Ray Allison Realtors, 820 Gessner, Suite1380, Houston, TX (2026)

08/10/2026

From Development Land to 100+ New Homes

Sometimes successful commercial real estate brokerage begins with looking at a property differently.

Not that long ago, Ray Allison Realtors was engaged to market an approximately seven-acre tract in North Houston. The property had been on the market for several years with different brokers, with a last asking price for the entire tract of just under $7 million.

After working with the property and evaluating the market, it became clear that the best solution wasn’t necessarily finding one buyer for all seven acres.

The strategy changed.

The property was divided into two marketing tracts — one fronting West Tidwell and another fronting West Donovan — and ultimately both tracts sold, to different buyers for different uses.

The 5+ acre Donovan tract shown here was purchased by a homebuilder and is now becoming Shepherd Heights, with underground infrastructure and streets in place and development underway for more than 100 patio homes.

It’s gratifying to see what was once underutilized land becoming an entirely new residential community.

We’re grateful to the sellers who trusted us to rethink the marketing strategy, and to the buyer and their broker for working with us to complete the transaction.

We figured out how the property needed to be sold — and then we sold it.

That’s what experienced commercial real estate brokerage should do.

If you own development land, industrial, office or retail property and are considering a sale or lease — or simply need another perspective on what to do with it — we’d be happy to have a conversation.

And to our residential and commercial brokerage colleagues: Ray Allison Realtors welcomes referrals and pays referral fees on transactions that result in a commission.

08/04/2026

📚 Back-to-School Season Has Arrived! 🚌

The school supply sales are everywhere...

And those supply lists seem to get a little longer every year. 😄

When I was growing up, I remember needing a few pencils, notebook paper, and maybe a box of crayons.

Today, it sometimes feels like students are helping stock the entire classroom.

I don't know who writes these school supply lists these days, but they've certainly become ambitious...
..and apparently every school should have a backup alternator for the bus! 😂

All kidding aside, here's wishing every student, every teacher, every parent, and every school employee a safe, successful, and rewarding school year.

Our communities are stronger because of the people who educate the next generation.

Have a wonderful week!

08/04/2026

Preparing for Monday often begins on Sunday. ☀️

One of the ways I recharge each week is by serving as a lector at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

Standing before a congregation to proclaim Scripture reminds me of something that is just as important in commercial real estate as it is in public speaking:

Preparation matters.

I always arrive early. Those quiet moments before Mass give me time to reflect, organize my thoughts, and prepare before stepping to the ambo.

As someone who also enjoys gardening, I found myself smiling this past Sunday. Three weeks after several weddings at the cathedral, the beautiful white Phalaenopsis orchids were still in full bloom. My curiosity got the better of me, so I quietly took a closer look before Mass.

Yes...they're real. 🌸

Sometimes slowing down long enough to notice the details is rewarding in more ways than one.

The reading I had the privilege of proclaiming was from Romans 8:35, 37–39:

"Brothers and sisters:

What will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Whether your source of renewal is faith, family, nature, exercise, or quiet reflection, taking time to recharge helps us bring our best selves to the people we serve.

For me, those peaceful Sunday evenings help me return to Monday's commercial real estate work with a clearer mind, renewed energy, and a fresh perspective.

Wishing everyone a productive and successful week ahead.

08/04/2026

Happy Monday from the Wild World of Commercial Real Estate! ☀️

This new CubeSmart self-storage facility stands on land that I had the privilege of listing and selling a few years ago.

Originally, the property consisted of approximately seven acres in Near North Houston with frontage on both Tidwell Road and Donovan Street. After evaluating the property, it became clear that the highest and best use wasn't selling the entire tract to one buyer—it was creating separate development opportunities.

The larger Donovan Street tract was sold to a residential developer, where construction is now underway.

This two-plus-acre tract became the new home of CubeSmart.

What many people don't see is everything that happens before a commercial real estate closing. Working directly with the buyer's development team, we navigated environmental studies, surveys, engineering, utility planning, and the City of Houston approval process so the site was essentially "shovel-ready" on closing day.

That's what commercial brokerage is really about.

Not simply marketing a property.

Understanding its potential.

Recognizing opportunities.

Helping clients maximize value.

And guiding a transaction from an idea to a completed development.

After more than 40 years in commercial real estate, I still enjoy driving past projects like this and remembering where they started.

