Gail Cain

‘3 Gs' sworn in to council

By Nancy Flake

Updated: 05.19.10 Conroe's ‘3 Gs' - Guy Martin, Jim Gentry and Gil Snider - were the headliners Wednesday afternoon at the City Council's workshop meeting as dozens of residents packed council chambers to witness their swearing-in ceremony.

The three won their seats - Gentry is in his second term in Position 3 - May 8 following often contentious campaigns. Gentry's margin of victory was the largest, with 636 more votes than his opponent, Charlene Payne.

Martin won his Position 4 race by only 104 votes over opponent Cara Canada McCollum, while Snider earned his Position 5 seat in what many thought was a surprising victory, with just 31 more votes than his opponent, Leo Hewett.

Neither McCollum nor Payne were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Position 5 Councilman Jay Ross Martin and former Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Streater, who held Position 4, were term limited.

Those who were present Wednesday joined in cheers and standing ovations for Guy Martin and Snider following their oaths of office.

County Court-at-Law 2 Judge Jerry Winfree swore in Gentry and Snider, with Elaine Snider holding the Bible for her husband. State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, swore in Guy Martin.

Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Sam Houston, Gentry pledged to continue to be fiscally conservative with residents' tax dollars.

"The voters elected us not to do as we please, but as they please," he said.

Snider kept his remarks brief, first thanking his "fantastic" wife for her support.

"I'll try to do what's good for Conroe," he said.

When he first sat down with his key supporters in August 2009, Guy Martin said, "My only rule was to stay positive. Not one time did they violate that rule.

"I hope we're able to get more citizen impact (to reflect) the will of the people. I have no other agenda while I'm sitting in this room."

Nancy Flake can be reached at nflake@hcnonline.com.

Conroe Courier - News

Home sales up; prices off in April

By Howard Roden

Published: 05.18.10

While April sales of existing single-family homes reached some of the highest numbers Montgomery County has seen in more than a year, prices were more indicative of a buyer's market.

Spurred on by the federal government's tax credits that expired April 30, 567 homes sold last month, compared with 406 in April 2009. That represents a healthy increase of 39.7 percent, according to the latest monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors.

The year-to-date figures were equally encouraging. A total of 1,667 homes were sold the first four months of 2010 - a 15 percent improvement over the 1,449 homes sold during the same period last year.

Closings were strong across the board in Montgomery County. Whether it was the $8,000 "first-time home buyer" tax credit or the $6,500 second-time around incentive, prospective home buyers drove the numbers.

Monthly increases ranged from 28.1 percent in the Lake Conroe/Montgomery area to 90.9 percent in the Conroe/Northwest County area. Although buyers still have until June 1 to close deals with federal incentives, the April deadline spurred many home buyers to forge ahead.

The average sales price in April climbed 6.1 percent from April 2009 in Northwest County. A total of 320 homes were sold in the Southwest County area (The Woodlands/Magnolia) last month, but the average price rose only 2.3 percent from $257,278 in April 2009 to $263,267 last month.

Average sales prices in East County (New Caney/Porter/Splendora) plummeted 24 percent based on the monthly figures, even though sales rose a healthy 38.1 percent on the month-to-month comparisons.

Sellers were unwilling to wait past the April 30 deadline, said Realtor Amy Smythe-Harris, of The Woodlands.

"There's been so many homes on the market, they (sellers) were uncertain what was going to happen," she said. "They saw the offers and either they take, versus waiting to see what happens after the tax situation.

"It could wind up being lower in the next month or two anyway."

Home sales for May are shaping up as a mixed bag, Smythe-Harris said.

Sales in the Conroe/Northeast County area were 84 last month, but have reached only 37 first half of May, she said. After closing 320 deals in April, The Woodlands/Magnolia area has one-third the sales (107) so far this month.

"Some people are nervous about May," Smythe-Harris said.

But the real concerns could occur in June, as pending sales in April and May may keep consumer confidence high.

With the exception of Southeast County - where pending transactions were down 2.9 percent compared with April 2009 figures - pending sales in April were up between 11.9 percent and 37.5 percent.

And pending sales the first half of May appear strong. South County already has 157 pending sales for that month - compared with 225 for all of April. There are 37 pending sales in Northeast County, down from the 61 potential sales in April.

"It's still an open ballgame," Smythe-Harris said.

SOUTHWEST

Total dollar sales in The Woodlands Magnolia area skyrocketed in April. The $84.2 million was 35.3 percent greater than the $62.2 million collected in April 2009.

Still, the year-to-date medium price in the area rose only 4.1 percent (from $197,920 to $206,000).

NORTHEAST

Home sales nearly doubled (from 44 to 84) based on April 2010 and April 2009 sales figures. Like the Southwest area, dollar volume rose $10.3 million, an 88.8 percent increase, but the median and average price comparisons declined 0.1 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.

NORTHWEST

One of the lower-performing areas in recent months, the Lake Conroe market bounced back with 114 home sales in April and pending sales were up 37.5 percent compared with April 2009.

Total dollar volume increased 35.9 percent ($28.3 million) compared with April 2009 ($20.8 million).

SOUTHEAST

While the average price of a home dropped 24 percent (from $200,157 to $152,154), the area's median price rose 14.1 percent to $146,900.

Howard Roden can be reached at hroden@hcnonline.com.

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Montgomery County residents. Check out the new flag located at 13931 Hwy 105, aka Storage 105. Serving as an honor for our World War II Vets. More than 100 verterans, supporters and family members gather Wednesday morning to watch the inaugural raising of a magnificant 30x60 foot flag dedicated in their honor. The flag pole stands on a 120 foot flagpole and you can see it from loop 336. Take time to stop and tell a veteran that you appreciate their time. Jack McClanahan owner of Storage 105, stated "We wanted to have a special way to market the location of their weekly meetings. For more information contact number is 936-499-3786 or visit www.lonestarhonorflight.com.

Can you believe that Entergy will be reducing their electric bills? Customers in Montgomery County area are to receive an average total saving s of $81.53 over a 4 month period. They best part is it's during the summer. Starting in May and continuing through August Entergy customers in Texas will get a lower Entergy bill. Also you should see a credit in May for the savings. This is all Thanks to an agreement with Entergy Texas and its sister utility companies in Montgomery Country.