M/I Homes is the newest homebuilder to join the builder team at Firethorne, a 1,400-acre master-designed residential community located in Katy/Fulshear.   The builder’s 60-foot lot model home will be constructed in the new Firethorne West Model Park.  Firethorne is situated 10 and 15 miles west of the Texas Medical Center-West Campus and Houston’s Energy Corridor, respectively.

M/I Homes’ one- and two-story homes, available in brick, stone and stucco exterior elevations, will range from 2,000 to 3,400 square feet and priced from the $220,000s. The builder’s signature features include soaring windows, rotundas, structural and designer options and a 30-year transferable structural warranty.

“We hand-select each of our builders based upon their high standards for design, quality, customer satisfaction and reputation,” said Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer. Currently completing the Firethorne builder team are: Ashton Woods Homes, Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes and David Weekley Homes.

Firethorne, located in the top-ranked Katy Independent School District and Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, features 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, resort-style swim center, new competitive swim center, sports fields, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. 

To tour Firethorne, visiting both new construction and resale homes, call me at 713-818-2404. I have sold Katy real estate for over 22 years and would be delighted to hear from you!

Firethorne continued its record-breaking ways in 2010, selling 254 new homes, an all-time high for the five-year-old Katy/Fulshear residential development.   This represents a 6.7 percent increase in new home sales over 2009, when the 1,400-acre master-designed community marked its previous record-breaking 238 homes sold.

“The continued growth of the Katy/Fulshear/West Houston economy, the Federal tax credits for first-time homebuyers (offered earlier in the year), our outstanding public schools and ongoing support from the local Realtor ® community have fueled the success we achieved in 2010,” said Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer.

Project-to-date, Firethorne has sold 1,132 new homes.   The Firethorne homebuilders are Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes and David Weekley Homes.

In terms of growth, energy companies have relocated employees to the area, plus three major Houston hospitals are expanding in the Katy/West Houston areas, including Texas Children’s Hospital-Katy, Memorial Hermann-Katy and The Methodist Hospital-Katy.

Firethorne is attractive to the Houston relocation market with its proximity to the Energy Corridor, location in the top-ranked Katy Independent School District and Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, and availability of lots typically found in the country with all of conveniences of master-designed recreational amenities, such as state-of-the-art technology and nearby shopping, retail, dining, entertainment, schools and medical facilities.

The community features 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, resort-style swim center, sports fields, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. It’s where the vibrancy of West Houston meets the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. Located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, take I-10 west and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, go to www.firethorne.info, or call 281-693-1011.

To tour Firethorne homes and work with a Realtor who can assist you in negotiations, call me at 713-818-2404. I have sold Katy real estate for over 21 years. Experience does count!

The 18^th Annual Katy Triathlon at Firethorne, the third largest co-ed triathlon in Texas, will be held Sunday, October 24, 7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., in and around the 1,400-acre Firethorne residential community.  The USA Triathlon-sanctioned race, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Katy, encompasses a 16-mile bike race, a three-mile run and a 500-meter swim in Lake Firethorne.

“Firethorne is a great partner on this event and we’re thrilled to be back,” said Rotary Club of Katy Treasurer Vicki Rao.  “We really enjoy the residents — they’re phenomenal people.  Their response was so incredible last year, especially those who live near Race Central (the Visitor Center).”

The 2010 race hopes to draw 1,000 participants — 900+ individual athletes, plus those on relay teams.

The cycling route will include sections of FM 1463 and US Hwy. 90, within the Katy city limits. Firethorne is located on FM 1463, near the crossroads of the I-10 West corridor, Westpark Tollway and Grand Parkway.

“Firethorne’s 12-acre lake amenity and proximity to wide spaces of rural areas is conducive to having a successful triathlon,” said veteran Race Director Dave Rainey.

The registration fee is $55 per person and $75 per relay team through September 1.  Registration continues through October 20.  The complete fee structure and deadlines are posted on the new website, www.katytriathlon.com.

The Rotary Club of Katy, race sponsor, donates event proceeds to the Katy Rotary Fund, which supports local charities for their work in providing essential health, recreation and educational services to children in Katy ISD.  In May, the Rotary Fund awarded $21,000 in scholarships, $1,500 each to 14 graduating seniors from the district’s six high schools. Cinco Ranch High School FBLA, Rotary Interact Club and Boy Scouts provide have provided volunteer support for the race. Race sponsorships, underwriters and in-kind underwriters are available.  For information, call 281-391-3655.

If you think Firethorne’s tennis coach is just an ace on the tennis court, you couldn’t be more wrong. Resident athlete/sports coach Chris Dante didn’t even take up the sport until he was 30, after excelling in baseball, (in 1988 he made it as far as the Olympic Trials), basketball, (City University of New York team captain), and football, as well as boxing and Taekwondo, (he has a black belt)!

“But after one too many broken noses, I turned to something less brutal — tennis,” said Dante, who helped launch Firethorne’s premiere tennis program this spring. With the new Women’s Tennis League and beginner tennis clinics now in full swing, Firethorne continues to demonstrate the Katy/Fulshear community’s commitment to fitness and competitive sports, through its hike and bike trails, swimming and running, regulation lacrosse fields and personal training at the on-site exercise facility.

