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!

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!

Beazer Homes, an Atlanta based builder, recently closed on 209 acres on FM 1463 for a development to be called Churchhill Farms. According to The Houston Chronicle,  ”Named after the founder of Fulshear, Churchill Fulshear, Churchill Farms will have 550 lots, more than 40 acres of open space, a 10-acre lake and a community pool and clubhouse.” The first model homes are scheduled to open in January 2012.

The Cardiff family, one of Katy’s oldest families, retained this last tract of the old family homestead. The land was purchased by the Cardiff family in 1924 and recently sold to Beazer.

The Chronicle went on to say, “Homes will range from $150,000 to $250,000, depending on the lot sizes. The smaller lots are targeting single professionals working in the Energy Corridor in west Houston or medical professionals working in the hospitals along I-10. The larger lots will likely house move-ups.”

Beazer has announced that preliminary plans include 16 acres of retail and commercial development.

To tour Katy or Fulshear 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!

Guidelines:

• $14,200 for new construction, $9,500 for resale properties, built within the current ten years. You must live in the house for five years, which is the affordability period.
• Maximum purchase price of homes not to exceed FHA 203(b) limits in Harris County.
• The home you buy must be in an unincorporated area of Harris County which includes these zip codes and service area and cannot be located with Houston, Baytown or Pasadena since these cities have their own programs. Contact me for a list of approved lenders who can tell you if funds are currently available.
• To begin the DAP process, all homeowners must take a homebuyer certificate program from a HUD approved homebuyer education course provider.
• To participate in this program, you must live in the new house or the pre-owned house for a minimum of five years, depending on the amount of the award.
• Buyers must have at least $350 or 1/2 of the lenders downpayment as required toward the purchase price to invest in the house.
• Buyer cannot have more than $10,000 in liquid assets such as stocks, cash or bonds.
• Buyer must have a least one credit score of 620.
• Buyers debt to income ratio (DTI) cannot exceed 42%.
• Buyer must be credit and program approved through one of the listed mortgage lenders and Harris County to receive downpayment assistance. (To work with an approved lender, contact me for a referral.)
• In order to qualify for downpayment assistance, you must be a first-time homebuyer or not have owned a house for three years prior to applying for assistance. You must be income qualified per the figured below.
• Every member of the household must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident Alien.

As of May 2010, the total family gross income cannot exceed the following:

Number of Family Members  =  Gross Family Income

1  =  $36,500

2  =  $41,700

3  =  $46,900

4  =  $52,100

5  =  $56,300

6  =  $60,450

7  =  $64,650

8  =  $68,800

Cinco Ranch was the nation’s number one master-planned community (MPC) for new-home sales in 2009, according to a report by RCLCO, an independent real estate advisory firm.

With 887 new-home sales in 2009, Cinco Ranch was one of only two Houston MPCs on RCLCO’s top 10 list to report a sales increase from the previous year.

Sales increased 14% last year in the 7,600-acre community, located at Grand Parkway and Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. The increase helped Cinco Ranch grab the top spot in the study, after ranking number two in 2008 behind a Las Vegas development.

The only other Houston area community with a sales increase for 2009 was Telfair in Sugar Land, also by Newland Communities. With 450 new-home sales in 2009, Telfair ranked fourth nationally in the RCLCO study.

“These results are outstanding for us,” said Bob McLeod, Chairman and CEO of Newland Communities. “This marks the first time ever in more than 40 years we’ve had the top-selling community in the nation, and to do it during a year as tough as 2009 makes it an even bigger achievement.”

RCLCO’s study showed that total number of net sales in 2009 for the majority of the best-selling MPCs dropped from 2008 levels with sales volume declining by as little as 8% and as much as 84%. Newland’s Cinco Ranch and Telfair were a strong exception to this trend, posting increased sales for the third year in a row. Also, 2009 proved to be the best sales year ever for Telfair since opening in 2006 and the third best sales year for the 19-year-old Cinco Ranch.

“Newland’s sales success at Cinco Ranch and Telfair can be attributed to the product diversity our homebuilders offer, the proven established track records of these communities, and a highly focused marketing approach that speaks to our customer needs,” McLeod continued.

“Buyers needs have changed and they will continue to change. The communities Newland creates will continue to adapt to meet those needs. Value doesn’t just mean a lower price, or a smaller home. It means what fits their family and lifestyle needs. The way we market our communities, taking time to really understand our buyers and engaging with them on a more personal level, has changed as well,” he indicated.

Houston’s strong showing in the RCLCO study underscores the fact that the city is a bright spot in the national economy.

Ted Nelson, Central Region President for Newland Communities said, “In the past few months, Houston has ranked very high in studies ranging from the nation’s healthiest housing markets to cities where the recession is easing. Overall, the Houston communities on the top 10 list represented 2,250 new-home sales, more than double those of the second ranked metro, Las Vegas.”

RCLCO has been releasing its top-selling MPC rankings since 1994.

