NORTH PADRE ISLAND HOUSING REPORT – FEBRUARY 2024

Corpus Christi Association of Realtors has posted the North Padre Island Housing Report for February 2024.

Our active listing median prices have dipped the past month to $403,700 this past month which is an 1.6% decrease from where it was compared to last Febuary at this time! CCAR shows us the data that is increasing for active listings by 82.3% with a total of 257 properties this past month while inventory Has risen at 8.6 compared to 2.8 last year at this time.

Days on the market for sale increased this past month with an average of 86 days and the highest categories for sales with 40.0% of all the sales being priced between $300,000 – $399,999. The market is still staying solid so far into 2024 with properties available across many pricing areas. North Padre Island’s newest development Whitecap NPI is open for sales of their lots in Phase 1, Contact Coastline Properties Agent Ms. Amber Spicak at their office for all pre-sales. amber@coastline-properties.com

We learned this morning that inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index was 0.4 percent in February and 3.2 percent over the past year. Core inflation, which leaves out volatile food and energy prices in order to better parse inflation’s underlying trend, was also 0.4 percent over the month and 3.8 percent over the last year.

Cheri Sperling is the owner of Coastline Properties with a dedicated team of agents specializing in residential listings, sales, and property management in the Padre Island real estate market. Coastline’s team is the most knowledgeable real estate office on Padre Island. No pressure style, patience, and an intimate understanding of the local market. They go to work for you!

 

North Padre Island Febraury 2024 Data (Click Pic below for Larger Image)

north-padre-island-housing-report-december-2023

Avoiding travel scams when planning for spring break

Spring break is a popular time for students to travel during a vacation from school. However, it
also presents an opportunity for scammers to offer fraudulent vacation rentals, flights, or hotels
designed to appeal to students and parents looking for a getaway. With spring break for many
Texas school districts occurring within the next month, BBB reminds consumers to be wary of
travel-related scams as they make their plans and finalize payments.

More than 55,000 travel, vacation, and timeshare fraud reports to the FTC in 2023 resulted in a
$120 million loss. Scammers often take advantage of consumer habits and capitalize on trending
internet searches, enticing consumers with great deals to popular destinations or all-inclusive
packages. While these scams persist year-round, they often increase in frequency during times of
the year that coincide with an increased interest in traveling, such as spring break and the holiday
or summer season.

To assist consumers in identifying and avoiding the most common travel scams, BBB provides
the following brief descriptions of the top five most-reported travel scams:

 Vacation rental con. These con artists lure in vacationers with the promise of low fees and great
amenities. The”owner” creates a false sense of urgency – such as telling potential clients that
another vacationer is interested in the rental – to get payment up before doing sufficient
research or questioning the ad’s legitimacy.
 “Free” vacation scams. When a cruise or travel company advertises a vacation as “free,” it does
not necessarily mean the trip is without cost or restrictions. Watch out for add-on fees for air
transportation, port charges, taxes, tips and other undisclosed fees.
 Hotel scams. When staying in a hotel, beware of scammers who use various techniques to
obtain credit card information, including fake front desk calls, free wi-fi connections and fake
food delivery.
 Third-party booking site scams. Use caution if you book your airfare, hotel, or other travel
arrangements through a third-party website. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of
scammers pretending to be online airline ticket brokers. In the most common version of the
scam, travelers pay with a credit card and, shortly after making the payment, receive a call from
the company asking to verify their name, address, banking information, or other personal details
– something a legitimate company would never do.

To avoid becoming a victim of a travel scam this spring break, Better Business Bureau
recommends prospective travelers follow these guidelines:

 Get trip details in writing. Before making a final payment, get all the trip details in writing.
Details should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties, and names of the
airlines and hotels. Also, review and keep a copy of the airline’s and hotel’s cancellation and
refund policies and the travel agency or booking site’s cancellation policies.
 Too-good-to-be-true deals. As is common in various scams, if the deal or discount seems too
good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use this tactic to lure in potential victims and use
aggressive “limited-time” language to entice travelers to pay before researching the business.

 Avoid wiring money or using a prepaid debit card. These payments are the same as sending
cash. Once the money is sent, there is no way to get it back. Consumers can dispute payments
provided via a credit card, making recovering funds a much simpler process.
 Call the rental owner. If you are not using a service that verifies properties and owners, do not
negotiate a rental solely by email. Many scammers don’t live locally. Speaking with the owner
on the phone and asking detailed questions about the property and local attractions will clarify
whether the listing is genuine. An owner with vague answers is a clear red flag.
 Unsolicited offers. Be cautious if you win a free trip without entering a contest or sweepstakes.
This is especially true if the offer is time-sensitive and requires the consumer to pay a processing
fee or risk it going to another “winner.” Check the official website of the company the offer
originates from to verify that it is legitimate.

