September 18th, 2007 by Skip

BUYERS BUYERS – WE NEED BUYERS

WHERE ARE THE BUYERS ?

It’s that time again - the main tourist season is over for the year on South Padre Island – we locals  rest from now until January when the “Winter Texans” arrive in force and the cycle starts all over again – weekends will be busy with Valley visitors if the weather is good and a trip to the Island doesn’t interfere with local football – this is our time of the year to enjoy the Island  – what the tourists don’t know is that this is the best time of the year to be here – generally by the 2^nd week in October the first push of cooler air reaches us – the temperature drops a couple of degrees but more importantly the humidity drops out of the air – a very direct and distinct change in feel – time to open the windows and let the fresh air blow through – this is the most wonderful time of the year on the Island -

Historically, my best buyers for real estate on the Island have been in the fall – always fewer buyers but more serious ones – this year seems different – no calls saying they will be down and want to look at certain projects – no calls at all in fact – even my e-mails are being ignored after multiple points of communication over the year – I am hearing the same thing from many of my compadres who have been on the Island as long as I have – We were here in the 80’s – we understand the cycles – we walked the beach a lot – South Padre Island was a fantastic place to live – You couldn’t make a living here in the 80’s in real estate but what a great place to be while you weren’t making a living – that cycle is back but the elements are different - it won’t be as long this time but we will feel it none the less – for a very short period there will be some great  values available

Most of our buyers North of the Rio Grande River are from areas that have had a slowdown in their own real estate markets and worry about ours - Our Valley markets are very strong with some of the lowest mortgage problems in the country -  Brownsville and McAllen both are strong and stable - The Mexican economy appears strong and stable (one of the reasons that we have 3,500 permanent population with 5 banks) and those buyers are still there -

Now is the time to be looking to buy if you have any interest in having a vacation home on South Padre Island – lots of property is available and very few buyers in competition with you – you might start looking at how to take advantage of this “glitch” in the growth and development of one of the best kept secrets along the Gulf Coast – Cycles come and cycles go but the Sun and the Sand and the Surf are still here - its a great place to be

www.spirealestate.com

June 19th, 2007 by Skip

THEY CAME-THEY SAW-THEY CONQUERED

AND LIKE CAESAR THEY BUILT A MONUMENT

WE CALL IT

“THE MEDIAN”

At least on good days we call it “THE MEDIAN”. Other days we call it unprintable things depending on our mood, the amount of traffic and what we need to accomplish. But, by any name you want to call it, it represents a major change on South Padre Island. THE MEDIAN is the SYMBOL of THE NEW SOUTH PADRE ISLAND. (I planned on saying “new and improved South Padre Island” - but improved? – I’m not too sure of that - particularly after the last elections.)

The baby boomers have arrived and are changing the face of our sand spit. The Median, the New City Hall, improvements to the sidewalks, landscaping and city codes controlling signage and colors are creating a whole new and improved look for the Island. The baby boomers and retirees are demanding a more upscale environment to live in and they are getting it. I lament the losss of the old South Padre Island that I loved but progress and change are inevitable - so on with the NEW.

NOW IF WE COULD JUST BURY THOSE DAMMED UGLY POWER LINES.

Check Our Listings at www.spirealestate.com