? Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:56):
Where in the Dallas area, and I'm saying
north, east, southwest citycenter, what two areas in your
opinion, separate opinions arethe prime spaces to possibly
look at investing in?
Candy Evans (23:14):
That's a tough one.
Harrison Polsky (23:15):
Bluffview, and then I would say Tollway to
Midway, Walnut to Royal.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:22):
Okay.
Harrison Polsky (23:22):
Oh, Northwest Highway to Royal.
Candy Evans (23:25):
Northwest Highway. I was really surprised. Where's
Bluff View? Bluff View.
Harrison Polsky (23:28):
Like, Wildwood. Yeah.
Candy Evans (23:30):
So the number of homes sold there January,
December 2024 were down 10%Where? In Greenway Park, and
Bluffview. And then the mediansales price was down 8%.
Harrison Polsky (23:43):
You need off markets.
Candy Evans (23:46):
Oh, off markets will change.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:47):
Okay. So okay. So see. This is so good
that you you knew she was notaccounting for that.
Candy Evans (23:52):
No. Because there's no one accounting for it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (23:53):
So that's what I was gonna say. Is there
no one accounting for it?
Candy Evans (23:56):
Yeah. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: So is what you have; Is that (23:57):
undefined
proprietary?
Harrison Polsky (23:59):
Have to call Brian or you have to call Mark.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:01):
Is this proprietary?
Harrison Polsky (24:02):
Is we're a nondisclosure state.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:04):
Right. Okay. But So we don't have to So
so but question. Is there anyonewho could possibly pay you for
this data?
Harrison Polsky (24:13):
I don't think you're allowed to disclose it. I
think, even, like, theappraisers, the only way you can
actually know is if you'regetting a house appraised, and
they have and they include thoseoff markets.
Candy Evans (24:23):
Did they find from the realtors themselves? Because
they can't find it online.
Harrison Polsky (24:27):
No. They actually have to technically
have appraised that house.
Candy Evans (24:30):
Gotcha.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (24:31):
But okay. Aside from that, so let's say
someone is is going through allof these steps and they ask you
for this data. The data that youquoted me about the 50% being
done off market. What area isthat covering?
Harrison Polsky (24:45):
That's so that's, Park Cities. And so
that's off the deed transfers.Right? So what we did Because I
mean, and Sal, and my partnersnerd out about this stuff, is we
were trying to figure outexactly how much this was.
Because if you're trying toraise money Like, no one's like,
I believe you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.Like, I'll I'll take you for
your word.
Candy Evans (25:04):
Mhmm. Right. So what we did is we figured out
how to scrape everything off thedeed transfer so we knew what
sold on MLS and what didn't.What there's a delta right
there. Mhmm. And then based uponcomps that sold, we created a
formula to create the value forthose off markets. And knowing
the market pretty well, we werelike, it's on point. Then
Preston Hollow was the samething. It was 28%. Bluff View is
(25:26):
about 30%. They're all about thesame. I mean, it's it is what it
is. There's not a lot oftransactions in Bluff View,
period.
Right.
Harrison Polsky (25:34):
There's maybe fifteen, twenty a year.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:38):
I know.
Candy Evans (25:38):
That was the thing that happened last year, and we
all know that's because ofwhether it affects your buyers
or not, the interest rate. Theycreate a psychological block for
people. Oh my god. No one'sbuying or selling because of
interest rates.
And if you're sitting with thetwo
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:51):
But people are paying cash.
Candy Evans (25:53):
Yeah. They're paying cash.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:54):
Right. For these homes
Harrison Polsky (25:55):
Exactly.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (25:55):
I mean, you're not gonna go get a a note
on a $10,000,000 home.
Harrison Polsky (26:00):
And Sal laughs about this story every time I
tell it. So we were selling thishouse on, in Preston Hollow, and
the buyer kept delayingeverything. It's coming change
order after change order tochange order. And his wife was
like, how are we gonna be ableto afford this house with the
mortgage going up?
And he talked in hotel roomrates. He goes, now we go to Las
(26:20):
Ventanas for three weeks. Yeah.We're only gonna go for a week
and a half. And I'm like, $2,200a night times ten days plus $800
a day for food and booze, notforgetting fishing. Yep. That's
about $30-40 grand. That's themortgage difference. Thank you.
Bye. That's how they think.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Interesting. (26:36):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (26:37):
That's all it is. You're just gonna swap
something out. You know? They'renot thinking about that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (26:42):
No. That that's what I'm saying. Those
buyers, you're just not.
