Will Solar Panels be in your next home?

Here in the "Sunshine" State we are seeing more solar panels popping up. They have been used to heat pools for some time but now some new construction communities are going "All Green".  As more and more new or replacement roofs are being put on homes we are seeing an increase of the ones that are also including solar panels for the whole house.

Buying or Selling a Home with Solar Panels have issues that most of us wouldn't think of. 

1. Inspections - When buying a home with solar panels, you should have the system inspected to determine if it is functioning properly. It is recommended that you use an independent Solar company to do this. Anything that could have damaged the roof in the past should be looked at. Electrical connections and proper permits should be checked. For solar panels used to heat the pool, there is water running through the pipes on the roof back down to the pool equipment. You want to make sure that those pipes are not leaking.  

2. Ownership - Solar systems can be owned or leased. It is important for the Buyer to know which option the Seller used on their system.  You won't have to worry about lease issues if the system is owned. Most solar leases are for 20 years. If the lease is not paid off, both the Buyer and Seller will have to determine the best course on how to handle the lease at closing. Make sure that you know all of the fees due on the system and what the pay-off amount is. If a Buyer is using a mortgage to buy the home, the lender will also need to know about the lease arrangements and it may increase the Buyer's debt-to-income ratio when applying for the loan.

3. Leased? - If a Solar System is leased you need to know the valuation of the lease. The same solar company that you use to inspect the system may be able to supply the information needed such as panel brand, age, inverter types, monitoring software, hardware and warranty. That data can provide the information for the valuation of the system which will also determine the value that it adds to the house.

4. Closing - The Closing Attorney or Title company handling the sale should ensure that there is not a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC-1) financing statement or filing lien on the solar home property. Some solar companies file this type of lien in the land records to put third parties on notice as to their rights in the system. 

Looking to install Solar Panels? Go to www.Solar-Estimate.org to check on energy savings, potential tax incentives and price estimates. 

Information on the Deed to your Home

Just thought that I'd pass this along in case it helps anyone. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, FL - Finally got to this cool museum in St. Pete today. Beautiful glass pieces from all over the world. Regular admission is $15 per person but residents from Sarasota and Manatee counties can get in for only $5 per person through 8/31/21! Find it at 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Anna Maria Island voted in Top 10 of "Most Charming Small Towns in Florida"!

Anna Maria Island is just west of the city of Bradenton on the Gulf of Mexico. There are actually 3 beach areas on the island, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. A portion of Longboat Key is also in Manatee County while the southern most area of that beach/island is in Sarasota County. I prefer Anna Maria Island to all of the other nearby beach areas, maybe because you can't beat the 7 mile drive from one end to the other. On the northern most tip you find both the Rod & Reel Pier and the nearby Anna Maria City Pier. You'll find fishermen and women at both along with restaurants, shops & beaches. These areas still resemble "Old Florida" to me, casual dress, no parking meters (knock on wood) and great places to eat and drink. You can spend hours watching the pelicans and other water birds and may get a surprise sighting of a manatee as they swim along the shore. We spend our time on Coquina Beach on the island and I even learned to swim there as a kid. Coquina Beach is on the south end of Anna Maria Island just north of Longboat Key. It is known for it's Austalian pine trees which line the roads and give the beach great shaded areas to picnic, bbq and hang a hammock. There are Farmer's and Craft markets on the beach twice a week from November through July. Year-round you will find a full-service concession stand serving burgers, salads, seafood, great onion rings, ice cream and drinks. There are also showers, restrooms, changing stations and beach volley ball courts. Parking is free and lifeguards are on duty. There is a paved "sidewalk" near the beach under the shade which makes it a comfortable walk or bike-ride up and down the length of the beach. Birdlife is abundant with osprey, pelicans, seagulls, terns and more and you can also watch dolphins swim nearby. Across from the beach, on the bay side you will find Leffis Key Preserve with mangroves and 1,500 feet of boardwalks to view Sarasota Bay and it's own wildlife such as racoons, black-crowned night herons, crabs & manatees. There is a boat launch just south of Leffis Key and restaurants just north of Coquina on both sides of the street. The address for Coquina Beach is 2603 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach and more information can be found at www.mymanatee.org or by phone at 941-742-5923. Search for #floridahomesforsale in the area at www.FLGulfCoastHomesForSale.com

Wellen Park - Master-Planned Communities in Venice, FL

Wellen Park is a master planned community with established neighborhoods such as Boca Royale in north Englewood along with Sarasota National, Gran Paradiso and Grand Palm in Venice. Their tagline is "Get the life you always imagined, right alongside the life you never expected".  The future for these communities plan to have it all.  You will currently find the Cool Today Park where the Atlanta Braves have their Spring Training along with concerts, movies, happy hour and fireworks.  There are 18 hole Golf Courses with clubhouses at Boca Royale and Sarasota National.  You'll find the Blue Heron Park and Bark Park at the West Villages with walking trails and shade structures with doggie drinking fountains and agility stations. Senator Bob Johnson's Landing in Venice has canoe and kayak launches, trails, fishing, grills and restrooms.  Downtown Wellen Park will be a walkable area with shops, dining, music, entertainment and more due to be completed during the last quarter of 2022.

Residential communities include Boca Royale in north Englewood with both established homes and new construction from condos in the $200,000s up to single family homes over $1,000,000. It is a gated community with a golf course and clubhouse along with a fitness center and tennis. 

