We are seeing the arrival everyday of our feathered friends from up North, who are coming to spend the winter with us. Even though real estate can be an all consuming occupation, if you care to go down that path, some agents factor in other interests, as well.

One agent in our office, has done just that. He started volunteering on Friday mornings, at the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas. That was seven years ago and now he is a member of the scientific staff with the title: Animal Attendant III. The main mission of the ARK is to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife, found sick and injured in our area, then release those animals that recover back into the native habitat. The ARK is located on the grounds of the University of Texas, Marine Science Institute.

When they rescue dolphins, they usually go to the Aquarium sea lab facility for care. Rescued sea turtles normally go to the re-hab facility in the National Park on Padre Island. The major focus for the ARK is often bird rehabilitation. We have an opportunity in the future to use Nueces County land, here on Upper Padre Island, to build a new rehabilitation facility that will not only help injured wildlife, but also serve to educate the future generations of young students and tourists about the importance of preserving our abundant nature and how to prevent hazardous practices from continuing. Land or "real estate" can be used for many purposes. With diversity comes an enhancement and enrichment of our daily lives.

Come join us when you get the chance...See you at the Beach!

If you have a limited budget can you enjoy home ownership at the Coast? Definitely.

There are many options in multi-family situations, but there are also choices in single family detached homes as well. An MLS search today provided these answers to the question. Here on Upper Padre Island, six homes were found that range in price from $122,500 to 149,900.

By going across the causeway, to an area called Flour Bluff, many more options were available. Flour Bluff is the location of Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi and occupies a peninsula of land that sits between the Laguna Madre and Oso Bay. It provides most of the shopping opportunities for those of us who live further out on the Island. It also is the location of our high school. There are options for elementary and middle school, but the only public option is Flour Bluff High School. It is a desirable choice for many in this area. Forty listings are available ranging from $52,900 to $149,900.

The final location I searched was Port Aransas. About 20 minutes up the coast on the tip of Mustang Island. This is " tourist central" for our area. Lots of shopping and restaurants to make life interesting. Four detached homes in "Port A" came in under 150K, at $99,000 to $149,900. Give us a call to make your dreams of coastal living a reality.

Come join us when you get the chance…See you at the Beach!

Here on Upper Padre Island, we live in a master-planned, water oriented, recreational community. Development began in 1965 and the Articles of Incorporation that established our Padre Isles Property Owners’ Association were adopted in 1976.
 
Originally, 8,950 residential/commercial sites were planned. To date, just over 5,000 lots have been completed. These lots reside within 35 separate subdivisions, each with their own Protective Covenants. The most numerous lots fall into the category of Single-Family, water-access lots that are interior parcels not next to a waterway, but having access to the water via any of seven boat launch ramps.

Six of these boat ramps include trailer parking areas. These ramps are for the use of property owners and their guests. Both the tow vehicle and the trailer must display decals purchased from the POA office. The vehicle decal costs $5/one time only. The trailer decal costs $10 and must be renewed each year. As of today, 26 October 2011, our local MLS shows 45 residences located on water access lots for sale. The lowest priced home is a foreclosure priced at $89,900. The highest priced home on a water access lot is currently listed for $349,000 and sits next to the golf course.
 
At the same time, we have 64 listings for vacant lots that are described as interior, water access. The prices range from $17,000 to $69,900. The POA dues for water access lots, purchased since 2006, are between 1 and 2 cents per square foot of lot area depending on the subdivision and dues are paid once each year.
Feel free to visit the POA website:

Come join us when you get the chance...See you at the Beach!

Our office here on Upper Padre Island, can meet your needs, whether you want to buy a property or are wishing to sell a property you already own. We currently have 20 Real Estate Professionals working out of this office. In addition, we have a full service Rental Management Department that specializes in long term rentals, which are described as longer than six months.

