Blog – Page 22

What Are Sinkholes And How Do They Affect Property Values?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Sinkholes can be a scary thing. They happen in areas where the rock below the surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by the groundwater circulating around and through them. They can occur slowly or seemingly overnight, but having a home in an area where they are common can be nerve wracking.

Dissolving rock

So what happens with the dissolving rock is that spaces open up where rock used to be. Typically those spaces fill with water which helps hold up the land above them.

However, if that water is removed, like when a well is drilled and the water used, there isn’t anything holding up the land. Then it collapses and forms a sinkhole.

Sinkholes can be fixed

Sinkholes can be fixed, and there is nothing wrong with buying a home that has been affected. As a buyer you should just ask to see the documentation of the repair.

However, having had a sinkhole will affect your property value if you are a homeowner.

Generally, a repaired sinkhole property vs. a property that has never had a sinkhole will have about a 7%-10% difference in market value. Your best bet is to have your Realtor do research on other homes in the area comparable to yours and see how sinkhole remediation affected their value.

Is the property insurable?

The other thing to think about is whether your home, or the home you are looking to buy is insurable. You need to be able to get homeowners insurance in order to get a mortgage.

In Florida the biggest insurer for homes affected by sinkholes is Citizens, and their requirements to insure a property have conditions attached. They, and probably most other insurers will need to know if the sinkhole claim was paid below, at or above policy limits; the original Engineering Findings Report; and the original Engineering Completion Report which will document the repairs and that they were done to the Findings Report; and documentation of the cosmetic repairs.

All of this will affect your homes value and probably not for the better.

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.

Top Ways To Reduce Your Homeowners Insurance Cost

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Homeowners insurance isn’t an option. If you have a mortgage, you are required to have homeowners insurance. If you own your home outright, having homeowners insurance isn’t required, but it is smart. It protects you from all the things that could financially harm you if your home and its contents are damaged or destroyed by things like fire, hurricanes, wind, falling trees and break ins.

It also protects you from someone who gets hurt on your property and could possibly sue you. But your insurance costs don’t have to be high to give you good coverage.

Here is where and how you can save.

First, guard your credit.

Insurers give better rates to people who pay their bills on time. Regularly check your credit reports and fix any errors. By the same token insurers also check your claims history. If you’ve had a lot of claims in the past, you are a bigger risk. So before you file a claim for something minor, think. If you can afford to take care of a minor claim yourself, do it.

Be a smart shopper

Compare not only prices, but coverages. Not all policies are the same. Get quotes from more than one company and agent. Also be aware that not all companies and agents operate the same way. Different types of companies and agents pay more for commissions. Be aware of it and find the best policy with a strong company. Be sure to check companies with Moody’s and AM Best.

Be willing to go for a higher deductible

If your bank account can take a $500 or $1,000 hit, think about taking that higher deductible than paying more for lower or no deductible. Do other smart things like having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home. Most insurers give discounts for this safety measure. Same with fire extinguishers, deadbolts on doors and other safety measures. Look at multi-policy discounts. That is when you insure your home, auto and other policies with the same company. Most companies give a discount of 10% to 20% for this move. They reward loyalty too. Finding a company you can stick with can mean loyalty discounts or discounts for being claim free for longer periods of time.

Don’t be afraid to ask about discounts and the ins and outs of your policy. No need to overpay for great coverage.

3 Home Selling Problems… Kids, Pets and Dirt

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you asked your Realtor what the three biggest home selling problems are, they would probably answer “kids, pets and dirt.” Unfortunately, if you have the first and/or the second, you definitely have an ongoing problem with the third! It can make life crazy for the time span your home is listed for sale. Here are some tips to keep your home show ready and your sanity intact, when selling with kids and pets.

Let’s look at pets first.

You have to keep in mind that while your dogs may be treasured members of the family, and Fluffy the cat is just the sweetest thing on 4 feet, not everyone likes pets. Some people are afraid of, allergic to or nervous around pets. Your pets are stressed because strangers keep coming into their territory and might just be a bit unpredictable. The best solution is to find somewhere your pets can stay while you are selling. It may not be the best thing for your emotional needs, but it is the optimal solution for selling. It means you can removed everything pet related out of the house.

