The beautiful Texas Coastal community of Tiki Island, is located just 35 mile from Metropolitan Houston Texas. Traveling on Interstate 45 South, you will find this hidden jewel, just before crossing the Causeway onto Galveston Island
This quaint Village reside on a tiny peninsula in Jones Bay, 5 miles West of Galveston Island in Galveston County.
The homes are built around canals, leading into Galveston Bay. Keeping your vessel outside your back door is customary in this neighborhood, making for quick access to all sorts of water sports.
Fishing is the major sporting event in this community followed by cook - outs, parties with your neighbors, crabbing, skiing, boating and just plain relaxing!!!
This residential development came into existence in the late 1960's, but was not incorporated until 1982. Approximately 775 residents call the Village "Home".
The semi tropical climate makes year round outdoor living a pleasure. The climate averages 57 degrees in the winter months and 81 degrees in the summer. The area offers activities galore including, golf, theater, outdoor concerts, the beach, and of course more fine dining than should be allowed.
The prestigious University of Texas Medical Branch is just 8 short miles away. However, should you need the exemplary Texas Medical Center it is just 30 miles from this paradise.
This wonderful area still boasts some of the cheapest 'least expensive' coastal waterfront available. If you are thinking of relocating, investing or just looking for a fabulous second home...this may be just what you are looking for!! Give me a call or go to my website www.GalvestonTexasForSale.com for more information.
With our first Hurricane "Bertha" in the Atlantic, it is a great time to review our Disaster Plans. Since living on the Texas Gulf Coast and seeing what an evacuation is like, I learned quickly that one can NEVER be over prepared.
There are many things you must think about as you enter Hurrican Season (June-November) First and foremost keeping you & your family safe at all times, this includes your pets.
Start by making a list of your Disaster Supplies:
Water - At least 1 gallon daily/person for 3-5 days
Food- At least enough for 3-7 days...Non-perishables packaged or canned foods/Juices. Special foods for elderly, infants and those with special dietary needs. Snack foods. Non-electric can opener, paper plates/plastic utensils
Blankets/Pillows/Towels, etc. Clothing- Seasonal, rain gear, sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs / Toilettries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes / Flashlight & batteries, NOAA Radio (battery operated) Telephones fully charged with extra batteries and chargers. Cash with some small bills & crediti cards - Banks and ATMs may NOT be available for extended periods Keys toys, books and games for the kids. Tools - keep a set with you at all times, Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Important Documents in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag..including Insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Seurity Cards, passports and any other document of importance.
And of course ..don't forget your best friends!!
Pet Disaster Supply Kit: Proper Identification , including immunization records, Ample supply of food & water, medicines A pet carrier, muzzel, collar and leash. Keep a current photo.
Remember a disaster / evacuation is never a planned trip, but you can take a lot of worry, anxiety and stress out of it.....by simply BEING PREPARED!!!!!
Great Canal front home in Bayou Vista, Texas. A Small, intimate community built around 13 canals which lead out to the Bay and into the gulf of Mexico. Just minutes from Galveston Island, and only 40 minutes from Metropolitain Houston.
This 2/1 up and 1/1 guest quarters down, boasts a complete make over.
So much attention to detail, it would make the serious HGTV fan envious.Large open living space with vaulted, beamed ceiling. Great kitchen..for the cook in your family. Large kitchen island and bar. Dining room with tons of windows out to the water. Decorator ceiling fans in each room. Designer colors throughout
The breezway & landscaped yard make entertaining a snap. Fenced yard with Koi pond and fabulous follage.
This home would make a perfect fulltime or weekend Bay Home for the avid Angler. And if you love the Galveston coast..this may be your home. Asking just $227,000 ....A great buy...
Summer is definately here on the Texas Gulf Coast.
You can now expect temperatures in the 87 degree and above zone. Fishing, crabbing & water sports are now in full blown fast forward. Neighbors talking over the fence, barbaques flaming with the wonderful smells of dinner!! It doesn't get any better than this!!!
Real Estate SHOULD be in full swing. Buyers, sellers and Agents viewing all those new listings and offers aplenty. BUT ..... Where is everyone??? Interest rates are down, prices are sliding down, inventory is down..AND SO ARE SALES!!!
