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Houston Real Estate Energy Division, Professionals Share Common Denominator with Founder

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Houston, known as the “Energy Capital of the World” deserves to have a Real Estate Division specifically dedicated to the Energy Professional.  And now we do.

Founder, Michele Marano, with a 15 year plus background in Energy Commodity Markets, shares an immediate connect with her clients.  I decided to offer my business skills, market knowledge and personal achievements in a capacity where others could benefit.
Houston’s real estate market has matured to a point where demand for homes has been at all time highs, for the last couple of years.  I knew years ago that Houston needed a Real Estate Division for Energy Professionals.  Now, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I was in a place where I had to move to and from Houston many times.  I did not use a relocation company, and it was my job to find an agent I felt “appropriate.”  There wasn’t one with whom I could connect, serving energy professionals.  I wanted an agent who was savvy, not with “location”, but savvy with market knowledge and putting deals together.  Now, I am that Realtor and I am able to offer that connection with energy professionals.   Clients know from the start what to expect, from market knowledge and service to integrity and value.  I get the job done.
Michele Marano
Real Estate for the Energy Professionals
2323 S Voss Rd
Houston, TX 77057
Champions Real Estate Group
713-899-8420
www.michelemarano.com
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Places to live in the Energy Corridor, Downtown and Galleria. Working in the Energy Industry and Finding Places to Live

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Energy professionals typically are attracted to three parts of Houston living.

The first most popular area is the Energy Corridor.  The second is close to downtown and the third is inner loop, central Houston.  With plenty of homes at any given time on the market, there is a high demand and moving quickly is the key.
I concentrate on these areas because majority of my clients work in one of the three.  My focus is finding a home that is conducive to the client’s commute and lifestyle.  While all three areas offer a similar lifestyle, it is a matter of home type and dollar value that determines the outcome.
The closer you are to the loop, the more “city” type of homes you will be able to find.  High rises, condos and town homes cater to the Galleria and Inner loop homeowner, while there are still residential neighborhoods that provide homes with a yard.  As you get closer to the energy corridor, prices can vary and the selection of home price is typically neighborhood driven.  A range from $200,000’s well into the millions, depending on how close you are to the beltway, prices will fluctuate.
Of course there are residential areas in Houston that cater to every individual.  For more information for the Energy Professional and to view properties, schedule an appointment with Michele Marano.
Michele@MicheleMarano or 713-899-8420.
REAL ESTATE FOR THE ENERGY PROFESSIONAL
www.MicheleMarano.com
Champions Real Estate Group
Galleria Location
2323 S Voss Rd
Houston, TX 77057
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THE MEXICO POINT STORY BY MICHELE MARANO

