Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

Plaza at Five Points is an established luxury condominium building at 50 Central Avenue in the heart of Downtown Sarasota. Its defining advantage is location. Residents are positioned at Five Points near Main Street, restaurants, Sarasota Opera, Selby Public Library, Five Points Park and the broader

The best golf communities near Safety Harbor are generally found just outside the city, particularly East Lake Woodlands in Oldsmar, Countryside in Clearwater and the residential areas surrounding Belleair Country Club. East Lake Woodlands provides the strongest combination of a gated residential co

Choose a mortgage lender by comparing more than the advertised interest rate. Ask multiple lenders to price the same type of loan, then compare their Loan Estimates, APRs, lender-controlled fees, points or credits, projected payments and cash needed at closing. Also evaluate whether the loan officer

Some of the best golf courses in Englewood, Florida include Boca Royale Golf & Country Club, Lemon Bay Golf Club and Oyster Creek Golf Club, plus the five-course Rotonda Golf & Country Club collection in nearby Rotonda West. The choices range from private championship golf at Lemon Bay to semi-priva

Yes, you can make an offer on the first house you love. There is no required number of homes you need to tour before buying one. The better question is whether the property fits your priorities, budget and location needs after you look beyond the initial emotional reaction. Before making an offer, r

The best golf communities in St. Petersburg depend on whether you want island condominium living, a traditional country-club neighborhood, proximity to downtown or a home directly along a golf course. Isla del Sol stands out for combining golf, boating and condominium living near the beaches. Pasade

Some of the best golf courses near Osprey, Florida include The Oaks Club directly in Osprey, Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club on Palmer Ranch, Mission Valley Golf & Country Club and Calusa Lakes Golf Club in nearby Nokomis, and Serenoa Golf Club in south Sarasota. Golfers can choose between private c

Yes. A Florida home can have both homeowners association fees and Community Development District assessments because an HOA and a CDD are separate entities with different purposes. An HOA is a private association that operates under the community's governing documents, while a CDD is a governmental

If you are buying a home in Florida, a termite or wood-destroying organism inspection can be a valuable part of your property due diligence. Florida's climate is highly favorable for termites, and damage may exist even when a home looks well maintained. A general home inspection can identify visible

As an early planning estimate, home buyers can budget roughly 2% to 5% of the purchase price for closing costs, not including the down payment, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That means a $400,000 purchase might suggest an initial planning range of about $8,000 to $20,000, wh

The best golf courses near Bird Key include The Resort at Longboat Key Club for private and resort-access island golf, Bobby Jones Golf Club for outstanding public golf in Sarasota, Sara Bay Country Club for a classic private Donald Ross experience, and The Meadows for additional public options. Bir

A final walkthrough is a buyer's opportunity to visit the home shortly before closing and confirm that its condition is generally consistent with the purchase agreement and transaction expectations. Buyers typically use the walkthrough to check that agreed repairs were completed, included fixtures a

Condo association insurance and your individual condo policy protect different parts of condominium ownership. In Florida, the association generally insures the condominium property and common elements it is responsible for, while an individual unit-owner policy, commonly called an HO-6 policy, can

The best places to live in Punta Gorda for golfers depend on whether you want golf bundled with your home, a smaller established golf neighborhood, private-club access, public golf nearby, or golf combined with boating. Heritage Landing stands out for newer resort-style golf-community living, while

A fixer-upper may be the better choice if you can buy at a price that leaves enough room for realistic renovation costs, have the time and tolerance to manage projects, and can finance both the purchase and improvements. A move-in-ready home may be better if you value predictable costs, want to occu

Some of the best golf courses in St. Petersburg, Florida include Mangrove Bay for straightforward public golf, Vinoy Golf Club for a historic private and resort experience, St. Petersburg Country Club for private championship golf, and Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club for golf near the southern wat

Yes, having student loans does not automatically prevent you from buying a house. Mortgage lenders generally consider the monthly payment associated with your student debt along with your income, credit, other debts, down payment and proposed housing expense. One important measurement is your debt-t

A mortgage lender generally requires an appraisal to obtain an independent opinion of the property’s market value and determine whether the home provides adequate collateral for the proposed loan. The lender is not simply financing the buyer, it is making a loan secured by the property. An appraisal

The best golf communities near Dunedin depend on whether you want to live directly beside a course, belong to a private club, play an executive course within your community, or simply keep several strong golf options nearby. Fairway Estates stands out for buyers who want to remain in Dunedin beside

Before buying a home with a pool, inspect more than whether the water looks clean. Buyers should investigate the pool surface, structure, decking, coping, pumps, filters, heaters, plumbing, electrical components, drainage, safety features and any screened enclosure. Ask about the age of major equipm