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Jan
16

Katy Real Estate: Important Information Regarding Area Roadways!

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to Katy Real Estate and the explosion of homes and traffic we are now all experiencing.  Now that Houston is moving West, Katy is expanding at record pace.  With growth comes inconvenience.  Below is an update on what highway construction is currently being done and some information on what we can look forward to in the future!  Remember, patience is a virtue!

 

 

View my Katy Real Estate page for more information on the homes in the area that interest you!

SH 99 & I-10

  • The two direct connectors at SH 99 and I-10 are now open, significantly reducing traffic congestion at that intersection.
  • The Texas Department of Transportation has begun construction of Segment “E” of the Grand Parkway from I-10 to SH 290.
  • Fort Bend County has begun construction of the first two of 10 Grand Parkway overpasses in the portion of Segment “D” from FM 1093 to US 59.
  • Construction of all 10 overpasses and of Segment “E” should be completed by the end of 2013.

FM 1093

  • Fort Bend County has begun engineering design on the extension of the FM 1093/Westpark Toll Road. The project is in two phases.
  • Phase I consists of four lanes of FM 1093 frontage road from SH 99 to FM 1463, four lanes of main toll lanes from SH 99 to Spring Green Road, and a direct connector east FM 1093 to north SH 99. Construction of Phase I is slated to begin the fall of 2012 and will take 18-24 months.
  • Phase II of the project consists of four lanes of FM 1093 frontage road from FM 1463 to James Lane in Fulshear and will be about two months behind Phase I.
  • The project is funded mainly by TxDOT and the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority.

Park & Ride

  • The county will construct and operate a “Park and Ride” facility on property it owns on the north side of FM 1093/Westpark Toll Road between Mason Road and Grand Mission Drive.
  • The “Park and Ride” is funded by a federal grant. It is scheduled to be completed by late summer 2013.
  • Destinations from the “Park and Ride” will be to the Galleria Area, Greenway Plaza and the Medical Center.

FM 1463

  • A continuous right turn lane from north FM 1463 to east I-10 was completed in 2011 to reduce traffic congestion at that intersection.
  • Further improvements to FM 1463, a state road, requires the federal government to approve and fund additional feeder lanes from FM 1463 east along I-10 and an overpass at the FM 1463/I-10 intersection. Such approval and funding is not anticipated for several years.

Cane Island Parkway

  • To provide additional access to I-10, the county has been working with TxDOT, Waller County, City of Katy and various property owners and developers to build the Cane Island Parkway from US 90 on the north to connect to FM 1463 on the south.
  • Cane Island will include an overpass over I-10 about a mile west of the I-10/ FM 1463 intersection.
  • This project has been stalled by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) insistence that the state and local governments provide full funding for the ultimate I-10 overpass, which is estimated to cost $30 million.
  • Another proposal has been made to FHWA for approval of a two-lane overpass over I-10. We currently await a response from FHWA.

If you have any questions or would like to see any of the real estate in or around the Katy/Houston Area, please feel free to contact me at 713-253-5678 or at Angela@AngelaKhomes.com

 

Jan
10

US Census Map: Interesting Demographics!

January 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

January 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The 2010 US Census Map has been released in an interactive form.  See who is moving in around you and the rest of the country.  What areas do you see the most growth?  Zoom in on a state and glide your cursor over the map and it will display every counties demographic layout….browse population growth and decline, changes in racial and ethnic concentrations and patterns of housing development.

See where your Katy Real Estate falls…..  2010 U.S. CENSUS MAP

View my Katy Real Estate page for more information on the homes in the counties that interest you!

If you have any questions or would like to see any of the real estate in or around the Katy/Houston Area, please feel free to contact me at 713-253-5678 or at Angela@AngelaKhomes.com

 

Dec
02

Brandon Vos – Acrylic Painter

December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Brandon Vos recently helped with a clients project and when speaking with him about paint selection I decided to turn our conversation in to a blog post.

Here begins Brandons thoughts on Acrylic versus Oil painting.

“When I was in my painting classes in school, they never told us the downsides to oil painting. Although oil paintings still have the respect of most artists and buyers, they do have some downsides.

They take a long time to dry. It’s theorizes that some of Van Gogh’s paintings my still have wet layers deep within.

Also, oil paintings give off an odor. This odor may be mildly annoying with the scent of linseed oil to violently annoying with the fumes of turpentine. No one wants a painting in their home of office to smell bad, be wet, and yellow over time.

Acrylic paint is my choice for today’s client. It dries in a fraction of the time. Also, when it dries, it has the same consistency as plastic, so its quite water resistant.

It doesn’t discolor easily and, in fact, it’s colors are vibrant in comparison to most oils.

