The Woodlands Junior League Holiday Market, 2011

November 3, 4, 5, & 6, 2011 

ENJOY FABULOUS SHOPPING!

Thursday, November 3, 2011 - Sunday, November 6, 2011 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas.

SHOPPING HOURS: Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Strollers are welcome Friday and Saturday after 2:00 p.m. and all day Sunday

The Junior League Holiday Market is a major fundraiser for the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties, Inc. (JLNHSMC, Inc.), serving the area of suburban North Houston.

The lush wooded area of The Woodlands is one of those area's that seems to be the perfect place to raise a family!  

When relocating within The Woodlands a few years ago I was looking for a kid friendly neighborhood where children could ride their bikes, play outside with friends and enjoy a quality of life that seems so hard to find these days!

Fortunately we found not only the perfect neighborhood but also a very friendly cul-de-sac street.  For the past 6 years our street does a dinner together the night of Halloween.  Everyone brings something to eat and we have all the bowls of candy out front of the house (saving the trick-or-treaters the time of going door to door on our street). 

Houston average salaries ahead of Dallas, study shows

More from The Business Journals on Numbers

The Woodlands Nightlife is highlighted as a Houston Suburb Worthy of Attention!

This recent article by Houston.CultureMap.com finally recognizes that The Woodlands has a vibrant nightlife scene!

There is a variety of restaurants, bars, the Cynthia Woods Pavillion, Market Street Square, Free Outdoor Concerts and more!

THE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE for 2011

The Woodlands High School Varsity Football Schedule 2011

(Official Website is http://www.highlanderfootball.net/)  

 
View Larger Map

Village of Creekside Park, The Woodlands TX Texas.  The newest village of The Woodlands, is nestled in vast areas of parklands, totaling 1,850 acres.

Lakes and ponds, are the highlight of the new Village of Creekside Park. This is a true adventureland you and your family can enjoy!  Everything from hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, mountain biking, birding and other creative ways to enjoy nature!

Many of the neighborhoods in Creekside Park are centered around parks or water features. A 72-acre Lake Paloma (Spanish for "dove"), extends east to west in the center of the village, acting as a scenic connector between neighborhoods. A 12-foot wide walking and biking trail will run along the banks of Lake Paloma.

1,700 acre George Mitchell Natural Preserve, named in honor of The Woodlands' founder, George Mitchell,  featuring seven miles of frontage along scenic Spring Creek, hike and bike trails, parks and lots more. 

Rob Fleming Park 20-acre, named in honor of Rob Fleming, Texas Parks and Wildlife naturalist and artist. features a Craftsman-style Pavilion; a playground; tree-lined promenades and groves of specimen trees; naturally landscaped one-acre lake with lakeside conservation trail; a bluebonnet meadow; a field for community festivals; a butterfly garden; and a picnic area. A wildlife sculpture trail that will be a tribute to the artistry of Rob Fleming will be completed soon.

Creekside Forest K-6 Elementary School is for children living in Creekside Park.

The Woodlands Creekside Forest Elementary is Tomball ISD's first school to be built in The Woodlands.

Located at Creekside Green Drive and Creekside Forest Drive, this 112,170 square foot school opened its doors to students in August 2009.

CFES was honored with Texas Education Agency's Exemplary rating.

Creekside Forest Elementary wass Tomball ISD's first school to be built in The Woodlands.  Located at Creekside Green Drive and Creekside Forest Drive, this 112,170 square foot school opened its doors to students in August 2009.  The school serves approximately 730 students in grades kindergarten through six. The preliminary schematic design includes classroom wings that are arranged as "super-pods." This configuration allows for flexibility, collaboration and the ability to expand grade levels within the same area of the building. In addition, the building will allow for the separation of the grade levels.  The administrative offices are located near the entrance. The design also features a cafeteria, a centrally located library, art rooms, a science lab, a computer lab, choir, band and music rooms, a teacher workroom, a gymnasium, and a drop-off/pick-up loop.   Please note, we only offer tours for prospective students and parents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

In addition to the new Creekside Forest K-6 Elementary, Tomball has committed to three more school sites in the Village of Creekside Park. Both will be located near Kuykendahl Road.

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, located on a 13 acre site next to Lake Paloma.

• Large Resort-style free-form pool, with beach entry
• A Lazy River
• 3 Lane Lap Pool
• two-story flume slide for tubing
• 150-gallon "dump" bucket, blasting a spray of water on the swimmers
• Playground
• Huge umbrellas for shade
• Poolhouse with concessions
• canoe ramp to Lake PalomaOpen to all residents for a seasonal fee (managed by The Woodlands Township Parks & Recreation Department)

The South Montgomery County YMCA has opened an Outdoor Adventure Center in the Village of Creekside Park.

• 15-acre day camp with lodge  

• Tipi Village   

• 50-foot Alpine Tower with ropes course          

• Outdoor theatre with stage    

• Family outdoor adventure connected by a raised boardwalk that links to the 1,700-acre GeorgeMitchell Nature Preserve.     

• Outdoor Chapel                  

• Tree Houses      

 Here are the homebuilders that are constructing new homes in the Village of Creekside Park:

· Beazer Homes                                 

· J. Patrick Homes

· Plantation Homes

· Pulte Homes

· Ryland Homes

· Toll Brothers

· Trendmaker Homes

· Village Builders

· Chesmar Homes

· Darling Homes

· D.R.Horton

· Gracepoint Homes

· Highland Homes

· Lennar Homes

• Partners in Building

Newly Announced Exxon Mobil Campus only 7.2 miles away from Silverwood Ranch!!

