The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (a.k.a. the Modern) has recently extended their gracious hospitality to us by offering one free annual membership (good for two lucky So7 residents). But you must redeem the letter about the membership that was mailed from the Modern in early October. Haven’t received it? Please contact us today to learn more about this special offer.

Not only will you see amazing art and films at the Modern, you’ll also enjoy gourmet cuisine. The Café Modern serves delicious lunches and dinners showcasing the culinary talents of Chef Dena Peterson. And just last month, the Modern opened a new cocktail bar and began serving dinner every Friday night. What better way to kick off the weekend than relaxing with friends for dinner and drinks, surrounded by world-class art?

In addition to its permanent collection, the Modern is known for hosting eclectic, ever-changing traveling exhibitions. Today, you’ll find the work of Vernon Fisher, one of Texas’s most internationally recognized artists. The exhibition, Vernon Fisher: K-Mart Conceptualism, is a survey of the local artist’s entire career to date, incorporating paintings, sculptures and installations from the late 1970s to the present.

This exhibition runs until early January 2011. Then you’ll be introduced to (or reacquainted with) another contemporary American master. Ed Ruscha: Road Tested explores the artist’s lifelong fascination with cars through paintings, photographs, drawings and the rarely seen film Miracle.

You see, part of the beauty of living at So7 is taking advantage of all of the rich and diverse cultural opportunities surrounding you. Whether it’s spending a morning at the Modern or an evening at the Fort Worth Opera House (Bass Hall), these activities invite you to explore the world around you—a world abundant with truth and beauty.

To learn more about the Modern, including its ongoing series of critically acclaimed films played every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, check out www.themodern.org.

Fortunately, we were wrong.

Our thanks go to Fort Worth Weekly, the smart, straight-talking magazine that named So7 the Best Urban Diggs of 2010 just last week. Once again, we were celebrated for our enviable location and our “neatly kept, oh-so-hip” approach to things.

For the handful of you who don’t know Fort Worth Weekly, here’s a good description of their publication in their own words: “The Weekly provides a vibrant alternative to the city’s often-timid daily, with award-winning and irreverent reporters who keep readers well informed and the powers-that-be worried.”

Keeping readers well informed and being unafraid to speak the truth, huh? Well, let’s see what Fort Worth Weekly had to say about you know who.

According to the publication’s website, So7 was named the Critics’ Choice for Best Urban Digs of 2010, and here’s why: “This neatly kept, oh-so-hip development is a bit pricey but well worth it when you consider that it’s within walking distance of a park, hike-and-bike trails, high-end shops, sports bars, nightclubs, fancy restaurants, a movie tavern, and even a Target superstore.”

What the critics are saying here about real value strikes at the heart of true urban living. With a remarkable location in Fort Worth comes a remarkably distinct way of living. A home at So7 provides you with the freedom to discover all of the benefits of a downtown atmosphere, while experiencing wellness in every sense of the word.

By walking or taking public transportation to your favorite restaurants and retail shops, you are getting exercise, saving money, reducing your carbon footprint and avoiding the unnecessary hassles of parking downtown.

The nearby park and hike-and-bike trails are invaluable, especially when you consider the rate at which Fort Worth is growing. With a protected green space right in the neighborhood, you can enjoy a little fresh air and avoid gym membership fees at the same time.

These are just a few of the benefits from Urban Living on the Park in Fort Worth. To see what the neighborhood is all about, check out the Cultural District and a word from our President Ken Hughes.

For the first time ever, So7 has been included on the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) list of approved condominiums and townhomes projects. This approval is a notable achievement for the downtown Forth Worth urban development because it makes it easier than ever for prospective homebuyers to secure financing.

What’s more, the approval couldn’t have come at a better time. With the full backing of the US government, FHA loans provide most lenders with the peace of mind they need to lend money to individuals who might not otherwise qualify for more conventional mortgages. If you are a young professional or a first-time homebuyer, this is great news.

Here’s why.

With a FHA loan, you don’t have to have a substantial down payment or, in some cases, a down payment at all in order to purchase a home. Furthermore, your credit history may not even come into play. So even if your credit score is less than perfect, you will not be forced into seeking financing from alternative lenders with higher rates and fees.

