Too often we get calls from potential buyers looking for a property with a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a certain price range. Such questions give us an opportunity to help them with focusing on neighborhoods that will give them the lifestyle that suits their needs. Our decades of combined experience gives us the confidence needed to really help the buyer find not only the right property but more importantly the right neighborhood. It’s not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about friendly neighbors, proximity to schools, shops & parks, safety, services and amenities that often create a true sense of home. We love helping our clients find the perfect location for their budget and have the skills and connections to make it a timely and convenient part of the buying process. Contact a member of Team Paradise today so you can get started on building your home in Paradise!

With the market returning to a normal market, we get calls from potential buyers looking for distressed properties. It takes a special buyer to be able to handle the issues often associated with a distressed property. Some issues are readily visible; however, the more serious problems are often discovered when a new owner is preparing the home to live in or resale. Things such as termites, mold, faulty wiring, plumbing and defective drywall etc are a few issues that often turn a good idea into an expensive lesson. A complete home inspection can identify potential problems so you are not surprised after closing. Having a home inspection on distressed property prior to making an offer can help you understand the potential  costs in acquiring distressed property. Getting all the costs of buying upfront is especially important when acquiring a property to resale. Undiscovered problems could turn a good intention into a disaster and a property that will be very difficult to sale which could cost an investor time and thousands of dollars. Our Team can help you with questions, vendors and inspection companies to help make your purchase one that will leave you smiling for years. Call us and share with us how we may assist you.

We often share on our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/TeamParadiseNaples) tips and ideas from home improvement stores. These timely ideas use easy to follow ideas to help you improve and maintain your most substantial investment…your home. According to the US Census Bureau, homeowners should expect to pay approximately $3,300 a year for maintaining an average home. Maintenance would include servicing HVAC systems, appliances, smoke detectors, landscaping, roof cleaning etc. The best way to address maintenance issues is to have a scheduled plan each month. Budgeting for repairs makes sense so you’re not caught with unanticipated maintenance costs.  We’re happy to offer suggestions of how to create a plan, make service recommendations from our happy clients and share coupons and discounts. Any member of Team Paradise is happy to answer your specific questions so let us know how we can help you.

Occasionally, the question of whether or not something in a property is included in a sale. We generally share with our clients, “If it’s nailed, glued or screwed, it’s included with the property.”   A fixture is any item of value that is permanently attached to the real property. Fixtures include such things as light fixtures, ceiling fans, drapery rods, shades, shutters, built-in appliances, attached mirrors and so on. Kitchen appliances are not always included. Refrigerators are often free-standing and not included unless specifically noted in the listing description. On the other hand, built-in microwave ovens and dishwashers are included. In the photo, the pot rack is considered a part of the sale, but the pots are considered personal property and not included.  Be safe by specifically including any items in question is clearly described in the sales contract. Any member of Team Paradise is happy to answer your specific questions so let us know how we can help you.

Naples Waterfront Home at 390 Willet Ave Naples FL 34108

Schedule a Showing/Request Info Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Avoid Foreclosure Homes Close to Where You Work What is your home worth? Greg Gorman John R Wood REALTORS 239-280-2225 Questions? Schedule a Showing! MLS#: 212027417 Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property.

390 Willet Ave Naples, FL Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Connors Vanderbilt Beach $ Click for current price 5 BEDROOMS 5 BATHROOMS (3 full, 2 half) 4936 Square Feet Vanderbilt Beach’s finest beach retreat! This home has just had a complete makeover by renown interior designer Michael Biondo. Soft seaside, sand & bronze colors, distressed finishes, marble & wood floors all work together to create an enchanting beach chic home. From the lighting details to the bright spacious kitchen, no detail has been overlooked. White Carrera marble counter tops grace the kitchen & compliment the white on white shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. Specialty lighting fixtures, surround sound, security system, electric storm shutters all work in tandem to create the perfect & safe environment no matter what time of day. Both the main floor & 2nd floor offer casual living space plus beautiful views of the heated pool, canal and bay. Outside you can relax on the main or upper deck, relax in the heated salt pool & spa. If you are looking for adventure, choose the boat dock and take off in your boat, jet ski ski or kayak. You deserve this…Make it home! L2L Property Websites WP

THE GREATER NAPLES REAL ESTATE MARKET CONTINUES TO IMPROVE WITH SEVERAL ENOURAGING SIGNS AND A SHRINKING INVENTORY

NAPLES, FL (8 August 2012) – The BEST news for our real estate market is that the available inventory of properties for sale is the lowest it’s been since 2006! Although prices have been somewhat stable, some areas, such as the beach areas, have seen strong sales, steep decline of inventory and an increase of 5% in the median sale price.

