Florida Treasure Coast Real Estate Resource

Home For Sale in Palm City, FL

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:12:14 -0400

Golf Home For Sale in Palm City, Florida

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$589,000 Single Family Home
For Sale Main Features 3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 3460 sqft
Lot: 0.80 acre(s)
Location

10548 SW Lands End Place
Palm City, FL 34990

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Golf Home For Sale in Palm City, Florida
Stuart FL Rental Homes - Townhouse For Rent in Martins Crossing
Home for Rent in Stuart, FL
Winter Rental on Hutchinson Island, Jensen Beach, FL
Home For Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Palm City, FL real estate for sale

This post has been authored by Eric Slifkin, REALTOR® serving South Florida's Treasure Coast. You can reach me at 888-288-1765, or visit my Web site at http://www.TreasureCoastHomeSales.com. As your resource for information on new or resale homes throughout the Treasure Coast, please be sure to contact me about any home you may find on the Web, yard sign or ad and I will research the property, arrange showings and handle all the details.

Stuart FL Rental Homes - Townhouse For Rent in Martins Crossing

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:24:26 -0400

Stuart FL Rental Homes - Townhouse For Rent in Martins Crossing

Overview
Maps
Photos

$1,100 Residential Rental
For Sale Main Features 2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 1296 sqft
Location

Mitchell Lane Martins Crossing
Stuart, FL 34997

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Wiliams Realty

Our recent listings

Home for Rent in Stuart, FL
Winter Rental on Hutchinson Island, Jensen Beach, FL
Home For Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area
Home For Sale - Bahia Sound in Hobe Sound, FL
Palm City FL Home For Rent in Lake Grove

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Stuart, FL real estate for sale

Oceanfront Winter Rental in Jensen Beach, FL

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:49:19 -0400

Winter Rental on Hutchinson Island, Jensen Beach, FL

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$2,800 Residential Rental
Main Features 2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Location

Ocean Drive
Atlantis
Jensen Beach, FL 34957

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Wiliams Realty

Our recent listings

Winter Rental on Hutchinson Island, Jensen Beach, FL
Home For Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area
Home For Sale - Bahia Sound in Hobe Sound, FL
Palm City FL Home For Rent in Lake Grove
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Jensen Beach, FL real estate for sale

Home for Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:30:46 -0400

Home For Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$120,000 Single Family Home
For Sale Main Features 4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 2153 sqft
Lot: 9,921 sqft
Location

3644 SW Carmody Street
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34953

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Home For Sale in Port St Lucie / Gatlin Area
Home For Sale - Bahia Sound in Hobe Sound, FL
Palm City FL Home For Rent in Lake Grove
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Oak Ridge, Palm City, FL

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Port Saint Lucie, FL real estate for sale

Home for Sale in Bahia Sound, Hobe Sound, FL

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:11:46 -0400

Home For Sale - Bahia Sound in Hobe Sound, FL

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$425,000 Single Family Home
For Sale Main Features 4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Interior: 2162 sqft
Lot: 0.26 acre(s)
Location

8008 SE Windjammer Way
Hobe Sound, FL 33455

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Home For Sale - Bahia Sound in Hobe Sound, FL
Palm City FL Home For Rent in Lake Grove
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Oak Ridge, Palm City, FL
Home for Sale - The Meadows in Palm City, FL

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Hobe Sound, FL real estate for sale

Home Owners Warranties: Worth Buying?

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:07:24 -0400

Is a home owners warranty worth buying? It depends. My neighbors have them as do my in-laws and most have been pleased with the service. But when it comes to a seller offering a home owners warranty my opinion is: not so much.

A home owners warranty may seem like a nice incentive to offer a potential buyer but there are several gotchas. Typically the seller pays around $400 for the warranty, with coverage starting while the home is on the market and then conveying to the buyer, sometimes for an additional fee. Should the seller or subsequent buyer need service there is usually a deductible and nominal service call charge.

There is also the fine print on the back of the contract, which can virtually nullify coverage on an old appliance. If the service company deems the equipment to be obsolete, they may not fix it at all or charge a pro-rated fee to do the repair that could equal more than half the cost of replacement. In some cases the providor may offer a discount to replace the unit.

I recently sold a foreclosed property where FreddieMac actually provided a two-year home owners warranty as part of the deal. They even paid to fix the broken air conditioner before settlement. My buyers were thrilled to get the added value and increased their offer to ensure the deal was theirs. But less than a week after we closed the AC unit failed again so a call was placed to the warranty service provider. After paying the $100 service fee they were informed that the unit needed to be replaced but would not be covered for the following reasons:

1. They claimed it was a pre-existing condition (but passed inspection)
2. The owners had not been in the house long enough (that was not even mentioned in the contract)
3. It was an obsolete piece of equipment

Even after providing proof that the unit was in fact working when they closed, the service company simply walked away without any attempt to negotiate a solution or offer a discount on a replacement. My clients may have purchased a new system through them but they vowed never to deal with them again, in spite of the two year warranty. The $5,000 purchase went to a local HVAC company instead and the home owners are filing a complaint against the warranty company.

