In Southwest Florida, furnished home purchases are much more common than in other parts of the US. This is due to the strong second home / vacation home market in the area. The thought of walking into a furnished home may seem ideal and easy, especially if you really like the furnishings. However, how to handle the furniture in the transaction is worth careful consideration.

One thing I hear often causes a little anxiety for buyers and sellers is that you don't see your final settlement statements until a few days before closing. Given that this is an important transaction with significant financial implications, people are anxious when they can't see the final financials until so close to closing. Certainly, lenders can provide estimates of their fees and costs and title companies can provide estimates of other closing costs, but some things (taxes, HOA fees, etc) may not be available until closer to closing, which is why it is delayed. In addition to having the amounts, people are often also curious about what all the different fees are. Here is a quick guide to try to help with that. 

In March 2019, The National Association of Realtors shared the top 15 improvements to homes that helped earn top dollar and quicker sales. Given that any of us who may be considering a home sale now or in the future would certainly want to get top dollar and sell quicker, I wanted to share those with you. Read on to learn more about what those 15 improvements are.

Getting a showing usually comes as a result of great photographs, well priced property and descriptions that appeal. But, getting them to come see the home in person is just the start. Once they are there, there are some things that can cause their interest to stop or stall. 

There are so many things involved in purchasing or selling a home and sometimes we take for granted and assume that everyone understands all these terms as they relate to their real estate transaction. Here are some of the more common terms to  provide a good foundation.

Do you own waterfront property in Southwest Florida that you are considering selling? Here are five considerations that are to help you prepare for such a sale to make sure you maximize your home sale launch on the market to result in the successful sale. 

You have property that you need to sell but you also need to minimize carrying costs... It can be a tough situation to be in as you are torn between renting it out to tenants for some offsetting income or biting the bullet and putting it on the market to try to sell as quickly as possible. For some, it can be attractive to get that rental in come while you try to sell it or may even be necessary. Having tenants has been shown to make it tougher to sell a home, but if you have no other option, here are some tips to help minimize any adverse impact on selling your home.

You are ready to make that next move and purchase a new home. You have already determined that you want to take out a loan to make that purchase. Having the right lender for you is important. So, how can you narrow down from so many choices? Here are some considerations for you.

Although I do the majority of my real estate work in Naples, I also work a fair amount with Marco Island, Bonita Springs and Estero. Estero is  a favorite among many of my buyers as it overs great proximity to shopping, dining and the airport. It also offers great options in newer communities. One of the newest communities in Estero, Wild Blue, is going to be simply amazing. ​Reservations for home sites opens up January 22nd.

Purchasing a home is a big decision and one that deserves careful consideration. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you start on this important endeavor to find you slice of paradise.