Thursday, May 8, 2014

3 Tips for Making the Rental Process Easier

If you need to frequently relocate for your work or don't want to be tied down to a house, a rental can be a huge advantage. Finding the right rental property for your needs can be difficult, especially if you're looking in the Northwest Florida region. The area's industries, military bases, and desirable weather and climate attract a lot of people that are looking for a home. Being unable to find a good rental or being stuck with one that you don't like can be more than just an annoyance – it can be a real problem.

Finding an apartment or a home can be stressful, but it isn't impossible. Coastal Realty Services reviews show how we're dedicated to helping our clients find the right rental for their needs. We also want to make sure that the rental process goes as smoothly as possible. If you want to be able to find your new apartment or home without a lot of headaches, make sure you follow these tips:



Think about your needs

When most people are trying to find a place to rent, they're concerned about its location, appearance, and distance from local shops and restaurants. All of these are important things to consider when you're looking for a home, but there are other key needs to think through before you start searching. Do you have a pet, or several pets? Some rental properties only allow a certain number pets in a home, and some don't allow animals at all. Are you a smoker? Some property owners have very strict rules about smoking indoors, and it's now common for some to specify that they're hoping to rent to non-smokers.

Start early

Some people wait until the last minute to find a new place to rent because they don't see the point in searching for places too far in advance of their move-in date. While it's true that most renters want their property occupied as soon as possible, that doesn't mean that you should wait to start looking. If you're willing to make a down payment in advance, some renters won't mind if you move in later than the date the rental period begins. If you don't start looking soon, you could end up missing out on a great apartment or home.

Get your paperwork done

Luckily, renting doesn't require as much wait time or as many documents as buying a home does, but you'll still need to get a few things in order before you start officially looking for your new property. As we previously mentioned, most renters want to have their property filled as soon as possible, and you may end up losing an opportunity because the landlords found another person that is ready now. Get your credit check done and make sure you have references on hand from other people you've rented from, and do it sooner rather than later. 

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Join Coastal Realty Services for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Fort Walton Beach

The Fort Walton Beach community is made up of a diverse group of people: there are young military families looking to make a new life together, retirees who want to spend their golden years by the sun on the Emerald Coast, college graduates who want to take advantage of the bourgeoning opportunities in Fort Walton Beach's defense and tourism industries, and many more. However, one thing that all of us share together is that we are all willing to lend a helping hand when a neighbor is in need.

One great example of this will come at the end of the month with the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life 2014 held at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds. This year's philanthropic event will take place on April 25th and 26th from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. This is the number one fundraising event that the American Cancer Society holds each year, so it's important for all who can to give – whether through sponsoring a walker or signing up a team. Each of us has been touched by cancer in one way or another. This is one way to fight back. 




So far, 114 teams and 704 participants have raised over $100,000, and we hope these numbers continue to rise. As a big supporter of the Fort Walton community, Coastal Realty Services has devoted much time and money to this event. We have a team of volunteers ready to participate in the overnight event, and our office has made a financial contribution to help take cancer down. This is what neighbors do for one another.

We urge all who can to visit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event's website and participate in any way you can for this very important event in Fort Walton Beach.    

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Friday, April 11, 2014

What Are Five Things to Consider Before You Find a Place to Rent?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to look into renting versus buying. And in many cases, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't afford the down payment. For example, if you don't plan on living in the area for more than a few years, it makes a lot more sense to rent. That being said, whatever your reason for choosing to rent, here are several things to keep in mind, so you can make the rental process as seamless as possible:

Determine How Much You Can Afford Each Month: Most rental experts recommend spending no more than 35% of your monthly income on your housing. Let's say your take-home pay each month is $3500. The total amount of rent you should be paying each month will be roughly $1100. If you want an apartment or home that's more than this, it makes more sense to get a roommate than to devote more of a percentage.

Is Your Credit on Track? One of the ways a landlord will judge whether or not you would make a good tenant or not is by taking a look at your credit score. A low credit score may indicate a character issue or inability to make monthly payments. While you won't necessarily get turned down if you have bad or no credit, you might have to pay a bigger deposit or have a co-signer. Easy ways to improve your credit include paying your bills on-time, reducing your debt and reviewing your credit report for errors.

Consider What You Want from a Place: When searching for places, take the time to create a wish list of requirements. This should include mandatory items, like a washer/dryer or free heating; a secondary list, like ample parking and some free utilities; and a list of “luxuries” that you may be willing to forego, such as a pool, gym, and free WI-FI.

Where Do You Want to Live? The simple question of where you want to live often falls below considerations of affordability and amenities, which is a shame. Although these matter, you should choose a location that you're comfortable with and one that you would happy to call home. Are there ample recreational activities nearby and do you have access to public transportation? What is the crime rate in the area? These things certainly matter, and you should consider the location as much as you do the rental price and amenities.

Take the Inspection Very Seriously: The rental inspection gives you the opportunity to note any damages or things in need of repair before you move in. Being as thorough as possible will ensure you're not responsible for past blemishes when it comes time to move out.

These are just some of the many things to consider before you decide on a place. If you're looking for a property to rent in Fort Walton Beach or elsewhere in Okaloosa County, the Realtors at Coastal Realty can help you find a property that meets your individual needs. Contact us today to learn more about the properties in these areas. 

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Friday, April 4, 2014

3 Good Reasons to Check Out Fort Walton Beach Listings from Coastal Realty Services



Coastal Realty Services has been serving military servicemen and civilians for over 35 years, and one of the biggest joys we have is helping a young family find their first home. These are the formative years for your children, and a time in your life that you'll always cherish. It's for this reason why we recommend that young families take a look at the Fort Walton Beach area to find that lifetime family home. Here are three good reasons we came up with in our experiences:

Career Development:  Fort Walton Beach has a number of job opportunities available. Our strongest employer is the US Military for both servicemen and civilians, as Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB are both nearby. In that same arena, Defense Contractors frequently are hiring as new projects become available. Finally, because Fort Walton Beach is a vacation destination for many across the country, the hospitality industry is always in need of good people. For more resources on finding a job in Fort Walton Beach, we recommend visiting the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce work page.

A Great School System: One of the most important considerations when looking for a new place to live is the school system. We are happy to report that children of the Fort Walton Beach area can enjoy a fine education through the Okaloosa County School District. The Okaloosa County School District consists of a wide number of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, charter schools and alternative schools that can serve your child, depending on your location and his/her individual needs.

Easy Access: It's incredibly easy to get around Fort Walton Beach.  You can walk, drive or take advantage of the Okaloosa County Transit system. In addition, Fort Walton Beach is home to Northwest Florida Regional Airport, which is within Eglin Air Force Base. Airlines that service this airport include US Airlways, American Airlines, and Delta. Flights are available to stops all across the South. To get an idea of where you can go, please click here for the latest flight information.

There are so many reasons to call Fort Walton Beach home for you and your family. Besides the aforementioned reasons, Fort Walton Beach has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, a strong military tradition and presence, and gorgeous weather. Coastal Realty Services has a variety of listings for homes in the Fort Walton Beach area and elsewhere on the Emerald Coast. Contact us today to learn more.


Image: Shutterstock

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Welcome to the New Coastal Realty Services Blog

Stay tuned for upcoming news from your Coastal Realty Services team!

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