Houston home sales rose for the second time this year in June, with the average price reaching an all-time high and the median price achieving the highest level in nearly two years. The sales increase reflects the slowdown in home purchases that set in a year ago following expiration of the home buyer tax credit. The credit triggered a surge in home buying during the spring of 2010 that resulted in slower sales volume during the remainder of that year.

According to the latest monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), June sales of single-family homes edged up 0.6 percent versus one year earlier. That represents the first increase since January when sales volume rose 8.4 percent. The under-$80,000 segment of the market as well as homes priced from $250,000 and above experienced increased sales while the popular middle range, consisting of homes priced between $80,000 and $250,000, saw declines. Compared to June of 2009, a year with no unusual market factors such as Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the 2010 tax credit, single-family home sales were up 2.7 percent.

“We see the effects of the 2010 tax credit in the June Houston real estate market report in the form of a drop-off in sales that took place a year ago once the credit expired,” said Carlos P. Bujosa, HAR chairman and VP at Transwestern. “We expect these credit-skewed readings to taper soon, providing us with a more accurate gauge of market performance, but in the meantime, we are thrilled to see sustained home price appreciation.”

The average price of a single-family home rose 3.7 percent from June 2010 to a record high of $228,650. The June single-family home median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—increased 2.2 percent year-over-year to $161,000. That is the highest median price since July 2009. Foreclosure property sales reported in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) decreased 3.2 percent in June compared to one year earlier.

Foreclosures comprised 18.7 percent of all property sales, down from 19.8 percent in May, 22.0 percent in April and 23.5 percent in March. The median price of June foreclosures declined 7.5 percent to $81,000 on a year-over-year basis.

June sales of all property types in Houston totaled 6,520, down 0.2 percent compared to June 2010. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month increased 3.3 percent to $1.43 billion versus $1.38 billion one year earlier.

This coming Saturday, November 20th, from 5:30 to 7:30, LaCenterra and the Katy Chamber of Commerce will present the Seventh Annual “Home for the Holidays” festival and tree lighting ceremony.

Fun for the entire family, “Home for the Holidays” features Alexander and Stanley Elementary School student performances and the Members Choice Credit Union holiday express train. There will be children’s activities, huggable holiday characters and a visit from the Big Guy himself!

The celebration also includes “Bears and Blankets”, a drive benefiting the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. Guests are encouraged to bring new teddy bears and stuffed animals along with new blankets and cold-weather clothing. Items collected during the event will be donated and distributed to area children and seniors.

“Home for the Holidays” will be held at LaCenterra’s Heritage Square, the center courtyard. LaCenterra is located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.

The secret is out: Pumpkin is the secret ingredient for the first annual Westside Chef’s Throwdown, set for Sat., Nov. 13, from 2-5 p.m. at Katy’s LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.

More than 20 restaurants and food trucks will participate in this family event featuring live music, cooking demonstrations and activities for the little ones.

In a twist inspired by TV’s “Iron Chef”, the chefs will compete for top honors by inventing new dishes featuring pumpkin, while they will also serve up many dishes they are known for.

Event-goers will be able to taste dishes by purchasing a wristband with all proceeds benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Houston are summer camps program.

Wristbands can be purchased at the event or online at www.westsidechefsthrowdown.com. Wristbands purchased online are $20 for adults, $10 for children (free under 2), and $50 for a family pack for two adults and two children. Adult tickets will be $25 if purchased at the event, with other prices the same as the online price.

Celebrity judges for the secret ingredient challenge will include High-Tech Texan and radio host Michael Garfield and Houston food writer/radio host Cleverley Stone.

Sponsors include Chesmar Homes; Schwartz, Page & Harding; Perry Homes; Costello, Inc.; CIA Services and Spark Energy. Presenters include Newland Communities, Land Tejas Companies and Trendmaker Development Co.

Restaurants sending their top chefs include:

• H-Town StrEATs Food Truck
• Georgia’s Farm to Market
• Panera Bread
• Rain Forest Cafe
• Polo’s
• Post Oak Grill
• Mia Bella Tatoritta
• Fish City Grill
• Mission Burrito
• Baker Street Pub
• Hasta La Pasta
• Ooh La La Sweets
• The Union Kitchen
• Sweet Tomatoes
• 3 Olives Italian
• Babaloo International Cafe and Bar
• Antonia’s Cucina Italiana

Lease activity for LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch has been rising with the Texas temperature this summer. Center management announces that over 11,200 square feet of retail space and almost 9,500 square feet of office space has been leased.  Additions to LaCenterra’s tenant roster include boutiques, restaurants and specialty food retailers, along with business offices. That’s nearly 20,700 square feet of additional services at LaCenterra.

