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Exploring Cypress-Bridgeland Master Planned Community

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Growing up North, I’ve always been fond of residential suburbia, which greatly defers from subdivision living encountered upon moving to newer and expanding locations, such as, Houston. However, the growing trend in housing is “master planned communities”, which according to Chris Fiscelli writing in Reason Public Policy Institute, are “suburbia’s response to the boring, cookie-cutter, detached globs of housing that still make up much of America’s suburban nation”. The distinguishing markers of a master planned community are as follows; golf courses, expansive parks with bike paths and jogging trails, and even community clubhouses with recreational facilities, such as, pools and spas. So it seems that just as Americans are demanding more amenities and luxuries in their everyday products i.e.; cars, cell phones, we are now requiring our neighborhoods to supply an abundance of recreational amenities from which to choose but how do you know which community works best for you and your family?

Master Planned Communities: Cypress-Bridgeland

Bridgeland is an 11,400 acre master-planned community in northwest Houston, which includes 3,000 acres of open space. Bridgeland’s appeal lies in its fusion of outdoor amenities and its award winning schools in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Offering 60 miles of interconnecting trails, Bridgeland connects community residents from border to border. Breathtaking views, courtesy of over 900 acres of Bridgeland lakes and waterways along with vast outdoor space won’t be diminished by unsightly power lines because Bridgeland has buried all underground power lines.  Most appealing to the environmentally friendly residents is Bridgeland’s self-sustaining irrigation; it is the first community in Houston to embrace the ‘Purple Pipe’ system, which uses recycled water from Bridgeland lakes to irrigate all common areas. Bridgeland offers a variety of housing options with prices ranging from the $160s to custom home designs over $1 million. These are just some of the qualities that have earned Bridgeland the title of #1 master-planned community in the nation by the National Association of Home Builders.

Contact  Bonny Roman @ 832-878-7713 to find your Bridgeland home.

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Social Media Is The Next Houston Real Estate Leap

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Just recently, Ron Paul, the former 2008 Presidential candidate, put his home up for sale on Facebook. Though he lives in Lake Jackson, a far reaching suburb of Houston, he is very smart in doing this since his popularity on not only Facebook, but on Twitter as well will have over three hundred thousand friends, fans, and followers seeing his home spun real estate listing online. Social media is of course a popularity contest, and the more people that like you online the more of audience you will have to sell not only Houston real estate, but also pretty much anything you want to endorse with your accounts online.

The numbers are everything on the Internet, for example, Lady Gaga has over nine million followers in Twitter, and Obama only has seven million. They would both be great real estate agents with a following like that, but the Lady is going to sell the house first. Realtors have to learn, and embrace the online social scene in order for it to work. There has to be a healthy balance of online friends, real life acquaintances, clients, and prospective clients. If an agent just gets online and starts friending or following anyone they can find then they are doomed, as these are not prospective or future buyers of homes in Houston.

If a person sells luxury homes in The Woodlands or Kingwood, then they would want to search for top paid professionals in the Houston area. Finding all the doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, and other professionals would be a great start. Then when that agent tweets, or makes an update on their wall the information will go out to more likely candidates. Friending someone in India is not going to help the cause, but putting your social information in the footer of all emails, and on printed business material will help them realize more followers on many platforms.

Be sure and to disseminate helpful information, as well as home listings in your area, this will help gain the trust of people who are watching you online. If you run a blog on a real estate website post your most current helpful entry on all media outlets, this is passively keep the agents name in front all that need to see it, and through days, months, weeks, or even years of putting their name out there, the leads will come in on a regular basis.

You can take a quick view at our Social Media Profiles @ VIP Realty’s Facebook & VIP Realty’s Twitter page.

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Sugarland New Home Builders

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Sugar Land is a municipality located in eastern Fort Bend County, some 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Repeatedly named as one of the best places to live in the United States by Forbes Magazine and CNN, Sugar Land is a fast growing increasingly popular city with a large number of master-planned communities, and a current mecca for new home builders.

Finding a new home through your real estate agent

Did you know that you can use your real estate agent to help you find a new home? Most people assume that realtors are only useful in finding resale’s, but a knowledgeable realtor has the resources and experience that can make finding your new home quicker and easier.

First of all, your realtor can be an excellent resource for finding builders with the best reputation for quality construction. From among these builders your agent can isolate the particular homes that would meet your lifestyle and budgetary requirements.

Your agent is in a better position then you to find out facts and figures relating to a particular builders inventory. The knowledge of how long the builder has been trying to sell a particular property can give you negotiating power you might not have known you had.

