Leader1026b

EXPERT

OPINIONS

Each month, we ask a panel of Realtors and business people in the area for an opinion on a speciﬁc topic. Here was the question this month, and their answers below. A recent survey by a online mortgage site discovered that consumers spend only about ﬁve hours researching their mortgage options — about half the time they invest in studying how to buy a new vehicle. What are the most critical areas would-be homebuyers need to know about lending before they embark on their search for a mortgage?

Bryan Craft, Texas Properties

As a mortgage brokering loan officer for nine years before getting into real estate sales, and in a time when mortgage lending (the way it was compared to now) largely evaporated around 2007 – 2008 – with exception to buyers with solid credit, income and asset profiles that is – the first thing that matters when trying to get prequalified is: 1. What is the middle credit score for all borrowers on the loan application? The higher the better that is – and the more loan structure options and better rates the buyer will have access to. There may be loan programs that take exception to this but the minimum credit score to give yourself the best chance to get through underwriting with 96.5% LTV (FHA) is 620. This of course will involve PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) which is lender – required insurance that protects the lender – but the borrower is required to pay for it. Scores over 700 along with solid income and asset profiles may be able to get around PMI by splitting their loans into two. A first (80%) and a second (up to 15%). They may also be able to get around a mandatory escrow account for monthly tax and insurance payments. 2. Self- employed buyers who take significant tax deductions have taken the hardest hit when it comes to trying to get a modern day mortgage loan. Despite what their credit score is and the LTV. Stated income loans and bank statement programs of the yesteryears have completely evaporated and until they come back, it will be difficult for self-employed borrowers who take their rightful write offs to qualify – unless they are able to qualify with their net (after deduction) income showing all pages of the tax returns for the last 2 years. 3. Saying this, W2 wage earners have the best chance to qualify in this lending environment and the underwriter will figure a way to determine the average income for the previous 2 years and may even take into account the current years YTD income – particularly if they are making a higher income than either or both of the previous 2 years. 4. DTI (Debt to income ratio) is also a very important component when getting a loan approval. Rule of thumb for conventional is 45% and FHA can get approvals for up to 50% in some cases. The bottom line is that the loan approval is determined by an automatic underwriting engine who takes into account everything – credit score – proposed LTV – income – assets – and analysis of the details of the credit report (how many 30 day late’s in the last 2 years / length of time out of Bankruptcy for example). Remember also that installment credit types (auto loans / Home Depot or Conn’s purchases / student loans for example) should not count against the DTI if the current principal balance is 10 months or less than being paid off. On revolving type charge accounts (credit cards), only the minimum monthly payment will count against the DTI. Being strong in as many of these departments as possible will always give you the best chance but remember that the credit score is the very first criteria that determines everything. Revolving type charge accounts can influence a credit score for better or for worse so it is best to strategically use those accounts when trying to boost your credit score. Try to keep these balance to limit ratios as low as possible when the individual creditor goes to report the balance and limit to each creditor each month. Each revolving creditor should tell you the specific day in the month that they (separately) report to the 3 bureaus – Equifax – Transunion – Experian. Also it is best to not pay revolving charge accounts down to a $0 balance if you are looking to boost your score. To a credit bureau – a $0 balance looks like no activity – so it doesn’t really help your score as much as if you simply paid it down to a $10 balance.

Pat Walker - Realtor, Keller Williams Metropolitan

The most dreaded words we hear from a buyer…. “Oh, they know me at my bank & they told me they can do my loan.” Please, please, use a good mortgage lender. Ask your Realtor for recommendations for good, honest nd reliable lenders. After all, the goal is to go to closing & move into your dream home. Banks are in the “banking” business, Mortgage brokers are in the home lending business. Choose wisely for a smooth, on time home buying process. See you at the closing table!

Allen Frieze, Keller Williams Metropolitan

I always advise my clients to reach out to more than one lender and shop for the best deal. Always compare rates verses fees as some companies will give you an great rate but fee you to death. Also don’t just reach out to anyone for a loan. Get a referral from your real estate agent or a friend who has had a good experience with that lender. This is also a good time to reach out to mortgage brokers who are shopping more than one bank.

Kendal Bezecny , Keller Williams Southwest

First of all, you have to have estimate on monthly housing bills, then look at what you can actually aﬀord in a mortgage payment. Fannie Mae recommends that you spend less then 28 percent of your monthly income on housing costs. Do not forget to add in your monthly insurance premiums. Also, ﬁnd out how much you will be paying in closing costs before they sneak up on you. A house is a great investment, but choosing the wrong house could be very labor intensive and costly to the home buyer, so choose wisely!

Cookie Davenport, Reyna Realty Group

Buying a new home is a big commitment. Not just financially, but of time and effort. Before even thinking about looking at houses, it must be determined if a loan can even be obtained and, if so, how much can be borrowed. There may be credit issues to be “cleaned up” that will involve contacting credit reporting agencies and/or creditors. Any derogatory reports that can be removed from the credit report will help improve credit scores and therefore increase lending ability and could help lower interest rates! Often this is just a matter of time on task and lots of foot work. It’s actually something we should all take a look at occasionally. After a pre-approval is obtained (not just a pre-qualification), it is time to hire a good Realtor and go look for that dream home! But after it’s been found and the offer has been accepted, be prepared to devote even more time and energy satisfying your lenders “conditions” to final loan approval. Although some of these can seem nit-picky and ridiculous, they, nonetheless, must be addressed and handled immediately. The two most important members of your home-buying team will be your loan officer and your Realtor, so ask friends and family who they used and interview until you find the right professional for your needs.

Page 1B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

Gordon Homes proud to call Oak Forest home by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

When Justin Gordon founded his homebuilding company in the spring of 2009, he built a couple of regular houses. But now his entire focus is on custom houses, and there are several that he’s working on in Oak Forest. “It seems to be what people are expecting these days as a standard,” Gordon said. “I tailor a home around a client’s speciﬁc needs.” Some of the unique features that Justin Gordon Homes has made available are small tunnels between rooms for children to travel through, passage doors between the nursery and master bedroom, and power outlets for Christmas lights. “People typically have a few ideas in mind,” Gordon said. “They ask basic questions and offer ideas that other clients may (already) have in their homes. We encourage clients to visit the job site every day.” Gordon consults with an architect to “incorporate people’s needs” on the custom homes, which now are selling for in the $600,000 range. Gordon, 32, loves the fact that all of his projects are within walking distance of the home he built for himself at the corner of Oak Forest & Woodcrest. “I like the fabric of the community here,” Gordon said. “It’s nice to live and work in the community. I live here, and I’m approachable. It’s extremely rewarding. (I enjoy) walking my dog and running into clients.” Gordon moved to Oak Forest from Timbergrove and has been involved in the community from attending Oak Forest HOA meetings to volunteering time and money for events. He donated $10,000 to Black Middle School to improve its ﬁelds and also contributed to Waltrip High School’s marching band. “I think giving back to the community is important,” Gordon said. “As a resident, I enjoy the services provided by the volunteers. It brings together everyone for a better neighborhood. I’d like to have continued involve-

Justin Gordon Homes owner Justin Gordon builds custom homes in Oak Forest. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter) ment in the community.” On Christmas, he’ll dress up as Santa Claus for the children of the neighborhood. “When I was a teacher, I was also Santa,” Gordon said. “I guess they like my pale complexion and rosy cheeks.” Gordon grew up in La Porte, working in his parents’ furniture business. It was there that he learned about customer service and business skills. He graduated from St. Thomas Episcopal High School in Meyerland. He earned a Marketing degree from the University of Pittsburgh and returned home to work several jobs, including fourth grade teacher, Yellow Pages ad salesman and in commercial real estate sales. “I respect teachers a lot more, having been one for a year,” Gordon said. Gordon’s brother-in-law convinced him to