Harrison Polsky (26:45):
They're talking in hotel rates.
Candy Evans (26:48):
Hotel rates. Which, by the way, we were discussing
this last night at the at thepanel I had, and Blake Stevenson
from Modern Luxury was so funny.She's talking about second homes
and people that's picking upagain. And she said, well, you
know, look at hotel rates. Imean, they're they're going up,
and I go, and don't I love it?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:06):
I know.
Candy Evans (27:06):
I said, don't I love it?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:08):
Please.
Candy Evans (27:09):
Give me those $2,400 a night
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Absolutely. (27:11):
undefined
That's right.
Candy Evans (27:13):
Five of them.
You know? So you're so rightabout that, though. And that's
it's the trade off that it's notthat much of a difference. It's
not. It's really in the holesthe whole spectrum of time of
thirty years or whatever. It's adrop.
Harrison Polsky (27:29):
It's a drop. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (27:30):
Okay. So I love that. Did you did you
give me your answer on the twoareas?
Candy Evans (27:34):
Oh, no. I didn't because I'm thinking about them.
So and I I think what'sinteresting is...
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: She's processing aloud. (27:38):
undefined
Candy Evans (27:39):
I'm processing. Right. What I'm thinking and I'm
looking at this is the MLSfigures that I pulled from,
because Lori always sends methese things. Plano actually
went up, and their theirinventory went up 7%, and their
prices went up 1%. North Dallas,North Of LBJ also went up 4%.
Northwest Highway, South Of LBJ,up 15% in prices. So our prices
(28:01):
were all up except for PrestonHollow, which was down 2%.
Greenway Park's Bluff View isdown eight percent. And, of
course, Highland Park,University Park up 1% because
it's blue chip real estate. So Iagree with you on Bluff View
because I think it's beautiful,and I think as people discover
that, especially people comingfrom Pacific Palisades, they're
(28:22):
gonna love that that look, thattopography that you cannot, you
know, you just cannot
Harrison Polsky (28:27):
Preston Hollow for a million and a half? I
don't think so.
Candy Evans (28:30):
You don't think so?
Harrison Polsky: That doesn't sound right. That's (28:31):
undefined
what I'm telling you.
Candy Evans: No. Those are tear down. (28:33):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (28:34):
A lot cost $1.08 million.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:35):
Yeah.
Candy Evans (28:36):
I think you'd still get a tear down
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:38):
The lots are still a pretty good size.
Harrison Polsky (28:40):
Five five, like, between Walnut and Royal
on, like, Mimosa. But belowthat, you're at, like, $1.8,
$1.95.
Candy Evans (28:46):
Right.
Harrison Polsky (28:46):
That's what I'm saying. Like, the off market
data skew like, we'll skew thatand not
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (28:51):
I appreciate you both being here.
Is there anything else that youthink we need to touch upon?
Because we're at 15 after.
Candy Evans (28:57):
One thing I wanted to point out was that this is
kinda sad, but catastrophesreally accelerate for the real
estate business.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: What do you mean? Can you (29:06):
undefined
clarify that?
Candy Evans (29:07):
Catastrophes make people wanna buy homes because,
like, they either lose themduring a tornado
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (29:11):
I see what you're saying.
Candy Evans (29:12):
Which is what happened, you know, in our
neighborhood in 2019. So this iswhy I'm very rest assured that
something will transpire withour home
If we move. They want itfurnished. And he said, they're
even saying they'll pay up to$50,000 a month in rent. I'm
like, are you kidding me? I'mold enough to remember what a
house cost $50,000.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Candy! That is (29:35):
undefined
Harrison Polsky (29:36):
I know. That is no bueno.
Candy Evans (29:38):
We are in an affordable housing crisis, and
and we we are not dealing withthat. But it is a problem, and I
feel badly that young peoplecannot like, my kids, thank God,
all have homes, their own homes,because I beat on them. And said
in fact, Trey, my son, who, youknow, bought three homes in
California, I was like, are youkidding me? What are you doing?
Be quiet, mom. I know what I'mdoing. You know? And he did. He
(30:00):
knew what he was doing.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:00):
Yeah. Yeah.
Candy Evans (30:01):
Yeah. So, you know, it's just I feel so sorry for
the younger people because Ithink we're gonna start seeing
homes being passed downgenerationally, and some of the
ones you're building probably.