New retailers include Berripop Frozen Yogurt, Fit N Fresh Gourmet, Otto’s Deluxe Grille and Paper Lane Stationery and Gifts.  Relocating business offices to LaCenterra include the Law Office of Scott P. Callahan, P.C. and Woodco Fund Management.

Berripop Frozen Yogurt has leased 1,540 square feet of center space for a new location.  Born in the great state of Texas in December 2007, Berripop offers parfaits, Hawaiian shaved ice, signature smoothies and -of course – fresh, all-natural non-fat yogurt with healthy toppings.  Guests will find the latest music videos played on flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi in this bright, modern yogurt shop.  Berripop will open in early September in Ste. E100, also overlooking Heritage Square.

Business partners, Mike Rizutto of Sugar Land and Al Gross of Round Rock have leased just over 2,000 square feet of retail space for Fit N Fresh Gourmet.  The specialty food store will offer freshly prepared healthy meals and customized meal plans.  Katy area residents dreaming of a personal chef need look no further when Fit N Fresh Gourmet opens for business in Ste. R100 in mid-October.

Houston’s famed Otto’s Barbecue and Hamburgers will open a new concept restaurant: Otto’s Deluxe Grille.  The rustic 2,648-square-foot eatery will offer certified Angus burgers, gourmet salads and sandwiches along with comfort food favorites including chicken fried steak, real mashed potatoes, homemade cobbler and, of course, Otto’s acclaimed brisket and sausage.  The new “finer dining-comfort food” concept will also feature weekend fish and seafood specials.  The restaurant will serve their famous weekend breakfast from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m, Saturday and Sunday.  While an official date has not been announced, a late October opening is anticipated.  Otto’s Deluxe Grille will open in Ste. D100 and will offer restaurant and patio seating overlooking LaCenterra’s central courtyard, Heritage Square.

Mother and daughter-in-law duo Janice and Chris Therrien have leased 1475 square feet of retail space for Paper Lane Stationery and Gifts too! The colorful store will give residents a reason to celebrate by offering custom invitations, stationery and greeting cards from notable names including Crane & Co., William Arthur, Tickle Bellies, Bella Ink, Inviting Company, Kate Spade and Vera Wang.  They will also stock artfully designed paper products and gifts from Caspari, CR Gibson, Mudpie and Illume candles.  Planners, journals, pens and desk accessories from makers such as momAgenda, Moleskine, Retro 151 and Pierre Belvedere are other gift ideas. Paper Lane Stationery and Gifts too! is scheduled to open in Ste. D120, between Otto’s Deluxe Grille and The Wine Next Door, in late September.

The Law Office of Scott P. Callahan, P.C. has just relocated from its Galleria/Uptown location to LaCenterra.  Attorney Scott Callahan has leased over 1,200 square feet of office space in Suite B240. The Law Office of Scott P. Callahan, P.C., a personal injury trial law firm, is devoted to representing victims and their families in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases.  Most recently, Mr. Callahan was instrumental in forcing a nationwide recall of the product Stand ‘N Seal from stores due to consumer deaths and severe lung injuries.  Mr. Callahan is on the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the American Association for Justice, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, and State Bar of Texas.

Woodco Fund Management, a private asset management company firm, leased just over 1630 square feet of office space.  Woodco Fund Management relocated to the Katy area from its Dairy Ashford address in Houston.  Doors have recently opened for business in Ste. B225.

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch is located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Grand Parkway in Katy, Texas.  Center hours: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.  Individual store hours may vary.

To tour Cinco Ranch homes or other Katy houses, contact me via this blog or phone  (713) 818-2404. You can also search the entire MLS from this site. I have sold Katy real estate for over 21 years and would greatly enjoy working with you.

I received the following letter from LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch:

“We’re currently working on an in-depth market research project that will help us answer the question, “What is best for LaCenterra’s Phase II?” More importantly, it will help us determine what residents want and what the greater Katy area needs.

Please let us know what you think by taking our survey. Your input will help guide us in the pursuit of additional retail, restaurant and entertainment components for Phase II. It will also give us hard data to present to national retailers to let them know that Katy is ready to support an entrance into the market.”

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, in partnership with Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center (KVPAC), welcomes Making A Mark®, the Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Service’s touring art exhibition presented by The Periwinkle Foundation.

The extraordinary display features the works of young artists whose lives have been touched by cancer and blood disorders. It provides a unique focus on their personal issues.

The exhibit will open to the public Wednesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Ste. C 140 of LaCenterra (between Simply Cinco and Panera Bread) and run through April 28 before moving to KVPAC gallery for an additional two-week showing.