For more tips on how to avoid travel scams, visit BBB.org/Travel.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a travel scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker.
Information provided could prevent another person from falling victim.

BBB Tip: Recovering from freezing temperatures while avoiding

BBB Tip: Recovering from freezing temperatures while avoiding unethical contractors and utility impostors

Over the weekend, plummeting temperatures and wintry weather mixtures have struck
communities across Texas, with many residents experiencing power outages, ruptured water
lines, hail damage, fallen tree limbs, or other issues due to below-freezing temperatures. As
home and business owners begin to thaw out in the coming days, many will discover a
variety of problems resulting from the sudden cold snap. While some homeowners can
easily handle cleanup and repair efforts, others will likely require the help of a professional.
Additionally, other residents may begin to piece together facts and receipts to learn they
interacted with an impersonated utility company that demanded immediate payment or a
fraudulent online seller advertising winter weather and emergency products.

After significant weather events that are likely to result in property damage, Better Business
Bureau typically receives an increase in reports of unethical contractors operating across
affected regions. Commonly referred to as ‘storm chasers,’ many businesses offering
services to residents negatively impacted by severe weather are well-respected and
legitimate. However, among these groups are those who would take advantage of a
homeowner in need rather than provide any meaningful service.

Some common issues reported to BBB in these types of situations include:
 The contractor requires a significant deposit (over 50% of the total estimate) from
the property owner and then continually postpones the start date until
communication stops. Any effort by the homeowner to contact the business is
unsuccessful, and the business’s physical location is either too distant to travel to,
abandoned, a residential home for sale, or a vacant lot.

 The homeowner is approached by a contractor who claims they have excess material
left over from a nearby project, and the business can pass the savings on to the
homeowner if they can start work immediately. Once the contractor begins the
project, the scope of work expands far beyond what was initially estimated, and the
homeowner is held accountable for paying a final bill that is significantly more
expensive than they expected.

 Repairs on systems requiring specialized work (plumbers, electricians, HVAC
technicians, etc.) are done by an unlicensed individual, leaving the homeowner liable
if the contractor did not do the repairs correctly or did not comply with the applicable
housing codes.

Property owners are encouraged to verify that the provided licenses are valid by checking
with the appropriate regulatory agency. In Texas, the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation and the Texas Department of Agriculture are two of the most likely agencies that
hold licenses for businesses that property owners may call upon to help recover from
freezing temperatures.

Decreasing temperatures also allow utility scammers to take advantage of people’s fears of
being without heat during the cold weather. Be wary of texts, phone calls or emails from the
utility company that services your area claiming that they will shut your heat off
immediately unless an outstanding bill is paid. According to the Public Utility Commission of
Texas, an electric utility company cannot disconnect a customer anywhere in its service area
on a day when:

The previous day’s highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and
the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours,
according to the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) reports.

NORTH PADRE ISLAND HOUSING REPORT – JANUARY 2024

Corpus Christi Association of Realtors has posted the North Padre Island Housing Report for January 2024.

Our active listing median prices have dipped the past month to $356,000 this past month which is an 8.5% decrease from where it was compared to last January at this time! CCAR shows us the data that is increasing for active listings by 77.9% with a total of 233 properties this past month while inventory Has risen at 7.5 compared to 2.5 last year at this time.

Days on the market for sale increased this past month with an average of 84 days and the highest categories for sales with 31.3% of all the sales being priced between $300,000 – $399,999. The market is still holding quite well moving into 2024 with properties available across many pricing areas. North Padre Island’s newest development Whitecap NPI is open for sales of their lots in Phase 1, Contact Coastline Properties Agent Ms. Amber Spicak at their office for all pre-sales. amber@coastline-properties.com

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.9% on a year-over-year basis in January, following a 3.4% gain in December. The largest contributor to headline deceleration was lower year-over-year prices for gasoline in January (-4.0%) compared with December (+1.4%)

Cheri Sperling is the owner of Coastline Properties with a dedicated team of agents specializing in residential listings, sales, and property management in the Padre Island real estate market. Coastline’s team is the most knowledgeable real estate office on Padre Island. No pressure style, patience, and an intimate understanding of the local market. They go to work for you!

 

North Padre Island November 2023 Data (Click Pic below for Larger Image)

north-padre-island-housing-report-december-2023

February 2024 Heart Health Month

The month of February is designated as Heart Month. This month strives to educate the
public about the importance of improving heart health. This endeavor aims to help people
identify and understand helpful adjustments that can be made to increase heart health. The term
“heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. In the United States, the most common
type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack. You can greatly
reduce your risk for heart disease through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medicine. There
are several everyday things that we can do in achieving healthier lives for 2024. With this
designation, both the American Heart Association along with the US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) have put out some great information.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news is that heart disease can
often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions.
Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for
people to make healthier choices. National trends show heart disease death rates are declining
more slowly than they have in the past, especially among adults ages 35 to 64. The CDC
Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and Million Hearts is focused on letting
younger adults know they are not immune to heart disease, but that they can reduce their risk—at
any age—through lifestyle changes and by managing medical conditions. For more information
and statistics about heart disease visit https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm.

