house hunting

Realtor Funnies | What Those Real Estate Descriptions Really Mean

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Realtor Funnies | What Those Real Estate Descriptions Really Mean If you’ve ever been on a house hunt you know that those descriptions that Realtors use say one thing but can mean entirely another. It may not seem funny at the time, but later it can seem rather hilarious. Forewarned is forearmed, so knowing about them can save you time and money.

Here is a fun list!!!

What it says:

What it means:

Lots of potential

This home is a total money pit!

Unique urban home

The building used to be an industrial location

One of a kind

Beyond ugly

Must see to believe

You won’t believe how awful it is

Starter home

Needs a ton of work so bid low

Sprawling ranch

Crazy floorplan that probably isn’t “open”

Spacious

Probably smaller than you would like

Charming

Definitely smaller than you want

Cozy

Have you heard of the tiny house movement?

Walking distance to shopping

No parking available so you have to walk

Natural setting

Deer and rabbits will eat your landscaping

Park like setting

You will have a tree, no matter how small

Secluded setting

Don’t count on your GPS actually finding it

Executive neighborhood

Taxes are through the roof

Upper bracket

If you have to ask you can’t afford it

Bright and sunny

The window coverings are not included

Lots of natural light

Light bulbs count as “natural”

You won’t believe the size of the closets

Because they are the size of a shoe box!

Original hardwood floors

Probably aren’t salvageable shape

Open floorplan

Doors are optional

Great home office space

The nook under the stairs is the office space

Needs some TLC

Run, run far away!

Waterfront location

The birdbath in the front yard has water in

Obviously not all Realtors subscribe to those descriptions, but it happens! Just remember when house hunting to keep your sense of humor and you’ll be fine!

The Three Most Expensive Homes For Sale In Clearwater FL

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

House hunting can be fun. Sometimes looking at homes that you know you could never afford is fun too. Clearwater has a few pricey properties for sale. Here are the top three.

802 Druid Rd S

802 Druid Rd S, Clearwater, Florida 33756 is the most expensive. It has 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It’s listed for $9,999,999.00. Named Century Oaks, it’s located in historic Harbor Oaks. Enter the property though decorative iron entry gates on a red brick drive to a grand porte-cochere. The home has 17,000 square feet of living space on two acres of gorgeous landscaping surrounding this waterfront home. Century Oaks has a stately two-story ballroom, a movie theater with seating for 15, an executive home office and a trophy room. Terraced gardens lead down to a swimming pool, lighted tennis courts covered boathouse and docks, and historic clock tower. This historic property was built in 1915 and is worth every penny.

906 Druid Rd S

906 Druid Rd S, Clearwater, Florida 33756 is the next most expensive. Listed at $5,900,000.00, the 7 bedroom, 6 bath, 10,177 square foot home is also found in the gated Harbor Oaks community. The home has a dock with boat lift, Pebble Tec pool and spa, gazebo, playhouse and lushly landscaped grounds. The home has high end touches like a two story living room with two way fireplace, a library with custom built in bookcases, a formal dining room, chef’s kitchen and spacious game room with bar and safe room, exercise room and 4 car garage.

844 Eldorado Avenue – SOLD

The third most expensive home is 844 Eldorado Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33767 is listed at $4,700,000.00 has 4 bedrooms, 5 baths and 4,921 square feet of living space. The views this property affords are well worth the price tag. Once you walk in the foyer you’ll be tantalized with a view of the beach and Gulf. Each bedroom has its own full bath and walk in closet and balcony. Then take the elevator downstairs to the living space which includes a formal dining room, formal living room, chef’s kitchen that opens to the family room with a fireplace. All this luxury is protected with an AMX Smart House control and security system.

So dream big and maybe one day…

What Are Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, or CC&Rs

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you have been house hunting you probably have looked at a home with a Homeowner’s Association. That means that the home is subject to a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions better known as a CC&R. Don’t take this lightly.

A CC&R is part of the deed to the property and is enforced by the Homeowner’s Association

They are initially set up to protect property values and in practice many do. However, many
become dictatorships that decide everything from your house color, to how many cars you can have parked there, to whether you can have pets and how big they can be to even whether you can decorate your home for holidays. Unreasonable or not, take them seriously. People have lost their homes because of HOA’s and the CC&R’s in their deed.

The CC&Rs that are part of the deed are easily skimmed over at settlement

You are signing so many things so paying attention to them can be a pain. Your Realtor should tell you ahead of time that you’re buying a property subject to them so ask to see them ahead of time. Read them very carefully or have your attorney review them. They will state explicitly what, as a homeowner, you will and will not be allowed to do.

