Kathi Frank

This was me last year preparing to JUMP OFF A CLIFF!

For some of you under the age of 50, this might not have been a big deal. For me, it was an incredible experience of a lifetime. I wish I had become more daring in my earlier years. Although the pilot for this tandem flight was tolerant and patient with my lack of coordination, once we cleared the edge of the cliff and began flying, it was nothing short of shear joy.

I filled out the massive stack of paperwork telling the Gliderport north of San Diego that they had no responsibility for my safety. (In fact, the paperwork said that if we crashed I might be responsible for the damage to the equipment...how's that for liability?)

As I was about half way through the multiple initialed and signed docs when a couple of men came in. One looked 20-something. The other looked much older than me. Because my training has taught me to atleast scan anything that I sign and they simply rushed through without reading, they were out on the launch site before me.

When the older man was getting strapped in for his launch, the younger man told the story. You see, it was his grandfather about to jump off the cliff. He had asked this important man what he could give him for his 80th birthday. This inspirational gentleman told his grandson that he wanted to do something he had never done before. THIS was the answer to his request.

I hope that when I get to my 80th birthday my grandchildren will have a hard time finding something that I have not done...and experience that I have failed to know...an adventure still to be undone. My list is long and I can't wait to cross off a few each year.

"Life is brief and very fragile, do that which makes you happy"

Flavia Weedn

Enjoying spectacular sunrises is part of the lifestyle here. Quite moments of deep appreciation for nature's bounty and the convenience to the Houston metroplex is a wonderful combination.

Located only 32 miles from Bush Intercontinental Airport, this community includes more than 60 residential communities and over 20 golf courses in the area.

Completed in 1973, this recreational lake has22,000 acres of surface water spread into more than 157 miles of shoreline, One third of that shoreline on the northwest side is bordered by the Sam Houston National Forest with hike and bike trails and other nature-loving amenties to enjoy.

Like many things in life, Lake Conroe has become so much more than the original developers ever dreamed about. Located on the west fork of the San Jacinto River, it was built in 1973 as a joint project between the City of Houston (as an alternative source of water) and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). State Hwy 105, which runs between Conroe and Montgomery, is to the south of the lake and the northern boundaries spread into San Jacinto county west of New Waverly.

The area is known for it's namesake and the county seat, Conroe. But actually, it is 7 or so miles west of the city. The western portion of the communities attend school in the city of Montgomery and the northeastern portion attend school in Willis school district.

Lake Conroe has become the destination for many people seeking a combination of lifestyles. Because it is located about one hour north of Downtown Houston, it is possible for people to enjoy this recreational lake frequently. Some opt to purchase a condo or small home for weekend excursions.

The rapidly growing population is people that choose the resort lifestyle for permanent, full-time living. Some of them commute to Houston...Some of them tele-commute and work from home...Some of them begin living in this affordable paradise as semi-retired or retired. ALL of them will sing the praises of the rare combination of recreation and graceful country living afforded by this locale.

To the south and east of Lake Conroe you will find an abundance of medical facilities, retail and restaurants. With three major hospitals within a 30 minute drive, you never have to worry about emergencies. The Woodlands Mall is a short drive away and with the growth of Conroe, you can find an abundant selection of dining options.

The Houston Symphony Invites you to The Woodlands Pavilion

Time travel to the era of the 1940s...swing dancing with the big bands to the tunes of such favorites as "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Moonlight Serenade" and many others. Michael Krajewski conducts the Houston Symphony with pre-show entertainment beginning at 7pm on Wednesday, August 27th.

With sponsorships from Woodforest Bank and Macy's you can bring your family for FREE LAWN SEATING. For seating under the pavilion roof, prices are $10-15. Tickets can be purchased at The Pavilion Ticket Office located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands Town Center Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm or at any Ticketmaster outlet including www.ticketmaster.com.

If you have a new or used musical instrument that you are willing to donate, bring it to The Pavilion ticket office the evening of the event. The Houston Symphony will give you 1/2 price tickets to concerts on August 27th or September 19th. For details, visit www.woodlandscenter.org.

I hope to see you there.

