Florida Treasure Coast Real Estate Resource

Buying Your Stuart, Florida Home Long Distance

Trying to buy a home in Stuart, Florida from another city is a challenging task, but thanks to today's technology, it's never been easier to buy a home from a distant locale. Some out of town buyers may already be familiar with Stuart, Florida real estate, but even if you don't know our area, the Internet is a powerful tool when it comes to long-distance buying.

Plan, Research, Investigate

The first thing you need to do is to plan, research, and investigate. Using the Internet, you can visit our local chambers of commerce, research property values and demographics, read online newspapers (The Stuart News and Palm Beach Post), check out Martin County schools and view detailed maps. These sites will also help you identify oppotunities for nightlife, concerts, theater, athletic activities or anything else you may desire in our community and the surrounding area.

Searching For Homes Online

As an out of town buyer, the real estate Web enables you to research properties much the same way a REALTOR® does. Start your home search by choosing a popular online search engine such as Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, The Home Buyers Scouting Report or our own Martin County MLS. Many buyers work with several search engines to "triangulate" on an area. As you discover homes of interest, a local agent can provide additional information, preview the properties and even take additional photos to help narrow down your selection. Be sure to select a REALTOR® who will help with your online search and be your eyes on the ground.

Finding a REALTOR®

You may want to ask your own REALTOR® for a recommendation or have him or her research agents in an affiliated office here in the Stuart area. You can also perform a Google search of Stuart Realtors. In any case, you will want to work with a Web savvy REALTOR® who will compliment your own search efforts and is capable of handling online transactions (since you are a long distance away, communication will primarily be through phone, fax, and Email). Your agent should be expert in the area he serves and have a "support team" of lenders, home inspectors, insurance agents, and other home service professionals at his disposal.

Interviewing Agents

Identifying a specific agent and how that agent views his or her role in the relocation process is an essential component of a successful long distance buying experience. You will be spending a lot of time with this person. It is important to find someone whose style and personality you are comfortable with. Check for designations such as CRS (Certified Residential Specialist). When interviewing agents, explain what you're looking for as far as price range, types of houses you want and amenities you'd like. You'll want to talk about the cost of living, taxes, utilities, etc. If you have kids, ask about the schools. If you have special needs, hobbies, pets or even large animals, like horses, you need to know the zoning and rules that apply to them.

Visiting Homes

Being out of town, you will need to take some time off to look at houses. If you can, schedule all your house viewings for one or two days then take a day off to evaluate the homes. Take lots of pictures to go over later. This will refresh your memory of homes you've seen and reveal features or problems you may have missed. Also, take notes while walking through each house of its pros and cons. Once you have narrowed your selections down to two or three, it's time to schedule second showings.

Making an Offer

Now you have your mind set on a house, with a possible back-up in case the first choice doesn't work out. You've also been preapproved for a mortgage, which shows the seller you are a strong buyer. If the house you like is a little too high for your budget, you can always negotiate (one of my recent buyers had the sellers come down from an original $254,000 to $205,000). At this point the negotiation may not be concluded until you return home; remember that you are a long distance away again and all information has to make its way from you, to your REALTOR®, to the seller's REALTOR® and to the sellers by way of phone, fax, Email or FedEx.

The Home Inspection

As soon as the purchase agreement is accepted by all parties (a bilateral contract), a house inspection needs to be done. Your REALTOR® should offer several names of qualified home inspectors. Call the inspectors and see who can get it done and processed the fastest (most will have their report Emailed to you that evening). If you are unable to attend, your agent should make himself available to supervise the inspection.

Details And More Details

During the inspection period, get your mortgage company decided on. Amongst other things, they will order a property appraisal. Your agent will get the date of the appraisal and when the report can be expected (in today's market that can take as long as two weeks). Having previously set a closing date when your offer was accepted, now is the time to make sure all paperwork and documentation requests are completed quickly in order to close on time. Murphy's law comes into play at this point so it is important that your agent continues to drive the process to closing (the most common bottlenecks that occur are inspection, appraisal and loan issues). Again, your REALTOR® will be following up with everyone on a daily basis to make the process as stress-free for you as possible.