That trend will likely be the pattern for most areas in the Naples area over the next few months.

What does that mean for buyers and sellers? History tells us that when a market experiences a reduction in inventory and an increase in the number of properties sold, prices will likely rise. With mortgage interest rates, anyone sitting on the fence about buying a property should make the move now.

The good news for sellers too is that looking back over the past 18 months of sales, the average list-to-sale price was in the range of 10-12%. The most recent data has improved to 5-7%. That means buyers will have a much tougher time making a successful “low-ball” offer. And with fewer properties on the market, the choices are far less than that of a year or two ago. That also equates to properties remaining on the market for shorter periods than a saturated market.

The outlook on the market remains steady as sales remain stable and inventory continues to diminish. More and more neighborhoods are achieving a balanced market (a one year supply), with a growing number moving into a shortage of supply. Sales above the million dollar mark remain robust, achieving their highest level for second quarter since 2005. At the same time, properties priced below $250,000 are steadily decreasing and at the end of Q2 2012 comprise only 57% of closed sales for the year.

Stable prices (for now, at least!), along with low mortgage rates create a favorable environment for the smart buyer. Both buyers and sellers should seek specific information on changing market conditions in areas in which they have an interest.

For more specific results or a detailed report on your neighborhood, call Realtors Greg Gorman, PA & David Burke

Buyers’ Power Play – Pre-approval Gives Everyone Confidence

Get Pre-Approved!

Choosing professionals to handle tasks for which you aren’t trained just makes sense & cents! I would not attempt to fix my car or process my income tax return. I hire a professional to ensure I get the best advice and confidence it was done right.

The same is true in real estate. Our Team recognizes the benefits obtaining pre-approval for our buyers…it is good for them, the sellers and us. It saves time, money and removes the uncertainty of knowing whether the buyer is qualified to actually buy the home they’ve chosen. Consider these benefits:

• The loan amount the buyer can borrow decreases as interest rates rise
• Focusing on the “Right” homes – price, size, amenities, location
• Determining the best loan – loan type, rate & terms
• Uncovering credit issues early – time to cure possible problems
• Bargaining power – price, terms, & timing
• Speeds up the closing process – verifications have been made

When you get referred by a REALTOR, you’ll be sitting down with a trusted mortgage professional compared to going through calculators on a website or worse, a internet loan company. The cost of being pre-approved is a bargain and generally, limited to the cost of the credit report.

Sometimes there is an advantage to getting a second opinion from a different lender. It will either verify that you have a good deal or you’ll discover that you can improve it. Either way, it works to your benefit.

For more tips and recommendations, contact a TeamParadise member.

Buyers’ Power Play – Pre-approval Gives Everyone Confidence

FINDING THE RIGHT-SIZED HOME MAKES DOLLARS & CENTS!

With the historically low mortgage interest rates and well-priced properties, we are increasingly finding that buyers and sellers are changing their ideas about finding the biggest home for the right-sized home. Smaller, more efficient homes are more attractive than ever.

It seems as though the “work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade” thinking is rapidly changing. Looking back over the past 50 years, this has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners.

Compared to other Nations, Americans live in much larger homes than most people throughout the world. In 2006, the U.S. Census reported the average single family home had 2,469 square feet which was 769 feet more than the survey conducted in 1976.

Given the current economy, homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs and one thought is that once the children are grown and have moved out, homeowners are finding they have too much room. Even if their home is paid for, they have higher property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance on the larger home than they’d have if they were living in the “right size” home.

