Vero Beach Florida Homes

Finding the right home in Vero Beach isn’t always as easy as relying on a checklist of square footage, number of bathrooms, and the upkeep of the yard. Although these types of features are important when determining where you want to live and raise a family, another important consideration is the neighborhood where your dream house is situated.

Vero Beach and Hutchinson Island homes for sale are noted for their family-friendly communities and idyllic backdrop, but that doesn’t mean that every home is ideally placed. Before you purchase a home in any Florida city, it’s important to research what the rest of the neighborhood has to offer.

Schools

Schools are the number one consideration when it comes to choosing a good neighborhood in FL. If you have kids, the reasons are easy to spot: you want your children to have access to a good, safe education. However, even homeowners without kids need to keep this issue in mind, especially if you plan on selling the house some day. Top-rated schools will not only keep your property value high, but they’ll also serve as an appeal to potential homebuyers in the future.

Crime and Sex Offenders

Few people want to live where they feel unsafe or fear for their families. That’s why you should always check the crime rate and search for registered sex offenders in the area. Never take a neighborhood at face value; a place that looks charming during the day might have a high rate of break-ins, while a neighborhood that looks less savory might actually have a strict neighborhood watch program in place and several policeman living nearby.

Walkability/Livability

Suburbs in the region of Vero Beach are generally good places for a slower pace of life, but the ability to walk to the market, the park, or to run simple errands might not be as high as what you can find in a more urban center. At the same time, Vero Beach suburbs might be better for taking a scenic evening stroll. When determining where you want to live in Florida, keep in mind what is more important for your lifestyle: being near amenities, or being near other families with similar goals as you.

The same is true for things like construction zones, local garbage plants, train tracks, playgrounds, dogs, or industrial zones nearby. Make sure you take a walk through your potential neighborhood during the day and in the evening to see what types of noises, smells, and sights you will have to get used to.

The Neighbors

Nothing tells you more about a neighborhood in Hutchinson Island than the neighbors. Does everyone keep their homes and yards in good order? If a visually-appealing community is important to you, you might want to look around to make sure everyone else feels the same way. You might also want to investigate why. Is upkeep important to the neighbors, or is it held in place by strict homeowners’ association rules? Are you ready to make the same level of commitment?

Also, you’ll want to determine the types of people who live nearby. Is there a large percentage of young families? Teenagers? Professionals who are rarely at home? Although these things can and will change, they will tell you a lot about the overall neighborhood culture.

Neighbors also matter when it comes to the type and sizes of homes they have. Are there a large number of foreclosures? That could indicate a lowering neighborhood value. Are the other houses very different than yours in terms of value? (Note: Being surrounded in houses much higher in value than yours means that you may pay more in property taxes. Houses with a lower value means that you may end up having a difficult time selling in the future.)

Buying Your New Vero Beach Home

Buying a home, whether it’s in the center of Vero Beach or on the outskirts of Indian River Shores, is a big undertaking. It’s important to look beyond the physical structure of your dream house to notice all that’s going on around you. After all, the place you call home is about more than four bedrooms and three baths; it’s about your way of life.

If you’re ready to learn more about purchasing a home in FL, contact Ginny Mitchell today. We’ll match you with the perfect home—including neighborhood amenities.

If you’re getting ready to sell a home in Vero Beach, you probably have a checklist of ideas for making your home more marketable. FL homes tend to sell better when they have more immediate appeal; for example, well-tended yards, impeccable siding, and a welcoming kitchen can go a long way in enticing homebuyers in the area. There are a number of ways you and your real estate agent can work together to make these things happen, and one of the best ideas is to ensure that you’re engaging all of the senses.

Sight

When selling a Hutchinson Island home or preparing your Vero Beach home for viewing, you should pay attention to both the big picture and the details of your house.

For a bigger picture viewpoint, try to see everything with fresh eyes. When you pull into the driveway, what overall impression does the house give you? Is it clean and well-cared for? Does it look like the sort of place a family would want to live?

Then, as you walk up to the front door, pay closer attention to the little things: the state of the flowerbeds, a cracked panel of siding, or an unsightly satellite dish at one corner of the house. These little things are often the easiest to fix in terms of time and money.

