A Hidden Gem in Tomball: Tomball Museum Center
Tomball, Texas is just north of Houston and pretty laid back in comparison to the big city. A lot of folks love living here because of its country feel, safe neighborhoods, great schools and also easy access to major highways.
While it doesn’t have nearly as many cultural offerings as Houston, it is possible to find fun things to do. I’m shining the spotlight on the Tomball Museum Center, because it is kind of a rare little getaway in the middle of historic downtown Tomball. It’s basically a little reconstructed 1800’s town (with original structures), including a church, one-room school house, doctor’s office, a jail, sawmill, oil camp house, family homes, log cabin and a central gazebo. My family has taken a lot of pictures on that gazebo, and elsewhere on the museum grounds too.
There is also a wonderful Annual Open House and Candlelight Tour of the museum during the second week of each December, 6-9 pm. Experiencing the Christmas decorations, music, and chilly air can really put you in the Christmas spirit, and make you wish the night would last forever.
Last but certainly not least, the Tomball WWII Memorial is right behind the Museum Center. This is definitely worth spending some time for veterans and non-veterans alike.
Tomball Museum Center Mission:
“We are dedicated to the promotion of historical, cultural and educational pursuits. This includes the discovery, collection, and preservation of any and all articles, materials, documents, and other objects which may establish or illustrate the history, growth or population, culture, education, resources, trade and daily life in the area of northern Harris County and contiguous areas, all of which are vital to preserving our history for future generations.”
Address:
510 North Pine Street
P.O. Box 457
Tomball, Texas 77377-0457
To learn more, visit. https://www.tomballmuseumcenter.com/
Tomball is a Great Place to Live
Tomball? Why an article about a dinky town that many Texans can’t pinpoint on the map? You’ve heard people say “location, location, location.” In Tomball’s case, that is a very good selling point.
First of all, Tomball is conveniently located near the 99 Grand Parkway, 249 Tomball Parkway, 290 NW Freeway, with Interstate 45 and Sam Houston Tollway 8 only a few minutes’ drive away. The Woodlands is very close, and downtown Houston, Katy, and Magnolia are just a short drive away.
Our children’s education should be another key determining factor in where we choose to live, and Tomball is home to several highly rated public schools. Tomball Memorial High School, Willow Wood Jr High School, Northpointe Intermediate School, Lakewood Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary, Canyon Pointe Elementary, and Creekview Elementary are all highly rated and well above average on Great Schools.org.
Finally, you can’t beat the laid-back feel of a town like Tomball. There is plenty of land for folks to spread out, and depending on the neighborhood, much more distance between homes than in the big cities. From my home in a traditional subdivision-type neighborhood, we only have to drive a couple of minutes (literally) to see horses, cows, longhorns and pastures as far as the eye can see.
Buyer competition may get even stiffer in Spring – be prepared
In my post of February 4, I discussed how 2020 was a record-breaking year for Houston home sales. Well, all indicators point to that trend continuing at least through this Spring and likely beyond. There was a very low number of homes available for sale in January, which will likely cause prices to continue rising at least through Spring. As seen in the chart below, new home listings have dropped considerably across the nation from the previous year, while median listing prices have risen:
Realtor Magazine, February 2021
Realtors understand the importance of acting quickly in this kind of market, but not all buyers are aware of this urgency (especially first-time buyers). Many may have an unpleasant experience the first time they make an offer, when it turns into the inevitable “bidding war” with other buyers. That’s why it’s crucial that realtors prepare buyers for this situation by explaining the market, as well as the best strategies to get that home they want in such a competitive seller’s market.
Negotiation is certainly a big part of the process, but a bit of old-fashioned psychology and common sense comes into play also. How much do you want to offer initially? What’s the absolute highest you can ultimately go? Do you increase in large or small amounts? Will the home appraise for the highest amount you are willing to pay (of course, if you’re a cash buyer this isn’t a concern)? Are you willing to offer even more than what the home will appraise for, and make a larger down payment to offset the higher purchase price? And try to put yourself in your competitor’s shoes – they could be thinking just like you as far as pricing, or they could be a bit lower or higher. And are they automatically adding $5000 (a nice, round number) to their original offer, or tacking on substantially more?
It can be a bit nerve-wracking for buyers, but also for their realtors at times. It’s just all part of the business, so try your best to be prepared. You may end up losing a couple of homes to higher offers, but I promise you that you will ultimately win that dream home.
Historically low interest rates vs the pandemic
The current pandemic has darkened our lives in so many ways that it’s almost unimaginable. Countless lives lost, hospitalizations, businesses going bust, and loss of livelihoods have taken their toll. And even with the new vaccine, we are still not out of the woods. One positive thing has happened, however: historically low interest rates have caused a jump in home sales and refinances.
Super low interest rates have given the housing market a kickstart, almost like never seen before in recent history. For example, the rate for a VA Streamline 30-year fixed refinance has been 1.75% for several weeks. Buyers have been out in force actively hunting for the best homes.
“The housing market is likely to do well in the next couple of years,” according to Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist with Haus, a financial technology company. The overall outlook for the housing market remains positive. However, if unemployment doesn’t recover soon, the number of foreclosures could rise significantly.