Optima Properties' Blog

  Buying a home is a major lifestyle and investment decision. Homebuyers have a lot of questions throughout every step of the process and I have found that many of the questions are common to many. Here are some answers to the most common questions I get asked. Q: What home can I afford?That depe...

  Sunshine, beaches and a laid-back lifestyle have made Florida one of the top destinations for retirees looking to live out their golden years in peace and comfort. Now a new study from WalletHub.com has named the Sunshine State the best place in the U.S. to retire based on its affordability, qu...

    Protecting your home investment:A home is usually the largest single investment any of us will ever make. When you purchase a home, you will purchase several types of insurance coverage to protect your home and personal property. Homeowners insurance protects against loss from fire, theft or ...

   It's not too early to file for a property tax exemption for next year;  filing nowwill allow Florida  property owners to beat the rush that normally occurs early in the yearas people try to beat the March 1 deadline.Any Florida property owner with legal title to a home and who uses it as his o...

  Forecasts for the 2016 housing market are starting to trickle in; analysts are predicting that next year's market will be a picture of "moderate, but solid growth." Several real estate pundits are predicting about a 3% year over year growth in housing prices with price increases being dampened ...

 The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates after seven years of record lows. But it's signaling that further rate hikes will likely be made slowly as the economy strengthens further and muted inflation rises.The Fed's move to lift its key rate by a quarter-point to a range of 0.25 percent to ...

 When the disclosure laws, implemented in 2003, changed in 2008 to do away with the “transaction broker” disclosure, the real estate industry must have been celebrating.  It was hard for real estate licensees to tell buyers and sellers that they weren’t being represented.  After July 1, 2008 they...

     You searched for homes over the course of months or even years. You endured a series of offers and counter offers, property disclosures, inspections and reports. Finally, after so much excitement, stress and anxiety, the house hunt has come to an end.   But the story isn’t over yet. Here are...

  You searched for homes over the course of months or even years. You endured a series of offers and counter offers, property disclosures, inspections, loan applications, due diligence, and packing. Finally, after so much excitement, stress and anxiety, the house hunt has come to an end. But the ...

  In addition to a down payment, you will also have to have sufficient cash on hand to pay for closing costs.  The person purchasing the home pays usually closing costs, but with some mortgages (VA for example) the seller can pay closing costs. A little-known fact is that a big part of costs and ...