Surfing is such a passion thing. Have you ever looked in the eyes of a surfer. If you have you have seen it. While out there on the water just waiting for the swell and then the wave to take them in. It must be something that just cannot be explained. I have only exiperienced it only what they show as they come to shore. It so shows!!! read more ...

I love my land and I love fishing out there!!! read more ...

Caracol is a very classy project with deep pocket developers behind it.  read more ...

If this was on the West Coast it would be 1 million ++. One of a kind! read more ...

I absolutely love what's going on down in Port O'Connor. This new project couldn't be in a better location to escape from the perils of everyday life in the city. If you want Targets and Wal-Marts and Nail Salons stay in the city, we'll keep the peace, quiet and serenity of coastal living. read more ...

This is a stunning west facing view over the bay and a superb master development plan. Can't wait to go back! read more ...

Does everyone know that this new "community" is 25 miles from the nearest significant retail outlet....the local Wal-Mart? And about an hr from any real retail presence in Victoria (Port Lavaca has little in the way of retail). Just thought it should be said for the out-of-towners. read more ...

How much did the lots go for? read more ...

I came down there to look at the Beachside site and Page Brockman showed me their other project at the Sanctuary...and I fell in love. Infratructures is well on its way. Gorgeous. read more ...

Roi Lee Repp is an integral part of the changing face of tourism in Matagorda County, Texas -- especially eco-tourism. The co-owner of Freebird Canoe and Kayak Rentals has brought a fun and healthy sport to her hometown, and is part of a tourism focus that is in the process of transforming this sleepy area of the Texas coast between Houston and Corpus Christi into a nature tourism hot spot.

But as important as Roi Lee and entrepreneurs like her are to this area's growing tourism economy, she readily admits her business has also transformed her life in just as a dramatic a way. The fit and trim 50-something had spent years working as a waitress before indulging her entrepreneurial instincts and starting her own company. The gregarious Roi Lee always loved working with the public, but was seeking a small business opportunity that would give her more freedom and financial independence. After attending tourism seminars hosted by the Matagorda County Tourism Consortium, Repp knew she was on to something.

Roi Lee liked the fact that kayaking was an activity that families could enjoy together, something she felt was lacking Matagorda County. It didn't hurt that a variety of paddling experiences that would appeal to novices as well as experienced canoers and kayakers was right in her back yard.

Floating down the Colorado River, paddlers can enjoy scenic vistas of rice farms and cattle grazing. Along Caney Creek's tree-lined banks you're likely to spot all kind of woodland bird species (Matagorda is one of the country's premier bird watching spots). Those looking for peace and solitude will enjoy paddling through the county's salt water marshes, rich with plant and wildlife.

Experienced paddlers create their own paddling adventure by taking advantage of the fact that many of Matagorda County's marshes, creeks, rivers and bays have been thoroughly mapped out. Novices might instead opt for a leisurely float down the Colorado River. Either way Roi Lee and partner Wayne Armstrong have the equipment and guide skills you'll need.

By:Cheri Sicard and Mitch Mandell  read more ...

Magnolia Beach has much open Ocean and Beachfront land for bargain prices. We desperately need developers. Come explore here. read more ...

caught fish while looking at this location... just looking around and this has more developed than any other location I have been to. read more ...

This is the first class property in Matagorda and around Matagorda County. Concrete streets,city water,sewr,power all underground and high speed internet, palm trees , life time bulk head and the best fishing in Matagorda county read more ...

I am familiar with this company. It has raised millions of dollars from various individuals and has basically run with the money as far as I can see.
I personally invested 20,000 dollars and have recieved nothing in return.
I know the CEO personally, and have no confidence in him whatsoever. read more ...

Many parts of Texas appear to be bucking the national trend of a soft real estate market. A lot of areas that have waterfront views really seem to be booming.

Great and informative article. Thanks for sharing. read more ...

Good find! Thank you for posting it I had not seen that story.

Keep it coming!


Jeffrey Owen
Owner/Chief Home Inspector
IonHomeInspection.com
Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land  read more ...

I'm so envious! I really enjoy surfing and I'm stuck up here in Kentucky. Only major water we have is the Ohio River. Not going to do much surfing on a river. Catch a wave for me. :) read more ...

I found your website that captures my interest while searching the internet for particular keywords related to real estates. This is a very informative blog of yours. Keep up the good work. You may also check Real Estate Investments and TIC Investments if it interest you for additional information's. Thank You... read more ...