Area sales & prices performing strong At best, some sales and prices soared in some Leader ZIP codes in September – at worst, they held steady. Overall, the Houston housing market posted its 28th consecutive month of positive home sales with no let-up in sight, according to data from the Houston Association of Realtors, and continued to drive housing inventory down again. The Garden Oaks-Oak Forest 77018 ZIP code posted the highest year-over-year increases in sales and average home prices, according to HAR statistics. Home sales were up from 28 in September 2012 to 49 this September, an increase of 75 percent, with prices rising 20 percent over last year’s, from $328,000 to $395,000. Also performing robustly was the 77008 ZIP in the Heights, with 88 sales this September compared to 69 last year, an increase of 27.5 percent. The average home price rose to $412,000, up 16 percent from September 2012. While sales were down slightly in 77009, also Heights, from 37 last year to 35 this, prices were up 27 percent, with the average home going for $376,000. While the 77091 and 77092 ZIPs sales are quiet, they’re still on the increase from last year – 26 this year in the two ZIPs compared to 19, and prices have gone up 20-22 percent for an average of $155,000 in 77091 and

$147,000 in 77092. The only area showing flattening in September year-over-year was a traditional high performer, the 77007 ZIP, which compromises the Washington Avenue from Memorial Park to downtown, area up slightly north of I-10. Housing sales were down from 11.5 percent from last September, 61 to 54, with prices increasing 8 percent, to an average of $471,000. In the big picture, if the Houston real estate market were a car, it would be fair to say its driver had the pedal to the metal, HAR reported. The pace of home buying drove months of inventory down to 3.2 months compared to 4.7 months at this time last year. Home sales soared 23.5 percent year-over-year, with contracts closing on 6,168 single-family homes, according to the newest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS®. That is the lowest onemonth sales volume since March and follows four months in a row of home sales that exceeded 7,000 units. The median price of a singlefamily home—the figure at which half the homes sold for more and half for less—rose 10.2 percent to $181,750. The average price increased 13.1 percent year-overyear to $248,256. Both figures represent the highest prices for a September in Houston.

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become a homebuilder. He used personal savings and inheritance to start Justin Gordon Homes and has been successful with the company ever since. “I’ve always been interested in Real Estate, and it felt like a good time,” said Gordon, who employs six people -- three full time and three part-time. Gordon Homes has been recognized as an Energy Star rated builder and has shown a commitment to environmentally-conscious homes. Gordon said he’d like to grow his company -- to a point. “My objective isn’t to have a gargantuan company,” Gordon said. “I never want to lose touch with the client. I try to call every (client) back within a day.”

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As we have observed for the past several months, September brought gains to all housing segments except the under-$80,000 market. Homes selling from $250,000 through the millions scored the greatest increase in sales volume.??“Houston continues to beneﬁt from a conﬂuence of very positive economic forces: strong job growth, low interest rates and reasonable home prices compared to other parts of the country,” said HAR Chairman Danny Frank with Coldwell Banker, United REALTORS®. “Home prices have steadily risen all year and I’m often asked if our market risks experiencing a bubble. That only becomes a possibility if we don’t soon see a reversal in our shrinking inventory of homes – the fundamental concept of supply and demand.” The latest Texas Workforce Commission’s report indicated that nearly 81,000 net new jobs had been added to the Houston metropolitan area over the past year, representing 3.0 percent growth in local employment. Foreclosure property sales reported in the HAR Multiple Listing Service (MLS) declined 45.0 percent compared to September 2012. Foreclosures currently make up just 7.4 percent of all property sales, down from 19.6 percent at the beginning of the year. The median price of foreclosures rose 6.6 percent to $87,450.

September sales of all property types in totaled 7,466, a 25.7 percent increase over the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold shot up 40.2 percent to $1.75 billion versus $1.25 billion a year earlier. September monthly market comparison Houston’s real estate market enjoyed across-the-board gains in September when comparing sales to September 2012. On a year-over-year basis, total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing all rose. Month-end pending sales totaled 3,563, a 1.5 percent gain over last year and the same rate of increase the market saw in August. As HAR reported last month, while pending sales typically serve as a bellwether of the following month’s sales activity, this statistic apparently reﬂects the unprecedented pace of home sales that has kept many transactions from ever attaining “pending” status. Active listings, or the number of available properties, at the end of September declined 17.5 percent to 32,457. Houston’s inventory of available homes dipped from 3.3 months in August to 3.2 months in September, down from the year-ago level of 4.7 months

see Area sales • Page 3B

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Page 2B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • @heightsleader

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1&2 Exterior/interior of 1628 Columbia St. photos by Ben Hill

The Do-Over: Homing in on custom designs at AIA showcase by Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader Renovating an existing home can improve its flow, function, features and finishes. Starting from scratch, however, brings those qualities to the design table from the start. Today’s custom home clients appear to be more up to speed on the design process and more prepared to discuss how to fit their budgets to their wish lists, says Shawn Gottschalk of design-build firm StudioMet Architects, chairman of the 2013 AIA Houston Home Tour. He attributes some of that design-build savvy to the plethora and popularity of real estate shows. Home tours, meanwhile, encourage visitors to experience how well-designed spaces “feel” as well as how they look, he says. Three custom homes on the tour this weekend are located in Leader neighborhoods: DOMICILE HAS DUALITY: 1628 Columbia St. Houston Heights Art, aging-in-place and maximizing indoor-outdoor flow were among the design considerations incorporated into this home for new-to-Houston clients. Drawn to the neighborhood’s community feel, they bought an already razed lot in Houston Heights East Historic District and tapped Greg Swedberg of 2scale Architects for the custom project. Swedberg says the 3,500-sq.-ft home “tips its hat” to the historic while incorporating a modern lifestyle in both design and building

materials, with the more contemporary features found away from the street. As an example, consider the front elevation. A deep front porch, located up a few stairs and under a gable roof with tapered columns, nods at the area’s prevailing Arts and Crafts-vintage homes. As the home unfolds behind it, however, there’s a more modern second level sleeping porch. It’s supported by exposed steel beams as brightly painted as the home’s entry door, which thoughtfully includes a dog-height window in the otherwise frosted sidelight panel. The bulk of the three-bedroom home, however, is on a slab atgrade to maximize the flow from interior to outdoor spaces, whether for current entertaining or any unexpected mobility limitations as the years ahead unfold. Other age-in-place considerations include wide hallways, thresholds flush with floors, closet-over-closet placement for future conversion into an elevator shaft, and an ADA-compliant bathroom downstairs with handrails and an Euro-style shower (in lieu of tub). The first floor has an open plan combining the living-diningkitchen spaces, all of which look into the side-lot-filling pool area through a wall of floor-to-ceiling storefront-style windows. Other outdoor spaces include a patio shaded by the sleeping porch, an outdoor kitchen and a two-car garage off the back alley serving homes on the block. Upstairs, with the master suite, there’s an art studio with natural light, “inspirational views” and such practicalities as a utility sink

and refrigerator for paints. The design needed to provide not just space for creating art but for displaying art and other collections, he says. One solution is a wall of built-in shelves and cubicles interspersed with accent windows, which continue in the stairwell. Swedberg characterizes the home design as capturing dualities: historic vs. modern, rigid vs. loose forms, and the homeowners’ now vs. later approach to making a new home in a new town. “Modern does not have to feel museum-like,” he says. “Traditional does not have to feel like we are living in the 1920’s again. (We live in an age with flat screen TVs, dishwashers, cell phones and ‘smart houses’.) Traditional houses still need to accommodate contemporary family structure and lifestyle.” MAKING CUSTOM MORE ACCESSIBLE: 918 W 43rd Garden Oaks The StudioMet home was designed for comfortable everyday living, Gottschalk says. There’s a focus on low-maintenance materials, natural light and a strong connection to the landscaping on the large lot, which is dominated by a large live oak tree. Given the home’s efficient, compact floor plan and the project’s modest construction budget, it’s also “an example of modern architecture that’s accessible to masses and not just an elite few,” he says. The clients, an international couple, had been seeking an exist-

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see Do-Over • Page 3B

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THE PERMITS.