Typically these are the busiest months in the year for Coastal Property sales.
April has started out slow. APRIL 2007161 CLOSED -VERSUS- APRIL 2008108 CLOSED(These numbers reflect only the solds in the Galveston MLS) www.galvestontexasforsale.com
The article "Recognizing Mortgage Fraud" in the March/April issue of Title News magazine (Volume 87, Number 2, pages 16-21) gives some great tips on how to spot the "red flags" to prevent a disaster from happening, some of which are included below:
Recognizing Mortgage Fraud
Real estate and mortgage fraud stories are all over the news. Learn some of the red flags to prevent a disaster from happening.
Mortgage fraud is being declared by many as real estate's white-collar epidemic. This type of fraud is quite complex and difficult to spot, which then makes it even more difficult to police. Artificially inflated homes that are either difficult or impossible to refinance or sell, lead to an increase in foreclosures. That in turn leads to deteriorating neighborhoods and an increased hardship for the people living in those communities and our industry as a whole.
According to the FBI Web site, the top ten states experiencing mortgage fraud in 2006 were California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Utah and TEXAS
There are two main types of mortgage fraud: Fraud for Property and Fraud for Profit.
Fraud for Property makes up approximately 20% of all fraud cases while Fraud for Profit makes up the remaining 80%.
Let's take a look at some of the different types of Fraud for Property schemes:
Occupancy Fraud- Buyer/Borrower or Mortgage Broker leads the lender to believe the buyer will occupy the property in order to obtain a lower interest rate.
Silent Second Mortgage- In this scenario, the buyer borrows the down payment from the seller but it is not disclosed to the lender. After closing, the buyer will make two payments, one to the mortgage company and one to the seller. The lender lends the money believing that the borrower used his own money for the down payment.
Disappearing Second Mortgage- The buyer supposedly borrows the down payment from the seller by means of a second mortgage. What the lender doesn't know is that the mortgage is not real and usually disappears after closing. The scheme is usually used for borrowers who require 100 percent financing but can't quality for it otherwise so the sales price is increased.
These are a few samples of Fraud for Profit:
Property Flip- This one you may be familiar with. Here's how it works. A buyer pays a low price for property, and then resells it quickly for a much higher price. It is not illegal to make a profit but it is illegal if an appraisal has been inflated to distort the value or if it is sold to an unsuspecting buyer and involves false information or statements. In many cases, funds derived from the second closing are used for the purchase in the first closing. The "flipper" seldom takes title or receives a 1099 for any profit made.
Two sets of settlement statements- One settlement statement is given to the seller showing the sales price he/she agreed upon while a second statement is sent to the lender showing a much higher sales price so the buyer can obtain a higher mortgage.
Fraudulent Qualifications- Real estate agents and/or mortgage brokers misrepresent the borrower's (aka "straw buyer's") ability to qualify for a loan by fabricating employment history, income verification, credit records or bank statement balances.
These are just a few examples of schemes being perpetuated at this time. The FBI considers industry insiders to include real estate professionals, appraisers, title companies, settlement agents and mortgage professionals and even if you are unaware that fraud is occurring in the mortgage part of your transaction you can still be held liable by a judge strictly based on your industry knowledge and licensing
One of the best and most prevalent examples of fraud is when the purchase agreement is presented to the seller, accepted, and then the price is later changed to fit the mortgage requirements. Say the original offer was accepted at $192,000.00 then the loan officer calls and says the sales price needs to be increased to $200,000.00 with $8,000.00 in seller concessions. The sales price is now inflated but where has the value increased. Why was the home worth $192,000.00 earlier and now suddenly it is worth $200,000.00? This scenario is still happening all too often. It is a creative way to allow the purchaser to get the closing costs paid in the mortgage amount, but the sales price can only be one amount. The sales price should be the amount reflected on the HUD-1 and it should be the same amount that the property transfer tax and the commission are based on.
According to federal law, the HUD-1 statement must contain accurate figures of all the debits and credits in a transaction.
