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Phone: 979-693-0201 Email: [email protected]

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

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2017 Best Places to Buy A Forever Home

February 2, 2017 by Myke Leatham
2017 Best places to live

Spread the News:

Although I’m happy to see that College Station, TX  made it to #36 in the list of top places to buy a forever home in the USA, I’m absolutely positive that if you ask anyone here in Aggieland, they would say ‘We’re #1!‘  College Station, TX was ranked  #36 in the U.S. for its affordability, low crime and unemployment rate, growing population, and strong educational values.  I might add to that, friendly drivers (most of the time), fabulous ‘Monsters’ at Freebirds, lots of hospitals, lots of parks, and tons of parental participation with their kids in recreational city sports.  A great place to raise young uns!  Kudos to the City Parks and Recreation Department.

Texas is the place to go if you’re looking to settle in for the long haul.

GoodCall® analysts crunched several metrics from 509 cities nationwide to determine the Best Places to Buy a Forever Home. Six of the top 10 are cities in the Lone Star State.

California and Colorado also had several cities near the top.

High-ranking cities are those that generally are affordable with growing home values, growing population, low unemployment and crime rates, and an educated populace.

Most of the cities in the top 10 are suburbs within 30 miles of large metro areas such as Dallas, Houston, and Denver. Higher-ranked cities tend to be smaller – all of the top 10 cities have between 70,000 and 155,000 residents.

The top 10 places for a forever home:

  1. The Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands is a planned community is eastern Texas, established in 1974 by oil industry investor George Mitchell. He envisioned The Woodlands as a suburban area outside of Houston that would offer a high quality of life with both affordable and luxury housing. It’s fair to say, more than 30 years later, that vision is realized. The town of about 119,000 people has the second-lowest crime rate in the country (just 5.6 crimes per 1,000 residents) and is growing rapidly – about 23% since 2010. Amenities in the area include dozens of shops and restaurants, a public waterway, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, which draws the Houston Symphony and many other acts. It also ranks in the top 5% of cities for education rates, home value, and employment.

  1. Centennial, Colo.

Safety is a key factor in choosing where to set down long-term roots, and Centennial frequently has been ranked the safest city in Colorado and was 19th among the 509 cities studied by GoodCall. The city was incorporated in 2001, and at the time it was the largest incorporation in U.S. history. Since then, the city has grown and grown up. It now boasts the 11-acre, award-winning Centennial Center Park, which has water features, an amphitheater, climbing walls, and picnic shelters, among other amenities. And it’s a city that values education. More than 97% of residents have at least a high school diploma (the sixth highest rate in the country), and 55.6% have at least a bachelor’s degree. Centennial also ranks near the top in its unemployment rate and growth in home value.

  1. Frisco, Texas

Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, is a fast-growing area with rising home values. It was the 3rd fastest growing city from 2010 to 2015, and it’s easy to see why. The city is home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters and training center, the FC Dallas soccer team, the Frisco RoughRiders Class AA baseball team, the Dallas Stars NHL team, and the Texas Legends, a D-League affiliate of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. There are also several arts and culture venues, including Black Box Theatre, Sci-Tech Discovery Center, Texas Sculpture Garden, and several painting and crafts studios. And the abundance of parks – for young athletes, dogs, or just a nice stroll – makes it a great place to enjoy the generally pleasant weather. Average highs range from the low 50s in winter to the mid-90s in summer. It’s no wonder home values climbed nearly 40% following the recession.

  1. Allen, Texas

Although the town northeast of Dallas was first established as a stop on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in the mid-1800s, it wasn’t incorporated until 1953 with just a few hundred residents. Since then, its population has boomed to more than 98,000 people. The city has more than 50 hiking and bike trails and more than two dozen recreation centers and parks, so it’s a great place for families who love the outdoors. And parents will feel safe carting the little ones around; Allen has the 10th best crime rate in the country. It’s an atmosphere that has inspired growth – both in the population as well as home values, which have climbed 33% to a median of nearly $263,000.

