Lower Keys Homes for Sale

Mud injected Wednesday, Aug. 4 in the Transocean/BP well and a tight-fitting cap on a failed blowout preventer continue to prevent new oil from gushing into the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Officials continue to monitor this “static kill,” and will determine whether or not to follow with concrete to permanently seal the top of the well.

Next, comes the “bottom kill,” where a drilled relief well will be used to pump in mud and cement. Exact timing for completion of the “bottom kill,” the final step, is not known, but officials targeted mid-August as the end date several months ago.

Meanwhile the risk remains “very, very low” for near-term Transocean/BP oil spill pollution threats to the Florida Keys and South Florida, according to officials involved in response efforts and, in fact, since the April 20 explosion, the Keys have not been physically impacted by the spill.

“For the past several months, there has been an eddy (Eddy Franklin) that has broken off from the Loop Current between the wellhead and where the current come north and turns towards the Straits of Florida,” said former Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the national incident commander. “So (that) eddy has created a hydraulic barrier between the well head and the loop current and the chances that oil will become entrained in the Loop Current are very, very low and will go to zero as we continue to control the leakage at the well with the cap and ultimately kill it.”

For complete information go to http://www.fla-keys.com/news/news.cfm?sid=7754

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

Benefits of Owning a 2nd Vacation Home

Looking for a tropical get-away that does not require a passport? Look at the Florida Keys. Stretching from around fifteen miles south of Miami to less than one hundred miles from Cuba, the Florida Keys offer a multicultural living and vacation experience to fit every budget.

Financing a Tropical Dream

Once reserved for the rich and the famous, a second vacation home can now be part of a smart investment portfolio. Mortgage rates are low, making financing a home in the Florida Keys more affordable than ever. Also, unlike the rich and the famous, the average individual is likely to rent his vacation home out to tourists when he is not using it himself.

Waterfront property is especially popular as a vacation spot. It offers the amenities of the local community – restaurants, attractions, transportation, security – and the beauty of communing with nature. The income from these rentals often covers the entire mortgage, enabling the owner to enjoy a free vacation in the Keys whenever he pleases.

Waterfront property also tends to appreciate in value over the long term due to its lasting popularity. The savvy homeowner of a Florida Keys waterfront vacation home is also building equity while he vacations there and rents it out – equity that can either be cashed in at retirement or lived in on a full-time basis.

Peace of Mind

Ask any therapist. The soothing sounds of the ocean provide the perfect background for relaxation. With a vacation home in the Florida Keys, no tapes or compact discs are needed.

Simply open the windows to enjoy the ocean’s relaxing sounds.

Also, as stress is a significant risk factor in elevated blood pressure, a vacation home in the Florida Keys benefits the home owner physically as well as mentally.

Stress melts away with the ebb and flow of the tide, with the beauty of the sun rising or setting over the ocean, with the gentle ocean breeze.

One can almost feel his blood pressure lower with the laid back lifestyle. Or, if the need for some company arises, the Florida Keys offer a variety of restaurants, museums, parks, and attractions to amuse and entertain.

Add to the scenic view, soothing sounds, and peace of mind that comes with knowing that. No matter how stressful life becomes, a little slice of paradise awaits. It is a reward at the end of the summer, or at the end of a career.

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

Importance of using an experienced Real Estate Agent

There is a lot of hard work that goes into buying or selling a house.

With today’s market and economy, that hard work has become even tougher.

That is exactly why it is critically important that you hire an expert to help you navigate through all the details and negotiations.

Yes, there are lots of Real Estate Agents, but not all of them may be looking out for your best interest. Therefore the first thing you need to do in this process is to find a real estate agent that you can trust, that has experience and importantly has great negotiation skills.

From the experience side of things.
A few things to ask a prospective agent?

How long have you been in Real Estate?

Do you do this full time?

What are your sales stats for the last couple years.

(These may seem like intrusive questions, but any top-producing agent will actually welcome them)

The importance of Negotiation.

Negotiating is probably the most important skill that an agent can possess. The agent could be an excellent salesperson, but without negotiating skills you might not be getting the best deal for your dollar.

A really great agent will listen to the concerns of both the buyer and the seller and then work on something that benefits both parties.

A great negotiator will ask the proper questions to find out exactly what those concerns are, and in addition what each side wants to ultimately accomplish.

The goal being, to turn your transaction into a win-win situation for both parties.

Area knowledge.

