Buying a Lakewood Ranch home is both easier and harder these days. Yes, it’s a buyer’s market, which implies that prices are lower, but there are a few things to do to before buying your home. Purchasing a home is a lot easier when you know how to be a savvy home buyer. Follow these five tips to get the Lakewood Ranch home of your dreams with less hassle and at a great price: 1. List your home before looking for another home. Contracts contingent on selling your existing home complicate the buying process and reduce your chance of getting a great bargain. Sellers are often unwilling to give any concessions if they have to wait for you to sell your home. 2. Get pre-approved for a loan.  Sellers prefer to negotiate with buyers who are pre-approved for a loan large enough to purchase their... 01/06/2012

Here are the most expensive luxury homes and condos listed for sale in Lakewood Ranch FL as of January 2nd 2012. You can click on any one of the images to view more details on the particular Lakewood Ranch Florida house or condominium.If you would like to see all of the active properties at all price levels you can visit ->http://www.sarasotachoicehomes.com/lakewood-ranch/Sarasota Choice Homes can also let you know as soon as new Lakewood Ranch Luxury properties come on the market:You can also search all of the Luxury homes and condos for sale on Sarasota Choice Homes by using this form.Sarasota Choice Homes?The Choice Homes for your Luxury Lifestyle in Lakewood Ranch Florida. 01/02/2012

Sarasota Choice Homes strives to bring you the latest Lakewood Ranch Florida Real Estate Market Conditions. We have created a slideshow of the most recent homes and condos listed for sale in Lakewood Ranch FL as of January 2nd 2012. You can click on any one of the images to view more details on the particular house or condominium.If you would like more information you can visit ->http://www.sarasotachoicehomes.com/lakewood-ranch/Sarasota Choice Homes can also let you know as soon as new Lakewood Ranch properties come on the market:You can also search all of the homes and condos for sale on Sarasota Choice Homes by using this form.Sarasota Choice Homes?The Choice Homes for your Lifestyle in Lakewood Ranch Florida. 01/02/2012

Lakewood Ranch - A Shimmering Ray Of Sunshine In The Sarasota Area!  Lakewood Ranch is probably one of the most successful and popular planned communities in the entire state of Florida.  This 48-square mile community was developed in the mid-1990's and has blossomed ever since into one of the most popular neighborhoods anywhere! Conveniently located just off I-75 and University Boulevard, Lakewood Ranch has all the conveniences and amenities of a small town.  There is an extensive business park, a variety of sports complexes (even a polo field), schools at all levels both public and private, hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, golf courses, health clubs, convenience stores, a YMCA, a hospital, assisted living facility and even a pet shelter! The enviable location of Lakewood Ranch mak... 12/27/2011

As real estate agents, we spend a lot of time rushing in and out of Lakewood Ranch homes. It's easy for us to get caught up in the hustle-bustle of real estate transactions, and we forget to slow down to appreciate the pleasures of owning a home. So today, we want to take a moment to reflect on the home aspect of real estate. Our job (one we love) is to help people just like you find a house that suits their lives.  Once you move in, you make that house into a home.  Holiday TraditionsYour Lakewood Ranch home is where you and your loved ones celebrate holidays and where you create and continue family traditions. Whether you deck the halls with layers of tinsel and wreaths or have the whole family over to spin Hanukkah dreidels, the spirit of the season comes from the energy of the peopl... 12/21/2011

Today’s home buyers have a big advantage over buyers from a decade ago:  the internet.  You can search for homes for sale online as well as find pricing data and instructions on how to buy a home.  So, why would you possibly want to hire a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to help you buy a home? Here are four surprising and not-so-surprising reasons why hiring a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent will save you time and money when buying a home: 1. Paperwork - Today's real estate contracts run more than 10 pages, and will take you hours to read, comprehend, process and file. Experienced agents handle the paperwork and legal issues for you, minimizing your hassles, headaches and anxiety. 2. House Hunting – It’s a jungle out there! Navigating through the short sales, foreclosures and thousan... 12/13/2011

Lakewood Ranch New Home Sales Success Continues In November!  Lakewood Ranch, the Sarasota Area's most successful planned community continues to lead the way in new home sales in the region.  November brought 48 new contracts to Neal Communities, the leading builder in Lakewood Ranch.  This has been the most successful month of the year with over 365 contracts since the beginning of the year. The Lakewood Ranch-based builder says the buyers represent a large spectrum of buyers from first time buyers, empty-nesters, families and second home buyers taking advantage of the current record low interest rates and record low prices.  Sophisticated buyers are investing in competitively priced new homes versus resales or foreclosures.  Additionally they are able to buy a new home and choose the ... 12/08/2011

Buying Lakewood Ranch homes when you live in another state or country can be challenging.  Here are a few simple ideas to help make things a little less hectic. • Investigate online.  Most people know to search for Lakewood Ranch homes online, but what about searching for a neighborhood?  Although you can’t search each and every neighborhood, you can research almost any county or city online.  This gives you a pretty good idea of what the area has to offer in the way of schools, shopping and safety. • Hire a Realtor®.  While you’re searching online, your realtor can search the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for you.  She or he can email newly listed properties to you daily. • Share as much information with your agent as you can.  The more you research the area, the more information you ... 11/27/2011

Edgewater Village on Lakewood Ranch is a beautiful gated community located just east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. This Lakewood Ranch neighborhood consists of single family homes and condominiums. Most homes in this quiet community border Lake Uihlein, providing extraordinary vistas of this 160 acre lake. Take your kayak or your canoe to your new home. Wharf Park is a great spot for fishing and launching your non-power boat. Amenities enjoyed by residents of Edgewater Village include a clubhouse, community pool and tennis courts. You can walk to the back gate at Edgewater and access Main Street Lakewood Ranch in just minutes. Residents also enjoy outdoor festivals, movie theater, shopping, dining along with professional services offered in this Certified Green master-planned community. ... 11/18/2011

You want a new home in Lakewood Ranch, but you’re not sure whether it’s best to build a new one or buy an existing home.  The first thing you should do is identify your priorities.  Do you dream of a customized house built from the ground up or living in a house already built in an established neighborhood? Before you make up your mind or put in an offer, take the time to prioritize the following: • Location - Can you find a lot to build on in your desired location? If not, are you willing to consider a different area if it means you’ll get a house tailored to your specifications? If you’re extremely location focused, you might have to give up the idea of building your perfect house and concentrate on available homes in the area.• Timeline - How flexible is your timeline? If you absolut... 11/17/2011

Within the walls of your house, you may have raised a family, made future plans and created years of memories. Take time this month to be thankful for everything your Lakewood Ranch home has given you by giving it some green TLC this Thanksgiving. With Christmas right around the corner, I know it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money on your Lakewood Ranch home. Below are a few easy and affordable green projects for you to do this Thanksgiving holiday — and they’ll start paying off immediately! • Buy compact florescent light bulbs. You don’t have to do this all at once. As your light bulbs burn out, replace them with these energy savers for around $3 a piece. They last about ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs and can save you close to $40 over their lifetime.• Use faucet... 11/10/2011

You’re not a hoarder, but you definitely need to get rid of items cluttering your Lakewood Ranch home. If the thought of having a garage sale makes you run screaming, never fear. Here are four websites that will help you clear out unwanted items, without having a garage sale or throwing them in the trash:1. Craigslist. No matter what you think of Craigslist, it often works for getting rid of unwanted items. Just be sure to stay safe by having a friend or family member with you at your Lakewood Ranch home when someone comes to pick up the items. Here are a few more tips to help move your stuff fast using Craigslist:a. Include a photo. Buyers want to know what the item looks like. b. Add as much detail as possible. Include dimensions and sizes and be honest about wear and tear. 2. Recycle... 11/06/2011

The cost of home ownership is not simply your monthly mortgage payment. In order to calculate the true cost of Lakewood Ranch home ownership, you need to consider a variety of other expenses. One of the additional expenses you need to consider is real estate taxes. Most state and local governments charge an annual tax on the value of real property. This is called a real estate tax. Real estate taxes may make a difference in how much home you can afford. Real estate taxes are not the same for every property.Real estate taxes vary from a couple of hundred dollars a year to thousands of dollars a year. This should be looked at seriously, because it could mean the difference between being able to afford your home and not being able to make your payments. No one wants to be house poor or los... 10/29/2011