If you have a property that you want to keep, but need to receive rental income along with great management…please contact us. The rental market is very strong during this period, when many families cannot purchase under current financing guidelines. We have three full time employees who answer calls on a 24/7 basis and are committed to their responsibilities. Our inventory includes detached homes, condos, and townhomes. Currently, about 25% of our customers have a military member, usually assigned to Navel Air Station/Corpus Christi.

We help retirees and families with children still at home. Whatever your needs, we will dedicate our efforts to helping you reach your goal.

Come join us when you get a chance...See you at the Beach!

We have two and a half months left in the year 2011. For many areas of the country, that means the building season is winding down. Weather conditions will soon deteriorate, to the point that only inside finishing work will be possible. However, here on Upper Padre Island, we have the benefit of temperatures above freezing almost everyday of the year. It is a rare event when our temperature on The Island drops below 32 degrees.

A quick search on the MLS system reveals that 14 detached homes have been built in 2011, so far and listed for sale. Of these 14, eight homes are still actively for sale, one sale is pending and five homes have sold. Thirteen homes have three bedrooms and one has four bedrooms. All homes have two full baths. One home is located on a canal and thirteen are on dry lots with water access via the boat ramps located throughout our community. The eight actively for sale, range in price from $159,900 to $309,950. Coldwell Banker Island, Realtors is the listing agent for three of the eight for sale. We were also the listing agent for two of the five sold units and we are the listing agent on the pending unit.

According to the Padre Isles Property Owners Association, there are an additional eleven homes built so far in 2011 that are not listed on the MLS system. Plus, we have several large custom homes being built on Captains Row and Commodores Pointe. If you are in the market for a new home, we can help you find a lot, introduce you to local builders, or give you a tour of the eight waiting for new families.

Come join us when you get a chance...See you at the Beach!

Visitors to our Island normally gravitate to the Beach, where the Gulf of Mexico laps at our shore. The sun rises each morning over the Gulf and lays down a sheet of gold, over the water, as it climbs upward to shine down upon us. The residential properties closest to the beach are predominantly located in multi-family structures. Our single family detached homes are normally located between Park Road 22 and the Laguna Madre. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through the Laguna Madre and serves as a boaters’ highway. Many owners here have a boat residing behind their home. But for visitors and seasonal residents, beach access is a major factor. As of today, October 5, 2011, we have 145 townhome/condominiums listed on our Corpus Christi MLS, here on the Island. That includes 7 efficiencies, 27 one-bedrooms, 68 two-bedrooms, 36 three-bedrooms and 7 four-bedroom units. These residences are located in High rise buildings and low rise Garden Style apartment complexes. Other units reside within townhome communities. Whatever the style of complex, many share a common element. Their Homeowners Associations have voted to allow short-term rentals, which means the units can be rented on a nightly basis, much like a hotel room. It can be a wonderful experience to sit on a balcony overlooking the waves, listening to the sound of the surf and smelling the salty air from the water below. Usually, one trip turns into many repeat visits.

Come join us when you get a chance...See you at the Beach!

We are approaching the fall season, here on the Island. For many people across the country that means cooler temperatures and moving indoors. However, we are still close to summer temperatures and outdoor activities are part of our everyday life. In fact, many visitors are arriving, now, to watch the annual bird migration either to our coast or to areas even further south. Warm temperatures also mean we can still enjoy our swimming pools on a daily basis.

As of today, September 26, 2011, there are 32 detached homes listed for sale, on the Island, that have swimming pools. They range in price from $189,900 to $1,400,000. Since we have moderate winters, as well, it is common to have pool heaters, that allow all year use of your pool. Gas lines run throughout our subdivisions. However, most homes are totally electric and the gas connection is never made. By contrast, homes with pools usually have gas service and that gives a choice of appliance packages.

It goes without saying that many residential listings are within a condo or townhouse complex. Pools are almost always part of the amenities that accompany this type of residence. The end result is: we love our water...either in our back yard, in the canal behind our home, or lapping at the shores of our Island.

Come join us when you get a chance...See you at the Beach!