One of the highest costs of homeownership can be property tax, which varies according to the city or county in which you reside. Understanding and taking advantage of the Homestead Exemption can help homeowners reduce their property taxes in both the short and long-term, especially in a booming market. “Florida laws pertaining to property taxes are unique, and many of our clients relocating Continue Reading
Our Favorite Things To Do In St. Petersburg
This blog has a bit of a different focus than most of our articles. It shares information we often are asked to provide for many of our transplant clients – homebuyers who have relocated here (St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay area), usually from other states. When their first guests are soon to arrive, they often ask for tips about off-the-beaten-path activities they can share with their visiting family Continue Reading
How To Determine Your Home’s Selling Price
Let’s start with some important facts about recent home sale prices in Florida: According to research by Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, homes in Tampa Bay continue to sell at a premium, far beyond expected prices. While the average home sold in Tampa for 39% above the expected price at the end of 2021, that number rose to 49% as of 3/31/22. In the latest Continue Reading
BUYERS: What Kind of Market Research Should My Real Estate Sales Agent Provide?
For most buyers, purchasing a home is the largest investment they will make, and they crave accurate information to make a sound decision. We believe more understandable information is better when making such an important decision. If comprehensive market research and more might help our clients, we want to provide it. When we talk about “market research” in the context of real estate, we Continue Reading
The Benefits of a 1031 Tax-Free Exchange
Are you a real estate investor or someone looking to exchange a vacation home or rental property for a different type of investment? If so, a 1031 tax-deferred exchange might be suitable for you. When executed strategically and under the right circumstances, 1031 exchanges can help upscale and further optimize your investment portfolio. What is a 1031 Exchange? Under the standard tax code Continue Reading
The Homes Baby Boomers Will Retire In…
Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), whether they are still working or are fully retired, are at the forefront of what’s been called the longevity economy, living longer, healthier lives than their parents. This physical shift also comes with a cultural shift in attitudes, especially about their retirement home. For the Silent Generation (also known as the Greatest Generation or the World Continue Reading
What To Do When You Inherit a Home
Caveat: This article is not about the legal process for finalizing an inheritance. The details to cover that topic are extensive and readily available online. As a convenience, we have outlined some of the basic steps and guidelines at the end of this article. Rest assured, at some point in the inheritance process, you will need to work with an attorney who should cover all the details of what Continue Reading
The Pros and Cons of Buying a Vacation Home
Thinking about buying a Florida vacation home? You’re not alone. Florida’s 1,350 miles of coastal beauty and seemingly endless sunshine draw millions to our shores each year. Add to that, the Tampa Bay Area is ranked sixth by Travel & Leisure Magazine out of the seven best places to buy a vacation home in Florida, and the idea of a Tampa Bay or Gulf coast vacation home becomes even more Continue Reading
Benefits of Putting Your Real Estate in a Trust
What will happen to your home when you die? Will it get passed on seamlessly to your heirs? Or will the government and creditors get some or all of it? What if you become incapacitated later in life and cannot take care of your home? What will happen? Those are touchy questions to ask, but the first set of questions is inevitable, and the second is possible. If we care what happens to our Continue Reading
Helping Your Adult Children Buy Their First Home: What You Should Know
If you’re thinking about helping your son or daughter purchase their first home, you are not alone. Many parents, just like you, help their kids make the jump from living at home to owning one. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 23 percent, or nearly one in four, of those 37 years old or younger used a gift from their parents to buy their first home, and 6 percent relied on a loan Continue Reading
