Veteran’s Home Loans for Franklin TexasIf you are reading this, you or a family member have likely served in our military.  First off, we would like to say a sincere “Thank You” for your service!  We recognize that not only do our Veterans sacrifice by serving, but their families do as well-, and we owe you all a debt of gratitude!One of the best benefits Veterans and their families receive due to their service to our great country is the VA home loan benefits.  We are going to outline just a few of these significant benefits in this article for you. Here are some of the major benefits you may receive by using your VA home loan benefits:*100% financing available- one of the very few loans available with no down payment!*Lower rates available than most loan programs- which saves you mone... 08/05/2021

Veterans now have access to a new VA renovation loan to refurbish or remodel their homes.  This loan program is available for new home purchases as well as for remodeling homes currently owned by the veteran.  It is estimated that over 50% of homes nationally are 40 years or older, and in the current housing market many homes are in need of updating, addressing deferred maintenance, or improving the energy efficiency of homes to lower utility costs.VA loan benefits include the following unique advantages:  a.  up to 100% financing, b.  no mortgage insurance, c.  up to $ 35,000 in renovation funds escrowed, d.  all renovations must be completed within 60 days of closing, e.  you can close on a purchase or refinance in the “as is” condition, f. you can borrow against the future value of t... 05/09/2019

Every evening for years my wife Khris and I tune in to the nightly sunset from our back porch.  The horizon at our place is about 5 miles,  so the sunsets can be really a joy at times. This evening there was a touch of fall in the air,  and when I hit the zoom on the camera this cloud almost resembled Old Man Winter blowing up a cold front...could this be a sign of a cold winter to come. 09/26/2010

This is my first time to grow cabbage in our garden and my first time to ever have a winter garden here in Robertson County. This afternoon I cut these cabbages. It is fun to watch them grow with their giant leaves folding in on themselves and forming a living ball.  They really took a long time to mature. Kind of reminds me of our profession...... It takes a lot of time a patience to reap a harvest. It doesn't just happen. You plan. You plant. You maintain. And hopefully the fruits of your labor will finally produce! Copyright 2010 Milam F. "Trey" Thurmond III, Broker, CRB, GRI, SRES. For all your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station ,  and Aggieland  Texas .....including Residential, Land, Investments, and Property Management Services. Now is a great time to buy or sell real est... 02/21/2010

If you happen to be on the water at Lake Limestone ...one of the few places you can go to to gas up is the the Running Branch Marina located at the end of a finger on the west side of the lake , on the old Mckenzie Cemetary Rd.  Running Branch has been in operation as long as I can remember ( I think since the lake was new)  and is my spot for ice, drinks, gas, food,and bait when we run out.  If you happen to visit the area stop in and get some supplies. Milam F. "Trey" Thurmond, Broker, CRB, GRI.  For all your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station ,  and Aggieland  Texas .....including Residential, Land, Investments, and Property Management Services. Now is a great time to buy or sell real estate. Call or email me today and I will get right to work to meet your real estate goals. ... 09/05/2009

As the drought continues at least here in central Texas ....lake water levels are falling...including on Lake Limestone where this photo was snapped on Saturday. From looking at the water marks on the bulkheads it appears that Limestone may be about 4 feet down , which in many cases makes it difficult for some folks to even launch.  If they wait too long some boats will be stranded.  Rising and falling levels can have some positive effects however , especially in the long run, on fishing as low water levels stimulates new plant growth and  means an increase in the food chain supply.  Hopefully the rains will come this fall. Last year's rains seemed later than normal too.   If you are thinking of a weekend trip to a Texas lake you may want to check with locals to be sure you will be eve ... 08/23/2009

      Copyright Milam F. "Trey" Thurmond, Broker, CRB, GRI. For all your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station ,  and Aggieland  Texas .....including Residential, Land, Investments, and Property Management Services. Now is a great time to buy or sell real estate. Call or email me today and I will get right to work to meet your real estate goals. Serving BCS for 31 Years! Classic Realty Associates Quality Service Certified Platinum O5' 06' 07'Classic Realty Associates3600 Hwy 6 South , Suite 100College Station, Texas 77845(979) 694-8844 -110    979-229-8465 cell www.treythurmond.com       08/12/2009

