The Puryear Team recognizes that not everyone is ready to take the leap into buying a home in the Houston Texas real estate market, and that's why we represent those interested in renting properties as well.  Renters in Houston deserve to be treated with the same respect and attention to detail as buyers are.  That's why we are happy to help those looking to rent in Midtown, Downtown, River Oaks, Montrose, the Heights and surrounding areas.

If you are about relocate to Houston, or want to rent beyond an apartment, let us know.  We'd be happy to help you get the most for your money.  Don't forget that renters have rights too, and we gladly distribute the Texas Tenant's Rights Handbook to any that want one.  For a copy of this handbook, or to speak with someone on our team about renting Inner Loop properties, contact us!

It's Showtime!!!!

Scout's Honor Rescue's Second Annual Movie Night will be November 12, 2009 from 7pm til 10pm.

A suggested $25 donation will provide your admission to this year's feature presentation of Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua at the Landmark Theatres - River Oaks on West Gray, and access to The Puryear Team's silent auction at Epicure Cafe, where guests will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a live band, while bidding on an incredible range of items, plus a great "doggy bag" to take home!

A VIP donation of $150 will also admit you to the movie and the silent auction, as well as, the VIP after-party at the California Pizza Kitchen with a special "doggy bag!"  Order your tickets today as seating is limited.

Movie Night 2009 will benefit Scout's Honor Rescue.

Visit their website for more details or other events. 

Congratulations are in order for Shannon Knight!  With help from the Puryear Team, she  just sold her charming Sutton Square townhome on 1611 Oneil Street in Midtown!  We were happy to help, and here's what Shannon had to say about us:

"Don Puryear and his team were OUTSTANDING! This was my first home to sell and Don did a great job!  I can't believe I got an offer on my house within 30 days! I'll definitely be calling Don in the near future to assist me with purchasing my next home! THANKS DON!!!" ~Shannon Knight

Thank you for those amazing remarks, Shannon!  We strive to give all of our clients the kind of outstanding service Shannon speaks of.  Check out our testimonials page for more comments by our clients.  The Houston real estate market is full of amazing Houston homes for sale from Downtown Lofts to Woodlands Mansions, from West University mid-rises to Clear Lake traditionals  - let us help you find what you are looking for!

The Houston Texas real estate market has something for everyone - whether you are looking for a townhome in Midtown, an arts and crafts cottage in Montrose, a loft in Downtown, a high-rise in the Med Center, a traditional home in Katy, or a Mansion in River Oaks.  This website has information on every nook and cranny of this city, and we build on this wealth of information every day for you to know as much as you can about any area you are interested in.  The Puryear Team likes to feature the crown jewels of the Houston Texas real estate market, and today, we feature Courtlandt Place.

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Courtlandt Place is a true pioneer in Houston luxury communities, and still one of the strongest and most desired areas when it comes to the Inner Loop real estate market. Modeled after St. Louis’s residential areas known as the "private place," Courtlandt Place is an example of neighborhoods built as small private nooks in response to the urban chaos of Houston in the early 1900s, when out-of-control commercialism encroached on the Downtown mansions of the elite big businessmen and power brokers.

Courtlandt Place is an exclusive, gated subdivision in Houston located between Montrose and Midtown that have approximately 21 home sites, eighteen of which are original architectural masterpieces (by Sanguinet and Staats, Birdsall P. Briscoe, John F. Staub, and Warren and Wetmore) from the early twentieth century, centered on a one-block-long, tree-lined, divided boulevard.  The residential enclave began in 1906, when the Courtlandt Improvement Company purchased the land and laid out the subdivision on the southern edge of the city; the first houses were built in 1909.

The Courtlandt Association, founded in 1912 by property owners, and enforced deed restrictions until the 1930s. Courtlandt Place served as a model for Montrose in 1910 and still does.  Residents have been able to keep the neighborhood’s charm intact because of their respect for the original deed restrictions, therefore keeping commercialism out; they will never expire.  The district was admitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and received a Texas historical marker in 1989, and is now deemed the Courtlandt Place Historical District.

Courtlandt Place's homes have some of the largest lot sizes in the inner loop, with a median lot size of over 25,000 sq. feet; appraised value per home in this neighborhood is in excess of $1,100,000.  Seen as one of the most stable and desired neighborhoods in the inner loop, homes rarely stay on the market if put there at all – sometime leaving interested buyers on a waiting list for years.  Residents of Courtlandt Place real estate have easy access to Cherryhurst, revitalized Downtown Houston, bustling Midtown Houston, incomparable River Oaks and eclectic Montrose communities.

Commonly known as Houston’s First Skyscraper, the tallest building west of the Mississippi after its completion in 1904, The Franklin Lofts is considered one of Houston's premier loft condominiums.

Once The First National Bank in the early 1900’s, a total facelift turned it into 62 luxury loft condominiums, with a price range from the mid $200,000's to high $700,000’s.

 

       

Each of the Franklin Lofts six residential floors boast eleven well-appointed loft condominiums, ranging in size from 885 - 2,500 square feet; each one designed to accent the original historical structures and unique architectural elements of this historical building: brick walls, high ceilings and large windows.  Not only do these residences feature the history of the building, they also offer all the modern conveniences we as Houstonians cannot live without - phone and energy efficiency of a new construction plus an adjacent parking garage for the convenience of its residents.

Ideal for someone who craves chic living and convenience, the Franklin Lofts is centrally located at 201 Main Street in downtown Houston, just steps from the MetroRail and minutes from I-10, I-45 and Highway 59.  Overlooking Buffalo Bayou, the Franklin Lofts offer elite loft living in the heart of Houston's revitalized downtown.

  

 

Looking for Houston mid/high-rises for sale?

