Short, direct answers about buying on this coast. No lead-capture wall, no fluff.
No. Tiki Island prohibits short-term rentals. Galveston generally permits them, subject to City of Galveston registration and to any HOA or deed restrictions on the specific property. If rental income matters to you, that single difference decides which island you should be looking at. Verify the current rule with the city and the HOA before relying on it - ordinances change.
More than inland Texas, and it is usually three separate policies: windstorm, flood, and homeowners. Galveston County is a first-tier windstorm county, which means windstorm often comes through TWIA or the private market rather than a standard policy. Flood is separate again, through the NFIP or a private carrier. Anyone who quotes you a single number without asking about elevation is guessing.
It is a surveyed document showing your finished floor elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation for your FEMA zone. The difference between the two - called freeboard - is one of the largest drivers of flood insurance cost on this coast. A home a few feet higher than its BFE can cost dramatically less to insure than an identical home a few feet lower. We publish both figures on every listing that has them.
It depends on your boat's draft, and the number that matters is depth at mean lower low water (MLLW), not average depth. A canal that carries six feet at high tide may carry three at low. Ask for the depth at MLLW, the slip length, the lift capacity in pounds, and the lowest bridge clearance between the dock and open water. We list all four on every waterfront property, and we say whether the measurement was independently confirmed.
We do not forecast property values, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. Texas and Houston-area median prices were flat to slightly down through 2026. Any agent who tells you values are guaranteed to rise is making a claim they cannot substantiate, which is a problem under both TREC advertising rules and the REALTOR Code of Ethics.
Usually yes, but Texas law changed. Senate Bill 17, effective September 1, 2025, restricts certain individuals and entities connected to designated countries - currently China, Russia, Iran and North Korea - from acquiring some Texas real property. There are exceptions, including for US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and for a primary residence. The rules also reach leases of a year or longer. Get legal advice specific to your situation before making an offer; this is not legal advice.
They solve different problems. Tiki is a canal community where nearly every home has water behind it, moves at golf-cart pace, and does not permit short-term rentals - which is exactly what someone wanting quiet enjoyment is after. Galveston has far more variety, a longer buying season, and permits short-term rentals, which matters if you want the property to earn when you are not there. Neither is better; they suit different intentions.
The cost calculator estimates property tax, the three-policy insurance stack and maintenance, and shows every source.
Run the numbersGeneral information only, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Rules and conditions change - verify anything you intend to rely on. Crestmark Realty, LLC · Dustin Dean, Broker · TREC #552824-B. Equal Housing Opportunity.