If you own commercial land, are considering a sale, or have a development opportunity you'd like to discuss, I'd be happy to visit with you. Referrals from clients, friends, and fellow Realtors are always sincerely appreciated.

Have a productive week!

08/01/2026

Hello, August! ☀️

Or, as we sometimes call it in Texas...

July 32nd. 😄

In much of Europe, August is known as a month to slow down, spend time with family, and recharge before autumn arrives.

Here in the United States, August often feels a little different.

Summer vacations begin winding down.

Students prepare to head back to school.

Businesses start looking toward the final months of the year.

And many of us begin asking an important question:

"What do I want to accomplish before this year is over?"

I've always thought a new month is a good reminder to take a fresh look at our goals, our priorities, and the opportunities still ahead.

Whether you're growing a business, investing in commercial real estate, planning your next move, or simply looking forward to a productive autumn, August offers a chance to reset and move ahead with purpose.

Here's wishing everyone a successful, healthy, and productive month.

Welcome, August!

08/01/2026

Sometimes the best business lesson comes from a simple quote.

"The right doors won't open for you until you are the version of yourself that's supposed to walk through them."

After more than 40 years in commercial real estate, I've learned that there's a lot of truth in those words.

People often focus on the opportunity—the property, the investment, the client, or the next transaction.

But lasting success usually begins long before the opportunity appears.

It begins by preparing yourself.

Learning your craft.

Building relationships.

Keeping your word.

Treating people fairly.

Continuing to grow, even after years of experience.

When those habits become part of who you are, the right opportunities have a way of finding you.

I've been fortunate to work with many successful business owners, investors, and developers over the years. One thing they almost all have in common is that they never stop learning. They understand that personal growth and professional growth go hand in hand.

So if the door you're hoping for hasn't opened just yet, don't be discouraged.

Keep learning.

Keep improving.

Keep showing up.

When the right opportunity arrives, you'll be ready to walk through it.

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

07/27/2026

Happy Monday from the Wild World of Commercial Real Estate! ☀️

I have to admit, this one made me laugh.

But it also reminded me of something I've observed over many years in business.

Confidence matters.

Not overconfidence. Not arrogance. Just the quiet confidence that comes from being prepared, doing the work, and believing you can help solve a problem.

A four-year-old in a Batman T-shirt doesn't spend much time worrying about whether they're qualified to save the day—they simply believe they can.

While commercial real estate usually requires a bit more analysis than that, there's still something to be said for approaching each day with optimism and confidence.

Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, investing, or planning your next move, every successful transaction begins with someone deciding to take the first step.

I'll be spending this week helping clients solve commercial real estate challenges throughout the Houston area. If you know someone who could benefit from experienced representation, I'd be grateful for the introduction.

Here's wishing everyone a productive, successful, and confidence-filled week!

🦇 Happy Monday!

07/20/2026

🇺🇸 AMERICA AT 250 — CONFIDENCE, OPTIMISM & BUSINESS

I was quite young in 1976, when America celebrated its Bicentennial, but I was there and I remember it.

I remember the excitement. The enthusiasm. And because I grew up partly outside the United States, I remember that the celebration seemed to extend far beyond America's borders.

There was something in the air.

Now, 50 years later, as America celebrates its 250th birthday, it feels different to me—and, I suspect, to many of us.

This past Fourth of July, I noticed something tangible here in Houston. Typically, my very urban Montrose neighborhood fills with cars hours before the downtown celebration and fireworks. This year, the streets around me were remarkably quiet.

Perhaps that's simply one Fourth of July in one neighborhood. But it made me wonder about something I've observed throughout more than 40 years in commercial real estate:

Confidence matters.

Optimism matters.

Stability matters.

When people feel confident about tomorrow, they make decisions.

They start businesses.

They expand companies.

They sign leases.

They buy buildings.

They hire people.

They invest in their communities.

When people feel uncertain, they often wait.

And that isn't intended as a political observation. There is a great deal happening in America and around the world, and people are concerned about different things for different reasons. We don't have to agree about all of them to recognize that confidence—in business and in life—is powerful.

In 1976, I certainly wasn't thinking about commercial real estate or business.

Fifty years later, I do.

