League City Blog: Texas

I'm excited to announce that I have received the Texas Monthly Magazine 5 STAR award again for 2012!  Thanks to all of my clients that again gave me this vote of confidence!  Here's how they chose the award winners:

Our research team contacted consumers in the Houston region and asked if they had experience working with a real estate agent. Consumers who agreed to participate in the survey provided the name of the real estate agent and rated that individual according to key criteria such as integrity, negotiation and closing preparation. 

Surveys were sent to Houston region residents who recently purchased a home over $150,000 (more than 42,500 households) within a 12-month period (July 2010 to July 2011). An additional 250 surveys were sent to mortgage and title companies.

The survey data was collected and scored, resulting in the list of 2012 Houston Five Star Real Estate Agents. The research methodology allows only 7% or fewer real estate agents in a given market to qualify for the Five Star award.

Five Star Professional follows standard sampling and survey practices used by other professional research organizations. Our research also includes feedback from industry peers and leaders, and a regulatory review to provide necessary checks and balances.

Cannongate in Magnolia Creek, a “links” style course

The Worrell Team Realtors assist many buyers and sellers in Magnolia Creek. Many of the residents and future residents of Magnolia Creek in League City, TX have asked the Worrell Team, What exactly is a links style golf course? Cannongate at Magnolia Creek is a 27-hole links style golf course in the Magnolia Creek subdivision in League City. A links style course is typically defined as having wide sloping fairways, no trees, and deep pot bunkers. Be cautious of the wind while playing, due to the lack of trees, the winds can be challenging, so many players will play low shots and use the long running fairways to their advantage for distance. This strategy is very helpful if distance is not your strong suit and the wind is at your back. Cannongate at Magnolia Creek’s design will remind you of St. Andrews and many other English and Scottish courses where the game of golf originated. Magnolia Creek in League City offers many homes with golf course lots. While you are playing the course, you will have many fantastic views of the beautiful homes Magnolia Creek has to offer. Cannongate is a private golf club and membership is required to play. The Worrell Team Realtors would like to invite you to come and visit Magnolia Creek in League City and , "play the links".

 -Worrell Team Realtors

Many League City, TX neighborhoods offer many opportunities for kayaking trips. The Worrell Team Realtors has found that one of the best access points to Clear Creek is in Countryside Park in the Countryside subdivision. Countryside Park offers a quick launch and close parking so you don’t have to lug your kayak far to the water. Clear Creek will run all the way to Nassau Bay and Clear Lake, so plan ahead! If you put in at Countryside Park, you will have the opportunity to see all types of wildlife while cruising past neighborhoods such as Countryside, The Park on Clear Creek, and Clear Creek Village. The Park on Clear Creek neighborhood in League City, TX also has a private boat launch, so you can kayak within minutes! While you are cruising on Clear Creek you will also be able to visit Challenger Memorial Park and Walter Hall Park in League City. These parks are quite a distance from Countryside, so if you want to visit these parks and not paddle very far, you can also launch in at these parks as well for a quick trip.

Countryside Park also offers a covered basketball pavilion, softball and soccer fields, playground equipment, sand court volleyball, picnic tables, and sprawling concrete jogging trails. Be sure to visit Countryside in League City and happy kayaking!

-Worrell Team Realtors

Recently the City of League City and League City Volunteer Fire Department were draining the fire hydrants in Westover Park. The Worrell Team Realtors were preparing to meet with a client for a residential real estate listing in Westover Park, the gushing water in the streets got the Worrell Team thinking, why exactly do they drain fire hydrants? Why would they drain them when League City has been under many levels of water restrictions over the past year?

Fire hydrants are typically drained twice a year for testing and maintenance and it is vital to insure a well functioning hydrant.  While the hydrants are being drained, water flow is checked to see if there are any clogs. Sediment and mineral deposits can clog a hydrant and slow down the water flow. Valves are greased and seals are checked as well. Hydrants are connected to the League City’s municipal water supply underground. The pressure coming out of the hydrant is anywhere from 50 to 80 psi, which is the same pressure that comes out of your kitchen sink. This pressure is not sufficient to extinguish a fire, so in the case of a fire, the League City Fire Department will connect the water flow to the pump on the truck, which increases the pressure significantly to extinguish a fire.

Even in times of water restrictions that League City has recently faced with the drought, it is still vital for fire prevention to test the hydrants at their scheduled times in the year. Our Westover Park in League City, TX neighbors and The Worrell Team Realtors would like to thank the volunteers of the League City Fire Department for their countless hours of hard work and dedication to keep our city safe.

Thank you,

Worrell Team Realtors

Clear Creek Independent School District
Office of Communications
2425 East Main Street
League City, Texas 77573

February 28, 2012

Contact: Elaina Polsen, Director
Office of Communications
(281) 284-0020 or epolsen@ccisd.net

New Attendance Boundaries Approved
2012-2013 School Year

League City, Texas- The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees approved changes to school attendance boundaries for the 2012-2013 school year. The Board’s authorization is based on a set of recommendations developed by a citizen’s School Boundary Advisory Committee (SBAC).  The changes are intended to address capacity concerns at elementary schools. The following changes will be effective August 2012. 
 

 Bauerschlag Elementary and Parr Elementary: VIEW MAP

Single and multi-family homes along the east side of Calder Road north of the 2600 block in League City will move to Parr Elementary from Bauerschlag Elementary. This move impacts 55 students and future home development. Bauerschlag Elementary and Parr Elementary both have an instructional capacity of 900 students. Based on this approved change, Bauerschlag Elementary enrollment will be 828 instead of 883 next year.  In five years, the projection will be 895 at Bauerschlag Elementary. 2012-2013 enrollment at Parr Elementary will be 839 instead of 784.  In five years, Parr Elementary is projected to have 890 students.

