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        <title>Destin &amp; South Walton Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.destinrealestatesales.com/blog/tags/destin-real-estate-agents/</link>
        <description>Get current trends, statistics, and learn more about real estate opportunities in Destin and South Walton, Florida.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.destinrealestatesales.com/blog/5-vacation-home-buying-tips.html</guid>
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        <author>rolivarez@oceanreefresorts.com (Destin Real Estate Sales)</author>
        <title>5 Vacation Home Buying Tips</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
For over 33 years Ocean Reef has represented private vacation rental properties including beachfront mansions, cozy cottages and luxury gulf front condominiums along the Emerald Coast. Many Ocean Reef guests fall in love with our special piece of paradise and often decide to purchase real estate here in this part of Northwest Florida. Considering buying property?  Here are 5 Vacation Home Buying Tips that will help you when you decide to “take the plunge”






Tip 1. Location, Location, Location


You’ve heard this before since it always applies to the purchase of a primary residence- but did you know it also applies to vacation homes? A majority of those who purchase a vacation home plan to utilize it primarily for their own personal use. The first consideration is how far it is away from your main residence. After all, driving to your vacation home is a lot less costly and sometimes much easier than having to fly. For faraway visitors, the Emerald Coast is conveniently served by two great airports nearby. The Northwest Florida Regional in Fort Walton/Valparaiso and Northwest Florida Beaches International in Panama City Beach are each less than an hour away by car. Destin itself also has a private airport. Fortunately most major metropolitan areas in the Southeast are less than a six hour drive away and include Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. This makes the Emerald Coast a prime “drive to” destination for vacation or second home ownership. You save a lot of money this way by easily packing up the car with everyone along with your luggage.


Tip 2. Try Before you Buy


It is important to really know the area well before you make a commitment to buy real estate. Ocean Reef Resorts represents hundreds of vacation rental properties from Destin to Miramar Beach and along South Walton’s Scenic 30A all the way to Panama City Beach. These properties include beautiful beach homes and luxurious condominiums. Each residential type, size and location is represented so that you may sample which kind of property best suits your needs. In our area there are also distinct differences related to the geographic locale. Destin tends to be a bustling casual but urbane setting with lots of choices for activity. Panama City Beach is very similar as well. The picture perfect communities along the coast on Scenic 30A in South Walton offer a more laid back beautifully pastoral kind of feel. Miramar Beach which is equidistant from both Destin and Scenic 30A has a marvelous mix of both worlds. Proximity of shopping venues such as grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals is also particularly important since about of a third of vacation home buyers eventually end up using their property as a primary residence upon retiring.


Tip 3. Keep within Your Budget


Although many vacation home buyers may successfully use their place as a rental investment property this amount of income should not be viewed as a definite guarantee to secure your budget. You should view this purchase based upon your ability to pay for it. Potential income should be viewed as the icing on the cake but not the cake itself. There are other considerations to view as well. First of all you need to know how often your family or friends are going to have it for personal use. The prime “season” for Destin &amp; South Walton rentals is during the summer months from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. This is when the demand and rents are at their peak. There is also a peak time in early March up until Easter. Winter demand from December thru February is softer. Other times during the fall and spring the weather is usually picture perfect but the demand and rentals are not as high as peak times. Many owners will rent their properties out during the months of high demand and come down themselves during other times of the year. If you are not planning to rent it out then you must still determine how often you will use it compared to other travel options or activities throughout the year in order for it to be cost effective.


Tip 4. Research Owning versus Renting.


Besides whatever your mortgage payments might be, don’t forget about other costs that you are responsible for paying as an owner. Primarily these include property taxes, insurance and maintenance. Many may also include monthly association dues. Property taxes on second homes in Florida are higher than they are for a primary residence. Primary residency offers exemptions for home ownership and there is no state income tax in Florida if you reside here the majority of your time during the year. Presume an average of about 1.5 in annual costs for maintenance. That would come to $1,500 per $100,000 of property value each year and is an average since it can include some costly items over time that may have to be completed. Obviously the better the condition of the property before purchase, the less the immediate future cost for you. The most costly of these long term items includes roofing, new HVAC units, plumbing, and flooring. Many properties here are sold furnished so the condition of existing furniture should also be taken into consideration. Property insurance can vary greatly especially with regards to Flood Insurance. If you are in a regular property zone the flood coverage portion of your policy should run only a few hundred dollars a year. It can be in the many thousands of dollars per year if it is in a flood zone or special coastal barrier area. Many properties here in Northwest Florida are in resorts or special communities that have monthly association dues. The good news is that such association dues often cover insurance and maintenance cost of the exteriors of buildings, but note that they do not cover interiors. They also can cover costs of landscape maintenance, irrigation, security and other services like basic cable TV or use of community pools. You should know the cost of monthly association dues and what is covered by them since each one varies.


