In this issue... Florida - A Boater’s Paradise... Surf City, NC - Simple Pleasures of Island Life...
Tips for Selling Your House...News You Can Use...The Preserve at Wolf Laurel's Getaway Special ...and more
TRAVELER'S GUIDE
Florida - A Boater’s Paradise
Gliding through the surf in a Catalina sailboat. Reeling in a prized marlin. It’s the stuff of boaters’ dreams and it’s waiting for you in the Florida Keys.
In the heart of the Florida Keys in historic Marathon, you’ll find the Marlin Bay Yacht Club, a private enclave of gorgeous waterfront residences specifically designed for boating and fishing enthusiasts. Your luxurious yet laidback island lifestyle features a state-of-the-art private marina, deepwater boat slips, onsite dock master, and concierge service including cleaning and delivery of your catch. A clubhouse with beach-entry pool and lush landscaping complete your personal paradise.
Florida’s Fernandina Beach is home to another outstanding boater’s community—Oyster Bay Harbour. Located at the convergence of Lanceford and Soap Creek only minutes from the Intra-Coastal Waterway and the spectacular sport fishing available in the Atlantic Ocean, the protected marina of Oyster Bay Harbour has everything a boater needs.
Along South Florida’s famed Treasure Coast, Lost River Plantation offers avid boaters access to not only the Atlantic Ocean, but also the Gulf of Mexico. This Old Florida style gated community is presented by Engle Homes, one of America’s leading builders.
On the shores of Tampa Bay in Ruskin, Florida, the exquisite seaside village of Little Harbor offers a fabulous collection of waterfront condominiums, townhomes, and luxury single-family homes all surrounded by marinas with deepwater access to the bay and Gulf of Mexico beyond.
Sparkling azure water, sandy white beaches, and a bonanza of fishing and boating await you in the Florida Keys.
New Communities
GETAWAY SPECIAL – The Preserve at Wolf Laurel
Fall Discovery Package...
The Fall Leaf Season (colors will be at their height soon) is just around the corner. 3 days/2 nights for $199 at the historic Buck House (on the National Register of Historic Places) Call 877-682-1214 for special rates…accommodations are limited…do not miss the Fall Leaf Season…call now!
Surf City is a quaint seaside village on Topsail Island, a 26-mile long barrier island located between Jacksonville and Wilmington, North Carolina. Surf City has some of the most pristine, un-crowded beaches along the east coast, and coastal wildlife flourishes in this beautiful natural environment.
Residents enjoy the simple pleasures of island life including boating, surfing, swimming, beach combing, biking, and kayaking. Golf enthusiasts can tee off at a number of nationally ranked golf courses that are a just short drive from the island. Surf City also features a variety of restaurants and specialty shops.
If living on a secluded private island appeals to you, check out The Oaks at Boca Bay in Surf City. Home to only 27 waterfront properties, this exclusive community offers stunning views of the sound, salt marsh and Intracoastal Waterway. Superb amenities include private boat slips, the Beach House Yacht Club, restaurant, and swimming pool. As a special "welcome to the island", the first 10 people that purchase a lot at their Priority Selection Event on October 20th, 2007 will also receive a free dry stack boat slip and lifetime membership at the Beach House Yacht Club.
Surf City offers a unique island lifestyle on the North Carolina coast. Check it out.
TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOUSE IN A BUYER’S MARKET
In our last issue we gave you some helpful tips for getting ready for an open house. In this issue, we’d like to share some key guidelines for increasing your chance of selling your house in a buyer’s market.
- Adjust your thinking—Don’t expect to make a killing. You need to face the reality that fat profits are a thing of the past.
- Shop the competition—Look at other homes for sale in your neighborhood and attend open houses. Visit newly built houses to find out what amenities and incentives buyers are interested in. Look at everything from the buyer’s viewpoint.
- Make your home 100% ready for immediate use—People don’t want to hassle with painting, replacing carpeting, or making repairs. Fix up the exterior first; spend money on things the buyer can see from the street. Surprisingly, people often make a decision on whether they like a house or not within seconds.
- Offer incentives to the buyer—pay discount points to lower the mortgage rate, pay closing costs, or provide flexibility about the move-in date.
- Set a realistic asking price—Buyers can use tools such as HomeKeys, Zillow, Redfin and Domania to get an accurate idea of your house’s market value. In a buyer’s market, it’s wise to ask for three to five percent more than you realistically expect to get. This kind of pricing will attract more prospective buyers, discourage lowball offers, and save negotiating time.
- Avoid “Yikes! Appeal*—Clean up yard clutter, prune hedges, trees, and shrubs, power wash the roof, and paint. You don’t want people to take one look at your home, say, “Yikes!” and drive away.
*From Steve Berges’ book, 101 Cost-Effective Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home
