With few exceptions, Florida could be considered a state that's all things to all people. However, that statement comes with a few caveats. Specific cities, communities, and neighborhoods, for example, tend to cater to different lifestyles, age groups, and income levels.
In order to find the specific location that would best suit your needs, a two-step approach is recommended. First, you need to clarify in your own mind the type of lifestyle and environment that would make you happy. For instance, if pursuing a beachside lifestyle is your goal in buying a Florida home, you probably would not find it satisfying to live more than a few blocks from the ocean. Some people -- especially singles and young couples -- enjoy living within walking distance to restaurants, bars, and retail stores. Others gravitate to a quieter, more suburban setting.
Step Two: Whether you're interested in living in the heart of a bustling city or adopting a more sedate lifestyle, a little research will guide you in the right direction and help you narrow down the possibilities. Once you get to the point of choosing a real estate agent to assist you in your quest, you should have a pretty clear idea of the type of community you're looking for. Based on your budget, your interests, and your desired lifestyle, an experienced buyers' agent can provide you with the guidance you need to find your ideal Florida home.
The life stage you're at will also play a major role in helping you and your agent navigate the varied and diverse real estate market in Florida. Since everyone's priorities change over time, the needs of a young family would be drastically different than that of a childless couple or one approaching retirement age.
A few factors worth keeping in mind as you search for a desirable Florida home would include the character of the neighborhoods you're considering, their proximity to recreational areas, and the availability of nearby shopping, entertainment, and medical care. Picking a location that provides convenient access to highways, airports, and other modes of transportation is another priority for many people.
It's also nice to be reasonably close to fun places to take your kids or grandchildren, such as Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Epcot Center, SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica (SeaWorld's waterpark), Disney's Animal Kingdom, Discovery Cove, Silver Springs State Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Keys, and Daytona International Speedway.
Livability, a website that ranks places to live, says the following cities, are among the most desirable in Florida: Miami Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Coral Gables, St. Petersburg, Naples, Port St. Lucie, The Villages, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. Although each of the cities has its own unique set of characteristics (pluses and minuses) and may not be a perfect match for everyone's needs, the list comprises a helpful starting point for anyone interested in learning more about living in Florida and possibly buying a home here.
If you are looking for a real estate broker with proven experience, an intuitive mind, who takes a professional no-nonsense approach to your real estate investment, please consider my experience and credentials when buying or selling your next home.
Before I pursued a career in real estate, I was in accounting and then recruiter for large multi-national companies. In both accounting and the corporate world, attention to detail is a must. My favorite part of my recruiting career was putting the pieces together, finding just the right person for a position. As I moved into real estate, I realized that was the part of the role I loved the most – solving problems for my clients and helping them move forward with their goals.
As your real estate broker, my goal is to provide you with the research and education to help you strategize and make the best real estate investment choices for you. I have sold over $50 million in property and my experience is what you need to get your home sold or to find and negotiate to buy the right property. It is my goal as your full service real estate company to provide you with superior service at all times. Most of my business comes from referrals from my clients which is a testament to how I serve buyers and sellers. Between my childhood and high-energy careers, I have moved 32 times in my life and consider myself a well-seasoned mover. I understand what you are going through. Therefore, I strive to make your real estate transaction smooth, efficient and successful.
My background has led to several international moves as well. I am familiar with a number of different cultures and customs, having lived in Germany, Great Britain, England, Wales, Spain, Dubai, and, of course, the United States, giving you a unique advantage with any relocation needs and when working with people from a number of cultures.
I differentiate myself from other agents by conducting business concurrent to the values of RE/MAX International. These values dictate that real estate brokers operate under the principles of trust and excellence, never taking their clients’ business for granted.
Not all agents are committed to ongoing education. However I am unique in that I strive to keep myself on the cutting edge of advances in real estate rules and legislation that could affect my clients’ real estate transactions. In addition to achieving the SRES, CRS, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, CIPS and E-Pro designations, as well as my position as a Public Notary, I am responsible for education and mentoring of agents within my office.
I also offer free staging and Feng Shui consulting services. I have found that these are abundantly helpful in getting homes sold.
Whether you are selling a condo or buying that waterfront home of your dreams, put my expertise and experience to work for you.
I believe that keeping at the industry forefront is critical in making sure your transaction runs smoothly. I do that through not only continuing education, but also through higher levels of education called “designations”. Below is a list of the designations I have achieved and how they benefit you.
Designations
Awards