There are many benefits to living in a Woodridge Home in Silverwood Ranch!

• Woodlands award-winning Conroe ISD Schools
• Location
• Low Taxes (2.36)
• No MUD tax
• No HOA dues
• "Safest little town in Texas"
• Semi-Custom Homes
• Homes built to hurricane resistant standards
• 20 minutes from Bush Intercontinental Airport
• 1/2 mi to I-45 access!
• Less than 2 miles to first class grocery store, restaurants, shopping, banks, and more
• LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!

The best kept secret in the heart of The Woodlands, Texas.

Prices of new homes range from $360,000's to $484,910 

 BORDERS BOOKS in The Woodlands, Market Street is Closing

9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands

Borders Group Inc., the nation's second-largest bookstore chain, will close all 399 of its stores after failing to receive any offers to save the company.

Borders has 17 locations in Texas:

• 255 E. Basse Rd., San Antonio
• 8340 Agora Pkwy., San Antonio
• 117451 H-10 West, San Antonio
• 4000 Arlington Highlands Blvd., Arlington
• 4601 West Frwy., Fort Worth
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal A
• 5500 Greenville Ave., Dallas
• 300 Watters Rd., Allen
• 3025 Kirby, Houston
• 5061 Westheimer Rd., Houston
• 3950 South Terminal Rd., Houston
• 9595 Six Pines Dr., The Woodlands
• 570 Meyerland Plaza, Houston
• 19419 Gulf Freeway, Webster
• 2370 N. Expy., Brownsville
• 2000 South Expy. 83, Harlingen
• 3129 South 31st St., Temple

MLS Report for June 2011
HOUSTON HOME PRICES REACH A RECORD HIGH IN JUNE

Home sales increase for the second time this year

HOUSTON - (July 19, 2011) - 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.

June Monthly Market Comparison

The month of June brought Houston's overall housing market largely positive results when all sales categories are compared to June of 2010. However sales volume gains for the month were skewed by the 2010 tax credit that affected a decline in home sales one year ago after it expired. Total property sales declined fractionally while total dollar volume rose on a year-over-year basis. The average price reached a record high while the median price recorded its highest level since July 2009.

Month-end pending sales for June totaled 3,872, up 18.3 percent from last year. While not as high as the 35.4 percent increase recorded in May, the rate is considered higher than what is typically seen this time of year and is considered an ongoing reflection of the rapid pace at which 2010 sales went under contract in advance of the tax credit closing deadline.

The number of available properties, or active listings, at the end of June dipped 4.8 percent from June 2010 to 51,342. The inventory of single-family homes rose to 7.9 months compared to 7.3 months one year earlier. That means that it would take 7.9 months to sell all the single-family homes on the market based on sales activity over the past year. The figure still compares favorably to the national inventory of single-family homes of 9.3 months reported by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

* Months inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12 months sales activity. This figure is representative of the single-family homes market.
Single-Family Homes Update

June sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 5,571, up 0.6 percent from June 2010. This marks the first increase since January when sales volume rose 8.4 percent. The June number represents the greatest monthly volume of single-family homes recorded in Houston since May 2010.

When compared to June of 2009, a year in which there were no unusual real estate market influences such as Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the home buyer tax credit in 2010, single-family home sales were up 2.7 percent. On a year-to-date basis, sales are down 5.4 percent.

Broken out by segment, June sales of homes priced below $80,000 climbed 19.8 percent; sales of homes in the $80,000-$150,000 range dropped 11.6 percent; sales of homes between $150,000 and $250,000 dipped 0.7 percent; sales of homes ranging from $250,000-$500,000 rose 3.8 percent; and sales of homes that make up the luxury market-priced from $500,000 and up-increased 1.5 percent.

The average price achieved the highest level of all time in Houston while the median price reached the highest level since July 2009. At $228,650, the average price of single-family homes edged up 0.6 percent in June compared to one year earlier. At $161,000, the median sales price for single-family homes increased 2.2 percent versus June 2010. The national single-family median price reported by NAR is $166,700, illustrating the continued higher value and lower cost of living available to consumers in Houston.

HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In June 2011, existing home sales totaled 4,811, a 4.7 percent increase from June 2010. The average sales price climbed 5.2 percent to $219,000 compared to last year and the median sales price of $152,000 rose 3.5 percent.

Townhouse/Condominium Update

The number of townhouses and condominiums that sold in June declined 8.6 percent compared to one year earlier. That became the fifth straight monthly sales decline for this housing type following a 14.7 percent hike in January. In the greater Houston area, 470 units were sold last month versus 514 properties in June 2010.

The average price climbed 9.2 percent to $175,958 from June 2010 to June 2011. The median price of a townhouse/condominium declined 6.0 percent to $126,500.

Lease Property Update

Demand for single-family home rentals continued to soar in the month of June, rising 19.2 percent compared to one year earlier. Year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals jumped 19.5 percent. This demand has been largely driven by Houston's steadily improving employment landscape which has drawn consumers from around the country. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' latest economic update for Houston, nonfarm payroll employment grew at an annualized rate of more than 3.2 percent in May to more than 2.57 million jobs. This brings the number of jobs added since the trough of Houston's business cycle to more than 81,600. Year-to-date, the average annualized monthly growth rate was 3.3 percent. Should that pace continue in the second half of 2011, Houston will have added nearly 84,000 jobs this year. The unemployment rate improved slightly to 8.4 percent, while the U.S. clocked in at 9.2 percent.

Houston Real Estate Milestones in June

Churches and Religious Congregations located in The Woodlands: