Parrothead

LifeForms is no longer in business. If you check one of the earlier posts in this thread, a member gives a great history of their existence.

Price per square footage is going up in The Woodlands, but especially on the older LifeForms. In fact, I think there are only about three on the market currently. It's been like that for a few months now.

1818 Nocturne I drove past this home the other day. It is in a nifty location and looks very familiar to me. I wonder who the architect was...does anyone know? I really like Royal Oaks--the homes are beautiful and well-taken care of. I could see how that whole area could make a big comeback once I-10 is done. *added street address to topic title* dbigtex56

I just wrote to the Houston Farm & Ranch Club to see if they would be interested in saving it if the rumor is true. I would like to save this structure, it needs to be saved--how do we do it? edited to add: I also wrote to Comm. Steve Radack.

I read in another post that they are going to tear it down!! Is this true? It can't possibly be! There has to be some way to move it or save it?!?!?

I drove through the areas of Shadow Bend and Royal Oaks (the OLD Royal Oaks in Spring Branch, not the new subdivision over by Kirkwood/Westheimer) today and I just LOVED Royal Oaks. I also liked Spring Lea, which is the neighborhood just behind the grain elevator-cum-storage unit off of Lumpkin Road. Hubby and I are looking. It's a neat, neat area. Royal Oaks looks IDENTICAL (and in fact, some of the homes are) to Memorial Plaza and Rustling Oaks, but the lots are larger in R.O. and the trees are enormous pines instead of oaks. I felt like I was in a different city! It was definitely worth checking out. The demographics are interesting, but I think that is mostly due to low-rent apartments along the north and east side of the area. It is SBISD, and both Shadow Bend and Westwood Elementaries have "Acceptable" ratings. It would be nice to see that improve over the next few years.

That's interesting...I just call them Lottery Winners because it looks like something that would be built by former residents of a trailer

Nothing's going to happen to the block--at least not as long as the Lottery Winners are still in the Grey Monstrosity! LOL!! That horrible house....ugh...... Most of those houses are likely having maintenance issues because people haven't taken care of them in recent years--so they're selling them (and probably to builders). That one on the corner--I doubt it will get sold to a residential buyer. It's too bad, too! Nifty mod. Needs help, but nifty anyway. The one on the corner of Electra and Memorial sold and was recently treated for termites, and is now being re-painted--so at least that one is staying!

I just saw that on the news! How sad!

They started demolition this weekend. I will try to get over there and take a pic today on my way to work. :closedeyes:

LOVE IT! I remember that listing well! Congratulations on your awesome home. BTW everyone, Otter Pond, Gannet Hollow, and Shallow Pond all have options or contracts. These homes are going fast...people are definitely getting the message. Three years ago it was a lot different. There's a new listing on Fire Flicker that is the exact same floorplan as the one in the pics I posted and it's now listing for 147K. It's a neat house!

I LOVED Farrell's!! When I was little it scared the crap out of me (like to the point of crying when the band came out for someone's birthday) but I had two birthday parties there when I was 11 and 12 and we all went skating afterward. It was the BEST birthday ever, both years!! We lived in Kingwood so it was always a real treat to go to the Galleria!

This is a list of Life Forms homes (1976-1990) that are on the market currently: 11427 Slash Pine $196,700 (one of the very first Life Forms homes--circa 1976) 34 Mossrock (no pics yet) $170K 94 Treescape $199K 32 Gannet Hollow $194K 10 Shallow Pond $179,700 8 Otter Pond $174,900 20 Gannet Hollow $165,900 10 Fire Flicker $147,220 If anyone is interested in seeing any of these homes, send me a PM.

I'd find other owners of Life Forms homes from your street or neighborhood and ask them--I bet they can help!

I know what Katy needs...to be like it was about 30 years ago. Call me a sentimentalist.

I went and saw a listing on Gannet Hollow on Sunday. It is an example of how to upgrade inside without downgrading the integrity of the architecture. They did a beautiful job, down to replacing the garage door with a replica of the original. It is listed for $194K, a bit steep IMHO, but I am sure it will sell anyway! They replaced all the tile with beautiful slate, which goes incredibly with the dark cherry finish on all of the trim. They kept the big square bathtub, which is really a must-stay and sort of a trademark of theirs...and they kept all the cabinetry intact, which I also like (though not fond of the white in the kitchen). They used a short frieze carpet (this particular home did not have hardwoods) and the original glass-plate front door is also intact and looks great. You definitely can upgrade these houses properly if you really want to.

Ditto to Midtown Coog. I don't know anymore what it is to drive; it's been a while since I lived there. I have heard that it is wonderful now that the expansion is finished. Good luck, if your friend needs help looking in Kingwood, send 'em my way

I'd go for Kingwood, period. Trees, older, established neighborhood, decent commute, good Park-n-Ride, excellent schools.

I put in an entry. I think "Magnolia Point Park" would be a pretty good name, and very representative of our city. It's simple, and it isn't named after anyone, but the magnolia is indigenous to Houston--and its petals, or "points" are representative of all of our different cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities. It's a very hearty tree with many different species. It would be an easy-to-remember name, has potential for branding, and, well, hopefully they'll frickin' plant some magnolias.

