The Hindu Temple to be constructed at Forestgate and Woodlands Parkway next to Forestgate Park is currently in the design stage with the conceptual design completed and approved. Construction is expected to start around the end of the first quarter of 2007 and be completed about a year later. The first phase will include the temple, classroom/library, kitchen and restrooms.Persons interested in more information can contact Beth Kulkarni at bethkulkarni@sbcglobal.net or 281-292-8381 or 832-687-7599. Visit Hindu Temple for a virtual tour of the complex.Visit Michele Flory for information on new and resale homes for sale in The Woodlands.  Visit Experience The Woodlands for more information on The Woodlands community, activities, and lifestyle. 01/06/2008

Waterway Square, an one acre plaza located in The Woodlands Township is tentatively scheduled to open February 28, 2008.  The heart of this plaza will be a 120 foot water wall bordered by cascading waterfalls to the west and an oval water well to the east. The well will contain 80 jets encircling a main jet that shoots water 60 feet in the air. Near-by workers are completing the construction of 24 Waterway a 13 story commercial building and the developers have announced a third piece to the complex that will contain four high end restaurants.  Upon completion of the complex, the trolley system will be rerouted to include the complex. Additionally, feasibility talks are in the works to create a permanent structure for The Woodlands' branch of the Houston Museum of Natural Science at the ... 01/05/2008

Calendar year 2007 sales of residential real estate in The Woodlands was 6.5% down from 2006.  Before you attach the "negative comment" tag to this statement consider the following factors:1.  Inventory of available homes for sale in The Woodlands was at an all-time low level in 2007.2.  Custom home sales were down 25% in 2007 versus 2006.  Building rates failed to keep pace with demand during 2006 and early 2007 creating a lack of inventory.3.  The new village of Creekside Park was scheduled for a grand opening early 2007; delayed until October.  Although sales activity is brisk, this delay resulted in very few closed sales in 2007. 4.  Calendar year 2006 was a record-setting year for home sales in The Woodlands.  Eventually, a market balance must be achieved.Visit Michele Flory for Th... 01/05/2008

The prestigeous John Cooper School has a chance to be named Texas top school in the areas of Advanced Placement (AP) math, science, and technology education. Cooper has been nominated as one of about 15 schools for the Siemens AP High School Award.  Nomination is based on numerous factors including students passing rates on AP exams. The AP classes provides college credit for students who pass the test with a score of 3 or higher on a 5 point scale. In the 2006 -07 school year, 95% of the math and science AP students at Cooper received a score of 3 or more on the placement test. If Cooper is named the recipent of the Siemens award, the school would receive a $1,000 towards the math and science education program. 01/04/2008

The prestigious John Cooper School has a chance to be named Texas top school in the areas of Advanced Placement (AP) math, science, and technology education. Cooper has been nominated as one of about 15 schools for the Siemens AP High School Award.  Nomination is based on numerous factors including students passing rates on AP exams. The AP classes provides college credit for students who pass the test with a score of 3 or higher on a 5 point scale. In the 2006 -07 school year, 95% of the math and science AP students at Cooper received a score of 3 or more on the placement test. If Cooper is named the recipient of the Siemens award, the school would receive a $1,000 towards the math and science education program. 01/04/2008

St. Luke's Community Medical Center (CMC) -Woodlands recently opened its new Community Emergency Center in The Woodlands. Located in The Woodlands Crossing Shopping Center, at the intersection of Kuykendahl Road and Woodlands Parkway, St. Luke's now offers emergency care to local residents, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. It is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and emergency-trained nurses who are trained to treat infants, children, teens and adults for emergencies such as sprains, strains, suspected broken bones, burns, nose bleeds, influenza, severe chest pain and upper respiratory problems. The state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot facility features 10 patient rooms including a pediatric area. Services include an on-site full stat laboratory, x-ray, and a rapi... 01/04/2008

 VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa, a family membership facility, will soon begin construction of an 87,000-square-foot club and spa on a 12.4-acre site on Technology Forest Drive in The Woodlands directly across from the new Fox Network Center-Houston, according to Dan Leverett, vice president of commercial for The Woodlands Development Company. Construction is scheduled to begin soon, with opening planned for late 2008. Both indoor and outdoor amenities will be featured at VillaSport. The outdoor areas include two unique pools. One will be a kid's pool complex with two water slides and a zero entry area plus adjacent lap pool. For adults, there will be a 25-yard, five-lane lap pool with an adjoining hot tub. There will also be a poolside VillaCafé. The VillaSport Field House will be an... 01/04/2008

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is set to hold its third annual event April 12 and 13, 2008. The festival is a juried fine art show featuring 200 national and regional artists of various mediums selling their original creations. Festival hours are 10 am - 8 pm Saturday and 10 am - 6 pm Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the festival benefit local arts-related organizations.The event takes place along the meandering Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and culminates at Town Green Park.The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival has announced the selection of Sally Maxwell, a master scratchboard artist from LaGrange, Texas, as the featured ar... 01/03/2008

The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center has announced it will embark on a comprehensive, $50 million transformation and expansion project to include the build out of 158 new guestrooms, the addition of a winding, lazy river as well as a new, dramatic entrance and a fine-dining steakhouse. Construction is expected to begin in early 2008 with an estimated completion date in late 2009."The $50 million dollar renovation will reposition The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center as an AAA Four-Diamond Resort with amenities unique to the region," said Dan Leverett, Vice President of Commercial for The Woodlands Development Company. "This is a project that truly will transform a Texas legend into a world-class resort experience." The new guestrooms will be located in Fairway Pines III, a four-s... 01/02/2008

 The Woodlands Association assessment rate for 2008 has been lowered to 38.5 cents per $100 of assessable value. This rate is seven cents, or 15.0 percent less than TWA 2007 property assessment rate. The decrease in rate is attributable to the results of the November 6, 2007 election whereby voters approved the expansion of boundaries for The Woodlands Town Center Improvement District (now called The Woodlands Township). $6.1 million of sales taxes collected within The Woodlands Township in 2008 will be available to fund a portion of expenses previously paid by community association assessment fees.The TWA Board also anticipates that the assessment rate will again be lowered in 2009 as a result of additional sales tax collections by The Woodlands Township.The Woodlands Association plans... 01/01/2008

 The Woodlands Community Association assessment rate for 2008 is 14 cents per $100 of assessable value. This rate is 28 cents, or 66.7 percent less than the 2007 rate.The significant decrease in the rate is attributable to two primary factors. First, due to the results of the November 6, 2007 election whereby voters approved the expansion of boundaries for The Woodlands Town Center Improvement District (now called The Woodlands Township), a defined amount of sales taxes collected within The Woodlands Township will be available to fund a portion of expenses previously paid by property owners' assessment fees. This allocation of sales tax dollars results in a rate decrease of 6.5 cents, or 15 percent from the 2007 assessment rate.Second, as a result of voters granting The Woodlands Townsh... 01/01/2008

 There are currently 31 homes in various stages of construction located throughout the gated communities of Carlton Woods and Carlton Woods Creekside, priced from the upper $700's to more than $3 million. 11 homes are ready for move-in built by McVaugh Custom Homes, Jeff Paul Custom Homes, Rohe & Wright Builders, Sterling Classics, Inc., Termeer and Associates and Ultra Classic Custom Homes, Inc. Available homes range in size from approximately 3,404 to 12,749 square feet and include three to six bedrooms, up to six full baths and three half baths and two- to four-car garages. Homesites are also offered in the enclaves, priced from the $220's to $2 million plus. Ready for move-in is the beautiful courtyard home at 70 South Palmiera Circle in the gated community of Carlton Woods. Built b... 12/31/2007

Well, in less than 24 Hours it will be a New Year.  It is speculated Nationwide what 2008 will bring to the Real Estate Market.  I thought it would be appropriate to start the New Year with a New Series. Contrary to Popular Belief- I will focus on Common Misconceptions of many things related to Real Estate in General.   The Market, Real Estate Agents, etc.   I am starting with one debate that is HOT with many Buyers and Sellers.  Who Actually Makes the Market Value? As Real Estate Agents, we get the Tip of Arguments, Anger, Excitement, Happiness; we have the amazing role of working with folks during their emotional time of Buying and Selling.  Sometimes Both at the same time. I wanted to start with this one because it is almost January 1st.  This, in Houston, is the time that many homeo... 12/31/2007

