Harris County Commissioners recently awarded a $6.2 million contract to Longhorn Excavators to excavate 40 acres at Rushing Park, 9114 Katy Hockley Road.

The work will create a chain of lakes that will cover approximately 50 acres. The addition will create an environmentally sensitive habitat for water fowl and areas for trails, boardwalks and observation decks. Plans are also under way for a 500-acre recreational lake northeast of Rushing Park on a 900-acre site, John Paul’s Landing, named in honor of the late Pope John Paul II.

Think the Drive In movies are merely a nostalgic memory? Think again!
Can you believe there are 19 operating Drive In Theaters in the state of Texas, and two of them are in the Houston Area???!!!

The Duncan Team made a recent trip to Hockley, Texas to check out the Showboat Drive In! Owners Johnny and Chris Rumfolo dubbed their Drive In in honor of an old operation in Houston that was owned in the 50’s by their grandfather. They carved out an area on 34 acres of farmland and started construction in 2005. They opened in 2006 with a huge 40′ X 80′ screen and a concrete block projection house with snack bar and bathrooms. In 2007 they added a second screen.The parking area accommodates 400 vehicles and is undulated in order to give your car the proper angle for viewing. Patrons tune their car radios to FM 88.1 for the audio portion of the movie. We paid $5 each for a double feature. (more…)

Energy Efficiency Pays Off . . . For Now
By Bryan Pope, Associate Editor

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. – Homeowners distressed over high energy bills and even higher taxes can receive tax credits for certain energy efficiency property and improvement expenditures. But they had better act quickly.

One tax credit, the nonbusiness energy property credit, expires at the end of this year, and the other, the residential energy-efficient property credit, expires at the end of 2008.

“Because of the time constraints, homeowners will have to plan carefully,” said Dr. Jerrold J. Stern, research fellow with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and an accounting professor at Indiana University. (more…)

The guidance below (and in the “How to Avoid Foreclosure” pamphlet) is applicable to homeowners with FHA Insured loans. While a good deal of this information may apply to all homeowners in danger of losing their homes, not all of the foreclosure avoidance tools mentioned may be available to you if you have a VA or conventional loan. Additionally, HUD/FHA does not have any Loss Mitigation oversight over VA or conventional loans. Please contact your lender or a housing counseling agency.

Q: What Happens When I Miss My Mortgage Payments?

Foreclosure may occur. This is the legal means that your lender can use to repossess (take over) your home. When this happens, you must move out of your house. If your property is worth less than the total amount you owe on your mortgage loan, a deficiency judgment could be pursued. If that happens, you not only lose your home, you also would owe HUD an additional amount.

Both foreclosures and deficiency judgments could seriously affect your ability to qualify for credit in the future. So you should avoid foreclosure if possible.

Q: What Should I Do?

1. DO NOT IGNORE THE LETTERS FROM YOUR LENDER. If you are having problems making your payments, call or write to your lender’s Loss Mitigation Department without delay. Explain your situation. Be prepared to provide them with financial information, such as your monthly income and expenses. Without this information, they may not be able to help. (more…)