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If something comes up in the inspection that you weren’t aware of, you can ask the seller to make the repairs. On the other hand, you may wish to have your own contractor make the repair and factor the cost into a purchase price reduction. If it’s a major issue, no one will be more interested in making sure the repair is done right than you will be.
If it’s something that will cost $100 or less, it’s usually best not to bother the seller about it. Remember, don’t try to make money on the inspection of your Davie real estate purchase.
If you want to make a major change to your almost perfect house, you could pay for the renovation yourself. This works out well if you have the funds and don’t need to rearrange your entire investment portfolio to get the money you need.
If you’d like one mortgage to cover both your renovation and the financing of your new home, consider the 203(k) FHA loan. That loan allows you to include the cost of the work you want to have done with your regular mortgage loan. Here’s a summary of some of the things you need to know about the 203(k) program.
The best idea is to work with a professional Davie REALTOR® who can guide you through the decision-making process. There are more considerations than would fit into this blog post! In general, you’d need to address the following types of issues:
Here are just a few situations where this loan could be just what you need:
If you don’t want to use your own money, doing key repairs or modernization projects can require a complex and costly financing approach. Construction or improvement loans often have relatively high interest rates and short repayment times. The 203(k) loan can simplify the process.
The professionals on Teri’s Real Estate Team are experts at making Davie real estate dreams come true. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today. If your dream home just needs a bit of work, we can help you determine if using a 203(k) loan is a good strategy, and guide you through the process.
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If you haven’t talked to the best REALTOR® in Riverstone Davie FL, you’re missing one of the Davie area’s hidden jewels. Riverstone offers luxury waterfront estate homes and a lifestyle that can be as quiet or as active as you prefer.
There are just over 300 Mediterranean- inspired homes in Riverstone Davie FL. All but two of the homes are located on the water. The tile roofs and paver driveways, tall arches and exterior design accents create an old-world atmosphere with a modern twist.
Entertaining is easy with the homes’ emphasis on outdoor living, including private pools and outdoor kitchens. However, the community also offers a recreation area with three tennis courts, a basketball court and a party pavilion with its own restrooms for the convenience of your guests.
Lakes and canals run throughout Riverstone. Many homes offer both a private swimming pool and beach access. So, whether you want to play on the sand or lounge by the pool, the choice is yours.
For your security, the entrance to Riverstone has a guard gate that is manned on a 24-hour basis.
You’ll find a variety of homes for sale in Riverstone. Home sizes start with one-story single-family homes of approximately 3,000 square feet of living space. For large families, you’ll find two-story homes that boast up to approximately 6,000 square feet.
Since Riverstone is a family-friendly neighborhood, most of the time you’ll find just as many baths as there are bedrooms. There’s also plenty of parking for the family, since even the smaller homes frequently offer three-car garage spaces. Exteriors are beautifully landscaped and very well maintained.
Riverstone homes welcome you when you first walk in with impressive foyers. Many homes have open floorplans that lead to high-ceilings in the living areas. Many homes have a gathering spot next to the kitchen for keeping an eye on the kids or staying in touch with guests while you’re cooking.
Kitchens in Riverstone are chef-inspired. All the luxury amenities you’d expect, such as granite countertops, walk-in pantries, cooking islands and even open bars are available in most homes. Kitchens in Riverstone homes are meant to be the center of activity with plenty of room for family and guests to roam.
People are attracted to Davie, Florida for a number of reasons. It’s centrally located and family-friendly. In addition, the schools are outstanding, the landscape is beautiful, and the Old West theme of the downtown area makes for a unique and quaint atmosphere. You’re close to Fort Lauderdale’s big-city amenities and Atlantic Ocean beaches.
People who love horses and the outdoors are also attracted to Davie to take advantage of the miles of trails for runners and equestrians. The city maintains lots of open space and parks where the trails weave through a very scenic setting.
If you’re looking for luxury living in a prime location, Riverstone is definitely an area to explore. When you want to work with the best REALTOR® in Riverstone Davie FL, call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. Several members of Teri’s Real Estate Team can claim that title.
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Everyone knows that spring and summer are peak times for home sales. Most families with children want to make a move before school starts, and in many climates, homes just look a lot better in the warmer weather.
The Florida Climate. In the fall and winter, Davie FL homes for sale aren’t covered in three feet of snow. The trees aren’t bare and the gardens aren’t dormant. From the perspective of curb appeal and ease of showing homes, Florida’s fall and winter seasons are no different from spring and summer.
