Reduce Your Stress Level -- Lunch With The Ducks -- May 2nd, 2011  These cute ducks always make me feel happy when I go to feed them.  They are so silly, that sometimes I even laugh out loud at their antics.  This gazebo is in between two of the office buildings that are on this lake.  This brown duck is an unusual sight.  I don't think I've seen many ducks with a brown chest.  These ducks looked cute while they were following each other.   Kind of reminds me of the Abbey Road Cover (with the Beatles).  A good Samaritan feeding the ducks.  The water is actually very low in this lake. I took this picture of a purple gladiola after meeting with a tenant at a rental property to give her the keys to the property.  I love flowers, so when I saw this beauty I stopped the car and got out to ta... 05/02/2011

Great Personalized Mother's Day Gift -- From Chick-fil-A & Plants for All Seasons.  Plants for All Seasons and Chick-fil-A (along with the Cow) will help your little one plant flowers for Mom. Chick-fil-A has been very good at giving back to the community.  They have spirit nights for the neighborhood schools almost every weekday.  For every receipt the school turns in that night, they receive 5% for their school.    This Tuesday Chick-fil-A and Plants for All Seasons are teaming up to provide you with the materials for a special Mother's Day present for your mom.  Plant Flowers For Your Mom -- Tuesday May 3rd, 2011 at Chick-Fil-A -- Jones Rd at Hwy 249.  And, the Cow will be joining in.  Just show up on Tuesday May 3rd from 6pm to 8pm.  Tell them Liz Flint, the Realtor sent you. 05/01/2011

 "The Conspirator" A Movie Review, By Your Houston Real Estate Professional.  This movie, produced and directed by Robert Redford, was an unexpected look at the events surrounding the Lincoln assassination.  The first 15 minutes was a recreation of the events and the balance of the movie was about the court trial of Mary Surratt, played by Robin Wright.  The at first unwilling defense attorney was played by James McAvoy.  James had the most outstanding role in this movie, in my opinion.  To see several utube video clips of the movie "The Conspirator", click on the link, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0968264/. 04/16/2011

 The Movie "Jaws" Free Tuesday 4/19/11 -- Tomball, TX Santikos Theathers believes in giving back to the community.  Every Tuesday night at 7pm they offer a free classic movie.  This coming Tuesday April 19th, the Santikos near me is showing "Jaws".   This Santikos theater is the Silverado 19, located on FM 249 in Tomball.  The address is: 24720 State Highway 249Tomball, TX 77375 I remember the first time I ever saw this Steven Speilberg movie I had to sit in the third row of the theater because I didn't get there early to get a good seat.  If I go this Tuesday I will make sure and not be late so I can get a good seat.  This is an awesome movie to see on the "big screen".  For more information about this Tuesday night movie or the one for next Tuesday night, click on the website, http://... 04/16/2011

Do You Know Someone Who Needs a Rental Property in Magnolia, Pinehurst or Tomball?  With so many people renting these days, I thought this blog might be helpful.  Being prepared with the proper documentation  can mean the difference between getting the property you want, or losing it to someone who has the documents ready to turn in.  Call me or email me and we can get the process started to get you into a rental property that fits your needs.  Items needed to make this a smooth process: Texas Drivers License, Military ID or US Passport W-2 & paycheck stubs for the last two months (or Last Two Years Tax Returns if self employed) A good rental history Fair to good credit score If you have problems with your credit, there are companies to do credit repair.   Also, if you have a pet, you w... 04/07/2011

Tomball Business and Professional Women's 2nd Annual Garden Party and Style Show! Sunday, April 10th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm at 30331 Winfro Drive, Tomball, Texas 77375. Proceeds from this event will help to provide scholarships to local youth, and, new this year, one scholarship will be given to a woman in our community in need of continuing education. Ticket cost is $35.00.  Along with the benefit of the proceeds going to help local scholarships the event itself will be a showcase of current fashions from  local Tomball retailers.  These retailers  include; Dahlia's Boutique, Foxworthy's, Mas Boutique, Branded Western Wear, and GiGi's Baby Boutiques. Entertainment will be provided by the Texas Repratory Theatre Company; and an  intermission show provided by Cindy Jeager Designs, featur... 03/28/2011

