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Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One This Summer For many of us, visiting the same vacation spot every year is a summer tradition that’s fun, relaxing, and restful. If that sounds like you, now’s the time to think about your plans and determine if  buying  a vacation home this year makes more sense than renting one again. According to  Forbes :  “. . . if the idea of vacationing at the same place every year makes you feel instantaneously relaxed,  buying a vacation home might be a wise move .”    To help you decide if making a move like this is right for you, let’s explore why you may want to consider purchasing a vacation home today.  Benefits of Owning Your Vacation Home You don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay.  It can be a challenge to find a rental where you want, when you want. Some summer vacation destinations are more popular than others, meaning your favorite place may be booked up in advance. Bankrate  expl...

...by choosing a  condominum  for your next home!     Spend Less Condominiums can be significantly less expensive than comparable single family homes in the same area. If you are considering buying a vacation home, that lower pricetag will allow you to make and enjoy that purchase years earlier. If you are ready to downsize, choosing a condo will leave much more in your bank account to be spent on travel and hobbies. And if you are looking for your first home, condominiums are the perfect "starter" purchase that will allow you to begin accruing equity without taking on the much larger financial commitment of a pricier single family home. Condominiums are also less expensive to insure, less expensive to heat and cool, and often allow residents to bundle the purchase of services like internet and cable packages or even utilities at reduced rates.   Work Less Mow the grass. Clean the gutters. Fix the siding. Powerwash the driveway. Weed the garden. Rake the le...

  Did you know… …Southwest Florida is a nesting ground for five of the seven species of sea turtles?  It’s true! Every year our beaches are visited by gigantic leatherback turtles and iconic loggerhead turtles, as well as hawksbill turtles, green turtles, and Kemp’s Ridley turtles. Beginning in late April, and continuing through October, we play host to thousands of nesting mothers and then to tens of thousands of adorable babies! Sea turtles are all about balance… …with each species filling a vital role in maintaining healthy, robust beaches and fishing areas.  Southwest Florida is beautiful, and these native species help keep it that way. Leatherbacks feast on jelly fish, who feed on larval fish and would otherwise quickly decimate local fish populations. Loggerheads, named for their enormous and powerful jaws, leave behind a trail of crustacean shells cracked into tiny pieces that will quickly breakdown and enrich the ocean floor. Hawksbills prefer the taste of fast gr...

Advice on raising the sale value of your home is not hard to find. It leaps out at you from social media and grocery store magazines and well-meaning relatives. Everyone has an opinion to offer. Still, the quality of that advice can be… mixed. Reminders to “mow the lawn” or “clean up pet toys” or “wipe down the kitchen counters” are basic and unnecessary. Suggestions that you take on major projects like landscaping, interior renovations, or HVAC and electrical upgrades are simply unrealistic. You are willing to put in a reasonable amount of work, but you want to know that it will pay off. So what can you do? Cleaning I know, I  just  said cleaning advice was basic and unnecessary. But let’s talk about finishing touches. We often do not prioritize them in daily or weekly cleaning. Things like wiping down baseboards and trim, gently washing kitchen and bathroom walls, or renting a steam cleaner and rediscovering the original color of the playroom carpet don’t just make your home...

Many sellers consider a pre-listing home inspection to be borrowing trouble. They imagine that "what they don't know can't hurt them." However, when a prospective buyer’s inspection turns up unpleasant surprises - surprises that could cause a confirmed sale to fall through - these same sellers reconsider their pre-listing decision. What does a home inspection include? A licensed home inspector will search your home for signs of common problems and safety hazards. They will look over the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems for items and areas of concern. They will search for evidence of pests, water damage, or structural weaknesses. What if my home inspection reveals a problem? As a seller, you want to net as much money as possible at closing. The truth is, as a result of natural wear and tear, building and design quirks, or undisclosed damage from previous owners, every home has room for improvement. That’s ok! A pre-listing inspection makes you aware of these conc...

Homeownership is at the heart of the American Dream, but often, the first obstacle is the down payment. It can be sizable and intimidating.  If you plan to purchase a single-family home, condo, or townhouse in SW Florida, that does not need to be an obstacle for you. You have options. The  Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program  is available to frontline community workers such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. Eligible frontline workers can receive up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $25,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance. They may also receive lower than market rates on an FHA, VA, RD, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac first mortgage, reduced upfront fees and other assistance. The  Community Development Block Grant Program  is available to buyers of new or existing homes in unincorporated Lee County. The maximum purchase price is $380,00...

Housing markets are always shifting, but the desirability of SW Florida continues to protect home values. Still, as the market begins to stabilize, it is important to understand what you can do, should you opt to sell, to ensure your property sells quickly.  Home sale statistics for the month of March are in, and there is a lot we can learn from them. Set the right price the first time. A quality home, properly priced, attracts buyers quickly and sells for a much larger percentage of its original listing price.  A review of sales last month shows that homes sold within 30 days averaged 96.4% of their original price. After 120 days, selling prices dropped to only 84.3% of their original price. Don't wait longer only to make less. An experienced agent can help you set the right price; receiving more money in less time. Home values continue to rise. Home prices in Fort Myers continue to climb, averaging $480,250 - up from $410,000 a year ago.  I...

It often surprises people to learn that in Southwest Florida we have our own version of the “rat race.” It isn’t always easy to squeeze in time at the beach, time fishing, time sitting by the pool, and a full social calendar as well. Look at all we have to find time for in the next week… Cape Coral Cardboard Boat Regatta That’s right - cardboard! Next weekend in Seahawk Park, hundreds of people will gather to defy the laws of science and common sense by participating in the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. Previous entries have included: pirate ships, Viking long boats, an actual yellow submarine, and a variety of creatively proportioned insects, reptiles, and alligators. A Cape Coral tradition for nearly 30 years, if you have ever uttered the phrase “let's throw it in the water and see if it floats,” this is the event for you.  Click here for more information . BBQ, Bands, & Brew Local barbecue vendors will be out in force this Sunday, bringing their A Game to determine once and...

The process of buying and selling a home can appear complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. A good agent, supported by a solid team, can guide you smoothly through every part of the transaction. What are closing costs? When you sell your home, most of your interactions will be with your agent. But did you know there is also a small army of professionals making arrangements and processing paperwork on your behalf? Surveyors, appraisers, underwriters, attorneys, title processors... Each of these specialists is doing their part to ensure a seamless transaction between you and the buyer of your home. “Closing costs” refers to the cost of the work they do on your behalf and any governmental fees charged to affirm and record the change of property ownership. How are closing costs calculated? To make matters more confusing, closing costs may be calculated in different ways. Some are set based on the sale price of your home. Others may be determined by the location or type of home you are sell...

...have you considered a   manufactured home ?   Many of my clients are looking for (and finding!) traditional, "stick-built" homes.  They are wonderful, and often exactly what a buyer needs - but not always!  A manufactured home could be the stepping stone you are looking for, into the life you want to be living. Affordable & Immediate Perhaps you have a beautiful home, close to work or surrounded by family. Why give that up? Manufactureds are much more affordable than traditional homes. Owning a manufactured home, as a second home, could mean you do not have to give up your existing home. And; you may not take on the burden of a second mortgage.  You can have the best of both worlds - keep your own lovely home and maintain your SW Florida getaway spot! High Quality Standards Did you know manufactured homes built since 1976 meet high federal standards in design and construction to assure quality, durability, safety, and affordability? They cannot be so...