Stuart FL Multi-Family Housing Out of Reach? It Ain’t Necessarily So!

05.24.15 by

Stuart FL Multi-Family Housing Out of Reach? It Ain’t Necessarily So!

 multi-family homes

Martin County multi-family housing is the umbrella term covering all the various kinds of residences that shelter more than one family. Everything from duplexes and homes with guest cottages to apartment complexes fall into the category, which is most often thought of in terms of the solid investment potential it represents.

While Stuart multi-family housing offers all of the same investment potential and more (the economies of scale can give an apartment building listing, for instance, many times the profit potential of a single family rental), a multi-family residence can also be the pathway to home ownership for a first-time home buyer. You might not think so, but when a prospective buyer will also be resident, standard financing guidelines—even for FHA loans—may apply. The lending particulars vary by a given Florida property’s specifics—among other factors, whether or not cash flow-producing tenants are already in place. But the assumption that the higher mortgage amounts associated with multi-family housing opportunities automatically puts them out of reach ain’t (as the song says) necessarily so!

The NAR® finds that some 38% of residences are purchased by first-time buyers—yet it’s a safe bet that most of them would never consider that purchasing multi-family homes could be a great way to own their first home (and even generate some extra income at the same time). To begin to examine this as a possibility, some basic research into some of the key elements of multi-family financing is a logical preliminary step.

·   Down Payment Options

Today’s loan requirements may be seeing some degree of easing, but most Stuart multi-family homes listings carry bigger down payments than single residences. Even so, some FHA loans for a one- to four-unit home require just a 3.5% down payment. A variety of other loan programs emphasizing affordable down payment options may also apply.

·   Cash Reserves Requirements

Some traditional lenders have no specific cash reserve requirements, while the FHA has defined guidelines. For one- or two-unit properties, buyers must have one month’s worth of reserves (cash left after closing). For three- to four-unit homes, the requirement is for three months of reserves.

·   Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders evaluate debt-to-income ratios to include other monthly debt payments as well as the anticipated mortgage payment. They weigh that against gross monthly income…and, needless to say, lenders who include a high percentage of projected rental income will be more likely to find a loan viable.

Whether you are a first-time or veteran home buyer, considering the Martin County’s multi-family housing listings is an idea that may be worth pursuing. Give me a call to discuss how one of today’s prime offerings might fit into your future!

Low Credit Score? You Can Still Buy Your First Martin County Home!

05.22.15 by

 Low Credit Score? You Can Still Buy Your First Martin County Home!

 credit score

They really ought to teach this stuff in school: real-life, day-to-day economics. Martin County youngsters out on their own for the first time are usually left to trial and error when it comes to mastering things like how to lay out a personal budget or use credit advantageously. Or even how to go about selecting a bank, or opening a checking account…

So when it comes to buying their first Stuart home, it’s very common for newcomers to put off confronting the whole daunting issue. When you’re still new to your career, tackling a purchase involving years’ worth of income channeled through a maze of unfamiliar procedures is easy to put off. But when the delay stretches well past the point in their financial lives when it would be clearly advantageous to own rather than to continue renting, it’s the same thing as throwing hard-earned cash overboard.

They really ought to teach this stuff in school! That having been said, here is a broad-brush, very basic rundown of the lay of the land aimed at first time Treasure Coast Florida home buyers:

Since the asking price for even the most modest Martin County home is a number with multiple zeros on the end, you might assume that common sense indicates it’s out of reach. All the more so if early mistakes handling credit cards or student loan troubles have damaged your credit score. The good news is that potential home buyers with less than outstanding credit can still buy that first home—given some careful financial planning and research on your part.

  • The most important factor banks use to determine your mortgage eligibility is your FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) credit score. The numbers range from 300 to 850, are based on a number of factors including how much debt you have and your payment history. In general, borrowers will need a credit score of at least 650 to qualify for a conventional home mortgage loan.
  • BUT, it’s not the only factor. Although your credit score tops the list of elements that determine your eligibility for a mortgage, banks will also consider the amount of money you can commit to a down payment. Saving up may delay your first home purchase, and definitely takes discipline…but today, the amount you need is changing. Different lending institutions have different rules for determining eligibility, and some offer-
  • Non-conventional loans. Today, first-time home buyers with relatively low credit scores can often secure such loans. You should research Treasure Coast FL banks to find those currently offering non-conventional loans to borrowers with qualifying credit histories. You should also consider a Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan, which eases credit requirements. For example, you might qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 580 with a down payment of just 3.5%!
  • You can also use money from an IRA for your down payment. In other circumstances, withdrawing money from your IRA before age 59 ½ means paying a 10% penalty, but that rule doesn’t apply when you use your IRA to purchase a first home!

