Meadows Townhouse in Palm City Pending

08.08.15 by

Meadows Townhouse in Palm City Pending

Pending in the Meadows, this lovely and updated townhouse at 2502 SW Danbury Lane.  Listed for $139,900, the buyer was introduced to this townhouse by the Gabe Sanders BlueWater realty team.

Well maintained townhome in the Meadows, a guard gated community excellently located near the Turnpike, shopping, and great schools. This home has an updated eat in kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, glass tile back splash, and a copper sink. You’ll find both spacious en-suite bedrooms upstairs, with plenty of closet space. Enjoy the screened in porch with morning sunshine. This is a well loved and cared for home. Tennis courts, bocce courts, heated pool and a playground also included! It’s time to pack!

The Meadows at Martin Downs is a family friendly residential community very well situated in Palm City, Florida. Their are 832 homes consisting of single-family homes, duplexes, 4 unit townhouses, and 4 unit patio homes. The Meadows community is divided into 6  distinct villages which are named: Greenwich, Lakemont, Mayflower, Brighton, Foxboro and Ridgewood.

This is a guard gated community with round-the-clock security.  Residents of the meadows enjoy a large heated swimming pool, a tot pool, children’s playground adjacent to the pool, basket ball, 3 lighted tennis courts, a horseshoe pit and 2 bocce courts.  Near the entrance, between the gatehouse and the fountain, is a 2200 square foot recreation center, known as The Meadows House, which also houses the administrative offices of  the Homeowners Association.

This community came into existence through the efforts of local developer Peter Cumming who submitted the plans for the community around 1988.  Shortly thereafter, Burg and DiVosta (soon to be just DiVosta) began developing the land in the area called Martin Downs for the soon to be constructed villages of The Meadows.

Divosta started construction on the site known as The Meadows in 1988 by building two structures from which to sell. One was a Single Family home (Hampton) in what is now known as Greenwich Village, and the other was a four unit Town Home building (Stamford) in what is now known as Lakemont Village. Both types of homes were started in The Meadows at about the same time in 1988.  DiVosta completed the Meadows in 1993 and turned the administration and running of the community to The Meadows Homeowners Association which runs the community through elected officers as well as a full time support staff.

Search for the Meadows Homes for Sale

Meadows Townhouse in Palm City Pending

Palm City Pool Home Back Under Contract

08.06.15 by

Palm City Pool Home Back Under Contract

Palm City Pool Home

The old adage saying: “You snooze you loose” is certainly true about 877 SW 33rd St in Palm City.   An unfortunate permitting issue allowed this home to come back on the market.  But, less than one day back, it has once again gone under contract and the seller is diligently working on the permitting problem with the assistance of her real estate team.  This home was re-listed at $192,500.

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

Enjoy the good life in this Palm City pool home with no HOA.  Sitting in a quiet neighborhood with mature trees and landscaping.  Enter this charming 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home into a huge over sized kitchen.  Then, move on to either the living room or family room with serene views of your large pool and fenced backyard.  Step outside for a swim or just play in your private pool or gather your friends and neighbors for a barbecue in your own outdoor space.

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

This home is conveniently located close to shopping, restaurants and just a quick ride to the downtown Stuart area and beaches as well.  Less than one mile to a public boat ramp, this is Florida living at its best and it’s yours for under $200,000.

Search here for all Palm City Pool Homes currently available from the Martin County MLS

Palm City Pool Home Back Under Contract

Palm City Mortgage Rates Projected to Rise Sooner Rather than Later

07.31.15 by

Palm City Mortgage Rates Projected to Rise Sooner Rather than Later

 Palm City FL real estate

Now that we are almost into August, with summer in full swing, there might be vague thoughts running through your mind about some potential real estate moves—but certainly not until the fall. Right now all most of us are thinking about is whether another chilled glass of summer-something-or-other is in order. Florida mortgage rates and what the folks in Washington might be doing to affect them are not exactly what occupies an idyllic July afternoon.

But if you’ve been paying attention to any newscasts long enough to reach the dull-as-dishwater economic stories they throw in toward the end of the broadcasts, you may also have an inkling that conditions are about to change. And the evidence does suggest that mortgage rates in our area face a likely increase come fall. If your vague suspicion does come to pass, and if you’re among those considering buying or selling a home in Palm City this year, now should be the time to stop “thinking” and start “doing”.

Exhibit A for that proposition comes from one Michael C. Fratantoni, who happens to be the Chief Economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). When he recently spoke at the National Association of REALTORS® office in Washington, he made no bones about it: mortgage rates will continue upwards, with a first significant Fed hike likely in September. September! The 30-year fixed mortgage, which we all know has lingered at historic lows—below 4%—for several years, is likely to hit 4.4% by the end of 2015 , then move beyond 5% next year.

It’s enough to stifle any thoughts about that frosty beverage.

The good news for Palm City homeowners planning to list is that Fratantoni doesn’t believe any of these factors will keep the nations’ buyers away. After a pretty lackluster 2014 performance, the MBA forecasts a 14% year-over-year increase in purchase-money mortgage originations in 2015—and nearly 9% in 2016.   Nationwide, incomes are also expected to rise, and with new household formations on the rise, the national real estate market looks to remain in fairly good balance.

While it seems there’s no instantaneous need to drop all your summertime activities to rush your home onto the market, with mortgage rates in Palm City expected to rise sooner rather than later, it’s certainly worth making it a priority to give me a call this week. After that, there will definitely be ample time to finish enjoying that delightful chilled summer beverage.

