Thinking About Finding the Right-Sized Home?

With the historically low mortgage interest rates and well-priced properties, we are increasingly finding that buyers and sellers are changing their ideas about finding the biggest home for the right-sized home. Smaller, more efficient homes are more attractive than ever.

It seems as though the work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade thinking is rapidly changing. Looking back over the past 50 years, this has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners.

Compared to other Nations, Americans live in much larger homes than most people throughout the world. In 2006, the U.S. Census reported the average single family home had 2,469 square feet which was 769 feet more than the survey conducted in 1976.

Given the current economy, homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs and one thought is that once the children are grown and have moved out, homeowners are finding they have too much room. Even if their home is paid for, they have higher property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance on the larger home than they'd have if they were living in the "right size" home.

Some homeowners state they're keeping their larger home because it has luxury features that smaller homes don't have. There's a movement that seems to have started in the United States to find the right-size home with the amenities and convenience that homeowners want.

This philosophy has been expressed by Sarah Susanka in her book Creating the Not So Big House. It proposes a house that "values quality over quantity with an emphasis on comfort and beauty, a high level of detail, and a floor plan designed for today's informal lifestyle."

We’d love to help you discover the right-sized home. And we can also help you visualize how a smaller home that’s well designed, can offer most of the features of a much larger home. We have a list of builders and remodelers to help get you to the right-sized home.

Call us and we’ll help get you going in the RIGHT direction!

Thinking About Finding the Right-Sized Home?

Do Your New Year's Resolutions Include Buying A Rental Property?

You, like most everyone else, are probably working on or recently formulated your New Year’s resolutions. Many people focus on their physical goals and ignore or overlook their fiscal goals. I often talk about goals and planning when I teaching opportunities come up through the year. Here’s what I have learned from hundreds of people.

Most talk about goals…think about goals, etc. Unless they are written and re-visited often, they are in actuality…just dreams and we know what happens to our dreams when we wake up!

 Maybe this year could be the year you really do invest in a rental property to support you fiscal goals. The demand for rental properties and rentals prices are climbing, home prices are inexpensive and mortgage rates are low for even non-owner occupied properties. A $125,000 home with 20% down payment can easily have a $300 to $500 monthly cash flow after paying all of the expenses.

There are lots of investment strategies that work but one that is easy to understand and execute is to stay with below average price range homes in predominantly owner-occupied neighborhoods. These properties will appeal to the broadest range of tenants while you hold them and buyers when you're ready to sell.

Single family homes offer an opportunity to borrow high loan-to-value mortgages at fixed rates for long terms on appreciating assess with tax advantages and reasonable control

Decide NOW to make some real progress on your resolutions. First, invest some time learning about rental properties by consulting with a member of Team Paradise. We have the Energy, Experience & Knowledge to help you achieve your goals.

Are you ready to add to your GOALS for 2012?

Do Your New Year's Resolutions Include Buying A Rental Property?

Worried About Paying Too Much For Your Next Home in Naples Key West Florida? Negotiating the sale of a property is perhaps the best tool a Realtor can offer a client and it all starts during the listing interview.

It’s amazing, even given the fact I have been in the business 20 years, how people choose an agent to work with for their sale or purchase. It’s more likely luck or convenience an agent gets in front of their customers, not skill or experience.

Before reading futher, make sure you contact Team Paradise for a list of questions to ask any agent prior to choosing to work with them…it’s free and it’s very informative.

Nearly everyone seems to think the natural way to start negotiating the buying process is to offer less than the asking price for the property...these days, way less! No one wants to pay more than its value regardless of the product. When you buy bananas for 49 cents a pound at one store and see them for 39 cents a pound at another store, it's not the ten cent difference as much as it is about overpaying.

However, instead of the price, a buyer could negotiate condition, timing or terms. A few thousand dollars off the price may not make much difference in the monthly payments but it might make a big difference if it was negotiated in one of the other areas when more important concerns are at stake.

Consider that a buyer with just enough available funds for down payment and closing costs will have to live in a home exactly the way it is for some time. They may not be able to make the changes that would really make it feel like home until they've saved more money. If that buyer finds a home that needs $10,000 worth of improvements and the seller would lower the price by that amount. Financing those improvements with a separate bank loan will result in higher payments due to a higher interest rate and shorter term than your mortgage. The buyer might instead consider offering full price and asking the seller to make the improvements which wouldl result in lower monthly payments based on today's low mortgage rates and 30 year term. Another alternative is to negotiate with the seller to pay your closing costs so you'd have the cash to make the improvements. Paying full price may cause the seller to consider concessions regarding condition or terms which can be balanced to affect the value of the property.

