Register Real Estate Advisors

Whether you are relocating to Conroe, The Woodlands, or Spring area; Do you need local information? Do you already live here, are stuck in a rut of doing the same thing over and over? Would you like to branch out with new ideas of where to play, shop, or dine? Do you need ideas of where to travel right here within our Lone Star State of Texas? Keep reading! I have just the spot for you to check out that will give you all kinds of ideas.

I confess, I was stuck in one of those do the same ‘ole thing over and over ruts myself. I started my day off with the idea – let’s see what is right here in my area of Montgomery County. I wanted to know what I can do new and then share my learned information. First stop was at the Shenandoah Visitors Center which, by the way, is open 7 days a week 8am-5pm.

Traveling on Interstate 45, Shenandoah is just 35 miles north of Houston and only 20 minutes north from Bush Intercontinental Airport. Shenandoah may be small in population but it makes a Big Impact on the Commercial Development for our entire community in Montgomery County. Just click on the home website for the Shenandoah Visitors Center and you will find tabs of :

• “Where to Shop” – Ideas both locally in Shenandoah such as The Portofino Shopping Center, it also includes “Area Shopping” – The Woodlands Mall, and Old Town Spring. New information to me was The Swim Shop of the Southwest, located inside the CISD Natatorium.
• “Where to Stay” – Shenandoah offers seven hotels.
• “What to Do” – choose from a drop down list of Recreation, Cultural, Entertainment and Sports Facilities.
• “Where to Dine” – some of my favorite Restaurants are on this list, now to try something new …

While inside the Visitors Center located at 19265 David Memorial Drive, Shenandoah, TX 77385 be sure to ask the attendant for local coupons. I am thrilled to have received the coupon book full of dollar savings $ specials to use right here within the home territory! I also picked up pamphlets that give local information:

• Dine – Fine Dining, Fast Food, or something in between in Shenandoah.
• Main Event Entertainment Shenandoah
• Conroe Texas Visitors Guide
• Lake Conroe Event Center
• Market Street The Woodlands
• Current – What’s New and Happening For Visitors in The Woodlands

Those were just some of the local ideas. In addition the Visitors Center is recognized by the State of Texas as a Texas Tourism Information Center because it is stocked with information from across the Lone Star State. This is a good starting point to plan your next road trip!

Now … think about it … it’s time to move and where are you going to live? That’s information I can help you with!

I have one of Conroe’s best kept secrets. Keep reading and you will find out about an 80+ acre lake that is convenient to the Lake Conroe area, yet private (homeowners only) with the tranquil luxury of less traffic on the lake. As the end of our school year approaches and the summer brings water levels up, if you are looking for a peacefully quiet spot to fish, use your motor boats, ski and jet ski – then I have just the property to tell you about!

From I-45 traveling west on Highway 105 approximately 9 miles, located on the south side, is the quaint neighborhood of Lake Forest Falls. This tucked away neighborhood in Montgomery County has a private 80+ acre lake. There is a large earthen levee on the east side of the lake which is spring fed and also collects run off from area creeks Home owners are allowed to use motor boats, ski and jet-skis on the lake. Members of the Lake Forest Falls Home Owners Association also enjoy a swim island, boat launch and lots of little parks in the neighborhood.

Have you imagined this being the view of the swim island from your personal waterfront backyard? I had a private tour with Kathy King, the listing agent for the property at 13300 Southshore Drive in Lake Forest Falls. From the moment we pulled into the driveway I was mesmerized by the view in front of me. Tall trees hide much of the property from the front, yet it opens to the recreational lake.

Once inside the property I admired the hardwood floors and tall windows which overlook the lake view from the Great Room. Speaking of lake view, all north facing windows have lake view. To see all photos and information regarding this dream home click this address: 13300 Southshore Drive Conroe, Texas 77304. Call me right away for a showing, or put on your calendars the information for an Open House given at the bottom of this blog post.

Additionally, you don’t even need a key to enter the unattended Secret Garden. Simply walk under the arbor and follow the stones.

The Secret Garden Pathway leads to a 3rd waterfront lot that belongs to the Guest Home! The Guest Home priced separately at an additional $110,000 is currently only available with the purchase of the main home. The Guest Home features quarters with one bedroom, an open concept area with kitchen and living room. Be ready to simply dissolve in one of the rocking chairs, gaze through windows that face the lake and dream this entire property into your forever-after.

Open House: I will be co-hosting an Open House at this property Saturday, May 12th, 1pm – 4pm.
If you are unable to make the scheduled open house be sure to contact me to arrange your private showing.