Not sure how often you update your listings but I can tell you for certain that ALL of the lots in Larry's Harbor have sold. I know, because I own one. The rest were bought up right after we bought lot #81 (the yellow dot - that meant pending sale).

The only "lots" that are left are the commercial lots that are indicated with the red rectangles on the left hand side of that sign by the highway.

I suggest if anyone wants property there, they buy the commercial lots. read more ...

This place is gorgeous. I can't wait to see the completion. It will be amazing. read more ...

JUST GOT BACK FROME THERE TODAY. iT IS WORTH THE TRIP THERE.  read more ...

The people are great and the property is going to be fantastic. Page Brockman is one heck of a great guy. read more ...

Gator meat adds bite to your cooking

On a recent warm day, my family went kayaking at Armand Bayou, enjoying the sight of alligators sunning themselves along the banks. Afterward, we stopped for lunch at Dickinson Seafood, where a sign announced that fried alligator was on the menu. We immediately thought of the line from “The Big Lebowski”: “Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.”

In the case of Texas alligators, though, it’s a one-sided affair. Alligators here aren’t known to attack humans, but locals have a number of opportunities for eating gator, either in restaurants or at home.

Dickinson Seafood serves gator as an appetizer. Fried in crispy strips, the meat has a little more, well, bite than chicken.

“I like it because it’s tangy, and it’s a crispier texture,” server Jill Stewart said. “We serve a fantastic selection of seafood, in all sorts of combinations, and the alligator is a great way to start.

“I’d never had it before I started working here, but I really like it,” Stewart said. “It was a new taste for me, because I’m from Iowa, and there definitely aren’t alligators there.”

Laura Moore sells gator meat to intrepid local cooks at her family’s seafood stand, Mr. Moore’s Sonshine Seafood.

“We sell more than I thought we would,” Moore said. “People fry it, mostly. They also put it in stews and gumbos, or grill it.”

Alligator, the other, other, other white meat, is actually a healthy choice, at least before frying. Lower in cholesterol than chicken, a serving of gator meat has only 110 calories and two grams of fat.

Moore sells frozen alligator meat in one-pound packages, as do some area grocery stores.

“Our gator meat comes from Anahuac,” Moore said. “I look for the whitest meat I can find — that’s the sign of quality.”

Whiter meat is also less gamey tasting.
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New Web Giant Launches Portal Site – Plans on Dominating Web-based Real Estate Sector

04/12/2007
Chicago, IL based Profertee Realty Group, inc launches its much anticipated real estate portal site (www.profertee.com) Monday morning. Partnering with Melville, NY based American Home Mortgage(NYSE: AHM) and Home Buyers Marketing inc, Profertee’s site is boasting access to over 3.6 million real estate listings nation wide, as well as various premium new construction developments located in Orlando, Las Vegas, and Chicago, just to name a few. Profertee’s mission is to offer a free, user-friendly real estate shopping experience, while also providing additional value-added features such as investment groups, home-valuation tools through Zillow integration, useful real estate investing strategies, and free mortgage quotes through American Home’s retail channels. “We are truly a one-stop-shop”, says Profertee CEO Rhoniel Daguro. “The site has everything a user could want, but we really wanted to feature the premier new construction developments. That is something that no one is really organizing online, and we’ve taken things one step further by forming buyers into investment groups, giving them access to considerable savings at the various developments.”

Profertee also provides local one-on-one services through the thousands of realtors approved with Home Buyers Marketing, inc. Users can create an account on www.profertee.com to search over 3.6 million listings for a home anywhere in the US and still deal with a local partner agent once they are closer to buying. It is in this way that Profertee is providing the best of both worlds: the power of the internet + traditional local realtor partners. Navigate to www.profertee.com today and test drive their site. Also stay tuned for our follow up segment on Profertee in June.

Profertee – Prosperity in Property: Exclusive New Developer Condos http://www.profertee.com


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San Antonio and Austin are discussing the joint development of a new power plant in Matagorda County to help meet future electrical needs for the two growing cities.

The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday authorizing its city-owned electric utility, Austin Energy, to finalize an agreement with CPS Energy for the potential development of a future electric generation plant.

In December, San Antonio-owned CPS Energy’s board of trustees approved participating in site acquisition for the proposed joint venture.

Both utilities already are partners in STP — along with NRG Energy of New Jersey.

Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald said the proposed project “proves that our efforts in promoting Matagorda County have been successful.”