The Mexico Point Story, by michele marano

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Mexico Point: A Slice of Our Heaven By Michele Marano There was nothing more exciting than pulling up at the gate and parking in front of the big wooden fence.  The “No Trespassing” sign was posted on the huge maple, just inside the fence line.  We would gaze at the sign each time we visited and would read our family’s names on it.  Arriving at Mexico Point was as exciting as knowing we were in a sweet, safe haven. The fresh scent of flowers mixed with wet grass and early morning dew sits with me like heaven.  The water is barely moving, yet there’s a small wave that washes pebbles ashore and trickles onto the rocks along the beach.  I would play on the rocks until mom said it was time to leave.   I can still smell the scent of those days and see images of Mexico Point; a property on Lake Ontario owned, developed and operated by my family for 33 years. My father, Francesco Marano, my uncle Joseph Marano and a family colleague, Joseph DiSalvo, acquired Mexico Point in 1948.  The boys were young and naive but their integrity, ambition and drive earned them the reward of owning real estate.  Over the years, the 3 young adolescents unexpectedly, yet meticulously developed a property of 33 acres and a small clubhouse into a full resort of over 100 acres named Mexico Point. The property was unique in it’s own natural beauty and it attracted individuals from everywhere.  It was a meeting ground for those who wanted to escape the public, relax in privacy and enjoy themselves among friends.   The boys even brought in a boxing ring and 2 of the most prominent boxers of their time, Carmen Basilio and Joey DeJohn, would be manufactured at Mexico Point. After acquiring the property, the boys met Professor William Casey, who had been a long-time visitor of Mexico Point.  Bill was a Columbia University Law Professor.  He was as unique and nostalgic as the property.  He had fallen in love with Mexico Point over the years and asked to spend a few weeks each year on the grounds.  He called it “an “Italian Villa, and “a place where you could see the full setting of the sun.”  He had taken such an affection and love to our property that he discontinued his visits to Martha’s Vineyard and chose Mexico Point as his summer retreat.  His short visits grew into what the boys wanted him to have, a lifetime right to occupy the property every summer and that is how he became a part of our family and a part of our Mexico Point. In 1952, the boys lost the clubhouse to a fire and what remained were remnants of the stone, massive chimneys and the manor house.  Between 1965-1967, my dad and his brother built a cottage, which later was used as a quaint place to relax for guests on the property.  Bill helped the boys after the fire and the cottage would become Bill’s home, where he would spend each summer admiring breathtaking sun sets and exercising his passion for botanicals by growing bountiful gardens of flowers all across the grounds. Mom and I periodically traveled on weekends to Mexico Point to visit Professor Casey. When we visited him, he would give us tours of the gardens, pointing out each flower and identifying each one by name.  I always thought of him as the most interesting man I had ever met, as he had set a deep impression on me as a young girl.  Bill stood 6’6 tall with a frail, thin frame.  He was a genius, a historian, and an artisan.  He was a methodical man who had interesting stories to share.  Bill had been an advisor to President Eisenhower. He started writing books at the early age of 17 and had accumulated a collection of writings over the years.  He would sign his name in every book and sometimes you would find it on page 99.   Bill wanted his books with him at the cottage but had no way of getting them there so my dad and uncle had them shipped to their warehouse, where they arrived by the numbers, packed in wine cases. His love for the property extended beyond the land.  He had such a passion for Mexico Point, he committed to the reconstruction of the medieval manor that sat on the grounds.  A chapel was built on the second floor, where a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary would stand.  Bill invited architects and artists, some very famous names from around the globe, to donate their work, in dedication to a chapel.  With his mother in mind, the manor house and “the chapel” became a sacred and beautiful piece of work.  The chapel was hand crafted with meticulous carvings of wood, inside and out.  As a little girl, I looked at it as monumental.  The chapel remained locked and it would only be used at Bill’s discretion.  After all, it was in it’s own right a piece of art and would remain used as a sanctuary. The cottage sat empty for the remaining seasons of the year and it would open again every spring.  Bill was family to us and it was such a treat to visit him each year.  Everyone who met him was intrigued with his intelligence, humor and kindness.  Bill died in 1978.   After his passing, we felt a great loss without him.  The property was rarely used, however, our personal ties to the property remained, while our fondness for Bill grew deeper.  A melancholy lightness hung over Mexico Point, knowing his presence was bestowed upon us. In the late ‘70s early 80’s, a committee was formed in efforts to transition our property into a state park; however, our family was not a part of this arrangement.  Knowing my dad was being pressured to sell the property to the State, I made whimsical visits to Mexico Point and took photos while we still owned it.  Soon after, the partners had to make a serious decision about either losing the property to eminent domain or freely selling it before others made the decision for them.    Mexico Point was sold to the State in 1981. Epilogue In preparation for the sale to the State New York, former students from Columbia University asked to come to Mexico Point to retrieve Professor Casey’s books and art from the chapel and the Marano brothers agree, provided a special room would be created in his honor at the University. My visions of Mexico Point still run deep and are very vivid.  Our family has learned a lot from our property and it has given us invaluable memories and a way of feeling peace.  Now, time has passed, my sister and I have lost our parents, but through our nostalgic memories of Mexico Point, we are able to find them. Today, I thank my Uncle Joe dearly for sharing with me his memories, stories and passion for Mexico Point and for making it what it will always be to us, “A slice of Our Heaven.”  It is a place that will never be forgotten.

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What You Should Know About Leasing a Property, by michele marano

What You Should Know About Leasing a Property, by michele marano

  1. Do not call listing agents if you want immediate results:  The listing agent has a contract to represent the owner of the property.  Chances are, the listing agent is not going to make you a top priority.  Some agents can handle both sides of the deal and some cannot.  Some agents are not even allowed to handle both sides of the deal, so you are wasting time and energy, not knowing if you will get a call back.
  2. Hire your own agent: You do not have to pay out of your pocket to work with an agent, so hire one, and one only.  Hire one that knows what they are doing.  They will do the job for you and get faster results than you calling listing agent after listing agent.
  3. Take the time to hire an agent that knows what they are doing:  Not all agents are experienced, especially in a market where a property that is available on a Monday is leased by Friday.  A fast moving market, high demand and low inventory, requires an understanding of how to get a deal done.  Poor decisions and inadequate advice will cost you time and money, if you are not careful.
  4. Remember, you are not the only one looking at properties that fit your criteria:  In a fast moving market, chances are others are looking at the same properties you are interested in leasing.  Get your paperwork ready.  Your Realtor should explain this, if you have a good one.  But be prepared to make a submission at the time you view the property.  Taking the time to get ready after you view the property may cost you the deal, if it has not already been taken.
  5. There is no time to lose in a market like we are in today: Today’s market is about savvy, fast moving, creative agents who have their thinking caps on.   If an agent gives you direction, you need to heed the advice and do as told.  Advice from an agent that understands how to maneuver in today’s market will show you the process so you are not wasting time and missing out on deals.