  1. Richardson, Texas

Richardson is simply an all-around great place; it ranks in the top 20% of cities in all six metrics measured by GoodCall® analysts and in the top 10% for four of them. It sits immediately adjacent to Dallas and benefits from the metro region’s strong economy. Richardson is home to the so-called Telecom Corridor, named for its abundance of telecommunications offices and headquarters, including AT&T, Fujitsu, Cisco Systems, Samsung Mobile, Verizon Business, CommScope, and MetroPCS, among others. The University of Texas at Dallas is also located in town, perhaps one explanation for the high percentage of college-educated residents (more than 53% have a bachelor’s degree or higher). All that, combined with one of the country’s lowest affordability rates – homeownership costs about 16% of annual household income – make Richardson a thriving place to settle down.

  1. Edmond, Okla.

Edmond is another city that fares well across the board, ranking in the top 20% in all metrics. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the city sprang up virtually overnight in 1889 after the Santa Fe rail line established a station, named for freight agent Edmond Burdick (hence the town’s name). Edmond was the site of the state’s first public schoolhouse, and education continues to be a priority. More than 95% of residents have a high school diploma and 52.5% have at least a bachelor’s degree; both metrics are in the top 10% in the country. The University of Central Oklahoma was founded there in 1890. It was also the site of the state’s first church building. The area’s many parks and well-performing schools add to its strong status as a great place to live.

  1. Flower Mound, Texas

If the alluring name of this Texas city northwest of Dallas isn’t enough to draw you in, perhaps its remarkable crime rate will. With just 7.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, Flower Mound’s crime rate is 3rd lowest in the country. It sits adjacent to Grapevine Lake, which is a huge draw for those who love the outdoors. The lake has three marinas, including Twin Coves in Flower Mound, several boat ramps, 30 miles of trails, and primitive and RV camping sites. The town incorporated in 1961 to avoid being annexed. The name comes from a 12-acre hill covered with dozens of varieties of flowers during the blooming season. The area has great schools, and its populace shows it: more than 97% of residents have a high school diploma, and 65% have at least a bachelor’s degree.

  1. Sugar Land, Texas

The suburb southwest of Houston was originally created as a company-owned town for Imperial Sugar in the early 1900s. The company town was basically self-contained, with housing, shops, schools, and a hospital, until it was incorporated in 1959. Sugar Land ranks well as an affordable city: homeowner costs account for about 15% of annual household income. Schools in the area are generally very good, and nearly 60% of residents have at least a bachelor’s degree. The city also has 13 master-planned communities, a big draw for many families seeking stability and quality. Despite its growth, the area’s history as a company town remains present: The city’s seal features the crown from the Imperial Sugar logo.

  1. Mountain View, Calif.

If you’re fortunate enough to afford it, Mountain View is a great place to put down roots. The weather is beautiful – average highs range from upper 50s in winter to the upper 70s in summer. The views of the Santa Cruz Mountains are spectacular. It’s no wonder home values are on the rise: following the recession, home values climbed 44% to almost $1.15 million. Luckily, notable employers include Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Mozilla, Symantec, and Intuit – they contribute to a median household income of $120,000, more than double the national median. The hub of technology giants is a far cry from the city’s origins as a stagecoach stop. From the mid-1800s until the middle of the 20th century, the local economy was driven by agriculture. Today, it’s a city that thrives on technology, innovation, and education; nearly 66% of its residents have at least a bachelor’s degree.

  1. Fargo, N.D.

Though the weather in Fargo is far less mild than the Texas and California cities in the top 10, the city stands out for its affordability and remarkably low unemployment rate. And the cold hasn’t scared others away: the population grew 11% from 2010 to 2015 to more than 119,000. The city also has the culture of a college town (thanks to North Dakota State University and others) with several theater groups, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, and the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet, as well as several museums. The city began as an early stop on the Red River for steamboats passing through, and after the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, it became one of several cities with the nickname “Gateway to the West.” Today, Fargo remains a transportation hub for the region at the intersection of two major interstate highways and home to an international airport.

See the stats and get the rest of the story at GoodCall.com

When you’re ready to settle down and find that perfect home, ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’ I’m always here if you need me.    979-693-0201

Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner:  Brazos County Realty, LLC.  13454 I and GN Rd., College Station, TX  77845

Did you know that I and GN stands for (International and Great Northern Railroad)?  I and GN is actually S. Holleman now.  College Station, TX just keeps growing and growing.

Learn More about the College Station, TX  Community

 

 

 

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Category: 1st time home buyer education, Bryan Community, College Station Community, College Station housing market, Homes for sale, Investment properties in College Station, Luxury Homes, Student properties

About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.

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