Calendar of Area Events, Jan-Feb 2007

Courtesy of Texas Highways Website
http://www.texashighways.com

BELLVILLE
Market Day on the Square
Jan 6
Spring Creek Bluegrass Club Festival
Jan 27
Market Day on the Square
Feb 2
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church Country Store
Feb 13
Austin County Go Texan Dance
Feb 17
Salt Grass Trail Ride Dance
Feb 18
Spring Creek Bluegrass Club Festival
Feb 24

BRENHAM
Antiques Show
Jan 13 - 14
"Scotland Road"
Feb 8 - 25
Used Book Sale
Feb 22 - 25

COLUMBUS
Membership Exhibit
Nov 10 - Jan 6
Dinner Theater at the Stafford Opera House
Jan 13
Student Rodeo Art Exhibit
Jan 17 - 21
Dinner Theater at the Stafford Opera House
Feb 10

ROUND TOP
Winter Antiques Show
Jan 20 - 21
Synergy Brass Quintet
Jan 27
Third Annual International Guitar Festival
Feb 10
Valentine-Lincoln Birthday Program & Reception
Feb 13
Polka Joe, Chili Cook-Off, Artistry & More
Feb 22 - 25

Boom with a View by Charles E.Gilliland and Gerald Klassen

The scenic appeal of the Hill Country is responsible for the high prices stretching westward from Austin through Fredericksburg to Kerrville. The lowest priced land is in West Texas from Amarillo through the Trans-Pecos area to the Rio Grande.

The highest percentage price gains were in a strip from San Antonio through Gonzales to the coastal bend. The second highest percentage price jumps were from the Stephenville region through Wichita Falls, Lake Texoma, to Texarkana. The South Texas brush country also posted large price increases. Much of the remainder of the state saw sizable escalation of prices with only the Highland Lakes, Trans-Pecos and Muleshoe areas cooling in 2005 following their hot markets in 2004.

Market anomalies accounted for the only regions exhibiting lower prices and did not signal a general weakening market wide trend. Those regions will likely rebound in 2006.

Forces propelling prices upward accelerated in 2006, pushing markets even higher. Investors seem to be anticipating inflation and plowing funds into tangible assets like land.

Despite high energy price levels, recession does not appear to be on the immediate horizon, and the economy continues to thrive. Higher incomes support the demand for recreational property.

Buyers buy now to avoid being priced out of the market as increasing demand drives prices up. These circumstances have led market participants to repeatedly note a dearth of quality listings and long lists of potential buyers.

Troubling market influences include high energy prices and rising interest rates. At some point, continued high oil prices will sabotage economic activity. However, they have not derailed the recovery yet. Further interest rate hikes may take a toll.

Farm policy is in complete disarray so no one can realistically predict operating conditions for farmers in the near future. And drought stalks Texas, weakening both farming and ranching. Despite these potential problems, current activity suggests that by 2007, land prices should post another sizable increase.

The complete technical report, Texas Land Market Developments - 2005, is available from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. © 2006. Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. All rights reserved.

Country Living in a Busy World by Jared Winston

There is very little that brings out a more peaceful feeling in a person’s heart than the beauty of the country. Whether it is sitting on the front porch with a glass of lemonade to watch the sunset or walking through a field of wildflowers that grew simply by the whim of nature, there is a beauty that can affect anyone. Country living is something that many people wish for. The problem, of course, is that not everyone has the opportunity to achieve that dream. Some people simply do not have the resources to make a move out to a rural area. Others work in fields that are incompatible with the rural lifestyle, or require living in a heavily populated area. Still others really do enjoy life in the city, but just want a little bit of time off now and again from the rush of the city. Well, for all these people, the good new is that you can infuse a little bit of country living into your every day life.

To many people that statement may seem at first to be a bit of a stretch. That is, most certainly, understandable. After all, one might say, country living, by its very definition, requires actually living in the country. In the strictest sense of the term, this is true. However, if you go a little deeper and really examine the rural lifestyle, you will find that there is far more to it than just where geographically you live. That knowledge is what it takes to allow you to add a touch of the country to your city life.

There are two basic principles that really embody the spirit of country living. All of these principles work together to bring about the sense of peace that so many people look for when they turn to the country. The first of these principles is peace through simplicity. Many societies around the world have discovered that simple is often better, and that complication usually leads to confusion. Your life can be made more peaceful by eliminating unnecessary distractions and complications. This can be as easy as simply clearing a few extra items off your schedule and taking more time to relax regularly.

The second principle of country living is peace through togetherness. Often, this works well with the first principle, as a simple life can give you more time to spend together. You will find that if you spend time with those you care about, such as family and friends, your life will almost certainly be better for it. People are not meant to function without each other. No man is an island, as the old saying goes, and this means that, even if you may not always notice it, your mind is naturally wired to be social. This, too, is an easy principle to apply. Regularly set aside time to be with your family and friends, such as eating dinner together, particularly if you have a family of your own. This will help to pass on the principles of country living to your children as well.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in learning more about country decor then you will definitely want to drop by Rustic Adornments, a resource that offers tips and advice pertaining to decorating your home with rustic furniture and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Winston

What do You Mean Get Out of Houston?

