Southwest Florida Real Estate Blog

714 SW 35Th Street House Warming Party

Our Home Buying Process keeps you on track

I love being a part of handing over the keys to a first time home buyer after they just signed the lender packet and hud statement.  Driving back to the home and  unlocking the door  for the first time really makes people feel empowered to accomplish anything and it never gets old.  Sometimes a first time homebuyer can feel helpless, upset, or unsure of what is going on when they work with someone who does not keep them informed, I can assure you that whatever it is you are going through we will be here to work out the problem for you and keep things moving forward.  There is a lot to buying a home and with our Home buying process we can ensure to keep things on track.

Here are a few pictures from our most recent First Time Home Buyer Party.

One of the things we do for first time homebuyers is to throw them a housewarming party as a closing gift.  

  

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What do I need to know about Home owners insurance in Florida

Our area is full of sun and fun and an abundance of things to do.  Southwest Florida boasts beautiful beaches, bustling downtown areas that offer activities from the local farmers market, to art shows and bike nights.  There is truly something for everyone.  Many people love it here so much, that they decide to invest in a secondary property to occupy on a seasonal basis or to use as an investment property. 

When shopping for a home, it is important to think out the costs and criteria involved with respect to insurance.   There are many factors to consider that will impact the cost of insurance:

 Occupancy

  • Seasonal – occupied at random times of the year not consecutive months
  • Secondary basis-used for 6 months out of the year
  • Rental Exposures – annual, vacation or seasonal rental

(For rental exposures, it is very important to disclose what type of sites the property will be advertised on such as Air B & B, Home Away or VRBO)

Age of Property

  • New Properties (2002 and Newer) – will be less expensive to insure since they are built to the current stricter Florida Building Codes
  • Older Homes (2001 and older) requires a wind mitigation inspection to get best rate available.  Credits vary by home
  • Homes over 30 years and older - require a 4 point inspection and a wind mitigation inspection

Flood- (A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow)

  • Depending on the location of the home an elevation certificate may be required in order to get a rate
  • The National Flood Insurance Program is no longer...

The 21 day guide to preparing your home for sale

are you deciding to sell your home or condo soon?

Here is my free 21 - DAY Guide to Preparing your home for the market:


Day 1:  Replace the burnt out light bulbs around your home. 

Day 2:  Replace the dated light fixtures and door knobs to instanly update your homes look and feel.

Day 3:  Grab moving boxes, packing tape, and permanant markers from the store

Day 4:  Make an extra set of keys to your home.

Day 5:  Start gathering in a folder important papers that you will need.  Copies of utility bills, declaration of insurance, warranty paperwork, survey, site plan, elevation certificate, and HOA documents.

Day 6:  Start Decluttering your kitchen by removing everything from the counter tops, refrigerator, and in drawers.

Day 7:  Hire your Realtor and sign the listing papers and disclosures.

Day 8:  Declutter the Bathrooms and deep clean the tile shower and tub inserts.

Day 9:  Bedroom cleaning.  Pack away the things that are hidden underneath the bed, remove large and bulky furniture, and remove all the personal items from the walls.

Day 10:  Master Bathroom Cleaning and decluttering.

Day 11:  Living Room needs to feel light and bright.  

Day 12:  Front Yard / Curb appeal

Day 13:  Back yard

Day 14: Garage

Day 15:  Carpets and tile steam cleaned

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Cape Coral Condo with Granite Counter tops for sale at $100,000.00

Cape Coral Condo For Sale with granite counter tops $100,000.00

Cape Coral Condo with Granite Countertops

Coming soon Cape Coral Condo with Granite Counter tops, tile floors, stainless steel appliance, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, screened lanai, washer, dryer, ceiling fans in every room, solid wood cabinets, and located in Beautiful South West Cape Coral Florida 33914.  

Click here for a virtual tour

Call/Text Joshua Painter P.A. for more information. like the sellers disclosure, condominium Q + A, recent budget, and more.

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RE/MAX REALTY PARTNERS CAPE CORAL FLORIDA

RE/MAX REALTY PARTNERS CAPE CORAL FLORIDA

 RE/MAX Realty Partners Cape Coral Florida Are you looking for Paradise?  I was and chose Cape Coral Florida.  I moved to Cape Coral Florida from Ohio in 1999.  I was tired of the shoveling snow off the driveway, trying to thaw my frozen water pipes, walking through the slushy melted snow, chopping firewood, and all the other pesky problems of an Ohio winter.  

I chose Cape Coral Florida for my paradise and you can too.  Personally I think this is a great city to raise a family.  Compared to Ohio, Cape Coral Florida offers many things for children to do year round.  Competitive sports were a major part of my life and and here it is possible to play them all year.  Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball, swimming, hockey, horseback riding, bmx racing, atv riding, all star cheerleading, and much more.

My name is Joshua Painter P.A. and I am a RE/MAX agent in Cape Coral Florida.  I am also a certified Firefighter and Paramedic.  This is also a veteran owned business as I served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.   I have a beautiful wife and three wonderful children.  Our family has a bunny rabbit named cookie and our family dog is named tyson.  At Remax Realty Partners we treat our clients needs as if they were our own.   I am a family oriented Remax Professional.  ...

Cape Coral Pool Home With a Fenced yard

When I moved to Florida from Ohio in 1999, I had just got out of Boot camp at Fort Benning Georgia.  I was in the Army National Guard as an infantryman and I was moving to Florida to be closer to my parents.  They lived in a SW Cape Coral Pool Home with a fenced yard.  This is the first time in my life I had access to a swimming pool at my house.  This was a game changer for me.  I realized that my dream was to live in a tropical climate, where I could grow Limes for my Coronas and Oranges for my Blue Moon.   

