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!

Gorgeous former Trendmaker one-story model with lots of upgrades has gone on the market in Grand Lakes at 6414 Dylan Springs. From the moment you enter, you’ll notice that crown molding and architectural details abound. There’s even a “secret” room for storage!

French doors lead into the study.You’ll find granite countertops in kitchen and master bath. The island kitchen is a cook’s delight with 42″ cabinet, a large pantry and gas cooking. The custom refrigerator has cabinet front; it stays with the house.

The rooms are over-sized rooms to accommodate large furniture. A wall of windows in family room looks out over the fully landscaped backyard. There’s a Rainbird sprinkler system throughout the yard. Custom draperies remain with the house.

You will be delighted with the air-conditioned extra room in garage.  It’s currently being used as an exercise room; it has so many wonderful possibilities!

For a great photo slide show, see HAR.com, MLS # 78724054. For a private tour, call me at 713-818-2404! This home will be held open on Sunday, June 26, 1-4 p.m.

Katy’s reputation as the nation’s number one “most notable high-growth area” has attracted a major national homebuilder, Columbus, Ohio-based M/I Homes. This top national builder is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (MHO).

M/I Homes now has a model home under construction in Cinco Ranch. It plans to open the model in early April to showcase all-new floor plans and architectural designs created especially for the Houston market after extensive research with local homebuyers.

M/I Homes will offer new homes priced from the $450,000s to $550,000s in Cinco Ranch, with plans ranging from 3,200 to 5,200 square feet. M/I Homes will build on 80-foot-wide homesites in the Cedar Grove Village neighborhood in Cinco Ranch.

Founded in 1976, M/I Homes is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, currently operating in 10 additional markets outside of Houston, mostly located in the Midwest and Eastern United States.

“With its strong employment base, Houston has one of the most vibrant economies in the United States, and it was a good fit for expansion outside of our current template in the Midwest and Southeast region,” said Dennis Bailey, region president for M/I Homes.

Bailey noted that Katy’s growth was particularly impressive within the Houston region, with the Gadberry Group naming it as the nation’s top high-growth area for 2010.

With its high customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power Associates and features such as a 30-year structural warranty on all new homes, M/I Homes is the type of homebuilder that Cinco Ranch developer Newland Communities looks for when expanding the community’s new-home offerings, said Heather Gould, marketing director for Newland Communities.

M/I Homes’ new plans for Cinco Ranch emphasize traditionally styled exteriors with lots of stately curb appeal. With steeply pitched roof lines, these one- and two-story plans blend timeless materials such as stone, brick and stucco. Inside, the plans emphasize dramatic volume spaces such as soaring foyers and wide-open family rooms. The plans combine high-design details with functionality and flexibility.

A rotunda-shaped foyer in one plan, for example, creates a memorable first impression while also providing easy access to several different rooms off the foyer. One plan has a master suite closet with a secret door to the laundry room, providing for convenience while preserving the suite’s privacy!

One of the highly regarded features of living in a master-planned community, like Cinco Ranch, is the promise of predictability.  Winter flowers are replaced with spring bedding plants.  The landscaping is always tasteful but spectacular. In Cinco Ranch, the crepe myrtles bloom in mass. The water features are  pristine and a delight to visit.

Property values are maintained by strict guidelines, enforced when necessary. The Architectural Control Committee is to administer decisions fairly and equitably always deciding in favor of sustaining property values.

So, what’s up now? Why aren’t more Cinco Ranch residents aware of the ongoing dispute? Both The Katy Times and The Houston Chronicle–Katy Edition have featured articles on the controversy of a proposed replacement of eight Cinco Ranch monuments. The monuments mark the subdivision entrances at Cinco Ranch Blvd. and Westheimer Pkwy; the monuments are at the Grand Parkway.

It’s a three-way disagreement involving the Cinco Ranch Property Association, the Cinco Ranch Landscape Maintenance Association and Municipal Utility District 12, the initiator of the proposal. The MUD’s proposal to replace the current monuments, in favor of a more modern look, is estimated to cost $1.4 million; therein lies the disagreement. Residents have voiced a desire to spend the money elsewhere including funding a ladder truck for the Willowfork Fire Department.

The initial controversy concerned who owns the land and who would be the deciding entity. MIchael Meagher, Cinco Ranch community manager, said, “There’s no question that Cinco Ranch Property Association owns the land. Because they own the land, they own the monuments. That’s the easy part.”