There’s Less Competition. Since many people think they should only sell in spring and summer, there’s less competition in the fall. Less competition is good for you as the seller because your home has a much better chance of standing out from the crowd. Buyers who are overwhelmed with choices take longer to make decisions.
Buyers are Often More Serious. Spring and summer brings a flurry of activity in the home market. It’s likely that many people who tour your home are just looking.
Summer buyers may want to know how your home compares to theirs to get a feel for the market in case they decide to sell. In addition, they may think about moving if they find the “perfect” home, but they may not be serious buyers. Any buyer looking for perfection will likely be disappointed.
You’ll Stand Out from the Stale Summer Listings. There are always homes that have stayed on the market for months. Those sellers may have priced their home too high, or may not have prepared their home to sell. Buyers are typically suspicious of homes that have been on the market longer than they should. However, when you list your home at a fair market price and prepare it to sell, you’ll have an outstanding advantage.
There’s Still a Deadline. While school is in session, in the fall and early winter, people who want to move usually want to settle in before the November and December holidays. Therefore, timing is still important.
Mortgage Rates are Still Low. As of this writing, mortgage rates are still very low, many below 4%. This is an advantage for you as a seller because financing is still attractive to buyers. In addition, the likelihood is that you will buy another home and can take advantage of the low rates yourself.
If you decide to sell in the fall, here are some tips that will help to make your transaction a success.
Plan for Early Showings. As days get shorter, potential buyers will want to see your home in daylight whenever possible. Get the house ready to show before you leave for work in the morning, not when you get home.
Pay Attention to Curb Appeal. Make sure the lawn looks good, even if it’s slowed down its growth. Take the time to plant winter plants or set out pots of plants that bloom in the fall and winter, such as geraniums, to make your yard look inviting. Make sure attractive outdoor lighting is in place for those buyers who may arrive after sunset.
Sell to Fall Buyers. It’s more likely that millennials and empty-nesters will be looking at Davie homes for sale in the fall. Couples without children don’t need to worry about school districts or starting times. Do whatever you can to sell to those two groups. For example, focus on multiple uses for your rooms. Rather than focusing on four bedrooms, put the image in buyers’ minds that some bedrooms would work well as an office, a study or a hobby room.
If you want to make a move in the fall, make sure you work with local experts who can help you create the most effective home marketing plan. You can trust the Davie REALTORS® on Teri’s Real Estate Team to provide the local market knowledge and real estate expertise you need. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email for more information.
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For most homeowners in the Davie area, the first day of school for the coming year is right around the corner. It’s always a challenge for the whole family to get back into a school routine. Kids are challenged to reestablish a routine for doing homework after a summer off. Here are some tips for creating a homework station that your kids will enjoy.
Find a place where your kids can devote their attention to homework. If you can create a dedicated homework spot, you’re going to be ahead of the game.
Finally, let your inner child run free when decorating. And, consult your children about their preferences. Would they be happier with bright, fun colors, or feel more studious with a neutral palette?
If the homework station is in general family space such as the kitchen, you’ll have to make some compromises to make the space blend in with your interior design. But, if you’re setting something up in your child’s room or the attic or a separate “homework room,” be sure to create a space where your kids will be motivated to spend some quality time.
If you’re finding that you’re out of room, you need to talk to a Davie REALTOR®. You can trust Teri’s Real Estate Team to provide you with the professional and personal service that will make finding your next home, or selling your current one, a positive experience! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email for more information.
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It’s Time to Celebrate Our Independence in 2016!I’m very proud to be a Davie REALTOR® because it’s such a great place to live. And, the 4th of July celebration is just another thing that reinforces the feeling of community.
Plan to spend your Independence Day at the celebration in Pine Island Park. It’s a day full of fun for the whole family. Pine Island Park covers 113 acres and boasts an active park, and an aquatic and fitness center. The Bamford Sports Complex is also located in the Park, and it offers a gymnasium, stage, meeting rooms, and a full kitchen.
If you haven’t been, take a look around the Sports Complex while you’re there for the holiday celebration. You can rent some of the facilities for your own celebrations and the Town of Davie offers recreational programs for all ages throughout the Park.
Kick off the day with the Family Fun Run that starts at 7:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. you can join in the Pickle Ball Tournament, then enjoy the Open Swim from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. But watch out! The Davie Fire Department will host a Fun Foam Spray at 11:00 a.m.