I loved going to the beach and coming home to jump in the pool!  Now my kids get to experience this lifestyle and I am thankful they can enjoy the swimming pool.  My awesome pet Tyson who is part blackmouth curr and part something else loves running and chasing tennis balls in the fenced in backyard.  Here is a youtube video of him running around and doing some tricks  in the backyard of my Cape Coral Pool Home with a fenced yard. He was a rescue and I am very fortunate to have found him!  Let me know if you would also like to rescue a pet I have found that Big Hearts for Big Dogs Rescue is a wonderful organization and I would love to introduce you to them!!

I would like to address an important topic with owning a Cape Coral Pool Home with a Fenced yard.  TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN TO SWIM EARLY!!!  Be responsible and help your children learn to swim.  I have 3 children and all of them learned to swim at an early age.  I highly recommend ISR Here is a video link of the infant swimming resource self-rescue.

Do you already own a home and want...

Why You Should Consider Selling in the Winter

Selling In Winter Attracts Serious Buyers

The season you sell your home can have an impact on how much you get for your home and how quickly it sells. The season that has the most success in selling homes is spring. This is a good time of year for families moving to new school districts and is also more convenient weather for moving. Because of this trend, most people will recommend waiting to list your home until after the winter is over. Avoiding the winter is a huge misconception in the housing industry and can cause homeowners to miss out on opportunities.

Selling in the winter can give you a few advantages. There will be fewer houses on the market since most people assume winter is a bad time to sell. This gives your home more attention. Potential buyers are always looking no matter the time of year. Keeping your house on the market in the winter might bring the right buyer to your door. Real estate agents also tend to be less busy during these months and commit more time to getting your home sold.

Studies have shown winter buyers are buying because they need to move right away either for a relocation or personal situation. They will want to close quickly and allow for a much smoother sale.

Bottom Line

If you need to sell your home right away, or have some time but want to see what is out there, consider listing in the winter. Most homeowners who are going to sell will list their home in the spring, making for a competitive market. The winter allows buyers who are in a hurry to move consider your home and sell for more money than you would have in the spring.

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Will Increasing Mortgage Rates Impact Home Prices?

Will Increasing Mortgage Rates Impact Home Prices?

There has been some discussion recently on home prices in relation to mortgage rates. Some believe if there is a rapid rise of mortgage rates, home prices should decrease. Logically it makes the most sense for the price of the house to drop when interest rates are rising, but this is not always the case.

This theory of home prices decreasing is typically discussed by future home buyers. As a buyer you would like to think if you are paying higher rates on your mortgage, you should be able to see a decrease in cost somewhere else. Unfortunately, these rates are rising because the economy is in better shape. As the economy succeeds, incomes rise, rates go up, as well as the price of the home.

A recent study by the John Burns Real Estate Consulting found mortgage rates have very little impact on the cost of the home. The housing market and price increases are affected by things like job growth in the area and rising wages. Coincidentally, these same factors are causing the rise in the mortgage rates since people can afford to take out more.

Bottom Line

As the economy progresses and strengthens, mortgage rates and home prices will fluctuate. It is a misconception as rates increase, home prices will decrease. Advances in the economy have shown that rates and home prices are more likely to increase together.

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Common Things to Look Out for Before Buying Your Dream Home

Common Things to Look Out for Before Buying Your Dream Home

It is easy to become overwhelmed when you enter the home buying market. Friends, family, colleagues, and even acquaintances will give you their opinions if you are a first time home buyer. While most of them are looking out for your best interest, they are not fully aware of what is happening in the housing market.

It is important for you to be prepared and have your own questions ready. No matter what other opinions you are getting, you are the one buying the home and your comfort level will help make your final decision. Here are three important questions to ask before you purchase a home.

1. Why am I Buying a Home?

Regardless of the finances, it is important to think about what made you want to buy a home in the first place. Usually the reasons don’t have to do with money. Instead, home buyers are focused on how the house will impact their family in the future. A study done by the Joint Center for House Studies at Harvard found there are four reasons people buy a home. Those reasons include schools for your children, a safe environment, more room for your family to grow, and control of your own space.

These factors are the most common reasons people look to buy a new home. When you ask yourself why you are looking to purchase a home, do any of those factors come up? Spend time with your spouse or family members who are involved in this decision and determine why you want a home in the first place. Creating this list will help when searching for a home and can help your real estate agent find the best home for your needs.

2. What is the Trend with Home Values?

Our current economy and housing market is strong. That means home values and mortgage rates...

Is Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult?

Is Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult?

Potential homebuyers are always cautioned to be aware of mortgage lending standards and the difficulty they might face when trying to obtain a mortgage. Credit availability is expanding, making it easier to get a mortgage now than it was a year ago. The market is still tight however, and homebuyers should be prepared to shop around until they find a lender who is offering something that will meet the needs of their family.

Mortgage lending companies have high standards so it is important to make sure you and anyone else who will be included on the mortgage have their credit in check. The mortgage market is strict because lenders do not want to be put in a situation where they are forced to repurchase loans that are not paid on. They also do not want to end up in a litigation situation due to loan issues.

What Has Happened to the Number of Mortgages?

Due to the strict nature and requirements of the lending companies, the number of mortgages given out has significantly dropped. A report by the Housing Financial Policy Center at the Urban Institute showed that about 6.3 million fewer mortgages were given out between 2009 and 2015. The reasons behind this statistic are strict regulations and policies. These mortgages would have been granted if the lending standards where more reasonable.

Mortgage companies rely on calculations to determine if a home buyer will become delinquent on their payment. They will not give you a loan if you are too much of a risk for them. Credit history has a huge impact on this decision since lenders can see how often you pay back your debts. The history they receive is extensive. This view into your financial past causes lenders to take less risk when lending to you for your mortgage.

The Effect...