Yesterday our Leadership Montgomery Class attended sessions all day long with directors from several Economic Councils in our county.  It was great to hear about the process of how our area attracts new businesses to Montgomery County.   Of course we all know this is a great place to live and work but to actually understand the entire process was very enlightening. J.R. Moore our county Tax Assessor shared a lot of interesting facts about tax abatements for companies and how they really work.  Many people misunderstand these tax incentives as our county government simply giving away money to bring companies here.  Upon learning more however, these tax abatements help these companies offset relocation costs but in the long run with the employees that they bring in along with housing nee... 02/06/2009

When you stop and think about life without the Internet today, it is difficult to believe that not so long ago, this was something we couldn't even imagine!  Now, we don't know what we would do without it!  The Internet has revolutionized the real estate market!  It has allowed potential Buyer's and Seller's the ability to search for homes and to see what the competition is.  The Internet has certainly made searching for a home convenient and easy!  You can search for a new home anywhere in the world at any time! The importance of the Internet has changed the way REALTORS® do business.  Agents have massive amounts of data at their fingertips!  This is vital when working with clients who need to make informed decisions. Working with a real estate agent that is Internet savvy is key.  It ... 02/06/2009

Reading self-improvement books is a daily habit of mine. These books help fuel my dreams and keep me focused on my daily, monthly and long term goals. As I was rereading one of my favorite books today a particular passage caught my eye. The passage made me think of tentative home buyers and sellers. This particular passage read "A committed heart does not wait for conditions to be exactly right. Why? Because conditions are never exactly right. ...... He has put the vision in you - proceed." Please notice the words vision and proceed. These are big words; they say a lot and most likely if you are reading this they apply to you. You have the vision, the dream. You have the vision of a new, bigger, smaller, fancier, closer to work, in the country, in the city, second, third, investment, on... 02/05/2009

Today I just finished mailing to my database the Executive Summary to my 2008 Montgomery County Single Family Residence Review. The actual report is 42 pages in length and shows all of the important data for 2008 as compared to 2007. The report really is not a shocker by any means. Unit sales were down just over 20% for 2008 versus 2007. However the good news is that the average sales price and median sales price for the four MLS areas that comprise our county held steady and in some cases were up. We really saw no price deterioration in our county. That is great news as far as I am concerned. In really looking at the numbers I think I even saw some positive trends developing towards the end of the year. I have no idea if those upward spirals will continue but do feel that we will know ... 02/04/2009

I ran into a friend of mine on Saturday who works for the San Jacinto River Authority. I ask him how the hydrilla situation was and what it might be like this coming summer. He said that with as many weed fish that are currently in the lake that we should not have a problem for five to ten years. Good news. Please realize that this is not an official statment from the SJRA but rather a disclosure from what might be called a "deep cover source". How's that for Washington DC speak? Anyway I thought that was great news. He did mention that with that many weed eating fish in the lake that the lack of weeds does affect other water fowl. They are affected because of a lack or loss of suitable habitat. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Safe boating!! Ron 02/02/2009

The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.Thomas Carlyle Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.Henry Ward Beecher Remedy your deficiencies,and your merits will take care of themselves.Edward Bulwer-Lytton I love quotes, as most of you know. These are some that should both humble and motivate. Good Selling! 02/02/2009

Did you ever wonder how our economy got in the mess it is today? We all listen to CNN, Foxnews, the sage old male talking news anchor, the young pretty blonde up and coming news anchor, the fat bald loud politically active male and tall slender blonde political active female and they all blame a different person or group of people. But are these the people we should be listening too? Are they the ones who really know what happened to our economy? What do the really smart people have to say about what caused this horrendous mess we find ourselves living with? Where are the really smart people so that we can hear or read about what they think? I think I may have found these smart people. I was doing some reading today on this subject and started following some links. You know how it works... 01/29/2009

We have all received those emails that have been forwarded so many times, we have to scroll through pages of email addresses before we can get to the actual message.  Of course it is frustrating to deal with these address lists in general, but there are far more important reasons to avoid this behavior: SPAM - Every time someone sends out a list of that size, the chances are in favor of a person or spam bot picking them up and adding them to their spam list of choice.  This is especially appealing when someone can gain access to a list containing specific contact types. Ex. realtors, buyers, sellers, etc.  Several months ago, a major broadband provider made the mistake of emailing their entire client list of technical contacts (myself included) with every address visible in the To: fie... 01/28/2009

Last night as The Franke Team reflected on our victories at the Keller Williams Regional Awards, I wanted to post a blog about the concept of the real estate team. Historically the real estate industry evolved as individual agents.  In fairly recent history, the "team" concept has become more and more popular.  We are proud here at The Franke Team to say that Marion was a pioneer in the team concept.  Over a decade ago as Marion's business was exploding, she made the wise decision to add a very needed person to help her manage her business.  Janice Oliver was the first agent that Marion added. As the listings and phone call increased, Marion knew that she needed to add her first Buyer's Agent.  The rest as they say is history!  Today Marion has 7 buyer's agents, 4 listing agents, a ful... 01/27/2009

At Mariner Realty we are specialists in Lake Conroe.  From waterfront lots or homes, we have listings from $100,000, to $1,700,000 for land/lots. Patio homes from $168,000.00 on the water, to luxury homes in all areas.  Homes in gated subdivisions are selling well. Send me the information you woulld like to include in a search for Lake Property.  Contact me , Marciavinyard@aol.com . If experience matters and personal service we are your team.  We are close to shopping, restaurants, health care, arts and entertainment, and a short drive to airport and Houston.  We have Sports Teams, Go Astros.  Lots of fun here.  Let's get wet with Active Rain. 01/27/2009

  After  reading a couple of great posts from  Dinah Lee Griffey on Active Rain about the education she is receiving from her teenage daughter, I thought I would share some "special" experiences I have had with my son over the years. Keep in mind I am actually enjoying myself when all of the things described happen. My son and I play online games on Xbox and have for years. When he was away at college it was basically the only way we could communicate. If you have a teenage son, you understand this. If you don't, you will have no clue and there is no way anyone could explain it to you, trust me. Now for the fun stuff. Back when Halo on Xbox was all the rage, I would log on with about 15 of my son's closet psychotic friends and play. Well let me tell you!!! They absolutely loved this old... 01/27/2009

Today is Friday, January 23rd, and I am volunteering at the Davis Museum in Montgomery.  I usually refer to the building as "the little house on the prairie" which it probably was in 1851 when the original structure was built by Nat Hart Davis, a lawyer. Mr. Davis had received an 1831 log house in payment for legal services, disassembled it, and moved the logs to a one-acre lot he had purchased. As I place the two flags, United States and Texas, into their respective flag holders, I wonder what the traffic on FM149 might have been in the 1850's; certainly not the many motorcycles, automobiles, trucks and buses that I see now.  Perhaps there would have been the occasional cowboy on horseback or a family traveling by wagon.  Of course the original house did not appear as it does today; as... 01/27/2009

To quote inspirational author & motivational speaker, John Maxwell, "Teamwork makes the Dream work".  Truly the evidence is in the #1 awards for the Keller Williams Realty Conroe South Texas region that the Marion Franke Team swept last evening.  The Alley Theatre in downtown Houston was teeming with talented agents from Houston and surrounding areas.  Just to be counted among them was an honor.  It is my belief that Marion makes the team work because she takes the "I" out of her vocabulary.  Credit goes to her team, not just to her.  Leading the team is no small chore; but she has surrounded herself with talented people who work together to make the team function and achieve such high levels of success. Hats off to Marion for her foresight and ability in retaining the #1 ranking in th... 01/27/2009

The ailing U.S. economy sent ripples across Montgomery County in 2008.  "These are some of the toughest economic times our country has ever experienced..." said Michael Levitin, HAR Chairman.  Levitin contributed the tough times to news of layoffs, declining oil prices and other negative financial reports. However, during a late November stop in Houston, the National Association of REALTORS® Cheif Economist, Lawrence Yun, praised the stability of the Houston market.  Currently the Houston area and the Denver area are predicted to be the nation's top performers in 2009.  Other predictions include at least a 5% increase in home pricing, and month's inventory to hover around the six month mark in the greater Houston area.  (Month's inventory is the average time it will take a home to sell)... 01/26/2009

The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.Earl of Beaconsfield Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration.Evan Esar If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.Jospeph Addison Impatience never commanded success.Edwin H. Chapin 01/26/2009

This morning we attended the annual Keller Williams local awards, and the Franke Team's achieved the following results: Double Platinum Cappers (GCI = $1.5 million and 250+ units sold) 2008 Group Top Producer Award 2008 Group Top Listing Volume/Units Therre were only 2 group categories, and one Capper level award, so we took home everything!  That makes 15 consecutive years that the Marion Franke Team has been the number one Real Estate team in Montgomery County, Texas.  We are also forseeing record numbers in our regional and national rankings despite the many local, national and team specific challenges we have faced over the last year. So please wish us luck in bringing home Top 10 for Keller Williams worldwide! Article by: Jacob Hebert Lake Conroe Real Estate 01/22/2009

2009 came roaring in on the heels of a crazy economic 2008.  Those of us in Montgomery County have not felt the burn as much as other parts of the country.  We did see a slight slowdown in sales, development and in our economy during the last quarter of 08. In looking back on what has occurred  in commercial real estate in Montgomery County, certainly all is not bleak.  We saw a lot of new strip centers and large retail centers opening up in 2008.   While the lease rates slowed a bit, large anchor tenants were secured and are now up and running. South County saw a great deal of commercial activity especially in new office building space being constructed on several sites.  South County also continues to see strong retail sales with the amount of retail leases remaining steady. In the Co... 01/21/2009

31 Artesia is a charming home in a quiet family neighborhood, featuring extensive laminate wood flooring, updated kitchen with solid surface counters, tons of cabinets, and built-in microwave and oven, living with gas log fireplace, sunroom off living area, walk-in closets in all bedrooms, beautiful faux finishes, and much more!  The exterior offers a 2 car garage with opener, fenced yard, great deck in backyard, and incredible gardens This home has just been reduced to $114,900 (Click Address or Picture for More Information) Lake Conroe Real Estate 01/21/2009

Since it is the beginning of a new year and a time when we all set our new annual goals I thought it appropriate to review why you should use a realtor if buying or selling real estate is part of your plans for this year. Let me start by asking a question. Are you thinking of buying a home or selling your home without the services of a great Realtor? I hope not but in case you are you will find below twelve reasons to use a Realtor. yes the reasons were written by the National Association of Realtors so you may view they as protective on our part. However in today's economic and real state environment can you really do without the services of a professional Realtor? Here are the twelve reasons to use a Realtor. And please use me!! 1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying powe... 01/21/2009

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.Henry David Thoreau All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.T.E. Lawrence   Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.Henry David Thoreau   Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No matter how wrong it may be! Terry Miller Terry Miller  http://yournowwhat.com 01/19/2009