Meagher continued, “But there is a lot of ambiguity in the declaration of the Landscape Maintenance Association with what its responsibilities are in terms of controlling what goes on within the major thorough-fares.”

According to The Katy Times, “The process began one-and-a-half years ago when MUD 12, which collects a half-percent sales tax from the Cinco Ranch commercial area, decided to give back to the community by using the funds to replace the existing monuments with newer and more modern designs”.

The Times continues, “The Landscape Maintenance Association controls the right-of-way in the subdivision and it was assumed that Cinco MUD 12 had to attain permission from the Landscape Maintenance Association before moving forward. However, the Neighborhood Representatives Committee became involved in June when several residents voiced the commercial community should not be the only ones with input on the decision.”

As the controversy escalated, Cinco Ranch residents voted on an online survey 5:1 against the project. With these results, the issue became a hotbed of discussion and disagreement. Finally, word is spreading in Cinco Ranch. In order to resolve this problem, Robert Alexander, attorney for the Cinco Residential Property Association, has been asked to determine who actually has the right to determine whether the monument project can proceed.

The confusion continues…

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!

]]> http://fuellingkaty.com/2008/11/30/controversy-swirls-in-cinco-ranch-in-katy-texas/feed/ 0 http://fuellingkaty.com/2008/11/07/will-we-expand-to-san-antonio/ http://fuellingkaty.com/2008/11/07/will-we-expand-to-san-antonio/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:46:24 +0000 Julie Q. Fuelling http://fuellingkaty.com/?p=296

I like to joke that Katy development will grow all the way to San Antonio! Well…we are on our way. Trendmaker Development’s Cross Creek Ranch will be a huge master-planned community in Fulshear and Ryland Homes has just announced a new development, Willow Creek Farms, in Brookshire, five miles west of Katy Mills Mall.

Cross Creek Ranch will be one of the most phenomenal developments in the Katy area and will have a huge impact on area real estate. Cross Creek Ranch is unlike anything that has come to far-west Katy, technically Fulshear. I remember when Fulshear was a real country town and the only high-end development was Weston Lakes, a guard-gated development built around a natural waterway and a golf course/club house. There was a tiny grocery store and a famous bar-barbecue café that attracted Houstonians.

Cross Creek Ranch will incorporate 3,200 acres. There will be a southeastern Texas ranch architectural design in the common areas. With over 25 miles of trails along open space corridors, residents will be able to meander along the water’s edge of several hundred acres of lakes. Beautifully restored Flewellen Creek will be one of the centerpieces of the community.

Current home prices range from the $200,000′s to the $600,000′s. The first house recently sold and the owners moved in!

Directions from the Grand Parkway (Hwy 99) or Westpark Tollway: Take the FM 1093 exit and continue west approximately 5.6 miles to the entrance of Cross Creek Ranch. The community is located just west of FM 1463 on the north side of 1093.

Rumor has it that a mall will be coming to the Fulshear area, too. We need to wait and see how that one develops.

Information is still limited on Willow Creek Farm, the Brookshire development. Willow Creek Farms is Ryland’s newest community located in the highly acclaimed Katy ISD! Children in this community will attend Woodcreek Elementary/Junior High and Katy High School.

Houses range in price from $170,000′s to the $230,000′s.

The community is in close proximity to shopping, I-10, and easy access to the Grand Parkway. Willow Creek Farms will feature over 600 home sites with walking trails, a full Olympic style pool, recreational center, splash pad, and a park. The HOA dues will only be $450 annually.

Directions from I-10: Take I-10 past Hwy 99. Exit Pederson Road off I-10. Go left on Pederson. Community is off Pederson Road at 10023 Willowmoor Lane.

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!

West Houston’s Lakes of Bella Terra will host a Designer’s Showcase for three weekends, October 11th through October 26th, 11 a.m to 4 p.m. You can discover the art of resort living through the eyes of several of West Houston’s most creative interior designers and decorators. Participants include Tista’s Fine Furniture, Paver Connection, Decor and More, Dunn’s Designs & Antiques, Decor To Your Door, and Decor & You.

