‘Real Estate’ Archives
What is staging?
If you talk to enough “sales” people, you’ll get a goodly share of opinions as to the meaning of “staging.” While I can’t equate the term with marketing, it is a function of it. Most recently the term has been associated with real estate; but the term or practice has been part of the selling process since I was first allowed to go to [...]
Why are you buying?
If you are considering buying real estate, you should ask this question: why? There are three reasons for a real estate purchase: First, you believe that it is the best place to invest to maximize a financial return; Second, you want a place for you and your family to dwell, whether as full-time residents or as a place to vacation; or third, you [...]
Vacation Home Sales Up
The economy may be facing some challenges, but that didn’t stop many buyers from investing in vacation properties last year. The National Association of Realtors® 2010 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey shows vacation home sales rose 7.9 percent to 553,000 in 2009, compared to 513,000 in 2008. Susan Ackerson of Marco Island Area [...]
Working together as a team
An important leg of the Marco Island Area Association of REALTORS (MIAAOR) is the Realtors Support Network (RSN). RSN is made up of approximately 50 Affiliate Members of MIAAOR and is composed of businesses in the community who have the means to contribute towards successful real estate transactions. The attorney, lender, title insurance provider, [...]
Oil and Real Estate
For the past several years oil (more specifically, gas) prices have been an issue at this time of the year. It seems as though for the summer months the gas companies, not just BP, have wonderful profits—compliments of the American vacationers. Even those of us who fly to that once-in-a-lifetime vacation have a tendency to take other “short [...]
Home Inspections and Home Warranty
As a buyer, you want to ensure there is nothing wrong with the house you intend to buy. While you will want to know the condition of the house if it’s not a new house, you can expect that it won’t be perfect. (Even a new house isn’t going to be perfect). When my wife and I planned our dream home, we spent nearly two years developing [...]
Notice to buyers
If you sincerely want to buy a home (condo or homesite) be reasonable. In these times, Realtors are having to deal with some pretty unreasonable and even nasty people. Now I’m sure that doesn’t apply to you, but ask any Realtor; 9 out of 10 will support my observation. The following scenario is fictitious and any resemblance to an actual [...]
Time for the investor?
There have been some great times for a real estate investment; and there have been some that were less than exciting (the past few years). However, the time to buy may be now. Read on and you may thank the publishers for allowing me to write this column. The following does not reflect the opinion of the Coastal Breeze News. (If I don’t say that, [...]
Buying a “vacation” home
It’s great having a place to vacation. If you’re considering that second (vacation) home, the opportune time is when you decide that the stars are in line for you. For many years we didn’t have a vacation home, satisfied that we lived in paradise and living on Marco Island is a full time vacation. About four years ago, we decided that we [...]
What is the source of value?
“Mine’s better than yours” (this is the cleansed version) or “Bob and Mary’s house sold for “x” dollars and ours is much nicer.” Statements like these are frequently made by owners who intend on selling their property. So what determines if Bob and Mary’s house is worth less or more than someone else’s? First, let’s [...]