During the summer, Coach Dante offers two morning clinics for resident children, (9 and 10 a.m.), and one 6 p.m. clinic for adult beginners. He also teaches private lessons. The tennis courts are open to Firethorne residents and their invited guests.

(Pictured above: Firethorne Resident Tennis Coach Chris Dante is on the court during a summer children’s clinic with residents (bottom/center, then clockwise): Boston Blake, Hannah Blake, Julian Martinez (far left with basket of tennis balls), Najee Boyd, Alissa Basaldua, Roel Martinez (hidden), and Jean Basaldua.)

“Coaching is a labor of love,” said Dante. “I love being outside with the kids — teaching and coaching them.” He also enjoys introducing many of their parents to tennis.

The four fully-lit hard courts are located adjacent to the lacrosse fields in the 1,400-acre Katy/Fulshear master-designed development.

Firethorne, located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, blends the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. Served by the award-winning Katy I.S.D., Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear.

Life is great in Firethorne! To tour homes in Firethorne, contact me. To search all the houses currently on the market in Katy/Houston see Home Search. I have sold Katy real estate for over 20 years and would be pleased to work together.

Firethorne, a 1,400-acre master-designed community is located in Katy/Fulshear, 15 miles west of the Energy Corridor.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of our Firethorne sales and marketing teams and appreciate the tremendous support of the local Realtor® community,” said Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett. Realtors® generate 75 percent of all new home sales.

While she suggests the federal tax credits for first-time homebuyers may have planted a seed in people’s minds, she attributes the strong new home sales in the Firethorne community to the continued growth in the Katy and Fulshear areas and for being part of one of the best school districts in the state. The fact that there are three major Houston hospitals expanding in the area, plus energy companies relocating employees there, have contributed to the sales activity, as well, she said.

Firethorne blends with the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear.he community is strategically located on FM 1463 near the crossroads of the 1-10 West corridor, the Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway.

To tour Firethorne, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, call the Visitor Center, 281-693-1011, or visit www.firethorne.info.

For information about Firethorne  homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404 or via email. When buying new construction, it is always best to have a Realtor to represent you in negotiations; there is no cost to you and a multitude of benefits. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

Firethorne sold 238 new homes in 2009, achieving a record high for annual sales for the Katy/Fulshear residential development.   Last year’s home sales represent a 16.6 percent increase over 2008 (204 homes). The previous record for the four-year-old development was 218 sales in 2007.  The 1,400-acre master-designed community is located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor.

“We’re very pleased with these figures,” noted Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer.  According to Meyer, Firethorne has been holding its own thanks to continued growth in the Katy and Fulshear areas and for being part of one of the greatest school districts in the state. “BP America and Conoco/Phillips have relocated employees here, plus three major Houston hospitals are expanding in this area — two under construction and one on the drawing board,” he noted.

Firethorne has sold a total of 918 homes project-to-date. The Firethorne builder team consists of Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Parkwood Builders, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes and David Weekley Homes.

Firethorne is attractive to the Houston relocation market with its proximity to the Energy Corridor, location in the top-ranked Katy Independent School District, and availability of estate-sized lots typically found in the country with all of conveniences of master-designed recreational amenities, such as state-of-the-art technology and nearby shopping, retail, dining, entertainment, schools and medical facilities.

The community features 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, resort-style swim center, sports fields, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat.  It’s where the vibrancy of West Houston meets the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. Take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, go to www.firethorne.info, or call 281-693-1011.

For information about Firethorne and 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!

The third largest co-ed triathlon in Texas, the Annual Katy Triathlon, has announced plans to move to Firethorne this fall. Renamed the “Katy Triathlon at Firethorne”, the USA Triathlon-sanctioned race will be held Sunday, October 25, 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., in and around the 1,400 Katy/Fulshear community.

“Hosting the Katy Triathlon is such a natural for us because of our involvement in competitive sports and fitness in Katy,” said Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer. Firethorne built the Houston area’s first regulation lacrosse fields. Hike/bike trails are sponsored by the SpinCycles cycling team and Tortoise and Hare  5K/1M Run/Walk.  There is also an on-site fully-equipped Fitness Center featuring certified trainer Peggy Skaggs.

Individual athletes as well as relay teams will compete in a 1/3-mile swim around the 12-acre Lake Firethorne, as well as a 15-mile bike race and a 3-mile run through Firethorne. The cycling route will include sections of FM 1463, US Highway 90, Pederson Road and the I-10 West corridor, Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway.

“Firethorne’s lake and proximity to wide spaces of rural areas is conducive to having a successful 3,000 person triathlon,” said veteran Race Director Dave Rainey. As a Houston City Triathlon Championship venue, more than 1,000 athletes and 2,000 spectators, (including many from out-of-town), are estimated to participate.

The competition was previously called the Cinco Ranch Triathlon.

