Move Over Montana. TEXAS

by Amy Sharp

Best Realtors in Texas...

The hit TV series Yellowstone tells the story of the Dutton family and their fight for the land in Montana. But perhaps lovable cowboy Jimmy is the character who gets it right. In season 4, Jimmy moves to Texas…where the land is plentiful, and the small town mentality that cowboys crave exists around every bend.

“I grew up here in Houston,” says local Keller Williams Southwest (KWSW) agent Sapana Patel. “Texas is a big place, and we have room for everyone! Our market is doing very well. Texas is now home to more than 50 Fortune 500 companies. We are the #1 location to move to. Real estate is booming, and we still have land.

There’s still time to buy in Texas.”

Located in the heart of Sugar Land, Keller Williams Southwest has been an integral part of this historic community for more than 30 years. Today, more than 600 KWSW agents service Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston Metro area, where Texas dreams come true.

Why Fort Bend County? With a population of 806,497, Fort Bend County is one of the best places to live in Texas. There are tons of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, and most residents own their homes. The schools are top-rated, and the weather is outstanding. Fort Bend County enjoys a richness and diversity that’s rare. You can play here, work here, and eat here. “Agents at KW Southwest are local experts and active in the community,” says KWSW agent Sharon Parker. “We host plenty of open houses every weekend throughout Fort Bend.”

“I love that Fort Bend County is a satellite of one of the largest cities in the country,” says KWSW agent Kimbra Valachovic. “We can easily visit Houston to experience even more activities, like seeing our World Series Champions, the Houston Astros, play. Then we can go back home to the countryside. I grew up in Dallas. People cannot believe I’ve never moved back home. There’s a sense of community here

...and Therefore the World

that you just don’t get in Dallas. It’s a small town mentality with an international feel. In western parts of the county, you can experience the night sky. I love that. You just don’t get that everywhere.”

Keller Williams Southwest’s Agent Leadership Council (ALC) is composed of agents selected from the office Top 20%. The ALC gives agents a voice in the direction, culture, and growth of KWSW, serving as the foundation of the office. KWSW enjoyed a very successful 2022, with a total closed units of 3035 and a total closed volume of $890 million. KWSW agent Brad Countryman was awarded Rookie of the Year for 2022. The Rookie of the Year award is in recognition of being the top rookie of the Market Center. It goes to the associate who is new in real estate and has completed his first twelve-month period in real estate during the calendar year with Keller Williams Southwest and had the highest closed sales volume. Brad’s outstanding momentum led him to being named the new KWSW Productivity Coach. Congratulations Brad!

Let Yellowstone and the Duttons duke it out in Montana. The place to be is right here in Texas, and no one knows the Fort Bend County landscape better than Keller Williams Southwest. How can KWSW help make your Texas dreams come true?

by Amy Sharp

Local BUGCO Pest Control owner

John Onofrey owned a home inspection company many years ago. John earned an outstanding reputation for providing thorough home inspection reports in a timely manner to potential home buyers and their real estate agents. Clients were so impressed, John kept getting a repeat request: Could he provide pest control too?

The people asked, and John answered. More than 10 years ago, John launched BUGCO Pest Control together with his friend, Chris Millward. Today, BUGCO Pest Control provides the full gamut of pest control services for both commercial and residential properties, including termite inspections and control. Chris says, “We’re very experienced in working with real estate agents…it’s where we got our start! Wooddestroying insect reports are now required for some home loans. We turn these reports around fast, usually within 24 hours of the inspection.”

If you weren’t aware, March is the beginning of termite swarming season…when winged termite adults fly away from their own colo- nies to create a new colony somewhere else, perhaps in your home. Subterranean termites swarm in the spring, and Formosan termites swarm closer to the beginning of summer. Chris says, “If your home is infested by ter- mites, it’s important for us to first identify what kind of termites you have, because they’re not all treated the same way. Subterranean termites can be treated inground, but Formosan termites can create a cartridge nest in any structure, including inside your home. Termite ground treatment for Formosan termites would not be an effective approach.”

Formosan termites are not native to Texas. They are believed to have been transported to the Houston Ship Channel in wood shoring timbers from China more than 70 years ago. Today, Formosan termites have been detected in 30 Texas counties. Yep, that means where you live too!

BUGCO Pest Control provides both active and preventive termite treatment plans. If you do see a swarm, don’t panic…ant swarms are also common this time of year. “Termite and ant swarmers are often confused for one another,” explains Chris. “So the proper diagnosis and treatment plan is important! Like termites, different ant species require different treatment methods. While fire ants make mounds in the yard, others like carpenter ants create colonies in trees and your house by excavating the wood to make smooth tunnels inside of the wood. But they don’t eat it like termites do, they chew through it to create nests. That is why having a trusted, local BUGCO Pest Control Specialist inspect your property is so important whether it’s termites or ants!”