 Higher Mortgage Rates in Palm City? Projections Tend to Agree

 

 

Credit Score Fallacies Shouldn’t Stymie Palm City Home Buyers

07.28.15 by

Credit Score Fallacies Shouldn’t Stymie Palm City Home Buyers

 

Most Americans have now arrived at the conclusion that it is a good time to buy a home. That’s the top line analysis from one of the country’s major mortgage creators, but there’s a secondary finding about credit scores that could also have a sizeable impact on Palm City real estate activity. Some would-be Martin County homeowners would benefit from learning the information—which is about misinformation.

The second annual “Wells Fargo Homeownership Survey” is a national survey of 2,016 respondents, and the source upon which last week’s Franklin Codel analysis is based. The excellent news for current and soon-to-be Palm City home sellers is that a whopping 72% of respondents think now is a good time to buy a home. Most Americans also agree that “owning a home remains a vital part” of the American dream— and continues to be a key element in the strength of the nation.

Running counter to that upbeat survey result is the finding that despite the efforts of lenders (and the government) to make credit more available to potential mortgage applicants, two misconceptions are widespread enough that they are “holding many potential buyers back.”

The misinformation:

  • The misconception that every buyer must have at least 20% for a down payment; and
  • A belief that credit scores alone determine whether an applicant will land a home loan

Under the heading The legend of the 20% down payment, Wells Fargo’s Codel points out that 36% of the general population (and larger proportions of minority groups) qualify for loans with lower down payment options— some of them as low as 3%.

But equally illuminating is what Codel has to say about the importance of credit scores. He is the head of mortgage production at Wells Fargo, so Martin County home seekers can be expected to pay attention to what he has to say, which is that credit scores are not as all-important as most people think. Because creditworthiness is not determined based on a single factor, homebuyers should do some investigating of their options “before excluding themselves based on credit scores alone.” And when it comes to the actual scores themselves, it’s not true that a ‘good credit score’ has to be above 780. There are multiple models and investor guidelines—and under some of them, more than 660 “is generally considered good.”

If it’s true that Palm City homebuyers agree that now is the time to make a foray into the market, it’s refreshing (and rare) to hear a top mortgage lending insider provide that kind of encouragement. His conclusion is that the cited misconceptions can be overcome with a “better understanding of how credit works”—and that a good lender will use a borrower’s “entire financial picture, not just credit score” to decide whether to issue a mortgage.

The takeaway is for prospective buyers to do some investigating to find out what their home owning prospects actually are: they might be pleasantly surprised. A good place to start: giving me a call!

Credit Score Fallacies Shouldn’t Stymie Palm City Home Buyers

Spacious Canoe Creek Pool Home Palm City Just Listed

07.24.15 by

Spacious Canoe Creek Pool Home Palm City Just Listed

Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL

Just listed in Palm City.  This Canoe Creek home with private pool on over 1 acre and 4000+ sq. ft. of living area is now available fro $545,000 from the Gabe Sanders BlueWater realty team.

Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL Palm City FL real estate

Spacious 4BR, 3.5 Bath pool home.  Perfect home for those looking to live in large rooms on an over an acre lot with minimum HOA rules and low fees. This home features a huge family/great room with exposed wooden beams with a fireplace and a wet bar. There’s a large den/office that leads into a spacious master bedroom.  The master bath has dual vanities on granite counters with separate tub and shower as well as a private entrance to the spacious back yard.  The kitchen has been recently upgraded to granite counters and mostly stainless appliances as well as new tile. There are 3 additional bedrooms one of which has an ensuite bath.  Large screened lanai and an over sized pool.

Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL

Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL

Canoe Creek in Palm City is a wonderful family community filled with 107 captivating homes that have plenty of room for your family to grow. Each home has a spacious yard with beautiful manicured Florida foliage that creates a tranquil backdrop. The neighborhood is approximately 25 minutes from gorgeous stretches of beaches in Stuart. Canoe Creek is close to great ‘A’ rated schools, recreation, and the exciting and beautiful Downtown Stuart while still close to I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike for those needing to commute or wishing to travel either north or south.

Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL Canoe Creek real estate in Palm City FL

Click here to see all current Canoe Creek homes for sale in Palm City

 Spacious Canoe Creek Pool Home Palm City Just Listed

Palm City Home in Granada Just Listed

07.23.15 by

Palm City Home in Granada Just Listed

Granada Homes for Sale

 If you’re looking for an affordable Palm City home in a family friendly neighborhood that is close to shopping, the beaches and both I-95 and the Turnpike, look no further than this home in Granada. This home lives much larger than its square footage with an open plan great room; eat in kitchen and formal dining area. Tiled throughout the main living areas and laminate flooring in the master bedroom. Dual sinks and walk in closets in the master suite as well. Two additional spacious bedrooms that share a bath. Covered and screened back patio offers great outdoor space. There’s an RV/Boat storage lot provided for Granada homeowners and the HOA fees are a very reasonable $200 per quarter which includes basic Cable TV service. There was a new roof and air conditioner installed in 2005. This home comes with hurricane shutters.

Granada Homes for Sale Granada Homes for Sale

Granada Homes for Sale Granada Homes for Sale

MLS-Search-small-e12889727557434

 

 

Increasing the Value of Your Palm City Property in Four Steps

07.22.15 by

Increasing the Value of Your Palm City Property in Four Steps

Palm City FL real estate

As soon as you decide that you will be putting your Palm City property up for sale—whether soon or at some point in the foreseeable future—it’s also time to get strategic about growing your property’s value—starting with a generous dollop of objectivity.

