Purchasing Key West Real Estate
With the right Realtor, buying into paradise can be as delightful as living here. I thoroughly and continually research the market to uncover what's sold recently, what's for sale now, and my being entrenched in the community gives me inside information as to what properties will be coming onto the market. I'll help you to locate the house of your dreams, and I'll help you to relocate and settle into your new home and the community.
I can promise to:
Stay thoroughly current with available Key West property inventory, saving you time
Locate a choice of desirable homes, based on your 'wish list'
Show you the finest condominium apartments, townhomes, or single family homes
Give careful attention to each of the details that follows an offer
Guide you to the best mortgage brokers, insurance companies and property inspectors
Help to smooth the way for your stress-free relocation to the Keys
Refer you to contractors with excellent references, proven integrity and fair prices
My investment of time, experience and effort in finding the right homes to show you at the right prices matches your investment in the perfect property for your needs. We're both making a big commitment and my goal is your complete satisfaction.
Monday, April 04, 2011
Investing in Key West
Investing in Key West by Robert Severin
If you’re thinking about an investment in Key West real estate, you may be onto something that few in the U.S., save a few Floridians appreciate and really understand. Key West is a vacation paradise, but at the same time, it’s also a terrific place for a second or even a primary residence. What makes Key West special: location, location, location! Being the southern-most city in the United States gives this island gem a few advantages over the rest of the contiguous states:
• Weather
• Scenery
• A funky, yet upscale ambiance
• A laid back, almost artsy lifestyle
• Water sports in the crystal clear gulf
While the real estate crisis has hit the U.S. hard, prices in Key West, while lower, still have an advantage over the rest of the country. The rental market for vacation properties in Key West is robust and a vacation home can always be rented out (depending upon local ordinances) on a weekly, monthly and seasonal basis. This alone provides additional support for prices as well as a safety net against further price erosion. For this reason, investing in Key West real estate has had fewer downsides than investment in other regions of the U.S.
Whether you’re interested in living full time in the Florida Keys or just interested in Key West as an investment, the beauty and weather are weather makes it a winner. And coming to the Keys on a “vacation” to scope out opportunity is one heck of a relaxing way to do market research! For More information
If you’re thinking about an investment in Key West real estate, you may be onto something that few in the U.S., save a few Floridians appreciate and really understand. Key West is a vacation paradise, but at the same time, it’s also a terrific place for a second or even a primary residence. What makes Key West special: location, location, location! Being the southern-most city in the United States gives this island gem a few advantages over the rest of the contiguous states:
• Weather
• Scenery
• A funky, yet upscale ambiance
• A laid back, almost artsy lifestyle
• Water sports in the crystal clear gulf
While the real estate crisis has hit the U.S. hard, prices in Key West, while lower, still have an advantage over the rest of the country. The rental market for vacation properties in Key West is robust and a vacation home can always be rented out (depending upon local ordinances) on a weekly, monthly and seasonal basis. This alone provides additional support for prices as well as a safety net against further price erosion. For this reason, investing in Key West real estate has had fewer downsides than investment in other regions of the U.S.
Whether you’re interested in living full time in the Florida Keys or just interested in Key West as an investment, the beauty and weather are weather makes it a winner. And coming to the Keys on a “vacation” to scope out opportunity is one heck of a relaxing way to do market research! For More information
How a Lifestyle Change to Florida Can Benefit Your Health
Why a Lifestyle Change Can Benefit Your Health
There appears to be a consensus that an urban life style is stressful, expensive and perhaps unhealthy. Cities like New York or Chicago may provide certain economic opportunities, but the question is, at what cost? Most sense that the pace of life in these cities is too challenging and if other living opportunities arise, many are opting for a different (more relaxing) life style. For instance the populations of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and most other larger urban centers has declined over the period from 1950 through 2000, despite the fact that general population within the U.S. has increased.
How Healthy is City Life?
There may be many reasons for this decline, but chief among them are stress, cost, noise and air pollution. All of these factors have taken a toll on not only the total population count, but the overall well being of the city dweller, as well. A recent book, entitled Unhealthy Places by Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory zeroes in on the ecology, sociology and general unhealthiness of urban life. Certainly, virtually anyone with a daily newspaper or seeing the evening news can see the number of deaths attributed to crime or traffic.
While these statistics may actually indicate a decrease, the general perception however, is that living or working in large city is either dangerous or unhealthy. Economic factors also play a role in the population decline. Many city dwellers in years past have fled the large urban centers for the “safety” and relative security of the suburbs. However, urban sprawl has also assailed the safe harbor of the suburbanite and many in suburban areas bordering the city are seeing their taxes and crime spiking upward.
