My New Outside Blog

Coming Soon to Alvin, Tx: New Full-Service Hospital

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:23:25 -0800

At last, residents in Alvin, Tx will have a local hospital. It's been a long time! According to Fox News in Houston, the new hospital will be built on Highway 35 North between Alvin and Pearland. It will be managed by CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic Health system. According to the report, over 274 jobs will be created with average annual incomes of over $45,000 per year. The number of jobs is expected to increase to 420 over the next 10 years. You'll find the article here: CHRISTUS Hospital in Alvin. This is great news at a time when the number of jobs seems to be shrinking more often than not. It will be nice for Alvin residents to have the convenience of a quality local hospital too!

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

Alvin ISD Bond Passes New Elementary School to be Built in Shadow Creek Ranch

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:55:05 -0800

The vote is in! The Alvin ISD bond election has passed. Early voting showed 60% of voters in favor of the bond, which will provide funds for a third elementary school in Shadow Creek Ranch, Pearland. Alvin ISD has also purchased land for a third high school to be built near the Pearland Towne Center on Broadway. Even with current economic conditions, Alvin ISD is still growing in subdivisions along the 288 corrider ( Rodeo Palms, Southfork and Sedona Lakes in Manvel and Shadow Creek Ranch and Southern Trails in Pearland). One reason for the growth is most likely the area's convenient access to Houston, specifically the Medical Center. For all Brazoria County election results go to http://thefacts.com/index.lasso.

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

President Will Sign Bill to Extend Home Buyer Tax Credit Today

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:21:25 -0800

The waiting is finally over. This afternoon President Obama is scheduled to sign a bill passed by the Senate that will extend and expand the Home Buyer Tax Credit. First Time Home Buyers will have until April 30 to have a home under contract and until June 30 for the transaction to close. In addition, a $6500 tax credit will be available for existing home owners who have lived in their current residence for at least 5 years and buy a new home during this same time period. According to an article in today's Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/washington/6706693.html), approximately 1.4 million first time home buyers had qualified for the credit through August, 2009 and 350,000 of those would not have bought without it. For more information on the Home Buyer Tax Credit go to: http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_credit?lid=ronav0019.

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

October, 2009 Market Info for Alvin, Tx

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:56:18 -0800

The table below shows the October 1-October 31 market statistics for Alvin, Tx. This includes some properties outside the city limits but within the 77511 (Alvin) zip code.

ACTIVE LISTINGS                              154
AVERAGE LIST PRICE                        $173,846

HIGH                                              $699,900

MEDIAN                                           $149,900

LOW                                               $ 33,000

OPTION PENDING                               7

AVERAGE LIST PRICE                        $177,186

HIGH                                              $329,000

MEDIAN                                           $152,000

LOW                                               $ 69,900

PENDING CONT. TO SHOW              11

AVERAGE LIST PRICE                        $147,732

HIGH                                              $365,000

MEDIAN                                           $114,500

LOW                                               $ 84,000

PENDING                                             25

AVERAGE LIST PRICE                        $118,748

HIGH                                              $234,500

MEDIAN                                           $128,000

LOW                                               $ 47,000

NUMBER CLOSED SALES                   26

AVERAGE SALES PRICE                      $113,741

HIGH                                              $190,000

MEDIAN                                           $105,950

LOW                                               $ 49,900

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

Commuting from Pearland to Houston....how good/bad is it?

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:57:34 -0700

I frequently have buyers ask the question "How is the commute from Pearland to the Medical Center in Houston?" To be more specific, "How good or bad is it?" If you're familiar with Houston, you know that we have little in the way of mass transportion from suburbs such as Pearland or Friendswood into the city of Houston. Yes, there is Metro. I can't comment on that because I've never taken a Metro bus into the city. (I have ridden the light rail train a couple of times. It was great, but it's limited in where it goes.) My trips from Pearland to Houston are fairly frequent, although they're usually not at rush hour. All things considered, the commute from Pearland to the Texas Medical Center on Hwy 288 is good....in my opinion. Of course I was living here when there was no 288 freeway! The options were the heavily traveled IH 45 (always under construction) and "old" 288 (now FM 521) with so many traffic lights! The commute from Shadow Creek Ranch and Silverlake in Pearland is much improved from those days. While it's gotten more congested in the last few years as more homes have been built in Pearland, it's still seems to be one of the best commutes (if not THE best) from a Houston suburb into the city.

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

It's Property Tax Time in Texas.

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:53:22 -0800

I hate to be the bearer of not-so-great news, but it's time for those pesky property tax bills again. For those of you living in Brazoria, Galveston and Harris Counties, you may have received yours already. Home owners in Alvin, Manvel and Pearland will receive one bill which includes all of the taxes levied on your property. It even includes the MUD tax which is assessed in some of the newer subdivisions in Pearland and Manvel (Shadow Creek Ranch, Silvercreek, Southern Trails, and other). An explanation of the MUD tax is a subject unto itself! If you're a resident in the city of Friendswood (Galveston County), you'll receive 2 different property tax bills. One will come from Galveston County and includes the taxes levied by the county and the city of Friendswood. Friendswood ISD sends a separate statement with school taxes only. If you're unsure about what to do with these various tax statements, call your mortgage company and the city or county tax office. They'll be sure to let you know exactly how and when your taxes should be paid.

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com

Another Elementary School coming to Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland?

Cheryl Marchand (Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:07:20 -0700

The answer is definitely, although it all depends on the upcoming bond election. A bond election will be held on Nov. 3, 2009 for residents of Shadow Creek Ranch and all of Alvin ISD. Even with the current economic situation the Alvin/Pearland area is still growing, which means more students enrolling and more schools needed. In addition to funds for maintenance and renovation of existing facilities, the bond will provide funds for the building of the 800-student "Elementary 14", to be located in Shadow Creek Ranch. The 2005 bond paid for the land & design of Elementary 14. The land has been purchased and the design is ready to go! The Nov 3 bond will provide the funds to actually build the school. If the bond passes, the district is ready to move quickly to begin construction on Elem 14. This will be great news for the faculty and students at Marek & Wilder Elementaries since they're both already over capacity. This is a good "problem" to have! According to school district data, Alvin ISD is growing by approximately 600 students per year which is equal to almost one elementary school every year. Most of this growth is found in the west side of the district in the Pearland and Manvel city limits. So...is another elementary school coming to Shadow Creek Ranch? Let's hope so. The children need it! Click on this link to the Alvin ISD web site for more details.

Cheryl Marchand
Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 936-234-1200
Email: cmarchand@gmail.com