Looking for Houston mid/high-rises for sale? Search our local listings database for access to listings Houston's mid/high-rises. Whether you want to buy or sell Houston mid/high-rise real estate, you can browse through properties or find a wide variety of real estate resources available on this website.

Houston mid/high-rises Real Estate Agent

If you are looking for a REALTOR® for Houston's mid/high-rises, choose Don Puryear. As your Houston mid/high-rises real estate agent, Don Puryear can assist you with all of your home buying and selling needs. He can provide you with access to the local listings database and offer our experience and knowledge to make the home buying or selling process easier for you and your family. Contact Don Puryear today to get your home search started!

The Houston Texas real estate market’s inventory does not only consist of luxury townhomes and mid/high rises for sale, but also an abundance of luxury apartments for rent…a little too many.  So many in fact, that the Inner Loop landlords are now offering some attractive amenities you wouldn’t dream of getting a few years ago.

According to the Houston Chronicle, “More than 12,600 units have been added in 49 properties across the city this year, and another 4,000 are being built, according to apartment data services, a Houston-based research firm.”  But even though the apartments are readily available, it does not mean the tenants are.

Since Hurricane Ike and the decrease of jobs (Houston-area employers released 80,800 jobs between July ‘08 and July ’09) citizens are trying to cut costs; they’re living with family members until they get their feet on the ground.  The supply is in abundance, the demand is not high, so rents are decreasing and amenities are increasing.

Now, apartments are not just competing with other apartment communities, high-end condos have also taken some of their properties off the buyer’s market and into the renter’s market.  Therefore, Inner Loop’s Luxury Apartments are feeling the burn and are being aggressive to grab the renter’s attention.  Most luxury apartments are offering free rent for signing 12+ months’ lease, keeping appliances after you move, decrease of community utilities by hundreds of dollars, subsidized MetroRail in the new Med Center/Museum District apartments, free community rooms like a humidor or spray tanning room, and free laptop and mountain bike rentals. 

Why not take advantage of the Renter’s market?  Why not enjoy the luxury amenities and upgraded home appliances, fixtures, and finishes found in high-end homes?  Most renters tend to enjoy living in high-end neighborhoods while they could not afford to buy a property there – much of the rent is less expensive than property taxes in these high-end neighborhoods.  Renters are not always at a financial disadvantage; there are no property taxes, low maintenance, low stress, with updated fitness centers and pools right on the property!  The convenience and expenses saved on gas and car maintenance to live inside the loop, as well as, living close to the best of Houston’s nightlife is incredibly beneficial for those who cannot take the leap of owning.

When you are ready to leave the renter’s scene, or if you are ready to leap into the buyer’s scene now, Don Puryear and his team are here for you!  There are plenty of luxurious midrise condos, high-rise condos, and townhomes available in the inner loop for amazing prices.  Contact us anytime if you are interested in looking at properties in River Oaks, Montrose, the Heights, Rice Military, or Midtown.  We love the Houston Texas real estate market and are excited to show it off!

 

Watching the horrors of HGTV shows featuring custom renovations or homebuilding can turn anyone off the idea of building their own custom home.  But don’t turn away from your dreams too quickly, because our friends, Joe and Alex, at Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc. intend to keep your dreams from becoming nightmares.

            “Our mission is to provide our clients with a true understanding of their home project from the initial design through to the completion on a custom home tailored to their needs and desires,” states Joe Wert, founder of Iron Gate Build and Design.  Along with Alex I. Rodriguez, who handles design and estimating, they are a perfect combination of experience and technology. 

            Joe received his B.B.A in Accounting and Taxation from the University of Houston and has over 18 years of experience in the homebuilding industry, having worked for many large home building corporations from construction manager to Vice President of Purchasing/Estimating and Design.  “I experienced virtually every aspect of homebuilding with the exception of actually selling homes,” states Wert.  Then, he decided to go into business for himself by establishing Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc.    

            Joe brought on Alex I. Rodriguez shortly after starting Iron Gate.  “Alex brings to our company a wealth of knowledge not only in the construction and design side but also the structural and civil engineering areas as well.”  Alex received his degree in Architectural-Drafting and Design Technology with Honors and teaches classes in 3-D (three-dimensional) AutoCAD at Houston Community College.

            Using technology to give the clients a better sense of what their home will look like once built is what sets Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc. apart from the others.  Joe states that they decrease the “surprise factor,” showing their clients what their home will be like using the latest 3-D AutoCAD Architecture software, as opposed to confusing and hard to read 2-D drawings and elevations.  Joe and Alex also visit the homesite to ensure the plans they create for their clients are feasible for the actual grounds they are building on.  Once the plans are in place, they simply email them to their clients in PDF “snapshots,” or an interactive three-dimensional file that allows the clients to rotate the image easily and see it from all points of view.  Iron Gate Build and Design provides a link to download the viewing software in the email with the plans.  Changes can be made quickly if need be, and using this accurate of a software allows for accuracy when providing cost estimates. 

            Contractors are also a big factor in Homebuilding disasters, but not with Iron Gate.  Joe Wert has well-established relationships with all of his contractors, allowing for exceptional workmanship given by trusted contractors.  Plus the accurate plans provided by Iron Gate Build and Design allow for the contractors to perform their services accurately and waste less materials.

Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc pride itself on providing energy efficient homes for their clients, “Our homes routinely perform above Energy Star…we utilize several materials and building techniques that comply and exceed both Energy Star and ‘Green Building’ guidelines."

Before throwing in the towel on your dream home, consider Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc.  Their business sense, experience, technological advances and passion for homebuilding make them stand alone in the Houston Texas real estate market.  Iron Gate Build and Design, Inc. are members of the Greater Houston Area Homebuilder’s Association, The National Association of Homebuilders, and Alex is a professional member of the American Institute of Building and Design and the Texas Institute of Building and Design.

