
Top Residential Real Estate Professionals Awards 2008
Each year the Houston Business Journal, joined by Chicago Title and Perry Homes gather to honor the top
residential real estate professional in the greater Houston area. Since 1996 they have tracked the production of all 27,000 Realtors in this huge geographical MLS area, which goes from Clear Lake, the Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, and surrounding areas. This includes all Real Estate companies and the Top 25 agents are ranked by Number of Closed Transactions in 2007 and the Top 25 agents are also ranked for Gross Dollar Volume of Closed Sales. Liz Carter has ranked in the Top 25 for both categories every year since 1996. This year they were honored with a breakfast awards at one of the most beautiful places in Houston, the River Oaks Country Club.
Stephen Najvar division president for Perry Homes said, "These Realtors faced the challenges of 2007 head on and overcame them through creativity, persistence and dedication to rise to the top. In this large field of individuals those who are named one of the top 25 real estate professionals is a true statement of success". Gayle Brand with Chicago Title Co., said, "The winners illustrate perseverance, professionalism and a true level of excellence. Many are wondering what the talk about a down market is all about because it does not apply to them. In fact they thrive in this type of market because their business models are in place for the long term. Houston is a great city, and we are fortunate to conduct business with the best of the best". John C. Beddow of the Houston Business Journal said, "Despite experiencing some affects of the recent problems in the housing market, the Bayou City continues to outpace the nation in home sales. One of the reasons is the dedication and expertise of Houston's residential real estate professionals."
"For the thirteenth year in a row I was honored to be in a room with the Who's Who in Real Estate. I brought my team with me so they could share in this event, since they deserve the recognition also. We
had another very productive year, even though we were down from prior years selling 153 homes and almost 30 Million dollars of Real Estate is a good year by any ones standards, especially considering the change in the market. Our goal for 2008 is to rev it back up to 200+ homes sold and close 50+ Million in sales volume". When ask what her proudest moment of 2007 was Liz Carter said, "I was proud of the fact that all my hard work of 32 years in building, mentoring, training and working so hard in my real estate business that I have a team in place that can take care of everything - if I'm there or not. I went out of the country to Papa New Guinea for 3 weeks; the team had one of our best months ever. They sold 44 homes in one month; I'm very happy and proud of my team."
Liz Carter and Team have a strategy: T.E.A.M. = Together Each Achieves More, especially our clients. Everyone on the team has a job to do; we rely on each other, and everyone works efficiently and correctly adhering to the systems and procedures Liz has put into place. Everyone on the team is cross-trained and gives 110% to achieve their goals of having clients for life. Their slogan is, Your Real Estate Resource for Life. Liz started her real estate career in 1976 and today has three generations of her family working on her team. She has created a company that will go on long after Liz is no longer active in the company, but that will not be for a very long time, according to Carter, she still loves what she does...helping people with the American Dream of homeownership.
You can reach this award winning team at their web site www.lizcarter.com, call 281-391-SOLD (7653), or stop by to visit at their office on I-10 @ Mason Road.
Pictured left to right is Chelsea Brewster client care coordinator, Jean Amedeo buyers agent, Denise Acord closing coordinator, Liz Carter owner/broker, Sandra Parker buyers agent, Nina Murray CFO/closing manager, and Monday Miller CEO/listing manager, not pictured Sandie Acord partner/Realtor & Bill Gronvold Realtor.
I think I'm qualified to join Suthurn Thangs? My Family settled in East Texas in 1800's and my family cemetery is an historical landmark.. I'll be planted there in a pine box under the pine trees in the Piny Woods of East Texas, next to Mother & Daddy, one of the days, hopefully a long, long time from now:). I Should go up there and take some pictures one of these days, I think it would make a great post. Has a pretty little white church, that looks kinda like the one I did my post on for the contest in the Texas Real Estate groups contest the prettiest Old Church in Texas (Area Photos of Katy Texas, know as "The City of Churches", located 28 miles west of Houston). This one is in Katy, TX (were I live now,) guess that's why I picked it, all those great memories. I remember as a kid going there for the day after church to do the graveyard cleaning, visit, and eat fried chicken of course. It's located just outside of Jasper Texas. You have to be a decedent of the Rawls or Hamiltons to get your spot there. It was part of the large track of land one of my great-greats had settled on. The old tombstones are a story in themselves, and the little white church sits across the road from the family cemetery. It used to be a dirt road, but is now paved, and it's also near Sam Rayburn Lake and Dam. A very pretty part of Texas that has the Angelina National Forest.
