Fall Beach Cleanup on South Padre Island

September 26, 2015 Fall Beach Cleanup!

City of South Padre Island City Council Candidate Forum

Mark your calendars for the City of South Padre Island City Council Candidate Forum: Thursday, October 1, 2015 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm SPI Convention Centre Forum hosted by the SPI Chamber of Commerce

Can I ask if other applicants want the apartment?

I applied for a lease and asked the property manager if there were other applicants for the unit I'm looking at. She declined to answer my question. Can she do that? Yes. She can decline to answer the question if the landlord has instructed her to do so, because property managers are not required to inform you about other applicants. Keep in mind that if you submitted a TAR Residential Lease Application, that form states that the landlord can continue to show the property to other prospective tenants and can accept another offer absent a written agreement otherwise.

Listen to the latest "Inside Texas Real Estate" podcast at texasrealestate.com/inside to learn about the power Texas voters have this November.

Are these rumors keeping you from being a homeowner?

Many people get misinformation about the homebuying process. Don't let false rumors like these keep you from buying your own propery: "You can't buy property if you have a history of bad credit." You don't need a perfect credit score to qualify for a loan, and you can take steps to repair your credit that will put you on the path to homeownership. Talk to a Texas REALTOR® about your current financial situation to determine a realistic timeline for your home purchase. "You need a 20% downpayment to buy a home." There are many programs and mortgage loans available for homebuyers who have less than 20% for a downpayment or no money for closing costs. Visit txhomeprograms.org and contact a Texas REALTOR® to learn about programs you may qualify for. "You can't buy property in Texas if you're not a U.S. citizen." Texas properties have been desirable investments for international buyers for years. In fact, international buyers accounted for $11.06 billion in home sales in the state between March 2013 and March 2014. There are Texas REALTORS® who specialize in working with international buyers and can help you understand the process. Heard other rumors you're not sure about? Find a Texas REALTOR® to help you figure out the realities of purchasing your own property in Texas.

The highest offer isn't always the best

Price may be the most important factor when deciding whether to accept a buyer's offer for your home, but it's not the only one. Here are some other considerations: Do you have the time? If you need to close as soon as possible-or if your circumstances require a later date-you may prefer an offer from a buyer that matches your time frame to one that's a little higher but inconvenient. Does it depend on factors outside your control? A purchase offer contingent on the buyer successfully selling her home first may not be as attractive as one without a contingency clause. Is the buyer qualified? The less you know about whether a buyer can get a loan for your home, the higher the risk of the transaction falling through. A buyer who shows that he has been preapproved for a loan is less likely to have problems following through with the purchase. Do you have to jump through hoops? Buyers may ask for appliances or furnishings to be included in the sale. They could request that you make certain repairs. They might even ask you to pay some costs typically paid by buyers. Each request such as these makes the offer price a little less valuable. Your Texas REALTOR® can review offers with you to discuss how they stack up in all aspects, not just price. Then you can move forward with the transaction that works best for you.

Kayak Tour of the Laguna Madre

Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge From: Jun 05, 2015 – Aug 30, 2015 Every Sunday, Friday, Saturday Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 8 am - 1 pm, June-August Admission: $3/vehicle entrance fee, $30 for adults, $25 for children ages 8-12 CASH or CHECK ONLY. Learn basic kayak skills while enjoying a beautiful morning on the water! Geared toward beginners, all equipment & instruction provided by expert kayak guides. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Call (956)-748-3607 ext 111 to make your reservation today!

Fireworks over the Bay at Louie's Backyard

Louie's Backyard From: May 28, 2015 – Sep 04, 2015 Every Thursday, Friday 9:15 PM Admission: Free Ticket URL: lbyspi.com The largest fireworks displays on South Padre Island! Visit us on South Padre Island during the summer season and enjoy Fireworks over the Bay every Thursday and Friday Night at 9:15 PM. It doesn't get any better than Louie's!

