Are you buying your first home?  Beyond the curb appeal, maintenance and floor plan, there are some things you want to consider as you search for the perfect home.  Some of these items won't show up on the professional home inspection or the seller's disclosure.

• Small Children:  What about room to play? neighborhood amenities? How secure is the location, house?  How busy is the street?
• Pets:  Is this home a good fit for my pets? Is there a fence?  Can I install a fence? Are there any pet restrictions?  Is there a safe convenient place to walk a dog?
• Home Owner Association (HOA):  In Florida, Home Owner Association status will be disclosed and can have a major impact on what you can do with your property.  Home Owner Association enforcement of deed restrictions helps to maintain property values by maintaining a consistent look and feel to the neighborhood.  Just be sure you know what the restrictions are and that you are able to abide by them.  Some common restrictions include: Restricted parking of boats, vehicles, etc., and HOA approval for changes to landscaping, paint and fencing.
• Condos:  How often and by how much have condo fees gone up in the past? Is there a maintenance fund, and how large is it? While past performance is no guarantee, stable fees and good planning in the past is promising.
• Water Nearby:  Has this property ever been flooded?
• Neighborhood Issues:  Who are the neighbors? Do any of them have noisy animals or hobbies?
• Near Vacant Land:  What is the future of the adjacent open land? Just because there's a cow and a fence there now, there is no guarantee there won't be a high rise looming over you in that very spot in the future.  The land use of nearby properties can be researched at the County Courthouse and it is easy to do.  We can help.