1031 Tax Exchanges

Material courtesy of Realty Exchangers at http://www.realtyexchangers.com/aboutREI.php

A tax deferred exchange allows us to sell a piece of investment (i.e. rental), trade or business property, buy a new property with the gain or profit from the sale, and not owe taxes on the sale immediately. If you eventually sell the new piece of property, you would owe taxes at that time. Generally, all gains and losses on sales of real estate are taxable, but an exception lies where the property sold is traded or exchanged for "like-kind" property. The new property is seen as a continuation of the original investment, so taxes are not due at the time of the sale.

Many people view tax deferred exchanges as being for huge corporations, or only for professional investors. I believe that everyone should take advantage of these where they can. Strategy -- purchase a rental home below market value, rent it for a year, sell it, and buy two rental properties with your gain. Note that if you do this too many times, the IRS may take the view that you are not a long term investor, and disallow such exchanges. When you get ready to do a tax-deferred exchange, you will need the services of a qualified CPA or Attorney. This is a basic introduction only, and you should always get professional advice from someone who has all the details on your deal, since so much liability is at stake. In my course I list the company that I use for these real estate exchanges. They are a national company and can help you out wherever you are in the country. I have used them for several deferred exchanges, and they have been an excellent resource and extremely competent.

Let's look at how one of these deals would work. Assume that you own a rental property that has gone up in value. You'd like to sell this property and then reinvest the proceeds into some other rental real estate. You can avoid the tax bill if you can find suitable property to exchange for. The difficulty of the tax deferred exchange is that the property you are going to purchase must be identified within a certain amount of time, and it must be closed within a certain amount of time after it is identified. Unfortunately, no extensions are possible.

Identifying Property

You must identify property in a written document signed by you, and delivered to the party assisting you with the exchange (cannot be related to you!) on or before 45 days from the date you sold the original rental property. There is a growing body of support for identification of properties, and closing of new properties before the original property is sold. This is somewhat controversial and outside the scope of this discussion.

Technical Note: You can identify more than one property as the replacement property. However, the maximum number of replacement properties that you may identify without regard to fair market value is three properties. You may identify any number of properties provided that the total value of these properties is not more than 200% of the value of the original property you are selling. Note that you don't have to close on all the properties you identify. You can name several if you're not sure what will close, or not close, but you have to observe the rules in this technical note in terms of the value of properties you identify. If at the end of the identification period you have identified more properties than you are allowed, you are generally treated as if no property was identified. This means that you pay taxes!

Time Limits For Completing the Exchange

If you have correctly complied with the identification phase of the exchange, you have up to 180 days to complete an exchange, but the period may be shorter. Specifically, property will not be treated as like kind property if it is received more than 180 days after the date you transferred the property you are relinquishing, or after the due date of your return (including extensions) for the year in which you made the transfer.

For multiple property transfers, the 45 day identification period and the 180 day exchange period are determined by the earliest date a property is transferred.

Avoid Boot!

Boot is defined as any money or any type of property of unlike kind (example, a car received as part of down-payment). You will be taxed on this boot regardless of whether or not you carry out the exchange correctly. You will want your exchange company, or attorney to examine your transaction closely to make sure you don't receive anything that could count as boot. Special rules apply for exchanging property with assumed mortgages.

Summary

The tax-deferred exchange is a great way to maximize your wealth. By keeping your investments growing without immediately paying taxes, you can do wonders for your net-worth. You will need to search out a good intermediary. I am happy to provide the name of mine for our members. This may seem like a dry subject, but it is important to understand when you begin to accumulate some rental properties.

Remember that this article is to provide basic information only. If you are planning on doing a tax deferred exchange, you really need to speak with a professional that handles these transactions on a regular basis. Information here is subject to change by IRS regulations or statute, so be sure to use current information provided by your accountant or other professional when planning a strategy involving tax deferred exchanges.