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The Puryear Team is proud to give you names of people we trust, and we appreciate when people refer us to those they respect or care about; we consider that an amazing compliment. If you or someone you know is considering putting their home on the Houston Texas real estate market or looking to buy a home, think of Don Puryear and my top-producing team of agents.

Cleaning isn't just for the Spring.  Now that Summer is over, and Fall is here, the holiday season is in our near future.  Time for entertaining for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Winter Holidays.  Here are some cheap tips for that pesky to-do list no one really wants to finish.

1. The best way to clean an oven that isn't self cleaning.  Try to use a silver polish and scouring pad.
2. Neutralizing odors in your garbage disposal. Pour a cup of vinegar into an ice tray and fill the rest with water.  Once a week, drop a few of the vinegar ice cubes into the garbage disposal.  The vinegar will clean the disposal, while the ice keeps the blades sharp.  Make sure you distinguish which tray contains the vinegar ice cubes and which tray is for drinking ice; maybe add some food coloring to the vinegar cubes.
3. Helpful copper polish: Salt and Vinegar.  Sprinkle on a little salt and just a touch of vinegar (a little vinegar goes a long way).  Wait about 60 seconds and start scrubbing.  Once the tough areas are cleaned, use a metal polish to bring out the luster.
4. Removing water-stained cup rings from wood furniture.  Apply mayonnaise to the affected area and leave it there for fifteen minutes.  Remove the excess mayonnaise with a paper towel and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad.  Lastly, use some lemon oil to moisturize and restore the shine to the wood.
5. Is cleaning windows with newsprint a myth? No! Newsprint is the best way to make your widows shine, and you don't need window cleaners either!  Mix two tablespoons of vinegar with a quart of warm tap water, and watch them shine!
6. How to fix mildew mishaps.  Bleach is the main fighter when it comes to mildew, but adding some powdered laundry detergent is its sidekick.  Simply mix three quarts of warm water, one quart of liquid bleach, and one-third cup of powdered laundry detergent.  Then apply to the affected area and scrub with a nylon bristle brush.  Scrub until the mildew turns white, then you know it's dead.
7. Hard-to-clean fiberglass shower stalls.  Traditional methods not working out to well?  Try lightly dampening your shower's floor and adding a healthy amount of powered dishwasher detergent to the floor of the shower.  Let that stand for two or three minutes and scrub away!
8. Cleaning stains from porcelain sinks, tubs, and toilets.  Create a paste with equal parts of salt and turpentine, then scrub on the stained area.  Once scrubbing is done, add some car wax to the area, allowing the original shine to come through again.
9. Wax on your wood.  If you have candle wax on your furniture, try melting it a bit with a hair-dryer.  Once it melts, simply wipe it away with a cloth.

Perhaps you want to use this tips to get your home ready to list and show to potential buyers.  If so, let the Puryear team help!  We do what we can to get the property sold and for the right price.  Our team of top-producing agents has incredible knowledge of the Houston Texas real estate market, especially the Heights, River Oaks, West University, Midtown, Downtown, Montrose, Rice Military, Camp Logan, and many more inner loop and greater Houston areamarket analysis, or want to know what your home is worth, contact us.  We'd be happy to help you! neighborhoods.  If you are interested in finding out more about listing your home, you want a

Congratulations to Hypte and Susan Correa!  They just purchased a great townhome in the Heights neigborhood, Cottage Grove.  The Heights boasts the convenience of inner loop living with the small town feel of mom and pop shops and restaurants, historic homes, and the pride that comes with living in such an ecclectic area of Houston.  The Heights is ideal for those who crave the culture and diversity of Houston, the ability to be close to great hot spots, and having a so much real estate to choose from.  There are so many different types of homes in the Heights, from charming bungalows to chic townhomes like the Correa's new home.  This townhome is just another example of how diverse the Houston real estate market can be.

We were thrilled to work with Hypte and Susan and glad to help them achieve their dream of that perfect home.  Here's what they had to say about us:

"Don Puryear and his staff (Michael Ross was our realtor) are very knowledgeable about the inner loop neighborhoods. Michael was attentive and very responsive to our questions and needs. Both were able to explain all the necessary forms and break them down to an understandable level. Their website, noplacelikehouston.com is one of the best with regards to Houston real estate."

-Hypte Correa

Thank you, Hypte, for such wonderful compliments.  Congratulations again!  If you are thinking of taking advantage of the Houston real estate market, please do not hesitate to call.  Whether you want to sell or buy, our experienced staff of top-producing agents will do whatever we can to make your dream a reality.  Read more about us, what our clients have to say about us, or contact us.  We are here to help you!

Houston’s Museum District decided to get a jump start on Museum Day (nationally September 26^th) by having their Free Day this Saturday.  Seventeen of Houston’s Museums will be hosting an array of free events perfect for everyone in the family:

·         10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, and 4:30pm: Children’s Museum is holding and Inventor’s Workshop allowing children to create projects centering on the use of shadow and light.

·         10:30am – 4:30pm: Museum of Natural Science is teaming up with KHOU-TV Channel 11 anchors and reporters as they make themselves available to meet and chat with Houstonians.

·         11am – 5pm: Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum is hosting Houston artist Nestor Topchy to demonstrate the fine art of Fresco painting.

·         11am – 4pm: Lawndale Art Center has an array of activities available including mini piñata making and decorating their back patio with chalk.  If that doesn’t interest you, they have other exhibits including their 30^th anniversary exhibit.

