Lago Woods: New Custom Home Development in Northwest Houston. Have you envisioned your dream home built in a tranquil, heavily wooded setting where nature abounds, yet within a short driving distance to shopping, entertainment, acclaimed schools and colleges? Located within five miles of Exxon Mobil’s future world headquarters and just south of The Woodlands, lies one of Northwest Houston’s newest, premier neighborhoods appropriately named Lago Woods. Actual pre-construction photograph of Lago Woods   I have the privilege of assisting Beth Ferester, acclaimed as one of the Top 10 realtors in Houston, in the exclusive listings  for Lago Woods. We are most excited about this project and expect the 45 home sites to sell quickly. Lago Woods is a delightful oasis and retreat where families c... 06/29/2012

Plan now for a Happy Birthhday  America celebration!   As we did our errands yesterday we passed through one of the area pieces of Americana.      We noted that there is a major event being planned.  You are cordially invited to come share in the celebration according to the sign!   Spring Texas has evolved into a quaint shopping extravaganza.   Antique buildings line several streets . They house everything from health foods, to antiques, to hot sauce, to hardware and various eating establishments from cotton candy and sno-cones to burgers to some things much nicer and heathier!   There are  museums and boutiques as well.  You name it Spring has it.  Of course the parking is a little tight on festive days.   It is an example of what shopping  used to be before malls.   You can almost s... 06/19/2012

This large and lovely tract of land in Northwest Houston offers sad reminders of the drought of last summer.   Trees are a large part of the appeal for the area.  They offer feelings of serenity and often provide enough shade to make temperatures more temperate.   The dead tree fringe is beautiful in its own way.   Since they do not threaten to fall on any structures or roadways,  they may be allowed to stay right where they are.   They do not offer shade or the ability to clean up the air as to the live trees.  They do however provide numerous housing opportunities for birds who need places to nest.   With the numerous woodpeckers in this area, the skeletal remains of these trees may represent a major development .     06/17/2012

  Tis the season to enjoy the smells of freshly mowed hay.   One of the genuine joys of working in the country is enjoying the genuine sights and smells of simple pleasures.   Fields where hay is still being grown are becoming more and more rare on our daily drives.   This year there was adequate rainfall to allow for a couple of cuttings.   With the intense heat we have been enduring since March, it was still a surprise to see how quickly this field went from hay on the ground to massive bales.   This is a fun illustration of what looks like nothing turning into an important part of the food chain.   There are lots of animals who will be reaping the benefits of these seemingly vacant fields.   With the cost of hay these days the fields will probably be allowed to produce for a while. ... 06/07/2012

As we continue to absorb the secrets of life found on a baseball field, we learn housekeeping secrets previously un-noted.   One of the older umpires has a noticeable limp when he walks.   Due to that it is impractical for him to clean the home plate in the conventional manner.   No one needs a undefined home base.  This umpire has a unique cleaning technique.   As you can see by the photo,  the effort was successful.   Due to the frequency of the need to clean up the plate we observed the cleaning with more interest than usual.   Lucky for us all that the other bases do not require as much maintenance .  The umpire was so intense about keeping the base clean, it made me wonder if his real home is not keep up just as well!  You see,  people do judge us by how well we maintain our homes.... 05/06/2012

Stunning 360 Virtual Tours and Real Estate Photography in Houston! Okay so I could be a bit biased since this is my company but I am very proud of the work we are creating for agents here in Houston. WE offer affordable magazine style custom video slideshows, virtual tours and real estate photography to homeowners, agents, businesses, apartment complexes, resorts and more. Please visit www.epicentertours.com for rates and more samples! Our custom designed flyers are very impressive too! Here are some samples:   Visting our Youtube channel to stay a beat ahead of the rest. It's a great place to see new homes just launching on the market!! Subscribe so you can get be one of the few to be notified of new homes available. Many Homes for sale are on here before they go on MLS!! Videos like t... 05/04/2012

There is no doubt that love is an art form!     Yes it is a natural emotion.  It can also be enhanced and taught by people caring and showing love to others.   This baseball team has been blessed with a group of fathers who are not afraid to show their feelings.     The result has been that this group of young men has learned to care about each other.    They know that each member of the team has unique skills.  They also know that the team is only as strong as the weakest member.   One of the team members is a little lacking in batting skills.  He continues to try hard.   Last night at a critical point in the game, his at bat resulted in three runs.   One of the coaches called to him after his successful run and have him an encouraging word in addition to a big hug.  His team was also ... 05/03/2012

