First Dibs

3 ways the new Opendoor Exclusives will make homebuying easier

Access homes 14 days before they hit the MLS.

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Opendoor, the e-commerce platform for residential real estate that transformed the buying and selling process, has introduced another new feature.

Opendoor Exclusives is a first-of-its-kind, one-tap buying experience for homebuyers in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as Austin and Houston. Designed to make homebuying an e-commerce-like experience, it streamlines the existing process to make homeownership more accessible.

Merav Bloch, general manager of Exclusive Listings, notes, “Between rising interest rates and low housing stock, it’s a challenging time to buy a home. In a competitive environment with high mortgage rates, aspiring homeowners feel frustrated, anxious, and defeated after losing out on bids. We built Opendoor Exclusives to make homebuying more certain and hassle-free.”

Here are three reasons why you should consider Opendoor Exclusives when buying your next home:

1. Pay with peace of mind
Opendoor homes are available on Opendoor Exclusives for 14 days before they are listed on a Multiple Listings Service. And while on Exclusives, they are offered at a price that’s less than what Opendoor will list the home for.

Even better: Should you buy an Opendoor Exclusive home that appraises for less than the purchase price, Opendoor will reduce the price by up to $50,000 to match the appraised value under its Appraisal Price Match Guarantee. This gives you more confidence that you aren’t overpaying for a home.

2. Avoid bidding wars and price negotiations
The Opendoor Exclusive price means no haggling, no lack of transparency, and no more love letters to sellers. With Opendoor Exclusives, you’re in control. Find a home you love, be the first to sign the contract, and you can make it yours.

Back out anytime and get a full refund on your earnest money deposit: There are no penalties if you change your mind at any point before closing. It’s that simple.

3. Experience a fully digital checkout
Opendoor has digitized the checkout flow, making a home purchase as simple as any other e-commerce transaction.

Opendoor Exclusives customer Colton Katzen reflects on his experience: "We found a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, but didn't want to get our hopes up. After going through this four other times only to ultimately miss out on homes that went well above asking, we were skeptical to move forward. We decided to try Opendoor Exclusives and it could not have been a smoother process from beginning to end. There was no stressing, no haggling, no worrying about an appraisal — it was actually an enjoyable experience! The only thing I would change is starting our search with Opendoor."

Find out more about Opendoor Exclusives here.

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House For Sale

Dallas house for sale from the '50s is still in original condition

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9203

There's a house for sale in East Dallas that's increasingly hard-to-find: a well-preserved home from the '50s for sale that's in nearly original condition.

The house is located at 9203 Lindaro Ln., just outside Loop 12 and walking distance to Bishop Lynch High School, in a stable neighborhood of homes build in the mid 1950s.

The listing by Bryant Nieves of Elite Real Estate Texas calls it a "beautifully preserved Mid-Century gem" with original hardwood floors in the downstairs bedrooms, a recently installed roof, a modern sprinkler system, and an upgraded AC unit.

There are multiple living spaces with a formal living & dining area, eat-in kitchen, and family room which includes an office nook with built-in desk. It has both a carport and attached 2-car garage, as well as a fully fenced yard.

Most of the homes in this neighborhood are 1,200 to 1,600 square feet, and priced from $250,000 to $350,000.

This house was built in 1957, but it differs in that it has a second-floor add-on over the garage — making it roomier at 2,202 square feet, with 5 bedrooms instead of the usual 3.

The two bathrooms are in original condition with '50s tile, both in good shape. The main bathroom has pale warm tan tile, almost flesh colored; the second bathroom, off one of the bedrooms, is a little prettier, with white tile and green-tile edging. Both are far superior to granite-look ceramic.

While both bathrooms merit admiration, this house is more about the wood. There are

original hardwood floors, all in great shape
wood doors including closet doors
wood paneling in the family room, with wood bookshelves and a build-in wood desk

There's also an odd wooden bookshelf that serves as a divider of sorts in the stacked formal living room.

The only room that looks unoriginal is the kitchen, which boasts white-washed '80s cabinets. It looks clean and functional, even if it does not match modern tastes.

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Facade of 9203 Lindaro is pleasing, thanks to the unpainted brick.

It sits on a 7,535 sqft lot and the asking price is $395,000 — a bit optimistic, even if they find the rare buyer who sees value in an untouched '50s home.

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