·         Rothko Chapel activities –

o   11am and 1pm – Meditations at the Rothko Chapel

o   3pm – in Collaboration with the Jewish Community Center, they present Etta Ben-Zaken and a string quartet performing Rava Deravin sung in Aramaic, and Sabat Mater, sung in Hebrew, English, Lati and Ladino.

·         11am – 2pm: The Holocaust Museum presents a talk-back with Holocaust survivors Ruth Steinfield (11am) and Chaja Verveer (2pm).

·         Noon – 4pm: The Menil hosts performances by D.R.U.M (Divine Rhythm United Motion), as well as, artist Claire Chauvin, who will be putting on a workshop about jewelry and art creations from recycled materials.  A campus-wide treasure hunt will also take place.

·         Noon, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm: The Museum of Fine Arts will be presenting gallery talks –

o   Noon: Spotlight on a Wooded Landscape in Three Panels by Louis Comfort Tiffany (Beck Bldg)

o   1pm: Highlights of the MFAH in the Beck Bldg

o   2pm: Highlights of the MFAH in the Law Bldg

o   3pm: Spotlight on Rembrandt in the Beck Bldg

·         1pm – Houston Center for Photography will present Artist Talks with Diane Ducruet, Christopher Pickett, and Jaime Warren on their exhibit Artist as Performer.

These are just a few of the Museum District happenings.  All-day activities and exhibits will be presented at the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Czech Center Museum of Houston, the Health Center, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the Jung Center, the Rice University Art Gallery, and the Weather Museum.

"Don's work was incredible. He took the time and went far above our expectations."
~Eric Hernandez

Thank you for the kind words, Eric.  We strive to give all of our clients the kind of service that exceeds their expectations.  Check out our testimonials page for more comments by our clients.  The Houston real estate market is full of amazing Houston homes for sale from Bellaire to the Woodlands, and from Katy to Midtown - let us help you find what you are looking for!

Living in the fourth largest city in the country comes with many perks.  Having so many different areas and neighborhoods to choose from makes the Houston Texas real estate market perfect for everyone.  The Puryear Team takes pride in all that the Houston Texas real estate market has to offer such a unique and diverse group of people who call this city their home.  Today, let's take a closer look at one of the newer neighborhoods on the block: Royal Oaks Country Club Estates.

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Royal Oaks Country Club estates is an extravagant upscale community in the heart of Houston, just eight miles west of The Galleria with a private entry on Westheimer Road.

Once Andrau Airpark from the late 1940s through 1998, veteran golf community developer Sunrise Colony Company, saw potential in the 490 acres of land surrounded by the up-and-coming Westchase area.

The area’s accessibility to the city's major attractions, from Galleria shopping and business districts, to the downtown arts and entertainment centers as well as both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports make Royal Oaks Country Club a wonderful place to call home.

Royal Oaks Country Club is surrounded by a 8 miles of masonry wall, with exclusive access to the resort style community via a 24-hour manned gatehouse providing a video-monitored, controlled access entrance for residents, members and guests.  Royal Oaks features first rate technology by connecting the homes with a fiber-optic network and communitywide intranet; a definite plus planning a community in the information age.

The crown jewel of Royal Oaks Country Club Estates is of course the breathtaking Country Club and The Fred Couples Signature Course, which over one-half of the homes have incredible views of.  The 18-hole championship course runs throughout the entire community offering a stadium design and multi-tiered greens, waterfalls, mature trees and nine lakes to the secluded residences of Royal Oaks.  Besides the unparalleled golfing experience, other club amenities offered to residents are tennis, croquet, bowling, an 11,000 gallon aquatic center and a first rate clubhouse and grille.

Homes and homesites within the completely private, breathtaking retreat of Royal Oaks are available in an array of styles to appeal to the most selective buyer.  Homes are priced from the mid $400's to over $3 million, and Homesites are available from the $100's.  The award-winning designs of Royal Oaks are simply unparalleled in Houston.

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Looking for homes for sale in Royal Oaks Country Club?

Looking for Royal Oaks Country Club homes for sale? Search our local listings database for access to listings in Royal Oaks Country Club and surrounding communities. Whether you want to buy or sell Royal Oaks Country Club real estate, you can browse through properties or find a wide variety of real estate resources available on this website.

Royal Oaks Country Club Real Estate Agent

If you are looking for a REALTOR® for Royal Oaks Country Club, choose Don Puryear. As your Royal Oaks Country Club real estate agent, Don Puryear can assist you with all of your home buying and selling needs. He can provide you with access to the local listings database and offer our experience and knowledge to make the home buying or selling process easier for you and your family. Contact Don Puryear today to get your home search started!

Whether you are planning to put your home on the Houston Texas real estate market or just want to do some simple upgrades to make your it more efficient, we have ten simple and cheap projects that may be what you need.

