Showing posts with label Communities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communities. Show all posts


Make the most of your month with this events and happenings in Houston during January 2017.

Things to Do in Houston: January 2017

    The Book of Mormon at Hobby Center | Tuesday, January 3 to Sunday, January 15 – Act quick and score discounted seats to the hilarious Tony-winning musical from the guys that created South Park, returning to Houston this winter.


    Houston Texans Playoff Game at NRG Stadium | Saturday, January 7 – The Texans have clinched a home game for the first round of the NFL playoffs. Get your tickets and cheer loud for the Texans as they fight to play in Super Bowl LI with a home crowd. Tickets start at $61, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 3:35pm.


    The Sale at Bayou City Event Center | Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8 – Shop items from various local boutiques under one roof during this massive sale that benefits The University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.


    The “Blind 50” Competition at Anvil Bar & Refuge | Sunday, January 8 – 30 entrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis to attempt to taste 50 and correctly identify 47 spirits at this “Blind 50” taste test at Anvil.


    Galveston Restaurant Week at Participating Restaurants Around Galveston | Saturday, January 7 to Sunday, January 22 – Order off special prix fixe menus at participating restaurants around the island during the annual Galveston Restaurant Week to support the Galveston County Food Bank.


    Urban Harvest’s Fruit Tree Sale at Rice University | Saturday, January 14 | FREE to Attend – Pick out temperate, tropical and/or citrus fruit trees from an extensive selection during the 17th Annual Fruit Tree Sale hosted by Urban Harvest.


    Jerry Seinfeld Live at Smart Financial Centre | Saturday, January 14 – The hilarious actor, writer, and comedian Jerry Seinfeld is slated for back-to-back shows at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. You’ll want to catch at least one of them.


    Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events Around Houston | Saturday, January 14 through Monday, January 16 – Honor Martin Luther King Jr. at the 23rd Annual MLK Grande Parade, a birthday celebration in his honor at Rothko Chapel, the MLK Youth Parade and more.


    Chevron Houston Marathon in Downtown | Sunday, January 15 – Run, volunteer or simply show up to support runners during the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon that winds through Houston, beginning and ending in Downtown.


    Truffle Masters 2017 at the Hobby Center | Monday, January 16 – Chefs from local hot spots like Triniti, Cafe Annie, Brennan’s of Houston and more will come together to battle it out and see who will make the best dish featuring truffle.


    Rainbow on Ice at Discovery Green | Friday, January 20 | FREE to Attend – This annual family-friendly LGBTQ celebration brings electrifying performances and entertainment to The Ice at Discovery Green.


    YAGA Chili Quest & Beer Fest in Galveston | Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21 – The annual festival hosted by Yaga’s Café in Galveston is back again for a weekend full of chili sampling and beer tasting.


    Houston Press Artopia at Winter Street Studios | Saturday, January 28 – Artopia brings art, music, food, and fashion from local talent under one roof for an epic one-night event at Winter Street Studios.


    Super Bowl Live at Discovery Green | Starts Saturday, January 28 | FREE – Gear up for Super Bowl LI with music, performances, and football-themed activities in the heart of Downtown. Expect to see artists like Leon Bridges, ZZ Top, and The Suffers.


    One Pot Showdown at Saint Arnold | Sunday, January 29 – See what teams come up with when they’re challenged to a one pot cook-off using Saint Arnold beers. This delicious fundraiser, now in its 10th year, benefits Kids’ Meals.











INFO: 365thingsinhouston.com


With so many families moving to Texas these days, it seems vitally important to learn which cities offer the best options for settling down and investing.

Nerdwallet.com came out with a list of the best cities in Texas for young families, based on data regarding the public school system, median home values, and the growth of the local economy as well as population growth. Read on to see which cities made the list and of course, if you’re interested in investing or moving to these cities, give us a call, we’ll be happy to make it to work with you towards making it happen!

10) Carrollton


drumguy8800/Wikipedia

With a GreatSchools rating of 7, a monthly homeowner cost of $1,512, and a median household income of $78,601, Carrollton makes a great place for young families to settle down. Even though it's a growing city, it also has that small-town vibe that will make you feel right at home.


9) Richardson


NathanBeach/Wikipedia

Richardson is a very affordable, safe place for young families. It has a ranking of 8/10 from GreatSchools, a monthly average homeowner cost of $1,655, and a 2% population change between 2010 and 2011.

8) Abilene


Keithimus/Wikipedia

In Abilene, the monthly homeowner cost is just $1,007, and the median household income is $51,405. For families who want an affordable place to live with great school districts, this is a wonderful choice.

7) McKinney


agriffin/wikipedia

With a GreatSchools rating of 8/10, a median household income of $97,792, and the plethora of art galleries, farmer's markets, and recreational activities available, McKinney offers young couples a nice option when it comes to raising a family.

6) Frisco


Bill Lile/Flickr

Frisco, another suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, is an excellent choice for raising a family. It has a GreatSchools rank of 9/10, a median home value of $234,900, and has been named "Tree City USA" for its abundance of forests within the city.This makes it a family-friendly, active, environmentally-conscious city to raise a family in.

