Are Homeowners’ Associations a Good Thing?  I would say that answer depends on what is important to you.

Let’s first talk about what a Homeowners’ Association is.  A HOA, or Homeowners’ Association, is a private organization typically established within a residential community or neighborhood to manage and enforce certain rules, regulations, and standards for the properties within that community.  Membership is usually mandatory but can be voluntary.

Some of the benefits of a neighborhood HOA may include:

Amenities: Many HOAs provide amenities such as pools, gyms, parks, club houses and common areas.

Security:  Some HOA fees cover the cost of a security system.  This could be as simple as a gate at the neighborhood entrance or could include security guards as well.

Maintenance Assistance: Many HOAs are responsible for maintaining and managing common areas within the community, such as parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, and landscaping. The cost of maintaining these areas is typically covered by the fees paid by homeowners.

Sense of Community: HOAs can foster a sense of community by organizing neighborhood potlucks, block parties, and other events. They may also mediate conflicts to ensure everyone in the neighborhood’s needs are met. Some offer neighborhood watch programs as well. This can be helpful for anyone who wants to have a close relationship with neighbors.

Protected Home Values: HOAs often have an architectural review committee that reviews and approves or denies proposed changes or additions to individual properties, ensuring that they conform to community standards. This can ensure cohesion and boost the overall aesthetic. HOA’s rules can also ensure everyone in the neighborhood maintains homes and curb appeal, protecting property values throughout the neighborhood.

Disadvantages of an HOA may include the following:

Fees, Fines, or Assessments: HOAs charge monthly or annual fees to cover things like maintenance and management costs. HOAs are also allowed to charge fines or special assessments for a breach of regulations or to cover unexpected costs like repairs or improvements. Fees can vary significantly from one HOA to another, and some will be more aggressive in applying fines than others.  Some HOA charge a first-time buyer’s fee.  They may even go so far as to require the board’s approval before you can purchase in the neighborhood.

Exterior Restrictions: HOAs can have strict rules about building renovations, exterior modifications, paint colors, landscaping, and even lawn decor or parking on the street.   Some rules may include no parking your boat or RV in your driveway.  This can feel restricting to some homeowners.

Lack of Property Versatility: Some HOAs will have rules restricting long-term renting, short-term renting (like an Airbnb), long-term guests, and even dog breeds, among other things. This can make your property less usable than a home outside of an HOA’s purview.

Rule Interpretation: HOA rules can be complex and, at times, subject to interpretation. This can lead to confusion and frustration if not addressed correctly. Changes in leadership can further complicate matters if rules are enforced differently than in the past.

How much is my home worth?  How does a Realtor determine the Market Value of your home?  Realtors determine the market value of a home through a combination of factors, data analysis, and their expertise in the local real estate market.  Of course, many people like to check out the Zillow estimate – to find out why I wouldn’t recommend that, click here.  Here’s an overview of the process I typically follow:

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA):

This is the primary methods realtors use to determine a home’s market value. I research recently sold properties in the same neighborhood or similar areas that are comparable to the subject property.  I look for home similar in terms of size, age, features, and condition.  By comparing recent sales prices, I can estimate a range within which the subject property’s value might fall.

Property Inspection and Condition: 

In order to do a proper assessment, I need to see a home in person.  I consider the current condition of the property. I assess factors such as the age of the home, its architectural style, the quality of construction, any recent renovations or updates, and the overall maintenance level. Have there been updates to the kitchen, baths, flooring, lighting, appliances, HVAC, roof, hot water heater, etc.  These factors can impact the value of the property.

Location:

The location of a property is a crucial factor in determining its value. Realtors consider aspects like proximity to schools, shopping centers, parks, beaches, and the overall desirability of the neighborhood.  Whether the home is waterfront or water view.

Current Market Trends:

I stay updated on current real estate market trends. I analyze whether the market is currently favoring buyers or sellers, the supply and demand dynamics, and whether property values are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable.

Local Market Knowledge:

Experienced realtors have in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market. They understand the unique characteristics of different neighborhoods, including historical trends and potential future developments that could impact property values.

