He was talking so fast I could barely understand what he was saying .. but heard him yell..."I got me a throw-down listing!" and "Judith...how fast can you get over here??!!!"And I'm thinking to myself .. "What the heck is a throw-down listing?"  I finally got him calmed down and this is how the story unfolded ..... Three weeks ago I had created SMARTePLAN marketing materials for a $1.2 M home for him -- and it was already  OPTION PENDING.   What happened is two blocks down and one block over was a man getting ready to sell his home.  Part of this home sellers "getting ready".... means he was up on our MLS sneaky-peeking at all the current homes for sale ... in his neighborhood .. and around "his" price range .. and he saw THAT home in the MLS with the SMARTePLAN. So he called Ben Fisch... 10/06/2015

SMARTePLANS, The Marketing System for Luxury Real Estate website  has won the 2015 WebAward competition in the real estate category.  Based in Houston, Texas SMARTePLANS utilizes its patented tools and techniques to market luxury real estate.  Demonstrations of the various types of SMARTePLANS, tools and techniques are  displayed on the website ---  as well as information for Home Sellers, Agents, Brokers, Builders and Investors. SMARTePLANS innovative marketing materials  includes interactive floor plans, foreign language floor plans and amenities text, even floor plans with furniture-moving capabilities  and has successfully marketed luxury properties for over 12 years -- selling properties faster and for a better price than the MLS average each year.  Last year 55% of SMARTePLAN prop... 09/23/2015

The Village of Grogan's Mill ~ The Woodlands, TXFind Grogans Mill Real Estate and Grogans Mill Homes For Sale.  This is a lovely village in The Woodlands and is the original area that gave birth to The Woodlands.  Located closest to I-45, this village is highly desired because of its proximity to shopping, the freeways, the airport and quick access into downtown Houston.Grogans Mill Real Estate Overview: Currently there are 4 homes for sale in Grogans Mill. The average price of the homes for sale in Grogans Mill is $379,475. The average square feet of the homes in Grogans Mill is 2,901 sqft. There are currently 2 homes for lease in Grogans Mill subdivision. The average rent in Grogans Mill is $3,350. Recently listed properties in Grogan's Mill:  Address County Property Type Price Bed/Ba... 09/09/2015

Gerald D. Irons Sr. Golf Classic ~ The Woodlands ~ 20152015 FCA Coaches Ministry Promo from FCA on Vimeo.Monday, September 21, 2015 is the date for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes North Houston fundraiser.  This tournament has been named after one of our community leaders, Mr. Gerald Irons, Sr. Mr. Irons was an NFL player for 10 seasons.  He has served on our school board for 22 years and continues to serve our community today. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a wonderful non-profit organization whose mission it is to support our local coaches and athletes in their Christian walk.  FCA as it is known has been around  since 1954 and has supported millions of athletes.  Training up strong leaders in their faith in order to serve their communities is their main focus. The tourn... 09/09/2015

Labor Day Weekend in The Woodlands ~ 2015If you are in The Woodlands for the Labor Day weekend this year, there are a lot of fun activities to keep you busy!  If you live here, a staycation isn't a bad thing.  If you are visiting, get ready to explore and have some fun.  The Woodlands has something for everyone!      Paddle the Lake - Head to the boat docks and rent a kayak to enjoy the views of Lake Woodlands.  They have all of the gear, all you need to do is show up!      Shop - Till you drop for sure!  From Market Street, The Woodlands Mall and a variety of specialty boutiques around the area, you will find a treasure or two for sure!      Movies - Check out the latest flix at either Tinseltown or Market Street.      Golf - Did you know that there are SEVEN golf courses in The Woodla... 09/04/2015

Conventional 30 year Mortgage: 4.125%Credit score:740LTV:80%Loan Amount:$200kAPR: 4.32%FHA 30 year: 4%Credit Score:740LTV:96.5%loan amount:$200kAPR:5.02%Conventional 15 year:3.375%Credit score:740LTV:80%Loan Amount:$200kAPR:3.52% Rates are Subject to ChangeCall me today if you are thinking of refinancing or buying a home, for the best mortgage rate possible. 09/02/2015

Levure Bakery ~ The Woodlands, TXIf you have yet to visit this fantastic new French bakery, stop and get over to Levure Bakery!  Last Sunday we enjoyed brunch and were blown away by the friendly staff, the ambiance and of course the food! Every detail of this place has been meticulously thought out! The moment we walked in we were greeted by a friendly staff member and were taken care of exceptionally well throughout. The Sunday Brunch menu was spectacular. I enjoyed the delectable crab and goat cheese quiche and then topped off the meal with a delicate and delicious chocolate croissant. Oh my! I cannot wait to visit Levure again!  I most definitely will be back. This is a wonderful choice to enjoy breakfast or lunch.  The bakery is located in the new Village of Creekside shopping cente... 08/25/2015

