Location is selling point for Fall Creek community
Fall Creek continues to be a popular option for house hunters in the Humble area.
“It’s a great location,” general manager Rusty Campbell said. “It’s very close in, just inside the Beltway. The proximity to downtown has always been a selling point.”
Fall Creek is on the southern side of Beltway 8, 3 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 15 miles from downtown Houston.
Campbell said there are only two more sections of the 2,300acre master-planned community to develop. Once complete, the property will have 2,500 homes.
“We’ve sold all of the residential land out there,” he said. “We’re at the end. We should be developing our last lots this year.”
Campbell said the property was purchased by Johnson Development Corp. in 2000, and homes have been sold since 2003 with prices ranging from the $200,000s up to the multimillions.
The schools near the development have also been a draw for residents, including Fall Creek Elementary, Woodcreek Middle and Summer Creek High schools.
Amenities include hike-and-bike trails, catch-and-release fishing, a resort-style aquatic center, ballpark and soccer fields.
“It’s beautiful and it’s got great access to everything,” Campbell said.
Realtor Louise Beard with RE/MAX said the location is ideal.
“The commute is 20 minutes to downtown, 20 minutes to refineries on the east side and 20 minutes to the new Exxon campus,” she said. “And it’s close to the airport.”
Beard said that while Fall Creek is a smaller development than The Woodlands or Kingwood, the subdivision is close to both master-planned communities.
Residents can easily shop or dine in either, she said.
“It definitely works well for families and working professionals,” she said.
She said most homes are priced above $190,000.
The average price is $100 per square foot, but there are a number of high end properties, some selling for as much as $2.4 million.
“Houses don’t tend to stay on the market for too long,” she said. “The average is 41 days on market.”
Beard said 48 homes have sold in Fall Creek this year. She said usually 200 houses a year in the neighborhood.
“It’s right on track for that,” she said. “They have green belts, walking trails, sports parks for teams and manmade lakes,” she said. “There’s a big waterpark with spray grounds. There’s a lot going on in there.”
Beard said that the population on the east side of Houston in general has been rising.
She moved to Kingwood in 1979, until transferring to The Woodlands about six years ago. She has been working in the Kingwood market since 1984.
“It’s less congested than on the west side,” she said. “And 59 makes it easy to navigate. It’s definitely a contender if someone is looking to shorten their commute. There are a lot of amenities, a lot of stores and a lot of medical facilities.”
Beard recommends that homebuyers get pre-approved by their lending institution before shopping for properties.
“We want to make sure that there’s nothing prohibiting them from getting a house they love,” she said. “And we want to make sure they’re aware of what the rates are. Prequalifying gives them a general idea of the price range they want to be in.”
She then asks homeowners to think about their current house, what they like about it and what they would change.
“Then you can pinpoint what they would want in their next house,” she said.
Beard advises her clients to be prepared to move on a listing if it matches their properties.
“They need to be ready,” she said. “When a really good listing gets on the market, sometimes it sells right away.”
She said that while she is not seeing as many multiple offers on listings as a couple years ago, there are homes that still sell in the first 10 days.
“We’re not seeing the frenzy we had before,” she said. “That has a lot to do with the oil industry. But it’s still moving at a good pace. Things are selling quickly, and the good ones go first.”
For homeowners who are considering listing, Beard said that spending time to get a house in tiptop shape is well worth the effort.
“When a house goes on the market, it needs to be picture perfect,” she said. “Buyers want to walk in with their furniture and suitcase.”
Beard reminds sellers that they are competing with new construction.
“Model homes have thousands of dollars in decorating,” she said. “A seller has to be open to changes to make sure a house will sell. It has to be in the best condition.”
Details: 281-458-8000 or go to http://fallcreekhouston.com.