Do the same thing as you walk through each room of your house. Take a quick survey from the doorway, and then walk through to make note of smaller defects. Different homebuyers look at different things, so it’s best to ensure that even the littlest problems are attended to.

Sound

The sounds of an ideal Florida home are pleasing to the ear, and you should do your best to keep them that way. Avoid running any noisy appliances when you’re expecting potential homebuyers to stop by. Televisions, radios, and even kids playing outside can all contribute negatively to the experience. When possible, you should either opt for silence (to demonstrate the peacefulness of your home) or use light background music that won’t be offensive to anyone. If you live near the water or wilderness, you might also open a few key windows to let in the most natural sounds.

Smell

It’s long been held as a “rule” of real estate that you should bake cookies or light a vanilla-scented candle when you show your home. These traditional smells are ones that most people associate with happy memories, which can trigger better feelings about your FL home for sale.

While you don’t have to stick to traditional baking smells, the idea is a good one. However, if you use scents, choose ones that are inoffensive, are hypo-allergenic, and aren’t too obvious. You can also choose smells suited to particular rooms. Light and airy scents are well-suited to bathrooms, while the baking smells tend to do better in living rooms and kitchens.

Touch

In most cases, you don’t want people walking through your home to touch your personal possessions. However, the sense of touch can be important. Plush carpeting is welcoming in bedrooms and living spaces, while cool hardwood or tile makes a kitchen feel cleaner and more efficient. Crisp, clean appliances promise a treat for the fingertips even if the potential homebuyers don’t make actual physical contact.

For the sense of touch, it’s best to promise a great tactile experience, rather than actually provide one. Place soft furnishings next to clean architectural lines. Throw a cozy blanket over some leather furniture. Choose draperies that are either light and airy or heavy and warm, depending on the mood you want to set.

Taste

When you have an open house in Vero Beach, keeping appetizer trays on hand can go a long way in making a good impression. Elegant sandwiches, tasty tarts, and other bite-sized treats cause people to linger and take a better stock of their surroundings. Food at a open house, while potentially messy, is also more likely to draw other real estate agents. At the end of the day, greater exposure – whether it’s potential buyers or real estate professionals other than your own Ginny Mitchell – means a greater likelihood that your home will sell quickly and easily.

Selling a FL Home

A house is more likely to sell if it seems like a home. When you engage all the senses, you’re doing more than showcasing the physical features of your house – you’re demonstrating how comfortable and welcoming it is. And in today’s market, taking those few extra steps can make a huge difference in how quickly your Vero Beach, Hutchinson Island, Indian River Shores home sells.

These days, buying a home in Vero Beach is about more than finding the right square footage, number of bedrooms, and price range. While these factors almost always make up the primary concerns for any home buyer in FL, the truth is that there is so much more to a home than the numbers and figures you see on an advertisement. In fact, Vero Beach and Hutchinson Island are part of a growing trend of buying homes that are not only an investment in your future, but an investment in the future of the planet, as well.

What is an Eco-Friendly Home?

An eco-friendly home is any house that strives to reduce energy usage either during the building process or for average, everyday use. Green Home Building Standards have been established by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), which strives to ensure that ecologically sound building practices meet structurally sound ones no matter where you live.

Some of the components of a “green” home include:

• Energy-efficient features, including appliances and windows with the Energy Star rating. This can also be accomplished by doing simple things like using more efficient lighting fixtures and light bulbs.

• Water-efficient features, including Energy Star ratings on toilets, showers, faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines. At a more advanced level, this can include water recirculation systems and on-site wastewater treatment systems.

• Resource-efficient features, which generally come from structural changes that have to do with house size and layout, window placement, heat conservation efforts, and even using fast-renewing resources (like bamboo) for the floor or other building materials.

• Quality air features, which provide good ventilation without introducing toxins into the air either inside or outside the home.

• Outdoor features, including landscaping that contributes to the local vegetation, and the use of permeable materials for driveways and walkway. Water waste should also be reduced wherever possible.