Harrison Polsky (30:11):
You know, I mean, if these people are making
so much money in Bitcoin, Idon't think they're worried
about it.
Candy Evans (30:16):
He's got such a positive attitude. I love it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:18):
He does. He's like, time is not gonna
bother us. Yeah. It's great.We're fine.
Harrison Polsky (30:23):
Life is life is beautiful. Life is great.
Candy Evans (30:25):
Harrison is better than a Xanax.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:27):
No. Really?
Harrison Polsky (30:28):
I'm I am. I am Xanax. I am Xanax.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:31):
Oh my gosh. I think it's hilarious.
Candy Evans (30:36):
It must be that running. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:39):
Well, thank you guys for being here.
Harrison Polsky (30:40):
Thank you so much.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (30:41):
Yes. I appreciate it. That was an
awesome conversation, and I'm sohappy they were both able to be
here. But I thought it'd bereally fun if we could actually
see something in person. It'sone thing to just talk real
estate, but it's an entirelydifferent thing to actually go
visit it. So I asked Candy ifshe'd take us on a tour of some
spaces in the market. Lucky forus, she said yes. Stick around
(31:02):
as we step inside and seefirsthand what all the buzz is
about. You won't wanna missthis, so thank you for being
here.
Hey there. It's Sarah. I know Ioriginally said we'd be checking
out more than one space withCandy, but full disclosure,
plans changed the moment Istepped into this first house,
and trust me, you're about tosee why. Let me paint a picture
(31:23):
for you. This Crescent Estate'smasterpiece is more than 11,000
square feet of pure luxury.That's five times the size of a
typical new build in Texas. It'slocated in Old Preston Hollow,
and this estate is listed justunder $16,000,000. Once you see
it, you'll understand everypenny. Here's the rundown. Seven
bedrooms, over nine and a halfbathrooms, and a sprawling 1.8
(31:46):
acre lot. And if the stunning 42foot pool view from the living
area ever gets old, veryunlikely, just head out to your
own tennis or pickleball courtfor a little friendly
competition. The backyard, it'sa perfect mixture of turf and
real grass, so you get the bestof both worlds. Plus, a gorgeous
indoor, outdoor enclosed kitchenfor all your entertaining needs.
(32:07):
And let's talk about the primarysuite. Not just separate sinks,
but his and hers bathrooms andwalk in closets that could
double as little boutiques. Anddid I mention the media room?
A mother-in-law suite with twobedrooms and an oversized six
car garage. You really have tosee this home to believe it. So
come with us as we explore everyjaw dropping detail of this
(32:28):
stunning new build on Hollow Wayin Dallas.
Okay. So we are here today. Inthis beautiful home, and we're
here with Charles Gregory.Charles, tell us who you are.
Charles Gregory (32:43):
I'm first of all, the listing agent for this
property, and I'm with the PerryMiller Streiff team at Dave
Perry Miller Real Estate.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (32:51):
Can you tell us a little bit about the
history of this place? Well Howit was built? Why?
Charles Gregory (32:55):
It was custom designed and built for the
current owner. It was built forthis lot, and it's
extraordinary. The mostextraordinary thing about this
house is that it's almostentirely on one level.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:07):
And so tell me really quickly before we
walk in tour, what are yourfavorite spaces? Your personal
favorite spaces in thisgorgeous home?
Charles Gregory (33:16):
Personal favorite spaces. I love the
living room with that gorgeousview across the backyard.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:21):
Yep. As I chatted with Candy and Harrison,
and we talked about what'simportant to people that live or
that are looking at theseparticular types of homes, or
even remodeling their existinghome to be something like this
home. You'll then see some ofthose pieces of conversation
that are important to to us. Solet's get looking.
Charles Gregory (33:44):
Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:45):
Can we?
Charles Gregory (33:45):
Yes. Sure.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (33:45):
Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. I can't
wait. So this is actually whatit looks like whenever you come
in, and there's, of course,another huge home being built
over there across the way.
There's a nice gate for privacyin the front, and this is
remarkable. This is a gatheringspace, and there's four
kitchens?
Charles Gregory (34:05):
Yes.
You have the main kitchen.Family kitchen.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:09):
Okay.
Charles Gregory (34:10):
And then you have an incredible chef's
kitchen for catering.
The condominium I told you aboutupstairs has a full kitchen. And
then the guest house, theentertainment house, has a
kitchen and a pizza oven.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:23):
Well, let's go see it. Look at this.
Oh my goodness. And it's oh, Ilove I love it.
