NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

When people first move to Florida they ask me about pools.  Usually they fall into the "I think they might be fun, but don't care that much about having one", or the "if I don't have a pool I might as well be a rancher in Texas, than live in Florida" categories.  I have to admit, growing up in New England, I didn't know a ton of people with pools but the ones that did have then had a great deal of fun for about 60 days per year.  Never seemed like a fiscally responsible thing to do. Then I bought a house with one. The term "life changing" is to insignificant to apply to the day I owned a home with a pool.  The fun you can have with a $2 inflatable ball and a bottle of champagne on a Sunday afternoon is indescribable.  I do have a friend I'll call Zark Meitler, who has told me about a pool design with hot tub and volcano but that's a bit too much for me.  I just want a place were you can have 6 family members playing volley ball for ...

I always enjoy hearing people argue about how their personal view of sunset is the best.  I've heard some folks say that the view on the Gulf is great during sunset but soon there after, there is simply a 'black curtain dropped'.  I've also witnessed an argument between two grown men about which balcony in their condo building had the best view.  This was my favorite disagreement mostly because the two guys lived next door to each other. I will now let you in on a secret many of us here on the Suncoast (and elsewhere) know, it doesn't matter what your view of sunset is, what matters is who you watch it with..... In fact, even if you have to drive to the beach to watch the sun set into the Gulf, if you end up playing in the water - you actually have the best view imaginable.  At least that one man's opinion. ©  John Gaudiano http://johngaudiano.com

Because I spend so much time (and have for years) showing visitors various condos on the Suncoast, I have become an ocean view expert on Siesta Key.  If you have any questions about a particular condo association or want to know what I would suggest about the view you are looking for, please give me a call today.  The 25,000 hours I have spent visiting various developments on Siesta Key will be a help to you.  I promise........ ©  John Gaudiano http://sunnysiestakey.com

I often hear from visitors that they could not live fulltime in Florida "because we don't have seasons".  Well I'm here to tell you, we do, and it's not summer and then a week that's kind of chilly.  We have true seasons, all four. Sometimes people mean they want to see snow, well my first year in Sarasota it snowed but that's a once every 20 years phenomenon.   But it is cold and dry in the winter, many of our trees loose their leaves, summer is hot and wet and fall is perfect wether for most people every day and spring catches most folks flat footed as the temps raise. However, by far, my favorite season in Florida is Christmastime!  On nice days you can boat or spend time at the beach working on your tan and at night you can enjoy chilly temps and the chance to wear winter clothes for the first time in 10 months.  If you are dying to see snow, all the theme parks have snow attractions and there is nothing better than enjoying dry movie snow at 61 ...

A few years ago one of the guys in my office was trying to shoot a video of a very high-end home in Lakewood Ranch and was walking through the place in just his socks when he slipped and fell in the middle of the home's great room.  The video camera clattered away from him and he was screaming "Oh No, Nooo!" like my little sister.  It goes without saying that the video is hilarious and one of my favorites of all time.  I've probably watched the thing a hundred times, it's that good!  Because of this, I will always remember that house and what the interior was like. This episode got me thinking, why aren't all real estate video tours more entertaining so that the viewer will watch repeatedly and be able to give all his or her circle the rundown on the place and ask others to watch the video.  Case in point, the video below was done in one take on my phone, after my supporting cast had enjoyed a bottle of champagne.  Needless to say, the video received hund...

I almost jumped through my television a few weeks ago, when I was watching HGTV.  I love the House Hunters show and even tape it (geek).  This particular episode was fun, because it was in Florida and the people were looking at homes and condos in various neighborhoods.  Well, at the first stop the wife turns to the realtor and asks if there are any alligators in the lake, behind the house.  He replied "probably not". WHAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?! Look, every single body of water in Florida has alligators!  EVERY ONE!  In bad storms they can even get swept out to the ocean (although the salt bothers them and they become lackadaisical in it).  But every lake, pond, stream, creek and large puddle has AT LEAST one alligator.  They fear humans and stay away, unless someone has fed them and occasionally they mistake dogs for deer and attack.  But, they are just to be treated with respect, given distance and left alone.  They are there, but won't bother ...