 

Real Estate Investment Analysis Formulas

Income and Expense Statement

Income

Potential Gross Income (PG1) $__________

Less: Vacancy and Bad Debt Allowance$ __________

Equals: Effective Gross Income (EGI) $__________

Operating Expenses

Exclude: Depreciation

Mortgage Payments

Non-Operating Expenses. E.G Directors Salaries

Capital Expenditures $__________

Net Operating Income (NO1)$ __________

Less: Debt Service (P + I)$ __________

Cash Flow Before Tax (CFBT)$ __________

Less: Income Taxes $__________

Equals Cash Flow After Tax (CFAT) $__________

Financial Measures:

Potential Gross Income Multiplier (PGIM)

Also called Potential Gross Rent Multiplier(PGRM)

PGIM = Market Value or Market Value = Potential Gross Income x PGIM

Potential Gross Income

MV = EGI x EGIM

= MV

PGI

Effective gross Income Multiplier (EGIM)

Also called Effective Gross Rent Multiplier(EGRM)

EGIM = Market Value or Market Value = Effective Gross Income x EGIM

Effective Gross Income

MV = EGI x EGIM

= MV

PGI

Net Income Multiplier (NIM)

NIM = Market Value or Market Value = Net Operating Income x Net Income Multiplier

Net Operating Income

MV = NOI x NIM

= MV

NOI

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate)

Also called Broker’s Yield

Cap Rate(%) = Net Operating Income x 100 or Market Value = Operating Income x 100

Market Value Cap Rate(%)

= NOI x 100 MV = NOI x 100

MV Cap Rate(%)

Return on Equit y(ROE)

Also called: Equity Dividend Rate(EDR)

Cash on Cash Return

ROE(%) = (Net Operating Income – Debt Service) x 100

Equity

Where: Equity = Market Value – Mortgage

Debt Service = Principal & Interest Payment or MV = (NOI-DS) x 100 + Mortgage

ROE(%)

ROE(%) = Cash Flow Before Tax x 100

Equity

ROE(%) = (NOI–DS) x 100

(MV–Mtge.)

Default Ratio (Break-even) (%)

Using Potential Gross Income Using Effective Gross Income

= (Operating Expenses + Debt Service) x 100 = (Operating Expenses + Debt Service) x 100

Potential Gross Income Effective Gross Income

Financing Measures.

Debt Service Ratio (DSR) Loan to Value Ratio (%)

= Net Operating Income = Loan Amount x 100

Debt Service Market Value

Rental Apartment Building Measures.

1. Price Per Suite

2. Price Per Sq. Foot (Using Suite Areas)

3. Rents Per Sq. Foot per month

4. Operating Costs

a. Operating Costs Per Suite Per Year

b. Operating Cost per Sq. Foot per Year

5. Operating Expense Ratio (OER) = Operating Expense x 100

Effective Gross Income

Home Financing:

Gross Debt Service Ratio = (Principal + Interest + Taxes)

Gross Family Income

Lenders often modify the basic Gross Debt Service Ratio Formula.

Modified Gross Debt Service Ratio = (Principal + Interest + Taxes + Heat + % of Maintenance

Gross Family Income

Total Gross Debt Service Ratio = (Principal + Interest + Taxes + Other Debt Payments)

Gross Family Income

Commercial Real Estate Sample Calculations

The following examples illustrate how to use the real estate formulas. In Example No.1 the information is obtained for the property and

the financial measures calculated. In Example No. 2 the financial measures such as the Cap Rate are obtained for comparable sales and

are used to calculate the Market Value for the subject property.

Example No 1.

Sale Price (Market Value) $3,165,000

Potential Gross Income: $306,000

Vacancy & Bad Debt Allowance: 4.5%

Operating Expenses $58,000

Mortgage $2,056,000

Mortgage Payment (P+i) $180,538

Number of Suites 30

Total Rentable Area 24,000 Square feet

Note: All figures are annual

Calculate: Potential Gross Income Mulitplier (PGIM)

Effective Gross Income Multiplier (EGIM)

Net Income Multiplier (NIM)

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate)

Return on Equity (ROE)

Default Ratio (Break even) based on:

Potential Gross Income

Effective Gross Income

Debt Service Ratio (DSR)

Loan to Value Ratio

Price per Suite

Price per Square Foot

Rent per Square Foot per Month

Operating Cost per Suite per Year

Operating Cost per Square Foot per Year

Operating Expense Ratio (OER) based on:

