Sam Affanhe, REALTOR®
Bryan and College Station, TX Real Estate
Read my blog below
New Home Builder Spotlight Category
The Quality of the CSISD (College Station Independent School District) School Board
March 7th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Often times it’s difficult to tell whether or not a school, or a school district is “good” or “bad.” Everyone hopes that their child will realize her/his full intellect, but in some schools, a number of students fade into the background and don’t learn as much as they could.
When moving to a new area, there are a huge amount of things to consider besides which school district is the best for your child, so it’s easy to overlook which school is right. However, it’s not a very good idea to leave it to fate, as some schools sadly do not perform as well as others; on the other hand, it can be difficult to determine which is which.
There are a number of ways to decide; for instance you could look at Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Texas A&M University An Equine Evening at the Expo 2010
March 6th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Texas A&M University 
College of Veterinary Medical & Biomedical Sciences
Animal Science Equine Science Section & the Brazos Extension Horse Committee invite you to attend An Equine Evening at the Expo
Brazos County Exposition Complex
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
“Horse Cloning – State of the Art”
Katrin Hinrichs, DVM, PhD, Professor
Patsy Link Chair in Mare Reproduction Studies
Texas A&M University
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology & Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Joint Appointment
“Piroplasmosis and Your Horse – What You Need to Know”
Tracy Norman, VMD, Clinical Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
“Hoof Trimming Fundamentals”
Jason Maki, CJF, RJF, Farrier
Texas A&M University
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Schedule
Registration and Meal: 6:00-6:30 pm
Dinner hosted by The Brazos Extension Horse Committee.
Program begins: 6:30 pm
To register for this event, please call The Brazos County Extension Office at 979-823-0129, or email Eric Zimmerman at e-zimmerman@tamu.edu, before Friday, March 19, at 4:00 pm.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Messina Hof Cooking Parties with the Chef in Bryan College Station
March 6th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
March is finally here and the springtime month brought along some greatly anticipated sunshine. Now that the cold weather looks like it may be behind us for good, Bryan and College Station residents can finally turn to local outdoor treasures. Messina Hof Winery and Resort has an exciting lineup of events this spring.
Make sure you pencil in the “Cooking Parties with the Chef” on March 18th and 21st. Cooking parties are offered for both beginners and experts, and everyone leaves with new tips, good memories, and a finely satisfied appetite.
If you prefer to focus more on the wine itself, then mark your calendar for this month’s wine appreciation class, taught on March 28th and is entitled “The Wines of Burgundy.” Join the family at 3:00 p.m. to learn about the five regions of Burgundy and two reviled grapes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Of course, no class would be complete without plenty of samples to taste.
One of the best deals in town is the five dollar wine tour, on which you can enjoy late afternoon weather while exploring Bryan’s very own vineyard. Knowledgeable and fun staff lead tours through the various buildings and grounds while explaining the entire wine making process, from the grape picking to the label printing. The best part: the tour ends in the wine tasting room where the tour leader shares his or her knowledge on Messina Hof’s many wonderful wine offerings while you sip away.
Take advantage of this perfect weather with a friend and enjoy the highly acclaimed local wine at Messina Hof today!
Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal, Inc.
#1 in Real Estate in Bryan and College Station Home Sales
Real Estate for Bryan College Station!
Call 979-764-2121 and hear information on ANY property for sale in the Brazos Valley.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Broadway at the MSC in College Station, Tx
March 5th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Although the MSC (Memorial Student Center) may be under construction, MSC OPAS is still in full swing. MSC OPAS is an organization on campus that brings professional productions of theatre, music and dance programs to Bryan/College Station. It is open to all residents, not just students. In the past MSC OPAS has brought shows including Yo-Yo Ma, Les Miserables, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, and even Riverdance. Now it’s bringing the best of Broadway, wrapped up in one singing and dancing package. MSC OPAS presents Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, a compilation of some of the best shows and songs from the last century. Straight from New York with five of Broadway’s best- Andrea Rivette, Carter Calvert, Raymond Jaramillo McLeod, Grant Norman, Robert DuSold, and Composer Neil Berg- songs from shows like Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Pebble Creek Elementary School Carnival Saturday March 6, 2010
March 4th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Pebble Creek Elementary School Carnival this Saturday. You don’t want to miss it!
Join us this Saturday, March 6th from 11am to 4pm for the annual Pebble Creek Elementary Spring Carnival. Everyone is welcome – not just for Pebble Creek students! This year’s carnival is a space theme!
We’ll have plenty to do for the parents and the kids!
- Games, including bounce houses and inflatables
- Cast room, children’s raffle, cake walk & more!
- Silent auction – over $20,000 in merchandise
- Class basket auction & class plate auction
- Race car from Texas World Speedway
- Food from great vendors like Outback, Dickey’s, Ninfas, Spoons Yogurt & Buck’s pizza
Tickets are on sale at the door day of the Pebble Creek carnival or in advance outside the school from 2:45 to 3:45 Thursday and Friday.
Come out and get LOST IN SPACE!
Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal, Inc.
#1 in Real Estate in Bryan and College Station Home Sales
Real Estate for Bryan College Station!
Call 979-764-2121 and hear information on ANY property for sale in the Brazos Valley.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Art Exhibits in the Bryan College Station Tx Area
March 4th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Visitors to Bryan/College Station usually come with very specific expectations in mind– namely that they’ll see an Aggie football game and take a trip to the Dixie Chicken. While those are still Bryan/College Station staples, and football plus fried chicken is still a beloved combination, the residents have expanded.