Interesting how we keep finding similarities between sports and our business....   One of the elements of observing baseball games is watching how each member of the team covers his part of the enormous field.   Obviously no one can be everywhere.  The successful teams have taught the players where their perimeters are and encouraged them to stay within their designated spaces.   It illustrates yet another life lesson for us all.   When we concentrate on doing it all, we accomplish little.   Over the years we have watched as agents attempt to work all over town.  Anything for a listing seems to be the current mind set.   How much time does it take to be totally knowledgeable about the schools, the area amenities, the builders, the styles and floorplans available,  neighborhood parks?   ... 05/02/2012

There are times when one can question what we thought we have seen.   One such time is when the umpires calls of safe or put do not concur with what my eyes conveyed to my brain.  This is interesting since the older umpires se to consistently call things like I see them.  Hummm.   There is one umpire that regularly sees things exactly opposite .    My opinion does not count and it could be that the difference in where the umpire is standing gives him a whole different perspective.  That has to be it!   It is an interesting paradym and has made me consider the possibility that our clients see what we are doing in marketing their properties in a totally different light.   It may be a good idea for us to be sure we are using our words to explain the process as we go.  That way they are mor... 05/01/2012

THIRTEEN homes closed in the Windrose Subdivision in March and April of 2012!     Prices ranged from $139,900 for a three-bedroom foreclosure all the way up to $500,000.  Windrose has a price point for every budget, and is one of the few "master-planned communities" in the Houston area! The average number of days on the market before receiving a contract was 93, and most homes received 97% or closer to their asking price which is GREAT NEWS for WINDROSE sellers! Thinking of buying in Windrose??  Check out my latest listing 5810 Sawyer Bend at www.har.com/57113393 . Thinking of selling in Windrose?? Give me a call, and I will give you a free, no-obligation analysis of what you can expect to receive from the sale of your home! SONJA PATTERSON with RE/MAX REALTY CENTER Direct: 281.213.8039... 04/30/2012

Located in Spring, Texas, the Windrose subdivision continues to draw families looking for a GREAT place to call home.  Windrose is located just southwest of the intersection of FM 2920 and Kuykendah. This beautiful development includes 1121 acres of heavily forested land and has approximately 2,000 homes.  Some of the amenities Windrose offers include: Access to a daily fee, championship 18 hole golf course winding through the neighborhood, Village Green with community club and meeting houses, A Junior Olympic pool and one additional neighborhood pool, On-site elementary, Tennis courts, volleyball court and soccer field, Playgrounds, walking trails and neighborhood pocket parks, Release lake with fishing landing, Social groups (the Ladies Association, Garden Club, Bridge, Bunco,  Book C... 04/30/2012

As we age we find that the amount of effort to achieve a goal should be in proportion with the good to be gained.   When there is more effort needed than the goal is worth we tend to feel robbed.   Have you ever watched how much time and effort the person playing the position of catcher expends each time they suit up!   Granted the extra padding and the mask probably make the job safer.  If you consider the added weight, bulk insets and general clunkiness of the catchers gear, it makes you appreciate all the extra effort they have to put into each game.   How much extra effort to you put into your daily business?  Costumes not withstanding since they do not really factor into our business, we do have to make an extra effort to look well groomed.   We also have an incredible amount to ex... 04/29/2012

So where do you throw the ball when you catch it at second base and there is a runner coming to third like a locomotive with another runner headed to home base?   Well  this  dilemma  resulted in the ball staying in the glove!     The short seconds of confusion resulted in the opposing team making two runs!   We have all been in situations like that in our business!  Some decisions just need time.   Time is often a luxury we do not have.  Do you have a contingency plan for each of your transactions?  Not that you should spend a lot of time in the land of "what if."   Just spend a little time daily formulating your contingency plans.  It will minimize the possibility of being blindsided or left with periods of costly indecision. 04/26/2012

