For the first time, the cancer-fighting Alcides E. Rosaura Diniz Foundation hosted a gala at the Astorian. Ana Paola Diniz, who lost her father Alcides to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2006, praised MD Anderson, the night’s beneficiary, for its dedication. … Meanwhile, Catholic Charities’ “happy”-themed 75th annual Spirit of Charity event did indeed bring smiles to many faces. The evening, held at the Marriott Marquis, raised $1 million. … This year’s Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award dinner honored President George W. Bush for his lifelong commitment to service and country. The total till doubled the previous record, coming in at $4.2 million. … In addition to celebrating the induction of five new members of the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the Lone Star Flight Museum’s Flights of Fancy event garnered $700K for the museum. … And the 30th annual Goodwill Gala was the organization’s most successful ever, with more than 400 black-tie-clad guests — including Simone Biles and her family, guests of board member Leisa Holland Nelson — partying for a cause at the River Oaks Country Club.
HOW DID YOU get to where you are today? I was raised by a family that had a strong work ethic coupled with high moral standards. I was pretty much given the groundwork - I just had to put it in play!
Whom do you credit? I’ve had a lot of help and guidance building my career froam people like Cathy Cagle, and the late Tony Vallone as well as my friends and family. They have always been supportive and are my biggest cheerleaders. Real estate is a relationship business and it’s important to remember that at the end of the day.
I started in residential real estate as Cathy Cagle’s assistant and now I’m lucky enough to be her partner on our team. She saw something in me and took me under her wing. We both have the same drive and views on what is important in our industry: our clients, loyalty, honesty, and transparency. I’m forever grateful for her mentorship.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? Every day is something new and every transaction is different. Each client’s home search or sale process is a different journey. It’s my job to make sure they have a desirable outcome while always keeping their best interests in mind.
What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about? We are preparing for a busy fall! We have some gorgeous new listings going live and buyers who are ready to find their new homes.
713.299.9888
sarah.callaway@greenwoodking.com
@caglecallaway.gk
With First-Pitch Opp and Playoff Tickets Up for Grabs, HelpCureHD Gala Knocks It Out of the Park
FORMER ASTROS PITCHER and current coach Joe Smith, along with his sportscaster wife Allie LaForce, hosted a gala at Minute Maid Park's Union Station in an effort to raise funds and awareness of Huntington’s Disease, which took the life of Smith’s mother in 2020.
Smith and LaForce established their nonprofit HelpCureHD, which provides support for those suffering from the progressive brain disease. Huntington’s Disease hereditary, and there’s a 50 percent chance of passing the gene along to offspring. However, going through IVF and screening embryos before implantation is one way to eliminate the risk, and HelpCureHD has committed to help couples cover the cost of that process. More than 60 babies have been brought into the world HD-free thanks to the nonprofit’s grant program, and there are many more on the way!
As has become tradition at this annual event, the raffle and live auction touted truly covetable prizes: Presenting sponsor Shaftel Diamonds donated a stunning diamond necklace created in collaboration with LaForce, and there was Astros swag aplenty — autographed items, an opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a home game (and sit in Jim Crane's personal seats!), and tickets to all of the playoff games at Minute Maid Park.
Among those raising a glass for the cause were Adrienne and Jared Crane, Kat Pressly, Sue Rogers, Reagan Bregman, Sam Tucker and Jordan Seff.
Sydnee Hilburn Davis and Jared Davis
Alexander Kelly and Kristin Foteh Kelly
Bobby Dees, Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin
Sue Rogers, Kat Pressly, Tory Graveman, Kim Seitler
Carrie and Austin Stanton
Danny and Iris Shaftel, Allie LaForce and Joe Smith
Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bravo
Kevin and Brooke Lee
Emily Carruth and Ashton Bremer
Michael and Ileana Trevino
Jo Furr, Erin Furr Stimming, Erin Goldman
Maxx Chewning and Taylor Kessler
Joan Purcell, Dorothy Roach, Darcy Morgan, Jennifer Browining
Matthew and Katherine Kardesch and Erin and Brian Goldman
Jody Merritt, Angela Hernandez
Emily Carruth and Ashton Bremer
Jamie and Chris Garner
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MORTGAGE RATES ARE high. So is the cost of living. Life milestones are coming later. The reasons that millennials are, according to society, "behind" previous generations when it comes to home ownership are finally crystal clear (and they have nothing to do with avocado toast, thankyouverymuch). But what do the statistics say about home-buying in Houston?
The millennial generation, defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996, has reached a point in life in which buying a home is cited as a top priority. Thanks to the brutal combination of high interest rates and low inventory, though, it's become a daunting task. But a recently released report details this generation's level of participation in real estate markets across the country.
Construction Coverage, which covers building, insurance and real estate news, says that millennials accounted for the majority of home purchase loans in Houston last year — 61.5 percent, compared to 56.9 percent nationally. States with the highest percentage of millennial homebuyers were California, Texas, and a majority of the midwest and northeast. States at the bottom of the list included, in a post-Covid plot twist, Arizona and Florida.
The median loan amount for mortgages taken out by applicants ages 25-34 in the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land metro was $315K, and shot up to $365K for those ages 35-44 — higher than any other age group. The median interest rate for the nearly 30,000 combined transactions was 6.5 percent.
The loan-to-value ratio, defined as the amount of the mortgage compared to the sale price of the home, was a whopping 87 percent for the 25-to-34-year-olds, and 80 percent for 35-to-44-year-olds. A contributing factor may be that many are first-time homebuyers, and have less equity to apply to new mortgages; in addition, many already have young and growing families, and need more space than previous generations' "starter homes" would have.
So what does this mean? In order to cope with rising home prices, millennials are taking out larger home loans than ever before, nationwide and here in Houston.
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