If that isn’t possible, make sure that you do the following: fix all pet damage to the home. Clean or replace stained carpets, fix hardwood floor scratches or stains and fill in any holes your pups may have dug in the back yard. Also be sure to completely eliminate any pet odors. When you do your deep clean prior to listing, use an enzyme based cleaning product to remove odors. Keep new odors out by being absolutely scrupulous about cat little boxes being cleaned, carpets and furniture being vacuumed and use natural ways to scent your home, such as essential oil diffusers.

Along with that pack up all the pet accoutrement like toys and beds. Before a showing, scoop them all up, including food dishes, and hide them away in an out of the way area – NOT a closet, people look in those!

It’s much the same with kids.

Pack up all but a few toys, clean out and declutter their bedrooms, and enlist their help to keep the place in show ready condition. Request that your Realtor give you enough warning that you can vacuum through, pick up any toys, baby gear, pet stuff, grab kids and Fido and head out the door. If that’s one hour or three, make sure you have time to spare.

Hang in there and remember, you’ve got this!

5 Tips For Finding The Perfect Clearwater Waterfront Home

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You’ve decided to buy a home in Clearwater and think that a waterfront home might just be the kind of home for you. There are a lot of things to consider when looking at waterfront properties before deciding on buying. Here are some things you should think about.

Waterfront properties are more expensive

First things first, can you afford waterfront? Waterfront properties are definitely more expensive and have other expenses that you might not consider at first. Waterfront living is well worth the expense involved.

Insurance

One of them is insurance. Not only will you need to buy homeowners insurance, but also flood insurance. Homeowner’s and flood insurance in Florida are both expensive and will make the monthly cost of waterfront properties considerably higher.

Consider where to look

Do you want to buy in a neighborhood that overlooks the Intercoastal waterways? Maybe a condo overlooking the beaches in Clearwater? A single family home on one of the “fingers”? A home with deep water access? Does waterfront living for you include having a dock? Upkeep will cost you, but will save you from paying fees to a marina. It’s a trade off. So many options! All of these will give you different options, prices and expenses.

Talk to a Realtor

Your best bet is to talk to a Realtor about what you want and what your entire budget is. Find out before looking what things like insurance and upkeep will cost you. Be sure to factor it into your decisions. Waterfront living is fantastic and can be affordable, just be smart and informed about it before jumping in!

If you would like to work with a Clearwater Waterfront Realtor who loves help people find their perfect home, give Deb Ward a call today! 727-410-0336

Waterfront Real Estate – What to Watch for in Florida Real Estate

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Waterfront real estate and Florida real estate. The thought of owning a piece of land right on the beach, bay or gulf sounds heavenly. It can be, but you need to go into ownership of Florida waterfront real estate with your eyes open. While looking through listings, there are a few things you should look for.

First, never buy waterfront real estate sight unseen, or rely on internet pictures. Even what some would consider a “waterfront palace” may mean it’s a huge house on a postage stamp sized lot. Or you could end up with an old wooden house full of rot or termites. Sounds common sense, but it bears repeating.

Next, look at what the listing actually says, waterfront or water view? Yes, there is a difference. Waterfront means that the condo complex is on the water and you can’t see the water from your unit, Water view means you can actually see the water from your unit. An important distinction.

As you walk through a Florida real estate property look hard at what you see. Look for holes. Look for rot. Look for places that termites could find a way into the home. It doesn’t take much for them to get in and cause thousands of dollars in damage. Look for white build up on metal. That means salt has damaged it. Look for the same thing on outside electrical cords, outlets and meters. Salt is highly corrosive. Look for water stains inside in the ceiling. They are rather hard to paint over and can mean that the roof leaks or has had water intrusion during a storm or hurricane.

Another thing to do is ask neighbors about where the beach or water line is and has been. Beach erosion is a serious problem, and can mean that you lose inches or even feet of your property over time. Speaking of erosion and hurricanes, Tampa has been hit by hurricanes, but the Gulf coast usually is missed by the bulk of hurricanes. That said, they are highly damaging, and even if they miss, the high amounts of rainfall they bring can cause flooding, erosion and damage to the property and home.

Waterfront real estate is still a great dream, just go into it wide awake! Looking for your dream Florida waterfront real estate? Give Deb a call today! 727-410-0336