Here is the listing:

13300 Southshore Dr, Conroe, TX 77304 (MLS # 4373882)

View Virtual Tour

Tucked away on approx 2/3 acre this fantastic property offers as much beauty outside as it does inside. A secret garden that opens up to huge water frontage & open views of the community lake where you can enjoy great boating, skiing & a swim island too. Enter the home to gleaming hardwood floors & soaring windows. Spacious kitchen w/double ovens. Fireplace, built-ins & lake views everywhere! Lots of room to play & breathe! Shopping, dining & Lake Conroe only minutes away if you must. But why?

Property Type(s): Single-Family

Schools

Additional Details

Features

Location

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Listed with Keller Williams Realty Conroe Lake Conroe

(view all details for MLS #4373882)

As a Buyer’s Agent, I believe it is my responsibility to tour Active Homes on the Real Estate Market. Today’s excursion from Spring heading just a few minutes north on Interstate 45, zipping through The Woodlands to Conroe exit Highway 105-West took me to the gated community of Blue Heron Bay on the South Side of Lake Conroe. Are you familiar with this quiet community that is tucked away by the mature cedar trees? There is an area within the community designated for preservation of local vegetation and wildlife. I totally was in my glory as we strolled through the homes and into private gardens. Kudos to my good friend and Listing Agent, Tonya Smith, for setting up two of her listings in Blue Heron Bay for several of us to preview. Let me share with you some tips that I found while on tour today that I felt were especially worth mentioning.

Remember, in a previous blog, I mentioned how important curb curb appeal is to the buyer pulling up in front of your home? Check out these pictures, and tell me if you are ready to put the car in park and tour this welcoming home.

This was just one of the properties we previewed today. Notice the terraced landscaping beds that line the front of the home with beautiful shrubs and annual flowers. Beautifully maintained and very attractive! Then to the side of the driveway your eye catches additional color. I simply wanted to stay and watch for butterflies and hummingbirds. This home owner seems to know what to do to draw attention with painting the outside color in order to hail the Buyers to stop and spend time lingering inside the property. Once inside the Buyer will admire hand scraped wood floors, 2 living areas and bedrooms that each have private baths. My favorite, an outside living area with tiled floors and screened walls enabling visual and audible enjoyment of the wildlife surrounding this dreamy home site.

Another property previewed in Blue Heron Bay was situated at the water’s edge. Grab binoculars before calling for a showing because you will want to watch the wildlife in the preserve that is visible from the patio. As you stand in awe, imagine that could be your permanent home!

Staying inside I got separated from the group today because I was admiring the Master Suite. From staging the bedroom complete with a breakfast tray; To faux painted pillars at the garden tub;

To the hand painted artistic creation of the water view outside the Master Bedroom;

To the remarkable organization in the Master Closet (complete with a rolling ladder); plentiful shoe space and hangers for seasonal purses. This area is for indulging the “Total Woman” and King of the Household in their Master Suite. It was organized to a T and truly a “moment to take my breath away!”

If you are interested in researching more about Blue Heron Bay then try the following website:

http://www.blueheronbay.org/index.html

If you want to live in a gated Lake Conroe community and would like to visit Blue Heron Bay, remember, I am standing by to be your Realtor and I’m ready to discuss your home dreams and qualification to your successful home purchase. Let’s make a showing appointment. Feel to call my cell phone during normal business hours, or email me 24 hours anytime!

It’s next week folks! My countdown has begun. By the way, if you are a Mercer Society Member shopping begins on Thursday. I have shopped this plant sale almost every year since 1995. The volunteers have marked the plants to help customers find what draws the butterflies and hummingbirds.

Take along your garden wagons so that you can load up and wheel your treasured items back to your vehicle. If you don’t have a garden cart, never fear, there are some available to rent. Park on the west side of Aldine Westfield. Be prepared for lots of crowded people and have your patience with a smile then you will be guaranteed a fantastically fun adventure. You’ve heard the saying, “The Early Bird Gets the Worm?” Well, The Early Bird get the Treasured Plants! Go early, spend all your money, then go again the next day to make sure you didn’t miss anything, Happy Planting!

If you don’t have some ground to put your beautiful garden flowers, then call me. I am standing by to be your Realtor® and help you find your dream home!

CLICK HERE to see more information.

According to the latest article posted on the San Jacinto River Authority website we have optimism for Lake Conroe’s water level.  February 13, 2012 Blake Kellum with SJRA published an article, Lake Conroe continues slow  but steady rebound in water level!

“Since the beginning of the new year, the lake has regained over two feet of water level.  With more rain in the forecast for the middle of the week and several more systems moving through over the next 10 days, the SJRA remains optimistic that the recovery from historic low lake levels will continue.  Wet soil conditions and regular precipitation is just what is needed for water level conditions to improve.”