Both yesterday and today I checked our thermometer outside at home. It is in the shade and read 100 degrees yesterday and today at 7 PM !  Earlier this week we had a high pushing 107. I haven't checked to see about records but a feel this is one of the hottest Junes ever for this part of Texas. Our sprinklers have been running non stop.  There will be a point however where we will have to start conserving more. This area has a rather large aquifer compared to others but we still need to conserve. Let's hope the heat wave dissipates real soon!  If id doesn't we are all in for a long hot summer. Make sure those pets have plent of water right now too. Stay Cool! www.treythurmond.com   06/27/2009

Located on Hwy 79 in Franklin , Texas .....the old Carnegie Library certainly is reminiscent of days gone by in small towns across the USA.  This library was built in 1913 and is still serving as a library after all those years. Of 31 Carnegie Libraries built in Texas...only 5 still serve as libraries and this is one of them. The basement of the building however has served in the past  as classrooms for elementary students, a dressing room for sports teams from the local high school, and domicile for the superintendent of schools.  04/28/2009

Does money Grow on Trees?  Nope but in a sense it grows on flowers! Well it finally rained in our part of Texas!! Thank the Lord ! Ibelieve we have had about 5 1/2 inches in the last week or so between the towns of Hearne and Franklin. and it is no understatement to say it was sorely needed. Here's a little taste of all my wife's hours , TLC , and lots of weed pulling.  I don't mind pruning , hauling , fertilizing etc....but just don't like pulling weeds.  We just love it when everything starts to bloom here in Robertson County, Texas. It is almost like a daily TV series  show  just waiting to see what will bloom next.     Nothing beats having well established flower beds when it comes to selling a home this time of year. The sights and smells absolutely influence prospective home buyer... 04/21/2009

I just love old county courthouses. They have great charm. This handsome building is located on the town square in the heart of Franklin, Texas and  is the Robertson County Courthouse.  It was built in 1883 and is in the Second Empire Style.  It is made of Austin llimestone and is listed on the National register. Franklin, Texas is located on Hwy 79 , and the area is currently experiencing a natural gas boom, which has been a terrific boost to the economy of a sparsely populated, but beautiful county .  It is a short drive to the cities of Hearne  , and Bryan-College Station , Texas .   Interested in other Texas courthouses ? ......  then go to  http://www.texascourthouses.com   04/06/2009

In Texas this time of year you can find an abunbdance of wildflowers almost anywhere you travel. In Robertson County there are plenty to enjoy along the roads and highways including the standard bearer Bluebonnets and Paintbrushes. But one of my favorites are  the Forget-Me -Nots.    Quite a few can be seen along several stretches of FM 2549 between Hwy 6 and Hwy 79, near Franklin and Hearne.   Noted in the past by Texas Monthly Magazine  as one of the prettiest highways in the state, it is well worth the visit to enjoy the flowers and the scenery along this Farm to Market highway.  Red Barns, and white rail fences along with rolling hills make the short trip worth every minute. Unfortunately the wind was gusting to 30 mph when I took this photo but you still get the idea. A delicate fl... 04/05/2009

We have the great fortune of enjoying a 20 mile commute each day in a less densely populated area of  central Texas, One of the greatest pleasures we experience during that brief commute is to see an abundance of native animals, birds and flowers. There are currently quite a few bluebonnets showing along Hwy 6 north of Bryan as you head to Robertson county....but there is one thing you seldom see in the urban areas that begin to show up the further north you get .   Dogwood Trees! Right now they are in full blossom and in  my opinion are one of God's loveliest plants.  If you are looking for something to do this weekend you might pack up the family or a few friends and take a drive on some of the farm to market roads in Robertson County.  Don't wait too many weeks however or they will b... 03/16/2009

