You've just returned from a trip to the beach. You ask yourself: Why should I continue to pay rental fees when I could own a vacation home and rent it out? Unless you're fairly wealthy, you'll need to make sure you can commit to buying a seasonal home before you start shopping around. Here are five indications that you're ready to take the plunge: 1. You can afford one Can you afford to own a vacation home? If the answer to that question is yes, that's probably the most obvious sign that … [Read more...]
Living on a Sandbar of History
The preservation of human history and the environment that shaped it is a fascination to most people. Proof of that is found in the dedication of many volunteers and a few professionals to building and maintaining museums, even for the smallest of communities. Useppa is certainly one of the smallest, with our 100 acre, 1 ¼ mile long island occupied by just 115 homes, a club, and the Barbara Sumwalt Museum of the Useppa Island Historical Society. Created by passionate residents and a … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know About Buying a Second Home
RISMedia June 20, 2018 -- Buying a second home is one of those treasured rites of passage, like getting married or buying a car. It's a sign that you're doing well and can afford to reward yourself. Now can be a good time to take the plunge, as mortgage rates are still at an impressive low. What better way to invest your money than snatching up your dream vacation home? If you think you're ready to purchase a second home, don't rush into it. Read this guide to ensure it's one of the best … [Read more...]
Experience Useppa Island Florida
Welcome to Useppa Island Florida … [Read more...]
THE AFFORDABLE HIDDEN GEM ON FLORIDA’S SOUTHWEST GULF COAST
Florida's Affordable Hidden Gem - Florida Realtors® News recently published their list of the 2017 major factors affecting our 2018 Florida Real Estate Market. These included low inventory of homes, and the resultant escalation of prices to levels just below the peak of the real estate bubble. The upcoming run-up in Florida values, resulting from the Tax Reform bill, along with the crushing winter weather to the north, may make those issues pale in comparison. A lack of state income and … [Read more...]
Quick Transformations With Paint for These Small Spaces
All it takes is a little paint. By adding paint in strategic places around the home, you can easily and inexpensively transform a space. Plus, there is a good chance you could accomplish at least one of these painting projects during the course of one weekend. Here are seven locations to consider painting and tricks for making even the smallest spaces provide big impact. 1. Entryway. When a guest arrives, their first impression is based on your home’s exterior and the front door. The very … [Read more...]
What to Consider Before You Buy a Vacation Home
Excerpt The Wall Street Journal June 2017 When Considering a Vacation Home Buy it for the right reason The Realtors association surveys find that the primary motivation for a vacation home purchase is vacationing. And many experts think that’s the best way to approach the deal. Rental income is so unpredictable it should be viewed as gravy, they say, and buyers certainly shouldn’t rely on it to cover their mortgage and other expenses. And the market is too unpredictable to … [Read more...]
10 Sneaky Ways to Hide all the Clutter
Hide the Clutter, beautifully. A place for everything and everything in its place -- that's what prospective buyers want to see in your house. Here's how to lose (or disguise) the clutter. Ditch the Entry Rack As handy as entry racks are in your entry or hallway, they may be sending the message to potential buyers that you don't have adequate storage. Put handy entry racks away while you're showing your home, and clean out your entry closet while you're at it. Manage … [Read more...]
USEPPA ISLAND GETAWAY
By Nadine Welch Mike and I decided it was time to get out of Dodge and take a road trip with our flats boat. The hustle and bustle of south Florida makes this kind of trip a stark contrast and welcome break. We ended up on Useppa, a small island between Pine Island and Cabbage Key, on the southwest coast of Florida. These places are almost due west of Fort Myers, near the mouth of Charlotte Harbor. The path that led us there was anything but ordinary. It was as if we were being … [Read more...]
BUYER’S MARKET HELPS PREMIUM HOME SALES SOAR
We previously reported how a shortage of inventory in the starter and trade-up home markets is driving prices up and causing bidding wars, creating a true seller’s market. At the same time, in the premium home market, an over-abundance of inventory has started to see prices come down and put buyers in the driver’s seat, creating the beginning of a buyer’s market. Last week, the National Association of Realtors released their Existing Home Sales Report which shed some additional … [Read more...]
