The Texas Gulf Coast is home to amazing beaches, from the white sands of South Padre, the tranquil nature reserves of Port Aransas, or the nearby family attractions in Galveston. This summer, many friends and families are planning beach trips, but it's important to take a few safety precautions before heading out to your beach destination.

In our series on buying a new home, we've previously looked at the importance of Financial Preparation as well as determining Home Needs. In our final installment, we will focus on Improving Home Safety after you buy your new home. Buying a new home brings individuals and families a strong sense of excitement and peace at finally finding the right home for their needs.

In life, we have many important milestone events, such as graduation, starting a career, marriage, the birth of our children, and buying a home. Purchasing a home is an important and exciting process, but it's also a big financial commitment for individuals and families. For this reason, it's critical to do thorough research before buying a home. To help potential homebuyers, we're starting a three-week blog series focused on the areas to thoroughly research before and during the home buying process.

From a young age we're taught the many dangers of fires, and how to protect ourselves if we're ever near a fire. Unfortunately, as adults we can sometimes forget to use caution around fire, or we may be unaware of hidden fire dangers in our homes or apartments. To help protect your family, home and possessions, we're going to look at personal fire hazards and property fire hazards so you and your loved ones can stay safe.