Tip 5. Use Professional Services


You should be realistic and objective when you consider making a purchase and avoid being emotional about your decision. Although emotions certainly are a big part of any property purchase, especially if it is your vacation dream home, do not allow this to cloud your judgment. The romance of obtaining your dream can become nightmare if your budget does not work. Your accountant and bank will help you determine what realistically works best for you. Our professional Ocean Reef Realtors provide consulting services that will help you research your individual property needs. This also dove tails nicely with the rental operations side of our business since we have a few decades of highly reputable rental investment property management experience. This expertise about residential properties includes current pricing, statistical analysis, cost of operations, association dues, property disclosures, insurance costs, property tax information as well as anticipated gross and net income potential for rentals.


Ocean Reef is here to help and we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you make the right choice. It is our pleasure to do so. Call 877.392.6085 to learn more or start your real estate search now here on our website.

 
 
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    <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:34:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.destinrealestatesales.com/blog/destin-real-estate-experience-why-it-matters.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.destinrealestatesales.com/blog/destin-real-estate-experience-why-it-matters.html</link>
        <author>rolivarez@oceanreefresorts.com (Destin Real Estate Sales)</author>
        <title>Destin Real Estate Experience &amp; Why It Matters </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
According to the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors there are more than 2,400 real estate agents in Okaloosa and Walton County.  These qualified individuals are eager to serve both buyers and sellers.  After spending just a few minutes searching online for a skilled sales agent in Destin, it’s clear to see the choices for representation are nearly endless.  Add in the selection of nationally operated listing websites and the task of finding the ideal Destin real estate agent can become a daunting chore.



 Everyone knows why you need a real estate agent in Destin (and elsewhere).  Buying and selling a home is a massive deal that’s loaded with serious emotional and financial ramifications. A real estate agent helps you understand the changing regulations, locate the right home, acts on your behalf to determine or negotiate the correct price, follows a strict code of ethics, and guides you through the piles of paperwork.   


So how do you determine who will be navigating YOU through this critical financial decision?


Of course there are licensing, regulations, continuing education, and several other failsafe’s that prevent just anyone from becoming a real estate agent. But is that enough? No, it’s absolutely not   The most valuable attribute a Destin real estate agent can possess is experience.  Dealing in real estate in one of the top beach destinations in the country is complex to say the least.  An experienced real estate agent generally works for the same percentages of entry level sales professionals, and neither takes any money from the buyer.  With pricing a non-factor, working with an experienced Destin real estate agent is an absolute necessity.  A real estate agent with experience has first-hand exposure to the fluctuations of the market and has most likely mastered the artful skill of negotiations. In addition, an experienced sales agent has earned an honest reputation and is networked in with other agents and brokers.  This translates to knowledge that may be vital in enhancing the sale of your home or your search for a new property.  


How do YOU find an experienced real estate agent in Destin?


If you are reading this article then your search is over  Ocean Reef Real Estate was established in 1982, which translates to 33 years of experience in the Destin Real Estate market.  In addition to the longevity of our company, our individual Destin Real Estate agents all have at least 5 years’ experience with the average agent having over 10 years’ experience.  Ocean Reef has carefully crafted a sales team that is extremely experienced and can be your most valuable asset when dealing in Destin real estate.  We’d love an opportunity to assist you with your next transaction.  Give us a call now at 877.392.6085 to get started

 
 