Acrylic painting lasts longer when used in an office versus Oil Painting. Oil painting has the side effects of odor  such as linseed oil or as bad as turpentine.”

More about Brandon Vos

Brandon is a local Katy Photographer, Graphic Designer in Katy, and is also a very professional Illustrator and Artist.

You may reach Brandon Vos through his website and take a look at one of the pages such as the Graphic Designer in Katy page.

Jun
01

Words of Wisdom: Storm Season and Buyers/Sellers of Katy Real Estate

June 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

June 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The time of year is here!  Storm Season…whether this includes tropical depressions, tropical storms or full blown hurricanes, you as a home buyer or seller of Katy Real Estate need to be aware of a few things that can affect your transaction.

Once the National Weather Service (NOAA) announces that a storm has crossed into the Gulf of Mexico 80 degree west longitude and 20 degree north latitude, basically just southeast of Cuba, the property insurance carriers (homes, buildings, equipment, auto’s, etc.) start the processing of restricting changes to existing insurance policies as well as suspending the writing of new policies, until 48 hours after the storm makes landfall or is downgraded from storm status.

Thankfully some, but not all, insurance carriers recognize that property closings (new acquisitions) do happen within the above suspension window and will allow the writing of some type of properties.

Katy Real Estate Insurance Facts

Please remember most insurance companies use the 80/20 box, (80 degree west longitude and 20 degree north latitude) but some have a larger box, meaning their suspensions start sooner, and also not all carriers will allow a home going through the closing process to be written.

As you would also suspect, nobody gets very much warning from Mother Nature, suffice to say plan ahead for delays in the home closing process from June 1st through November 1st which NOAA says and most carriers follow as the normal storm season.

Every carrier has various rules of what they will do and won’t do and I have not even touched on the subject as to when a given carrier determines when a “storm is a storm”.  Is it 50 mph wind, 45 mph, 65 mph, every carrier is different, some even don’t use the word storm, they say tropical depression.

The easiest way to avoid any delay is to tell your agent or the agent representing the other side to start the process ahead of time and to bind the coverage to start on a given day, that way it is technically already issued with a future date, if the closing date changes that is OK, the date can always be adjusted by a few days.  Buyers and sellers have been known to get to their closing date and have no insurance coverage delaying their closing for days and even weeks.  Be prepared!

If you have any questions or would like to see any of the real estate in the Katy/ Houston Area, please feel free to contact me at 713-253-5678 or atAngela@AngelaKhomes.com.  You may also view my Katy Real Estate Search to view all MLS listings available in an around the surrounding areas!

 

 

Mar
21

“Firethorne Stampede” Supports KISD

March 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

March 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Firethorne Stampede Photo by Firethorne Homes For SaleThe “Firethorne Stampede” auction team continued its enthusiastic support of the Katy Independent School District (I.S.D.) Future Farmers of America (FFA) Livestock Show and Sale scholarships by purchasing 13 animals, including the Grand Champion Pig, Reserve Champion Lamb. Reserve Champion Pig and the Grand Showman/4th Place Lamb.

“We especially were thrilled to purchase the showmanship lamb raised by one of our own Firethorne Visitor Center Guides, Hanna Holsapple, who is a junior at Cinco Ranch High School,” said “Firethorne Stampede” spokesman Wayne Meyer.  “Hanna has done an outstanding job as an Future Farmers of America student, raising an award-winning lamb, and at Firethorne, where she helps showcase our community to future homeowners,” he said.  Meyer is general manager of the 1,400-acre Firethorne master-designed community in Katy/Fulshear.

The “Firethorne Stampede” participants are Firethorne, Jefferson Development Company, Allen Boone & Humphries, BKD LLP, Bluegrass Maintenance Inc., Canady & Canady, Clearwater Utilities, Inc., First Southwest Co., Founders Bank, Freed Advertising, HBC Terracon, Jones & Carter, Inc., Lake Management, Perry Homes, RHC Investments, Southwest Water Co., Storm Water Solutions, Susan Farb Public Relations and Tax Tech Inc.  This group of participants rally together every year to support the KISD Livestock Show and Sale.  These companies once again are giving back to the community in which they do business.

View my Firethorne Homes for sale page for more information on this up and growing community!

If you have any questions or would like to see any of the real estate in the Firethorne/Katy Area, please feel free to contact me at 713-253-5678 or at Angela@AngelaKhomes.com

Nov
05

Katy, Texas, Real Estate: Did I Get A Good Deal?

November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Best Deal In Katy TexasBuying or selling real estate is a tricky endeavor these days! It is the biggest purchase most people will make in their lifetime. Unlike smaller purchases people make, making an offer on a home sometimes feels like just pulling numbers out of a hat. Selling a home is just as tricky, in this economy with a tough market, most sellers just want to take any offer they get, however, they also want the best price their home will command.

