It’s Fall at the Water’s Edge
November 18, 2009
Hello Rockport Lovers!!
Just because we are a hidden little jewel on the Texas Coast, a bit of a backwater, don’t think we don’t know how to celebrate my very favorite special event, HALLOWEEN!!! Our fabulous Texas Maritime Museum (you MUST visit this place often) had a huge party for kids (meaning that Kadi and I went, she as the real and ravishing Anastasia, hiding out here, and I looked rather dashing in my Korean-era Warrant Officer’s fatigues.
The pretend Warrant Officer Jim and the pretend Anastasia Romanov Kadi
Adorable kids everywhere. Then off to our local Rockport High School’s haunted house, and it was! Great fun! Then off to a private party on the Jolley ranch
Halloween party hostess Kim and guest John
with our spooky friends Susan and John (Susan as an incredible Sarah Palin look-alike, great interviews all evening!! She knows how to wink and say “you betcha”!!)
More local fun…Kadi and I had delicious Mexican food at Kiko’s in Corpus Christi, took in a movie (“2012”), and the Texas A&M University Theatre’s production of “Arabian Nights” last Friday!! It was fabulous. And speaking of nights, don’t forget that one of the sparkling benefits of life here at the water’s edge is the very dark evening sky, meaning you can still truly appreciate the Big Dipper, Orion, and the Milky Way! Can you see them where you are with all those unnatural city lights?
Had you been here Sunday, you could have joined us on an afternoon sail
Jubille goes for a sail on Aransas Bay
on Jubilee…81 degrees, winds steady out of the SE at about 18 kts, saw several dolphins close to the boat, and what a magical time of year in Rockport/Fulton…the White Pelicans and Whooping Cranes are arriving! What a sight!
What do you think of this idea? As a modern version of “Message in a Bottle”, I suggested to my British grandson Sam we get our astronauts, while on a space walk, to accidentally let their tools “float” away from the space station with Sam’s name and twitter address on a tag tied to the tools! That way he might get a return message from someone on Mars! SETI with a twist!
You may not know that the naval base at Ingleside, TX is about to close this next spring. But guess what, there are already several private corporations wanting to sign up as tenants at the base! Texas A&M University has been hired to manage the development of the site, and will have the luxury of carefully picking the best tenants…those that will bring lots of jobs and introduce green industry to the area. Has to be good for Rockport/Fulton.
ADV
Thank heavens (and the Mayans!!)…I noticed in the movie “2012” that no tsunamis struck Rockport/Fulton, and they did not slide into Aransas Bay!! So that should give us all encouragement to continue with our plans to invest in real estate here!! Plus, did you remember that in the May ’09 issue of Coastal Living Magazine, Rockport was among the top ten coastal communities to live in, due in large part to our fab art community, some of the best salt water fishing on the planet, the super neat people who are already here, incredible natural beauty, very healthy environment, and great buys in property!!
As an example of a lovely waterfront 3/2 condo with a private boat slip, check out these 360 degree tour videos:
If any of you are in the new category of buyers called “echo boomers”, there are several homes available here for first time home buyers. Are “echo boomers” simply those who are bouncing around off the booms from “baby boomers”?
Comments? I’d love to hear from you!
Gorgeous Fall Coastal Weather
October 22, 2009
View from the deck
The weather is so wonderful! We coasties are enjoying our change of seasons. Fall is in the air with temps of 70 to 8o degrees. Kadi and I sailed last Saturday on Jubilee. The winds were perfect for sailors. We had a great 3-hour sail with good friends. You ought to come down and go sailing with us! Also, take a look at the great coastal properties available including a fabulous and rare condominium in Rockport, Texas with waterviews on three sides. Contact me at 361-463-9820 or at jim@lynnjohnsonrealty.com and I’ll send you the MLA link.