Buyers can and should negotiate to acquire the home that meets their needs at the lowest possible cost of housing.

Team Paradise offers nearly 50 years of combined skills and experience in local real estate listings and sale. That combined with the reputation of John R Wood REALTORS is an unbeatable choice when considering working with a real estate professional.

Worried About Paying Too Much For Your Next Home In Naples Key West Florida?

Waiting To Buy A Home In Naples Florida Could Cost You More!

In working with Buyers, we often hear the familiar "We are waiting for prices to drop so we don't overpay for the home." If we used the actual graphic of when prices started to drop, we would need more room on the page! In Naples Florida, the market started dropping in August 2005. Some still predict the overall market will drop and others make headlines that Naples is the most over-corrected market in the country meaning prices have dropped too low.

All the latest statistics for the Naples real estate market indicate several encouraging points. First is that the number of closed sales is up and the listing inventory continues to drop. Those two indicators demonstrate the confidence buyers have in our market. 

There are real factors that can increase the cost of housing if you wait to buy, specifically mortgages. Nationally, FHA accounts for a large percentage of the current housing loans and is expected to be even more prominent when the Qualified Residential Mortgage Guidelines go into effect next year.

1. Rising rates are almost certain, due to looming inflation fueled by higher gas and food prices and the enormous amount of deficit spending
2. FHA loan limits have been reduced – they are lower than conventional limits in most markets and FHA has suggested that they might be reduced further.
3. FHA might increase the down payment to 5% or higher in an effort to have a more secure loan that will have less likelihood of going to foreclosure.
4. FHA might decrease the amount of seller contributions in a similar move to require the buyer to have a larger investment in the home and therefore be a more “qualified” borrower.
5. Congress may decide to increase the up-front MIP to build up the FHA reserves. The annual MIP has been adjusted twice since October 2010 when the Up-Front MIP was actually reduced.
6. Due to tougher conventional requirements, demand for FHA loans could exceed maximum annual insurable limits. If Congress is having a hard time raising the limit on national debt, they might not even consider raising the limits for FHA.

In an effort to solidify the lending industry, qualifying is becoming harder for the buyer and more expensive at the same time. Many of the rules changes could go into effect next year. In addition, market factors could easily play a role in increasing buyer’s costs. Waiting will very probably require a larger up-front investment for buyers in the future.

We have excellent statistics and market strategies for our clients so please call any member of our Team Paradise to find out how we can help you make a wise move.

And be sure to check out our tips and videos on our Facebook Business page at http://www.Facebook.com/TeamParadiseNaples

Waiting To Buy A Home In Naples Florida Could Cost You More!

Thank You For Freedom & To All Who Stand Fight Support & Protect That Right

Celebrating freedom today in Naples Florida and through the United States of America. We honor and praise those who are and have served our country through their military service. We are grateful and forever in your debt.

Thank You For Freedom & To All Who Stand Fight Support & Protect That Right

Is Now the Time To Buy A Home In Naples Florida?

Timing couldn't be better to buy a home in Naples Florida... How much more could get the point across? Recent national press releases underscores the fact that Naples Florida is one of the most over-corrected real estate markets in the country. That means prices have fallen far below the actual value. Bottom line is the prices are great and inventory is still ample. So...what's holding you back from owning a prime piece of Paradise?

We understand that one size rarely fits everyone and the same goes for advice. For many people with job security and who don't own a home and for people with good credit scores and enough savings for a down payment, there may never be a better time to buy a home. Homes have had a significant price correction but in many markets, they have started to rise again and that's true in certain areas of Naples. The lower prices combined with historically low interest rates make this an opportune time to buy a home or vacation property if you can afford it.

One of the reasons homes are an attractive investment is that fact that you can use a small down payment and finance the balance for 30 years. The principle, called leverage, allows you to earn a return on the value of the home rather than the actual cash investment. Small appreciation can create a large rate of return on the initial investment of the down payment and closing costs. Take, for example, the following projection at the end of five years for a $175,000 home with 3% closing costs and a 5% interest rate for a 30 year term. The rate you see in each column is an annual rate of return based on the equity of the home at the end of the five year period due to both appreciation and amortization of the loan.

The nature of positive leverage will cause the returns to be higher with a smaller down payment. As you see in the table, the return is higher on the 3.5% down payment than with the 10% or 20% down payment. If you're curious to see if this advice might fit your situation, you really need to sit down with a knowledgeable real estate professional who can help you assess your position. It's worth the time because there may never be a better opportunity than now.

Call us and we'll get you started with the loan qualification process so you can start packing!

Is Now the Time To Buy A Home In Naples Florida?

