Saturday, May 27, 2017 • Page 1B
One Man’s Castle
the
Unique creation provides ‘suite’ dreams for visitors
By Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader Homes are always a work in progress, regardless of whether you own a tiny house or, as in the case of Mike Newman, a castle on the rolling fields near Bellville. A baker by trade and a world traveler by nature, Newman built his crenulated domicile on a 20acre property over a 10-year period, starting in 1998. He and a helper did it themselves -- using cinder blocks, stucco, rebar and timbers of East Texas pine. Now in the works, a tower addition will hold five guest rooms, their purpose TBD. The castle is his home, he says, not a hotel. Newman had thought the new tower “would be done by now.” But progress is slow and full of distractions, he says, such as running the bustling bakery that also carries his name plus the castle tours he offers visitors six days a week (but only by reservation so please don’t just show up). A lily-filled moat surrounds the castle, as does a walking trail. Inside the perimeter wall, there’s plenty of room for multi-purpose structures and open spaces suitable for knight training -- or night entertaining if there’s a private event. The Arthurian do-it-yourselfers also made most of the castle’s furnishings, from bed frames and
Photo Contributed Vistiors to Mike Newman’s property will find before them a castle that Newman has created on his 20-acre property piece by piece for the last 10 plus years, culminating in what is seen here. Unlike its early counterparts, the 21st century castle has air conditioning running water and other conveniences--it’s his home.
banquet-scale tables to cabinetry and plumbing fixtures. Unlike in the days of yore, the 21st century castle has air conditioning, running water and other modern conveniences. Newman laughs when he recalls his original plan was to buy land
and build a small log cabin in the woods. The castle idea came from a friend’s random remark. He thought, why not? He had lived in Europe in his early 20s and remembered the gracious treatment his group had received at the manor house of a
friend. At the time, he wondered if some day he might have an opportunity to be similarly open-hearted. And now he has. He likes how his home brings out the imagination in visitors of all ages. To help them, there are wooden swords for chil-
dren as they storm the castle – but only on command. Back, Way Back in the Day In building his castle of about 3,400 square feet, Newman had a See Castle P. 2B
Local real estate market LIST with a Leader stayed humming in April Residential Listing Specialist Raving Client Testimonials Proven Results
Pamela Efferson
When i list your home for sale i provide full service & put more money in your pocket with: • no upfront costs or fees to you. Photo courtesy of Houston Association of Realtors This past April, local markets all around the Leader area (Garden Oaks/Oak Forest/the Heights) saw nearly a 22 percent increase in home sales according to a recent report from the Houston Association of Realtors. Additionally, nearly 6,600 single-family homes were sold, up from just shy of 6,400 one year ago.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com The last year has been a bit of a rollercoaster in our local housing markets, but local agents have said the market is in a nice balanced state at the moment—not so flush with inventory to be considered a buyer’s market, yet not in a reduced state of inventory so as to be designated a seller’s market. Consumers kept the Houston real estate market humming in April, with singlefamily home sales and pricing experiencing another month of gains and housing inventory reaching the highest level since last August. As a result, many of our local and surrounding housing markets experienced the same spiking trend in homes sold during April 2017 YOY, with the exception of 77091, which experienced nearly a 6 percent downturn according to the April report from the
Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). One trend jumping out in the report was that those in our local neighborhoods observed some eerily similar trends. Both the 77008 and 77018 zip codes saw about 22 percent more homes sold in April 2017 than during the same period in 2016, while the greater Houston area saw inventory sold rise by nearly 6 percent in April 2017 YOY. Despite the similar rise in homes sold, however, local neighborhoods saw some distinctly opposing trends in pricing. While the 77018 zip code saw both average and median home prices remain relatively flat (0.6 percent rise each way), 77008 saw home prices fall by nearly 6 percent YOY to an average price of $473,189 (from $502,425) and median home prices stay relatively flat. By comparison, the Greater Houston market as a whole
saw average home price rise by nearly 5 percent in April 2017 YOY (from $269,987 to $284,125) and median housing price rise by nearly 7 percent YOY to $224,240. The strongest growth in Houston sales activity took place among homes priced from $750,000 and above (considered the luxury market), followed by homes in the $250,000 to $499,999 range. For the luxury market, which took the brunt of the energy slump, April marked a sixth consecutive month of rising sales. A total of 6,583 single-family homes sold in April versus 6,387 a year earlier, according to the latest monthly report produced by the Houston Association of Realtors. That represents a 3.1 percent increase, while new listings also buoyed inventory levels from a 3.6-month supply See Market P. 2B
• free upgraded marketing strategy. • free advertisement & internet marketing until your home sells. • You choose the listing terms & if you’re not happy with my service you can cancel the contract.
Pamela efferson ProPerties
(713) 822-8555 Pamela@SellingHomesInHouston.com www.SellingHomesInHouston.com
Specializing in • Timbergrove Download this • Lazybrook • Garden Oaks FREE app and • Oak Forest and many other search for all active listings inner loop neighborhoods
GREENWOOD KING The Leader of Innovative Real Estate Marketing
713.864.0888 G
R
E
E
N
W
k O
O
D
1801 Heights Blvd. K
I
N
G
.
C
O
M