The difficulty stems from a truth about how everybody perceives much of their property’s value. We escape from hurly-burly of daily living by retreating to the comfortable confines of our home—our place. A good part of its value to us and to our family is its sheer familiarity—the “hominess” that makes it our personal haven. But some of the very things that make it so comfortable to us will be off-putting to outsiders—and they are the prospective buyers.

Our great leather easy chair (the dark brown one that’s gotten a few shades lighter where we sit, and a little off-color where the spills happened) may look a bit peaked to the untrained eye, but it’s been that way for years: who cares? The back door needs to be bolted to stay shut…we do that without even thinking about it—hardly an issue! The sofa may sag, but it sags exactly right (for us)! The bathroom window that’s sort of stuck (okay, maybe it’s painted shut)…etc. etc. etc.

Professionals are of one voice about the real value you add to a property when you go to the trouble of systematically depersonalizing it. It helps to approach doing that seriously and deliberately—to tackle it in an organized manner. There are any number of ways to go about that, but here is one way that will pay off:

Step 1: Make a list. Starting from one end of your Palm City property, note with pencil and paper every nit-picky detail that is other than what you would expect to find if it were a brand new home. This is not as easy as most people assume, because there will be such a great number of details, that

a) it will be very tempting to start skipping some of the minor ones, and

b) you will find it hard to resist the urge to start fixing the easy ones as you go along (don’t do it: you’ll derail the list-making!)

Step 2: After a decent interval, sit down with the list and re-classify each item into an Easy Self-Fix List and a Professional-Attention-Needed List.

Step 3: Get bids from the appropriate Palm City professional tradespeople, calculate which fit your budget, then schedule the work.

Step 4:  Get started on your own endeavors to address the Easy Self-Fix List. You’ll be able to organize your own efforts to finish up about two weeks after the last of the tradespeople are scheduled to finish their projects (a two week grace period is realistic: you are aiming to finish everything about the same time).

Following these four steps will put you well on your way to increasing the value of your Palm City property. And at any point in the process—from before Step 1 to the satisfying moment that closes Step 4—give me a call to discuss how to convert all that increased value into a profitable home sale!

Increasing the Value of Your Palm City Property in Four Steps

Crane Creek in Martin Downs July 2015 Housing Market Update

07.19.15 by

Crane Creek in Martin Downs July 2015 Housing Market Update

Crane Creek in Martin Downs

In July of 2015 there are 11 homes actively listed in Crane Creek.  List prices range from $375,000 to $675,000 for an average list price of $549,355 or $148.37 per sq. ft. of living area.

There are currently 2 Crane Creek homes are under contract and awaiting settlement, priced from $179,000 to $415,000 or an average list price of $314,333 which is $132.20 per sq. ft. of living area.

In the past 12 months there have been 22 sales in Crane Creek with sales prices ranging from $135,000 to $635,000 for an average sales price of $337,324 or $118.83 per sq. ft. of living area. The average days on market was 91 with a 95% list to sales price ratio.

Crane Creek in Martin Downs

The coast of Florida on the eastern side offers many wonderful locations. One of the secret attractions is Crane Creek real estate development. This community is found within Palm City. With all the accommodations the Palm City area has to offer it should not be a surprise that a select neighborhood such as Crane Creek real estate properties is a high commodity.

  • An abundance of parks to soak in the outdoors  from a climate that allows for it year round; fields for football, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis and basketball courts, skate rinks and parks, horseshoes, playgrounds, picnic areas, shelters, boat ramps and many more
  • A wide variety of fishing from saltwater to freshwater, surf to pier to deep water, charter, novice and expert, tournament or hobby
  • An assortment of arts and culture; musicals, plays, movie theaters, miniature golf, pleasure cruises, restaurants, fine art collections, gift shops, festivals, art shows, museums, theme parks
  • A large range of shopping experiences including leading retailers, specialty shops, charming boutiques, malls

Crane Creek in Martin Downs

Crane Creek real estate is situated within Martin Downs Country Club. A gated golf course community, Crane Creek has the finest features needed to make the community as upscale and appealing as possible. However, none of this is forced upon you because membership in the country club is optional.

  • a spectacular clubhouse
  • 2 championship golf courses
  • 12 tennis courts
  • 2 swimming pools
  • a fully equipped fitness center

Crane Creek in Martin Downs

There is also the opportunity to partake in one of the many other conveniences in place at the country club facility.  There are a driving range, chipping area, putting green, practice bunker and rental clubs. The Crane Creek real estate in Martin Downs is made up of marvelous and varied homes with something for everyone. The properties involve a wide selection of architectural style and choices from condominiums to estate homes. The parcels also have as much variation with maintenance free lots and large acreage lots. Within minutes from two of Florida’s major thoroughfares, Florida’s Turnpike and I-95, the location of Crane Creek real estate removes the hassle from commuting. In addition to all of these amenities recent business dealings in the Crane Creek real estate area may bring one more amenity. There is talk of an equestrian facility being placed on site within Martin Downs Country Club. In this part of Florida there is fishing, golf and horses. An equestrian facility would bring horse shows and an increase in revenue for locally owned businesses. Come take a look at all of the extras and all of the expected in this community. Furthermore, contact us today so we can put our knowledgeable and professional expertise to work for you as you look into becoming part of the Crane Creek real estate undertaking.
Crane Creek in Martin Downs

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Crane Creek Homes for Sale

Palm City, Real Estate presented for your consideration by:
the Gabe Sanders real estate team

