An Irrepressible Bird - the Carolina Wren!

Who IS that loud bird singing even in the early morning before daylight?!? It's the tiny, irrepressible Carolina Wren that we have building a nest in our flower pot! We love these birds. They have a song that is ridiculously loud for such a small bird, and everytime we think we know all of their songs, they come up with another one! I like the "cherry cherry cherry" song , but they have as many as 40 versions, and (if you irritate them) one of the nastiest versions of the "raspberries" you've ever heard!

These birds are about 5-1/2 inches long with a cocked tail and a long, slightly curved bill. They are very inquisitive, checking out every nook and corner for bugs and spiders. The Carolina Wrens mate for life, and stay together throughout the year on permanent territories. Don't bother offering them a birdhouse, however. They'll ignore it for a potted plant or a barbecue grill or (as friends discovered) the back of your camper or car! They build a nest that looks like a little cave out of grasses and grass fibers; the eggs hatch in 2 weeks, and the babies leave the nest in another two weeks. Cheerful little fellows, even in the rain, they bring sunshine to our lives!

"How's the real estate market?" - Our charts tell the story!

If you live in the Houston area (or even if you don't!) here's a fantastic site you'll want to make a favorite! Click on How's the Market in MY area? It shows average sold prices, average list-to-sold, average price per square foot ..... and on and on! You can make it specific to your own zip code or your own town. And more than that ... it automatically updates every month!!

This page comes up already set for "The Woodlands," but you can change that to your own zip code at the top. (Tip: To scroll down, use your "page down" key.)

Market Report - 2010 - The Woodlands

The Real Estate Market in The Woodlands has continued to thrive and (with springtime) will be picking up! Buyers are viewing homes, and folks are getting houses ready to put on the market. In January, there were only 3 fewer contracts written than in January 2009.

With the possibility of higher mortgage rates, an end-of-April time limit on the Homebuyer/Homeseller Tax Credits, and leases about to expire, the next few months will be brisk. Now is definitely the time to make a move -- and we're ready to help! Call or email us any time!

The Waxwings have arrived!!

What crashed through our yard today with more commotion and noise than New Orleans' Bourbon street after the Super Bowl? Was louder? possibly more drunk? left a bigger mess? and was decorated with Mardi Gras mask and colors?!? It was the handsome and very social Cedar Waxwing! Within half-an-hour, they stripped our berry-laden yaupon (leaving quite a mess of dark splats all over the biketrail!) with much chatter and congeniality, even happily sharing with the (equally messy) robins that appeared with them. It's a great sign of springtime soon to come!!

HOUSTON - It's the place to be!!

Let's live it up, Houston and The Woodlands! This is one of the best places to live - play - and work!! We don't have 3 feet of snow at our doorstep when we wake up in the morning, nor 2 feet of mud in our houses. We have low unemployment, low housing prices, wonderful medical facilities both in Houston and in The Woodlands, great cultural events. Take a look at this video! http://su.pr/1Lj4vx