Today I was approached by a friend who I know from two separate groups I'm involved in - from a book club and from political activities. We've never really talked about our homes in the years we've known each other so I was a bit surprised to find out that she lives in a 10,000 s.f. warehouse. I can't wait to see it.  I'm sure I'll learn a lot about her that I didn't know and also what she will want in the new place she's asked me to  help her find.

Now don't go assuming that most of the homes I sell are converted this or that, or super custom or even particularly special, except to the people who love them.  Most of the homes I sell have always been homes, they're not really out of the ordinary and they are in neighborhoods that are nice but pretty typical.  More than half are historic homes but many are brand new. That being said, more than a few are what I call rare finds.  They are properties that have special features or their combined features make a package that I'd be hard pressed to put together more than once. They're on big land in an urban setting (a 1/2 acre in the Heights) or they're tiny (605 s.f. circa 1900) or they have a barn for horses inside the Houston city limits.  These properties just seem to come to me. Or the buyers come to me with a special request and with a little creativity and luck we find just what they're looking for.

As for Bob and me, after living in a great three story house that was a replica of a historic mercantile building, we decided we wanted a home with that lofty feel but all on one level - a  loft on the ground.  Buying the Courtesy Washateria to convert into a two bed, two bath home seemed like the perfect opportunity for us and the reuse of the not-so-beautiful building spoke to my Green side.  It's turned out nicely, although a major renovation is never all fun. 

When you've been in this business as long as I have, you realize there are lots of ways to live and be happy. Governmental restrictions, lending practices and a tendency for builders to build the same homes their competition builds, stifles our choices. But don't let these constraints discourage you.  Rare finds come along more often than you realize!