PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Earlier this week an algal bloom that is commonly referred to as red tide was plaguing portions of the Texas Coast.  The National Seashore and northern sections of Padre Island saw the worst of the conditions.  On Thursday, the red tide extended to the southernmost section of beach in Port Aransas.  As the Corpus Christi Caller Times is reporting, a well-timed cool front arrived and had an immediate impact. Sunny skies and afternoon highs near 80 degrees are forecast for the next five days. Thank you for visiting the Port Aransas real estate blog. Keith McMullin – Broker/Realtor Search All Port Aransas Listings 10/17/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - And they're off!  The 23rd Annual Harvest Moon Regatta began this afternoon just off the Flagship Hotel Pier in Galveston.  Over 200 boats have set sail for Port Aransas.  It is always a beautiful sight to watch the arrivals at the harbor. They will be joined by those opting to drive to the island for the MustangFest 2009.  As the South Jetty Newspaper put it, "Mustang Island will live up to its name this weekend."  The Ford Mustang festival will take place at the Island Moorings Yacht Club.  The car show begins Saturday at 1:00. Should be another great weekend to be in Port A. Thank you for visiting the Port Aransas real estate blog. Keith McMullin – Broker/Realtor Search All Port Aransas Listings   10/01/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Tony Amos has been caring for injured and ill animals since the early 80's.  The Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) was started when, in the course of his research, Tony began to find sea turtles and aquatic birds on the beaches and in the local environment. The ARK of today specializes in marine turtles and birds of the South Texas coast.  The mission is to rescue and rehabilitate animals and return them to the wild. Today's Edition of The Austin American Statesman features a story on Tony's work and the ARK in Port Aransas.  Read the article in Statesman.com and watch a preview of the documentary "Leaving the ARK" which is being produced by an Austin filmmaker. Our community and the island environment are a much better place as a result of Tony's tireless efforts. ... 09/21/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Three years of negotiations with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) have resulted in a lease agreement that will increase the size of the airport and allow for future improvements.  The 45 year lease has options that extend to 85 years.  Included in the terms are an additional  27 acres of property fronting State Hwy 361 just north of the airport. The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manger to enter into the lease with the GLO.  Read the Port Aransas South Jetty Article "New Lease May Give City Airport New Life" for additional information.   Thank you for visiting the Port Aransas real estate blog. Keith McMullin – Broker/Realtor Search All Port Aransas Listings   09/18/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - All the signs point to this being the best Summer Season in Port A.  Vacation rentals were at an all-time high.  In fact, July occupancy levels in Port Aransas were up 11% over last year.  Most local businesses beat record numbers from 2008. There are a host of theories as to why Port A prospered this year.  It was likely a combination of factors that brought record numbers to our beach town.  In the coming weeks I will post details on vacation rental properties in Village Walk and Royal Sands.  Homes generated $30k to $50k+ in gross rental revenue. Many long time visitors know that October, November and December are perfect in Port Aransas.  The weather is great, the crowds are smaller and you can claim a stretch of beach all for yourself.   Thank you for visiting... 09/14/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas – Earlier this month I posted “Austin Sports Writer Enjoys Links Golf In Port Aransas” when Kevin Robbins wrote about the course.  The Newport Dunes course in Port Aransas is featured In today’s Travel Section of the Austin American Statesman. I fancied the true links-golf experience. Deserved it, even. After all, a true links experience was what I was about to have on, of all places, the Coastal Bend of Texas. I remember my first drive down Texas 361 and my earliest impression of this untamed stretch of Mustang Island. The year was 2004. I'd been to Scotland the previous fall. With ancient seaside links such as Royal Troon and Prestwick and Western Gailes as my reference points, I considered the dunes on the island — their silhouette on the horizon, their native bu... 09/12/2009

