Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: Buying a Vacation Home

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Create a Stress Free Vacation Home Buying Experience on Harbor Country with These 5 Tips!

Considering buying a vacation home along the Lake Michigan Shoreline in one of Harbor Country’s charming towns? We’re glad you’ve taken the time to stop by our blog! We know that buying a vacation home can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be!

As a team of Prudential Real Estate agents and advisors serving the towns of Harbert, Sawyer, Lakeside, Union Pier, New Buffalo, Grand Beach, Three Oaks and Douglas; we have experience in navigating and helping to streamline the vacation home buying process. Today we wanted to list out five ways that will help you begin the process of buying a vacation home in Harbor Country. It can be easier than you think!

1. Know when it’s the right time in your life to buy- Decide whether to buy based on your life and what makes sense for you, your family, your plans and your finances. If you’re buying a vacation home, chances are you’ve already looked extensively into the financial aspect. Use the news about what’s going on in the market to decide how to buy: what kind of house to buy, what sort of loan to use, how much to offer, and other strategies for executing your home buying plans.

2. Find the right Harbor Country Real Estate agent- Finding the right Harbor Country Real Estate agent can make all the difference! Be sure to look for the following: qualifications, experienced in the transaction you envision (vacation home, waterfront property, etc...), great referrals and testimonials, is a problem solver, and appeals to your personality style (you could potentially be spending a lot of time with your realtor, so you want to make sure it’s a good fit).

3. Get a good understanding what to expect- Research as much as possible, but be sure to decide on a trusted realtor as soon as possible. They’ll be able to give you a layout of what you can expect from buying a vacation home in New Buffalo, Grand Beach, Sawyer, Harbert or any of the other charming Harbor Country towns. Ask your Harbor Country Real Estate agent questions such as when you’re expected to show up so you can take time off work, and when you’re expected to write checks so you can be prepared.

4. Know the home you’re buying- You may have nightmares of coming home to a recent home purchase only to find it falling apart. Ways to avoid this are to thoroughly go over the disclosures which are required to list out issues or recent repairs within the home, get a home inspection, have contingencies in place when making your offer, maintain a home warranty policy that will cover many major malfunctions for a service call fee.

5. Solve the problem of how much you want to offer- This can be tricky, but there are some ways to determine the price of your offer. Your Harbor Country Real Estate agent can provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which shows what other homes in Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside and the other Harbor Country towns are selling for. You can also determine the price by the sellers’ motivation to sell as well as the current market factors.

Buying a vacation home can be an exciting time and we want to help make sure the process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible!

If you’re ready to begin your vacation home search along the Lake Michigan Shoreline; please feel free to contact us today! Our team of Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents and advisors are here to help you reach your vacation home buying goals!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Enjoy a Safe Summer Along the Lake Michigan Shoreline!

Now that we’ve officially entered the month of May, we can sense the excitement building for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, which tends to kick off the summer festivities here in the Harbor Country towns of Sawyer, Harbert, Lakeside, Union Pier, New Buffalo, Grand Beach, Michiana and Three Oaks!

Here at Shoreline Property Advisors, our team of Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents and advisors thrive on this time of year when activity picks up for vacation rentals and those interested in buying a vacation home on our beautiful Lake Michigan shores. It’s a fun time of year as the warm weather season offers many the chance to create lasting memories.

Yet, we also know the importance of enjoying the summer season with a sense of safety in mind! As you prepare for swimming, boating, skiing and other fun water activites; there are some vital safety tips you’ll want to be sure to keep in mind and go over with family and friends now and throughout the season. Take a look!

Basic Safety

• Always wear sunscreen!
• Make sure everyone in your boat can swim, and if not, that floating devices are used and there is someone watching that person at all times.
• Never swim alone! Even the most experienced swimmers can experience fatigue, or an injury that will make it hard to swim
• Always watch children who are anywhere near water! The most accidents happen when children are wading in shallow water, so always make sure they’re supervised!
• Be sure to swim only in designated swimming areas.
• Look before you leap! Never dive into water unless you know that it’s deep enough to do so. Always keep your hands above your head when diving to ensure safety.
• Never mix swimming or boating with alcohol.

Water Skiing
To make your water skiing fun, safe, sensible and successful, practice these safe driving tips:

• Check steering and throttle controls for proper operation before towing skier.
• On take-offs, never accelerate until a definite signal is given by skier.
• When under way, keep attention ahead. The observer is to watch the skier.
• Never follow other boats. Always look before turning. Avoid shallow water.
• Promote safety by staying away from other boats, swimmers, fishermen and solid objects.
• Return to fallen skier immediately. Slow to idle as you approach skier, moving in on the driver’s side.
• Shut off engine while skier climbs into or out of boat. Discourage skiers from boarding over transom.
• High speed landings cause injuries. When skiing into shore, reduce speed and parallel the landing area at a safe distance.
• Do not tow non-swimmers or weak swimmers unless they wear an approved and appropriate flotation device.