The Effects of a Rise in Stress
This is particularly true of the suburbs surrounding cities like New York or Boston with state income and real estate taxes continuing to rise. With a continuing increase in stress factors, it has been pointed out that many other bad lifestyle choices contribute to a decline in overall health. According to Science Daily.com, “When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps prevent depression, but they also contribute to a host of physical problems that eventually contribute to early death.”
A Change in Location Venue Will Help
How best to address these problems? Many are solving the problem by simply moving away from it entirely, mostly to the southern states. Whether they can find useful work or simply retire is certainly a factor. However, with population growth within the southern states continuously rising, various industries will undoubtedly provide employment for many. This movement away from urban centers to the south has been occurring over the last several years. As indicated below from 1990 through 2000, the populations of the southern states rose substantially compared with New York and Massachusetts:
• Florida increase: 3,044,452 a change of +23.5%
• Georgia increase: 1,708,237 a change of +26.4%
• North Carolina increase: 1,420,676 a change of +21.4%
• South Carolina increase: 525,309 a change of +15.1%
• New York increase: 986,002 a change of +5.5%
• Massachusetts increase: 332,672 a change of +5.5%
Notice that the two northern states listed have the highest overall state taxes. With declines in tax revenues which are tied to the weak economy, these states have imposed even more taxes! So many more northern state dwellers are fleeing southward. Most who have moved southward feel that the move overall was worth it for both health and economic reasons.
Florida’s is a great place to consider.
Many from the north are attracted to Florida for several obvious reasons: no state income taxes, relatively low real estate taxes and the fact that there are real bargains to be found in real estate. These features makes Florida an ever more attractive place to live and work.
If one is searching for vacation and/or home value, the Florida Keys offer an excellent place to live, work or retire. The Florida Keys, possess a special charm rooted in a history with a perpetual vacation mind set featuring excellent fishing, diving and boating. The Keys is an excellent choice and there are properties to be found whatever your taste and budget is.
There appears to be a consensus that an urban life style is stressful, expensive and perhaps unhealthy. Cities like New York or Chicago may provide certain economic opportunities, but the question is, at what cost? Most sense that the pace of life in these cities is too challenging and if other living opportunities arise, many are opting for a different (more relaxing) life style. For instance the populations of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and most other larger urban centers has declined over the period from 1950 through 2000, despite the fact that general population within the U.S. has increased.
How Healthy is City Life?
There may be many reasons for this decline, but chief among them are stress, cost, noise and air pollution. All of these factors have taken a toll on not only the total population count, but the overall well being of the city dweller, as well. A recent book, entitled Unhealthy Places by Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory zeroes in on the ecology, sociology and general unhealthiness of urban life. Certainly, virtually anyone with a daily newspaper or seeing the evening news can see the number of deaths attributed to crime or traffic.
While these statistics may actually indicate a decrease, the general perception however, is that living or working in large city is either dangerous or unhealthy. Economic factors also play a role in the population decline. Many city dwellers in years past have fled the large urban centers for the “safety” and relative security of the suburbs. However, urban sprawl has also assailed the safe harbor of the suburbanite and many in suburban areas bordering the city are seeing their taxes and crime spiking upward.
The Effects of a Rise in Stress
This is particularly true of the suburbs surrounding cities like New York or Boston with state income and real estate taxes continuing to rise. With a continuing increase in stress factors, it has been pointed out that many other bad lifestyle choices contribute to a decline in overall health. According to Science Daily.com, “When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps prevent depression, but they also contribute to a host of physical problems that eventually contribute to early death.”
A Change in Location Venue Will Help
How best to address these problems? Many are solving the problem by simply moving away from it entirely, mostly to the southern states. Whether they can find useful work or simply retire is certainly a factor. However, with population growth within the southern states continuously rising, various industries will undoubtedly provide employment for many. This movement away from urban centers to the south has been occurring over the last several years. As indicated below from 1990 through 2000, the populations of the southern states rose substantially compared with New York and Massachusetts:
• Florida increase: 3,044,452 a change of +23.5%
• Georgia increase: 1,708,237 a change of +26.4%
• North Carolina increase: 1,420,676 a change of +21.4%
• South Carolina increase: 525,309 a change of +15.1%
• New York increase: 986,002 a change of +5.5%
• Massachusetts increase: 332,672 a change of +5.5%
Notice that the two northern states listed have the highest overall state taxes. With declines in tax revenues which are tied to the weak economy, these states have imposed even more taxes! So many more northern state dwellers are fleeing southward. Most who have moved southward feel that the move overall was worth it for both health and economic reasons.
Florida’s is a great place to consider.
Many from the north are attracted to Florida for several obvious reasons: no state income taxes, relatively low real estate taxes and the fact that there are real bargains to be found in real estate. These features makes Florida an ever more attractive place to live and work.