Don’t be caught short

The rules enumerated in the CC&R are enforceable by the HOA Board, but they can’t stop the behavior. For instance, if your neighbor gets a great dane puppy and the CC&R limits the size of dogs to under 60lbs, they can’t make the neighbor get rid of the dog or move. What the can do is assess fines against that homeowner. If they remain unpaid the HOA can then get a lien against the home. A lien can be enforceable in court all the way to foreclosure. You may not think it will happen, after all you have a mortgage that will take priority to any lien. Think again. As long as the HOA pays the mortgage off from the proceeds of the sale of the foreclosed property, they can do it.

Before you buy

Before you buy, or even make an offer, review the CC&R. If the terms are acceptable, great! If not, look elsewhere. The rules aren’t going away and you will be subject to them if you buy the property.

Survival Tips For House Hunting With Kids | Buying A House

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

House hunting is exciting, exhausting and stressful… and that’s only for the adults. Throw in a few small children and it can be almost too much. So how do you manage to hunt for your next home with the kids? Here are some survival tips for all the parents out there.

Use a sitter or Grandma

Survival Tips For House Hunting With Kids First, if you can leave the kids at home with a sitter or drop them at grandma’s house, do it. Think about it, your six year old heads in one direction, the four year old in the other, all while the two year old goes directly for the most dangerous thing in each room.

And you’re going to be able to concentrate on the home you are touring? Hardly! So if you can, leave them home. If you want them to see where they might be living, then do a second look through of your narrowed down choices.

If you have to bring the kids, be prepared!

Pack snacks, drinks and their favorite toy. If you have an iPad or tablet with some games, bring that. Then keep the house hunting moving. If you walk into a home that just doesn’t appeal to you from the git-go, tell the Realtor immediately so you can move on.

The other consideration is safety. You never know what may be behind a door, handrail-less stairs or sunken tubs or rooms that kids could hurt themselves with or in. Set basic rules with the kids that they keep their hands to themselves, don’t open doors, hold parental hands and that misbehavior will NOT be tolerated should be reviewed before each house showing.

Also, follow in your own car so you don’t have to move car seats or worry about kids spilling the aforesaid drinks or snacks in the Realtor’s vehicle. The upside? You can discuss the properties without the listening ear of the Realtor!

Older kids can also be helpful in the house hunting

Have them do some of the footwork about the area on the internet, and when at homes have them take pictures or keep a checklist. Younger kids can feel included if you let them have input about what they want in their new house. Their own bedroom? A playroom? Big backyard? BUT, don’t let them think they have the last word. As parents and the people paying for the home, you are in charge. They may want that huge house you saw with the inground pool, but you know it’s out of your budget. Be the parent!

House Hunting In Ireland- The Irish Realtor

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Have you ever watched the show “House Hunters International” on HGTV and thought about what it would be like to buy a house someplace overseas? The world is a huge place and why not? What fun would it be to call a realtor and say I want to look at homes in Ireland, and go find your own little piece of the Emerald Isle? You wouldn’t be alone! The Irish Realtor, Deb Ward could give you some great insights.

Please note…Deb is a Realtor in Florida USA! She specializes in working with house hunters coming across the pond to check out Florida Property for sale!

The real estate market in Ireland took a hit in the worldwide recession that we all seem to be arduously climbing out of. Prices there have dropped 60% from their 2006 peak, a painful price correction that a lot of the world felt as well. While some places really don’t have a lot of inventory available, the market is starting to pick up. Why? In part because of foreign buyers and Irish expatriates returning home.

Homes in County Cork that used to go for over 5 million euros (approximately $6,651,500 USD). Now they’re worth about 1.5 to 2.5 million (approximately $3,325,750 to $1,995,450 USD). Nothing to sneeze at, but a rather large price drop for those who can afford it.

So who is it that can buy in Ireland? According to real estate agents in Ireland, about 25% of their buyers are from somewhere outside of Ireland, often the US and Britain, as well as Russia. Many are Irish expatriates who left when the economy made it impossible for them to afford to live there. Now, they can come home. So why is this percentage of overseas buyers so high? There are a few reasons. One is the tax incentives that the Irish government put in place to encourage home ownership. That, along with the huge drop in prices, is encouraging buyers to buy again.

So, let’s say you have the money to do it, what would stop you from buying in Ireland? Not much. There are some immigration laws that restrict the amount of time you could spend in Ireland, and it would be worth looking into how to become a permanent resident. Some Americans of Irish descent are finding that they can qualify for Irish citizenship. So why not make a dream come true and live in the land of faeries and Celts, timeless beauty and wild Irish seas. For more information check out House Hunting in Ireland by the New York Times!