Port Aransas Real Estate

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Planning a trip to the beach this Summer Season?  Now you can check beach conditions online at TexasBeachWatch.com courtesy of the Texas General Land Office.

Each year Americans make 910 million trips to coastal areas and spend $44 billion. In Texas, beaches consistently rank among the state's top tourist destinations. As a way of protecting swimmers and environmental health, Texas implemented the Texas Beach Watch Program.

I am happy to report that the monitoring stations in Port Aransas and on Mustang Island indicate a green light and are currently being enjoyed by thousands of visitors.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - One of the two 2009 Southern Living "Idea Houses" is located in Cinnamon Shore on Mustang Island.  The home tours began earlier this month and visitors are able to see first hand what will appear in the next few issues of Southern Living Magazine.  Take a sneak peak of the Tarpon Run Idea House with Decorating Editor Jennifer Berno.

If you missed my previous post with details on the home and tours, it is available at Port Aransas Real Estate.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Announcing new Real Estate Webinars designed to help buyers with information on the real estate market in Port Aransas.

Port Aransas Real Estate 101
Thinking about buying a condo, home or residential lot in Port Aransas? Join in online for a free 30 minute market overview. I'll show tips on how to find properties online. We'll review new developments in the area and answer your questions about property ownership in Port Aransas.

This is a "no strings attached" opportunity to learn more about the local market and tips to save you time and money.

Wed, July 8, 2009 10:00am CDT Register Here

Wed, July 8, 2009 7:00pm CDT Register Here


Village Walk 101
A 30 minute overview of Village Walk in Port Aransas. We'll review amenities, floor plans, interior finish out options, the Home Owner Association and more. As always, feel free to ask questions.

Wed, July 1, 2009 9:00am CDT Register Here

For information on future Webinars visit Texas Island Properties

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - There is cause for celebration.  It was reported yesterday that Governor Perry has signed into law HB 2276 which amends the State Tax Code to include Port Aransas along with Galveston and South Padre Island in the cities to which special state hotel tax allocations apply.  

Simply put, Port A will now receive a portion of the State's Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue to clean and maintain public beaches.  This will provide an ongoing revenue stream that will help the City fund beach maintenance operations and assist with erosion response projects.  Initial estimates suggest that this could provide the City of Port Aransas with $350k annually and that number is expected to grow over time.

The State Comptroller's website reflects the change and the new policy is effective on July 1, 2009.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Planning a trip to Port A?  If so, you'll want to check out the definitive resource on all things Port Aransas and Mustang Island.  The Port Aransas South Jetty Newspaper publishes a visitor guide four times per year.

The guide contains plenty of useful information on places to stay, eat and shop.  The map provides a detailed look at the city and points of interest.  Check out the Port Aransas Visitor's Guide online or download the pdf version of the Summer 2009 issue.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Coastal residents are breathing a sigh of relief.  Proposed changes to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) that were being discussed at the beginning of the 81st Legislative Session were punitive to say the least.  In the end, a ten-member Conference Committee found a compromise that some are calling a major victory for the coast.  The Corpus Christi Caller Times has a good editorial on the process and AP reports that the Governor has signed the bill into law. 

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - The Corpus Christi Caller Times reported yesterday that we remain one of the "birdiest" places in the US.  

"Local birders from the Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend Audubon Society counted 217 species in Corpus Christi within a three-day period, down from 241 spotted in 2008.   San Diego, Calif., placed second with 198 species counted.  Nueces County was named the Birdiest Coastal County with 238 species spotted, down from 253 spotted last year."

Nature tourism has been on the rise in Port Aransas.  The local Chamber of Commerce features a dedicated section of their website to offer information on local birding sites.  Check out the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce website or download a pdf of the Birds & Nature brochure which shows the best birdwatching sites in the area.  The complete Caller Times article is available here.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - The Corpus Christi Caller Times published the 2009 Hurricane Guide for residents and visitors along the Texas Coast.