So hopefully this qualifies me to join this group Suthurn Thangs,and wanted to introduce myself to yall Southern AR's...just found this group, and wanted to introduce myself. and here's the question!
Is Yall spelled Yall, Y'all or Ya'll, like it's spelled here? I've always used Yall, which I think is "proper Suthurn language"? This group, Suthurn Thangs. should know for sure. Look forward to contributing, and already have friends on here too...Deb and Dale...hi guys!
Also Deb Brooks had mentioned she always wanted to know what I looked like when I was not scuba diving (the picture of me I use on AR, and yes it is me holding the sold sign, photo was taken by my husband Bill 20+ years ago. I use it in most all of my ads with the tag...Before you dive into buying or selling a home...talk to someone who knows the waters!)...so since I'm new to this group...
What does Liz Carter look like
when she's not all wet?
Also if any of you Suthurn Rainers are not members of, Texas Real Estate group, please consider this your personal invitation to join. We write about anything Texas, have great post, fun, and monthly contest for FREE POINTS...this month it is...
Active Rain, L & M' s THE EYES OF TEXAS - Search for the "Best BBQ in Texas"
L & M's The Eyes of Texas search for the best place to view bluebonnets and wildflowers
A Visual Masterpiece by All Entries
You now have a compressive list with pictures to prove it of some of the best places across our great state of Texas, to view our gorgeous wildflowers of spring. Share with your friends, family, buyers and sellers. Individually they are all delightful, combined they make a dazzling, breathtaking show! We had a large number of entries this month with a total of 14, which made the judging even more difficult to pick the top three. Every one of the entries deserves to be a winner, but alas we could only pick three to receive the top honors. We did pick two for Honorable Mention, however they will only be able to receive the addition 200 points like the rest, but I did want to bring them to your attention. The range of work was incredible from still pictures to videos, with music, from picking a single flower, to a sensory overload of pictures, and the geographical range went from the Scenic Hill Country to the awe inspiring Big Bend Nation Park areas of Texas. I encourage you to view ALL of the entries listed below, you will not be sorry, and invite you family to watch with you. This month we focused on a visual pleasure, and next month will be for your taste buds pleasure, "Where to find the best BBQ in Texas", so be sure to watch for that the first of June. Without father adieu allow me to present for your viewing pleasure...
Debra A. Brooks from her heart warming title, her very descriptive text, her
outstanding four still pictures, her link back to our group, a scrolling banner for slide show, her music, to the phenomenal amount of photos on her slide show to her ending remark...her entry was a tough act to follow. She and her husband Scott took the photographs on the back from our Texas group active rain gathering in Bandera Texas, in the hill country. As usual Deb poured her heart and soul into this post, and a ton of time. Well done Deb, congratulations on first place. ACTIVE RAIN FRIENDSHIPS ARE BLOOMING LIKE WILDFLOWERS!
Linda Scanlan talk about exceptional and original, it made me want to jump up and
head to Big Bend Ranch State Park, where she took her fist set of photographs (yes she had two slide shows). Not being familiar with that part of Texas the flowers were new to me, and the two that just took my breath away were the Ocotillo and the Desert Bird of Paradise...magnificent! Her shows were set to music that was soothing & each flower was named by a scrolling text. Her second show was from Fredericksburg in the hill country with bluebonnets galore. She got a shot of a fence sign that said "A Good Rain & A Baby Calf are always welcome". Thanks Linda, congratulations on second place. Flowers Are Not Just for the Hill Country of Texas!
Sondra Meyer wow exceptional post all the way around. With her
directions you will not need a GPS to find her spots. After looking at her five photos which were all like works of art, be jumping in the car. The post was so well laid out and pleasing to the eye. She had a photo with her horse that you could see the sun shining on her blond hair, and could almost touch the connection she has with her horse, stunning. The big photo of the one room school house was just beautiful too. If all that weren't enough to entice you, her description of the Antique Rose Emporium would have. Sondra, really exceptional, congratulation on third place. Blue bonnets
Honorable Mention...
Cheri' Smith her post and photos of the Passion Flower was outstanding. I thought it was interesting she remembered them from 4th grad after seeing Passion Flowers in Texas Highways. Cheri' gave us a fascinating story on the flower, which also had medicinal purposes besides being such a show stopper! april wildflower contest: April wildflower contest, Texas Passion Flower