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1. Fix a loose door hinge.  If your  door is shaky, the hinge screws most likely are stripped.  Spend a few bucks on a "stripped screw-hole repair kit." and longer screws.  You can save big on new hardware, weather stripping, and even a new door frame!
2. Replace the central air/heat filter.  This is the big one usually in the attic.  Make sure the filter is the correct size for the unit and that it isn't clogged with dust.  Keeping all the filters in your home clean will allow your Air Conditioner to run efficiently.
3. Replace your traditional light bulbs.  Replacing your old incandescent light bulb with energy-efficient ones (CFL bulbs) is a big money and environment saver.  The newer light bulbs are compact fluorescent lighting; which means they are brighter and last ten times longer than the traditional ones.  They are a little more expensive, if you replace five of your conventional light bulbs with CFL's, you could save up to $60 a year.
4. Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's).  They sound fancy, but they are just the newer sockets you should have near any water source, so near your kitchen or bathroom sinks.  Newer homes might already have them in place, but if you own an older construction, they most likely aren't there.  They run about $10-$20 and are simple to replace.  Plus, they are an added safeguard from any electrical shocks.
5. Replace an old showerhead.  Adding an energy-saving, low-flow showerhead is a simple upgrade to your home.  Showers account for 17% of your household's indoor water use.  A sleek new shower head can be aesthetically pleasing, as well as, environmentally and monetarily pleasing!
6. Replace missing or rickety fence boards.  Any fence board that is not doing its job or is missing will definitely weaken your fence, not to mention being an eye-soar.  Check your entire fence and note how many boards you will need to replace, as well as their width and height.  When you buy the boards, also get a box of galvanized screws as they won't rust.
7. Adjust your water-heater temperature to 120 degrees fahrenheit.  You'll save money and still be able to clean your clothes, dishes, and bathe without it being to hot.
8. Insulate your water heater.  By purchasing a water-heater blanket, you will save year round on your water bill.  These convenient blankets come precut, you just need to make sure you are putting it on correctly...follow the instructions carefully; especially if you own a gas heater.
9. Clean the gutters and downspouts twice a year at least.  If you have a heavily wooded yard, you may need to clean them more frequently.  Cleaning your gutters is good preventative maintenance for interior water damage.  Then add a downspout extender to each downspout to insure the water is coming out of the gutter system and away from your house.
10. Replace damaged splash blocks.  On older homes, these concrete blocks are usually pretty worn down, so this simple fix will keep the water on the walkways instead of your hard.  They should lie perpendicular to your house, so the water is forced away from it.  Upgrade to plastic splash blocks as they are lightweight and non-porous.

If you are considering putting your home up for sale, contact Don Puryear.  His team of top-producing agents will do what it takes to get your home sold. We routinely represent sellers in Midtown, the Heights, Montrose, River Oaks, the Galleria/Uptown area, Rice Military, West University, Meyerland, and Memorial Park neighborhoods.  We are known for doing whatever it takes to get homes sold quickly and for top dollar, including using professional photography and staging services for our listings.  Want a reference?  Check out the testimonials page!

Once a prairie in Southwest Houston, the Tanglewood Neighborhood is now one of the most beautiful and luxurious residential areas in the city.  Bordered between Woodway, San Felipe, Chimney Rock, and Sage, this area is known for its grand homes on large maturely wooded lots. Beginning as a grassy plain, Tanglewood was first acquired by Humble Pipeline Company, now Exxon, and sold to the William G. Farrington Company in the mid-1940s.  With a total of 750 acres, Farrington developed a residential area that would exemplify what makes the Houston Texas real estate market one of the most diverse and decadent in the country.

Tanglewood first opened its doors to Houstonians in 1949 with 32 lots and seven single story ranch style homes, all containing the latest in urban home technology including air conditioning.  Fine development plans also amounted for each lot to have two Oak trees, three Oaks on neighborhood corners, and a large lush golf course on the beautiful nearby Houston Country Club, making Tanglewood one of the greenest and most wooded areas of Houston.

It's the beautiful scenery that sets Tanglewood apart from other neighborhoods.  From the beautifully landscaped esplanades to the colorful Tanglewood Boulevard Hike Trail, it’s hard to believe Tanglewood is minutes away from the world famous Galleria, Uptown Shopping Center, Interstate 10 and Loop 610, making it a perfect location – a convenient retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Tanglewood’s humble beginnings have evolved to what is now the superior quality neighborhood boasting over 1,000 homes of many styles: from Georgian mansions to Mediterranean style villas; the neighborhood’s curb appeal is sure to please anyone!

The Puryear Team would be happy to provide you with superior service to help you find the perfect home in the Houston Texas real estate market.  If you are interested in seeing how much your home is in the Houston Texas real estate market is worth, click here!

In Houston, we definitely know that traffic is something we’re going to deal with on the way to work, to lunch, to school, to the store, home, running errands…pretty much everywhere or anytime!  It becomes quite a chore to do most without running into what we call our bottlenecks.  The Houston Press, one of our beloved local publications, has narrowed down some of the hairiest and most dangerous spots in the city.  Be it poorly labeled intersections, awkward merging, or plain scary, these intersections on and off the freeways take the cake!

1.       The Shepherd/Greenbriar and Southwest freeway intersection – I know this is one I try to avoid.  Turning right from Shepherd/Greenbriar, or Farnham (technically the road changes there, huh?) onto the Southwest Freeway heading South is probably the trickiest if not the silliest driving to do.  Drivers try to frantically merge into the farthest right lane, when in fact, you have to move to the left once you turn onto the feeder to get on the Freeway, causing confusion, road rage, and horn honking that could easily be avoided if the intersection was marked better.  Tip: if you need to enter on the Southwest Freeway from Shepherd/Greenbriar, stay in the outer right lane, you can turn from it or go straight.

2.       610 Loop and the Gulf Freeway – If you’re headed east on the South Loop and want to go downtown on I-45, or you’re on I-45 and want to head west on the South Loop, you have a hairy situation ahead of you.  Why the ridiculous stop sign followed by a severe right hand turn? Who knows? The Gulfgate Mall is there…perhaps the city thought we might need motivation to shop!

3.       Main and Richmond/Wheeler – The ever popular tango with the METRORail and the streets.  This area is so confusing with its lights and lane markers, not to mention the thought of being T-boned by a train; these will make any driver think twice before crossing or turning.  It will definitely take you at least two red-light cycles to get through this intersection.  With all the lane lines and dotted turn lines on the street paired with the train arm and alert siren…one might get distracted with all the goings on to actually cross the intersection.