At 1:00 p.m., there will be a Dive-in Treasure Hunt and you can take the edge off your appetite by entering the Watermelon Eating Contest at 3:00 p.m.
From 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. the fun moves to the Sports Complex. It’s a fun-filled afternoon with interactive kid games, an arts & crafts display, bounce houses, face painting, food trucks and more.
If you’re ready for desert, you can enjoy free cake for residents starting at 6:30 p.m. until the cake is all gone. At 7:00 p.m., there will be live music by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
“The Best Fireworks in Broward” will start around 9:00 p.m., putting a rousing end to an Independence Day Celebration full of fellowship and adventure.
There’s a new local program in place: the Town of Davie Clothing, Shoes and Textile Recycling Program. It was established to help the community with environmental compliance. It’s also an easy way to help the Town Community Endowment Fund, which supports many local nonprofits.
You can pitch in by bringing a tied plastic bag or two when you come to celebrate the 4th. Just drop your donations in the recycling truck or any bin displaying the Town of Davie logo.
When you need a Davie REALTOR® don’t hesitate to call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. From our families to yours, have a very happy 4th of July!
Memorial Day is almost here and I know a lot of people are going to be gathering with friends and family to share traditional “start of the summer” meals, that often include outdoor cooking and grilling.
Outdoor kitchens are popular in places where the climate encourages outdoor living. That’s the case here in Davie, Florida. An outdoor kitchen makes outdoor entertaining a snap, and you may end up having family meals outside, too, to keep the house much cooler on sizzling summer days.
There are lots of ways to design an outdoor kitchen, but here are some tips that will start your planning in the right direction.
The layout for an outdoor kitchen should follow the same rules as a regular kitchen. L-shaped outdoor kitchens are popular because they create a place for the “kitchen triangle.”
And, if you’re building a kitchen on an existing deck, make sure you understand how much of a load your deck can handle. Installing a kitchen is a much different undertaking than setting out some tables and chairs.
Plan adequate storage. To avoid messes, don’t forget that you’ll need a pullout trash bin, and storage for dishes, silverware, glasses, napkins, spices, cleaning supplies and more. You’ll want to limit the number of times you have to leave the party to go back to the main kitchen for supplies!
Don’t forget the sink. You’ll need a convenient place to wash hands, prepare vegetables, rinse dishes and more. In a simple installation, you may be able to feed the sink with a hose, but extending your home’s plumbing to the outdoor kitchen is also an effective approach.
To extend the time you can use your outdoor kitchen, you may choose to put it under cover. If that’s the case, use can lights or pendant lights to allow for cooking after the sun goes down. Consider using a ceiling fan to keep a semi-enclosed space well-ventilated. And, if your grill is under cover, you’ll need to include vent hood.
Don’t make a bigger mess outside than you do inside. The flooring in an outdoor kitchen should be easy to clean, and it needs to repel outdoor elements like grass and garden debris. And, especially if you have a pool, make sure the flooring isn’t a slipping hazard.
When you commit to outdoor living, you’ll end up with a kitchen and a dining area, and perhaps a bar, separate living/entertaining area and a pool. Make sure that all of your outdoor living spaces flow nicely and work well together, both in style and functionality.
Don’t worry about being like everyone else. Design your outdoor kitchen to fit your lifestyle.
You may want to include a beer, wine or soda cooler, for example. Most outdoor kitchens are equipped with a grill, but you may also want a smoker. If you’ll be entertaining large groups of family or friends, consider a warming drawer. It’s great to have a place to keep burgers, hot dogs or steaks warm while you finish grilling for a crowd.
Pizza lovers have a lot of fun including a pizza oven in their kitchens. If you love frozen drinks, make sure you install electrical outlets that will allow you to bring a blender outside, or you can include a built-in blender to give your kitchen a streamlined look.
If you’re ready to open the doors wide to outdoor living, a well-planned outdoor kitchen may be just what you need. If you need a Davie REALTOR® to assist you in your home search, or if you’re selling Davie real estate, contact us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. As local real estate experts, we’ll make sure you get the quality service you deserve!
If you’re going to be in town for Memorial Day next weekend, you have the opportunity to join your fellow Davie real estate owners in the annual activities.
The parade is sponsored by the City of Davie and the Scoutmasters Camporee Committee of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I think it’s great that the Boy Scouts are so involved. It will give the boys a chance to get to know the real reason behind the holiday and to honor service members who have done, and continue to do so much for the U.S.