White Cane Day -- Give The Gift of Sight -- Donations Being Taken Until 2pm at FM 1774 & Rhett Butler in Magnolia, TX. As you are driving in Magnolia, Texas today, please donate to the Magnolia Lion's Club.  I am taking donations in front of the Century 21 office in Magnolia.  (Magnolia is between Houston, Tomball and the Renaissance festival.) Stop by and say hi, and please donate change, dollar bills or whatever you are able to spare.  The lions club contributes to the Baylor Medical center which supplies corneas for transplantation, and it also helps with lighhouse for the blind and a handicapped kids summer camp in Kerrville, as well as other wonderful causes.   By the way, if you know of anyone looking for a great house in Tomball, I am selling the house above at 1011 Misty Meadow ... 03/26/2011

$$$Save Money On Your Electric Bill, Build GREEN$$$  The weather is starting to heat up.  It is time to start thinking about the Air Conditioning and staying cool.  Are you ready to Go GREEN and save money on your electric bill?  Come visit TexStar Homes and get ready to save big.  We built  a custom home for one of our employees in 2009, and her August 2009 light bill was  $115.  Here are some of the green plus standards we used on her 1 story 2800 sq foot brick house to help her achieve such a low electric bill: Two Speed 15 Seer A/C Fresh Air Return/Equalize Air Ducts Vinyl Windows/Double Pane low E Glass Insulation R-15 Walls, R-38 Flat Ceiling Tyveck Moisture Barrier Tech Shield Roof Decking/Radiant Heat Barrier Ridge-Vent and Continuous Vented Soffit Ceiling Fans in every bedroom ... 03/24/2011

Do You Know Someone Who Needs a Rental Property in Houston or Tomball?  So many people are renting these days, I thought this blog would be helpful.  Being prepared with the proper documentation  can mean the difference between getting the property you want, or losing it someone who has the documents ready to turn in.   Call me or email me and we can get the process started to get you into a rental property that fits your needs.  Items needed to make this a smooth process: Texas Drivers License, Military ID or US Passport W-2 & paycheck stubs for the last two months (or Last Two Years Tax Returns if self employed) A good rental history Fair to good credit score If you have problems with your credit, there are companies to do credit repair.   Also, if you have a pet, you will be required... 03/24/2011

Betty Reinbeck past Executive Director of the Tomball Economic Development was our speaker for this month’s meeting of Tomball Business & Professional Women.  Notice I said “Past director” as we were her last presentation before she retired.  She filled us in on the economic outlook of Tomball for 2011. Tomball economic development corporation is a type B sales tax organization; which means it is funded by sales tax revenue and that is its only funding.  Betty told us for the last 6 months the sales tax revenue has been up which means the economy of Tomball is doing quite well.  This is good news as in 2008 & 2009 the sales tax was down about 4 to 7%. In the last 6 months it has been up 10 to 12% over the previous year.  Economic outlook is extremely good from sales tax and the interest... 03/20/2011

Canyon Gate at Northpointe in Tomball, TX - Market Report   Canyon Gate at Northpointe   Market Report February 28, 2011   Active Listings in Canyon Gate at Northpointe (Always up-to-date)   As of February 28, 2011 . . .    No. of Homes CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET:  24 Homes Price Range                                                    $138,000 to $265,000 Average Days on the Market:   .                 . . .  95 Days Average Price per Sq. Ft.:  $63.05      No. of Homes CURRENTLY IN PENDING: 5 Homes Price Range:     ..............                      $134,900 to $185,900 Average Days on the Market:......             78 Days      No. of Homes SOLD  in 2011 -- (January 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011): 5 Homes Price Range:  ............................................ $140,000 to $229,000 Ave... 03/12/2011

Canyon Gate at Northpointe - 2010 Real Estate Activity   No. of Homes SOLD  in 2010 -- (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010): 61 Homes Price Range:  ............................................ $108,520 to $259,500 Average Days on the Market:  .......             55 Days       No. of Homes SOLD  in January of 2011 -- 3 Homes Price Range:  ............................................ $99,000 to $179,000 Average Days on the Market:  .......             45 Days   The homes that sold in January 2011 were in the lower price range for Canyon Gate at Northpointe, but that doesn't mean prices are dropping - rather, it's just the three homes that happened to have sold in January.  Indications are that 2011 will be a healthy year for real estate in Houston and surrounding areas.       Home Styes... 03/06/2011

  Villages of Northpointe& Villages of Northpointe WestHome Sales and Market ReportFebruary 28, 2011 Active Listings in Villages of Northpointe (Always Up-to-date)  As of February 28, 2011 . . .No. of Homes CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET: 27Price Range:   ..           ..        . .              .           ..                 $122,000 to $299,000Average Days on the Market    .. ..         .  ..                   105Average Price per Sq. Ft.: $74.87  No. of Homes CURRENTLY IN PENDING: .          .7Price Range:   ..           ..        . .              .           ..                 $120,500 to $299,990Average Days on the Market:  ..                  ...    8080Average Price per Sq. Ft:  $67.88  No. of Homes SOLD since January 1, 2011: .. ..   3Price Range:   ..           ..        . .           ... 03/05/2011