West Villages has the neighborhoods of Grand Palm, Gran Paradiso, Islandwalk, Renaissance, Sarasota National, Tortuga and The Preserve at West Villages.  Tortuga with have single family homes from the $300,000s.  Island Walk has villas and single family homes between $300,000 - $600,000.  Renaissance has paired villas from the upper $200,000s as well as single family homes starting in the mid $300,000s.  Oasis has single family homes starting in the mid $300,000s.  Sarasota National in Venice has both established homes and new construction from condos in the $200,000s to coach homes, villas, patio homes and single family homes up to over $800,000.  Some homes come with golf memberships while others do not.  Gran Paradiso and Grand Palm also have established homes as well as new construction.  Grand Paradiso has coach homes, townhomes and villas from the mid $200,000s.  Grand Palm has paired villas and single family homes from the low $300,000s.

At this time they plan to have 22,000 homes in Wellen Park at it's completion and it's Downtown area will have a 80 acre activity lake, festival area, splash park, food truck park along with shopping and dining.  With "wellness" in mind, it will have 18 miles of nature and fitness trails with 25 more miles of trails planned in the future.  If an active lifestyle is what you are looking for, contact us at 941-725-9946 or 941-238-7714 to help you find your "Piece of Florida Paradise"! 

Cortez Fishing Village near Anna Maria Island, FL

We were trying to go to Anna Maria Island for lunch today but we got stuck in traffic for too long so I finally made a quick turn to get out of it and ended up at the Cortez Fishing Village just before the bridge over to the island. We've been there before but I forgot how quaint and interesting that area was. There are 2 restaurants there, the Swordfish Grill and the Cortez Kitchen, both on the water with outdoor dining along with inside dining (and live music) at the Swordfish Grill. You'll also find the Star Fish Company Market with fresh catches. There's a museum open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 - 4 that shows it's history and hosts events during the year. Take a visit next time your head to the beach! #annamariaisland #cortezfishingvillage #fishingannamariaisland #seafoodrestaurant

St. Armands Circle Sarasota Outdoor Things To Do!

So many #OUTDOOR things to do in Sarasota, FL! "Winter" weather is at it's best in Sarasota and there are so many things to do out in the Great Outdoors. St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota is found just over the Ringling Bridge near downtown. There are over 100 shops and restaurants around the circle including the Columbia restaurant, Tommy Bahamas, the Daquiri Deck Raw Bar restaurant with outdoor seating and great drinks, Kilwins chocolate and ice cream, The Giving Tree Gallery, The Met Day Spa and Salon and much, much more. Events are found in the circle park area such as the Porsche in the Park event scheduled for May 1, 2021 the St. Armands Boat Show on June 5 and and the 20th annual St. Armands Craft Festival on June 12 & 13. Find homes and condos for sale in the area at www.FLGulfCoastHomesForSale.com. Call John Gregory at 941-725-9946 or Leslie Gregory at 941-238-7714 with any questions or to schedule private showings of homes.

Lifestyle Communities in Manatee County FL

Best Places to Retire? 13 of the ‘Top 25’ Are in Fla.

It's almost time to get Outside and why not in Lakewood Ranch, FL?

We're just weeks away from our perfect weather here in southwest Florida.  While the weather will stay nice and warm, the humidity will start to slip away and especially at this time, getting outside is the perfect thing to do.  While there are plenty of beaches and water areas to go to, remember that there are also plenty of parks just inland in the Lakewood Ranch area, just east of I-75 in Manatee and Sarasota county.  Here are just some of the parks that you'll find there.

Greenbrook Adventure Park -

For those with dogs, this park has a dog park with a separate area for small dogs along with miles of trails for us humans, too.  There are sports fields for the kids (and adults who still feel like kids), in-line skating track and a pavilion. Activities are held there throughout the year.  Find this park off of SR70 at 13010 Adventure Place in Bradenton, FL 34202.

Summerfield Community Park - 

Bring your kids to this 15 acre park where you'll find swings and 3 separate playgrounds.  The adults will find jogging paths, soccer and baseball fields and tennis and basketball courts. This one has a pavilion, too.  Find it off of SR70 at 6402 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34202 

Heron's Nest Nature Park - 

This park was made for the birds!  There are 110 acres with trails and 2 lakes - 12 acre Heron Lake and 27 acre Summerfield Lake.  You can fish, boat and watch the birds that flock to this area.  This one is near the Summerfield and Greenbrook parks at 6399 Tupelo Trail, Bradenton, FL 34202

County Club Community Park - 

This park is in the gated Country Club community behind the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club athletic center.  It has something for everyone, a tot lot, pickleball and basketball courts and a pavilion.  You will find it at 7650 Legacy Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34202

Bob Gardner Community Park - 

This is another park for dog lovers, north of SR70 near Manatee Ave. and Rye Road.  This park is smaller and has limited parking but many can walk there from the Arbor Grande and Mallory Park communities.  You will find a dog park, trails, 9-hole disc (frisbee) golf course and a gravity rail for the kids. You will find it at 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34211

Roger Hill Park -

Just south of the Bob Gardner Park is the Roger Hill Park just behind the Harmony community.  This park is accessible by bike or walking and connects to existing trails.  5150 White Eagle Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34211

James L Patton Community Park -

Last but not least, for water lovers there is the James L Patton Community Park just north of SR70 south of the Bridgewater community off of White Eagle Blvd.  This park surrounds Lake Patton where you can launch a canoe or kayak along with trails, a children's playground and pavilion.  5725 White Eagle Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211

Lakewood Ranch where you can live, work and play! It is easily accessible just east of I-75 between Manatee Ave. and south to just south of University Parkway where new communities and parks are underway.  Search for homes available in Lakewood Ranch at www.FLGulfCoastHomesForSale.com.  Get out and ENJOY!