ArchDaniel thank you for that information! Makes me feel even more confident that it is what we truly want.

Ah yes, George Weaver. He does build beautiful homes, but he's a little out of our league. We're in our thirties and hubby is just beginning to see some perks from his field. Of course, we'd like to eventually own our house outright, so maybe we'll just be sticking with the LifeForms *edit* I just talked with a couple of friends from the Keller Wiliams Woodlands office and neither one had a bad thing to say about Life Forms, I guess it just depends?

Spring, that's too bad! Many of them have just that, wood paneling, wood floors. I am sorry you did not get a chance to see them! I wouldn't call their houses poorly-built. I understand they had issues as noted above, but also noted was that it affected a particular group of houses in a particular neighborhood that used a particular stucco. I particularly like the word "particular". Did you end up moving to a Jerry Kirkpatrick home? I am not familiar with him. Are they like Life Forms?

No problem! These are what I know of, certainly not a comprehensive list; I bet bachanon knows of more from that era and maybe even some that are older. I suspect many that I like in Grogan's Mill are pre-1980 Life Forms, but I can't say for certain. There are also some that are early-mid 1990's in Alden Bridge that are nifty, but totally different. I am listing them to make it easy for you to drive around in each area, should you wish to do that. Village of Grogan's Mill N. Mossrock S. Mossrock Village of Indian Springs Sandpebble Dr. Reedy Pond Shallow Pond Fire Flicker Breezy Point Leaf Trace Ct. Twisting Birch Place Ct. Sandprint Ct. Trace Creek Wilde Yaupon Leaf Point Ct. Village of Cochran's Crossing Otter Pond Gannet Hollow Song Sparrow Sand Piper Place Village of Panther Creek Lehigh Springs

That house sold for around $129K if I remember correctly, that was in 2003. It was a little under 1700 sq ft. They vary in size, anywhere from a bungalow-like 1200 sq ft to a nice 2800 sq ft. Newer Life Forms homes (1995 +) are MUCH larger, but much different. The thing with Life Forms that I find so appealing is, you feel as if you are in a larger home than what it really is. The high, high ceilings and openness, and AMAZING use of space, makes square footage almost seem pointless. You end up just looking at the space and saying, "Yep, this is great!" Plus, most of the Life Forms homes (like the Treehouse, which is one of my favorite plans) have one or more screened porches on the back. It creates more livable square footage instantly. Many of the homeowners have extended that by building multi-level decking outside. It's wonderful and so appealing if you enjoy that lifestyle. One of my favorite things about growing up in Kingwood was that I had the woods right in my backyard; my imagination went into overdrive when it was time to go out and play. I loved it! I would very much like my daughter to have that too. I also like that the older Life Forms are in the front part of The Woodlands; very close to both Park & Rides, and of course all the wonderful new shopping and restaurants. The neighborhoods almost have a woodsy, deep tropics feel, if that's possible...lots of philodendron, sagos, ferns, agapanthus, etc, plants that thrive in low-to-medium filtered light. They're done very informally, but very well, and it all seems to work. It makes for a pretty drive, that's for sure. Boy, I cried when they rejected our offer (and I am not a "crier"). It's the first time I thought that this was MY house. I'd looked at several and I knew that this was just IT. Apparently the owners didn't think so What's sad is, that house sold for less, 3 months later, than what we offered with a 60-day contingency. All's well that ends well, eh? But I knew I was on to something...that this was the kind of house I wanted. I think that you all are spot-on when you say these will become "collector" homes. I really feel that has already begun. Two years ago, you could find 20+ Life Forms homes on the market like these at any given time. Not this year--it's been almost impossible. Newer ones, yes, but it seems owners of the older ones are beginning to realize just what gems they have. I like the Craftsman analogy, definitely true in this case. I am hoping we will be able to get up there today to see this house! I will report back if we do. It's on Trace Creek (a great neighborhood in Indian Springs) and is a FANTASTIC price. They are looking to move quickly and the house needs some work...so we'll see how much!

Yeah, I've seen that (note my above post), I understand they were being sued at one point. I also understand Life Forms, along with Ryland, Lennar, and Trendmaker are suing the stucco company that sold them the horrible stuff....so what can I tell you? Almost every home builder in this country has been sued for one thing or another. BTW, ALL homes have mold. Life Forms has tried very hard to help anyone out that was affected by the issue, but like everything else, some people just aren't going to be happy. Pure Auteur, right on! That is EXACTLY how I feel. Bachanon's right, with a little savvy one can bring the 21st century in quite easily in an earlier Life Forms home. Below are pics of the one Matt and I almost bought. Oh, how I was in love with this adorable abode! Alas, it was back when we had no little baby or big ol' dog, just two cats...now it's too small for us. BTW, when you do move to the Woodlands, let me know! I can name almost every street that has these little gems on 'em. Part of my obsession Not a whole lot done to this house, some slate and paint! That's the beauty of their earlier stuff.