4.       The southwest corner of the Loop – This is just a merging nightmare between 610, S. Post Oak and Bellfort.  Anyway you go, you have seconds to merge with lanes of passive-aggressive or more-than-their-fair-share-of-aggressive drivers.  Beware and be smart when dealing with this merging nightmare.

5.       The entrance ramp to 59 South from Milam – Talk about scary merging!  Not only is entering here confusing because of the signage, but then trying to yield to on-coming traffic is near impossible with the view of concrete blockades in your window instead of traffic; did I mention this is one of the shortest on-ramps in the city!  So you gun-it all the while making sure the timid driver in front of you doesn’t slam on his brakes - ugh.  Tip: just enter 59 from Smith street, it’s the better way to travel.

Tired of making the commute?  Consider moving to some of the most enticing, chic properties in the city.  Don Puryear is an expert in the Houston Texas real estate of Houston Heights, Galleria area real estate, Camp Logan neighborhood, Rice Military and Washington Corridor Neighborhoods, Midtown and Downtown Houston, River Oaks, West University neighborhoods, Memorial Park real estate, and Montrose area real estate – just to name a few.  Contact us or read all about what our clients are saying about Don Puryear and RE/MAX Metro!

"Don was absolutely the best!"

Thank you for the kind words, Brent.  We strive to give all of our clients the kind of service to make them feel they get the best they deserve!!  Check out our testimonials page for more comments by our clients.  The Houston real estate market is full of amazing Houston homes for sale from Bellaire to the Woodlands, and from Katy to Midtown!

Congratulations to the Hernandez family.  They just purchased a beautiful Traditional home in the Kingwood Master Planned Community of Trailwood.  Kingwood boasts large lots and immaculate constructions with mature trees and a small town feel, with cozy boutiques and restaurants, but still close to the big city life of Houston.  Kingwood is perfect for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city...but not too far!  This home is just another gorgeous example of how diverse the Houston real estate market can be, or the Greater Houston real estate market, I should say.

We were thrilled to work with the Hernandez family and help them achieve their dream of that perfect home.  Here's what they had to say about us:

"Don and his team are hands down the BEST realtor team in Houston. Don is thorough and detailed and prepares you for every situation. He is so respectful and you know that he cares about your sale as much as you do-maybe more! We had excellent attention and service. Don is also extravagantly generous and truly studies you and your personality to see what your likes and needs are. He has made the whole process so easy! Thanks for the chance to brag on him!"

- The Hernandezes

Thank you, Hernandez family, for such amazing compliments.  Congratulations again!  If you are thinking of taking advantage of the Houston real estate market, please do not hesitate to call.  Whether you want to sell or buy, our experienced staff of top-producing agents will do whatever we can to make your dream a reality.  Read more about us, what our clients have to say about us, or contact us.  We are here to help you!

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.  They are also here to give you the tools you need to protect yourself and make you aware of your rights as a consumer, especially when it comes to foreclosure.  The following information, as well as other helpful tools and tips are available on their website www.ftc.gov. 

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The possibility of losing your home because you can’t make the mortgage payments can be terrifying. Perhaps you’re having trouble making ends meet because you or a family member lost a job, or you’re having other financial problems. Or maybe you’re one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate – and you want to know what your payments will be and whether you’ll be able to make them.

Regardless of the reason for your mortgage anxiety, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants you to know how to help save your home, and how to recognize and avoid foreclosure scams.

Know Your Mortgage…

Do you know what kind of mortgage you have? Do you know whether your payments are going to increase? If you can’t tell by reading the mortgage documents you received at settlement, contact your loan servicer and ask. A loan servicer is responsible for collecting your monthly loan payments and crediting your account.

Here are some examples of types of mortgages:

• Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs): Mortgages that have fixed payments for a few years, and then turn into adjustable loans. Some are called 2/28 or 3/27 hybrid ARMs: the first number refers to the years the loan has a fixed rate and the second number refers to the years the loan has an adjustable rate. Others are 5/1 or 3/1 hybrid ARMs: the first number refers to the years the loan has a fixed rate, and the second number refers to how often the rate changes. In a 3/1 hybrid ARM, for example, the interest rate is fixed for three years, then adjusts every year thereafter.
• ARMs: Mortgages that have adjustable rates from the start, which means your payments change over time.
• Fixed Rate Mortgages: Mortgages where the rate is fixed for the life of the loan; the only change in your payment would result from changes in your taxes and insurance if you have an escrow account with your loan servicer.

If you have a hybrid ARM or an ARM and the payments will increase – and you have trouble making the increased payments – find out if you can refinance to a fixed-rate loan. Review your contract first, checking for prepayment penalties. Many ARMs carry prepayment penalties that force borrowers to come up with thousands of dollars if they decide to refinance within the first few years of the loan. If you’re planning to sell soon after your adjustment, refinancing may not be worth the cost. But if you’re planning to stay in your home for a while, a fixed-rate mortgage might be the way to go. Online calculators can help you determine your costs and payments.

If You Are Behind On Your Payments…

If you are having trouble making your payments, contact your loan servicer to discuss your options as early as you can. The longer you wait to call, the fewer options you will have.

Many loan servicers are expanding the options available to borrowers – it’s worth calling your servicer even if your request has been turned down before. Servicers are getting lots of calls: Be patient, and be persistent if you don’t reach your servicer on the first try.

• You may qualify for a loan modification under the Making Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) if:
• your home is your primary residence;
• you owe less than $729,750 on your first mortgage;
• you got your mortgage before January 1, 2009;
• your payment on your first mortgage (including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and homeowner’s association dues, if applicable) is more than 31 percent of your current gross income; and
• you can’t afford your mortgage payment because of a financial hardship, like a job loss or medical bills.

