Venetian Estates News - November 2023

Real Estate and More…

Venetian Estates Market Update
Five properties, ranging in price from $650,000 to $3.395 million, are actively listed for sale on HAR in Venetian Estates. Last month I sold 306 Lombardy before I had the opportunity to finish photos and install a yard sign! My listings at 519 Lombardy and 814 Piedmont, with their gorgeous lots and well-maintained homes, are rare gems with incredible investment potential. I also have another privately listed move-in-ready home that has been beautifully remodeled. If you have friends or family looking for a building/remodel project or a move-in-ready home, we have a fit! Call me to discuss any of the lovely options currently for sale.

The Anglers’ Edition
A few recent photos of neighbors’ large-mouth bass may leave you with your own mouths agape… 11-year-old Clay Shaffer, son of Kate and Brad Shaffer at 122 St. Marks, landed a mighty-big bass from his dock. Clay is a dedicated fisherman, and you have likely spotted him with his buddy Ian Smith (Salerno St.) riding their bikes, loaded with wobbling poles and tackle boxes, to and from the dam.    14-year-old Luke Ferguson often eases the pain of a Monday morning by rushing his routine to allow for a couple of sunrise casts before heading to school. Donning his school tie and jacket, he was appropriately dressed for the special occasion last month when he landed his largest Lake Venetian bass yet.  


I have yet to ask him how many years old he is 😉, but our new neighbor Shayne Higdon is going to give anglers a run for their  money at next year’s fishing tournament. Shayne and his wife Suzanne are about to break ground on their new home at 402 Piedmont. Apparently, Suzanne can’t count on Shayne to contribute to on-site meetings with their contractor. In group discussions, Suzanne will pose a question to Shayne only to realize that he has wandered off to drop a line in the water. It’s no wonder; he landed this giant catch right off the bulkhead!

New Neighbors
More information about Suzanne, Shayne, and their family in the months ahead, but in the meantime, be sure to say hello at upcoming VE social events! I am delighted to introduce Thelma and Russell Jones, who recently moved into the lovely 306 Lombardy. They have lived in Sugar Land since 1994 and are members of Christ Church, Sugar Land. Russell served on City Council for many years. The two happily retired attorneys have two daughters and three granddaughters, and they look forward to enjoying sunsets on the lake!   

In the News
Longtime resident Nizar Mullani at 719 Santa Maria was awarded the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) for his outstanding contributions to nuclear medicine. Nizar is one of the pioneers of the first positron emission tomography (PET) prototype. Along with colleagues, Nizar worked day and night to develop a series of PET scanners. SNMMI president Munir Ghesani, MD, said “Not only was he involved with the invention of PET as we know it today, but also he has contributed to countless other advances that are now used on a daily basis, allowing innovative and safer practice of medicine and benefitting thousands of patients every day.” Nizar also invented the DermLite device for skin-cancer detection and the Veinlite device to assist with vein access. Congratulations and thank you, Nizar!  

Around Town
I recently represented the sellers of an office condo in Greatwood and the sellers of a gorgeous home in Colony Park (which sold within one day above list price after receiving multiple offers!). I now have an extraordinary listing in Tanglewood at 1110 Longmont Place Court. Priced at $2.395 million, the 5000+-SF home is on a double-lot in a small, gated community between Sage and Post Oak. The landscaped lawn and pool create a secluded retreat amid the striking Uptown skyline. It is a rare find for someone looking for a lock-and-leave home in the city without sacrificing a sprawling, private lawn.   

Venetian Estates News: June 2023

Real Estate and More…

Venetian Estates Market Update

Four properties, ranging in price from $1.2 to $3.595 million, are actively listed for sale on HAR in Venetian Estates. FBRE sold 402 Lombardy this month. (I’m excited to introduce you to our future neighbor, so read on!) My listings at 814 Piedmont and 122 Tuscany are gorgeous. If you have friends looking to move to VE, one of these homes will be a sure fit! Call me any time to discuss.

New Neighbors

FBRE acted as intermediary in the sale of 310 Lombardy to Tracey and Bucky Richardson. They plan to renovate their home, and phase one begins this summer with a new driveway, expanded garage, and curb appeal. Bucky is from Baton Rouge. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1991 and is now a partner in Environmental Improvements EI2 in Houston, a municipal water and wastewater business. He is an avid golfer and is thrilled to be so close to River Bend CC! Tracey is from Killeen, TX, worked as a court reporter for 25 years, and subsequently for 10 years ran the youth football league that Bucky helped found, Fort Bend GridIron Football. They have three children, Jordan (28), John Paul (21), and Jenna (19). The Richardsons lived in Sienna for the past 18 years, and the kids all graduated from Ridge Point High School. Jordan is a Realtor in Austin, and she was just married in May. John Paul is a football player at TCU. Jenna is a sophomore at Texas A&M pursuing a degree in communications. Now that Bucky and Tracey are empty-nesters they are excited about this new chapter in VE! Between long-time friends that already live here and the amazing new people they have met, Venetian already feels like home, and they feel blessed to be a part of this unique neighborhood in the heart of Sugar Land!

