Laguna Vista, TX – Featured in the Valley Morning Star

Little Town is Tops Laguna Vista one of the best for retirees By KAYLEIGH SOMMER Staff Writer | Posted 22 hours ago LAGUNA VISTA – It’s almost like you can’t afford not to live here. John Karcanes and his wife Linda have lived in Laguna Vista for about 12 years and they love everything about it. “We’ve been wondering when it will get discovered,” Karcanes said. The little town by the bay, home to Winter Tex-ans, retirees and families, has finally made the big time. The online publication MarketWatch.com has named the town one of the top 10 coastal towns where people can afford to retire. The site does not rank the 10 towns. The publication describes the town as a small residential community on the southernmost Texas coast near beautiful South Padre Island, Harlingen and Port Isabel. “This popular resort area has a very warm winter climate and is increasingly home to many retirees as well as vacationers,” the website states. As one of the most affordable retirement spots, the median home sale price is about $150,000. The National Association of Realtors put the national median home price at $196,900 at the end of 2013. The Karcanes said Laguna Vista exuded appeal as soon as they set foot in the city limits with its location, climate and affordability. The Karcanes, who are originally from Minnesota, said the area had every-thing they needed, the right weather, affordable housing and a plethora of activities they can enjoy. “We had a former neighbor purchase property here and they needed help moving,” he said. They were in town only one day when Linda looked at her husband and insisted they move here, too. So they did and now they live here all year round on a beautiful golf course property with a small lake view. “We’re going to live here for the rest our lives,” Karcanes said. A complete version of this story can be found at www.MyValleyStar.com ksommer@valleystar.com

Is your house worth that much?

It has happened again. A for sale sign went up in my neighborhood, and when I saw the asking price for the home, my eyes went wide. I couldn’t believe that house was worth so much. It turns out buyers were thinking the same thing. More than two months later, the owners are still trying to sell their property. The price has been reduced several times-more than 20% from the original number. Meanwhile, other nearby homes have come on the market and sold-some in a week’s time. How can you avoid a scenario like this? Start by working with a Texas REALTOR®. Your REALTOR® knows has in-depth experience and knowledge of the activity and values in your neighborhood. By looking at data with him or her, you can come up with a price and strategy to sell your house for the highest possible amount … without it lingering on the market.

I’m the back-up buyer. When does my option period start?

A seller accepted my back-up offer on a home that’s currently under contract to another buyer. I paid for a 10-day option to terminate, but when do my 10 days start? I don’t know if I’ll even get the chance to purchase the house. You have the option to terminate at any time while you’re in the back-up position. The option period specified in Paragraph 23 of the contract-10 days, in your case-doesn’t start until your contract becomes the primary contract, which is the date you receive notice from the seller of the termination of the first contract.

South Padre Island Farmers Market

SPI Farmers’ Market Every Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Shores 8605 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

34th Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament on South Padre Island

Registration is underway! Find out more information about the Ladies Kingfish Tournament on South Padre Island by visiting their website.

Why you should ask for the seller’s phone number

I like my house, but I think I like the guy who sold it to us better. After my wife and I closed on our house 13 years ago, we walked into the kitchen and found a wonderful surprise left by the previous owner: manuals to the appliances, previous utility bills, cans of paint, and a hand-drawn map of the sprinkler system’s zones. This information has been indispensable as paint peeled, sprinklers leaked, and other systems needed maintenance. But one thing he left-something I never would’ve asked for-has proven more valuable: his phone number. That’s right, the guy voluntarily left his cell number and said to call with any questions. And I have. Most recently, I needed blueprints. Before we started building an addition, our architect mentioned how it would be easier to draw his initial plans if only he had the house’s blueprints. So, more than 10 years after we last saw each other, I called Tim, who not only sold us the house but had it custom built for his family. A few days later, the blueprints arrived in the mail. Not everyone’s going to find a seller as willing to help as we did, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask. So after you shake hands at the closing, ask the sellers to share their knowledge about the house-and maybe their cell number.

3 industry-changing legislative wins for you and your clients

Thanks to one of the most successful legislative session in recent history, Texans will have the chance on the November ballot to ban real estate transfer taxes and increase the homestead exemption. Plus, a bill to save Texas real estate brokers $200 per year is waiting for Gov. Abbott’s approval. Click here to learn more about these and several other legislative successes for Texas REALTORS®.