Buyer’s remorse often takes hold as soon as you get the contract back with the seller’s signature on it. The anxiety and anticipation that your offer will be accepted quickly does a nosedive into the fear of “Oh no- they took it-I must have offered too much!” If this sounds familiar, take notice, the sellers were feeling the same thing, “Oh no, I bet I could have gotten more money if I had just held out a little longer”.

To keep from experiencing these feelings, fill yourself with information. Use these few tips to help you know if you are getting a good deal when either buying or selling your Katy, Texas real estate:

  • Know what the term “Good Deal” means to you. A good deal is subjective to the participants!
  • Compare “YOUR” price to other benchmarks: Market Value of the home, Comparative Market Analysis, Price per square foot etc.
  • Factor in specifics of your particular situation: Seasonality, Market Dynamics, Affordability and the competition!
  • Take into account any extras thrown in the deal: Furniture/Appliances, Closing Costs, and Points etc.

In today’s real estate market, where sellers are constrained by their upside down mortgages and buyers are constrained by the difficult process of getting a loan and getting past the way too conservative appraisal standards, what determines a “Good Deal” to you, will most certainly be different for the other party in the transaction. A professional real estate agent can always help you in every aspect of determining the worth of you next “Good Deal”.  Let Angela Kraushaar be just that professional!

If you have any questions or would like to see any of the real estate in Katy, Texas please feel free to contact me at 713-253-5678 or at Angela@AngelaKhomes.com.

Oct
08

Protecting Your Katy Real Estate – Fire Safety

October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Many people think a fire won’t happen to them. But what happens if it does? And what if there are children in the home? Will they know how to react to the sound of a smoke alarm? 

Below are a few tips for parents to help prepare your katy area home and children in case of a residential fire:

The Right Way to Use Smoke Alarms
* Install smoke alarms in your home on every level and near each sleeping area or bedroom. Test them once a month, replace the batteries at least once a year and install new alarms every ten years. (Ten-year lithium alarms do not require battery changes each year.)

* Familiarize your child with the sound of your smoke alarm. Plan and practice several escape routes from each room of the home and identify a safe outside meeting place.

* Interconnect the alarms if possible so that when one sounds they all sound.

* Place smoke alarms on ceilings or high on walls. Smoke rises, so alarms should be placed as high and as close to the middle of the room as possible.

* Do not place the smoke alarm on a wall that faces the outside if you live in a poorly insulated or mobile home.

* Place the alarm away from cooking or furnace fumes, fireplace smoke and dust. This will reduce unwanted alarms. The best location is at least three feet away from forced-air supply registers and not near windows or exterior doors since they can inhibit the alarm’s ability to sense smoke.

* For the best protection against different types of fires, consider installing both ionization alarms (better at sensing flaming fires) and photoelectric alarms (better at sensing slow, smoky fires) or dual sensor alarms.

* If someone in your home is hearing-impaired, there are smoke alarms that use strobe lights.

How to Maintain Your Smoke Alarm
Most smoke alarms currently on the market are battery powered. However, 10-year lithium cell-powered smoke alarms are now available, eliminating the need to replace dead or missing batteries.

* Test all alarms once a month. Testing is a simple process that can be done several ways. Most models have built-in test buttons that activate the alarm. For those alarms without built-in test buttons, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for testing and maintaining your smoke alarm.

* Vacuum your alarms regularly. Regular cleaning is imperative. Dirt can “confuse” the alarm and lead to false alarms or impair its functioning.

* Replace the batteries at least once a year. Even if your battery-operated alarm has never sounded, it is important to replace the batteries.

* Replace your smoke alarm, regardless of the type, at least every 10 years. Smoke alarms deteriorate over time, so they need to be replaced.

* If you have a problem with nuisance alarms, there are a few options you can try:

  • Vacuum the smoke alarm more often.
  • Move the smoke alarm farther away from the nuisance source, which is often cooking fumes.
  • Switch to a photoelectric unit or an ionization unit with a hush button.

Today’s post is an abbreviated version of a Rismedia article

Oct
04

Firethorne Homeowner Becomes First-Time Triathlete

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When Firethorne resident Jon Furr watched 1,000 cyclists streaming past his home on North Firethorne Road last October, he vowed, “I’m doing this event in 2010.”  One year later, his running, cycling and swimming prowess and stamina will be put to the test at his first-ever triathlon, the 18th Annual Katy Triathlon at Firethorne, Sunday, October 24, 7:30 – 11 a.m.  The USA Triathlon-sanctioned race, held in and around Katy/Fulshear’s 1,400-acre residential community, is composed of a 500-meter swim, 16-mile bike race and a three-mile run. 