In May 2008, before the demise of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, AIG and a host of banks, I posted “Mustang Island Real Estate 101.” The article provided an overview of this coastal Texas real estate market.  At that time, much of the U.S. was already reeling while our market remained stable.  That is still largely the case in September 2009 as described in “Mustang Island Real Estate 101 Update.” Photo by Mark Creighton Mustang Island Real Estate 101 - Update While much of the country continues to suffer through a difficult housing market, the Gulf Coast City of Port Aransas continues to be a popular choice for vacation and second home buyers. Most of the real estate buyers in Port Aransas call San Antonio, Austin, Houston or Dallas home.  Port Aransas has always been a mecca for Texans look... 09/04/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - In his August 30th blog post on Statesman.com, Kevin Robbins recounts "Six hours on 150 pretty special acres on the Gulf of Mexico."  The Newport Dunes Golf course has been receiving rave reviews since it opened last year.  A few excerpts of Kevin's blog are below: I spent six hours on 150 pretty special acres on the Gulf of Mexico, at an American golf course as close to true links that I’ve seen since Bandon Dunes. Newport Dunes, a par-71 Arnold Palmer design on Mustang Island, opened a year ago to reviews favorable enough that I begged the newspaper for a travel assignment.  It works as a novel experience for the newcomer to links golf and, I would suspect, it works as a more-than-serviceable replacement until the links connoisseur makes his annual pilgrimage to ... 08/31/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Perhaps you are back at work and daydreaming about "Starting a new life in the palm trees" as Jimmy Buffett puts it.  You hop online and start researching everything there is to know about condos and homes in Port Aransas.  Hopefully that is what lead you here.   In the past ten days, I've written a series of posts to help provide an overview of "Vacation Home Ownership In Port Aransas."  Here they are in case you missed them: Why Port A? Condos And Homes What Are The Costs? The Big Picture In this final post of the ten-day series, I'll point out some online information resources that are helpful for research and Doing Your Homework.  I hope that you have bookmarked/saved the Port Aransas Real Estate Blog.  I try to provide useful information on local news, events ... 08/24/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - The question on everyone's mind is whether or not now is the right time to buy.  Will prices go lower?  Will mortgage rates go down?  There is one undeniable truth.  Nobody knows where the bottom of a market is, until it has passed.  Trying to time the market is exceedingly difficult. The Port Aransas real estate market continues to outperform most other markets.  Prices have come down in some cases, but condos and homes have not seen the sharp declines experienced in other communities.  Many properties continue to appreciate.  The only segment that is undergoing a market correction would be in residential lots and unimproved land. It is a buyer's market with a large inventory.  On Mustang Island, there are currently 290 condos & townhomes, 124 detached homes and 2... 08/22/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - A recent article in the Port A South Jetty Newspaper summed it up quite well, "E is for Exemplary." The Texas Education Agency ratings for the 2008-09 school year released Friday, July 31, revealed that the Port Aransas ISD, H.G. Olsen Elementary and Port Aransas High School were rated exemplary, the highest level possible, and Brundrett Middle School was rated recognized, the second highest rating. The article is available at PortASouthJetty.com and details on the State Accountability Rating System are available here.  Kudos to the faculty and students.   08/19/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - The purchase of a second home or condo on the coast has many of the same mechanics as buying a primary residence in an inland community.  However, there are additional costs and some important considerations. Financing Despite what you may have heard in the news, there are plenty of lenders eager to loan money to qualified buyers.  That remains true for the purchase of vacation properties as well.  Loans for detached, single-family homes are more readily available.  Some lenders do not participate in condotel loans.  However, there are plenty that do.  It is important to note that the terms will differ and it is advisable to do your homework in advance. Speaking of doing things in advance, one of the most important things a potential buyer should do is to get pre-q... 08/19/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - While much of the country continues to suffer through a difficult housing market, the Gulf Coast City of Port Aransas continues to be a popular choice for vacation and second home buyers.  Most of the real estate buyers in "Port A" call San Antonio, Austin, Houston or Dallas home. The Texas economy has proven to be remarkably resilient.  Buyers from large and small inland Texas communities are the lifeblood of the Mustang Island real estate market.  The trends in 2009 have seen some price decreases for condos and homes with residential lots being the only segment of the market to experience major pricing reductions.  One option that makes vacation home ownership in Port Aransas quite attractive is the ability generate rental income when the property is not being en... 08/16/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - In the August 2009 edition of Texas Monthly Magazine, a hungry team of intrepid explorers set out to find the 50 best burgers in Texas.  Their quest lead them to Port Aransas and more specifically to the Port Aransas Brewing Company. Their very own "Stopher Burger" landed at number 44 in the statewide burger search.  