Tom Plant fondly know as "the ambassador for active rain" is from CA and had flown in to join our Texas AR gathering and managed to take a lot of pictures during his 4-day trip. Tom's camera makes you drool, and he knows how to use it. His photos were crystal clear, sharp, l& large. One shoot of a Daisy was so good it looked fake. Texas Wildflowers - This California Boy Was Bowled Over
All extraordinary entries...
Liz Carter Photos of Texas bluebonnets, wildflowers & nature set to music of Willie Nelson (not eligible entry)
Christina and Kevin Stevens Wildflowers on the Beach. & A blanket of beauty.
Ricki Eichler The Hunt for the Missing Bluebonnets
Judi Morgan Texas Spring Flowers...blooming along the highways and byways
Trey Thurmond The Fragrance from Heaven (I just loved this title, Trey)
Kathy Fisher Spring Flowers in North Texas
Melody Botting "Beauty by the roadside."
Christopher Watters Old Settlers Park get $18.9 Million Dollar Face Lift - Round Rock Texas
I would like to thank my partner, Marchel Peterson for all her help and coming up with this great
way of keeping the entries all in one place on AR, by using a "tag". It makes them so much easier to find, judge and of course if you want to view them all simply click, Blog entries tagged with "april wildflower contest", or just go through the above list. Either way I encourage you to do so, see them all.
A huge thank you and tip of the hat to Thesa Chambers from Central Oregon for the time she spent as one of the judges on this contest, we truly appreciate you. Please stop by and say a big Texas thanks to her.
I would also like to send a huge Texas Thank You to Bob Stewart, who got your points awarded to you today! Record breaking time, he did it for me while I had him on the phone. So check your points they are there! 1000 for first place, 750 for second place and 500 for third place. Everyone else got an extra 200 points awarded for just entering the contest. So if you get a chance tell Bob thanks.
Liz Carter, founder Texas Real Estate group
Please consider this your personal invitation to join our group, simply click here> Texas Real Estate <this link and sign up, we'd love to have you!
Texas Wildflowers Renew the Soul
City on a hill,
Untouched land beyond.
A Fallow field is
The secret of fertility.
In the city, we see millions of lives represented in the windows doors, and many floors of each building. We see excitement and the glories of civilization. But no matter how much those who follow Tao may enjoy the city, they understand the need for retreat into nature.
In the countryside, they find the nurturing quality of freedom. They can see new possibilities and can wander without societal impositions. In the past, pioneers saw the open prairies and were filled with dreams of dominating nature with the glories of man. Now we know different: We must preserve the wilds for our very survival.
We need time to lie fallow. If you cannot leave the city just find a little quiet time each day to withdraw into yourself. If you are able to walk in fields or in the hills, so much the better. But none of us can maintain the fertility of our beings without renewal.
I've had the "Renewal" by Tao on my refrigerator at home, my office and my lake house for the last three years, and thought it was fitting to accompany my pictures of the magnificence of one of God's most lovely gifts to us...Texas Wildflowers. Marchel and I came up with this contest when we first took over the Texas Real Estate group back in February 2008, and I've wanted to share it with all of you for a long time. I hope you enjoy the little show I've put together for you. My sister, Sandra Parker and I love flowers and nature, a trait we got from our Mother. We go look at the bluebonnets and wildflowers every year. The pictures were taken on our annual pilgrimage to Round Top, Texas from our homes in Katy, Texas. Our route was planned to also take advantage of phenomenal display of antiques along the way to Round Top, Texas.
This is a feature unto itself, every spring you can follow the bluebonnet trail to Texas' Antiques Week. From
Warrenton to Round Top TX on Hwy 237 and beyond there are thousands of booths and antique dealers lining the highways in this area, selling everything from vintage wicker / clothes to advertising memorabilia. It will blow your mind, so it you've never made the trip, plan on doing it next year. One area is Marburger Farm Antique Show, it host over 300 dealers from around the world...and that's just ONE of the of the exhibitor areas! It has five football-field-size tents + a village of restored Texas buildings that house other exhibitors alongside the tents. For more information on this visit http://www.roundtop-marburger.com/. The two pictures of my dear friend Missy with her gem of a daughter Madison were taken just outside Waco on Hwy 84 east. I set my slide show to the music of Willie Nelson, enjoy!
This post is dedicated to my sister Sandra. We share the love of Texas, flowers, life, and Willie, we have always been there for each other and always will be.
To my sister Sandra with Love, Liffy
I sell homes in Cinco Ranch...I live in Cinco Ranch...and I love Cinco Ranch because it's like
Taking A Vacation Without Leaving Home

