Page 1B • The Leader • January 25, 2014 • www.theleadernews.com
HEB denies interest in Sears property HEB officially denied the rumor that it will be adding a store in the Garden Oaks area. There had been a rumor that Sears would be selling its 4000 N. Shepherd location, and an HEB would replace it. Not so, according to Cyndy
Garza-Roberts, director of HEB’s Public Affairs, Houston division. “We’re always looking for property, but it has to be the right property,” Garza-Roberts said. “We would love to be in that area.” The Harris County Appraisal
District valued the 196,491 square foot Sears property at $4.43 million in 2013. HEB currently has one location in The Leader area — at 1511 W. 18th St. in Lazybrook.
Heights Office
2222 North Durham Houston, TX 77008 281.517.8760
– Michael Sudhalter
No Doubt: Oak Forest for sellers by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Chris Krienke has been a homeowner of a one story house on Althea in Oak Forest – zoned for Oak Forest Elementary – since 1997 and said she is not interested in selling it. That doesn’t stop the letters from coming though. “They come in spurts,” she said, “about two or three a week.” Krienke said that some of the letters are apologetic and tell her that there’s nothing wrong with her house. But many of them are clear that her home is primarily appealing because of the lot it sits on. And if she sold it, it wouldn’t stay a one story house for long. “I don’t really pay attention to who’s sending them,” she said. It could be any number of entities. A builder, a realtor - or on the other end of the respectability spectrum - an “investor” who solicits with a “we pay cash for houses card” and is looking to make a quick profit on a booming real estate and rebuild market. Justin Gordon with Justin Gordon Homes doesn’t send out mailers or go door to door. He doesn’t have to. He has a partnership with Hartman & Associates and works with other realtors too. From living and working in the area he also hears directly from homeowners wondering what their house is worth. “People call and say ‘I heard that you bought this house for a certain amount, would you pay the same for mine?’” he said. Gordon said
A booming real estate and rebuild market in Oak Forest means the pot is getting sweeter for original homeowners. (Photo by Betsy Denson) that for an interior 7,500 – 7,600 square foot prime lot, he will pay as much as $300,000. There are more variables with corner lots, according to Gordon, because they are associated with higher crime depending on where the lot is located. The homes built on these bigger lots don’t have to have the garage on the front of the house, though, and they get a nice side yard which is also a plus. “It’s discouraging when people are told their house is worth less
(than it is), $250,000 is not current anymore,” he said. Rick Paulson on Althea, who paid in the mid 40s for his house in 1980, knows what it is worth now. He’s surrounded by new construction, gets lots of letters, and is on friendly terms with the builder working next door - who has Paulson’s cell phone. If he’s out in his yard on a Saturday, he’s certain to get a visit from a realtor, which is starting to annoy him. Paulson said his former neigh-
Scott Lester - Bank Office President Margaret Vandever - Senior Vice President Amy Ritter, Banking Officer/Lender
bor across the street got $295,000 Construction Financing Made Simple. for his house. “I’m on the high part of the street,” he said, “it’s a good spot.” When Business Is On The Line He said that while everyone is ��������� �������� in a different situation he’s staying put for now. “I don’t notice www.allegiancebanktexas.com the [property] taxes, it’s not that bad,” he said. “I have 22 acres in Brookshire but I don’t want to move yet.” ���������������� Oakington realtor Garrett Tyra, Here to help who lives in Oak Forest, found out quickly that mailings were with all of your not nearly as effective of word of Real Estate mouth and other advertising. Clients look to him for his expertise needs! of the market. “Every time is different. Some of my properties are never listed,” said Tyra. “My job is to represent ������������������������� the seller and get them the high������������������������������������������������ est price with the least amount of hassle.” ������������������ He might put the word out to ���������������������������������������������� multiple builders instead of rely������������ ing on one. Tyra either makes his ���������������������� profit from broker fees on the sale, or sometimes doesn’t take a commission in order to be the realtor of the newly constructed home. He said that the going rate for Oak Forest lots zoned to the elementary school is from $275,000 to $300,000 at the upper end, and he’s heard from people who have ����������������������� sold prematurely without knowledge of the market for much less. “It’s not up to the builder to tell you the fair market value of your home.”
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see Market • Page 5B
The Do-Over
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A ‘Forever House’ in the Heights By Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader Having moved five times in as many years, the Netherland family settled into a west Heights cottage they’ve recently remodeled into what they’re calling their “forever house.” The 1920-built home’s location, near the Heights bike trail and 19th St., as well as the neighborhood’s vibe appealed to the couple, now parents of a pre-schooler. “Even though it was A monthly look at a not a perfect fit – these renovation project in older houses don’t have our neighborhoods. storage and the kitchens are isolated from the rest of the house – we thought, ‘If we need more space, we’ll build it’,” said Kristin Netherland. So they did. Nuvo Builders has been wrapping up a small, single-story addition of 800 sq. ft. at the back of the home. The new space replaced some previously added “lean-to” room extensions off the main structure. Initially, the homeowners just wanted to put in a swimming pool, thinking they’d get around to renovating the home to gain an open-concept kitchen and family room, a little more space in the master bathroom and more storage throughout. “We were going to get our wish list done some day, just later when we had the fortitude to tackle adding on a second floor,” she explained in an e-mailed account of the project. Nor did they want to have to move out. Again. They’d already relocated between various Cottage Grove residences to Timbergrove to Dallas and back again. Using three-dimensional renderings, Anthony Frasher of Lynnea-Nova, a custom renovation, interior design and landscaping design
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This 1920 home got a 800 sq. ft. addition in the back. (Photo supplied)
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DOVER
������������ janet0206@att.net PREMIER PROPERTIES
firm, showed the Netherlands how their addition could achieve their goals without having to vacate. “We went for it,” she said. The initial scope demolished the tacked on extensions (about 200 sq. ft.) and converted the former kitchen into office space, a laundry room and a bar area. It added a larger kitchen that overlooks a family room, space for two master closets and a new master bath, with a vintage claw-foot tub and shower system. The laundry and pantry are behind custom cabine-
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try. Scope creep also played a role in the outcome, she said: “Once we got started on the project, new ideas kept coming to us. We also wanted the old section of the house to shine as beautifully as the new section. It seemed best to go ahead and get these ideas accomplished while we had the team at our house, for scheduling, cost savings and convenience.” And, as long as the family had already adjusted to having a work crew on site, it also seemed
see Do-Over • Page 4B
GREENWOOD KING Reaching #1 in the Heights in 2013 713.864.0888 G
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