About This Activity Scheduled for the 4th of June, 2016, the 2016 Summer Longest Causeway Run & Fitness Walk will follow a 6.2 mile (10K) course starting at Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island, continuing on to the Queen Isabella Causeway and over the Laguna Madre Bay and ending in front of the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center in Port Isabel. Awards ceremony will be held immediately following the event at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center. RUN STARTS at 7:00 A.M. WALK STARTS at 7:30 A.M. Event details and schedule OVERALL CASH PRIZES: Overall Male & Female Cash prizes: 1st place will pay $500.00 to each; 2nd place $300.00 each; and 3rd place $200.00 each. Overall Male & Female winners will be ineligible for medals in their respective age divisions. RACE COURSE: 10K (6.2 mi.) Starts at Schlitterbahn Waterpark on South Padre Island and ends at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center (309 E. Railroad Ave.) in Port Isabel. One major incline. Water stations at the end of the Causeway, 1 other location, and at the end of the race. There will be police protection and EMS services. The run is USA Track and Field certified: Certification TX15005WG. RUN STARTS at 7:00 A.M. WALK STARTS at 7:30 A.M. ABSOLUTELY NO PETS ALLOWED. FITNESS WALK COURSE: This course starts at the Schlitterbahn parking lot, then left on to Park Road 100 and on to the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge, on to Highway 100 one block, then left at Tarnava St. ending at the finish line in the parking lot of the Port Isabel Historic Museum (adjacent to the PIECC). THIS IS NOT A RACE. IT IS A PARTICIPATION WALK. Participation medals will be presented to those walkers crossing the finish line. ABSOLUTELY NO PETS. LATE REGISTRATION IN PERSON: Friday, June 3, 2016, 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center (PIECC), 309 E. Railroad St., Port Isabel. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY LATE REGISTRATIONS OR CHECK-INS THE MORNING OF THE RACE. LATE FEE: Add $5 for runners only. No credit card use during late registration. NO REFUNDS. T-SHIRTS & RUNNERS' BIB/CHIP PICKUP: Participants may check in at the Port Isabel Chamber office Mon.-Thurs. the week of the event from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to pick up their T-shirts and walker wristbands. RUNNERS TIMING CHIPS AND BIBS WILL BE HANDED OUT AT LATE REGISTRATION FRIDAY AT THE PIECC. T-SHIRTS ARE GUARANTEED TO THE FIRST 1,000 PARTICIPANTS TO CHECK IN. SIZES CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. YOU MUST WEAR YOUR ASSIGNED RUNNERS/WALKERS BIB/WRISTBAND TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CAUSEWAY. AWARDS & PRESENTATIONS CASH AWARD TO OVERALL FIRST THREE PLACES BOTH MALE & FEMALE RUNNERS! $500- 1st; $300- 2nd; $200- 3rd!Awards will be given to the overall male and female winners as well as to first through third place winners in each male and female age division of the 10K. Awards ceremony immediately following the race and scoring at Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center. Refreshments for participants will be available. Overall Male & Female winners will be ineligible for medals in their respective age divisions. PARKING & SHUTTLE SERVICE Shuttle service will be available starting at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning from the PIECC to the start line at Schlitterbahn. Shuttles will also transport participants from the PIECC back to Schlitterbahn at the end of the race for vehicle pick up. You must be wearing a PICC Causeway Run & Fitness bib or wristband to use the shuttle bus back to Schlitterbahn at the end of the race. Please expect delays with the buses. ABSOLUTELY NO PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE RUN OR WALK! YOU MUST WEAR YOUR EVENT BIB/WRISTBAND TO BOARD THE BUSES.

What "fiduciary" means and how it applies to your real estate transaction

I read the most incredible thing this morning: Some financial advisers can put their own interests above yours. That's right ... as long as that financial professional recommends an investment that is "suitable," he or she can suggest a fund with higher costs to you (and higher commissions for the adviser) than a cheaper fund that may be a better option for you. Though that is shocking to me, I am encouraged by the following: 1. Many financial advisers adhere to a higher standard that puts the interests of the client above those of the adviser. 2. New rules are in the works to require this higher standard for advisers and brokers who work with retirement accounts. More good news for anyone buying, selling, or leasing real estate: When you receive agency services from a licensed real estate agent or broker in Texas, that professional is required by law to put your interests above his or her own. It's called a "fiduciary" relationship. Even better news when you hire a real estate agent or broker who is also a Texas REALTOR®: All REALTORS® pledge to abide by a Code of Ethics that holds REALTORS® to an even higher standard than what's required by law. To make sure you're getting the highest level of professionalism, make sure your agent or broker is also a Texas REALTOR®.

