BiggerPockets

Schools’ Report Cards Influence Home Values in Today’s Housing Market

Tuesday, January 18

 

It is no secret in the real estate industry that in a slow housing market, neighborhoods with strong school systems tend to  maintain their home values better than the market overall. With that fact in mind, home owners and real estate agents alike should be aware of the results of the 2010 Accountability Ratings for Texas Public Schools and Districts.

The Humble Independent School Board reported the state's 2010 results at its August board of trustees meeting. The District received a "recognized" rating and had 17 campuses earn "exemplary" status.

Just this week, Kingwood High School sent out a letter to parents with the school's individual State of Texas 2009-10 School Report Card. "This is a report required by the Texas Legislature and prepared by the Texas Education Agency.  It is to be sent to the parent or guardian of every child enrolled in the public schools," said Melissa Hayhurst, KHS principal.

The state's report card can be found for any school district or individual public school in Texas by using the Academic Excellence Indicator System found on the following website: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/2010/index.html

The report card gives detailed information concerning students' performance as well as information concerning expenditures, average class size and student-teacher ratios. 

With this report, the state of Texas makes it easy for home buyers to factor in school quality when looking at home prices. Spend some time looking at the performance of your neighborhood schools. Your home value may depend on it.

Keller Williams Realty Northeast Announces December Award Winners

Thursday, January 13

Michael Clapp, co-owner at Keller Williams Realty Northeast, recently announced the Market Center's top agents for the month of December 2010. The December award winners for the most listings are: Listing Agent of the Month, Tracy Montgomery; Listing Team of the Month, Karen Cox:  Karen Cox and Pam DeBlasio; Listing Group of the Month, The Doug Erdy Team:  Doug Erdy, Nelda Cedeno, Dwynette Meadows and Jerome Jno-Finn. 

The agents earning awards for the highest sales volume for December 2010 are: Sales Agent of the Month, Jayme Foster; Sales Team of the Month, The Duhon Team:  Donna and Roland Duhon; Sales Group of the Month, Jan Jackson & Associates:  Jan Jackson, Skip Evans and Kelley Jackson.

Keller Williams Training Center to Hold Course for REALTORS

Tuesday, January 11

 

The Keller Williams Realty Center for Real Estate Mastery (CREM) will hold a continuing education class for all REALTORS® conducted by the Champions School of Real Estate on Jan. 27-28. The class is on the 3-T's of Real Estate - TOOLS, TRENDS and TECHNOLOGIES.

"This is open to not only agents from our three offices - but anyone needing MCE," says Michael Clapp, Keller Williams Realty Northeast co-owner.  "What a great chance for you to invite a friend or associate from another office and go to CREM together!"

This course will concentrate on changing strategies for selling in today's  real estate market, including information on how to properly complete a short-sale or foreclosure sale. Additional topics to be addressed are: social media, green construction products, and LEED certification. The cost is $99 for the full 15 hours.  To sign up, visit: www.ChampionsSchool.com.

Sign Up Now for January Community Events

Thursday, January 06

 

After the holiday hustle and bustle, January is a going to be a decidedly calmer month in terms of events.  But there still are a couple of community events planned to get you out and about in January.

Kingwood Chamber Kleenwood Day 2011

The Kingwood Chamber of Commerce will hold its 8th Annual Travis McCormick KLEENWOOD DAY on Sat., Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. The event rallies community members to "pick up where others have messed up" throughout Kingwood. Participants just need to meet at their neighborhood community pool at 9 a.m. to pick up trash bags and supplies.

The Kingwood Chamber will hold a Kleenwood Day Kick-Off Luncheon on Thurs., Jan. 13 starting at noon at the Kingwood Country Club. Luncheon tickets are $ 20 a person.

Even if you cannot participate, you can get involved by sponsoring a young person to do the clean up.
For $25 per youth, the Chamber will provide them with trash bags and a meal for their efforts.

To RSVP for the luncheon or to sponsor a youth, call the Chamber at 281-360-4321 or e-mail admin@kwchamber.org.

Kingwood Fillies Annual "Bike Through The Forest and Hills"  

The Kingwood High School Fillies drill team will host their annual fund raiser "Bike Through The Forest and Hills" also on Sat., Jan. 29 starting at 8 a.m.  The bike ride begins in the small, charming town of Coldspring, TX,  located just north of Kingwood off of Highway 59. There are four ride routes to accommodate all levels of riders. The 48 mile route has been described as one of the "Best MS Recommended Bike Rides" for training for the BP MS150.  

For registration information, visit: www.kingwoodfillies.org  Also, look for the link to vote for the Fillies as the "Tops in Texas" best drill team. 

KELLER WILLIAMS CONCERT SERIES TO PRESENT TEXAS BLUES BROTHERS IN JANUARY

Monday, January 03

The agents at Keller Williams Realty Northeast will present the Texas Blues Brothers Tribute at a free concert on Fri., Jan. 21 from 7-10 p.m. at Kings Harbor, 1660 W. Lake Houston Pkwy.,  Kingwood. The rain date will be the following Friday (Jan. 28). 

The Texas Blues Brothers recreates one of the greatest Rhythm and Blues acts of all times. Staring Mike Powell as the harmonica playing Elwood and Steve Boado as his singing sidekick Jake, the duo performs their song and dance in the original Belushi/Aykroyd style from the iconic movie the "Blues Brothers. 

The concert's charity guest will be The100 Club, a 58 year old 30,000 member citizen based non-profit organization that provides financial support to the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters (both paid and volunteer) who are killed in the line of duty. The Club also provides life protecting equipment to law enforcement agencies, college scholarships to law enforcement officers and has honored for 56 years, outstanding law enforcement officers and firefighters for performance above and beyond the call of duty.

For more information, visit www.clickKWne.com.

Exercise for a Good Cause: Lake Houston Family YMCA Bridge Fest

Thursday, December 30

Make a New Year's resolution to exercise. One good way to keep that resolution is to sign up for The Lake Houston Family YMCA 19^th annual Bridge Fest on Sat., Feb. 5, 2011. The Bridge Fest presented by the Kingwood Medical Center is a 5K Family Fun Run from the YMCA at 2420 W. Lake Houston Pkwy. in Kingwood across the Lake Houston Parkway Bridge, linking Kingwood and Atascocita.

But you don't have to run it to participate. Walkers and joggers of all ages and abilities are welcome. The youngest members of the family can take part in the half mile or one mile kids' races. The first race will begin at 7:45 a.m. Last year more than 3,500 people participated.  

The Bridge Fest is not about winning the race, although there are awards for the top finishers. It's all about raising money for the YMCA Partners Campaign and getting a little exercise for the family in the process.

The Partners Campaign scholarship program allows families experiencing financial difficulties to participate in the YMCA After School Child Care and YMCA Youth programs at both the Lake Houston Family YMCA and the East Montgomery County YMCA.

In 2010, Bridge Fest raised more than $38,000 for the scholarship fund.  Registrations received by January 31 receive the coveted Bridge Fest t-shirt to wear at the race.

CLICK HERE for a registration form. See you on the bridge!