SOLD! Home on Herman Circle

Port Charlotte Pool Homes with Gulf Access

Click link above to view search used by the buyer to find house with this gorgeous view.

Photo courtesy Jen Lapietro. 
Copyright 2014, all rights reserved

SOLD! Home on West Crest

Englewood Homes with Gulf Access
Click link above to view search used by the buyer to find this house on West Crest.  Buyer liked plenty of room to park boat and community access to boat ramp.  The bridge to Manasota Key beach is a short bike-ride or drive away.

Photo courtesy Jen Lapietro. 
Copyright 2014, all rights reserved

Check back weekly as more solds are added.

We just received the following testimonial from Jim & Judy Bender, Michigan.

"Our search for our new Florida home started with the usual internet survey of what we could find.  We came across their website (www.live bythegulf.com) and were so wonderfully surprised by how many options were availed.  Upon contacting Bob and Jen, we not only located a perfect home for us but also, through their thoroughness, we were able to close and move in within three weeks.  They have remained so supportive and helpful through the whole process.  Their service was far above and beyond what we have ever experienced.  We would definitely recommend them to you.”  

Judy and Jim Bender MD, DPM

Look at the gorgeous view from their back yard:

Port Charlotte Pool Home with Gulf Access
Click link above to view search used by the buyer to find house with this gorgeous view.

Why do we ask for proof-of-funds when you are coming to buy a property here in Florida?

In the last few years the market has really changed - especially for financing and buying properties. Recently many sellers were lenders who owned the properties (REOs). All REO sellers required proof-of-funds (that are less than 30 days old) with all offers.

Now, most sellers require proof-of-funds with any offer - even regular home and condo owners. Here is an actual case. We had the buyer who made an offer accompanied by proof-of-funds. The condo-owner received two offers. Our offer had proof-of-funds, but the other buyer's offer was higher. The sellers responded saying they would accept the higher offer if the buyers could come up with proof-of-funds within 24 hours.  The buyers couldn't produce the proof-of-funds, so our buyer's offer was accepted. 

The proof-of-funds depends upon how are you going to pay - cash or financing. If you plan to pay cash, the proof-of-funds could be a letter from your bank, stock brokerage or retirement fund stating that you have the capital to purchase a property for the $$$ range you are looking in.

If you plan to get a loan, your proof-of-funds would be a pre-approval from the bank that will make the loan.  Choosing the right bank for the loan is important. Many prospective buyers say "Oh, I can get a loan from my bank here." Let's say you live in Ohio. Well that is fine for purchasing Ohio property, but many banks located outside of Florida won't lend on Florida properties. Even if national banks make loans on Florida properties, the financing process goes a lot smoother if the actual loan officer of the national bank is local. So it's best to get your pre-approval from a bank here locally where you plan to buy in Florida. We deal with two local banks who can do a pre-approval over the phone pretty quickly.

It's best to have proof-of-funds with you when you arrive here in Florida to look at homes. Proof-of-funds should be less than 30 days old. 

We hope this is helpful when we ask you about proof-of-funds.

Bob & Jen

While looking through properties, you find a favorite.  How do you save it to your Favorites?

Below are step-by-step instructions for saving your favorites.

1. Find favorite listing. 

Figure 1. Shows where to find Add to Favorites.

2. Click on Add to Favorites. (See Figure 1 above) 

3. If a Registration form pops up, Register.  

    (If no registration form pops up, go directly to step 4.)

Figure 2. Favorite property added.

4. Your favorite was added to your Favorites. (See Figure 2).

Note: Add to Favorites was updated to Remove Favorite.

Many of you have come to our website via Craigslist.  About two weeks ago, Craigslist stripped coding so links were no longer clickable.  If you know anyone who still goes on Craigslist and wants to click on links, have them try solution #1 below. Install Clickable Links as an extension on your Google Chrome browser.

Here's how to get Clickable Links on Craigslist.

1. Use Google Chrome as your web browser.    

    Google Chrome is available for Windows, Macs & Linux.  

    ( Download & Install Google Chrome )

2.  Click on Google snapshot below to go to Google Chrome Web Store. 

3. Click the Green Button " + FREE "

    When the Clickable Links webpage appears, click on the Green Tab: + FREE

    as shown by the Green Arrow below. 

4. Done.

Now when you go to Craigslist, all the links are clickable!

If you enjoyed this Craigslist tip, please share with your friends. They'll love you for it.

It's October 1st and now is the time to plan your homestead exemption if  you are closing before December 31 and occupying the property as your primary residence. You have until end of February to apply for the Homestead, but procrastination can cost you money.

