As a local or out of town home buyer, identifying suitable Stuart area property listings can be daunting when it comes to using the myriad of online search tools currently available. Evolving Web 2.0 technologies have made it it easier than ever to learn about, buy, sell, or rent properties. While your search preferences may range,  amongst others,  from Realtor.com, to Zillow or Trulia, each has its pluses and minuses when it comes to finding the right home for you.

I have found the clients I work with typically use several real estate search engines to “triangulate” on properties and areas of interest. My own online home search pages offer a blend of some of the best home search tools currently available to find real estate in Stuart, Florida, including links to our Multiple Listing Service through MLS Homefinder, MapTracks and Listingbook . These tools give you real time access to our MLS.

Online home search tools will generate a number of properties for your consideration. But it is raw data and not always accurate or up to date. That’s when it’s time to involve a local REALTOR®, who can provide expert knowledge of Stuart area homes and neighborhoods and represent you in your transaction (my out of town clients typically forward hundreds of property listings to me every day in order to gain feedback and guidance in selecting the best properties to see when they arrive).

As a Web savvy REALTOR® serving South Florida’s Treasure Coast, I can quickly filter your property selections through our MLS system, providing you with currently available listings. More important, as an agent with local expert knowledge, I will help you see past the “fluff” and recommend homes you will want to visit when it is time to schedule a tour.

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 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.

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. Note: short sale properties and foreclosures are not always in need of repairs or rehab, so even if you do not have resources to cover those things, a short sale could still work for you, but fewer homes that  match your situation would be available and the search more frustrating.

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”.

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 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.

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 the Hidden Oaks middle school (“A” rated, as are the nearby Palm City and Bessey Creek elementary schools). They gathered in groups for their walk home, which is not a common site in Florida where children are mostly bussed to school. My clients were further impressed to see people strolling, shopping and enjoying a snack at our local Panera Bread.

While touring Palm City’s homes and leafy neighborhoods both couples decided this was where they wanted to raise their family. Each chose four bedroom pool homes within walking distance of the middle school and minutes to I95.

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 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.

Inside discover the upgraded kitchen equipped with stainless appliances, granite counters, center island and walk-in pantry. Other features include central vacuum, built-in wall units, Saturnia tile in living areas and a luxury master suite with sitting area.

Cobblestone is guard-gated, patrolled and just minutes from I95, Palm City shopping and the new Citrus Grove elementary school. Optional membership to the private Fox Club is available.

Looking for luxury?  Contact Eric Slifkin at 888-288-1765 today!

At a recent “Brokers Open” I was pleasantly surprised to discover that  Centex has devised a whole new series of affordable homes with nine floor plans ranging from 1,698 through 3,300 square feet and priced from $229,990 to $296,990, giving first time home buyers an excellent opportunity to enjoy an upscale lifestyle at affordable prices.

What remains unchanged are the guard gated entry,  lushly landscaped grounds, heated community swimming pool and clubhouse with fitness center and catering facilities.

For first time home buyers seeking value in a luxury community Copperleaf is worth considering. The icing on the cake is its desirable Palm City location, “A” rated Martin County schools and easy access to major highways, shopping and entertainment.

The Violet Floorplan
Starting from $229,990 1,698 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms
1,698 Square Feet
3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms
2 Car Garage Attached
1 Story
Walk-in Pantry
Covered Patio
Walk-in Closet in Master
Dual Sinks in Master Bathroom

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 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.

Lease Terms

You may want to allow a shorter lease term or offer an early termination clause (you can charge a higher rent or require a cancellation fee). This works well for corporate transferees and relocating families who plan on purchasing a home. They also can be good tenants as their move is often subsidized or they have cash from the sale of their home.

Getting Creative

Offer a step-up lease for a desirable tenant who is unsure of the rent. A step-up lease starts at a lower rent and increases after a six month period. You may want to include verbiage that the tenant can cancel the lease without penalty at the end of six-months if he is unwilling to pay the rent increase.

-Be flexible about allowing small pets (with an additional pet fee or deposit).

-Allow the tenant to pay the security deposit over a period of several months.

About Credit Challenged Prospects

Due to the loss of a home and other issues arising from this economy, many prospective tenants will have damaged credit. You may want to be flexible on credit standards as many of these people have money and will need a home; it makes sense to try and find a way to work with them.

-Do not let a tenant with a poor credit history spread out his security deposit over several months.

-Be sure to perform a detailed background check.

-Set the ground rules going in. For example:

* The rent is due in full at the first of the month.
* The late fee goes into effect on the 4th.
* The eviction process starts on the 8th.
* If they vacate by the 15th, leaving the unit undamaged and broom-clean, their security will be returned, otherwise you will file suit.

I have been listing rental properties here in the Stuart area since 2003 with few problems. But I have had several evictions over the past year, largely due to the recession. That said, as a landlord it is important that you perform your due diligence and enforce tenant rules.

A drop in home buyer activity helped trigger a noticeable decline in home prices between May and June, according to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance Monthly Survey of Real Estate Market Conditions.  Download Report