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Crane Creek in Martin Downs July 2015 Housing Market Update

Affordable Palm City Home in Granada Coming Soon

07.18.15 by

Affordable Palm City Home in Granada Coming Soon

Granada Homes for Sale

 If you’re looking for an affordable Palm City home in a family friendly neighborhood that is close to shopping, the beaches and both I-95 and the Turnpike, look no further than this home in Granada. This home lives much larger than its square footage with an open plan great room; eat in kitchen and formal dining area. Tiled throughout the main living areas and laminate flooring in the master bedroom. Dual sinks and walk in closets in the master suite as well. Two additional spacious bedrooms that share a bath. Covered and screened back patio offers great outdoor space. There’s an RV/Boat storage lot provided for Granada homeowners and the HOA fees are a very reasonable $200 per quarter which includes basic Cable TV service. There was a new roof and air conditioner installed in 2005. This home comes with hurricane shutters.


Affordable Palm City Home

Overview

Maps

Photos

Description
$195,000
Single Family Home
Main Features
3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 1,400 sqft
Lot: 0.22 acre(s)
Year Built: 1991
MLS #: TBARG
Location
1390 SW Vizcaya Circle
Palm City, FL 34990
USA
Gabe Sanders

BlueWater Realty Services
(772) 323-6996
Gabe@GabeSanders.com
http://www.GabeSanders.com      

Listed by: BlueWater Realty Services
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Coming Soon in Canoe Creek in Palm City

07.12.15 by

Coming Soon in Canoe Creek in Palm City

3300 SW Canoe Creek Terrace, Palm City, FL

Coming Soon

$ Click for current price
4 BEDROOMS | 4 (3 full, 1 half ) BATHROOMS | 4256 SQUARE FEET

Property Description

Spacious 4 bedroom, 3 and ½ bath pool home in Canoe Creek in Palm City.  A perfect home for those looking to live in large rooms on an over an acre lot with minimum HOA rules and low fees.  This home features a huge family/great room with exposed wooden beams with a fireplace as well as a wet bar and perfect for large family get togethers.  There’s a large den/office that leads into a spacious master bedroom.  The master bath has dual vanities on granite counters with separate tub and shower as well as a private entrance to the spacious back yard.   The kitchen has been recently upgraded to granite counters and mostly stainless appliances as well as new tile. There are 3 additional bedrooms one of which has an ensuite bath.  Large screened lanai and an oversized pool complete this spacious Palm City home that is ready for a new owner.



Logo

Canoe Creek in Palm City is a wonderful family community filled with 107 captivating homes that have plenty of room for your family to grow. Each home has a spacious yard with beautiful manicured Florida foliage that creates a tranquil backdrop. The neighborhood is approximately 25 minutes from gorgeous stretches of beaches in Stuart. Canoe Creek is close to great ‘A’ rated schools, recreation, and the exciting and beautiful Downtown Stuart while still close to I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike for those needing to commute or wishing to travel either north or south.

Search for Coming Soon in Canoe Creek in Palm City Florida

Coming Soon in Canoe Creek in Palm City

Canoe Creek Real Estate presented by:
the Gabe Sanders real estate team

Taking Title to Your Palm City House Involves Key Choices

07.08.15 by

Taking Title to Your Palm City House Involves Key Choices

 Palm City Title

When it comes to making legal distinctions, the ones connected with buying and selling Martin County houses have lasting consequences—so it’s important that they be the intentional kind. Although Three Dog Night might have sincerely believed that One is the Loneliest Number—that’s not necessarily the case when it comes to the title of an Martin County home.

The majority of Palm City houses are purchased by married couples. Families that remain intact can make property title issues relatively straightforward. But as the second half of the 20th century progressed, the culture became more accepting of people living together prior to marriage. Because of its impact on how people—especially couples—apply for home loans and refinances, the matter of legal title more often came into play.

I don’t offer legal advice, so will simply point out that there are key differences when you hear terms like Tenants in Common, Tenants by the Entirety, or Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship. Being aware of those distinctions will allow future homeowners to choose which form will serve them best. Couples—especially those expecting to be married down the road—need to consider how things might change should they decide to refinance. It can make a difference if, for instance, a co-signer should later be required. When a Palm City homeowner refinances and adds a spouse who was not named on the original mortgage, the spouse may be added to the title or deed. Those and other changes to a property’s title then has tax implications. Married couples may acquire title automatically through Tenancy by Entirety, as well as through rights of survivorship.

The key is to understand the implication of single and joint ownership. In the event of divorce, as with any material change, other rules may apply, too—which is another reason to recommend a consultation with counsel to clarify all related issues.

It’s always an exciting moment when you are about to take on the ownership of a home—certainly cause for celebration. Yet it’s also important to have an honest discussion with your spouse in order to put any existing issues on the table. It’s amazing how many couples embark on home ownership (or refinancing) while dealing with significant relational issues. Some meet the issue by drafting a legal agreement that lays out what will happen with the property depending upon specified contingencies. Such agreements won’t carry weight with a mortgage company to effect removal of a person’s name from a mortgage in the case of divorce—in most cases, a home would have to be refinanced again to remove a spouse’s name from a mortgage.

Understanding the fine print can’t help but reduce the risk of unforeseen consequences down the line. Titles and title insurance may seem to be dull details that automatically confirm intended outcomes, but those outcomes have to be thought through and specified. The good news is they do get properly addressed every day in the course of acquiring a home. Pointing out the important details are just one element of my service: which is to help you every step of the way!

