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Should You Invest in Sea Island Real Estate in Pre-Construction?

July 7, 2020

Many people are reluctant to invest in a property which has not been fully constructed. What if the property takes too long to get constructed? What if the construction halts for some reason which is out of their control? In that case they will have put their money into a project which does not yield much in the short term.

Looking at the Long Term

When you’re investing in Sea Island real estate, it’s necessary to look at the long term; this will convince you that it’s a good idea to invest in a property in pre-construction. The fact is that there are sometimes delays when it comes to construction; there may be times when the builder might go over the time stated. So if you were hoping to move into the property, then you will have to find a different place to stay. But it’s also a fact that the property will be constructed sooner rather than later because construction can’t be halted indefinitely. So it’s best to consider your investment a long term one because the property will get constructed in the long term.

Increase in Prices After Construction

When you invest in a property which is still in pre-construction, then you pay significantly less than you would pay for a property that has been fully constructed. So once the property gets constructed, you may find that you have, in fact, doubled your money! Then it’s up to you whether you want to stay in that home or you want to sell it for a higher price. If you decide to hold on to the property as a good investment, you will also be able to rent it out and get a monthly income for it.

Why Is Sea Island Real Estate a Good Investment?

The fact is that real estate is one of the best investments out there. Not only do you get something tangible in return for it, but its prices also tend to go up slowly and steadily. Sure, there are slumps in any market, including the real estate market. But these are few and far between. Plus, the price of real estate never plummets suddenly; there is always some warning. If it seems that the market is turning downwards, you can always sell your property off before the downswing goes any further.

Contact DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty for more information about investing in a property in pre-construction on Sea Island.

Preparing Your Home for Hurricanes on Sea Island

June 30, 2020

June 1st kicked off the hurricane season for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts with the third-named storm of the season, Cristobal, already slamming the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes are a way of life for those living on Georgia’s Sea Island and storm preparation is a necessity. In 1893, Sea Islands Hurricane, one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in the United States, slammed into Georgia’s barrier islands. Since then, residents of Sea Island and the other barrier islands have protected and prepared their property should a tropical storm or hurricane arise.

Get Hurricane Insurance

Before you even move into your home on Sea Island, it is important to have insurance for hurricanes or other severe storms. When living in hurricane-prone areas, insurance is a necessity should anything happen to your home or belongings. Hurricane insurance is separate from your normal home insurance, but just as important (if not more). You’ll want to note the flood zones on the island and where your home falls on that map, so you can get the proper coverage. Do this early, once a storm is headed toward Sea Island, it’s too late.

Cleanup Excess Foliage and Debris

Besides flooding, one of the biggest causes of damage after a hurricane is fallen branches and flying debris. Periodically, especially during hurricane season, trim your tree branches and clear out other foliage that may fall on your house. If a large tree is close to your home, consider having it removed so it won’t fall during a storm. After a storm warning has been issued for Sea Island clean up outdoor furniture and other items kept outside your home. Secure items or bring them inside to avoid damage.

Inspect Your Roof

Your roof is one of the most important pieces in protecting you and your home. Roof inspections include finding potential water leaks and places that could become loose because of high winds. Loose shingles can damage not only your roof but nearby buildings and structures. You’ll want your roof to be secure and sealed before hurricane season.

Protecting your Sea Island home and yourself from tropical weather is easy if you prepare beforehand. Without simple preparation, hurricanes can be devastating. However, with these tips, you’ll be well on your way to living a safe coastal life. Contact us for more tips on how to protect your home during hurricane season.

Feeling Cooped Up? We Understand.

June 23, 2020

You have never noticed so many things that you just really do not like about your house until now. You’re working from home, maybe trying to find a new hobby, and you have an itch to redecorate your house. We know that it’s really hard to be in the same place day after day trying to entertain yourself and not go crazy. While you watch TV or read your book you dream of being anywhere else. I bet a luxurious beach vacation sounds pretty good right now. But what if it was more than just a vacation?

Imagine: instead of being in your old house, you are sitting on your back porch with a book and the sound of waves crashing in the background. The gentle salty breeze brushes through your hair. The sunset over the water on the completely empty beach is remarkably peaceful. You could have dinner outside every night in the beautiful weather or in your naturally lit home. You could be surrounded by sunlight and mild temperatures and soft colors.

