New from Regler Real Estate...

The holidays are upon us once again! We're so excited to be spending a cozy Thanksgiving with our family this year. For those who are visiting friends and family for the holiday, allow me to offer a refresher in Southwest Florida Holiday Dinner Etiquette. If you're a new arrival, please read these rules carefully. If you're a seasoned Floridian, tell me what I've missed! Wear Appropriate Attire Labor Day has come and gone, so be sure your flip-flops and sandals are a suitable fall color such as yellow, orange, or brown. If you have a holiday sweater, feel free to throw it on over your swimsuit. Bring along a t-shirt as well, though; you'll want something more comfortable when the temperature reaches the high 70s. Finally, festive sunglasses must be Thanksgiving themed. Save the Christmas themed beach gear for December! Be a Welcome and Welcoming Guest Guests should never arrive empty handed. Consider bringing along some extra sun-block or pool towels for out-of-town...

Choosing Your Perfect Home Last week we reviewed the steps to take before beginning the search for your next home. This week, we're focusing on the search itself. Before going any further, you'll want to be sure you've laid the groundwork we talked about last time. Have you made your budget? Have you identified your requirements? Do you know what your dealbreakers are? Great! Let's get started... Find a Real Estate Professional I'm sure this sounds a bit self-serving coming from, well, a real estate professional. And of course I believe I would be a wonderful choice to assist you. But no matter who you select, it is vital that you have someone in your corner who knows what to look for and what questions to ask. Working with a qualified and experienced  buyer 's agent means there will be one person who accompanies you through the entire process, and whose only goal is to assist you. They will sift through available homes to identify those that meet your requirem...

Before You Begin Depending on why you've entered the market, finding the perfect new home may feel like an exciting adventure or an overwhelming task. Often it can feel like both! Visiting the first few homes is exciting - a game of "imagine if" that you can play as you picture yourself in each home. But that novelty fades fast. If the search goes on too long, it can become just one more thing you have to do on the unending list of to-do's we all have. It doesn't need to be difficult! With just a little preparation, and the assistance of a qualified real estate professional, you'll be able to quickly narrow your search to exactly the right homes. Even better, you'll know exactly what to look for when you visit them. Make a Budget First, determine what you are willing to spend in total. This process can look different for each person. The amount might depend on the sale price of your current home, the amount you have in savings, or your regular monthly inco...

What Is the Real Reason You Want To Move Right Now? If you're considering selling your house right now, it's likely because something in your life has changed. And while things like mortgage rates play a big role in your decision, you don’t want that to overshadow why you thought about making a move in the first place. It’s true mortgage rates are higher right now, and that has an impact on affordability. As a result, some homeowners are deciding they’ll wait to sell because they don’t want to move and have a higher mortgage rate on their next home. But your lifestyle and your changing needs matter, too. As a recent article from  Realtor.com  says: “No matter what interest rates and home prices do next, sometimes homeowners just have to move —due to a new job, new baby, divorce, death, or some other major life change.” Here are a few of the most common reasons people choose to sell today. You may find any one of these resonates with you and may be reason enough to move, even t...

  As winter approaches, I've put together a few reminders about how to prepare ourselves and our homes for the coming winter. Let me know if there is anything I've missed! Winterize Windows   - As night-time temperatures descend into the low 70s, take the time to check your window screens for holes. When you're lying in bed at night enjoying the gentle gulf breeze through your open windows, the last thing you'll want is a stray lightning bug landing on your nose! Stock Up On Supplies   - Don't be caught with an empty pantry when refugees (or, rather, "visiting friends and family") begin to arrive. Make sure your poolside bar is well stocked, your grill has enough propane in the tank, and your beach bag has plenty of extra towels and sunscreen. Locate Warm Clothing   - It is unpleasant to imagine the unthinkable, but it is possible we could experience the icy winds of winter. Temperatures as low as 68 or even 65 degrees have been known to happen. Spend an a...

...and what you can learn from their experience. I think most of us have known at least one person for whom the process of selling their home was long and frustrating. Perhaps it was a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood, one that left you scratching your head and trying to imagine why it did not sell immediately. The truth is, selling your home shouldn't be difficult - particularly in today's market and with the right real estate professional to assist you.  A qualified and experienced agent will provide the guidance you need to avoid these common obstacles that likely caused problems for your friend: Did they limit potential buyers' access to their home? One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Being flexible with your schedule is important when you're selling your house, even though it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave when buyers want to see it. ...

You’ve done it. You’ve purchased your getaway oasis in Sunny SW Florida! Winter is approaching and you're ready to head south to enjoy months of palm trees and blue skies in your second home. But… What about your first home up north or in the mid-west? Will it be safe while you’re away? The last thing you want to do is to spend your time in paradise needlessly worrying. Fortunately, you don’t have to. There are a number of simple steps you can take to secure your home. Purchase a combination lockbox for your spare key. It would be great if there was no need to keep an additional key outside your home, but we are only human. Accidents and emergencies happen. A combination lockbox is a more secure option for your spare key than hiding it under a flower pot or tucked behind a window shutter. You can find them online or at your local hardware store. Secure your garage door. Electric garage door openers are wonderful conveniences, but can be susceptible to hacking. Older models lack the...

5 Things You Need To Know About Living In Cape Coral, FL Provided by Cape Coral Mortgage Whether you are a snowbird who's thinking about a permanent move to Florida, or just a Northerner who's sick and tired of all the snow, you should consider Cape Coral. This lovely little town, situated not far from Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast, may not have the cachet of Tampa, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale, but that doesn't mean it's not a great place to live. Here are just a few of the many benefits of living in Cape Coral, FL. 1. Moving to Cape Coral is Financially Smart A lot of people think that it's expensive to live in Florida, but living in Cape Coral is surprisingly affordable! The cost of living in this beautiful community is much lower than the national average. Besides, the state does not collect income tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, or intangible property tax. The sales tax rate is also relatively low, between 6-7.5%. This is good news for retirees who are on a fixed...