I love all the different lifestyles in Florida, from golf courses to tennis communities to marina neighborhoods.  They are all great and if you spend some time talking about what you want and make a solid decision you can't really go wrong.  In fact, sometimes people will say they want to be "on the water" without too much thought.  That's where I can help.  Because, you need to be way more specific, particularly in Florida. You have to decide why you want to be on the water.  Is it the view, or boat access or wild life?  Have you thought about lakes in addition to the ocean?  What about rivers?  Or Creeks?  And my newest favorite..... Wait for it....... Bayous!!!  Yes, half the state is the Gulf Coast and we have Bayous.  Typically defined as protected salt waterways with access to the ocean.  They are tidal, often have manatees (especially in the winter) and are perhaps the most affordable type of waterfront property.  S...

As a boater, the idea of having your boat right at your home can be extremely appealing.  What would be better that pulling up at your own home and docking your boat so you can preform clean up at ease and have no drive to contend with from the marina home? Fairly new to Florida is the idea of rackominiums.  The dry boat storage that has been condo-ized so you can keep your boat boat out of the water in a covered area so it is protected from salt and sun.  The added benefit at most rackominiums is that the onsite staff flushes the engine for you and washes down the hull. I think these things are great investments, extend the life of your boat by protecting it from salt and the brutal Florida sun and increase your amount of time on the water by cutting down on clean up.  Most folks will agree with that sentiment, but not having a boat behind your home may also improve your view. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of sitting on a dock and enjoying an adult beverage wh...

I'm fortunate enough to live in Sarasota with all of it's natural beauty and solid economic climate.  I also enjoy selling brand new construction homes because the vast majority of our builders are the top of their field and my experience has been so positive over time.  I always do hesitate though, when someone says that they want to build a house so they get EXACTLY what they want.  Sure, you can get many features that are important to you, but your building choices (while varied) will be absolutely constrained by your budget.    I also think there is a slight benefit to buying a home that has been owned by someone else for more than one year.  This allows the bugs to be worked out.  I knew one builder that had a wonderful design on paper but there was one interior door that swung in a direction that made master closet access difficult.  Sure enough, everyone that purchased this home changed/modified/improved the closet area ofter a couple of mo...

I have to admit when I first heard about salt water pools I wasn't sure that I heard the person telling me about them correctly.  I mean they sounded like something from the future, or itchy. They are neither, salt pools are the wave (excuse the pun) of the future and the standard by which most pools will be built in the years to come.  This is true for one reason and one reason only.  EASE OF MAINTENANCE.  Seriously, a salt pool is about 10% of the work that a traditional pool is.  They are cleaner, easy to balance and just as hygienic as traditional pools.  The only down side is the cost (roughly $1,500) for the equipment, but other than that there is no downside.  BTW, that amount will pay for itself in no time as soon as you fire your pool guy. So if you don't believe me just stop by my house and I'll show you how easy it is to operate and enjoy your pool.  But it should probably be during the week because I'm usually showing houses on Saturda...

Some people get mad when they see a home in Florida without a pool!  They say, "Didn't you move here for the weather and why don't you want to have all that fun?!?"  I get that, but I'm not one of those people.  Having a pool in a personal choice, that needs to be weighed and carefully thought out.  You need to factor in expense, maintanance, space etc and factor in fun, too. With that said, from a real estate marketing perspective I have NEVER had anyone that wouldn't buy a home with a pool in Florida.  I've had people that want a pool, want room for a pool or will buy a home even though it doesn't have a pool.  I have NEVER, EVER had a buyer tell me they won't buy a place because it has a pool. So here's the thing, if you're buying a place in Florida if all things are equal get the place with the pool.  I mean from an investment standpoint it makes sense, plus you don't want anyone saying,  "Didn't you move here for the weath...