Taking Title to Your Palm City House Involves Key Choices

Keeping an Eye on Mortgage Experiment for Palm City Buyers

07.03.15 by

Keeping an Eye on Mortgage Experiment for Palm City Buyers

Treasure Coast home buying activity may be going great guns, but for some would-be buyers, credit score woes are still a stubborn obstacle. That’s why we have been keeping an eye on the new pilot project that was announced late last year. This was the one called the “Wealth Building Home Loan.” It’s an experiment aimed at opening up home ownership options, particularly for first time home buyers. Bank of America and Citibank were first to sign up for the program, said to “take a fresh approach to affordable mortgage lending.” It sounds like a pretty good idea!

How It Works

The Wealth Building Home Loan is a mortgage that runs for 15 years at a fixed interest rate. Because the term is so short, equity builds rapidly. The payments are more manageable than any reality-grounded Palm City mortgage watcher would think because discount points can be used to buy the interest rate down to…well, “zero”! Since no down payment is generally required, home buyers can apply their available cash to purchasing those points. Since that sounds almost too good to be true, we’ve been keeping an eye open for progress reports.

Extra Help for Buyers with Modest Income

Qualifying for the mortgages would emphasize home buyer income rather than credit score. This would be a real godsend to the many people still rebuilding their credit after the economic downturn. Furthermore, interest would be set at three-fourths of a percent lower than the 30-year FHA rate—which makes sense, since shorter terms mean lower lender risk—with additional points to be offered at special bargain prices.

A Game-Changing Approach

The loan program is piloted through The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, which secured underwriting from BofA and Citibank. It’s intended to be “a game changer,” because equity ownership takes place rapidly. Already in the first three years of a WBHL, 77% of the monthly payments pay off the principal, rather than the 68% that goes to interest under a standard 30-year mortgage. The effect is to accumulate a significant ownership stake almost from the word ‘go’—and more ownership equates to better loan performance.

When last checked, the program was in “pilot project” status (still in the initial shakedown phase) while the innovators who came up with the idea figure out how to make the loans widely available. So far, so good, apparently—we’ll keep an eye on developments to see if the program is greenlighted by the two underwriters.

In the meantime, Treasure Coast mortgage-seekers have a wide variety of currently available options for taking advantage of the great buys viewable on this morning’s Palm City listings. Give me a call for a no-obligation discussion of how you can take advantage of today’s opportunities!

Keeping an Eye on Mortgage Experiment for Palm City Buyers

Selling a Palm City Home Yourself is a Lonely Proposition

06.30.15 by

Selling a Palm City Home Yourself is a Lonely Proposition

 FSBO

You pronounce it “FIZZ-bow.”

That’s FSBO: For Sale by Owner, and it’s the Road Less Traveled by area homeowners bent on selling a home in Palm City as economically as possible. It does seem to make common sense, after all. It’s the homeowner who knows the ins and outs of their own home best—so who could be more qualified to show it off to the buyers who’ll be lined up, waiting to take a look?

And even more to the point, why lose any part of the sale proceeds to some Martin County real estate agent? It can’t be rocket science to fill out the paperwork and complete the sale. Isn’t that just common sense?

For those considering selling a home themselves, even cursory research is likely to result in one nagging question. The latest sampling from the NAR shows that the vast majority—88%, in fact—of today’s successful sellers are assisted by a real estate agent. That proportion has been growing, lately, too: it’s up 19 percentage points since 2001. This has to give rise to the nagging question: “If it’s common sense, how come the vast majority eventually wind up going with a real estate agent?”

What actually happens in a sale plays a large part, starting with an examination of the bottom line of actual sales. It reflects the fact that the customary commission percentage that goes to real estate professionals is split in two, with half going to the seller’s and half to the buyer’s agent. So the net “savings” a FSBO seller stands to realize is half of the usual initial assumption when the buyer is professionally introduced by the buyer’s representative.

Unless the buyer just appears on his or her own.

Which brings up a couple of other potential problems. If the buyer shows up on the seller’s doorstep, who has qualified him or her? (Short answer: nobody). It’s awkward and practically impossible for a homeowner to interview every prospective buyer in depth before showing the home, but having strangers in your Palm City home with no outside record of the event is at best an iffy prospect. The fact is, most qualified home buyers see the advantage of teaming with a licensed Martin County real estate agent, whose market knowledge is up to the minute, and who will assist them every step of the way at no cost to themselves. Those qualified buyers stand to be a FSBO’s likeliest prospects, in which case the potential ‘savings’ from a do-it-yourself strategy are halved.

But as a working reality, FSBO sellers run a substantial risk that those hoped-for calls from active agents may be slow to materialize. It is often the case that local agents, noting that the home is a FSBO, place it low on the list of properties their clients have time to tour. Among other indicators, a FSBO listing on the MLS signals to the Martin County real estate community that the owner is not truly serious about selling the home—else why is it not part of a professional office’s marketing package? Too, buyers’ agents work to protect their clients from difficult situations, and many FSBO sellers are not well-versed and experienced in negotiating and selling houses. Problems can erupt. All things being equal, it means that FSBOs get few showing requests.

Plus, any advertising costs will be paid for out of the owner’s own pocket—an expensive strategy.

It’s pretty clear why almost 9 out of 10 homeowners selling a home go with a qualified real estate agent. I hope you agree—and decide to give me a call!

