Archives for December 2021

Prep For The Cold?

December 27, 2021 By

BREAKING NEWS: Winter is upon us. “So what” you say? We live in S. Texas – it’s always warm, sunny, driveway drinks and pool parties weather around here. MYTH. We can and do get freezes! Who remembers last February? That was pretty extra and as atypical as it was, history CAN repeat itself.

I know we’re all tempted to start purchasing heat lamps and tents for our palms and delicate landscaping, but if you are among the majority who have children, pets, or anything with a heartbeat living under your roof, it’s best to learn from last year’s unfortunately scary and chilly events that to be prepared for inside is the best thing you can do.

Here are the top 5 ways to plan ahead to alleviate some of the discomforts of inclement weather.

  1. GENERATOR – get one. Any one. Small one, big one, an automatic one, propane tank one, whole-home, portable…red one, blue one, get one, run run. You will not want the precious food (or beer) in your fridge to spoil, and you want to be able to at least turn on a small-space portable heater. IF your fridge isn’t going to run on the generator you have, pull out what’s important to you and put it outside! You have a FREE freezer on your patio.
  2. PIPE INSULATION – remember having no water? Or worse yet, no water AND a burst line? Head to your favorite hardware store and grab some pipe insulation. Know where your main water line is and make sure you have enough insulation (or in a clutch situation, blanket and lots of duct tape) to wrap it. Let your faucets drip slowly to keep that water moving, and it is less likely to freeze. In the unfortunate event of a burst, turn them off immediately.
  3. HEAT SOURCE – if you failed to grab that generator, have a backup plan! If you have a fireplace, stockpile wood (and keep the flue closed when not in use!). Gas cooktops? Make sure you have a lighter to spark that bad boy up. If you followed rule #2, you’ll have water to boil for noodles, baby bottles, sponge bath…and while I give you a moment to get your mind out of the gutter…clear THEM, too! If there is debris in them, that melting ice could drip into your attic. Make sure your doors and windows have tight seals to keep drafts out.
  4. CHARGERS – have your battery packs ALL juiced up so you do not end up with a dead cell phone and no way to communicate with the outside world. Or no way to keep yourself entertained…Netflix never sounded so good. Furthermore, have a full tank of gas in your car in the event you DO need to charge your devices from there!
  5. STOCK UP – on weighted blankets, board games, books, wool socks, candles, beef jerky (a personal favorite but any non-perishable protein of your preference!), water (and wine…), flashlights and batteries, first-aid kit, and perhaps make an extra effort at making nice with your neighbors. Sometimes they’re the real saviors with a hot pot of coffee or a quick shower.

I repeat: we CAN and DO freeze! Stick to this top 5 list first, and pray we can save it all for 2072.

Filed Under: Barefoot Mardi Gras, buying a home, Hurricane Aide, Investment Property, New Homes Padre Island, selling a home, spring cleaning, windstorm insurance

Padre Island Housing Data – November 2021

December 17, 2021 By

The Local Real Estate Market is still going strong as we turn the corner into 2022!
Low inventory, consistent low interest rates that are still holding right now until the first quarter of 2022, where will see a likely small rate hike according the recent FED meeting.

Days on the market for sale has decreased to an average of 33 days on the market. 48.8% of all the sales in November were priced between $300,000 – $499,999. Median Price of homes has risen slightly by 10.8% to a price of $384,000. The market is certainly holding steady and it’s a still a phenomenal time to list your home with inventory nearing it’s lowest point of the year with increased buyers looking for their dream homes.

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!

 

Padre Island November 2021 Data (Click Pic below for Larger Image)

padre-island-housing-report-oct-2021

Filed Under: BeachWalk Development, buying a home, Corpus Christ Real Estate Data, Investment Property, Mortgages, Padre Isles POA, property taxes, Real Time MLS, realtors, selling a home

Great Tips for Holiday House Hunting

December 3, 2021 By

holiday-house-hunting

This time of year typically marks the unofficial time people begin thinking about the holidays. After Halloween, time seems to speed up and before we know it the holiday parties, charity functions and the like set in for familes. Real estate activity during the holiday season is typically discouraged because of the challenges posed on both sides of a transaction.

For sellers, there is the inconvenience of having to keep the home clean; leaving on a moment’s notice for showings; and limiting holiday entertaining. For buyers, there may be limited access to houses if sellers place showing restrictions due to personal schedules and commitments.

However there are some advantages and  other considerations that both sides should keep in mind.

Buyers will find fewer homes on the market, but the homes that are available have highly motivated sellers. This may provide a better negotiating climate, and there is less likely to be the type of competition for homes you see during high season. In turn, sellers will find equally motivated buyers, and may find that offers and closings move more quickly.  What this means is, bargains and negotiations are plentiful this time of year if you are working with a savvy real estate agent in corpus christi.

Holiday sellers should curb large plans to entertain, have family & friends stay over, or do excessive decorating. Focus on showing off the features of your home that will appeal to a buyer – not your family decorations and holiday traditions.  It sounds like a less attractive holiday, but the dividends will more than pay for themselves.  Remember to always keep a mindset of a buyer in mind.  Have a Happy and healthy holiday season!

Filed Under: buying a home, Corpus Christ Real Estate Data, corpus christi, Holiday Parties, New Homes Padre Island, North Padre Island, padre island events, Real Time MLS, realtors, selling a home