This weekend will begin a new high school football season. I am particularly looking forward to Friday evening as my step-son plays high school football for Seven Lakes High School here in Katy, TX. We actually live in the Grand lakes subdivision which is part of the Katy school district. Last season Seven Lakes was sadly zero wins and 10 losses. However, last year was their first varsity football season and thay had NO seniors. Their schedule was a total killer with 8 out of the 10 teams they played all reaching the high school playoffs. Friday evening Seven Lakes plays Clements High School (Sugarland School) at Mercer Stadium. It should be a good game even if we lose again. Clements is a 5A team who is picked to win its conference and loaded with excellent players while Seven Lakes is... 08/30/2007

It is that time of year when we send out Kids back to school! For Mona and I this is the first year (as our son Anthony is 5 years old)! I have been getting quite a few questions from new area residents about what to do...especially about how to catch the buses. http://www.katyisd.org/has a bus schedule for each home (go to campuses and click into the bus schedule at the top)...just plug in your address and you will know what bus to attend. In the KISD you can also, regardless of how close you live to a school, have your children catch a bus. We have a 100% bus policy. This means every child has the option of taking the bus to school! So Congratulations...school is here and it is time for YOUR BREAK!     08/22/2007

      This list from the Fort Bend Star Newspaper is the ratings of all Katy ISD schools after the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) testing.  The TAKS test is an assessment of students testing scores in grades 3 - 11 as well as the individual student group.  The groups consist of:African-AmericanHispanicWhiteeconomically disadvantagedThe TEA raised the standard for Recognized and Academically Acceptable ratings by five percent this past testing period and will do so again in 2008-09. The higher requirement levels coupled with the growth in the district student population presents a challenge to the Katy Independent School District.David Slavin, ABR www.Fortbendhomefinder.com  www.SellMyHouseDave.com 08/20/2007

Beatiful Katy What can I say about it?  It's in wonderful proximity to Houston - in some areas sharing a dividing line and in other areas sharing the I-10, the Westpark Tollway or Westheimer.  Whatever way you look at the connection, it is a beautiful marriage of convenience.  Houston offering everything big, flashy and required in an urban city and Katy offering a wonderful respite from the daily grind of an urban city.  Katy is what I refer to as my own, personal Universal back lot.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The one with the perfect neighborhoods and wonderfully manicured lawns, the one where the kid has on a baseball cap and rides his bike around the neighborhood with his dog and 8 other kids in the neighborhood.  Until I saw it, I didn't believe how neat and clean a neig... 08/18/2007

With Hurricane Dean bearing down on the Texas coast I thought it might be time to talk about flood control and the Katy area. In the Katy area, a considerable amount of time and money has been spent on area flood control. Our Local MUDs (Municipal Utility District) and WCIDs (Water Control) do a good job of keeping Katy dry during even the worst storms. When Mona and I chose the Katy area over the many other fine areas surrounding Houston Metro, we took the areas ability to withstand a storm into our decision making process (along with great schools, hospitals, and shopping). When you watch the news in your town and see the pictures of heavy flooding in the Houston area...and in fact through out Texas, know that we have not had any flooding issues to speak of here. We just went through ... 08/18/2007

We specialize in Katy and West Houston. We get many calls and e-mails asking us to represent clients who want to purchase a home in the Woodlands, or Downtown, or Kingwood, or....well you get the idea. We feel that we are the AREA EXPERTS for KATY. We know what is happening, what will happen, and even what might happen in our area. Many clients moving to the area do not know that the Houston metro area has virtually no zoning! It is very important to know what the potential for a vacant piece of property can be. Has that land been bought...and who owns it. We make it our job to know what is happening and why! It would be difficult to know this type of information for every area in Houston. One of the reasons most people buy a home in one of our many fine subdivisions is because subdivis... 08/03/2007

