The North Houston Tea Party movement continues.  This tea party took place at Sam Houston Raceway Park the night before the 2009 elections.  I knew  there was a lot of people and have now heard between 10,000 to 15,000 people showed up.

 The speakers were great.  I think my favorite was Lord Christopher Monckton.  He debunks Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" and all the global warming theories. This you tube video was taken in St. Paul Minnesota.  He talks about the Copenhagen conference that is coming up and how important it is that our President does not sign.  Should he sign it would make us a one world government.  Please take the time to watch it.

Oppose the upcoming Treaty of Copenhagen - Visit http://www.webcommentary.com/signrep.php to read why and to sign a petition (Instrument of Repudiation) opposing the forthcoming Treaty!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332. 

If you would like information about Spring TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia.  If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2009 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved.*The North Houston Tea Party - the movement continues.......*

  2nd Annual

Houston U.S. Veterans Initiative

American Golf Classic

" Serving those who Served "

YOU ARE INVITED !  

Who: All men and women

When: Monday, Oct. 5 2009

SHOTGUN start at 9:00a.m.

Where: The Oaks & Panther Trail 2311 North Millbend Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380

Entry Fee: $100.00/person

Format: 4 person scramble

( Individuals are welcome

& will be grouped with a

Team )

Registration Deadline:

October 1, 2009

Event Coordinator: Paul Lance, 823-203-1626, ext 102      Email: plance@usvetsinc.org

US Vets is the largest operator of homeless veterans programs in the country.   For more information on US VET Inc and their programs that are in support of our veterans visit http://www.usvetsinc.org/.  I have also written a post about US VETS that will give you more information.

Houston U.S. Veterans Initiative Golf Tournatment SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  

$5,000 - FOUR STAR GENERAL

• Four teams playing in the Scramble tournament! 
• Recognition in Houston Area Golf Magazines
• Recognition on Sports Radio 610 - Houston
• Recognition on U.S. Veterans Initiative website
• Recognition on all signs created specifically for the tournament
• Prominent placement of corporate banner at the tournament site
• Product / Display sampling on-site
• Gift package for each participant  
• Professional Photo of each team
• Lunch     
• Recognition at Awards Ceremony
• Appreciation Plaque from U.S. Veterans Initiative

   $2,500 - CAPTAIN  

• Three teams playing in the Scramble tournament!
• Recognition in Houston Area Golf Magazines
• Recognition on U.S. Veterans Initiative website
• Recognition on all signs created specifically for the tournament
• Prominent placement of corporate banner at the tournament site
•  Gift package for each participant on the team
• Lunch     
• Recognition at Awards Ceremony
• Appreciation Plaque from U.S. Veterans Initiative

$1,500 - LIEUTENANT

• One team playing in the Scramble tournament!
• Recognition in Houston Area Golf Magazines
•  Recognition on all signs created specifically for the tournament
• Prominent placement of corporate banner at the tournament site
• Gift package for each participant on the team
• Lunch
• Recognition at  Awards Ceremony
•  Appreciation Plaque from U.S. Veterans Initiative

 $100.00 - SERGEANT

• Appreciation Certificate from U.S. Veterans
• Initiative Recognition at  Awards Ceremony

I am going to call this post part two of a two part post.  Part one was on my evolving thoughts on the Memorial Day holiday.  This post just continues that journey.

With this new appeciaton of Memorial Day I had thought about going to the Houston National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony.  I thought about it but had talked myself out of it; as my husband had to work.  I had some clients call late yesterday and they wanted to look at a house early this morning.  When I realized the ceremony was just a 15 minute drive from the house I was showing I just felt I was meant to go. We have lived here 12 years and I can't even tell you how many times I have driven by this cemetery (as it is located in Northwest Houston) but this was my first time to go in. 

I am so glad that I went.  The ceremony was a beautiful tribute to our fallen soldiers.  It was somber yet meaningful!  I think this will start a new Memorial Day tradition for me. 

With out son just getting out of Iraq in March and out of the Army May 2nd this has made Memorial Day very special for me this year.  If you have never watched a welcome home celebration please share my joy and visit my Welcome Home to Texas - 4th Infantry!! post!  I have written 386 post so far on the rain and I have to say my welcome home post is my VERY FAVORITE!!  I feel so blessed that he came home safe and sound! 

We have such a debt of gratitude for those who are serving in our Armed forces, those who have served and partiuclarly those who made the ulitmate sacrifice. 