Comparable Listings:

In addition to recently sold properties, I also consider active listings that are currently on the market. These listings provide insights into what other sellers are asking for similar properties, which can help realtors gauge the competition and adjust their valuation accordingly.  I look at how long those homes have been on the market.

Economic Factors:

Broader economic factors, such as interest rates, unemployment rates, and local economic conditions, can also influence property values.

Appraisal Reports:

While not determined by realtors themselves, they often consider recent appraisal reports when assessing a property’s value. Appraisers provide an independent estimate of a property’s value based on a similar set of criteria.  I collect as many appraisals as I can to keep up with how much value an appraiser attaches to specific items.  For example, how much is a 3-car garage vs a 2-car garage worth?  Are appraisers giving value for solar panels?

Adjustments:

I make adjustments to the comparable properties I use in my analysis to account for differences between the subject property and the comparables. For example, if the subject property has an extra bedroom or a larger lot size, adjustments are made to reflect these differences.

Professional Judgment:

Finally, realtors apply their professional judgment and experience to weigh all these factors and arrive at a reasonable estimate of the property’s market value. This is where my expertise in the local market plays a crucial role.

It’s important to note that while realtors are highly knowledgeable, the market value they provide is an estimate, and the actual sale price of a property can vary based on factors such as negotiation skills, buyer interest, and economic changes. If you’re looking to sell your home or find out how much your home is worth, it’s a good idea to consult with a local real estate professional.  Call me at 850.974.0869!

Does your garage count as living space?  Well, some might think so because their spouse seems to “live” in there.  However, most people don’t think so.  What about a garage that is heated & cooled or one that’s been “converted”.  Typically, your garage is not counted in the square footage of your home.  If your garage is heated and cooled, this is certainly a bonus that most buyers will appreciate, but it doesn’t make it living space.

Total square feet of living space is different from total area under the roof, another type of home measurement. Total area under the roof includes porches, garages and balconies.  In general, living square footage typically refers to the areas of a home that are finished and habitable, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and other living spaces. Garages are usually not considered part of the living square footage because they are not designed or intended for regular habitation. Instead, garages are primarily meant for vehicle parking, storage, and often house utility equipment like water heaters and furnaces.

What if you convert your garage to living space?  Well, that depends on just how far you took the conversion.  If you turned the space into a mancave or your personal gym, that doesn’t automatically count.  In general, the space needs to be completed to the same like-kind quality and finishes as the rest of the living space.

What is your garage worth as just a garage?  A typical garage will add about $10,000 per bay to the value of your home.  Certainly, upgrades like oversized, built-in cabinets, a workshop area, epoxied floor, electric car charging port, etc.  will add additional value and appeal.

What about carports?  They also add value to the home based on the size, construction and condition.

So does your garage count as living space?  In most cases the answer is no.  If you’re not sure, you can contact a local property appraiser or realtor to find out.

I don’t know about you, but the words “picture day” bring back memories of school pictures. Oh the stress of what to wear, hoping for a good hair day and praying for no bad acne! Yikes! Picture day for your home is an important step for selling. As I’m sure you know, most buyers decide whether to even consider a home based on what they see online. Poor photos could cost you potential buyers. So, let’s talk about how to get the best photos of your home. Let’s get your home ready for Picture Day!

Cleaning and decluttering:

Hopefully these are steps that you took well before picture day. It’s best to pack up any items that you can part with until you move. Donate any items that you no longer want or need. Give your home a deep clean. Turn on all the lights and really take a good look at your home. Looks at the cleanliness of the walls, baseboards, light switches, cabinet fronts, appliances, etc. We tend to not see some on these things in the hustle and bustle of our daily living. Empty as many things out of your closets as possible – try to have the  floor empty.

Clear the counters:

Clean almost everything off of your kitchen and bathroom counters. Put away cleaning supplies, toilet brushes, trash cans and plungers. The same goes for nightstands, and dressers; there should be just a few decorative items on these. Empty out your showers. Put down the toilet seats.  

Make the beds:

Make up the beds. Picture what you would expect the bed to look like if you were checking into a nice hotel. Make sure you can’t see any items that may be store under the bed.