The following are permits issued by the city of Houston in recent days in Leader ZIP codes for the or renovation of structures and other features on properties. The number listed in each item below is the permit I.D. You may obtain additional information about a permit by visiting www. houstonpermittingcenter.org or by calling the Code Enforcement Group at 832-394-9000. If you live in a deed restricted community and suspect violations -- building use, setbacks, lot and/ or building size, building height, number of structures on a lot -you should contact the city’s Legal Department at 713-247-1296. If you do not have a copy of your deed restrictions, you may obtain one from the Harris County Clerk at 713-755-6411 or visit the website at www.cclerk.hctx.net.

DEMOLITIONS 77007 2013/10/17 13098153 1503 KNOX ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/14 13099749 303 W 6TH ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/16 13101373 7721 WASHINGTON AVE DEMO BLD/SEWER DISC 2013/10/17 13103854 4910 LARKIN ST RES. DEMO/SEWER DISC. 2013/10/14 13103932 1706 CROCKETT ST RESIDENTIAL REMODEL 2013/10/16 13104081 5623 PETTY ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/16 13104084 1516 THOMPSON ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/18 13104322 1018 W 8TH ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC

RES/SEWER DISCONNECT 2013/10/14 13099493 1012 LAWRENCE ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/14 13100111 2032 CORTLANDT ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC (GARAGE ONLY) 2013/10/17 13100214 418 W 24TH ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/17 13104702 635 E 13TH ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISCONNECT

77009 2013/10/14 13091689 806 E 23RD ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/14 13098144 6204 N MAIN ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC

77018 2013/10/15 13100169 1922 WAKEFIELD DR DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/15 13100179 1623 EBONY LN DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/15 13100180 1315 DU BARRY LN DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/17 13103631 1918 CHIPPENDALE RD DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/18 13103637 1617 CHESHIRE LN DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/18 13103639 1835 CHESHIRE LN DEMO RES/ SEWER DISC 2013/10/18 13103641 1717 GARDENIA DR DEMO RES/SEWER DISC

77091 2013/10/18 13105264 6405 DE PRIEST ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC

BUILDING PERMITS 77007 2013/10/16 12100381 4218 WASHINGTON AVE BAR ADDITION: NEW PERGOLA 1-1-5-A2-B 2006 IBC 2013/10/15 13064662 5115 WASHINGTON AVE OFFICE REMODEL/MEZZ BLD-OUT 1-1-5-B-B IBC 06 2013/10/15 13066117 3411 HOME ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13066682 1211 LAKIN ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT CARPORT (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13066687 1315 LAKIN ST NEW S.F.

77008 2013/10/16 13096246 1026 W 24TH ST DEMO

Page 3B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • @heightsleader

RESIDENCE W/ ATT CARPORT (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13066688 3404 HOME ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13075642 305 GLENWOOD DR NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13079498 50 WAUGH DR BUILDING ADDITION TO EXISTING OFFICE 1-2-2-B/A3-A 06 IBC 100% SPK 2013/10/18 13080220 5732 PETTY ST NEW TOWNHOUSE W/ ATT GAR (1-3-5-R3-B) MST OF 2 / 06 IRC 2013/10/18 13080223 5732 PETTY ST A NEW TOWNHOUSE W/ ATT GAR (1-3-5-R3-B) M # 13080220 / 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13080795 2119 WASHINGTON AVE CNVRT “M” TO OFFICE/RESIDENTIAL 1-1-5-B/R-3-B ‘06 IBC 2013/10/14 13085399 1402 WICHMAN ST NEW S.F. RES W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13089006 760 2/3 N SHEPHERD DR A CELL TOWER ANTENNA REPLACEMT & NEW EQUIP/CABINET1-1-2-U-B 2006IBC 2013/10/15 13089422 5324 PETTY ST A NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13089424 5324 PETTY ST B NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13094020 2719 COHN ST NEW 4 STORY S.F. RES W/ ATT GAR (1-4-5-R3-B-13R) 06 IBC 2013/10/15 13094021 2711 COHN ST NEW 4 STORY S.F. RES W/ ATT GAR (1-4-5-R3-B-13R) 06 IBC 2013/10/16 13094023 2713 COHN ST NEW 4 STORY S.F. RES W/ ATT GAR (1-4-5-R3-B-13R) 06 IBC 2013/10/15 13094024 2715 COHN ST NEW 4 STORY S.F. RES W/ ATT GAR (1-4-5-R3-B-13R) 06 IBC 2013/10/15 13094026 2717 COHN ST NEW 4 STORY S.F. RES W/ ATT GAR (1-4-5-R3-B-13R) 06 IBC 2013/10/16 13105125 2722 1/2 WHITE OAK DR BLOCK FOUNDATION REPAIR, REPLACE SILL, STRAIGHTEN AND TIGHTEN. 2013/10/17 13105716 3301 WHITE OAK DR RESIDENTIAL REPAIR SPEC LIST

RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13078512 1118 DOROTHY ST A NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/18 13081799 1226 HEIGHTS BLVD NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ DET GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/14 13090368 1230 HEIGHTS BLVD RESIDENTIAL ADDITION/REMODEL 2013/10/14 13090741 1517 WAVERLY ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ DET GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13093770 2602 ASHLAND ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/18 13103423 1022 CORTLANDT ST NEW RESIDENTIAL DETACHED GARAGE 2013/10/18 13103892 1548 ASHLAND ST BLD 1 APT REPAIR/REROOF/OVERLAY PAVING ( MASTER OF 2 ) 2013/10/18 13103893 1548 ASHLAND ST BLD 2 APT REPAIR & REROOF PER WRKSHT/PLANS (M #13103892) 2013/10/15 13104320 6623 LINDYANN LN RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS 2013/10/15 13104498 316 W 20TH ST RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR REMODEL 2013/10/18 13105902 1337 OMAR ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS

77009

2013/10/14 13021598 1115 W 26TH ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT. GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/14 13021601 1117 W 26TH ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT. GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13078511 1118 DOROTHY ST NEW S.F.

