Mary Bowen, The Woodlands Texas Real Estate & Relocation Specialist

Often when I'm working with clients relocating to The Woodlands/South Montgomery area, I am asked the same questions:

1. How good are the schools?

2. Are there a lot of kids in the neighborhood?

3. Parks? Area swimming pools?

4. Are there any predators in the area?

Questions 1-3 are easy to answer. I lived in the area for many years. My kids have grown up in The Woodlands and I know about as much as one can know about the area. After all, I'm a Realtor and its my job to stay informed and know the latest and greatest about the area.

What I don't always know is where the predators are located. So to answer that question, I tell my clients to go to the website www.myfamilywatchdog.com The website tracks where predators are living and what was their offense. While I can't guarantee the accuracy of the site, it has opened the eyes to more than one of my clients.

Some times you need more than one watchdog!!!

Oak Ridge North is a little city located on the east side of I-45 directly across the interstate from The Woodlands. Its earliest homes date back to the mid 1960's. The neighborhood with its mature trees and over-sized lots reminds me of the neighborhoods of Memorial before they started tearing the homes down to build micro-mansions.

This past year I have had the pleasure of listing several homes in Oak Ridge North and I was impressed by friendly, helpful neighbors. Another item of interest about that neighborhood is that when I listed one of the larger homes in the area, five Oak Ridge North residents actually previewed the home because they needed a larger home but refused to leave their beloved Oak Ridge North. I actually sold that home to one of those residents!

The school that serve Oak Ridge North are highly acclaimed and are conveniently located next door to the neighborhood. Oak Ridge North also has its own police department, mayor and city hall. And most people actually know the mayor on a first name basis. How often does that happen?

If your looking for a lot of house for the dollar, I highly recommend Oak Ridge North. It is convenient to the interstate, The Woodlands Mall, Waterway, Market Street, and The Pavilion, while costing a fraction of the cost of The Woodlands. The homes I sold in Oak Ridge North sold in the mid- $200,000's, but in The Woodlands they would have been closer to the mid $300,000.

While I love The Woodlands and live in The Woodlands, I also love Oak Ridge North. It has loads of charm and small town feel.

For more information about Oak Ridge North visit the city's web site www.oakridgenorth.com.

Relocating to the area? Mary Bowen, Coldwell Banker United Realtor can get you the neighborhood and home thats right for you. Direct 281.732.5937

On Monday, August 25th, I heard an audible sigh of relief and a few whoops in The Woodlands when the last school bus pulled out of the neighborhood.

Summer is like a having a house guest for a week or more. You are happy to see it come and you are happy to see it go!

For our family this school year was one of firsts. My daughter started her first day of intermediate school and bus riding and my son start his first day of high school.

For the many children whose families I help locate new homes in their new town, they started a whole new adventure in a totally new school system. Each of them excited with the expectations of a great new school year and adventure.

For many moms, it was an opportunity to have a complete thought without being interrupted by one of her precious children informing her of the hunger pains, boredom, or some other issue.

For me, it was the opportunity to work without feeling guilty about being a working mom.

The reasons for living in The Woodlands is endless. It is no accident that The Woodlands has been name the #1 Master Planned Community in Texas for over 25 years. My personal top ten reasons for living in The Woodlands are:

1. The people are awesome! I have never lived in a place where the community rallies around its neighbors during times of need like the why the people of The Woodlands.
2. The public schools are great! Again, parents of The Woodlands are heavily involved in their children's education and it shows in the schools' state ratings.
3. There is so much to do! It seems that every weekend there is some sort of free community event. From concerts to carnivals to educational events.
4. The Wildlife! The community is filled with deer, squirrels, armadillos, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, bald eagles, turkey vultures, song birds and more.
5. The Entertainment! The Woodlands is loaded with entertainment and restaurants. We have the Cynthia Woods Pavilion, The Waterway, Market Street, The Mall, Main Event and many, many others.
6. Medical Facilities! We have top notch doctors and medical treatment facilities. No need to travel to the med center.
7. Places of Worship! The Woodlands has a place to worship for just about every religion.
8. The Beauty! The Woodlands is in my opinion the most beautiful area in the Houston Metroplex to live. The trees, the lakes, and the master planning of the community makes it a peaceful and serene place to call home.
9. The Hike and Bike Trails! With over 140 miles of hike and bike trails connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks, and commercial areas, driving is just one option for getting around The Woodlands.
10. The Trolleys and Water Taxi!! Once you get to Town Center, you can travel from one business to another using the trolleys and water taxis services. Currently the trolleys are free and the water taxis cost $6.00 to ride all day.

As I said these are just ten reasons why I love living in The Woodlands. If you need more information about life in The Woodlands, please contact me. I would be glad to share my experience with schools, neighborhoods, or whatever else you need to know.

Having Lived in heart of The Woodlands for the last eight years, I have come to love just about every part of the community. My top ten reasons for living in The Woodlands:

1. The people are awesome! I have never lived in a place where the community rallies around its neighbors during times of need like the why the people of The Woodlands.
2. The public schools are great! Again, parents of The Woodlands are heavily involved in their children's education and it shows in the schools' state ratings.
3. There is so much to do! It seems that every weekend there is some sort of free community event. From concerts to carnivals to educational events.
4. The Wildlife! The community is filled with deer, squirrels, armadillos, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, bald eagles, turkey vultures, song birds and more.
5. The Entertainment! The Woodlands is loaded with entertainment and restaurants. We have the Cynthia Woods Pavilion, The Waterway, Market Street, The Mall, Main Event and many, many others.
6. Medical Facilities! We have top notch doctors and medical treatment facilities. No need to travel to the med center.
7. Places of Worship! The Woodlands has a place to worship for just about every religion.
8. The Beauty! The Woodlands is in my opinion the most beautiful area in the Houston Metroplex to live. The trees, the lakes, and the master planning of the community makes it a peaceful and serene place to call home.
9. The Hike and Bike Trails! With over 140 miles of hike and bike trails connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks, and commercial areas, driving is just one option for getting around The Woodlands.
10. The Trolleys and Water Taxi!! Once you get to Town Center, you can travel from one business to another using the trolleys and water taxis services. Currently the trolleys are free and the water taxis cost $6.00 to ride all day.

As I said these are just ten reasons why I love living in The Woodlands. If you need more information about life in The Woodlands, please contact me. I would be glad to share my experience with schools, neighborhoods, or whatever else you need to know.