Selling a Palm City Home Yourself is a Lonely Proposition

Calculations before Committing to a New Home in Palm City

06.22.15 by

Calculations before Committing to a New Home in Palm City

  Palm City Waterfront

You want your approach to finding a new home in Palm City to be at least somewhat hard-headed and businesslike. The financial stakes are certainly major, and to some extent, much of what your future lifestyle will be like will depend on making a good choice.

This is not to totally discount the emotional component that’s inevitably part of finding your new Palm City home. You do want your family to feel good about the final choice—you’ll be moving to the dwelling that will become everybody’s center of operations.

So if your repeat visit begins to convince you that this really is the place you’ve been hoping to find, it’s the appropriate time to take a step back to do your most hard-headed, businesslike projection. This is beyond the back-of-the-envelope kind of calculation (the one that originally guided the price range you gave to your Realtor). This is time to take everything into account to see how well this new Martin County home truly fits—on a number of counts.

A new home’s true affordability begins with the banker’s basic price formula—purchase price, mortgage, insurance and taxes. You should also contemplate the cost of having the property inspected and the closing costs (your Realtor® can give you a close estimate). But that’s not the whole picture—a new home’s true affordability also incorporates the difference between your family’s current expense profile and any factors that will change it.

For instance, if the square footage of the new home greater, you can expect that simple maintenance costs will rise proportionately (unless the new home’s condition is a good deal better than your current one). Utility costs may rise, too, if the living space is greater—unless more efficient systems are in place.

If the location will necessitate a change in driving distance or other transportation expenses, they should be taken into account. Does the new place have a significantly larger lawn or other landscaping features? If you have a green thumb and enjoy getting that kind of outdoor exercise (IOW, mowing), that won’t have much effect. If not, you’d better factor in a gardener’s bill.

There is one other element that’s easy to overlook, but accounting for it can eliminate the possibility that the whole move results in an unexpectedly depleted bank balance. Most people who are moving into a terrific new home forget to fully account for the few changes they’ll need to make before the place is perfectly suited their family. These could be minor, like changing out a light fixture that doesn’t fit the dining room table. Or they could be major, like addressing wholesale décor clashes that call for choosing between repainting the walls—or reupholstering— or even purchasing new furniture!

Helping you make sure your new Martin County home is a comfortable match for your family’s needs is a large part of the service I provide my buyers. If you are ready to take a look at the latest crop of Palm City new home offerings, I’ll be standing by for your call!

Calculations before Committing to a New Home in Palm City

Long-Range Strategy for Selling a Home in Palm City

06.12.15 by

Long-Range Strategy for Selling a Home in Palm City

 Lake Grove in Palm City

This is actually a situation that’s very common, but not much remarked upon: you know you are going to be selling your Palm City home—only not for a while…and perhaps not for a very long while! Is there anything you should be doing now, long before actual preparations are called for?

There sure is! Let’s call these low-intensity preparations. They may be low-intensity in the immediacy department, but when the distant day arrives when you are selling your home, they can be very fortuitous. Here are some of the elements you can benefit from putting into action long before you expect to need them—

LANDSCAPING:

Number One (the most obvious and perhaps most important) is landscaping. Trees and bushes are part of the backdrop of our everyday living, and something many people—even gardeners—may tend to accept without envisioning large-scale changes. That’s because they grow so slowly it doesn’t seem realistic to worry about what might be possible. But when you think long-range, landscaping should be at the forefront. When the time comes for selling your home, a vision first initiated five or 10 years earlier can become a colorful and shady reality, worth a very great deal in terms of the overall impression your Palm City home makes.

THE MECHANICALS:

It’s human nature to just put up with heating, plumbing, air conditioning and other systems that could operate much more conveniently and economically, but which are expensive to overhaul. But think realistically: if you know that later on you will be selling your Palm City home—and realistically will certainly have to upgrade those vexing mechanicals when that happens—give serious thought to taking action earlier…even NOW! Not only will you be able to enjoy the improvement­, it’s entirely possible that savings realized from the gains in efficiency will materially offset your initial outlay. Why let the future owners get all the benefit?

PHOTOGRAPHY:

When you are selling a home, photography is one of the most impactful marketing tools you’ll have at your disposal. A couple of years before you plan to join the Palm City listings, keep a camera ready to snap those fleeting moments when the season and light combine to make some detail of garden or home magically illuminated. Even a professional photographer can’t ‘make’ such moments happen. As Ansel Adams’ outdoor masterpieces confirmed: the perfect light at the perfect season is worth more than money can buy.

INFORMATION:

It doesn’t hurt to keep abreast of happenings in the national and Martin County real estate market, so that you’re informed about what to expect when you ultimately join the fray. One of the best ways to do that (other than to keep reading my blog) is to check out the neighborhood listings from time to time: they’re here on my site. And one of the best ways to proceed when the moment does arrive when you will be selling your home in Palm City is (of course) to give me a call!

Palm City Listings Favor Practical Post-Recession Features

05.28.15 by

Palm City Listings Favor Practical Post-Recession Features

 Lake Grove in Palm City

Just as with movie credits, the features you find in Palm City listings have a “billing order.” The “stars” may not be printed in gigantic superstar type—but the order in which they appear do reflect changes in current buyer priorities. For a homeowner soon to add their property to this spring’s Palm City listings, it’s important to learn which features currently tend to attract the most favorable attention from prospective buyers. It’s of more than marketing interest, as well: knowing what’s in and what out can also help determine where improvement dollars should go.

The question is, which features are most desirable, and which formerly popular features have become passé: “so Twentieth Century!”

