Back Roads Journal
For years I have wanted to keep a record of the work I do and the places I see around East Texas, mostly for myself and my family. I never made the time, and I was never a fan of Facebook. Now AI does the work and makes it very easy, so here it is.
- Market Pulse: Rates Jump, Lumber Stays Cheap
Mortgage rates hit a three year high, lumber stays cheap, and a big new plant is going up in Longview. - What Is Happening in the East Texas Real Estate Market Right Now?
Rates near 7%, flat home prices, and a standoff in the land market. Here is where East Texas real estate stands this fall and what it means for buyers and sellers. - Why Mineola, Texas Is Worth More Than a Drive Through
A few places in Mineola, Texas worth your time: the restored 1906 depot, the historic downtown, the 1920 Select Theater, and the 2,911 acre Nature Preserve. - The Most Overgrown House We Have Ever Remodeled
A badly overgrown house in a quiet rural part of Hopkins County, brought back to life. Everything is new, about 2,750 square feet. - Building a Retaining Wall at the Pine Mills House
We perched the Pine Mills house up on a hill, and the lot had more slope than we thought. This week we built a retaining wall. - Time for a Storm Shelter
After two tornadoes passed over in one month, it was time for a storm shelter. An in ground shelter that holds eight, installed in a garage floor. - A New Water Well at the Pine Mills Project
Fouke Water Supply quoted $25,000 for a water line. Bird’s Water Well drilled to 268 feet for about $15,000. Notes from the Pine Mills project. - Moving a Little Frame House to Pine Mills
Got a good deal on a little frame house two miles from Pine Mills and moved it to my land. It took a dozer to get it up the hill. - First in Line at Franklin Barbecue
My son and I were first in line at Franklin Barbecue in Austin at 6:00 in the morning, and he got to meet Aaron Franklin. - Clearing a Few Overgrown Acres in Wood County
Spent the last couple of weeks working on a few overgrown acres in Wood County. - A New Pole Barn for the Tractors
We had a pole barn built this month, a much needed spot for the tractors and ATVs. - A Tunnel Job to Replace Rusted Cast Iron Drain Pipe
The old cast iron drain under a family member’s house had rusted out. A plumber wanted $25,000. Veloz Remodeling did it in a couple of days for a fraction of that. - Turning a Few Good Trees into LumberClearing land this week, we saved a few nice trees, brought in a portable sawmill, and ended up with a trailer full of lumber.
- A New Concrete Patio, Driveway Entry, and Garage Ramp
We poured a new concrete patio and driveway entry after finding the old patio had been used for parking, plus a new ramp to the garage.
My writing on other sites
Medium
- What Should You Check Before Buying Rural Land in East Texas? (2026)
- Are Small Suburban Offices the New Normal?
- Will Mortgage Rates Rise or Fall in 2021?
- This Is Why Lumber Prices Will Fall in 2021
- The Benefits of PEX Pipe
- All my Medium articles
Blogger
- Putting a Storm Shelter in a Garage Floor (2026)
- Which Home Improvements Add the Most Value to Your Home
- Hidden Remodeling Costs
- Mistakes First Time Home Flippers Make
- 10 Must Know Facts About FHA Loans
- 7 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
- Ask Yourself These Questions Before Opening a Credit Card
- 5 Things First Time Homebuyers Must Know Before Taking Out a Mortgage
- Is a Crash Coming in the Mortgage Markets?
- Leaseback Agreements Are More Popular Than Ever
- All my Blogger articles
Tumblr
- Worth a Drive in East Texas This Fall (2026)
- Why Rural Land in East Texas Holds Value Better Than Most People Think (2026)
- Buying a House in 6 Months? Take These Steps First
- Investors Are Changing Low Income Neighborhoods Across the Country
- Do Letters to Home Sellers Work?
- When Will Lumber Prices Fall?
- All my Tumblr posts