Liz Carter and Sandie Acord recently back from attending the most important Real Estate training event that has ever been put on in North America     Las Vegas and the MGM Grand were the setting this year for Mike Ferry's annual Superstar Retreat from July 16th-July 20th.  The event was attended by over 5,000 agents out of the 2,000,000 in the US to learn the latest techniques to get homes sold, and the latest techniques for helping their clients negotiate at the right prices with buyers.  The average production for this elite group sells over 75 homes a year, compared to the average Real Estate agent, which only sells 2-3 homes a year per agent.  Mike Ferry has been the top Real Estate training and coach for 32 years, and was ranked with the President, Allen Greenspan, and Congress as ... 07/27/2007

La Madeleine's, the French countryside restaurant, is opening in Katy before the holiday season. It will be located in The Grand Shopping Center on Grand Parkway (99) and I-10. La Madeleine's is very popular at the Town and Country Mall and will be a welcome addition in Katy. The Grand also includes a free standing JC Penny, and will be joined in 2009 by a Dillard's and Macy's. A Barns and Noble Bookstore is also planned. This outdoor styled center will  become the third area mall in Katy. 07/21/2007

We receive quite a few questions about MUDs. We figured it was time to share some of our knowledge on the subject so that people who are considering a move to the Houston or Katy area will have a better understanding.  A municipal Utility District (MUD) is a political subdivision of the State of Texas authorized by the Texas Water Code (TWC) to provide water, sewage, drainage, and other services within the MUD boundaries. The publicly elected Board of Directors manages and controls all of the affairs of the MUD subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Water Commission. The board establishes policies in the interest of its residents and utility customers. A MUD may adopt and enforce all necessary charges, fees, and taxes in order to provide district facilities and service. Some... 07/14/2007

Benefits of New HomesEverything in the house is newNeighborhood is newStreet Construction is newBuilder pricing and incentivesPrice appreciation (if you buy at the right time)Benefits of Pre-Owned HomesEstablished neighborhoodTrees are maturedKinks worked out from possible builder problemsSchools establishedCharacterThere are many more benefits for each.  It is really up to each buyer's preference and desires.  Some people want mature trees and an established neighborhood and others would rather start from scratch.  If you don't mind a new neighborhood and are willing to stay for at least three years then new would be the way to go.  If not then buy from the original homeowner and you'll be able to benefit by getting a newer pre-owned house.  There are so many ways of looking at it.  Yo... 07/06/2007

Clients often ask us why Houston (and most of the surrounding areas) does not have zoning. Zoning is when a community decides what and where different types of real estate can exist. In most regions of the country we have defined areas for commercial real estate, residential real estate, retail, etc... In the Houston metro area we allow the market to determine what and where any project can exist. This can cause many problems for home owners. The lack of zoning does have an upside...the rise of subdivisions and master planned communities. Master planned communities plan everything from what type of residential and commercial real estate can exist, but also what it will look like and how large it can get. When you move into a home in a master planned community you are likely to know what... 06/16/2007

We receive many questions, often from relocation buyers from other areas of the U.S. or around the world about  new construction homes. One of the main questions is...Why do I need representation when purchasing new construction?  We understand why people ask this question. They are wondering what value a quality realtor will have during the new home purchasing process. Building a new home, or buying a new construction inventory home (a new construction home that is at or near completion) can be very rewarding...but for anyone who has ever gone through the process...very confusing and frustrating. We understand that clients do not buy or build homes everyday and do not generally understand the changes in process and building codes that the new construction builder will follow. Buyers te... 06/09/2007

We receive quite a few questions about our competition and other agents selling in the Katy area (and for that mater around the City of Houston). The questions come to us about services offered and what we can do for them that another agent can not...or will not do. We know that quite a few agents advertise FULL SERVICE FOR LESS! It is difficult to tell what they mean by FULL SERVICE but sometimes the name will tell you that you are receiving limited services. If a firm name is asking the owner to sell the home (sale BY OWNER) or that it will ASSIST the owner, or they will HELP the owner sell...you should have a good idea about how much services you will receive.   We feel strongly that clients receive the largest bottom line when they appeal to all buyers...from all the sources availab... 05/26/2007