If you meet these qualifications, contact your servicer. You will need to provide documentation that may include:

• information about the monthly gross (before tax) income of your household, including recent pay stubs.
• your most recent income tax return.
• information about your savings and other assets.
• your monthly mortgage statement.
• information about any second mortgage or home equity line of credit on your home.
• account balances and minimum monthly payments due on your credit cards.
• account balances and monthly payments on your other debts, like student loans or car loans.
• a completed Hardship Affidavit describing the circumstances responsible for the decrease in your income or the increase in your expenses.

For more information, see www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/modification_eligibility.html

If you’re interested in refinancing to take advantage of lower mortgage rates, but are afraid you won’t qualify because your home value has decreased, you may want to ask if you qualify for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) or the HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) program. For more information, see www.hud.gov/foreclosure.

Avoiding Default and Foreclosure

If you have fallen behind on your payments, consider discussing the following foreclosure prevention options with your loan servicer:
Reinstatement: You pay the loan servicer the entire past-due amount, plus any late fees or penalties, by a date you both agree to. This option may be appropriate if your problem paying your mortgage is temporary.

Repayment plan: Your servicer gives you a fixed amount of time to repay the amount you are behind by adding a portion of what is past due to your regular payment. This option may be appropriate if you’ve missed a small number of payments.

Forbearance: Your mortgage payments are reduced or suspended for a period you and your servicer agree to. At the end of that time, you resume making your regular payments as well as a lump sum payment or additional partial payments for a number of months to bring the loan current. Forbearance may be an option if your income is reduced temporarily (for example, you are on disability leave from a job, and you expect to go back to your full time position shortly). Forbearance isn’t going to help you if you’re in a home you can’t afford.

Loan modification: You and your loan servicer agree to permanently change one or more of the terms of the mortgage contract to make your payments more manageable for you. Modifications may include reducing the interest rate, extending the term of the loan, or adding missed payments to the loan balance. A modification also may involve reducing the amount of money you owe on your primary residence by forgiving, or cancelling, a portion of the mortgage debt. Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, the forgiven debt may be excluded from income when calculating the federal taxes you owe, but it still must be reported on your federal tax return. For more information, see www.irs.gov. A loan modification may be necessary if you are facing a long-term reduction in your income or increased payments on an ARM.

Before you ask for forbearance or a loan modification, be prepared to show that you are making a good-faith effort to pay your mortgage. For example, if you can show that you’ve reduced other expenses, your loan servicer may be more likely to negotiate with you.

Selling your home: Depending on the real estate market in your area, selling your home may provide the funds you need to pay off your current mortgage debt in full.

Bankruptcy: Personal bankruptcy generally is considered the debt management option of last resort because the results are long-lasting and far-reaching. A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to get credit, buy another home, get life insurance, or sometimes, get a job. Still, it is a legal procedure that can offer a fresh start for people who can’t satisfy their debts.
If you and your loan servicer cannot agree on a repayment plan or other remedy, you may want to investigate filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you have a regular income, Chapter 13 may allow you to keep property, like a mortgaged house or car that you might otherwise lose. In Chapter 13, the court approves a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income toward payment of your debts during a three-to-five-year period, rather than surrender the property. After you have made all the payments under the plan, you receive a discharge of certain debts.

To learn more about Chapter 13, visit www.usdoj.gov/ust; it’s the website of the U.S. Trustee Program, the organization within the U.S. Department of Justice that oversees bankruptcy cases and trustees.

If you have a mortgage through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Veterans Administration (VA), you may have other foreclosure alternatives. Contact the FHA (www.fha.gov) or VA (www.homeloans.va.gov) to talk about them.

Contacting Your Loan Servicer

Before you have any conversation with your loan servicer, prepare. Record your income and expenses, and calculate the equity in your home. To calculate the equity, estimate the market value less the balance of your first and any second mortgage or home equity loan.

Then, write down the answers to the following questions:

• What happened to make you miss your mortgage payment(s)? Do you have any documents to back up your explanation for falling behind? How have you tried to resolve the problem?
• Is your problem temporary, long-term, or permanent? What changes in your situation do you see in the short term, and in the long term? What other financial issues may be stopping you from getting back on track with your mortgage?
• What would you like to see happen? Do you want to keep the home? What type of payment arrangement would be feasible for you?

Throughout the foreclosure prevention process:

• Keep notes of all your communications with the servicer, including date and time of contact, the nature of the contact (face-to-face, by phone, email, fax or postal mail), the name of the representative, and the outcome.
• Follow up any oral requests you make with a letter to the servicer. Send your letter by certified mail, “return receipt requested,” so you can document what the servicer received. Keep copies of your letter and any enclosures.
• Meet all deadlines the servicer gives you.
• Stay in your home during the process, since you may not qualify for certain types of assistance if you move out. Renting your home will change it from a primary residence to an investment property. Most likely, it will disqualify you for any additional “workout” assistance from the servicer. If you choose this route, be sure the rental income is enough to help you get and keep your loan current.

Housing and Credit Counseling

You don’t have to go through the foreclosure prevention process alone. A counselor with a housing counseling agency can assess your situation, answer your questions, go over your options, prioritize your debts, and help you prepare for discussions with your loan servicer. Housing counseling services usually are free or low cost.

While some agencies limit their counseling services to homeowners with FHA mortgages, many others offer free help to any homeowner who is having trouble making mortgage payments. Call the local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov) or the housing authority in your state, city, or county for help in finding a legitimate housing counseling agency nearby. Or consider contacting the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) at 888-995-HOPE or www.hopenow.com. HPF is a nonprofit organization that partners with mortgage companies, local governments, and other organizations to help consumers get loan modifications and prevent foreclosures.