Bottom line: a low credit score doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t buy your first Martin County home. I’m here not only to help you find a home, but to help clarify the options that make possible that dream of owning your first home. Call me anytime!

Martin County Real Estate News Can’t Compete with this China Item

05.20.15 by

Martin County Real Estate News Can’t Compete with this China Item

 3D_Printer

Martin County real estate news is fairly predictable—at least compared with some of the stories that filter in from the rest of the world. Here in Stuart, for instance, wherever a new home is being built, you’re likely to see familiar evidence like stacks of lumber and drywall, cartons of nail gun ammo, sacks of cement, and workmen hustling around as they put everything together.

Nary a printer in sight.

Not so in China. According to The Washington Post, the real estate news includes an item about an innovation from Asia. “Innovation” is perhaps a bit of an understatement, because the gist of the story was that in April a year ago, a Chinese concern built 10 houses in one day using a 3-D printer.

Despite what you may be thinking, this item did not have an April 1 dateline.

The 3-D printers we’ve been reading about over the past few years are the ones that take pellets or powders made of plastic, wax, ceramic, or even metal, and print three-dimensional objects, layer by layer, as directed by a computer.

Only a few years back, for most of us, stories about 3-D printers seemed more like science fiction than reality. But apparently the things actually work! As evidence, there have been lots of stories about the legal and other ramifications that accompany the printing of firearms. A few months ago, astronauts printed up a 3D wrench aboard the International Space Station: they’ll just print up spare parts when things break down. And there was that car (the “Strati”) that a company printed in Chicago: it took 44 hours to print, with a top speed of 40 MPH…

Doesn’t this all sound a little bit nuts?

But back to the real estate news from China. It seems that the outfit that printed the 10 houses last year, built a really, really big 3D printer, and used it to print a mansion: an 11,840 square-foot villa. Next to it, they printed up a 5-story building (just showing off, you have to think). According to reports, the process is more than just fast: it’s becoming cheaper and more energy-efficient. The Chinese company says that it can save 30%-60% of building materials, 50% of labor costs, etc. They want to print bridges, too…

But don’t think American ingenuity is being left in the polymer dust! USC Engineering Professor B. Khoshnevis is plugging away at the forefront of the technology, except he calls it “contour crafting” instead of “3D printing” (or “Xeroxing”). On his web site, in answer to the FAQ “Can you print an entire house?” the answer is Theoretically, yes. He hopes to see “entry-level construction models on the market within one to two years.”

Soooo, how long before our local Martin County real estate news will be trumpeting our own 3D printed houses for sale? No time soon. It turns out that the villa, 10 small houses, and 5-story apartment building in China “aren’t much to look at.” In fact, some say they are for demonstration only. So when you give me a call to help you find the Stuart home of your dreams, I suspect a printed model won’t be on our tour list. We won’t be making the rounds in a Strati, any time soon, either.

It’s only a two-seater, anyway.

3 “C’s” Turn Bad Weather into Boon for Your Stuart FL Home for Sale

05.19.15 by

  3 “C’s” Turn Bad Weather into Boon for Your Stuart FL Home for Sale

 weather

You’ve decided that right now is the perfect time to put up your Stuart FL home for sale; you’re charged with energy and determination; you’re ready to get going—and then…suddenly, the spring weather turns foul. It’s an all-too-common frustration, from mud season sieges in Northeastern Maine to kite-busting windstorms in the far Southwest, the kind of perfection “spring days” brings to mind isn’t always there when you want it to be.

Some days (even some weeks) are like that—often, when you’re trying to ready your Stuart home for sale. Sometimes Mother Nature just doesn’t cooperate. You’re stuck indoors.

Rather than sitting and stewing over all the time lost from perfecting the garden or touching up those few exterior blemishes that need a spot of paint or two, this is one situation that’s easily reversed. In fact, there is such a lot that can be accomplished indoors, with a little mental jujitsu, you should even be able to talk yourself into considering a bad weather break as an opportunity.

There are dozens of indoor activities you can attend to. Here are 3 C’s for examples:

Clutter! Let’s face it, for a home for sale, there’s too much stuff, everywhere. No, all that dust-catching memorabilia doesn’t really serve to create a more charming, homey atmosphere. It actually creates the sense that this home for sale belongs to someone else. The goal is to display a dwelling primed and waiting for the buyer’s décor ideas to take hold—and clutter in the form of personal possessions just obscures the issue. Box it, store it—or even prepare it for later eBay sale. Just do get it out of sight!

Clean! There’s the degree of ‘clean’ that we live in every day, and that’s perfectly fine for busy households and regular family life. Then there’s the kind of ‘clean’ that can help to turn a home for sale into a home that’s under contract. Deep cleaning is an art—and it may even take a professional to accomplish. In most cases, it just takes a little more time and determination than day-to-day housework can achieve. A stormy day is perfect for a serious rented-rug-cleaner session, or some toothbrush-aided baseboard scrubbing. Granted, foul weather is not conducive to any heroic window washing…for that, wait ‘till the skies clear.

