Talk To Scott

There are really three parts to College Hills: the original College Hills Subdivision, which was built for the most part in the 1950’s, College Hills South( built in the ‘60’s), which is wedged in between Loop 306 and the Red Arroyo, and College Hills West ( built in the “70’s), which is basically all of the streets that spill out onto Southwest Boulevard between Sunset Mall and Sherwood Way. Nice neighborhoods one and all.
Below are 10 things that you might want to know about College Hills but were afraid to ask.
• What in the pluperfect heck was the developer thinking when he named the streets? I mean I get it. All the streets are named after colleges. Someone who is familiar with the old Southwest Conference will feel right at home—except he left out Texas. Come on, this IS Texas! I mean how does SMU get in there but not Texas?
• How can you exclude Texas and add Harvard and Yale? What the heck? I mean the developer jumped up the IQ of the entire neighborhood when he added Rice. Tulane didn’t hurt either. Everyone knows that Louisiana is just extreme East Texas. For the life of me I can’t understand why he thought he had to add in the Ivy League.
• College Hills South streets are different. I guess the new builders ran out of colleges and chose a tree motif. Tanglewood, Hemlock, Oak Forest, etc. are the streets names that come to mind.
• College Hills West has another name among realtors—Pickettville. The entire subdivision was built by Freeman Pickett, who put up street after street on what was the southwest end of San Angelo in the 1970’s. Mr. Pickett’s floor plans still work today.
• College Hills is a great location. It is close to everything: mall, the university, HEB, Sherwood Way—San Angelo’s new entertainment area.
• Houses are affordable. Most of the homes are less than $150,000. The average guy and his family can live there.
• Good schools. Bowie and Crockett Elementaries service the area. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DIDN’T FORGET THIS WAS TEXAS!!!! None of the streets are very far from Glenn Middle School, which Bowie and Crockett students attend. Ok, I know John Glenn is from Ohio, a pretty serious lapse, on the part of San Angelo Independent School District, but he is an American that we can all admire.
• Love the trees. I think that one of the neat things about our town is our trees. These neighborhoods are ones that would make the Arbor society proud. Lots of shade for our San Angelo summers.
• Good resale. I have owned houses on A&M, Oxford (after which I lost my Texas accent), University, and Inglewood and did well on each sale. I think that most people have to think about that. I did and it worked for me and my family.
• Oops, almost ran out of things and had to cut this one reason short. Great area for college students. Close to Angelo State University. It would be a terrific place for parents who are looking to get a house for their student to live in while in college. The math on that is really easy. Would you rather your money go to the dorm or to something you own and have a chance to built equity in? Easy choice, plus there is a tax write-off.
Special town, San Angelo, Texas—with special neighborhoods.

As much as I love San Angelo, there is one thing that I haven’t been able to figure out…our streets. Hey, I am a real estate agent, so I drive around quite a bit. Knowing where I am and how to get where I’m going is really important to me. But San Angelo streets were laid out on a napkin by two guys with way too much Wild Turkey in them. That’s the only way that I can figure it out. And that’s just the old streets…the newer ones just keep up the tradition…nothing else makes sense, so why should I? Here are  some things that are unique about our streets. Let me know about the other crazy things that I’ve missed.

· Streets that change names. Abe, er… Koenighiem, er…, Bryant, no I mean highway 87. What was someone thinking?
· Streets that disappear. Beauregard becomes Sherwood Way…then later it turns into College Hills. Harris becomes Pecos, which becomes Sherwood Way, then Harris again.
· Streets that meander . I mean if I am going somewhere, a straight line is not a bad thing. Try driving around in the Bluffs for the first time. I have known realtors with GPS systems to get lost for days( slight exaggeration) looking for Wicklow Court. While we are on the subject of the Bluffs, try and figure out the best street to enter the subdivision and get where you want to go. It’s like a rabbit warren, one way in—4 ways out.
· Illogical streets. Look at Santa Rita, one of our coolest neighborhoods. We start with Washington Street and begin to work our way thru the bearded Presidents. How did Grierson and Shafter get in the mix? It just seems to me if we were going to name streets after Presidents, don’t confuse all of the poor American history students with the other names. Speaking of streets named after Presidents, San Angelo doesn’t seem to recognize Presidents after Reconstruction. I guess Obama Boulevard does not have a chance.
· Streets with weird names. These seem to be unique to San Angelo, Texas. Who else has a Midget Street or a 24 1/2 Street.
· Streets that have changed names because of cultural changes. How else do you explain Gay Street becoming Grace Street?

