Buying

Buying a home on Florida's Gulf coast.

Search every listing on the market, then walk the house with someone who has bought, renovated, and built. I will tell you what a problem will cost before it is your problem.

Home search

Listings straight from the MLS.

Public search sites are often behind, and they sell your contact information to whichever agent paid for your zip code. I set up a search on the same MLS feed agents use: every listing as it posts, with the price changes and status updates the public sites do not show.

Tell me what you are looking for. I will set up your search the same day, and new listings will come to you by email as they hit the market.

John Lee, licensed real estate agent · LPT Realty, LLC

On the walkthrough

What I look at first.

Finishes are the cheapest thing to change and the easiest thing to fall in love with. I start with the things that cost real money.

Roof, structure, and water

Age and condition of the roof, any movement in the slab or framing, and every place water has been or could go. In Florida these three decide whether you are buying a house or a project.

Permits

Additions, enclosures, and electrical work done without permits become your problem when you sell. I check the county record against what we see in the house.

Insurance, early

Roof age, wind mitigation, and flood zone drive what you will pay every year, and in this market that number can decide the deal. Better to know it on the walkthrough than after the inspection period.

The process

From first call to keys.

What you need

Location, monthly payment, and how much work you are willing to take on. If what you want and what the market has are far apart, I will tell you in the first conversation.

A search that runs itself

Set up once, then listings come to you as they hit the market. No refreshing a website, and no finding out about a house after four other buyers did.

Walkthroughs with a repair read

I give you a repair number on the spot, from someone who has paid for roofs, slabs, and site work.

An offer built to protect you

The right inspection window, financing terms that match your lender, and title work that starts right away instead of the week before closing.

Diligence, then closing

Inspections, the title search, and the survey. Anything that turns up gets worked while there is still time to fix it or renegotiate it. Then a closing where the number you sign for is the number you expected.

Moving here

Relocating from out of state.

The west coast is not one market. St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Naples have different prices, different insurance situations, and a different feel in person than in a listing photo.

If you are moving from out of state, I will walk you through those differences honestly, including the things that change people's minds. Better to find out before you buy.

Video walkthroughs so you are not buying from photographs.
Real carrying costs including taxes, insurance, and association fees, not just the payment.
Honest area differences on commute, flood zone, and what is being built next door.
The option to close through 82 West Title if that makes a long distance purchase easier. The choice of title company is always yours.

Markets

Where I work.

The Gulf coast from St. Petersburg to Marco Island, and inland to Hendry County. These markets do not move together, which works in your favor if you are flexible about where you land.

St. Petersburg and the beaches

St. Petersburg · St. Pete Beach

Pinellas · pictured, the St. Petersburg Pier

Sarasota coast

Sarasota · Venice

Manatee and Sarasota · pictured, the Ringling Bridge

Fort Myers and the islands

Fort Myers · Fort Myers Beach · Estero · Bonita Springs · Sanibel · Captiva

Charlotte and Lee · pictured, the causeway out to the islands

Naples and the coast south

Naples · Marco Island · Port of the Islands

Collier · pictured, the Naples Pier

The Tampa skyline over the river at night

Tampa and South Tampa

Tampa · South Tampa · Palma Ceia · Sunset Park · Hyde Park · Davis Islands · Bayshore

Hillsborough · pictured, downtown Tampa

Inland

LaBelle · Clewiston

Hendry · LaBelle and Clewiston, which most coastal agents do not cover

Start with what you are looking for.

Send me the area and the price range, or an address you already have your eye on. I will set up the search and give you my opinion on anything you want to walk.

Set up my search Call or text

John Lee, licensed real estate agent · LPT Realty, LLC