How can you protect yourself? Below is a list of red flags that you need to be aware of:
Your customer doesn't have a driver's license or good form of identification
The earnest money check is made payable by someone other than the buyer
You receive a copy of the appraisal and the estimate of value is substantially higher than the sales price or seems in excess of value for the neighborhood.
The amount of the loan commitment is higher than the purchase price
A seller and buyer agree on a sales price, but the buyer's lender later asks that the contract be rewritten at a higher price to show the seller benefiting from a price differential.
Buyer offers more than the seller's asking price subject to a seller carry back. A separate addendum not referenced in the purchase agreement states the seller will release the second mortgage upon closing.
A buyer offers more than the asking price contingent upon the seller writing a check at closing that's made payable to a third party for renovations or decorating costs.
You perform a market analysis for a potential listing and discover that the property was involved in several recent sales and with large and unexplained value increases.
Property has been for sale for months without an offer and suddenly a buyer wants to make an offer at or above the listing price with no contingencies.
A lender closing official asks your client to sign blank documents.
Buyer's down payment is from a third party
REMEMBER If you feel uncomfortable about your transaction in any way.....
I was given this by a friend and I keep it out in a frame so I can read it everyday. It has brought me much peace and patience throughout the years...Hope you all enjoy!
The author is Anonymous
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturbyour peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person that you meet.
To make ALL of your friends feel that there is something special within them.
To look at the sunny side of life and make your optimism come true. To think only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every person you meet a smile. To give so much to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
BAYOU VISTA TEXAS is a small incorporated village built around 12 dredged canals, with access to Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This quaint village is located just off Interstate 45 South, 35 miles from HoustonTexas and 9 miles northwest of Galveston Island. Population is around 1700 and boasts its own police & fire departments and local government.
Living in Bayou Vista gives one the best of all worlds. Surrounded by all the interesting things that Coastal living can bring. Fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, beaches and coastal wild life.
There is always something going on..Fishing tournaments, boat parades, community dinner club nights, Garden club and so much more.
No one is a stranger in this great community. Neighbors watching out for each other and always there when someone is in need.
Evenings in Bayou Vista, brings many of the neighbors out to visit and discuss the local news and of course sharing of fishing stories. Some true and some...well...there is always the big one that got away.
All of the homes are built with high elvation according to the quidelines of FEMA. Each home having ample space for a boat house, lift and deck.
The mild climate makes enjoying the outdoors an everday event, with the natives coming by for a bite to eat!!
It is sometimes hard to believe this small, close nit community could be so close to such a large metropolitan area such as Houston, but it is. And I am so glad to have found it. The people, the water, the wild life...all that makes up such a great place to live.
No one will ever get out of this world alive. Resolve therefore to maintain a reasonable sense of VALUES.
Take care of yourself. Good health is everyone's major source of WEALTH. Without it, HAPPINESS is almost impossible!
Resolve to be Cheerful & Helpful People will repay you in kind.
Avoid angry, abrasive persons. They are generally vengeful. Avoid Zealots. They are generally Humorless!!
Resolve to listen more & to talk less.
No one ever learns anything by talking.
Be chary of giving advise. Wise men don't need it & Fools won't heed it!
Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving & tolerant of the weak & the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.
DO NOT equate money with success. There are many successful moneymakers who are miserable failures as human beings.
WHAT COUNTS MOST ABOUT SUCCESS IS HOW A PERSON ACHIEVES IT
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
The beautiful Texas Coastal community of Tiki Island, is located just 35 mile from Metropolitan Houston Texas. Traveling on Interstate 45 South, you will find this hidden jewel, just before crossing the Causeway onto Galveston Island
The homes are built around canals, leading into Galveston Bay. Keeping your vessel outside your back door is customary in this neighborhood, making for quick access to all sorts of water sports.
Great Canal front home in Bayou Vista, Texas. A Small, intimate community built around 13 canals which lead out to the Bay and into the gulf of Mexico. Just minutes from Galveston Island, and only 40 minutes from Metropolitain Houston.
Summer is definately here on the Texas Gulf Coast. 
Texas is dominating the list for 
.
All of the homes are built with high elvation according to the quidelines of FEMA. Each home having ample space for a boat house, lift and deck. 
hout it, HAPPINESS is almost impossible! 
;)
;)
