New Port Richey Florida Retirement Community of SummerTree

Retirement communities in Florida are quite abundant.  What 

we mean when we say "retirement community" is that certain communities in Florida are reserved for those age 55 or over and at least one of the full time residents must be age 55 or better.  Generally speaking, if you are a couple and only one of you are age 55 you can still own the home and live there together.  Most retirement communities in New Port Richey Florida are very well maintained communities and a good number of those communities are gated and have golf courses although not all of them do.

SummerTree in New Port Richey Florida is one of the retirement communities that is gated and well maintained and  SummerTree has a 9 hole golf course as well as a clubhouse, heated pool, hot tub, fitness gym which is complete with mens and ladies locker rooms.  You can also enjoy the Billiard room in the SummerTree clubhouse. SummerTree is located just a short car ride from Hudson Beach and many dining and shopping establishments in the New Port Richey and Port Richey area.  

Residents of SummerTree enjoy having their landscaping 

taken care of for them so you don't have to push a lawn mower or trim the shrubs around your home. If you think that retirement communities have only small homes, think again.  Homes in SummerTree vary in size from smaller two bedroom homes and villas to larger 3 bedroom homes with great rooms and dens.  SummerTree truly have homes available that will fit you and what you want in a home.  You even have the option to purchase a newly constructed home or have your own home built by DR Horton Builders. 

I have been assisting home buyers like you for years in the SummerTree community.  You can rely on my experience and knowledge of both new construction and resales to help you with your home purchase.  Please contact me to discuss your needs and wants in your home in SummerTree and I will work diligently for you throughout your entire home purchase. 

"For Sale by Owner" May Not be Your Best Path to Selling Your Home

Selling your home on your own or "For Sale by Owner" or FSBO may seem appealing to some home owners wishing to save money when selling their home and believe me, saving money is one thing I am all about.  Working as a real estate professional on a daily basis I help people sell their homes. Yes I do get financially compensated for my efforts but that is what being a professional means.  Over the years I have assisted "For Sale by Owners" in selling their home when they were unable to reach their goal by going it alone.

Here are a few things to consider before you become your own real estate agent:
Your home is "off the market" anytime you are not home or unable to show your home to potential buyers. This puts your competition at an advantage since buyers can view their homes more easily.

It takes more than a flat fee "MLS" style advertising system. Over 90% of all home buyers search for homes online through various websites before they head out to look at homes and even before they chose a Realtor to help them buy.   I will promote your home for sale in every possible way including print advertising, direct mail advertising, blog advertising, virtual tours and with 24/7 recorded message advertising.

Many real estate agents are unsure if you are

willing to work with them and their buyer so you are missing out on a large portion of the home buyer pool. Most will not knock on your door after they see your yard sign and ask if they can show your home so I suggest you have a "Realtors Welcome" sign. You want Advertising. You Want Exposure. You Want to Be Legally Protected. You Want to Sell Your Home. Don't you?

Do you know your obligations under the law as a home seller?

Top 5 Reactions Buyers Have to FSBO Homes
1- They must owe too much and can't afford a Relator to sell their home.
2- They must want way too much money for their home.
3- There must be something wrong with the house
4- They must not be serious about selling their home
5- How would that work? Do we need a lawyer? Do they use a title company? Can we get title insurance? I have a mortgage, can they sell to me?

You can contact me online anytime for a NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION about selling your home. I will not charge you a fee for the consultation, we are just talking and dressing any questions you may have. I have an obligation to protect the public and I urge you to accept my offer of a 30 minute consultation. 

We are Here of You

written by Michael J. Gallo

Condominium For Sale - 11330 Cherry Way Ln. New Port Richey FL.

Looking for an affordable retirement or second

residence? This is it.  This well maintained condominium has 1 bedroom with an ensuite and a half bath with your washer/dryer combo conveniently located inside the home.  Located on a cul-de-sac this home is separated from the majority of condominiums in the Pointe West Condominium community and shares the cul-de-sac with only a few other buildings so you will enjoy less traffic around your home.