Cinco Ranch offers new homes priced from the $170,000s to over $1 million.

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!

Katy resident Sandee Horton, my dear friend and Senior Sales Consultant for David Weekley Homes in Firethorne, was named Top Sales Consultant of the Year in Houston for David Weekley Homes for the second consecutive year!

“Sandee Horton does a top-notch job at Firethorne and we are very proud she has earned this city-wide David Weekley Homes award for the second year in a row,” said Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett.

Firethorne is a 1,400-acre master-designed community in the west Katy/Fulshear area.  Considering that in recent times Houston has  seen the failure of several major builders, it’s quite the feat that the builder team at Firethorne has achieved 767 housing starts in its three years of development! In addition to David Weekley Homes, the Firethorne builders includes Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes and Plantation Homes.

Call me for an insider’s tour of Firethorne and to meet Sandee! See my earlier Firethorne series: Part One, Part Two and Part Three.

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!

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/2008/11/24/what-happened-to-the-trees-in-katy/ http://fuellingkaty.com/2008/11/24/what-happened-to-the-trees-in-katy/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:24:04 +0000 Julie Q. Fuelling http://fuellingkaty.com/?p=265

Does it make you angry when a Katy developer comes through and randomly plows down all the trees in their way? Hardwoods, too, like fabulous old oaks. It breaks my heart. Profit is great but working alongside Mother Nature, creating a win-win is even better. These same developers boast about “being green” but the obvious is the obvious. How much “greener” can you get than a tree? Give me a break!

When I got the call to list 1022 Woodcreek Cove Lane in Woodcreek Reserve, I was thrilled! (Above is the view from the front door of my listing; it looks onto Buffalo Bayou and the neighborhood amenities.) The master-planned community of Woodcreek Reserve, a favorite of mine, is located just south of I-10 at FM 1463. This is the exit for the Leonard E. Merrell Center located on the north side of I-10.

As soon as you arrive at Woodcreek Reserve, you will be surprised by the trees. It’s the natural, park-like setting that makes Woodcreek Reserve so unique for the area. It is nothing like the surrounding developments where, unfortunately, most of the trees have been eliminated. The picturesque trees, waterfront properties, lakes and trails give Woodcreek Reserve its unique appeal.

Woodcreek Reserve boasts a wide variety of homes and prices ranging from the mid-$200,000 to over $1.5 million. Some of the prettiest homes face the wooded sections of Woodcreek Reserve; this includes resale homes, like my listing, and new construction estate homes.

Woodcreek Reserve has two Katy Independent School District (KISD) schools within it’s boundaries, Woodcreek Reserve Elementary and Woodcreek Reserve Junior High. KISD is an award-winning, highly touted school district with the performance scores to match.

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!

Last weekend, August 9-10, Perry Homes debuted their new model in Cross Creek Ranch, a 3,000 acre master-planned in Fulshear. An amenities full one-story, the floor plan has four bedrooms and three baths. It’s 2,974 square feet.

Perry Homes in Cross Creek Ranch now offers buyers a choice of large one and two-story home inspired by Georgian architecture. The houses feature hand-crafted kitchen cabinets, bright walls of windows, spa-like master retreats and designer-inspired accents highlight the homes.

Offering a two-year Workmanship Warranty and designing homes that meet or exceed both Energy Star and the Houston Builders Association’s Green Building Initiative guidelines are two of the benefits enjoyed by Perry homeowners.

Other builders in Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear include Ashton Woods, David Weekley, Trendmaker and Village Homes.

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

Although I home office, I love to attend our working luncheons at Keller Williams Katy, especially those when a developer visits to announce a new development coming to the Katy area. The recent announcement of Cross Creek Ranch, developed by Trendmaker, was a grand surprise and a special thrill!

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. There is so much to tell you that I will keep you updated about our new and exciting neighbor, Cross Creek Ranch.

Cross Creek Ranch is unlike anything that has come to Katy, technically Fulshear. (I like to joke that housing on the south side of Katy Freeway will grow all the way to San Antonio.) 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.

There is so much to share with you! Following are just some of the highlights of our new neighbor, the soon-to-be glorious development of Cross Creek Ranch!

• 3,200-acre master planned community located in Fulshear, Texas.
• Located minutes away from Katy, the Grand Parkway and the Westpark Tollway.
• High-tech connectivity – high-speed fiber optic network connected directly to every home.
• Charming southeastern Texas ranch architectural design.
• Over 25 miles of trails along open space corridors meandering along the water’s edge of several hundred acres of lakes.
• Beautifully restored Flewellen Creek will be one of the centerpieces of the community.
• Fitness and Wellness Center.
• Large water park featuring a resort-style pool, spray park and water slide cascading down a 40 foot man-made hill.
• Community-based charitable education foundation that will provide residents with enhanced educational opportunities.
• Multi-purpose space for special events, parties and meetings.
• Annual Homeowner Association Fee: $800.

Stay tuned for more information about our new and exciting neighbor!

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!