July 2013

If you’re in the process of looking for a new home, or have owned a home before, you know just how valuable good saving habits can be. Putting your excess cash away responsibly can put you in a position to give yourself the best in a new home, condo, or apartment, and the money can be put toward anything – a higher down payment or monthly payment so you pay it off quickly, furnishings, rent or utilities, the list goes on and on. Plus, the comfort of your savings is invaluable when things around the home inevitably break or fail.

But despite the fact that recent economic upturns have given more and more people the opportunity to save money, reports still show that just 24% of Americans have a decent savings cushion. To get you back on track to being

According to a recent RealityTrac report, North Fort Myers has been identified as one of the top-15 retirement hotspots in the country, as well as being an ideal place for real estate investors to focus on for long-term value creation. 

RealityTrac analyzed factors such as the percentage of residents who were above the retirement age, rental capitalization rates, and home appreciation. With numerous popular communities available throughout the city, North Fort Myers is quickly becoming the most popular place in Florida, if not the nation, for both Northerners escaping winter’s chill as well as permanent residents who are looking for a relaxing, tropical lifestyle year-round.

If boating is your passion, you’ll fit right in. Bordered by the cool

Ever heard the expression “It was love at first sight”? 

Well, if you want a step up on the competition when you sell your home, you’re going to want to make people fall in love with your home as soon as they see it. First impressions are invaluable, and getting a possible buyer’s experience started off on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are some ways to give your home’s curb appeal a makeover:

• Begin with the curb

Because it’s usually located right at the curb, your mailbox is the first thing someone will see when they pull up to your home. What kind of condition is it in? If it’s old, falling apart, missing numbers, or suffering in any other way, consider giving it a quick facelift, even if it’s as little as new numbers

In a competitive housing market, you need every advantage you can get. So when you’re selling your home, why rely on just a small, plastic sign in the front yard and an unobtrusive newspaper ad on page seventeen? In this age of technology, there are more and more ways to get your home’s listing public every day. Here are some little-known (and affordable) ways to grab this tech bull by the horns, and sell your home fast.

• Create a virtual tour

There are a number of websites out there that will put together a virtual tour of your home based on pictures you send in, but they’re time-consuming and expensive. Instead, simply grab the closest video camera you can find, hit record, and start walking around. Go through each room and point out