US Vets Houston is part of the US Vets initiative.  US Vets is the largest operator of homeless veterans programs in the country.  Started in 1993, US Vets has ten sites in 6 states; serving more than 16,000 homeless veterans.  Each year more than 1,100 veterans are finding work.  US Vets Houston provides counseling, job assistance, housing and hope to thousands of homeless veterans each year; right here in the Houston area.  Their programs foster the skills necessary to return to the community and remain self sufficient. 

I remember hearing after Hurricane Ike came through our area that some 2.1 million customers were out of power.  Just two weeks afterwards power has been restored to almost all the areas where it can still be restored.  I know there are still pockets without power but they become less ever day.  One of my clients wrote the letter below and asked me if I would post it on Active Rain.  She very eloquently Thanks all our recovery workers that made this possible in such a short time.  Please take the time to read her letter and give our service workers a big thumbs up.

Dear fellow Texan, American and Canadian friends:

We in southeast Texas are so grateful for the outpouring of assistance we have received during the past two weeks since Hurricane Ike roared through our communities. 

To all members of law enforcement (both local and those who came in from other areas of Texas to assist us) thank you.  We citizens do not always express our appreciation for the work you do on a daily basis. However, you need to know that you are very much appreciated by the vast majority. 

To all members of other emergency services such as fire and rescue who also spent so much time away from their own families and homes in order to service our communities, we thank you.

To all members of Centerpoint, Entergy, AT&T, and the untold numbers of companies working on power lines, traffic signals and debris removal:  You have all worked so tirelessly during these past two weeks in an effort to bring a sense of normalcy back to our lives, and we thank you.

I have personally seen workers, power company trucks and tree removal service companies from the following states (although I know help came from as far away as Alaska and Canada): 

• Alabama
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Washington

Many citizens have made it a point (myself included) to honk, smile, wave, or give a thumbs up to these fine people in an effort to let them know how much we appreciate them for being away from their homes and families in an effort to help us.  Somehow it just does not seem enough.  So to anyone who is reading this, I ask one favor:  Please pass this message on.  I am hopeful that this will eventually reach each and every person involved in this recovery effort and let them know just how much they have meant to our community.

Kind regards

Marcia Cooke, 

Spring TX

Houston US VETS invite you to spend a day with a VET! Saturday July 19th, Barbeque and entertainment!!

"Spend a day with a VET is a FREE opportunity for people to have a fun experience while showing their appreciation to our VETS by spending a little time with those VETS who live at the US VETS Midtown Terrace Facility."

HIGHLIGHTS:

9:00 AM - POW/MIA Flag Raising (local and state officials have been invited to attend).

9:30 AM - Flag retirement ceremony conducted by local scouts

10:00 until 2:00 Barbeque and entertainment ($10 donation requested per person.)

US VETS Midtown Terrace was opened in 1997.  It features 170 units of transitional and permanent housing and 72 program beds.  The facility is currently undergoing a complete renovation.  They are seeking support from the community through donations of materials and cash.

VIP Program Services Include

US Vets is the largest operator of homeless veterans programs in the country.   For more information on US VET Inc and their programs that are in support of our veterans visit http://www.usvetsinc.org/.  I have also written a post about US VETS that will give you more information.

This is your opportunity to come out and spend a day with a VET.  I know that we often think of our Vietnam Veterans but they have Veterans from all our recent wars going back to World War II.

The barbeque is being hosted by the Houston area chapter members of Rolling Thunder and the Rotary Club of Sharpstown. 

For more information on "Spending a Day with a VET" contact Gary Robinson the President of Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 at Gary.Robinson@ExpressJet.com.  His phone numbers are office 832-353-2626 or his cell at 281-734-6859.

Houston's April 2008 sales results are out and the Houston market is still fairly stable.  For the third month in a row the number of homes sold is less when compared to the number of homes that sold last year.  However the actual sales price rose to the highest level ever according to the Houston Association of REALTORS.  The average sales price rose by .09 percent to 207,270.  In April of last year the average sales price was $205,490.  The median sales price maintained at $150,000.

I was a little confused about the difference between the median price and the average price so consulted HAR.  The median price is the price that is midway between the least expensive and most expensive home sold in an area during a given period of time. During that time, half the buyers bought homes that cost more than the median price and half bought homes for less than the median price. The average home price is the sum of prices of all homes sold in a certain area in a certain period, divided by the number of properties sold in the same area in that period.