As a long-distance home buyer, utilizing online home search tools and with the help of a local REALTOR®, should ensure you are able to get your new house taken care of from start to finish in about 30 to 90 days.

The short answer to that question is easy: to make lots of money and be my own boss! Of course we know that making a lot of money as a REALTOR® requires hard work and dedication, not to mention a good moral compass. The last several years have been effective in weeding out those that were only in it for the money. Most of us who actively pursue real estate on a full time basis have weathered the storm and are doing whatever it takes to remain productive and successful in this economy.

As for being my own boss, that is a great perk, but funny thing is, as a REALTOR® and independent contractor, I am at the beck and call of my customers. The broker has an opinion on how I do business, as does the state of Florida. Moreover, my family is affected by my choices and that means they have input as well. So while I am my own "boss", I am decidedly not my own boss!

But here is the compelling reason I became a REALTOR®: I like the feeling I get when I come home from a closing knowing that I have improved someones life by my actions. I like creating opportunities for people to realize their dream of home ownership, whether they are seeking their first home, a move-up home, retirement home, or the need to sell their home due to life changes.

Money aside, there is a true sense of empowerment that comes with being a REALTOR®. Despite the ebb and flow of demands around you - from buyers, sellers, lenders and appraisers - there is a sense of self that changes as you achieve success in real estate.

The first time I drove through Palm City nearly ten years ago I knew it was where I wanted to buy my Florida home.  As a transplant from suburban New Jersey I was seeking a family friendly town with tree lined streets, sidewalks, parks and the sense of community I enjoyed back home. I have not given it much thought since my move to Palm City in 2002, but was reminded of these qualities this week after several buyers made nearly identical comments while I showed them area homes and neighborhoods. 

As we pulled into town off the I95 interchange, the first thing my clients saw was children playing and riding bikes.  They were pleasantly surprised to see this and were excited to discover our little town.  The scene was repeated later that day with my next clients.  We arrived about 3PM and on queue kids poured out of school, gathering in groups for their walk home (not a common site in Florida where children are mostly bussed to and from school). My clients were further impressed to see people strolling, shopping and enjoying a snack at a local cafe. While touring Palm City's homes and leafy neighborhoods they decided this was where they wanted to raise their family.

If you would like to know more about Palm City or schedule a private tour, please feel free to call me or visit www.PalmCityAgent.com to discover Palm City homes and neighborhoods.

This "Hibiscus" model is being sold fully furnished and decorated including: window treatments, wall coverings, silk plants, art work, chandeliers, fans and lighting fixtures, speakers, electronics and fire sprinkler system (per plan). This home also includes a resort style swimming pool with infinity edge spa. With over $200,000 in upgrades, this is a fabulous buy at $540,000!  

Welcome to my Landlord Update; a series of occasional posts to help keep you informed about trends affecting Treasure Coast rental property owners. Future updates will include information such as:

• Recent sales activity in your community
• Trends in annual and seasonal rentals
• Advice for landlords

I will also have tips about maintenance, marketing and other issues that affect property owners.

This post's tip:  preparing your unit to rent

It may seem obvious but having a bright and clean rental will result in a quicker sale and a better tenant! For seasonal rentals I recommend a thorough cleaning before we begin showing the unit. You should also plan on another cleaning before your tenant arrives, especially if it has been vacant for a while. Bathrooms need to be spotless and free of mold and grime. Carpets may also need shampooing. You may want to consider a cleaning service for scheduled visits - local cleaning companies charge about $100.00 for a typical 2/2 condo or villa (basic service).

Clutter and personal items should be removed or stored in a secure area. You should also try to address any maintenance needs before showings begin. If upholstered furniture is showing its age, consider having it cleaned or replaced. 

Also, consider a fresh paint job if the walls are dingy or showing wear and tear. This is very important for vacant annual rentals to help move them quickly.

For seasonal rentals, you should provide your tenants a list of contact numbers (including yours) for service emergencies.  Include information about anything that pertains to your unit. 

Please feel free send me your own ideas or suggestions to include in the Update!