Clear!  The furniture arrangement that’s evolved over time may be a layout that makes daily Stuart Florida living comfortable and convenient is frequently not the layout most conducive to moving a home for sale as quickly as possible. Less is often more because it opens sight lines and gives the feeling of roominess. Clearing rooms of redundant tables, chairs—even sofas—is an indoor activity with results that become instantly gratifying.

Spates of unpredictable Stuart weather don’t really prove much of an impediment to preparing a Your Stuart home for sale. If you’re close to making that decision, I hope you’ll consider giving me a call to discuss marketing directions. The weather’s perfect!

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

05.17.15 by

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

Stuart Real Estate Snapshot for ZIP Code 34996, Condo Sales for April 2015

For April 2015 in the 34996 Zip Code area of Stuart, Florida :

There are currently 110 active condo listings (Unchanged from last month).

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

55 Condo sales are pending and awaiting close or lender approval (Decreased by 6 condos from March).

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

23 Condos Sold in April (Decreased by 13 condos from March) 

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

The Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market was very strong for April.  Activity eased slightly from last month’s hot pace, but this is still a strong market with a lot of activity.  While both pending and closed sales were off from last month, this is still a hot area for Stuart condos.

The current absorption rate for the Stuart Florida condos in ZIP Code 34996 – decreased to 4.8 months from March’s 3.1 months .  Still a strong sellers market.  A balanced market is considered to occur when the absorption rate is from 6 to 7 months.

The numbers for April 2014 were: 142 active listings, 46 pending sales and 41 closed sales.  Better closed activity for last year, but with considerably more inventory.  Also, better pending activity this year, which may mean good sales activity in the coming months.

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

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Stuart Florida Real Estate presented by:
Gabe Sanders

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report April 2015

After Easter, Stuart Spring Real Estate Season Blossoms

05.16.15 by

After Easter, Stuart Spring Real Estate Season Blossoms

 Roosevelt Bridge at Night

When the first spring day comes along (as opposed to the first day of spring), a goodly proportion of our Stuart residents feel the annual pull toward the garden store aisles. Even those who’ve stoutly resisted ordering seeds, gardening tools, or any of the other back yard paraphernalia the catalogs kept hawking all winter can succumb to this particular Call of Nature.

Burpee, Scotts and Miracle-Gro shareholders can relax: spring has sprung.

The Stuart spring real estate selling season starts stirring, too, pretty much in lockstep with the appearance of the tulips. Whether or not the tulips have succeeded in poking up out of the ground, it’s a cinch that by this time they will have made colorful appearances on store shelves everywhere, just like the Peeps and chocolate bunnies. Unlike the rest of the early spring’s trappings, though, the spring real estate phenomenon doesn’t disappear from sight once Easter Sunday is a memory. In fact, it picks up steam.

There are any number of explanations why spring real estate in Stuart is always expected to ramp up. Part of the reason is the calendar. For families with children, if a move is going to involve a change in school districts, summer vacation is the least disruptive time of year for it to happen, so spring is the time to start house hunting. Part of the reason is due to the comparative difficulty of selling a home in wintertime: not only can foul weather make it harder to keep a home at its showy best, it also can throw a monkey wrench into property maintenance and the few cosmetic fixes that almost every home could use before it hits the Stuart listings. The result is a certain amount of bottled-up inventory that bursts onto the scene all at once—and springtime is the single time of the year when that happens.

Then there is the automatic momentum effect. When you sell a Stuart home, most families need to turn around and buy the next. The National Association of Realtors® tells us that the spring real estate selling season may actually be stronger than the numbers indicate, because many sales that really did begin “in season” don’t actually close until summer begins. Spring real estate as a phenomenon is “real” enough that you can’t blame them for lines like “Spring brings rain and flowers—and possibly extra green in the final sales price of your home.”

The spring real estate selling season is indeed underway, so if you are planning on listing your own Stuart home anytime soon, now is a great time to give us a call. It’s the best way to take advantage of the traditional boom in prospective buyers!

Search for all Stuart FL real estate

 

 

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

05.15.15 by

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

Stuart Real Estate Snapshot for ZIP Code 34994, Condo Sales for April 2015

For April 2015 in the 34994 Zip Code area of Stuart, Florida :

 

There are currently 93 active condo listings (Decreased by 2 condos from March).

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

40 Condo sales are pending and awaiting close or lender approval. (Decreased by 6 condo from last month) 

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

19 Condos Sold in April (Unchanged from March).

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

The Stuart FL 34994 Condo market showed strong activity for April 2015.  Very similar activity to last month with a drop in pending sales which may indicate a decrease in future closed sales.

