Real Estate Update:

Summer buying season is over for the colder States who are beginning to think about winter. If your home did not sell and other homes in the area did you need to ask yourself why.  Is your home overpriced, needs a lot of work? Was it properly marketed and was it available to see without much of a hassle? All these factors are important and you need to get the answers quickly because the last thing you want is to hold a house through snow season with the costs of heating and snow removal.

Here in the South our season is just starting: those Northern license plates are showing up daily. We had a great buying summer and it looks like the winter months should be fantastic. Now is the time to get your home ready. Take a look at what sold this past summer see how your home compares. Buyers are going to be looking for homes that are move-in ready and will ask for discounts if they have to do a lot of cosmetic work.  So get your house ready, make it easy for people to give you their money. I highly recommend you get a Home Inspection done so all issues can be handled before you are under contract. You'll be able to show you fixed any problems before you put the house on the market. Also with insurance being an issue you need to be prepared there as well (Please Read Information Below)

That's it for this month. If I can help please call me at 941-716-2597, Paul

Insurance Update:

As many of you know I have opened a full-service Insurance Office. We are able to handle all your insurance needs including homeowners, auto, commercial and business, life and health and retirement. And we can even insure all your Big Boy and Girl toys.

I will be starting a separate newsletter for my clients. If you would like to receive this newsletter I will need your mailing address as this will be printed only. Just email it to me. .

Now let's deal with the Flood Insurance Issue:

The Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

Basically this act reduced or eliminated any federal subsidy to help with the premiums. The National Flood Program is deep in the red and members of Congress are trying to show their constituents that hey! they really do understand that we, the 99%, don't think it's fair to subsidize the 1% for their beach homes. So viola!  we have new insurance rates for flood, plus new rate calculations.

The unintended consequence of this law is that more of the 99% will be affected than the 1%. We have all heard the story of the little old lady who has owned her home for ever and now her flood insurance is $ 500.00 per month.