Casa Del Mar Condos in Galveston As of this writing, there are approximately 22 condos for sale in the Casa Del Mar condo complex in Galveston. Casa Del Mar is located at 61st Street and Seawall Blvd. and is very popular with vacation rental as well as owners wanting a simple, uncomplicated beach get-a-way. Recently, they have changed the way they bill for insurance and "H.O.A." fees, and it's caused a bit of confusion. The insurance rate "separately" is 1500.00 per year, per unit. The "H.O.A" fee's are 307.00 per month, per unit. This sounds like a lot. The real issue is that the development has separated their insurance from their home owners association fees, which lowered the home owners association fees in the process by over 100.00. It basically works out to almost the same number... 09/09/2009

Galveston Texas Short-Sale's and Foreclosures A lot of people ask me for foreclosure and short-sale properties...thinking they will, "get a good deal." That would seem to be common sense.  In Galveston we have those properties, just like any other city, but we may not have the volume of listings that most people want. There are advantages to shopping specifically for short-sales and foreclosures, as well as advantages to shopping for individually owned properties. The advantages of a traditional, individually owned property that only needs the approval of the individual owner can sometimes mean faster, easier, even more effective negotiation on price than a short-sale or bank owned foreclosure property. Also, with an individually owned property the communication between selling and buyi... 09/09/2009

Galveston's Beautiful Beaches and Wildlife   We have the most beautiful beaches in Galveston. Anyone can drive on our Seawall, park their car and in just a few steps will be walking in the sand. Only an hour south of Houston, we are the chosen vacation and weekend playground for many in Texas that long for the sound of waves, the smell of salty air and the warm breeze. As a Realtor in Galveston I share my views of life on the island through my photography. Wonderful wildlife, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, gorgeous and ever-changing water that appears blue, sometimes green...sometimes flat and calm like a lake, sometimes full of white crashing waves.   Having a love of the island that you can share through photography to potential new residents or property owners gives them a glimpse i... 09/09/2009

This Week's Events in Galveston: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 The 2009 United Way Galveston Kickoff Luncheon and Hurricane Ike Volunteer Celebration, 12:00 noon-1:00pm, in the Frances Anne Moody Ballroom at the Moody Gardens Hotel "A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13. "Revival and Reflections Opening Ceremony and Torch Relay," beginning at 5.30pm at Fort Crockett Park, 4700 Seawall Blvd. Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 "A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13. Remembrance Concert: 6:30-8pm. Music by the Lance Aldridge Band. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destructio... 09/09/2009

Galveston is celebrating surviving IKE and the progress our city has made in one year. If you came to Galveston right now and had not been here MANY times (or live here) you could not tell we had a MAJOR hurricane. Businesses are open, the homes are repaired, and life is back to normal. In fact, Galveston may be better off than it was before the storm! Many upgrades have resulted from the storm and I can attest to that... Our office is brand new, 61st st has many new fascias on buildings, and the homes around my house are redone on the inside and out. Galveston has improved on its storm preparedness and contingencies and did a great job during IKE.  Galveston's future is in our hands as we look at way to mitigate storms damage by IKE Dikes or seawall extensions. There will be many celeb... 09/09/2009

Pirates Cove Galveston is a quiet Golf course community located on Galveston Bay. The Pirate's communities are some of the most sought after real estate on the island. And there are many reasons why! Pirates Cove is centrally located on Galveston island and is far enough West to be in a resort area, but close enough to I-45 to get to Houston quickly. If you ever want to leave the island that is. Pirates Cove embellishes relaxation and the retirement lifestyle. If your into fishing, boating, golf, or nature watching- Pirates Cove was made for you. Pirates Cove is also a great vacation rental community and the rentals (though few and far in-between) do very well here! Now for some pictures!!:    SOLD 09/03/2009