Here are some tips from the CDC to take control of your heart health:
 Find time to be active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
 Make healthy eating a habit. Small changes in your eating habits can make a big
difference. Try making healthier versions of your favorite recipes by looking for ways to
lower sodium and trans-fat. Additionally, try to incorporate more fruits and vegetables.

 Quit tobacco. Smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products affects nearly every
organ in your body, including your heart. Visit the CDC website for great tips on how to
quit. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-
smoking/index.html?s_cid=OSH_tips_D9385

 Know your numbers. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are major risk factors for
heart disease. Ask your health care team to check your blood pressure and blood
cholesterol levels regularly and help you take steps to control your levels.
 Stick to the “script”. Taking your medications can be tough, especially if you feel fine.
However, focusing on your medication routine is important for managing and controlling
conditions that could put your heart at risk.

The American Heart Association (AHA) is an organization that helps bring heart health
knowledge, leadership, and resources to all levels of government. Whether it is the federal, state,
or local level, the AHA identifies ways of educating the public and develops systems of care that
work to help acute conditions, which will result in helping to improve the patient’s outcomes.
Many of these systems coordinate impacted people to help them recover, while also improving
the cost-effectiveness of their care. These systems of care generally are tailored by more
localized methods that focus on certain regions of the nation and individual states. The
Association uses collected data that helps a seamless transition from each stage of care. It is with
these types of awareness and outreach that they hope will save lives. If you would like to learn
more information about healthy tips on cardiovascular health, you can visit the American Heart
Association’s website at www.heart.org .

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week's article,
please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my
office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to
contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time
to assist with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office,
361-949-4603).

– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32

Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted
at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.

NORTH PADRE ISLAND HOUSING REPORT – DECEMBER 2023

Corpus Christi Association of Realtors has posted the North Padre Island Housing Report for December 2023.

Our active listing median prices have risen the past month to $465,750 this past month which is a whopping 34% increase from where it was compared to last December at this time! CCAR shows us the data that is increasing for active listings by 59.4% with a total of 212 properties this past month while inventory Has risen at 6.6 compared to 2.5 last year at this time.

Days on the market for sale increased this past month with an average of 62 days and the highest categories for sales with 27.3% of all the sales being priced between $500,000 – $749,999. The market is still holding quite well moving into 2024 with properties available across many pricing areas. North Padre Island’s newest development Whitecap NPI is open for sales of their lots in Phase 1, Contact Coastline Properties Agent Ms. Amber Spicak at their office for all pre-sales. amber@coastline-properties.com

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 306.746 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

Cheri Sperling is the owner of Coastline Properties with a dedicated team of agents specializing in residential listings, sales, and property management in the Padre Island real estate market. Coastline’s team is the most knowledgeable real estate office on Padre Island. No pressure style, patience, and an intimate understanding of the local market. They go to work for you!

 

North Padre Island November 2023 Data (Click Pic below for Larger Image)

north-padre-island-housing-report-december-2023

2024 Barefoot Mardi Gras Padre Island

Barefoot Mardi Gras 2024

Presented by COASTLINE PROPERTIES !!     

Why: To raise money for the Texas Sealife Center & Operation Finally Home

Fat Friday Kick-Off Party Sponsored By Todd Hunter

Where:                        Waterline Bar @ Doc’s Seafood & Steaks

When:                         Friday, January 19 th, 2024               –               6:00pm – 10:00pm

What:                          Let the celebration begin!!                   Food drink, music, and a huge silent auction with all proceeds going to our charities.

Barefoot Mardi Gras 2024 King & Queens Ball Sponsored by The Elect Michael McCauley Campaign

Where:                       Wyndham Resort Padre Island

When:                         Saturday, February 3, 2024   –                            7:00pm – 11:00pm

What:                          It all leads up to the Ball!    A new King & Queen will be crowned in an authentic New Orleans style procession. Music, food and adult fun. 21 and over please.

Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade 2024 Presented By Physicians Premier ER

Where:                       Whitecap Beach to the Briscoe King Pavilion at Padre Balli Park

When:                         Saturday, February 10, 2024   –                            11:00am

What:                          Fantastic entries expected with beads and candy throwing from unique creative floats, golf carts and walking groups.

