Aaron Layman's Katy Texas Real Estate Forum

Spring Creek Barbeque Opens In Katy

Spring Creek Barbeque is open for business in Katy.  Located at 21000 Katy Freeway, Spring Creek BBQ is an Arlington based chain of restaurants specializing in barbeque and Mexican food items.  Dine-in and catering options are available.

Visit http://www.springcreekbarbeque.com/houston_katy.htm for more information

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Wins 2009 Green Car Of The Year

It's official.  The VW TDI is Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year for 2009.  The award was announced this week at the LA Auto Show.  The competition included the Smart For Two, as well as the upcoming Ford Fusion Hybrid and Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid.

As a current Jetta TDI owner I can vouch for the quality of the vehicle, as well as the mileage numbers.  The Jetta TDI recently set the world record for lowest fuel consumption across the contiguous 48 states, averaging 58 miles per gallon.  In real-world driving the Jetta beats everything but a Prius, and even a Prius falls short compared to the TDI on highway mileage.  Perhaps most important, the Jetta is actually fun to drive.   The TDI offers the best mpg between 35 and 65 miles per hour, but even when the pedal is pushed to the floor you'll still get over 30 mpg.

As it currently stands, Europe receives most of the TDI's produced because higher fuel prices make the cars easier to sell.  The Jetta TDI is proof positive that there is a better solution out there, and clean diesel technology is a great bridge to hybrid and electric vehicles.  Perhaps VW will seize this opportunity to buy up some shuttered automotive plants in the U.S and start spreading a little more farfegnugen.

Kickerillo Planning Estate, Luxury Homes In Lakes Of Cross Creek Ranch

Kickerillo Homes is planning on expanding in the Fulshear/Katy area, moving into Cross Creek Ranch.  Kickerillo will build on 80', 100' and half-acre lots in the Lakes of Cross Creek Ranch.  The water front home sites will be located on the islands, west of the Katy ISD/Lamar Consolidated ISD boundary line.  These custom homes will be 6000 square feet or larger and pricing could reach several million dollars.

Rising Property Values, Appraisal Creep Erode Property Tax Relief in Katy Texas

Like most area Katy area homeowners, you probably started receiving your tax statements from area taxing entities.  The unfortunate news is that virtually all of the tax relief passed by the Texas Legislature a few years ago is now gone due to higher property values.

Even though the real estate market has slowed in recent months, that didn't stop state appraisal boards from aggressively pushing up property values.  The politicians in Austin may have been congratulating themselves for a job well-done, but what they didn't tell you is that you would be back in the same situation just 3 years later.  The percentage of school funding provided by the state is back to the same level we had three years ago.

I was speaking with Katy ISD officials just this morning, and the numbers are clear.  From the 06/07 budget year to the 08/09 budget year property values in Katy ISD have risen from $14 billion to $18.7 billion.  That's a whopping 33% increase in just two years!  While Austin has been touting property tax relief, area property values have wiped out the reduction in school tax rates.

Even more frustrating for area school officials is the fact that these rising property values do little to help local school budgets.  Maintenance and operations revenues are tied to a per-pupil funding threshold that will likely not change for several more years, or until the legislature decides to revisit the issue.  This means that most of the extra money from your rising property taxes goes to Austin, and not to your local schools.  This is the reason several area school districts are already holding "rollback" elections which are actually requests to raise the school property tax rates and generate additional funding.

When the legislature advertised property tax relief a few years ago they essentially put a band-aid on a severed limb.  Tighter appraisal caps and a real long-term solution to school funding are still desperately needed in Texas.   When you get your property tax statements this holiday season don't blame your local school district.  Instead, contact the folks in Austin and tell them just how much you appreciate their work.

Segment E Of Grand Parkway Could Begin In One Year

David Gornet, executive director of the Grand Parkway Association, said this week that segment E of the proposed Grand Parkway (Texas 99) tollway could begin construction within a year.  Segment E is the 15.2 mile segment that would connect I-10 north to U.S. 290 (Northwest Freeway).  Segment E is slated to be a 4 lane toll road.

For more information you can visit www.grandpky.com

Green Revolution Provides Opportunities, Challenges For Katy, Houston Texas Economy

Let me start this post by saying that I love my friends in the energy industry.  The Katy area is home to many wonderful people who work in the Energy Corridor.  Energy industry relocation makes up a good portion of the real estate sales here.  That being said, I love my country even more.

The recent economic fallout and potential government bailouts have some pretty interesting implications for the Houston economy.  More specifically, a coming Green Revolution poses some pretty interesting questions for the local economy which is home to many of the biggest players in the oil and gas industry.

Just two days ago the Houston Chronicle reported that Vladimir Putin was calling for Russia to have a more important role in global oil prices.  Today the paper is reporting that Mexico might have to halt oil exports to the U.S in as little as 4 years because of a shift in native demand coupled with a lack of investment in production capacity.  Essentially, Mexico could soon become an oil importer rather than an oil exporter.  It doesn't take a genius to realize the negative implications here.

For decades our country has ignored the energy crisis and avoided any real energy policy initiatives.  Perhaps the time has truly come for some real change.  The economy is hemorrhaging jobs.  The big 3 automakers are pleading for a lifeline because they supposedly couldn't see the crisis coming.  I for one hope the leadership in our country chooses to take notice and ignite a true Green Revolution.