This has been an interesting trend.  Our prices are going up but we are not selling as many homes.  I personally think this has everything to do with what is going on in the lending industry.  It is just harder for people to get loans which correlates in not having as many buyers as we use to have.  The days of the 100% loan are almost gone so the buyers need to have at least a little cash to be able to get in to a house.

I think this has to do with the fact that we never saw the huge increases in prices like much of the country; therefore we did not have a bubble to burst.  This makes our area a bit of an anomaly compared to the rest of the country.  However, there has been a ripple effect.  Point in case is the number of homes that have been sold compared to the number sold last year.  It is interesting however to see that our prices have really not been affected. 

We had some milestones in April.  We had the largest number of single family homes sold so far in 2008 with the highest average single family sales price.  The sales of single family homes below $80,000 rose by 27.3 percent.  The sales of townhouse and condominiums reached the highest level since August with the highest median and average price.

Our HAR chairman, Michael Levitin summed our market up quite nicely so I am going to leave you with his words.

"Coming off of two consecutive record years, the Houston real estate market is demonstrating relative stability while other cities continue to suffer dramatic declines in both sales and pricing," said Michael Levitin, HAR chairman. "We avoided a bubble thanks to Houston's history of moderate growth in home values. The healthy local job market and diverse economy have created dynamics that are conducive to a faster recovery and we anticipate conditions to improve in the second half of the year."

If you are considering a move to the Houston Northwest area or the surrounding areas of Spring, Tomball, Magnolia or The Woodlands please give me a call or visit my website. 

For all your Northwest Houston Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

North Houston Networking Eliminators walk for Cancer at Northwest Houston relay for life!

The North Houston Networking Eliminators walked for Cancer at the Northwest Houston Cancer relay Friday night April 18, 2008.  The North Houston Networking eliminators happen to be the North Houston Networking Group; a business and professional organization designed to promote professional development among its members.  This was the second year that the group has walked in the Cancer relay.  I really was not too sure about missing a night of sleep but I am part of the group so agreed to do the walk.

We walked at the track at Strack Intermediate School.  It started at 7:00 Friday night and went until 7:00 the following morning.  It started off with a beautiful opening ceremony.  Our own member Valerie Hill with Mannatech sang the National Anthem.  She sang several other songs throughout the night.

The first lap was walked by cancer survivors.  I was amazed at how many survivors walked.  There must have been 75 to 100 people walking.  They were all ages and many were quite young.  All of the cancer survivors wore a purple shirt.  I was surprised to see a lady I knew walking with a purple shirt on; I had no idea she was a cancer survivor.  She was the only cancer survivor that I knew but this was a local relay for the Spring area so I saw several people I knew out walking for cancer that night.

Each team was to have someone walking on the track all night long.  Our team captain was Barbara Frank with Polk Majestic Travel.  Barbara did an incredible job of organization.  She kept us informed prior to the walk with emails and had our walk completely organized.    Each team had a place to set up their camp sites.  Some sites were very fancy and others just had sleeping bags thrown on the ground.  It really didn't matter it was all about being there.

There was something going on all night long.  Each team came up with a game and they were played in the middle of the field.   There were special laps throughout the night such as the noisemaker lap, the sunglass lap, the crazy hat lap, the beach ball lap etc.  We would walk those special laps as a team. 

There was also a silent auction that went on.  The quilt that you see on the stage was one of the silent auction items.  Each team donated a silent auction item and then you were welcome to donate other items.  Close to $3000 was raised from the silent auction alone.  I'm not sure how much the total fundraiser raised the goal was $75,000 and it appears they will bypass that. 

I really like my sleep and was asked why I would miss a night's sleep for this.  Why not just donate some money? I had a two-fold reason for walking.  As many of you know I lost a neighbor recently from pancreatic cancer.  She found out she had cancer at the first of the year and was gone by March.  Charlene was going through this when the walk was being organized.  The problem with pancreatic cancer is that by the time people figure out they have it the cancer is in an advanced stage.  This year I walked in memory of Charlene.

The walk was also about celebrating the lives of those that have survived and those that are still fighting.  We had a memory/honor board that we put together for those people that have been touched in our life with cancer.  As many of you know Active Rainer Karen George is presently battling cancer and I added her name to those that are in the middle of the battle.  I have not met Karen personally but she has touched my life and is in my prayers. 

