Step 1: Pick the best day for an open house

While there are a few different scenarios when weekdays can work for an open house (such as on a holiday), the ideal time is Sunday afternoons. The reason is simple: Most people have free times on Sundays. While this may not come as much of a shock, it is pivotal information to know if you’re looking to buy or sell a home. This doesn’t mean you absolutely must schedule your open house that day, but it will certainly help. Know your area and ask your local Realtor about what time most open houses are.

Step 2: Stage your home to make it inviting

If you’re new to the home-selling game as a first timer, it’s imperative to let your Realtor stage your home or let them partner with a…

922 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

 

Thousands of people flock to sunny South Florida year after year during the summer to enjoy the beach, sun, and outdoors. This year is no different. Americans are also uprooting their families and starting new lives here in the Sunshine State each day. If you’ve thought about moving here, have you thought about what you’ll do with your home during the summertime? Not only are there certain weatherizing tips that should be done during the summer season, but you want to keep the outside of your home as pristine as possible.

During the summer, we tend to be outside more on nice days and enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities Sarasota has to provide. However, sometimes we do get a bit of rain during that time. Always ensure your windows…

1046 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

1. Confirm that your credit is in order.

If you don’t have a very colorful credit score, you may want to way a little while before you’re thinking of purchasing a home. With a score below 750 and especially 700, you may not get a very intriguing rate with your mortgage. Take time to build your credit if it isn’t already established.

2. Make sure you have at least 10% cash for a down payment.

With FHA, VA and USDA loans becoming increasingly popular in today’s economy, it’s becoming easier and easier to get lower down payments. However, with these low down payments come a high interest rates. Ideally, if you have over 10% down payment you will get a fairly decent interest rate for your mortgage.

3. Plan for the unforeseen expenses.

…

571 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Admit it, we've all Googled the value of your own home--or looked it up on Zillow. You may even have input your homes' information on a "what's my home worth" calculator. Almost a quarter of U.S. homeowners use online home-value calculators to get a preliminary estimate of what their home may be worth. These online tools are called automated valuation models (AVM) . Millenials and Generation X'ers are the major p;ayers with the AVMs. However, these tools are rapidly being used  by Boomers and others, especially in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a myriad of major players out there when it comes to AVM models, such as Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, etc.

Step one for when you’ve done your initial AVM calculation is to get a comparative…

1083 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post




There are a myriad of beaches well-deserving of honorable mentions in Southwest Florida. However, there is more that meets the eye in Southwest Florida. One that is known for its charm and beauty is Nokomis Beach. Nokomis, FL sits just north of Venice and south of Osprey. The town harbors a historic and pristine beach in Nokomis Beach; a 22 acre beach park that attracts people from all across the country. While some tourists visit the beach, it is a very quiet local beach with little interruption throughout the year. Nokomis Beach runs into North Jetty Park, right next to the intercoastal waterway—a prime location for fishing, boating and scenic sunsets.

The unique geography of the town is quite unique, as well. Anywhere west…

972 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Of course there are numerous reasons to leave the frigid cold north and set up shop in sunny South Florida. However, you may not have thought that one of those reasons is taking advantage of the astonishing 55+ communities that outline much of Southwest Florida.

If you're retired, the kids are all grown up, or you just want a change of scenery—this could be the move for you. Maybe you want a simpler lifestyle. Maybe you want to get away from the hustle & bustle of your up and coming neighborhood. Maybe you just want to be around like-minded folks. The change of lifestyle with Americans moving into 55+ neighborhoods is becoming ever-so prevalent.

The move into such a community is definitely a change of pace. Who will you be living next to?…

746 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Not all of us always feeling like spending countless hours in the kitchen during Thanksgiving. We want to spend as much quality time with family as possible. Not to worry--multiple restaurants around town are opening their kitchen doors for those families who want some quality food out of the house.

Marina Jacks: 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 941-365-4232. Imagine having a Thanksgiving dinner overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Plus, there is not only one, but two Thanksgiving specials. For $29 per person, you can enjoy a traditional turkey dinner with all the sides you can imagine. If you're not a turkey fan, how about a prime rib special for $33 per person?

Chart House: 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 941-383-5593.…

802 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Siesta Key is one of those rare places where you feel as though you're walking through a dream. White, powdery sand beneath your toes (8 miles of it, in fact), award winning seafood at every corner, and endless activities for you and your family.

 

There is a reason Siesta Key Beach has been rated the #1 beach in America multiple times by several travel outlets including US News & Word Report. Pictures alone don't do it justice. It doesn't suffice to just read an article and imagine your day at the beach. There is a reason thousands of people move to Sarasota each year.

So what exactly is on this magical s6tretch of land? For starters, in 2015 Siesta Key Beach expanded their parking lot space to cater to the droves of new residents and out of…

882 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

 

Sarasota County is the most desirable place to retire to in the United States. It is a community dedicated to helping seniors live the most prosperous life imaginable. In the past 10 years, Sarasota County has increased its senior citizen population by 5% percent. The grand total population of seniors in Sarasota County is a whopping 35%! The rapid growth is expected to continue due to a relaxing and harmonious lifestyle in the community.

There are a multitude of serene parks for seniors to walk, skate, bike, and stretch on. Believe it or not, there is even an option for horseback riding on these trails.

Not to worry, for those with disabilities or want a slower pace on the trails, a majority of the parks have paved trails for easy…

1450 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

Golf courses aren't just for Sunday recreation and relaxation. These luxurious communities are an incredible area to raise families in Southwest Florida. There are millions of people across the United States living in a SFR, apartment, condo or townhome in a common urban or suburban neighborhood. There are however, a growing amount of Americans who are moving to golf course communities. But what exactly are the benefits of living there? Why are people flocking to south Florida golf course communities each and every year?

Elegance is everywhere in Southwest Florida. Sarasota is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the country. There are numerous high-class communities right here in the Sarasota area such as: The Concession,…

701 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post