2013/10/14 13072432 726 E 29TH ST NEW S.F. RES & DET GAR W/ GAMEROOM ABOVE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/17 13076713 2515 FULTON ST A RESTAURANT REMODEL 1-1-5-A2-B 2006 IBC 2013/10/15 13088844 1213 E 28TH ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13088845 1215 E 28TH ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13088847 1217 E 28TH ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13092213 1019 E 25TH ST RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR REMODEL/ROOF PITCH CHANGE 2013/10/16 13093111 834 GIBBS ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13094465 309 SUE ST RESIDENTIAL ADDITION/REMODEL 2013/10/15 13096554 1307 WALTON ST RESIDENTIAL REMODEL/ADDITION 2013/10/18 13097975 812 RIDGE ST NEW S.F.

their dream home on it when the timing and the team were right. In 2012, they tapped StudioMet for the year-long project, located in a pocket neighborhood off White Oak Bayou west of Yale St. near I10. The owners’ passion for the outdoors and outdoor entertaining were the driving forces for the multi-level configuration on the site, Gottschalk says. “The house explores dramatic volumes, an open floor plan, and a strong connection to outdoor space to enhance the living experience in a heavily constrained inner-city site,” he says. On the 3,500-sq.-ft. home’s first level, there’s a detached garage with a covered breezeway to the

main house. Its kitchen, living and dining room all open to an outdoor family room and back yard with pool. A detached guest house also helps deﬁne the outdoor living area. The second level holds a family room and two bedrooms. The master bedroom has a private balcony with views of the downtown skyline. For the sky deck, though, hit the third level. AIA Houston’s 2013 Home Tour is from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 26-27 at seven residential locations around Houston’s urban core. Tickets, good for both days, are $25 per person or $20 for bike riders. Single home tickets cost $10. For more information, visit aiahouston.org.

77008

RESIDENCE W/ DET GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/17 13099333 1026 EUCLID ST BUILD-OUT SHELL SPACE ABOVE DET GAR (1-3-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/17 13100875 4200 WATSON ST APT GATE CONTROLLER & CONCRETE REPAIR 2006 IBC 2013/10/15 13101963 302 CONOLY ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/17 13102237 1111 WOODLAND ST DEMO RES/SEWER DISC 2013/10/15 13104494 411 GARGAN ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIR DETACHED GARAGE 2013/10/16 13104620 604 ENID ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS 2013/10/17 13104624 822 OMAR ST NEW RESIDENTIAL GARAGE/UNFINISHED STORAGE 2013/10/18 13104796 111 NORTH ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIR SPEC LIST 2013/10/17 13105495 712 PIZER ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS PER REPAIR LIST 2013/10/18 13105918 930 LOUISE ST NEW RESIDENTIAL GARAGE/2ND STORY UNFINISHED STORAGE

2013/10/15 13086946 218 E 33RD ST NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/17 13088415 931 STONECREST DR RESIDENTIAL REMODEL/ADDITION 2013/10/15 13091678 3600 BRINKMAN ST BLD12 REMODEL CHURCH EDUCATIONAL BLDG 2006 IBC 100% SPK/ FIRE ALARM 2013/10/15 13092094 1037 WAKEFIELD DR NEW S.F. RES & DET GAR W/ QUARTERS ABOVE (1-2-5R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/15 13096604 1415 CHESHIRE LN NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-1-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13098524 1918 CHIPPENDALE RD NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/18 13102489 1226 WAKEFIELD DR RESIDENTIAL COVERED PATIO ADDITION AND OUTDOOR KITCHEN 2013/10/17 13103769 510 E 32ND ST RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS PER REPAIR LIST 2013/10/15 13103871 1902 LATEXO DR RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS PER SPEC LIST 2013/10/15 13104471 1131 DU BARRY LN RESIDENTIAL REPAIR SPEC LIST 2013/10/17 13105100 1110 STONECREST DR RESIDENTIAL ADDITION/REMODEL 2013/10/17 13105541 1630 EBONY LN NEW RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL 2013/10/17 13105722 1021 WAKEFIELD DR NEW POOL PERMIT

77018 2013/10/17 13043865 983 GARDENIA DR NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-1-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/16 13069645 3901 ELLA BLVD NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC 2013/10/14 13074327 1334 SUE BARNETT DR NEW S.F. RESIDENCE W/ ATT GARAGE (1-2-5-R3-B) 06 IRC

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Do-Over • from Page 2B ing modern home in their undisclosed price range. They brought StudioMet into what became a hunt for a suitable lot for building a custom home. Knowing about easements, setbacks, deed restrictions and other limits to lot use can help guide the design process before it even gets to architectural proportion, use of space and so forth, Gottschalk says. Deep and narrow, the lot lent itself to a tight, linear layout of the 3,200-sq.-ft. residence with four bedrooms and 3 and a half baths. It has an open ﬂoor plan, multipurpose rooms and a cantilevered master bedroom that shades outdoor seating next to the pool. Eco-friendly design included simple things, Gottschalk says,

such as orienting the home to catch the prevailing breeze from the southeast and a deep secondstory overhang on the home’s south and west sides. The simple, straight-forward project took about 12 months to complete. Today’s hotter real estate market has added about three months to similar projects as they compete for subcontractors, Gottschalk says. Building materials, meanwhile, cost 15 percent to 35 percent over 2011 prices. INTEGRATED DESIGN: 1912 Bonner Sessums Tract Long-term owners of a deep lot -- with bayou and downtown views – wanted to design and build

Area Sales • from Page 1B of inventory. The inventory of single-family homes across the United States currently stands at 4.9 months, according to the latest report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Single-family homes

September sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 6,168, up 23.5 percent from September 2012. That marks the 28th consecutive monthly increase. Home prices achieved the highest levels ever recorded in Houston for a September. The single-family median price rose 10.2 percent from last year to $181,570 and the average price climbed 13.1 percent year-over-year to $248,256. Broken out by housing segment, September sales performed as follows: $1 - $79,999: decreased 31.5 percent $80,000 - $149,999: increased 16.9 percent $150,000 - $249,999: increased 32.6 percent $250,000 - $499,999: increased

�� Ad # 37421

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�� 44.8 percent $500,000 - $1 million and above: increased 55.8 percent HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing singlefamily homes throughout the Houston market. In September 2013, existing home sales totaled 5,348, a 26.4 percent increase from the same month last year. The average sales price rose 13.4 percent year-over-year to $234,321 while the median sales price rose 11.1 percent to $170,000.

Townhouse/condominium

September sales of townhouses and condominiums shot up 42.2 percent from one year earlier. A total of 586 units sold last month compared to 412 properties in September 2012. The average price rose 6.4 percent to $181,532 while the median price was ﬂat at $137,540. Months inventory was 3.1 months versus 5.3 months in September 2012.

Lease property update

Houston’s lease property market grew further in September. Rentals of single-family homes rose 15.9 percent compared to September 2012 while year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals were ﬂat. The average rent of a townhouse/condominium reached an historic high of $1,519 while single-family average rent slipped from its record high of $1,747 last month to $1,700.

September Milestones

• Single-family home sales increased 23.5 percent year-overyear, accounting for the market’s 28th consecutive monthly increase; • Total property sales rose 25.7 percent compared to one year earlier; • Total dollar volume soared 40.2 percent, increasing from $1.25 billion to $1.75 billion on a year-over-year basis; • At $181,570, the single-family home median price reached the

highest level for a September in Houston; • At $248,256, the single-family home average price also reached a September high; • 3.2 months inventory of single-family homes is down from 3.3 months in August 2013 and down from 4.7 months in September 2012 while comparing to the national average of 4.9 months; • Sales of townhouses/condominiums rose 42.2 percent yearover-year. • Rentals of single-family homes rose 15.9 percent while and townhouse/condominium units were ﬂat. Townhome/condominium average rents reached a record high of $1,519. Ad # 37410

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SERVING THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ��

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Whether you are buying, selling or building choose the agent that’s right for you.

