July 31st is National Mutt's Day! Mutts deserve their day in the spotlight, as much as a pure breed. If you own a mutt, then you know this day is for your best friend!
National Mutt Day is about embracing and celebrating mixed breed dogs.By definition a mutt, sometimes called a "Half-breed", is a dog that is of mixed breed. They are the number one kind of dog in the shelter system because pure bred dogs, on a national level, are generally taken much better care of as they come with a price tag and are used for show or breeding purposes.Purebred owners, and sometimes the public in general, view mutts as lesser dogs, but mutt owners know better. They value the diversity and uniqueness of their mutts. Usually mixing the incredible traits of many breeds, mutts have personality unparalleled to any purebred; no mutt is ever the same. Mixed breed dogs are no less great than pure bred dogs. They are friendly, faithful companions that can do all of the jobs purebred dogs can do, including being therapy, police, guide, assistance, herding, agility, and flyball dogs. Many people believe that mixed breeds live longer and have better temperaments than pure breeds. Whatever the case, there is a mixed breed dog out there for everyone.
To all mutts and mutt owners, we hope you thoroughly enjoy Mutt's Day. Spend the day relaxing and doing all the things you and your dogs like to do. Do so with both of your chins held high. For your mutt is worth a million bucks!
The Houston Real Estate Market is full of great homes, townhomes and condos close to dog parks, so anyone can have a dog, mutt or pure breed!
The Puryear Team takes pride in all dogs!We are avid lovers of all breeds; pure or mixed!Still, there are millions of young, friendly and healthy mixed breed dogs who are desperately searching for a new home.If you are interested in animal rescue, click here!
It’s blazing hot, but after opening your last utility bill, you don’t dare turn down the thermostat. You’re beginning to yearn for a summer place at the South Pole. Take heart! A few relatively simple measures can help you drop your thermostat’s mercury without raising your utility bill’s bottom line.
If your air conditioner isn’t working properly, see if you can easily get it running. All it may need is for you to clean or replace your furnace or air handler filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
If your system does not have a programmable thermostat, install one and learn out to use it. This will give you precise control over exactly when cooling will be delivered. Raise the thermostat’s set point a few degrees when you’ll be out—every degree you raise your thermostat’s set point will save you about 2 percent on your energy bill—and turn it off entirely if you are going to be gone for two days or more.
Talk with an air-conditioning contractor about installing dampers to restrict the flow of cooled air to rooms that you rarely use. You can also close doors or registers in those rooms, but ask a professional about this to be sure it won’t affect your system’s efficiency.
Update your air conditioner if it’s old. Though this is not a low-cost solution, over-the-hill equipment may be using far more energy than necessary to cool your home, resulting in higher utility bills. Over time, the cost will be absorbed by the savings.
We're not only talented Realtors focusing on providing the best services for the Houston Texas Real Estate Market, but also talented performers. Read team member, Michael J. Ross's, rave reviews in Masquerade Theatre's production of The Producers.
Fresh Producers
With this musical, the Masquerade Theatre gets everything right.
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby, 713-861-7045.
Details:
Through August 2. $25-$55.
It's not only the big things that Masquerade Theatre gets right in its deliriously entertaining production of Mel Brooks's politically incorrect musical extravaganza The Producers (2001) — it gets all the throwaways right, too. Might this be the best show Masquerade has ever done?
The big things include the impeccable cast; the slick staging (Phillip Duggins); scrumptious choreography that's not only really good, but funny (Laura Gray, Michelle Macicek, William Martin); impressionistic settings (Amy R. Ross); witty costumes (Libby Evans, Colton Berry, Allison Sumrall); musical bounce (conductor Rick Spitz); and an infectious mood that heartily welcomes us. When everything clicks, as it does spectacularly here, no other company in town has as much fun putting on a show.
