Category Archives: Beach Homes

Second Home Sales Surged in 2011 by 65%, Vaca Home Sales Up by 7%

Written by Candy Evans on March 30, 2012

It had to happen sooner or later, especially with prices slashed and dashed by 40 to almost 60% in some markets. But sales of second homes, some vacation, most investment, shot up in 2011. The combined sales of vaca and investment homes was at the highest it has been in this country since 2005. The NAR says purchases of investment homes rose by more than 64%. Buyers rushed in to take advantage of those slashed prices and low finance rates, when, that is, they could obtain financing. Meantime, sales of vacation homes were up 7 percent.

Posted in Beach Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Calistoga Ranch, Investment, Investment Buyers, Lawrence Yun, vacation home sales | 3 Comments

Affordable Second Homes: The Palms Private Residences Club Nets You Paradise for $129,000 — Pura Vida in Costa Rica, a SecondShelters Field Trip

Written by Candy Evans on March 21, 2012

“I have never been so close to the sand while sleeping in a luxury bed.”

I have been to Costa Rica now twice, first as the guest of Hillwood, Ross Perot Jr.’s Fort Worth-based company, second as the guest of The Palms Private Residence Club. Guess which spot I love more?

Posted in Beach Homes, Celebrity Homes, Retiring in Style, Second Home deals, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged affordable second homes, Beach homes, Brangelina, Central America, Costa Rica, Dallas real estate news, Fractional Home Ownership, Guanacaste, Private residence clubs, The Four Seasons, The Palms, The Palms Private Residences Club | 3 Comments

Big Is Back: Living Large Never Went Out of Style When It Comes to Second Homes

Written by Candy Evans on February 14, 2012

Read this story on CandysDirt about how the rich seem to be accelerating the size and scope of their new homes. Then know this: whatever is happening to the primary home market is being mimic’ed in second and third homes. Prices may be soft, but the rich are getting out their checkbooks for beach homes and mountain ski palaces. Told you about Jon Huntsman’s dad, right?

Posted in Beach Homes, Lake homes, Loan Ranger, Mountain Homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Second homes and luxury real estate | Comments Off

Second Home Spotlight: Cinnamon Shore Rocks Dallas at The Marquee Grill, and Guess Who Showed Up To Party?

Written by Candy Evans on February 2, 2012

Jeff Lamkin says he flew a plane across the Texas Gulf coast a few years ago, and about five minutes after he landed plunked a couple million dollars down on Texas beachfront dirt. Jeff is the developer of Cinnamon Shore on Mustang Island near Port Aransas, a beach front development done “Seaside-style” in the new Urbanism mode that is giving buyers an upscale taste of living on the Texas coast: it’s as good, if not better, than Florida’s panhandle coast. (Certainly, it’s much closer!) And, according to Jeff, Texas is a great buy. Maybe, in fact, the ONLY buy. Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Cinnamon Shore, Cinnamon Shore Jeff Lamkin, Ebby Halliday, Jeff Texas, Specifically Lamkin, Texas | 2 Comments

Cinnamon Shore Is Coming To Dallas: A Texas Second Home Report

Written by Candy Evans on January 26, 2012

The folks from Cinnamon Shore are coming to Dallas on Monday, January 30. Email me if you’d like to come & learn more!

One of my favorite vacation home destinations is Cinnamon Shore on Mustang Island in southern Texas, just about an hour south of Corpus Christi, and maybe five miles west of the charming fishing village of Port Aransas. It’s a budding beach community development and poster child for New Urbanism. CS captured my heart when I visited last March. If you’ve ever been to Seaside, Florida, or the St. Joe clone of Watercolor, you will see that Cinnamon Shore is a Seaside clone in Texas. And there is nothing wrong with cloning something that works! Seaside was a planned beachfront community that remains one of the biggest second home real estate and New Urbanism success stories in the U.S. If you’ve ever driven down Route 30A outside of Panama City Beach, you will see a stretch of Gulf shore developed from my hearthrob Alys Beach to Rosemary Beach, Seaside to Watercolor. Cinnamon Shore brings the same flavor, style and quality of construction to the Texas coast.

