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March 20 & 21, 2010 - This weekend, Friendswood Development Company will host an open house even in three communities, offering visitors the opportunity to tour both new and resale homes.
Fairfield, Oakhurst at Kingwood and Graystone Hills in Conroe will have a variety of new homes open, with many ready for move-in, as well as resale homes open with Realtors on site to answer questions.
Residents, Realtors and shoppers have opportunities to tour new and resale homes and find out why many people are making these Friendswood Development Co. communities their home.
For years, the Open House weekend event has taken place in master-planned Fairfield and due to demand and response; the event now will be a regular occurrence in Oakhurst at Kingwood, offering direct access to U.S. 59; and in Graystone Hills, Conroe’s only master-planed community. “This is a great way for home shoppers to really learn a lot about the community,” said Christine Draughn, marketing director for Friendswood Development Co.’s north Houston communities.
The Open House event in both communities is the weekend of Jan. 16-17. Visitors can tour new decorated model homes, inventory homes and resale homes.
Posted on Mar 10, 2010 | Tagged in: tips , City of Friendswood
Each Spring, we move our clocks forward by one hour during the night in order to capture the convenience that extra light brings during the Spring and Summer seasons. Friendswood Development Company is reminding you to remember to do just that at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 14.
Daylight Saving Time actually affects you in more ways than simply confusing your schedule. By making the adjustment, we are allowing ourselves to use less energy in lighting our homes. This energy-saving orientation was the original intent of the U.S. when Daylight Saving Time was instituted during World War I and later when the length of Daylight Saving Time was standardized in 1966.
Posted on Mar 9, 2010 | Tagged in: HAR , economy
Houston Business Journal reported in late February on the Houston Association of Realtors’ comments on the first month of 2010. Apparently sales of homes priced at $500,000 and higher displayed dramatic gains in January. In addition, the median price rose 11.9 percent, marking nine consecutive months of median price increases in the Houston area.
According to Margie Dorrance, HAR chair and principal at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan, “Several overlapping factors influenced the Houston housing market as the new year began. These include both the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the expanded credit for existing homeowners, which may have prompted more listing activity. Strong sales activity in the higher-end single-family home segment also contributed to an overall higher average sales price for the Houston market.” Dorrance also noted HAR anticipates Houston pricing to reflect a robust real estate market as the tax credit deadline on April 30th approaches and the busy spring hom-buying season approaches.
Posted on Mar 4, 2010 | Tagged in: Untagged
Village Builders, Houston’s Premier Luxury Homebuilder for more than 35 years, was recently awarded the 2009 Highest Ranking for Customer Satisfaction (in a tie) in the Houston area by leading global marketing information services company, J.D. Power and Associates.
J.D. Power and Associates quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. The New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its 13th year, includes satisfaction rankings for builders in 24 markets. The study reviews factors that drive overall customer satisfaction with home builders including workmanship/materials, builder’s warranty/customer service staff, price/value, builder’s sales staff, construction manager, home readiness, recreational facilities provided by the builder, builder’s design center and location.
“We are truly honored to receive this ranking,” states Cindy Hinson, Vice President of Operations for Village Builders. “It is our top priority to build our customers a home with the finest quality craftsmanship and luxury, and to provide superior customer service to all of our homebuyers and prospective buyers.”
For more than three decades, Village Builders has been committed to helping Houston homebuyers find the home of their dreams. Their consistent passion for perfection, cutting edge design and customer care has been a sign of success for thousands of Houston families. The Village Builders brand is synonymous with excellence and is founded on a tradition of quality craftsmanship and innovative design. Pride and high standards are reflected in each detail of a Village Builders home. Village Builders offers distinguished home collections at communities in the most desired locations in the Houston area, such as West Ranch, Graystone Hills, Fairfield and Oakhurst at Kingwood.
Find your new Village Builders home in Houston at VillageBuilders.com or call (866) 203-6386.
Posted on Mar 4, 2010 | Tagged in: education
Friendswood Development Company recently hosted and sponsored a Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) class for Houston area Realtors at the Lodge in Heritage at Towne Lake – an active adult community designed for residents age 55 or Better.
More than 140 agents attended “The Investment Cycle, Buy, Manage and Sell,” taught by Dave Roedel, who is also the author of the course. Friendswood Development Company provided lunch and a gourmet coffee bar by Java Gypsy. The class fulfilled a part of the mandatory education credit hours required by Realtors each year.
A few lucky Realtors went home with door prizes, courtesy of Friendswood Development Company, a few of its builders and Caldwell Companies, developer of the Towne Lake master-planned community.
In addition to receiving required MCE credit, Realtors in attendance were given news and updates on Towne Lake and Heritage at Towne Lake as well as inventory and updates on Friendswood Development Company communities throughout the greater Houston area.
This was the first of a series of free MCE classes sponsored by Friendswood Development Company in Heritage at Towne Lake that are scheduled for this year. Classes planned will include Ethics, Legal Updates, and for the first time, The Active Adult Buyer. The free MCE classes sponsored by Friendswood Development Company will be held in the Lodge at Heritage at Towne Lake on April 16, June 18 and September 17.