Pictured here is the Water Park in Cinco Ranch which has three swimming pools, including a diving well and baby pool, spray park with a frog slide for the little ones. Two water slides, two water chutes, tennis course, a covered picnic area with BBQ grills, a wooded setting area, and a playground. It is one of the newest features to be built.
Cinco Ranch is one of the Top 20 residential developments in the United States. Located in Katy, Texas just 28 miles west of the most friendly large city in the world, Houston, Texas. We are actually like a small town unto itself, being a part of Harris and Fort Bend Counties Uninc. I have lived in the area since 1976 and watched as they stated developing this wonderful community in 1990 and bought my home here in 1992 for many reasons.

The Golf Course at Cinco Ranch, our mild climate allow you to play golf year round in Katy, Texas. 167 scenic acres. The course is as challenging as it is beautiful. The gorgeous clubhouse overlooks the 18th green, has a well stocked pro shop, a grill and banquet rooms. The club is host to many wedding receptions (my niece had her wedding reception there) banquets, parties, and the Cinco Ranch Ladies Club meets there monthly.




Two rows above from left is the multi million dollar beach club, with a real sand beach, volley ball sand court, swim lagoon, covered pavilion, park and picnic areas. It also features FREE sail and paddle boats for residents of Cinco Ranch. The beach club is surrounded by a 14 acre stocked lake, with miles of walking trails, lots of flowers, trees, and wildlife galore.
There is so much to see other than the beautiful homes, that I will spend a couple of hours showing buyers, and folks relocating to the Katy, TX area all the amenities of Cinco Ranch before we ever look at a home to buy. When you buy a home in Cinco Ranch you are buying a lifestyle too. Currently we have around 8,600 occupied homes, and still building. This unique master-planned community encompasses 5,400 acres with 70 acres of woodland and wetland habitat. Plus all the land that is set aside for the 7 pools, 10 tennis courses, Golf Course, lakes, beach club, exercice trail, water park, gazebo area, basketball & volleyball courts, nature trails with foot bridges and lookout platforms, and dozens of pocket parks that are dotted throughout Cinco Ranch. So there is just not enough room here to show everything, just a sampling of what Cinco has to offer buyers looking for a home in West Houston, Katy Texas. You can take a vacation without leaving home here!