Posted in Beach Homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Cinnamon Shore, Corpus Christi, Mustang Island, Port Aransas, Rosemary Beach Seaside, Texas | 3 Comments

Tuesday $200,000: Brand Spanking New Beach Condo on Mustang Island: $205,900

Written by Candy Evans on January 25, 2012

Got your attention now, huh? I kid you not when I tell you how very affordable the homes at Cinnamon Shore are! Look at this darling 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo a short walk from the beach and right in the action of the new Town Center. Only 605 square feet but really, who needs more? (Plus with a condo you avoid all the maintenance of a home.) The finish out is pure beach house charm with the soft water color palette, beadboard walls and granite counters in the kitchen. Pop a comfy sofa bed in the living room and you have plenty of room. When we were in Port A as they call it, we wanted to eat out every night because the food is fantastic! This unit is on the first floor. Honestly, for $205,900 you don’t have to be in the “One percent” to own a second home at the beach! This one would be a great getaway for us alone or with the kids — or a nice gift to let them use it as a getaway. On the first floor.

Posted in Beach Homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Beach House, Cinnamon Shore, Condo, New Town Center, Soft Water Color Palette | 1 Comment

Costa Rica: Beachfront Homes From $129,000. Best Tropical Second Home Destination for your Money

Written by Candy Evans on November 12, 2011

We are just back from Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches in one of the world’s most wonderful countries. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this area is. Unspoiled — did not see one Starbucks, McDonalds, or even a hotel chain save for the Westin and JW Marriot, both tucked away discreetly on acres of land. We saw authetic homes where people still travel by horseback, chickens and cows tethered in the yards. Most roads are still dirt, but the streets and beaches are clean and the water is crystal clear. Best of all, we love the people of Costa Rica, who all have American sounding names because unlike most places in the world, they actually like Americans.

Posted in Beach Homes, Costa Rica, Second Shelters | Tagged Chickens, Hotel Chain, Jw Marriot, Mcdonalds, Places In The World, Worlds Most Beautiful Beaches | Comments Off

Former Texas Ranger Rafael Palmeiro Selling Second Home in Pebble Beach, CA to Cover Bankruptcy Debt

Written by Candy Evans on October 17, 2011

The Texas Rangers are going to be world champs for the second year in a row, I feel it in my bones! But Rafael Palmeiro, the Rangers former slugger turned real estate developer, might be wishing he could get back into the game and out of real estate. Palmeiro is now asking creditors in his bankruptcy case (says the Fort Worth Star Telegram) to give him five years to sell the 200 acres of undeveloped land near Grapevine Mills mall he had planned for a mixed-used development called Gardens of Grapevine.

Posted in Beach Homes, Celebrity Homes, financing a second home, national news stories affecting second homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Bankruptcy Court Filings, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Grapevine Mills, Grapevine Mills Mall, Rafael Palmeira real estate, Rafael Palmeiro, Texas Rangers, Worth Star Telegram | Comments Off

76% of Vacation Home Owners Say Now is a Great Time To Buy, But Where? Second Home Hot Spots (Get Ready to be Shocked)

Written by Candy Evans on September 21, 2011

This is a good way to gauge where you should buy your second home if you plan on leasing it to supplement income. As you probably know, the sluggish, morose economy continues to drag down the travel industry: one publication I know ceased their entire travel section due to lack of ads. But there is one segment of the industry that is still showing a heartbeat: vacation home rentals.

Posted in Beach Homes, national news stories affecting second homes, Second Shelters | Tagged Chief Executive Officer, HomeAway, Rental Marketplace, Same Time Period, second home hot spots, Travel Period, Vacation Homeowners | 7 Comments

Enjoy This Second Home While You “Ship-Watch” in Newport, Rhode Island

Written by Candy Evans on September 19, 2011

Newport, R.I. If you’re going to have a second home, why not have it in the land once known as the “summering White House”? History, water, proximity to Providence 30 miles away plus all those mansions — Newport is where the mansion concept may have been conceived. I’ve heard it’s a reviving second home paradise.