PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS ~ SOMER LYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY! If you are looking for a fantastic photographer in The Woodlands, Texas or surround area, look no further!  Somer Padilla is an excellent photographer who is not only very talented but very fun to work with!  Recently I had Somer take some pictures of my precious Grand baby who is featured on this post! Somer came out to our house and did the entire photo shoot.  She was patient, fun and worked so hard to get just the perfect picture!  As you can see from the pictures in this blog that she produces some fantastic work! You can reach Somer by phone at 281.257.8029 or visit her Facebook page to learn more about her services.  Not only does she photograph beautiful babies, she also does real estate photography, print ad, head ... 03/29/2012

GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS There are many wonderful church services in The Woodlands for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.   Many churches are having Easter services on Saturday evening as well.  No matter what style of service you prefer, you will be able to find something that will work for you and within your time frame. The Good Friday services that are being held have a lot to offer.  Many of the churches are having a Fish Fry, outdoor concerts followed by a Good Friday service.  Check on the link above to see what is being offered out there. May you all have a very blessed Easter holiday weekend.  What a wonderful time of year for renewal and to give thanks for the wonderful blessings we have. HAPPY EASTER! 03/29/2012

THE WOODLANDS MUDDY TRAILS RACE ~ APRIL 7, 2012 The 5th Annual Muddy Trails Race and event is coming up on Saturday, April 7, 2012 here in The Woodlands, Texas.  The annual event is held at the Village of Creekside Park with live music, plenty of crawfish and several fun races. The races include the Kids Fun Run, the 5K race and the 10K race.  The 5K and the 10k races are run through the wooded trails within the adjacent George Mitchell Preserve. This is a wonderful event for the entire family!  You can sign up now through The Woodlands Township site.  The race has a cap so you might want to get on that registration today! Come on out and enjoy the food, the exercise and the live music!  It will be a great time for all!  See you along the Muddy Trails! 03/28/2012

I have had several conversations with agents over the last few days about pricing their listings. I strongly encourage you to watch the pricing videos at www.kwconnect.com with Dianna Kokoszka and Tony DiCello. There are 4 videos approximately 15 minutes each in length. Learn same great scripts right now that will help you in consulting your clients on the importance of pricing their homes right in today's market. Steps to view the 'Price it Right' videos. 1. Login to www.kwconnect.com (same login info as your KW.com)2. Click on the 'Agents' tab at the top of the page.3. Under 'Sales Skills' in the center of the page, scroll down and click on 'Price it Right'.4. You can watch the four videos, 'Mindset', 'Know Your Numbers', 'Pricing Property' and 'Price Reductions' How do you know your ... 03/28/2012

Recently my fiancé was nice enough to introduce me to the detoxing process.  As we all know this is a process to clean your body of toxins.  Don’t get me wrong there were ups and downs, but when it was over I feel great.  And I had more energy and was recharged.  This process got me thinking, can we Detox our business.  I think we can and here are my 10 suggestions for doing it:   1.      Get Up Early- As a realtor there is always a million things to do daily and never enough time.  Well, what about getting up 30mins early.  Can you get more done before the phone starts ringing?  I know you can 2.      Clean up Your Office- Is it a mess, clean it up.  Clean up your desk, shredded some old documents, etc.   Like the saying goes…. Your Body is a Temple.  Well so is your office, take care ... 03/26/2012

THE RUNNING REALTOR! Yep, that would be me - The Running Realtor!  I am one of those strange people who run for the fun of it!   But let me tell you how running enables me to be a better real estate agent! I have the stamina to get the difficult deals done! I have the flexibility to get creative when I need to during a transaction. I will make sure that we all cross the finish line to get a transaction to the closing! I train hard to ensure that I am current on the latest real estate information. I have the discipline to remain focused. I am your Woodlands Real Estate expert and I will do what I need to in order to assist you with all of your commercial or residential real estate needs.  Give me a call today!  See you as I run through the Woods! 03/25/2012

LIVE AT NIGHT CONCERT IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS Now that Spring is here, The Woodlands Live at Night Concerts are back in full swing down at Waterway Square.  Coming up next Saturday, March 31 will be the band Soul Shine! Beginning at 6 - 8 p.m., bring your cooler and your lawn chairs to enjoy the music by the fountains at The Waterway. You could also sit outside one of the many restuarants that fronts The Waterway and enjoy the music from there!  What a perfect way to enjoy this great weather at an outdoor concert in The Woodlands!  Relax and kick back while listening to some great music. Arrive early and set up your chairs!  I will see you there!  Have a great week!   03/25/2012