The one month absorption rate decreased to 4.9 months compared to last month’s 5.0.  Continuing as a seller’s market.  Typically a real estate market is considered to be a balanced market with an absorption rate of 6 to 7 months.  Meaning neither the buyers or sellers have an advantage in the real estate market.

Last April the numbers were 111 active listings, 56 pending sales, and 23 closed sales. For the 34994 zip code area of Stuart, this year’s activity is not quite as robust as it was for April 2014.

Stuart FL 34994 Condo Market Report April 2015

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Stuart Florida Real Estate presented by:
the Gabe Sanders real estate team

Stuart Florida Market Report ZIP Code 34994 – Condo, April 2015

A Surer Way to Find the Average House Price in Martin County FL

05.13.15 by

A Surer Way to Find the Average House Price in Martin County FL

 House Price in Martin County FL

When you do a web search for “average house price in Martin County, FL come up with a lot of good, not-so-good, and just plain lame information. If you were looking for a general idea of what the current market says that homes like yours in your neighborhood are worth, the results are likely to be more amusing than anything else.

You always come up with the national sites’ average listing price for homes for sale in Martin County, FL Depending upon how recently their data engine found and tossed out duplicates and errors, and that can be an interesting number. You will also get state real estate trends, a list of average sold prices (this one seems to be subject to error); an instant, somewhat dubious calculation for the average price per square foot of a house in Stuart and ads. Lots and lots of ads. But almost all of the “averages” are affected by listings and/or sale prices for “lot/land for sale” and the like…hardly useful unless your own house has recently disappeared. Likewise, unless your property is a weekend getaway chalet, any “charming, quiet cabin” listings will send the “average house price in Martin County calculation seriously awry.

On a recent web excursion, I did stumble across a great cartoon presentation at the CNN.com site. It was an animation that showed how the average American home has changed over the past 40 years. The graphics show a typical house as it expands, contracts, adds features and loses them (the fireplace disappeared about 10 years ago: who knew that?).

With a tip of the hat to creator Bard Edlund, here’s a synopsis of the highlights:

1973 found the median new single family residence at 1,525 square feet.

A mere seven years later, air conditioning and a fireplace had appeared…anyone familiar with the era might be forgiven for retrieving the mental image of President Nixon’s Oval Office fireplace roaring while the air conditioning blasts away…

In 1984, George Orwell’s’ predictions aren’t totally in place, but the square footage has stretched to 1,605, and the average house price is $79,900. Ten years later, the house has expanded to 1,940 square feet, average house price is $130,000.

That “average house price” growth is pretty convincing: the narrator backtracks to point out that “the median sales price has gone from $64,600 in 1980 to $169,000 just 20 years later.” Alas, even though the cartoon doesn’t show a wrecking crew tearing it out, “the fireplace disappears in 2007” (there’s still one in the White House, though); “right before the house contracts during the economic crisis.” Then the recovery: by 2013, the average price of $268,900 supports a house having 2,384 square feet of space: 56% larger than the house of 40 years ago.

The animations and commentaries are diverting—and asking Bing or Google for the average Martin County house price does get you a raft of information—but if you are seriously pricing our current Stuart market, a specific detailed search right here on  my website will get you a lot closer to the information you need. And if you are considering the sale of your own home, you deserve a professionally researched comparable analysis—the kind performed by an experienced, licensed area Realtor®. That’s me, and I’d be pleased to perform exactly that kind of thorough-going ‘comp’ for your property, with no obligation attached. And you don’t have to search further: I’m just a phone call away!

Stuart FL Mortgage Credit Easing Expectations Follow U.S. Thaw

05.12.15 by

Stuart FL Mortgage Credit Easing Expectations Follow U.S. Thaw

 mortgage credit

How easy or hard it is for Stuart home buyers to secure a mortgage with attractive terms is a key element in the local real estate picture. Our national mortgage credit provides the oil that keeps residential home sales moving smoothly; that, or it becomes a damper (or even something close to an emergency brake!).

The current Florida mortgage credit situation is largely a reflection of what’s going on in the greater financial world, where the corporate banking interests, world economic conditions, and political realities converge. It is in that greater arena where the counterproductive effects of tightening mortgage credit availability have been acknowledged for some time. At first, it seemed to be little more than talk, but recently, changes have been stirring. The resulting tinkering seems to be taking effect.

“U.S. consumers are finding it easier to get a mortgage,” was last Thursday’s finding by CNBC in their Reality Check. The commentary was headlined “A CREDIT THAW IS OFFERING MORE MORTGAGE OPTIONS.” In fact, it fairly bristled with refrigeration metaphors. Following “years of near frozen credit following the financial crisis” there was now “heat behind the credit thaw.” If you expected that the source of the heat was the springtime improvement in Stuart’s weather, you were mistaken. It was “simple clarification.”

