Buying a waterfront home in Southwest Florida?

Buying waterfront property in Southwest Florida? Hire a Realtor that knows how to navigate the waterways, find the fish and present the property by boat. A Realtor that is experienced in Waterfront Property closings knows the many factors that determine market value of a particular property. Visit my web site for more Real Estate and buyers info http://www.davefoster1.realtor

Here are some factors in a waterfront home that affect its market value.

1.      Elevation: Insurance Company’s will require an Elevation Certificate. This is basically a finished height of the properties slab compared to the sea level elevation.

 To reflect the most current flood risks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is updating the nation’s flood maps using the latest data gathering and mapping technology. New flood maps (known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or DFIRMs) are being issued nationwide.  With these ever changing elevation flood level requirements, waterfront homes are getting harder and more expensive to insure. I work with Insurance agents who know the rules and can write the proper policy’s for your needs. For instance if a home was built in the 1970s and was compliant to the elevation rules at the time it was built, that home could be protected under the grandfather rule, resulting in lesser premiums. See FEMA web site for more information on flood zones and Grandfather Rules. http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3745  I would recommend getting at least two insurance estimates (with Flood insurance) before making an offer on a Southwest Florida Waterfront home.

2.       Which way is the back yard facing? (Rear Exposure) In my opinion, Southern exposure is most desired & valuable. Especially if the property has a pool or a pool is part of the future plans.

In the Winter, the SWFL  sun dips lower in the  southern sky. When the temperatures are cooler the sun sparkles and warms the pool and back yard all day. My second choice would be Eastern exposure. We spend a lot of time on the back patio in the afternoon. So we enjoy the shade at that time. Some Buyers prefer Western exposure so they can enjoy the beautiful SWFL evening sunsets from the back yard. Every buyer is different. My former neighbor lived across the street and preferred his western exposure. He liked to work in his garage in the late afternoon after work. So when my garage was 100 degrees in the summer afternoon his was in the shade. It’s very important to meet with and get to know your buyers before viewing potential properties. This saves both parties a lot of precious time in choosing the right property for them.

3.       Location of the Lot: If you’re a Boater or like to fish, how far, and more importantly how long does it take to get to your favorite beach or fishing spots. A boat visit to the property is a must before you buy!! Some areas may not be accessible at low tide for the size or type of boat you have.

4.       Permits: Do you want to build a pool? Boat lift? Dock? Add square footage? Better bring a survey down to the zoning department and or Southwest Florida Water Management Etc. to make sure your project is acceptable.

An experienced Realtor can guide you through this process and even write the contract contingent upon buyers obtaining a permit for boat lift or any other project that’s high on your priority list.

David Foster GRI E-Pro 239-246-5660     www.davefoster1.realtor

 

Tired of the stock market roller coaster? Want to make some real money? I know where the deals are and I have a system in place to buy fix up and sell SWFL Real Estate. If you think you may be interested contact me through my web site. Could be the best financial decision you ever made.

www.davefoster1.realtor   239-246-5660

Searching for a Home or Investment Property in Southwest Florida?

Searching for a home in Southwest Florida?

Easy & Quick Real Estate!

Does anyone not have my email address?? The amount of emails I get a day is staggering.

Seems every website you go on you have to give up your email and personal information to do simple tasks. Company’s make big money selling email lists! I wanted to make sure when my Marketing Director, Britney, and I created my website, my visitors could use the tools without giving their information. A lot of the Real Estate websites have outdated listings and information on them. My web site is far from elaborate, it’s  simple, like me.  Just give me what I need so I can get on with my life!! It is updated constantly during the day so you won’t waste your time looking at listings that have been under contract for months. On the Buyer’s page, there is a simple mortgage calculator and amortization you can use.

When you’re ready to visit any of your favorite properties, just email or call me for a private showing.