Flooding is a real risk in the Greater Houston area

When I think back to June 2001, I can remember my own personal stories of struggle, fear, shock and disbelief as the entire area of the southeast Texas Gulf Coast had a real life experience of what it must have been like when the local citizens were left behind as Noah floated off in his ark.

Tropical storm Allison was brutal and devastating for many. It was only a big hassle for me. In this photo, you are seeing a freeway completely covered by water. Dan Wallach shared this photo on www.picsearch.com. It shows three immersed vehicles. What you might notice is that this photo was taken AFTER the water had begun subsiding (note the debris on the roof of the care in the upper left corner of the photo).

I don't tell you all this to scare you. Instead, I want to share some resources and tools to help you to avoid an overwhelming experience the next time a strong storm comes to our area.

Most of the worst damage was done south of Montgomery County and North Harris County where I do most of my work with buyers and sellers. However, this photo was taken on I-45 which is the main corridor into Houston from The Woodlands. The affect of more than 40 inches of rain in the general area causes all of our water-rich community to be cautious.

What can you do to be safe?

The answer is to be flood smart. In this post I will share some information resources that you might use to gather the information you need to determine the area where you want to live and the insurance policies you may want to purchase. If you are relocating to this area, you will want to check out these resources. Harris County (the Houston area south of Montgomery County which includes part of Spring) has done extensive work to map the watershed areas and inform the public. The best source I have found for information is found here http://www.tsarp.org/ and http://www.hcfcd.org/.

Because Montgomery County was not as heavily affected by this storm, not as much information can be found online. But you will find that the county is very careful to assure all building projects are engineered in such a way that flood risk is minimized. And from my experience, they have done an excellent job. I rarely see any property built since the early 90's that has not been spared in flood conditions. However, if you want to check on a specific property by address, go to this site. With this site you can fill in a form with a specific address to find out the flood risk of the particular property that interests you.

Good real estate agents can tell you the areas that experience more flooding than others. They can tap into the information in the county permit office to see if there are any issues getting in and out of your community in times of flooding. But my best advice is to find your home in a community that has taken special care to engineer the watershed in such a way that it reduces your risk.

Many people comment about all the small ponds, larger lakes and water features in The Woodlands. They are asthetically pleasing and a huge benefit to the visitors and citizens every day. When a storm sweeps down on the area dumping more than 10 inches in 24 hours, those waterways become a safety valve - giving the water a place to go other than into the homes of area residents. Yet - one more reason to consider moving into The Woodlands.

In 1881, Isaac Conroe was a lumberman from Houston and he established a sawmill near the railroad tracks. Soon a post office was established in his mill commissary. By the mid nineteenth century, a lumber boom had attracted settlers and the population climbed to 300 by 1889. They became a shipping center for lumber, cotton, livestock and bricks. The Conroe Independent School District was established in 1892, combining twelve nearby school districts. In 1896, the Courier was founded. It remains one of the few daily newspapers still in operation.

Although the city survived a devastating fire in 1901, Conroe became incorporated in 1904 with a population of 1,009. Then the Great Depression almost devastated this small town. The lumber supply had been mismanaged. In November 1930, the only bank abruptly failed and forced many mills to close.

But things immediately turned around when in December of 1931 George Strake discovered oil seven miles southeast of town. By 1933 the population had blossomed to more than 5,000 and lent Conroe a boomtown atmosphere. It briefly claimed more millionaires per capita than any other town in the United States. During that time the Crighton Theater was built and in 1950 Elvis Presley performed there.

Since those oil boom days, Conroe has steadily grown in size. The Montgomery County Airport was built as a military facility in 1945, but has since then served as a local airfield. By 1972, when Houston began a big oil boom of their own, Conroe's population had climbed to 12,000...and reached 27,500 by 1990. Today's population is about 45,000.

Here's a link to the City of Conroe Event Calendar. You can see what a busy thriving area Conroe has become. Search the MLS in Conroe TX through this link.

Contact me with any questions on the real estate market in Conroe, Texas.

Kathi Frank, REALTOR
remax@kathifrank.com
www.kathifrank.com
936-441-1314