Deborah Ward – Page 28

3 Things To Watch For When You Are Shopping For A Golf Course Home

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Want a golf course home? They’re a symbol of your success and the views are great. There are a few things to watch for when shopping for a golf course home. Here are a few.

Noise and hazards

A few obvious items are golf course noise and hazards. Tour the home on a weekend afternoon when golfers are out and about. If your home is close to a tee box or tee off area people tend to chat a lot and it can be noisy.

Look for signs of whether the house or the yard is getting hit by golf balls. In Florida many golf course homes are made from stucco which are particularly susceptible to damage from golf balls.

Also look to see how private your yard and home really are. Remember that if you can see the fairway, they can probably see you.

Golf carts

Golf carts can be a nuisance too. Even though electric powered golf carts are quiet, if the course has a cart path rule (meaning that golfers have to use cart paths which are closer to the edge of the course) are by proximity also closer to you home and gas powered ones are noisy.

Homeowner’s association rules

Don’t think for a minute that your homeowner’s association will let you do whatever you want or need to do to ensure your privacy or lack of damage. Try asking them to allow you to put up a fence or a net to keep balls off your home or land and watch how fast they tell you no. Something to keep in mind as you shop.

Think that golf course is an extension of your backyard? Think again. Your yard is your yard and you will need to keep to it. The course isn’t a run for your pets or kids. So ask the size and line where your yard stops and the course starts.

When Selling Your Clearwater Home Don’t Make These Screwups!

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You’ve decided on selling your Clearwater home and the process can be overwhelming. Not to mention that everyone you know has all kinds of advice for you about what to do or not do. The problem may be that their “advice” isn’t very good! So don’t make these five big screw ups when selling your Clearwater home.

Screw up #1: price your home wrong. This can be so difficult. You live in your home and probably think you know what it’s worth. You’re probably wrong. Overvaluing or undervaluing, not pricing your home correctly can cost you thousands of dollars. That house up the street just sold for $X so why shouldn’t yours? Well, that house up the street has a completely updated kitchen, bath and extra bedroom. That’s why! But undervaluing is almost as big a problem. Many markets have been so depressed for so long that now that they are finally rebounding, many homeowners don’t realize their homes are worth more than they thought.

Screw up #2: having unrealistic expectations about the current real estate market. Yes, markets are picking up, but that doesn’t mean that there will be a huge bidding war for your home. So not entertaining an offer because “something better will come along” if the offer is fair is, well, kind of dumb.

Screw up #3: hiring a the wrong Realtor. Don’t hire your cousin, best friend or sister-in-law only because they are your cousin, best friend or sister-in-law. You need to hire a Realtor who shares your vision, and understands your needs. Gimmicky Realtors, questionable sales tactics and the lowest commission may mean you get sub-par representation in your home sale.

Screw up #4: not hiring a Realtor and selling by yourself. Did you know that selling your home yourself will cost you at least $40,000? Or that it will mean the home sits for at least a few months before you sell? Enough said.

Screw up #5: not disclosing home defects. Guess what? A home inspector is going to find that foundation issue or leaky pipe. You can’t hide them and it’s actually illegal to refuse to answer questions about it or lie to prospective buyers about defects if they ask.

Answer to all of the above? Hire a professional. If you are looking for a great Clearwater Realtor, give us a call today! 727-410-0336

The Best Clearwater Florida Realtor – Hands Down!

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Buy or sell, a person needing help with Clearwater real estate should find the best Florida Realtor. So who is that? Well that agent is Deb Ward, the Irish Realtor!

Smart buyers and sellers use a Realtor

Regardless of whether you are buying or selling property, smart buyers and sellers use a Realtor to help them navigate the process. A Realtor is trained and educated to know exactly how to get through the complicated world of buying and selling real estate. Not only that, but they are experts in the locality. In the Clearwater, Florida area, there is a plethora of waterfront or waterview properties that take a special knowledge to buy and sell. So who is the best Florida Realtor? Deb-the Irish Realtor!

Deb is the lead listing Realtor

Deb is the lead listing Realtor at The Deb Ward Team, which is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty a nationally recognized firm. Branding is important and Keller Williams has the name recognition and resources smart buyers look for. Deb is a great choice because she specializes in the great water front homes and communities in the area. She has 21+ years of experience helping people to buy and sell, get their dream waterfront home or sell it to move up or on. No matter what type of property you have or need, single family home or condo, or any in between, Deb is an expert who can help you. She’s also an expert in helping people from out of the area buy or sell from a distance.

