Don’t Forget!!! Time Springs Ahead TONIGHT!

March 10, 2012 By bchristian

Dont FORGET…..that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend!
Be sure to move your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night, March 10.

It’s also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
And while you’re there, don’t forget to test each detector.
Testing the alarm is easy; all you have to do is push the test button until the alarm sounds.

Cheryl and I hope everyone has a safe and
Fun-Filled Spring Break 2012!

The Bob Christian Team. (281)769-4420

Filed Under: Bob's Blog

Cheryl’s Fall Calendar

October 6, 2011 By bchristian
Greater Katy Area

FALL FESTIVALS, FAIRS AND EVENTS

2012 Edition
  • CALENDAR UPDATE COMING SOON
If you do not see an event, fair or festival that you would like to share, please email me at Cheryl@finerhomesofkaty.com.  Thank You!
Filed Under: Cheryl's Corner Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Coming Soon!

October 5, 2011 By bchristian

We have just created a great new area for Cheryl to post her daily rants and community info. Check back soon to see what is on her mind. :)

 

Filed Under: Cheryl's Corner

Growing Opportunity as Mortgage Rates Drop

September 30, 2011 By bchristian

Mortgage Rates Reach New Lows

Daily Real Estate News |      Friday, September 30, 2011

For the third straight week, fixed-rate mortgages inched down, reaching new lows. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a record low of 4.01 percent this week while the 15-year fixed-rate set a new record of 3.28 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.  In Western areas, 30-year rates moved even lower, averaging 3.95 percent, Freddie reports.

"Fixed mortgage rates fell to all-time record lows this week following the Federal Reserve's announcement of its Maturity Extension Program and additional purchases of mortgage-backed securities,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement.

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Sept. 29:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.01 percent, inching down from last week’s previous record of 4.09 percent. A year ago, 30-year rates averaged 4.32 percent.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.28 percent, dropping from last week’s previous record of 3.29 percent. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.75 percent.
  • 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: held steady this week at 3.02 percent. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.52 percent.
  • 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.83 percent, up slightly from last week’s 2.82 percent average. A year ago, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.48 percent.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News

Filed Under: Bob's Blog

Potentially Great News For Katy ISD Teachers

July 15, 2011 By bchristian

Katy Independent School District

Katy ISD Proposes to Bring Back Teachers
07/15/2011

Katy ISD officials announced today that it would bring to the Board of Trustees at the July 18 work study meeting a proposal to add back to the 2011-12 budget 214 out of 267 teaching positions that were reduced as part of the campus staffing plan approved by the Board of Trustees in April. In addition, some of the items that were proposed to be cut, but will be added back to the budget include the elimination of transportation not reimbursed by the state; the increase in ticket prices for athletic events by $1; and the reduction of elementary principals and their secretaries to 11-month contracts. Also, in previous action, the board approved adding back a second assistant band director at each of the high schools.
This move comes with the conclusion of the 82nd Legislature’s Special Session and the confirmation that the state will reduce Katy ISD’s funding $27 million for 2011-12. Now that the district knows how much revenue it will receive from the state, it can begin finalizing the budget for the 2011-12 school year, which must be approved by the Board prior to the start of the fiscal year on September 1.
“As we saw our budget picture improve from what all indicators were pointing to in the spring, our first step was to look at our campus staffing to see how we could bring back as many teachers as possible,” said Alton Frailey, Katy ISD Superintendent. “We knew it would be a considerable challenge to navigate through the restraints created by a significant reduction of state financial support and continue to provide the same high quality learning experiences for our students our community has come to expect.”
Katy ISD is a TEA Recognized district serving more than 60,000 students. Covering 181 square miles west of downtown Houston, Katy ISD is comprised of 53 campuses, and with more than 8,000 employees is one of the largest employers in the West Houston area.
Information obtained thru Katy ISD Communications

Filed Under: Bob's Blog Tagged With: , ,

Katy – Cinco Ranch

July 11, 2011 By bchristian

Price Range – $120,000′s to over $1 Million (Multiple Subdivisions)Cinco Ranch™ is located in Katy, Texas, 32 miles west of downtown Houston. Opened in 1991, this 7,600-acre master-planned community has consistently been rated one of the top five selling communities in the Houston area over the past 10 years. In 2009, Cinco Ranch was named the “No. 1 best selling community in the USA.”

At Cinco Ranch, Newland Communities is constantly striving to offer homebuyers the broadest array of new homes by leading builders in various price ranges. Homebuyers will find Cinco Ranch has 18 different homebuilders and over 40 model homes that showcase the variety of product offered. Cinco Ranch also has exclusive gated custom home neighborhoods, with a unique neighborhood for homebuyers 55 and over.

Cinco Ranch is part of the acclaimed Katy Independent School District and is home to eleven on-site schools and a University of Houston System campus.

Cinco Ranch has many amenities for residents to enjoy, including:

  • Ten neighborhood recreation centers including the Water Park and the Beach Club and the Lake House, Katy area YMCA and Lifetime Fitness.
  • Sitting on over 100 acres, the Village Center features the new outdoor shopping town center LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.
  • Miles of hiking and biking trails including the five-mile Bayou Trail.
  • Fort Bend County Library Branch.
  • The five lakes within Cinco Ranch are stocked for catch and release fishing.
  • The 18-hole daily-fee Cinco Ranch Golf Club.