Opportunities exist which could eliminate our dependence on foreign oil in as little as 15 years, maybe even sooner.  The question is whether political leadership is willing to stick their proverbial necks out and make it happen.  Books like "The Manhattan Project of 2009" and Building The Green Economy: Success Stories From the Grassroots" are not posing pipe dreams and empty promises.  I believe they are a wake-up call for us to take hold of our own future before it is taken away from us.  By the way, another interesting read is "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism".

While we have been busy overthrowing inconsequential, scapegoat dictators in the Middle East we have been ignoring the real problem.  The real problem is us!  When we give huge tax write-offs to realtors, doctors, lawyers and the like so they can drive a 7,000 pound vehicle getting less than 10 miles per gallon what do we expect in return?  Sure they look cool, but is that the legacy we want to leave for our children?  I recently asked myself the same question.  I promptly sold my Chevy Tahoe and purchased a Jetta TDI which gets anywhere from 35 to 50 miles per gallon.

Sure not everyone can afford to make the same switch, but that ignores the bigger issue.  The technology exists for that Tahoe or Hummer to get 30 miles per gallon, but our government is doing nothing to precipitate development of vehicles like this.  UPS just this week announced plans to build new hybrid diesel trucks that take advantage of revolutionary hydraulic regenerative systems that charge battery power packs.  This supposedly new technology, developed by the EPA, is 8 years old!  The government just put the technology on the back burner and cut the necessary funding to bring it to market.

Lets imagine for a moment what the automotive industry would be like if we had decided 8 years ago to invest several hundred billion dollars developing these ground breaking technologies that reduce our need for oil, and in some instances eliminate it altogether.  Would the big 3 automakers still be on the verge of bankruptcy?  Instead of sabre rattling in Iraq and squandering away a Trillion dollars on a hopeless war, we could have laid the groundwork for our own energy independence.

While the automakers are crying for a government bailout we have a great opportunity to get the Green Revolution kick-started.  If GM, Ford and Chrysler want our money, let them agree to build only hybrid vehicles.  Let them agree to meet new, bold EPA mileage guidelines that actually make a difference.  Tell GM to forget "mild hybrid" band-aids and build truly revolutionary vehicles.  The Volt would be a good start, but we can do even better.  If automakers want our tax dollars to save them, we should demand something better.  If the big 3 and their unions don't want to play ball, let them make a speedy exit so that new, more efficient automakers can take their place.

Let's start building a new, Green Economy with good jobs and an improved transportation infrastructure in the U.S.  We can tap wind, solar, biofuels and other energy sources and start working toward a day when we don't have to think about how much a gallon of gasoline costs.  That would be revolutionary!  Would the oil companies like it?  I highly doubt it.  Would it dramatically alter the Houston economy?  I expect it would.  Would I like to see America gain true energy independence sooner rather than later?  Absolutely!

Solana at Cinco Ranch, Solana Terrace Offer New Senior, Assisted Living Options

The Solana and Solana Terrace at Cinco Ranch will offer new options for senior and assisted living in Cinco Ranch.  Beginning in the fall of 2009, the Formation Development Group hopes to open the doors with luxury apartment style accommodations within the master-planned community of Cinco Ranch.

The development will offer upscale accommodations, including a cafe, wine bar, theater, salon and spa.  The amenity-rich community will also offer an assisted living option encompassed in the Solana Terrace.  Apartment floor plans will include one bedroom, two bedroom, and signature designs with numerous luxury features.  Solana will offer 126 independent living and 32 assisted living apartments.  Rents are pojected to run approximately $2800 and $4000 respectively.

To see the official press release or for more information about the community you can visit www.thesolana.com.

If you need assistance with your relocation to this wonderful new community just give me a call.

KBR Delays Katy West Campus Indefinitely

A spokesperson for KBR, the global engineering construction and services company, confirmed that the construction of a proposed 910,000 square feet campus near I-10 and Texas 99 has been put on hold because of the current economic conditions.  The Katy Area Economic Development Council has been working closely with KBR to outline details for the project.  At this point the project is still expected to happen, but an official start date for construction has been put on hold.

Katy Texas Housing Market Report - November 2008

Katy Texas home sales continue to lag last years numbers, with sales down by some 22% in area 36 (South Katy) and 41% in area 25 (North Katy).  One trend that seems to be holding is the stability in prices for South Katy.  Average prices in area 25 actually saw a slight up-tick during October compared to last year, while area 25 saw a modest 10% drop in prices.

One figure worth noting was the slight decrease in average selling prices for the master-planned communities of Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes, and Seven Meadows.  These still tend to be the best selling areas, but available new inventory is getting pushed further west.  The aging homes in prime locations along the Grand Parkway corridor, coupled with longer commute times for new inventory will likely dampen price gains for the short term.

Area 25 continues to see sharper declines in sales figures, along with lower average prices compared to last year.  There are still a number of foreclosures in the area, and the supply of bank-owned properties looks to continue well into 2009.

With the bleak outlook for the U.S. economy in general, area housing is performing quite well.  This trend should hold as long as we see stabilization of oil prices.  The Houston area housing market is well positioned to benefit from any stimulus to the U.S. economy.