This is enough optimism for my mind to feel encouraged.  How about you?  Let’s go shop for that Lake Conroe Dream home today.  Contact me!

To apply for your Residence Homestead Exemption use Property Tax Form 50-114. Montgomery County, Texas homeowners can find their forms at http://www.mcad-tx.org/html/forms.html

Remember: This must be owned by you and occupied as your principal residence.
File: With the appraisal district for the county where the property is located.
When: January 1 and no later than April 30
Note: You do not need to reapply annually once granted

The Chief Appraiser may request additional information … you have 30 days from date of request.

Appraisal District’s Name: Montgomery County Central Appraisal District
Phone: 936-756-3354
Address: 109 Gladstell Conroe, Tx 77301

Now that the formalities are covered let’s move on to the 7 Steps of the application:

Step 1:

State the year for which you are seeking exemption(s) …
Most likely if you lived in your home by Jan 1st then the year will be 2012. If you neglected to fill out your application a homeowner is allowed to go back 2 years.
State the date you began occupying the property as your principal residence …
Do you own the property … X the box Yes or No (remember you must own the property)

Step 2:

Your Name, Mailing Address, City, State and Zip go on the next few lines. Names of all owners need to be provided (attach additional sheets if needed)
Drivers license, Personal ID Certificate or Social Security # must be provided. These will be kept confidential.
Don’t forget to indicate the % ownership.

Step 3:

Now describe your Property. The legal description and the District Account # can also be found at
http://www.mcad-tx.org search using either your address or your Name. the Account# will begin with the letter R…

Step 4:

Identify as many of the exemptions that apply. For sure the box General Residence Homestead Exemption will be checked. Also notice that there are other boxes; Disabled Person Exemption, Age 65 or Older Exemption, Surviving Spouse, 100% Disabled Veteran Exemption, or Surviving Spouse of Disabled Veteran who Received the 100% Disabled Veteran’s Exemption. Notice all restrictions that apply to each and the Affidavits that may be required.
If you are not sure whether to check the box seeking a school tax limitation from your last home there is information defining this term at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax

Step 5:

This Part Is New, Pay Attention to Addresses Matching
Send copies of Required Documents addresses must match property address!
1) Applicants driver’s license or State-Issued Personal ID certificate.
And
2) a copy of the vehicle registration receipt or
an affidavit to the effect stating applicant does not own a vehicle and a copy of a utility bill in applicants name.

Step 6:

Is this unit cooperative housing? check Yes or No

Step 7:

Read, Sign and Date! Make No False Statements!
Judy Reynolds, your Realtor® has walked you through the form and You might be done now…

Or, we might need to put sticky notes (to serve as reminders) on the form where you are waiting on documents with matching addresses. Remember you have until April 30 to send to the Central Appraisal District. I highly recommend that you utilize a Post Office Tracking Service to prove the district received your forms on time.
Almost Done …

Do you need a Notary for any of the Affidavits on the last page? Many of the personal banks will have notaries on staff. If I have helped you through the process of buying your dream home then I personally will see to it that we set up an appointment and have the Affidavits notarized at my office!

Thank you Lynn for Notarizing the Affidavits for my Clients!

Call me!
Judy Reynolds, Realtor®, Standing by to help you through the home buying and ownership process! 936-203-7761

I’m itching to get outside and start my Spring Garden! First things first though, I have started the pruning and turning the mulch that is already in my garden. Good grief the number of weeds that have emerged even among the mulch is astounding. Lots of work to the beds to prepare for my longed for flowers! I picked up the Better Homes and Gardens Gardening Made Easy that will be on display until March 13th. If you don’t have one yet, I found mine at Krogers. One of the articles that catches my eye right away is 10 ‘Whys’ to Garden As I read through this article I have so much input combining the gardening I have learned with home ownership and my Realtor training. Especially the #1! So here we go from the bottom up:

#10. Cut your bills. Refers to using herbs to add to your summer salads. My take on cutting bills comes around the air conditioner. Be sure to allow for allot of circulation, but consider the fact that our units work terrible hard during the hot summer months. I have been taught numerous times to consider plants that will provide shade over the unit without becoming intrusive. Let’s extend the life of those AC units as long as possible!

#9. Nurture the earth. Well ok for the connection to nature… I’m thinking more about the wildlife. What will the birds enjoy? What will attract the hummingbirds and butterflies? Even the bees are an important part to my garden. Oh Yes let’s bring in nurturing the wildlife!

#8. Escape to your own retreat. I totally agree! Nothing is as peaceful as my garden areas. I have a wall hanging that says, “No where on earth is as close to God as in my garden.” My garden is where the quiet moments happen and conversations with God spill from my heart.