 
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    <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:34:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.destinrealestatesales.com/blog/5-tips-to-sell-your-home-faster.html</guid>
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        <author>rolivarez@oceanreefresorts.com (Destin Real Estate Sales)</author>
        <title>  5 Tips to Sell Your Home Faster</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The beautiful beaches of dazzling Destin, magnificent Miramar Beach and sensational South Walton are known not only for the luminescent emerald hued gulf waters but also for having a wide variety of gorgeous homes and luxurious condominiums. If you are planning on selling your residence the competition can be formidable. Here at our Ocean Reef Real Estate we know that use of a professional realtor is essential for helping complete the myriad of tasks, paperwork, legal requirements, contract negotiations and essential deadlines. In addition it is vitally important to market your home in a way that will appeal to the most potential buyers. Here are 5 tips that will give you a sales advantage compared to the competing properties in your market and enable you to sell your home faster. 



 1. ELIMINATE CLUTTER.  If you have moved before, you know how much “clutter” can be collected over the years. This include broken items waiting to be fixed, numerous decorative gifts or kitchen appliances that are no longer wanted as well as just “extra” stuff. Potential buyers need to envision themselves in what could become their new residence and love the feel of a spacious home so personal family portraits or décor should be stored away for future use. A good Rule of Thumb is that if you have not appreciated or required use of a possession for more than two years, you probably never will. It is just taking up space and turns into unwanted clutter. Now is a good time to eliminate unneeded items by holding a few garage sales, donating them to a charitable organizations or giving them away to family members who may need them. Try to refrain from piling everything left into closets as it will give buyers the impression that storage is limited.



 2. CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. Besides the elimination of clutter, your home must be immaculately clean. Nothing is more of a turn off to potential buyers than a house that is not clean or has a bad odor. This means that rugs should be professionally cleaned, floors mopped, windows washed, furniture dusted, bathrooms hygienic, beds made and dishes put away. You may want to do a few touch ups with paint and visual impairments should be resolved.


3. MAKE REPAIRS OR LOWER YOUR PRICE. Wherever possible make sure that needed repairs such as leaky roofs or faucets, faulty electrical systems, damaged structural components and other essential items are taken care of. They will lower the value of your property compared to other homes that do not need such repairs.  If these repairs are not completed and you are aware of them they must be reported on a completed “Seller's Property Disclosure”. This should be presented to a buyer preferably before a contract is drawn up along with a competitive price that takes these future required repair costs into consideration. If such repairs are not disclosed or known, they will most likely appear in a Building Inspection Report contingency in the contract for the potential buyer. If previously unknown repairs are discovered before a specific deadline in the contract, the buyers can renegotiate the price for said repairs in a credit, have the seller complete repairs in a satisfactory manner or terminate the entire contract.



 4. CURB APPEAL IS IMPORTANT “PACKAGING”. Curb appeal is the first impression of your property which is usually seen “from the curb” when a potential buyer arrives to view your home for the first time. It is the dressing or “packaging” so to speak and is very important. Many will not even want to venture into your home if this presentation is unappealing. A yard must be well-kept or professionally maintained in an attractive manner. Patios, porches and sundecks should be clean, beds weeded, bushes or trees pruned and grass green. Flowers and beautiful landscaping are a big plus for most buyers and they may “fall in love” at first sight before even venturing indoors.



5. YOU ARE SELLING A PROPERTY NOT YOUR HOME. This one is a hard one for most sellers because for many they are leaving their home and of course emotions and memories are involved. You have to realize that it will no longer be your home and you must view it as a residence or product that is for sale. Again, personal items, family photos and decorative things that do not have mass appeal should be removed. The more neutral, fashionable and upscale that a place looks, the more appeal it will have to buyers. You cannot expect them to like some of the same things that you do, especially if your tastes are unique. You must be objective about this because you want to create “mass appeal” not just what personally appeals to you. Potential buyers need time to envision themselves in your home before they will write up a contract. For this reason you should try not to be home for any showing or Open House. Let them have some time on their own with their realtor to feel free to look around and discuss their own ideas and visions. This will also eliminate possible hurt feelings if their own visions are different from your own.


Our professional real estate team at Ocean Reef can help you with any of these selling tips and advise you on these and other marketing ideas that may be unique to your particular property. We look forward to hearing from you soon for a full complimentary real estate consultation.

 
 
 
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    <pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:24:00 -0500</pubDate>
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