While other mortgages require capital reserves after closing (two or three months worth of mortgages in your accounts), an FHA loan means that you may be able to get into a So7 condo loft with less cash on-hand.

Over the last six months, we have sold and closed 13 homes, nine of which sold and closed during July and August which have periodically been our slowest time of the year. Listed below are some of the many advantages that borrowers may enjoy from FHA loans:

• Down payments as low as 3.5%, much lower than a conventional mortgage. The entire down payment can be borrowed or even received as a gift from a homebuyer’s relative or close friend, an employer, a charitable organization or a government agency.
• Family members are eligible to co-sign for the loan amount.
• Low monthly payments.
• Low mortgage rates.
• A seller or other third party is also allowed to help pay the buyer’s closing costs.
• FHA loans have no pre-payment penalty.
• FHA guidelines are more flexible than conventional financing.
• FHA loans are assumable as long as new buyer qualifies (e.g., you can pass along your low rate if you decide to move).

The FHA can also help homebuyers finance their closing costs. Sellers can pay up to 6% of the sales price towards closing costs (note: as long as it is negotiated and agreed with the developer in advance).

Although these benefits are geared more toward homebuyers, there are benefits for current homeowners as well. Should you ever decide to sell your home at So7 (why would anyone do such a thing?), you’ll be glad to know that prospective homebuyers can secure financing more easily.

Whether you are already living here or are thinking seriously about purchasing, it’s definitely an exciting time to be at So7. We still stand behind each and every condo loft and townhome we sell. It’s just that now Uncle Sam stands behind them too.

Announcing Doggie Diggs Daycare, a full-service pet care shop featuring daycare, grooming and boarding for dogs that are 30 pounds or lighter. Doggie Diggs is no ordinary pet care shop. That’s because, when you drop your pup off for the day, you can rest assured that he or she will be given the royal treatment.

What do we mean exactly? In addition to loving care from a knowledgeable and professional staff, your pup will enjoy a few doggone good treats like playtime, movies, even Web cams.

The Web cams have been a huge hit because they allow you to check in on your pup throughout the day from a laptop or a smart phone. Your pup can even catch a flick. (Lady in the Tramp is a crowd favorite.) All of these fun little details are designed to reduce the anxiety for both you and your best friend.

Another cool feature of Doggie Diggs is their enrollment process. If you are like most pet owners, you may be concerned about leaving your pup around dogs that are over-aggressive or under-vaccinated.

But at Doggie Diggs all pups have been carefully vetted according to the shop’s health and behavior criteria. That means your dogs can exercise and socialize the day away without you having to worry about their well-being. By the time you return, your pup will be clean, ready and probably a little tired from making so many new friends.

Whether you are going to work, running errands or just spending time with friends, why not give it a try? Doggie Diggs is located at 221 East Broadway in downtown. The shop has easy access to both I-30 and I-35 W, so it couldn’t be more convenient for commuters.

Best of all, if you own at So7, the owner will give you two free days of daycare when you purchase three or more days. Call 817.332.4364 or visit Doggie Diggs Fort Worth for more information.

If you are like most So7 residents, you have been anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the So7 Bistro. Well, the day is quickly approaching. On September 1st, the So7 Bistro officially opens to the public, so we thought we’d write a quick post to whet your appetite.

If you haven’t heard, the So7 Bistro will be a modern restaurant where traditional French cuisine meets the flavors of the American market. Owner Jean Michel Sakouhi has truly outdone himself with the menu, which will feature seasonal dishes with only the freshest ingredients.

We haven’t had a sneak peek of the interiors yet, but it sounds exceptional—casual, contemporary and remarkably chic. With a fine collection of wines, the So7 Bistro will be the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing lunch or a memorable dinner. And who knows? You might even catch brunch on Sundays.

All of these questions and more will be answered soon enough. In the meantime, don’t forget to stop in for lunch or dinner next week when the So7 Bistro officially opens at 2401 West 7th Street.

Feel free to come back and post your review right here on our blog. We’d love to hear your take on Sakouhi’s latest creation, and you might even recommend a dish or two.

Bon appétit!