Michele Marano

Champions Real Estate Group

713-899-8420  Michele@MicheleMarano.com

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Who leads Who in a Real Estate Transaction

HorseleadingAs I sit back and watch today’s market, I have to wonder.  There are so many ins and outs of real estate deals, handling situations appropriately, not naively can make one stop and move cautiously.  It seems through my experience, the more deals I work, the more inexperience and lack of knowledge I encounter with others.  Some agents, some clients, and sometimes I see both struggling in the same deal.

There are pragmatic steps in real estate, whether it is purchasing or selling and you cannot lose site of these steps.  Each step taken off course, can cost a deal or a lot of dollars.  It is in my best interest to guide a client through each deal, and put the client ahead of any commission.  Most importantly, each deal needs to be handled carefully, thoughtfully and significantly to see it through to completion.

It is my role as a Realtor, a business woman of 25 plus years and a professional committed to running a business, to guide the client and be conscious of the steps involved in handling each deal.  It is not a clients role to make or change the processes.    An agent with a past in business, typically can grant a more well-rounded background to deals, negotiations, high-end clients and decisions that are effective and bring positive results.

For more information on Real Estate Transactions, contact michele@michelemarano.com.

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Loyalty, Honesty and Integrity, by michele marano

For years while working in energy commodity markets, especially during my tenure at the New York Mercantile Exchange, learning the basis of work ethics never really occurred to me, initially.  As time went on, understanding the ins-and-outs of business dealings became challenging and more and more significant.  The larger the deal, the more convoluted, not so cut and dry.

Becoming aware of making deals work and acquiring experience in handling negotiations, where large amounts of money are exchanged, was the ground work in learning to make important decisions that had long-term effects.  There had been times when I had to sit back and question the outcome of situations.  Maybe a sense of naiveness, early on, wasn’t such a bad characteristic.  As I sat and witnessed lawsuits, watched colleagues subpoenaed and some sent off to jail, it was through tenacity and perseverance that the decision to remain dignified in all business practices became my duty.  The birth of loyalty, honesty and integrity as a core belief became my backbone in every deal, transaction and accomplishment, to which I would set forth.

Now, being in real estate dealings, I can sit back and watch others test the waters.   It never seems to fail me when I watch from a far and see a flashback of a poor decision or an inappropriate one.  Years of experience in trading with “the big boys” meant getting it or getting out.  It is remarkable to watch, knowing who can and who cannot explain the basis of  “ethics.”  Loyalty, honesty and integrity remains foreign to some, but for those who get it….a reflection of their accomplishments have already been made.

To hear Michele Marano’s radio show on Loyalty, Integrity, Honesty with former NBA star, John Egan, go to www.blogtalkradio.com/everythingrealestate.

John Egan shares his life long views and experience in “Understanding the Basis of Ethics: Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity”

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf

Listen to
internet radio with EverythingRealEstate on Blog Talk Radio
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Is Houston’s Real Estate going over the top?

LivingGoodSamLivingSamThe last few listings I have had, have been a wild ride.  I have listed homes with a postponed show date and agents lined up to submit a contract.  Is this really a reflection of the Houston market?  Depends on from which angle you are gazing.

Location seems to be the ticket now a days, and with a mix of short supply and high demand, things seem a bit off balanced in our market.  People are moving faster than usual on a contract, certain areas are hot commodities, and those who want to buy a place here are determined to do so even if it means paying over appraised values.

In the last 5 months I have had 2 homes sell within a day of listing.  This, of course, means contracts were submitted on the first day of listings and later the home sold at an all time high.  The listings were in a very popular area, the Museum District, but the prices didn’t really seem very high to begin.  So, is the Houston market catching up with the lag in prices we have had over the course of many years?

I have to scratch my head and ask if Houston’s prices are just now catching up to match prices in other major cities.  I come from the east coast and Houston has always been viewed as a “cheaper” place to live.  But now, as Houston makes it’s mark as a leading city to live, the top healthiest city in the country, and one of the leading capitals in the world for healthcare and oil, I would say Houston prices are soaring.

Not only is our market reflective of the simply supply and demand law, but it also leads one to believe that Houston has been so low for so long, compared to other big cities, that its finally making a correction.  For several years, we have had a mad dash of people headed here for jobs.  Now that we are listed as a #1 city,  in many categories, we have a backlog with inventory levels, which is causing a scramble when an appealing listing comes to market.

