Apr

7

2012

Are You Really Cut Out To Own A Home In A Deed-Restricted Community (HOA)?

Before grabbing the keys to your new home in or around Sarasota (FL), have you REALLY reviewed those homeowner association (HOA) “conditions, covenants & restrictions” (CCRs)?

Do you really know the HOA deed restrictions?

Shawn R. of Kissimmee, Florida, is just one more home buyer who didn’t think before he signed on to the mandatory homeowner association (HOA).

Shawn committed to an HOA he knew nothing about.

He didn’t give a rat’s ass about the neighbors.

He didn’t care about maintaining his property according to deed restrictions technically known as “covenants, conditions & restrictions” (aka CCRs).

He’d rented for years, expecting others to take care of the grounds. What’s pitiful, according to Shawn once he faced reality, is that he believed home ownership allowed him to do whatever he pleased with HIS property.

Before you get all teary-eyed about owning your own little slice of the American Dream, take a moment to think about the responsibilities that come along with buying a home. When Shawn called me from Kissimmee, he called me to ask for the name of a local real estate agent who’d sell his house. Already, Shawn had had enough.

He didn’t want anything more to do with the HOA.

If you are working with a real estate agent/Realtor, insist on seeing a copy of the deed restrictions BEFORE you proceed to closing. Talk with people who already live in the community. Talk with 3 or 4 neighbors to meet them and to try to get a feel for the HOA.

Questions to ask/consider BEFORE you buy the house:

  • Will the CCRs conflict with your lifestyle?
  • Do you want to pay for service providers to maintain your property to community standards?
  • Do you want to alienate (aka “piss off”) your neighbors from the very start?
  • Is the HOA strict.
  • Is there board turnover?
  • What appear to be the hot buttons for the HOA?

Confirm you can tolerate the HOA and its enforcement.

What experience have you had with an HOA? Please share your thoughts, questions & comments on homeowner associations. It seems people either insist on an HOA or they tell me immediately they do NOT want to see houses in deed-restricted communities. Either they’ve experienced a nightmare or they have a trailer/RV/boat/jet ski they want to park on their property.

My Sarasota Real Estate blog is not just real estate – it’s the most comprehensive online source for Sarasota attractions including information about Sarasota, beaches, attractions, events & local issues. Whether you are looking for the latest sales, price trends, Sarasota foreclosures or homes for sale in Sarasota, I try to make it all available here. Browse Sarasota homes for sale; call me @ (941) 914-9980 if you or someone you know has a question or wants to buy or sell a house in the Sarasota area.

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Apr

4

2012

Fashion Models LOVE Sarasota’s Ringling Museum Of Art & Ca’ d’Zan Mansion

No doubt, Ringling Art Museum boasts the works of today’s and yesterday’s art masters. What you may not know, as well, is that Ringling’s beauty extends beyond the Art Museum…just ask fashion models who frequent Ringling on photo shoots.

Click arrow on video to enjoy Ringling’s beauty, beyond the art museum:
 

Click READ MORE to see photos of of Ringling Museum of Art, including Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, Rose Garden, Banyan trees & fashion models on photo shoots. It’s all here at Ringling!

RINGLING BEAUTY ABOUNDS

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Apr

2

2012

Sarasota Real Estate Market Hits 11-Month High In February, Says Sarasota Association Of Realtors

Sarasota real estate reduces inventory to 7 months, scoring impressive 11-month high of 1,130 pending sales in February.

market UPDATE Sarasota Real Estate Market Hits 11 Month High In February, Says Sarasota Association Of Realtors

Most Frequently Asked Question - "How's the Sarasota real estate market?"

This is GREAT news!

According to Sarasota Association of Realtors, February 2012 saw a 15 percent increase in property sales over January 2012, and a 17 percent increase in pending sales from the month before.

Any wonder Sarasota’s real estate market is showing strong signs of recovery?

Click READ MORE for more proof (charts, numbers & commentary) about Sarasota’s strong real estate market recovery…and a stern warning to beware market conditions STILL unresolved.

BEWARE THE SHADOW CONDITIONS

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Mar

31

2012

Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First-Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

Sarasota (FL) welcomes spring breakers – both college kids and families – to beauty beyond #1 ranked Siesta Key Beach. 

“I feel like I’m living a dream come true.”

For 3 college coeds from Nebraska – who’d never been out of the Cornhusker state – Sarasota was paradise…for one short week. icon smile Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota siesta beach 2 Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota siesta beach 3 Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota siesta beach 4 Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota siesta beach 5 Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota siesta beach Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota bay pelicans Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota florida Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

sarasota florida blue heron Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota!

This year, my wife and I hosted my wife’s 20-year-old niece from Nebraska and her 2 friends – for all 3 it was their first time to Florida and a real beach.

On the drive from the airport, I’ll never forget hearing the girls whisper, “I feel like I’m living in a dream – this is so beautiful.”  icon smile Sarasota (FL) Spring Break, 3 Coeds Share First Ever Visit To Sunny Sarasota! For one week, the girls experienced Sarasota’s beauty….