Potential Gross Income

Effective Gross Income

1. Construct an Annual Income and Expense Statement

Potential Gross Income $306,000

Less Vacancy & Bad Debt Allowance (4.5%) 13,770

Effective Gross Income $292,230

Operating Expenses 58,000

Net Operating Income $234,230

Less; Debt Service (P+i) 180,538

Cash Flow Before Tax $ 53,692

2. Calculate the Financial Measures

Potential Gross Income Multiplier (PGIM):

PGIM = MV = 3,165,000

PGI 306,000

= 10.34

Effective Gross Income Multiplier (EGIM):

EGIM = MV = 3,165,000

EGI 292,230

= 10.83

Net Income Multiplier (NIM):

NIM = MV = 3,165,000

NOI 234,230

= 13.51

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate):

Cap Rate = NOI = 234,230 x 100

MV 3,165,000

= 7.40%

Return on Equity (ROE):

ROE = (NOI – DS) x100 = Cash Flow Before Tax x 100

EGI Equity

= 53,692 x 100

(3,165,000 - 2,056,000)

= 4.84%

Default Ratio (Breakeven):

Based on Potential Gross Income:

Default Ratio = (Operating Expenses + Debt Service) x 100

Potential Gross Income

= (58,000 + 180,538) x 100

306,000

= 77.95%

Default Ratio (Breakeven) cont.

Based on Effective Gross Income:

Default Ratio = (Operating Expenses + Debt Service) x 100

Effective Gross Income

= (58,000 + 180,538) x 100

292,230

= 81.63%

Debt Service Ratio (DSR) = Net Operating Income

Debt Service

= 234,230

180,538

= 1.30

Loan to Value Ratio % = Loan Amount x 100

Market Value

= 2,056,000 x 100

3,165,000

= 64.96%

Price Per Suite = 3,165,000

30

= $105,500

Price per Square foot = 3,165,000

24,000

= $131.88

Rent Per Sq. Foot per Mo. = 306,000

24,000 x 12

= $1.06

Operating Costs Per Suite Per Year

= 58,000

30

= $1,933

Operating Cost per Square foot per year

= 58,000

24,000

= $2.42

Operating Expense Ratio (OER)

Based on Potential Gross Income:

= Operating Expenses x 100

Potential Gross Income

= 58,000 x 100

306,000

= 18.95%

Based on Effective Gross Income:

= Operating Expenses x 100

Effective Gross Income

= 58,000 x 100

292,230

= 19.85%

Summary.

Potential Gross Income Multiplier (EGIM): 10.83

Net Income Multiplier (NIM): 13.51

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) 7.40%

Return on Equity (ROE) 4.84%

Default Ratio (Break even) based on:

Potential Gross Income 77.95%

Effective Gross Income 81.63%

Debt Service Ratio (DSR) 1.30

Loan to Value Ratio 64.96%

Price per Suite $105,000

Price per Square Foot $131.88

Rent per Square foot per month $1.06

Operating Cost per Suite per Year $1,933

Operating Cost per Square Foot per Year $2.42

Operating Expense Ratio (OER) based on:

Potential Gross Income 18.96%

Effective Gross Income 19.85%

Example No 2.

Potential Gross Income: $244,800

Vacancy & Bad Debt Allowance: 5.0%

Operating Expenses $49,300

Mortgage $1,685,000

Mortgage Payment (P+i) $147,500

Number of Suites 24

Total Rentable Area 18,720 Square feet

Note: All figures are annual

Calculate the Market Value using the following financial measures

Effective Gross Income Multiplier (EGIM): 9.30

Net Income Multiplier (NIM): 12.50

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate): 8.00%

Return on Equity (ROE): 5.57%

1. Start by constructing the Annual Income and Expense Statement

Potential Gross Income $244,800

Less Vacancy & Bad Debt Allowance (5.0%) 12,240

Effective Gross Income $232,560

Operating Expenses 49,300

Net Operating Income $183,260

Less; Debt Service (P+i) 147,500

Cash Flow Before Tax $ 35,760

2. Calculate the Market Value based on the:

Effective Gross Income Multiplier (EGIM):

MV = Effective Gross Income x EGIM

= 232,560 x 9.30

= $2,162,808

Net Income Multiplier (NIM):

MV = Net Operating x NIM

= 183,260 x 12.50

= $2,290,750

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate):

MV = Net Operating Income x 100

Cap Rate

= 183,260 x 100

8.0

= $2,290,750

Return on Equity (ROE):

MV = (NOI - DS) x 100 + Mortgage

ROE

= (183,260 - 147,500) + 1,685,000

5.57

= $2,327,011

 

 

Short sales

Overview on Short Sales and Foreclosures
The Basics of “Short Sales”
by William Bronchick

You will likely come across dozens of properties in foreclosure with little or no equity, that is, the seller owes at close to or more than the property is worth. In these situations, lenders are sometimes willing to accept less than the full amount due, commonly referred to a "short pay" or "short sale."