JAN CLARK, J.D. Sales, Leasing & Property Management

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713-906-5481

and Knowledge... DEBBIE Experience A Powerful Combination. ELLIOTT Realty Associates

ourrealtordebbie@aol.com

SUSAN PESL REALTOR® 713-397-1916 spesl@flash.net

PREMIER PROPERTIES 713-686-5454

�� • MLS Real Estate Buying, Selling, Relocating, Investing • Harris County Property Tax Auction Property Buyer Services • Construction, Rehab, Make Ready, and Maid Services • Leasing Specialists • Special Services for Tax Auction Investors • Investment Strategy Planning • Title Clearing Services for Tax Auction Buyers

• Section 8 Specialists • International Investor Network • Property Management • Always hiring Agents of all experience levels at high commissions • Investor Education Services • Mortgage Experts with diverse Lender Network • Foreclosure and Short Sale Experts • Tenant Screening and Background Research Services

ASK ME ABOUT THE TAX AUCTION INVESTOR PACKAGE

Our Tax Auction Investor Preparation Application narrows down the massive ﬁeld of un-cancelled properties headed to the 1115 Congress (Family Law Center) Auction. It is held on the ﬁrst Tuesday of each and every month and is typically attended by thousands of interested investors. We release the app on the Saturday before each monthly auction.

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�� If you’ve been thinking of selling... now is the time! If your looking to buy interest rates are still low! Call Today

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Mildred Holeman Realty Will Donate 10% of All Proceeds From Any Sale, Purchase, or Lease to a Charity of Client’s Choice MILDRED HOLEMAN REALTY The Oﬃce with a Heart

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THE C CLASSIFIEDS.

Page 4B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

Wanting to run a classiﬁed ad? CALL 713-686-8494 Monday - Friday. We accept credit cards. FOR SALE

FOR SALE

ESTATE SALE: 2106 Chippendale. Oct. 25-26. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Entire household of belongings. Appliances, furniture, kitchen, clothes.

GARAGE SALE/RETIRED DEALER: 842 T.C. Jester, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.

GARAGE SALE

Fri 10/25 8:30AM-5:30PM Sat 10/26 8:30AM-2PM Holiday decorations, household items, decorative items, art objects, paintings, etc. 5646 Council Grove Lane

BLUE MOON ANTIQUES: Antiques and collectibles. Providing estate sale services. 3311 Ella. 832-286-7882. www. bluemoonantiqueshouston. com. Like us on www.facebook. com/bluemoonantiqueshoustontx. (TF)

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

ESTATE SALE: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 25 and Saturday Oct. 26. Cash only. 5302 DeMilo. Furniture, piano, crystal. MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE: Baby and small children’s clothes, other miscellaneous items. Oct. 26. 2306 Lazybrook. Our Guide To Northwest Houston is packed with local information you just can’t ﬁnd anywhere else ... elected ofﬁcials, civic associations, entertainment venues, youth sports leagues and much more. Just visit www. theleadernews.com.

GIANT GARAGE SALE

2302 Chantilly Lane Sat 10/26 7AM-12:30PM Inventory from Woman’s Boutique, Designer Denim Jewelry, Nice plus size clothing, craft items, dishes, etc.

Lease Extended

Up to 50%OFF

ENTIRE ESTATE

SALES INVENTORY Open Everyday 9am-6pm

We’ve extended our lease & will be here until Dec.31st! Our warehouse is overflowing with estate personal property moved here for public sale. Bargains on fine furniture, antiques, grand pianos, jewelry,fine art, collectibles, Asian arts & furniture; chandeliers, mirrors, 19th-20th C. ceramics, china & glass; figurines, Royal Doulton, Meissen, Sabino, all kinds of fabulous decor, vintage & Mid Century, bookcases & entertainment units,office furniture, MORE!

Oct. 24, 25 & 26 862 LaMonte (Garden Oaks) Lots of antiques, vintage jewelry, good glassware, dressers, blue willow, screens. loads of misc.

Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet 4th Annual Garage Sale

RogerHowardEstateSales.com

FOR SALE

5004 KATY FREEWAY (77007) North side I-10, near Durham/Shepherd

FOR SALE

GUNS & AMMO 3344 E.T.C. Jester

713-682-5549

TUPPERWARE AVAILABLE: Call JoAnn Lord at 281-9233729. (TF)

www.republicarms.com

THE FOAM STORE

� Custom Cut � Memor y Foam � Chair Pads � Couch Cushions � Mattress Foam

2217 W. 34th, Ste. A.

713-686-6622

Johnny & Rhea Danna, Owners RETAIL CENTER www.thefoamstore.com WHOLESALE PRICES

Memory Foam Mattresses the

FOAM store

SLEEP BETTER

713.686.6622

FOR SALE

LEGAL NOTICES HELP WANTED

BUS DRIVERS NEEDED FOR CHURCH SHUTTLE: Approximately six hours a week. Must have CDL and passenger endorsement. Call 713-6813600. (TF) MECHANIC WITH EXPERIENCE on Econoline vans needed. Experience with A/C, alternators, brakes and suspension. Tools required. Salary commensurate with experience. 713-681-3600. (TF)

DRIVERS: Co. teams, singles and owner op’s. New pay package. Great home time. 100% D&H. Dedicated lanes. No slip. CDL-A, 2 years experience, 23 min. yoa. 855-817-8447. (11-16)

JOBS AVAILABLE!

DRIVERS - NO TOUCH DELIVERIES Ashley Distribution Service seeks Truckload Drivers * UP to $58$62K/1stYear * Paid VACA, 401k, Med/Life/Drug/Dental! * Class A CDL & at least 1 year current OTR exp. Clean MVR/PSP Reports. Call 1-800-837-2241 8AM to 4PM CST for info & app or email: jobs@ashleydistributionservices.com

December 2, 2013, 8:00 a.m. 7603 Antoine, Houston, Texas 77088

GENERAL NATURE OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AND SERVICES: The Near Northwest Management District (the “District”) was created to provide services and improvements in the near northwest area of the City of Houston, Texas (the “City”), as authorized by Chapter 3811, Vernon’s Texas Special District Local Laws Code, and by Chapter 375, Vernon’s Texas Local Government Code. The District proposes to add to its assessment roll all new development, redevelopment or new construction or property annexed into the District since the District’s last public hearing on November 26, 2012, and any nonexempt real property in the District that was omitted from the District’s assessment roll at the latest certiﬁed value set by the Harris County Appraisal District (“HCAD”).

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The District, in accordance with the service, improvement and assessment plan approved by its Board of Directors in 2009 (the “Service Plan”), has provided and will to continue to provide services and improvements in the near northwest area of the City as authorized by the statutes listed above. Such services include: (a) security and public safety; (b) marketing and perception enhancement; (c) planning and urban design; and (d) administration of the District.