The Homestead Exemption has a benefit that saves you a lot of tax money. Accroding to the Save Out Homes statute, when you havie the Homestead exemption, the non-advalorem part of the tax bill can only go up 3%.

Procrastination can cost you money. We can personally tell you that in 2004 we waited. We purchased a house 2 months before Hurricane Charely. Our previous home was almost peninding and  closing in September. We were going to apply for the Homestead after it closed.  Hurricane Charley hit August 13th; and our house near the River was deemed unliveable. We hadn't applied for the homestead couldn't apply until the house could be occupied - over 2 years.  Our Taxes even on a destroyed house,at the height of the market, rose over 300% and our payments for 2 years nearly doubled.

We had another instance where a customer closed in July and didnt apply for the Homestead right away. While vacationing with family, he had a Heart attack with complications in Orlando in November and was in a hospital there until the close to the end of February and just made it back in time to aplly and get the Homestead.

We highly recommend to all Buyers, if they close before December 31 and occupy the property as a primary residence, then go apply for the Homestead as soon as you can.

When you are looking at buying properties in Charltote County . especially Bank-Owned Homes, a Buyer should check with the county (especially the Permitting and Code Enforcement offices). Since Hurricane Charlie in 2004 many property items were replaced, repaired and improvements made.  In many instances, the homeowner did not pull a permit.

The County is looking for home where a permit was not pulled or it is expired.  When the county finds violations, it is the responsibility of the current owner of the property to correct it. For example, if a roof was replaced without a permit, the County "could" require the current owner to tear off the roofing and replace it according to current codes.

In the case of bank Foreclosed properties, banks usually have in their paperwork that they are not going to fix anything. In most cases they will not address any permitting or zoning issues with the County. It is up to the Buyer to search out this
information, especially when a Buyer purchases a Bank Forclosed property. Items requiring permits include: reshingled roof, new windows and exterior doors, hot-water heater, hurricane shutters, electrical, garage converted to bedroom,....

In summary: If a property has permitting problems or code enforcement issues, then it is up to the Buyer (who becomes the current owner) of the property to straighten them out; and in some case may have to remove what was done and redo it to the current code. So Be careful! When you as a Buyer are looking at a Bank Forclosed or any property that has a lot of updates, make sure required Permists were applied for and closed.

Address: 1811 N Tamiami Trail  Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Phone:    (941) 743-5299

Everone Knows Carrabas. We love the Sausage lentil soup and the bread & dip.

Our friends had Linguini,Angel hair

and manicotti 

and the Caesar salad was very fresh.

Yes, you do need to us the call ahead seating as they are busy all the time and locals love it. 

By Bob Lapietro, Realtor.  Sun Realty

Luigi's Family Restaurant & Pizzeria

Address: 3883 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Phone:     941-624-3535

Luigis is a staple in  Port Charlotte. Bob has been here 27 years and Luigis has been here longer. Great food and reasonable prices. We had to have a customer tell us about the Wednesday Pasta specials.  

We had Clams with Linguini,

They have specials almost every Lunch and Dinner - from "Make your own Pizza"

to spaghetti with meat sauce,

to freshly made salad & Caesar salad with anchovies

and the hot, steaming, fresh bread!!!! The Hot Buttered Bread is to die for.

The food was wonderful, prices very reasonable and the service was excellent. What more can you ask for.

Go early as it does get busy and in season the lines form outside so Keep this in mind and don’t miss out on this Great place to eat.

By Bob Lapietro

Location: 1975 Tamiami Trail  Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Phone: (941) 575-7575

Our Sun Realty office went to Phil's 41 for lunch this week.

We had food like Cobb Salad, Crabcake Sandwich, Chicken Parmesian, Corned Beef with Swiss Sandwich and other salads and sandwiches.

The service was great, food tasty and price very reasonable. 

Phil (standing) the owner stopped by the table to make sure everything was fine. Our broker Gary Hicks (blue checkered shirt) paid for lunch.

We made a reservation for 10 of us for Friday nite. Friday nite we showed up for our reservation and the table was ready. Our waitress was wonderful. 

We ordered drinks and dinner. The Clam Chowder was very good; and from someone from Boston that says a lot. We had Eggplant Parmesian, Spaghetti Bolognese, Caesar Salad, Crab Cakes, Mussels with Linguini and Chicken Parmesian. 

The food was excellent and the service great. 

The restaurant was very busy, so we were thankful that we'd made a reservation and our table was ready. We definately recommend making a reservation, especially during season. We definitely will add Phils 41 to our lunch and dinner destinations.