For Buyers
What You Need To Know
Our Guides and Tips
We have made a commitment to provide our clients with exemplary personalized service beyond expectations. In making the decision to list your home with one of our agents, you can be assured of experience, integrity, intimate knowledge of the marketplace and most importantly, a friend who cares about your family.
Don't Pack That!
If you are moving, please don’t pack the following items as they WILL be needed for your loan:
Our Client's Most Frequently Asked Questions - About Buying
Q: How do I find a good Real Estate Agent?
A: Choose a real estate agent who lives and works in the area. The reason being they need to be knowledgeable in the local market. This is critical in the fast moving market that we have experienced in the last few years. Also look to see if they have continued their education and have credentials such as GRI, CRS, ABR, CLHMS & SRES which indicate that the agent is aware of the latest trends in the industry particularly the use of social media.
Q: Who does the Real Estate Agent represent?
A: When you hire an Agent as a Buyer Broker, that agent represents you alone, not the seller. That is the advantage of Buyer Agency and it is the form of representation that most buyers are choosing here in Texas. Many Relocation Companies require you to have this type of agency representation.
Q: What are other advantages to Buyer Agency?
A: Buyer Agents can help you to research the market by showing comparable homes in resale as well as new homes. Buyer Agents can show you everything the area has to offer. A Buyer Agent can advise you on taxes, pricing in the area, market conditions, how long the home has been on the market and negotiate the price of the home for you. The Woodlands Team will do a lot of the research before you meet with them, looking for the right properties to show you.
Q: Do I need a Buyer Agent if I am going to buy or build a new construction home?
A: Definitely! The sales person at the new home represents only the Builder. The Buyer Agent’s knowledge of the market may enable you to negotiate a better price and/or upgrade package – and at no cost to you! Perhaps more importantly The Woodlands Team will advise you on what will resell best in the market and advise which upgrades will add value to your home. The Woodlands Team is also accustomed to dealing with Relocation Companies and can make the move a little smoother.
Q: Who pays for the services of the Buyer's Agent?
A. In The Woodland’s market it is typical that the Builder or Seller will pay the fee of the Buyers Agent just as they would a Sub-Agent. The fee is stated in the Multiple Listing Service or in the Builders' and Broker Agreement policy.
Q: How do I sign up with a Buyer Agent?
A: There is a form to complete called the Buyer Representative Agreement. You are hiring the agent to work for you. The agent will put a lot more effort into the relationship if they know that you trust them exclusively to find the right home for you. There is a lot of preparation and research that goes into setting up a schedule aimed at finding the right home, within the least possible time frame.
Q: Should I start my Mortgage Application?
A: Absolutely. In fact it will make the process of buying a home easier if you have a mortgage at the approval stage. Your negotiating position will be stronger and your contract much more credible if you can say that you are already approved for a loan. This will work especially well if there are multiple offers at the same time on one house.
Q: What happens after I find a home?
A: You and your Buyer’s Agent will sit down and write a contract. Your Agent will present the offer to the Seller’s Agent and then negotiate the contract for you. Your Agent should concentrate on getting the best price for you.
Q: What is an Option Period and why is it to my advantage?
A: When purchasing any home you should ask for the right to have a licensed inspector give an opinion on the condition of the property. The Option Period an agreed set number of days in which you have the right to inspect the property. The advantage to you of course, is that you will know a lot more about the condition of the property you are buying.
Q: What kinds of inspections are there?
A: In The Woodlands the typical inspections are mechanical, structural and wood destroying insect inspection. You may also decide to have separate inspections on the pool and spa, air conditioning, heating systems and the roof. The buyer chooses and pays for the Texas Licensed Inspectors.
Q: Who orders the Appraisal?
A: Your Mortgage Company will order the Appraisal. You should request a copy from your Mortgage Company and keep it in your permanent file.
Q: When is my loan approved?
A: Your Mortgage for your home is approved only when all the contingencies on the contract have been satisfied e.g. appraising the value of your new home, inspections completed, survey, income verification, saving verification. When all these items have been completed, the package then goes to the Underwriter of the loan for final approval.
Q: Do I see the home before the Closing?
A: It is customary in Texas to have a final ‘walk-thru’ just before closing on the home. You may also want to instruct your inspectors to go and re-inspect the property prior to closing if any repairs have been requested.