BLUEBONNETS IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS The Bluebonnets are out here in The Woodlands, Texas!  Spring is officially here and now is the time to schedule those photographs in the flowers!  Due to the nice rains that we have experienced here, the Texas Wildflowers are blooming very nicely!  There are some precautions however!  Make sure that you check the area thoroughly for snakes.  This is the time of year that these lovely creatures come out as well.  Also, look for poison ivy and poison oak.  These nasty vines can wreak havoc on your planned photo session. There are several areas here in The Woodlands where the Bluebonnets are very abundant.  In the Village of Creekside at the Creekside Park, the field is crawling in a blanket of blue!  I took these pictures there.  Make a day of the phot... 03/25/2012

KW The Woodlands and Magnolia is seeking a talented individual with a strong desire to grow a productivity coaching program at one of the top Keller Williams offices in the country. This individual needs to be high minded with the ability to inspire agents into activities that result in increased production. The candidate needs to have the ability to work closely with our two trainers that operate an offsite training center. The candidate for this position is someone that can be a self starter and have a growth mindset. KW The Woodlands and Magnolia has 280 agents. Potential for growth into 2 other market centers under the same ownership will exist for the right candidate.   Candidates are expected to have experience with contracts. Experience with Texas contracts is a plus. The positio... 03/22/2012

Yesterday we had over 70 Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia agents in attendance for our monthly sales meeting. If you missed yesterday, make sure you block out Tuesday, April 10th at 9:30 am for the next KW The Woodlands and Magnolia monthly sales meeting. The monthly sales meetings take place at the Congregation Beth Shalom located in The Woodlands, Texas. Here are some of the things you missed... 1. Wants and Needs - Agents are given an opportunity to share their Wants and Needs pertaining to their buying and selling clients. 2. Network Funding - Network Funding brought guest speaker Mr. Howard Hill from RBH Appraisal Management. Howard shared with the agents of Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia how appraisals impact their clients & what agents need to know about app... 03/21/2012

Getting married is an amazing time for a couple.  But in regards to getting married it can affect your ability to get a mortgage.  I am about to go over how your spouse’s credit can affect your FHA mortgage.   Here are the top 4 ways it will affect you getting a mortgage: 1.      Credit Score- When applying for a FHA mortgage your lender will pull both of your credit scores.  And if it does not meet the min credit score needed than that person can not be on the loan.  This will affect your ability to buy a home since we can also not use their income.  2.      Debts- A Spouse that is not on a loan is called a NPS, Non Purchasing Spouse.  And on FHA loans you have to count their bills in the debt to income ratio for qualifying.  Even if they are not on the loan.  So even if you are not co... 03/20/2012

THE WOODLANDS HOME & GARDEN SHOW The Woodlands Home & Garden Show will be held from March 31 - April 1, 2012 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.  Saturday March 31 the hours will be from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. with the Sunday hours from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and children under 12 are free. If you are building a new home, remodeling or just want some new and fresh ideas, this would be a great event for you.  Great vendors and booths all under one roof!  There will be guest speakers throughout the weekend speaking on various topics. There is always something fun going on in The Woodlands.  Come on out and enjoy a day or the weekend in our great community.  Fun, food, shopping and entertainment!  See you soon in The Woodlands! 03/17/2012

Rick Raanes of Keller Williams The Woodlands and Mangolia hired the services of Texas Real Estate Media to produce a high-end cinematic tour of 15 Legato Way. The video showcases the beauty of this home located in the highly sought after community of Carlton Woods located in The Woodlands, Texas. For more information about this home contact Rick Raanes of Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia. 03/15/2012

Let’s be honest, mortgages in general are not very exciting.  But I am super excited about our FHA Construction  Program.  As we all know FHA loans have the easiest guidelines for a home buyer to qualify.  And now those guidelines can be used for someone to build a home.  This is also a great program for home builders, as it keeps them from having to finance the construction themselves.  Here are the major points and benefits to know:   1.      This is a One Time Close Construction loan.  Meaning you do not need to do a construction loan and then refinance to a normal loan.  Hence saving you money on closing costs 2.      Min 3.5% down payment or the equity in the land owned(if the land is owned) can go toward the down payment 3.      NO payments during the construction loan.  This is a... 03/15/2012

