If you are moving into
central Florida or specifically into Port St Lucie,
Fort pierce, Vero Beach or surrounding areas we
are happy to welcome you into these magnificent
areas of Florida. If you are a
local then we thank you for staying in our area. If
you are seeking a knowledgeable real estate agent
them we are here to help you with your
real estate
purchase.
We have
provided some interesting tools above and we have
included information on
relocation and
demographics and information on the national
real estate market
and the latest news about the real estate market
climate in Florida (found in the bottom section of
Nu Age Realty's home page).
Also take a look at our
real estate buyer advice and tips listed in our
link above.
Whether new into our area
or a local of central Florida let us take a moment and
mention some of the housing choices available in the
area.
New or old
real estate?
As a new
resident (or local resident) when looking for a home
you will have a choice of a new of an older
residence. Each has advantages and
disadvantages. An older house is likely to be
in a neighborhood whose character is already
established, where landscaping has had time to
mature and where flaws in construction may have
become apparent. You will find excellent
bargains in "fixer uppers." Sometimes listed
as "handyman's specials or investment property"
through Port St Lucie and surrounding areas.
It is always a good investment to purchase
handyman's specials and fix them to live in or to
rent for extra income or to
sell in the near future.
New houses,
will of course, reflect contemporary styles and
contain more modern conveniences. Many new
homes are in developer build communities.
House or
Condo?
Another
important consideration is whether you prefer a
house or a condominium. Again there are
advantages and disadvantages. Remember, when
you buy into a condominium building you also assume
obligations and responsibilities, many beyond your
control. For instance, you have the
responsibility of using common
areas in a considerate manner. You will not be
responsible for maintaining or improving common
areas. Your responsibility is to maintain and
decorate the inside of your particular unit. However,
you will not be allowed to construct new walls or
tear down walls or make any structural changes.
You are only free to decorate your
condominiums inner space.
As a
condominium resident you pay a monthly fee for the
upkeep of the building and the surrounding landscape
and common facilities. Some older condominiums
have been well kept others are in much need of
maintenance because maintenance was deferred for
years.
You should
know all you can about a building in which you are
thinking of buying a condominium. Ask to see
the notes taken during condominium owner and
management meetings in order to see what was
discussed and what maintenance is considered
pending. In addition, take a look at the
maintenance books and see how money allocated for
maintenance has been used over the years. Another idea
is to consider new condominium buildings, but
remember prices are usually higher for new
construction.
Home buyers
need to decide if they would like to buy into
neighborhoods with homeowner associations or in open
neighborhoods. There are advantages and
disadvantages. Remember, that home owner associations are
created to maintain neighborhood home values.
In that effort many restrictive rules and regulations
are created and
home owners need to abide by them in order to live in
peace within the neighborhood.
Some home
owners find homeowner associations too restrictive
and the fees too expensive. If you are one of
these home buyers then you may have to look at open
neighborhoods. However, keep in mind that just
like you the other individuals in these open
neighborhoods have freedoms to do things that can
affect everybody's property value.
Planned
Communities and Golf Course Communities:
Some are
communities of developer build individual homes;
others are duplexes or triplexes. Many contain
only manufactured homes or double-wide mobile homes.
Most have swimming pools, clubhouses and other
amenities.
Fortunately, you do not have to belong to an
expensive country club to live on or near
beautiful greens and open spaces of a golf course.
Many communities-- even some with very modest
prices-- have been developed around golf courses.
What about
manufactured and mobile homes?
There are
many pleasant communities of manufactured homes (also
called modular or prefabricated homes) and there are
communities of
mobile homes-- mobile only in the sense that they were
towed to the site-- throughout Jacksonville and
surrounding areas. Many are beautifully
landscaped with swimming pools, club houses, golf
courses, bike trails, and other amenities.
Some are located on lakes or rivers and a few of the
most desirable front the Atlantic Ocean. Just
as with condominiums, you will want to look
carefully at all of the covenants, restrictions, and
financial obligations before settling on property in
such a community.