Clarification Clarification.

The simple clarification lies in a chain of repercussions that requires some clarification of their own. It has to do with the usual suspects: Fannie and Freddie. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the guarantors behind the majority of mortgage credit in Florida and throughout the country) had sued lenders left and right following the subprime mortgage market mess. It cost the banks and mortgage companies billions through lawsuits and loan buybacks. Lenders, who like many of us don’t like to lose billions, became understandably gun-shy. They demanded near-pristine credit from borrowers, because they didn’t want Fannie and Freddie (and sometimes their Uncle, Sam) to come after them again.

Bait-and-Goodbye

Rates may have been terrific, but for way too many Stuart would-be borrowers, those rates were attached to loans that weren’t being offered. It wasn’t exactly Bait-and-Switch; more like Bait-and-Goodbye. But new rules that clarify which loans are considered safe by the semi-governmental concerns have done away with a considerable degree of lender concern. Added to the nationwide increase in activity (the Mortgage Bankers Association registered a single month increase of 17% in new home applications in March), it seems likely that the defrosting described by CNBC should continue well past cherry blossom time.

Today’s Florida mortgage credit landscape is something that directly affects most buyer-applicants as well as Stuart home sellers, so that’s welcome news—and a good reason why now is a good time to give me a call!

The Best Realtor® is the One Who Knows Stuart FL

05.11.15 by

The Best Realtor® is the One Who Knows Stuart FL

Realtor

When you Google “seeking the best professional,” in about a half a second you are presented with 403 million candidates (not to play favorites, Search-Engine-Wise, when you ask Bing the same thing, it gives you a mere 62.6 million…which might actually prove more useful, since it would only take you a little more than a year to scan each for 2 seconds).

Narrowing the quest, when you Google “seeking the best Realtor®,” it gives you just a few less than 2,000,000 likely results. Since anyone seeking the best real estate professional to buy or sell their home isn’t after one eight states away, almost everyone quickly narrows the search to ‘best Realtor in Stuart FL’ That number varies from time to time, but almost always more than 500,000 show up (the ones at the top are paid ads).

This isn’t actually as whimsical a quest as such results suggest: it’s a quite serious undertaking. Even if you are a veteran homeowner—someone who has bought and sold homes multiple times in the past—today’s market is so vastly different from what it was even ten years ago (thank you, Internet!) that you need to connect with a Realtor in Stuart who will bring you success in this vast new arena. This will be someone whose marketing knowhow is as current as this morning’s Tweet—but whose depth of knowledge and experience in adroitly handling the old-fashioned local workings (and, alas, paperwork) are also encyclopedic. Today, your “best Stuart Realtor” will have mastered it all.

So, what’s the right way to go about finding her/him? What’s a homeowner or prospective home buyer to do when they are bound and determined to actually find the best professional in Stuart There are positive steps to take:

  1. Word of mouth: ask around to people whose opinions are substantial. Even if you are looking to sell and someone whose opinion you trust has experience only as a buyer, take the agent’s name. The best Realtors in Stuart are great on both fronts!
  2. When you are out and about in the neighborhood, note the “For Sale” yard signs planted in the lawns of appealing-looking properties. Jot down the agent’s contact number.
  3. Check the newspapers (and even notices posted on local store bulletin boards) for open houses…then attend them!
  4. Check the Martin County MLS: see which agents are prominently represented in the Stuart listings—especially for properties in the same general price range. Look for eye-catching, well-written listings.

And finally, having compiled a list of your likely suspects, take the final and most important step of all:

  1. Stop Googling—and start interviewing!

The search for the best Realtor in Stuart will take a bit of energy—and a bit of your time—but given the significance of the task ahead, is guaranteed to be worth your while. Since you’ve found my Stuart blog, I hope you will put me on your list of best Stuart Realtors—or better yet, why not Google me and see what you get.

Stuart Green Homes add Green to Owners’ Wallets

05.09.15 by

Stuart Green Homes add Green to Owners’ Wallets

green homeWhether we see it as evidence of the advance of a wider green homes movement or simply of rising environmental consciousness, Stuart green homes are becoming properties with a distinct marketable sales advantage. What were once viewed as altruistic gestures practiced by only the most dedicated preservationists are going mainstream—and at a rapid clip. The National Association of REALTORS® recently found that 70% of those surveyed believe eco-friendly features add value to a home. In other words, the practical advantages of ‘going green’ are becoming more and more evident to prospective buyers.

For sure, one reason for the increasing popularity of green homes in Stuart is a growing and sincere concern about sustainability.

But there’s also another reason: a growing and equally sincere desire to save cash!