Why every real estate agent isn't a REALTOR

If you're planning to buy, sell, or lease property, you're probably in the market for a real estate professional to help you through the process. But you may be stuck on who to choose. Depending on where you live, there may be many people interested in your business. Here's one way to make it easier on yourself: Find a Texas REALTOR®. Not all real estate agents are Texas REALTORS® Anyone who wants to sell real estate in Texas must get licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). To obtain a license, someone must pass the real estate licensing exam, and after passing, must take real estate education classes. But these actions don't make someone a Texas REALTOR®. How does someone become a Texas REALTOR®? After obtaining his or her real estate license, the license holder can join the local association of REALTORS®, the state-level association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®. Only then may someone be called a REALTOR®. What makes a Texas REALTOR® different? REALTORS® follow a Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics outlines how REALTORS® should serve consumers, and this consumer-oriented code holds REALTORS® to a high standard of professional behavior. Membership in the Texas Association of REALTORS® has added benefits. Texas REALTORS® have exclusive access to more than 100 forms for many types of real estate transactions that other real estate agents don't have. These forms can help you avoid legal problems down the line.

National Day of Prayer

The community is invited to gather in prayer on Thursday, May 5th at 10:00am on the front steps of South Padre Island City Hall.

Don't ignore these mortgage documents

The homebuying process contains many moving parts and lots of paperwork. It's hard to keep up with all the decisions and demands on your time. But when you start applying for a mortgage, there are two documents that you should pay special attention to: the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure. The Loan Estimate This is a three-page document that you'll receive from your lender no more than three business days after receiving your loan application. It provides important details about the loan you're trying to get, such as the estimated interest rate, monthly payment, and total closing costs for the loan. The Loan Estimate also tells you about the estimated costs of taxes and insurance, and how the interest rate and payments may change in the future. At this point, you haven't been approved for anything. It's just a summary of what you've applied for and how much it's going to cost. Once you have been approved for the mortgage loan, you can look forward to receiving the next important document. The Closing Disclosure This five-page form provides final details about your loan. It includes the loan terms, your projected monthly payments, and how much you will pay in fees and other costs to get your mortgage. You'll get the Closing Disclosure at least three days before closing on your mortgage loan. Use this time to review the terms and costs and make sure they are correct. For guidance on these documents and others related to the homebuying process, talk to your REALTOR® and mortgage lender.

When can I put my house back on the market after a contract falls through?

A buyer and I used TREC's One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) for the sale of my home, but the sale didn't close by the date in the contract. While the buyer and I figure out how to terminate the contract-and who gets the earnest money-can I put the house back on the market? I want to sell it, not waste weeks while we consult our attorneys. You should talk to an attorney first about the legal liabilities of proceeding with a sale without terminating the original contract. In this situation, there are two ways to formally terminate the contract: • The parties can agree to terminate and sign a document that releases both parties from further obligations under the contract. If you are working with a Texas REALTOR®, he or she can use TAR's Release of Earnest Money form to accomplish this. • A judge can order the contract terminated. Your primary goal should be formal termination of the contract. This ensures you can sell the property to someone else without risking a lawsuit that could stop a subsequent sale of the property.

Summer Longest Causeway Run & Fitness Walk

The 2016 Summer Longest Causeway Run & Fitness Walk is scheduled June 4th, 2016 Registration is Now Open! Click the Blue 'Register Now' button or download a printable version of our registration form! June 4, 2016– 7 a.m. – Port Isabel/South Padre Island, Texas The 2016 Summer Longest Causeway Run & Fitness Walk, scheduled to be held Saturday, June 4th. The event is expected to attract thousands of participants wanting to take advantage of the unique opportunity to cross the 2.6 mile Queen Isabella Causeway on foot. The summer run and walk is patterned after our 32 year old January event, but with a new course. (Click here to view the course map) The 6.2 mile (10K) course starts at Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island and ends at the new Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center (PIECC). Runners will also be treated to a waterfront loop through Isla Blanca Park before continuing on to the causeway and Port Isabel. Walkers along the 5K course will also start at Schlitterbahn and end at the PIECC, where awards ceremonies will be held immediately following the race. Trophies as well as cash prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female runners overall. First through third place awards will be presented in each of the 23 male and female divisions. All participants who cross the finish line will be presented with medals.