In The Woodlands Real Estate Activity July 2015, we discussed the overall average activity of all list price ranges combined. Now, let’s look at the performance of The Woodlands TX real estate market above and below the first six months 2015 average list price of $557,147. For simplicity, we will use $500,000 as the average for our activity comparisons. This chart indicates we have more homes for sale in The Woodlands TX priced above $500,000. The first pie chart provides a active listing breakdown by list price range. The second pie chart represents new listings entering the market during the month of June 2015. Now, let's look a the written contracts chart to see where the sales activity is happening above and below the six-month average.  It is obvious the buyer activity is below the... 07/31/2015

After several years of research, planning, and focus groups, The Woodlands Development Company announced the first of six condominium projects, The Woodlands TX Treviso at Waterway Square. To secure financing for a condominium project, at least 50% of the unit must be pre-sold. On the evening of the presentation, there were 40 reservations for units plus reservations were made for both penthouse units. Sounds like the minimum requirement for the lenders will be easily achieved. Treviso will be a contemporary design featuring amenities that include Miele appliances and Italian Aster Cucine cabinetry in the kitchens. Originally 23 floors, the project is now 24 floors. Each floor will consist of one each of the following units: 1 bedroom / 1.5 baths / study in the northeast corner (floors... 07/29/2015

The Woodlands real estate inventory of listings in July 2015 is up 48% compared to same period last year. Observation: possible mortgage rate increases in 2016 have the attention of local move-larger and move-smaller sellers . June 2015 written contracts in The Woodlands are down 13% from same period last year. Observation: effect of after-school vacations.  Months of inventory is defined by the National Association of Realtors as current inventory divided by the average number of monthly sales for the previous 12 months. An inventory above six is defined as a buyer’s market; a number below 6 is defined as a seller’s market. Six months is defined as a balanced market. The Woodlands July 2015 real estate months of inventory is 4.4 months. Observation: a mixed market.  Days on market is ... 07/27/2015

Live 2 Lead ~ Coming to The Woodlands ~ Oct. 23, 2015!It is with great excitement that the John Maxwell LIVE 2 LEAD Conference is coming to The Woodlands, Texas!  This half-day conference will be packed with so much information and inspiration!  Come and hear some of the most dynamic leaders in the country share their leadership insight! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015THE WOODLANDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ~ WESLEY HALL7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. ~  Registration/Check-in ~ Continental Breakfast8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ~ Broadcast Event12 p.m. - 1 p.m. ~ Leadership Panel & Round table Discussions2:30 p.m. ~ Dismissal Come by yourself or bring your office and colleagues!  This will be a wonderful way to network, be inspired and to take home some valuable leadership inspiration!  Truly a great way to end ... 07/23/2015

July 4th Best Places to Watch Fireworks in the WoodlandsSaturday, July 4th is going to be a busy day in The Woodlands!  There are many exciting activities going on that you won't want to miss!  Check out the links below for information on what is going on! RED HOT & BLUE FESTIVALFree and open to the public!  Face painting, performers, hot dog & watermelon eating contests for the kids, live music, fireworks and tons more! 4th of JULY PARADEA great community parade that begins at 9 a.m. at the corner of Grogan's Mill and Lake Woodlands.  Don't miss this event! CONCERT IN THE PARKLive music at Waterway Square beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Free event! SPLASH DAYAll of the community pools in The Woodlands will offer FREE swimming to all residents on July 4th from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.! FIREWORKS EXTRAV... 06/26/2015

Live 2 Lead 2015 Event ~ The Woodlands, TX  I am super excited to announce the John Maxwell half day event called Live 2 Lead!   The Event will be held in The Woodlands on Friday, October 23, 2015.  This excellent leadership event will run from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m.  This is the first time this event will be held here in The Woodlands. Most likely we will be offering an afternoon Round Table Leadership session with a special guest host that will be announced in the near future.  The exact location is currently being determined and we will also announce this as well as soon as we can.  My good friend and colleague Mr. Barry Blanton of Blanton Advisors will be co-hosting the event with me. Barry is a well-known leader in our community and will be ... 06/11/2015

