I read an article recently in the East County Observer about changes in Manatee county from 2014 to 2015.

It stated Anna Maria Island saw the largest increases in property tax values, almost 9%. No surprise there, living walking distance to the miles of beautiful public beaches does make the area very popular with both home buyers and investors.

However, the largest increase in population has shifted east of I-75. The East Manatee Fire Rescue District area (which...

Did you know that Florida makes up 40% of all flood insurance policies issued in the United States?

It's well known that the national flood insurance program has been running substantial deficits. Congress therefore has attempted through legislation to address those deficits.

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 tried to limit or eliminate subsidies so that premiums were at full risk rates. A full risk rating means that the premium is based on the elevation...

As a real estate agent, I hear that question quite frequently. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer as to "average" home insurance policy rate.

That is because insurance rates in FL vary based on a variety of factors.

Insurers generally consider 3 main factors that can increase your insurance rates: the age of the home, the location (including how close it is to the coast) and whether the home has any hurricane mitigation items such as storm shutters...

For those moving to our area that consider school districts a top priority in finding your new home, I suggest checking out the Sarasota and Manatee school websites to help you pick out those that schools that appeal to you, then search for neighborhoods located within those particular school districts. Otherwise you may waste a lot of time checking out neighborhoods you wouldn't rent/purchase in because the schools aren't in line with your expectations.


The best source for...

It's one of those nightmares both sellers and buyers worry about happening -- the appraisal comes in at an amount less than the purchase price. It happens.

A home appraisal is supposed to be an unbiased opinion of the value of a property at a point in time, completed by a professionally licensed appraiser. An appraisal is an art, not a science.

Appraisers determine a property's value partially by researching the sales prices of nearby homes that are of similar...