When the second baseman caught the ball with the first base runner headed for second base,  he had a moment of confusion and fired the ball to the first baseman who missed it!   Our team was up seven runs at the time but it was a definite oops....   The incident seemed to rock the worlds of all the players on our team.  Perhaps there had been something in the water?     It took a good three more innings to get things back into the normal zone. In the meantime,  the opposition capitalized on our confusion running up a healthy score against our guys.   Hmmmm.  It seems that this situation beautifully illustrates the need to be focused on what we need to do!  No matter what!     Distractions result in poor performances.  It does not matter how good we are at what we do,  if we allow oursel... 04/23/2012

Several of the games we have been to in the past couple of weeks were extremely exciting,   In all of these cases it was due to the antics of the team members.   For whatever reason,  the playing techniques were unbelievably off.   Huge scores were run up by the opposing teams while our guys seemed to flounder in a sea of mistakes.   Then, as quickly as the play began to decline,  the boys rallied.  No rhyme or reason... Suddenly they began to exhibit the skills we all had seen them display in games past.   In two out of the three games in question a win was pulled out.  The third game resulted in a tie!   If anyone had asked me,  I would have declared these matches over after the first two innings.   It just goes to show that a game, just like a transaction is not over till it is finis... 04/22/2012

When the sun is in your eye and flies are swarming around the spectators sitting on the humid bleachers, it does detract from the game.   Same sun is in the eyes of the batters on both teams in the field too.   All these kids and their parents have made great efforts just to show up at the field, night after night!   Comfort is clearly not a factor to be considered here.   What seems to be the driving for e night after night is the desire to excel at a sport they all love.   What do you love enough to endure discomfort?   In our line of work we do show up daily to give our best efforts to help people achieve the American dream of home ownership.   We do not in most cases have to put up with much discomfort.  Our work is much less physical.     What we achieve is less likely to achieve t... 04/20/2012

Last night we watched a young catcher play his heart out.   The opposing team was playing better than our team was.  All our at bat time just did not quite connect.  The hits that were achieved were caught or did not allow runs to be scored.   For this team that had become quite accustomed to winning,  this was a tough place to be.   The catcher worked hard.  His efforts did not result in the runners being out.   At one point after three previous runners being ruled safe after this young man catching the ball and tagging the runner,  he looked really discouraged.   He kept on trying and the next runner sliding into home knocked the ball out of his glove .  To make things worse the catcher then lost his balance and fell on the successful runner.   The expression on the face of the catche... 04/19/2012

How do you retrieve a ball from the to of the dug out?   First you jump off the bench and hit the roof with your hand on your way down,  Repeat that process several times to get the ball close to the edge!   Then you get a bat and hit the roof til the ball drops into the spectator area.   You can always be sure that someone will retrieve it and return it to the umpire.   This not only puts the ball back into play, but it provides quality entertainment for the fans.   I think it rivals the half time shows at football games.   This situation illustrates the fact that to accomplish our goals,  we must have all the tools accessible or else we have to innovate.  Without the essentials we cannot be effective.   When was the last time you assessed your game plan?  Did you sharpen your tools an... 04/18/2012

One of the most unsung Heros in American sports are the umpires.   These folks have to be totally objective in their observations , all of the time.  Without their input there would be total chaos on the field.   Not only do they have to be able to see from all angles,  they have to go totally by the rule book.  No exceptions allowed.  None!   Have you ever taken the time to really watch what all is required of these hard working people?   They run all over the field, keep track of the score, the strikes, the fouls, and the time slotted for innings.   So, what is in it for them?  The pay is negligible, the weather is hot and frequently the fans have attitude.  Couple that with the fact that the players are frequently upset over the calls made.  How pleasant can it be to make a seven yea... 04/16/2012

  It's OK I am used to it!   That was the comment made by our seven year old grandson when his gramps congratulated him on making four picture perfect catches of fly balls during a game. We found that amusing at first but at second thought , it made astoundingly good sense. We do tend to be products of our thinking.  When we think positive thoughts we receive positive results. This youngster has had positive direction by two loving full time parents.  He has been given every possible opportunity to practice and acquire skills, and he gives baseball his undivided attention while he is engaged in a game. He does very well at hitting, fielding and running!  He is used to doing well because that is his focus! Wow I wish I had known what he knows when I was seven!  Even knowing it at twenty ... 04/14/2012