Stacy and Jackie's Blog

The Playoffs are Here!

2007-11-18T00:28:42Z

Well it's high school football playoff time again here in Texas, and we've had some exciting matchups already. Three teams represented the Katy area going into the first weekend. After the dust settled only one remains in the quest for the title.

The Cinco Ranch Cougars had their season come to an end Friday night after losing their contest to the Cy-Fair Bobcats 40-27. The Mayde Creek Rams suffered a similar fate Saturday evening as they fell to the Cypress Falls Golden Eagles 50-7.

Friday evening was much better for the Katy Tigers. The #1 ranked Tigers rolled over Strake Jesuit 51-18 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Tigers had high hopes going into this season and, after going undefeated through regular season play, are showing why they are consistently one of the best teams in the state.

If you are planning a move to Katy, Houston, any of the other surrounding suburbs or if you would like a little more information about a particular area in our neck of the woods please visit our website and we'll be happy to help.

24702 Plympton, Katy, Texas 77494

2007-11-12T22:44:50Z

The Jones Team is proud to present: 24702 Plympton, Katy, TX 77494

Only $269,900!

This lovely 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home is nestled on a huge lot in the award winning Katy ISD. Recently remodeled, this gorgeous home features:

A grand entry with wood flooring and a sweeping staircase.
A gourmet island kitchen with tile flooring, granite countertops, and tons of cabinet space.
A spacious family room with a wet bar and a cozy double sided fireplace.
An incredible game room located upstairs with another wet bar.
Over 10000 square foot lot with a sprinkler system.
A formal dining room and a private study.

It Didn't Have to Happen This Way.

2007-11-12T03:51:05Z

A friend of mine recently experienced a loss. Her mother passed away after a long battle with cancer. She had been experiencing problems for quite a while, but she put off going to the doctor. There was never enough time. She, like many of us, was afraid to hear what it might be. It was easier to ignore the problem; after all she didn't feel that bad.

Now a young mother faces the prospect of raising two children without the guidance of her mother. These children will miss out on the love that this precious grandmother had to give. With the proper medical screening/medical care this tragedy would most likely have been avoided.

If you are experiencing problems with your health then please, please, please go see a doctor. If you are feeling fine then please don't forget to go for a regular check up. Do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones, do it for those who count on you to be there.

Basketball Tournaments to be Held in Katy

2007-08-30T21:18:02Z

Katy will be the sight of the 2008 men's and women's basketball tournament for the Southland Conference. The conference announced today that the sight of the tournament will be the Leonard E. Merrell Center. The tournament will be held from March 12-16, 2008.

Owned by the Katy Independent School District, the Merrell Center was completed in the Spring of 2005 and has been the host of a wide variety of events from graduation ceremonies to home games for the local IFL team the Katy Ruff Riders.

The Merrell Center is a state of the art facility and continues to pull events from outside the local market to the Katy area. We have attended our son's graduation and taken in a game or two and I have to say that this facility offers a wonderful atmosphere. Seating is comfortable and there is ample parking. If you have a chance I would highly recommend attending this event.

More to Share

2007-08-02T16:42:12Z

In my MeMe that I wrote the other day I included a photo of my dog Rebel and my cat Maxwell. Jackie read it and immediately the question was "Where are Bingo and Cody?". Well, after much prodding I am finally getting around to it. Bingo is one of the most loving cats you'll ever meet. He is not one of those stand-offish cats that only wants attention on his terms. He's more of a follow you around and constantly wanting to be loved on kinda guy (must get that from me!). This little fella stole our hearts early and has been a pleasure to have around. Anytime you have a rough day he can instantly make it better.

Our other baby is named Cody, and he is the rascal of the bunch. He is a little dog in comparison to Rebel, but he is the only one that doesn't realize it. This little ball of energy loves to play with Rebel, and to see them chase each other around the house is, well, comical to say the least. We are so lucky to have these babies in our lives. The unconditional love they give makes me wonder how anybody goes through life without a furry friend.

Lesson Learned

2007-07-26T21:23:46Z

Jackie and I took a couple of weeks this year for our annual pilgrimage to Nebraska. Now I know that this is not exactly a vacation hot spot, but it's where her parent's live and since we don't get to see them much, this is where we spend the vacation time. We go once a year, and I have to say that I learned a very valuable lesson this year. I learned how to relax!

Every year we go, and every year I work harder while I'm there. Well, this year we had the right people in place to handle our files while we were gone and it made all the difference in the world. Janis Mueller, our Buyer's Agent, did such a wonderful job that we were able to just sit back, relax, and enjoy our time with our family. That's when I realized how important that time actually was. The past few years I would be there physically, but my mind was back here in Houston/Katy. I wasn't able to really enjoy my time, and my family wasn't getting all of me. Without meaning to I was short-changing my family and myself.