As you can see the fishing is good in Cinco Ranch. Above a young man with large sun fish, and young girl with a Perch. This big Catfish above was caught by a father and his son. I happened to be walking around the lake with my red poodle, Rhett Butler, (shown in picture), and also had my camera with me, which I usually take when we go for our walks around the lake, and we got to them just as they pulled up the Catfish. To the right is my next door neighbor with his 11+ lb. large Mouth Bass he caught. He is my resident expert that keeps me posted on the health and size of the fish in south lake, which seem to be doing quite nicely. I still haven't gotten him to tell me which lures he uses. It is a catch and release lake.
The lake in South Lake section of Cinco is 14 acres and is 1 1/4 miles around, so it's a nice walk and has tons of wild life. Blue Heron & Snowy White Egrets come in, and of course we have our resident ducks, squirrels, and tons of song birds, Barn Swallows, and Gulls. There are also turtles sunning themselves on the banks of the lake. The weather most of the year is great for being outdoors, especially in the fall, winter, and spring months. July and August gets hot, but do your walking in the morning or early evenings at that time of the year. I've worn shorts in December, so that makes up for our hotter months, and the humidity is good for your complexion.
Pictured here are Homes in Cinco Ranch South Lake section, which was one of the first to be built, and is considered the "heart of Cinco". It is on the 14 acre stocked lake, right by the Beach Club, and across from the Golf Course. The price range is between $250,000-$600,000+. Some of the homes back to the lake, however unlike most other communities that have lakes Cinco homes do not extend all the way to the water. There is a walkway that goes around the lakes so that all of the residents can use the lakes for fishing, walking, visiting, resting on the benches with a good book and enjoy people watching. Home owners that back to the lake have wide open views, easy access to the lake, and park like greenbelts that are maintained by the home owners assoc. So it makes for a perfect balance. The lot premiums for lake front range between $50,000-$75,000.
Both these homes back to the 14 acre lake in Cinco, note the large green belt area behind both homes, and side walk that goes entirely around this lake as they do in all the lake sections of Cinco Ranch.



The Golf Course in Cinco Ranch has a beautiful room for weddings, a grill for lunch and drinks. The course is beautiful and changeling.




Splash pool at water park, pocket parks, one of the many viewing platforms for a section of the many miles of nature trails, real sand volleyball court at far right.


Cinco Ranch High School is state of the art, mascot is the Cougar. KISD is top ranked by the State of TX, and the reason a lot of families choose Cinco Ranch, and Katy TX. There is a underwater bubble area to view swimmers, for the competitive swim teams.
View above of the Beach Club, at the point were is meets the lake, there is a real sand beach, and showers for after the kids get through playing. So you can wash them off before putting them in the car.



Cinco Ranch has a very active ladies club. It was started in 1992, they meet monthly, and also host socials throughout the year. Renditions of the newly opened outdoor mall, La Centerra...it's delightful!

Cinco Ranch also has a 55+ community, with outstanding amenities of its own. If you like to travel and want a hassle free life style it's perfect. They include yard service, it is gated and very secure too.


Map to get to Cinco Ranch, and Liz Carter & Team Realty. Both are located 28 miles from downtown Houston west on I-10. Liz Carter & Team Realty's office is at the corner of I-10 @ Mason Road, Katy, Texas 77450. Cinco is between Mason Rd. and extends west of Grand Parkway north and south of Cinco Ranch Blvd.
I hope you have enjoyed these photos of Cinco Ranch. I would love to personally show you why I love living in Cinco and all the great amenities it has to offer. No other Realtor knows Cinco Ranch or the other Katy, Texas neighborhoods like I do. I have lived and sold Real Estate in Katy TX since 1976, it is my passion and thank God I still love what I do. I am also blessed to have many of my family working with me on my team. In fact we have three generations and are now selling homes to second generations of clients, who come back to us time and time again. Our motto is, "Your Real Estate Resource For Life", and we would like to be yours too.
Call 281-391-SOLD (7653) or visit my web site at www.lizcarter.com
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