FOR SALE

PART-TIME LEASING AGENT NEEDED at Hidden Park Apartments, 4225 Mangum. Must be available for Saturdays and occasional weekdays. Experience helpful. Call for appointment, 713-686-1662. (10-26)

Swimming pool technician/repair/cleaner. Fast growing, great pool business. Great health beneﬁts. Company truck. Need experience in water chemistry and with pool equipment. Electrician’s license helpful. Oak Forest area but service all of Houston. Call 713-239-3476.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO CONSIDER THE ADVISABILITY OF AMENDING/SUPPLEMENTING THE DISTRICT’S ASSESSMENT ROLL, CHANGING THE ASSESSMENT RATE AND LEVYING ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT

FOR SALE

REPUBLIC ARMS

WE BUY/SELL GUNS: Top cash paid. FFL concealed handgun classes. 713-694-4867. (TF)

LEGAL NOTICES HELP WANTED

The 2013 Re-evaluation, Revised ROD, and FEIS are available for review and reproduction at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston District Headquarters, 7600 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007 or the US 290 Program Management Consultant ofﬁce at 2950 North Loop West, Suite 1150, Houston, TX 77092. Documents are also available for review at www.my290. com. For further information, please contact the US 290 Program ofﬁce at 1-866958-7290.

TIME: PLACE:

FOR SALE

ALTERATIONS: Reasonable. Pick up and delivery. Charlotte, 713-694-0003. (TF)

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Revised Record of Decision (ROD) for the US 290 Corridor Project from FM 2920 to IH 610 in Harris County, Texas, CSJ 0050-09-069, etc. In the Revised ROD issued September 26, 2013, the FHWA approved the September 2013 Re-evaluation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and the construction of the interim phase project and other design changes. The interim phase project is placement of tolled managed lanes in the center of the expanded US 290 main lanes from IH 610 to SH 99. The Revised ROD supplements the design changes into the previously approved Selected Alternative for the US 290 Corridor Project. This decision conﬁrms that the design changes do not constitute a signiﬁcant change as described in 23 CFR § 771.129(c).

HUGE ESTATE GARAGE SALE

Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 8:00am until 2:00pm 901 Sue Barnett Drive Houston, TX 77018

SEWING

Notice of Revised Record of Decision US 290 Corridor FM 2920 to IH 610, Harris County

BIG GARAGE SALE: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 8802 Enchanted Forest in Inwood North Subdivision. Oct. 26.

ESTATE SALE BY DELINDA: Mid-century furniture, dining room set, lamps, dryer, refrigerator, kitchenware, school desk, china, glassware, linens, owls, jewelry, machinist’s tools, clean miscellaneous. 1027 Chamboard at Golf. 8 a.m. ThursdaySaturday, Oct. 24-26.

FOR SALE

LARGE COUNTRY STYLE TABLE W/SIX CHAIRS: Paid $1,000, sell for $300; gas dryer, used one year, $150; console TV cabinet, $100; queen brass headboard, $100. 713-6824241.

HUGE SALE: 862 Lamonte, Garden Oaks. Oct. 24-27. Too much to list.

MANNA - DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Your neighborhood thrift store appreciates any and all donations. We can arrange pickup for large items or large donations. Call 713-686-6440 or donate at 1806 W. 43rd St. Thank you. (TF)

FOR SALE

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FOR SALE

ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROPOSED SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS: The cost of the services to be provided is estimated to be $1,587,815 annually over the remaining ten years of the ﬁfteen-year life of the Service Plan.

Preschool/Extended Care Director Position Needed

PROPOSED METHOD OF ASSESSMENT: The District proposes to levy an assessment on properties added to the District’s assessment roll in the amount of $0.132 per $100 of assessed valuation as shown on the appraisal rolls of HCAD for the year 2013 to ﬁnance the cost of services and improvements.

Advent Lutheran Church is seeking dynamic, religious and motivated person. Multi-year experience and references required. Please email your resume to: resumes@adventhouston.org

All property owners within the District and all other interested persons are hereby invited to appear in person, or by their attorney, and contend for or contest the amendment/ supplement to the District’s assessment roll, each proposed assessment and the change in the assessment rate and to offer testimony pertinent to any issue presented on the amount, purpose and special beneﬁts of the assessments and the penalties and interest on delinquent assessments. Oral or written support of or objections to the District’s amendment/supplement to its assessment roll, change in the assessment rate and the levy of assessments as to any parcel in the District contained on the amended/supplemented District assessment roll will be considered at the hearing. For information, please call or write the Near Northwest Management District, 7603 Antoine, Houston, Texas 77088, phone: (713)895-8021. For information on the amount of your assessment, please call the District’s Assessment Consultant, Interstate Tax Management Services, Ltd., at (281)873-7313 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). /s/ Wayne Norden Wayne Norden, President Near Northwest Management District

AUTOS & TRUCKS

CA$H TODAY For Unwanted Cars, Trucks, MTX & RV’s Not running OK

Need Vacation $$$$?

832-646-6103

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1999 MERCURY SABLE: Slightly over 100,000 miles. Very good condition, runs great. $2,500. 832-884-9762. (10-26)

Shop Online 24/7 ��

ONE OWNER - 1993 TAURUS SHO: Black, 125K, 5-speed manual transmission, $3,800 obo. 713-906-1038. (11-2)

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1987 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK: 250 engine, two gas tanks. Good work truck. Good motor. $2,500. 281-964-9901. (11-16)

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Lawn Maintenance Landscape & Design Sprinklers/Drainage Systems Free Estimates 20 yrs. exp.

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• Landscape Installation • Weather Damage Replacement • Tree Trim & Removal • Lawn & Bed Maintenance • Landscape Lighting • Organic Soil Amendments

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Lawn Maintenance Landscaping & Design Sprinkler Repair Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Taylor Herrmann

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U S Tree Experts • Tree Removal • Shaping & Trimming Insured • Free Estimates

LAWN EQUIPMENT PARTS & REPAIR Lawn Mowers Chainsaws Trimmers Blowers

OPEN M-F 8-6 • SAT 9-2 PICK UP & DELIVERY AVAIALABLE

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w Trimming w Pruning w Topping w Removal w Stump Grinding Comm. Res. (of�ce) 713-545-3677 Free Estimates • Reasonable Rates • Insured

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Specialize In Dif�cult Removals, Trimming and Planting of New Trees Free Estimates

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LEGAL NOTICES HELP WANTED DRIVERS: Flatbed. Newer equipment w/APU. New pay package and benefits with top incentives. Avg. miles 2,5003,000. Extra stop and tarping pay. Consistent home time. CDL-A, 25 yoa. And two years recent OTR experience. 866946-4322. (11-2) “DRIVERS: $500 sign on bonus. Regional company drivers needed in the Houston area. Out and back runs - 500 miles or less. Great home time. Requirements: 18 mos. Tractor trailer experience, CDL-A with Tanker and Hazmat. Highway Transport Offers: Paid orientation, excellent benefits, TWIC assistance available. Safety focused quality driven. “”Our CSA rating reflects our commitment.”” EOE/M/F/V/D Apply online now. www.drive4hyttchemical.com. 800-818-0920, ext. 206.” DIESEL MECHANIC: Excellent benefits. Insurance/paid vacation/matching 401K. Salary DOE with most weekends off. Experience in general repairs, brake jobs, preventative maintenance. Must have own tools. Apply: 8910 Taub Road, Houston. 1-800-234-4648.

ADULT CARE �� 713-349-3697 CERTIFIED NURSE’S ASSISTANT looking for work. Day or night. Good references. 832439-9971. (11-2)

WORK WANTED C.W. TRASH HAULING: Residential/commercial, clean out garages, tractor work, box blade. 832-434-8863. (TF) C.W. LAWN CARE: Yard work - cut grass, clean lots. 832-4348863. (TF) HANDYMAN SAVES YOU MONEY: Plumbing, electrical, carpentry. 281-660-0350. (11-2) A TRASH HAULER: 832-3887084. Garage cleaning, house cleaning. Demo: sheds, small garages. Residential, small businesses. On time! Calvin Edwards. (11-2) LOW COST EVENING OR OVERNIGHT BABY SITTING, housekeeping or elderly care. Olga, 713-391-7167. GENERAL HOUSE CLEANING: Affordable prices. Honest. 832362-4500. (11-2) HOUSECLEANING BY DEBBIE: Dependable, quality service. Available Monday - Saturday. New customer specials. 832729-1124. (TF)

�� Business or Home

• Appliances • Yard Debris Garage Clean Outs Free Estimates CALL Manny Insured

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Turn to the Leader Classiﬁeds to locate professionals trained to help solve any of your household problems.