Fun Facts: Bucky was quarterback for Texas A&M and John Paul proudly wears his dad’s college numher, 7. John Paul is a receiver who captured much attention last season and alrady has a fan club on the horned-frog side of the Ferguson family. Look out for John Paul this fall and perhaps a couple of split A&M/TCU flags flying in VE!

The TCU Horned Frogs may be gaining ground, but our next new neighbor will be flying pure maroon. I represented Mike Mopper in the purchase of 402 Lombardy, and he is planning a beautiful home on this gorgeous half-acre property. Mike joins his sister and brother-in-law, Melanie and Adam Cox of 706 Salerno. He is class of ‘99 at A&M, where he earned his degree in Chemical Engineering. Mike’s career has been focused on LNG. He worked overseas with Chevron for over 10 years in London and Perth, Australia. For the last 7 years he has worked for Cameron LNG in Lake Charles. He recently joined Freeport LNG in Houston as Sr. VP of Operations. He has three nephews and one niece who are thrilled to have him in Sugar Land. Cora and Duncan Cox are particularly excited to live a short ferry-ride across the lake from their backyard to Uncle Mike’s! Mike grew up in Missouri City with Melanie and their sister Melinda, who now lives in Greatwood. Their parents still live in Quail Valley.

Fun Fact: Mike, Melanie and Melinda are triplets! I have never before met triplets, and it’s no wonder…medical research explains the rule of thumb, dubbed “Hellin’s Law,” which claims that the pattern in multiple births runs thus: if twins occur at a rate of approximately 1 in 85, triplets will occur at a rate of 1 in 852, quadruplets 1 in 853, and so on. As I type this, I am considering that twin Vaughn boys live across the street from Melanie…I may ask my high-school-statistics-teacher sister Kristin Johnston on Genova to run the stats on the likelihood of multiple multiples on the same street…

Mystery Mail

After sending my April newsletter, a few neighbors informed me that they received empty envelopes. If you were a recipient of this small batch of ghost mail, please text or email me for a PDF copy—don’t miss it!

Around Town

I just sold my gorgeous golf-course listing in Sweetwater. My clients were referred to me by a VE neighbor and client. I am so grateful for your referrals and work hard for your business and trust. I am currently representing the buyers of a classic beauty on an oak-lined street in Greatwood. I am busy all through Houston and Sugar Land, so please call or refer to me with any real-estate questions or requirements.

Venetian Estates News April 2023

Real Estate and More…

Venetian Estates Market Update

Four properties, ranging in price from $925k to $1.695 million, are currently listed for sale on HAR in Venetian Estates.

This month we sold the stunning home at 715 Salerno. We have facilitated several private sales this year. The market remains very strong, yet VE is particularly low in inventory. Please call us if you are considering selling, and we would love to help you structure a sale to meet your goals and timeline.

New Neighbors

We are delighted to introduce our new neighbors at 715 Salerno, Sarah and Brian Smith. Brian is from Chattanooga, TN, and Sarah is from New Waverly, TX. They met while undergrads in San Antonio at Trinity University and have been married for almost 23 years. They are moving from Sienna, where they have lived for 18 years. They own Sienna Plantation Animal Hospital, where Brian serves as the lead veterinarian and medical director. Sarah is a play therapist and has practiced on-and-off over the years while intermittently staying home with their four children. Abigail and Juliet (7th grade), Ian (5th grade), and Violet (1st grade) have attended Fort Bend Christian Academy for the past school year, and the whole family has fallen in love with the school and the VE community! With some good friends in place in VE and many more they can’t wait to meet, the Smiths plan to complete a few projects on the house and to move in by early May. The whole family is talking about what a fun summer this will be!

Nike, Nike!

Last summer, Corey and I traveled through Greece with our boys. In Athens, we learned of the story of Pheidippides, who was employed as a day runner by the Athenian military during the Greco-Persian War in 490 B.C. The Persians far outnumbered the Greeks and were closing in on Athens when the Athenian army met them on the coast of Marathon. Pheidippides was tasked with running 240 km (~150 mi) to Sparta to request their help to defend against the Persians. Sparta said that they could not help right away because they were in the middle of a religious festival. Pheidippides began the return 240-km, two-day journey back to Marathon to relay the disappointing message. However, he returned only to discover that the Greeks had astonishingly already defeated the powerful Persians. He was promptly tasked to run another 42 km (26.2 mi) to Athens to announce the Greeks’ remarkable victory. Legend says that upon arriving in Athens, Pheidippides proclaimed, “Nike! Nike!” (Victory! Victory!) before collapsing to his death from exhaustion. (Though there are rumors that his last words were actually, “My feet are killing me!”)

