Meet the Urbinas
After too many cold winters in a small town an hour north of New York City, the Urbinas decided it was time to move to Houston to be closer to family. In Katy, they also found the added benefits of great local schools and beautiful new construction homes that were in their budget. We sat down with dad Jovany to find out how they discovered Elyson, why they chose the Norwich floor plan by Brookfield Residential, and what they all love about living here.
Moving away from the snow
For the Urbinas, this was a move that had been in the works for years. In 2018, the family had casually visited a model home while in town for a cousin’s wedding, and Jovany’s wife Lillian was shocked by the affordable prices. “My wife was like, ‘These homes are how much?! And they’re beautiful!’ That’s when we started to plan ahead,” Jovany said. “In New York, the winters were also just brutal — we struggled. There were a lot of factors in our move, including education for kids — Katy education is the best. We knew we needed a life change.”
Doing their homework
In 2023, the Urbinas pulled the trigger and moved to the area in the late summer so their daughter Elissa could start the school year in award-winning Katy schools. “For the first 8 months, we were renting in another community,” Jovany said. “We had the intention of buying in that community, but we just started to do our homework. As soon as we drove into Elyson, it was different. It felt comfortable and peaceful, and the people were nice. Then from there, we started to see the amenities. We noticed the Target right down the street and the big project with the Elyson shopping center. The location made sense, but also the community itself. We couldn’t resist — it was lovely.”
Finding Brookfield Residential
The Urbinas saw a flag for Brookfield Residential and stopped in the Norwich model home. “The first thing I heard was my wife yelling, ‘You gotta see this kitchen!’” Jovany said with a laugh. “Then when we saw the upstairs, the kids were like, this is home. They liked the flow of the home. Something about Brookfield just hits — we could see ourselves here. That was why we chose it. It was a family decision.”
Space for grilling and chilling
As for Jovany, he was excited to finally get his own garage — and a spot for grilling. “I never had a garage in New York,” Jovany said. “The other thing that attracted me to the Norwich was that I loved the wrap-around patio. I like to grill and be outside, and we like to entertain. Here, we can host family. It’s been a thrill.”
High standards throughout the process
The Urbinas opted to build their new home from scratch, and they were pleased with the communication Brookfield provided throughout the homebuilding process. “Brookfield set the standard,” Jovany said. “The reason I say that is that they made us feel involved. Every time, let’s say framing was up, they’d tell us to swing by and check it out. Before they put up the plaster walls, you can see how everything is structured. We feel confident they had nothing to hide, that they were building the home the best they could. That’s what we loved. I was telling my wife if we ever build a house again, they better have these standards or I’m not doing it.”
In 2023, the Urbinas pulled the trigger and moved to the area in the late summer so their daughter Elissa could start the school year in award-winning Katy schools. “For the first 8 months, we were renting in another community,” Jovany said. “We had the intention of buying in that community, but we just started to do our homework. As soon as we drove into Elyson, it was different. It felt comfortable and peaceful, and the people were nice. Then from there, we started to see the amenities. We noticed the Target right down the street and the big project with the Elyson shopping center. The location made sense, but also the community itself. We couldn’t resist — it was lovely.”
Finding Brookfield Residential
The Urbinas saw a flag for Brookfield Residential and stopped in the Norwich model home. “The first thing I heard was my wife yelling, ‘You gotta see this kitchen!’” Jovany said with a laugh. “Then when we saw the upstairs, the kids were like, this is home. They liked the flow of the home. Something about Brookfield just hits — we could see ourselves here. That was why we chose it. It was a family decision.”
Space for grilling and chilling
As for Jovany, he was excited to finally get his own garage — and a spot for grilling. “I never had a garage in New York,” Jovany said. “The other thing that attracted me to the Norwich was that I loved the wrap-around patio. I like to grill and be outside, and we like to entertain. Here, we can host family. It’s been a thrill.”
High standards throughout the process
The Urbinas opted to build their new home from scratch, and they were pleased with the communication Brookfield provided throughout the homebuilding process. “Brookfield set the standard,” Jovany said. “The reason I say that is that they made us feel involved. Every time, let’s say framing was up, they’d tell us to swing by and check it out. Before they put up the plaster walls, you can see how everything is structured. We feel confident they had nothing to hide, that they were building the home the best they could. That’s what we loved. I was telling my wife if we ever build a house again, they better have these standards or I’m not doing it.”
Home sweet home
Today, the Urbinas (including Piper, their 7-year-old boxer mix) are loving their new home, and they’re pleased with their decision to move to Elyson. “We never would have thought we could build a custom home and afford it,” Jovany said. “We would tell anyone, we love our house. It’s been awesome every day. They will not be disappointed. The value you get for what you pay is unbelievable.”
Today, the Urbinas (including Piper, their 7-year-old boxer mix) are loving their new home, and they’re pleased with their decision to move to Elyson. “We never would have thought we could build a custom home and afford it,” Jovany said. “We would tell anyone, we love our house. It’s been awesome every day. They will not be disappointed. The value you get for what you pay is unbelievable.”
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