Building a new home in Allen, TX with Craig Ranch means you will enjoy all the great amenities, conveniences and perks of a location designed with families in mind. Craig Ranch offers families more than a home in a nice neighborhood. Craig Ranch actually creates a lifestyle of luxury for everyone in the family to enjoy. Share your favorite family-friendly perks with us on Facebook.

1. Allen, Frisco and McKinney, Texas were named the top 5 safest cities in Texas and three of the top 50 safest cities in the nation, according to a recent poll by CQ Press. Since 2008, the three cities have continued to climb the list of the safest cities in the state and nation. Allen, TX was named the top safest city in the state and #9 nationwide. Frisco, TX was named #2 safest city in Texas and #14 nationwide. You can sleep easy at night knowing that your new home in Allen, TX is located in an extremely safe neighborhood.
2. New homes in Craig Ranch are also convenient to plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities. You and your family are only minutes from great restaurants, errands, and all of your family’s extra curricular activities. Whether you are running out to soccer practice, ballet, or piano lessons, you won’t have to drive far from your new home. Craig Ranch’s convenient location is part of the luxury lifestyle for families.
3. Craig Ranch is also part of the Frisco ISD and Allen ISD school systems. Your new home in Allen, TX is located near the best school systems in the state. You and your kids will love their new schools.
4. Craig Ranch also offers families plenty of great amenities. The whole family will enjoy walking trails, parks and more. Become a member of the Cooper Fitness Center and Spa and spend the afternoon swimming or attending family activities near your new home in Allen, TX.

February is all about matters of the heart. Whether you are sending love notes to your Valentine or exercising at the gym, you can take care of your heart during February. This month, go beyond Valentine’s Day and celebrate National Heart Health Month at your new home in McKinney.  Craig Ranch offers many amenities that will help you maintain heart health throughout the year. Share your favorite heart healthy amenities or activities with us on Facebook.

Walking, biking or jogging weekly are great ways to increase your heart health. You can run, walk, bike or even jog along the Craig Ranch Fitness Trails that wind and meander throughout the complex. The Fitness Trails are part of the Six City Trail Plan that connects nearby cities with more than 20 miles of paved walkways.

Become a member of the Cooper Fitness Center and Spa and enjoy even more heart healthy options at Craig Ranch. Members can use cardiovascular equipment, indoor jogging tracks, strength training equipment, indoor basketball court, swimming pool, and tennis and volleyball courts. While regular exercise is important to healthy hearts, so is diet and nutrition. Members can also use the Cooper Fitness Center for health and nutrition lectures, personal fitness assessments, and group exercise classes all convenient to your new home in McKinney.

If you enjoy organized sports to stay fit and keep your heart healthy, try Craig Ranch’s Soccer fields, Ball fields, and The Beach at Craig Ranch. All three sports areas accommodate both junior and adult league games. The Beach at Craig Ranch offers volleyball, beach tennis, beach soccer and other beach related activities convenient to your new home in McKinney.

Even golfing is good for your heart! Members of Craig Ranch’s TPC Golf Course can spend afternoons improving their health by teeing off.  The par-72 course includes a driving range, practice area, and putting green to help golfers improve their swing and their game.

If you plan to buy a new home near Plano, TX, this year, here are a couple of tips for preparing for your search from Craig Ranch. Share your best tips for preparing for your new home search with us on Facebook.

• Meet with your real estate agent or Realtor for expert advice on how to price your current home and prepare for selling. Your real estate agent will also help you find the perfect new home near Plano, TX for you and your family in Craig Ranch. If you plan on building a new custom home, your real estate agent or Realtor can also help you find a lot for sale in Craig Ranch to build your new dream home.
• Research financing options. The new home builders in Craig Ranch have preferred lenders that will help you determine your buying power.
• Explore green features. Take the time to learn more about what energy efficient features are available for new homes near Plano, TX.

K Hovnanian Homes Energy Star 3.0, which builds homes in The Villas at Craig Ranch, has a new energy program for new homes that combines nature, technology and efficiency. The NATE program offers home buyers low emission/low solar heat gain windows, CFL lighting, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) air conditioning, sealed ductwork, and other eco-friendly features. K Hovnanian luxury energy efficient homes could save new home buyers up to $1,500 per year in energy costs.

Dunhill Homes, which builds homes in The Settlement at Craig Ranch, also has plenty of great energy efficient features for new home buyers. New homes come with Energy Star appliances, CFL lighting, low emissivity E40 vinyl windows, SEER air conditioning, and PEX plumbing. Dunhill Homes also have spray foam and cellulose insulation that will save home buyers at least 50 percent more in energy costs. Other energy saving features from Dunhill Homes include a programmable thermostat, Tech Shield Roof Decking, and more.

