• by Charles Pebworth
• 40 feet tall, 15 feet wide, 15 feet long
• Painted Metal, welded construction

This fascinating sculpture sits at the entrance to The Woodlands on Woodlands Park Drive, greeting visitors and new members of community. This piece is the first outdoor sculpture purchased for The Woodlands, created by Houston artist and Professor Charles Pebworth and installed in 1974.

Pebworth made his artistic start in the budding art scene of Houston in the 1960’s. In a time when the city was still feeling out its relationship to the artistic community and its place in larger movements, Pebworth had a unique perspective on the growth and evolution of Houston art and museums. In an interesting interview he relates this experience, along with his early education and career.

Charles Pebworth, a member of the Choctaw Tribe, combines his Native American heritage and contemporary art education to create an artistic style embracing of contrasts. Best known for his abstract metal sculptures, he often unites media like wood and stone to synthesize nature with his modern style.

Sometimes referred to as “the Texas sculptor,” Pebworth has works and collections in galleries across the state and the nation. In his teaching career of over 30 years, Pebworth pioneered a Texas sculptor-culture with his students at Sam Houston State University and established one of the finest sculpture departments in the state.

Retired since 1993, Pebworth was also a visiting professor museums and colleges around Texas, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Houston, a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Louisiana State University, and has conducted independent study in Carrara, Italy. He currently resides in his home in Huntsville, Texas.

So, how did the market perform in January this year?  Here are some month-over-month statistics to illustrate:

• Unit sales (number of homes sold) were down 5.5% over January 2011 and up 23.2% over January 2010
• Inventory (number of homes for sale) is down 24.6% over January 2011 and down 12.4% over January 2010
• The average price of homes sold this January was $438,980 up 20.4% over January 2011 and up 23% over January 2010.  A trend or a fluke?  This is an interesting statistic, and while likely skewed by a luxury property (or two) sold during a month with a minimal number of unit sales, still one to keep an eye on.  With inventory so low, this could be the beginning of a new trend.
  
• Average days on the market was at 79 days – down from 102 days in January 2011 and up from 71 days in January 2010.

How much inventory is currently on the market?  Here is a breakdown by price range and months of supply:

Up to $200,000                   2.4 months

$200,001 – $300,000         3.7 months

$300,001 – $400,000         3.5 months

$400,001 – $500,000         3.2 months

$500,001 – $600,000         3.1 months

$600,001 – $700,000         4.4 months

$700,001 – $800,000         8.7 months

$800,001 – $900,000         9.7 months

$900,001 – $1,000,000     11.1 months

$1,000,001+                          12.7 months

Please note – for properties under $700,000, The Woodlands would commonly now be considered a seller’s market.

For more details on market conditions in your own neighborhood, please contact us for a complimentary market analysis.  Our goal is to always help guide you in making wise and profitable real estate decisions with the most updated market information.

Photo credit – Images of Money

• by Jay Hester
• Bronze Metal Casting
• Installed 1997 & 2002

These familiar faces sit in front of the entrance to the iconic Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Pavilion, a Woodlands landmark, was the brainchild of our community’s founders George and Cynthia Mitchell, who wanted a world-class performing arts facility to bring musicians and entertainers right into our backyard.

The Mitchell’s children commissioned the sculpture as a monument to their parents’ dedication and service to The Woodlands community. The sculpture depicts both George and Cynthia Mitchell surrounded by delighted children, on a bench and gathered in a circle listening to a story. The images truly capture the Mitchell’s compassion for and involvement with residents of The Woodlands; this sculpture is an important reminder of how much we owe these patrons for our beautiful community.

The artist, Jay Hester, currently lives in Beorne, Texas, where he has a studio for his Western and Native American artwork. His work aims to capture the “rustic beauty and depth of the people and places that define the American West,” in addition to the essence of American culture and values. He has many commissioned works displayed around the state, and a personal gallery for perusal and purchase in Beorne.

• Artist: Robert Cook
• Medium: Bronze Metal Casting
• Dimensions: 15 feet high, 5 feet wide, weighs 1300 lbs.
• Location: Research Forest Drive at the Grogan’s Mill Road intersection
• Installed: 1989

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton

This statue is beloved for a reason. The poignancy of the quote and the buoyant whimsy of the figures in the piece beautifully depict the value of fellowship and teamwork. This sculpture is really representative of the intergenerational community in The Woodlands—it reminds us all to remember those who’ve lifted us to where we are now, and to lift up those still working out their place in the world. Even the greatest among us acknowledge their debt to those who came before.

Robert Cook is internationally recognized for his ability to “capture motion in fluid bronze.” He has gigantic sculptures all over the globe, including Park Avenue in NYC, Canberra in Australia, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. He currently resides in his home just north of Rome. If you’re interested, you can see pictures, videos, and find out much more at his website.

• Artist: Charles Parks
• 8 feet tall (with base), 28 inches wide, weighs 1200 lbs.
• Bronze Metal Casting

This contemplative figure sits outside the Homefinder Center on Woodlands Parkway. The statue was created by American realist sculptor Charles Parks and installed in 1981. According to the artist, the man is “pondering the future of our planet,” as he stands with a hand on a young deer. The intimacy between this thinking character and the iconic deer reaches to the heart of our community’s relationship with nature—the future of the planet depends on plans just like those made by the creators of The Woodlands, to maintain the beauty and majesty of nature amidst the progress of society.

Charles Parks is a renowned sculptor based in Wilmington, Delaware. In his studio overlooking the Brandywine River he creates pieces for commissions across the nation, and with those has won many awards. Over his fifty-five year career he has created over 500 works, many of which (included “Tomorrow”) are available to purchase through his website. His realistic bronze casts of human figures often address the themes of humanity and nature, and the human condition.