TS

GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

COMPUTERS

Home, Small Ofce Computer Repair Upgrades, Installation, Conguration (Virus-Removal) Home - NetWorking

PETS & LIVESTOCK

If you ever fail to receive your Leader by Saturday night, please give us a call. We want to know.

NEW!

832-818-4970

INSTRUCTIONS

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www.goodpawsdroolbus.com

TUTORIAL SERVICES OFFERED: Recently retired, primary teacher with 25 years of classroom experience. Please call Nan at 413-374-5700 or e-mail nanhayden@comcast. net. (10-26)

ROOFING

• ReRoof • Repair • Siding • Windows

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Call for appointment

713-682-1158

I Pause For Paws

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832-613-7245

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CHARMING VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT GATHERING: Houston Heights Woman’s Club’s Historic Bungalow, perfect for small events. Recitals, luncheons, PLUMBING fundraisers - events up to 100 people. Grand piano, stage, round tables, small catering kitchen. Call Lizz Martin, 281217-6070, regarding this Heights landmark. (TF)

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5800 N. Houston Rosslyn Houston TX 77091

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Got a comment, complaint or a It’s easy to place a Leader clascompliment? Share it with the siﬁed. Just call us and charge it community by E-mailing us a to your credit card. letter-to-the-editor.

References • Heights Home Owner

AIRLINE CAREERS: Get trained as an FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualiﬁed students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Dallas 800-732-1069 or Houston 800481-8920.

WANT TO BUY

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Page 5B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • @heightsleader

SAME DAY SERVICE

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CARPET & FLOORING

FOR RENT

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FOR LEASE: 4-2-2, formal areas, tile throughout. Antoine and West Little York area. 281660-4566. (11-2) FOR LEASE 3-1: 1243 Richelieu. $1,400/month + $1,400 deposit. 713-681-3323, 713-302-4194. (11-2)

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®

REAL ESTATE HOUSE IN TIMBERGROVE MANOR: 1311 Valleta. 3-2-1 with mother-in-law suite and 8x12 shed. For sale by owner. Reduced to $350,000. 713-598-8112.

We have a small staff here at The Leader, so sometimes we don’t know about everything that’s going on in our area. If there’s something of concern in your neighborhood, please let our editor know and we’ll follow up on it.

REAL ESTATE 4,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT FOR SALE at 1734 Rutland, 77008. For information, please e-mail lot4sale@heightspc.org. (TF)

HUNTING PROPERTY/ACREAGE FOR SALE: Sierra Vista Ranch, 349.14 acres at $325/ acre Tract 17. Terrell County near Dryden. Two miles south of Hwy. 90. Deer, Javelina and birds. Owner ﬁnanced with 5% down. 210-734-4009. www. westerntexasland.com.

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Buying or Selling? Call Charlee

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Charlee Peddicord

A

Page 6B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

Neighbors: Find a pumpkin, find a dance partner by Elizabeth Villareal elizasgarden@sbcglobal.net Congratulations to students Gabriel Escobedo and Stephen Mauzy who were named to the Student Board of Directors at the Federal Reserve Bank on Allen Parkway. These two young gentlemen are the Waltrip High School representatives and they will be learning all about the Fed, banking, & foreign exchange through a series of exciting guest speakers, bank visits, and discussions on monetary policy. Barbara Falcon, their AP Macroeconomics teacher at Waltrip HS, chose them for their interest and excellent grades in economics. For all of you barbeque aficionados out there, you’ll be thrilled to hear Clarence Pierson is back in the saddle and has reopened Pierson & Company Bar-B-Que on West T.C. Jester, just north of Tidwell in Acres Homes. Pierson’s will be in a “soft opening” mode for the next couple Gabriel Escobedo, left, and of weeks and Stephen Mauzy. will be producing a limited quantity of barbecue for sale during lunch hours starting this week. If you can’t wait and want to sink your teeth into some succulent brisket or ribs, arrive early around 11:00 a.m. Welcome back, Mr. Pierson! Like to polka? Perhaps you have a little salsa in you? Grab your calendar and mark Nov. 8 for an evening of fun, dancing and surprises at Polka for the Park to be held in the SPJST Hall in the Heights from 8:30 p.m. until midnight. A few of our very creative and merry neighbors (Barbara Fisher, Karen Carr, Kat Fisher, Sonya Fisher, Brandy Miller, Lorissa Robinson and Denise Gaudiano among them) are hosting a benefit to raise money for their family and good friends affected by the plant explosion in West, Texas. This festive evening of fundraising will be full of entertainment including silent auction, live auction and dancing with the focus of assisting our fellow Texans in rebuilding their community. The headlining performers will be two time Grammy-winning band Brave Combo rocking the house with a rollicking music mix including salsa, rock, polka, zydeco, blues and more. I’m told “nuclear polka” is what originally brought this band to fame and I, for one, have to know what nuclear polka is! Funds raised will help our Texas neighbors in West to rebuild their beloved city park which will honor the First Responders lost as a result of the explosion. Table underwriters will be invited to a pre-event reception with guests of honor, West Mayor Tommy Muska and his wife, Lisa. This cause is dear to many of our neighbors including Barbara Fisher of

The

Molly

Diaries

by Molly Sue McGillicutty

Avery Tucker picks out a pumpkin at Hartman & Associates during the real estate company’s 7th annual pumpkin patch. (Photo by Jake Dukate) Candlelight Plaza who was born and raised in West and has family there. Tickets are $25 each and you may request more information at polkaforthepark@yahoo.com or visit Facebook at Polka for the Park. Donations may be made at http://center4gracefoundation.org/ donations.html. A group of spirited ladies from Lazybrook and Timbergrove has created a network throughout their “sistering neighborhoods” to better keep up with crime and other issues. The group communicates via email and Facebook and also meets quarterly for dinner. Any ladies from the area who would enjoy a relaxed evening of convivial chatting and dining are welcome to join. Upcoming dinner dates will be posted on the two Facebook pages: Timbergrove-Lazybrook and Timbergrove Manor. The ladies have enjoyed meeting at Kojak’s Cafe on 18th Street due to its location and banquet room seating (and, I’m told, you can bring your own wine!). This is a marvelous way to make new friends or be part of a positive, congenial community circle. Ladies who attended the last meeting were Laura McCarver, Janell Bryans, Jeanne Kazmierski, Gladys Lantzsch, Carolyn Schaff, Samantha Toms, Jennifer Estopinal, Eddie Yarbrough and Judy Daigle. Hartman & Associates hosted its 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch last Saturday at 2000 Ella Blvd. and Billy Hartman, broker and owner, and Hartman agents were delighted to see old friends as well as many new faces. Children enjoyed having their faces painted and choosing a pumpkin while parents and grandparents took advantage of photo ops galore. Just a few of the neighbors dropping off canned goods in exchange for a pumpkin were Phil, Jacqueline and Jonathan Simmons; Yvonne de Armas and her niece; Nancy Boone; Jim and Davy Denison with their granddaughter; Justin Gordon and his daughter, Anna; Atwell