One thing we love about Florida is the nature and outdoor activities. You will love the views from the rear of this home.  Sitting on a small pond and set back in such a way that you don't really see the neighbors next to you from your rear porch.  The rear porch is covered and screened and has been finished with paneling and windows and has been used as a second bedroom. Sitting outside the rear porch or

inside the rear porch you can see the pond widen and open to a wooded area.  Homeowners can see ducks, cranes and other wildlife while walking around or even sitting on their back porches.  The condominium at 11330 Cherry Way Ln. is a truly unique location in the Pointe West Condominium community.

Monthly maintenance on this home is $252.31 and it includes: roof for repair or replacement, building insurance, building exterior maintenance, irrigation, landscaping, basic cable, trash removal and the amenities of the SummerTree community. These community amenities include: Tennis courts, shuffle board, heated pool & spa, billiard room, fitness gym (complete with locker rooms) laundry facility, clubhouse and the 9 hole golf course that is open to the public and does require a small fee to tee off. 

Contact me if you or someone you know is interested in buying 11330 Cherry Way Ln. in the Pointe West Condominium community inside the gated community of SummerTree in New Port Richey Florida. 

3 Easy Steps to Home Ownership

You may think that buying a home is difficult or

that you may not be able to buy a home, and I ma here to help you.  There is a lot involved in buying a home and your real estate professional is there to explain the process and guide you through the entire transaction.  Most real estate agents in Florida are "Transaction Brokers" and while that does mean we can assist both the buyer and the seller, we also have very strict guidelines to follow when working with our customers.  

1- You will need a mortgage pre-approval if you do not have cash to purchase the home.  I suggest you contact a mortgage person BEFORE you speak to a Realtor to assist you in buying your home.  If you are in the New Port Richey area, I can give you a few mortgage professionals to contact.

2- You need to hire a Realtor to assist you. Although I use the term "Hire" you do not pay your agent any commission. The seller pays that fee but you may have a small administrative fee to pay your real estate Broker.  Call a few Realtors in the area you are looking to buy. Ask them how many homes they sold last year. Ask them how many of them were buyers. Ask them if they are full time or part time agents.  Feel them out, you don't want to get started with an agent that is a bad fit.  Meet them at their office and discuss your pre-approval and what you are looking for in your home. You may have to sign a few basic disclosures about how your agent works so be prepared for that.

3- Home Search Time. Your agent may send you

homes via email through the MLS system. Ours has a "customer portal" that allows you to make notes on the homes you are interested in and then I can make notes on them as well and we can have a conversation about the houses before we even go look at them. I will pull permits and tell you what I find all thorough the portal. This is excellent for both of us since You may be looking at the homes in your portal after work in the evening and I can respond as I normally do between 7 and 8 a.m. when I arrive at my office. Once we have a few homes that fit your needs and price range, we will head out to look at the homes.  Stay off of Trulia and Zillow, they will only make you crazy. 

That is it. Get Pre-Qualified with a lender, hire an agent and do your home search. Please be sure that your agent is highly active in the market and has some experience working with home buyers. Over the years I have fine tuned how I assist my customers to provide them with the best possible service.

If your looking to Sell or Buy a Home in New Port Richey, Port Richey, Trinity or Hudson Florida, Contact me online and ask me any questions you may have and you are always free to call me. 

written by Michael J. Gallo

12102 Boynton Ln. New Port Richey Florida - Condominium For Sale

This condominium located at 12102 Boynton Ln

in New Port Richey Florida is truly move in ready since the seller is including the furniture with the condo.  You can enjoy your morning coffee or evening cocktail on your screened back porch while enjoying the tranquil view of the lake and beautiful Florida wildlife. The rear porch is not only screened but has windows you can open or close as well as a tiled floor.  You also get all the amenities of the SummerTree community.

This condominium has a master ensuite as well as a half bath for guests.  The master bath has a tub/shower combo and a single sink vanity.  having closet space is important and this condo has plenty of closets for you to use. The master bedroom has a full wall of closets with lovely mirrored doors and you will also find a good sized closet in the hallway which also has married sliding doors. The owner has replaced the flooring with a beautiful laminate floor in a light wood color.

