Houston - Refugees & Immigrants from all the World and My Immigrant Experience.

Houston has become the country's most diverse city surpassing NYC. 

The Kinder Institute provides us with a yearly breakdown of our demographics in the city of Houston and surrounding areas and we are happy to call those in need or wanting for a better life, neighbors and friends.  

Click Click below to see the slide show of the report   https://kinder.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Kinder_Institute_for_Urban_Research/HAS/2016%20KHAS%20-%20Luncheon%20Presentation.pdf

Houston is also proud to host the country's third largest diplomatic community after NYC and LA. Depending on the time of the year, about 94 countries have a presence in Houston. With this being said, many people from all over the world have come to Houston and will continue to come because of what Houston has to offer. From affordable housing to financial opportunities, we are the BEST!!!

Houston has become a beacon to people all over the world and I am very happy to be a part of this city's international community. We have had many waves of immigration and refugees come from all over and most recently from Syria. I am glad that in this crazy world, Houston, is seen a safe haven and great place to come and prosper. 

From starting your business importing foods or goods from your home country to studying for a new professional degree, it can be done in Houston. 

The City of Houston even has an official Office of International Communities And Refugee Affairs to help those familiarize themselves with a new way of life and new language. On the quotidian  level, we also have several organizations that help people with dealing with realities of  a new life in Houston. These organizations help with everything from finding a place to live to helping you find a job.

Interfaith Ministries, located at 3303 Main St. Houston, TX 77002, does great work in the community in regards to our refugee communities. They help with programs such as Meals on Wheels and other services for people that have become displaced because of political unrest, religious persecution or other complicated reasons around the world. 

I myself am an immigrant from Mexico. My father brought my mother, sister and me in early 1980. I was only 6 months old and my life whole life I have lived in the US. I grew up running around a German Jewish Delicatessen called Alfred's where I learned to love to eat Gefilte fish on Passover. Together my parents worked with other people from Mexico, El Salvador, Israel, Germany and Poland. We all got along and have even became long lasting friends to this very day. 

Houston was a G-d send for me and my family. I grew up and studied at some of the best public schools in the city and later graduated from UT in Austin Texas. Today I am a Realtor, Student of Life, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist. 

Houston was truly a great place to grow up and it allowed my family to take part in the American dream, from learning the language to home ownership. My family is now more numerous in the city and the city continues to allow us to reach for the stars in our own right. But the idea is that we were only able to do this because of the financial opportunities that were provided to us by being in Houston. 

(With no state income tax and our economic buffer of oil and gas companies located in Houston,  people were able to save and buy a home at a reasonable price. Today, times, "they are a changin" . People are still coming to Houston but for different reasons that do not involve Oil or Gas. In the 1980's, after the recession that brought Oil and Gas to its knees in Houston, we decided to diversify our "employment portfolio".  Now the biggest job creator in Houston is our world famous Medical Center. It is a virtual little city located in heart of city employing thousands.) 

Home ownership is a wealth creator and it is most of the time something that is far beyond the reach of many people in their home countries for a variety of reasons. In Houston there are also many organizations that help you buy a home. From city grants, federally backed loans, to investments, Houston is the place to be. 

So you see no matter what your position in life, Houston can change it for the better. We all seem to get along as well. So no matter what your religion or politics are, we can all live together in Houston. 

Remember Buy, Sell, Lease of Invest in Houston, I want to be your Realtor. 

Come Celebrate World Refugee Day in Houston. 

#liveinhoustonproperties  #liveinhoustonrentals  #realestate  #houston  #texasrealestate  #houstonproperties 

Great Houston Heights, Ravens Tower and White Oak, oh My

Yesterday was the first annual #BigGiveHouston Charity event in the entire city of Houston and the party for the event was held at Ravens Tower.

"Big Give Houston is a 24-hour crowdfunding event designed to empower every person to  give back to their local communities by supporting the organizations they trust to tackle today’s most critical issues.

On the first Tuesday in May (May 3, 2016) we help strengthen the foundation of our local communities, by providing critical funding for and celebrating the work of our community partners. We invite every person and every nonprofit to join us to improve the long-term outlook of our communities and ultimately, our country.

Please join us as we celebrate our local communities and support those organizations who work tirelessly and selflessly to keep our communities vital and strong." 

This just goes on to prove my point that Houston really cares about Houston and Houstonians. We are a people that takes care of each other in many ways but yesterday we remembered are non-profits. They are in some way the life blood of our community. I see it as in the way when city or state government funds fall short, the nonprofits steps in to fill in the blanks and voids and our lives. 

I want to really thank the organizer, Megan and her volunteers, Sarah Peacock, @somecallmewoo, for putting this together and helping us build a better Houston. In spite of Houston and our neighbors that going through some very tough times, it is nice to see that many people continue to shine a light in the respect of charity and good southern values. 

Ravens Tower located at 310 North St, Houston, TX 77009, is an awesome bar, music venue and patio. With plenty of parking and good drinks, it is a great place to sit and relax in the heart of the city.  The environment is awesome, the people are cool and the views from there are spectacular. It sits in the Northside Village neighborhood, it is truly an oasis in a go-go city. As you can also see, home prices have continued to steady rise since 2009 to the present. This area is very coveted and the surrounding stores, restaurants and new venues only prove this even more. 

It was my pleasure to be there. The people were great and so was the event. 

I continue to love Houston our people, new and established. Let me know how I can help you find the place of your dreams. Remember, Buy, Sell , Lease of Invest, I want to be your Realtor. 

#liveinhoustonproperties  #liveinhoustonrentals  #realestate  #houston  #texasrealestate  #houstonproperties