If you have any Real Estate questions contact me through the site. If I can’t answer them I have a team of Real Estate Lawyers and mortgage professionals who can. Please feel free to click on the link below and check it out.

http://www.davefoster1.realtor

Catalina Isles - Ft. Myers

The A+ neighborhoods & Properties are still selling strong!
With all the Real Estate gloom & doom out there, I thought this would be a
great story. It's truly amazing how fast the homes are selling out in the Catalina Isles
 Neighborhood!!! I counted 22 homes under construction, and I'm sure there are more under permit.
All week long are suppliers, construction workers, lunch trucks, &
Realtors working. This neighborhood is getting close to being sold out. I have been informed that DR. Horton, the Builder has acquired Banyan Bay (a neighborhood just
South of here). Ryland homes started building there but stopped during the Real Estate slow down. As a Licensed Florida Realtor, I could choose just about anywhere to live.
In my opinion it's about location, quality construction, amenities and where
we can get the best bang for our buck.
For my family, Catalina Isles fits all the above criteria.
1. Location- Catalina Isles is nestled between a Huge Nature preserve
and the South end of Winkler Avenue, Approximately 1 mile South of the
 Summerlin/Winkler intersection. Close to Lakes park, a brand new WA-KE
 HATCHEE COMMUNITY PARK a 25+ acre park include walking trails, tennis
 courts, dog park, playground and restroom facilities. Ten minutes to Fort
Myers Beach. Fifteen minutes to Sanibel Island. One traffic light to Health
 Park Hospital, and 20 minutes to downtown Fort Myers.
 2. Quality Construction- A world class builder, D.R. Horton stands by
 their product. Instead of gambling on an abused Foreclosure or Short Sale,
 clients prefer a brand new house that's competitively priced with a
 warrantee.
3. Amenities- A Gated community with a club house, pool, playground, &
exercise room with a beautiful lake view that's not too over the top. I love
that all the maintenance is bundled at a very reasonable price.
4. Prices that compete with anywhere in Lee County.
Call me today for a free tour of Catalina Isles! David Foster (239) 246-5660

Guest Blogger: Brad from Primary Residential Mortgage Inc!

Needs list for the financing of your new home:

In today’s tightly regulated financial world, documentation for proof of income, assets, employment, etc. is now a much more thorough process than ever before.  Dotting of every I and T is being taken and additional steps have been added to the process to insure that nothing is being overlooked.  When preparing for your financing appointment, be sure to gather the following items to bring with you.  Do not be alarmed when additional items are requested midstream as some of the items provided may open up for additional documents to justify/satisfy the underwriter during the loan approval process.

1.       2 forms of identification for all parties applying for financing

2.      Tax returns for the past 2 filing years w/ all schedules and pages

3.      W2’s/1099’s for the past 2 years

4.      Pay-stubs covering 1 month for all parties applying for financing

5.      Bank statements for the past 2 months for all accounts being used to show assets for purchase / All pages

6.      Most recent IRA/401k statement(S)

7.      Most recent monthly mortgage statement on property currently owned OR Landlord contact information if renting

This will get you off to a good start, and provide your loan officer with sufficient information to submit your loan into processing.

Brad A. Stahlhut

Primary Residential Mortgage Inc.

P – 239-418-1170  F – 239-277-0325

BStahlhut@primeres.com

NMLS # 323904

What To Do When You’re Behind on Your Mortgage Payments

You have options!

Don’t think you have to relocate right away. The average foreclosure process in Florida takes 728 days. The lenders would prefer to have the home occupied. If the home is vacant no one is paying utilities, and the risk of break-in’s and vandalism is increased.

Anytime you’re behind on your payments it puts extreme stress on you and your family.

You need someone on your side that can help you take the problems head on.

 A Realtor can help guide you through this sometimes overwhelming process.

The best thing to do is cooperate with the bank and explain your hardship. Most lost mediation coordinators I’ve dealt with say it doesn’t matter how much money you have made in the past. If you have had a six figure income in the past, but can prove hardship you could be an excellent short sale candidate. You have to have a legitimate reason for not making your payments. Loss of Job, hours, decreased amount of work and income, Health issues etc. If the mortgage payment is the only bill you’re having trouble making, a short sale could be your best option. Some lenders will even give you a check for up to $5000.00 if you cooperate in the short sale process. Always seek a Real Estate Attorney and your Certified Accountants advice before proceeding with the short sale process. The IRS web site is a good resource for your financial & tax questions.