Ready the exterior:

Be sure the lawn has been recently mowed and edged. Bushes should be trimmed. Fresh mulch is always a plus. Make sure outdoor trash cans are not visible and no cars should be in the driveway. Hopefully your home and driveway were pressure washed if needed. Clean the windows and screens. 

Lights, camera, action:

Make sure that you do not have any burned-out light bulbs. Ideally you want to replace your bulbs with matching “daylight” bulbs.  

Professional Photographer: Yes, a professional photographer is worth every penny. I know we all have stellar cameras on our cell phones these days. Your cell phone camera will still not take better photos than a pro. Not to mention a photographer has a good eye for what angles to take photos. They understand how to best show off your home.

It’s picture day! Are you ready? If you hired a good realtor, you will be. Let’s Get your Home Ready for Picture Day!

What is an Estate Sale and when should you do one?  Most people think of an estate sale as the selling off of all of a homeowner’s possessions after they pass away.  That is certainly when a lot of estate sales happen.  Estate sales also may happen when the homeowner moves into assisted living or with a family member.  They can also take place when a homeowner is looking to downsize.  At some point, a lot of homeowners decide they are no longer in need of the amount of space they have in their home, and they are ready for less upkeep and maintenance.  This is a great time to downsize.  Once you have an idea of the size of your new home and your current home is under contract, you can have an estate sale to sell they furniture and other items that you do not plan to move.

When the estate sale is going to take place prior to the sale of the home, I suggest that the owners and/or close family members go through the home and remove any items they wish to keep.  There really is no need to do anything else.  Next the estate sale company will come in and organize and price everything.  They will sell things you might not expect such as open cleaning supplies, food in the pantry, open spice containers and more.  They are informed on what items are worth and will sell for.  It’s important to work with a reputable company.  A reputable company will make the homeowner (or other responsible party) aware of any items they come across that they feel the family may want to keep but may have missed.  It’s not unheard of for them to find cash hidden various places.

When the estate sale is going to take place after the sale of the home.  The items to be sold need to be separated from the items to kept.  Again, the company will go through and price everything.

Estate sale companies will often times list items for sale online prior to the actual sale.  The sale itself can happen in 2 ways.  They can advertise a sale and make it open to the public.  They can also do a sale by appointment only.

What happens to items that don’t sell?  If the estate sale company has a physical store, they may agree to buy the items and place them in their store.  Items may also be donated to a local charity.

How do estate sale companies get paid?  Some companies take a percentage of the sales.  40% is a typical percentage to expect to pay.  Other companies charge by the hour.  I think in the end, most people would agree that they walk away with at least as much money as they would have if they conducted the sale on their own.  They will also agree that it saved them a lot of time and stress.

When should you do an estate sale?  If you are looking to downsize or sell the contents of a now vacant home, contact me and I can connect you with some great estate sale companies.  Let me and other professionals guide you through what can be a daunting process.  I can make it easier for you!

What’s keeping you from buying a home?  If lack of funds for closing costs and/or a down payment are the issue, I may have a solution for you.  The Hometown Heroes Housing Program (HHHP) was created in 2022 to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income-qualified homebuyers to help them buy a home in the community where they work. This assistance is provided via a zero-interest loan that is repaid when the home is sold, rented or transferred.

The program was so successful that the Florida Legislature decided to expand it this year.  They made changes that make even more people eligible.  They added $100,000,000 more to HHHP.  Previously this assistance was only available to certain professions.  Now under the new guidelines, all full-time, Florida-based employees at or below 150% Area Median Income are now eligible.  In Okaloosa County that income limit is currently $139,650 and in Walton County it is $128,250 for an FHA or VA loan.  The maximum loan amount increased from $25,000 to $35,000, while the cap of 5% of purchase price remains.  Another change made certain manufactured homes eligible for an HHHP loan.

This program is a state of Florida program, so if you’re not working with a local lender or realtor, they may not know about it.  If you are even considering buying your first home, I would encourage you to reach out to a local lender and find out what you could qualify for.  After you find out that you really can afford to buy a home, call me!

If you are renting, you are paying a mortgage.  You are just paying someone else’s mortgage!  Starting building equity in your own future by looking into purchasing your own home.  So, what’s keeping you from buying a home?

Learn more at about the Hometown Heroes Housing Program by clicking Here.