Moving to Florida-Florida Real Estate Network-Living plus Relocating

In real estate, a short sale takes place when an outstanding loan against a property becomes greater then the estimated market value of that property. This process is a way in which homeowners can avoid foreclosure and can also pay of their mortgage by reaching a settlement with the lender at the same time.

How a short sale works

In a short sale transaction, a knowledgeable real estate agent asks the seller to provide the required documents—such as income tax returns, closing documents, pay stubs, and bank statements—before listing the property.

Then, through a careful in-depth review of the seller’s current financial situation, a logical way to proceed can be set up, paving the way for a successful completion of the short sale. Short sales are a complex process, for both the buyer and the seller.

Next, the real estate agent will discuss the potential short sale with the lender and inform the seller of the results of their collaboration. When evaluating this information, the seller should always be aware that the lender has more control over the process than either the seller or the buyer, and should strive to maintain a courteous relationship with the lender with that in mind.

Note also that the lender and the seller are actually a partnership, because they both have to agree to the buyer’s offer in order for the short sale to progress.

“Low ball” offers can be a problem

In a short sale, potential buyers are usually hoping to find a bargain, and they sometimes make offers that are unrealistically low in comparison with the property’s estimated market value. As a result, the lender may determine that it is in their interest to proceed with foreclosure rather than accept the potential buyer’s offer.

An experienced real estate agent will realize that this is a possibility, and will make a counter-offer to the buyer before presenting the lender with the problematic original offer. Such “low ball” offers are usually considered to be a waste of time for the lender when it comes to reviewing them, and they often cause the lender to delay in responding, in regard to selling the property, or to ignore the offer altogether.

Virtually anyone who has participated in a short sale agrees that dealing with an experienced real estate agent really made a difference in meeting their needs and satisfying their concerns in going through this complex procedure. The lender is also gratified because foreclosure has been avoided and the buyer or seller, have reached their goals.

For more information about short sales see Sally Stribling’s Florida keys site at  www.keysbestproperty.com

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There is a lot of hard work that goes into buying or selling a house.

With today’s market and economy, that hard work has become even tougher.

That is exactly why it is critically important that you hire an expert to help you navigate through all the details and negotiations.

Yes, there are lots of Real Estate Agents, but not all of them may be looking out for your best interest. Therefore the first thing you need to do in this process is to find a real estate agent that you can trust, that has experience and importantly has great negotiation skills.

From the experience side of things.
A few things to ask a prospective agent?

How long have you been in Real Estate?

Do you do this full time?

What are your sales stats for the last couple years.

(These may seem like intrusive questions, but any top-producing agent will actually welcome them)

The importance of Negotiation.

Negotiating is probably the most important skill that an agent can possess. The agent could be an excellent salesperson, but without negotiating skills you might not be getting the best deal for your dollar.

A really great agent will listen to the concerns of both the buyer and the seller and then work on something that benefits both parties.

A great negotiator will ask the proper questions to find out exactly what those concerns are, and in addition what each side wants to ultimately accomplish.

The goal being, to turn your transaction into a win-win situation for both parties.

Area knowledge.

An agent should have in-depth knowledge of the area in which the property is located.

From a seller’s perspective, knowing the actual value of the property and how much the sellers could get for it is vital.

From the buyer’s perspective, the agent should know about schools, local amenities and even which local business are in the surrounding area. On the subject of tax rates, building codes, home repairs and insurance costs, an experienced agent can also point out exactly where to get the information.

In conclusion, picking an agent that has the experience and negotiating skills to help with selling or buying a home is an incredibly important step. Be careful to choose a strong partner in your pursuit of either selling or buying.

Article courtesy of Debbie Bell.

Debbie is a Top producing Real Estate Agent,that specializes in the sale of fine Homes and Condos in the Vero Beach area.

In addition she is the owner of the website www.verobeachislandrealestate.com designed specifically to help people relocating to Vero Beach Florida and it’s communities

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The Florida Keys offer many of the same laid back characteristics as the Caribbean, without ever leaving the United States. Amazing sunsets and a free spirited attitude all contribute to the laid back atmosphere of the Keys.

There are many activities to do, like sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, boating, sailing, kayaking and eco-tours. Each island destination has its own special features. These islands are also rich in culture and history with many galleries, restaurants, festivals, music and theater to visit and check out. Of course, just relaxing is always an option throughout the Keys as well.

The Keys span about 120 miles and are connected by bridges and causeways, running south west from Miami. This area has the only living-coral barrier reef in the United Stares and is approximately 5 miles off shore and runs the entire length of the Keys.

The first island in the Florida Keys is Key Largo. Being close to the Everglades National park, there is much wildlife to be seen here. It is a popular destination for kayakers and bird watchers. There are many amazing scuba diving or snorkeling sites in Key Largo as well, with many sunken wrecks in the area. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located here and offers scuba and snorkeling tours, glass bottom boat tours and swimming in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. In 2002, the navy ship,  the USS Spiegel Grove was sunk to provide a reef here and a sunken wreck for divers to explore.

