Is there radiation in granite?  Many people are asking themselves that very question.  An article in the Houston Chronicle, dated July 26th, 2008, in the City and State section discusses this very topic.  There is a lot of conflicting information on the Internet.  Basically, studies from this article show that Brazilian granite tends to have the highest levels of radiation.  They have not come out with the different types that may pose a threat to consumers.  For those that are concerned, they sell radon gas kits at hardware stores.  We will have to keep our eyes open for the latest research.  Pamela Love, www.lovehoustonhomes.com   07/28/2008

I have a brand new listing that is priced to sell!  It is located at 26017 Castle Meadow Lane in Kingwood, TX.  The 3,478 sq foot home features 4 bedrroms, 3.5 bathrooms, media room, gameroom, island kitchen, open floorplan and an island kitchen.  Master features a great closet and large bathroom.  There is very close access to Highway 59 and the Kingwood Athletic CLub.  To take a tour, or for more information, contact me at www.lovehoustonhomes.com, or 832-326-6821. 07/25/2008

View Larger Map Search for current home listings in Kings Point and Royal Shores. These two villages are located in the master planned community of Kingwood TX developed by Friendswood Development. Currently these villages are zoned to Willow Creek Elementary, Riverwood Middle School, and Kingwood High School part of the sought after Humble Independent School District. To learn more about current home listings, or if you are current resident of one of these prestigious villages seeking market information in preparation of selling your home, contact Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE. Visit www.williams4yourhome.com to learn more about the real estate services provided to home buyers and home sellers in Kings Point and Royal Shores. For more area information, community events, ... 07/23/2008

Public school or private school, Kingwood is known for its quality education. Our schools are a reflection of the Kingwood community. Aside from being a great place to live in the forest on the lake, Kingwood offers its children some of the finest educational opportunities in Texas from preschool to the college level. I am very proud to tell you that all public schools in Kingwood have consistently been rated as either "Exemplary" or "Recognized" by the  Texas Education Agency. These rankings are the highest that any school can attain. To achieve such high rankings is an honor and a tribute to the dedication of our teachers and the involvement of the community. Elementary and High School students attend schools governed by the Humble Independent School District. A small portion of Kingw... 07/23/2008

Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty Northeast is a full-service residential real estate consultant providing high level customer oriented services to the residents of northeast Houston including Kingwood, Humble, and Atascocita.  If selling a home Jeremy offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee program that is backed by a marketing system with proven results time and time again.  Jeremy Williams is a leader at Keller Williams serving on the Agent Leadership Council, and he is a leader in the community serving on the Lake Houston Family YMCA board of representatives.  Why list with Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty Northeast?  For starters if you are reading this you found his site through a technology known as blogging.  The site for this blog is entitled NE Houston Real Estat... 07/21/2008

Kingwood is more than just a name of a community; it is more than just a place to call home. Kingwood is history, nature, neighbors, and quality in every aspect of daily life. The Kingwood name is derived from two famous sources: the King Ranch and the Friendswood Development Company. The 14,000 acres on which the Kingwood community was developed, was once part of the legendary Kings Ranch. In 1969 the Friendswood Development Company purchased the land for development. In honor of the historic ranch, which is so much a part of Texas' history, and their own company, Friendswood combined the names. Kingwood soon became one of the nation's premier master-planned communities. Kingwood is also called "The Livable Forest" because of the careful planning that went into the development of the c... 07/17/2008

FHA Loans | Kingwood TX Real Estate Mortgages | Genesis Mortgage Company | Keller Williams Realty NE FHA Loan - A Great Alternative in Today's Real Estate Market Place Information provided by Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NELearn more about how an FHA loan can assist you in purchasing a home. Contact Jeremy Williams today to set up a consultation, 281-812-8229. Max Loan $271,050 *FYI - San Antonio and Austin are the highest in the state. Appraisals Termite treatment certificates Health and Safety determined by Appraiser Soil treatment (new construction only) Down Payment, Closing Costs & Escrows 3% personal investment required (97.75% + closing costs) down payment assistance grants gift (family members only) seller DPA (non-profits - April 2008)  seller contributions up to 6... 07/16/2008