Charles Gregory (34:28):
This is where you were asking about views?
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:30):
I love it for the entertainment aspect. Oh
my gosh, Charles. So this leadsus out. Yes. Do you mind if I
walk over with that reallyquickly? Oh. This is nice.
Charles Gregory (34:47):
The bulk of this backyard is this super high
quality turf.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:51):
Uh-huh. Yep.
Charles Gregory (34:52):
But behind, there's a huge play yard that's
grass.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (34:56):
Oh, really?
Charles Gregory (34:57):
Uh-huh. Okay. All behind that wing.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:00):
How divine. So you could just sit
here. This is kind of like yourlittle break area if you don't
wanna be inconvenienced to goover there.
Charles Gregory: But I mean that's really (35:12):
undefined
designed for a family everydaygrilling and outside.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:15):
Exactly. Exactly. But, you know, I'm just
thinking, if you have peoplehere, you need to have some nice
refrigeration.
Charles Gregory (35:23):
Sure.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:24):
Right? Things, amenities for kids.
Charles Gregory (35:26):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: Especially, we have three 11 (35:26):
undefined
year olds and a nine year old.So they're very active. Active.
Lots of friends over all thetime. And so for me, it's always
kids centric.
Charles Gregory (35:37):
It'd be a great recharging space for their moms
and a glass of wine while kidsare at their place.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:41):
Amen to that.
Charles Gregory (35:43):
It's a multiuse facility.
Candy Evans (35:45):
It is.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (35:47):
Oh, look at this media room. How
fantastic. Isn't this great? Sothis is the the space that he
was talking about. So there'stwo car garage and then a few of
the others.
This is great. See, this isperfect. So Candy and I are both
(36:11):
in this crazy phase. I'm totallygutting the interior of my home
here in Dallas, and Candy isdownsizing. Like we talked about
on the on the show, from herhome for many years
Candy Evans (36:22):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (36:23):
And is gonna be moving into a new
space.
Candy Evans (36:25):
We're redoing the home. We're kinda doing I call
this almost like a ludicrousspeed remodeling. I was telling
I was teasing the, the builderyesterday in email, and I said,
you know, we're doing this soquickly. I have to go tomorrow
and pick out lavatories and allthat stuff. And it's a and so
I'm really looking at all thelittle things here to see what I
want.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (36:45):
And so now we're gonna see something
like I I don't know if youcaught it, but what's super
unique about this place is thatit's not just a separate
bathroom. They're separatespaces entirely. So let's go see
what this custom area lookslike.
Candy Evans (36:59):
I could not look at a home with a closet that I
shared with my husband. Nope.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:02):
Isn't that interesting?
Charles Gregory (37:03):
This must be his side because He's got the
hoop shower. Exactly. The bodywash. Okay.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:12):
And then he yeah. And look at the large
closet space. So this is justone closet in the primary suite.
Right? So this is onecloset in the primary suite and
then we'll go and see what theother...
I would claim this is mine Oh.Because there is a
Candy Evans (37:30):
Look at this. There's a shower and a tub.
Yeah. I love it.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (37:35):
Because I'm the I'm the only one that
takes baths.
Candy Evans (37:40):
Do you mind if I try getting in this tub,
Charles? Because you know what?I have to I'm trying to figure
out, seriously, if I should do avessel.
Okay. Now I just don't wanna,like, be unladylike. But okay.
So you could sit here. Okay.One, two, three, this way. Okay.
So I could, like, very lovelyokay. Like this. Okay. Down we
go. Oops. Okay. Okay. This isgood. Okay. So you could lay and
just relax. I'm crazy. No.Seriously. No. This is not and
(38:04):
this is not that hard to get outof, I don't think. We'll see.
Okay. Let's see.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:09):
Give it a test here. I'll make sure I
block any kind of like
Candy Evans (38:14):
Look at that. Even with cowboy boots. One, two,
three, over. That's not bad.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:20):
And these have to be heated. Right?
Candy Evans (38:21):
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The floor is oh, sorry, guys. I
just had to try that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:25):
This is great.
Candy Evans (38:26):
Okay. That one would work.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (38:27):
Well, this, I think, kind of shows all
the highlights of thismagnificent space. Space that
you look at has a story, hasunique character traits that can
be customized or not for yourfamily. But in small space
spaces, small homes, big homes,you can always take ideas from
(38:53):
spaces like this. I loveit. I love it. Absolutely!
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