Buying a home owners warranty may be a good value for an established home owner but a call to the Better Business Bureau or a quick Google of the warranty company will reveal their track record. As for me, I passed on the warranty and have spent less than $1,000 on appliance repairs in my five years of home ownership so I am ahead of the curve (for now).

Landlord Update: Collecting the Rent | Rentals in Stuart Florida

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:00:54 -0400

As a Realtor who handles dozens of rental transactions, the number one question I get from new as well as experienced landlords has to do with collecting the rent. Most are happy to have the tenant mail a check while others provide a supply of deposit tickets to their tenants, enabling them to deposit funds directly into the landlord's bank account. Some tenants have even elected to pay the rent using online banking or a wire transfer. Landlords are understandably excited when a tenant pays electronically, as they get paid on time and have immediate use of the funds.

Recently I was asked to draw up a lease where the landlord required the tenant to pay electronically. I submitted the request to our lease attorney who provided the following reason why we should not have such a clause in the lease:

"In the event of an eviction if the tenant has access to owners or property managers bank account and the tenant deposits money after the eviction has been filed it would stop the eviction and cost the owner or property manager more money. Also, that bank account would become part of the exhibits during an eviction action."

A real estate attorney can explain all the ramifications of accepting direct deposits into your account but the "long and short" of it is that if the tenant deposits money into your account after you initiate an eviction, it can cause you to have to start the process all over or worse.

Under the best of circumstances being a landlord (especially an accidental or out of town landlord) can be a challenge. Working with a qualified rental agent will help you minimize the pitfalls of being a landlord and procure the best tenant, in the shortest possible time and with the least amount of stress.

Fully Furnished Turnkey Luxury Second Home, Vacation Home or Primary Residence For Sale in Cobblestone, Palm City, FL

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:31:42 -0400

Fully Furnished Turnkey Luxury Second Home, Vacation Home or Primary Residence For Sale in Cobblestone, Palm City, FL

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$950,000 Single Family Home
For Sale Main Features 5 Bedrooms
5 Bathrooms
Interior: 4909 sqft
Lot: 0.50 acre(s)
Location

10674 SW Corey Place
Palm City, FL 34990

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Heritage Ridge, Hobe Sound, FL Villa For Sale
Fully Furnished Turnkey Luxury Second Home, Vacation Home or Primary Residence For Sale in Cobblestone, Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Oak Ridge, Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Stuart West, Palm City , FL
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Palm City, FL real estate for sale

Palm City, Florida - An Unsolicited Testimonial

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:39:19 -0400

I had been touting the quality of life that my clients, a family of four, would enjoy by living in Palm City. I went on about how Palm City is a family friendly town with tree lined streets, sidewalks, parks and a sense of community not typically found in South Florida. So after several weeks of exploring various homes and neighborhoods we found a nice four bedroom pool home that was a perfect fit and a contract was procured.

My buyers wanted another look at the home so I arranged an early evening showing. Having previously seen the home only during the day, as we arrived they were pleasantly surprised to see children playing and riding bikes, people strolling, shopping and enjoying a snack at our local Panera. I was glad they got to see this first hand since I had been "puffing" about Palm City during our time together in the car.

I was tempted to offer my opinion yet again but was beaten to the punch by the sellers, who had returned home early. They struck up a conversation and proceeded to repeat almost verbatim my ongoing testimonial to Palm City. We had already gone to contract but seeing and hearing those words lifted their spirits knowing they had made a great decision in choosing Palm City for their new home.

Mobile Computing - Integrating Search Apps with Mobile Web Sites

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:43:24 -0400

A myriad of mobile real estate apps have become available from online aggregators such as Zillow, Trulia and SmarterAgent that offer the ability to search and view all homes listed for sale on the Web. With their GPS capabilities these apps can even determine a user's physical location and serve up nearby listings. Mobile real estate search apps take home buyers to a whole new level when it comes to self-search capabilities.

That said, problems can arise when you fall out of the loop as mobile search clients veer off towards other agents' listings. While apps such as SmarterAgent provide branding, having your own mobile Web site with embedded links to these sites can help keep you "top of mind" with your clients.

Having your own mobile Web presence is potentially the best way to stay connected with home buyers, clients and prospects. Emerging mobile Web technologies are beginning to offer agents online templated mobile Web sites that enable you to quickly develop a mobile Web presence. That said, below are screen shots from my first effort, www.StuartFlorida.mobi (best viewed on a smartphone):

This is a work in progress and not quite ready for prime time but shows the potential to extend your Web presence to mobile computing devices.

Short Term Furnished Rentals For Stuart, Florida Relocations

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:16:48 -0400

As an agent who handles both sales and rentals in Stuart, Florida, I have have been experiencing an influx of clients moving to the Stuart / Treasure Coast region of South Florida for corporate job relocations. Many of these folks are potential home buyers but are reluctant to take that step until they become familiar with the area. The solution is often a short term furnished rental.