Q: When can I move in?
A: You have access to the home on the Date of Possession on the contract. It can be different from the Date of Closing. The keys to the house are handed over when the loan has funded. It is very important to have a Buyer’s Agent tracking your file. A good Agent will know that certain things must be done in a timely manner so that the closing can go as scheduled. This is just as important in New Construction Homes as in Resale Homes. We have found at The Woodlands Team, that assigning the job of Closing Coordinator to one person, ensures a smooth closing.
Q: How do I start the Home Buying Process?
A: First give The Woodlands Team a call. A Buyer Agent will spend time with you to get to know what you and your family are looking for in your new home and neighborhood. Then the Agent will help you with Mortgage Lenders, Builders, Inspectors, Movers, Pool Companies and whatever it takes to alleviate the stress involved with a move.
Relocation Info
We'll help you get settled in your new home
The Woodlands Team Agents have relocated many families in recent years. Clients from a wide variety of businesses have relocated to the Woodlands. We are well versed in the requirements of Relocation Counselors and Private Companies. We work with companies and people from around the country and the world. Our agents are up to date on the latest technology, especially the Internet and the use of computers to aid in the search for the right home. They themselves have made interstate and international moves, so they know how to fully utilize the limited time available on their clients’ buying trip to The Woodlands.
Here are a few of the relocation companies we have worked with:
• GMAC Global Relocation Services
• Cartus Relocation
• Weichert Relocation Resources
• NEI Global Relocation
• Sirva Worldwide Relocation & Moving
• AIRes Relocation Solutions
• Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS)
• Cornerstone Relocation Group
• NuCompass Mobility
• Graebel Relocation Worldwide
Below are some of the large firms who have trusted us with their transferees:
• Anadarko • Homeland Security
• AT&T • Union Pacific Rail Road
• Exxon/Mobil • Shell Oil
• FMC • Continental
• Haliburton • GE
Many times our clients have asked us what the procedure is for “getting us added to their relocation company’s list”. That’s easy! Please give our contact information to your counselor and call us to share your counselor’s information. We make contact and are usually approved immediately. There are so many counselors that it is impossible to be on each and every one’s “list”. Their job is to ensure that you will be represented by an experienced Realtor who is trained in working with relocation families. Give us a call for more details!
The Woodlands Experience
It's All About The Community
Community and convenience play important roles in The Woodlands experience. Each village setting includes easy access to wonderful parks, playgrounds, schools, religious congregations and shopping. Trails and pathways connect many of the amenities found in the villages nestled among beautiful homes and towering trees. To experience village life in The Woodlands, take a drive through the residential neighborhoods on a sunny afternoon. You’ll see families cycling along the bike trails or walking their dogs, shopping at the local village center, picnicking and kite flying at the neighborhood park. There’s a pleasant flurry of activity that evokes a friendly, welcoming place. No matter what the day brings, chances are you’ll only have to travel 10-15 minutes in any given direction to buy a birthday gift, go to a worship service, pick up your dry cleaning, or visit a friend and her new baby at the hospital. It’s about convenience, and so much more. It’s about community.
The Villages
Each One With It's Own Character
Grogan's Mill
Grogan’s Mill is the oldest village in The Woodlands and was the first village in The Woodlands to have homes built. As such this village is the most treed of all the villages with lush forestry at the beginning of the Texas Piney Woods.
The homes in Grogan’s Mill vary in from the $120,000 range to over $3.5 million (in the Estates of Grogan’s Point). There is something for everyone in Grogan’s Mill as it has an abundance of older homes that are very affordable.
Since this is the oldest village in The Woodlands, many homes have been renovated or are in the process of being renovated. The pricing of the homes are reasonable compared to new construction and the lots tend to be quite large. The Village of Grogan’s Mill has all the amenities of being near to Houston, near to The Woodlands Waterway, and near to The Woodlands Town Center. The location of this village is very convenient and is a great attraction to people who commute to the city.
Residents enjoy biking on the bike trails, exercising at several gyms throughout the village, walking to the many events and shows at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion and Market Street, or going out to dinner at Amerigo’s, which is a restaurant just off of Sawdust Road. From the convenience to the affordable housing costs to the coolness of the lush forestry, come see why so many have chosen to call The Village of Grogan’s Mill home!
