Sam White - Bryan & College Station, Texas

Dear readers,

According to Texas A&M University officials, record fall semester enrollment has neared 48,000 students. Preliminary data released from the University this week puts fall enrollment at 47,925, again making Texas A&M the sixth largest university in the United States.

Texas A&M is also boasting one of the largest freshman classes in the nation at 8,127 students.

Graduate students also increased in numbers to 8,967, which is up by 272. There are 503 students pursuing their doctor of veterinary medicine through the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

As always, these numbers are a boon to the local economy. Bryan/College Station real estate sales posted its best July in history this year.

WELCOME STUDENTS!

Here are the numbers as reported in The Eagle. The complete article can be found at www.TheEagle.com.

Texas A&M Fall 2008 enrollment data:

* 47,925 total students enrolled for fall 2008 -- a 1,383 student increase when compared to fall 2007

* 8,967 graduate students, a 272-student increase from last year

* 8,127 freshmen, including 1,322 Hispanic students and 305 black students. Of the freshmen, 585 were enrolled through a cooperative program with Blinn College.

Ethnic breakdown

* 5,848 Hispanic students, which is 566 more than last year

* 1,553 black students, which is 140 more than last year

*preliminary first-day registration numbers

WELCOME STUDENTS! Don't forget, Midnight Yell Friday night and Aggie Football this weekend!

Blue Skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com

Dear readers,

First, I admit I'm a Mexican food snob. I grew up in a Spanish river valley in New Mexico, and have taken scores, probably hundreds of meals within blocks of the plaza in Santa Fe. I recognize that Mexican food means different things in different regions. Northern New Mexico will differ from El Paso and the Valley, which will differ from Houston and the Metroplex.

Although fajitas and margaritas have replaced prime rib and Cabernet as my favorite comfort food, when I think of Mexican food, I still think Santa Rosa and Santa Fe. So when I was asked yesterday where I liked to eat New Mexico Mexican food, I answered Abuelos.

Abuelos reminds me of home...or comes the closest. Their red chili sauce tastes like it came from Hatch and the presentation is excellent. Their green chili is bright and made with care.

You can see their attention to detail when you first walk into the restaurant. The owners spared no expense in the lively patio restaurant and more secluded bar, giving the establishment an upscale feel. The staff is friendly and attentive, and I couldn't help but smile when our heavily-accented Guatemalan waiter had to tell us twice his name was Marvin...pronounced Marveen.

They have a nice bar, good margaritas and a good happy hour daily (2-7 pm I think).

Considering the food, atmosphere and attentive service, Abuelos seems to be a good value. This is another restaurant we are fortunate to enjoy.

Sign up for their online newsletter and you'll get a break for your birthday and anniversary. http://abuelos.com/

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com
979.574.0626

Dear readers,

I was in The Republic last week. It shares a wall with our Keller Williams Market Center and I've always liked the deep atmosphere of the place. There was my friend Nathan, one of the co-owners, working at the bar with his laptop.

I got a little nosy and he showed me a letter from the American Automobile Association. You know, the folks that publish the AAA Guides. It seems The Republic was visited by an inspector, and he or she had been favorably impressed. The letter stated The Republic is a recipient of AAA's 2008 Four-Diamond Award. Way to go, Nathan & Robert Wade.

Four-Diamond awardees are rare. This is the first in the Brazos Valley, and there are only 21 in Texas. All of the others are located in major, or coastal cities. To get the Four Diamond, you have to do everything right.

We are fortunate to have so many good places to eat here in the Brazos Valley. We have a wide variety, and some are award winners.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com
979.574.0626

PS- The Republic has some good guitar and jazz on Friday and Saturday nights this summer. It starts at 9pm and its worth a visit.

Dear readers,

Living in a college town has advantages and disadvantages.

• The advantage - an unbelievable money machine (kids and parents) that keeps our market humming along
• The disadvantage - 45,000 teens and 20's, and all that entails

Bryan and College Station have come at the problem two ways. Bryan passed an ordinance allowing neighborhood associations to band together to reduce the number of unrelated persons living in a home to two (2). College Station is still working through the problem.

To that end, the City of College Station has launched a new Website, www.cstx.gov/ni, to communicate with residents about neighborhood integrity issues.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Although communication is an important first step, it can't stop there. I had an ear-full just Saturday from a neighbor of a home I am representing for students/parents. It was obvious in speaking to this very upset homeowner, that something more than good communication will be required.

I'll be writing more on this subject as the situation develops. In the meantime....

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.samwhiterealty.com
979.574.0626

Dear readers,

Market conditions in the Brazos Valley continue their usual march forward as Texas A&M University reported record spring enrollment. University officials said that 43,827 students enrolled for the spring 2008 semester, an addition of 1,453 students when compared with the spring 2007 semester.

Fall enrollment at Texas A&M was also a record at 46,542 students.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteRealty.com