Two Helpful resources are - The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=179414,00.html 

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives- http://homebuying.about.com/od/shortsale/qt/Hafa-Short-Sale-Program.htm

An experienced Real Estate agent has a team of consultants that will guide you through the process. If you are behind with multiple bills, bankruptcy could be an option.

A short sale is a great alternative to foreclosure if you can qualify. Foreclosure is a law suit against you. This is a very expensive process involving attorney’s fees, court cost, filing fees, late fees etc. This should be your last option.

You may be able to get a loan for a car or even a home in 7 years but the debt will follow you forever. 

If you have questions for an experienced Realtor who is professional, confidential, and compassionate with your situation, call David Foster @ 239-246-5660 or go to my web Site - http://www.dfoster.us/

10 questions to ask before hiring a Realtor to sell your property

Realtor's are not all created equal, just like any other profession. Choosing the right Realtor can make a big difference in how quickly and efficiently you get your home sold. Here are 10 questions you should ask a Realtor before allowing him or her to list your property.

What do you do to make my listing stand out online? Make sure your Realtor is going to have nice pictures of your home that will make it desirable for buyers to want to come and look. Search online for that Realtor's other listings and see what you think. Did they only post a few pictures or did they really take the time and make sure all the great aspects are showcased? Look at the written descriptions, do they paint a desirable picture in their writing or just jot down a few things? Does your Realtor put in the time and effort to make your home stand out in a sea of other listings?
How do you determine what I should sell my house for? Pricing your house correctly is extremely important if you want to sell your house and get the most you can out of it. A good Realtor will take some time to do research and find the perfect sales price for both you and the buyer.
How do you advertise my home to buyers and other Realtors? Throwing your listing up on MLS might not be enough. How else do they get the word out? How often will they do an open house, what online sites do they use?
Do you have past clients I can speak with? Don't be afraid to ask for references. Call people who recently used the Realtor to sell their home. A good Realtor will have many clients just dying to tell you about their great experience. If they don't want to give you contact information, that just might be the red flag you need to move on to someone else.
Will I always be working with you? Make sure you will have the Realtor you choose working with you. You don't want to be passed off to some assistant or someone with less experience and qualifications. If you find a Realtor you like you want to make sure they will be doing your open houses, available to take your calls and will be present at your closing.
How will you keep in contact with me during the selling process, and how often? Chances are you will have many questions along the way. Is your Realtor going to be available for you to talk to daily if you need to? Will they be giving you status reports? Are they going to keep in touch and let you know what potential buyers are saying about your home and make changes if necessary for your selling plan? If you aren't getting much interest, what are they going to do to change that?
How does your commission work? Don't be afraid to talk money. You will be paying your Realtor, how does their pay structure work and what are the terms? You may find most Realtors work similar but it never hurts to ask, and get it in writing.
What is your cancellation policy? What if you choose a Realtor who seemed great when you interviewed him or her and down the road they turn into less than desirable? What would your options be? Will you be stuck with them or do they guarantee your happiness?
Can you tell me about yourself and your past experiences in listing homes? Say this to your Realtor and listen to how he or she responds. Give them a chance to tell you their strengths. If they leave something out, like if they don't mention how quickly they sell, or how they get close to asking price, these are defiantly things you will want to ask about. Chances are you will be paying the same price for a great Realtor and a not so great Realtor. Listen to what they say, look for passion, knowledge and experience in their answers. Go with your gut, are they a good match?
What are the assets and the drawbacks of my home? Use this opportunity to ask what they think. Most likely you already know some. Does the Realtor take the time to look around and find great selling points? Are they missing some drawbacks that could make a difference to buyers or do they spot these things and offer solutions? Remember, you are hiring and paying a professional to list your home, give them the opportunity to speak and see what they have to say. You will be able to tell if they are knowledgeable and experienced.

By: David Foster Realtor GRI
New Age Technology -Old School Values 
www.davefoster1.realtor