We are all looking forward to a great Galveston Biker rally this October 29 to November 1, 2009! This years theme is HALLOWEEN party and what could be better. A huge costume party may ensue. The rally this year will feature bands, demos, shops, and a huge costume parade. The sponsor list is huge and the event is free again this year! Please feel free to post your Galveston Biker rallypictures and stories right here! Ryson Real Estate and vacation rentals is here to help you with your vacation rental or beach house. We can even help you if you decide Galveston is the place for you. We offer residential real estate, commercial real estate, and property management.     08/24/2009

A lot of people ask me how Galveston is doing..and even people that live nearby don't seem to know much about Galveston. This has really been the case since the hurricane, the media sort of "dropped" us as a story, eventhough our devastation here was in many cases worse than New Orleans, and many other areas. Our residents here have been through more than you can imagine..our properties, our economy and our entire island has been through more than just a few boats along the causeway and a few piers washed away. I get frustrated when I read the newspaper here..it's like a tiny social paper filled with useless "dribble" , so I can understand the problems getting the word out.I want to share with anyone that reads this, that Galveston has not only been working hard but has recovered to an ... 08/21/2009

When I was several years younger I rode a motorcycle for recreation with a bunch of friends on weekends. One weekend we were returning home from a ‘run', coming down I45 towards Galveston Island. There before me about 40 yards ahead appeared the carcass of a dead dog in my traffic lane. Not a really big one, but big enough that I sure didn't want to hit it. All I had to do was swerve to the right or to the left just a little bit to miss it completely. I had plenty of time. So with a laser focus on the carcass looming just ahead, my mind told my body to move over just a tad so I would miss it, and avoid possibly going air born. But no matter how hard I tried; no matter how much I wanted to lean a little to left or a little to the right I COULD NOT DO IT! And so I ran over the carcass ju... 08/20/2009

Yesterday, the Texas General Land Office released the new guidelines regarding the Texas Open Beaches Act. After reading the new guidelines, I think everyone will be very pleased to know that properties that might extend into the set-back areas will not be "put on a list" to be torn down or moved.  The origial set-back/"dune line" or "elevation line" set following hurricane Ike was set at 4 1/2 back to establish where the public beach began from private property lines.  Immediately following hurricane Ike, the General Land Office stated they would wait a year to allow the natural vegetation and dune to re-form, and that's what we're seeing now.  The Texas General Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson has stated yesterday in the main press release, " "As promised, I gave the natural line of... 08/18/2009

Galveston has a new development that is almost completed named, "Diamond Beach." One of the most unique qualities of Diamond Beach is that it is located directly on the beach with amenities such as water slides, beach and seawall access, as well as spectacular views. Diamond Beach has pre-sold many of it's units, there are some units still available. An example of available units: 2bed, 2 bath with 1417 sq. feet for $ 475,000.00 and a penthouse unit 3 bedroom, 2 bath with 1670 sq. ft. for $ 755,000.00. The building is situated at the end of Seawall Blvd., just as it forks off to become FM 3005/ San Luis Pass Rd.  It's close enough to the main attractions, as well as feeling a part of Galveston's west end, to provide a prime place to have a brand new condo. There are many other developme... 08/11/2009

                                                                                                            Last summer 2008 This summer 2009 Living fairly close to Galveston, we are able to take advantage of it's beach.  It's a great spot for a quick getaway for some R & R away from the hustle bustle.  After being pounded by Hurricane Ike, the beaches lost alot of sand, and seemed almost nonexistent compared to before.  They had been gradually eroding over the years, and in some areas the tide would hit the seawall.  But since IKE they have been bringing in dump trucks of sand for almost a year now.  I wonder where they're getting all of that sand?  Anyway, we were down there today to enjoy the beach and have a nice dinner with visiting family.  I was shocked to see the progress in the... 08/03/2009