If one is searching for vacation and/or home value, the Florida Keys offer an excellent place to live, work or retire. The Florida Keys, possess a special charm rooted in a history with a perpetual vacation mind set featuring excellent fishing, diving and boating. The Keys is an excellent choice and there are properties to be found whatever your taste and budget is.
What to watch out for when buying a foreclosure.
What to watch out for when buying a foreclosure.
When considering buying a foreclosure there are several issues you need to explore before you sign on the dotted line. It is ever so easy to be caught up in the excitement of getting a bargain but time, patience and investigation are needed to ensure that you are safe from problems created by previous tenants. Putting a little effort into this research will mean that you do not fall victim to the problems other people do when rushing into purchasing a foreclosure. You will save yourself a great deal of money and you won`t experience sleepless nights either!
Firstly, find out the regulations applicable to your state as there can be differences depending upon where you live. Do a title search at your local town hall to discover if there are any back taxes or fines on the property. If you purchase the house without getting these discharged you will be liable to pay them. Also check for liens on the property. Liens are legal claims or holds on the property which can prevent it from being sold. Examples of this would be where previous tenants are in the process of separating and one partner is resisting the sale of the house. Messy situations like this can complicate the buying process to such an extent you may find it prudent to look for another purchase.
Inspect the property thoroughly and get advice from the necessary experts including a qualified realtor and experienced builder. Properties that are sold at auction are termed "sold as seen." This means whatever the property`s condition at the moment of purchase, that is what you buy and you have no right of comeback or complaint. Whether you buy at an auction or in the regular way, once you have signed for ownership you are liable for the property. Therefore, if you discover any serious defects with the house, they are now your responsibility and you will have to pay to have them fixed. This has led to some nasty shocks for people in the past so be warned!
As you inspect the property do not take anything at face value. Remember that the previous owners have been foreclosed on for a reason and may not have had the time or money to invest in the house. A patch of fresh paint may be covering up mould and a rug may be covering up woodworm in the floorboards, so investigate carefully. Many houses, whether they are the subject of foreclosure or not, have problem areas though so this doesn`t mean it is the end of the world. Find a reputable builder and ask for a detailed quote of how much it would cost to fix the problem. You can then have your representative tell the sellers that these costs should be taken off the asking price of the house. This happens frequently and the sellers will normally agree if they see the estimate from the builder in writing.
Buying a foreclosure can be a way of getting a nicer house for your budget and with these simple tips you should find the process goes much more smoothly. Then you can book your removals company, pack your moving boxes and start your new life in your dream home. Enjoy!
When considering buying a foreclosure there are several issues you need to explore before you sign on the dotted line. It is ever so easy to be caught up in the excitement of getting a bargain but time, patience and investigation are needed to ensure that you are safe from problems created by previous tenants. Putting a little effort into this research will mean that you do not fall victim to the problems other people do when rushing into purchasing a foreclosure. You will save yourself a great deal of money and you won`t experience sleepless nights either!
Firstly, find out the regulations applicable to your state as there can be differences depending upon where you live. Do a title search at your local town hall to discover if there are any back taxes or fines on the property. If you purchase the house without getting these discharged you will be liable to pay them. Also check for liens on the property. Liens are legal claims or holds on the property which can prevent it from being sold. Examples of this would be where previous tenants are in the process of separating and one partner is resisting the sale of the house. Messy situations like this can complicate the buying process to such an extent you may find it prudent to look for another purchase.
Inspect the property thoroughly and get advice from the necessary experts including a qualified realtor and experienced builder. Properties that are sold at auction are termed "sold as seen." This means whatever the property`s condition at the moment of purchase, that is what you buy and you have no right of comeback or complaint. Whether you buy at an auction or in the regular way, once you have signed for ownership you are liable for the property. Therefore, if you discover any serious defects with the house, they are now your responsibility and you will have to pay to have them fixed. This has led to some nasty shocks for people in the past so be warned!
As you inspect the property do not take anything at face value. Remember that the previous owners have been foreclosed on for a reason and may not have had the time or money to invest in the house. A patch of fresh paint may be covering up mould and a rug may be covering up woodworm in the floorboards, so investigate carefully. Many houses, whether they are the subject of foreclosure or not, have problem areas though so this doesn`t mean it is the end of the world. Find a reputable builder and ask for a detailed quote of how much it would cost to fix the problem. You can then have your representative tell the sellers that these costs should be taken off the asking price of the house. This happens frequently and the sellers will normally agree if they see the estimate from the builder in writing.
Buying a foreclosure can be a way of getting a nicer house for your budget and with these simple tips you should find the process goes much more smoothly. Then you can book your removals company, pack your moving boxes and start your new life in your dream home. Enjoy!
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