All Blog Entries by Joseph Epifanio

Joe Epifanio has been in the real estate business for well over 25 years,  working with sellers and buyers to make sure their real estate goals are met. Joe is a Broker Associate with Royal Shell Real Estate, on 5th Avenue S,  in Naples, Florida.  Joe works hard to make sure that clients get the service and dedication that he would expect himself if he was buying a home.

Found 107 blog entries published by Joseph Epifanio.

Coco Chanel once said,  fashion fades, only style remains.  That is probably true of fashion, but does it apply to other things, such as homes?  Homes are certainly not as transient as clothes, but their style has a huge impact on how we live our lives and how we are perceived by others.

Fashion applies to homes, but only in the way they are decorated, the style of home is something that evolves slowly then becomes a way of building for a few years, before another style or trend emerges.  For instance the Florida housing market has long been festooned with look alike Mediterranean homes, washed out orange walls, roofs with barrel tiles and rich interiors, these, although still sought after are now not the number one choice.  

Style does not only…

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Almost everyone rents a vacation home before they decide to buy.  Why, because it's the sensible thing, you can check out the area, see if it's really a place you want to return to year after year, plus it gives you the chance to stand back and take a look at exactly what type of property you really need. 

The beach in Naples Florida

Are you going to be visiting just for short vacations throughout the year?  Or are you planning ahead and trying to find somewhere to eventually move to as your permanent home.   Or are you like so many of our visitors to Naples, planning on being a winter resident?   

The question of whether or not to buy or rent is one that most people ask themselves.  As with most things, there are pros and con's on both sides.  Renting a property is easy,…

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The Pros and Cons of Owning a Home:

 For more than six decades, the American dream has always included owning a home.  With the purchase of a home, comes a sense of pride and accomplishment.  And no wonder, it takes hard work and dedication to reach such a goal.

 

Of course, there are positives and negatives to any situation including your decision to take the step in owning your own home.  Purchasing a home is not for everyone.  As your real estate coach, I want to educate you to on the pros and cons of owning a home so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

 

The Fixes:

One of the great joys of renting is that the owner or property manager takes care of all of the maintenance.  They obviously want to…

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The Do’s and Don’t of Buying a Home

Over the past few weeks, the market has transitioned from a seller’s market to a flat market and now into a buyer’s market.  Buyers have been waiting for a few years for their chance to arrive. 

Lucky for you, your time has finally arrived!

Here are a few tips to make sure you get the best experience from your new or first time home buying experience.

1. Find the best real estate agent for you!  It seems like everyone and their brother has their real estate license, but should you really go with your cousin or friend who just passed the test?  Probably not. 
While it might help the agent out, there are many risks involved.  They could miss something on the contract, they do not have the negotiation…

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Should I become a Real Estate Agent?

This is a full-time business.  Many people enter this business with the expectation that you can work when you want where you want.  And to a point that is true; however, many people get into this business with unrealistic expectations.  So, should I become a real estate agent? 

There are many sacrifices to become a full-time real estate agent.  During the first two years, you will need to put in countless hours and hustle to get new clients.  To become successful, it takes complete dedication and with that comes a need for funds for living expenses and marketing.  I would highly suggest that anyone thinking about going into the real estate industry have a 2-year reserve of funds.

This should give you a…

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It’s becoming a Home Buyers Market

 Over the past few years, we have seen a gradual increase in home prices, which is an obvious indication of a seller's market.  Lately, sellers have basically been able to name their price and get it; however, times are changing.

There are a number of reasons why we are becoming a homebuyer's market.

The Stock Market: There is a lot of volatility in the stock market that is leading to uncertainty.  With all of the ups and downs, people just aren’t sure as to whether this is a good time to invest or not.  This leads to uncertainty in the economy.

Canadians are Pulling out:  For our northern friends, they are seeing their currency value against the dollar, which means that if they pull their investments out now…

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How to Price Your Home to Sell

You have made the executive decision to sell your home.  Maybe you need some extra room for a growing family, maybe you are empty nesters who are looking to downsize or maybe you just want a change.  Whatever the case, selling a home can be a stressful endeavor.  Here are a few tips to make the process easier and could result in a quicker sale.

 

Make a list: This list will consist of all of the recent upgrades.  Have you recently had the floors redone?  How about the counters and cabinets?  Have you recently painted the rooms in the home?  Any upgrades both structural and cosmetic should be included in your list.  In addition, make sure to include the age of the roof and the air conditioner.  All of these factors…

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Selling a Home by Owner

Selling your home can be a long and exhausting experience.  But at first, it may seem like a good idea to sell your home by owner.  After all, you wouldn’t have to pay the seller’s commission and you could pocket more of the sale price, right?  This is absolutely true, but the buyer’s agent will still expect their cut for bringing you the client.  So you would save somewhere between 3 and 6 percent.

Let’s see if saving that commission is actually worth it.

When selling a home by owner, you may want to put a sign in the front yard; that way everyone driving by will know that your home is on the market.

You would probably want to have a couple of open houses to invite people in to take a look around.  Of course, what open…

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The Biggest Tip for First Time Home Buyers

Purchasing your first home is an exciting time.  It is almost like a right of passage.  You’ve moved up from living in an apartment; maybe the family has grown and now its time to make the investment.

On the flip side, purchasing your first home can be a stressful and exhausting experience… unless you follow this big tip for first time home buyers.

Find a Qualified Real Estate Agent

Now, this seems like a no-brainer; however, you will not believe how many horror stories I have heard from people about how their real estate agent didn’t do anything to help them through the process.

Here is what first time home buyers should expect from their real estate agent:

Step 1: You and the real estate…

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The Orchid a green home for sale in Naples FloridaDo any of you ever ask you if a home is environmentally friendly?  is being "green" part of your decision making?

My guess is that the answer, for the most part, is no.  However, for a while there I too was oblivious to exactly what an Environmentally Friendly home was and how it could impact my life. That is until I got a Platinum Leed Certified home for sale.  After that, I certainly had to brush up on my knowledge base, so I spent some time researching and finally I achieved my "Green Certification" for Real Estate.  

What has this done for me?  Well apart from making me more aware of how we use energy in our homes, going around turning lights off much to my wife's dismay.  It has certainly made me make some more significant changes around my own…

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