October Tips

If you're thinking of putting your home on the market, fall can be a great time to focus on decluttering and getting those home projects done that got post-poned during summer travel. As you change out seasonal decor and clothing, sort out items that have been gathering dust for a while and use this as a time to reduce what you have that's not being used. And now that the weather has cooled off, it's a great time to repaint, fix up the yard, or tackle that flooring job you've been meaning to do. Getting those projects done now in preperation for a new year's listing can be a great way to make sure that that when your home is listed, you can hit the ground running with showings. For more information on getting a complimentary market analysis done on your home email me at britt.swain29@gmail.com

Featured Listing of the Month: 1722 Union Ave, Niceville

Now is a great time to buy and our newest listing offers you just the soace you've been looking for in the convenient location of Niceville.

Property Features: Large corner lot 2,180 square feet with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms Extra bonus room off of the kitchen, great office space Additional room off of laundary room would be a great craft room Brand new carpet Hardwood flooring, high ceilings, and fireplace in the living room Private balcony off of Master bedroom Large deck space with a swing for relaxing

A Few Tips for Building New

Building new is a wonderful opportunity to get the most out of a home purchase and buying a new home, as opposed to a re-sell, comes with many advantages. Lower home insurance premiums, for one, can sometimes lead to lower monthly mortgage payments and you aren't inheriting another person's "problems". But even in building new, the choices can become overwhelming for buyers that are not prepared mentally for the process they have begun so here are just a few tips: 1. Embrace Your Budget You wouldn't buy a Lexus with a Kia budget, right? Set realistic expectations for yourself, your budget, and your family's needs. Everything about your new home is going to cost a certain amount (the old 'nothing in life is free' remember?) So once you hear the overall list price of a new home, find out what all that includes. What's standard and what's an upgrade? Many builders will have this information provided in a flyer or pamphlet already and once you go under contract may even ask for a signature from the buyer to show that it is clearly understood what your new home will and will not include. If your $200,000 budget is already the most your family can afford at the moment, you may not get the hardwood flooring, granite countertops, and enormous in-ground pool you'd like to have now, but those things can be added in the future. Realistic expectations can keep the excitement going about building your perfect 'now' home. 2. Be Patient Yes, isn't it great that someone you know picked out a re-sell home and closed in 30 days. But guess what? If you're building new, the time it takes from picking out a floor plan and a lot to the last touches of paint is going to take a few months. From the beginning, remind yourself and your family that you're going to have to have some patience. Ask your builder what the usual timeline is for their projects. When you go under contract, remember that the closing date you choose based on the projected building timeline is a target date...and it could change (gasp), but that also means it's possible it could change for the better. Yes your friends had a fast closing (ahem, they also got popcorn ceilings and shag carpet), but your wait is going to be well worth it! Another aspect of having patience, is knowing that while some weeks you will see noticable changes as the framing goes up, etc., other times the progress may not be so apparent. But that doesn't mean nothings happening. Sometimes may not see someone actively on site working on your home on a daily basis; don't get discouraged. Sometimes there's a wait for parts to come in or sometimes weather prevents construction. Sometimes a builder has so many projects going up at once (ie:a new neighborhood) that it's just impossible for people to be in two places at once (no? really?). But patient. Today it's the neighbor's house, tomorrow it's yours. 3. Set your choice priorities You'll be choosing everything from paint colors to cabinets to which way you may want your bathroom door to open, so plan from the beginning which choices hold the most weight for you. For some families it's the choices about functionality, for others everything's purely aesthetics. Just know which choices you need to spend the most time on first and which are not as important. 4. Enjoy it! You are getting to be a part of a process that many families do not get to take part in when buying a new home. Enjoy every moment of picking out finishing touches or planning a floor plan that's right for your family. You may even want to capture the process in a scrapbook or the very least a series of framed photographs to share with your children years down the road. You're planning a house, but it's going to be the home for many special memories to come. So look enjoy it's beginnings and appreciate everything.....especially while it's all NEW :)

Brand New in Bluewater with Motivated Sellers

If you are looking for a move-in ready home with an incredible amount of space, you don't have to look any longer.

Located on a cul-de-sac, this gorgeous four bedroom, 3200 sq. ft. home has views of the marina and comes with all of the amenities of Bluewater Bay without the city taxes of Niceville. An expansive media room provides perfect entertainment opportunities for teenagers and adults alike with several rooms wired for surround sound. Relax or grill out on your new screened-in lanai with privacy screens or cook in your new state of the art kitchen featuring granite countertops and stainless steel applainces.

Additional features include a second story balcony and laundry chute and new tankless gas water heater. Listed at $428,900; contact Brittany Swain for more information and before this home sells! 850-428-4682 Britt.Swain29@gmail.com

New Subdivision, Magnolia Woods

If you kept up with the beautiful construction at The Preserve at Swift Creek and wished it was your family moving into a gorgeous new Huff Home, you may have thought your chances expired when the last home sold a month ago....but they haven't! The Huffs are building again in another brand new and beautiful subdivision off of Palm Blvd. Homes are set to begin construction in June and already several have pre-sold. With a minimum square footage of 1850 and lot sizes that will be larger than both of their other neighborhoods (The Preserve at Swift Creek and Arrowhead) this is a perfect fit for any family! Some of the standard features to the Huff's premiere work include brick exterior with Hardieboard siding accents, tile and hardwood flooring, 9' ceilings with 8' doorways, crown molding, granite countertops, brand new GE appliances, cultured marble shower enclosures, pre-wired for surround sound, full landscaping with irrigation, and a one year builder warranty! Visit www.magnoliawoodsniceville.com to view floor plans and choose your lot! Or get in touch with me at 850-428-4682 to find out more about this exquisite new community!

TOP AGENT OF THE MONTH

Roy Sutton was the TOP LISTING and TOP SELLING agent for Niceville for the Month of March for Century 21 Wilson Minger Agency.

Roy was also the recipient of the Centurion Award two weeks ago at our regional awards banquet. This award only goes to top producing agents who demonstrate the ultimate in professionalism, quality service, and have record sales.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell, you really can't get much better!

Gorgeous NEW WATERFRONT Home

It honestly doesn't get much better than this. This absolutely beautiful home is set in the tranquil setting of Mallet Bayou with an unbelievable view of the water. A second story porch, elegant stairs, courtyard with firepit and backyard offer incredible opportunities for entertaining.

This 2006 home has four bedrooms and has all main living areas upstairs making its first floor a great space for a live-in relative or a college-age student. Granite countertops, a custom fireplace in the living room,surround sound, and an elevator this is the ultimate in style in a relaxing environment.

Listed at $429,000 Call today to schedule a showing! 850-428-4682