By BETTY L. MARTIN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Less than three months before its grand-opening date, the Villagio retail and office complex is poised to add to Cinco Ranch’s European-style ambiance and upscale shopping choices.

From the number of tenants attracted to the 120,000-square-foot Villagio Retail Center at Cinco Ranch since construction began last summer at Westheimer Parkway and Peek Road, the Villagio may be heading for full occupancy even before it officially opens in October. Estimated project value is $40 million.

It’s already 75 percent full with a variety of businesses, said James “Jimbo” Homeyer, leasing agent at Keller Williams Realty in Katy, who represents the project’s Woodlands-based developer, Marcelinc. (more…)

June 2007 Sales

Records Set, While Market Shows Slowing Sales

HOUSTON — (July 18, 2007) – Houston continues to carve its own niche in real estate trends this month with single-family home sales in June declining compared to the same month last year, while prices continue rising. These are the first consecutive months with declining total sales in more than six years for the greater Houston real estate market but almost all of the decline is within the $80,000 to $140,000 price range and can be attributed to tighter restrictions in the sub-prime lending market. Home sales in price ranges lower or higher than $80,000 to $140,000 continue at a steady pace, and prices in June continued to display steady growth, as both the median and average total sales price set new records. (more…)

Do you know your Freon from Puron- You’d better if you have central air, are looking at new air conditioning units or repairing the one you have. The Energy Department is promoting advisories highlighting new regulations that will be outlawing Freon and how it will affect you even before the phase out.

As the summer rolls on, many homeowners are faced with issues surrounding air conditioners. If your unit is on the blink and in need of replacement or repairs you should be keenly aware of the new government standards that are going into place that will effect your options and pocketbook. (more…)

Upscale communities springing up on rice fields in Fort Bend

By BETTY L. MARTIN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

From the sounds of jackhammers to the sight of posted placards announcing master-planned communities, the Katy prairie south of Interstate 10 and west of the Texas 6 Energy Corridor is full of signs that it’s fast becoming home to more than birds and rice farms.

In just over a year since Jefferson Development of Houston began building the Firethorne residential community, $130,000 to $800,000 homes, several other developers have followed suit on what was prairie, farm or prison land in the Katy school district within Fort Bend County.

“When we started Firethorne, we were really the only big project here. Now, there’s a lot of big projects. that just indicates how strong the market is,” said Wayne Meyer, Jefferson Development’s vice president and Firethorne’s general manager. (more…)

“Motorists Should Expect Delays and are Encouraged to Avoid the Area“

(Houston) -This weekend, July 14-15, 2007, the I-10/Katy Freeway eastbound and westbound mainlanes between Wilcrest and Gessner will be closed continuously beginning 5 AM, Saturday, July 14 until 5 AM, Monday, July 16, as the Texas Department of Transportation’s contractor continues reconstruction activities in the area of the I-10/Beltway 8 Interchange. Traffic will be detoured to the respective frontage roads. Additional closures taking place in this area include:

. Total closure of the I-10/Katy Freeway westbound direct connector to Beltway 8-West southbound from 5 AM, Saturday, July 14 until 5 AM, Monday, July 16. Traffic will detour to the I-10 westbound frontage road, U-turn at Wilcrest to the I-10 eastbound frontage road to the Beltway 8 southbound frontage. (more…)

Next summer is earliest work could start, if no problems arise

By BETTY L. MARTIN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

After Fort Bend County voters approved in May a $156 million mobility bond to fund, build, widen and curb roads, including five in unincorporated Katy, studies are matching engineering firms with specific projects and looking at possible right-of-way acquisitions.

“Everyone wants to know when construction starts. These projects are being pushed as high priority and we’ll do them as fast as we’re able to do them,” said Fort Bend County Engineer D. Jesse Hegemier.

Anytime the county may have to acquire additional rights of way, Hegemier said, project completion dates can’t be estimated with any degree of accuracy. (more…)