“Teaming with existing STP partners is a positive move for Matagorda County,” he said.

“We continue to encourage safe, clean and responsible industry to locate in our region. Working closely with Bay City Mayor Richard Knapik and Palacios Mayor Joe Morton, we look forward to our county being a leader in power production for the state of Texas.”

Knapik added that “being part of the solution to the projected statewide power shortage proves Matagorda County will play an important role in the future of our state.”

Nothing has been decided on how a power-generation site in Matagorda County would be developed, said Milton Lee, CPS Energy general manager and CEO.

“If we’re able to move forward with development of a power-production site in Matagorda County, we hope it can be a win-win-win for CPS Energy customers, Austin Energy customers and the citizens of Matagorda County.”

Austin City Council’s resolution authorizes the city manager to buy land, options to purchase land, and related water rights at a Matagorda County site — should the council later approve building and operating a power plant and to obtain all necessary permits, rights and licenses for such a project.

A CPS press release Thursday said “Matagorda County — near the Texas coast and home to the South Texas Project (STP) nuclear power plant — has been identified as a preferred site for a prospective generating station because of existing infrastructure and workforce availability.”

Plans for a power plant in Matagorda County have been widely discussed in Austin and San Antonio newspapers during the past several days and whether a coal-fired plant is among the options.

Officials at both utilities insist, newspaper accounts said, that coal is among several energy options being considered — and that decision is still a long way off.

It also has been reported the county is suited in many ways for an integrated gasification combined cycle coal (IGCC) plant. Gasification converts coal into a gas and removes most of the pollutants before it is burned. Gasification plants also involve capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions.

Austin Energy officials quoted in Austin newspapers said that Matagorda County also is considered as a power plant site because of underground salt domes in the area, potential sites for storing carbon dioxide.

Asked why the two utilities were eyeing Matagorda County, an Austin Energy official was quoted as saying, “If you’re going to do IGCC, you need a site with rail and (natural) gas” availability, as well as “a place to sequester carbon, like salt domes or depleted oil fields.”

Austin city council’s resolution said that any property acquired for a potential plant will never be used to build or operate — nor partner in — a generating plant that employs coal-burning technology other than “clean coal” technology. “Any future investment in coal-powered electric generation shall use the cleanest technologies available, reducing emissions of pollutants to lowest achievable emissions rates of carbon dioxide are captured and sequestered or put to a beneficial reuse,” the resolution reads.

STP is a big part of Matagorda County’s appeal to Austin Energy and CPS. CPS notes that STP consistently ranks at or near the top among nuclear power plants nationwide in cost effectiveness and productivity.

STP generates millions of dollars in annual economic activity in Matagorda County through plant payroll, the purchase of supplies and services and community outreach, according to the CPS statement.

CPS Energy and Austin Energy officials said they are interested in expanding their community partnership with Matagorda County.

Securing a future site for power-plant construction is part of CPS Energy’s Strategic Energy Plan and aligned with the company’s fuels diversification program. This enables CPS Energy to select from a portfolio of fuels – nuclear, coal, natural gas, fuel oil, wind, solar and even landfill gas – to produce electricity.

“This is all about keeping our options open for the future,” Lee said. “We continue to add 1,000 to 2,000 customers every month, so we are always exploring ways to meet our customers’ energy requirements and still remain the lowest-cost energy provider among the nation’s largest cities.”

Nothing has been decided on how a power-generation site in Matagorda County would be developed, said Milton Lee, CPS Energy general manager and CEO.

“We continue to see steady growth in Greater San Antonio,” he said, “so we’re constantly looking for ways to provide reliable, cost-competitive energy for the future in an environmentally responsible manner.

“If we’re able to move forward with development of a power-production site in Matagorda County, we hope it can be a win-win-win for CPS Energy customers, Austin Energy customers and the citizens of Matagorda County.”

Bay City Tribune  read more ...

