The National Association of Realtors is prepared to stay on top of the changes occurring in the market place.  Chief executive, Dale Stinton, talks to Inman TV about the changes in technology and the shifting consumer needs.  The primary role of the REALTOR is to be a "Trusted Adviser".  They can advise and guide clients through sometimes complicated real estate transactions.  REALTORS are experts in their local markets.  When making one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, who wouldn’t want the advise of a REALTOR?  

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Eastman Chemical Company will be locating a new gasification facility in Beaumont, TX.  This 1.6 billion state-of-the-art industrial gasification facility is expected to bring 100’s of jobs to our area.  Approximately 250 will be permanent jobs.  Eastman expects the plant construction to begin immediately with the plant to be online in 2011. 

Press release from Eastman

Eastman also operates a gasification facility in Kingsport, TN.  The company is expected to provide educational grants to the Beaumont Independent School District. BISD link. Eastman takes pride in being a good corporate citizen to the communities it serves.  We know that more jobs will have a positive impact on the local housing market.  Its a good time to own a home in Beaumont.

The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated Veteran’s Day with a Salute to our Heros.  The day was filled with parades, food and crafts, and ended with a movie in the park.

The "Celebration of Lights" Christmas tree lighting is the next planned event.  Decorative lights around the town will be turned on Nov. 29th at 5:30pm.  Info available on the Chamber’s website

Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day, but in 1954 President Eisenhower officially renamed the day Veteran’s Day.  Make sure to thank a Veteran today.

                                   Beaumont-Port Arthur mentioned in National news as one of the top ten rising in value real estate markets.

The story posted on Forbes.com full story click here asserts, Beaumont-Port Arthur didn’t go through the real estate frenzy of recent years.  Now due to above average job growth and our quality of life factors our area is enjoying appreciation in home values. Meanwhile home prices nationwide posted their biggest drop in 16 years last month, according to the National Association of Realtors.

If you own a home in Beaumont-Port Arthur you should enjoy your good fortune, and if you don’t own a home yet you might want to start looking for one soon before the prices go up.

Cool photo of town click here . 

 

No shortage of new jobs is good news for the real estate market.

The expansion plans for the Motiva refinery are expected to bring 4,500 construction jobs to our area.  There will be about 300 new full-time jobs created upon completion.  Motiva is working with the SE Texas Workforce Development Board more info click here, the Texas Work Force commission more info click here, and Lamar State College- Port Arthur more info click here to help recruit and train qualified candidates.

Beaumont passes Bond.  Lumberton says "no" to alcohol sales. 

Check out this video from KFDM-TV.

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The voters have spoken.

Curious to see who else lives in our area.

We all get interested in "knowing who the neighbors are", and want to know if this is the type of community where you could put down roots and call home.  Beaumont is a unique blend of professional and relaxed, upscale and down home.  We’ve got the benefits that come with most big towns -great dining, upscale retailers, entertainment- without the headaches.

To start finding out more about the people who call Southeast Texas home just search any of the sites below.

The City of Beaumont link is here.

Southeast Texas Demographics complies helpful information about our area.

Discover Beaumont gives great tips on where to stay, play, and dine.

Beaumont – Port Arthur Metropolitan Area demographics from Wikipedia gives other helpful demographic information.  Beaumont ranks as the largest city.  See where the other cities rank.

Expansion and Hiring.

Companies in the Golden Triangle are expanding.  They are also hiring.  Southeast Texas is known for the oil business and refineries. It is home to some of the best known companies in the world, ExxonMobil, Motiva, Goodyear, Eastman, MeadWestvaco to name a few. 

Seach for a new career with any of our major employers.

Search jobs at ExxonMobil

Search jobs at Motiva

Search jobs at Goodyear

Search jobs at Eastman

Search jobs at MeadWestvaco

Search jobs at Southeast Texas Workforce

Search jobs at Texas Work Force Commission

Dining and Entertainment:

No scientific results here.  These are just a few of the great places to eat and have fun in Beaumont and the surrounding towns.

The Best Food:

Continental Bryan’s 797 .  A little pricey but can’t be beat for a special occasion.

Continental – lunch only- Katharine & Company . A great lunch.  Healthy too.

Deep South Cuisine Suga’s Deep South Cuisine

American Jason’s Deli

Italian Johnny Carino’s

Mexican- Tex-Mex Rio Rita’s gets the nod for the atmosphere and location on Crockett Street.

Asian Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

Seafood Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.  If you haven’t eaten here, you must try it.

Steaks Cattle Company .  Not fancy, but good steak. We’ve got Outback and Logan’s too.  They are always good, but for something a little more SE Texas Cattle Company of Texas gets the pick.

Barbecue Willy Ray’s Bar-B-Que. Try one of their 12 side dishes.  The smoked turkey is yum!

Best Desserts and Coffee Raos Bakery

The Best Entertainment:

Jazz Bar Suga’s Deep South Cuisine and Jazz Bar

Best Venue for big events Ford Park. The amphitheater and arena host nationally touring acts as well as the Texas Wildcatters Hockey Team and the Beaumont Drillers, Beaumont’s arena football team.