Cinco Ranch is a master planned community with new homes and real estate in Katy, Texas. A single-family residential/commercial master-planned community, encompassing 5,400 acres and now is home to approximately 23,000 people. Quick facts about Cinco Ranch A 5400-acre master planned west Houston community in Katy offers an abundance of amenities, a championship golf course, a wooded Bayou Nature Trails, The Beach Club, The Water Park and numerous lakes, parks and pocket parks Hundreds of acres devoted to recreational amenities including seven neighborhood centers offering swimming, tennis, basketball, and sports fields All neighborhoods and amenities are connected by greenbelt trails, which are popular spots for jogging, biking and roller blading Beach club amenities include a half-acre... 05/24/2007

We are very proud to announce that our Katy Sunshine Fest to help the Sunshine Kids...Prudential Gary Greene Realtors charity of choice...raised $10,000 to help children with cancer. The event was a great success with over 500 invited guests enjoying the live music, food, and spirits! We wanted to put in some pictures from the event and let everyone know we are already planning for next year! 05/14/2007

 A Coach!If Tiger Woods, the best golfer in the world can remove his EGO and hire a coach, why not join him?  I hired my real estate trainer and coach 16 years ago.  After selling real estate in Houston, Katy, and Sugar Land Texas for 15+ years and selling 50-75 homes a year, thank God I found MFO.  Now I sell over 200 homes a year, work less, and give better service to my clients who hire me.  I was recently at a real estate Top Producer seminar in CA and they ask me to be a table speaker on what I had learned from coaching.  I wrote 31/2 pages of my "Top Ten" ideas. I believe in sharing and will gladly help any Realtor who wants to grow, and learn how to give better service, and in turn make more money in less time.  Of course I would not be doing my job if I did not remind you to sen... 04/25/2007

 With over a dozen builders to choose from, Cinco Ranch offers new home buyers a wide variety of housing styles and options. In addition to top-notch housing, Cinco Ranch offers new homebuyers one of the strongest amenity packages in the city. A 7,400-acre master development plan devotes hundreds of acres to recreation Most of all, the residents think it's the community spirit that is the Cinco Ranch Advantage  Amenities:The Beach Club and Swim Lagoon is a one-of-a-kind recreational facility that offers a half-acre swim lagoon with white sandy beach surrounding it. Also available is the highly acclaimed Cinco Ranch Golf Club, pools, tennis, volleyball, basketball, hike and bike trails, parks, picnic areas, and a 2.5 mile bayou trail. School Zoning:Cinco Ranch is located in the Katy Inde... 04/19/2007

This is Katy's New Town Square.  A nice addition to provie up scale retail and office space for those residents of the newer sections of Katy who don't want to drive 20 minnutes from home.  For More information on La Centerra,  Click Here;.For the latest information on Katy Click Here.How much are homes for sale in Cinco Ranch?  Click Here 04/13/2007

Selling your home in Cinco Ranch?  What are the current market trends and house values in Katy, Texas?   Cinco Ranch is a master-planned community located in Katy, Texas.Cinco Ranch- Katy, Texas 2007 First Quarter Market Summary As of 04/12/2007121 Homes sold in Cinco Ranch in 2007.High Sales Price   1,065,340High Price per Square Foot  181.11Low Sales Price 161,100Low Dollar per Square Foot  60.49All of the homes were built after 2000.What is your Cinco Ranch home worth?  Visit- http://www.sugarlandrelocation.com/Active Homes on the market in Cinco Ranch.  04/12/2007

Having been a Realtor in the greater Houston Texas area since 1976, I am still amazed at how affordable it is to live in our area of the US.  We offer homes for sale that in most parts of the country seem unbelievable, and I am always ask why?  Part of the reason is the amount of land that we have to build on and develop, the cost of labor, and economic factors are the three top reasons.  The average cost of a home is only around $200,000 and that buys you a very nice home in great school districts, and great neighborhoods with outstanding amenities.  One of the top master planed communities on the west side of town in Katy Texas is Cinco Ranch.  Cinco Ranch has several large stock lakes with 11+ pound bass,catfish, perch, etc. + free sail boats, a water park, seven pools, several tenni... 04/11/2007