Purchasing a Green Home

One of the greatest things about eco-friendly homes in the Vero Beach region is that most of the costs are figured in during the building process. This means that if you’re in the market to purchase a green home, you will only have to help maintain the work that’s already been done. While this can increase the initial price tag of your new FL home, chances are that it will save you large amounts of money as the years progress.

In an age where it’s becoming increasingly more important to give back to the environment, more and more homeowners in the Vero Beach area are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It doesn’t matter whether you purchase a new home in Indian River Shores or an older building with recent renovations in Hutchinson Island, Ginny Mitchell can help you find a way to combine your love of the environment with the home of your dreams.

Marketing a Vero Beach home to make it attractive to buyers isn’t just about staging the house or putting a For Sale sign up in the yard. In today’s real estate market, it’s important to reach out to a larger audience through various types of media. After all, buying and selling a home in the Hutchinson Island region means tapping into everything that people use on a daily basis: computers, newspapers, magazines, and more traditional real estate routes.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

The majority of home buyers in the FL region begin their search online. The Internet is becoming an increasingly viable way to present homes from both an interior and an exterior vantage point. Although Ginny Mitchell will help you to understand the best angles for presenting a photographic display of your house, you can help by pointing out what it is you love best about the home. A great backyard garden, a cozy front porch swing, a spacious kitchen, the tile on your bathroom floor – no matter what it is, use it as a way to entice buyers into contacting your agent for more information.

Virtual tours are becoming a very popular way to showcase your home online, as well. Allowing viewers to “walk through” your home gives them a stronger connection to it.

Signs and Advertisements

The more traditional Florida home selling options include putting up a sign or placing an ad in the newspaper, in your local real estate magazine, or even on direct mailing advertisements. These steps have long been a part of the buying and selling market, regardless of where you live.

The truth of the matter is, there’s a reason these actions are relied upon so heavily: no one will know you’re selling your Vero Beach home unless you post it somewhere! While decisions related to where you place the signs and advertisements will most likely be made with the assistance of Ginny Mitchell, you can help by finding additional ways to spread the word of your sale. Online home selling postings for Indian River Shores or Hutchinson Island are fairly common, and oftentimes, simply letting your friends and family know that your Vero Beach home is on the market can go a long way in spreading the word.

Rely on Ginny Mitchell

Of course, the most important home marketing step you can take is trusting Ginny Mitchell to work hard to sell your home as quickly and efficiently as possible. Like any real business partnership, selling a Florida home is all about finding someone you can trust and working together to get the best possible results.

In the past year, the median price of houses in Indian River County fell from $150,000 to $138,500. This is a drop of just under 9%. This occurred because values decreased in general and because a higher number of small, low-priced homes were sold. As shown in the chart below, in the last 2 years, 2008 and 2009, the median price has dropped from $195,000 to $138,000, which is a drop of 38%. 

Median Home Prices in Vero Beach area -- Indian River County Florida

By contrast, sales volume is up, inventory is down, and the free fall drop in prices has slowed considerably. Many real state economists believe prices have reached bottom, and the market will now level off and start a slow but steady increase in late 2010.  We are seeing this in Indian River County also. 

Homes on the Island:  Another good month for home sales on the island in Indian River County. In spite of what is typically considered to be the “slow season,” sales continue to stay at record levels for this time of year.  Part of the good news can be attributed to the tax credit program, but in our opinion another major reason for the increased sales is lower prices. December 2009 sales were the best December in 6 years. Prices ranged from 13 houses priced under $500,000 to one house in Johns Island that sold for $8,650,000. However, this home was originally listed for close to $15,000,000 in mid 2008 and has been on the market since April 2007.  A recent price reduction in October created a quick offer and a closing in December. Again, there are buyers out there, and when property is priced competitively, it sells!

Homes Sold on the Island - 5 Year Graph

Condos on the island:  Just a “so-so” month for sales of Condos on the island but about average for December over the last 6 years. This category of property may not see the increases that other areas are now seeing. The free spending baby boomers of a few years ago are now saving their money. Most of the condos are second homes or weekend getaways. On the low end, a 1 BR unit on Dahlia sold for $120,000 and a couple sold in Oceanside in the $140s. On the high end, an ocean front villa sold in Baytree for $760,000, but it had been on the market since 12-2007 and sold for 36% less than the listing price.