Perhaps the most recognizable piece of sculptural art in The Woodlands, “The Rise of the Midgard Serpent” by Marc Rosenthal has become an artistic icon of our community and the mascot of Woodlands whimsy. In 2010 The Woodlands celebrated the 20th anniversary of this piece.

The sculpture, originally located on the shore of Buffalo Bayou in Houston, was installed in Lake Woodlands in 1985 where it now resides welcoming visitors and newcomers as they enter The Woodlands. The story goes that Cynthia Woods-Mitchell herself selected the piece, and Mr. Coulson Tough suggested the location. At the time of installation Rosenthal was getting his CA at the Art Institute of Houston, following his BA in Fine Arts from St. Thomas downtown. Rosenthal also works with stoneware and porcelain pottery in addition to his sculptures of bronze, steel, and other media.

For more information and pictures of Woodlands sculptures, visit www.woodlandsart.com. Also look for more detailed posts on sculptures to come!

For specific information on the real estate market in The Woodlands, please read our end-of-year market report here.

It was a busy and brisk year in The Woodlands this year as far as real estate goes.

The seasonal market cycles returned to normal as the federal government home buyer tax credit incentives finally disappeared from the market place.

Although the national economy and job market caused many to become more cautious in expenditures, rates remained historically low for most of the year. Home buyers that fell into a ”no-risk” or a “low-risk” category according to lenders, were able to obtain favorable financing terms and many continued to move forward with well-laid plans to purchase their dream home.

At the same time, some sellers found themselves making decisions to become more conservative with their personal finances and made respective decisions to downsize their personal home.

We personally experienced buyers of all types this year:  move-up buyers, families who have been renting over the past year, downsizing buyers, first-time investors, and of course, relocation buyers.  Relocation continues to have a significant impact on our market as The Woodlands is the community of choice for business professionals relocating to the Greater Houston area.

Regardless of the motivation, a significant amount of real estate changed hands in The Woodlands in 2011 – in fact 11.6% more transactions than the prior year.

Prices were relatively unchanged for the year. The average price of homes sold in The Woodlands in 2011 was $356,344 compared to $353,728 in 2010.

Average number of days on the market peaked during the year in February at 102 days and was at a yearly low in September at 65 days. For comparison, average days on the market in 2010 ranged from a low of 58 days to a high of 93 days.

In summary, the following are some key statistics from the year 2011.

• Unit sales (number of homes sold) are up 11.6%
• Inventory (number of homes for sale) is down 24.3%
• The average price of homes sold is up slightly at .74%
• Average days on the market at the end of the year has declined to 69 days

Looking ahead to 2012, it is important to note that the market is starting the year with 24.2% less inventory than 2010 and 4.1% less inventory than 2009.  With the sales activity increase of 11.6%, this situation is ideal for home sellers.

As we reported last month, several price range categories have less than four months of supply of inventory.  That shortage of inventory continues into the first of 2012 as all price ranges below $600,000 have 4 months of supply or even less.

For a real-time graphical representation of key market statistics in The Woodlands, please click here.

Photo credit Creativity103

• Title: The Dreamer
• Artist: David Phelps, 1956 – present
• Located in the median at the intersection of South Panther Creek and Woodlands Parkway
• Dimensions: 48 inches tall, 17 feet long
• Medium: Lost Wax Metal Casting, three piece assembly
• Installed 1989

The City of The Woodlands commissioned David Phelps to build a bronze version of his mixed media sculpture the Dreamer, installed in 1989. Phelps is known for his large-scale bronze works that often interact with their physical environment and blur physical planes by appearing to emerge from or sink into the ground.

Growing up on a farm, Phelps developed an artistic interest in the deep connection between humanity and landscape, and this piece exemplifies the contemplative and meditative aspects found in many of his works. On his website, David Phelps offers this statement on his artistic themes and style:

“The general theme embodied in my figurative sculpture is a sense of perseverance, optimism, and humor being embraced in the face of adversity. I was raised on a farm and to a certain extent my imagery grows out of my emotional and visual experiences of those early years… I use the cracked surfaces and the illusion of the figure emerging from the ground plan to communicate to the viewer something basic and fundamental about those remembered feelings in the hope that a deep chord of familiarity will be struck, appreciated, and acknowledged.”

Phelps is an internationally recognized artist with sculptures on the grounds of universities, international airports, and public grounds all over the country. He also creates smaller, unique pieces for gallery shows and private collections.  For this and more information about the artist, along with more pictures and slideshows of his work, visit his website here.

• Monetary consideration must be paid to the Seller
• Time is of the essence with regard to the termination option
• The right is unrestricted – the buyer may terminate for any reason

In virtually every transaction, buyers opt to purchase the termination option.  A typical option period in The Woodlands may be 10 days with $100 consideration paid directly to the Seller at the time the contract is signed and executed.  The fee paid for the termination option is not refundable.

During the option period is the recommended time to have any and all home and property inspections performed.  This allows the Buyer to determine and assess the soundness and condition of the home during the same period of time that they also have the unrestricted right to terminate the contract.

Inspection fees and costs are paid directly to the inspector at the time of service, so be sure to factor-in these up-front expenses when determining a buying budget. Costs usually vary by inspector and differ based on the inspectors’ background and certifications.  For example, some are licensed engineers and are qualified to perform foundation inspections.  Some common inspections and cost estimates in The Woodlands area are:

• Structural and mechanical home inspection:  $375 – $650
• Pool inspection:  $75 – $125
• Pest and termite inspection:  $75 – $100
• HVAC inspection:  $125 – $175 per unit

If the Buyer determines, as a result of inspections, that there are repairs needed to the home, then it is best to negotiate any requested repairs with the Seller before the termination option period comes to an end.