3 Tips for Making the Rental Process Easier
Labels: Coastal Realty Services Reviews
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Thursday, May 8, 20143 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.
Labels: Coastal Realty Services Reviews Tuesday, April 22, 2014Join 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.
Labels: Coastal Realty Friday, April 11, 2014What 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.
Labels: Coastal Realty, Florida rentals, realtors, renting tips Friday, April 4, 20143 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.
Labels: Fort Walton Beach, real estate in Florida Thursday, March 13, 2014
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