It is 1.5 miles south of I-10W with frontage on the east and west sides of the Grand Parkway (Texas 99). For more information, please give the Bob Christian Team a call at (281)769-4420 for all Cinco Ranch Homes For Sale! You can also email us at Bob@FinerHomesofKaty.com. We are your resource for Cinco Ranch Real Estate in Katy, Texas!!!

Filed Under: Katy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Richmond – Grand Mission

June 18, 2011 By bchristian
Price Range – $110,00′s to $300,000′s Grand Mission is being developed in Fort Bend County by MHI home building group and David Weekly Homes. This 1,200 acres is located at the corner of FM 1093 at Harlem Road near the Harris/Fort Bend county line. Amenities include a fitness center, green belts, walkways and playgrounds and lakes. Grand Mission is in close proximity to shopping (First Colony Mall, West Oaks Mall and Katy Mills Mall), grocery stores and restaurants.
Grand Mission is filled with luxurious homes by renowned builders such as Plantation, David Weekley, and Coventry – all with the ambiance of exclusive country living.
Additional Amenities include:
  • Recreation Center with Media Center
  • Fitness Center
  • Junior Olympic Pool
  • 18′ Dual Chute Slide
  • Kid’s  Water Spray Park
  • For added peace of mind, 24 hour alarm monitoring provided by OnDuty is included in the HOA dues for Grand Mission residents*
  • Hiking and Biking Trail System
  • Multiple Soccer Fields
  • Lakes, Parks and Playgrounds
To get to Grand Mission, take I-10W to Grand Parkway and go left on Grand Parkway. Exit 1093 and turn left and proceed to Harlem Road. For more information, please give the Bob Christian Team a call at (281)769-4420.
Filed Under: Richmond

Richmond – Waterside Estates

June 18, 2011 By bchristian
Additional Links
Perry Homes at Waterside Estates
Waterside Estates is being developed by Figure Four Partners, LTD in Fort Bend County. This 600-acre planned community will feature a centrally located 60-acre lake. Other amenities will include extensive greenbelts, community recreation center, swimming pools and tennis courts. To get there, form Highway 59 south, travel north on the Grand Parkway approximately 8 miles north of US 90A, crossing over Harlem and the entrance to Waterside Estates will be on the left. For more information, call us at (281)769-4420 for all Fort Bend County Homes For Sale!   The Bob Christian Team is your resource for Fort Bend County Real Estate!!!
Filed Under: Richmond

Great New Price!!! 3-Story 5-Bedroom for $343,000. Massive Yard!!!

June 18, 2011 By bchristian

2319 Monarch Terrace Dr, Katy, TX 77494 – !!!REDUCED AGAIN!!!

I have just reduced the listing price on a Beautiful “Energy Efficient” 3-Story 5 Bedroom home in Firethorne! It is now reduced to $343,000 and it is loaded. It has a huge yard which seems big enough to put in a pool and still be able to land a helicopter. This home has space everywhere plus a 3-car garage.

For a home that is not yet 2 years old and it is listed for $83 per sq ft., you have to believe that this home will not last long. Come take a look and see what I mean!

For more information, please give the Bob Christian Team a call at (281)769-4420!   You can also email us at Bob@FinerHomesofKaty.com. We are your resource for Real Estate in Katy, Texas!!!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Bob's Blog

Fort Bend County – Lakemont

June 18, 2011 By bchristian
The new home community of Lakemont offers a small-town atmosphere with all of the benefits of a cosmopolitan city nearby. A number of grocery stores, shopping centers and recreational activities are located within minutes of Lakemont. Located in Richmond’s highly-acclaimed Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, the area offers an excellent education. The community also provides a convenient commute by being adjacent to the Westpark Tollway. Some of the many amenities include greenbelt trails, sparkling lakes, a series of parks, lushly landscaped green reserves, two resort-style swimming pools and even a meeting room in the Lakehouse.
Lakemont offers an ideal location on FM 1093 at Mason Road, adjacent to the Westpark Tollway, which affords residents easy access to the Grand Parkway, I-10, Beltway 8 and major employment centers such as the Energy Corridor, The Galleria area, Greenway Plaza, and downtown

Additional Details

  • Location: Richmond, West Houston – Westpark Tollway/FM 1093 at Mason Road
  • Project size: 900 acres
  • Total Number of Households at Build-Out: 2,500
  • Price Range: New homes from $150,000s to $400,000
  • Builders: Brighton Homes, J. Patrick Homes, Lennar,  Gehan Homes & D.R. Horton
  • School District: Lamar Consolidated Independent School District
  • Amenities: Lakes, Two Recreation Centers, Two resort style swimming pools, Greenbelt Trails, Parks, Green Areas
For more information, please give the Bob Christian Team a call at (281)769-4420 for all Lakemont homes for sale!  You can also email us at Bob@FinerHomesofKaty.com. We are your resource for Real Estate in Richmond, Texas!!!
Filed Under: Richmond Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,