LIVE AT NIGHT JAZZ CONCERT THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS The Live at Night Concerts in The Woodlands are back!  Right out on the Waterway Square you can pull up a lawn chair and enjoy an evening of great music!  What a great way to spend an evening that is also FREE!  Get there early and enjoy a fabulous meal in the Waterway area of The Woodlands. Saturday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m., a live Jazz Concert will be taking place in one of the best areas of The Woodlands!  The weather should be perfect to enjoy a night out listening to some great tunes!  Bring a blanket or your lawn chairs and kick back into a relaxed mode! The Waterway Square has many restaurants to choose from, walking distance from The Woodlands Mall, Tinseltown Theater and some great pubs.  There is plenty to do and to keep you busy. ... 03/11/2012

THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMING TO THE WOODLANDS MALL! Hippity Hop, the Easter Bunny is making a stop!  That's right, The Woodlands, Texas is where you will find your favorite Easter Bunny this year.  Beginning on Wednesday March, 14 through April  7th, you can visit the Easter Bunny at The Woodlands Mall. Have your picture taken with Mr. Bunny from:  Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.  Pose in your favorite Easter outfit with the Easter Bunny for precious photo memories.  Photo packages begin at $18.99!  Get there early to avoid the lines. Enjoy a full day at The Woodlands Mall!  There are many wonderful shops and restaurants to entertain you throughout your day.  End the day with a Waterway Cruiser or head to the Waterway to enjoy the sights and s... 03/11/2012

Do you remember The Love Boat?? The Cruise Director was Julie and I was told last night that she was "The Director Of Fun". I like that. If it involves fun and laughter I'm usually all in. So as your appointed Director of Fun, let's take a cruise and while we are having lots of fun, we can get some MCE hours under our belts. The MCE classes will be held on our at sea days, so that leaves tons of time for offshore excursions, sunning, and all the other fantastic adventures a Caribbean Cruise has to offer.  Thanks to those who have responded, this cruise is already shaping up to be a great one, so commit and don't miss out on the fun. It only takes $25 deposit by March 15.  The Bahamas are waiting for you!!!  Cruise: November 11-18)  Thanks, Your KW Director of Fun (aka)  Tina Brickhouse 03/11/2012

I recently had the pleasure to meet with Ryan Paschke of Texas Real Estate Media. Texas Real Estate Media provides the following real estate support services: cinematic video tours, photos, websites, and brochures & DVDs. View this sample Cinematic Video Tour Ryan has a marketing degree from Pace University in New York City, and he is also an experienced website developer building over 50 websites. Ryan Paschke is responsible for planning, marketing, and creative oversight. Ryan is dedicated to making sure that a high quality product is accompanied by a high level of customer service. Ryan's business partner, Manny Taylor, has a Video Production degree from the University of Iowa. Manny has produced dozens of videos for businesses and recording artists. Manny is highly skilled in both v... 03/10/2012

Imagine this--  Crystal clear water, sun in your face, a little swimming, a little sand, and a whole lot of "MAGIC".  The KW MCE Training Cruise is looking for a great agent, just like you, to make this year phenomenal!  (see attachment)   If you have ever considered the MCE Cruise, this is the year. We will be aboard the brand new Carnival Magic, the queen of the fleet, yes that's right the Queen of the fleet!   Watch this video and see what you don't want to miss.   The  first deposit is only $25 and is due by March 12th. So, Come Sail Away with Us!! You don't want to miss it.     Thanks, Tina Brickhouse Your Carnival MCE Cheerleader!!!! 03/07/2012

Rock Star Rick Raanes of Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia invites the agents from the office to the Thirsty Thursdays event celebrating March birthdays taking place on March 8th at Rico's (Indian Springs - The Woodlands, TX). The event will be 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Barbara Price with Allied Home Warranty is the sponsor for the event. Agents from Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia will enjoy a nacho bar, quesadillas, and chicken flautas. Agents are responsible for alcohol purchases, and Rico's is offering $1.99 house margaritas for the Thirsty Thursdays event.     Future KW The Woodlands and Magnolia Thirsty Thursdays events sponsored by Barbara Price with Allied Home Warranty include Genuwine in April and Rico's Sawdust location in May.   03/07/2012