Cypress, TX

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD earned "Recognized" status for the second consecutive school year according to the Texas Education Agency's annual accountability ratings, released on Thursday.

A small percentage of Texas public school districts achieve "Exemplary" or "Recognized" status each year-the highest two performance brackets measured by the TEA. CFISD was a "Recognized" district for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004, again in 2008 and currently in 2009.

"This ‘Recognized' rating is the result of our students' and staff's commitment to continue to achieve academically," said David Anthony, superintendent of schools. "A joint effort among students, teachers, staff and parents to build on the previous years' success produced unprecedented results from the elementary level through high school."

Campus performance has risen steadily throughout the last three years of TEA accountability ratings. This year, 63 out of 74 campuses (85 percent) were declared "Recognized" or "Exemplary;" in 2008, 49 out of 70 (70 percent) schools attained this status; and in 2007, 36 out of 67 (54 percent) received the two highest ratings.

The most notable increase came at CFISD's high school level, where 9 of 10 campuses (90 percent) were "Recognized," compared to 2 of 8 (25 percent) "Recognized" in 2008.

Visit the TEA website at www.tea.state.tx.us for a detailed listing of scores by campus.

I have a great listing that I have reduced to an amazing LOW price, and it is still not showing. So it leads me to wonder- Does price sell homes? I am always told that if you price it right, it will sell. My listing is clean, easy to show, and priced at least $20 a sqft less than market. I checked the area, only one other home is similar in size in price in the whole city. I have advertised it on multiple websites, craigslist, email blasts to agents- yet I have had very little traffic, and no offers. Any suggestions? Could I be priced too low? I would appreciate any advice you have to give me.

Thanks!

A tranquil, cozy community, the Park at Arbordale is situated on Spring Cypress in between Telge and Barker Cypress roads, adjacent to the Coles Crossing community. Floorplans range in size from 2422 up to 4230 square feet to meet most every family's needs. Below I have included a few shots from the Barrington floorplan.

What an exquisite formal living room!

One of the SPACIOUS upstairs bedrooms!

Kids and adults alike will LOVE this gameroom for entertaining guests!!

With easy access to Spring Cypress, you are able to commute easily to Highway 290 OR 249!If you would like to take a look for yourself, give me a call at 713.303.9463 . I'd love to show you these impressive homes with EXCELLENT SCHOOLS!

Urgent! Please let your voice be heard by Governor Rick Perry. If House Bill 3646 is passed the Cy-Fair Independent School District will receive less money per student than other school districts resulting in a major budget short fall which will in turn result in the repeal of Cy-Fair ISDs homestead exemption and a 20% tax hike.

I am told that according to House Bill 3646, Cy-Fair will receive $4,200 per child whereas other districts will receive approximately $5,800 per child even though their districts are contracting and Cy-Fair is expanding. Houston ISD is facing the same problem, but they have a much larger tax base that is largely commercial property. Cy-Fair is primarily residential.

Our low tax rates in Cy-Fair are a big reason why the area is so attractive to young families looking to move into the suburbs. The loss of the homestead exemption could drive property values down if home buyers feel Cy-Fair taxes are out of line with other areas of Houston.

Please tell Governor Perry to veto the bill until this inequality can be remedied. Tell your friends to do the same.

Bridgeland is a very large master planned community located in Northwest Harris County in Cypress, Texas just Northwest of Houston. The development is a very large one covering almost the same land mass as the inside of Houston's 610 inner loop.

Recently, it was learned that General Growth Properties Inc., the developer, was filing for bankruptcy protection. I was curious about what that meant for the development itself. General Growth Properties is one of the largest retail shopping mall developers and owners in the country and residential development was only a small piece of their holdings.

I talked with an employee of Bridgeland who assured me that they were well funded for the next year and although a few of their builders have struggled of late, they still have a strong builder core and are still building in the sections they have already started. No new sections will likely be opened this year. I was also informed that two buyers had made offers to purchase the development from General Growth Properties and that one offer had been accepted. They are now in the due diligence period of the contract.

Although, he didn't give me a name, the employee said the buyer was already a well established developer in the area. It has now been reported by the Houston Business Journal that Caldwell Companies who is the developer of the nearby developments of Towne Lake and Rock Creek. The Houston Business Journal is also reporting that a Japanese firm, Sumitomo Corp., will have a large stake in the project.

For now, Bridgeland is still on track to ultimately build 20,000 homes for an estimated 65,000 residents. The project features many wonderful amenities such as nature trails, a large park with disc golf course, lakes for non-powered boating, and activity centers with pools, splash pads and tennis courts. The project will also ultimately have commercial retail property along the proposed Grand Parkway expansion.

To see pictures of the community, visit: http://www.bridgeland-cypress-tx.com/