There are in fact a number of practical reasons why green homes save their owner’s money:

• Tankless water heaters are one example of a technology that’s been around for a while, but which is now gathering popularity. The engineering is based on the fact that constantly storing and re-heating of a volume of water means wasting a lot of energy. Tankless units don’t store heated water; instead, they pass it over coils that are only energized when hot water is needed. As a consequence, tankless water heaters can actually save their owners up to 50% on hot water costs!

• As global critics increase their cries for the conservation of fresh water, the idea that green homes can make a major difference is gaining traction. The EPA’s website lists multiple ways that green homes can save the precious resource, from WaterSense-labeled faucets and toilets to high-efficiency showerheads.

energy star
• Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can make the most dynamic contribution to green homes. Regularly-maintained Energy Star appliances, combined with home management practices like heating and cooling only areas that are in use via programmable thermostats can make a welcome dent in the monthly bills.

Together with the ongoing wallet relief that green homes provide their owners every month, changing over to ecologically championed household appliances and practices is an increasingly practical exercise. When it comes time to sell your Stuart home, too, being able to provide those penny-pinched utility bills can make all the difference to cost-conscious prospects. For more ideas on ways you can increase the value and sales appeal of your own property, I hope you won’t hesitate to give me a call!

Tropical Paradise Ocean Access Waterfront Lot New Price

05.01.15 by

Tropical Paradise Ocean Access Waterfront Lot New Price

Waterfront lot with ocean access (fixed bridges) now only $75,000. Best priced ocean access lot in Martin County! Water, sewer, electric in place and ready for your new home!

7941 SE Paradise Dr New Price

Paved driveway and pad in place.  Existing mobile home has been removed.  There’s 81 feet of waterfront with ocean access suitable for a smaller boat that can go under two fixed bridges with approximately 6′ clearance.  Community has an RV boat storage lot with one space for every resident. Great opportunity in a wonderful friendly community.

Overview

Maps

Photos

Features

Description


Slide Show
$75,000
Lots and Land
Main Features
Lot: 0.20 acre(s)
MLS #: 379758
Location
7941 SE Paradise Dr.
Stuart, FL 34997
USA
Our recent listings

 

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The Tropical Paradise community is a subdivision with modular and manufactured homes that are slowly replacing the original mobile homes that were in place.

Click here for more information and pictures

Search for Tropical Paradise homes for Sale

Search the Martin County MLS

More information about Stuart Florida Homes and Land can be found on the Gabe Sanders BlueWater Realty team’s web site.

Tropical Paradise Ocean Access Waterfront Lot New Price

Emerald Lakes Townhouse Stuart FL Under Contract

04.29.15 by

Emerald Lakes Townhouse Stuart FL Under Contract

Under contract in 22 days, this Emerald Lakes townhouse is now pending.  Ask the BlueWater realty team about Stuart FL townhouse sales.

Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse

A beautifully updated Emerald Lakes townhome featuring a modified open kitchen with granite countertops and newer appliances (2 years old). This 2 BR, 2 and 1/2 Bath townhouse has lake views from both bedrooms.  Only a short walk to one of two community pools and tennis courts.  This townhouse has new carpets, new washer and dryer and new hurricane and impact resistant PGT sliding windows. Dual sinks and Corian counters in the master bathroom. 2 assigned parking spaces plus ample guest parking. A great location close to shopping, beaches, restaurants, medical facilities and historic downtown Stuart. Emerald Lakes is available for all ages and 2 pets under 40 lbs. are permitted. A wonderful opportunity for an affordable Stuart home.  The list price for this Emerald Lakes townhouse is $144,900.

Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse

The community of Emerald Lakes lies in the Port Salerno area of Stuart, Florida and consists of 400 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes and 130 single family villas.  The town homes and villas are governed by two separate home owners association yet share many of the same amenities.

 Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

Spread out over 100 acres of beautiful Florida landscape, with 3 ‘Emerald Lakes’, miles of walking paths, 7 tennis courts, 3 heated pools and two club houses.  Very conveniently located within walking distance of a Publix Grocery store, Beall’s, Walgreen’s, Banks, Gold’s Gym, etc.

Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse

Just a few miles away are numerous Golf Courses, Martin County’s famous waterways, marinas  and beaches  and also within minutes of I-95 for easy access to locations both north and south.  Fort Lauderdale is only a little over an hour to the south and Disney World is just over 2 hours to the north.  A perfect location!

Updated Emerald Lakes Townhouse

Residents of Emerald Lakes enjoy the good life with low HOA fees and an excellent management staff for both Home Owners’ Associations.

Currently Available Homes and Town Homes in Emerald Lakes

Search the Martin County MLS

Emerald Lakes Townhouse Stuart FL Under Contract

Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold

04.26.15 by

Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold

Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold

This north Stuart townhouse in Garden villas  has sold.  The sales price was $104,500.

Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold

Conveniently located in North River Shores area. Beautiful townhouse with stainless steel appliances, tile, large private courtyard for Florida outdoor living, fountain in courtyard, large living room with sliders for bright open airy feeling, skylight in stair area, both bedrooms have a balcony. Unit located in the back with a woodsy view. Large walk-in closet in master bedroom. Accordion storm shutters on all windows. Close to mall, restaurants, entertainment and downtown. Minutes from the beach. Low HOA fee in a pet friendly development. Florida living at its best!

Overview

Maps

Photos

Description
$104,500
Townhouse
Main Features
2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Half Bathroom
Interior: 1,514 sqft
Year Built: 1981
MLS #: RX-10103510
Location
790 NW 10th Ter
Stuart, FL 34994
USA
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Stuart Florida real estate from the Gabe Sanders BlueWater Realty Team.  Our specialty is finding fine homes, Townhouses and vacant land for our preferred customers.

Garden Villas Townhouse Stuart FL Sold

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island April 2015 Market Report

04.22.15 by

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island April 2015 Market Report

As of April 2015, there are 5 condos on the market in Suntide on Hutchinson Island in Stuart FL.  Listing prices range from $229,000 to $315,000 with an average list price of $274,000 which equals $231.48 per sq. ft. of living area.  None of these condos are distressed sales.  (No foreclosure, bank owned or short sales.)

There is one condo under contract and awaiting settlement.  It was listed for $198,000 which equates to $130.68 per sq. ft. of living area.  This is not a distressed sale.

There have been 6 condos sold in the past 12 months in Suntide.  The sales prices ranged from $183,000 to $305,000 for an average sales price of $230,750 which equals $177.39 per sq. ft. of living area.  All of these sales were conventional sales.

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Pool for Suntide Condos

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Sun Deck of Suntide Condos

Located on Hutchinson Island in uncrowded and unspoiled Martin County, the  Suntide Building  is one of the premier ocean front condos in Stuart, Florida.  Boasting truly fine amenities with a protected pool, private beach access and hard to find under building protected parking.  There’s a full clubhouse with a fitness center, pool table, card room, library, full kitchen and reading room.
Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Beach access for Suntide Condos

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Suntide has all two bedroom, two bath condos that come in four different configurations and sizes.  The largest of these feature an office, sitting room than can possibly double as an extra bedroom.  Many units have direct and unspoiled ocean views.  One of the best run associations in Stuart, this fine complex is always a desirable destination for those who have made it their permanent residence as well as those who enjoy it as a vacation get away.

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Entrance to Suntide Condos

Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island

Fitness Room in Suntide Condos

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Suntide Condos on Hutchinson Island April 2015 Market Report

Hutchinson House April 2015 Market Update

04.19.15 by

 Hutchinson House April 2015 Market Update

Hutchinson House Condos for Sale and Sold ReportAs of April 2015, there are 5 condos on the market in Hutchinson House on Hutchinson Island in Stuart FL.  Listing prices range from $284,900 to $339,000 with an average price of $317,500 which equals $223.28 per sq. ft. of living area.

There are no condos currently under contract in Hutchinson House.

11 condos have sold in the past 12 months in Hutchinson House.  Sales prices ranged from $194,000 to $399,900 for an average of $273,572 or $212.67 per sq. ft. of living area.  There were no distressed properties (short sales or bank owned) in any of the above Hutchinson House condo listings or sales. Hutchinson House Condos for Sale and Sold Report Hutchinson House Condos for Sale and Sold ReportLocated on Hutchinson Island in uncrowded and unspoiled Martin County, the Hutchinson House Condo complex is an ocean to Intracoastal complex with a variety of styles and views offering wonderful amenities that include ocean access docks, club house, pools, spa/jacuzzi, tennis and a private beach.

Hutchinson House Condos for Sale and Sold ReportHutchinson House consists of 121 Condos, with the Ocean Side being Hutchinson House East and the river side is called Hutchinson House West.  Both sides offer 2 and 3 bedroom condos with 2 or more bathrooms.  Many with spectacular views of the river and the crystal clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Hutchinson House Condos for Sale and Sold ReportThe Hutchinson House condos are one of the few condo developments that is pet friendly and allows for up to 2 large pets.  For currently available Hutchinson House condos please call or view the search link below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 Stuart FL Home Design Ideas Focus on Kitchen Updates

04.15.15 by

2015 Stuart FL Home Design Ideas Focus on Kitchen Updates

Keeping your Stuart FL kitchen looking up-to-date doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Contemporary home design in Stuart FL is all about knowing what the latest trends are and which to choose when regular maintenance calls for a change in appliances or décor.

