Cross Creek Ranch is the newest Master Planned Community in the Katy Texas area (it actually has a Fulshear address). This is going to be a beautiful community with lots of amenities like a large resort style waterpark, a health and fitness center, a 70ft elevator tower with lookout, the Cross Creek Cafe (a light food and coffee shop located in the commons), and lots of lakes and greenspace through out the community.

Builders who have signed on to build in this new community include Village Builders, Trendmaker, Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes, and Perry Homes. Prices will range from the $190's to the $700k range.

Cross Creek Ranch is well located for quick commute to the City of Houston by the nearby Westpark Tollway as well as a short drive to I-10. The homes will be serviced by both the KatyISD school district to the east as well as the Lamar Consolidated School District to the west.

Cross Creek Ranch is a community that needs to be added to the must see list of anyone who is looking for a home with a country feel...yet near enough to the city for an easy commute! You will not be disappointed if you add Cross Creek Ranch to your home shopping itinerary! 

The 2008 Katy Antique & Collectible Market will be held on August 30th and 31st.

lots of books, china, Americana, fine lace and linens, coins, antiques, advertising memorabilia, and more will be available. The price is $5 for admission...and you can go to www.cwgs.com to get $1 off tickets. Children under 12 are free so it will be a great way to beat the heat!

The Katy Antique and Collectible Market will be held at the Katy ISD Merrell Ctr on Sat 10-5 and Sun 11-5. If you have any questions call 877.840.3829 for more info.

The Merrell Center is located on the Northwest corner of FM1463 and I-10 West in Katy.

The best way to search for homes in the Houston Association of Realtors MLS. We have an easy way for you to quickly search all Katy subdivisions including Cinco Ranch, Seven Meadows, Grand Lakes, Kelliwood, Green Trails, Grayson Lakes, WoodCreek Reserve and more...

go to http://www.katyhomefinder.com/MLS_Search/page_649411.html

This is a quick MLS search. You can put in price range, neighborhoods (like Katy or specifics like Cinco Ranch), square feet of the home, and specifics like pool or golf course lot.

You can also go to www.KatyHomeFinder.com and fill out a form for us to do the searching for you. Click into the Let us search for you http://www.katyhomefinder.com/Let_Us_Search_For_You/page_649405.html section and we will get all new listings that fit the market and meet your criteria e-mailed to you the day the become available.

Mona and Jeff are The Katy Area Experts...on all things Katy...like schools, homes, retail, office, and medical facilities. Let us know what you need...we are happy to help!!!

Grayson Lakes is a beautiful community in the western section of the Katy Texas area south of I-10. Grayson Lakes was developed by Newland Communities...the company that developed Cinco Ranch and Seven Meadows, so you know you will be getting a neighborhood loaded with amenities...and Kids! Grayson Lakes is located within the boundaries of the Award Winning KatyISD School District. The community actually feeds a new Elementary and Middle School, and is located with the boundaries of Seven Lakes High School. Seven Lakes is one of the most technologically advanced high schools in the entire Country.

The attraction for many of the residents of Grayson Lakes is the lakes and amenities the community boasts. With water sports like fishing and boating to go along with playgrounds, pools, green space, etc... This is a community that will make your family feel like they are on vacation twelve months a year. Grayson Lakes also boasts a great location for commuting to work. Just a stones through from I-10 and a few miles west of the Houston Energy Corridor, many executives from BP, Conoco Phillips, Shell, etc.. call Grayson Lakes home.

As part of the vibrant South Katy area Grayson is within a short distance of all Katy has to offer from the many Malls (the Katy Mills Mall is just up the street), restaurants, shops, close proximity to grocery stores and a wide variety of Medical facilities and choices. 

Grayson Lakes is priced from about $200,000 to over $600,000 and the community has some of the largest lots available in Katy area subdivisions. If you are looking for a place to live that makes you feel like you are on vacation 12 months a year...and yet is close to work...add Grayson Lakes to your shopping list!

We all rushed out to the stores earlier this week here in Texas to make sure we had enough bottled water, batteries, food, and other items that the news media said we would need to prepare for the oncoming hurricane Eduard. Many places of business and schools announced they were closing on Tuesday due to the impending storm.

Tuesday came--but no hurricane. Some areas did get some well needed rain, a few areas even had some flooding, but nothing really out of the ordinary for those of us who live here.

What did we learn from this? Well, I guess it is better to be prepared than not to be! All of those supplies we went out and bought should be stashed away, so if we get another hurricane coming this way many of us will already be ready!

It was kind of like the fire-drills we had when we were in grade school-it got everyone more in tune with what to do, even the emergency services got some good practice in ! Hopefully we will not need those supplies, but we are ready if another one really hits!

Pine Mill Ranch is a newer 528 acre Master Planned Community in Katy Texas south of I-10. It sides on the Master Planned Community of Cinco Ranch so it gets many of the benefits of Cinco Ranch at a little lower price! The neighborhood includes amenities such as a pool, splashpark, and walking trails.

The close proximity to I-10, the Westpark Tollway, the Grand Parkway, the Katy Mills Mall, LaCenterra Mall,  the many wonderful area medical facilities, and the drive times to the Houston Energy Corridor make it an ideal choice for families and empty Nest buyers. 

Prices on homes in Pine Mill Ranch run from the 120's up to the 400's from builders like Trophy Homes, Perry Homes, and Newmark Homes. Pine Mill Ranch is located in the Award Winning KatyISD School District. 

Driving Directions
From Houston heading West on I-10, turn Left on 99 Grand Parkway heading South. Exit Cinco Ranch Blvd and turn Right heading West. Turn Right onto Katy Gaston. Follow Katy Gaston into Pine Mill Ranch.

Whew--It is so hot this year! Perhaps it is global warming? Whatever the case, right now it is hard to escape the heat-wherever you are! Denver has had over 20 days in a row of 90+ degree weather. WE are here in Texas and today it is 100 degrees! For those who say it is a dry heat--well, it istill feels like walking in to your oven whenever you get into your car!

So-what do you do, especially if you have kids at home now in the summer? Here are a few ideas:

1/ Movie day--there is nothing like a COOL, dark movie theatre to stay nice and cool in and keep all entertained!

2/ Indoor play area in Malls--this is FREE!!!! Yes, you can grab a bite, do a little shopping, or just grab an iced coffee and sit down and watch your kids run around in the nice, cool indoor play area in your local mall.

3/ Library-if you have not been to your local library lately now is the time! There is something there for all ages-most libraries now have computers for all ages as well, some even have games for the pre-schoolers already loaded-again this is a FREE activity!

4/ Inflatable Zone/My Gym--all of these have play times you can pay for for the kids to bounce around or tumble around to their hearts content! They get some exercise and afterward they are real tired.....

5/ Visit your local museum-most places have a children's museum or just a regular museum will do as well! These cost a little bit, but are a great thing to do that is out of the ordinary-you would be surprised by how many people have never been to the local museum in their town!

Anyway- I just thought a few ideas for those of us who dread going out in the terrible sun and heat! Hope these ideas help you stay cool!