I've been watching the King's Harbor development since they first broke ground.  This micro-community where you could work, live and play along the northern edge of Lake Houston is interesting.  It's also a very visually appealing place... which is evident by the below night-time shot of the brownstones which are the anchor for the residential section. 07/12/2008

The Houston TX area has great golfing venues especially the northeast Houston area including the areas of Humble, Kingwood, and Atascocita.  Some of the great golf courses in the northeast Houston area include Kingwood Country Club, Atascocita Club of Kingwood, Oakhurst Golf Club, Tour 18, Walden on Lake Houston, and Redstone Golf Club.  Click here to search for more information on the courses are any other golf courses in the Houston area. This information is provided by Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE.  For more information about the real estate services provided by Jeremy Williams visit www.williams4yourhome.com or read Jeremy's blog at NE Houston Real Estate | Williams4YourHome. Click here to search for featured real estate listings in northeast Houston. Click here to s... 07/09/2008

Kingwood is a super neighborhood because of its location and the people who live there. Kingwood is also officially recognized as a Super Neighborhood by the City of Houston . A Super Neighborhood is a neighborhood where residents, businesses, civic organizations and institutions work together for the betterment of the community by identifying its needs and concerns. A council is elected and serves as a forum  where issues affecting the neighborhood can be discussed and addressed. When a consensus of opinion is reached in regards to the various needs and concerns of the neighborhood, the council then implements a plan of action (SNAP- Super Neighborhood Action Plan) to prioritize and address them. The super neighborhood council works closely with the City of Houston 's City Council and ... 07/09/2008

The 4th of July parade this year surpassed the participation of last year with over 70 entries.  The area along W. Lake Houston Pkwy. and Kingwood Dr. was packed with people celebrating the national holiday.  Though hot, the rain held off and the event went off without a hitch.  Here are some of the pictures taken by Jeremy Williams with Keller Williams Realty Northeast of the event.  Enjoy. Chief Harold Hurt of the Houston Police Department Congressman Ted Poe Sparky Nolan - President of the Kingwood Chamber of Commerce Michael Byers - President of the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce Chris Sears - Team Leader of Keller Williams Realty Northeast Keller Williams Realty Northeast - Theme "The Big Top" Local Shriners Chapter Andie Szabo - Extension Nineteen Answering Service Alspaugh's - A... 07/04/2008

Have you considered moving to the wonderful Kings River Village in Kingwood, TX.  Kings River is located south of the river and north of the Atascocita area.  Kings River is a master planned neighborhood with a community pool, parks, and a trail system for those that like the great outdoors.  Click here to search for any of the listings below, or contact Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE to setup a private showing for one of these great homes in Kings River - Kingwood, TX. 6323 Maple Spring Place20602 White Berry Court20819 Crimson Oak Trail6322 Hedge Maple Court20822 Water Point6411 Upper Lake Drive20602 Delta Wood Trail20915 Lake Park Trail20802 Greenfield Trail20614 White Berry Court20302 Water Point Trail6746 Auburn Oak Trail20823 Meadow Belle Court20618 Golden Hawthorne ... 07/02/2008

In my post Lucky #7, I told you that Forbes.com had found the Houston area to be one of the most recession proof cities in the nation. Circumstances have improved since that report. Houston now has the strongest economy in the nation! The Chicago Tribune has published an article (Houston Doesn't Have a Problem) about the strong economy in Houston. Newsweek (Houston, We Have No Problems) and the Washington Post (Houston's Pipelines of Prosperity) have published articles on the Houston economy as well. The economic turn down and energy crisis has affected the majority of the states but in Houston the energy crisis has actually stimulated our economy. The Houston economy is no "bubble". The City of Houston has worked hard to provide a quality lifestyle for its citizens. If you are going to... 07/02/2008

Kingwood, Texas The Kingwood Civic Club each year organizes the 4th of July activities including the popular fish rodeo, bike judging contest, and the ever growing parade (around 70 entries this year).   The fishing rodeo will take place at the Fosters Mill pond located at Kingwood Dr. and Forest Garden Drive from 6:00 am - 8:00 am.  Youth, 15 and under, are encouraged to bring their fishing poles and tackle to compete for trophies in several different categories.  The bike judging contest will take place at Creekwood Middle School located on W. Lake Houston Pkwy. starting at 8:00 am.  Decorate your bike and you might just win a trophy.  There is no registration required for either the fishing rodeo or the bike judging contest.  Enjoy the parade with the floats being judged at 9:00 am a... 07/01/2008