The people of Bryan/College Station are scarcely one-dimensional, and the town reflects its people; as the city grows, more and more art galleries have been emerging and revealing themselves. What’s more remarkable is the amount of artists there are to be found in the Bryan College/Station area. As art galleries keep surfacing, works from local artists have been appearing to fill the walls of the galleries.
Most recently, the relatively new Village Café and Art 979 have been proudly displaying art from a huge milieu of individuals– from Bryan, Texas to Buffalo, New York. The Village Café started out as Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Bryan College Station Local Grocers and Farmers Market
February 26th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Bryan College Station Farmers Market Century 21 Beal
Bryan/College Station is a very unique place. The sister cities have most everything you’d find in a big city, but alternatively it’s got quite a bit you wouldn’t. What makes it so special is the amount of farms and food producers around. This area of Texas is one of the agricultural boons of the U.S., not to mention A&M University has some of the most premier agricultural researchers. We are surrounded by some of the freshest, healthiest meats and vegetables in Texas; that makes Bryan/College Station one of the best places to shop for food. Be it our farmers’ markets, local grocers, or A&M’s meat market, you can find some of the most delicious foods in our quaint little sister cities.
HEB and Kroger’s are great grocery stores as well, but if you’re looking for fresh Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Bryan College Station Real Estate Market Report January 2010
February 25th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
2009 was a rough year for most of us, whether we were in real estate, stocks, retail business… Real estate for January 2009 was down 24% in sales compared to the 2008. That was a scary start for the year. 2010 did not start off much different from 2009 but without an additional drop!
January 2010 compared to January 2009 is only up 2% in sales. Being up 2% in sales is great, but remember we are comparing it to a year where we were down 24% from the previous year. Thankfully, we have all learned to cut back on our expenses and have learned to live “within our means” and “within our market”. January 2010 was not a record month but we are also thankful we didn’t have another “Down” month. We started off the year POSITIVE!
When 2009 started we had less inventory – properties available to sell. We started the year off 4.6% less than 2008. Starting 2010 we are way up. We have 17% more inventory this January than we did in 2009, but there were fewer new homes put on the market this January than in 2008 or 2009. So, there are more homes on the market available but fewer new ones on the market… so more homes are staying on the market longer. There are over 100 more houses available to choose from than in 2009 so if someone is looking – NOW IS THE TIME!
Note that the information above is the Bryan College Station total market – it is NOT what is happening at Century 21 Beal. Century 21 Beal has increased market share in both sales and new listings compared to 2009 and we are off to a GREAT year! Want to see our Bryan College Station Real Estate Market Share numbers and what other companies around town are doing? Click on the link!
Susan
Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal
Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!
| Discussion: No Comments »
Granite Counter Tops Worth it in College Station?
February 19th, 2010 Categories: New Home Builder Spotlight
Have you ever wondered if your College Station home would look better with granite counter tops? Do you know how they would wear? How much would it cost?
Of all the surfaces inside of the house, counter tops usually have to endure all the wear and tear. Anything you don’t want laying around on the floor usually ends up on counter tops, and accidents like to happen when given enough time. Even worse, scratches and gouges can be eye magnets, but even so, remodeling can be difficult to think about sometimes.
Home owners are sometimes daunted with the issue of remodeling: it can be painstaking to decide upon and it’s usually tough work. Beyond that, there is no formula to figuring out if the cost exceeds the benefit when part of the benefit is happiness
Research is very important, and there are a fair number of options with types of counter tops and manufacturers. After any amount of research, it’s clear that many consumer reports and magazines praise Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
New Lakeridge Townhomes in College Station, TX Expected to Follow The Success of Builders Predecessors
February 1st, 2010 Categories: College Station Neighborhoods, Community Information, Local Attractions/Spotlights, New Home Builder Spotlight
Lakeridge Town Homes will mark the 3rd Development from Starfish Development Group here in College Station. The first two, Waterwood Townhomes (2003-2007) and River Oaks (2007-2009), have proven to be well received by both parents/investors and residents alike given their continued demand as premier college living along with the success on the cash flow and property appreciation side of things. Waterwood was 170 units, River Oaks was 97 units and Lakeridge will total 210 units.
Out of the current 267 units, from Waterwood and River Oaks townhomes, Starfish Development has only been able to retain 12, which have consistently leased out annually. Since their inception into the real estate market here in College Station, Starfish Development properties have seen an average price appreciation increase of just over 5%
ONLY 41 units will be available for move-in come August of 2010. So we are encouraging all potential buyers to strongly consider making a decision in the near future. We have already had much interest in Lakeridge and expect it to only increase. For investor clients, this property bodes well on the cash flow side, and if a move is made in the near future, I do not see an issue with leasing out that specific unit. As I alluded to above, there has been much interest expressed in Lakeridge up to this point.
The units at Lakeridge Townhomes will be 2, 3, and 4 BDRM units with large floor plans, own private bath, and your own spacious walk-in closet. I imagine that investors would express a particular interest in the 4 BDRM layouts. From an investor’s perspective, the 4 BDRM, frankly, cash flows better and is a more logical investment on paper.
Currently, there are early bird specials to the first 20 buyers. This includes a free 46″ LCD flat screen TV along with a free washer/dryer to the first ten buyers. Also, we have implemented a price incentive for pre-construction sales. The result of this is an $8000 sales price discount.
Please send me an email at sama@century21bcs.com or give me a call at 979-314-1399 to learn more or to take a tour of a model unit. Once again, much interest has been expressed in this development and time is of the essence.
I also have floor-plans and a price sheet available by request, Thank you.
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