The parade will start at 10:00 am on Monday, May 30, 2016 in front of the Davie Fire Administration building at 6901 Orange Drive. It will continue left on Rodeo Way and conclude at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds.
Bring a flag and wear red, white and blue to show your support for the sacrifices so many members of our military and their families make to keep us safe here and abroad. Directly after the parade, there will be a Memorial Service at the Rodeo Grounds. There will be a special salute honoring the men and women who fought in the Vietnam War as part of the 50th anniversary of that conflict.
Great American Beach Party. On Saturday, May 28, 2016, from 10 am to 8:30 pm you can join in on a fantastic beach party on Fort Lauderdale Beach at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. There will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy. For the kids, or the young at heart, spend time in the kid zone and compete in the sandcastle contest. If classic cars are your passion, the classic car show will provide a lot to see. You can listen to live bands and watch a U.S. military parachute team demonstrate their expertise, along with a tribute to the troops. The best part? It’s all free!
Memorial Day Kidz Fest at Flamingo Garden. After the Davie parade and ceremony, you can head over to Flamingo Gardens for lots of fun with your kids. This event is being held on Monday, May 28, 2016 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. You’ll find lots of things to see and do including pony rides, a butterfly encounter, animal presentations, a bounce house, arts and crafts displays, and music and live entertainment.
Entry fees for kids are cut in half for this special day for kids from 3-11 years old ($6.45). The fee for adults and children over 12 is $19.95. But,
If you’re just thinking of looking at Davie real estate, you should know that Memorial Day is just one of the wonderful celebrations in the Davie and Broward County area that brings us together as families and a community. If you’re looking for a Davie Realtor, give us a call at 954-242-8030. With our professionalism and local knowledge, we’ll help you complete a successful real estate transaction, whether you’re buying or selling.
Buying a home can be a pleasant or frustrating experience. We’ve talked about four things you should do to avoid frustration:
Those four things will get your home search off to an excellent start. There are other things that you should not do once your search is underway. It can be easy to sabotage a home search or make it much more difficult than it needs to be.
Things You SHOULD NOT Do
1. Don’t expect to find everything on your wish list. If you’ve done your homework, you know what you’d like in a neighborhood and a home. That gives you a place to start when you’re looking at specific homes. However, if you believe that you will find a home that matches everything on your home and neighborhood lists, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
If you’ve made a list and prioritized those things you can’t live without and those things that would be nice to have, you’ve already made your decision-making process easier. Set your expectations realistically to find the perfect spot for your next home.
2. Don’t look at homes above your price range. It can be a big disappointment if you fall in love with a home that you can’t comfortably afford. For some people, once they’re in that situation, it makes it almost impossible for them to consider reasonable alternatives.
Hopefully, you’ve prepared yourself by getting Pre-Approved for a mortgage. Once you decide what you’re comfortable spending, don’t even consider homes that are above that dollar figure.
3. Don’t make unreasonably low offers. Keep in mind that the person selling their home is in a relatively stressful position. They may want to move, but they don’t want to give their home away. And, many times, especially if the homeowner has lived in a house for a long time, the owner is very invested in the home and proud of it and its value.
Work with your agent to review “comparables,” meaning other homes that are similar to the home you’re interested in, that have sold in the same area. Use that information to determine a fair market value and make a realistic offer.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t negotiate, but an extremely low offer can insult the owners and make them think you’re not serious. It’s happened more than once that an owner has refused to negotiate with someone who made a very low offer. You may never get the chance to negotiate a fair market price if the owner slams the door closed after your first contact.
4. Don’t try to make money on the home inspection. Consider a situation where you make an offer knowing that there is going to be a hidden cost such as the need for basement waterproofing or electrical upgrades. Your strategy is to make a reasonable initial offer knowing that a home inspection will uncover the hidden costs.
After the inspection, you plan to make money by negotiating a much lower sales price or by arranging for the seller to complete a premiere job of the repair. This strategy almost always backfires.
The problem is that a fix that is critical to you may not be viewed as critical to the seller or other home buyers. What you consider to be a premiere job may seem like unnecessary extravagance to the seller or other buyers. A contract that is contingent on a home inspection can be abandoned by either party. If the seller thinks your demands are unreasonable, they will simply void the contract and find another buyer. Do your negotiating before the contract is signed.
If you want more tips on how to complete a successful transaction, please call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. Our expertise and local knowledge can help you to complete a home purchase without the drama!