Galveston has at least one connection to the Shuttle Mission that will be landing in just about one hour from now.  Mission Specialist Christopher Cassidy is one of the astronauts on the current mission.  And his father, Jack Cassidy, my friend and neighbor and real estate investment enthusiast owns multi-family property on the island, just down the street from me!   We are all so very proud of our astronauts, for the pioneering work they do to further our understanding of the universe we live in.  Thank you Mission Specialist Christopher Cassidy and welcome back to earth!  And thank you Jack for being a great neighbor and friend, especially during the trying times during the aftermath of hurricane IKE.   Jerri Schick, e-PRO Realtor, CDPE Galveston Island, near Texas 07/31/2009

Galveston Island is still rebuilding, but the beaches are as still as popular as ever.  The summer is almost over, why not go catch one last weekend in Galveston.  Here are the top hotels to stay in.  The San Luis Resort The Hotel Galvez The Tremont Harbor House at Pier 21 Moody Gardens Hotel Escapes Hilton   07/26/2009

It Was Just Like HGTV! A young couple attending university called me one day to see a duplex we have for lease.  So I met them there and showed them a sad and neglected apartment.  Such is the state of the market where I live and work, having gone through the hurricane last year, many residences are just not what they used to be.  And that is not a good situation in a community of university students looking for a place to live near the school.    So I asked them if they had thought about buying a place instead of renting and that it might actually be easier and more financially sound in the long run.  I told them about the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.  I think that is what sold them on the idea. We sat down at the office and I explained to them how buying a home worked... 07/23/2009

There's Got to Be More to His "Galveston" Than That Glen Campbell Sings It By Bill Cherry             If you know singer Glen Campbell's real relationship with the island, you can't help but wonder if there isn't more to the story than that a songwriter named Jimmy Webb wrote these words and tune, and that Glen sang them:                                     Galveston, oh Galveston.  I still hear your sea winds blowin'                                     I still see her dark eyes glowin'                                     She was 21 when I left Galveston.         and the last verse                                      Galveston, oh Galveston.  I am so afraid of dying                                     Before I dry the tears she's crying                                     Before I watc... 07/02/2009

NOTE:  Dr. Michael M. Warren, while also holding the prestigeous Ashbel Smith professor of surgery position at University of Texas Medical Branch Division of Urology, has been one of my heroes for a long time.  The reason is because he's a big thinker and speaks out about many subjects, from religion and philosophy to science, education and medicine. He frequently writes a column on health care and medicine for The Galveston County Daily News.  This one shows that at least Dr. Warren knows what patients think, so I asked if I could share it with Activerain readers.  Anyone Care to Tell Doc to Be Patient? By Michael Warren Published June 9, 2009  Nowhere in the medical-school curriculum is there a course about what it's like to be a patient. Wouldn't it be good to put every medical stude... 06/13/2009

Galveston has many attractions to choose from. We have many great Galveston beaches to choose from including east beach, stewart beach, and San Luis Pass. We also have attractions like Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Galveston, and the Lone Star flight museum. We have been working on putting a list of these attractions together in our website... please feel free to browse all of the Attractions in Galveston. Attractions in Galveston Galveston attractions     05/19/2009

Every Wednesday at 11 am is Storytime.. They will host a storytime featuring books appropriate for a variety of ages. Every Saturday at 2pm- storytime.  They will host a storytime featuring book's selected to appeal to a wide variety of ages. Meet Curious george at their Saturday storytime on May 23rd at 2pm. Barnes & Noble Booksellers is located at 1029 W. Bay Area Blvd.   05/16/2009

                                                                        This year the Galveston Historic tour of homes will be on the weekends of May 2nd and 3rd and May 9th and 10th from 10am until 6pm.  There will be 10 homes dating from 1816 to 1904 on the tour, most of the homes have damage of some sort for various reasons.  some are survivors of the Great Storm of 1900, others of Hurricane Ike.  Some have survived fire, collapsing foundations and tornadoes.  Galveston is undergoing a change due to the damage from Ike, and this is "Celebrating Galveston's Rebirth".  For tickets and information call 409-765-7834.   05/07/2009