RETURN TO HOMERealtor Thursday
A conversation with Lisa Dempsey, Co-Owner of Mission Home Finding
Do you love the great outdoors? Do you love travel? Do you love water sports and fishing? Are you a shop-a-holic or self confessed foodie? You may want to consider living in Porter, Texas. We have the best in both suburban and country living in our growing community located just North of Houston Texas and thirty minutes from George Bush Intercontinental airport. Of course, the people of any community help to make it special, and our folks are friendly and good natured. But the number one reason people come to live here is lifestyle!
Our Town
Porter’s early settlers came in 1840 and the community was sustained by the timber stands covering the land. Sawmills and the railroad helped the area continue its growth. The first modern development was started in the 1950’s in Patton Village followed by Woodbranch and Roman Forest. In the early 1970’s the first “Master Planned” community was developed by Friendswood Development Company and today Kingwood and Oakhurst of Kingwood have over 70,000 residents.
For those of you that love the great outdoors, we have three recreational lakes close by for boating, fishing, water skiing and other water sports. If you love golfing, this is a little bit of heaven. Two courses of note are Deerwood, where the movie Tin Cup with Kevin Costner was filmed, and Redstone, where the annual Shell Houston Open is played. Several state parks are close by including Lake Houston State Park for camping and horseback riding. Everything is bigger in Texas including our shopping and dining out opportunities. The Woodlands Mall and the Galleria are two of our premier shopping venues, and who shops without adding on a trip to one your favorite restaurant?
Economy and Prices
We have been blessed to live in one of the most stable economies in the country. Typical home value appreciation is two to five percent a year. Without the huge swing in appreciation we have kept a very stable housing market. Our industry is very diversified providing us with a large range of professional and blue collar job opportunities. Administaff, Continential-United Airlines, Wal-Mart Distribution, Major Petrochemical Companies, Major Energy Providers are all employers for our area residents.
The Future 
The Greater Houston Metroplex is projected to grow by over 2.6 million by the year 2025. Our small community has all ready grown by over 10,000 since 2006 thanks to the new development and the hard work of our East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID). For example, we are excited about our professional minor league baseball stadium that is set to open the spring of 2013 thanks to Ventura Sports Group, the EMCID, and Wallace Bajjali. The 4500 seat stadium will be accompanied by hotels, restaurants and retail shops on a 42 acre tract just off Highway 59 in Porter.
Going Green
Going green is a big topic in Porter and one of the central focuses of a unique Theme Park that is in the works for our community. According to the developers “The EarthQuest Resort is an immersive family destination where guests of all ages and interests have fun while exploring and learning about the wonders of our planet. Nestled in the beautiful rural landscape of East Montgomery County, Texas, this innovative, eco-friendly, 500-acre, themed resort pays homage to the Earth and all of its resources in a way that is entertaining, engaging, empowering and unique.
EarthQuest is an unprecedented blend of entertainment and education. Every experience in this innovative resort is intended to entertain and inspire fun. Through its clever design, rich content and positive approach, this pioneering resort rekindles our love of nature, subtly reminds us of our role in stewardship of the Earth, and empowers us with the wisdom of knowing we have the ability to ensure our planet thrives in perpetuity.
The project consists of an Eco-Resort with Hotel and Conference Center, a Theme Park with attractions and thrills based on the natural world, a Water Park based on the lost world of dinosaurs, a Family Entertainment Center, a Retail/Dining/Entertainment Promenade, and at the center of it all, the EarthQuest Institute, an innovative new education and research facility with hands-on exhibits dedicated to advancing our awareness and appreciation of the environment.” For more information go to www.earthquestadventures.com.
Schools and Taxes
We do not have a state income tax. The primary source for funding the schools are the local property taxes. The New Caney Independent School District has been recognized by the Texas Education Agency for the last three years running. We recently opened our second high school, Porter High School, with a state of the art facility. Years ago, this district was considered to be “a little bit country”. The growth and the development the rest of the area has seen has been mirrored by the school district. The facilities are top notch and the student achievements continue to mount. Check out the district’s website for updates and news at www.newcaneyisd.org.
The People
Porter is a very family oriented town. The median age is 32 for women and 31 for men. Over half of the population is married with a significant number of household having one primary bread winner and one stay at home parent. The dominant language is English and the secondary language, as you would expect, for most of Texas is Spanish. Three times as many residents own their home as opposed to renting. The largest sector of families are living in the master planned developments such as Oakhurst of Kingwood, Valley Ranch, Forest Colony, Cumberland, and Riverwalk. The average household income is $75,000 and the average home is 2800 square feet with three or four bedrooms and costs $169,000.
Bottom Out
Our real estate market “bottomed out” at the end of 2010. We are seeing values begin to rise in our area. This is partially due to a reduction in inventory as fewer home owners are entering the market to sell. We continue to grow with new construction being the primary source of home sales in our market. Many first time home buyers are taking advantage of low interest rates and builder incentives in Porter, Texas. We also have a unique opportunity as many home buyers will qualify for 100% financing programs through USDA loan programs in our area.
Preparing to Buy
This is a wonderful time to purchase a home in our area. The real estate market is stable. Interest rates are low. FHA allows for a 3.5% down payment, qualifying properties may allow for 100% financing, and some lenders in our area offer “professional” loans for doctors, attorneys, educators etc. with 100% financing. Before you find your dream home, contact your favorite Real Estate professional and ask to meet with one of their preferred lenders. Together you can come up with a plan to help you with your home purchase.
Realtors and Technology 
The world of real estate is in constant motion. With new regulations and restrictions on how a loan is processed; the consumer is more reliant than ever on their loan officer to get them through a transaction. While home buyers are more savvy in today’s market and they have more access to information and data on properties for sale, the truly smart buyers utilize a professional real estate agent to help them interpret the market of the moment and to negotiate the best sales price for them. My office, Mission Home Finding, has been changing with the times and responding to the needs and desires of today’s consumers. We are not just a real estate company. We provide education, sales information, and home maintenance services for our clients. For us it is not just about “closing the deal”. From the very first question about buying or selling to providing vendor recommendations to help you care for your most valued asset, your home, we are your number one resource. We tell our clients “we do more than open doors!”
Real Estate is a Calling
Seven years ago I had the opportunity to begin my career in real estate thanks to a very supportive husband and family. I began my career as Rookie of the Year for my office and continued on to be a top producing agent each year. Over time my passion grew to not only help my clients but other real estate agents. I became, what is known in the industry as, a productivity coach; training other agents on how to grow their businesses. The next step was natural, I became a Team Leader for a well know real estate office and supported over 180 agents and managed three locations. In January of 2011 my business partner, Cliff Collins, and I opened Mission Home Finding in Porter, Texas. Our focus is on the customer. Today’s home buyers and sellers can find properties, home value estimates, and more information about real estate than ever through the internet. We provide the education, communication, knowledge and skill to help them interpret and utilize that data to find the best deals or sell for the highest price the market will bring. We also bring a personalized feeling to the experience. Buying or selling a property can be a very emotional time and sometimes a bit of a roller coaster ride when dealing with certain lending institutions. Our goal is to be your confidant, advocate and consultant from the very beginning and long after the sale. That is why we say, “We do more than open doors”!
Senior Consultant and Co-Owner
Mission Home Finding
23128 FM1314 Ste. B
Porter, Texas 77365
281-601-1057
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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com