Some homeowners state they’re keeping their larger home because it has luxury features that smaller homes don’t have. There’s a movement that seems to have started in the United States to find the right-size home with the amenities and convenience that homeowners want.

This philosophy has been expressed by Sarah Susanka in her book Creating the Not So Big House. It proposes a house that “values quality over quantity with an emphasis on comfort and beauty, a high level of detail, and a floor plan designed for today’s informal lifestyle.”

We’d love to help you discover the right-sized home. And we can also help you visualize how a smaller home that’s well designed, can offer most of the features of a much larger home. We have a list of builders and re-modelers to help get you to the right-sized home.

Call us and we’ll help get you going in the RIGHT direction!

FINDING THE RIGHT-SIZED HOME MAKES DOLLARS & CENTS!

You, like most everyone else, are probably working on or recently formulated your New Year’s resolutions. Many people focus on their physical goals and ignore or overlook their fiscal goals. I often talk about goals and planning when I teaching opportunities come up through the year. Here’s what I have learned from hundreds of people.

Most talk about goals…think about goals, etc. Unless they are written and re-visited often, they are in actuality…just dreams and we know what happens to our dreams when we wake up!

Maybe this year could be the year you really do invest in a rental property to support you fiscal goals. The demand for rental properties and rentals prices are climbing, home prices are inexpensive and mortgage rates are low for even non-owner occupied properties. A $125,000 home with 20% down payment can easily have a $300 to $500 monthly cash flow after paying all of the expenses.

There are lots of investment strategies that work but one that is easy to understand and execute is to stay with below average price range homes in predominantly owner-occupied neighborhoods. These properties will appeal to the broadest range of tenants while you hold them and buyers when you’re ready to sell.

Single family homes offer an opportunity to borrow high loan-to-value mortgages at fixed rates for long terms on appreciating assess with tax advantages and reasonable control.

Decide NOW to make some real progress on your resolutions. First, invest some time learning about rental properties by consulting with a member of Team Paradise. We have the Energy, Experience & Knowledge to help you achieve your goals.

Are you ready to add to your GOALS for 2012?

Do Your New Year’s Resolutions Include Buying A Rental Property?

Worried About Paying Too Much For Your Next Home?

No one wants to pay more than its value regardless of the product. When you buy bananas for 49 cents a pound at one store and see them for 39 cents a pound at another store, it’s not the ten cent difference as much as it is about overpaying.
Negotiating the sale of a property is perhaps the best tool a Realtor can offer a client and it all starts during the listing interview. It’s amazing, even given the fact I have been in the business 20 years, how people choose an agent to work with for their sale or purchase. It’s more likely luck or convenience an agent gets in front of their customers, not skill or experience.
Before reading futher, make sure you contact Team Paradise for a list of questions to ask any agent prior to choosing to work with them…it’s free and it’s very informative.
Nearly everyone seems to think the natural way to start negotiating the buying process is to offer less than the asking price for the property…these days, way less! However, instead of the price, a buyer could negotiate condition, timing or terms. A few thousand dollars off the price may not make much difference in the monthly payments but it might make a big difference if it was negotiated in one of the other areas when more important concerns are at stake.
Consider that a buyer with just enough available funds for down payment and closing costs will have to live in a home exactly the way it is for some time. They may not be able to make the changes that would really make it feel like home until they’ve saved more money.
If that buyer finds a home that needs $10,000 worth of improvements and the seller would lower the price by that amount. Financing those improvements with a separate bank loan will result in higher payments due to a higher interest rate and shorter term than your mortgage. The buyer might instead consider offering full price and asking the seller to make the improvements which wouldl result in lower monthly payments based on today’s low mortgage rates and 30 year term. Another alternative is to negotiate with the seller to pay your closing costs so you’d have the cash to make the improvements.
Paying full price may cause the seller to consider concessions regarding condition or terms which can be balanced to affect the value of the property. Buyers can and should negotiate to acquire the home that meets their needs at the lowest possible cost of housing.
Team Paradise offers nearly 50 years of combined skills and experience in local real estate listings and sale. That combined with the reputation of John R Wood REALTORS is an unbeatable choice when considering working with a real estate professional.

Worried About Paying Too Much For Your Next Home?