Buying and selling real estate takes know how and experience

It also takes a little bit of luck as well. Knowing you have hired the one person who has all three should mean you’ll be selling your home and moving into your dream home in no time!

To see best Florida Realtor’s tips, tours and properties, visit Deb’s youtube channel: youtube.com/crazyirishrealtor

Why Choose Keller Williams Realty In Clearwater Florida

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Looking to relocate in Clearwater, Florida? Choosing the right Realtor, one like Deborah Ward of Keller Williams Realty, is important. You’ll need one that can help you find the right fit for you.

Do you know what kind of home you want?

Finding a Realtor that can help you figure it out is important, one who listens to your wants and needs and can get you what fits best. Even if you know, wouldn’t hiring a professional who specializes in what you want be even more important?

Deborah Ward & Associates

In Clearwater, The Deb Ward Team, who are affiliated with Keller Williams Realty is just that professional team! Deb, the Irish Realtor, and her team specialize in several types of real estate: waterfront, condo living and some multi-family homes. They are also relocation specialists. That’s important if you are relocating from another area. They know what to do to help you find a home, arrange for all the inspections, get the home to settlement and get you moved in.

Do you have a home to sell?

Picking a Realtor who specializes in selling the home you have is really important. Knowing how to price it, how to stage it and how to find the perfect buyer for it means you sell for the money you should and move to the next phase of your life.

So how do you get in touch with these great specialists?

Well, you can visit Deb and team online at http://cometoclearwater.com, call them at 727-410-0336 or email info@DeborahWard.com.

You can get to know them on YouTube as well:

Financial Considerations For Move Up Home Buyers

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

It feels like your home is bursting at the seams and figure it’s time to move up. Here are some tips to help make the move up easier.

The biggest thing that should be considered when you decide it’s time to move up is can you afford it. Needing space and being able to afford it are two completely different things. To get to a decision on affordability you need to do a few things.

First, find out what they payoff is on your current mortgage. Not the balance, the payoff figure.

Now you need to talk to a Realtor about what your home is actually worth. Obviously, if you’re upside down on your mortgage, meaning the mortgage payoff is more than the value of the home, moving up shouldn’t be on your list of things to do. If it is worth more than the payoff figure, your Realtor will help you determine by how much.

That should be your next determining factor. Are the net proceeds
enough to be a decent down payment on your next home?

So let’s say that your home will sell and give you a good down payment and all your closing costs for both the sale and purchase. Next you need to contact your lender, or a new one, and get yourself qualified for a new mortgage. To do that you’ll need to know what your price range for the new home should be. You can determine it the same way you did when you purchased your last home. You need to keep in mind that a bigger house will mean bigger bills.

Your mortgage, homeowner’s insurance, real estate taxes, heating and cooling costs and other bills will cost you more. You need to realistically sit and set up a budget.

Don’t move up if it means that you will be house poor. Be smart. Move up when you can afford it, and if that’s now, get moving!

If you are in the Tampa Bay area, now may be a time to move up. Home prices have risen and may have created equity in your home that can cover the cost of moving up. Give us a call today to find out if moving up makes sense for you!

727-410-0336

Understanding Your Home’s Real Value When Selling Your Home

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

It is important when selling your home to understand it’s real value. A home that you have lived in, created memories in, and added your personal touches to, may hold more value to you emotionally than a buyer would be willing to pay.

By the same token, a home that you have outgrown and feel frustrated with, may seem less valuable to you than the buyer who sees it’s potential and may be willing to make an investment in, for the opportunity to “make it their own.”

Selling price

If the selling price of your home is too low, you could potentially miss out on some good money. If the selling price of your home is too high, potential buyers will look over it in favor of something more affordably priced.

A home that sits on the market for too long not only keeps dollars out of your pocket, but could also earn an unfavorable reputation making it harder to sell. The goal is to set a price that is fair and accurate for market value, without being too high or too low.

Market value

Market Value is the price at which a house in its current condition should sell for within 30 to 90 days given the current economy. A home’s fair market value is determined by a variety of factors including the quality of the build, the condition it is currently in, the size of the house, the size of the property on which it sits, the location of the home, and the price that other similar homes in the neighborhood have recently sold for. It truly takes a trained professional to understand all of these nuances and help determine a fair asking price for a home.

An accurate market value can help your home sell faster making the overall home selling process much smoother and more pleasant. So take the emotion out of pricing your home and let a professional such as Deb Ward help you figure it out. She can make selling your home a positive experience.

Give the Deborah Ward & Associates Team a call today to find out more about listing your Tampa Bay home for sale! 727-410-0336