The next island in the chain is Islamorada. It is comprised of six islands including Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and the offshore islands of Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. This area is well known for its world class sport fishing. There are many fishing tournaments held here each season.

Marathon Key is in the middle of the Florida keys. It is famous for the Seven Mile Bridge, which links it to the Lower Florida Keys. You will find great shopping and many fine restaurants offering fresh seafood. At Crane Point Museum, there is one of the last untouched tropical hardwood hammocks in the Florida Keys.

Big Pine Key is known for its boating tours and for bird watching and fishing. The diving and snorkeling is great here too. It is a quiet region of small resorts, home-style restaurants, vacation homes and untouched natural areas.

The last of the Florida Keys is Key West.  There are many festivals, shopping and restaurants. Boat tours provide a great way to view Key West from the water. The snorkeling and diving are renowned here to see a diverse array of marine life. Wrecks and reefs, both artificial and natural coral, are home to hundreds of species of tropical and game fish. Many visitors rent a bicycle or go on walking tours to explore the history and architecture of Old Town Key West.

So if you are into eco-tourism, scuba diving or snorkeling, shopping and dining, or just want to relax in a tropical paradise, the Florida Keys may be the destination for you.

Here is a great story on the history of the Overseas Highway US 1

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberta_Beriault

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Key West is a beautiful town on the beach with the ability to add health benefits to any lifestyle. As a town literally on the beach, you will never be short of gorgeous sunshine and the benefits it offers such as vitamin D.

As a town on the beach, there are many opportunities for athletics on the beach. As a resident, you can join one of many local volleyball teams on the beach or join a beach running club. Other popular athletic activities include kayaking and simply swimming in the ocean. Swimming and running in particular are great forms of cardiac exercise. Doctors recommend the average American receive at least 3-4 hours of intense cardiac exercise a week.

If you are an older citizen, do not be dissuaded from living in Key West. There are many activities for older residents as well. Some local senior citizens organizations host walks on the beach, in which senior citizens can pair up with buddies and walk the gorgeous Key West. Walking can improve one’s heart rate, as well as build muscle strength, two health benefits incredibly important for senior citizens.

Overall, Key West presents many benefits to residents. A gorgeous beach, a plethora of activities, and great educational system all make for great reasons to move to Key West.

If you are interested in relocating to Key West see http;//www.keywestrealestatecompany.com for everything about Key West Real Estate

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We’re all aware of the fact that real estate values are falling, yet buying a vacation home now maybe the best investment one can make.  Just be sure that when you buy a vacation home, you buy it in the Florida Keys. This is a year round vacation investment that pays you every week!

The conventional wisdom is that, now in today’s unstable economic times, is the worst of all times to buy vacation real estate. And this may be true, for real estate investments in most areas… Yet, if one considers that a vacation home, in the right area, the Florida Keys, is an investment that can almost always shows a positive cash flow. The major side benefits of owning a vacation condo, or even a home, in the Florida Keys outweighs most potential downside risks. That side benefit is that when the owner wishes to use it, he can. It’s not like owning a parking garage or warehouse.

Investing in Real Estate in the Florida Keys, the Whys

Obviously for someone that hates the sun, the tropics or clear blue waters, the Florida Keys is not a place to invest. But for those that love water sports, world class fishing and year round sun, there’s almost no other place that compares in both physical beauty and a potential continuing source of income. Year round, The Keys is a vacation destination. Those from the northern states during the winter, flock to the southeast and especially the Keys, as a welcome escape from the cold.

Deep sea fishing, sailing, diving, spear fishing, underwater exploration, flats fishing, sailing, water skiing are just a few of the many sports and past times people enjoy during the rest of the year. There’s almost no limit to the water sports that are available. While it’s possible to do many of these sports year round, the spring, summer and fall have the warmest and calmest coastal waters. Vacationers, a rental property owner’s target market will pay high weekly rental rates to stay at a condo or home in the Keys to enjoy and experience these sports.

If a vacationer has a yen for history and interesting surroundings, the Keys also provides interesting tours and sights to see in Key West, as well as other places like Big Pine Key, where a state sanctuary exists to preserve the Keys Deer species. With its history and its beauty, the Florida Keys is an incredibly interesting place to invest. With tourists year round, owning a vacation home in the Keys makes a lot of sense.

High Returns Result from Short Term Vacation Rentals, but There’s a Catch

Some communities, townships, homeowner and condo associations in the Florida Keys have placed restrictions on short term rentals. If an investor decides to purchase a home or condo, it is imperative that one checks to see if there are any rental limitations concerning weekly rentals. The ‘key’ to rental profits in the Keys is the owner’s ability to rent the property year round on a short term, weekly basis. If that’s not the case, look elsewhere where no such restrictions exist.