and Alisa Williams; Emily Garcia and her family; Sue and Jonathan Needle and their family; Tim Weltin with sons Evan and Ryan; Kim and Paul Kucherka with their son McCoy; Nora Loera with son Evan; Chris Komarek along with his sons Charles and James; and many others. Over 500 of our neighbors attended this event and donated a mighty mountain of food for Houston’s needy. The Oak Forest Homeowners’ Association held its funtastic Movie in the Park event at Oak Forest Park the very same evening and despite the chilly temperatures, neighbors came out in droves with their lawn chairs and blankets to see the classic movie Back to the Future. Food trucks were there to feed the masses and neighbors enjoyed Koagie Hots (Korean influenced cheesesteaks), Gastro Punk (pub favorites with a gourmet twist), and Yeti Sunshine (snowcones). The big attractions of the night were the amazing raffle prizes and the 1980’s costume contest. The prize for first place costume went to Maurilio Sanchez who dressed up as Marty McFly and second place went to Lu Dang who was decked out in her 80’s finery. The OFHA would like to thank the following sponsors who are covering all three of the Movie in the Park events this year: Oakington Realty, Deuce Electrical, Old Republic Title, Jason Light, Oak Forest Vet Clinic, Cottonwood, RobRyan Construction, Eagle Controls, Inc., The Flanagan Family, K. Gregory & Associates, PLLC, and Steven Finger Custom Homes; as well as the two dozen individuals and businesses who donated raffle prizes for the event. A great big thanks also goes out to the OFHA volunteers who helped the OFHA PR Committee work on the event: Allison Virgadamo, Julia Jones, Justin Gordon, Caroline Altomare, Tracy Brandon, Heather Sterr and Craig Powers. The next Movie in the Park is set for Dec. 7 and will have a Christmas theme, so mark your calendars.

Plenty of ways to celebrate Howl-o-ween

Here we are again, in the midst of Houston’s best season--fall festival season. I love this time of year for, not only the cooler temperatures, but also all of the fun activities going on around the city. Much like last week, this week, I’ve got some great pet-friendly events to share with you.

Funny Fur Howl-O-Ween Party and Dog Costume Contest

Funny Fur, (3268 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77098) a leading online and Houston luxury pet boutique specializing in designer dog clothes and Halloween costumes, will host a Howl-O-Ween Party and Fashion Show benefitting Friends For Life from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 25. There will be an in-store Howl-O-Ween costume contest at the Funny Fur pet boutique in Houston, as well as an online costume contest open to pet owners everywhere. The in-store contest will feature a Halloween themed fashion show and pet costume contest for dogs, as well as other pet-themed activities including a silent auction, raffle and more. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served throughout the event for both humans and pets. A $10 minimum donation will be accepted for participation in the festivities with all proceeds benefiting Friends For Life pet rescue. Local business owners and volunteers will judge the grand-prize costume contest winner. The winner will be announced at the end of the evening and awarded a $100 gift card to Funny Fur. Go to www. adoptfriends4life.org for more information.

CAP’s Howl-O-Ween event

Final bid for Law Enforcement High School set for Nov. 1

If you don’t mind the drive, head over to Central Green

Park in LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch (23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd) in Katy for Citizens For Animal Protection’s HowlO-Ween Dog Walk and Costume Contest on Saturday, October 26th from 8am to 11am. Bring your dog along for the 1 mile walk and help raise funds for CAP’s shelter animals. There will be great Door Prizes, t-shirts, goody bags...and lots of fun! Go to www.cap4pets.org to learn more.

Before leaving they asked HISD real estate manager Gary Hansel if Elk Mountain was the same group by a different name, from the last round of bidding. “I don’t know if it’s the same group, but they have the same broker,” Hansel told them. “In July, St. Thomas had a slightly higher bid than A.V. Dickson, a real estate investment company whose leaseback terms were considerably lower than St. Thomas. But that process was ended when it was determined both parties had improperly lobbied school board members.”

Opps: Ad on (page 16 of The GUIDE) should read for the 2013-2014 School year

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FOR SALE BY OWNER 1917 CHIPPENDALE

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the time. Two years old, sweet, shy Sophie wants nothing more than a fluffy place to spend her time. Timid at first, Sophie warms up quickly and is a connoisseur of all things fish flavored. Sophie is good with kids but would prefer to be the only feline in residence at your house. Sophie would be our choice--what about you? Visit www.nokill1.org to learn more. Follow Molly @TheMollyDiaries on Twitter.

How did you celebrate National Feral Cat Day?

Last Wednesday was National Feral Cat Day. There are many free-roaming felines across Houston. In early 2012, BARC launched a Trap-Neuter-Return program for freeroaming cats that’s since grown by leaps and bounds. What is Trap-Neuter-Return you ask? According to BARC, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated, sterilized, and marked by an identifying notch in the left ear, all administered by a veterinarian, and returned to the trap location. This prevents any future production of oﬀspring and will help keep the colony size stable (not growing). More than 1,665 cats and kittens have been a part of our TNR program since January 2012, thanks to BARC’s amazing colony managers. This program helps create safer communities and promotes public health by reducing the number of unvaccinated cats. Interested in learning more or becoming a colony manager in your area? Visit http://www.houstontx. gov/barc/fctp_feralcat_tnr.php

Pretty Sophie wants to be the only cat, but doesn’t mind not being an only child as she looks for a home. (Submitted photo)

Choose me

If given the choice, Sophie would choose all ﬂuﬀ, all

Brewing Up

Business

Here come the bins

More homes get automated recycling Cart delivery begins Monday for 70,000 households – including thousands in eight Leaderarea communities – which are being added to the city of Houston’s automated curbside recycling program. The new areas are Cottage Grove, the Heights, Heights Progressive, Oak Forest Central, Oak Forest North, Oak Forest Southeast, Shady Acres and Shady Acres Expansion.

The Houston Independent School District will take “the best and ﬁnal offers,” by Nov. 1 for the 11-acre High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice, 4701 Dickson St. at Shepherd Drive. On Oct. 15, Elk Mountain’s bid was $47,927,114 — all cash— compared to St. Thomas High School’s $45 million bid. St. Thomas’ campus is adjacent to Law Enforcement’s. Elk Mountain didn’t have any representatives at the bid meeting, but St. Thomas had three. All three left the meeting quickly and declined to comment to The Leader.

Each household in the areas will receive a 96-gallon green cart, similar to the black cart used for general solid waste collection, which can be picked up by automated trucks every two weeks starting the week of Nov. 25. Recyclable items that can be placed in the containers without sorting include newspapers, magazines, ofﬁce paper, junk mail, cardboard, paperboard, paper bags, glass bottles and jars, alumi-

num cans, tin and steel cans and plastics 1 – 5 and 7. These additions will bring participating households to 210,000, the city says – more than half the areas in their coverage area. Plans are for another 60,000 homes to be added to the program in the spring. For maps of the new areas in this expansion, visit http://www. houstontx.gov/solidwaste/press10172013.html.

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Pat Walker SRES ®, Green® (713) 412-6682 www.har.com/PatriciaWalker pat @ thepatwalker.com

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Page 7B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • @heightsleader

All Offers Valid Until Nov. 17th 2013

I-10

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SHOP ONLINE @

Page 8B • The Leader • October 26, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

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