It is important to find areas of Houston that have not been tapped.  I have a listing that sits literally on the border of Piney Point Village and Houston.  Still, the prices are not rising because it is a hidden property and you have to know it is there to find it.  In fact, I have some agents who don’t look there because they don’t know about it.  Also, outside agents have been selling units in this community over the course of 10 years by using the last comp.  Without a clear understanding that real estate can never remain flat, and indeed it is a precious commodity, prices are forced down.  I am seeing this happen because I live in the community and agents have been underselling the units.

For $135,000, you can have a 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in a gated community (Deerwood Gardens – 77063) that is newly renovated.  It is next to City Centre, Memorial City, Energy Corridor, and of course, close to the Galleria.  I have to ask myself how this can still exist in the #1 city  in the country.  This unit would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in any other major city, considering it’s location and the quality of the interior.

So, getting back to Houston’s real estate market.  It depends on where you are and where you are looking.  There are still deals out there but you have to have someone in the know to work with, who understands value vs risk.  These are the real deals right now.  It’s like taking candy from a baby.

by Michele Marano  713-899-8420

Champions Real Estate

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How Important a Strong Negotiator is in Real Estate Deals

handshakeWhen it comes to actually getting a deal done in today’s market, you want to hope you have one strong negotiator on your side.

If it may not seem very important or it may not have even crossed your mind, you may want to think again.  When it comes to leaving money on the table, if you’re selling, or paying to high, if you’re buying, you need to consider if your agent is strong in the negotiation area.

In Houston’s Real Estate market, it takes a strong agent who will take the time and work through a deal for a client that is reflective of our economy and the supply and demand factors that are affecting Houston’s market.

I see agents listing and selling homes 25% too low.  When I ask the owner why they listed at that price, I get the standard answer, ” because my agent is a top producer and he/she said that is what the comps are.”  There is a huge flaw in this response.   Either the agent is not looking at the bigger picture or he/she is a top producer for the wrong reasons.

It is a necessity knowing what is happening in our economy, as well as understanding the local, regional and national Real Estate market.  It is better to over price and be aware, than under price and lose out.  When you are involved with a transaction, you will come to an understanding of the needs of both clients.  This is how you decide which negotiation skills you will use.  If I see the other agent is inexperienced in negotiations, (this has NOTHING to do with how long the agent has been licensed) I know it is to my client’s advantage.  I see very few agents who actually take the time to work through a deal.   Either the agent doesn’t know or is intimidated and doesn’t look at other angles for the client.

When I see an agent using tactics that are not “negotiation skills,”  I will not participate.  I know that standing firm is the best case scenario for that type of situation.  Sometimes there is no winning situation for either party if an agent is less likely to negotiated or doesn’t know an artful way to.  Typically, the stronger negotiator’s party gets what they ask for in a deal, because of the lack of negotiating by the other party.

Being ruthless is not part of negotiations.  Being fair, truthful and laying out your point, is the best way to get what you want in a deal.  Negotiating is a business game board.  Either you’re in or you’re out.  Hopefully, you have chosen an agent who knows how to play.

by Michele Marano  713-899-8420

Champions Real Estate

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Michele Marano to Debut Her Line with Williams Sonoma

If you have not already heard, Michele Marano’s line, The Marano Bag, which was designed earlier this year, was picked up by Williams Sonoma in November.  Michele says, “It’s a very exciting experience to be recognized by a great name, an National brand and such an innovative company.”

Williams Sonoma has a new Garden Division to be launched in Spring of 2012 and The Marano Bag will be a part of it.

For more information about The Marano Bag, http://themaranobag.com/

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The Marano Bag in Williams Sonoma, Highland Village Houston, Aug 25th 2011

The Houston Bridal Registry Show is a big splash for brides around town, scurrying to get registered in their favorite stores. Williams Sonoma, Highland Village in Houston, Texas will host an annual party-event for brides on August 25th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and have asked Michele Marano, designer and creator of The Marano Bag to feature her bags at the event.

Of course The Marano Bag is perfect for the wedding party, the bride to be, the newlywed, of any friends who want one for themselves.  Carrying the bag has hit a new trend among some of Michele’s fans locally and across the internet.  From Florida to Cape Cod, to Palm Springs and of course, Texas, the bags are a big hit.

So all you bride-to-be’s, Michele will have a special bag designed for you and your special occasion.  If you are in the party or just along for a party, there will be a bag for everyone!

To Contact Michele:  http://www.themaranobag.com/

Michele@TheMaranoBag.com  or Michele@MicheleMarano.com