North Island, Bay Side — Port Aransas
The bay-side residential grid at the north end of the island, between the ferry landing and the airport: Channel Vista, Paradise Pointe, Mahi Bay, Leeward Sands, Pleasant Valley, and the Port Street blocks. This is where much of Port Aransas actually lives. Primary homes and long-term rentals outnumber vacation stock, and the neighbors are here in February as well as July.
At a Glance
Channel Vista: Where the Locals Live
Channel Vista is the heart of this side of the island. It is zoned R-1, which means no short-term rentals — so the houses are homes, the driveways have the same boats in them all year, and the price of admission sits below the canal neighborhoods at Island Moorings. If you have assumed all of Port A is rental-friendly, this is the neighborhood that corrects you, and for a full-time family that is exactly the point.
One night a year it belongs to everyone: on Halloween the police close the entrance to cars, and every kid in town trick-or-treats Channel Vista on foot while residents grill in their driveways and hand out candy by the bucket. It is the island's block party, and it tells you what kind of neighborhood this is the other 364 days.
The Rest of the Grid
- •Paradise Pointe and Mahi Bay: the newer bay-side subdivisions, some lots on the water, newer construction.
- •Leeward Sands and Pleasant Valley: established island grids with a mix of ages and styles.
- •The Port Street blocks: the streets named for other Texas ports, minutes from the ferry.
Who This Area May Appeal To
- •Full-time residents and people moving to the island for good
- •Long-term rental investors — there is real demand from people who work here
- •Buyers who want year-round neighbors more than a beachfront address
- •Boat owners who want the ferry, the harbor, and the bay close by
Property Types and What to Check
Mostly single-family homes on independent lots, with some canal and bay-front lots and a scattering of duplexes and townhomes. Zoning varies subdivision by subdivision — Channel Vista is R-1 with no short-term rentals, while parts of the grid are R-2 — so confirm rental eligibility before you buy if that matters to your plan. Flood-zone and windstorm considerations apply throughout.
Homes for sale in North Island, Bay Side right now
Will Foster · eXp Realty · TREC #505272
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