Ethanol plant will be built at Port of Victoria

A new ethanol production facility, which is expected to generate about $200 million in new revenue and create 40 to 50 new jobs, will be built at the Port of Victoria.
Lone Star Ethanol has signed a letter of intent with the Victoria County Navigation District to construct and operate the facility in the Port of Victoria Industrial Park.
Officials with the company and the port are expected to officially announce the new venture today at a 2 p.m. news conference at the port.
"More than 200 construction jobs will be created with a full-time workforce of 40 to 50 employees," Lone Star Ethanol Executive Director Ronald White said in a news release.
The plant will process corn and sorghum into fuel ethanol providing for a "homegrown" renewable gasoline blending component for Texas residents, White said. The project will provide a "significant new market for Texas agriculture products and will increase revenue for the local agricultural community."
Lone Star expects to complete the permitting for the facility in the second quarter of this year, with construction expected to begin immediately thereafter. Production startup is expected by mid-2009.
The plant will be able to produce 100 million gallons per year of denatured fuel grade ethanol, which will meet all specifications for use in U.S. gasoline, according to the news release.
"The Port of Victoria is an attractive site for the Lone Star facility because of transportation accessibility of the Victoria Barge Canal, the Gulf Intracoastal waterway system, rail lines and four-lane divided highways," said Lee Swearingen, Victoria County Navigation District chairman.

He added that the transportation corridors will enable Lone Star Ethanol to reach markets across Texas, Arizona, California and the Northeast. The Gulf Intracoastal waterway, via the barge canal, will facilitate barge shipments to refiners and terminals along the Texas Gulf coast and beyond.
"The port will continue to expand economic development and create jobs because of our unique location on the coast and our ability to facilitate partnerships that are good for Texas," Swearingen said.
Lone Star will team with the Farmers Co-op of El Campo to provide the grain to the facility and will market the by-products. The co-op operates three large grain-holding facilities in Texas, including one adjacent to the new plant.
The Port of Victoria and Industrial Park are located southeast of Victoria on Farm-to-Market Road 1432
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Superb real estate deals surface during holidays

Sellers benefit from pool of serious buyers
If you are a serious home buyer, the absolute best time of the year to buy is between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day, even extending through Super Bowl Sunday in many cities. The reasons are (1) few home buyers are in the market during the holiday season so competition is low and (2) house and condo sellers who have their homes listed for sale now are usually highly motivated to sell and will listen to any reasonable purchase offer.

There is an additional special reason the 2006 holiday season is a great time to be a home buyer: it's a home "buyer's market" in most communities. That means even during this slow holiday season, when most unmotivated sellers take their listings off the market, there are more homes listed for sale than there are qualified buyers searching for homes.

However, thousands of home sales take place during this "slow season." New-home builders are anxious to close sales by Dec. 31, 2006, so they are offering amazing sales incentives such as (1) no mortgage payments for several months, (2) free upgrades, (3) no closing costs, (4) 100 percent mortgage financing, and (5) even reduced sales prices.

But sales incentives for buyers of resale homes are different. Motivated sellers (and their anxious listing agents) are willing to listen to all reasonable purchase offers. Buyer negotiation strategies include asking for the seller to pay the mortgage loan fee and/or nonrecurring closing costs. In other words, it's a great time to be a home buyer.

HOME SELLER BENEFITS OF SELLING DURING THE SLOW SEASON. If you are a motivated home seller, especially in the lower price ranges in your community, this can be a superb time of year to sell.

Buyers who are in the market now are usually very anxious to buy, perhaps motivated by a job transfer, marriage or divorce, birth or death in the family, down-payment gift from parents, year-end salary bonus, or other buying incentives.

As a home seller, you won't have as many prospective buyers as during the peak home sales season of March through June in most communities, but home buyers at this time of year are usually very serious.

For example, many home buyers want to close their purchases by Dec. 31 to claim the extra tax deductions, such as for loan fee points, pro-rated property taxes, and prepaid mortgage interest. However, if you can't move out by year-end, you can probably rent-back for a month or two from the buyer providing the sale is recorded before New Year's Day.

An extra seller bonus is if the home was your principal residence at least 24 of the last 60 months before the sale, Internal Revenue Code 121 gives you up to $250,000 tax-free capital gains (up to $500,000 for a qualified married couple filing a joint tax return).

HOW TO EARN TOP DOLLAR FROM YOUR HOME SALE. To earn top dollar from your home sale requires making your residence show its best. Although the weather outside might not be perfect, the interior of your home can sparkle.

The most profitable but least expensive home improvements include painting, cleaning and repairing. Fresh interior paint is, by far, the most profitable improvement. Other profitable moneymakers that add more market value than they cost include new light fixtures, new carpets and flooring, and new plumbing fixtures. Your goal should be to make the residence as close to a "model home" as possible.

