Venetian Estates News - November

News of the Neighborhood

There are five homes available for sale in Venetian Estates, priced from $450,000 to $995,000. 

The home/lot at 111 Savoy presents an exceptional opportunity for someone looking to build. It’s unlikely that we see many more lots/homes priced in the $400s. The land directly across the street from 111 Savoy has been rezoned residential.  The owners are current VE residents and intend to build their own new home on one of the two large lots. They have friends who intend to build on the other lot.  We understand that the homes will be built  in accordance with existing and future VE construction guidelines, and we look forward to seeing these pretty lots developed for homes. Residential construction in this location should enhance the entrance to our neighborhood, and also the value of 111 Savoy. If you know anyone considering building in VE please have them call me about this lot. Standing in the breezy back yard overlooking Lake Venice is sure to convince them that, as prices continue to increase, this is an opportunity they don't want to miss!

Nine VE homes have sold thus far in 2015.  Prices ranged from the upper $300s to well over $1 million.  FBRE sold 7 of these 9 homes. We also sold the 4 highest-priced homes--two of which were record-breaking!

We work hard to represent our clients and to help them make the best possible decisions. We go above and beyond to keep them informed during the marketing, negotiation and 'contract-to-closing' stages.  We would be glad to put you in touch with any of our clients (both commercial and residential) to hear what they have to say about FBRE!

Around the Block

I attend the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council meetings each month as a representative for HAR. In October there were presentations on two major projects in our immediate area:

Schlumberger Announcement

The Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved a tax-abatement and performance agreement that will bring Schlumberger's North American headquarters to Sugar Land. The company will bring 517 more jobs to SL over the next 3 years.  Major improvements to their campus will include a new 250,000-SF Class A office building and 100,000-SF amenities building.  They will also demolish obsolete buildings and add landscaping. Our view from Highway 90A won't drastically change, but we will see a few new buildings. The mayor called this possibly the biggest announcement in the history of Sugar Land!

Imperial Market Update

According to James Murnane, Partner of Imperial Market Development, LLC, we will soon know which cinema will be going in the Imperial Development. The upscale theater will feature an art-deco design, 8 screens and top-notch customer service. Announcements of major retailers and restaurants, which will surround the Aloft by W boutique hotel in the Char House, will be coming soon. The parking garage will be isolated by a brick wall and indistinguishable from street level. The developers' intention is to preserve the history of Imperial Sugar and Sugar Land.  Ground breaking will be in early 2016, with completion by summer of 2017!

I just closed another home-purchase in Imperial. The homes are lovely and the community is wonderful--and it will be spectacular when the upscale, pedestrian friendly commercial development is complete. Call me if you or a friend is interested in knowing more!

Neighborhood Post

There are people on both lakes wishing to purchase previously owned boats.  Please let me know if you are considering selling and I will put you in touch with potential buyers. 

Turkey Trot Time! This is year 6 for Catherine Bell's (915 Piedmont) brain child, the VE Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Flock to the parking lot of our office, the BancorpSouth building, at 8:00 am on Thanksgiving morning and we will walk the two miles around VE together. Those running (or planning for an extra slice of pumpkin pie) may run the five miles up and down each street. There is a suggested donation of $20 per family, benefitting Wounded Warriors Project. After the walk please hang around the parking lot to visit with your neighbors and enjoy refreshments provided by FBRE!

Venetian Estates News - June 2015

News of the Neighborhood
FBRE had two sales in VE this month, and by the time you read this there will be three--in June alone! VE currently has two available properties, two pending sales and six recorded sales (in 2015) on the MLS.  FBRE  listed and marketed five of the six sold homes! We have two more sales in the works--look for updates next month!

Venetian Estates' buyers are exceptional. We all, as residents of this fabulous neighborhood, know that! As values continue to increase, it is a challenge to educate potential buyers/neighbors in order for them to understand and appreciate these values. They cannot call just any Realtor and have them 'run the neighborhood comps.'  There are such variances in square-footage pricing on homes and lots in VE that each property must be carefully considered individually as well as in relation to the marketplace. There are simply too many variables to determine values purely systematically. This is why it is extremely difficult for another Realtor to price your property. Potential buyers want concrete information regarding previous sales in the neighborhood.  We can provide the full extent of that information (ie. exactly why a home/property sold for the price it did and what can this buyer expect in the way of remodeling/new construction costs once they have closed on their new home)--no other Realtor can do that! Kelly Ferguson is considered our “expert” with regard to new construction costs and financing. We have a powerful team that can provide comprehensive neighborhood information in order to ensure that sellers obtain the highest price for their properties and that buyers make prudent, sound investments. By leaps and bounds, we serve buyers and sellers better than anyone else can!

New to the Neighborhood
Two of our newest “new neighbors” have moved in! Zack Yazici purchased the home at 103 Savoy.  Zack as been  in Houston for about 15 years.  He came here as an international student and (“somehow,” he says) got into the luxury automobile business while going to college.  He owns an automobile dealership in the Galleria area and  is mainly involved in wholesale, previously-owned, luxury vehicles.  Zack and his wife Nurra are originally from Turkey. Nurra is there now but will be here in August.  They are expecting their first child!  The Yazicis are moving from Highland Village in Houston. They wanted to move to a safe neighborhood and chose Venetian as the place to live and raise their family. We are so happy to have them here!