Community features of Pointe West in

SummerTree include a heated pool and spa, billiard room, tennis courts, fitness gym with locker rooms and showers, clubhouse, golf course and more.  Monthly maintenance includes building insurance, building maintenance, roof repairs or replacement, trash removal and basic cable. The monthly maintenance fee on the condo at 12102 Boynton Ln. is currently $317.41 a month which includes the quarterly HOA fee to SummerTree. 

Please contact me if you would like to schedule your private showing or to get more information of this beautiful condominium in Pointe West of SummerTree.

written by Michael J. Gallo

The Ballantrae Community in Land O'Lakes Florida

Ballantrae in Land O'Lakes Florida encompasses 436 acres of 

land along State Road 54 in Land O'Lakes Florida. Located just east of Trinity and just north of Odessa, Ballantrae is a highly desired community of varied home styles and values just minutes from the Suncoast Parkway and approximately 20 miles north of Tampa. Ballantrae Community Development District is responsible for financing and maintenance of the communities infrastructure and common amenities for the 969 homes in the community. You may search for available homes in Ballantrae here.

Ballantrae amenities include:
Ballantrae Park, Clubhouse, Community Pool, Children's Play

area, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and also includes the gazebo in Ayrshire and the enclosed pool in Straiton.  Ballantrae is a family oriented community which provides activities for residents of all ages. School information can be found here.

Residences in Ballantrae in Land O'Lakes Florida vary in design and style and each home provides you with elegant living while maintaining a sense of community and family lifestyle.  The Gulf Home Sales team as created by Michael J. Gallo, Realtor provides homeowners in Ballantrae the highest level of real estate service and professionalism.  We also provide comprehensive services to home buyers who wish to purchase a residence in Ballantrae.  Contact me to schedule your real estate consultation to discuss your specific real estate needs and goals.

written by Michael J. Gallo, Realtor

      

Are You the Successor Trustee of a Florida Property You Inherited?

Often times when a person wishes to leave a

property to a specific relative, they will form a Trust.  Having a Trust you can leave the property to whomever you choose by naming them the Successor Trustee.  The successor trustee only gains power of the trust when the previous trustee is incapacitated or upon their death. Should you be the successor trustee and the current trustee has a diminished mental capacity or physical condition that is preventing them from performing as trustee, I suggest you seek advice of an attorney as to how to proceed in becoming the trustee.

The trust will state that someone is to be the successor trustee and will be responsible for the trust and all it contains. In the case of real estate, the trust must state the power to sell or transfer title and you will need to furnish your real estate professional and attorney or title agent with a copy of the trust not only to be reviewed but the trust will need to be recorded with the new deed of ownership at time of sale.   

If you are the successor trustee here are a few things you can do to make the title work and your transfer of ownership easier and more smooth.

1- Have a copy of the trust before calling a real estate professional to sell the property.

2- Consult your attorney regarding any affidavits or legal requirements you may need to fulfill.

3- If you are the trustee due to a death, you will need a copy of the previous trustees death certificate.

I urge you to consult your attorney first with any questions or matters regarding your trust.  Not all trusts are written the same and you need to know what your powers are as stated within the trust.  I am not an attorney and my knowledge of trusts is limited to how they are involved in a real estate transaction in the state of Florida only. 

Pasco County Florida Property Taxes

The deadline for payment of your Pasco County

Florida property taxes is March 31st. Late fees will be assessed starting April 1st. The Pasco county tax collectors office allows you to make your tax payment online at the Pasco Tax Collector website.  You can also make your tax payment in person at any of the local tax collectors offices throughout the county.

Not sure what you owe in Taxes?
Sometimes the "trim notice" we receive in the fall gets misplaced and after November, you do not receive any more notices until your property taxes are past due so you may not be sure what you owe. You can visit the Pasco county tax collectors website and your total amount due will be available online as well as what your late fee will be if you pay your taxes between April 1 and April 30th.  April 1st is "April Fools Day" so don't be a fool and get your taxes in on time. 

The Pasco tax collectors website also gives you

your property tax assessed value, you can view your current property tax bill and even sign up for electronic billing for your property taxes. You may want to pay your property taxes in installments paid quarterly throughout the year and you can make application for installment payments on the website also. 

Please think of me if you or someone you know is in need of an experienced Realtor in western Pasco county. I am here to assist the residents of New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey and Hudson. 
written by Michael J. Gallo

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