Goforth Elementary and Ferguson Elementary: VIEW MAP

Single and multi-family homes along Davis Road in League City will move from Goforth Elementary to Ferguson Elementary. This move affects students who live at the Wharf at Clear Lake, Bayou Brea and Oaks of Clear Lake subdivisions as well as Constellations Pointe, Crow’s nest, and Signature apartments. This move impacts 109 students. Ferguson Elementary, which has an instructional capacity of 830 students, will have 738 students next year instead of 629.  In five years, enrollment at Ferguson Elementary is projected to be 675 students.

McWhirter Elementary and League City Elementary: VIEW MAP

Multi-family homes along Egret Bay Road will move to League City Elementary. This move includes: Towers of Clear Lake, Hidden Lakes, Tranquility Lakes, and Harbour Tree apartments. This move impacts 116 students.  Enrollment at McWhirter Elementary, CCISD’s oldest campus, will be 901 instead of 1,017. Enrollment at League City Elementary, which has an instructional capacity of 622, will be 565 instead of 449 students.

Mossman Elementary, Goforth Elementary and Hyde Elementary: VIEW MAP

Homes along South Shore Boulevard between Tucker and Austin will move from Mossman Elementary to Hyde Elementary. This affects a portion of the Lakes at South Shore subdivision in League City. The Haven at South Shore Apartments will move from Mossman Elementary to Goforth Elementary. These moves impact 211 students. Mossman Elementary, which has an instructional capacity of 900 students, is projected to have 704 students instead of 915 next year. This move provides additional capacity to accommodate growth in the area.  Hyde Elementary is projected to have 656 students next year instead of 538 students.

In accordance with CCISD Board policy, incoming 5th grade students may ask for an intra-district transfer to finish at their current elementary school.

Ah, there are so many surprises you might find when you buy a resale home.  I was at a friends house in League City for the Superbowl and they told me about a couple of surprises...

Here are a couple of entertaining surprises:

1.  The toilet tank lids are glued shut.  It took nearly a year to figure this one out... some of the tank innards are needing to be replace.  The water is running on one -- but the lid is glued shut.  Luckily it looks like the previous owner used silicone, so it should be easy enough to cut it loos and pry off the lid!

2.  A vase of flowers is bolted to the art niche... and in over a year, she hadn't even cared to move it anyway.  But if she wanted that moved, it would require tools.  It really looks like the wooden vase of flowers could be simply lifted and moved.

These are pretty harmless things to discover, and just make you wonder, "What were the previous owners thinking?"

What are some fun things you've discovered in your home(s)?

Many sellers want to make sure they have paid their property taxes in the current calendar year so they can claim this benefit when filing their Income Taxes for the same year. Your League City Real Estate Experts have the answers!  Call The Brian Worrell Team if you need any clarification, 281-948-7042.

There are a few options for paying property taxes:
There are a few options for paying property taxes...  This example is based on assuming a scheduled closing date of 12/30/2011.

Option 1.  Pay each of these yourself with CASHIER'S CHECKS to each tax entity in at each of their offices respectively in person.  Get a copy of each cashier's check. And get a copy of the paid receipt.  This would ensure all taxes are paid in 2011.

Option 2.  Do not pay anything now.  If on the 30th, it looks like we are not closing on time, then pay the taxes online yourself.  The title company will need to retain the total amount of taxes from your proceeds until they can verify through each tax entity that they have been fully paid.  They they will send you that money once verified which may take several weeks.  This would ensure all taxes are paid in 2011.

Option 3.  Taxes will be paid at closing on the 30th from your proceeds.  If the closing is delayed for whatever reason, taxes would be paid in 2012 from your proceeds.  The Income Tax benefit of paying for 2011 property taxes would have to be claimed at the end of 2012 with this option.

Thoroughly confused??  Please feel free to email me any specific questions, brian@brianworrell.com

New Medical Clinic Breaks Ground in Downtown Friendswood, Texas

Friendswood Family Chiropractic Clinic and Spuhler Medical Associates began construction on their new 10,250 square foot building at 1111 S. Friendswood Drive and the corner of Whispering Pines. Earlier this year, City Council approved a $15,000 municipal grant for the construction of this $1.3 million medical clinic. In addition, approximately $14,700 of City-related development fees will be waived since the project is located in the City's Downtown Neighborhood Empowerment Zone.

The Downtown area of Friendswood, Texas has sure seen some very significant growth in that past 1-2 years.  This should be another great addition!

Great advice from Platinum Pools!

Freeze Warning Tonight:
DON'T WRAP YOUR PIPES   

1. Have Freeze Protect?

Pool owners with freeze protect: Your equipment should turn on automatically and may cycle on and off throughout the day. This is normal. 

2. Don't have Freeze Protect?

Run your pool equipment during the freeze. Change your timers to run the pool equipment at night, and keep the equipment running if freezing temperatures continue into the day.

DO NOT WRAP YOUR PIPES: The pool pump will get hot and will catch the blankets or whatever you use to wrap on fire. 

2310 Azahar - Mar Bella, League City, TX

Gorgeous home on private cul-de-sac street takes advantage of scenic water views from nearly every room - both upstairs and downstairs! Covered front porch and Porte Chochere with a stone and brick elevation. Back yard features a 2nd story balcony overlooking the water and views of numerous fireworks shows in the area through the summer and at various holidays. Upstairs gameroom. Large island kitchen with 5 Gas Burner Stove. Stainless Steel Appliances. Home Warranty Included! VIRTUAL TOUR

Mar Bella Neighborhood Website!

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