A lot of Canadians have second homes in the United States because they like to travel and enjoy spending their vacation time in areas where the weather is inhabitable! Canadians actually are the leaders when it comes to foreign home purchasers in the United States. Are you a snowbird, or do you want to be? It's no secret that there are some great places in the U.S. where you can purchase a vacation home, but you might be worried about taxes. These are one of the most problematic things about purchasing that vacation home, and can make your investment a lot more of a problem than you thought it need to be. But, don't fear! With the tips below you may be able to minimize your taxes!
If you're looking for a Marco Island condo with an amazing view, you have to check out Riviera. This luxury condominium is the flagship of the popular Royal Marco Point triumvirate in the Hideaway Beach community. Besides being spacious and comfortable beach condos, what makes these condos special is the dynamic view they all share. Riviera is located at the northwestern tip of the island and overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, the Marco River, Isles of Capri, Sea Oat Island and Tigertail Beach. All day long, boats cruise by along with dolphins and pelicans, too.
Built in 1995, Riviera condos are available with either two or three bedrooms and either three or three-and-a-half bathrooms. Prices currently range from $1.2MM to 2.1MM according to the
Fiddler's Creek is a unique development located about four miles from Marco Island in Naples, Florida. It's so unique and so vast that we decided that our flagship site, BuyMarco.com, could not really cover it adequately. That's why we have spent the last eight months developing FiddlersCreekLife.com. Our clients needed a website devoted to all of the fantastic Fiddler's Creek real estate and the lifestyle that goes along with it. While we have "gone live", we will still be refining it in the weeks and months to come so check back often.
Fiddler's Creek Resales
What's different about FiddlersCreekLife.com? First, it includes resales. While the other websites have done a pretty good job of delivering information
For the last few years now, the word "foreclosure" has been on the lips of half the buyers that contact us. Now, the vast majority of those don't limit their home shopping to foreclosures. In fact, very few actually buy one but it certainly has been a well-worn topic. These days, foreclosures have all but disappeared from Marco Island. The Marco Island MLS currently shows only four foreclosures on Marco Island. For any variety, you are going to have to look for foreclosures in Naples, FL.
Where have all the foreclosures gone? Well, there were never that many to begin with - on Marco Island, that is. Marco certainly took a hit when the market collapsed in 2006 and our foreclosure rate climbed
"Is Marco Island boring?" Someone asked me this question the other day. Certainly, no one will confuse Marco Island with Las Vegas. There are no night clubs here. No strip clubs. No casinos. College kids looking for a wild place to go for Spring Break will not choose Marco. Mickey Mouse isn't here. So yes, I guess Marco Island might be "boring." In fact, I know it is.
Lounging around the pool watching the palm trees sway in the breeze is boring. Of course, playing golf in your shorts in January is not nearly as exciting as sliding sideways down an icy road west of Chicago. The sweet aroma of our flowers will never compare to the plethora of odors you'll encounter on the streets of New York City.
Goodland takes the cake for "most intersting place" in southwest Florida. There really is nothing like this ecclectic little village just east of Marco Island on San Marco Road. If you own real estate in Goodland, you have something special. Goodland is tiny and grabbing that perfect little piece of it can be competitive.
Goodland has been called "the drinking village with a fishing problem." When you arrive in Goodland, you're greeted by two famous bars - Stan's Idle Hour and Little Bar. Stan's is the place to go for a cold one and a burger in the sunshine of Florida. They always seem to have some quality live entertainment on stage outside and the Sunday parties are notorious for good times. Of course, Stan's is a great place to take your
Is thirteen really an unlucky number? Not when it comes to real estate on Marco Island. Thirteen may be the luckiest number.
Back when Marco was being developed, they divided the island into sections called units and we still use this system to refer to various areas of the island. When you arrive on Marco Island, you're in Unit 1. Tigertail is Unit 12. The South End is Unit 10. You get the picture.
Well, Unit 13 is the granddaddy of them all. It's the Estates. The real estate in the Estates is the most valuable on the island. The stunning mansions are absolutely world-class and on par with anything you'd find in Port Royal over in Naples. The architecture of some of these homes is nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail
If you're in search of a second home that is close to the beach, has low fees and taxes and has great rental potential, look no further than Southwind. Sometimes referred to as Southwinds or South Wind, this pristine condominium is a perennial favorite on Marco Island. Currently, there is only one unit available in the 80 unit complex. Obviously, condos in Southwind are in demand. In fact, condos under $100,000 on Marco Island are soon to be extinct.
The one unit currently available in Southwind is an unfurnished efficiency priced at $73,800. It such a good deal, I had to blog about it. It is a foreclosure owned by Bank of America. It was last purchased in 2005 for $189,000. Maintenance fees are only $280 per month and include master
Currently, there are only five short sales in all of Fiddler's Creek. The luxury community has rebounded solidly since the real estate crash a few years ago. Priced from $115,000 to $245,000, these short sales offer an economical way to move into one of the most luxurious and amenity-rich developments in southwest Florida.
If you're not familiar with the homes and condos of Fiddler's Creek, browse the photos of the current listings here. The attention to detail is top-notch from the afforable condos to the luxury golf-course homes. The centerpiece of the community is the Club and Spa. This state-of-the-art country club and spa has every amenity you could ask for. There's a huge resort-style pool, fitness center, two restaurants, social room, pro
Over the last two years, we've watched certain segments of our real estate market on Marco Island heat up. As the runaway train of descending home values gradually slowed down, we'd notice that the buyers would gravitate to one segment and then another with no rhyme or reason. In 2012 it was lots. The number of lots sold in 2012 was up 74% above the level set in 2011. While this run on lots was underway, condos and single-family homes weren't ignored by any means, but sales increases were not close to that of lots.
Since then, we've seen periodic runs on low-priced waterfront homes, beach condos and then inland homes. Now, Marco Island luxury homes are getting scarce. We're seeing buyers and investors coming over from Miami because the market