Another excellent negotiating tool your realtor can give you is the knowledge of what competitive builders are offering in the way of price and/or incentives.

So, if you are investigating the possibility of buying a new home from a Sugarland builder, or in any other area, be sure to consult with a trusted realtor before you get started.

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2011 Foreclosure Market in Houston

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

This past February has shown a three percent overall increase in statewide Texas foreclosures, with 2,755 additional properties entering foreclosure in Harris County which posted the highest number of filings in the state.

With unemployment figures at over eight percent, Texas remains one of the worst affected states in foreclosure activity. Despite this fact, the median price of Houston resale homes not in foreclosure rose to $81,875, an increase of 2.3% compared to the previous quarter.

Should You Buy A Foreclosure Property?

First, do your homework. Some properties are for seasoned investors only, but buying any foreclosure or negotiating with a buyer on a pre-foreclosure requires some knowledge of this unique market, as well as negotiating skills.

A Realtor with expertise in the foreclosure marketplace is your best bet in having someone on your team who can direct you to the property that best fits your needs and circumstances. Furthermore, your Realtor can be an invaluable advisor, helping you to negotiate a fair purchase price with the property owner, bank or lending agency.

Don’t assume that all foreclosures are real bargains. Some properties may need extensive repair, or are located in less than desirable neighborhoods, and others may have title issues.

Without the guidance of your Realtor you could become involved in a bidding war with other potential buyers on a “short Sale” property, a bank-owned property that the lender was supposedly willing to sell at less than the remaining loan balance, but is really looking for the buyer who will outbid the competition.

Generally speaking, there are many opportunities to buy foreclosed property at less than market value, but there are many pitfalls to this type of purchase as well. So, go ahead and look for a foreclosed property that will meet your needs and requirements, but proceed with caution

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Medical Center Real Estate On The Rise

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

For the fifty to sixty thousand employees that work in Houston’s Medical Center, it will become much more difficult to find affordable real estate, and apartments in the near future. This is not only from new commercial construction, which will increase the number of employees needed, but the lack of development in the Houston apartment industry. This will cause many new employees to seek housing to purchase or lease much further away in adjacent Brazoria county and other Houston suburbs.

Currently apartment communities have been slowly raising their prices for monthly rentals up to forty percent of what they were charging two years ago. This is in reaction to their units being at or over the ninety percent capacity mark. This phenomenon has been plaguing many cities in the United States recently, since the home mortgage fall out that occurred from 2007 through 2010. Ironically, those that cannot be approved for a home mortgage any longer will have just as much trouble in being accepted for a lease on a home or apartment as property owners have upped their minimum requirements on leasing.

Fortunately, there is a high turn over on real estate in the Medical Center area, that includes condominiums, town homes, single-family dwellings, and apartments because many of these renters are only in Houston to perform the required residencies in their chosen field of healthcare. They then move on to various locations all over the U.S. once their training is completed. This creates a niche industry in real estate much like in areas where college housing is needed such as the Bryan College Station Texas area that caters to Texas A&M.

As the prices for square footage rise, the need for roommates, or even in some cases having two families live in one rental home may be necessary to pay for the convenience of living in the Medical Center itself. This is a very common scenario in California currently as the cost to live in that state makes it impossible for the average head of household to afford monthly mortgage or rent payments.

There are a number of health professionals that do not mind the long commutes, and will choose to live in areas as far away as Katy, and The Woodlands. This makes for a lengthy stop and go drive in to work every morning, which can take over one hour in congested traffic. Nevertheless, for the doctors and nurses in training who work for periods of twenty four to seventy two hours at a time, having a home in close proximity to work is almost dictated, as their discretionary time really does not exist.

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Memorial Real Estate Still Going Strong And Growing

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Many local celebrities have lived in the Memorial area of Houston over the last five decades of it’s existence, included is Michael Dell who attended Memorial High School, and then went on to conquer the personal and business computer industry in Austin. This long narrow parcel of land starts near the 610 Loop and travels out toward state highway six going east. The only real estate downturn Memorial has experienced was in the late 1980s when they were having wholesale auctions of Harris County homes by the hundreds every week, due to foreclosures. This was a reaction the oil industry down turn that cost tens of thousands their jobs.

The current long running average asking price for a home in the Memorial market is one million dollars, and that includes the other independent villages that are within Memorial’s boundary lines. Hidden in the forest behind sprawling urban retail along the I-10 frontage roads you will find the other villages located in serene natural settings that give the appearance of being no where near a huge metropolitan city. They all are independent of the services of Houston, and elect their own mayors, and council members, plus each village is equipment with their own law enforcement, and fire departments.