You’ve probably read articles about the “pitfalls” you might encounter when you purchase Davie real estate or properties in the surrounding areas. The four things described below aren’t the only things you’ll need to consider, but if you follow these four steps, you’ll set your home search on the right path at the outset.
1. Find the REALTOR®. You may think that REALTORS® don’t care about your best interest and are only out to sell you a house as quickly as possible. And, I hate to admit it, but that is the goal of some real estate agents. On the other hand, there are REALTORS® who love what they do, are successful enough to help clients at their own pace, and who take great pride in giving each client an outstanding experience.
Why work with a REALTOR®? The home sellers have an agent representing them, providing market insight, negotiation skills and more. Having a representative of your own will level the playing field when it comes to a home purchase.
In addition, working with an experienced REALTOR® will save you time and frustration, give you the local market information you need to make informed decisions and allow you to delegate all the details related to the purchase process.
2. Decide What You Want in a Neighborhood. Every neighborhood has its own personality, which is impacted by a number of factors. For example, if you have school age children, one of your selection criteria may be the ranking of a neighborhood’s school system.
If you’re looking for a quiet environment, you’ll want to check on the location of typical noise-makers such as major highways, train tracks, schools, airport flight lanes, etc. You will also want to check with local officials to identify any development that is planned in your favorite neighborhood.
3. Decide What You Want in a Home. If the world were perfect, you’d be able to find a home that fulfilled all of your hopes and dreams. Of course, that’s not possible unless you build a custom home, and even then, you’d most likely need to make a compromise or two.
Start by creating a “must have” list. If you really need four bedrooms, don’t look at three-bedroom homes. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a three-bedroom home, then find that the lack of a fourth bedroom creates stress for as long as you live in the home. Identify the things you’re willing to compromise on, too.
When you look at homes, evaluate the homes based on “fixable” vs. “non-fixable” factors. If you hate the paint colors, that’s an easy fix. If you discover that the road in front of the home is scheduled to be widened to four lanes, that’s a non-fixable issue.
4. Get Pre-Approved. If you will finance the purchase of your home, getting pre-approved before you start looking at homes is a huge factor in avoiding frustration. With a pre-approval, you can narrow your search to homes in the price range you can afford, avoiding the frustration of falling in love with a home that you can’t finance.
You’ll see another big advantage when it’s time to make an offer and close the deal. Sellers will take your offer much more seriously if they know that your financing is secure. You’ll also be in a better negotiating position because the seller won’t need to worry about the deal falling through due to financing issues.
for the next Davie real estate advice post, where we’ll identify the four most critical things you should not do if you want to avoid frustration. If we can be of assistance to you in buying or selling Davie real estate, call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We’ll make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure a successful transaction!
A gimmick is a trick used to attract attention, publicity or business. When a real estate agent advertises they guarantee to sell your home, that is definitely a gimmick and it can generate a lot of leads for the agent. The question is whether it’s a gimmick that’s good for you or just good for the agent.
You may run into several different kinds of guarantees. Here is an explanation of some of them, but I’m sure people are thinking up new approaches every day!
Yes, they do. And, it’s no surprise. If the offer didn’t protect the agent making it, they’d go out of business and no one would be making guaranteed home sale promises. Here are some of the ways an agent making this offer can be protected in the fine print:
The only way this type of an offer can work for an agent in all cases is if the list price for the house is under market value. Sometimes an agent will identify a specific initial reduction, such as listing the home for 95% of what the market value is. Sometimes, the agent will just create a number without any clear indication of how it relates to market value.
In either event, the agent knows that homes priced under market value do usually tend to sell quickly. Home buyers can certainly spot a great deal when they see one, and someone will likely snap up an undervalued home. Is that good for you or just for the agent?
If you are desperate to sell your home quickly, and you don’t mind losing money, you can work with any agent and set the list price under market value. There’s no particular expertise required to sell a home that is underpriced. Add the listing to the MLS and that’s about all you need to do.
Another interesting fact is that according to experts such as the folks at Inman, sellers who contact an agent about a guaranteed home sale promotion don’t usually end up using the guarantee. Once they understand all the fine print, they don’t think the guarantee is worth it.
Your other alternative is to work with REALTORS® who are good at what they do and who don’t need a flashy gimmick to get clients. Choose REALTORS® based on their track record and their ability to market your home effectively.
The real trick is selling a home in a timeframe that is realistic for your market, and at the highest price the market will bear. A REALTOR® who can do that will give you the best experience and the best outcome for your real estate transaction.
Interested in selling Davie real estate? Call us today at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We’re the real deal.
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