5) Pearland


Grguy2011/Wikipedia

Pearland, a suburb of Houston, has a GreatSchools rate of 8, a median home value of $183,600, and a median household income of $103,136. With its proximity to Houston, outstanding schools, and cultural diversity, it makes a wonderful place to raise children.

4) League City


Patrick Feller/Flickr

League City earned a 9/10 rating with GreatSchools, and also the population growth was just .20% between 2010 and 2011, which means it isn't too overpopulated. It's near Galveston and the NASA Johnson Space Center, so there's plenty of opportunities for recreation and entertainment.

3) Flower Mound


Curtis Simmons/Flickr

Flower Mound, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, is the only city on our list that earned a 10/10 with GreatSchools. 62.8% of households here earn over $100,000, making it one of the highest-earning cities in the country. Its exemplary schools and proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth earn this city one of the top spots on our list.

2) Allen


Robert Nunnally/Flickr

Allen saw a 3% population change between 2010 and 2011, and earned an overall score for young families of 54.6. With monthly owner costs of $1,812, it's one of the more affordable cities on our list.

1) The Woodlands


Lisandro Sanchez/Flickr

Finally, The Woodlands came in at number 1 on our list due to its exceptional school system and a 22.6% population change between 2010 and 2011, showing that the local economy is thriving.

Do you agree with this list? What cities or towns in Texas do you think make the perfect place to raise a family? Would you like to look for a property in The Woodlands? Give us call! 713.629.7771

Source: www.onlyinyourstate.com




Summer is here! And it will continue to be here for quite a while (you know Houston weather) Food should be part of the menu; which is why we’ve compiled a list of over 20 places to visit during this season with the family, friends or even dates. Hope you enjoy and have a great summer!


Let us know how it went!





Illustration: Brock Davis
Whenever you are thinking or looking at a property to rent, it is always advised to be prepared, organized and ready. Our team came up with a list of questions or things every prospective renter should take into account before choosing the perfect place to rent. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re considering a house, a condo, a townhouse or an apartment; this will be your home in the near and foreseeable future, which is why although you will have an instant emotional reaction to the property, we recommend to always take into consideration a rational assessment of this potential future home. Take into consideration the inside and the outside, the local areas, the amenities, parking and general conditions along with the complete cost that will come with living in it.


Let’s talk about the inside:
Is the inside of the property in good condition?
Check for signs of damp, flaking paint or any kind of infestations.
Are any repairs needed?
Are there any broken items or furniture?
What type of heating is available in the property?
Does the heating/cooling system work properly?
What’s the state of the insulation?
Does the property have enough storage space for your personal belongings?
What’s the state of the electrical system?
Do all the appliances work?
Is the kitchen equipment in good condition? Is the kitchen comfortable enough?
What’s the state of the bathrooms? Does the shower work?
Are the sealants around the bath and shower intact?
Can you alter the property decoration?
Are there enough telephone and electrical points in the property? Are they in useful places to you?
Does it have Internet connection? What kind?

On the outside:
Is the outside of the property in good condition?
Are external doors secured?
Does the property have an alarm system?
Is there a surveillance system installed?
Is there a garden?
Who is responsible for the maintenance of the garden?
What is the area like?
Are there available and desirable amenities within easy reach?
What are the neighbors like?
What’s the neighborhood like?
Has the property ever been burgled or damaged?

Important safety checks:
Have all the appliances had safety checks? Is the paperwork available to view?
Do the downstairs windows (if any) have locks?
Is there an alarm in place?
Are there fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the property?
Is there a landlord’s gas safety record available to view?
Does the property comply with the latest fire safety regulations?

Let’s talk money:
How much is the rent?
What does the rent include?
What other bills are you liable to pay for?
How much is the deposit?
What are the conditions for the landlord to deduct money from the deposit?
Estimated costs of running the property
Can you afford the rent, deposit and running costs?

Other general considerations:
If anything needs to be repaired, ask the landlord in writing
If the landlord agrees to make repairs on the property, get it in writing
Double-check the property’s inventory before you move in if it applies
Get a copy of the tenancy agreement and make sure you fully understand it
Get and keep your own signed copy of the tenancy agreement
Is it possible to ask previous tenants about their experience with the landlord and the property?
Check and take note of all the meter readings the day you move in

Of course, we will always advice to not do any of these transactions on your own. We are here to help. Give us a call and we will gladly assist you and answer your questions.





Investing in Real Estate is one of the most beneficial and common types of investments. Whether you are buying to live in, rent or sell for a profit, here at Uptown Real Estate Group we are ready to assist and counsel you in all your investment decisions.

You might ask yourselves: What can property offer potential investors? With property, there are two main potential ways to make a profit: rent, where you can earn an income by letting out your property to tenants; or selling for a profit, which is when you buy a property and later sell it at a higher price.

Of course, property investing has some risks. Property prices and demands for rentals can go up or down and that is why direct and indirect property investments are for the long term. If you are willing to wait, you can ride out the losses if the market slows down and earn profits again when times are better. If your case is being over-invested in property, you should diversify your portfolio by holding different kinds of investments.

No matter how you look at it, even if you take into account the risks, real estate investment is still one of the best ways to make your money grow and maximize your income earning potential.

Houston is a thriving city with amazing real estate investment opportunities; give us a call for a complete consultation on the best options for you today.