March 2018 by OutSmart Magazine

H OUSTON’S TOP REALTORS H ’SS TTOP REALTORS HOUSTON OUSTON OP continued from ’page 63 REALTORS continued from page 63 continued from page 63

JOEY GARZA JOEY JOEY GARZA GARZA frontstreetproperties.com frontstreetproperties.com frontstreetproperties.com “I would say it’s “I say “I would would say it’s it’shalfbeen half-good, been half-good, halfbeen half-good, halfbad,” says Joey Garbad,” says Joey Garbad,” says Joey Garza of Front Street za za of of Front Front Street Street Properties. “The Properties. “The Properties. “The immediate impact immediate impact immediate impact of Harvey was the of was of Harvey Harvey was the the huge onslaught of huge onslaught of huge onslaught of flooded residents flooded residents flooded residents who needed rental who rental who needed needed properties. As many homeowners haverental decidproperties. As many homeowners have decidproperties. As many homeowners have decided not to repair or rebuild, there has been an ed not to repair or rebuild, there has been an ed not to repair or rebuild, therewhich has been increase of unexpected buyers, hasan kept increase of unexpected buyers, which has kept increase of unexpected buyers, which has kept our inventory low. Many local and out-of-state our inventory low. Many local and out-of-state our inventory low. Many local and out-of-state investors have bought and are continuing to investors have and continuing to investors have bought bought and are are continuing to buy storm-damaged homes. Despite the tragic buy storm-damaged homes. Despite the tragic buy storm-damaged Despite the tragic circumstances for sohomes. many, the Houston marcircumstances for so circumstances foryear.” so many, many, the the Houston Houston marmarket increased last ket increased last year.” ket increased last year.” Garza has lived in the Houston Heights since Garza has lived in the Houston Heights since Garza“It has thefavorite Houston Heights since 1997. is lived by farinmy area for LGBTQ 1997. “It is by far my favorite area for LGBTQ 1997. “It is bybecause far my favorite area for LGBTQ inclusivness of its walkability, art, inclusivness because of art, inclusivness of its its walkability, walkability, diversity, andbecause local events,” Garza says. art, “Other diversity, and local events,” Garza says. diversity, and local events,”are Garza says. “Other “Other great inner-loop locations Timbergrove great inner-loop locations are Timbergrove greatOak inner-loop locations aremid-century Timbergrove and Forest, [which have] and Forest, [which have] and Oak Oak Forest, [which have] mid-century mid-century homes and popular restaurant destinations. homes and popular restaurant destinations. homes and popular restaurant destinations. For people seeking to invest in up-and-coming For people seeking to invest in up-and-coming For people seeking to invest in up-and-coming areas, EaDo and the Near Northside are great. areas, and the Northside are great. areas, EaDo EaDo the Near Neararound Northside great. These areas and are turning withare rebuilds, These areas are turning around with rebuilds, These areas are turning around with rebuilds, remodels, and new custom homes. The proxremodels, and homes. The remodels, and new new custom custom homes.make The proxproximity to downtown and Midtown these imity to downtown and Midtown make these imity to downtown and Midtown make areas perfect for those wanting to get inthese on the areas perfect for those wanting to get in areas perfect for those wanting to get in on on the the real-estate market.” real-estate market.” real-estate market.” DANIEL HERRINGTON DANIEL HERRINGTON DANIEL HERRINGTON JLArealestate.com JLArealestate.com JLArealestate.com Daniel Herrington Daniel Herrington Daniel Herrington is retired from Haris retired from Haris retired ris Countyfrom and Haronly ris County and only ris County only became an and agent became an agent became last July.an agent last July. last July.didn’t have “I really “I really didn’t have “I really didn’t have that many listings,” that many listings,” that many listings,” Herrington says. Herrington says. Herrington says. “So when Harvey “So when Harvey “So when Harvey came along, it didn’t came along, it didn’t along, didn’t really affect me that much.came We still haditpeople really affect me that much. We still had people really affect me that much. We still had people buying and selling, so it wasn’t too bad.” Herbuying selling, so it wasn’t too Herbuying and and selling, wasn’t too bad.” bad.” rington used to liveso in it the Galleria area, Herand rington used to live in the Galleria area, and rington used toin live in the Galleria area, and he now resides Channelview. “It’s for family he now resides in Channelview. “It’s for family he now resides in Channelview. “It’s for family reasons,” he says. “I grew up here, and I didn’t reasons,” he “I grew here, and I didn’t reasons,” he says. says. “IThere’s grew up upnot here, and didn’t want to come back. a lot of Igay want to come back. There’s not a lot of want to come lot of gay gay culture, and I back. reallyThere’s miss mynot gaya neighborculture, and I really neighborculture,As and really miss miss my my gay gay neighborhood.” forI up-and-coming LGBTQ-friendly hood.” As for up-and-coming LGBTQ-friendly hood.” As for up-and-coming LGBTQ-friendly enclaves, he sees more people heading to the enclaves, he sees more people heading to enclaves, he part sees due more to the the suburbs—in topeople rising heading prices, and in suburbs—in part due to rising prices, and in suburbs—in due rising prices, andand in part becausepart more of to them have children part because more of them have children and partlooking because more of them have children and are for quality schools. are are looking looking for for quality quality schools. schools.