The average home costs dipped a little in recent years but have now surpassed the asking prices of 2008, and are still heading north. There is a new term to describe areas of town like this and they are now being titled “edge cities”, this also includes The Medical Center and The Galleria as well. The expansion of the hospital district at the Memorial Herman complex on the Katy Freeway, and the revitalization of the Memorial City Mall, and Town and Country Mall have created a new economic profit center for local, and national chain stores. This also increases the tax base for Harris County, and the local municipalities that support this real estate.

It’s central location at the Beltway 8, and I-10 draws in crowds for upscale shopping, and dining from the Katy, Cypress, Mission Bend, Pecan Grove, and Meadow place suburbs. The location for these outlying areas is closer than The Galleria, and offers the same luxuries.

When touring Memorial for your next home take the time to look at the renovated custom homes from the sixties and seventies, as there are some very unique yet exquisite architectural offerings to be purchased. There are also many new homes, as home developers will come in and tear down older homes to create Tuscan style custom villas, and small estates for the corporate royalty that can afford such quarters.

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From Dilapidation To Luxury Homes Bellaire Is Coming Back

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Back in the 1980s, touring the Bellaire neighborhoods made for a mix of well-kept post World War II FHA homes, and run down rental houses that were ready for the bulldozer to put them to rest. This little city is an island within the metropolitan confines of Houston, and has been so since early 1900s, but it’s own local government had kept a authoritarian rein on development which prevented the area from improving with the times.

Fortunately in the early nineties home developers were let of their tight leashes, and soon new custom luxury homes were being built for the upper middle class of Houston. This soon attracted people that had been looking to live in the prestigious West University area, but could either afford, or find a home they wanted to buy.

Prices in the beginning for the new homes on re-purposed land in Bellaire were quite reasonable compared to it’s bordering communities, but over the last twenty years home prices have come up to the same levels as the rest. Doing a cursory search for real estate currently on the market reveals that their are a dozen single family houses that are priced over the one million dollar mark, which a far cry from the dilapidated rental quarters that stood on the very same spot back in the late 80s.

People new to the area always are in a quandary about why there would be a separate city within the Houston Metro boundaries, and the truth is that when Bellaire, Texas was developed it was quite a distance from the limits of the Bayou City, in fact miles. Originally, Bellaire was a thousand acre ranch that was eventually broken up into smaller farms, and at the center of this agricultural community, there was acreage reserved where a small village was erected for local business trade for the farmers. In nineteen hundred and eighteen, that village became a city of her own, and no longer just an incorporated area in the county.

Having their own police and fire departments makes for a much safer area to live, as they do not have to depend on the services of Houston’s civil services. The reaction times to 911 calls are much quicker, and the Bellaire Police department has always had a reputation for almost being over vigilant about the safety and security of it’s residents. However, even with high crime rates statistics being not far away in adjacent areas Bellaire takes care of their own, and keeps life to a dull roar amongst the fourth largest city in the United States.

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Exploring the Districts of Downtown Houston

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Downtown Houston living may be, perhaps, one of a kind, due to the many districts located within the downtown area. If you’re imagining downtown Houston as just one, large urban setting, think again: downtown Houston living can be virtually anything you want it to be, thanks to the unique and interesting districts found here.

From the Warehouse District, where you can expect to see a live concert during any warm, summer weekend, to the Ballpark District, where you can take in a ball game and visit a neighborhood pub, life in downtown Houston is exciting for visitors and perhaps even more exciting for the residents that call this section of Houston home. There’s one thing for certain: there is no shortage of fun and action in downtown Houston, thanks to the dynamic districts that comprise this section of Houston.

  • Warehouse District – Hip, cool, and funky are just some of words used to describe Houston’s Warehouse District. Downtown Houston living in the Warehouse District consists of live music, artists’ studios and plenty of great restaurants.
  • Historic District – Houston’s Historic District is the heart and soul of downtown Houston living! You can expect to find lovely, sidewalk cafes, plenty of neighborhood pubs and great nighttime entertainment. Visit Market Square Park and take note of the revitalization efforts that are happening there and don’t miss the super-cool lofts that surround the park.
  • Ballpark District – Downtown Houston living is not complete without the Ballpark District, near downtown Houston’s Union Station. Minute Maid Park is a must-have stop for visitors, as a number of famous restaurants surround the park. This are of downtown Houston is also home to a great deal of office space and trendy loft living.
  • Theater District – As the cultural and entertainment center of downtown Houston, the Theater District features four, famous venues, including Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center, Alley Theater and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
  • Skyline District – Downtown Houston living in the Skyline District is a great for Houston professionals because it is home to Houston’s 26 Fortune 500 companies and a number of large companies, such as Chevron, Shell, Continental Airlines and JP Morgan Chase.