For more information for tickets and entries, please check the website and Facebook page.

www.barefootmardigras.com

https://www.facebook.com/barefoot.mardigras

Contact email:      barefootmardigras@yahoo.com

BBB Tip: Five Resolutions For a Fraud-free New Year

The loss of money, personal information, and perseverance of scammers continue with online purchase scams as the riskiest of scams.

BBB recommends adding a few precautionary steps to the New Year’s resolution list and the weight loss and financial goals to help make the upcoming days and months fraud-free.

  • I resolve to be cautious with email.  Be wary of unsolicited emails from a person or a company. Remember, scammers can make emails look like they are from a legitimate business, government agency, or reputable organization (even BBB!). Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails.
  • I resolve never to send money to strangers. If you haven’t met a person face-to-face, don’t send them money. This is especially true if the person asks you to transfer funds using a pre-paid debit card or CashApp. Money sent to strangers in this way is untraceable, and once it is sent, there’s no getting it back. Scammers will try to trick you into panicking – so before making a move,  think the situation through. Don’t fall for it!
  • I resolve to do research before making online payments and purchases. Research the retailer before entering payment information when shopping online, or if asked to pay online, research the retailer before entering payment information. Ask: Is this a person or business I know and trust? Do they have a working customer service number? Where is the company physically located? Would I be making payments through a secure server (https://….com)? Have I checked to see if others have complained?
  • I resolve to use my best judgment when sharing my personal information. Sharing sensitive personal information with scammers opens the door to identity theft. Never share financial information, birthdate, address, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or Medicare number with an unsolicited caller.
  • I resolve to be social media smart. Use privacy settings on social media and only connect with people you know. Be careful about including personal information in your profile, and never reveal your address and other sensitive information – even in a “fun” quiz. Scammers may use this information to make themselves pass as friends or relatives and earn your trust. Also, be careful when buying products you see on social media. BBB Scam Tracker has received thousands of complaints about misleading Facebook and Instagram ads.For more information

For more information

To learn more about scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips. For more about avoiding scams, check out BBB.org/AvoidScams. If this scam has targeted you, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker.

NORTH PADRE ISLAND HOUSING REPORT – NOVEMBER 2023

Corpus Christi Association of Realtors has posted the North Padre Island Housing Report for November 2023.

Our active listing median prices have stayed steady the past month to $400,000 this past month which is a 8.6% increase from where it was compared to last November at this time! CCAR shows us the data that is increasing for active listings by 70.2% with a total of 240 properties this past month while inventory Has risen at 7.3 compared to 2.6 last year at this time.

Days on the market for sale decreased this past month with an average of 42 days and the highest categories for sales with 42.9% of all the sales being priced between $300,000 – $399,999. The market is still quite stable moving into 2024 with properties available across many pricing areas. North Padre Island’s newest development Whitecap NPI is open for sales of their lots in Phase 1, Contact Coastline Properties Agent Ms. Amber Spicak at their office for all pre-sales. amber@coastline-properties.com

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, after being unchanged in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Cheri Sperling is the owner of Coastline Properties with a dedicated team of agents specializing in residential listings, sales, and property management in the Padre Island real estate market. Coastline’s team is the most knowledgeable real estate office on Padre Island. No pressure style, patience, and an intimate understanding of the local market. They go to work for you!

 

North Padre Island November 2023 Data (Click Pic below for Larger Image)

north-padre-island-housing-report-october-2023

La Posada – Toys For Tots

With the holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect time for the residents of the
Coastal Bend to join together to assist those less fortunate. In the spirit of the holidays, I
wanted to take this opportunity to bring attention to certain efforts in our area that will
benefit many families this holiday season.

Toys for Tots is a nationwide campaign and has very strong roots and
participation in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport-Fulton, and the Coastal Bend
area. The initiative began in 1947, when Marine Major Bill Hendricks collected and
donated 5,000 toys to children in their city. The campaign was so successful that Marine
Reserve Units around the country began collecting and donating toys, under the shared
objective to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.” Since its inception
in 1947, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has distributed over 452
million toys to more than 209 million needy children across the country. Events are held
around the area to promote the Toys for Tots holiday drive effort from the public, along
with Marines from the local Naval Air Station who collect donations. With a great
military base, strong charity presence and generous-minded people and industry, District
32 is a great place for Toys for Tots to contribute to the children of our area. If you would

like to learn more or get additional info, please visit their website at: https://corpus-
christi-tx.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx
In addition to this great organization, there are many other charitable events in
the area occurring this holiday season. To find volunteer opportunities, you can look at
Feeding Texas’s website https://www.feedingtexas.org/get-help/. As we prepare for the
holiday season, let’s join together in helping the community and bettering the lives of
those around us.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week's
article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel
free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state
agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As
always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or
comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and part of Nueces County. He can be contacted
at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.