New Listing Las Costas #2 on South Padre Island

Las Costas is an impressive 7 unit beachfront condo complex. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico from the expansive balconies. This condo is spacious and has top of the line appliances in the kitchen. Unit includes a single covered parking place and a single car garage with a mother-in law suite above it. Palapa and grill area include TV, surround sound system & fire pit. Gated beach access, heated pool/spa. Offered furnished, excludes paintings. More Information

6 reasons to contact a REALTOR® in 2016

Does your list of New Year's resolutions include real estate-related goals? One way to ensure you achieve them is to work with a professional. So, if one of these situations arises, be sure to reach out to a Texas REALTOR®. You think you're ready to buy a home. A Texas REALTOR® can walk you through the process and ensure you get answers to your first-time-homebuyer questions. You're considering selling your home. He or she can help you determine how much your home is worth and what you can do to best prepare your home to attract buyers. You want to buy a second home or investment property. Whether you're planning to be a landlord or you'd rather hire a property manager, a Texas REALTOR® can explain the best practices and requirements in your market. You're new to the neighborhood. If you have questions about the community or want recommendations for local businesses, contact your Texas REALTOR®. You'd like to protest your property-tax appraisal. If you think your appraisal was off-base, your Texas REALTOR® can help you collect evidence that supports your claim. You have a home improvement to-do list. He or she can help you determine which upgrades will generate the biggest return when you're ready to sell. Plus, your Texas REALTOR® is tapped into a network of service providers, including contractors, landscapers, and repairmen, that you may want to consult.

Strengthen your negotiating position with this one tip

There's a simple thing you can do to put yourself in a powerful negotiating position: If you want something, don't care about getting it. Does that sound crazy? Can you see yourself not caring when negotiating the purchase of your dream home, the one you can see yourself blissfully happy in for years to come? Don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting you don't try to get the house. Not caring means you sit down with your Texas REALTOR® and put together a data-driven offer that makes sense for your situation. Then you divorce yourself from the outcome. Not caring-removing the emotion-makes your decisions easier because you'll be assessing objective criteria. Either the seller meets your price or he doesn't. Either he agrees to make a repair or he doesn't. You won't win every negotiation this way, but you'll be less likely to pay more than you wanted to or compromise on something that you'll regret. There's no line in the contract that says, Check this box if you really want this house. Focus on the particulars of the deal without caring about the outcome. It's easier said than done.

How can you buy a home you don't know is for sale?

Not many homebuyers would ask to see 70% of available homes for sale. But that's what's happening if you're visiting certain websites. Realtor.com recently provided a real-world demonstration of its competitors' incomplete data by wrapping an Austin home in a black covering with a statement printed on it that said, "Searching for a home to buy on Zillow? You're missing out on thousands like this." The point is that not all real estate sources give you a complete picture. Some websites don't list thousands of properties currently for sale, show homes for sale that have already sold, and provide inaccurate values and data. So how do you know you're getting the most complete, accurate information? My suggestion is to work with a REALTOR®. They are the folks with the most real estate experience, the best information, and the ability to help you interpret that information.

Lighting of the Island Christmas Contest

Don't Forget to Shop the Island!

Can the buyer terminate if I've already paid for repairs?

I signed a contract to sell my house in which I agreed to repair six items. I also agreed that the buyer could have a 10-day option period. I was worried that the repairs wouldn't get done before closing, so I hired a roofer and plumber to get started on the repairs. But on the last day of the option period, the buyer terminated. Is he allowed to do that? Yes. The buyer will have the right to terminate under the option period regardless of whether you make or start to make repairs. If you used a Texas Real Estate Commission contract, you are obligated to complete all agreed-upon repairs prior to closing. However, you can ask the buyer to extend that closing date if you think you need more time-just get any extension agreement in writing.