This year we visited several places in the Lincoln area including the Veteran's Memorial and the Sunken Gardens. The Veteran's Memorial was actually a huge park complete with a play area for the kids and picnic tables galore. There was a huge walkway throughout the park, and along the walkway were different monuments. There were monuments for every branch of the military, as well as monuments to those who served to help the wounded, canine units that helped in rescue, etc.

It was so nice to see that part of history being shared with younger generations in such a positive way. Jackie's father is a veteran of WWII, and the city has a program that allows a brick to be purchased and displayed with the veteran's name along side the monument for the war they served in. Jackie's father and uncle both have bricks displayed for WWII. The monument on the right included likenesses of soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the Spanish-American War, the Civil War , and World War I.

We also got to spend some time at The Sunken Garden. This spot used to be a dump ( no, not just a really run down area in the city but an actual city dump ). Volunteers plant thousands of flowers every year to make up this incredible oasis in the city. It features koi ponds and a huge man made water fall. It was wonderful to see such beauty in what used to be an eye-sore.

Life is too short. Yes, your clients deserve the best service possible. And this year I learned......Yes, there is someone capable of doing what I do ( that gulp you may have heard was my pride going down ). All kidding aside, I cannot tell you how important this trip was to me. I came back feeling refreshed and with a passion for my work, and our clients will definitely benefit from my renewed energy. I returned with fond memories of the days spent with my family, and hopefully left them with some as well.

You mean it's my turn to get MeMe'd!

2007-07-26T16:50:37Z

So I went to check my email the other day and what do I see? I've just been MeMe'd by Bobby Carroll! Well it looks like it's my turn. Time for the AR community to get a glimpse into my world. So here's five things about lil'ole me:

1. I get to work every day with my best friend (No she is not looking over my shoulder while I type). God has blessed me by bringing Jackie into my life and I get the pleasure of working with her every day. Not many people get to hang out with their best friend as much as I do. Now I guess the only question is......does she view this as a curse? I'll have to get back to you on that one.

2. I have a hard time saying "No" to a fuzzy face. My son had wanted a cat for as long as I can remember,so one day Jackie and I decided to go to CAPS to adopt a cat for him. Now I have never considered myself to be a cat person. This was just one of those sacrifices you make when you're a parent. Little did I know that they were running a "buy one, get one free" special. I spent the next 15 minutes explaining how I only needed one cat, that free is only the initial investment, etc. I had a rebuttal for every argument until, while standing next to a cage, a furry little paw reached out and grabbed my finger as if to say "hey...don't forget about me!". Needless to say we came home with two cats and I haven't regretted it once!

3. I fenced in college (You mean I get to use a sword on people....COUNT ME IN!). While at Texas A&M I had the opportunity to spend some time fencing and I loved it. While I was active in the sport I had the opportunity to compete against several members of different Olympic National Teams. It's a rather obscure sport here in Texas, but I ran into a fellow Aggie here in Katy that was on the fencing team at A&M and has opened up a club called Katy Blades Fencing Academy. I would encourage any of my local friends here to check them out.

4. After college I became Mr. Goofy Golf. I had the opportunity to work for several Family Entertainment Centers (that's FEC's in entertainment lingy). What a blast that was. My job was to make sure people had fun when they came to visit the park. I got to see a kid"s eyes light up when you gave him/her a free token for a game every day. What a reward that was. No matter what was going on in my life, I knew I could go to work and with a simple gesture I could become a hero. The value of that job could'nt really be measured by the paycheck or the benefits package. The only thing that got me to leave the industry......see item 1.

5. I bought a motorcycle before I ever even sat on one. I had wanted a motorcycle as long as I can remember. My Mom would never allow me to ride one, she would never allow the neighbor's son to give me a ride on his, it just was'nt going to happen. Later in life I discovered Jackie had the same affliction as my Mom. So all the pleading and reasoning in the world wouldn't make it happen. So I never found myself in a showroom sitting on a bike or out with friends climbing on theirs. What's the point, you aren't going to ride it so don't torture yourself. Then one day in casual conversation my brother-in-law asked me if he bought a motorcycle would I ride with him. I told him I would love to, but he probably stood a better chance seeing God than he did me getting a bike. Later that night I mentioned our conversation to Jackie and her response was " that sounds like it would be fun, you should do it". HUH? I did not have to hear that twice. We were in the showroom the next day buying a motorcycle. We completed the transaction, and then I had to call my brother-in-law to have him drive my new paper weight home!