Ok, I guess my point is that we are unique here in San Angelo, Texas and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We are small town, with strange streets and friendly folks with big hearts.

San Angelo, Texas is home to 5 golf courses. Pretty good for a city of 88,000 people, huh? The course
that I enjoy most is Bentwood Country Club, which is home to one of our nicest courses and San
Angelo’s most enjoyable neighborhoods. What’s good about Bentwood? A bunch of things.
· Of course, the course is the main thing. Bentwood is a challenging course for the scratch golfer
and has lots of tee options so that a Senior or high handicapper is still able to enjoy a round. The
greens are the most difficult to putt in our area. The course winds its way thru the subvision,
giving many owners the opportunity to enjoy the park-like atmosphere of on-the-course living.
· Other benefits to living right on the course are growing your vocabulary—as an occasional golfer
describes his shot in language he learned from his drill instructor—not his mother.
· Living right on the course can save you money on golf balls. That’s right, sometimes one of the
golfers described above might deposit a golf ball in your yard. That’s when you learn that OPB is
your brand of golf ball( OPB means “other people’s balls”).
· Bentwood has something that fits everyone’s housing needs. Large ones for the growing family,
as well as patio homes for the empty nester.
· There are new homes and lots as well as older homes with mature yards and trees.
· There are many fun things for your kids to do. Youth golf, tennis, swimming lessons a playing
opportunities abound.
San Angelo and Bentwood just fit—relaxed, laid back and very friendly. Yawl come.

This is definitely one of the “coolest neighborhoods” in our fair city. Santa Rita is the place where people drive around on Sunday afternoons to look at houses.  Wonder where it got its name? It was named in honor of the first great West Texas oil strike in Reagan County. San Angelo used to be located to the east of the Concho River and as things boomed to the west, San Angelo spilled over the Beauregard Bridge and the citizens  named the neighborhood after all the “black gold” to the west.   Wonder why the wildcatters looking for oil named the rig Santa Rita?  Read  below.

Frank Pickrell was one of the partners responsible for the drilling of the Santa Rita No. 1.  The reason for the name “Santa Rita” is best told in Frank Pickrell’s own words:

“The name of Santa Rita really originated in New York.  Some of the stock salesmen had encouraged a group of Catholic women to invest in the Group I certificates.  These women became a little worried about the wisdom of their investment and consulted with their priest.  He apparently was also somewhat skeptical and suggested that the women invoke the aid of Santa Rita, who was the patron saint of the impossible.  As I was leaving New York on one of my subsequent trips to the field, two of these women handed me a sealed envelope and told me that the envelope contained a red rose that had been blessed by the priest in the name of the saint.  The women asked me to take the rose back to Texas with me — to climb to the top of the derrick and scatter the rose petals, which by then were dry, over the rig and to say ‘I hereby christen thee Santa Rita’.  I faithfully followed those instructions.”

So we have a neighborhood named after an oil rig which was named after a saint? Guess so. What does Santa Rita have going for it?

* Charm. Yep, it has it in abundance.
* Diversity. Mansions next to bungalows.
* Trees in abundance. Like pecans? We’ve got them.
* The river. It’s hard to beat the view of the Concho from Park Street.
* Traditions. Parades. “ The Night Before Christmas” display. You have to see it to be charmed by it.
* Confusing streets. Santa Rita started what is a San Angelo tradition. Streets start, stop, and disappear for a few blocks. Live here long and and you’ll know where it resumes.
* Paseo De Vaca. Cow Path Road to the non-Spanish speakers out there. Beautiful.
* Mr. T’s, best place to eat in town.

Come take a peek. You’ll like it.

The area most of us in San Angelo in refer to as Southland is the area south of Loop 306 between Knickerbocker and Sherwood Way. It’s San Angelo’s version of the “‘burbs.” Generally, the nearer a house is to Knickerbocker Road, the older it is. The westernmost houses are newer. Here are some of the many good things about this excellent neighborhood.