6001 Pelican Bay Blvd. #1606 Naples Florida 34108 The Grosvenor

Greg Gorman, PA | John R Wood REALTORS | (239) 280-2225 6001 Pelican Bay Blvd Apt 1606, Naples, FL Grosvenor at Pelican Bay 3BR/3BA Condo offered at $475,000 Year Built 1983 Sq Footage 2,542 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 1 Covered spaces Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $982 per month DESCRIPTION Imagine a beautiful 2,542sq/ft on a high floor with spectacular sunrises over Naples in the morning and incredible sunsets on the Gulf every afternoon and you’ll appreciate this very aggressively-priced 3/3 condo. “Many mornings are spent watching the Osprey & Frigate birds soar!” The 06 stack offers a spacious foyer with tray ceiling, spacious kitchen with breakfast nook, expansive living room that offers a view to the gulf & 500 acre nature preserve, wet bar, well-appointed bedrooms and roomy closets which all have walnut parquet floors. The kitchen and 3 bathrooms are all original. The seller has perfectly priced this for a buyer with plans to remodel and the wisdom to understand what a great investment opportunity this can be. You want find this size condo located on a high floor in Pelican Bay for less. The Grosvenor is an impressive atrium tower designed with casual elegance and features social & media rooms, 2 guest suites, fitness center, heated pool/spa and an awesome support staff. The amenities of Pelican Bay are unparalleled in Naples. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Walk-in closet - Tile floor - Living room - Office/Den - Dining room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio COMMUNITY FEATURES - Business center - Clubhouse - Fitness center - Swimming pool(s) - Sauna/Spa - Gated property - Secured entry - Elevator ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Location Gulf View View View 2 Pool Breakfast Nook Den Living Dining Master Bedroom Exercise Lobby Social Room Bridge Pelican Bay Beach Contact info: Greg Gorman, PA John R Wood REALTORS BK588555 (239) 280-2225 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Nov 3, 2011, 7:47am PDT

6001 Pelican Bay Blvd. #1606 Naples Florida 34108 The Grosvenor

Reed Orthodontics - Dr. Barbara Reed Providing Braces in Naples Florida

Want your kids to have a great smile? Please let me introduce Naples' most trusted orthodontist, Dr. Barbara Reed, DMD, MSPA. My clients who have used Dr. Reed rave about her and the incredible staff.

"Specializing in orthodontics for children, teens, and adults – the orthodontic 
practice of Dr. Barbra J. Reed is your state-of-the-art, family-friendly, orthodontic practice serving Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Immokalee, and all surrounding southwest Florida communities.

Dr. Barbra Reed and the staff of Reed Orthodontics share a commitment to 
provide the best orthodontic services possible in a warm, friendly, caring and 
professional environment. Our emphasis is on thoroughness of treatment using 
the most current technology. We strive to make service available to all with 
financial flexibility. Responsiveness to the needs of our patients is our 
highest priority."

Reed Orthodontics
239-596-2255
2550 Northbrooke Plaza Drive Naples, FL 34119-7960 (Immokalee Rd & I-75)

Let her know Team Paradise recommended you!

Reed Orthodontics - Dr. Barbara Reed Providing Braces in Naples Florida

Making Naples Home...
Location:6965 Autumn Woods Blvd
Naples, FL 34109
Map Nearby Listings

Living Room

 Kitchen

Family Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Den or 4th Bedroom

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

6965 Autumn Woods Blvd

Back Yard

Autumn Woods Clubhouse

Autumn Woods Community Pool

Autumn Woods Tennis Courts

Autumn Woods Basketball Court

Autumn Woods Tot Lot & Play Ground

 
Description:You'll love the spacious corner location for this popular Papaya plan that's been well landscaped & has room for a pool/deck. Volume ceilings, plantation blinds, wood & tile floors in the main living areas & carpeted bedrooms. Warm neutral colors, island kitchen, open plan makes it a cheerful place. Located in the heart of all Naples has to offer. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness room, heated pool/spa, tennis courts, tot lot 24 hr manned gate.

Details:

• Beds 4
• Baths 2
• Square Feet 2,428
• Price $390,000
• Lot Size 80' X 125'
• Year Built 2001
• School District Seagate, Pine Ridge Middle, Barron Collier high
• Status Active

Features:

• Volume Ceilings
• Wood & Tile Flooring
• Island Kitchen
• Living & Family Room
• Corner Lot

Contact Info:

• Contact Greg Gorman 239-784-2841

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Contact Information: Email: Greg@TeamParadise.com Web: http://www.TeamParadise.com

Copyright© 2010 Greg Gorman, PA. The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. Powered by DriveBuy Technologies