Depending upon the type, size and location of the unit, weekly rentals and purchase prices can vary tremendously. For instance, there are waterfront mobile home villages that offer rentals as low as $300-$400 per week. In contrast, there are homes that may be rented for well over $5000 per week or more. Obviously, the cost of purchasing a mobile home, condo or luxury home will vary tremendously and one may be an order of magnitude higher in price, than the other.

During the summer, with diving and water sports the big attraction, weekly rentals are easy to line up using only the internet and perhaps some of the vacation rental internet sites. Many of the locals in and around South Florida, as well as other parts of the country will come to the Keys, sometimes several times per summer. Even in the fall, while a bit slower, is a time that people might come down for a week or so for a quick vacation. Of course, the onrush of vacationers, typically staying a month or longer occurs during the winter months. Obviously, this season offers the Keys property home owner the highest rental rates. Although even this has been changing within the last 10-15 years.

Vacation Rental ROI & Rate of Return

The first year or two of actually owning a vacation getaway in the Keys typically shows a near break even cash flow. If one aggressively pursues the marketing on the internet travel sites, cash flows may become positive even during the first year of ownership. A positive cash flow in terms of mortgage versus rentals will usually show itself after the third or fourth year. There are many factors determining ROI, most notably are:

The condition of the rental property

Number of return renters

Water view and facilities

Location and ease of travel from the airport

Locate the Best Keys Areas and Properties

If all of the above are positive, the owner can command the highest rents and the number of returning vacationers. These will be the easiest to rent and command the highest weekly rents.

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There appears to be a consensus that an urban life style is stressful, expensive and perhaps unhealthy. Cities like New York or Chicago may provide certain economic opportunities, but the question is, at what cost? Most sense that the pace of life in these cities is too challenging and if other living opportunities arise, many are opting for a different (more relaxing) life style. For instance the populations of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and most other larger urban centers has declined over the period from 1950 through 2000, despite the fact that general population within the U.S. has increased.

How Healthy is City Life?
There may be many reasons for this decline, but chief among them are stress, cost, noise and air pollution. All of these factors have taken a toll on not only the total population count, but the overall well being of the city dweller, as well. A recent book, entitled Unhealthy Places by Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory zeroes in on the ecology, sociology and general unhealthiness of urban life. Certainly, virtually anyone with a daily newspaper or seeing the evening news can see the number of deaths attributed to crime or traffic.

While these statistics may actually indicate a decrease, the general perception however, is that living or working in large city is either dangerous or unhealthy. Economic factors also play a role in the population decline. Many city dwellers in years past have fled the large urban centers for the “safety” and relative security of the suburbs. However, urban sprawl has also assailed the safe harbor of the suburbanite and many in suburban areas bordering the city are seeing their taxes and crime spiking upward.

The Effects of a Rise in Stress
This is particularly true of the suburbs surrounding cities like New York or Boston with state income and real estate taxes continuing to rise. With a continuing increase in stress factors, it has been pointed out that many other bad lifestyle choices contribute to a decline in overall health. According to Science Daily.com, “When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps prevent depression, but they also contribute to a host of physical problems that eventually contribute to early death.”

A Change in Location Venue Will Help
How best to address these problems? Many are solving the problem by simply moving away from it entirely, mostly to the southern states. Whether they can find useful work or simply retire is certainly a factor. However, with population growth within the southern states continuously rising, various industries will undoubtedly provide employment for many. This movement away from urban centers to the south has been occurring over the last several years. As indicated below from 1990 through 2000, the populations of the southern states rose substantially compared with New York and Massachusetts:

• Florida increase: 3,044,452 a change of +23.5%
• Georgia increase: 1,708,237 a change of +26.4%
• North Carolina increase: 1,420,676 a change of +21.4%
• South Carolina increase: 525,309 a change of +15.1%
• New York increase: 986,002 a change of +5.5%
• Massachusetts increase: 332,672 a change of +5.5%

Notice that the two northern states listed have the highest overall state taxes. With declines in tax revenues which are tied to the weak economy, these states have imposed even more taxes! So many more northern state dwellers are fleeing southward. Most who have moved southward feel that the move overall was worth it for both health and economic reasons.

Florida’s Decline in Real Estate Values
Florida has been hard hit on the real estate front by the recession, but the state may soon have a modest bump in housing prices, despite the recent declines. Many from the north are attracted to Florida for several obvious reasons: no income state taxes, relatively low real estate taxes and the aforementioned decline in real estate values. While it is upsetting to Florida residents, the price drop makes Florida an ever more attractive place to live and work.

If one is searching for vacation and/or home value, locations like Vero Beach and particularly, the Florida Keys offer an excellent place to live, work or retire. Vero Beach located on the Florida’s east coast, has easy access to Orlando, South Florida and the Panhandle. The Florida Keys, on the other hand, possesses a special charm rooted in a history with a perpetual vacation mind set featuring excellent fishing, diving and boating. Both are good choices depending upon one’s taste and budget.

For more information about relocation to these areas, go to http://www.verobeachislandrealestate.com or http://www.islamoradajan.com
Article courtesy of N. B. Schklair

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