Finding a short term rental can be a challenge on the Treasure Coast as these rentals are typically reserved for winter "Snowbirds" who rent condos or single family homes for upwards of six months during the Winter season. But the shifting economy has presented a challenge to landlords facing rising costs and shorter rental periods. In many cases we have "repurposed" these vacation homes into longer term rentals. Where permitted we may even rent the same home several times during the year, which presents an excellent opportunity for relocating families to get acquainted with local neighborhoods and communities.

If you are relocating to the area , please click here site for more information about rentals in Stuart, Florida or click here if you are a landlord interested in listing your rental property.

It's a Great Time For Canadians to Purchase Real Estate in Stuart Florida!

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:53:08 -0500

Taking advantage of the moribund economy and housing market, Canadian Snowbirds have been snapping up U.S. real estate bargains, especially in the popular "Sunbelt" states. Canadian buyers are finding condos and townhomes priced as much as 50% less than a couple of years ago.

When it comes to buying a second or retirement home, Stuart, Florida is a prime destination for Canadians seeking warmer climates during the cold Canadian winter. With rock bottom pricing of homes in the Stuart area and an abundant selection of quality homes for sale, you have a perfect market to buy!

The transaction process for Canadian home buyers here is straightforward and not much different than that of a local home buyer. There is no risk to you until your offer is accepted and contingencies are met. You do need to submit an earnest deposit, which is usually 1-2% of the purchase price. if your contract is not accepted or canceled for a valid reason, your deposit is returned to you.

If you are buying in a community with a homeowners' association you will need to make sure it is adequately funded. When an HOA is underfunded (typically because too many units are in foreclosure and dues are not getting paid) it can mean higher payments for the building’s upkeep.

As a foreign owner, when you sell the property you will be subject to a 10% FIRPTA withholding (10% of the sale price) if you do not have a tax ID or social security number. Obtaining a tax ID or social security number in advance will avoid the withholding; otherwise it will be refunded if no tax is due when the tax return is filed.

For information about foreign ownership, investment and financial planning for Canadians in the US, check out The Canadian Snowbird in America: Professional Tax and Financial Insights Into Temporary Lifestyles in the U.S.

Thinking of a second home in South Florida? We are experts at helping Canadian "Snowbirds" enjoy the warm weather, golf and other amenities that come from owning a vacation or second home in greater Stuart! Contact us for more info or to set up a private tour of homes and neighborhoods.

Home for Sale in The Meadows, Palm City, FL

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:54:16 -0400

Home for Sale - The Meadows in Palm City, FL

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description
Neighborhood

$159,900 Single Family Home
For Sale Main Features 2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 1111 sqft
Location

1536 SW Waterfall Blvd.
Palm City, FL 34990

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Eric Slifkin, Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Home for Sale - The Meadows in Palm City, FL
Rentals in Stuart, Florida | South Fork Estates
Home For Sale in Oak Ridge, Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Stuart West, Palm City , FL
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Palm City, FL real estate for sale

Single Family Home For Rent in Stuart, FL (South Fork Estates)

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:14:17 -0400

Rentals in Stuart, FL | South Fork Estates

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$1,650 Residential Rental
For Sale Main Features 3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 2012 sqft
Lot: 1.00 acre(s)
Location

704 SE Misty Meadow Way
Stuart, FL 34994

Eric Slifkin

Keller Williams Realty
(888) 288-1765
eric@treasurecoasthomesales.com
http://www.treasurecoasthomesales.com

Listed by: Keller Williams Realty

Our recent listings

Rentals in Stuart, FL | South Fork Estates
Home For Sale in Oak Ridge, Palm City, FL
Home For Sale in Stuart West, Palm City , FL
Cobblestone Country Club in Palm City, FL
Hghlands Reserve Builder Spec Home

Subscribe to our listing feed See more Stuart, FL real estate for sale

Buying a Short Sale - Are You a Good Candidate?

Eric Slifkin, Broker Associate (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:41:44 -0400

With the goal of landing a bargain many buyers in today's market are interested in purchasing short sale properties. But not all buyers are ideal candidates for such transactions. If your home buying criteria includes any of the following you may not be a good candidate:

You have a lot of contingencies
You need to sell your current home before purchasing another
You need to close quickly
You do not have resources to repair and rehab the property, if needed

If you determine that you are a good candidate for buying a short sale and want to make an offer, here are some guidelines (among others):

Attach a "Short Sale Addendum" to the contract that stipulates the amount of time you are willing to wait for the lender to review and process the short sale package (but if the timing is too short, the lender may not approve the short sale).
When it comes to pricing, if the offer is too low, the lender may not approve the sale. Your Realtor should prepare a competitive market analysis (CMA) so you can be realistic with your offer.
In negotiating a short sale contract, request that the listing agent not submit multiple offers.
The lender may ask that you contribute to deficiencies due to second lien holders, unpaid home owner association fees, etc. These are negotiable items that can make or break a deal.
Inspections, financing and other details require the same regimen you would follow in a "normal" transaction. Once the short sale has been approved it is crucial that time lines be established and followed.

With patience, due diligence and the guidance of your Realtor, buying a short sale can save you 10-40% over the price of similar properties in a normal sale.

Learn more about the facts and myths about buying a short sale and how to be a winning buyer in today's market. Click here to download my free handout "Winning with Foreclosures".