Cochran's Crossing
The Village of Cochran’s Crossing is the Village of Golf Courses; there are two in this Village. One of the best drives in The Woodlands is coming up from Woodlands Parkway, traveling north along Cochran’s Crossing Drive and passing through the Palmer Course. All that green and pretty views will cheer up any soul.
Living in this village you have the conveniences of nearby shopping, easy access to I-45 from Research Drive or Gosling Drive out of the Village, or living in the south of the village easy access out on Woodlands Parkway & close to the park and ride on Gosling for commuters.
There are several parks throughout and small lakes and ponds in the subdivisions. Shadow Lake is a subdivision surrounding a small lake to name just one of the neighborhood lakes. you have a feeling of tranquility in this Village with all the conveniences, YMCA and shopping centers. The Village of Cochran’s Crossing has wonderful parks, miles of hike and bike trails and swimming pools. A favorite pool in Cochran’s Crossing because of the slide is in Bear Branch Park on Research Forest. There is also a very popular doggy park in The Village of Cochran’s Crossing.
The shopping center for this Village is located on Gosling Road and Research Forest Drive with various shopping and restaurants. Easy access makes this shopping center with the drug store, restaurants, grocery store, ice cream shop, to name a few of the stores, so convenient to the area.
Several schools in The Village of Cochran Crossing are within walking or biking distance from homes & the trails go right past the schools. Housing in The Village of Cochran’s Crossing is varied ranging from the pricing of $200 to $1.0 million. There are town homes, large or small custom homes, resale median sized homes of different styles and builders. The attraction of homeowners living here is being located in the central part of The Woodlands and close proximity to everything and with extremely easy access out of The Woodlands for commuting.
Panther Creek
Panther Creek Village was the second village built in The Woodlands. It is still highly desired because of its convenient location with easy access to I-45 and the Town Center area of The Woodlands. Panther Creek also is home to some of the more exclusive neighborhoods in the area including West Isle, The Cove, Split Rock and Windward Cove.
It borders Lake Woodlands on two sides and has some of the areas most beautiful lakeside homes. Along the northern and southern banks of Lake Woodlands are Southshore and Northshore Parks. Each spring and summer Northshore Park is the site of free “Concerts in the Park.”
Two of the area parks feature swimming pools and water parks, playgrounds and sportsfields.
Panther Creek schools include Sally Ride and Glen Loch Elementary Schools (K-4) and McCullough Junior High (7 & 8). Teens will attend Woodlands High School (10 – 12) and The Woodlands Ninth Grade Campus. (Check current zoning maps for most recent information.)
The Panther Creek Shopping center features a grocery store, a drug store, Sears Hardware, a gift shop, florist, restaurants and various service businesses like travel agency and dry cleaners.
Of course, some of the most expensive real estate in The Woodlands is located along the lake in Panther Creek, but there are also a lot of very affordable homes in this established village.
According to the latest statistics from the Houston Association of Realtors, Panther Creek has almost 3,600 residences and a median appraised value of $158,060 with a median square foot price of $77.49. The average year built was 1982 and since 1995 the price per square foot has gone from $52.53 to $77.88 in 2005 (the last year statistics are available.)
Alden Bridge
The Village of Alden Bridge is one of the largest villages in The Woodlands. Living in this village you have the conveniences of nearby shopping, easy access to I-45 from Research Drive or Greenbridge Drive out of the Village. You also have the quietness away from the hustle and bustle of Market Street the Mall and the center of The Woodlands, but the convenience that you can get there in 10 minutes.
The newest HEB opened in late summer 2011 on FM 1488 and is adjacent to Alden Bridge. You are minutes from this new store if you live in this village.
The Village of Alden Bridge has wonderful parks, miles of hike and bike trails, Community Parks and swimming pools. A favorite walk in Alden Bridge Park is the trail that goes through the park and you have the view of the bridge before going under the bridge. The wildlife in the pond include cranes, & ducks. Fishermen like to practice their fly fishing there; always something to see at the park and it is one of the resident’s favorites. It is my favorite walk with my Golden Retriever to see all the kids out on bikes with Mom or Dad. Couples walking on the trails, boys playing basketball on the court beside the park and toddlers excited about going swimming in the neighborhood pool.