As soon as we can all safely go outside, you can explore all the beautiful things on the island. Take a local charter for some breathtaking views and desperately needed fishing. Take a dolphin tour or a kayak tour to fully experience the surrounding nature. This summer will bring business to the St. Simons Pier and The Village, even take a trip to the lighthouse with your family! Historic Downtown Brunswick has dining and nightlife options to fit your every craving. After not being out to eat in a long time this will be a much-needed indulgence. There will never be a dull moment again in St. Simons.

There will never be a better time than right now to contact us and get started finding your perfect dwelling in your new, dreamy home away from home.

Vacation Escape: St. Simons Island, Georgia

June 16, 2020

The perfect place for a second home, St. Simons Island is a great escape.

Stay Active While Social Distancing

Beaches on St. Simons Island are open! Keep the social in social distancing while paddleboarding or kayaking. Georgia has opened the beaches of the Golden Isles; however, social distancing practices are still encouraged. Try to keep groups to ten or fewer, and stay six feet apart from other people.

Ready to explore St. Simons Island? There are over 20 miles (32 km) of paved bike paths on the island. Rent a couple of bikes and discover all the island has to offer. Depending on which bike shop you choose, they may offer complimentary bike pick up and drop off to any location. Touring St. Simons by bike creates a unique opportunity to discover the rich history, delicious eats, and beautiful scenery of the island.

Ready for some R&R?

Rest and relaxation are part of the island culture. Slow down, put your phone away, and let yourself enjoy being on vacation! Lounging on the beach with a book and some snacks is a great way to unwind. Many visitors enjoy birdwatching in the calm early morning hours. Gould’s Inlet and the popular East Beach are birding hotspots located on St. Simons.

Let us do the work.

Is meal prep not on your vacation to-do list? Let us take care of the work while you play! St. Simons Island has restaurants to please even the pickiest gastronomer. Some local favorites include Southern Soul BBQ, and for beautiful ocean views and delicious seafood, Echo Oceanfront Restaurant. For dessert check out Moo Cow Ice Cream. Many different cuisines are on offer at St. Simons Island restaurants. There are so many things to do, see, and taste.

Let DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty help you make St. Simons Island your go-to destination. It’s the perfect place for a second home when you need to get away.

Maintaining Your St Simons Real Estate to Increase Its Resale Value

June 2, 2020

Real estate is a tangible investment i.e. it’s something you can see and touch, unlike stocks and bonds. This is the reason why man people prefer this avenue of investment to others. And when you buy St Simons real estate in a great neighborhood, then you know that it’s going to be a good investment in the long run because the prices are just going to keep going up. Additionally, if you maintain your home well, then it’s sure to fetch a good resale price. Here are some of the things that a buyer will be looking for in the future:

What Kind of First Impression Does the Home Make?

You may not think that an untidy home is going to fetch a low resale price but this usually the case. Think about it from the point of view of the buyer. When someone goes into a St Simons home and they’re thinking about buying it, first appearances count a great deal. It’s really no different than going on a first date with someone. The impression they make on you when you first see them lingers in your mind. It’s the same with a home.

Maintaining Your Home to Increase Its Resale Value

If you want to make sure that your house fetches a good resale price, you need to make sure that it looks good as soon as the potential buyer walks in.

Are the floors in good condition or has the wood been scratched several times?
Are the walls freshly painted?
Does the refrigerator have years of grime on it? (A definite no-no)
Are any of the tiles in the bathrooms falling off?
Is the kitchen counter broken or grimy?
Are any of the doors falling off their hinges?
Are the knobs coming off?

These are some of things that you need to keep in good condition if you want your home to have a good resale value in the future. Plus consider the fact that a smart buyer will also check to make sure that your appliances are not old and decrepit but are in good working condition. Make sure you take of care of your St Simons property and it will definitely appreciate in value.

Contact DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty for more great tips to maintain and resell St Simons real estate.

Negotiating the Price of Sea Island Real Estate

May 26, 2020

Buying Sea Island real estate can be a complex transaction. Not only do you have to find a home that you love but you also have to negotiate the price. There may be times when you might love a certain home only to find that it’s not within your budget. At this point, your Sea Island real estate agent can step in and help you to negotiate the price of the home.

The Offer and the Counteroffer

The negotiation process starts with you making an offer. You need to be sure that your first offer is not the maximum that you can afford to pay because you might have to go up from it. So it’s best to make your offer a little bit less than your maximum.