Summer Activities in The Woodlands It is summer time in The Woodlands, Texas and there are boo koos of things to do during our hot, summer months!  No need to ever be bored when there are so many wonderful venues and activities to keep everyone interested.  Take a look at some of the fun things to keep you busy this summer!  Local swimming pools!  There are 14 community pools here! Day camps.  From every sport and activity imaginable, there is a camp for you! Hike and bike! With nearly 200 miles of trails, you can enjoy a day of exercise & get to any part of The Woodlands! Shopping!  We do love our shopping venues here in The Woodlands. Grab a good summer read from one of our local libraries. Head out to the Children's Museum for a really fun experience! Stroll down the Waterway and enj... 06/04/2015

This Weekend’s Events in The Woodlands – May 29th- 31stThere’s always something fun to do in The Woodlands, and this weekend is no exception!The Houston Symphony is performing a tribute to The Music of Led Zeppelin at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on May 29th beginning at 8 PM. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands, TX. This address is in the zip code area of 77380. Standard admission tickets are $27.67. Admission and parking tickets may be purchased online. The gates open an hour before the show begins. Seating on the lawn and mezzanine are free.Led Zeppelin was formed in London, England in 1968. This rock band consisted of members Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, and John Bonham. This well-known band is considered on... 05/28/2015

Joel Deretchin Elementary School | Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for SaleDeretchin Elementary School is located at 11000 Merit Oaks Drive in The Woodlands. It’s in the 77382 zip code area. They can be reached by phone at 832-592-8700. This school is part of the Conroe Independent School District. They enroll students in grades K-6. The school mascot is the Dragon. The school colors are blue, silver, white, and red.Deretchin Elementary School was established in 2005 and named in honor of Joel L. Deretchin, a community leader. The school enrolls approximately 1,142 students. The school has one principal and two assistant principals. Their motto is Building a Solid Foundation for a Strong Future.Schools that are feeders of Deretchin Elementary School are McCullough Junior High, TWHS- 9th Gr... 05/28/2015

Coulson Tough Elementary School | Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for SaleTough Elementary School is located at 11660 Cranebrook Drive in The Woodlands. It’s in the 77382 zip code area. They can be reached by phone at 281-465-5900. This school is part of the Conroe Independent School District. They enroll students in grades K-6. The school mascot is The Titans. The school colors are Gordon plaid.Tough Elementary School was established in 2002 and named in honor of Coulson Tough, a former CISD Board of Trustees President. The school enrolls approximately 1,050 students. The school has one principal and two assistant principals. Their motto is Respectful, Responsible, Remarkable.Schools that are feeders of Tough Elementary School are McCullough Junior High, TWHS- 9th Grade Campus, and The Wo... 05/28/2015

Powell Elementary School | Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for SalePowell Elementary School is located at 7332 Cochran's Crossing in The Woodlands. It’s in the 77381 zip code area. They can be reached by phone at 936-709-1700. This school is part of the Conroe Independent School District. They enroll students in grades K-4. The school mascot is the Panther. The school colors are purple and white.Powell Elementary School was established in 1994 and named in honor of General Colin L. Powell. The school enrolls approximately 800 students. The school has one principal and one assistant principal. Their motto is Learners Today... Leaders Tomorrow.Schools that are feeders of Powell Elementary School are Collins Intermediate School, Mitchell Intermediate School, Knox Junior High School, McCulloug... 05/28/2015

Summer Activities in The Woodlands – Summer Camp Guide 2015Thoughts of summer fill the minds of children everywhere. Summer vacations and school breaks have them dreaming of sleeping late and spending time by the pool. While many children will enjoy their first few days of freedom from schedules, it won’t be long before the “I’m Bored” declarations begin. There are many summer activities in The Woodlands for children of all ages. Check out this summer camp guide to choose just the right ones for the children in your family.Need help with selling your home or buying a home in The Woodlands? Give The Rock Star Group a call at 281-960-1900. Looking to save some time? Get listings straight to your email inbox for free!Science & TechnologyThe Wonders of The Woodlands Science Camp is located ... 05/18/2015

Best Restaurants in the Woodlands for BurgersThoughts of summer conjure images of juicy hamburgers with melting cheese and fresh toppings. There’s nothing like the smell of a burger that’s just coming off the grill. What if you don’t have time to fire up the grill? Have no fear! We’ve located the best restaurants in The Woodlands for burgers.Hubbell & Hudson KitchenHubbell & Hudson Kitchen is located at 4526 Research Forest Drive in The Woodlands, TX. This address is in the 77381 zip code area. They can be reached by phone at 281-203-5650. They are open Monday – Thursday from 7 AM – 10 PM, Friday – Saturday from 7 AM – 11 PM, and Sunday from 7 AM – 9 PM. Oak grilled hamburgers you’ll find here include Classic Burger, Cowboy Burger, Black & Blue Burger, and Truffle & Brie Burger. Looking... 05/11/2015