Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

Property taxes can change substantially after you buy a Florida house, especially when the seller has owned and homesteaded the property for many years. A change of ownership generally causes the property's assessed value to be reset to just value as of January 1 following the change of ownership. T

A contingent offer is an offer to buy a home that makes the transaction dependent on one or more specified conditions being satisfied according to the purchase contract. Common contingencies can involve financing, inspections, appraisal or other property and transaction matters. If an applicable con

Some of the best child-friendly places in Venice, Florida include Centennial Park and its splash pad, Legacy Park's train-themed playground, Venice Beach, Maxine Barritt Park, the Venice Fishing Pier area and downtown Venice's Shark Spotting and fairy-door adventures. Families can also explore natur

There is no fixed number of years you must own a home for buying to make financial sense, but your expected ownership period matters. Buying and eventually selling involve transaction costs, and it can take time for mortgage principal reduction and any home appreciation to offset those expenses. Fiv

You should consider having a structural engineer evaluate a home when a general inspection, visible condition, property history or planned renovation raises a meaningful question about the building's structural performance. Examples can include significant or unusual cracking, apparent foundation mo

A pending special assessment is not automatically a reason to avoid buying a condo, but it is a reason to investigate carefully before moving forward. The key questions are why the assessment is needed, whether it has actually been approved, how much could be allocated to the unit, what work it will

Lakewood National is a gated golf community in Lakewood Ranch built around 36 holes of Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf. Unlike communities where buyers purchase a home and then separately decide whether to join a private club, Lakewood National uses a bundled model that connects the golf an

Living in Bradenton Beach means combining Gulf beaches, bay waters, boating, restaurants, Historic Bridge Street and a varied coastal real estate market within the southern portion of Anna Maria Island. Buyers can find everything from direct Gulf-front condominiums and bayfront residences to townhom

Nautilus Condominiums is a Gulf-front community at 7100 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The official Nautilus property website identifies 35 two-bedroom, two-bathroom residences occupying an entire beachfront block, with no road to cross between the property and the beach. Community

Casa Sierra is a small four-unit condominium community in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, with residences at 203 and 205 36th Street. The property is not directly Gulf-front, but current management information places the Gulf beach approximately a two-minute walk away. Casa Sierra combines two-be

Bay Bella Vista is a small bayfront condominium community at 244 S Harbor Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Current property and association information supports a six-residence community built in 1983, with water views, a community pool and waterfront access. Verified residences include t

Island Beach Club is a small Gulf-front condominium community at 3013 Avenue F in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Current public records and property information support a 10-unit community built in 1974, with direct beach access, Gulf views and a shared swimming pool. Verified individual residen

Coconuts Beach Resort at 100 73rd Street in Holmes Beach offers a straightforward version of Anna Maria Island beachfront living: compact condominiums directly on the Gulf, immediate beach access, a shared heated swimming pool and a central Holmes Beach location. Current property information shows o

Coquina Beach Club is a small Gulf-front condominium community at 1906 Gulf Drive North in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. The property offers direct access to the Gulf beach, Gulf-facing balconies, a community swimming pool and parking associated with individual residences. Current property i

Tradewinds Beach Resort at 1603 Gulf Drive North offers one of the more distinctive cottage-style settings in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Instead of a conventional multistory condominium tower, Tradewinds features colorful coastal cottages and apartments surrounded by tropical landscaping,

Sunset Villas is a small six-residence condominium community at 1001 Gulf Drive South in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Positioned across Gulf Drive from the Gulf of Mexico, the community combines beach access, Gulf views, screened outdoor spaces and a heated pool with the lower-density atmos

Beau Ciel is a boutique luxury condominium at 990 Boulevard of the Arts near Sarasota Bay and downtown Sarasota's northern waterfront. With approximately 44 residences, private elevator entry, 24-hour concierge service, a fitness center, social spaces, pool and spa, Beau Ciel offers a different expe

Some of the best pet-friendly restaurants in Bradenton include PIER 22 for downtown waterfront dining, 3 Keys Brewing and Eatery for a casual beer-garden atmosphere, and several additional restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor seating. Head west toward Cortez and Bradenton Beach and the choices expa

Earnest money and a down payment are not the same thing. Earnest money is a good-faith deposit connected with your purchase contract, typically paid after you enter into the agreement and held in escrow while the transaction moves toward closing. A down payment is the portion of the home's purchase

When touring a house, try to look past things that are relatively easy to change, including paint colors, furniture, decorating style, clutter and many cosmetic finishes. Instead, concentrate on characteristics that are difficult or expensive to change, such as location, floor plan, room dimensions,