There are two shopping centers so that you are never more than five or ten minutes away from the store. Neighborhood restaurants like Rico Mexican Restaurant is a place where the neighbors get together for a meal or friends and families bike down to get an ice cream and pick up a movie at the shopping centers.
Several schools in Alden Bridge are within walking or biking distance & the trails go right past the schools. Housing in The Village of Alden Bridge is varied ranging from the pricing of $120,000 to $900,000 and all shapes and sizes. There are town homes, patio homes, large custom homes, senior living patio homes, resale median sized homes of different styles and builders. This makes it a really diverse village with true aspects of all ages and something for everyone that lives here.
Harper's Landing
Harper's Landing neighborhood was negotiated to remain part of The Woodlands and not be annexed by the city of Conroe in 1995. It is the only area of The Woodlands located on the east side of I-45.w
This Village was named after the 2 prominent education centers of The Woodlands; Montgomery County College and The University Center. In cooperation with 6 major Texas Universities, residents have the opportunity to earn a bachelors or master degree with out leaving home. The opening of this Village in the late 1990’s reinforced The Woodlands reputation for a community known for its diversity and a center for higher education. This Village is home to 2 main communities, Windsor Hills and Harpers Landing and is home to nearly 2500 permanent residents and over 900 homes.
Retail centers along College Park Drive complement the academic environment, with restaurants, coffee shops, fast food and bookstores. Also located in College Park are Windsor Hills and Windsor Lakes active adult communities for those over the age of 55. Harpers Landing, a large family neighborhood, is part of College Park, and features a village park with swimming pool, water fun park, playgrounds and play fields.
Indian Springs
The Village of Indian Springs-Is located in the south of The Woodlands next to Panther Creek Village and south of Cochrans Crossing Village and lies north of the newest Village of Creekside. What is interesting about this Village is it has the largest variety of age of homes as it was built in two stages.
The first part of Indian Springs was built after Panther Creek & the second stage was much later after The Village of Alden Bridge was started and in the middle of completion. So therefore there are much older homes in this village as well as homes that were built much later. In the other villages the majority of the homes were built along the same time lines of a few years.
Another thing unique to this area is that you can actually find hills here. The rolling topography makes a nice change of the flat lands of Houston. The lots in this Village are often heavily wooded, especially in the older neighborhoods & makes for a peaceful, secluded setting. Indian Springs has two main parks in it which include Forestgate and Falconwing Parks, both with tennis courts, swimming pools and water parks.
Easy access to Woodlands Parkway and out to the I-45 freeway make it popular with commuters. For people driving south to the 1960 area, there is great access on Gosling and Kuykendahl streets. The newest village of Creekside is being built & features a great 25 acre park along Spring Creek which also borders the Village of Indian Springs. The renowned John Cooper School, a private college preparatory academy for students in grades K-12, is located in Indian Springs. Interfaith Child Development Center, one of the largest pre-school/child care centers, is also in this village.
The Indian Village Shopping Center is located at the intersection of Kuykendahl and The Woodlands Parkway. There are a great variety of shops, restaurants, spas and banks.
Sterling Ridge
In Sterling Ridge the homes are just a few years old and has very diverse pricing in homes starting in the 150’s range up to over 5 million. You can purchase or rent single family homes, town homes and apartments.
Driving along Woodlands Parkway to the Village of Sterling Ridge, you come to a lovely shopping center first, Sterling Ridge Shopping Center. Perry’s Restaurant is located here, famous for their roast pork. It does resemble the size of Sunday dinner that you had as a kid with your family, so plan on taking some home with you. It’s certainly worth ordering and melts in your mouth. Also located in this shopping center are a Kroger grocery store, sandwich shops, a video rental, pharmacy and several restaurants. A very casual village, people like to walk around, hang out and drink coffee at the Starbucks in front of the grocery store. Across Woodlands Parkway is Indian Springs shopping center with shops, Spa’s,restaurants and a HEB grocery center, this makes this area have a good concentration of shopping and eateries. Once you come home to The Woodlands you do not have to leave again. When you want to go out for the evening, you just go down to the local restaurants and shops.