The Designers’ Showcase will take place within both gated sections of Lakes of Bella Terra. Ronny Carroll’s Custom Homes, located in the waterfront enclave of Lago Verde Estates, and Westport’s featured home, located in the Monte Leone section. The designers will transform both interior and exterior spaces based on a variety of room themes.

Attending homebuyers and guests will be able to vote on their favorite designs, such as Best Intimate Décor, Best Lavish-Living Décor, Best Green Environment, and Best Entertainment-Ready Décor. They will also receive special discounts on design services and accessories. Guests can register to win prizes!

Admission to the Designers’ Showcase at Lakes of Bella Terra is donation based, with all proceeds to benefit Sunshine Kids, an organization “dedicated to children with cancer.”

Developed by Ryko Development, Inc., Houston’s 2006 “Developer of the Year”, the The Lakes of Bella Terra Designer Showcase will also feature entertainment provided by the Performing Arts students of Lamar Consolidated and Katy Independent School Districts.

Lakes of Bella Terra offers Executive Homes from the $170’s to the $600’s, and 10 models are currently open including homes by Darling, David Powers, David Weekley, Fedrick/Harris, Newmark, Village, Westport and Wilshire. Lakes of Bella Terra also features Estate Custom Homes in a gated, waterfront enclave within the community. These spectacular, one-of-a-kind designs are now selling from the $700’s to over $1 million.

Lakes of Bella Terra’s multi-million dollar Recreation Center is now open. It features a Jr. Olympic pool, water playground, tennis courts, volleyball courts, state-of-the-art fitness center, and community gathering rooms.

To visit Lakes of Bellat Terra’s Designer Showcase, take Westpark Tollway, (E-Z tag only), or take I-10 West, exit Grand Parkway/HWY 99. Go South on Grand Parkway to Bellaire Blvd. Turn right on Bellaire Blvd. to the Lakes of Bella Terra entrance.

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!

To many gardeners, a Firethorne is a hybridized plant in the pyracantha family. Not so for Katy residents, our Firethorne is a rapidly developing 1,400 acre master-planned community located on FM 1463 in the Katy/Fulshear area. When Firethorne is built out, there will be 3,600 more homes in the area. I don’t have to tell you that Katy is exploding west of Katy Mills Mall.

Like the just announced Cross Creek Ranch master-planned development, Firethorne includes a large amount of open areas, green space, lakes and parks. Firethorne has designated 150 acres for parks and recreation; a 12-acre lake with surrounding green belts; and, a lakeside deck with outdoor fireplace and entertainment facilities. There will be a natural wildlife pond and hike and bike trails.

Firethorne is located where the Texas Coastal Plain transitions into grasslands and meandering creeks. To preserve this natural habitat, nature trails provide up-close encounters with the natural surroundings from native wildflowers, oak trees, pecan trees and native wildlife. Deer and the ever-watchful red tail hawks call Firethorne home. Wild ducks and geese migrate through the area often raising their young before they head further south for the winter.

Firethorne is a celebration of Texas natural beauty and gorgeous new construction. If you haven’t visited, put it on your list for Sunday afternoon adventures. You’ll enjoy yourself!

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!

Driving south to my office on Westheimer Pkwy, I exit the Grand Pkwy turning left into Cinco Ranch. As soon as I exit the Grand Pkwy traveling east there is the most spectacular flower bed full of purple petunias and golden marigolds! I adore this flowerbed; it’s my college colors purple and gold. Yes, it appears to honor my glorious LSU Tigers, National Champs once again. Yep, National Champs twice in five years!

Other purple and gold flowerbeds occur throughout Cinco Ranch; pictured above is the one across from the Katy YMCA. Do you think that the landscaper also went to LSU? I have to wonder.

I’ve been driving through Cinco Ranch looking for orange marigolds and white petunias or begonias. Horns, I can’t find you anywhere. Please help me undertake this search; let me know if you can find your school colors. I will take a photo and feature your floral display in my blog. Any neighborhood will qualify as long as the blooms are orange and white.

The same sad situation exists for the Aggies. I can’t find your flowers anywhere and I’ve been searching. Where are the Aggie colors? There’s a strain of maroon begonias that would qualify beautifully. Again, white petunias could complete the traditional display or, even better, white begonias would be perfect. Like the challenge to the UT graduates, Aggies please let me know where you find your colors. I will happily feature them in my blog.

Until then, dear friends, the Tigers rock!

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!