When choosing a counselor, beware of anyone charging large up-front fees or guaranteeing you a loan modification or other solution to stop foreclosure. They shouldn’t be charging you high fees or making any guarantees. Take your business elsewhere.

Consider Giving Up Your Home Without Foreclosure

Not every situation can be resolved through your loan servicer’s foreclosure prevention programs. If you’re not able to keep your home, or if you don’t want to keep it, consider:

Selling Your House: Your servicers might postpone foreclosure proceedings if you have a pending sales contract or if you put your home on the market. This approach works if proceeds from the sale can pay off the entire loan balance plus the expenses connected to selling the home (for example, real estate agent fees). Such a sale would allow you to avoid late and legal fees and damage to your credit rating, and protect your equity in the property.

Short Sale: Your servicers may allow you to sell the home yourself before it forecloses on the property, agreeing to forgive any shortfall between the sale price and the mortgage balance. This approach avoids a damaging foreclosure entry on your credit report. Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, the forgiven debt on your primary residence may be excluded from income when calculating the federal taxes you owe, but it still must be reported on your federal tax return. For more information, see www.irs.gov, and consider consulting a financial advisor, accountant, or attorney.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure: You voluntarily transfer your property title to the servicers (with the servicer’s agreement) in exchange for cancellation of the remainder of your debt. Though you lose the home, a deed in lieu of foreclosure can be less damaging to your credit than a foreclosure. You will lose any equity in the property, although under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, the forgiven debt on your primary residence may be excluded from income when calculating the federal taxes you owe. However, it still must be reported on your federal tax return. For more information, see www.irs.gov. A deed in lieu of foreclosure may not be an option for you if other loans or obligations are secured by your home.

Be Alert to Scams

Scam artists follow the headlines, and know there are homeowners falling behind in their mortgage payments or at risk for foreclosure. Their pitches may sound like a way for you to get out from under, but their intentions are as far from honorable as they can be. They mean to take your money. Among the predatory scams that have been reported are:

• The foreclosure prevention specialist: The “specialist” really is a phony counselor who charges high fees in exchange for making a few phone calls or completing some paperwork that a homeowner could easily do for himself. None of the actions results in saving the home. This scam gives homeowners a false sense of hope, delays them from seeking qualified help, and exposes their personal financial information to a fraudster.
  
  Some of these companies even use names with the word HOPE or HOPE NOW in them to confuse borrowers who are looking for assistance from the free 888-995-HOPE hotline.
• The lease/buy back: Homeowners are deceived into signing over the deed to their home to a scam artist who tells them they will be able to remain in the house as a renter and eventually buy it back. Usually, the terms of this scheme are so demanding that the buy-back becomes impossible, the homeowner gets evicted, and the “rescuer” walks off with most or all of the equity.
• The bait-and-switch: Homeowners think they are signing documents to bring the mortgage current. Instead, they are signing over the deed to their home. Homeowners usually don’t know they’ve been scammed until they get an eviction notice.

If you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance where you are considering selling your home to avoid foreclosure, know that the Puryear Team is on your side!  We specialize in short sales and understand how stressful this can be.  Contact us if you have questions about this process, and we will be more than happy to help!  The Houston real estate market is on a positive track to recovery, and we know you are too!

Congratulations are in order for Carlton Smith.  With help from the Puryear Team, he just sold his beautiful bungalow on 634 W. Temple in Norhill Heights!  We were happy to help, and here's what Carlton had to say about us:

"Don is the best. AND he gave me a golden frog! Life is good."

Thanks for the humorous and kind words, Carlton.  We strive to give all of our clients the kind of service to make them think that life is good!!  Check out our testimonials page for more comments by our clients.  The Houston real estate market is full of amazing Houston homes for sale from Bellaire to the Woodlands, and from Katy to Midtown! 

Ever see those catchy commercials where the boy band sings about having bad credit in silly costumes or places; riding bikes or roller coasters?  They do their job well, by getting their catchy tune stuck in our heads.  Needing a copy of your own credit report you go to their website and get a free credit report…or so it seems.  About a month later, some charge comes out of your bank account for a credit monitoring service – yep, that was the catch.  The fine print states your credit report is free, but you must enroll in a month’s worth of their credit monitoring service for about $30!  What?!?!?!

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is here to rescue us from these silly websites promising free credit reports for a fee.  Simply log in to annualcreditreport.com to receive your seriously free credit report.  The only catch is you can only get this report once-a-year, which is about the amount of times you should check your credit report.  Checking your report too much can damage it, so be smart.

What do you need to get your free annual report?  You just need your name, social security number, address, and date of birth.

What if I don’t want to do this on the internet?  You can call 1-877-322-8228 to request a report over the phone; you can go online and print out the form at ftc.gov/credit, fill it out and mail it to: Annual Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.  Do not attempt to call the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) directly, as they only offer free credit reports through this program.

Why should you check your report?  That’s simple; to make sure everything is true and up to date. You want to make sure no one is using your identity.  Identity theft is a serious crime that’s growing at an alarming rate.  These people use your credit to open up bank accounts, credit cards, etc.  If they go into default on a credit card or loan, they can seriously damage your credit!  Damaged credit can keep you from getting necessities like insurance, a car, a house, or even a job!

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If you find it’s time for you to start considering buying a home, we are ready to help.  The Puryear team has great knowledge of the Houston real estate market, especially in River Oaks, Montrose, the Heights, Midtown, and the Galleria.  The Houston real estate market is on the rise, according to HAR.com, while other states are making a slower climb.  It’s time to take advantage of what Houston has to offer you as a buyer or seller.  Regardless, you will want to make sure your credit score is healthy, so you can take advantage of these great interest rates.  Time to get that credit report, but make sure you head our advice on where to get it!