About The Woodlands' Village Of Grogan's Mill

Recent news by the Veterans Administration announced the reduction in VA Mortgage Funding Fees in The Woodlands Texas and in everywhere VA Mortgages are available.

Many people talk about the VA Mortgage funding fee otherwise known as One time up front mortgage insurance has been reduced but few give credit where credit is due. The simple fact is that VA Mortgages have the lowest default rates of any home mortgage. This is in spite of the fact that VA Mortgages in the Woodlands Texas and elsewhere require no down payment and the Veteran is disallowed to pay many fees that a buyer has to pay on other home purchases. There are cases where veterans are discriminated as I've pointed out previously.

So the Veterans Administration is passing these savings to every Veteran qualifying for a mortgage. Starting November 18, 2011 these VA mortgage funding fee will be slashed in some cases by 60%. For the details and most up to date information check out the VA mortgage funding fee chart.

With all of the negative news about the mortgage industry this points to that many losses and problems in the industry are not a down payment or "skin in the game issue" but an underwriting issue.

I've been doing home loans long enough to know that VA home loans have always had some pretty stiff underwriting requirements and most loan officers just a few years ago flat refused to do them. In fact I was at a brokerage during the "old days" of subprime and I was the only Loan Officer doing VA Home mortgages and people at the company though I was crazy. Well it's enough to say that I'm still doing VA mortgages and other mortgages and the people that thought I was nuts have mostly quit the business.

In closing, I want to say what I say to every Vet. "Thank you for your service" and it's great to see that the VA 100% mortgage won't be going anywhere soon.

TOUR THE WOODLANDS ~ VILLAGE OF GROGAN'S MILL

This is the first of my series of taking you through a very detailed tour of The Woodlands, Texas. Our community is a very large master-planned community that encompasses a huge land mass from I-45 at the east end all the way to FM 2978 to the west. The southern edge begins at the Village of Creekside and is flanked by the neighborhoods along Hwy 242 and the Village of Harper's Landing at the far northern point.

The Woodlands city data is a great site to refer to for all sorts of statistics and interesting facts. The Woodlands is diverse and beautiful community that has something for everyone. We boast some of the best real estate values in the entire country!

Today, we will focus on the Village of Grogan's Mill. This was The Woodlands original village and is found in the far south-east end. This is where it all began and is still a favorite village. The home of the first golf course in The Woodlands known as the Tournament Course and the home of the former Shell Houston Open and now many other well known golf tournaments.

The Millbend loop as we call it is a favorite place to jog, walk and cycle. It winds through the heart of the village, has great views of the Tournament Course and crosses a few quaint bridges and park areas. There are two parks which are Tamarac and Sawmill. The Sawmill park has a community swimming pool.

The schools that are located directly in this village include Hailey and Lamar Elementary (grades K-4), Wilkerson Intermediate (Grades 5 & 6), and Knox Junior High (grades 7 & 8).

The Grogan's Mill Village shopping center is centrally located and houses the grocery store-chain Randalls, Fuddruckers, Beck's Prime and Brother's Pizza. The shopping center hosts a wonderful farmer's market which is now open year round each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center is a wonderful destination place and a favorite for businesses. The fantastic pool area is very popular with families. The meetings facility is first-class and stays booked constantly.

There are townhomes and homes ranging from the low 60's all the way to a million+. From zero lot lines to estate sections, the Village of Grogan's Mill has something for everyone! I am your Woodlands Real Estate Expert and I am here to assist you with your buying or selling needs. I look forward in assisting you. Give me a call today!

Tour The Woodlands Blog Series:

Welcome to The Woodlands

Village of Panther Creek

Village of Cochran's Crossing

Village of Indian Springs

Village of Alden Bridge

Village of Sterling Ridge

Village of College Park

Grogan's Mill Farmer's Market in The Woodlands TX

Saturdays June 11th, 18th, and 25th | Hours: 8:00 a.m. to Noon

Location: Grogan's Mill Village Center Parking Lot (Click for Map)

Attention: Grogan's Mill residents and visitors, we're in the midst of the Farmer's Market season! The produce is fresh and the farmers are eager to provide their tasty foods to health-conscious consumers. I was catching up on The Woodlands TX community calendar over at The Woodlands Township website when I noticed that this event takes place in just 12 hours! Take some time to join me tomorrow morning and shop for delicious, healthy produce and unique homemade goods. I'll be tweeting photos and messages live from the the market, so watch for #grogansmill tweets and join in the conversation! Added Bonus: for folks (like me) who haven't shopped for Dad yet, there will doubtless be great gift options for Father's Day (June 19th)!

Here's the list of vendors: [SOURCE: www.GrogansMillVillage.com]

• Angela's Oven
• Back to the Farm--Fresh Brown Eggs
• Barker Street Gourmet Dog Bakery & Boutique
• Café Don Vittorio - fresh ground & whole bean coffee
• Georgia's Grassfed Beef/Village Bontanica
• Grande Tamales - prepared tamales
• Hammond Farms - bath sundries made with goat milk & goat cheese
• Houston Dairymaids - artisan cheese from Texas dairies
• NEW Lucia's Especialidades Argentina
• Neal's Berry Farm - produce & plants
• Nisha's Quick-n-Ezee Indian Food
• Nativa Soaps
• Olivero Farms
• Pearl's Pastured Beef/Twin Creeks Ranch- antibiotic & hormone free pastured raised beef & some produce
• Rain Song Farm - sustainably grown vegetables & herbs & vegetable and plant starts
• NEW Round Rock Honey
• Secret Garden - sustainably grown vegetables & micro greens
• Simply Southern Cupboard - packaged, hand-made mixes: pancakes, cornbread, cobbler mix, cocoa & marshmallows
• Spring Orchids - orchids & blooming plants
• Sugar Hill Farm - sustainably grown produce
• Taste of Asia - prepared Mediterranean food
• Texas Hill Country Olive Company - olive oil & balsamic vinegars
• Theis Market
• Viv's Cookies & More
• Wood Duck Farm
• NEW Woodlands Eco-Consultants

If you can't make it tomorrow morning, you still have Saturdays June 18th and 25th to visit the Farmer's Market before the season ends. Market opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at noon.

Source: http://davidcompanik.com/2011/things-to-do-in-the-woodlands-grogans-mill-farmers-market/

The Administaff Small Business Classic once again brings a great golf tournament to The Woodlands Country club Tournament Course. The golf classic is presented by United Healthcare The tournament is a Champions Tour event which includes 78 professionals in 54 holes of stroke play for a purse of $1.7 million.

Thursday, October 21 - Pro Am

Friday - Sunday, October 22 - 24 - Regular tournament play

Parking will be available at the Waterway Parking Garage. Shuttles will take spectators to and from the garage to the course.

The first 1,000 spectators on Saturday and Sunday will receive a special gift. Enter the course via the South Millbend entrance.

This ought to be a great weekend for golf! See you on the course!

GROGAN'S MILL FARMER'S MARKET ~ THE WOODLANDS, TX.

The weather made it a perfect day to visit the Grogan's Mill Farmer's Market yesterday. I was pleased to find a great cheese maker and purchased some excellent Texas Redneck Cheddar, Gouda and fresh Motarella. I am anxious to try the homemade butter too!

The fall pumpkins are always great to see and this little guy in the picture was too cute. He was just picking up each gourd and really studying them one by one.

The market is open each Saturday morning from 8 - noon from now until mid-December.