I hope you've enjoyed reading my MeMe as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I would like to invite the following people to write theirs: Adam Pascu......O.K. my friend. You're up. Nancy Albea.....I had a wonderful time meeting with you, please share with the rest of AR. Jeffrey Owen....We haven't met yet, but I look forward to meeting you soon.

10333 Longmont, Houston, Texas

2007-07-05T18:00:42Z

Stacy and Jackie Jones | The Jones Team with Realm Professionals | 281-398-2015

10333 Longmont, Houston, TX

Gorgeous townhome conveniently located close to Sam Houston and
Westpark tollways.

2 Bdrm Townhouse

offered at $127,000

Year Built	1975
Sq Footage	1,416
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Covered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$207 per month

DESCRIPTION

This lovely townhome is nestled in a quite community and is located near the tennis courts and pool/clubhouse. Features include wood floors, tile flooring in the kitchen and breakfast area, a cozy wood burning fireplace in the family room, and so much more. The spacious bedrooms are located upstairs for offering both comfort and convenience.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Covered parking	Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)
Tennis court(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Stacy and Jackie Jones

The Jones Team with Realm Professionals

281-398-2015

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 22, 2007, 12:20pm PDT

Food for Thought..........A Thought About Food

2007-06-28T16:04:58Z

What an exciting business we are in! It seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Do you ever find yourself grabbing fast food on the go to an appointment or skipping a meal completely? We've all done it, but here's some food for thought. In order for us to be "on top of our game" we have to take care of ourselves. With some rather minor adjustments you can put yourself in position to take care of yourself and still have time to take care of your clients. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Plan ahead. Sit down and plan your day in advance. You can plan day to day or week to week, whatever works for you. With a plan in place you are setting the stage for success by taking a proactive approach to your day. It's amazing how much stress this can relieve.

2. Schedule, schedule, schedule. Schedule everything. When you make an appointment to meet with a buyer or seller you put it in your schedule. Do the same thing for yourself. Schedule time to work out, schedule time for lunch, schedule time to prospect, schedule it all. If it's on the schedule it is more likely to happen.

3. Take time to reflect. Spend 10-15 minutes a day on you. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Schedule some "you time" so you can sit peacefully and relax. It can be first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or anytime in between. Just make sure you take a little time just for you.

4. Eat right. WOW...that's easier said than done. It can be really tough when you're out on the go all day to resist pulling into the drive-thru to grab a quick bite, but we all know this just isn't the best thing for us. Make the investment in yourself and eat somewhere that has a healthy choice. You are worth the extra time and effort.

A friend of mine once made a statement to me that will stay with me forever. He said " You can spend the time and money now taking care of yourself and eating right, or you can spend the time and money later on doctors and hospital visits. Either way, the time and money will be spent." Words of wisdom I will never forget.

Please take a minute to share some of your thoughts and ideas on keeping fit while staying busy.

Why Buyer's Need a Realtor When Shopping for a New Construction Home

2007-06-26T16:22:46Z

We've all heard it before. " Why do I need a Realtor to help me buy a home from a builder?" The common misconception is that the salesperson in the builder's office is going to treat you right, and in some cases this is right on the money. All to often however we see consumers being sucked in by a trick that is becoming common in our industry.

When shopping for a new construction home the buyer must keep in mind that the salesperson works for, and in the interest of, the builder. Many times a buyer will go in with a pretty good idea of what they can afford only to be up-sold by a savvy salesperson. Here's the scenario:

A buyer comes in looking for a home on a budget of $1200 per month. The buyer has a general idea of what size home they can get, say a 3 bedroom house with 1800 square feet, but the salesperson shows them how they can get them a 4 bedroom home with 2400 square feet with that budget. The buyer is assured that this includes the escrow of taxes and insurance. Sounds great!

Unfortunately the builder's salesperson did not explain that the current taxes are assessed on unimproved property! At the end of the year the buyer's mortgage company will pay the taxes on improvements. Here in Katy Texas that can mean an extra $300 - $400 per month on a mortgage payment. The buyer is contacted after the taxes are payed and is asked to make up the difference. For example, if taxes were $4200 ( not uncommon here ) then the buyer must add an additional $350 to their mortgage payment to make up the difference. AND since taxes are assessed at the end of the year the mortgage company will require an additional amount of $350 - $400 per month to pay next years taxes. In all the house payment goes up from $1200 to almost $2000 per month. Foreclosure here we come!

This is just one example of why a buyer needs a Realtor when shopping for a new construction home. Having a qualified Realtor watching out for you is the way to go!