“We moved to Houston from Chicago in June of ’09 and into our home in Firethorne that September,” said Furr. “We didn’t know about the Katy Triathlon then, but it’s awesome and it’s in my neighborhood,” proclaimed the 2009 Katy Triathlon tailgater, who cheered the athletes from his North Firethorne Road sidelines last year. 

Training for the Triathlon has been a great motivator for Furr, 38, spurring him to get in better physical shape. When he moved to Houston he began cycling to work intermittently. This year he has been more consistent.  “I cycle to work two times a week (on his full carbon bicycle) and that’s 30 miles round-trip each time (to the Energy Corridor),” said Furr, whose previous sports activities are martial arts and professional paintball, which he played for 10 years.     

To prepare for the race’s 500-meter swim and three-mile run, Furr swims in his pool against the pool jets for 15 minutes and runs three miles once or twice a week.  On Saturdays, he completes a 16-mile bike ride followed by a three-mile run.  “I’ve started doing other cross-training like muay thai (kick-boxing) and water skiing as well,” said Furr. He made sure to have a physical assessment done at his company’s fitness center, where he takes spinning classes and consults with the fitness coordinator about proper nutrition for the rigorous sports challenge.   

Athletes like Furr, as well as relay teams, will compete in a 500-meter swim around the 12-acre Lake Firethorne, as well as a 16-mile bike race and a three-mile run through Firethorne. The cycling route will include sections of FM 1463, US Hwy. 90, Pederson Road, and the I-10 Frontage Road. Firethorne is located on FM 1463, near the crossroads of the I-10 West corridor, Westpark Tollway and Grand Parkway.

“Firethorne’s 12-acre lake amenity and proximity to wide spaces of rural areas is conducive to having a successful triathlon as was demonstrated last year,” said veteran Race Director Dave Rainey.  Registration is open and continues through October 20.  The complete fee structure and deadlines are posted on the new website, www.katytriathlon.com. 

Firethorne, located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, blends the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, tennis courts, Fitness Center, resort-style swimming pool, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat.  Served by highly acclaimed schools, Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear.  If you are interested in viewing any of the homes in Firethorne, please call Angela Kraushaar at 713-253-5678 or view my link Firethorne Homes for Sale.

Sep
11

Katy Rice Harvest Festival October 9th and 10th

September 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

September 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The 30th anniversary of the Katy Rice Harvest Festival will be held on October 9th and 10th.  There are several events planned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this Katy Family Favorite.  The Katy Rice Harvest Festival is named one of the Houston area’s top ten festivals.  The Festival is held every year around the Historic Downtown Katy square.  This year marks the first time in the history of this Festival that all of the vendor booths sold out over 6 weeks prior to the event.

The Festival will feature over 260 vendors, The Rice Cooking Contest on September 25, The Photography Contest on September 28, and the Festival kick-off on Saturday October 2 with the Annual Parade.  The Rice Harvest Festival also features and outstanding entertainment lineup this year.  The Stage will also highlight local musical talent, dancers, martial arts demonstrations and more.

Admission is $7 for adults and children over 12 years of age.  There is free parking and free shuttle service to and from the Festival.  Saturday and Sunday until 6 pm special discount wristbands will be available for purchase in advance and at the Festival.  To register for any of the activities or events, purchase armbands or admission tickets, please visit the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.katychamber.com.

Come check out what the local community of Katy, Texas has to offer its residents.  If you or anyone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Katy area, please don’t hesitate to call me at 713-253-5678 or email Angela@AngelaKhomes.com.

Jun
28

Affordable & Charitable Katy Boot Camp coming to town!

June 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Many of my friends and clientKaty Boot Camps have shown interest in local fitness groups or boot camps.  Recently I’ve come across a new organization, Katy Fitness Challenge, who is soon starting an affordable Katy Boot Camp alternative. 

I’m excited about the idea Katy Fitness Challenge has because they are planning to help locals get into shape while giving part of their proceeds to local Katy TX charities.  You can actually go to their website and submit a charity that you would like them to consider donating to.  The different boot camp groups will vote monthly on which charity they want their donations sent to.  The fitness group with the best attendence will have the final vote in where that months charitable donations will be sent!  They are hoping that this will keep each group accountable to each other for attendence.  Interesting idea…

Katy Boot Camps will be starting around November 1 st of 2010.  In order to bring these affordable boot camps to Katy we must help Katy Fitness Challenge get the word out.  To keep the classes affordable they need to get solid attendence from the very beginning!  Please check out this new local charitable organization by using the following link: Katy Boot Camp – or copy and paste this url: http://katyfitnesschallenge.com/katy-boot-camps/

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