The newest library and YMCA in The Woodlands are located in this village, right next to Branch Crossing School. A lot of kids like to hang out at the YMCA and play basketball after school. Several elementary schools go through the 6th grade here, (flex schools) so parents like keeping their kids in the same school from kindergarten through 6th grade.
The Village boasts of two golf courses, the Player course and the Nicholson Signature Course in Carlton Woods. For more information on Carlton Woods see our Carlton Woods page. There are several housing subdivision along these Golf Courses, beautiful homes with great architecture and variety of styles. Easy access out of the back of The Woodlands to FM 2920 and FM1488 to Tomball & Magnolia!
Creekside Park
Creekside is the latest and last of the Villages to be built in The Woodlands master planned community. The theme of the village, as each village is different, is “Great Adventure and the Outdoors”. Located on 3492 acres of land adjacent to and south of Spring Creek in Harris County, there are three neighborhood elementary schools and a Jr High. The High School that services the area is in Tomball.
There is a park that runs along the area of Spring Creek which will be 25 acres of Nature Preserve. You will be able to back pack, hike and camp along the trails. The Rob Fleming Aquatic Center includes a swimming pool, zero depth entry to five feet deep, chaise and beach chair seating, 500 foot lazy river, two story flume slide, plunge pool and is adjacent to Lake Paloma for kayaking and fishing. A great place for friends and families to get together or go for a day out enjoying the outdoors, swimming, hiking and biking.
A variety of homes are offered in Creekside Village from numerous builders. For a list of builders in the Village, please call or email Info@TheWoodlandsTeam.com for assistance with purchasing new or pre-owned homes. The Woodlands is a GREAT place to live!
Carlton Woods in Creekside Village offers custom homes within a gated community around a golf course. Several generations of families have moved here to enjoy the lifestyle of Carlton Woods. A Tuscan style clubhouse offers a place to unwind at the end of the day; you feel like you are driving through the Tuscan countryside when you come across it. Located south of Spring Creek and Woodlands Parkway, the Village of Creekside Park is a showcase of The Woodlands with a unique village center, amazing parks and several delicious restaurants. It’s also minutes to the Grand Parkway/99, making the commuting location second to none!
Carlton Woods
Carlton Woods in Sterling Ridge and Carlton Woods Creekside are the premier locations in The Woodlands, Texas. Developed around the private Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and the Tom Fazio Championship Golf Course rated Best New Private Course in Texas by Golf Digest, 2006. Both locations have a club house located on their grounds and have a private gated guarded entry.
A family area, Carlton Woods have many families locating there, even three generations of family living in the same subdivision, so that in their busy lives they can enjoy each others company and the grandchildren. The area attracts many small business owners and executives of companies here who are looking for the privacy that the subdivision allows with having all the amenities at the same time.
When coming through the entry way, the beautiful grounds and surroundings greet you. Extensive plantings and flowers, as well as the the greens of the golf course, give a tranquil feeling to the area. Small neighborhoods with an entryway divide the area into pocket neighborhoods with different square footage of homes allowed in each area. Custom homes are from the 900’s to over 5 million in Carlton Woods.
A large 53,000-square-foot Tuscan style clubhouse offers lunch and cocktails and has a private chef at the club. I have been to lovely parties there and it’s certainly a private location offering the best of service. Amenities include a private spa for the members, tennis courts, pool and ladies area to meet after tennis. Members of Carlton Woods Club can enjoy either club house.
It’s only a short drive to the Sterling Ridge Shopping center to visit the grocery store, Perry’s restaurant for a great steak, several other restaurants, bakery, drug store and other shops. There are many Doctor, Dentist and Vets offices nearby. Therefore you have the privacy and prime location which is close to everything and is very convenient.
East Shore
East Shore, a 260 acre area, is located beside Lake Woodlands which is a 200 acre lake. It is designed to be the Garden District of The Woodlands, Texas, with the charm of some of the great southern cities and strict building codes in place for constructing a home there.
It is indeed the urban feel of life, close to all the active parts of The Woodlands.
It is located within walking distance Market Street and to the trolley and five minutes away for shopping or lunch at one of the numerous eateries. Catch a movie in the cinema built like a theater of the square in Market Street or watch the children play in the moving fountain. Close access to The Woodlands Waterway and The Cynthia Woods Pavilion where different artists play in the Houston Symphony’s summer home.
