Louise Bolger

Author at Anna Maria Island Sun

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Articles

Condo ownership challenging

1 week ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

If you like the condo lifestyle and you live in Florida, you’ve landed in the right place. But even what seems to be the right place can have challenges, especially in the environment we’re currently living in. Let’s start with the rights of condo owners. Florida condo law, as outlined in the Florida Condominium Act (Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes) will explain, in fine print, owner rights as an owner, but for the purpose of this column we’ll hit on some of the key aspects.
The new real estate reality

2 weeks ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

It’s been six months since Hurricane Milton invaded us and every day we still feel the effects of the storm. Most of us are either continually rebuilding, cleaning up or juggling finances to get our lives back to where they were before the storms. Last week we talked about buyer and seller remorse, but the deeper emotional issues are losing your home and your possessions. Most people have an emotional attachment to their homes and their community.
Buyers, sellers, hurricanes - and remorse

3 weeks ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

Remorse is the feeling of regret, second thoughts or disappointment in a decision recently made. When it comes to buying and selling real estate, it’s difficult not to have some level of remorse about the transaction, especially in the situation we’re in now. Anna Maria Island has always been that special little place different from other coastal areas of Florida. Old Florida was true in Anna Maria, with no high rises, no big box stores and no drive-throughs.
It’s the buyers turn

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

Balance of power is something we usually talk about as it relates to international positioning between powerful nations. Now the phrase is lending itself to the real estate market and the buyers are finally getting the upper hand. Homebuyers are benefiting from the fading disappearance of bidding wars. Sellers are willing to lower prices and offer incentives. Increased home listings are working to the advantage of buyers with less competition and more negotiating room.
Tax relief on the beach

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

It’s tax time again and tax time is never fun, but this year could be particularly not fun. In view of the 2024 storms, this tax filing season could be quite a bit different in addition to the normal tax benefits afforded homeowners. I’m not a licensed CPA or even a tax preparer, so you always need to seek advice from a professional when it comes to finance of any type. I did, however, find a couple of points related specifically to Hurricane Milton. On Oct.
Time for a kitchen redo

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

I don’t know about you, but I’m just now getting my condo back in pre-Milton shape. It took five months and there are still a few jobs to finish up, not to mention the dust that has settled in the crevices of my furniture and windows. Not everyone is as lucky as me. Many island people and throughout Manatee County need to do massive rebuilds and renovations. If you find yourself needing a kitchen rehab, take a look at some of the new ideas for kitchens I recently read about.
County decides to demolish iconic Annie’s in Cortez

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

CORTEZ – Following recommendations and a review by a structural engineer, fire officials and the Florida Department of Emergency Management, Manatee County commissioners have voted 6-1 to demolish the historic Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop. Commissioners had requested options to bring the hurricane-damaged Annie’s up to code on Jan. 28, but the officials deemed the building as having catastrophic damage beyond the FEMA 50% guidelines due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.
Life-changing events can reset priorities

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

To say that a combination of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton less than two weeks apart changed the lives of everyone on Anna Maria Island and most of the coastal areas of Manatee County would be a gross understatement. Some areas came back sooner than others, but everyone was influenced by the storms and shocked at the amount of cleanup and repairs needed to get their lives back fully on track.
Everything is negotiable

1 month ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

About a month ago, we talked about being in uncharted territory as it relates to the real estate market. Not much has changed for the better in the last month and the statistics for January will confirm that. However, properties are still being listed, and buyers are still out there, and as usual, sellers want top dollar and buyers want bargain basement prices. One of the tenets of the real estate industry is the ability to negotiate price.
Expenses increasing for homeowners

2 months ago | amisun.com | Louise Bolger

The day you close on your home, whether it’s your first or fifth, is always a happy day – almost as happy as the day your mortgage commitment is approved – but that’s just the beginning of homeownership. As any homeowner can tell you, the expenses of owning a home in recent years have risen to the point where the mortgage payment, in spite of elevated interest rates, is frequently less than the combination of other monthly expenses.