Archive | Real Estate
The Changing Face Of International Real Estate By Patricia Tan As we wave good bye to our winter visitors, we hope they enjoyed our balmy, sunny shores, and that they will be back again. While many of those visitors come here from the cold northern States, we still welcome a large number from other countries – Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and even as far away as Australia and South Africa, to name a few. In the past, many of these international visitors, just like their American counterparts, have fallen in love with our area and start to think about purchasing […]
The Architect’s Role In Construction By William Henry, PhD The public’s perception of an architect is often quite simple. Of course the real world can be quite different than traditional perceptions. The simplest perception of an architect is a person hired to design a structure by the future structure’s owner, who also hires a contractor to undertake its construction. There are situations in which this perception is totally accurate, but generally only in the simplest situations such as a party desiring to build a home or place of business. However, many projects are much more complex. Commercial projects can involve […]
2015 Was A Record Breaker What Does 2016 Hold? By Patricia Tan Spring is definitely upon us, and those of us in the real estate industry will be taking a welcome respite from a very busy selling season which came hard on the heels of a record breaking year for real estate transactions in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. 2015 was certainly one for the record books. 20,691 homes were sold in our desirable spot on the Gulf Coast – 1,302 or more than in 2014, and an increase of more than 6%. As you would expect, our median sales prices […]
Required Procedures In Florida For Dealing With Design And Construction Defects By William Henry, PhD The Florida Legislature has created a mandatory method to resolve construction disputes with idea that it would reduce the need for litigation as well as protect the rights of property owners. It requires that a property owner file a notice of claim with the contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or design professional that he or she asserts is responsible for design or construction defects. It provides the contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or design professional, and their insurers an opportunity to resolve the claim through confidential settlement negotiations without […]
Why Buy A Home In Florida And Why Now? By Patricia Tan Here we are in the middle of winter and enjoying balmy weather with temperatures in the 70s. Need I say more? While our climate is a big attraction to those thinking about purchasing a home for retirement, or a vacation property, it may not be enough on its own to persuade home buyers to write a sizable check. Recent world events and volatility in the stock market have led many home buyers to pay more attention to the potential returns that their second home can provide. I thought […]
Buying A Home in A Competitive Market By Patricia Tan Inventory of homes for sale in our area is very low. This means buyers will have fewer choices and may be involved in purchasing a home that has several people interested to buy. As a buyer, what can you do to ensure your offer to purchase will be successful? When most people construct an offer, they think about the price they are willing to pay as their “offer”. In reality, an offer needs to be much more comprehensive in order for it to be given serious consideration by the seller. […]
The ADA – Americans With Disabilities Act Making Life Better And More Complex By William Henry, PhD The Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) is an “equal opportunity” law for people with disabilities. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is one of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. It prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life – to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and […]
Surprising Statistics By Patricia Tan The Research Division of the National Association of REALTORS recently published a report on the profile of international home buyers in Florida, and it revealed a few surprises. Many of us already know that Florida is a major destination for foreign real estate buyers – those who purchase primary residences, second homes and investment properties here. About 25% of all foreign buyers choose to make their purchase in the Sunshine State, and Florida has consistently been in the top 3 states for international investment over recent years. Latest research reveals that, over the past year:
What Are The Client/Owner Trends Now? By Rebeca Chavarria The architecture industry has inevitably developed through the years, from technology to building materials. However, there is one aspect that has also evolved that may not be as obvious, but just as important within the industry, and that is the client-architect relationship. The term relationship is used because projects can range from months to years of communication, so the architect and clients typically get to know each other well. Potential clients looking to remodel or build a new structure are looking for architects that go beyond the normal customer service requirements. […]
Do Tourists Buy Homes? By Patricia Tan I was approached recently by the Florida Association of Realtors® and asked to present at their annual convention in Orlando. They wanted my presentation to discuss ways in which my fellow Realtor® members could convert tourists into home buyers. The invitation spurred me to do some research and think about this conundrum. Do tourists actually buy homes? The answer is a resounding yes! People who discover our beautiful area as a vacation destination often become homeowners and members of our community. The thought processes they go through to achieve this are many and […]
Who Is Buying A Home Here? By Patricia Tan We are all reading market reports about low inventory, rising prices and sometimes multiple offers on a particular property, but who are the buyers, and where are they coming from? What is driving them here? Why do people buy in Florida, and more specifically on the beautiful west coast of Florida? Retirement, I hear you say! Yes, Florida is known as a retirement destination, but here in the Sarasota area we enjoy much more diversity in our population. This became very apparent to me recently when I was doing some research […]
Why Should I Have a Formal Home Inspection? By Patricia Tan Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay Falsehood by haste and uncertaintyTacitus, A.D. 56 to 117 The Roman historian Tacitus was certainly not commenting about a modern day home inspection, but nevertheless home buyers should heed his advice. Nowhere is the Latin phrase Caveat Emptor, (Buyer Beware) more feared than in the real estate market. It really is the responsibility of the home buyer to ascertain exactly what he is buying in terms of the condition of the property. In most cases, detailed inspections will be performed after a […]
Does Title Insurance Really Protect a Property Owner from Zoning Issues? By William Henry, PhD Title Insurance is a policy to protect and/or indemnify against loss or damage resulting from defects in the title and deed to the property. What does Title insurance cover? The basic title insurance policy that is not “overly endorsed” includes the following: 1) Representation as to the actual owners of the property, 2) Representation that the property is free of encumbrances, i.e. other mortgage liens, mechanics liens, and potential claims that have not been recorded, and 3) Representation that there is access to the property […]
Get This Home Sold By Patricia Tan As I write this article, we have just concluded a very successful “selling season” here on the Gulf Coast. Thanks to our winter visitors, we saw lots of new records being set in terms of the number and value of home sales. But what about those owners whose homes did not sell, or those who are just considering listing their home for sale now? Here are some of the steps sellers should take as they consider putting a property on the market. Establish the Reason for Sale Understand why you are selling the […]
Closing Costs and Their Impact on Overseas Buyers By Patricia Tan I am writing this article from a cold, dreary and very gray England, where I just showcased Gulf Coast properties at a property exhibition attended by my fellow Brits who are interested in purchasing their very own place in the sun. A quick look out of the window and glance at the thermometer tells me why! One of the questions I encountered a lot during the property show was “Exactly how much will this home cost me?” A reference to the dreaded closing costs local buyers are so used […]
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Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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