Living Green In The Woodlands- Buy Green, Buy Local - 10/27/08 02:27 PM
I don't know how many of you were able to attend The Woodlands Going Green Series last Monday, but I have to say that it was probably the most educational speaking event that I have attended in a very long time.
The whole hour revolved around the Farmers Market that is in the Grogan's Mill Shopping Center every Saturday- Seasonally of course.  We also had the opportunity to listen to some of the amazing Business Owners that have products there.
Out of all of this has sparked a new series for the Living Green in The Woodlands community-
Buy Green-Buy Local: … (4 comments)

Houston Solar Tour 2008- What a Blast! - 10/27/08 12:03 PM

The ASES Solar Tour hosted by the Houston Renewable Energy Group was held last Saturday and was a Blast!  Although we are still waiting on a complete head count, I heard one location had as many as 180 people show up!  With over 20 projects on the tour this year, I know the total number of attendees will be amazing!
The tour hosted everything from Solar Attic fans to Virginia Point which is a LEED home under construction that has 140 Solar Panels on it.  This home creates more power than I use in my home every year! 
The project … (5 comments)

There Really Is A NEED For Quality PROFESSIONALS In Real Estate - 10/27/08 12:03 PM
Previously I wrote about Pre-Licensing experiences shaping your Real Estate Career and how you conduct business.  It was about my first time home buying experience yet it was not the one that 'pushed me over the edge' and make get a Real Estate License.
After buying my first home and getting burned out working 100+ hours a week, I changed jobs.  I went to work in an office and hated it.  You have to be tactful in a Corporate atmosphere which I lacked.  I had no problem being honest about anything.  Even if it was telling someone that they were wrong … (53 comments)

Do Pre-Real Estate License Experiences Shape Your RE Career? - 10/26/08 11:21 AM
When I was 22 I lived in an apartment.  I held a position as a Manager of a Local Restaurant that served Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.  It was fun but I worked a lot of hours.  I remember one week as of Saturday I had worked 115 hours.  At the time I remember thinking that it had not even hit me that there were that many hours in a week-Not to mention that Sunday was coming where we did inventory.  It would be another 14-16 hour day.
Needless to say, I worked some late hours.  One night I got home from … (6 comments)

RE BarCamp Houston- It's All About The People! - 10/23/08 11:48 PM
Since I have been in real estate I have been to lots of seminars.  You go and take a ton of notes, pick up a bunch of business cards and then...forget about it.  Sometimes you don't even read through your notes ever again!
Then, last year I joined ActiveRain.  It was overwhelming.  You actually learn, retain what you learn and want to learn more-continually.  Then, you seem to be drawn to the same people everyday.  You like their style of writing, relate to their success and sometimes failure, happiness and sadness.  You even email them to wish them Happy Birthday or … (14 comments)

Townhomes As An Affordable Option in The Woodlands - 10/18/08 04:45 PM
The Woodlands is Gorgeous!  There are tons of Trees, Shopping, YMCA's, hike and bike trails, swimming pools, you name it- It's here.  You get the Backyard for the kids and pets, about any style home you could imagine and it is all spread across a very, very broad price range.
It is not uncommon that I get questions from Potential Home Buyers wanting to know what their options are to buy in The Woodlands under $150,000.  Buyers still want the splendor of the Trees, a Backyard to Entertain or have pets, a Floorplan with Flexibility, Big Kitchen, Fireplace...there are many reasons … (0 comments)

Going Green in The Woodlands-Lecture Series Starts Monday! - 10/18/08 03:31 PM
The Woodlands Green is proud to offer a new Lecture series on how to Go Green!  It all starts Monday October 20th where the discussion will be about the local Farmers Market and locally produced fruits and vegetables.
In November. Michael Strong with Greenhaus Builders and Kathleen Reardon of RD Architecture will talk about green homes.  All lectures start at 7 pm at the Shenandoah City Hall Complex. 
For a little more information about the events I have some below.  Don't forget to mark you Calendars!
 
Going Green Series Announcement v4 - Upload a Document to Scribd … (5 comments)

Home Sellers In Spring, Tx: Show Up To The Game Ready To Play - 10/18/08 01:27 PM
It's like a game so you better show up ready to play, but the game is about Convenience and Perceived value right now.
It's true.  The climate of the Real Estate Industry is different right now.  It is a tad more difficult to get a mortgage for some people which means the Pool of available and QUALIFIED Buyers is smaller right now.  When you go out to look at properties it is almost like walking through a 'Sea of Sameness'.  Even though the homes may have different floorplans, different locations, different prices - They are all the same in one way … (0 comments)

ASES Solar Tour in Houston- Saturday October 25th 2008 - 10/16/08 09:59 PM
Every year the American Solar Energy Society hosts a Tour of Solar Homes and Businesses in many major Cities across America.  The Houston Renewable Energy Group is hosting it again this year to keep the tradition rolling!  There are a lot of exciting venues this year!
The theme for the year is getting the word out.  It's not just about having a home off the grid with Solar Panels, it's about Solar.  All aspects of Solar.  You are invited to come and learn about everything from Solar Attic Fans to Large Solar Systems.  And the best part?  It is FREE to … (0 comments)

Recycle Ike- I Love It! - 10/16/08 07:28 PM
It's amazing how much debris there is from Hurricane Ike.  As a person that tries to be GREEN I have thought often in the past few weeks how unreal it will be for all of it to go to a landfill.  Just the amount of trees, leaves, etc. alone is just amazing.
Over the past few weeks they have been picking up only 'GREEN' debris.  Meaning, anything that grows.  Trees, leaves, etc.  The other debris such as fences, siding, roofing materials etc. will be picked up at a later date.  Currently some of the Tree Debris is being chopped up in … (11 comments)

RE BarCamp Houston- Peek A Boo- I Don't See You - 10/14/08 12:58 PM

 
Have you heard about Real Estate Bar Camp coming up in Houston in about 7 days?  Rich Jacobson posted again yesterday about it if you missed the news..
It's been all the buzz on ActiveRain and some other sites for a while now.  I also know of a handful of people that are flying or driving in to town that I can't wait to meet!  (You all know who you are.:)
There will be good times, lots to learn, good food and great people.  Check out the event website to see a sneak peek of who will be there...
… (1 comments)

RE-BarCamp is coming to Houston TX on October 22, 2008! - 10/13/08 04:44 PM
If you are anywhere near Houston, you should come to this event!  We would all LOVE to see you there!!!
Via Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder:
REBarCamp Houston is an exhilarating gathering of minds & passions in a spontaneous, eclectic, organic, open format event where real estate professionals and technology experts share new discoveries/trends happening in the industry, and discuss their practical application in the present and future of real estate. Get connected with experts - show, tell, share, and learn. Go deep with the innovators of the industry and discuss ways to incorporate on-line strategies, such as blogging, new media, … (2 comments)

I Actually Like The Changes on AR - 10/11/08 09:45 AM
I just logged in to Active Rain about 10 minutes ago for the first time today and noticed the changes.  At first I was wondering what the heck happened, but after a minute or so I found the Dashboard. Then, right away I noticed that there were a few people complaining about the changes...
Well, I actually kind of like it.  At the top of the page I can now search by topic or go to my subscribed readers if I want to where before I would have to flip through endless pages of blogs to find something written a few … (53 comments)