Condos Sold on the Island - 5 Year Graph

Mainland Condos:  Bargains galore on condos on the mainland. Of the 39 condos sold on the mainland, 24 were sold for under $100,000 and only 5 sold for over $200,000 including one in Grand Harbor for $850,000. At the low end, many of the sale prices were 50% of what they were 3 or 4 years ago, and there are still close to 100 units for sale at these great prices.

Condos Sold in Indian River County - 5 Year Graph

Indian River County Homes:  Wow, sales were up again—best December since 2004 and the median price was up. High sales again are attributed to the tax credit, the price, and the fact that many homes are bank owned, and buyers know banks are motivated sellers and deals can be made quickly. 27% of the sales were bank owned, and 14% were Short Sales. Inventory was reduced by 9% in 2009. On the mainland prices ranged from 58 homes that sold for under $100,000 mostly in the South County in the Highlands and the Oslo road area to only 2 that sold for over $500,000—one in Grand Harbor and one in Vero Isles on a canal.

Homes Sold in Indian River County - 5 Year Graph

North Hutchinson Island:  The year went out with a bang. December sales were the highest for December in 6 years and the 2nd highest month since May 2005. Total sales for this year were 92 units, which is the highest yearly total since 97 were sold in 2005. The Median price though continues to move down, which is reflected in the second NHI chart to approximately 55% lower than the 2005 and 2006 highs. Part of the reduction in price is due to lower values and part is due to the fact that higher priced homes are not selling. Sales this month consisted of 2 houses, both distressed sales—one in Queens Cove for $285,000 on a 50 ft lot and a non-waterfront home in Coral Cove  for $125,000. On the condo front ther were 4 oceanfront units that sold in The sands, Ocean Harbour South and Sea Palms for $153,000 to $205,000. At the high end, a unit sold in Altamira on the 11th floor for $660,000. Inventory has come down over the last few years also to a present level of 184 units for sale. However, this does not include approximately 90 units for sale in the 2 new Oceanique buildings. 

Homes Sold on North Hutchinson Island - 5 Year Graph

Although new tax breaks and great housing prices in Vero Beach, Hutchinson Island and Indian River Shores make buying a home easier and more cost-effective than ever before, it can still be a daunting task to undertake the path to home ownership. In addition to the stress of moving, you’re probably worrying about things like loan processing fees, down payments, mortgage options, and closing costs. Even with a financial advisor and a realtor at your side, these can add up to quite a bit of hard work!

However, almost every homeowner will tell you that these costs are definitely worth buying a FL house. Not only are you purchasing a place to call home, but you’re making a financial investment with potentially huge returns. That’s why you should always consider a home inspection before signing on that dotted line, even if the added expense isn’t one you’re looking forward to.

What is a Home Inspection?

Many people equate a home inspection with a home appraisal, and with good reason. At their core, the two processes are very similar: in both, a trained professional goes through the home and inspects it with the intent of informing all parties involved on making the smartest buying and selling decisions.

However, the similarities stop there. Home appraisals are done to give buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and financers a better idea of what the home is worth (based on “surface” things like square footage, number of rooms, and amenities like a fireplace or granite countertops). A home inspection, on the other hand, is all about informing buyers about the potential problems that lie underneath the surface.

For example, a home inspector will be able to answer the following questions:

• What is the condition of the plumbing and/or electrical system, and how easy is it to access in the event of a problem?

• What will be the realistic costs and challenges of heating or cooling the house?

• What is the state of the foundation, the roof, and other structural components?

• How many years of use will you be able to get out of the electrical/plumbing/heating systems?

• What are the potential safety hazards of the house (lead paint, radon, termites, asbestos, mold, etc.)?

What a Home Inspection Does for You

Although most home inspections cost the potential homebuyer hundreds of dollars up front, they typically end up saving homebuyers thousands of dollars in the end. When you get a home inspection, you can not only step away from a purchase that might not be right for you, but you can also require sellers to either “fix” the problems before you buy the home, or adjust the price in order to allow you to make the repairs.