Beazer Homes, which builds homes in The Retreat at Craig Ranch, also has energy efficient homes for new home buyers. Beazer Homes strives to exceed the Energy Star requirements for new homes in their eSMART Homes program. New homes near Plano, TX that are part of the eSMART program not only conserve energy in your new home but also conserve water and improve your home’s air quality.

Craig Ranch is proud to announce that Highland Homes will build new homes in The Villas at Craig Ranch. The People’s Choice Home Builder of the Year purchased 51 lots and is currently taking pre-sales for new homes in McKinney at Craig Ranch. Here are five reasons you will love living in your new home by Highland Homes. Share your favorites with us on Facebook.

1. Highland Homes is designing 12 new luxury floor plans for The Villas at Craig Ranch. These new floor plans feature two-story designs and 2,800 to 4,000 square feet. Highland Homes’ new homes in McKinney at Craig Ranch start in the upper $300s.
2. The Villas at Craig Ranch is an upscale, master-planned community. This gated community is perfect for both active families and career professionals.
3. A new home at The Villas at Craig Ranch means you can enjoy all of Craig Ranch’s fantastic amenities. The Villas’ has private walking trails along the cascading waterfalls and fountains throughout the neighborhood. Plus, all homes in The Villas come with the initiation fee waived to the TPC Craig Ranch Private Golf Course and a two-year membership to the Cooper Fitness Center & Spa. Other amenities at Craig Ranch include The Ballfields, Soccer Fields, Fitness Trails, and The Beach at Craig Ranch.
4. Highland Homes’ new homes in McKinney at Craig Ranch are also conveniently located to all McKinney has to offer. Find shopping, dining and recreation only minutes from your new home. School, extracurricular activities and more are never far from home.
5. Enjoy all the luxuries of a maintenance-free lifestyle at The Villas at Craig Ranch. Highland Homes builds beautiful low-maintenance homes that you will love for years to come. The home owners association at the Villas also provides front yard lawn care and landscaping services..

Decorating for the holidays at your new home in McKinney might seem like a daunting task, but with the right holiday attitude you can make it fun and enjoyable. With a few simple steps your new home will look both elegant and festive in no time at all. Here are 5 easy steps to decorating your new home for the holidays from Craig Ranch. Share your holiday décor tips with us on Facebook.

1. Start your holiday décor at the door. Hang a wreath on your front door. Whether it’s a live pine wreath you bought with your tree, a reusable one you break out every year or one you made yourself, let the entrance to your new home in McKinney set the tone for your holiday season.
2. Turn up the mantle mania. As the focal point of your living space, decorate your fireplace mantle with holiday cheer. You can light candles, hang stockings, spruce up another wreath, tack up garlands, tie bows, and even add festive lighting to showcase your seasonal spirit.
3. Let no stair be bare. Wrap garlands with decorative elements around your staircase bannisters. Garnish your garlands with natural elements like pinecones or berries, holiday lights, festive ribbons or seasonal ornaments. Be creative at your new home in McKinney.
4. Trim the tree. Decorate your holiday tree with a theme. You can arrange your ornaments based on type like birds, or in a color scheme. Don’t forget other tree decorations like lights, ribbons, bunting and other holiday items. If you are using a live tree remember to keep it well hydrated and away from heat sources at your new home in McKinney. Another trick for hanging holiday lights is to work in sections from the back of the tree to the front. Start at the bottom of the tree and hang lights vertically instead of spinning them around the tree from back to front.
5. Create a fine dining experience. Wow your holiday guests with seasonal centerpieces, festive plates and napkins. Set the mood with holiday candles or a decorative chandelier. To create the chandelier, first hang one ornament from it  with an s hook. Then tie fishing line from the chandelier at varying intervals to hanf additional ornaments. Hang them from the chandelier with s hooks as well.

Celebrate the holiday season with lots of events near your new home in McKinney. Here is a short list of recommended events from Craig Ranch. Share pictures from your favorite holiday events with us on Facebook!

WinterFest – Join Craig Ranch for WinterFest 2011 on December 10 from 6-8 p.m. at the Riverwalk Park. Take your picture with Santa and his elf, decorate holiday cards, drink hot cocoa or hot cider and listen to the Dickens Carolers and Ogle Choir. Enjoy smores and other snacks as Craig Ranch lights the Christmas tree.

Toys for Tots – On December 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The McKinney Injury Rehab is sponsoring a Toys for Tots Celebration. Bring one unwrapped, new toy to donate to Toys for Tots and celebrate the season. Take your picture with Santa, watch a magic show, listen to carolers, receive a free chair massage and enter your name for door prizes.