If the seller accepts it, then that’s great. You can get a home for less than you expected to pay. But if your offer is lower than the market price of the home, they may come back with a counteroffer.

So then, it’s up to you whether you want to pay the price they’re asking or not. If you feel like that price is still within your budget, then you can go ahead. If not, then you can also make another counteroffer.

Sometimes, this process of negotiation goes on for a little while until the buyer and the seller reach some kind of agreement.

Mortgage Approvals and Pre-Approvals

There are also cases when the property might be in high demand. In that case, the seller might be getting several offers at the same time and it’s up to you to make a competitive offer. At the same time, it’s not a good idea to offer more than you can really afford to pay.

You also need to consider how much you’ve been cleared for in terms of the mortgage. Of course, the actual mortgage won’t be figured out until the seller accepts your offer. But if you have a pre-approval, then that’s in your favor.

Often, people make offers for homes or apartments when they have not been cleared for that high a mortgage. In the end, this will mean that you won’t be able to buy the home. It will be a disappointment for you as well as the seller. So it’s a good idea to offer only what you’re sure you will get approved for.

Contact DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty to learn more about the process of negotiation when buying Sea Island real estate.

Create a Sense of “Hygge” in Your St Simons Home

May 19, 2020

Although some people prefer to get palatial, spacious homes, there is now another trend which has become quite popular around the world. It has to do with what the Danish call “hygge”—a sense of cozy happiness. Essentially, the words “hygge” and “hug” come from the same root. So hygge is like receiving a hug, not just from a person but from your surroundings in general. And it’s something that you can deliberately cultivate in your St Simons home.

Small Cozy Homes Are More Hygge

First of all, you may want to ask yourself just how much space you require in your St Simons home because it’s easier to have hygge in a small, cozy cottage rather than a large mansion. Of course, you can also go for something in-between and deliberately make an effort to go through all the rooms and make sure they have a hygge feel.

Lighting, Texture, Comfort and Rusticity

So what exactly constitutes this hygge feel? How do you create a sense of cozy happiness? Think of fireplaces, soft rugs, comfortable furniture and a rustic feel in general. Dim lighting can really create a hygge feel as opposed to bright lights which are in your face. Soft textures on your furniture and under your feet are also hygge. Throw some comfortable cushions on your sofa and you will increase its hygge quotient.

Hygge Nooks and Home Offices

Sometimes, you can also create little nooks all around your house where you can curl up with a cup of coffee or a book. These are hygge. Letting in some natural light can also be hygge. You can make your home office more hygge with some rustic colors, plants and candles. No one says you can’t be relaxed while working!

Nature, Armchairs, Shawls and Throws

Some natural elements can also be hygge, like plants or furniture made from unfinished wood. Rocking chairs, armchairs and ottomans are also hygge as they increase your level of comfort. Then all you need to do is cozy up with a shawl or a throw and you’ll be all set to pass the afternoon in a relaxed manner.

Contact DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty for more great tips to add some elements of hygge to your St Simons home.

St Simons Island Real Estate: The Right Agent

May 12, 2020

If you have been looking for St. Simons real estate for sale, you are not just looking to purchase a home with a high price tag. You are looking to purchase the best of the best in a fantastic area. When you view luxury homes, you will discover that these homes have some of the best landscaping and architecture that you have seen. A luxury home will certainly provide you with great living space. Purchasing a St Simons luxury home can provide you with the living environment you have dreamed about.

When you make the decision to invest in a luxury home, it is important that your home-buying search is given the highest level of care. One of the first things you should do is partner with the right St Simons real estate team. How can you find the right real estate team? Experience and past performances will have a great impact.

The past performances of the real estate team you are considering will make a difference. You will want to make sure your real estate team understands what you are looking for in a home. The real estate industry is very competitive and it is in its own league. A St Simons real estate agent who has the experience and great success in one level of the real estate industry does not mean he or she has experience in finding the type of homes you are interested in purchasing.

The luxury home market is a unique sector of the real estate industry, but the right agent will understand how the luxury real estate sector works. The agent will also be familiar with the St. Simons Island real estate market. The right agent will also help you find homes that are not listed publicly. The agent and team that is right for you will also be able to help you connect with others, whether they are sellers or buyers. The right real estate agent will not make a decision for you or pressure you into making a decision. The right agent will make sure you have all the information you need so you can make a decision you are happy with.

If you are looking for a St Simons real estate agent who will be able to point you in the right direction so you can find the home of your dreams, contact us today