The beaches. Last Sunday, we went along with the girls to Siesta Beach. We wanted to witness their reaction. Once they crossed the bridge, stepping foot onto the sugar-like sand of Siesta, they stopped…3 Nebraska coeds stopped one foot onto Siesta Key Beach. They stood there…3 across…staring ahead across the beach and to the gorgeous green & never-ending Gulf of Mexico.

Siesta Village…

Downtown… amazing restaurants and shopping.

St. Armands.

Lido Key.

Each day, they’d return home, beside themselves with excitement about their day. They loved Sarasota.

They loved the sand…lying out…wading into the surprisingly warm & salty Gulf waters…and strolling up and down the beach.

On the night before they were to leave, they posted a photo onto Facebook of the 3 of them, saying, “Dream come true. We found paradise in Sarasota, Florida!”

 

 

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Mar

28

2012

Sarasota (FL) Teen Guilty Of Murdering 2 British Tourists, Locals Shocked By Senseless Killings!

Sarasota mourns senseless and shocking deaths of 2 young British tourists who mistakenly wandered into NewTown, a section of Sarasota a few blocks north of downtown.

Sarasota (FL) Teen Guilty Of Murdering 2 British Tourists, Locals Shocked By Senseless Killings!

source: http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-03-28/verdict-in-florida-murder-trial/

In 24 years of living in the Sarasota area, my wife and I NEVER have heard of such horrible, senseless violence.

For the life of me, I cannot even fathom the horror felt by the 2 young men’s families and friends – I can’t even imagine the horror they’re facing. Those of us in Sarasota won’t forget April 16, 2011.

We just don’t experience murdered tourists in Sarasota.

It just doesn’t happen….

Yet, we locals know of areas in which we don’t wander, on purpose or mistakenly. In fact, a couple years ago I recall one of my former high school students (who’s a Sarasota police officer) warning us against going into NewTown. For these reasons, we avoid NewTown.

Other than NewTown, my wife and I never have avoided any other part of Sarasota, day or night.

Certainly, it’s not fair to condemn all of NewTown for the violent actions of this convicted murderer. However, none of us can risk our families’ or our own safety.

Sarasota Teen Murderer Shawn Tyson Called ‘Evil”

According to ITV News, parents of 2 murdered British tourists (James Cooper and James Kouzaris) call 16-year-old convicted killer Shawn Tyson “evil.”

“It is a fact that we were given a life sentence when our sons were so brutally and needlessly taken from us. Ours is a life sentence, with no chance of parole from a broken heart, and a shattered soul. The agonising and searing pain we have experienced will continue until our sentence is at an end.”

Statement from the families of James Cooper and James Kouzaris – source: http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-03-28/verdict-in-florida-murder-trial/

This morning, I met 2 Canadian tourists for breakfast. No doubt, this horrifying incident entered our discussion. This was their first visit to Sarasota.

At one point they looked me squarely in the eye and asked me a series of questions:

1. “Mike, how long have you lived in Sarasota?”

2. “Do you have a family?”

3. “Is Sarasota a safe town?”

4. “Besides this NewTown area, is there any other part of Sarasota you wouldn’t take your wife and kids?”

5. “Why does Sarasota not warn tourists of this NewTown area?”

It was this last question that troubled me the most.

As a real estate licensee, I am not allowed to “steer” people in or out of certain areas, including NewTown. Of course, I value my real estate license, though I find it horrible that Sarasota cannot find a respectful (albeit LEGAL) way to warn travelers/tourists to beware a potentially risky area.

The Canadian couple I met for breakfast asked very good questions, for which they deserved straightforward answers.

My wife and I consider Sarasota extremely safe.

We (as were our friends and strangers whom I’ve met daily) still are horrified by what happened to these 2 young men and their friends and family. No doubt, Shawn Tyson is “evil.” It seems life in prison with no chance of parole is too humane for executing Cooper and Kouzaris.

WHY does Sarasota NOT warn visitors and tourists of potentially dangerous areas of town? Why must these 2 men’s parents and friends mourn their loved ones senseless deaths for the rest of their lives? On Verdict Day (not to be confused with the real Judgment Day), Shawn Tyson’s murder convictions leave too many unanswered questions.

1.  Is it tourists’ responsibility to request police reports prior visiting Sarasota or any vacation destination?

2. Do all of us in Sarasota have blood on our hands for NOT “advising” tourists of areas with potentially deadly (concentrated and documented) police activity?

James Cooper and James Kouzaris never should have died. Right now, their parents, friends and they should be laughing while talking about an awesome vacation in Sarasota, Florida.

THE HORROR…THE HORROR

My Sarasota Real Estate blog is not just real estate – it’s the most comprehensive online source for Sarasota attractions including information about Sarasota, beaches, attractions, events & local issues. Whether you are looking for the latest sales, price trends, Sarasota foreclosures or homes for sale in Sarasota, I try to make it all available here. Browse Sarasota homes for sale; call me @ (941) 914-9980 if you or someone you know has a question or wants to buy or sell a house in the Sarasota area.

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