The guide contains lots of good information:  

• A map with evacuation routes for the greater Corpus Christi area
• Information to help create a hurricane plan in advance of a storm
• Items to include in your hurricane kit
• Instructions on how to properly cover windows and doors
• Details on insurance coverage

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Gulf Access Base has the 200 acre McDermott facility on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel under contract with plans to close on the property in December of this year.

“This facility is the only one of its kind on the western Gulf”, says Sam Canterbury, Partner in the project. “The facility is highly stabilized with 4,700’ of bulkhead with up to 46 ft of water including a 1,650’ X 500’ slip. We are located only 150 miles from Alaminos Canyon operations which will allow operators to cut transportation costs more than half in many cases.”

Plans for the facility include leasing dedicated secure parcels of 1 – 100 Acres as storage, staging, and base operations for deepwater operators in the western Gulf. Load in, load out, fuel, water, and provisions will be available. Port security and controlled parking will be provided. Space for suppliers and service providers is also planned. 

“As the deep western gulf is developed by both old and new players, a support center of this type has become necessary” according to Canterbury. “We have the location, improved space, and water depth to meet the needs of the industry now and in the future.”

For more information contact:  

Tommy Moore, 361 463 6388

tmoore@GulfAccessBase.com

Website

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - The Port Aransas South Jetty featured a great story on the new Southern Living Idea House at Cinnamon Shore.  The doors opened on Saturday, June 6th.  Mary Judson (Editor and Co-Publisher) reports that 282 people toured the home in the first two days.  

I visited the home last week and it is a masterpiece.  Port A visitors will clearly want to add this to their "to-do list" this Summer Season.

The (06-04-09) South Jetty Article appears below with permission:

The Idea House sponsored by Southern Living magazine opens Saturday, June 6, in the Cinnamon Shore residential development. It is one of two Idea Houses built for the magazine this year. The other is in Georgia.

Admission for tours is $5 per person, $2 of which will go to the Port Aransas Education Foundation. Volunteers for the organization, which raises private money to fund programs, activities and equipment for Port Aransas Independent School District teachers and students, will lead the tours through Sept. 27.

The house will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Built by Keystone Company of Port Aransas, the home is the subject of a short feature in the June edition of Southern Living. A 30-page feature on both the Port Aransas and the Georgia Idea Houses will appear in the magazine’s August issue when an online feature will also be posted on the magazine’s Web site.

Estimates by the magazine are that some 12 million people will see the house either in the magazine, in person or online.

Derick Belden, executive editor of Southern Living Homes and Gardens, said among reasons Cinnamon Shore was chosen for the Idea House was because its editors recognize and appreciate the uniqueness and beauty of Port Aransas, the beach and the Cinnamon Shore project.

Cinnamon Shore, near the southern city limits of Port Aransas off State Hwy. 361, is a master-planned New Urbanism development. Jeff Lamkin, CEO of Sea Oats Group, is the developer.

New Urbanism refers to neighborhoods designed to reduce traffic and sprawl, with residential, business and recreational points within walking distance.

A 64-acre mixed-use community, Cinnamon Shore, upon completion, will include about 300 homes and condominiums, a town center with shops, restaurants, hotel and office space, parks and recreational amenities, and pedestrian friendly streets that interconnect the entire community.

About the house 
• Views of the Gulf of Mexico from all floors - located 300 feet from the beach 
• Accommodates several families, sleeping up to 16 people
• 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths plus loft. Approximately 3,700 sq ft. 
• Wood walls, ceilings and floors 
• 2 master suites; all bedrooms with a private bath 
• 3rd story loft area with built-in bunks open to a game room 
• Multi-story ceiling in the family room open to kitchen for family living 
• Multiple porches with Gulf views 
• 2 outdoor fireplaces in the courtyard and on screened porch 
• Separate canoe house with guest quarters above
• Viking appliances throughout