I said there was a two-fold reason that I walked.  The other reason was because I said I would.  Believe me as it came closer I wanted to take those words back because I don't like missing a night of sleep.  We did not have to stay all night and next year I might take that option.   This year I said I would so I did.

For all your Northwest Houston Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

Moving your Pets Cross Country to Northwest Houston!

We have made two cross country moves with pets and it is an interesting experience.  We moved a dog named Rusty and a cat named Rosy from Colorado to North Carolina and then from North Carolina to Texas.   There are certain things that you can do to help your pet have a smooth transition to your new location.  Both Rusty and Rosy have passed on since that time but they died from old age with us.  I have included their pictures in this post.

One of the first things you will want to do is to invest in a high quality, sturdy pet carrier.  For us we only had to invest in one for Rosy as our dog Rusty loved to travel and was a wonderful traveler.  We spent some time ahead of time getting Rosy use to being in the pet carrier.  You will want to invest in a carrier that is appropriate for the size of your pet.  I bought a carrier that was way too big for her thinking it would give her room to stretch.  In retrospect I think she would have been more comfortable in a carrier that was appropriate to her size.  This is not a time when they will want to do a lot of moving around.

We bought a restraining harness for our cat.  I spent quite a bit of time getting her use to the harness before we moved.  You can see she has the harness on in the picture at the left.  Cats do get use to taking walks with the harness but it takes some time.  I had her in the harness almost constantly for the two weeks prior to our trip.  My sister presently has a cat trained to a harness and found that the ones made for rabbits work quite well.  Rusty was use to walking on a leash so we didn't do anything special for him.  If you pet does not like traveling you might want to talk to your veterinarian ahead of time and get appropriate medications. 

Another thing you will want to do is to purchase a new ID tag for your pet.  Put your new address and your cell phone on it.  Two weeks after getting to our new home we were shooting off fireworks and Rusty ran away.  Somehow he found his way home.  We were just lucky that he found his way back home. They did not have imbedded chips back then but that would be another idea.  Presently we have an indoor cat that likes to go outdoors and we have an imbed chip at the back of his neck.

On the actual moving day you will want to put your pet in a room that is isolated from all the commotion.  Put a BIG note on the door so everyone knows not to go in that room.  They are not going to understand what is going on and they have a long trip ahead of them so you want to keep them as calm as possible.

We did move our pets during the summer months and that is going to make your trip interesting.  You don't want to leave your pet in a parked car as the temperature rises so you might end up having lots of picnic lunches. 

Find pet friendly motels in advance.  When we made our trips there was not the wonderful map questing programs that are available now.  You can map out your trip decide how far you want to go and find a motel that accepts pets. 

Take all the things your pet will need with you so your pet will have some items that they are use to in their new home.  This is your pet's new home and you want them to be as comfortable in it as soon as possible.  Many people lose their pets in the moving process.  The first few weeks are an important time in your pet's transition and this is the time when many people lose their pets.  As I said earlier we came very close to losing a dog during this time.

This next part is REALLY important for dog owners.  Texas has a BIG PROBLEM with heart worms in dogs.  You will want to get your pet on heart worm medicine right away.  I had friends that moved here from Colorado and I didn't even think about telling them about heart worms and a year and a half later they now have to treat both dogs for heart worms.  It is not a cheap treatment it is costing them $700 per dog.  In Colorado it was not a problem like it is here.

I hope this helps you make a smooth move to Northwest Houston with your pets.  For more information about my furry friends please visit My Furry Friends weblog.

For all your Northwest Houston Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

United States Veterans Initiative Houston 1st Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk

US Vets Houston is part of the US Vets initiative.  US Vets is the largest operator of homeless veterans programs in the country.  Started in 1993, US Vets has ten sites in 6 states; serving more than 16,000 homeless veterans.  Each year more than 1,100 veterans are finding work.  US Vets Houston provides counseling, job assistance, housing and hope to thousands of homeless veterans each year; right here in the Houston area.  Their programs foster the skills necessary to return to the community and remain self sufficient. 

United States Veterans Initiative

1^st Annual 5 K Run/Walk

All proceeds are tax deductible!!!!

501 (C)(3) #95-4382752; A Home For Former Homeless Veterans

Saturday, May 17, 2008

  7:00 am on Golbow Dr. located at Bear Creek Park in Houston, Texas

  $20 Entry Fee

Click here to register online for the 5K Fun Run/Walk

Registration Information, contact Omar Sesay, Race Director at 832-203-1626; 281-639-4984 or osesay@usvetsinc.org