New answers to these questions usually appear a couple of times a year—and 2015 is no exception. The latest one I found was on the Realtor.com website. It went into recent history, describing in detail how listings’ features for newly-built homes have been undergoing rapid change over the past few years. In general (and probably as a reaction to the difficult economic times that only lately have seen improvement), over-the-top luxury details are fading, being replaced in favor of features centered on efficiency, organization, and pragmatism.

Examples of the kinds of details less likely to be found in today’s listings are two-story foyers, master bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, and luxurious details like outdoor kitchens. (“NOPE” in capital letters is shown stenciled over a picture of one of those outdoor kitchens…which, I have to admit, really does look like it belongs in a hotel). Whereas ten years ago, those outdoor kitchens with fancy wine racks might have been found near the top of a listing, today it might be replaced by ‘walk-in closets’ or even, simply, a ‘laundry room.’

“It’s not sexy,” says one industry executive, “but that’s what people want.”

The most extensive survey of home builder trends is conducted by their national association, the NAHB. By quizzing nearly 400 builders, they concluded that other features on the decline include outdoor fireplaces, sunrooms, and media rooms. Taking their places (and likely candidates for what we’ll soon see creeping toward the tops of some of our Palm City listings) are the walk-in closets (since people want to get out the door efficiently first thing in the morning) and well-organized and well-lit laundry rooms (to improve the efficiency of the household).

As part of a “post-recession cultural shift toward pragmatism,” this makes perfect sense. But that word “post-recession” may offer a clue to what could be the temporary nature of the NAHB’s 2015 findings. For example, granite countertops—once a ‘luxury’ item in Martin County listings—are now more popular than the laminate alternatives. And those supposedly unpopular media rooms are not vanishing totally. They’re simply being replaced by spaces that are “more flexible.”

If you’re soon to be scrutinizing your own home to determine which of its best features to emphasize, I’d be pleased to furnish an opinion—it will be based on the results we’re seeing from today’s Palm City listings!

Quick Touchup Ideas to aid your Palm City Home Staging Efforts

05.18.15 by

Quick Touchup Ideas to aid your Palm City Home Staging Efforts

 Palm City Home Staging Efforts

You’re eager to get your home sold quickly with a minimum of fuss. You’ve been over the comparables with your Realtor®; and the listing looks and reads great. It’s getting close to showing time—and although you know that your Palm City property is a great buy that any new owner would be proud to call home, you also know that this spring there is a lot of competition out there.

Producing a quick turnaround is about the marketing—which your agent is handling adroitly—but it’s also about presentation. That’s “staging”—an area you can definitely do something about!

According to the Room Solutions website, properly staging a home has been shown to reduce time on market by a factor of 5. Those comparison stats are notoriously hard to prove, but when a home has been stuck in the listings for months, undergoes professional staging, then sells in a fraction of the time, it is pretty convincing. But whether or not you decide to engage a full-on professional Palm City staging service, there are plenty of small scale DIY home improvements that take 30 minutes or less—but which make a big staging difference.

  • Reinvigorate the bathroom and other tiled areas by doing some grout cleaning. That grout between tiles may have been pristine when you first moved in, but years of use will take a toll. Use plain water and a stiff brush (they’re easy to find at any home center) to get rid of build-up and residue. Stubborn areas may need a spray bottle with a 50% solution of white vinegar: spray, leave it on for 5 minutes or so, then brush off and rinse. It really makes a difference when you bring the grout back to its original uniform tone.
  • Many a Palm City kitchen is burdened by an outmoded, timeworn backsplash. Replacing it may sound like a major project, but it is often possible to make quick work of it using one of the new peel-and-stick backsplash products. Instead of tearing up your kitchen and taking days to assemble a replacement, look into peel-and-stick tiling. These products come in many colors and styles—with installation processes that can have the entire project done in very short order.
  • Repainting whole rooms is not something that can be accomplished in minutes, but some rooms don’t need all that. Taking care of small but unsightly wall dings and scuffs will bolster first impressions—and often, just a few minor touchups can do the trick. If you don’t have the original paint style notes, some stores have computerized color-matching systems that recreate sample hues. Wood trim scuffs and stains can often be banished with colored felt pens or crayon color packs; more obscure tones may require a color matching kit. In any case, the time requirement is minor compared with the resulting subliminal improvement.
  • Stain kitchen cabinets. If yours is one of Palm City’s older homes with the original kitchen cabinets that remain dull no matter what you do, you can still avoid the time and expense of completely replacing them. Instead, renew the existing stain job or switch to a new tone that complements the kitchen.

Staging your Palm City home is an important adjunct to the overall marketing effort this Realtor provides. If you are looking for some energetic help in that department, I’m here to answer your phone call!

Palm City Homeowners Association Rules are well worth the Read!

05.14.15 by

 Palm City Homeowners Association Rules are well worth the Read!

 gate

It does seem that whenever a story about some faraway homeowners association finds its way into our newspapers, nearly always it’s because something has gone awry. Either there’s an ongoing dispute about a flag display (“Indiana Couple Violate Rules for Flying U.S. Flag”), a fencing disagreement (“Border Feud is Childish and Dangerous”), or something else to catch readers’ eyes. The pettier, the better (“North Carolina Man in Dispute over Pansies Planted in Common Area”). Why does this hit the local news? Let’s face it: it is sort of fun to read about!

The downside is that when those instances are all we hear about, it can lead Palm City buyers to believe they should stay away properties with HOAs when they are buying a home. But the fact is, town homeowners associations exist to protect the common interests of owners and residents. Homeowners associations can and do offer many benefits. The key is understanding what they are, what the costs are—then choosing the right association.