And what a show to put on! Funnyman Mel Brooks's "new musical" was his own adaptation of his cheesy, hilarious cult movie from 1968, with help on the book from Tony winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray). Low-rent producer Max Bialystock and low-self-esteem accountant Leo Bloom concoct a scheme to produce the worst flop on Broadway. As soon as the show closes, they'll abscond with all the leftover dough. They find a Nazi musical tribute Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Eva and Adolf at Berchtesgaden, and then hire the worst director on Broadway, Roger De Bris, who brings with him his backstage assortment of fruits and nuts.
Meanwhile, Max (John Gremillion) woos old ladies who invest in the show for a quickie. And success for nebbish Leo means being pawed over by luscious chorus girls, who do just that after emerging from beneath office desks in his fantasy anthem "I Wanna Be a Producer." In top hat and cane he struts his stuff and jacks up enough courage to quit his job, taking his blankie with him, to become partners with Max. As wondrously played by Michael J. Ross, whiny, meek Leo is so stiff his shoulders hunch up toward the rafters. Ross is the only performer I know of who can tap dance in character and still look smooth.
Here are some of the little things this production gets right, all beauties. Sexpot secretary Ulla (Laura Gray) bends over to retrieve a pencil like a living Vargas girl; manic gay director Roger De Bris (Luke Wrobel) curls up at the footlights ready to croon like Garland; the rooftop pigeons of Hitler-loving Franz (Even Tessier) wear Nazi armbands and salute in rhythm to his little Bavarian ditty; the very butch lighting designer Shirley (Allison Sumrall), in flannel shirt and work boots, faints at the sight of ultra-fem Ulla; the phalanx of biddies in the courtroom reach out to feel up their beloved Max; and sad-sack Leo wraps his coat around his head as if it's his favorite blankie.
Brooks's musical won an unprecedented 12 Tony awards, ran for six years and commandeered a top price of $480, another first. The show, a tribute of sorts, glows with a love of old musicals. Throughout, there are fleeting send-ups of Fiddler and Ethel Merman, hoary burlesque, cheap T&A jokes, and Busby Berkeley chorus lines — only this time, it's sexed-up biddies with walkers. Absolutely brilliant. Gays are embraced, getting made fun of like blonds, Nazis and blind beggars. Everyone's in on the joke. It's made for silliness. And you will laugh, I guarantee it — there's no way not to.
Much of the movie's fame rests squarely with idiosyncratic Zero Mostel as sweaty Max Bialystock, who practically bursts through the screen. On Broadway, Nathan Lane steered Max into softer territory. Frantic, yes, but he's a nice guy. Gremillion brings class to the role, and sex appeal. The queasy factor's still there — Max shtups those old ladies for their money, remember — but Gremillion's such a charmer, he easily lightens the mood. Everyone's got a big number, and Max has "Betrayed," a Rodgers & Hammerstein parody, in which he recaps the show we've seen so far — including the intermission — in breathless style. Everybody gets the spotlight at some point; that's how cleverly designed The Producers is. (One mistake, though: In a fit of pique, Leo insults Max by calling him, "Fat, fat, fatty." The joke falls flat because one thing Gremillion is not, is fat.)
As wimpy Leo with his impossible dream, Ross is irresistible. Constantly frazzled at how low Max can drag him, he gets a laugh just by wearing an Indian headdress. He's a real song-and-dance man, and his numbers with Ulla and his bromance song with Max, "Till Him," nail his character with deadpan sweetness. Laura Gray, as hot-to-trot Swedish bombshell Ulla, lights up the stage. She should consider a name change — Gray's much too drab. How about Incandescent, or plain Va Va Voom? Luke Wrobel, as gay-as-the-queen-of the-May Roger, is deviously insane, devouring the scenery as if it were made of Godiva chocolate. In gown and opera gloves, swishing madly, he is yummy.
The whole shebang is yummy, start to finish. If you're a sucker for musicals, go. If you're a sucker for inspired theater and unstoppable laughter, go.
Tweet! Tweet! Keeping up with the Houston Texas real estate market just got easier. We continue to expand our network in any way we can. Now, we are "twittering" away on twitter! Want to be a Puryear Team follower? Simply log on to your Twitter account and add us! Not a twitter-er? No problem! You can easily set up a free account on Twitter.
Our newsletter, Service for Life, is full of useful information about not only the Houston, TX real estate market, but informative tips for other life purchases, as well as household remedies and interesting trivia! It is our goal to show you how much we care about you, not just your property. If you want to receive a copy of this newsletter via mail, contact us!
The Houston Texas Real Estate market continues to grow because Houston continues to grow. If you have questions about buying or selling, let one of our experienced team members help you!
Houston 'top of the list in home building' in the country
By JOSEF MOLNAR EMPLOYMENT CORRESPONDENT
July 24, 2009, 11:44AM
As construction markets across the country continue their slump, and home builders and workers wait for buyers, homes in Texas and especially Houston still are going up.
“Houston's at the forefront of the country,” said Mike Dishberger, owner of Sandcastle Homes and secretary of the Greater Houston Builders Association. “It's at the top of the list in home building, and that's the same for Texas. There are a lot of oil companies moving people into Houston and consolidating operations in Houston, and that brings in more people.”
At Sandcastle Homes, which builds about 50 homes a month, a dip in March has been followed by a “fantastic” building rate in April and May. Dishberger said the recent U.S. government stimulus package's tax credit will help the situation by encouraging new-home construction.
“The industry in Houston is going to be pretty stable here,” he said. “We're expecting an uptick in sales toward the end of the year because the tax credit expires at the end of the year on Dec. 30, and we've started some homes in anticipation of that.”
Houston is one of the hottest places for population growth, which fuels the need for new housing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the greater Houston area added more than 130,000 new residents between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008; according to the Texas Association of Builders, the state will add 12 million new residents by the year 2030. And with money slowing being eased back into the economy for building, the housing growth is expected to continue.
Terry Swenson, the public relations director of the GHBA, said banks are expected to relax their conservative approach to lending.
“As soon as the money from lending institutions is freed up, we'll see the numbers increase,” she said. “We have a huge pent-up demand for new homes.”
Which means there is plenty of work for current subcontractors, though not as much for people who want to enter the market.
“We have the right amount of people we need to do the work,” Dishberger said.
While many builders have decided to remain conservative in their hiring until the lending market increases, Dishberger said some construction jobs will continue to be needed.
“The ones that will be in high demand will be licensed professionals such as plumbers and electricians,” he said. “If you lose those people, they're harder to replace, so there will always be a place and a demand for them.”
In the meantime, construction workers may see a light at the end of the economic tunnel.
“This industry has slowed down, but in Houston the building industry always has potential for growth,” Swenson said. “The potential here is optimistic.”
Congratulations to Susan Dennis! The Dennis' just closed on this lovely Freestanding home in the serene Westbranch neighborhood in Cypress Fairbanks Houston. This cozy subdivision is close to great schools and main roadways, so one can have that quiet neighborhood so close to bustling downtown Houston. Westbranch boasts beautiful traditional style homes so close to all you need. This home is just one more wonderful example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer.
We are happy to congratulate Susan, and were pleased she chose us to help her find her gorgeous new home. Here's what she had to say about our services: "I believe that there is no better Realtor out there than Don Puryear." Thanks Susan for the kind words! We appreciate serving you and all Houstonians looking to buy or sell! Read more testimonials here!
Congratulations are in order to Christina Lim for buying this luxurious townhome in dynamic Midtown Houston.The midtown area is chic and sophisticated, with its diverse dining and entertainment, and minutes away from downtown Houston and the Galleria. It is full of diverse properties from chic lofts to classic townhomes. This home is just one more wonderful example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer.
We are also happy to congratulate seller, Mike Beaudoin, and were pleased he chose us to help him sell this gorgeous townhome.Here's what Mike had to say about our services:
"Don and his team were great! They all went above and beyond. I will use them in the future for all of my Houston Real Estate needs."
Thanks Mike for giving us such glowing reviews! We appreciate serving you and all Houstonians looking to buy or sell! Read more testimonials here!
Not only do we care about the providing the best service for the Houston Texas Real Estate Market, but we love to support the local art scene. Three of Don Puryear's team are performers, and they will be opening shows this weekend. Come support the local art scene and your hard working Real Estate team!
Michael Ross and Beth Lazarou are also Resident Company Members of the Masquerade Theatre. They will be performing the next two weekends in Mel Brooks' award winning musical, The Producers. It opens this Friday, July 24th at 8:00pm in the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall, and it plays July 25th at 8:00pm and July 26th at 2:00pm. Then will continue the following weekend with the same schedule.
Josh LaForce will be performing with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society in their production of The Pirates of Penzance. Their remaining performance dates are, July 24th and 25th at 8pm, and July 26th at 2:30pm in the Wortham Center's Cullen Theatre. There is an informative 45 minute lecture before each performance, so come early!
Our webcasts are great for providing you a sneak peek of what to expect when touring one of our properties. Check out this beautiful property nestled in the heart of Memorial Park. Camp Logan's gorgeous villa style homes are stunning examples of what the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer!
This great article was printed in the Houston Chronicle. People who own Houston Texas Real Estate take great pride in their city and state, so think "Don't Mess With Texas!" and help keep it clean!
Litterbugs beware: Other drivers watching you
Anyone reported messing with Texas will get a letter, and a bag for next time
By PEGGY FIKAC
AUSTIN BUREAU
AUSTIN – Ever see a driver toss out a cigarette butt or paper cup and wish there was something you could do about it?
Your wish has been granted.
It's not quite a citizen's arrest, but an average of 1,025 Texans every month open their mailboxes to find a letter from the state saying they've been busted as litterbugs.
The letters are triggered by the report-a-litterer portion of the Don't Mess with Texas campaign sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation.
People submit alleged litterbugs' license plate numbers and other details, and TxDOT sends the letters when it finds a match through its vehicle registration database. Each letter is accompanied by a litter bag emblazoned, “Real Texans Don't Litter.”
Ouch.
“Randomly discarded trash, even the smallest item such as a cigarette butt, endangers our environment, our wildlife and our economy,” says the form letter, which notes each recipient's vehicle information and details about the alleged incident.
It adds, “If you lined up all the cigarette butts tossed on Texas highways each year, you'd have a line of smelly, nasty litter going from Beaumont to El Paso six times.”
Wrongly accused
One might think motorists would be incensed to be tracked down this way, but TxDOT's Mark Cross said the agency gets only a few calls about the program and a letter or e-mail now and then. The handful he unearthed mostly were from people who said they were wrongly accused.
“I am not a litterer, I do not smoke and I would never allow any trash to be thrown from my vehicle ... Someone with some strange vendetta took my vehicle information and gave it to you as a litterer. ... Is your organization ..... in the business of harassing INNOCENT people simply because someone has CLAIMED to see something?” wrote one person who called it “heartbreaking” to get the letter.
The writer added, “Maybe you should be checking the people who are making these reports as well. Get their personal information and see if they like it.”
Those reporting alleged litterbugs are assured that their submissions are “strictly confidential.
The litterer will not be able to find out who submitted his or her name.”
TxDOT also doesn't keep a database of accused litterers, Cross said (which should be a relief to a man who asked that he and his wife be removed from any such database).
Good sports
The reporting program is separate from laws against littering that carry the prospect of fines or, for a repeat offense, jail time. Only a law officer can enforce those.
According to TxDOT, the program administrator generally will call someone who's upset at mistaken identification and apologize.
While some made clear they were offended at being wrongly accused, two who wrote apologized for possibly having littered inadvertently. Another wasn't too worried: “Someone must have read the license plate incorrectly, because it wasn't me, but thanks for the litter bag. I'll give it to someone I see littering next time.”
If you have a Facebook account, become our fan! We are excited to network with all of our friends and colleagues in the Houston Texas real estate market! As you navigate our informative website, you will see the "Become a Fan" icon on the left menu bar. That will take you to our Facebook page. Not a member of Facebook? It's easy! Click here to get started!
Our webcasts are great for providing you a sneak peek of what to expect when touring one of our properties. Check out this beautiful property nestled in the heart of Memorial Park. Camp Logan's gorgeous villa style homes are stunning examples of what the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer!
The Puryear team is not only dedicated to the Houston Real Estate Market, but also to the well-being and care of our four-legged friends. The Puryear Team takes animal rescue very seriously and is happy to have friends like Karen Gayeski Coleman.
Karen has dedicated her life to the rescue of any Miniature Schnauzer in need. Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston, Inc. (MSRH) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored entirely by donations. They are dedicated to the never-ending, sometimes overwhelming, task of saving the lives of abused, abandoned and/or unwanted Miniature Schnauzers who have lost their homes. Many of their dogs come to them healthy. Others are sick or injured. They may come to them from shelters, from the streets, from puppy mills or from owners who cannot, or will not, care for them any longer. In almost all cases, at least in their recent past, they have not been loved nor have they felt the security of a loving home. Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston's goal is to ensure these fine animals get healthy, never again face life in a dangerous situation and, instead, live in a safe, loving and secure “forever” home! Until that time, our dogs live in a loving, foster home. MSRH does not operate a shelter.
Their newsletter is full of informative articles pertaining to all breeds, as well as great tips for being the best friend to man's best friend!
Congratulations are in order to Louis Burroughes. He is moving into the modern Robin Street Square Community in dynamic Midtown Houston. The midtown area is chic and sophisticated, with its diverse dining and entertainment, and minutes away from downtown Houston and the Galleria. It is full of cutting-edge townhomes and lofts. This home is just one more wonderful example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer. Congratulations Louis, The Puryear team wishes you the best of luck!
Congratulations are in order to Kalen and Landis Blackburn. They are moving into the quaint Cottages at Shady Acres neighborhood. The Heights area is full of antique shops, parks, and beautiful historic homes as well as bungalows and lofts. This home is just one more great example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer. Congratulations Kalen and Landis, The Puryear team wishes you the best of luck!
Congratulations are in order to Clay and Shannon Dugas. They are moving into their new home in the amazing Caceres Community. This stunning villa-style community is just one gorgeous example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer. Congratulations Clay and Shannon, The Puryear team wishes you the best of luck!
If you haven't seen this wonderful townhome, located in the heart of the popular Sutton Square Midtown community, click on the Webcast below. Listed at $219,900, this luxury home is ideal for a buyer who wants to be in the heart of Midtown Houston, close to great dining and entertainment!. This home is truly a must see in the Houston Texas Real Estate Market! If you want to know more about this beautiful property or any others, contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you!
The Houston real estate market is full of fantastic opportunities right now for buyers. Contact us for more information about finding your next home, as well as how to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit (free money!) and some of the lowest interest rates ever available!
It’s a great feeling when you close on a house and you are handed the keys? But who else has a key to your home? Do you know who the previous owners loaned keys to?
One of the best security precautions you can take is to replace or re-key your locks immediately after you move in. Replacing or re-keying your exterior locks is the only way to ensure that only you control the keys to your new home. Don’t make it easy for burglars to walk through your front door with the key.
In addition, call you local police department for a home security inspection. Many local law enforcement agencies will review your home’s security measures and point out any areas of concern.
Inquire about Neighborhood watch programs. Call your local police department to determine if your new community has a Neighborhood Watch program.
Expansive soils act like a sponge. As they absorb water, they swell and as they lose water they shrink. Soils tend to dry out (and shrink) during the summer and to absorb water (and swell) during the winter and spring.
As the soil under a house shrinks and swells with the seasons, the house and foundation will move up and down. As long as the foundation movement is not great enough to damage the house and/or foundation, it is not a problem. If the up and down movement of a foundation always returns the foundation to its original level position, then damage to the house and foundation may appear and disappear on a regular basis as the seasons change.
If a homeowner wishes to stop seasonal house and foundation damage, the first course of action should be to follow a controlled watering program. By keeping the moisture content of the soil under the foundation constant, foundation movement can often be stopped. Advanced Foundation Repair has written this to assist the homeowner in performing a simple foundation preventive maintenance program.
The goal of a foundation watering program is to maintain a constant level of moisture in the soil under the house and foundation. The best way to water a foundation is to install a buried foundation watering system. If you do not want to go to the expense of installing a buried watering system, soaker hoses will provide you with many of the same benefits. The best way to use a soaker hose is to bury a soaker hose three inches deep, 6 inches from the edge of your foundation. Placing the hose a short distance from the foundation allows the water to soak into the soil evenly.
The hose should not be placed against the foundation. When soil has dried and cracked, water can travel along the cracks for several feet in all directions. If the soil around your foundation is dried and cracked, then water placed next to the foundation will run through the cracks and accumulate at the bottom of the grade beam (the thick portion of the foundation that is under the exterior walls). In some cases, an accumulation of water in the soil at the base of a foundation can cause the soil to loose some of its load bearing capacity. If the soil loses enough load bearing capacity, the house will sink into the ground.
Obviously, it is necessary to water more during hot, dry weather and less during cold, damp weather. The amount of water required to keep a foundation stable during the summer can be surprisingly large. A single large tree can remove as much as 150 gallons of water, or almost 20 cubic feet of water, from the soil each day. Shrubs and other plants can also remove large quantities of water. During persistent hot dry weather, it may be necessary to water a foundation daily.
Watering should supply enough water to keep the moisture content in the soil under the foundation constant. If the amount of water applied is only enough to keep the surface damp, the watering program will not work.
Obviously, the homeowner is the only one who can weight the benefits of controlling foundation movement versus the increased size of the water bill.
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July 31st is National 
It’s blazing hot, but after opening your last utility bill, you don’t dare turn down the thermostat. You’re beginning to yearn for a summer place at the South Pole. Take heart! A few relatively simple measures can help you drop your thermostat’s mercury without raising your utility bill’s bottom line.
Fresh Producers
Tweet! Tweet! Keeping up with the Houston Texas real estate market just got easier. We continue to expand our network in any way we can. Now, we are "twittering" away on twitter! Want to be a 
Houston 'top of the list in home building' in the country
Congratulations to Susan Dennis! The Dennis' just closed on this lovely Freestanding home in the serene Westbranch neighborhood in Cypress Fairbanks Houston. This cozy subdivision is close to great schools and main roadways, so one can have that quiet neighborhood so close to bustling downtown Houston. Westbranch boasts beautiful traditional style homes so close to all you need. This home is just one more wonderful example of the limitless possibilities the Houston Texas Real Estate market has to offer. 
Congratulations are in order to Louis Burroughes. He is moving into the modern Robin Street Square Community in dynamic 
If a homeowner wishes to stop seasonal house and foundation damage, the first course of action should be to follow a controlled watering program. By keeping the moisture content of the soil under the foundation constant, foundation movement can often be stopped. Advanced Foundation Repair has written this to assist the homeowner in performing a simple foundation preventive maintenance program. 
The hose should not be placed against the foundation. When soil has dried and cracked, water can travel along the cracks for several feet in all directions. If the soil around your foundation is dried and cracked, then water placed next to the foundation will run through the cracks and accumulate at the bottom of the grade beam (the thick portion of the foundation that is under the exterior walls). In some cases, an accumulation of water in the soil at the base of a foundation can cause the soil to loose some of its load bearing capacity. If the soil loses enough load bearing capacity, the house will sink into the ground. 
Obviously, it is necessary to water more during hot, dry weather and less during cold, damp weather. The amount of water required to keep a foundation stable during the summer can be surprisingly large. A single large tree can remove as much as 150 gallons of water, or almost 20 cubic feet of water, from the soil each day. Shrubs and other plants can also remove large quantities of water. During persistent hot dry weather, it may be necessary to water a foundation daily. 
