Aaron Layman's Katy Texas Real Estate Forum

Cinco Ranch Triathlon Now Katy Triathlon At Firethorne

Katy's annual triathlon will bear a new name and location in 2009.  Now named the Katy Triathlon at Firethorne, this year's event will be held October 25th with a start time of 7:30 AM.  The event includes a 500 meter swim, 15 mile bike, and a 3 mile run.  Age divisions range from 10 & under to 70 plus.  The Katy Triathlon is a USAT sanctioned event, so membership is required.  To register for the Katy Triathlon at Firethorne visit the official website for the Katy Triathlon

Seven Meadows, Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes Swim Teams Kick Off Summer Meet Schedules

Katy area swimmers will be practicing their strokes again this summer.  Community swim teams from Seven Meadows (SMST), Cinco Ranch and Grand Lakes will begin summer meets this weekend, with Seven Meadows holding its first practice meet Saturday May 30th.  For more information you can visit the links below:

Seven Meadows Swim Team (SMST) - Download SMST Facts

Cinco Ranch Swim Team

Grand Lakes Swim Team

Katy Family YMCA Expansion To Be Complete By Summer

The Katy Family YMCA, located at 22807 Westheimer Parkway, will soon have an additional indoor swimming pool, new multipurpose gym, and an outdoor playground.  The new YMCA expansion will allow the facility to offer more year-round classes and activities.  For more information about membership at the Katy Family YMCA you can visit.  www.ymcahouston.org/katy

Katy Tigers Repeat As 5A Football State Champions, Earning 6th Overall Title

Some may have doubted it was possible after consecutive losses to open the season, but the Katy Tiger football team rose to the occasion yet again yesterday to capture their 6th 5A football crown and repeat as 5A Division II champs.  The Katy Tigers defeated the Wylie Pirates yesterday 17-3.

Katy utilized a stellar defense, intercepting 3 Wylie passes and allowing only 3 points.  On both sides of the ball, the Tigers did what they do best...execute.  The remarkable run for the Tiger football program puts them at the head of the class for 5A teams during the last decade.

Congratulations to Coach Gary Joseph, his staff, and the resilient Tiger football team for their hard-fought victory.

Fun Fair Positive Soccer League FFPS Serves Youth In Katy Texas

Organized in 1986, Jack Hendrie's non-profit Fun Fair Positive Soccer League (FFPS) has grown from a small organization to a membership of more than 15,000 players.  The league seeks to provide opportunities for participation to children of all skill levels.  FFPS also includes a Special Needs Program for special needs children.  FFPS operates from spaces throughout the Houston area, including a Katy league hosted at George Bush Park.  

For more information you can visit www.ffps.org.

Katy High School Claims 5th State Title

The Katy tigers capped their perfect  16-0 season on Saturday by defeating Pflugerville 28-7.  The Tigers performed their usual magic once again.  After struggling during the first half, the Tigers made the necessary adjustments and took control of the game in the second half.

Pflugerville did not see the end zone again during the second half thanks to a strong defensive effort.  Katy's Trent Hunter received the defensive MVP for the game.  Offensively, the Tigers adapted and found their targets.  Aundre Dean finished with 221 yards on 30 carries to lead the Tigers.  Dean also landed the offensive MVP award for the game.  Bo Levi Mitchell was only 7 for 15 passing with 143 yards, but three of those 7 completions were TD's.

The first of those TD strikes was a real momentum shifter.  Katy appeared as though they would go into the locker room at the half down 7-0.  Instead the Tigers pulled off a miraculous Hail Mary from the Pflugerville 45 yard line with seconds to go.  The pass was tipped by Joey Fuda and fell into the hands of Brian Rowe to tie the game as time expired in the half.

Coach Gary Joseph and his staff have done a wonderful job with the team all year, and the players have demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt and succeed when the pressure was on.  The Tigers now have their state championship to culminate the effort.  Congratulations to the Katy Tigers for their outstanding performance!