Because of the favorable tax structure, the climate and the vast array of outdoor activities such as boating and golf, many celebrities call Florida home.  This is especially true in Sarasota, with an airport large enough to accommodate the biggest private jets and some of the most lavish homes in the state, we have more than our fair share of "beautiful people". Often when I'm showing properties on one of our local keys (Casey, Siesta, Manasota etc.) people will ask to see where the closest celebrity domicile is located.  Since these spots are well known, I'll drive by and point at the private gate which invariably makes folks happy.  There seems no downside to celebrity locations.    For the most part. You see, now that "celebrity" is defined as having a reality show (or something much worse), there is an element of celebrity which may not be the type of person (or family) you want your kids or grand kids to be...

As often happens on the weekends, I found myself in the former residence of the only dog ever to accumulate a net worth greater than $10 million; when someone asked me why I spend so much time at the Helmsley Sandcastle.  First off, if you do not know the story of "Trouble", the richest dog in the world, you should.  It's actually a cautionary tale (pardon the pun) for family relationships and what money can do, if you're not careful. Secondly, the Sandcastle is a fabulous resort that seems frozen in time circa 1972 on Lido Key.  The pool and bar area are the epitome of grace and elegance from an earlier time.  (But be warned, if you act in a manner that seems disrespectful to "Trouble" the employees will firmly ensure that you leave the resort and do not come back.)  My wife and I love the resort and swim in the pool on a regular basis.  This is "old Florida" at it's best.  Amazing beaches, great service and int...

As a former banker, I'm always taken aback when someone describes the actions of a bank in terms you might normally ascribe to a human being.  Banks do not make emotional decisions, sometimes the decisions seem irrational, but you really need an advanced degree in macro economics to understand how risk adjusted assets (loans) are dealt with once they go bad.  Sometimes economics dictate that the bank dispose of the asset as quickly as possible, and at other times that is not the case. Banks also make mistakes.  Not always big ones, either.  Sometimes just believing that a million dollar home is worth $1.1 million is a blunder that that has the home sit on the market for years while some underwriter a thousand miles away is stymied by the lack of offers.  I suppose that is a small mistake which becomes larger overtime. At any rate, it's always better to have someone on the ground looking at the bank owned property you are interested in just in case the bank ...

When I was new to real estate I remember working with a couple trying to sell their home on their own.  They were retired and were trying to save money and couldn't afford "to pay a big commission".  Many Realtors will report the same experience and invariably it begins "when I was new to real estate" and there is a simple reason for that.  Actually, there are several but let me highlight the biggest here: Here in Sarasota nearly 100% of the sales have a Realtor involved, so when you meet a for sale by owner (FSBO) person, they are part of the 1% of the people who don't understand how much time and money goes into marketing.  Essentially, having a FSBO property is an indication that the owners may be stubborn or difficult to work with, and many Realtors will pass on using their valuable time deal with a difficult seller.  Real estate is a commodity, and we can find a similar property for our buyer. The FSBO home is often difficult to access....

There's an alligator I know well enough to refer to as "that gentleman", although that's being kind as I have seen him eat all manner of God's creatures.  I guess it's part of the plan, but if you've ever been walking your dog down a dark trail before sunrise and come across a mature alligator walking out of the woods, you might question that plan. At any rate, some "New to Florida" friends of mine where teasing me about my gator "hyper-vigilance" although they said they could not really relate since they lived on the beach and never had to worry about gators....... Huh?!?!?! Okay, see if you can stay with me:  Alligators live in rivers, lakes, ponds and all other water in the state.  Occasionally we get driving rains here that push everything in these small bodies of water towards the ocean.  Why on Earth would you not think a gator would get washed to the beach you live on?  It's unenviable.  The last time it happened was in Venic...