Marco Island Real Estate Blog

We all have dreams that we are convinced we'll achieve one day.  Marco Island dreams are our business.  When it comes down to it, though, we are really afraid of our dreams. We're afraid of the unknown. We are afraid of actually taking the leap and making the commitment.  The grandest dreams we carry inside are tempered by a fear of failure and sometimes a fear of success.  We all know the expression, "be careful what you wish for, you might get it."  Most of us will admit that we're at least a little afraid of change. 

But change is good.  None of us are getting any younger and the clock is ticking.  The status quo, no matter how nice it may be, will satisfy us less and less over time.  We have to take action or life can get stale.  A shake-up can

Seawinds is a beachfront condiminium located on the south side of Marco Island.  Amenities include a pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts, exercise room and additional storage.  This 16 floor complex houses 96 units and was built in 1982.  It is one of the only complexes on Marco Island that allows weekly rentals. There are currently four units for sale that range in price from $399,000-$539,000. 

The least expensive unit for sale at $399,000 has been recently renovated and features granite countertops throughout and is located on the 1st floor.  This could be considered a benefit to some and a negative to others.  The next unit is priced at $449,999 and is on the second floor.  No upgrades are mentioned so for the price difference, the lower priced condo

If you know Marco Island, you know the Esplanade.  This colorful Mediteranean-styled property is home to not only some of the nicest waterfront condos on the island but also some of Marco's best restaurants.  Overlooking Smokehouse Bay, the condos have the views you've been dreaming of - long bay views past the marina that is always full of beautiful yachts and fishing vessels.

If you live at the Esplanade, you are only steps from your boat, a fantastic waterfront dinner, a cup of coffee at Starbuck's or a manny-pedi (whatever that is).  It's true.  You may not have to get in your car for weeks since the Winn-Dixie is just across Collier Blvd. 

Currently, there are 13 condos listed in the condominium ranging in price from $399,000 for a two

There are currently 41 condos for sale in the four Towers located at South Seas.  While the South Seas complex of condiminiums includes South Seas West (Towers 1 and 2), South Seas Northwest (Towers 3 and 4) South Seas North and South Seas East, our focus today will be on the four Towers.  All four Towers are beachfront.  Towers 1 and 2 share a pool and Towers 3 and 4 share a pool.  The amenities include a fitness club, tennis courts and walking trails.  The main difference between the two Towers is that Tower 1 and 2 allow renters for a maximum of one month whereas Towers 3 and 4 allow weekly rentals.  This can be a huge advantage to investors interested in keeping their unit rented as much as possible since South Seas Towers 3 and 4 are two of the

August was a good month in the Single Family Home (SFH) market on Marco Island.  Sales were brisk.  Listings are up.  Smiles are up. 

In August, New listings were up 15% over July and up a whopping 44% over August of last year.  Sold listings in August were up 12% over July and up 31% over August of 2011.  Pendings are following the same trend.The only cloud on this sunny day are August prices.  The August median SFH price is down about 2% when compared to August of last year.  Don't worry to much about that, though.  The year-to-date median price which is a much better barometer of price trends is up - 3.4%.  Not to shabby.

From an anecdotal perspective, our customers these days are not wasting time choosing a property to buy.  The general

The most visited listing this week on BuyMarco.com is this one on Greenview Street.  It is a short sale that has just come back on the market after being listed as pending for some time.  It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1275 square feet under air.  The swimming pool is icing on the cake.  If you have kids, you'll like the fact that it is located close to the elementary and middle schools.

Short sales can be tricky to get to closing.  There are many pitfalls along the way and banks don't seem to act reasonably or rationally when confronted with one.  If you decide to pursue a short sale in the interest of getting a good deal, beware.  While you wait, sometimes months, for the transaction to close you may miss other opportunities.  In fact, you must

As the season approaches here on Marco Island, many home owners thinking of selling have a dilemma.  There are so many real estate companies on the island, it can be difficult to choose the best one to sell your home.  Of course, I'm biased.  I think Remax is the best and I'll explain why in a minute but there are literally dozens of companies right here on Marco that will take your listing.

Some companies boast that they specialize in luxury homes, others brag about their newspaper advertisement budgets and others talk about how long they've been in business.  While these are all good arguments, it can be difficult to extrapolate how these various features will benefit you specifically.  What set of attributes will get the job done FOR YOU?

It's

Do you think you it would be valuable to know what is about to come onto the Marco Island real estate market in the coming weeks?  Of course it would.  The more information you can get, the better, right?  You need to know that you have had every opportunity to see the relevant inventory.

Selling real estate effectively means keeping your ear to the ground.  The most desirable properties go fast.  Sometimes, they sell before they even get listed.  How do you get to see these properties?  Well, your agent has to be paying attention.  They say that 90% of life is showing up.  Well, 90% of real estate sales is "product knowledge" and that means knowing as much about what will be coming to market as possible.

As your agents, it is our responsibility

When trying to sell your home, keep in mind that you are in a competition with other sellers in your area.  As with any race, you have to strategize and execute if you want to win.  Follow some of the tips below to get your home in top form and insure you beat out the competition.

1. Check out your competition.  Drive through the neighborhood and look for homes that are for sale.  Keep an eye out for open houses and go to them whenever possible.  Make a mental note of the condition of the homes and how they're priced.  You will probably start to notice a trend: the homes that are in the best shape and priced the most competitively sell the fastest and for the most money. 
2. Put your plan of attack together.  With the help of your Realtor , you can

Lately, the most popular listing each week on BuyMarco.com has been a condo.  Finally, a house takes top honors.  This week's winner is an inland home on Bluebird listed at only $149,000.  It's a 2 bedroom / 2 bath home with just under 1300 square feet of living area.  It is located in a nice area and is convenient to shopping, dining, resident's beach and the Jolley Bridge.  The roof is newer and the exterior has been updated nicely.

Zillow says this home was worth $476,000 at the peak of the market and it's value hasn't been below $200,000 in the last ten years.  Any way you slice it, $149,000 is a no-brainer price.  It currently has a renter in place so it's perfect for an investor looking for some positive cash flow.

Like we've been telling you