Rob Hurt

by Rob Hurt

There’s no shortage of fall-inspired activities to do this season, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite fall festivals across DFW.

September 22 was the official first day of fall, so everyone across Dallas-Fort Worth is in an autumn state of mind. There’s no shortage of fall-inspired activities to do this season, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite fall festivals and events across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Whether you’re looking for something kid-friendly or spine-tingling, there’s a festival for everyone on our list:

AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM

This annual celebration at the Dallas Arboretum is a must-see on many people’s lists. Running now through October 31, find yourself transported into a fantasy world with this year’s theme: A Fall Fairy Tale. Prepare to exclaim “oh my gourd” as you walk through the elaborate displays that feature more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash as well as autumn flowers.

STOCKYARDS CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO

What would Fall in Texas be without a good old fashioned rodeo? Head over to the world-famous Stockyards in Fort Worth for one of their exciting Friday or Saturday night rodeo competitions. Events include tie-down, break away and team roping, as well as barrel racing and bull riding.

PUMPKIN NIGHTS

Needing your pumpkin fix this autumn? Open now through October 30, Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms in Arlington has it all. Travel along a half-mile walking path featuring fantastical lands built using over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins. After the path, the seasonal celebration continues with entertainment and games in The Village.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

Running September 30 through October 23, everything is bigger at the State Fair of Texas! Ride the iconic ferris wheel, win an oversized stuffed animal, listen to live music and last but not least, eat delicious fried food. Try the award-winning Fried Charcuterie Board and Peanut Butter Paradise, or enjoy a classic Fletcher’s corn dog.

FRIGHT FEST – SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS

If you’d rather partake in blood-curdling thrills, Six Flags Over Texas’s Fright Fest is right up your (dark) alley. Find yourself screaming both on and off the rides as you walk through themed scare zones and tackle the New Texas Giant or Titan at night. Continue the frights of Halloween at one of the many haunted houses across the metroplex like Fort Worth’s Cutting Edge, Plano’s Dark Hour or Waxahachie’s Screams.

DENTON ARTS AND JAZZ FESTIVAL

As one of the largest tourist attractions in North Texas, the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival on October 1-3 provides the finest in entertainment and art across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.Enjoy jazz, blues, and cross-cultural music from six stages, a delicious variety of food, breathtaking art and kids activities – making this event perfect for the whole family.

MIDLOTHIAN VILLAGE DAY FESTIVAL

Head to Midlothian on October 15 for the 40th Annual Midlothian Village Day Festival. This community-centered event is filled with fun activities including crafts, games, inflatables, entertainment, food vendors and a raffle. There is no cost for admission, and this year features a parade so don’t forget to bring a chair.

MCKINNEY WINE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Nothing beats an afternoon of wine tasting and live music! On Saturday, October 15, the 6th Annual McKinney Wine and Music Festival features 30 award-winning wineries, live music all day and a huge variety of local vendors.

WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL

If you’re looking for a unique fall experience this October, head over to Fort Worth’s Panther Island Pavilion on Saturday, October 22 for the Water Lantern Festival. Enjoy food trucks, kids activities and live music as you create your unique lantern. At sunset, watch as thousands of lanterns are released onto the lake carrying messages of hope, happiness and healing.

ENNIS AUTUMN DAZE

Looking for some fall fun for the whole family? Head down to the 20th annual Ennis Autumn Daze in historic downtown Ennis on October 28-30. Featuring live music from Pat Green and Gary P. Nunn, carnival rides, haymaze, pumpkin patch, cornhole tournament, professional pumpkin carvers, food, shopping vendors and more, you won’t want to miss out on this annual event.

PUMPKIN PATCHES

Whether you want to pick out pumpkins to carve or take family pictures, here’s our list of favorite pumpkin patches:

Aubrey – Team Family Farms
Cleburne – Mainstay Farm Park Pumpkin Days
Decatur – Black Creek Farm & Pumpkin Patch
Flower Mound – Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch
Frisco – Pumpkins on the Prairie
Grapevine – Hall’s Pumpkin Farm
McKinney – Storybook Ranch
Midlothian – Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm
Rockwall – Blase Family Farm

The Cost of Waiting for Mortgage Rates To Go Down

by Rob Hurt

Mortgage rates have increased significantly in recent weeks. And that may mean you have questions about what this means for you if you’re planning to buy a home. Here’s some information that can help you make an informed decision when you set your homebuying plans.

The Impact of Rising Mortgage Rates

As mortgage rates rise, they impact your purchasing power by raising the cost of buying a home and limiting how much you can comfortably afford. Here’s how it works.

Let’s assume you want to buy a $400,000 home (the median-priced home according to the National Association of Realtors is $389,500). If you’re trying to shop at that price point and keep your monthly payment about $2,500-2,600 or below, here’s how your purchasing power can change as mortgage rates climb (see chart below). The red shows payments above that threshold and the green indicates a payment within your target range.

As the chart shows, as rates go up, the amount you can afford to borrow decreases and that may mean you have to look at homes at a different price point. That’s why it’s important to work with a real estate advisor to understand how mortgage rates impact your monthly mortgage payment at various home loan amounts.

Are Mortgage Rates Going To Go Down?

The rise in mortgage rates and the resulting decrease in purchasing power may leave you wondering if you should wait for rates to go down before making your purchase. Realtor.com says this about where rates could go from here:

“Many homebuyers likely winced . . . upon hearing that the Federal Reserve yet again boosted its short-term interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point—a move that’s pushing mortgage rates through the roof. And the already high rates are just going to get higher.”

So, if you’re waiting for mortgage rates to drop, you may be waiting for a while as the Federal Reserve works to get inflation under control.

And if you’re considering renting as your alternative while you wait it out, remember that’s going to get more expensive with time too. As Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“There is no doubt that these higher rates hurt housing affordability. Nevertheless, apart from borrowing costs, rents additionally rose at their highest pace in nearly four decades.”

Basically, it is true that it costs more to buy a home today than it did last year, but the same is true for renting. This means, either way, you’re going to be paying more. The difference is, with homeownership, you’re also gaining equity over time which will help grow your net worth. The question now becomes: what makes more sense for you?

Bottom Line

Each person’s situation is unique. To make the best decision for you, partner with a real estate advisor to explore your options.

Fall Festivals Across Dallas/Ft. Worth