Of course, there’s also the benefit of knowing that the home for sale in Vero Beach that you purchased is safe and comfortable. It can be difficult to know just what a house has in store for you until you’ve lived in it for a few months. A home inspection is the best way to take the house for a “test drive” before you make the investment. And with so many choices currently on the Florida real estate market, you’re in a perfect position to make a smart, financially-sound choice for your entire family.

Again a good month on North Hutchinson Island. November 2009 was the highest November in 6 years and 30% higher than October. However, the higher sales volume was spurred by 4 foreclosures.  Four houses sold ranging from a foreclosure not on the water in Coral Cove for $140,000 to a canal front home on Jackson Way that went for $320,000. There was also a foreclosure house that sold in Queens Cove for $236,000. The 4th house sale was in Waters Edge for $250,000. Condo sales ranged from $161,000 for a foreclosure in the Sands Oceanside to $575,000 for a partially finished unit in the Visions and $575,000 for a 3rd floor corner unit in Grand Isle. Average time on the market was 223 days. 

2009 December Hutchinson Island Real Estate Sales 5 Year Graph Update

Condominium Sales:  Condo sales dropped of from the previous month, but it still was the highest number of sales for November in 4 years. On the mainland at the low end, there were 6 sales in Vista Royale for under $50,000. At the high end, there were 2 sales at Grand Harbor for $850,000 and $900,000. Time on the market averaged 209 days.

2009 December Vero Beach Area Condo Sales 5 Year Graph Update

County wide home sales continue at a brisk pace in November most likely because of the tax credit for buyers as there were a high amount of smaller homes sold. It was the best November in 6 years and the best month since July of 2009.  Of the 145 houses sold, there were 41 bank-owned and 12 were short sales. 36% of all the houses sold were foreclosures.  On the mainland, prices ranged from 17 homes in the south county selling for under $50,000, and only 3 homes sold above $350,000 with a high of $1,650,000 in St Andrews Island at Grand Harbor.

2009 December Vero Beach Area Home Sales 5 Year Sales Graph Update

For many people living in or moving to FL, the best real estate purchase is one that combines the comfort of home with a piece of history. Buying a historic home in Vero Beach, Hutchinson Island or Indian River Shores is fairly common in today’s market, thanks to an incredible real estate climate and one of the most dynamic historic districts in the state.

However, if you’re simply looking at the intricate architecture and are thinking how great it would be to own a piece of the city’s history, you might want to take a step back and consider all the work involved in becoming a historic home owner.

Home Quality

The most important consideration for purchasing a historic home in Vero Beach is the quality of the house. Whether you’re looking at a bungalow or a mansion, you have to remember that time is rarely kind to real estate.

In addition to outdated materials (like plaster instead of drywall or lead pipes) and difficult-to-work-with architectural styles, you have to consider the costs of restoring the house with authenticity in mind. Many materials are no longer available or can be costly if you want to maintain the historic integrity of your home. The same is true of the availability and cost of craftsman qualified to work with your particular home.

Florida Housing Regulations

Many historic homes are overseen by governing bodies that regulate what you can and can’t do to your own home. If you’re in the market to purchase a historic home, make sure you know who you will have to go through to get the right permits for renovation, or if you’ll need to register and pay a fee to get your home listed as an authentic historic site. You might also want to note what kind of tourist interest you will get from having a historically-listed site.

Financial Investments

Fortunately, not everything about owning a Vero Beach historic home is hard work! Historic homes, when restored with authenticity, safety, and modern comfort in mind, are an incredible financial investment. Many people are willing to pay top dollar for homes that are in perfect shape or that have a keen attention to detail.

Many local governments also offer tax credits and tax freezes for those who maintain a certain level of quality in their registered historic homes. This means that a historic home can be a great investment, as well as a beautiful piece of architecture.

Finding and Buying Your Historic Home

When refurbished to contain all the modern amenities today’s families need and enjoy, a historic home can become a showpiece – both for your own visitors as well as those interested in the history of Vero Beach, Indian River Shores and Hutchinson Island. As with all real estate purchases, however, this one should be made after much consideration and under the guidance of your trusted agent.