Rockport, Texas, waterfront homes, investment properties, canal front homes, condominiums, retirement living, vacation homes, art community, events calendar, coastal living, waterfront condominiums
Life at the water’s edge
October 19, 2009
LIFE AT THE WATER’S EDGE
Hello Rockport Lovers!
As always, great things going on here; SeaFair (last weekend) was a great success, in spite of a bit of rain (which we prayed for!!) Had you been here last Wednesday, you could have joined Kadi and me for an afternoon sail on Jubilee; the weather was glorious!! How lovely our bay is!! Let us know when you’re available, and we’d love to have you join us. We were out sailing again Sunday, perfect conditions, very relaxing!
Check out this Chamber website for upcoming local events: www.rockport-fulton.org , where the motto is: We “Hold the World at Bay”!!!); for example, coming up are The Texas Women’s Fly Fishers “Mullet Mixer” (has to be fabulous!); our regular Rockport/Fulton Farmers Market; the Third Annual Rockport Film Festival, several Master Gardner classes (at Texas A&M extension service), brown bag events, and perhaps best of all, our Rockport High School’s fabulous fall musical production of “Beauty and the Beast”, 24-25 Oct, and 31 Oct-1 Nov (opening night tickets include a dinner and backstage tour), there’s a Halloween Matinee and costumes are encouraged; all this happens at the Martha Luigi Auditorium on the campus!
-also always check out this great website: www.rockportartcenter.com/main; our Rockport Art Center has terrific exhibits, classes, etc; as an example, on 14 Oct thru 21 Nov, a spectacular juried exhibition called “Shorelines” will feature 40 artists from across the US!! And there will be a Halloween party at the Texas Maritime Museum, kids free!!
ADV: Local real estate news, featured properties, market trends, etc
Is the recession receding? Seems like most experts say yes. Dr Mark Dotzour, chief economist at the Texas A&M Real Estate Center (RECON), says three signs to watch for confirmation of this are: resolving the healthcare and “cap and trade” issues (which reduce uncertainty for businesses), watching our personal savings rate (consumer spending is 70% of our economy), and will corporate profits increase? This info from latest RECON newsletter.
Can your property in Rockport/Fulton be a hedge against inflation, if it rears its ugly head? Many economists say yes. “It still…pays to own a home.” The value of our coastal property is not likely to be seriously devalued over time, even in the midst of this Great Recession (unlike some other investment methods we know!). In addition to tax benefits, there are other intangibles offered by home ownership: a sense of independence, security and community. This community will really make you happy! And you get to live in your investment. Can’t do that with stocks or gold bullion!!
And, as we repeat in every blog, this is an IDEAL time to buy on the coast; there’s a healthy inventory of all kinds of homes and lots, there are multiple options for FINANCING, and rates are LOW!!
-for example, check with Greg Wallace, Kleberg Bank, 972-989-6556 for loans on land, homes, improvements, etc.
And Rockport/Fulton is perfectly positioned for expanding property values and income-producing property; there will be an increasing movement of folks to our lovely enclave because of our beauty, endless activities, accessibility from Texas cities, gorgeous weather, AND, our reasonable prices…so let’s go be by the SEA!! And guess what, almost all other coastal locations around the US are already overdeveloped, overpriced!!
And our precious little backwater and its variety of real estate options has strong market fundamentals for those who might be interested in buying homes or condos for long-term investment purposes. Property rental income here can significantly help offset the costs of ownership. You will likely have that “hedge” we mentioned, and, best of all, the added benefit of a better quality of life because you are a Rockport/Fulton property owner!!
In the LINK below you’ll see two examples of really fine and affordable homes in the area; an adorable California-style bungalow on Picton in Little Bay Shores, and a truly lovely and very classy home in the Rockport Country Club, both priced extremely well!! Call me if you’d like to preview these or any others. I would be proud to be your buyer’s agent.
Jim Wills, ABR
361-463-9820
PS: this blog is on the Internet at: rockporttxcoastalrealestate.wordpress.com