A recent innovation for home sellers who want to sell for top dollar is to "stage" the residence. That means a professional decorator or "stager" refurbishes the residence, often removing the seller's dingy old furniture and bringing in rented furnishings to show prospective buyers how desirable your home really is. Spending several thousand dollars for home staging usually pays off with a faster sale for top dollar.

HIRE THE BEST LISTING AGENT. If your home is not already listed for sale, interviewing at least three successful local real estate agents can pay off in many ways. Even if you think you can sell your home alone (called "for sale by owner," or "FSBO") without a professional agent, interviewing three or more agents will show you the market value of your residence.

The agents you interview won't mind. The reason is they know most FSBOs decide within 30 to 60 days to hire a professional agent, usually one of the agents already interviewed.

Five key questions to ask each interviewed agent include:

1. HOW MUCH CAN YOU GET FOR MY HOME? This is a trick question. Ask it anyway. After inspecting your home, each agent should prepare a written CMA (comparative market analysis). Disregard any agent who doesn't give you a CMA.

Each CMA form shows (a) recent sales prices of comparable nearby homes within the last few months; (b) asking prices of similar neighborhood homes (your competition); and (c) asking prices of recently expired listings in the vicinity (usually overpriced). Based on the CMAs, each agent should then give you his/her opinion of your home's market value. Beware of any agent who either estimates an abnormally high asking price (called "buying the listing") or recommends a very low asking price (called "low balling").

The key reason to interview at least three successful agents who sell homes in your vicinity is to compare their CMAs, their recommended asking prices, and their client references.

2. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO SELL MY HOME? The best agents will recommend a 90-day listing. That is plenty of time for a successful agent to sell your home. If your listing doesn't sell within 90 days, but you are pleased with the agent's service, you can always renew. However, if you selected a "bad agent" then you are not stuck for a long term.

Some agents, when begging for a longer listing, will point to "average days on the market" your community, which might be 110 days. If an agent says that, your instant reply should be, "Well, I don't want to hire just an average agent. Do you know any superior agents?"

However, if the best agent interviewed insists on a listing term longer than 90 days, be sure it contains an unconditional cancellation clause after 90 days. Then you won't get stuck with a lazy or incompetent agent for a long time period.

3. WHAT IS YOUR MARKETING PLAN FOR MY HOME? The best agents will anticipate this question and hand you a prepared marketing plan for your home.

Such a plan should include at a minimum use of the local MLS (multiple listing service), listings on Internet Web sites including www.Realtor.com, advertising in newspapers and local home sales magazines, weekend open houses, and special broker agent tours.

4. HOW MANY LISTINGS DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE AND WHAT PERCENT OF YOUR LISTINGS SOLD IN 2006? The answer will reveal a "numbers agent" who has lots of listings but sells only a low percentage.

Ask how many assistants each agent has and if you will be dealing with the agent or an assistant. Inquire how often you will hear from the agent with progress on the sale of your home. The answer should be "at least once a week."

Solo agents without assistants can usually handle 15 to 20 listings at most. New, inexperienced agents might have only a few listings, but perhaps they can devote more time to getting your home sold. However, be wary of any part-time agent unless that agent comes very highly recommended by a trusted friend or relative.

5. WHAT ARE THE NAMES AND PHONES OF YOUR LAST FIVE HOME SELLERS? The best agents will anticipate this key question in their listing presentations. Before signing a listing, take time to phone each agent's seller references to ask, "Were you in any way unhappy with your agent and would you list another home with the same agent again?"

COUNTEROFFER EVERY OFFER. Especially during this slow holiday home sales season, when you receive a purchase offer, if it is not acceptable be sure to make a written counteroffer. Many buyers love to negotiate and test home sellers (and their agents). A counteroffer will keep negotiations open to show if the buyer is serious and if there is any possibility of a sale.

But bear in mind an old real estate motto: "The first offer is often the best offer." If the first purchase offer you receive is acceptable, grab it rather than risk losing that buyer during this slowest sales season.

(For more information on Bob Bruss publications, visit his Real Estate Center).
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Seadrift, Texas, is a shy, quiet little town, hidden in the Gulf Bend, with the proud distinction as the only city on the San Antonio Bay. Seadrift is located in Calhoun County, in Southeast Texas.

With direct access to such "Texas gems" as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and Matagorda Island, Seadrift also boasts some recreation of its own. Water sports of all kinds are easily accessed from our Bay Front Park, with its own harbor, public boat ramp, playground, and pavilions, as well as several nearby beaches.

The community of Seadrift welcomes and encourages new business growth and development.  read more ...