 The village of Panther Creek begins at the western shore of Lake Woodlands. In addition to a large number of homes on the water or with water views, Panther Creek includes two parks on the lake. Northshore Park features public picnic areas, a public ramp for non-motorized boats, and Sunday music entertainment events. Southshore Park includes an observation platform for views of Lake Woodlands, surrounding neighborhoods, and the Lake Woodlands dragon. Shopping area is Panther Creek Center.Neighborhoods in Panther Creek: Clover Park, Creek Pines, Creek Ridge, Creek Side, Creekwood, Dell Forest, Dunlin Meadow, Enclave on The Cove, Fairmeade, Fallshire, Havenridge, Herald Oaks, Hickory Oaks, Hidden Lake, Lakemist Harbor, Pebble Hollow, Pinyon Pine, Shadow Creek, Split Rock, The Cove, The P... 12/29/2007

 Grogan's Mill is the original village located at the front of The Woodlands. This village features two public golf courses, The East Course of The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands Athletic Club, The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, extensive hike & bike trails, and easy access to Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road. Shopping areas include Grogans Mill and Woodridge Centers.Neighborhoods in Grogan's Mill: Autumnwood, Bristol Gate, Doe Run, Edenbrook, Glen Mill, Grogan's Point, High Oaks, Millbend Forest, Millbend Village, Millgrove, Mossrock, Rolling Links, Royal Fern, Sawmill Woods, Star Fern, Tall Forest, Tamarac Woods, The Retreat, Timbertop, Wilding Estates, Windwood.Click here for more information on The Woodlands villages and real estate market. Visit here for more inf... 12/28/2007

The Woodlands real estate market remains vibrant despite regional and national soft markets. Demand still exceeds supply of homes in this master-planned community. Visit MicheleFlory.com for more market report details. This information is updated monthly.  For more information on The Woodlands community, activities, and lifestyle, visit our weblog ExperienceTheWoodlands.com 12/26/2007

Hello, I'm Michele Flory. I welcome your visit to my ActiveRain Blog and the opportunity to introduce myself and The Woodlands real estate market.I am an active resident of The Woodlands! I live here... I work here... I shop here... I utilize the 140 miles of walking and biking trails in The Woodlands... I attend entertainment events at The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion... I enjoy the many neighborhood parks in The Woodlands... I love The Woodlands Waterway and Market Street area... I enjoy the variety of the restaurants in The Woodlands.My goal is to be your Realtor in The Woodlands. My knowledge of The Woodlands can assist you in making an informed decision on the selection of your home in The Woodlands.Are you ready for a cup of Starbucks and a personalized tour?"We work ... 12/26/2007

As a realtor I often am asked about remodeling. Particularly what remodeling/ updating gets the most bang for the buck.  Hands down its kitchen and bath.  However, a little can go a long ways.  I can tell you how often I have people tell me about the tens of thousands of dollars they plan to put into the kitchen or bath thinking they will get it all and then some back when its time to sell. I alway preface my answer with this question.  Is this your forever house?  If the answer is yes, spend as you wish. If not as is 99% of the time, then don't out price your neighborhood.  If your update plans are connected with your plans to sell then small changes can make a big impact. For the bathroom  incorporate one or more of these upgrade ideas: * Splash a fresh coat of paint on the walls. An ... 12/17/2007

Very few people are aware of the Community Gardens located in The Woodlands.  This secret garden is located in the same complex as The Bear Branch sports fields off of Research Forest.  The gardens are associated with the Urban Harvest non profit organization located in Houston. All gardens must be organic. For more information regarding these gardens contact The Woodlands Environmental Services at 281.210.3900. 12/17/2007

Looking for a website that will give a feel for The Woodlands without anyone trying to sell you a house.  Check out WWW.thewoodlands.net.  This site will provide a wealth of information about The Woodlands and give you a feel for life in The Woodlands.  You can learn about the trollies, the newest business, and even who won the local contest.  This site is a great place to start you adventure in The Woodlands. 12/16/2007