The Medical City Children’s Hospital is also sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive on December 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Listen to a DJ, carolers while you take your picture with Santa, ride a train or sleigh and take family photos. The party also includes balloon art, face painting, a sketch artist, petting zoo, food, bounce house and tree lighting.

Holiday Art Reception – Orisons Art and Framing Gallery in Downtown Mckinney is hosting a Holiday Art Reception during the holiday art walk from 7-9 p.m. Meet the artist and browse Brenda Brannon’s nutcracker and Santa art on display. Laura Moore Fine Art Studios will also debut new art on the same night. Browse new paintings by William Patterson, the professor emeritus of Fine Art at University of Massachusetts. His work featuring Italian scenery will be on display until January 11.

Christmas Parade – The 12^th Annual McKinney Rotary Christmas Light Parade in Historic Downtown McKinney starts at 6:30 p.m. on December 10. The parade of lights, costumes, décor and more starts on Tennessee Street and ends on Hunt Street. Come see all the great twinkling lights near your new home in McKinney.

Kwanzaa Fest – Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Automobile Building at Fair Park on December 10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and December 11 from 11 a.. to 6 p.m. Come learn about the seven tenets of Kwanzaa, listen to live music, browse local vendors and more!

Hanukkah – Celebrate Hanukkah with the Lighting of the 15 foot Hanukkah Menorah. The first lighting ceremony is on December 20 at 5 p.m. at the Galleria Mall. Enjoy food, entertainment and more. The Festival of Lights runs through December 28.

Another Menorah Lighting Ceremony takes place on December 22 at North Park Center at 6 p.m. A reception will follow with light refreshments.

Holiday Cookie Camp – Join Craig Ranch on December 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cooper Fitness Center Demo Kitchen for the Holiday Cookie Camp as part of the Kids in the Kitchen program. Learn to bake spritz cookies, gingerbread men and other tasty treats at your new home in McKinney. Please call 214-383-1083 to register your child for this event.

When looking for new homes in Frisco, it is important to consider which school your kids will attend. New homes in Craig Ranch are zoned for the Frisco ISD school system, one of the fastest growing school districts. Below are a few reasons you and your kids will love their new schools. Share your school pride with us on Facebook.

1. Frisco ISD schools use current technology in their classrooms. Each elementary school has at least 3 computer labs for kids to aid in learning. Secondary education schools like middle and high schools have both PC and Mac labs for students as well as laptop stations. Classrooms also use video servers, projectors and smart tablets to help both teachers and students foster education.
2. Frisco ISD schools also encourage advanced education. High school students can choose Advanced Placement courses as well as Honors classes. Some students also elect to take courses with dual credits with the Collin County Community College. Frisco ISD schools also see at least 90 percent of their students pursue higher education after high school.
3. Students at Frisco ISD schools also have the opportunity to pursue extracurricular activities after school through clubs and activities like band, chorale music, robotics, student council, drama, yearbook, language clubs, honors societies, and more. All of your kids’ favorite activities will be convenient to your new home in Frisco.
4. Frisco ISD schools also offer plenty of athletic opportunities for students. Your kids can compete in basketball, baseball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, track and cross country, wrestling, as well as other sports.
5. Frisco ISD schools are listed as some of the top schools in the district. More than 75 percent of students take college entrance exams and schools have seen a 10 percent annual growth for the past few years. Teachers are also continually increasing their skills through professional development and gifted strategy courses. Frisco ISD also builds at least 2-6 new schools per year, so your new home in Frisco will always be convenient to your child’s education.

In today’s economy, everyone is looking for homes for sale in McKinney with energy efficient features or Energy Star approvals. And Craig Ranch has just what you are looking for. Some of our new home builders have great new energy efficient homes what will save you money on your energy bills as well as add value to your new luxury home. Share your favorite energy efficient features with us on Facebook!

1. K Hovnanian, which builds homes in The Villas at Craig Ranch, has a new energy program for new homes that combines nature, technology and efficiency. The NATE program offers home buyers homes for sale in McKinney with low emission/low solar heat gain windows, CFL lighting, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) air conditioning, sealed ductwork, and other eco-friendly features. K Hovnanian luxury energy efficient homes could save new home buyers up to $1,500 per year in energy costs.
2. Dunhill Homes, which builds homes in The Settlement at Craig Ranch, also has plenty of great energy efficient features for new home buyers. New homes come with Energy Star appliances, CFL lighting, low emissivity E40 vinyl windows, SEER air conditioning, and PEX plumbing. New homes for sale in McKinney by Dunhill Homes also have spray foam and cellulose insulation that will save home buyers at least 50 percent more in energy costs. Other energy saving features from Dunhill Homes include a programmable thermostat, Tech Shield Roof Decking, and more.
3. Beazer Homes, which builds homes in The Retreat at Craig Ranch, also has energy efficient homes for new home buyers. Beazer Homes strives to exceed the Energy Star requirements for new homes in their eSMART Homes program. Homes for sale in McKinney that are part of the eSMART program not only conserve energy in your new home but also conserve water and improve your home’s air quality.