Katy Texas Fitness Clubs Meet Growing Demand

As as the Katy area continues to grow, so does the number of fitness clubs aiming to serve the area.  Katy is a popular destination for working, middle-class families with a large number of stay-at-home moms.  New fitness centers with on-site child care are a welcome site for families that are serious about staying in shape.  In addition to child care services, clubs also offer plenty of modern equipment, a variety of scheduled classes, training and nutrition services.  To find a club that best suits your needs and budget, you can check out these popular options:

Lifetime Fitness - http://www.lifetimefitness.com/clubs/index.cfm?strWebAction=club_details&intClubId=158

Katy Family YMCA - http://www.ymcahouston.org/kenlay.aspx

LA Fitness - http://www.lafitness.com/Pages/clubhome.aspx?clubid=327&clubStatusID=1

Bally Total Fitness - www.ballyfitness.com

24 Hour Fitness - www.24hourfitness.com

Curves - www.curves.com

Fitness 19 - www.fitness19.com

Katy Texas Tennis Courts and Instruction

If you are looking for a place to play tennis in Katy, Texas you should  have no problem finding a spot at a public court.  The Katy Independent School District boasts some of the best schools in the Houston area.  More importantly for tennis fans, they have equipped all middle schools and high schools with adequate tennis facilities.  Middle schools have 4 courts and high schools have 9 courts.  Katy ISD tennis programs, especially Katy Talyor High School, have enjoyed a great deal of success in recent years.

Residents of master-planned communities like Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes and Seven Meadows also have access to tennis courts.  Keys or gate cards are given to residents only.

Willow Fork Country Club is a full-service tennis facility with 9 outdoor hard courts and several instructors on staff.  www.willowforkclub.com

The Club at Falcon Point has 5 tennis courts and full-time teaching pros on staff. www.falconpoint.com

If you are looking for local teaching pro, visit www.uspta.org to find a qualified instructor that can help you with your game.

For all kinds of tennis related information including current scores and tour information visit www.tennisworld.typepad.com

Katy Texas Golf Courses

Meadowbrook Farms (18-hole, par-72, 7100 yards) is a semi-private, Greg Norman designed course in Seven Meadows.  Meadowbrook Farms is located west of Grand Parkway off Fry Road.  Avalon or Seven Meadows residents receive a $1,000 discount off the normal $6,000 initiation fee.  Dues are $295 per month.  Call 281-693-4653 for more information or visit www.Meadowbrookfarms.com.

The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch (18-hole, par-71,6922 yards) is a public course set in the middle of Cinco Ranch just east of the Grand Parkway.  Call 281-395-4653 for more information or visit www.golfclubatcincoranch.com.

Willow Fork Country Club (18-hole, par-72, 6954 yards) is a private course located on Westheimer just east of Mason Road.  Call 281-579-6262 for more information or visit www.Willowforkclub.com

The Club at Falcon Point ( 18-hole, par-72, 6771 yards) is a private course located southeast of Katy Mills Mall.  Call 281-392-7888 or visit www.Falconpoint.com.

Green Meadows (18-hole, par-70, 5688 yards for East Course and 18-hole, par-72, 6702 yards for West Course) is a family-friendly public facility located north of I-10 off Franz road.  Call 281-391-3670 for more information or visit www.katygolf.com

For more information about golf communities in Katy, Texas call Aaron Layman.  He is licensed real estate broker.  You can call him directly at 281-994-5190.  You can also visit him on the web at www.AaronLayman.com.

Taxpayers Pay Real Estate Bill For Professional Sports Teams

I thought I would take a few minutes to provide some insight into the insanely profitable world of professional sports.  With all of the media buzz surrounding sports scandals of late, I feel it is also important to take a look at the real estate side of the juggernaut that is professional sports.

A look at the New Yankee stadium deal highlights how taxpayers get the short end of the stick when it comes to professional sports teams.   The new Yankee Stadium will cost $1.2 billion when it is completed, but New York State and New York City are kicking in the remaining $400 million for land acquisition.  In return for their $400 million taxpayers get a whopping $10 per year(THAT'S "TEN" DOLLARS!) as rent on the negotiated lease.  Just to add insult to injury, the deal also stipulates that city officials get their own luxury box for regular season home games.  The deal comes with a host of other provisions that essentially turn the deal into a money machine for Yankee owners.

The Texan's own Reliant Stadium cost about $450 million when it was constructed 5 years ago.  Of that total, The Texans footed the bill for approximately $20 million of the initial investment and another $50 million for seat licenses.  That left about $380 million to be paid for by various hotel and rental car taxes and other vested entities like The Sports Authority and RodeoHouston.  Website LeageofFans lists the construction cost at a more conservative $402 million with $287 million in public subsidies.  Reliant Energy agreed to pay the Texans $10 million per year or $300 million for 30 years for the naming rights to the complex.

Minute Maid Park (Formerly Enron Field) was also constructed with a similar publicly subsidized agreement, but it only cost $250 million.  I guess we should consider that a bargain!  If we are wondering what's wrong with professional sports, one only need look at the dirt the stadium is standing on.  Take a good look; You paid for it!