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Spotlight on: Sugar Land’s Telfair Community

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Sugar Land offers a unique, and quite remarkable, way of life. The city of Sugar Land boasts beautiful amenities, features and services for its residents, and Sugar Land new homes accommodate homeowners of nearly every price range.

If you are looking into the many Sugar Land new homes communities, then you owe it to yourself to consider the Telfair community. Lovely architecture and distinctive details make the homes of Telfair quite popular, which is why this community in Sugar Land was the nation’s fourth top-selling master-planned community for new homes sales in 2009, according to RCLCO, an independent real estate advisory firm.

Positive Sales Numbers

In fact, Telfair boasted 450 new home sales in 2009 and was one of only two communities in Houston to report a sales increase from the year prior. Sales of Sugar Land new homes in Telfair increased 9 percent last year, which allowed it to move up the ranks to fourth nationally in the RCLCO report. The only other community in Houston that reported a sales increase during this time was Cinco Ranch in Katy; Cinco Ranch was ranked the number-one community in the nation, according to the RCLCO report.

What makes Telfair so unique is not that it experienced an increase in sales for Sugar Land new homes, but that it posted an increase during a very difficult financial time, both for Houston and throughout much of the country.

In addition, 2009 was actually the best year for Telfair since its opening in 2009. Cinco Ranch, during this time, also experienced its third best sales year during the same time since its opening 19 years ago.

A Proven Track Record of Excellence

Demand for Sugar Land new homes in Telfair is no secret, as this community features a diverse selection of homes and a proven track record of excellence within the community.

The positive numbers for both Telfair and Cinco Ranch are no surprise for the strong economy of both Sugar Land and Houston. In fact, Houston has continued to buck trends over the last couple years and has been ranked consistently high for its healthy housing market.

The Telfair community offer Sugar Land new homes from $240,000 to over $1 million. Telfair, which was named as the top Residential Development of the Year by the Houston Business Journal, offers a variety of single-family homes, patio homes and semi-custom homes. Many of Houston’s biggest and most renowned builders build homes in Telfair.

Telfair consists of 2,018 acres and is built around two lakes, thereby offering its residents beautiful green spaces and lovely views.

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A Closer Look at the Real Estate Market of the Heights

Monday, June 7th, 2010

With a fabulous location and a great real estate market, Houston’s Heights neighborhood is the place to be.

The Heights enjoys a close proximity to downtown Houston, thereby making it an extremely popular place to call home for many Houston professionals. It is also located just north of Montrose, another very popular neighborhood of Houston’s Inner Loop.

Although the Heights enjoys a prime, urban locale, there is no short supply of green spaces found here. In fact, there are five parks in close proximity to the Heights, along with a number of walking and biking trails.

A Hot Bed of Real Estate Activity

The Heights real estate market, since about 2007, has been a hot bed of activity. In fact, real estate here is now highly sought after because of its excellent appreciation value. The Heights real estate market is quite eclectic, as it is not uncommon to find older homes beside brand new ones. The Heights real estate market is varied, as this neighborhood features everything from single-family homes to high rise condos.

Although the location of the Heights is highly desirable, as it is close to both downtown Houston (just four miles away) and the Medical District, both of which are home to countless employers and businesses, the prices for Heights real estate remains quite reasonable. Many individuals, scared away by the steep prices of downtown Houston, find that both the home prices and the homes themselves are quite attractive in the Heights.

Some of the other surrounding neighborhoods of the Heights include: Garden Oaks, Timbergrove, Camp Logan, Crestwood and Memorial Park/Rice Military.

The Charm and Character of the Heights

The Heights real estate market is also quite desirable, thanks to its enforced deed restrictions that keep the charm and character of the neighborhood intact. The historical significance of the community, combined with its beautiful architecture and small-town character, make this area of Houston a highly sought after place to call home.

Some of other advantages to living in the Height include: the Heights Playground, its 19th Street Historic Business District and it outstanding public school system. This community also holds several, annual events, such as the Historic Heights Home and Garden Tour, the Heights Fun Run, the Heights Festival and Christmas in the Heights.

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