83 percent of new home buyers today believe that now is a better time to buy a new home in McKinney, TX than the previous year, according to a Residential Strategies survey. New home buyers are also looking for homes in a great location convenient to all of their favorite amenities. New homes in Craig Ranch are not only beautifully crafted luxury homes, but also centrally located close to all of McKinney’s great attractions. Below is a list of a few of Craig Ranch’s many location benefits. Share your favorite attractions or amenities with us on Facebook!

1. Need to live close to work or your kid’s extracurricular activities? Look no further than Craig Ranch. With major roadways like the US Central Expressway (US 75) and the Sam Rayburn Tollway only minutes away, your new home in Craig Ranch is convenient to anywhere you need to go.
2. Stay fit and active at your new home in McKinney, TX. Craig Ranch offers memberships to their great amenities like the TPC Golf Course, the Cooper Fitness Center and Spa and the Michael Johnson Performance Center. Community wide amenities like the parks, baseball fields, soccer fields and The Beach at Craig Ranch will help you stay in shape without ever having to leave your community.
3. Love looking for a great deal? Craig Ranch is located near four malls and plenty of additional shopping areas, including the Stonebriar Mall, Allen Premium Outlet Mall, Watters Creek, The Shops at Legacy Town Center, Villages of Fairview, Villages of Allen and unique boutiques in Downtown McKinney.
4. Your new home in McKinney, TX is also near the best schools in the area. Craig Ranch is zoned for Frisco ISD schools, which are some of the fastest growing and top performing schools in the district.
5. Never miss a big game in your area. You don’t have to just watch your favorite sports teams from the comfort of your couch. You can catch all the action at the Pizza Hut Park, Dr. Pepper Ballpark and Dr. Pepper Star Center, all of which are conveniently located near your new home at Craig Ranch.
6. You can also find quality healthcare near your new home in McKinney, TX. Centennial Medical Center, Baylor Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, Hospital at Craig Ranch, Medical Center of McKinney and other healthcare centers are all located near Craig Ranch.
7. Since Craig Ranch is also convenient to DFW International Airport, Dallas Love Field, Collin County Regional and Addison Airport, family vacations and business travel is simple and hassle free.

It’s great from an aesthetic perspective to have green space in a master-planned community, but why else is it important?

Green spaces and parks encourage contact with the natural world, as well as promote exercise and a healthy living lifestyle.  It makes our communities attractive and livable.  But they can also have economic benefits.  They help create a high quality of life that attracts tax-paying businesses and residents to the community, and have actually been shown to raise the property value and economic vitality of the surrounding area.

In Craig Ranch, approximately 20.22 percent or 440 of the 2,200 acres of the development are open space, parks and recreation venues.  That’s actually a higher ratio than the norm but it is important to us and to the City of McKinney.  With the 233-acre TPC golf course and eight parks, I think it’s safe to say we’ve raised the bar on integrating green space into our development.

The largest park in Craig Ranch is Rowlett Creek Park, a secluded hideaway that hosts 30 acres of trees, flowers and trails along the winding white-rock Rowlett Creek in Craig Ranch North.

But the one I am the most proud of is the Veterans Memorial Park, a tribute to the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedom.  The park is located on a half-acre site in Van Tuyl Plaza at Craig Ranch.  

When it opens this November 11, the memorial will feature a Wall of Honor with the inscribed names of the fallen in Collin County.  A lighted American flag will fly 24-hours a day over the wall.  A fountain at the base of the flagpole will symbolically water Red Oak trees representing each branch of the Armed Services and a ribbon-like walkway will extend from one end to the other.

Adjacent to the park is Van Tuyl Plaza, which once complete, will feature a dancing fountain and a spacious community gathering place for festivals, weekend farmers markets, holiday events or just meeting friends.  The layout is very similar to the mall in Washington D.C. and will be a great place to hold parades, concerts and family picnics and still maintain the honor, dignity and serenity such a memorial should have.

As the proud son of an Air Force Colonel, it is a project that is especially close to my heart.  My father sacrificed his life countless times on missions in Vietnam.  I was about 10 years old at the time and, although I did not fully understand the significance of what my father was doing, I did comprehend both the seriousness of the undertaking and that he was fighting for my country’s freedom. 

I hope you will all join us on Veteran’s Day this year- 11-11-11- when the memorial opens and we can celebrate our freedom and honor our service men and women with a symbol that is worthy of the sacrifice they make for our us every day.