I didn't realize what was being built near where we live until a few days ago. I thought it was another oil or gas well being drilled and wondered why it was taking so long. Then suddenly this familiar structure started going up and began taking shape.. Apparently someone is putting up a water tower. We live in a rural area on a high hill and our current water pressure is so low we added a water pump to get water upstairs. Since this new water tower appears to be at a much higher elevation than our current supplier's tower we are hoping that maybe this tower will serve our water needs also. It is located on Fm 2549 (Arrowmoon Hwy ) in Robertson County Texas.   02/25/2009

Over the last few years I have become involved with a wildlife management organization. As a member of this group I have really been able to learn some very valuable information to help in obtaining wildlife exemptions, and to just maintain good management practices. All has been in the hope of having more quality wildlife. At our home just a few miles east of Hearne , Texas I have been able to increase the size and quantity of our heard. And as a side benefit we can watch the young ones mature. This week due to speeders on the highway in front of our home we lost two of the three deer fawns living on our place. That is 2/3's of the total fawns this year.  We live on a dangerous deadmans' 'S" curve but many drivers don't mind the signs...they  drive 80 in a 55 zone and don't blink an eye. 08/29/2008

As I was pondering what to write about on cooling off and beating the heat in Texas...it dawned on me that wildlife and pets really have it tough! We have had some days at 105 degrees already this summer and with high humidity. Not many animals have the luxury of being able to just go inside when they are pooped from the heat like we can.  Well at least most can't. I know there are lots of Flluffys and Puffy's out there that never have stepped over the threshold to leave the air conditioned castles they live in, but many pets do stay outside a lot, and many more don't even know what A.C. is. They are full time outsiders. We have tried to remember to make sure both our 3 dogs and 4 cats have plenty of shade, and water at all times. And we have tried to provide for our wildlife to the bes... 08/07/2008

  Texas is setting some records right now . It is hot! Real Hot. Some parts of the state have been as high as 104 degrees. And with very little rain. I am noticing trees turning brown and am certain quite a few will die this year from what we are experiencing. Also I have noticed many folks are cutting back on watering in the Robertson County  area in order to save on water bill costs. Watering early and late are most effective.  But sometimes a little extra may be required to save a tree or shrub. It sometimes is a tough decision. Save the tree or save the bank account? www.treythurmond.com   08/02/2008

While the rest of the world debates drilling,  Robertson County  continues to be a hub of activity for this area  of Texas.   Each day in traveling to and from my office I never cease to be amazed at the numbers of tuck loads of oilfield equipment, drill stem and caseing pipe being hauled to their numerous destinations in the field.  There is substantial real estate activity and commercial construction currently taking place to accomodate both the increase in the population of blue and white collar workers and some  of their families in the county. Several new banks have followed the money to the area and continue to open new branches. One ot the least populated counties in Texas is certainly making its mark!  07/17/2008

  For the last few years in late June and early July we have enjoyed making grape jelly from local wild "Mustang Grapes" that grow in our area of Texas in Robertson County.  There is an old oak tree just a few yards from the house that has one of the largest vines I have ever seen  growing on it. This tree was hit by a tornado and damaged to the point of almost death. Instead of taking it down we just let the vine continue to cover it. So it continues to serve a good purpose. I feel it will be years before the tree finally expires. In the meantime we get to enjoy the grapes. This year we probably want be making jelly for lack of time but it doesn't keep me from nibbling on a hand full when we work out in the yard. These grapes are particularly sweet when ripe and we have been told they ... 07/13/2008

I have always had a love affair for trees. I love watching them grow from saplings until they are stately and tall .  Of course that can take a while!  Still, we can go back to some of the subdivisions  we worked on years ago and those trees that were pencil size  then, now are towering over two story homes.  I have tree identification books because I am always on the prowl for unusual trees that may not be native to our neck of the country. And of course there are those trees the settlers planted on their homesteads. Sometimes I enjoy finding a grove of non native trees and studying the site to see if an old settler's home was once there. In this area they would plant fast growing and sometimes medicinal trees. One of my favorites is the "Tickle Tongue " or "Tooth Ache"  tree. We have ... 07/06/2008