Stuart, FL

Demand for rental homes and apartments is soaring all over the country and our area is no exception.

We are not happy that some homes and condos are in foreclosure, but there is one way we can help. We can put ourselves in a position to offer people a decent place to live while they rebuild their lives.

At the same time, there is a significant financial advantage to ourselves.

Owning a four-unit apartment building is always a matter of making profit now while the value of the property increases over the years. The same is true with larger buildings and even with duplexes and single-family homes.

With the great deals available on these properties, their value in future years will be far greater than one could normally expect. If you are looking to boost your net worth in the next five years, 10 years, or at retirement, this could be a great investment.

Some factors to consider when looking at rental properties:

* Location: If the property is in a nice area, it will be easier to rent. The same is true if it is close to amenities such as a park, a good school, medical facilities or shopping opportunities.

* Maintenance: Consider the building's exterior. A brick building or one with good plastic siding won't have to painted.

* Below-market rents: If the units are now renting for less than general market prices, you can raise them. Higher rents also mean that the property is worth greater because rental property values are based on income.

* Less than 20 or 25 years old: It's mechanical system is less likely to have building code violations and have fewer expensive maintenance issues.

* A building that is owned or managed by someone out of state: These buildings are often the best deals because the sellers are interested in a quick sale.

* The neighborhood is stable or improving. It doesn't have to be in the best neighborhood, but it should be in one that is not declining because of a great many foreclosures or other problems.

Gabe Sanders and Susan Maxwell

Stuart Florida Real Estate

Residential Homes, Condos and Land
Waterfront and Golf Course Communities in Martin and Saint Lucie Counties

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We don't have big factories or high rise office towers in Martin County, but we seem to get our fair share of high end jobs. Moreover, we are smack in between Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County, which makes for an easy commute.

Last week I reported that Vought Aircraft Industries was adding 100 jobs at their Stuart location. Today I can confirm that SystemsOne LLC is relocating to Stuart and will grow to 30 employees within a year. SystemsOne provides video imaging to the medical industry.

SystemsOne Website - Click Here

Looking for a home in Florida? - I'd welcome the opportunity to assist you with a purchase of a home or condo. For additional information please call me 772-260-5448 or visit our website http://www.floridahomes.pro/

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Wow, talk about a stand up guy that understands what it is to be a human being. On his 82nd birthday, David Smythe gave $2 million to Martin Memorial Hospital on top of last year's $500,000 give to expand the wound center. WOW.

Here's what Mr. Smythe had to say . . . "Getting a gift is not as rewarding as giving a gift . . . I wanted to be able to help children and their families and this is one way I can accomplish that."

As a New Jersey native, I know who Mr. Smythe is. He owns Smythe Volvo in Summit, so if you need a Volvo and you live near Summit, I hope you'll stop in and see Mr. Smythe.

Three cheers for Mr. Smythe! Happy 82nd Birthday and many, many more.

With all of the negative news hitting the press, it's nice to see something this positive. Vought Aircraft Industries is planning on adding 100 permanent jobs at their Stuart, Florida facility. This will include building a $3.2 million dollar facility at their Witham Field location. The jobs planned are 60% mechanical and 40% professional. And there is a program that will train high school and college students for some of these positions. This is truly a win-win for everyone.

Looking for a home in Florida? - I'd welcome the opportunity to assist you with a purchase of a home or condo. For additional information please call me 772-260-5448 or visit our website www.FloridaHomes.PRO

Click Here to Subscribe to Mike's Florida Real Estate Blog

Many people probably do not think about how easy it is to run across the Roosevelt Bridge and zoom into the shopping center. It was not that easy to do before the new Roosevelt Bridge was constructed in 1996. I moved to the Stuart area in 1990 and remember how difficult it was to get to Jensen Beach.

No one ever thinks about the brave people that built this bridge plus all the difficulties of suspending concrete in air to connect with another span. I happened to be involved a little with this bridge, as so many other people were. My husband was the project manager for this beautiful bridge so I knew about every problem that happened on this project. The men and woman that worked so hard for this beautiful bridge have gone on to other things in life. Some are still building bridges, some are not here any more. I think about all of these people and wonder just how much our community appreciates this beautiful concrete structure and even give it a thought as to how much effort was put into it by the hard working construction team. What a great gift they have contributed to Stuart and our surrounding areas. This is one of my husbands pictures that was taken after it was completed. Enjoy and come to Martin County. It is beautiful.