In keeping with the festivities surrounding St. Patrick’s Day in March, Lennar and Village Builders are celebrating this lucky day with fabulous incentive opportunities all month long! Purchase a home in one of their more than 60 communities throughout the Houston area and receive a Lucky Day Scratch-Off Card! Each card will reveal one of three amazing incentives – a front-load washer and dryer, a sprinkler system or custom garage floor coating. Village Builders is also offering additional incentives this month including free Design Studio options up to $50,000 off.
Additionally, by visiting Lennar Houston on Facebook, individuals have the opportunity to become a fan and enter the Lucky Day Ireland Giveaway for a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland. Become a fan today!
Plus, time is running out to take advantage of the historic government homebuyer tax credit opportunities. New homes must be purchased by April 30, 2010 to qualify for a tax credit. If you haven’t owned a home in the last three years you may qualify to receive a first-time homebuyers tax credit of up to $8,000. Current homeowners may also qualify to receive up to a $6,500 tax credit. To qualify for the $6,500 tax credit, prospective homebuyer must have owned and resided in a home for any five consecutive year period during the last 8 years prior to the purchase of a new home. These tax credits are not loans, but prospective buyers need to act now, as this is one opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Lennar is one of the nation’s leading home builders with more than 55 years of experience building homes and communities all across the country. Lennar offers a variety of homes to meet any prospective homebuyer’s unique home ownership needs.
Village Builders a part of the Lennar Family of Builders, has enjoyed the distinction of being Houston’s luxury builder for more than 3 decades. The Village Builders brand is synonymous with excellence and is founded on a tradition of quality craftsmanship and innovative design. Recently, Village Builders was awarded the 2009 Highest Ranking for Customer Satisfaction (in a tie) in the Houston area by leading global marketing information services company, J.D. Power and Associates.
Posted on Mar 1, 2010 | Tagged in: events
Friday, February 26th marked the opening of the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s newest exhibition – Magic! This show examines how science and magic are intertwined, tapping into the universal desire to understand the “how” behind this ancient form of entertainment.
Magic is the perfect subject to inspire people of all ages – especially children – to learn about sciences and the world around them. From chemistry to physics, Magic! explores the elements behind the mystery.
The exhibit will showcase torches for fire eating, magic lanterns and automations, Harry Houdini’s trademark milk can and water escape trunk; Harry Blackstone’s “Zig Zag Girl” prop; Mike Cavenye’s linking coat hangers; and items from acts by Doug Henning, Penn & Teller, and other magic superstars.
Posted on Mar 1, 2010 | Tagged in: healthcare , charity
The 26th Annual BP MS 150 Houston-to-Austin bike ride, Texas’ largest non-profit sporting event and largest MS 150 in the nation, will be taking place April 17th – 18th with funds raised to benefit the National MS Society. The National MS Society: Lone Star has a goal to raise a record-setting $18 million in funds for research, programs, and services provided by Lone Star that benefit the 20,000 people affected by MS in 174 Texas counties.
An estimated 13,000 cyclists are expected to take part in the two-day, 180-mile trek from Houston to Austin.
Registration is available at www.ms150.org. Individuals, families and groups are also encouraged to volunteer for the more than 3,000 positions in Houston, Austin and along the route.
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 | Tagged in: Oakhurst at Kingwood , GHBA
Friendswood Development Company along with Village Builders are working together to build a new home and donate all proceeds to three local charities - Texas Children's Cancer Center, The Alzheimer's Association and HomeAid. Members from both companies along with representatives from the three charities and members of the Greater Houston Builders Association are pictured at the groundbreaking of the homesite in Oakhurst at Kingwood, where a new Village Builders home will soon be built. The home is a part of the GHBA's Benefit Homes Project, which has been bringing together association members and volunteers to benefit local charities.
Posted on Feb 20, 2010 | Tagged in: GHBA , charity
Friendswood Development Company and Village Builders are teaming up to carry on a 30-year tradition in Houston that has raised millions of dollars for local charities.
The 2010 Greater Houston Builders Association’s Benefit Homes Project will feature a new home built by Village Builders on a home site donated by Friendswood Development Company in its Oakhurst at Kingwood community.
For more than three decades, the GHBA has worked with its member partners resulting in raising more than $5 million for local charities. This year once again, proceeds from the sale of the home will benefit Texas Children’s Cancer Center, The Alzheimer’s Association and HomeAid Houston.
“We’re proud to be a part of this important project that enables us to give back to the community and great organizations that help the young, the elderly and the less fortunate,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, Community Development Manager for Oakhurst at Kingwood. “We appreciate all of the hard work and efforts of all of the donors and volunteers who bring the Benefit Homes Project together are confident that once again, the result will be a great success.”
Ground breaking for the Village Builders home is planned for this month and is expected to be completed by late spring.
