Stephanie Hansson,ABR,CRS

Need something fun for your kids to do in a safe, supervised environment during Spring Break? Registration is currently under way for the College Station youth camp Camp YO! (Youth Opportunity). Camp YO! is open to kids in the 5th to 8th grades. For the week of March 12-16, 2012, from 8am to 6pm, your child will enjoy arts and crafts, play sports, receive an outdoor education and take field trips, amongst other activities. The cost is just $35 per day or $150 for the week per child. You can register online here or stop in at the Stephen C Beachy Central Park office (located at 1000 Krenek Tap Rd) to complete the registration form in person. But hurry! Registration ends on March 9, 2012.

Don't worry about what to do to keep your child busy during their Spring Break this year. The Parks and Recreation Department is supervising a College Station youth camp. Get your kids out of the house and keep them busy in a safe environment with Camp YO!

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan/College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/college-station-youth-camp/.

Nothing helps kids learn teamwork and good sportsmanship like being involved in sports. Kids ages 3-5 are welcome to join up with the City of Bryan's Parks & Rec Department for their public baseball program. Open registration for Smart Start Baseball in Bryan, TX has begun.

The Smart Start Baseball program is meant to get Bryan kids ready for tee ball...sort of a pre-school for organized baseball programs. They will learn the basic fundamentals of the game without the pressure of competing with other teams. This helps kids foster a healthy attitude and excitement to get involved in the sport of baseball while keeping their bodies active. Franklin Sports and Hasbro have provided age-appropriate equipment for the kids to use. Some of the skills the kids will learn include how to throw, how to catch, batting and how to run from base to base.

The Smart Start Baseball program begins February 23, 2012 and meets every Thursday evening at 6:15pm until March 29, 2012 at the Bryan Regional Athletic Complex (5440 N Texas Ave). Bryan residents only pay $35 per child for the program, while non-residents are welcome but are required to pay $45. Download your child's registration form here. All forms must be turned in to the City of Bryan Parks & Recreation Department office (1309 E MLK Blvd) or the Bryan Aquatic Center (3100 Oakride Dr) before the start of the program. Hurry, though. Spots fill up fast.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan/College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/smart-start-baseball-registration-begins-bryan-tx/.

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (NAHB/IMI) recently released their report showing which areas of the country indicate an improved local economy. Thanks to its positive job growth, increasing home prices and higher housing permits, College Station is one of 11 Texas cities that have made it onto this list. This proves that the College Station real estate market is on the rise.

The NAHB/First American IMI looks at three factors to determine a which metropolitan areas have shown a measurable improvement: employment, home prices and single-family housing. A rise in jobs, home prices and single-family housing indicates that the College Station real estate market is showing its strength. According to this report, employment levels have increased 4.5%, home prices have gone up 7.8% and permits to build single-family homes has risen by 3%.

The index updates its list monthly using the most recent data available. January's index indicates an 85% increase of housing markets across the country that show a marked improvement from the previous month. December's index contained only 41 markets that had improved. November 2011's statistics showed 30 markets, while October 2011 only had 21 markets showing improvement.

What do these numbers mean for you? If you are interested in purchasing a College Station home, there's no time like the present. With home prices beginning to rise, you'd better start looking now. If you are looking for a wonderful place to live that offers good job prospects and a steadily growing economy, College Station is for you! Just let me know when you're interested in looking so I can help you achieve our goal of homeownership.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/college-station-real-estate-market-rise/.

College Station makes every effort to get their citizens involved in the community. They truly believe that the more involved residents are in their neighborhoods, the more the city will thrive. That's one of the reasons it's so great to live here. I wrote previously about the Citizen University program taking place later this month where College Station residents can learn about the day-to-day operations of their own local government. Well, the police department doesn't want to be left out. So, they're holding their own Citizen Police Academy in College Station.

Beginning February 7, 2012, the College Station Citizen Police Academy will begin their 10 week free program. Classes will take place every Tuesday evening from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the College Station Police Department (2611 Texas Ave). During the course of the program, residents will learn about how the criminal justice system operates and the ways you can work with the police to help keep our community safe. In addition to classroom education, students are invited to attend a ride-along with a College Station police officer during one of their actual shifts.

If you're interested in becoming a student of the Citizen Police Academy in College Station, you will need to fill out an application. Applications can be picked up at the College Station Police Department, you can call (979-764-3573) to request to have one sent to you via email, snail mail or fax or you can download an application online by going to their website. All applications must be filled out and turned in by the end of business (5pm) on January 27, 2012. The course is absolutely free but seats are limited. So, apply soon.

Even if you choose not to attend the Citizen Police Academy in College Station, you can help keep the streets of your neighborhood safe by being vigilant to activity going on around you. Please report any suspicious activity to your local police department (College Station: 979-845-2345, Texas A&M University: 979-845-2345, Bryan/Brazos County: 979-361-3888). Since the police cannot be everywhere at all times, they appreciate any help the community can provide. If you see a crime in progress, do not try to stop it yourself. Instead, call the authorities. That is what they are for.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living the Good Life in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/citizen-police-academy-college-station/.

I know Christmas was only two days ago, but what do you do with the Christmas tree once you take it down? Since Christmas trees burn too hot for fireplaces or wood-burning stoves and leave behind a lot of creosote (the oily black soot-like buildup that is a major fire hazard), you will need an alternative way to dispose of your tree. Fortunately, College Station has a Christmas tree recycling program that is simple and easy for its citizens.

All you have to do to participate in College Station's Christmas tree recycling program is take off the lights and other decorations on your tree, including the tinsel, and leave the trees at your curbside by 8 am on your regular trash pickup day from now through January 6, 2012. The trees that are picked up will be turned into compost or sent through the wood chipper and spread out on College Station parks. The wood chips help maintain moisture, keep valuable nutrients in the soil, decrease erosion and reduce the amount of soil compaction from foot traffic.

Again, make sure you have taken off any artificial decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and flocking as well as the tree stand before you place your Christmas tree at the curb for recycling in College Station. Do not ever cut up the tree and use it for firewood inside your home. The last thing you need to do is become a house fire statistic during the holidays.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living a Good Life in Bryan/College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/christmas-tree-recycling-college-station/.