Pitman family has big impact on Four Points
Brian and Shelle Pitman, avid Longhorn fans, regularly attend the University of Texas vs. University of Oklahoma game or better known as “Texas – OU”.
By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News
Brian and Shelle Pitman have had a big influence on the Four Points community. In the 19 years that they have lived here, they have raised three children, grown a successful start-up business that today has 450 employees, and volunteered for countless civic organizations.
Both from the small North Texas town of Sherman, Brian and Shelle met after finishing college – he at The University of Texas at Austin and she at the University of North Texas at Denton. They had both returned to Sherman to begin their professional careers. Brian went to work for a small title company and Shelle was a science teacher and coach at Sherman High School.
The couple married a few years later and will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. In 1998, they moved to Steiner Ranch, still a very rural community at the time.
“When we moved to this area, the Four Points H-E-B had not even opened and the only school in the area was Steiner Ranch Elementary,” Brian said. “It has been amazing to watch how the community has grown and evolved during all of those years.”
Locals attend Trump inauguration
Vandegrift grad and current Georgetown University student Bret Reinking enjoyed the inauguration with a group of friends. Reinking also attended the Women’s March on Washington the next day.
Carmen and Fernando Paz, of Steiner Ranch, on the National Mall at the inauguration of the nation’s 45th president on Jan. 20.
By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News
Steiner Ranch residents Carmen and Fernando Paz and Vandegrift graduate Bret Reinking separately attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Friday in Washington, D.C.
The Pazs were in D.C. for four days. “We arrived on Thursday,” explained Carmen. “We went to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial. It was beautiful. It was packed. Very well-attended. I was very pleased with the security… And then we heard the president (elect) speak… Thursday night was fantastic.”
2016 Four Points home sales down slightly, prices up slightly
Bartlett Real Estate compiled data from the Multiple Listing Service from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2016. The Four Points subdivisions in this report are the Comanche Trail area, Grandview Hills/Parke, River Place, Steiner Ranch and Westminster Glen. Data used is the median value.
By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News
Home sales in Four Points decreased slightly last year from 435 in 2015 to 426 in 2016 but the median sale price was up from $490,000 to $495,000, respectively.
Multiple Listing Service data compiled from the Four Points communities of Grandview Hills/Parke, River Place, Steiner Ranch, Westminster Glen and the Comanche Trail area shows that the median days on market was down from 36 to 29 last year, and the sold price per square foot was up from $156 to $159 last year, as compared to 2015.
“Our area has experienced another strong year,” said Tom Radack, owner Bartlett Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty.
Compared to Travis County, year-end 2016 home sales in Four Points were down 2 percent versus Travis County, which was up 3.3 percent. Median price increased to $495,000 locally and to $335,000 in Travis County.
“Four Points is experiencing a significant shortage of mid to lower priced homes. New construction is priced at or significantly above the median priced homes in the area, and re-sales below the median are few,” Radack said.
Of the current 56 listings as of Jan. 21, 12 are less than $495,000 and three below $400,000.
Neighborhood group tackles pedestrian safety at Oasis
New signage is up to at Oasis Texas to help guide pedestrians on where to cross the street safely.
By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News
The owner of the Oasis Texas development on Lake Travis is working to make some changes to prevent what a local neighborhood group described as an eminent pedestrian tragedy.
Longtime Comanche Trail resident Carolyn Wilsford often drives by the Oasis around dusk after she returns from sailing on Lake Travis. She said she began noticing pedestrians being nearly hit by cars as they crossed the busy street from the parking lot to go to the Oasis shops and restaurants.
“I have seen near misses and have noticed that there is a considerable amount of confusion when masses of people are trying to get to their cars from the Oasis,” Wilsford said. “During the summer and especially around dusk after the sun has set, golf carts loaded with people are trying to cross the road, cars are trying to turn in and out of the parking lot, people are walking on the grass and road taking the shortest distance to get across the road at night with no lights.”