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