Often you can find some amazing bargains in Florida real estate – if you know where to look. Here are hundreds of what might be the best real estate buys in Florida today. Since so many non-residents own property in Florida, it is not unusual to discover that some of these out of state owners [...]

According to a recently released survey by the National Association of Realtors, baby boomers are driving the vacation home market. Here are a few hightlights of the study: The typical buyer is 55 years old, with a household income of $77,000   71% have no children under 18 living at home   86% do not [...]

Before you buy an older home near the beach in Florida, be aware of FEMA’s 50% rule. This rule restricts remodeling a home in the flood plane to 50% of its current value (that’s the value of the house, exclusive of land). If a home is worth $200,000 then up to $100,000 worth of work [...]

Unless you already have a relationship with a mortgage lender doing business in Florida, the best way to find a lender is to simply ask your real estate agent. A good agent will provide you a short list of local contacts, while not officially endorsing any particular one. Whether financing or refinancing, a good relationship [...]

“Waterfront” is a magic word in Florida, and property on the water is automatically worth more. Here’s an example. If a home costs $150,000 to build, the lot it is built on might cost an additional: $50,000 if landlocked in a subdivision $75,000 if waterfront on a subdivision lake $90,000 – $150,000 on a freshwater [...]

Florida is a unique environment in the US. Over the years, home builders, insurance companies, and mortgage lenders have become very conscious of what works and what doesn’t in the state. Here are some items to pay particular attention to when you’re shopping for a home in Florida. Method of construction Concrete block is the [...]