Nightlife Crockett Street Entertainment District. You’ll find restaurants, clubs, and live entertainment.

Outdoor adventure Big Thicket National Preserve.

Interactive museum Texas Energy Museum. The cinematic robots are sure to entertain.

Tribute to fire-fighters Fire Museum of Texas. Home of the original World’s Largest Fire Hydrant.

Oldest home John Jay French Home and Museum. Built in 1845.

Flora sanctuary Beaumont Botanical Gardens. 23+ acres of gardens.

Beaumont’s early claim to fame Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum. The first oil gusher and its history brought to life.

"If you have a favorite restaurant or entertainment spot that you wanted added to this page email it to me."

There’s so many places to see and dine I’ll never get to them all.  Your comments and suggestions about the BEST places you’ve been in SE Texas are encouraged!  My email diane.mcnelis@gmail.com.

Schools are a big factor in many real estate transactions. 

Good schools can equal higher values.  If you are considering a real estate purchase or sale, you will want to check out the schools in the area.

Beaumont Independent School District is the largest school district in the area. There are three high schools, seven middle schools, and twenty elementary schools that serve the community of Beaumont.

High Schools: Central, Ozen, and West Brook

Middle Schools:  Austin, King, Marshall, Odom, Smith, South Park, and Vincent

Elementary Schools: Amelia, Bingman, Blanchette, Caldwood, Curtis, Dishman, Dunbar, Fehl, Field, Fletcher, French, Guess, Homer, Lucas, Martin, Ogden, Pietzsch-MacArthur, Price, Regina, and Southerland

You can find which school your children will attend by typing in your address at Attendance Zones .

Lumberton Independent School District serves the town of Lumberton.  There are 5 schools to accomodate all grade levels.  Early Childhood School (K-1), Lumberton Primary School (P-K , 2-3), Lumberton Intermediate School (4-6), Lumberton Middle School (7-8), and Lumberton High School (9-12).

Silsbee Independent School District serves the community of Silsbee. There are 3 Elementary Schools, a Middle School and High School.  The school locations are shown on the District Map

Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District serves the communities of Sour Lake, China, Nome, and Pinewood Estates.  The District is based in Sour Lake, TX.  Schools are Hardin-Jefferson High, Henderson Middle, Sour Lake Elementary, and China Elementary.  The district covers south central Hardin and northwestern Jefferson Counties.

Vidor Independent School District serves the communities of Vidor and Pine Forest.  There are seven schools in the district.  Oak Forest Elementary, Pine Forest Elementary, Vidor Elementary, Vidor Middle School, Vidor Junior High, Vidor High School and the AIM school.  The District Map shows all school locations.

Port Neches – Groves Independent School District serves the communities of Port Neches and Groves.  There are six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school.  Van Buren, Rigdewood, Taft, and Woodcrest elementary schools are (K-3). Groves and Port Neches elementaries are (4-5).  Groves and Port Neches middle schools are (6-8) and the high school is appropriately named the Port Neches – Groves High School.

There are other smaller school districts in The Golden Triangle.  If the school district you are interested in is not listed here you can find it at the Texas Education Agency School District Locator.

How do our schools rank? 

You can also find out how your school district ranks in the 2007 Accountability Ratings. Beaumont is zone 5.  You can see how all the schools in our region rank.  The catagories from best to worst are: Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable, Academically Unacceptable, and there is a Not Rated catagory. In the 2007 accountability ratings our area had 10 schools receive an Exemplary rating.  Congratulations to  Hamshire-Fannett Middle School, Dunar Elementary, French Elementary, Price Elementary, Little Cypress Elementary – in Mauriceville, and the following four elementary schools in Port Neches-Groves: Rigdewood, Taft, Van Buren, and Woodcrest.

Two key issues will be voted on today. 

Will Beaumont pass the Bond to improve the schools?  And will Lumberton allow the sale of alcohol?

The Beaumont business community sees much need for improvement in the local schools to help attract and retain residents. The Beaumont Chamber of Commerce has weighed in. Chamber of Commerce news release. Today the voters will decide.

In Lumberton, residents are divided on the issue of alcohol sales in their home town.  KBMT12 covers the topic in their local news headlines. The scoop is here.

Both these votes will impact our local community.  Stay tuned and see how it all turns out.

What is SE Texas Real Estate Talk?

Its your source for insight into the local real estate market! A view of the Jefferson Co. Courthouse starts us off. The communities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, China, Lumberton, Winnie, Vidor, Silsbee, Mauriceville, Nederland, Pine Forest, Sour Lake all are part of a great place to live in SE Texas often referred to as "The Golden Triangle".  Our area is growing.  Its a great time to buy or invest in the real estate market. 

If you are a seasoned investor or first time homebuyer, this is the place to get the scoop on the local real estate trends.  Keep checking in as we add more articles, more information and more real estate scoop.