My last few posts have been to dispute all the negative information about the real estate market.  To show how localized the real estate market can be, below is a months of inventory report by village in Kingwood Texas.  To see how this information relates to price, read my post Kingwood Texas Months of Inventory Report Based on Price - Understanding the Truth About the Current Market. Forest Cove - 8.3 MonthsKings Manor - 6 MonthsKingwood Place - 6 MonthsWoodland Hills - 5.3 MonthsTrailwood Village - 6.9 MonthsBear Branch - 7.4 MonthsHunters Ridge  - 7.3 MonthsElm Grove - 4.5 MonthsMills Branch - 5 MonthsGreentree - 4.7 MonthsSand Creek - 4.5 MonthsFosters Mill - 6.5 MonthsKings Point - 6.9 MonthsKingwood Lakes - 6 MonthsKings Forest - 7.7 MonthsRiverchase - 5.4 MonthsWoodstream - 4.8 ... 07/01/2008

The following information regarding months of inventory based on price is from the Houston Association of Realtors website Har.com.  This information is provided to you by Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE located in Kingwood Texas.  To learn how your home fits in the current market contact Jeremy today at 281-387-7689. Months of inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete the current inventory based on the prior 12 months of sales activity.  Based on the numbers below the strongest price range in the current market is homes priced $200,000 - $300,000 with 5.7 months of inventory.  Placing a close second is the homes priced $100,000 - $200,000.  Luxury homes have dipped slightly, but the overall months on inventory for Kingwood is holding steady at 6.2. K... 07/01/2008

I am asked how is the market doing on a daily basis and my response is great until I see statistics that state otherwise.  With that response I am usually looked at with disbelief because the constant rhetoric provided by our wonderful television indicates anything otherwise.  Reports of a bad real estate market are anything but consistent.  Why is there inconsistency?  Is it because there may be underlying agendas to manipulate the data to produce a specific outcome, or maybe it is the lack of knowledge or understanding of what is exactly taking place within the market.  Real estate is a local market.  The market in Kingwood TX can't be compared to the market in Orange County CA.  Many factors influence the vitality of the market which can't be generalized.  I ran across this site whic... 07/01/2008

Buy versus Rent? There are many factors involved in this equation and like all things when considering real estate, location is key. If you are talking about areas where affordable housing begins at $350,000 and up, renting may be cheaper than buying. In Kingwood, Texas, I believe the advantage is to buy versus rent. Apartments in Kingwood for a 3 bedroom/2baths average $1375 with a luxury apartment renting for $1575. A monthly payment of $1575 will purchase a home in Kingwood with a sales price of $212,000 (Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance). Renters don't pay property taxes. False: The landlord must pay property taxes on his rental unit. Where does that money come from? Your rent. You are paying the taxes for the landlord, who at the same time is gaining equity and growing his ... 06/25/2008

A recent report released on House Prices in America, by Global Insight, Inc and National City Economics., has found that the Houston area's real estate market is under-valued by an unbelievable 33.1%! Factors in determining an area's value were based on population, income and interest rates, among others. According to the newest sales data released by the Houston Association of Realtors®, sales have declined by as much as 12% since last year but the days on market declined by 3 days last month and home values have risen by 0.5% each month for the last three months. The market is in the buyer's favor as far as selection and lack of competition. The market still favors the seller because home values are increasing. A buyer should not expect a seller to meet demands in regards to  price, t... 06/18/2008

Last week in my blog, I mentioned that interest rates had moved up slightly.  Interest rates have been very volatile for the past two weeks. In the beginning of May, rates were hovering below the 6% mark but now the reverse is true. Yesterday's rates moved down somewhat due to the drop in the price of oil per barrel. Today's rate is quoted at 6.125%. The Federal Reserve is watching home sales, the weak dollar and inflation very carefully. As of June 1, the Feds have taken on a policy of "watch and see". Wall Street is "betting" that interest rates will rise before the end of the year. Some feel it could be as early as October while others think there will be an increase no later than December. The Federal Reserve, Economists and Wall Street are feeling more confident that the worst of t... 06/04/2008