Monday, April 04, 2011

Green Tips for selling a Keys home

What green tips am i able to do for my property?

1. Use cost effective solar exterior lights. Solar power lights doesn't need electric cabling, there aren't any extra costs for your utility bill and you will probably move the lights anywhere needed. Solar lighting greatly enhance the appearance of walk ways, landscape designs and safety.

2. Develop a Environmentally friendly Landscaping. Pesticide sprays, eco-friendly fertilizer, sprinkling and time all take their cost for the natural environment along with your efforts and budget. Growing indigenous vegetation, utilizing reprocessed thick mulch and organic manure or pest management minimizes the period of time and necessary to keep the yard looking great.

3. Use alternate products. Think about all-natural rock, bamboo bedding or any other environmentally friendly floor coverings rather than carpets. It's the same with the exterior of your property, rock along with other environmentally friendly building products frequently need much less upkeep, painting along with other continuing expenses.

4. Set up money saver home appliances. There are other options than ever before with regards to energy-efficient home appliances created to conserve money and time.

5. Weather-proof your property. It makes use of much less heating in winter season and much less ac in summer season to keep comfy.

6. Check plumbing related for leakages yearly. Even little leakages can soon add up to a sizable loss and price , and without knowing it.

7. Use automated electronic timers for the lights, heating and air cooling and hot water heater rather than leaving them on all day or night

Florida Keys Schools-Education

The Florida Keys Education-Schools
With a population of just over 73,000 residents, the Florida Keys has about 8,300 students in full time attendance. If you’re contemplating a move to the Keys, there is an assortment of schools and programs within the Monroe County area. In the public school sector there are nine K-8 schools and three high schools. Among private schools you can find 27 assorted academies and religious based schools scattered throughout the islands.

The students within the Florida Keys educational system in general, have fared very much better than average on the FCATs (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test - administered to students in grades 3 through 11) and other educational rankings criteria. In fact, the FCAT scores for Florida Keys students were among the very highest within the state.

Additionally, there are three college level institutions: Florida Keys Community College, Barry University (extension campus) and Hodges University (extension campuses) all offering various courses of study located in Key West, Marathon and Key Largo.

The courses of study include one and two year certifications for diplomas, vocational training and up to and including bachelors and masters degree programs. If one is interested in oceanography and diving, what better place to explore and study that science than in the Keys? Among the advanced course of scientific courses studies of study available are: oceanography marine engineering, diving technology and marine technology. For those out of school, there are numerous adult education and extension courses available for those desiring to further their knowledge and education.

The Florida Keys is an exciting place to learn and study for all ages and aptitudes. Certainly, it’s easy to find all kinds of schools throughout the country , but if you have a choice, why not the Florida Keys?

Purchasing a home in the Keys after Foreclosure

Should I Consider Purchasing a Home After Foreclosure?

Foreclosures on the market are normally available, regardless of the condition of the economy. Buying a foreclosure might or might not end up being a wise plan of action. Following are things to consider before you take the leap into purchasing a foreclosure.

Is it best to buy a foreclosure or delay the process until the bank or mortgage company has completed their process? Typically you will get a better deal, if you make your purchase during foreclosure. However, you could be truly getting the property "as is" with few, if any, guarantees. Making a proposal after a home becomes an REO (real estate owned) of the lender may cost someone a little more, however, the key owner/lender has more then likely spent some funds in repairing some problems and/or giving the home and property a little TLC to make it more saleable.
Is the property truly a great buy?
Many people mistakenly assume that all foreclosures equate to a bargain purchase. Consider that belief a bit. First, most foreclosures take place on real estate where little equity exists. For example, people owning a home worth $250,000, but having only a $100,000 first mortgage will typically never allow the property to be susceptible to foreclosure. They might be throwing away $155,000 in equity.
Contrast that example with another $250,000 home with a first mortgage balance of $245,000. If you could not afford that home, you might be much more likely to let it go to foreclosure since you are losing little money. You, being the buyer, might need to pay near the FMV (fair market value) of $250,000, even if it were a foreclosed property or home.
Are there any expensive repairs that should be completed before you resell or stay in the property or home?
The nature of home loans may make it faster and easier to purchase a house in great condition for a higher price than to request "rehab" or repair dollars to get integrated to the loan. Often, you may be required to fund major repairs out of your own pocket.

You should find MLS (multiple listing service) listings of similar homes for sale in the same neighborhood as your preferred foreclosure home to compare prices. Is the price of the foreclosure substantially lower than current prices for matching homes? When the price is similar, you may be wiser to buy a house from a professional real estate professional. Should the purchase price for the REO be substantially less than typical FMV for that area, you might have an actual bargain.

Diving in the Florida Keys

Dive Dive, Dive! …But do it in the Keys!
If you’re an outdoors men (or woman) with a love of nature, warm clear waters and sea life in abundance, then the Florida Keys is one of the best and most economical diving vacations that you can experience. The Keys stretches for almost 120 miles into the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico starting at Key Largo (roughly 40 miles from Miami) all the down way to Key West. World class diving is available along the south side of most of the island chain. Whether your preference is snorkeling or SCUBA, the Keys can deliver. Easily accessible by rental boat or any of a number of licensed expert dive operators, there is so much to explore in the under water world of the Keys.

Among the best known areas is Key Largo’s John Pennekamp State park, featuring glass bottom boat rides, snorkeling/SCUBA and incredible sea life. Further to the west is Islamorada offering terrific wreck diving and reefs. Marathon located 50 miles further west has excellent wreck dives plus Sombrero Reef, just off the Sombrero Key lighthouse. Key West has the Inner Reefs, the Outer Reefs and numerous wreck dives, to boot. If you’re a bit more adventurous, you voyage70 miles further west off to the Dry Tortugas (Ft. Jefferson National Monument). There is excellent diving, as well as fishing in the gin clear, pristine waters.

Diving is absolutely breathtaking anywhere on the 120 mile stretch of the keys. You can explore new reefs, maybe find new wrecks, but in the end, you can make the Keys a ‘must go’ dive adventure every year.