Carol and Steve Tralie are our new neighbors at 610 Santa Maria. They already have many friends in Venetian and are excited to begin remodeling their new home.  Carol and Steve are former residents of New Territory. They moved to Texas 23 years ago from Philadelphia, PA.  They have two children, Jennifer Sitton and Jarrod Tralie, and three grandchildren, Keanen (14), Kaitlyn (8), Graham (2), and one more on the way! Steve enjoys playing golf and Carol plays tennis.

Around the Block
Information regarding development of the Imperial Historic District is forthcoming. Johnson Development and the City had hoped to announce the development partners and retailers in the spring, but they pushed the announcement date back to mid-summer. Per our conversations with City Council members and the City Economic Development team, the City is as excited as ever about the future development!

I have been busy this year, not only in VE, but in other neighborhoods as well...Sugar Mill, Sugar Creek, Imperial, Riverstone, First Colony, Memorial, etc. Please remember I love referrals in other areas as well as in VE.  Jeff Johnston and I will soon have a new waterfront listing in Sugar Mill. The home has four bedrooms and a lovely water view.  It needs some updating, but will be priced in the low- to mid-$300s. Keep this in mind for friends and relatives--it’s a great price for waterfront with easy access to freeways!

I am also marketing an 8+ acre estate on Holmes Road in Richmond. The property includes a home, serene lake and first-rate horse facilities. While it has easy access to major thoroughfares, the estate is located off a very private cul-de-sac  There are no restrictions, so commercial development is certainly an option!  Please tell your horse- loving friends about this one! It is a gem!

Venetian Estates News - March 2015

News of the Neighborhood
FBRE had four closed sales in Venetian in January! We are continuing to break records in the neighborhood. It does not seem so long ago that I sold the first $400,000+ home in VE. Then several years later, the first $700,000+ home.... Now, Kelly Ferguson and I have passed another milestone, this time selling the first recent-construction home in Venetian and surpassing the million dollar mark!

I have two new listings in the pre-marketing stage. One is 111 Saint Marks (the sign is up, though it’s not yet on the MLS). If you know anyone wanting to simply pack their bags and move in to a gorgeous 3100+-SF home have them call me. It’s beautiful!

New to the Neighborhood
As promised here's 'new neighbor' info:

Donna Cook will soon be moving into 410 Lombardy, the former home of Melissa and Jeff Crawford. (Melissa and Jeff moved to Cypress, a closer commute to Melissa's new work location in The Woodlands.) Donna has recently retired and she is loving it! After many years in the restaurant business it is time to relax and enjoy her beautiful new home (she is in the process of making it even more beautiful:) and the gorgeous sunset from her fabulous back yard. Many of our neighbors know Donna as the former owner of the Live Oak Grill on Dairy Ashford. Donna and her business partner had a very successful ten years at the Live Oak prior to selling the business in December. By the way,  the new owners are continuing with the same good ole' Live Oak menu with only a few changes!

Almost directly across the street from Donna are our new neighbors, Vera and Julio Rocha. They, also, have been busy with the remodeling stage! Vera and Julio are from Brazil. Julio is an electrical engineer and Vera was a teacher and later a principal at a school in Brazil.  They moved to Houston in 2000 but since that time Julio's job as a Trader with a Brazilian company has taken them in and out of our area. Julio retired at the end of February and they decided to settle down in Sugar Land! The Rochas recently moved from Salzburg, Austria where they lived for almost three and a half years. They have also lived in Canada and in Florida! Vera and Julio have three sons. Gustavo, the oldest, is a Trader and is in the process of moving to Monterrey, Mexico. He and his wife have twins! Rafael is a chemical engineer and lives in Houston. He and his wife have the third grandchild, a boy. Henrique, the Rochas youngest son has just come from the Republic of Guinea, West Africa, where he was with the Peace Corps. He will be moving to New York. Henrique is an engineer. (Vera and Julio purchased the former home of Jan Loggins Hinson and Paul Hinson. Jan and Paul are now in their spectacular new home at 915 Gondola.)

Two doors down from the Rochas Brian and Suzanne Adams are building their new home at 511 Lombardy. Brian and Suzanne have lived in Sugar Land for 23 years. Brian is employed with Tibco, a software company based in Palo Alto. Suzanne is a former CPA with a creative side! She has several part-time jobs including holding writing workshops in both the public and private sectors. She often works with school districts holding 'transformation' workshops in creative arts and writing for middle and high school girls. She has a masters in creative writing. The Adams' have three sons. Austin, 26, is a consultant for Deloitte in Dallas. He is getting married in December. Ryan, 24,  works with Toyota in Chicago as the parts and sales manager liaison between approximately 15 dealerships and headquarters. Shane, 21, plays baseball for Columbia University in New York. He was All State at Clements!

Amy and Jim Wright are our new neighbors at 715 Salerno. Amy and Jim moved from Greatwood.  Jim is Deputy General Counsel with Energy Transfer Partners, L. P. in Houston. Amy is a former CPA and one of the most organized people in this world (according to Jim's Mom:) Amy and Jim have three boys. Jack is 17 and will be a freshman at Texas A & M in the fall. Jeb and Jared are 11 year old twins!

Around the Block

There’s much exciting news regarding the Imperial Redevelopment!  I will fill you in next month! But if you are considering buying a TH or patio home now is the time! I fully expect prices to go up soon. I have three sales pending in Imperial and would love to represent you and help you get the best deal possible! I have data relative to home/lot sales--both recorded and unrecorded on the MLS.

Coming Soon!

111 Saint Marks

819 Piedmont