Making A Mark encourages all patients and their siblings to participate in sharing their feelings through applied art or creative writing. Often deep-rooted feelings and fears are given a positive outlet.

Every participant is a winner because so much has been gained in the process, and all submissions for the show are exhibited at the opening each September at Texas Children’s Hospital and then a selection of artwork travels to various locations throughout the year.

Guest are invited to fill out a “Postcard from the Road” that will be sent directly to the artist or the artist’s family to let the artists know the effect that their artwork has had on the lives of others and to offer them encouragement.

While this exhibit serves to shine a light on these amazing artists, it also highlights KVPAC’s “Healing Arts” programs and commitment to Texas Children’s Cancer Center by way of volunteer art lessons at the Texas Medical Center campus and the future Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

More than 400 patients and their siblings from the Texas Children’s clinic participate, free of charge each year.  Making A Mark is open to children from all pediatric cancer treatment centers, and has attracted art and writing submissions from around the world.

To highlight Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Service and The Periwinkle Foundation have proudly displayed more than 200 entries each year since the first exhibit in September 1991. Past exhibits have been shown in Japan, Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, and numerous cities throughout the state of Texas.

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch is located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard in Katy.  Gallery hours will be offered from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily (excluding Sundays) with extended hours offered until 8:00 p.m. each Wednesday through April 28.

Groups of 10 or more schedule your visit by contacting Kristin Miller at kmiller@kvpac.org.  To learn more about LaCenterra, please visit LaCenterra.com.  For KVPAC gallery hours, programs and general information, visit KVPAC.org.

For information about all Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404 or via email. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

Being a Mom takes precedence over being a Katy TX Realtor. (Unfortunately, I don’t think my kiddos would necessarily agree with this statement. Do you have the same guilt-induced scenarios with your children?)  I was a Katy Realtor long before I adopted my children. My career, like motherhood, is very time-consuming. It’s also extremely rewarding but never as meaningful as parenting my children.

Most of this time, I’ve been a single mother and have continued selling real estate with the exception of a  two-year break when my son needed intensive physical therapy. I love my children and I love my professional life, too. However, when faced with a decision between being a Mom and a Realtor, of course, I chose parenthood.

My daughter turned 17 on Saturday. It’s almost impossible to think about how old she is and how soon she will be college bound! The older I get, the faster time flies. No longer are we celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese but, rather, she picked Friday’s at Katy Mills Mall for her birthday dinner. Her boyfriend, whom I really like, came, too. My, how times have changed.

It’s never bothered my daughter that her birthday is so close to Christmas. Now, that she “only wants money”, she thinks the timing is awesome considering the pre-Christmas sales. It’s all about spending that birthday money, as quickly as possible, on clothes! From my vantage point, it’s all about fighting those crowds, inside and outside in the parking lots. Gotta’ be a good Mom so, into the chaos, I venture.

Saturday afternoon, once I hit the streets inside the Katy Mills Mall perimeter, those with the stop signs, things really unraveled. I am not exaggerating, it took more than 10 minutes to get through each stop sign. There were three stop signs! Are you headed to Katy Mills Mall for the pre-or-post Christmas sales? Here’s my advice: Do what I did when returning for dinner, take the Pin Oak exit!

For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

News Bulletin: Announcement from the North Pole! Santa Claus will be at LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 23rd. Pick up lunch and join Santa where he will read stories to the children. Bring your wish lists and your camera. This is Santa’s last stop until his busy night.

Tongue stuck on the icy pole. Bullies defeated. Chinese Christmas carols and incorrigible language. I don’t know about you but “A Christmas Story” is my all-time favorite Christmas movie! It just doesn’t get any better; every year I enjoy it more and more.

Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this holiday classic at LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch on Saturday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, holiday snacks and blankets, if necessary. (Who knows–one day freezing and the next hot!) The outdoor event will be in Heritage Square.

Enjoy a warm bag of popcorn. While the popcorn is free, donations go to Carrie’s Heart, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting educational and community programs for children with disabilities worldwide.

For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

LaCenterra and the Katy Chamber of Commerce invite you to participate in their Annual Tree Lighting fesitivies! Find your holiday cheer on Saturday, November 29, starting at 5:30 p.m. Cinco Ranch High School’s Bravo and VIVA! choirs will perform holiday favorites.

There will be special events for children including the Teddy Bear Parade. Little ones are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal(s) to help guide Santa to LaCenterra’s Christmas tree.

The Salvation Army’s Bears and Blankets Annual Drive will kick-off at the tree lighting and continue until December 12. Please bring stuffed animals, blankets or winter wear for donation to benefit the Salvation Army’s Angel Christmas Tree tradition.

For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 19 years. Experience does count!