• Schools. This is one of the first things that I always think about when I am looking for a house. This area is served by two excellent elementary schools, Bonham and Lamar.

• Close to shopping. Southland is near Sunset Mall and all of the big box stores in southwest San Angelo.

• Close to transportation. Easy entry to Loop 306, College Hills Boulevard, Knickerbocker Road, and Southwest Boulevard—all major traffic arteries.

• Something for everyone. If you are a first-time homebuyer looking for a relatively inexpensive house, there is something for you. The streets closer to the “loop” contain smaller, less expensive houses. Streets like Oak Mountain and Palo Duro have large homes.

• Old and new. If you like older houses with mature trees, live more to the east. If you like new, live in the west.

• Trees. If you are going to live in San Angelo, you might as well have a tree.

• Rear entry garages. Almost all of the streets have this feature. It sure cleans up the front yard. One note on this. I don’t think you see your neighbors as much.

• Resale. Hey, this neighborhood really holds its value. Check that, it shows a steady growth in value. This is really something to think about, generally we don’t live in them forever.

Moving to San Angelo? Wondering where you should live? In the weeks ahead, I am going to share my opinions about various neighborhoods in San Angelo, Texas. Why would I do that? Well, I think about it  a lot, since my job as a realtor with Coldwell Banker Patterson Properties is to help people find homes or sell homes, If I am working for a seller, my job is to help get the best price for his/her property.  If working as a buyer’s agent, my job is to help a buyer maximize his dollar. Neighborhoods are part of that equation.

Some of the things that you read here are my opinions, but I think that many of my opinions have been formed by spending countless hours in the car, listening to buyers and a like number of hours studying the market for sellers—and helping them understand its complexities . So these are opinions….but not just whimsy.

What are the factors that come together and make a place a good neighborhood?

* Location. The neighborhoods proximity to schools, shopping, entertainment, churches,  etc.
* Looks.  Yeah, what it looks like. Does it have trees, water, and other things that are easy on the eyes?  This is way important. The neighbor with the two cars jacked up in his driveway probably hurts property values.
* Traffic. Busy streets are not good things. I had a buyer with me in the car several years ago who summed it up. “Never buy a house on a street with a solid yellow stripe down the middle.”
* Age. Generally, older neighborhoods have mature yards and trees—which I really like. But lots of people want new homes.  There is a trade-off. Newer houses have fewer trees, but they might have fewer plumbing problems.
* Neighbors. Duh. A bit self-evident, but important. I have little kids and the last house I owned was really nice, but none of our neighbors had kids. My children didn’t have anyone to play with. This diminished the neighborhood for me.
* Money. Of course, this is last, but important. Make the best choice that you can relative to your money. If you have $70,000 to spend, there is a great place for you in that price range. All you have to do is find it.

So where should you go? Well, that’s up to you. But in my next installment, I’ll pick an area to talk about.

I have to admit it. Some of you reading this ( or should I say both of you) might think that I am old. Ok, I’m 60, but I have come to believe that old is anyone who is 15 years older than I am. But I digress. What I am thinking about is interest rates. I am old enough to have borrowed money for a house at  14.25%. Nowadays, that would be a bad rate for a credit card. Rates right now are around 4.75% If you need a place to live, and we all do, quit renting and scrape the money together for a down payment and go buy a house.

When interest rates go back up, and they will, look me up and thank me for the heads up.  Think of it this way, interest rates go back up to 6.75%—still way cheap. On a $100,000 note, the difference between current rates and 6.75%  is $2,000 a year. If you stay in the house 10 years, that’s a savings of $20,000. That’s real money.

Get off the couch, and go to the bank and see what the mortgage officer says. The trip will make you money.

I have always loved music and like to listen to most of it…..unless the musicians are flopping about on the stage like a fish on a wharf. That’s where I draw the line. But I digress. We have some pretty cool musical things going on right in San Angelo, Texas, principal among them a fellow named Daniel Makins.  Daniel and I met a couple of years ago when he talked to me about him and his wife Claire making the move back to his hometown.  Well, he and Claire and his kids came home to the Concho and with him returned his passion for music. What kind of music is it? Folk, country, acoustical guitar playing good is what it is!  I recommend that you show up to any of his shows, but what I have enjoyed the most is his San Angelo New Folk Series.

