Archive | Real Estate
Are You Ready? By Patricia Tan A growing number of U.S. citizens are choosing to live in other countries. Are you ready to join them? In 2016 more Americans than ever before surrendered their passports and chose to renounce their U.S. citizenship. The latest statistics available for 2017 also show that the numbers are continuing to climb. But this is only part of the picture. An ever-increasing number of Americans simply choose to live in a foreign country while retaining their citizenship. The decision to relocate may be based on personal, economic, financial or lifestyle choices, but it is most […]
Have Hurricanes Had An Effect On The Housing Market In The Sarasota/Bradenton Area? By Barry Grooms First of all, I want to state the obvious and say YES hurricanes affect housing numbers. However, has it hurt the market? There are many reasons why over 1000 people every day make Florida their new home. Ask yourself why you are here; are you a native, a snowbird, a transplant or a work relocation? Regardless of why you’re here or how you got here there is one commonality in all of us, we love this place! So, let’s look at the numbers behind […]
2017 World Tour – A Look at Some Global Trends By Patricia Tan This has been a busy travel year for me and my business partner, Carla Rayman, as we worked to further develop our overseas network of real estate partners, and bring Sarasota properties to international buyers. As the year end approaches, I thought it might be interesting for readers to see some of the trends in international real estate that we have observed while on our travels. Portugal Portugal can probably boast the fastest growing market for international buyers. Continued investment by Chinese and other foreigners looking to […]
You Should Be Afraid, Very Afraid! By Barry Grooms Under all is the land and private property rights are considered the “American Dream”. The 5th Amendment protects property by stating, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, with out just compensation.” Our rights are something that most of citizens take for granted until it affects them directly and very few monitor the machine called legislation in Tallahassee. Year after year law makers and special interest strategize on legislation that may have adverse effect […]
5 Things Foreigners* Ask About Spending Time in Florida By Patricia Tan Over the years I have worked with real estate buyers from many countries around the world. Their home countries and the properties they buy may vary, but their questions remain the same. Here are the top five questions I hear from overseas customers considering a longer stay in Florida: How long can I stay in my Florida vacation home, without running into visa issues? Once an overseas visitor has purchased a vacation home here, they can apply at the U.S. Embassy in their home country for the B1/B2 […]
Americans Venture Overseas For Real Estate By Patricia Tan The strength of the U.S. Dollar has led to an increase in the number of Americans considering the purchase of real estate in another country. Their motivations can be many and varied: from straightforward investment potential, to life style choices, less expensive retirement living to a desire to reconnect with their ethnic roots. Whatever the motivation, the decision to buy real estate in another country is not one that should be taken lightly. My advice to anyone considering such a purchase right now would include: • Conduct extensive research on the […]
The Paper Trail – Wallpaper and Your Interior Design By Marcia Norris It’s the luxury home you’ve been waiting for and a clean slate to apply the style that best suits you. Should you hire a professional interior designer to avoid making costly mistakes with the wrong materials and finishes? If you want to stylize, personalize and customize your home, the answer is yes. But more importantly, I’ve found that no matter which style you want to work with, it’s the quality of the materials that count. We all love luxury, and we notice it in a cut crystal chandelier, […]
Taxing Matters For Non-Residents Who Own U.S. Real Estate By Patricia Tan What season Is it? Some might say “Spring” as temperatures are in the 70s, others may say “Tourist Season” as they sit patiently in heavy traffic, but as I write this article I am working on my annual accounts, so I would say “It’s Tax Season!” It is this time of year when I get questions from some of my overseas customers who are working on their tax returns too, and I thought it might be useful to spend a few minutes looking at how foreign real estate […]
Trends To Watch For In 2017 By Patricia Tan As I write this, the end of 2016 has passed, and it is about time to get out our crystal ball and see what the New Year will hold. My business partner, Carla Rayman, and I had a head start on this. We were invited to present at the National Association of REALTORS annual convention in November and talk about the shifts we may see in global real estate in 2017. We started our research in October and are happy to share some of that with you here.
Grand Opening of Clinique Of Plastic Surgery and Laser Institute Creates Unique Affiliation With ZO® Skin Health By William Henry, PhD RGA-DESIGN LLC, and Focus Development, each of Tampa FL, are pleased to announce the completion and Grand Opening of the Clinique of Plastic Surgery and Laser Institute located at 240 1st Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL (www.cliniqueps.com 888-247-9886). RGA Design and Focus Development designed and constructed the comprehensive renovations to the historic four-story building, which now is the home of the state of the art surgical center. William Henry, Ph.D., is the principal architect at RGA. He has over […]
What Does BREXIT Mean To Our Real Estate Market? By Patricia Tan I was born and raised in England and watched with interest as the United Kingdom decided its future – whether to remain in the European Union or leave and become autonomous again. While it was a very close vote, the majority of the British people did vote to exit the E.U. The exact details of BREXIT will be negotiated over the next two years, and its full impact will not be known for some time. Many readers know that I make several trips each year to the United […]
ADA Testers And A Congressional Response By William Henry, PhD The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has spawned a cottage industry of testers and their lawyers who travel from site to site looking for nonconformities. The ADA is a Federal civil rights act, creating the right to bring discrimination suits with regard to persons encountering real or perceived barriers preventing them from fully using facilities. When issues are found they file suit. As with any activity of this type, some of the suits are legitimate and some are not. Florida and California are the two hottest spots in the Country […]
Mortgage Rates Fall To Historic Lows After Brexit By David V. McLaughlin Sarasota/Bradenton Home Prices Continue To Rise When the United Kingdom voted to leave its place in the European Union, mortgage rates hit historic lows. Mortgage rates dropped about one-eighth of a point after the financial commotion overseas. With interest rates already at three-year lows, this affords buyers a significant opportunity to refinance or purchase a home. This is great news to those on the Suncoast searching for their perfect dream home. As prices continue to rise, and inventory drops, the market will continue to heat up. These low […]
Confidence In Your Real Estate Professional Makes Decision Making Easier By Patricia Tan As we experience Florida’s hot and humid summer months, and the snow birds have long gone, we continue to welcome many international visitors to the area. Long summer vacation weeks in Europe make this the perfect time for Europeans to make the long journey here to enjoy sun and sand. Many of these visitors are so taken with what our wonderful area has to offer, they contemplate purchasing a home so they can stay for longer periods, and have a place to call their own. Many think […]
Less Is Better In The Housing World By William Henry, PhD Compare the 1959 Cadillac to the models of 2016. The name is the same but that’s about it. The new ones are much smaller and more sophisticated than the 1959 behemoth. Housing is following the same path. Smaller homes are becoming attractive to buyers and developers, and for some of the same reasons. There are over 70 million Baby Boomers in this country with their successors close on their heels. And then there are the young, first time home buyers – together these two demographic groups seem to be […]
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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