Know the Rules

The first step in evaluating any Palm City homeowners association is to thoroughly examine a current copy of its rules. When you realize that it’s natural to focus on the individual property instead of the community, it’s more understandable why many prospective buyers pay too little attention to this step. Later, they may find themselves in violation of rules they should have noted before. Those stories about flags are typical: usually the problem was not with the flag, but with rules about flagpoles. Small details can become big problems when the homeowners association ‘covenants, conditions and restrictions’ remain unread in a kitchen drawer.

Comparing Costs and Amenities

In addition to the rules of a contending Palm City homeowners association, there is the matter of its fee structure. Older homeowners associations are often (not always) less expensive than newer HOAs. Yet price is not the whole picture. Especially when evaluating two or more associations, it’s time to sharpen a pencil and compare what the fees cover. One association may include lawn maintenance, while another leaves that as your responsibility…and there may be value for the community (and your property’s resale value) in guaranteeing proper maintenance by everyone. One HOA may have a pool, tennis courts and other amenities, while another may only offer a community room. Newer Palm City homeowner associations are tending to offer more features, but not always.

Homeowners associations offer a sense of community along with amenities and other benefits…but for some, the cost in individuality weighs against it. When I’m invited to be your real estate representative, I help you ask the right questions—the ones that will guide you to a new home that’s the right fit for your family. I hope you’ll give me a call!

Palm City Homes in Gated Communities

Palm City Condos

Overcoming Rival Bids in Today’s Palm City Real Estate Market Tips

05.11.15 by

 Overcoming Rival Bids in Today’s Palm City Real Estate Market Tips

 Lake Grove in Palm City

It was only a few years ago that the last thing a prospective Palm City home buyer had to worry about was being outbid. Those were the days when the bottom seemed to be falling out of the Palm City real estate market. Anyone brave enough to be looking to buy at a time when the real estate market was frightening most folks away was not only plucky—they were also alone. Sellers who had to move no matter what found themselves forced to accept offers that they knew were well below their property’s true utilitarian value. The only saving grace was that those same sellers could turn around and buy in their new community at the same kind of crazy discount.

That, as they say, was then—and this is now. As the real estate market in Martin County continues to revive, sellers’ mindsets have returned to normal. Knowing that their Palm City home is a valuable commodity, they demand offers that are respectable. One national survey found that that buyers are acting quickly on the most sought-after homes, and that overall, median DoMs (Days on Market) fell to 32 in March from 40 just a month earlier.

As the spring selling season heats up, some buyers who find the home of their dreams may also suspect that they aren’t alone. It calls for definitive action—and if it looks as if just making an offer might not win the day, some additional action. For home buyers who have a good idea that they must act decisively or miss out, here are some options for increasing the odds that their offer will be accepted:

One tactic to prevent being outbid is to add an escalation clause to the offer. If allowed, such a provision states if the seller receives another offer, then the buyers are willing to increase their own offer to a set price. For instance, a home buyer who makes an offer of $310,000 might include an escalation clause in increments of $3,000 should a competing offer appears, up to a maximum of $360,000.

Since people have different reasons for selling their home, another tactic is to discover what’s important to the seller. Perhaps they have a new job opportunity and need to vacate as quickly as possible. Or maybe they have plenty of time, and are holding out for the maximum price. Your agent may have a good idea what is motivating the sellers so that you can craft your offer around their requirements. If a normal schedule calls for an inspection period of 10 days, but the sellers want to move quickly, they may be motivated by a shorter inspection period.

Usually, home buyers find it prudent to keep the upfront earnest money pledged to a minimum, allowing them more leeway in limiting their loss if they decide to back away from the deal. Increasing the earnest money shows the sellers you are serious about completing the purchase. It also subtly affirms your financial stability. An even more substantial demonstration is to become pre-qualified with a mortgage lender. Unless an all-cash purchase is possible, it’s the best way to guarantee you will be able to act quickly. Even if competitive bidders appear, when you are a pre-qualified buyer, you increase your chances of winning out.

When I’m tapped to act as your buyer’s agent, I become your advance scout and strategic partner as you explore this spring’s exciting Palm City real estate market. I hope you’ll give me a call!

Affordable Palm City Pool Home Under Contract

05.10.15 by

Affordable Palm City Pool Home Under Contract

Palm City Pool Home

The old adage saying: “You snooze you loose” is certainly true about 877 SW 33rd St in Palm City.  After numerous offers, this home is now under contract courtesy of the Gabe Sanders BlueWater realty team after less than 1 day on the market.  Numerous people called about our “coming soon” preview of this home, unfortunately many thought they could wait to see it at there leisure.

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

Enjoy the good life in this Palm City pool home with no HOA.  Sitting in a quiet neighborhood with mature trees and landscaping.  Enter this charming 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home into a huge oversized kitchen.  Then, move on to either the living room or family room with serene views of your large pool and fenced backyard.  Step outside for a swim or just play in your private pool or gather your friends and neighbors for a barbecue in your own outdoor space.

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

This home is conveniently located close to shopping, restaurants and just a quick ride to the downtown Stuart area and beaches as well.  Less than one mile to a public boat ramp, this is Florida living at its best and it’s yours for under $200,000.

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

Search here for all Palm City Pool Homes currently available from the Martin County MLS

Palm City Pool Home Palm City Pool Home

Affordable Palm City Pool Home Under Contract