Summer is here so make the most of it and spend a day or two enjoying the great outdoors. Sierra Vista’s prime location approximately 20 minutes south of downtown Houston means you can explore the city’s greenbelt and still be home in time for dinner.
Keep in mind that currently, even outdoor locations may require advance reservations. Call or check online then get out there and play.
Home to more than 6,000 animals, the Houston Zoo is the second most visited zoo in the U.S. and the most-attended cultural attraction in the region. Animal lovers can explore 16 exhibits ranging from the Bug House to the Kipp Aquarium.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Bring a camera and prepare to explore one of the oldest nature education facilities in Texas. Admission to the 155-acre enclave is free and offers more than five miles of nature trails including forest, pond, wetland and meadow habitats.
Whether your family enjoys bikes or boats, Buffalo Bayou has something for you. There are many places to walk, jog and bike along the paths winding through Buffalo Bayou Park. There also are opportunities to rent kayaks and canoes.
An idyllic park in downtown Houston, this 12-acre gem features a model boat pond, gardens and special events.
This award-winning 445-acre urban park welcomes an estimated six million visitors a year. In addition to a train and pedal boats, the park offers numerous public gardens, an art walk and a Japanese contemplation garden. Kayaking is also available.
While not strictly a day trip, this spooky stroll through Houston’s downtown should be experienced at least once. The family-friendly tour covers 1.5 miles worth of haunted Houston sites.
If you’ve been feeling a little cramped in your apartment, good news! With interest rates at an all-time low, a new home — and a planned crystal clear lagoon — in Sierra Vista is within easy reach for first-time home buyers.
Making such a big purchase may seem a little daunting. Not to worry. We have some tips that will get you up to speed and in your new home in no time.
Know Your Price Range
Check your finances. You need to be prepared for both the purchase and the ongoing expenses of a home. Use this home affordability calculator to determine how much you can safely afford to spend.
Keep Track of Your Spending
Before you start looking, make sure you know how much you spend per month. Account for all your purchases including utilities, food, car payments, student debt, retirement savings and any miscellaneous items.
Check Your Credit
Before you go to see a lender, check your credit as it will be one of the key factors in whether you’re approved, and it will help determine your interest rate and possibly the loan terms. Avoid opening any new credit accounts, like a credit card or auto loan, until your home loan closes.
Explore Your Mortgage Options
There are lots of mortgage options out there. If you’re struggling to come up with a down payment, check out these loans:
- Conventional mortgages conform to standards set by the government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and require as little as 3 percent down.
- FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration permit down payments as low as 3.5%.
- VA loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and sometimes require no down payment at all.
Remember, making a higher down payment will mean having a lower monthly mortgage payment.
Get Preapproved for a Loan
Don’t look for your home until you have a pre-approved loan. Having a preapproval letter in hand not only shows that you are serious, it shows that a lending company has already vetted you.
Save for Closing Costs
If you thought you only needed to save for a down payment, guess again. Closing costs generally run between 2 percent and 5 percent of your loan amount. They must be paid when you close on your new home. Many Sierra Vista builders offer low to no closing costs as an incentive for purchasing one of their homes.
Make a List, Check It Twice
Now that you know how much you can spend, it’s time to search for your perfect home. Make a list of things you must have and the things it would be nice to have. Prepare to be flexible. Consider hiring a Realtor even if you are looking to purchase a new build home.
Where Do You Want to Live?
It’s possible to love your home but grow to hate the neighborhood it’s in. Master-planned communities like Sierra Vista offer a range of builders and floor plans as well as fantastic amenities and proximity to great schools.
Now that you know what to do, get out there and find your first new home!
The gyms are closed but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in a good workout. From carving out an exercise space to running a marathon in your backyard, here are some tips for staying fit while stuck at home.
Create a Fitness Space
If you have the space, work out in a different room than the one you sleep or work in.
Decide what type of exercise routine you want to do. If you enjoy yoga or Pilates, lay a mat out in a quiet, well-lit corner. If you miss using weights, you can order them from DICK’S Sporting Goods or Amazon. Miss your spin class? Here’s how to turn your bike into a stationary one.
Get Your Steps In
Social distancing guidelines allow us to walk outside, so explore the great outdoors (safely). Walk around your neighborhood, take a morning jog or head out on the trails. Alternatively, you can walk around the house. Design a circuit that takes you around the house for 30 minutes a day. Make sure you include stairs and your backyard. Bonus points for carrying a laundry basket the entire way.
Stream an Exercise Class
A number of gyms have begun streaming workout classes on Facebook, Zoom and other platforms. Most don’t require any special equipment. Orangetheory is uploading new at-home 30 minute workout routines daily. CorePower Yoga is offering free streaming live classes. Planet Fitness is hosting “Home Work-Ins”.
Play With Your Kids
Instead of watching your kids play, get in and join them. Kick a soccer ball around in the backyard, play tag, jump rope, get out the hula hoop or just have a dance party.
Sunny days, warm sand and turquoise waters are in the forecast for residents of Sierra Vista because Land Tejas has announced it is building an approximate 4-acre Crystal Lagoons® amenity in the community.
The lagoon will anchor a 29-acre amenity village. The signature crystal clear waters of the lagoon will be surrounded by multiple white sand beaches. Current plans for the lagoon also include a celebration lawn, restaurant/snack bar, grotto, splash pad, kids cove, swim up bar, paddle board and kayak launch and music performance stage.
This will be the developer’s third lagoon. Balmoral welcomed the state’s first crystal clear lagoon in 2018 and residents in Lago Mar will soon be relaxing on the shores of a 12-acre lagoon in the Texas City community.
The Sierra Vista lagoon is tentatively slated to open 2021.
Like the other Land Tejas lagoons, the Sierra Vista amenity will employ Crystal Lagoons’ patented, environmentally friendly technology. The high-tech process allows lagoons to maintain its turquoise waters with 100 times fewer chemicals and 50 times less energy than a traditional pool.
Stay tuned for updates on this amazing amenity. Want to be among the first to dip your toe in the beautiful waters? Check out our builders and think about making the move to Sierra Vista!
Sierra Vista is just a straight shot along Highway 288 to the Houston Zoo and that means families can easily spend a day visiting the animals. But for even more fun, the Zoo offers monthly educational activities including nighttime exploring and special exhibits.
This month enjoy:
Nocturnal Wildlife at the Houston Zoo
6-8 p.m. Thurs., March 5
$10 per family
Tour the Zoo after hours wearing headlamps and acoustic monitors to try and spot toads and listen for bats.
Spring Break Camp Out
6 p.m.- 9 a.m. Sat., March 21
$75 per person, ages 6 and up
Do something unique for Spring Break and camp out at the Zoo. Families will enjoy an evening packed with animals, adventure, and group activities. Fee includes an evening snack as well as a light breakfast and next-day zoo admission. Bring your own tent and sleeping bag.
Dragons
Daily March 7 – Sept. 7
Add on to Zoo admission $6.95
Come face-to-face with creatures from legends – the first exhibit of its kind in the United States. Magical animatronic creatures like the towering East Asian dragon, the serpent-like Basilisk, the medieval Western Dragon and many more move. Roar and even breathe smoke in this spectacular exhibit sponsored by TXU Energy.
