Leader0824b

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Page 1B • The Leader • August 24, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

EXPERT

OPINIONS

Q: First, how important is the quality of public schools to a buyer’s final decision? Obviously, if buyers don’t have children, they probably don’t care as much. But is there any one factor, other than quality schools, that has more of an impact on the decision to buy a home? Would you say the quality of public schools in our area helps or hurts the real estate market in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and North Houston?

What I have experienced with buyers who have children is that schools are the number one priority in their searches. Many people cannot afford to send their children to private schools, therefore, public schools are key to their decision making process. Another top priority for buyers is location, location, location. They want to be close to activities, good restaurants, and their work place. They don’t want to spend hours commuting and missing out on time with their family. The quality of the public schools in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest are a significant reason many families are buying in our areas. All of these locations are known for their academic excellence and many are listed as “exemplary” or “magnet” school. As schools thrive, so do home values! Sheree Gilbert Neartown Realtors More than schools I always advise buyers to consider the neighborhood as a whole. When buying a home, it is critical to evaluate not only the home’s condition and value but it is also important to evaluate the neighborhood and public schools. Neighborhoods that tend to hold their value are neighborhoods that meet two very important criteria; they have access to jobs and to amenities. This criteria and a few other details can be indicators of a neighborhood’s future value and a buyer should always think about resale as much as they focus on the actual purchase. By far the single most important determinate of real estate value in an area is employment opportunities and how convenient is this to the neighborhood. A few ways to tell if an area has long term job opportunities is to check for low unemployment, high-household income, creative industries – music, television, design, publishing or advertising, good public schools and prominent colleges and universities Some good resources to assist you in your research are the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the local unemployment statistics and the local real estate community. The second critical criteria to determine if a neighborhood will appreciate or decline in value is amenities within the neighborhood. Some examples of desirable real estate amenities are low crime rates, good public schools, parks, distinctive architecture and retail stores. Many of the consumers purchasing homes in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and many other inner loop or near inner loop neighborhoods seem to be as focused on the location, access to employment and entertainment as much as they are to public schools. Many of today’s new residents to the area are familiar with the recent updates to Oak Forest and Garden Oaks Elementary Schools but they are also aware of the many private schools in and around the area. Home owners, whether parents, grandparents or parents-to-be, seem to be focusing on lifestyle and location and Houston’s Inner Loop and Near Inner Loop neighborhoods offer an ample supply of diversity in lifestyle options. Pamela Efferson Keller Williams Metropolitan

The Do-Over

Homebuilders continue trend of quick sales

Exploring space in the Heights

Fisher Homes

Fisher Homes’ is proud to present its newest project Morrison Heights, a 36-unit custom built luxury mid-rise condominium at 2802 Morrison in the Heights, priced in the low $200s to mid $300s. They are currently building The Town Homes at Rutland Park, which will have 16 Interested in three-story units.. Their signature build- more trends ing style called Creole, is about housing an infusion of French and real estate culture and southern sales last month? charm. “Fisher Homes See complete emphasize the quality of stats on Page 2B. their homes, always providing custom finishes that make each property unique,” said Marlena Cooper-Jones of Fisher Homes. Completed projects can be seen at 606 or 639 Rutland. Another is being constructed at 1010 Nicholson Street. Fisher will have over 60 new homes going into the ground within the next few months throughout the Heights. They offer products at multiple price points to accommodate all buyers

Ryland Homes

by Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader Just because a house is relatively new doesn’t mean it can’t use a tweak or two to better fit how a family uses it. For Heights-area homeowners Lorri White and Karl Ittman, remodeling the 2006-built home they bought in 2008 was all about fixing the flow within the existing footprint. The redo recaptured unused space, reconfigured space, repurposed space and even found a way to carve out separate spaces for the couple’s A monthly look at a daughters, ages 3 and 14. renovation project in When she stands at the top of the stairs and our neighborhoods. looks over the improvements, White can feel the changes as well as see them, she says.

DOVER

Ryland is building 26 lots in the Reserve on West 26th in the high $350s-400s. They are also about two months away from building 15 lots at Cottage Grove, at the Reserve on Kansas, which should open by mid-September and will be in the $350s-400s as well. Ryland also has the Enclave on Oxford, which has five lots that will be available for sale late in the year, priced in the $600s. Each of the homes include a rooftop deck with views of downtown, and is adjacent to the hike and bike trail. “All of the plans feature a two story open volume space in the homes, which is unique for the price point in town,” said Jay McManus, Ryland Homes VP of Sales and Marketing. “Buyers can choose to build or buy inventory. Our ‘to be built’ buyers get the full design build center experience when they build with Ryland Homes,” he said.

Above: Looking down the stairs across the new kitchen and adjacent family room, now more open to each other. Right: close-up of the butler’s pantry leading to mudroom and laundry. (Photos by LBJ Construction)

PLANS AND COUNTER PLANS

A not-so-open “open kitchen” led to the 2102 redo after the couple endured mounting inconveniences for several years. It was time to renovate or move, she recalls. Neither wanted the latter solution since both have lived in the friendly, walkable neighborhood since before their marriage in 2008. Their hit list started with losing the kitchen’s U-shaped counter top over storage. Its placement left the kitchen layout chopped up and a bit squeezed for two people who enjoy cooking together, she says. Just to turn off the lights sometimes meant a roundabout commute to reach the switches. And, the kitchen was a bit gloomy, with dark and heavy finishes on the cabinets and counters.

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