There are homes from the 800’s and town homes from the half million range. Builders have had such a challenge for they had to build with the correct architecture style and could not change anything on the plan without architectural approval, even to the smallest detail. It has made the area a beautiful building area with striking homes.
East Shore has a lovely park for the residents down by the Lake Woodlands with a beautiful iron arbor, all within walking distance to the homes. An urban lifestyle in The Woodlands close to Town Center and Market Street, with wild life and great sunsets, is truly a remarkable development and a place where people are enjoying the carefree way of life with all the amenities nearby.
East Shore is an area of neighborhoods with each a distinctive style. The homes are designed to have the feeling of town, with all the attributes that The Woodlands has to offer; the parks, trees, green space and lake all within walking distance from your home.
The Woodlands Amenities
From Shopping to Entertainment
The Woodlands Mall
Market Street
Town Center
Cynthia Woods Pavilion
Hughes Landing
The Woodlands Mall
The Woodlands Mall combines urban sophistication with small-town charm, offering an impressive array of shopping, dining and entertainment at the heart of a scenic, forested community less than 30 minutes from Houston.
The Mall features 180 stores including Barnes & Noble, Williams-Sonoma, Anthropologie, Sephora, Coach, Chico’s, Apple Store, Disney, Sony Style & more. From a quick bite in the food court to fine dining at Fleming’s or the extensive menu at Cheesecake Factory, there are dining options for every taste at The Woodlands Mall.
Market Street
I and many of the residents of The Woodlands love to go to Market Street, it is just so nice to have this close at hand. A great place to meet friends for a lunch or dinner with several really nice restaurants there. I like to go to watch a movie with some friends and then go over to Tommy Bahamas for dinner on the Veranda. A great night out for a special treat is spending the evening at Jaspers and then walking around the specialty shops and boutiques. The best thing about living in The Woodlands is you never run out of things to do. Located across the street from The Woodlands Mall, Market Street is bounded by Lake Woodlands Drive, Lake Robbins Drive, Grogan’s Mill Road and Six Pines Drive. Five minutes from the freeway, Market Street attracts visitors from all over the area to stroll along. It often has a vacation feel to the area as you are sitting in the restaurants.
Town Center & Waterway
Town Center brings the urban life style to The Woodlands. Town homes, businesses, water front condos and apartments are within walking distance of shops, theaters, movies and restaurants. This is living where you do not have to bring the car out after you have come home from work and parked it in your garage. You can just walk down the road to the restaurant or the grocery store for the best of city life in a master planned community called The Woodlands.
Fountains at Waterway Square is a one-acre public plaza with unique water features and green spaces that serve as the “centerpiece” of The Woodlands. Fountains, lights and music in synchronized choreography will amaze all ages that enjoy the sights of this electronic wonder.
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
A great place to have here in The Woodlands great entertainment and you do not have to go into Houston, just fifteen minutes to come back home. Young and old are entertained here. From rock concerts, children’s festivals and classical music, there is truly something for everyone here. Diverse, high-quality performing arts events as well as educational events can be experienced here. One year when my son was in Junior High his class went to listen to a concert by the Houston Symphony. We have enjoyed big performers like Cher perform a great show here. Watched the Houston Ballet, listened to the Houston Symphony and Carol King, so quite a mixture of lovely music and dance to make your soul sing!
Hughes Landing
Situated along Lake Woodlands, Hughes Landing is a 66-acre mixed-use development with a premier "lifestyle intersection” featuring a mixture of upscale eateries, popular retailers like Whole Foods Market®, entertainment venues, multiple Class A office buildings, One Lakes Edge upscale multifamily residences and an Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel for business and leisure travelers.
School Districts
Recognized for educational excellence
The schools in The Woodlands have been recognized repeatedly for educational excellence by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Strong leadership from highly professional teachers and administrators, progressive curricula in modern classrooms and a wide array of extracurricular activities make The Woodlands’ schools an environment for growth and nurturing.
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THE
WOODLANDS
TEAM
281-733-0052
6620 Woodlands Parkway
The Woodlands, TX 77382
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