BROOKS BALLARD BROOKS BROOKS BALLARD BALLARD brooksballard.evusa.com brooksballard.evusa.com brooksballard.evusa.com Brooks Ballard, Brooks Brooks Ballard, Ballard, president of Brooks president of president of Brooks Brooks Ballard Fine Homes Ballard Fine Homes Ballard Finein Homes and Estates and Estates in and EstatesHouston, in downtown downtown Houston, downtown Houston, and now a licensed and now aa licensed and now licensed partner with Engel partner with Engel partner with Engel & Völkers Houston, & Völkers Houston, & Völkers has almostHouston, three dehas three has almost almost three dedecades of experience. cades of experience. cades of experience. “The market slowed down, the value dropped “The market slowed value dropped “The market slowed down, down, the the 18 percent effectively—more invalue somedropped areas 18 percent effectively—more in some 18 percent effectively—more some areas areas than in others,” Ballard says, in referring to the than others,” Ballard says, to the than in in of others,” Ballard says, referring referring toin the impact Harvey. “The value will return impact of Harvey. “The value will return in impact of Harvey. “The value will return in most areas. This is a buyer’s market.” Some of most This aa buyer’s Some of most areas. areas. This is isneighborhoods buyer’s market.” market.” Some Ballard’s favorite include theof Ballard’s favorite neighborhoods include the Ballard’sRiver favorite neighborhoods includeand the Heights, Oaks, Midtown, Galleria, Heights, Heights, River River Oaks, Oaks, Midtown, Midtown, Galleria, Galleria, and and downtown. downtown. downtown. JEREMY FAIN JEREMY FAIN FAIN JEREMY greenwoodking.com greenwoodking.com greenwoodking.com “The hurricane has “The has “The hurricane hurricane has certainly increased certainly increased certainly increased awareness in buyers,” awareness in buyers,” awareness buyers,” says JeremyinFain. says Jeremy says Jeremy Fain. Fain. “Automatically, the “Automatically, the “Automatically, theask first question they first question they first question they ask ask is, ‘Did the property is, ‘Did the property property flood? If not, how close is, did‘Did the the water come to flood? If close the come to flood? If not, not,Ithow how close did did the water water the house?’ certainly affected areascome suchto the house?’ It certainly affected areas such the house?’ It certainly affected areas such as Meyerland and Bellaire, as well as masteras Meyerland and Bellaire, as well as masteras Meyerland and Bellaire, well as masterplanned communities in theassuburbs. Builders planned communities in Builders planned communities in the the suburbs. suburbs. Builders and investors are buying lots, tearing the and investors are buying the lots, tearing the and investors are buying the lots, tearing the houses down, and rebuilding at higher elevahouses down, and rebuilding at higher elevahouses down, and rebuilding at higher elevations to avoid flooding in the future. About tions avoid in the About tions to to avoid flooding flooding the future. future. seven percent of homesin were flooded,About and a seven percent of homes were flooded, and sevenamount percentwere of homes were flooded, and aa large flooded from the reservoir large amount were flooded from the reservoir large amount were from theitself. reservoir releases rather thanflooded the hurricane It releases rather than the hurricane itself. It releases than It has beenrather amazing to the me hurricane to see how itself. the comhas amazing to to see how the has been beencame amazing to me me seeeach how other the comcommunity together toto help out, munity came together help each out, munity together to to help each other other withoutcame even knowing one another.” Fainout, without even knowing one another.” Fain without oneinanother.” Fain loves theeven Oaksknowing of Inwood northwest Housloves the Oaks of in Housloves thearea Oakswas of Inwood Inwood in northwest northwest Houston. The developed in the 1980s, and ton. The area was developed in the 1980s, ton. The area was developed the$350,000. 1980s, and and homes sell between $275,000inand homes sell $275,000 $350,000. homes sell between between $275,000 and and $350,000. The houses are all single-family with 2,500 The houses are single-family with The houses are all all withof2,500 2,500 to 3,500 square feetsingle-family of space, on lots around to 3,500 square feet of space, on lots of around to 3,500 square feet of space, on lots 7,000 square feet. “It’s a real treat to of getaround in the 7,000 “It’s aa real treat get 7,000 square square feet. feet. “It’sthe real treat to to get in in the the neighborhood around holidays because neighborhood around the holidays because neighborhood around the holidays because the everyone just hops back and forth between everyone just hops back and forth the everyone hops andparties,” forth between between the houses forjust all of theback holiday he says. houses houses for for all all of of the the holiday holiday parties,” parties,” he he says. says. CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS WILLIAMS CHRISTOPHER heritagetexas.com heritagetexas.com heritagetexas.com A Realtor associate A Realtor A Heritage Realtor associate associate at Texas at Heritage at Heritage Texas Texas Properties, ChrisProperties, ChrisProperties, Christopher Williams topher Williams topher Houston, Williams knows knows Houston, knows and he Houston, knows value. and he knows and he knows value. value. “The short-term “The short-term “The short-term rental market has rental market has rentalquite market has been strong been quite on page 70 beencontinued quite strong strong

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