You’ve found the Lakewood Ranch home you want to buy, and you’ve hired a professional home inspector. But, wait! You’re job isn’t done. You still need to personally participate in the inspection on your Lakewood Ranch home.Here are 5 reasons why you should attend your home inspection:1. See for yourself. There’s a big difference between reading a report and seeing first-hand what’s right and wrong with the home. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to determine if a problem is serious. 2. Learn practical information about your home. You’ll discover where things such as the water shut-off valve and electrical box are located. 3. Experience your prospective home through the eyes of an expert. This is a valuable educational opportunity.4. Ask the inspector questions. If there’s anythi... 10/17/2011

When planning on moving from your current home, does it make the most sense to buy first or wait until your current property sells? There are a lot of factors that go into that decision. Listed below are some pros and cons of each, so that you can decide which factors are higher on your list of priorities.Buy first if …• It’s the Lakewood Ranch home you’ve always wanted. If you’ve absolutely found your dream house, you should consider buying it now — even if your current house hasn’t sold. You might regret it later if you let the opportunity pass you by. Just make sure the house is truly worth it.• It’s too good of a deal to pass up. If you’ve researched the comparables and you know the home you want to buy is a great deal, then you should consider going ahead with the purchase. Waiting... 10/11/2011

Energy efficiency and other aspects of environmentally-friendly living are important to many of today’s home buyers. As a homeowner who wants to sell your property quickly and for as much as possible, it’s crucial to highlight the green elements of your Lakewood Ranch home for sale.Your home may have more eco-friendly features than you realize, or you may be able to inexpensively add them. Here are a few ways to appeal to eco-conscious buyers:• Highlight energy-efficient features. What energy-saving systems and appliances do you have in your home? Take an inventory of your home and identify items such as low-emittance windows, furnace or air conditioner with a high-efficiency rating, programmable thermostats, solar/wind/geo-thermal elements for the home or pool, improved insulation or a... 10/03/2011

Here are five tips to help you identify the best Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to get your home sold as fast as possible and for the most money. 1. Hire a full-time Lakewood Ranch real estate agent. Part-time agents typically have less experience and fewer sold properties under their belts than full-time agents. Because part-time agents usually have another job, they don’t have as much time to take care of your needs and market and show your home to potential buyers. Full-time agents have bigger networks they can enlist to help find a buyer for your home. 2. Find a skilled negotiator. A seasoned Lakewood Ranch real estate agent understands the psychological nature of selling a home. They advise you during the contract negotiations to ensure that you get the best deal while alleviatin... 09/29/2011

Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Agent - Lakewood Ranch Stop Foreclosure - Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Help – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 548-7771   Should You Short Sale A Home In Lakewood Ranch Florida? With the right team of professionals backing you, I would have to say, "Yes." Without a doubt, Short Sales are amongst the most difficult and time-consuming residential real estate transactions, which is why so few practitioners have the requisite expertise to close them successfully. That said, when managed properly, a Short Sale affords homeowners the very best odds of: Avoiding Foreclosure. Avoi... 09/25/2011

Sarasota Choice Homes strives to bring you the latest Lakewood Ranch Florida Real Estate Market Conditions. We have created a slideshow of the most recent homes and condos listed for sale in Lakewood Ranch FL as of September 9th 2011. You can click on any one of the images to view more details on the particular house or condominium.If you would like more information you can visit ->http://www.sarasotachoicehomes.com/lakewood-ranch/Sarasota Choice Homes can also let you know as soon as new Lakewood Ranch properties come on the market:You can also search all of the homes and condos for sale on Sarasota Choice Homes by using this form.Sarasota Choice Homes?The Choice Homes for your Lifestyle in Lakewood Ranch Florida. 09/15/2011

CLICK to Request Our FREE 48-page Short Sale eBook   Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Pros Fight For Homeowners Rights - Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Realtor Agent It is absurd for a homeowner facing mortgage difficulties to believe that their lender is there to help them! Nothing could be further from the truth! Pay close attention to the "real truth" that I am about to reveal to you -- Your lender's sole objective is to extract as much of your money as possible! A Short Sale is a proven and reliable method for stopping this. If you are a Lakewood Ranch property owner behind on mortgage payments, watch the short video below, then give us a call. A Short Sale Is Unquestionably Your Best Bet For Completely Avoiding Foreclosure And The Long-term Overhanging Debt Of A Deficiency Judgment. Call us t... 09/15/2011