Welcome to the get-me-out-of-Houston.com blog; it's my pleasure to invite you to become a part of an interactive community created to explore the fastest growing segment of residential real estate in the United States: The secondary home market. Having been a licensed Texas Realtor since 1989; two years ago, in 2004, I began to redirect my business to specialize in the picturesque and historic areas just west and northwest of Houston including all of Washington County and scenic/idyllic sections of Austin, Colorado, and Fayette Counties.

On the Communities page of my website, www.get-me-out-of-houston.com, you will find a detailed map of the areas I focus on: I-10 West at Sealy across to Columbus; up to La Grange; through Giddings; just north of Lake Somerville; down through Chappell Hill and Belville; back to Sealy. This encompasses all of Washington County with the county seat of Brenham as the middle of my self-assigned territory. This georgraphical area is not hard and fast; for many years, I have raised alpacas in Grimes County, boarding my animals on a gorgeous alpaca ranch, www.bluebonnethillsalpacas.com. I know this area well, too.

In real estate jargon, "the secondary home market" can mean vacation homes; weekend homes; weekend-homes-that-will-become-retirement-homes; income-producing-vacation-homes; or, the world of investment property. This blog is a vital adjunct to my website: www.get-me-out-of-houston.com.

For over two years, I’ve researched this geographical area; decided upon the area where I wanted to raise my children; and, finally, turned my attention to acquiring a vast and varied amount of literature to share with you. Only with a diverse library of information and resources readily available can you make the purchase and maintenance of your second home both an informed and enjoyable experience.

What is causing this radical shift in residential purchases? The aging Baby Boomers, of course! What else? With the first set of Boomers reaching age 60 in 2006, the vast impact of such a huge demographic shift is just beginning to become apparent. This phenomenon will continue for another 20 years. If you are already tired of hearing about the Boomer influence, you are in for years of aggravation; frankly, things will never be the same again! Yes, I'm one of those Boomers, too, just not one born during the earliest wave.

What do I really mean when I advocate getting out of Houston? Am I out to enflame Houston Mayor Bill White and City Council? Of course not! Houston is a dynamic city with a thriving economy; world class arts; incredible cuisine; the most affordable housing in the nation; and, what seems to be almost unstoppable growth. Unfortunately, our suburbs are also the definition of urban sprawl. Yet, for all it's affordable and positive factors, Houston is also hot; humid; crowded; flat; and, frankly, devoid of natural beauty. Despite spending billions of dollars, traffic seems to get worse and crime is escalating. Is this situation unique to Houston? Heavens no! Welcome to “Life in the Big City in 2006! To all but our youngest adults, Houston almost screams,"ESCAPE ME", at least on the weekends!

I've been a proud Houston resident since 1980 and I ask you not to misinterpret my thoughts. Of all the things I hold dear about Houston, her wide-open-frontier-mentality is probably my favorite; it was apparent as soon as I moved here in 1980. If a person wanted to be a success and was willing to work hard, Houston was the Big Enchillada! This was so different from life in my beloved hometown of New Orleans where, way too often, it was “who” you knew rather than “what” you knew that determined your opportunities. The history books of Houston are full of entrepreneurs, from wildcatters to music moguls, who’ve made millions of dollars after relocating to Houston. From space exploration to struggling to satisfy the nation's insatiable energy needs, Houston is a city that reaches towards the future at an incredible pace.

It is this very momentum, this frenetic lifestyle, the commuting nightmares that have given rise to that "little place in the country" dream so many of us carry around inside us. Just a few miles outside Houston one can find small country towns; an abundance of historical charm; and, all sizes of ranches from 10 acres to huge cattle operations. Belville, just west of Katy on I-10, north of Sealy, is being called “The Hamptons of Houston”! Don’t you love it?

As a high-tech marketing specialist and a member of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society, I feel strongly that the Internet is not being adequately used to market rural property. Both buyers and sellers are being sold short by this unacceptable situation. One of my goals is to identify true prospective properties for my clients and allow them to "view thse properties online". While there is a rural listing system that is open to both the public and real estate professionals, it is not the sophisticated vehicle of Housotn's MLS. There is no reason that busy executives should have to approach property searches outside Houston any different than they are accustomed to searching for property inside the city. What they will need is an agent who is willing to do the legwork for them.

For many years, I have held the advanced Graduate Realtors Institute designation awarded by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). I am currently working towards the most exclusive of all NAR designations, the Council of Residential Specialists designation. In 2006, NAR announced their brand new spepcialization, the Resort and Second Home Certification. If everything stays on track, I should be one fo the first Realtors to qualify for this specializatoin nationwide.

My website has a FAQ page where I hope to address some of your most often asked questions pertaining to rural property. Please send your questions to info@get-me-out-of-houston.com and I promise to get an answer for you. I will either post the answer on my website, www.get-me-out-houston.com or on the blog FAQ Section.
When in doubt, I will be consulting with the experts; there truly is a world of difference between buying a suburban house and a few acres in the country. Knowledge is power!

I look forward to being of service to you,

Julie Quinn Fuelling,
Your Front Porch Specialist
www.get-me-out-of-houston.com
713-818-2404 mobile