As cooler temperatures begin to return to Houston, many homeowners and business owners begin making preparations for winter, including decorating the inside and outside of their home or business, bringing out winter clothes, and making holiday plans with family and friends.

As discussed in last week's blog, many parents help prepare their college students for the new school year by purchasing laptops, smartphones, furniture, appliances, and other needed items. One major asset college students also take with them is a vehicle, either their own car or a family vehicle.

The beginning of fall brings cooler weather, the start of football season, and a trip back to college for the thousands of university students throughout Texas. Many parents help their children prepare for college by purchasing smartphones, laptop computers, furniture and appliances so they have everything they need while living away from home. However, many parents do not realize that they may be sending their children away with these costly possessions that are not covered by their homeowner's insurance policies.

Have you ever watched an episode of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow? Each week, thousands of hopeful visitors bring in their heirloom jewelry, garage sale art purchases and antique furniture in the hopes the show's appraisers will determine them to be one-of-a-kind. For the lucky few with valuable jewelry, artwork, furniture or other collectibles, the appraisers often tell the owners, "If this were up for auction, I would estimate it would sell for $25,000-$35,000..." or whatever amount the item is worth.

ExxonMobil recently released new updates and photos of their sprawling 385-acre campus under construction just north of Houston.

When couples learn they are expecting a baby, there is normally an immediate rush to begin preparations for the happy arrival. Typical preparations can include everything from reading pregnancy guides, taking birthing and infant care classes, completing a baby registry or decorating a nursery. One important but sometimes overlooked aspect to planning for a new baby is to assess and adjust your current financial situation and future financial goals.

This year, thousands of students will graduate from college full of big dreams and big plans for their future. This may include securing their dream job in their desired career field, traveling overseas for a fun adventure, or starting a new chapter of their life in an exciting new city. No matter what immediate plans await the recent college graduate, smart planning is important to help promote long-term success in life.

As one of the leading cities in the U.S. for job growth and economic development, Houston is a dynamic and exciting place to live and work.

Summer brings with it a variety of special occasions, such as graduations, family vacations, breaks from school, and lovely summer weddings. Many engaged couples plan for months and even years in advance to make their wedding ceremony and reception just perfect, from the wedding dress, food, location, flowers and wedding cake. All the major and minor details that go into planning a wedding are important, but what is more important is the life you build together after the fanfare and celebrations are over.

In the greater Houston area, there are thousands of residents and their families who are currently renting apartments, townhomes, condominiums and rental houses all throughout the city. Many people rent as they save and prepare for an eventual purchase of a home, or they rent because they enjoy the benefits of having no property maintenance, lower utility costs and nearby amenities like pools and exercise facilities.