#7. Give yourself the gift of blooms. Blooms are, “True spirit-lifters that can be had for free once you step into your garden.” If you are lucky you can catch pictures that won’t ever fade away. Some of my friends take professional pictures and turn them into works of art! “Spirit lifters” that last a lifetime.

#6. Kick-start your calorie-burning. Very encouraging! But once I sit down and drink my tall glass of lemonade, I wonder if the hour of 250 calories that were burned matter? I guess that solution can be handled with a reduced calorie drink.

#5. Boost satisfaction. “Have a wretched day at the office?” Whether it’s events with work … whether it’s business, family related, or simply reducing the craving of my sweet tooth while attempting to diet … nothing relieves frustration more than to weed the garden! It’s my therapy that I actually look forward to and then enjoy the results of my labor. Try it, You’ll Like it! Getting physical is better than meds!

#4. Skip the stress. Well, yes, I leave behind the desktop computer and television. However, my clients do know that I answer my cell phone. So while I monitor the email between flower beds from my Blackberry, my cell phone will be carefully placed on a table nearby. I can always manage to sit on my handy dandy rolling garden buddy while I take a breather and answer phone calls.

#3. Sow your artistic side. My gardening style is not the “rigor of a formal garden” but instead my entire being is a bit “eclectic and whimsical.” I do love reds and purples with spots of yellows. However, when something absolutely beautiful catches my eye, there is always room in my garden no matter what the color.

#2. Eat – and relish – what you grow. Hard as I might try, tomatoes turn out more expensive to grow than to pick them up at the farmer’s market. So I will punt growing the fresh vegetables and do the modern thing of shopping for summertime treats. I have been very successful with fruit trees in my garden. They are some of the first spring time fragrant blooms. There is nothing better than a Christmas time orange straight off my own tree!

#1. Boost your home’s curb appeal. Bingo! If there is a For Sale sign in your front yard you must great those Buyers with curb appeal. Truly, I have been in the car with my buyer and when we pull up to the front of a home (that caught their attention with great pictures on the Internet) with no flowers and a yard that isn’t maintained … well those buyers don’t even want to step out of the car. Green it up people and add color with flowers. It doesn’t have to be fancy … just well kept!

New growth is emerging on the plants here in plant zone 9. New leaf buds are forming and some of the perennials already have flowers on them. According to plantmaps.com our last frost is from March 1 – 10. I’m going to trust our cool weather blooms and go with Snapdragons, Petunias, and Alysum in my ‘spirit lifting,’ curb appeal garden right away.

Whether your dream is a lake home in Conroe, a home in The Woodlands, or in Spring with easy access to the city life of Houston; If you are moving to Texas and looking for a spot of soil to call Home where you can plan, plant and take pleasure from a garden that produces year round color then contact me without delay!

I love the opening sentence in today’s article on Investor’s Business Daily, Real Estate A Buy or Bust This Spring Selling Season:

Predicting the housing market’s fortunes in 2012 on the eve of the spring selling season is like guessing which direction an amoeba in a petri dish will move.

How often am I asked, “Judy how’s the Real Estate Market?”  We are trained and scripts are written to give a ready made answer.  But really … how can anyone honestly answer this question?  I want to roll my eyes, shrug my shoulders and answer, how the heck am I suppose to know!  Instead, let me share what I learned at the Houston Association of Realtors, Montgomery County breakfast last week.

From the Economic Development Partnership here are the statistics for South Montgomery County Population Growth:  in all of Montgomery County the estimated population for 2010 was 458,171 and the projected number for the year 2015 is 552,203!  Now if that isn’t enough to get this Realtor® excited about the Real Estate Market in my area then I don’t know what would get me excited! Could excitement come from  Anadarko-plans-new-tower-to-accommodate-growth- ?  Anadarko’s additional tower is expected to be completed by 2014!  So that gives anticipated excitement to the Real Estate Market!
There were other companies named who are in the process of relocating to our area.  One of which is RPC Inc., which is bringing at least 150 jobs to our area this month.  Other known company names mentioned that will bring jobs to our area are McKesson Specialty Health Care, International Commodities Export Corporation , Talisman Energy.  When I mention our area, I must include the North Harris County expansion of The Exxon Construction which sits on the edge of our southern border of Montgomery County.  All of these companies and the trickle effect bring many hopes and lots of encouragement to our local economy, employment factors and foremost in my own world The Real Estate Market.