Daniel has obviously spent some time on the road and along the way has met quite a few  talented musicians, many of whom he is bringing to our town.  It’s a good evening of music, maybe an adult beverage or two, and the wit and wisdom of Daniel Makins. He can really make that guitar sing and has a wide range of songs that are personal, poetic and wildly entertaining.  His guests are fun as well.  If you are looking for a great night out and something quite a bit different from dinner and a movie, try my favorite folk singer ( okay, aside from Woody Guthrie) some night.

I have included a link to his website and one of his tunes.  It’s just a taste of his music, but once you sample it, you’ll come back for more. http://www.danielmakins.com/calendar.html

I have to admit it: I am hooked on San Angelo. It’s a special place.  Many people who are natives tend to sell our town short. To them it’s ho-hum, small town and boring. Just sooooo wrong!  So I am going to share with you one of the many things that make us special.

First and foremost, let’s start with food. If you are talking food, let’s talk about Mr. T’s., my favorite place to eat. What is so special about “T’s”?  Let me count  the ways.

·        The owner, order taker, production manager, and chief cook and bottle washer, Robert Chandler. His blend of sarcasm, the special laugh, the baseball cap indoors, and his love of all things UT make him unique among San Angelo business owners. Where else can you go out to eat, get insulted, and herded like one of Robert’s favorite Longhorns to your table? Luckily, his lovely wife, Lisa, balances out the sarcasm, a yeng and yang thing. It’s a truly unique experience.

·        The ordering and seating system.  Here is T’s protocol. Slide inside the door, look for the end of the line at the counter, get at the back of it, and get ready to order. Don’t look for a menu; we don’t need no stinking menus. All you need to know is on the wall in front of you. When it’s your turn, be quick: Robert doesn’t tolerate slow play. When you have ordered, get your own drink and wait for directions. Don’t try to get a table before ordering. WAY OUT OF LINE. You will be chastised and moved .

·        Place to meet and greet. T’s is intimate, which is a nice way of saying it’s crowded.  You can run into a lot of folks you know, catch up on the news, read the paper, watch  a muted version of Fox News , (which when you think about it, isn’t all bad), and eat your lunch or breakfast.

·        Best of all—the food. The only way to describe the menu is Southern Comfort Food. Every day is a lunch special: meat loaf, fried chicken, pot roast, savory salads—my mouth is watering at the very thought. Every kind of sandwich is on the menu—all them perfect for the person who has worked up an appetite. Hamburgers, reubens, BLT’s, and my personal favorite—The Bob’s Special! But that is not all—desserts abound on the bill of fare.  Monster-sized cookies of kinds and pies, that leave you with visions of meriguine  piled to the ceiling, are in abundance.

·        T’s embodies the great place that we live in. Vibrant, unique, intimate, West Texas in every way, it’s a great metaphor for our tow

Many of you are living in my world; we have kids at home and are always looking for something to do. Entertainment isn’t cheap and a trip to the movie theater puts a huge dent in the family budget.  Well, do I have a deal for you.  Actually, Angelo State University has it. I don’t know what they call it, but I call the “Family Four Pack.” For $100, you can buy general admission tickets for a family of four to every ASU sporting event for the year. That’s right, volleyball, football, basketball (men’s and women’s), softball,  and baseball. If a ball is bouncing, spinning, rebounding, curving, spiraling or whatevering—you and your kids can be there.

It’s a great family atmosphere—safe, clean, and more or less “small town.” What do I mean by that? I can let my kids go to the concession stand by themselves without worrying. It’s one more thing that makes San Angelo such a great place. If I lived in Dallas and wanted to take the kids to a Ranger’s game, how much would that cost? Here, I can nestle in a seat on the third base line and watch some pretty good baseball for a lot less money.

Of course, I forgot to mention one more thing that makes  this a great deal. All of the teams are pretty darned good.  The coaches are class people who conduct themselves in a way that brings credit to the community and university.  Most importantly, the student-athletes compete hard, act right and are good at what they do. If you like athletics (even if you are just a casual fan), this is the place to be.

See you in the bleachers, at the gym, or in the stands.