Perhaps part of what I remember so fondly about America's 200th birthday was the optimism—a sense that people wanted to participate in something together and a belief that tomorrow might be better than today.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I hope we can rediscover some of that shared enthusiasm.

Because after more than four decades in this business, I still believe something very simple:

People invest in the future when they believe in the future.

That's true when someone opens a small business.

It's true when a company signs a lease.

It's true when an entrepreneur takes a chance.

And it's true when someone invests in a building, a neighborhood or a community.

So, happy 250th birthday, America.

I'm a little more thoughtful about this birthday than I was about your 200th. After all, I'm 50 years older too.

But I'm still here.

Still working.

Still investing in tomorrow.

Still hopeful.

And still wishing America—and all of us—well.

God bless America and ALL of its people. 🇺🇸

Ray Allison, Broker
Ray Allison Realtors
RayAllison.com

07/20/2026

🥤 A CASE OF COKE, A CRASH HELMET & A LESSON IN BUSINESS

A couple of months ago, I shared the story of what should have been a very simple transaction: buying Coca-Cola at Kroger.

The advertised promotion didn't ring up correctly.

The cashier couldn't fix it. The front-end manager couldn't fix it. Eventually, after what felt like a round of retail mud wrestling, the store manager honored the price printed on the shelf.

I wrote about the experience, and the story took off—receiving somewhere around 200,000 views across social media. Many people shared similar experiences, and quite a few Kroger executives apparently read the LinkedIn post and the overwhelmingly negative comments that followed.

Eventually, a senior Kroger executive called me and apologized—sort of—and assured me the problem would be addressed.

I wasn't entirely convinced.

But fast-forward a couple of months.

I recently needed Coke again. There was another advertised sale, this time requiring a digital coupon.

I downloaded it.

Put the Coke in my cart.

And headed toward checkout mentally wearing my crash helmet, fully prepared for another round of retail mud wrestling.

And then...

Everything worked.

The coupon worked. The advertised price worked. The Coke rang up correctly.

No argument. No manager. No crash helmet required.

So, kudos to Kroger.

And there is a larger business lesson here.

In commercial real estate brokerage—or almost any service business—things occasionally go wrong. Deals encounter problems. People misunderstand one another. Information gets missed. Expectations aren't met.

What matters is what happens next.

Listen to the client.

Acknowledge the problem.

If an apology is warranted, apologize—and act like you mean it.

Then, most importantly, do something about it.

I've been in commercial real estate for more than 40 years, and I've learned that clients don't necessarily expect perfection. They do expect responsiveness, honesty and effort.

Sometimes the best customer service isn't a grand gesture. It's simply fixing the problem so the client doesn't have to fight the same battle twice.

Apparently, somewhere along the way, Kroger may have done exactly that.

I publicly criticized them when they got it wrong.

It's only fair that I publicly give them credit when they get it right.

That's good customer service.

And it's good business.

The crash helmet can stay in the vehicle. 😂🥤

Ray Allison, Broker
Ray Allison Realtors
RayAllison.com

07/20/2026

Yesterday, I had the privilege of serving as Lector One at the 11:00 a.m. High Mass at the Co-Cathedral.

I’ve been a lector there for many years, and I still consider it a privilege every time I walk up those steps to proclaim the Word of God.

Yesterday, I proclaimed this reading from the Book of Wisdom:

There is no god besides you who have the care of all,
that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For your might is the source of justice;
your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.
For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;
and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,
and with much lenience you govern us;
for power, whenever you will, attends you.
And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins.

One line particularly stayed with me:

“Those who are just must be kind.”

Five simple words.

And five words that apply just as much to business, commercial real estate, and our everyday lives as they do within the walls of a church.

Over more than 40 years in commercial real estate, I have had the opportunity to meet, know, and work with some extraordinarily successful and powerful people. One quality I have noticed that almost all of them share is kindness.

They appreciate the efforts people make on their behalf. They say thank you. They treat people with respect. And they understand that being successful or powerful doesn't require diminishing anyone else.

Perhaps there is a lesson in that.

Kindness is not weakness. You can negotiate firmly, advocate strongly for your client, make difficult decisions, and run a successful business while still treating everyone you encounter with dignity and respect.

In fact, I believe the strongest people often understand that better than anyone.

Those who are just must be kind.

That's a pretty good principle for business.

And an even better one for life.

❤️

Ray Allison Realtors

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