  The Tomball Real Estate market had an active February 2011.  We had over 50 Tomball MLS recorded property sales and an average market time of 258 days for those sales with the shortest market time being on single family homes.  For more information please contact your Tomball Realtor. Tomball ACTIVE Property Type # of Active Properties Average Active List Price Average Active  CDOM Single Family 538 $231,332 192 Townhome/Condo 15 $115,981 120 Lots / Land 136 $261,785 491 Multi Family 3 $382,000 146 Homes w/Acreage 29 $826,138 543 Midrise/Highrise 0 0 0         SOLD Property Type # of Sales Average List Price Average Sales Price Average SP/LP% Average CDOM Single Family 56 $176,864 $170,150 96% 151 Townhome/Condo 1 $36,000 $23,000 64% 507 Lots / Land 3 $82,967 $78,333 93% 352 Multi Fa... 03/02/2011

The 6 Biggest Buyer Turn-Offs.  What is stopping your house from being the next one sold?  Here are some great tips and solutions to make your house appealing to buyers. Sellers who lead buyers around the house SOLUTION: Leave the house during the showing. Dirty, crowded and smelly houses. SOLUTION: Make sure your house is in "tip-top" shape. Irrational seller expectations SOLUTION: Get realistic -- view other Actives on the market in your neighborhood. Feeling Misled or important information missing SOLUTION: Be upfront and honest. New, Ugly home improvements SOLUTION: check with your Realtor about home improvements and their payback value. Crazy listing photos or no photos at all. SOLUTION: Check your photos on MLS. To see more of this great post by Tara-Nicholle Nelson, click here fo... 03/01/2011

I was driving in to Tomball today and passed a sign that said "Found Cow". Considering there's a whole pasture of cows next door I'm not sure how you tell one from another but someone has lost a cow. I absolutely love Tomball and where else would you find someone advertising that they had found a cow. The nickname for Tomball is the hometown with a heart and it truly is. The people are incredibly friendly and quite honest as you can tell from the found Cow sign. If you have lost a  cow in Tomball you can  locate your cow off of Hufsmith road not too far from FM 297All kidding aside this is one of the reasons that you might want to consider living in a subdivision even if you live in the City of Tomball. Tomball has light restrictions which do allow cows to live in the city.  Hopefully t... 02/27/2011

"Green" Kitchen Countertops -- Some Eco Friendly Choices From Your Houston Real Estate Professional. There are choices that are cheaper than granite and better for the environment.  Sustainable materials look just as good as the "usual" granite or quartz.  One example is recycled glass in cement countertops.  In terms of what constitutes "green", the countertops feature recycled or sustainable content, low-toxicity binders, eco-friendly maufacturing processes or a combination. And, if you can get a countertop that is produced locally, it saves on fuel consumption.  Durability is the number one consideration, because not having to replace the countertops again is the most green option of all.  Click here for the full article. I also represent a "green" builder.  Let me know if you want a... 02/25/2011

FREE Harry Potter Movie Thursday Feb 24th, 2011 at 8pm at Lone Star College Tomball, Room E100.  Come see the last Harry Potter movie.  This is part 1 of the last Harry Potter movie that will be made. Lone Star College Tomball shows these early movies very frequently.  When I saw the last movie there, they also provided free popcorn and drinks to the movie goers.  I asked a person on the Student Activities Board if they are planning on providing free popcorn and drinks again, but she was unsure. Come join us if you can!   02/21/2011

Beautiful Artwork in An Unusual Medium!  This is called encaustic.  It is a beeswax-based paint that is kept molten on a heated palette.  It is applied to a surface and reheated to fuse the paint into a uniform enamel-like finish. The word encaustic comes from Greek and means to burn in, which referes to the process of fusing the paint. Encaustic has a long history.  It can be polished to a high gloss, it can be modeled, sculpted, textured and combined with collage materials.  It cools immediately so that there is no drying time, yet it can always be reworked.  The painting above reminds me of "A Starry Night" by Van Gogh. The durability of encaustic is due to the fact that beeswax is impervious to moisture.  Therefor it will not deteriorate, yellow or darken. These works of art, and ma... 02/21/2011

Do You Know What Your Credit Score Is?  Here is a Simple Way To Get An Estimate.  Here is a link to a program that asks about 8 questions and can give you an estimate of your current credit score.    Your credit score is very important and can make a difference in how much you pay for interest rates and loan charges.  Sometimes it can even make the difference being able to qualify for a loan for a home or not.   The credit score calculator is only 8 or so questions and takes less than two minutes.    02/20/2011