Our neighbor Brooke Lubojasky can proclaim both “Victory!” and “My feet are killing me!” but with a much happier ending…on April 17th she competed in the 127th running of the Boston Marathon, finishing with a time of 3:38:40. Neighbors may know our resident dedicated-athlete Brooke, who can be seen running in the early morning, late at night, in the rain, with a child, with a dog… Brooke and her husband, Heath, live at 610 Salerno with their three children, Ellis (7), Cole (5), and Collins (3). Brooke returned to running in 2020 during the COVID lockdown and qualified for the 2023 Boston Marathon after her completion of the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2022. Boston was Brooke’s fourth marathon. Her goal is to complete all Abbott World Marathon Majors. She has completed Chicago and Boston and has Berlin, London, Tokyo and New York left. We’re all cheering for you, Brooke!

Market Update

Speaking of running, I have run out of room for a detailed market update. Mortgage rates have eased a bit from their November peak, new listings and inventory are down, sales volume is up, and pricing has increased or declined depending on property type and location. If you would like to discuss personal real estate or simply general market conditions, call me!

Venetian Estates News November 2022

Real Estate and More…

Venetian Estates Market Update

Five properties, ranging in price from $1.1 to $1.995 million, are currently listed for sale on HAR in Venetian Estates. FBRE’s new listing at 106 Sorrento is stunning inside and out! With a gorgeous primary suite, expansive living room, and a gameroom and guest room on the first floor, this house has the perfect floor plan! To boot, the outdoor living areas and resort pool are incredible. At $1,995,000, this property is priced well below replacement value. If you’re considering building on your lot or moving to a newer home, you must see this house!

FBRE listed and promptly sold 310 Lombardy Drive this fall. We listed another property in October and it, too, promptly went under contract. It will close in February to accommodate the sellers’ preferred timeline.

New Neighbors

Susan and Fred Terrell purchased 906 San Marino earlier this year. After 33 years in the oil and gas industry, Fred retired, and he and Susan moved to the Point Clear/Fairhope, AL area. They later moved to Lake Olympia in Missouri City before moving to VE to be nearer to their daughter, Monica, her husband Colin, and their three children. Susan and Fred have found VE to be a beautiful community with friendly neighbors, and they are loving being in walking distance to Monica’s family (who is in the process of remodeling 403 Lombardy) and being able to participate in their grandchildren’s activities.

Our newest neighbors, The Taylors, moved to 610 Piedmont in July. Vonna grew up in Sugar Creek, attending Dulles. Nick is from Sunray, TX but spent summers in Sugar Land and has been a resident for the past twenty years. They have owned houses in almost every “Sugar” neighborhood in Sugar Land and are happy to have finally settled in VE. They have been married for almost 15 years and have two boys, Rivers (9) and Rainn (7), who attend Cornerstone Christian Academy and are active in sports, including baseball, flag football, basketball, soccer, karate, and swim team. The Taylors own Integrity Insurance Services, Inc. (Allstate Insurance) with locations in Webster and Lake Jackson. When they are not working, volunteering, or coaching, they are leading the Better Together connect group at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, where they are members. They already know multiple families in VE and are so incredibly blessed to be part of this amazing community. They love it here and look forward to making many memories with friends and neighbors!

B.B. Italia Bistro & Bar Now Open!

We know la dolce vita here in VE, but Sugar Land just got sweeter with the addition of our newest restaurant! By the time you read this, B.B. Italia will be open in Sugar Land Town Square. Restaurateur Benjamin Berg says he “wanted to bring something entirely new to the area where guests feel that they have been transported to New York City.” Classic Italian-American dishes are made from scratch daily. The French brasserie design “with an Italian twist” features a piano bar with live music from 6-10 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays. There is also a covered veranda for al fresco dining, a stone pizza oven, and a gelato bar. Berg Hospitality Group has created several of Houston’s very best restaurants, pairing outstanding food with a warm and festive atmosphere.

Market Update

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts “the new normal for interest rates could be around 7% for a while.” Pending home sales, touring activity, and online searches are all down approximately 30% from this time last year. Luxury properties such as lots and homes in VE have been insulated as many buyers make cash purchases and are motivated to purchase real estate as a safe long-term investment. While we still have strong, motivated buyers, the prospect pool is smaller than it was a year ago, when more borrowers were motivated to purchase. More than ever, we at FBRE are working hard to serve clients in a changing market. We are peerless in our knowledge and specialized approach to facilitate informed, smooth transactions for buyers and sellers. Please call us to discuss your real estate questions or requirements.