South Montgomery County offers amenities of numerous housing developments.  It is centrally located in the Houston Marketplace and well served by 2 large Airports.  The recreation on Lake Conroe is just a stone’s throw away!  The impact of Exxon moving to our area means that The Grand Parkway is happening and will be a highly beneficial infrastructure to our transportation system.

So given what I learned last week, and what I am continuing to hear about the future of my home area … I would say that, “The Real Estate Market is like an amoeba about ready to explode!”  That’s a heart felt answer.  Nothing you are going to see written in a script. But given all the statistics that our leaders here in Montgomery County, Texas are giving us, I would say there is a very bright future for the Real Estate Market.  Wouldn’t you?

I am standing by to help you find your dream home.  Contact me!

Shannon and I had the opportunity to get Kevin Price, host of “Price of Business” on 1070AM, on the phone the other day to talk about Lake Conroe real estate. I hope you enjoy. Call me today to find your lake front dream home!

Are you heading to Lake Conroe this weekend?  Here are some facts that you might find interesting:  Highway 105 crosses at the southern edge of the lake, FM 1375 on the northern edge, and FM1097 slices through the middle.  The length of Lake Conroe is 19 miles, while the width is 5 miles.  Planning for the water reservoir came about after a 7 year drought in the 1950′s.  Building the dam started in 1968 and the project was completed in 1973.  The project was a joint venture with the City of Houston, which has rights to 2/3 of the water supply in the reservoir.  This explains why, during the drought of 2011, the City of Houston was permitted to drain off water from an already low lake because they needed the water supply.  November 20, 2011 the Mayor’s office announced that the City of Houston would suspend the release of water.  Now we watch and wait for the water to rise.

Can projections be made to adequately give us a time frame of how long it will take our parched lake to return to normal?  No!  January 10th, 2012 the San Jacinto River Authority posted a report titled, “Lake Conroe’s Level Rebounds.”  Blake Kellum, the Lake Conroe Division Manager, reports that 2-4 inches of rainfall that week had risen Lake Conroe’s level approximately 3/4 of a foot to an elevation of 193.79 mean sea level (normal pool is 201msl).  This report can be found at www.SJRA.net under “Quick Links” select “Lake Conroe – Lake Report”  The San Jacinto River Authority holds fast to any predictions of what length of time for us to see a normal lake level will be false.  It all depends on how much rain, how often we have rain, and how fast the rain falls. As a matter of fact, simply while writing this blog the website has reported a rise of the lake to 194.07msl!  This is good news, check the website often for up to date information and reports.

If you are planning on bringing your boat be sure to check the San Jacinto River Authority website www.SJRA.net  for the list of Public Boat Ramps Open.  Currently they are listing Kagle Recreation Area, Lakeview, and Stow-A-Way Marina as Open boat ramps.  There is also a google map tab on the website to help you locate the open and also the closed ramps.  You will find phone numbers for many of the ramp sites.  I suggest calling before you arrive to confirm information.

Now that we have covered the facts of Lake Conroe let’s take a moment to review some of the facts of Real Estate in the Conroe, Montgomery and Willis market areas that have communities on the lake front.  After reviewing Sold statistics from the summer 0f 2006  and the last 6 months I am finding that property on the lakefront is lowered by approximately $15 – $20 per square foot.  Those statistics were gathered from a prestige golf course community, with properties situated on Lake Conroe.  Does this mean that Buyers can automatically think all Sellers will reduce their asking prices?  No!  A Buyer needs an experienced Buyer’s Representative to help them compare Sold statistics in the neighborhood in order to place a reasonable offer and negotiate a purchase.  Many of the Luxury home sites are reducing the selling price by thousands of dollars.  While more modestly price homes, that are priced correctly on MLS are selling right on the money of the list price in MLS.  Do not assume that you can automatically place a low offer and have it accepted by the seller.  This is where the knowledge from your Realtor® becomes very important.

I would love to be your Realtor® for the Lake Conroe area in Conroe, Montgomery or Willis.  Let’s talk about whether you are looking for a second home with characteristic and extreme get away quietness from the hustle and bustle of city life … maybe a log home community tucked away in the tall pines of the Sam Houston National  Forest (Wildwood Shores), or perhaps you telecommute and would like the views of the forest while not being quite as far away (Corinthian Point).  Are you looking for a maned gated community off 1097 (Point Aquarius)?  Do you want golf course, social clubs and lake amenities (April Sound or Bentwater)?  Perhaps some where you could live year round with reasonable commuting drives into the City of Houston (White Oak Landing or Longmire on the Lake),  These are just a few of my suggestions.  We need to sit down and talk about your Dream Home on Lake Conroe so that I can help you shop for that special location!

Standing by to be your Realtor® …Call now Judy Reynolds at 936-203-7761!