The registration fee is $60 per person and $85 per relay team through October 2. From October 3-18, the fees are $70 and $95, respectively. Registration is available online.

The Rotary Club of Katy, race sponsor, donates event proceeds to the Katy Rotary Fund, which supports local charities for their work in providing essential health, recreation and educational services to children in the Katy ISD attendance area. Cinco Ranch High School FBLA, Rotary Interact Club and Boy Scouts provide volunteer support for the race. Race sponsorships, underwriters and in-kind underwriters are available. For information, call 1-800-852-8228.

Firethorne is located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor. It blends the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. Served by the award-winning Katy ISD, Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear.

To reach Firethorne, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463. Call 281-395-1440 or visit Firethorne online.

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 or via email. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

How to choose a Katy neighborhood? The choices are almost overwhelming. There are older neighborhoods with lovely established landscaping. Should you purchase a resale house? A house that needs updating or a recently built resale?

Another wonderful choice is new construction. There are exciting new developments where you can choose a new home picking the exact amenities that fit your family’s wants and needs.

Let’s say you’ve decided on new construction. Now where? Again, the choices are many and varied. To keep your head from spinning, I’ve been featuring a series of articles that highlight new developments in the Katy area. This is Part Three of my Firethorne articles. (To see  earlier Firethorne articles, click Part One and Part Two.) As you might have gathered, I love Firethorne and believe strongly in its value.

There are also articles on Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch and Willow Creek Farms.

Life in Firethorne is full of great features and an abundance of amenities. Today, we will explore recreational “goodies”.

The development has a resort-style, multi-level swim center, pictured in this blog. There are sports fields for competing or watching. A very unique and outstanding Firethorne amenity is that the Houston area’s only regulation lacrosse playing field is located in the master-planned community. There is also a neighborhood community center that includes a meeting room and a fully-equipped fitness facility.

With opportunities for nature discovery all around, Firethorne embraces the best of new construction and  nature existing harmoniously. There are walking trails winding throughout the spectacular natural setting.

For more on Firethorne’s Texas beauty, read my article, “Thousands Live with Nature who Never Thought They Could–Welcome to Firethorne Master Planned Community.”

It is always best to purchase new construction with the help of a Realtor; it will not cost you anything and it will give you the protection of a professional to look out for your best interests. This is very important. Contact me, I have special buyer incentives.

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!

]]> http://fuellingkaty.com/2009/03/05/fun-at-firethorne-part-three/feed/ 0 http://fuellingkaty.com/2009/02/19/firethorne-part-two-business-community-visits-master-planned-community/ http://fuellingkaty.com/2009/02/19/firethorne-part-two-business-community-visits-master-planned-community/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:32:38 +0000 Julie Q. Fuelling http://fuellingkaty.com/?p=1106

Recently, the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce visited the David Weekley “Hansboro” model in Firethorne and enjoyed a “Business After Hours” event. A large group of members, approximately 90 people, attended the reception. It was quite the honor for David Weekley as it was the very first time that a Firethorne homebuilder has hosted such a Katy  Chamber event.

The 1,400-acre Firethorne master-planned community,  where the vibrancy of West Houston meets the small-town charm of Fulshear, is located in the acclaimed Katy Independent School District. It features 150-acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities including a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt. There is also a sports field, hike-and-bike trails, parks and playgrounds. One of the nicest features is a wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat–unique features for a Katy development.

Guests were complimentary of the David Weekley model and enjoyed the flow between rooms so accommodating for such a large group of party-goers. Sandee Horton, Senior Sales Consultant for David Weekley,  is pictured in the accompanying photo. From left-to-right in the photo are Stan Stanley of the Katy Area Economic Development Council, Sandee Horton, Realtor Rick Henderson, and Shawna Radke, another David Weekley Sales Consultant.

In addition to David Weekley, the Firethorne builder team includes Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes and Plantation Homes.

It is always best to purchase new construction with the help of a Realtor; it will not cost you anything and it will give you the protection of a professional to look out for your best interests. This is very important. Contact me, I have special buyer incentives.

For more information about Firethorne 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!

Firethorne, a relatively new Katy master-planned community, is strategically located on FM 1463 near the crossroads of the I-10 West Corridor, the Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway. Firethorne is a 1,400-acre residential development designed to combine the vibrancy of Katy with the small town charm of Fulshear.

Named for a resilient evergreen indigenous to the Texas prairie, Firethorne blends with the best nature has to offer: 150-acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities. There is a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike and bike trails, parks and playgrounds. There is a discovery-rich wildlife observation area, a natural bird habitat and more.

According to Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett, “To date, Firethorne has opened two fully furnished Model Parks. Three more will open in the Fall of 2009.” The Visitor Center is pictured above.

Perry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Plantation Homes, Highland Homes, Coventry Homes and Partners in Building comprise the Firethorne builder team.

It is always best to purchase new construction with the help of a Realtor; it will not cost you anything and it will give you the protection of a professional to look out for your best interests. This is very important. Contact me, I have special buyer incentives.

For more 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 offer financial incentives to my sellers/buyers. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 19 years. Experience does count!