KIII TV 3 from Corpus Christi covered the story with a live, on-location broadcast earlier this week (Video). Thank you for visiting the Port Aransas real estate blog. Keith McMullin – Broker/Realtor Search All Port Aransas Listings 08/15/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - I love my job.  Selling real estate is one thing, but showing people how they can enjoy a laid-back, island lifestyle that is only a few hours from home and a world away from life in the big city...well, that's the fun part.  Over the next couple of weeks there will be a series of posts that will seek to answer the FAQ of Vacation Home Ownership in Port Aransas.   Part One asks a simple question "Why Port A?" The subtitle could also read something like "So you think you want a place on the beach and you can't decide between South Padre Island, Galveston or Port Aransas."   The Texas Gulf Coast offers something for everyone.  Having grown up in Houston, I have been to Galveston on countless occasions and love the historical aspects of this majestic coastal city.  Th... 08/14/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - If you are planning a trip to the best little beach town in Texas and need to find the perfect place to lay your head, check out the accommodations at CCMS. Condominium Consulting Management and Services, Inc (CCMS) incorporated in 1984. They are the largest condo management company on Mustang Island.  If you are searching for Port Aransas condo rentals, you will undoubtedly find one of their many properties.  Popular condos such as:  The Aransas Princess, Sandcastle, Sandpiper, La Mirage and many more are professionally managed by CCMS.  The CCMS website makes it easy to book a place to stay in Port A.  It also allows you to take a virtual tour of the condos.  First-time Port A vacationers will appreciate all the visitor information with area activities and attrac... 08/12/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Like any good tourist beach town, there are plenty of wonderful places to eat in Port A.  People often drive from neighboring towns just to enjoy a meal at one of the many popular restaurants.  The selection offers something to suit every palate and budget.   While on vacation, it is not uncommon for a long day of fishing or beachcombing to lead to odd times for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  While many places call it quits at 9:00 or 10:00 at night, there is a great place to eat and it is open until 2:00AM.  The Wild Horse Saloon & Grill is the perfect place for late night dining in Port Aransas. They invite you to enjoy their laid-back atmosphere and hospitality.  As their website puts it, "Who says you can't have amazing food in a saloon...Moderately famous hand-... 08/10/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Tourism continues to be the lifeblood of this Mustang Island community.  Business is booming as families have decided to visit the coast this summer.  Perhaps it is the "staycation" phenomenon that has become a popular option in recent years.  Holiday weekends such as July 4th in Port Aransas have been very busy. For many, a vacation in Port Aransas must take place in a beach house.  As the name would suggest, the Port A Beach House Company has exactly what you are looking for in Mustang Island rentals.  They offer 22 luxury beach homes ranging from quaint three bedroom cottages to large Gulf view homes big enough for multiple families to share.  Their website features photos and in-depth descriptions of each home as well as the availability for the coming months. ... 08/08/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - This Summer may go down as the busiest tourist season ever.  Hotels and condos have been booked and the beaches packed.  Port Aransas and Mustang Island vacations appear to be more popular than ever.  Most people come for the relaxing days on the water or at the beach. These days more and more people from Houston, San Antonio, Austin and other Texas Cities are also enjoying the live music venues that "Port A" has to offer.  The Back Porch Bar is synonymous with live music in Port Aransas.  For over eight years, musicians have enjoyed playing for laid back, appreciative fans outdoors at The Back Porch. Located at 132 W Cotter on the waterfront, "The Porch" offers a relaxing place to visit with family and friends.  During the day, you can enjoy watching the activity ... 08/06/2009

PORT ARANSAS, Texas - Woody's Sports Center has long been known for bait, tackle and fishing charters.  That is still true as fisherman come to Port Aransas in record numbers.  These days visitors are also enjoying activities beyond fishing and beachcombing. Dolphin Watch Nature Tours are popular year-round.  They offer safe, comfortable boat trips to the waters surrounding Port Aransas.  There are also educational resources for teachers and these tours are popular field trips that offer students valuable opportunities to learn about the bay ecosystem. Parasailing in Port Aransas has been going strong for over eight years.  Sky High Adventures offers a unique view of the island from several hundred feet in the air.  The paracraft boat allows customers to take off and land from the boat ... 08/04/2009