Mariachis Performing at Louie's Backyard

Louie's Backyard From: Jun 03, 2015 – Sep 02, 2015 Every Wednesday 7:30pm Ticket URL: lbyspi.com Everyone loves the Mariachi performances at Louie's and you will too! Enjoy the wonderful sounds of Mexico while dining bayside at Louie's Backyard! The Louie's Mariachis will be performing every Wednesday at 7:30pm - all summer long! It doesn't get any better than Louie's!

My listing agreement ended. Why do I have to pay my former broker a commission?

My TAR residential listing agreement ended July 1. A buyer who looked at my house in June submitted an offer on July 20 that I accepted. Today, my former listing broker called and said I owe her a commission on this sale-something about a protection period and this buyer being on a list she gave me. Do I have to pay the broker? Check Paragraph 5E of your expired listing agreement-TAR Residential Real Estate Listing Agreement, Exclusive Right to Sell (TAR 1101)-for details about your protection period. You do not have to pay this commission if any of these situations exist: • The protection period ended before you reached an agreement to sell the property to the buyer. • At the time the sale was negotiated, you had the property listed with another broker who is a member of the Texas Association of REALTORS® and you are obligated to pay the new broker a fee for the sale. • Your former broker didn't deliver the list of names within 10 days of the listing's expiration. • The buyer's name is not on the list provided by your former broker. Otherwise, you are legally obligated to pay the commission unless your former broker breached your listing agreement in some way before it expired. If you think that may be the case, you should seek legal counsel as to whether a breach may have occurred.

How to buy more than the house

In a real estate deal, you can ask for anything. While the other party doesn't have to agree to your request, everything is negotiable ... even items that don't usually stay with a property. Buyers sometimes ask for items like the refrigerator or clothes washer and dryer to transfer or "convey" with the property, but the possibilities don't end with appliances. Do you love the seller's wall-mounted TV or riding lawnmower? You may be able to keep them. I've heard of a buyer who asked for the seller's six goats to remain on the property and one buyer who wanted to keep the potted plants. If there's something you want in addition to the property, talk with your Texas REALTOR®. He or she can help you present your request in writing to the seller using the Texas Real Estate Commission's Non-Realty Items Addendum. Your Texas REALTOR® can help you present your offer and any requested conveyances ... just in case you want to keep the goats.

An easy way to lower the cost of homeownership

In Lehman's Terms Texas property owners scored several victories during the most recent session of the Texas Legislature. I think the biggest of these victories is landmark legislation that could lower your property tax and prevent a tax on real estate sales-important if you ever buy or sell property. I say "could" because the legislation approved by the Texas Legislature puts the decision to approve these historic measures in the hands of the voters. That's right. Proposition 1 on your November 3 ballot, if passed, will lower the cost of homeownership. Proposition 1 will increase your homestead exemption by 66%, which will lower your property tax. Proposition 1 will ban transfer taxes on real estate-a tax that already exists in 37 other states. There's no question about it. If voters approve Proposition 1, property owners will save money-now and in the future. Is there still work to be done on property tax reform? Of course. The appraisal system needs fixing, and local taxing entities could reduce their costs and save you money. But lawmakers have sent a message: Texas is serious about lowering the cost of homeownership. Now it's up to you. Mark Lehman is the vice president of governmental affairs for the Texas Association of REALTORS®.

What low oil prices really mean for Texas home sales

What do you get when you mix rising demand for Texas homes with decreasing inventory? The perfect recipe for a strong seller's market. And that's just what happened in the second quarter of 2015, according to the latest Texas Quarterly Housing Report, despite concerns that lower oil prices would have a negative impact on the statewide housing market. "Texas home sales are actually stronger than they were this time last year, when oil prices were nearly $100 a barrel," said Scott Kesner, chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®. "This is further evidence of the strong and enduring demand for Texas real estate." The report, released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS®, also shows that demand for Texas homes in the second quarter of 2015 kept statewide inventory low at 3.8 months. The Real Estate Center considers 6.5 months inventory to be a balance between supply and demand. Download the full report to see how your market performed in the second quarter of 2015.