Person Overboard
If someone falls overboard, follow these procedures:

• Toss a life-saving device even if the person can swim. A life ring is the preferred device. It can be thrown farther and is easier to hang on to. However, use whatever device is nearest. Time is essential.
• Slow the boat, keeping the person in view. Other persons onboard should act as look outs. At night, direct the best possible lights on the victim.
• Try to approach the person from downwind or into the waves. Always use common sense and good judgment. Consider existing condition and ability of the victim and what other help is available. If someone aboard is capable, have the person put on a life-saving device with a line attached to the boat and enter the water to assist the person.
• Always stop the motor when someone is going over the side, or coming aboard.
• Assist the person in boarding the boat. It is difficult to climb into a boat from the water. The person may be hurt or cold and may require help.

Passengers

• Wearing a Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) is your only guarantee against drowning.
• Do not overload the boat.
• Avoid horseplay.
• Have PDF’s readily available for everyone.
• In small boats, remain seated.
• Trim boat by placing passengers and gear in balance.

Before Leaving…

• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Check weather forecasts.
• Ventilate bilges before starting engine.
• Be sure your boat is basically equipped.

While Underway…

• Know and obey the rules of the road.
• Post a lookout for bathers, fishermen, swimmers, debris.
• Reduce speed in harbors and in confined areas. Avoid excessive speed.
• Make no sharp turns at high speed.
• Watch your wake! You could be responsible for injury or damage caused by it.
• In rough water, stay low in the boat and cross waves at a slight angle.
• Keep red-buoys on your right when traveling upstream.
• Tying up to buoys or anchoring in channels is forbidden.
• Carry sufficient tools for minor repairs.

Fueling Tips

• Stop smoking and extinguish all fires.
• Close all vents, doors, hatches.
• Ground the nozzle to tank opening.
• Portable tanks should be filled outside of boat.
• Ventilate engine compartment before starting.

Always Have the Following Items in Your Boat:

• Personal flotation device
• Paddle
• Towline
• Emergency radio
• Bailing device
• Whistle or horn
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Flares

Safety is a priority as we all enjoy the warm weather and water activities here in Harbor Country, and we hope these tips help you prepare for a fun, happy and safe summer!

If you have been considering vacationing in one of Harbor Country’s charming beach towns, but aren’t sure where to begin your home search; let us know! We would be happy to talk with you about your vacation rental or home buying options!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5 Things to Look For in Your Harbor Country Vacation Home!

Recently, we’ve been talking about buying or renting a vacation home on the Lake Michigan Shoreline, and it’s simply because now is a great time to jump into the market! People are looking at homes that are currently available in New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Lakeside, Sawyer and other Harbor Country towns in hopes of securing their vacation destination.

As a team of Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we’ve seen how busy the spring real estate market can be and know that vacation homes, even rentals, will be gone before you know it!

And supply is not the only reason to consider buying now. The recent Case-Shiller Index report noted that home prices are on the rise as the 20 largest markets in the nations showed the largest year-over-year gain in prices since June 2006. "This marks the highest increase since the housing bubble burst," said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

If you’re ready to begin your vacation home search along Lake Michigan, there are five things you’ll want to consider in the home you choose. While these aren’t the only aspects to look for in a Harbor Country vacation home, they will help you quickly narrow down your search!

1. Layout and Space- Know your goals for the home, whether it’s a long term home or a home that you’ll use for hosting family and friends for vacations. Floor plan, along with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, play a role in how comfortable and efficient your home is for you. Although you want the most space for your money, buying a home that’s too large may not be in your best interest.

2. Location & Views- It’s often said that location is key, and that’s very true! You can always make changes to the interior and exterior of your home, making it look exactly as you would like, but you cannot move your home to a new location. Be sure that the location you choose matches your desires for things such beach access, amenities and community. Also consider the views from the homes or condos that you tour. If you want to be able to sit out on your porch, or enjoy the views from your living room, this will be on the top of your list. A home that’s a good price, but is in a less than ideal environment may not be the home for you.

3. Kitchen- For many, the kitchen is the “heart of the home” so you want to know you enjoy the space! Remodeling is always an option, but is a huge undertaking and can become very costly.

4. Closets and Storage- Those vacationing in Harbert, Union Pier, Grand Beach, or any of the other quaint beach towns along the shoreline will often need extra storage for activities such as fishing, water skiing, boating, etc... so be sure the home you’re viewing has adequate storage.

5. Finishes- Look at those special details that make the home stand out. While this is minor, it is still what makes a home feel pulled together. If you absolutely love the home, but aren’t keen on the finishes; buy it. You can always make additional updates later!

We hope these tips help you hone in on what you really want and need in your vacation home in Harbor Country!

Want to learn more? We’re here to help answer your questions and help you get started! We’ll be sure to answer your questions and walk with you through each step of the vacation home buying process.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff