Updates From our Blog Stuart House and Home

The Real Estate Market in Stuart, Florida 1-1-2013

Local Update – The Real Estate Market in Stuart, Florida 1-1-2013 The real estate market in Stuart, Florida and Martin County turned a corner in 2012. Shrinking inventories, low interest rates, and pent up demand have contributed to a robust market with stable or increasing prices. Click on the image below to view our market [...]

FAQs: About Closing

Frequently Asked Questions About Closing Your Real Estate Transaction A real estate closing (also known as “settlement” or “closing escrow”) is the final step in the transfer of ownership from the Seller to the Buyer in a real estate transaction. A closing agent, typically the title company here in Florida, manages the closing process from the [...]

Home Design: Taking a Look at Nooks

By John Voket I was looking for an opportunity to explore the magic of nooks, and the incredible potential they hold for creativity and functionality. So let’s put some eggs on to boil and consider kitchen nooks. The nook-meisters at apartmenttherapy.com say, whether you have one of those large kitchens with giant windows begging for [...]

Your Florida House Hunt: Kitchen Layouts

Considering Kitchen Layouts The single-guy-who-nukes-his-dinner-every-night crowd probably doesn’t care about a good kitchen. To the rest of us, the kitchen can make or break a real estate deal. To a lot of people a kitchen isn’t just a room in which to prepare meals. It’s a homework area, a place to sit with a neighbor [...]

Stuart, Florida Home Buying: The Final Walkthrough

The Final Walkthrough: Don’t Mind the Little Things By Keith Loria After you’ve found the perfect home, made an offer, negotiated the price, had an inspection and ensured your mortgage, it’s time to think about the final walkthrough. Normally done on the day of, or the day before the settlement, the final walkthrough is the [...]

Home Design: Think ‘Function’ and ‘Scale’

Think ‘Function’ and ‘Scale’ When Weighing Design Option By John Voket, RISMedia Consumer Confidant After a couple of chilly or rainy early fall days, I am ready to turn attention inward. With holidays coming you can never have enough advice on improving your interior living space –whether it is a sprawling mansion or cozy apartment. [...]

Mortgage Rates Virtually Unchanged

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing fixed mortgage rates virtually unchanged and remaining near their record lows amid growing concerns around the fiscal cliff. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has averaged below 4.00 percent all but one week in 2012, while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage has averaged below 3.00 [...]

A Homebuyer’s Guide to Kids’ Rooms and Play Areas

Safety for Children: A Homebuyer’s Guide to Kids’ Rooms and Play Areas Children alter how families look at homes during the home buying process. A family with children has to consider extra bedrooms, extra bathrooms, and safe places for children to learn and play. Indoor and outdoor recreation should be fun and comfortable, while safety [...]

There’s No Better Time to Sell Your Home Than the Holidays

By John Voket, RISMedia Consumer Confidant If your property has languished on the market since summer or fall, REALTOR® Rae Catanese has this uplifting news. Catanese recently blogged that anyone shopping for a home during the holidays is most likely a serious buyer, and she wouldn’t sway people from listing their home for sale during [...]

Q: What else should I take into account when buying a new home?

A: You can find out more about an existing property and neighborhood before you buy than you can a new home in a newly developed community. When the home is on the outskirts of town, ask the developer about future access to public transit, entertainment venues, shopping centers, churches, and schools. Also review local zoning [...]

Spruce Up a Studio by Making the Most of Your Space

Many renters and first-time homebuyers often start out with a small studio or one-bedroom condo, which can result in a lack of space. However, there are ways around this. A starting point is to look at how you can save space and make your room look larger than it actually is. Trick of the Eye [...]

Post Storm: Dealing with Flood-Damaged Vehicles

After a storm settles, it may be tempting to shake off cabin fever by hopping in your car and getting on the move. However, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is urging vehicle owners to take caution before trying to start or move a rain soaked or flooded vehicle following the devastation caused by Hurricane [...]

Q: Can a home be sold for less than its mortgage?

A: Sometimes. But it is a complicated process and a lot will depend on the lender. This process is called a “short sale,” which occurs when a lender agrees to write off the portion of a mortgage that’s higher than the value of a home. But, usually, a buyer must be willing to purchase the [...]

Top 20 Services Realtors Provide Home Buyers

Buying a home is one of the most complex transactions you may ever undertake. Here are 20 services Realtors provide to help get you to the closing table: 1. Provide access to the local MLS database 2. Ensure you get the most vital and up to date information on available homes 3. Update you on trends and changes in our [...]