This year, eco-friendly appliances are definitely ‘in’—as are the pops of bright color meant to create a vivid and welcoming kitchen. And as convenience features continue to evolve, those are increasingly prominent factors influencing design choices. Especially if you are planning to sell your Stuart FL home in the near future, there are a few home design directions that are most likely to impress prospective buyers who’ve been exploring the latest kitchen trends:

GoUpdated Stuart Kitchening green is a pronounced trend, not just in home design. Using renewable, Earth-friendly materials can be a way to update a kitchen while minimizing environmental impact. A sample idea would be a sustainable bamboo parquet butcher block to grace the kitchen counter or table. They come in beautiful, rich wood tones, and when large enough to cover a substantial counter area, can warm the feel of the entire room.

Another (almost diametrically opposed) current direction is to deck the kitchen out with a few of the latest high-tech gadgets. Even if you resist an ultra-modern look, a few chic techie touches can add a dash of luxury to your home. One example: Siemens makes a multimedia ventilation hood that has a 17-inch LCD screen with options for listening to music or watching TV. It’s a creative way to make cooking more entertaining—and one that would certainly help make your Stuart FL listing stand out!Updated Stuart Kitchen

Bright colors have not always been popular in kitchens, but lately, appliance manufacturers have been less shy about offering exuberant finishes. You can find dishwashers, blenders, toasters, microwaves and refrigerators in bright blues, pinks, yellows, greens and oranges. It can be an inexpensive way to add a splash of color to your kitchen…although if you are planning on selling soon, in many instances I’d recommend caution: perhaps confining the color pops to bright accent pillows or colorful floral arrangements.

Copper is also an increasingly popular trend in kitchen design this year. Its natural antibacterial properties make it a practical home design element, and that cool, rustic hue looks great in warm, gold-toned kitchens. Copper sinks and faucets are both practical and stylish (although keeping them bright and shiny can be another story!).

If you are thinking of selling soon, consider incorporating one or two current Stuart FL home design ideas if your kitchen could use a decor infusion. Looking for more ideas? Contact me today to discuss what is making today’s homes S-E-L-L!

2015 Stuart FL Home Design Ideas Focus on Kitchen Updates

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

04.14.15 by

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

This north Stuart townhouse in Garden villas, is now back under contract and should close quickly.  Thank you to all the agents that showed it and  for those folks on the Internet that asked about this townhouse.  The last list price was $113,900.

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

Conveniently located in North River Shores area. Beautiful townhouse with stainless steel appliances, tile, large private courtyard for Florida outdoor living, fountain in courtyard, large living room with sliders for bright open airy feeling, skylight in stair area, both bedrooms have a balcony. Unit located in the back with a woodsy view. Large walk-in closet in master bedroom. Accordion storm shutters on all windows. Close to mall, restaurants, entertainment and downtown. Minutes from the beach. Low HOA fee in a pet friendly development. Florida living at its best!

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

Search for all Stuart FL Real Estate

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Stuart Florida real estate from the Gabe Sanders BlueWater Realty Team.  Our specialty is finding fine homes, Townhouses and vacant land for our preferred customers.

Spacious North Stuart Townhouse Under Contract

 

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

04.13.15 by

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

Stuart Real Estate Snapshot for ZIP Code 34996, Condo Sales for March 2015

For March 2015 in the 34996 Zip Code area of Stuart, Florida :

There are currently 110 active condo listings (Down by 12 condos from last month).

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

61 Condo sales are pending and awaiting close or lender approval (Increased by 1 condos from February).

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

36 Condos Sold in March (Increased by 11 condos from February) 

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

The Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market was very strong for March.  This is the height of our condo season for those purchasing second home getaways from the cold and snowy conditions up north as well as those moving here permanently for a more relaxed and convenient Florida lifestyle.  Sales and pending sales both increased and remained strong.  Unfortunately our inventory is down to historically low levels.

The current absorption rate for the Stuart Florida condos in ZIP Code 34996 – decreased to 3.1 months from February’s 4.9 months .  Moving to a pretty extreme sellers’ market for March.  A balanced market is considered to occur when the absorption rate is from 6 to 7 months.

The numbers for March 2013 were: 150 active listings, 55 pending sales and 34 closed sales.  Even with close to 30% less inventory, there was better sales and pending activity for this year as opposed to March 2014.

Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

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Stuart FL 34996 Condo Market Report March 2015

Discounted Stuart Air Show Tickets Available

04.11.15 by

Discounted Stuart Air Show Tickets Available

2015 Stuart Air Show

Discounted Stuart Air Show tickets are now available for $15.00 for the 2015 Stuart Air Show.  Scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Martin County Airport – Witham Field. This year’s show will feature three military acts including the Navy F-18, the US Air Force F-16, and the Army Golden Knights as well as numerous other aerial acts as well as static display aircraft.  Food, fun and games for the entire family.

These early pre-sale tickets are only available online at http://www.stuartairshow.com. Ticket prices at the gate will be $25.