NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

Welcome to Florida. Sometimes, new residents in Florida think that feeding alligators is fun.  The reason that particular activity is against the law, is that gators are scared of people and stay away.  If they start to associate people with food, you don't need to have an MBA like me, to realize what might happen. Gators have simple brains, they believe that anything that comes near a lake to drink is prey.  That is the reason so many dogs have run afoul of this modern dinosaur.  Dogs act like prey. Except, our dog Max. Max was a rescue who spent his first year or two living out doors and was in rough shape when we got him.  He was scarred and anemic from ticks and had an eye infection, along with a broken nose that didn't heal correctly.   He's great now but, is not interested in being outside.  Although he has decided that his fulltime job is protecting my wife and baby, they are kind of on their own outside - Max likes to stay indoors where it's climate cont

Welcome to Florida. I usually blog about topics that are unique to home owners when they move to the state of Florida and are at the stage where they are still asking their neighbors to explain what St. Augustine Grass is.  Today though, I did want to touch on VA loans in the state of Florida.  Occasionally, people will ask me if VA loans are different in Florida and ask if it is worthwhile to apply for one. No, and Yes! Please apply for the loan unless you are paying cash!  Aside from occasional rumors that some VA appraisers assign lower values when they perform their appraisals ("Hogwash" I say) - I have never had anyone regret getting a VA loan.  You've earned this benefit and you should utilize it.  Aside from lower down payments, certain cash benefits will accrue for you which is determined by your member eligibility letter. Honestly, talk to your banker and ensure that this loan is available for you and your purchase and if it is go ahead and move forward.

Welcome to Florida. As a kid growing up in the Northeast, nice homes had light posts at the end of their driveway.  My friend Rose had one on each side of her family's property and, of course, I thought they were rich.  In fact, like most people in New England I thought driveway lights were always kinda "nice". Then I moved to Florida.  Wow! Until you have seen a true landscape lighting package lighting up multiple Royal Palm trees it is difficult to know how beautiful it is.  After Thanksgiving dinner this year my father in law and I put in 3 palm tree lights which cost about $100 total and my home now looks like we've put on an addition! So yeah, for $100, make your house look $100,000 more valuable.  That's definitely the most cost effective home improvement anyone can make! At least I think so...... © John Gaudiano Renovated Homes In SRQ

Welcome to Florida. Many times when people first move to Florida, they try to make their new home, resemble their old home that was in the North or, previous country.  That explains the fairly new prevalence of two story homes throughout the state. At one point, it also meant that new residents would remove all the white cabinets in the kitchen and replace them with cabinets of a color that was more popular in the place they came from.  Of course, occasionally I will be asked for my recommendation for the first home improvement and the my answer is always the same. Improve your pool. If you don't have one, get one - if you already have one, add new stonework or, a spa or, resurface the entire structure.  We're in Florida, we can use our pools 365 days a year.  And most of us do.  The patio may be larger than your home and almost certainly where you will spend many entertaining days.  So walk outside and decide exactly what improvement you will make to your lanai or logg