An agent should have in-depth knowledge of the area in which the property is located.

From a seller’s perspective, knowing the actual value of the property and how much the sellers could get for it is vital.

From the buyer’s perspective, the agent should know about schools, local amenities and even which local business are in the surrounding area. On the subject of tax rates, building codes, home repairs and insurance costs, an experienced agent can also point out exactly where to get the information.

In conclusion, picking an agent that has the experience and negotiating skills to help with selling or buying a home is an incredibly important step. Be careful to choose a strong partner in your pursuit of either selling or buying.

Article courtesy of RJ Albritton.

RJ is a Top producing Real Estate Agent,that specializes in the sale of fine Homes and Condos in the Florida Keys.

In addition he is the owner of the website www.lowerkeyshomes4sale.com designed specifically to help people relocating to The Florida Keys and it’s communities

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

PRICED TO SELL!! Great opportunity to purchase Mixed Use Maritime property. Waterfront (East)parcel consists of 6,000 sq/ft of land with 60ft on the water and Coco Plum Dr. 5 commercial boat slips with Bay Bottom Lease. Real Estate only for sale. West side of property consists of 18,000 sq/ft non-waterfront utilized for boat storage. Excellent Income potential – property needs some updating.

Price: $975,000

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

reets are named after either famous or amazingly obscure pirates, which might include a Mr. Cudjoe. Another story has the island described in 19th century Key West scuttlebutt as the location of ”Cousin Joe’s” woodcutting and charcoal-making place, of which there were quite a few in the Lower Keys.

Whatever its history Cudjoe is a quiet and peaceful residential island surrounding its own bay, probably the best bay in the area for water sports. The island’s fishhook appearance and bay are such distinctive features that they can be seen easily in satellite pictures.

Cudjoe Key provides a wide variety of housing ranging from ocean front executive homes to both Keys standard canal homes and some extraordinary ones, to the upscale gated mobile home park, Venture Out, on Cudjoe’s eastern shore. All waterfront properties on the island, including Venture Out, have become expensive.

Nearly all the homes are on the Atlantic side of the Overseas Highway. Boating access on Cudjoe is excelent , almost no matter where you reside. Boating drafts generally range from 2-4 feet, but some canals on the fishhook are narrow and have shallow entrances to Cudjoe Bay. Eastside canals are also narrow and open onto shallow water. The more expensive Cudjoe Gardens housing area at the west end of the island has much bigger and deeper canals that will accommodate large boats.

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

*THE LISTINGS BELOW ARE ON SUMMERLAND KEY–THE PICTURES SAY CUDJOE BECAUSE THE ZIPCODE FOR SUMMERLAND AND CUDJOE ARE THE SAME

Imagine flying your own plane to your island paradise home where you step onto your sports fisherman or cabin cruiser for a weekend of sun and fun. It’s all possible here. Summerland is a mecca for large boat owners and private pilots. It’s one of the few places in the whole country where you can have it both ways.

The island boasts unusually wide flow-through canals and a private air strip for local residents making it a perfect spot to park a Beechcraft and a 50 foot + boat. The majority of homes on Summerland are located on the Atlantic side of the Overseas Highway.

Although there is some price variation, homes here are generally very expensive; those on what’s called “open water” or the airstrip moreso

Summerland has a small downtown along US#1, with a good boutique grocery store, a couple of restaurants, real Estate offices, a bank, a wholesale fish shop, some healthcare offices, an office building, and some retail.

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

Nearly 1 acre of land on Overseas Highway 99th St) with canal frontage. Property is zoned residential, multi-family less than 10 units. Highway frontage could possibly be rezoned for commercial usage – buyer to verify. Great location with multiple development possibilities.

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

Price: $1,099,000

TURNKEY OPERATION – 11 Unit Motel (10 Transient Licenses) plus large owner/managers apartment on site. Well maintained property on US 1 with large fresh water pool and boat ramp access with trailer storage. Good numbers with plenty of room for revenue growth.

RJ Albritton REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
29967 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
(305) 509-1041 DIRECT
(305) 872-3050 Business
(800) 488-3050 Toll Free
(305)872-4220 FAX
EMAIL ME
lowerkeyshomes4sale.com

Looe Key is offshore from Big Pine Key. WE have great water sports here including, fishing, diving, sailing kayaking and more. Here is a video about diving at our Looe Key reef

Here is a video about fishing for Barracuda in the Bug Pine Key waters.