Aaron Layman's Katy Texas Real Estate Forum

Relocation To Texas Boosts Home Sales In Katy and West Houston

Relocating to Katy or Greater Houston has been a popular choice amidst the recent economic downturn.   Katy and West Houston have always enjoyed a healthy relocation business due to proximity with the energy corridor.  Affordable housing and quality public schools have been a consistent draw for many looking to call Katy their home.  Katy has continued to grow, with new construction in master-planned communities like Cinco Ranch, Firethorne and Cross Creek Ranch.  Katy will also see two new hospitals open in 2010 with the addition of Texas Children's West Campus and Methodist West Houston Hospital.

According to a recent CNNMoney article, more and more people are moving to Texas.  According to the latest census figures, Texas added more residents than any other state during the past year.  While real estate and employment have been suffering in states like California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada, the Lone Star State has seen minimal slowdown.

Data from Houston's Institute for Regional Forecasting indicate a recovery is in sight for 2010, and Houston should participate in that recovery along with the rest of the country.  Dr. Barton Smith's most recent presentation, "Countdown to Recovery" also highlighted the strength of the local real estate market where Houston is still faring much better than the national averages.  While prices of foreclosed properties have suffered, the non-foreclosed resale market has been been relatively unchanged.  Sales data from the Katy area bears that out.

Here's to a prosperous new year in 2010!

The Woodlands Township Takes Control of Master-Planned Community January 1, 2010

The Woodlands will operate under a new government body called The Woodlands Township effective January 1st.  After decades of operating under the typical restrictions of a homeowner's association, residents of The Woodlands will have a new centralized government structure.  The Woodlands Township is a special -purpose district approved by residents to avoid annexation by the city of Houston.

The Woodlands Township will operate much like a city council, with seven board members and a chairman.  The Township will have authority to collect property taxes and sales taxes.  It will also provide services such as maintaining parks and common areas.  The Woodlands' associations which previously controlled the community have ceased control to the Township.  Residents received their first property tax bills from the Township this fall under the new structure.  In May 2010, Woodlands residents will have the opportunity to elect three new Township board members.

For more information, visit The Woodlands Township

El Rancho Mexican Bar & Grill Now Open In Seven Meadows Katy Texas

El Rancho Mexican Bar & Grill is now open for business in Seven Meadows.  The new restaurant, located at 6823 S. Fry Rd is actually located on Seven Meadows Parkway, near the HEB.  El Rancho Bar & Grill is a nice change from the traditional Mexican restaurants in Katy.  I had not previously visited the other El Rancho location at 2323 N. Fry, so I didn't know what to expect.  Our first visit to this new restaurant was a very enjoyable experience.  The wait staff was friendly, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the food was excellent.

These are difficult times for opening a new restaurant, but El Rancho Bar & Grill appears to have the right ingredients for success.  Looking at other reviews, I would have to confirm that El Rancho serves tasty meat dishes, as well as some tasty margaritas.  My wife and I were also impressed by the flavor and freshness of the salsa.  All-in-all, this is a good restaurant, and I will no doubt be a frequent visitor since it's within walking distance from my Seven Meadows residence.

Most Efficient Cars In World Not Allowed In the US - How Diesel Import Rules And Taxes Shortchange American Drivers

Here's a wake-up call for American drivers.  Would you be interested in driving an eco-friendly Ford that gets 65 miles per gallon?  What would you say to a luxury, 5-passenger sedan that gets 51 mpg and has a top speed of 134 miles per hour?  Better yet, why not splurge for a rocket-ship German sport sedan which boasts 33 mpg in mixed driving and boasts a top speed of 155 mph with 428 pounds of foot torque.

The sad reality for the American driving public is that these spectacular vehicles are already in production.  The technology powering these vehicles is here today.  The only problem is getting your hands on one.  Of the three vehicles mentioned, only the BMW 335d is currently approved for U.S. production, and you'll likely have to special order it.  The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic and the new Audi A4-TDIe are not even available in the United States.

While much has been made about upcoming hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, little attention has been placed on some truly amazing cars with outstanding fuel economy and ultra-low emissions.  The new Audi A3 TDI recently won the 2010 Green Car Of The Year Award, besting some pretty economical competitors, including the 2010 Prius.  This was the second year in row a clean diesel took the award.

Part of the secret behind the recent awards lies in the fact that new clean diesel cars offer outstanding fuel economy without compromising your driving experience.  As the owner of a 2009 Jetta TDI (2009 Green Car winner), I took the new 2010 Prius for a test drive when it arrived at a local dealership.  Would I trade my TDI in for the new Prius?  To answer that question, perhaps you should try driving both at 110 mph and see how they compare.  Both vehicles offer great fuel economy when driven conservatively.  When you factor in real-world driving conditions and the overall driving experience, a new clean diesel automobile is a more appealing choice.  The additional torque provided by the more powerful TDI power plants makes them more enjoyable to drive than any hybrid.

A perfect case-in-point is the upcoming Chevy Volt.  The car is no doubt going to be an abysmal failure by most measures.  Americans will not be lining up to buy a car that goes only 40 miles before it turns into the equivalent of a horse-drawn carriage.  Had GM decided not to scrap the EV1 or spent their money on a clean diesel program instead, we might have something akin to the new Audi A4-TDIe with a price tag some $10,000 less than the Volt.  There's a reason for the waiting list at your VW dealership for a Jetta TDI.  It's a great car!

It's time for Congress to get on the bandwagon and improve accessibility to these economical, ultra-low emission vehicles.  The fact that our American automobile manufactures chose to discount diesel technologies should not deprive us of the opportunity to drive a vehicle that gets 50 miles per gallon without sacrificing the driving experience.  The federal excise tax penalty for clean diesel should be eliminated since clean diesel vehicles are actually producing less pollution than their gasoline counterparts.  Government roadblocks deterring the importation of these vehicles also need to be removed.  If more people had the opportunity to drive these remarkable vehicles, we'd be importing a lot less foreign oil and have more fun doing it.

For more information on clean diesel and other auto news, you can visit the following links..

Audi A4-TDIe Test Drive

Audi A3, 2010 Green Car of the Year Award

BMW 335d Road Test at Car and Driver

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Review at Businessweek

10 Best Engines of 2010 from Ward's Auto

Seven Meadows Evening With Santa Friday, December 12

Seven Meadows' Evening With Santa will be held from 5 to 8 pm at the Seven Meadows Clubhouse this Friday, December 12th.  Activities include an elf balloon artist, one horse open sleigh, pictures with Santa, pony carousel rides, petting zoo with reindeer, face painting, and visit from Frosty the Snow Man.

Refreshments will also be available.  It promises to be a fun night out for the entire family.

Katy Texas & West Houston Real Estate Market Update - November 2009

Home sales in the Katy area saw a sharp increase for the month of November compared to last year.  Closed sales were up by roughly one third in South Katy (Area 36), while North Katy saw an almost 25% increase.  Although prices were up just slightly for the South Katy market, prices north of I-10 were almost seven percent higher.  The market for starter homes was in rough shape this time last year, so the moderate increase in prices is not surprising.

The November sales numbers point to more positive signs for area housing.  The economy is stabilizing, albeit slowly, and job losses appear to be tapering off.  A little end-of-year buying could help keep the momentum going into 2010.

Building Your Own Swimming Pool In Katy, Houston Texas - Gunite

After the plumber and electrician performed the necessary stub-outs and rough work, the gunite crew arrived to form our new pool.  The gunite process consists of a dry concrete mix which is mixed with water at the end of a special hose.  The unique process allows for installation and design options that are not otherwise possible with traditional concrete.  A similar process called Shotcrete is actually a wet mixture that is also applied with a special hose and equipment.

After setting up protective screens and preparing the equipment, the gunite crew began shooting the concrete mixture into the rebar structure for the pool.  Since the gunite is the heart of your pool structure, it's important to have an experienced crew handling the application.  These gunite installers have built hundreds of other pools in our area.

The gunite material is shot into the structure to form the pool, and sculpted as necessary.  It was interesting watching the crew sculpt the form for our raised spa.  The gunite material was carved and shaped to form.  Considering the scale/size of the project at hand it's easy to lose site of the craftsmanship involved in creating the finished sculpture.  The gunite crew finished up our pool structure in one complete day.

After the pool shell was complete, I was entrusted with the task of keeping the gunite watered several times a day to help the concrete cure.  As concrete dries, it shrinks and hardens.  If the concrete dries too quickly, it may develop cracks.  Keeping the gunite watered during the first week after installation allows the gunite more time to cure, thereby creating a stronger structure.  While hosing down the gunite, you'll notice that the material seems to absorb the water rather quickly.

  
 

Building Your Own Swimming Pool In Katy, Houston Texas - Steel

The very next day after excavation, the steel crew went to work.  The steel reinforcement is necessary to create a solid, stable concrete structure.  Concrete has great compression strength, but little tensile strength.  That's why the two are used together to create a stronger structure.  Most homes in the Houston area are built on a post-tension slab.  The creation of your gunite pool shell uses some of the same components.

Your typical pool gunite pool shell consists of a 1/2" bar bond beam and 3/8" inch wall bar.  The bond beam around the perimeter of your pool is thicker than the actual walls to create a more solid structure.  It's much like the footer around the perimeter of your foundation on your home.

Using the design notes, the steele crew proceeded to wrap the formed walls in rebar.  The rebar is tied together, and spacers are installed to align rebar in the proper position.  The rebar is bent into a shape with a special tool to form curves and shapes as needed.

Building Your Own Swimming Pool In Katy, Houston Texas - Excavation

Marking the pool was relatively simple.  Using regular inverted landscape paint from Home Depot, I marked off the water line for the pool.  I then installed stakes for the excavator 12" out from the paint line so the excavator would know where the coping line would be.  Using the same marking paint, I also noted the depth profile for the pool and the areas designated for sun shelves.

Upon arrival, the dig crew cut out a portion of our fence to make room for the Bobcat. (about 10 feet).  The excavation crew then reviewed the plan and markings for the design.  The excavation process was performed by an expert Bobcat operator.  I use the term "expert" because the excavation was a whirlwind of activity that was essentially completed in one day.  The operator's manipulation of the machine was nothing short of amazing.

All of the dirt was taken to a truck waiting at the curb.  The excavation process is rather messy, and it's worth noting that plenty of debris and unwanted clay may be left covering your yard.  Since I was on site to supervise the process, I was able to help keep the damage to a minimum.  Watching your manicured turf grass get destroyed is a bit painful, but you have to keep the end goal in mind.