Negotiating a short sale with the lender is a difficult process, generally because it is a daunting task finding a bank officer who has the authority to accept a discount. You will have to call around to locate the lender’s “Loss Mitigation Department.” More than likely, each lender you deal with will have a separate name for this department, so be patient when calling. Much like getting your phone bill corrected, you can expect the process to involve a lot of waiting on hold and being bounced around an intricate maze of automated voice mail systems. Once you get in touch with the right person, then the negotiating begins.

From the lender’s perspective, a short sale saves many of the costs associated with the foreclosure process - attorney fee's, the eviction process, delays from borrower bankruptcy, damage to the property, costs associated with resale, etc. In a short sale scenario, the lender gets the property back faster, so it is able to cut its losses. Your job as the investor is to convince the lender that it will fare better by accepting less money now.

The lender will want some information about the property, the borrower and the deal he has made with you. Specifically, the lender wants to know what the property is worth. The lender will generally hire a local real estate broker or appraiser to evaluate the property (called a broker’s price opinion or “BPO”). You can also submit your own appraisal or comparable sales information. In addition you will want to offer as much specific negative information about the property as possible. Also, include some relevant information about the neighborhood and the local economy if things are bad (copies of newspaper articles with “bad news” may help). A contract’s bid for repair estimates should also be submitted, which, of course, should be the highest bid you can obtain!

The lender will also ask for financial information about the borrower. Sort of a backwards loan application, the borrower must prove that he is broke and unable to afford the payments. The borrower must show that he has no other source of income or assets to repay the loan. This process may involve as much, if not more paperwork than an original mortgage application! The borrower should submit a “hardship letter”, which is basically a sob story about how much financial trouble the borrower is in. This may require a little literary creativity, and some help on your part. Don’t lie, just paint a picture that doesn’t look good.

Finally, the lender generally wants to see a written contract between you and the seller. The lender wants to make sure the seller isn’t walking away with any cash from the deal. Generally, the contract must be written so that the buyer pays all costs associated with the transaction, so that the “net cash” to the seller is the exact amount of the short pay to the lender. A preliminary HUD-1 settlement statement is often requested, which can be difficult, since many title and escrow companies simple won’t prepare one in advance of closing. You can prepare your own HUD-1, and simply write “preliminary” on the top.

Don’t be surprised if your short sale bid is rejected. Lenders aren’t emotionally attached to their properties, so they aren’t as likely to give you “steal.” Many short sales fall through if the BPO comes in too high, which is often the case. You can’t pull the wool over a lender’s eyes - if the property isn’t is need of serious repair, it is unlikely you can convince the lender the property is worth a whole lot less than the appraised value.

If you are interested in these properties please contact me and I can furnish you a list of properties

Buying a fixer upper

Ask many a home buyer about the type of house they are looking for and many will reply "We are looking for something we can fix up and live in (or resell). We like the idea of gaining some quick sweat equity." The classic "fixer-upper" home. Unfortunately, there is a bit of fantasy in the notion, though. First of all, there are many more fixer-upper buyers than there are fixer-upper properties. Second, the current thinking in many minds is that anyone can make a killing in the Real Estate market, which is not always the case. Third,
many buyers totally mis-estimate both the cost and the time involved in fixer-uppers, severely impacting (and in some cases destroying) the profit potential. Unless you are fully prepared to deal with the realities of fixer-uppers rather than the fantasies, it probably is a good idea to look elsewhere for a home.

This does not mean that there isn't equity to be gained (or profit to be made) by purchasing the RIGHT property at the RIGHT price. The important notion is to understand that there are several factors that will make the difference between winning and losing in such a transaction.

The Mindset

The first factor that must be understood is that it isn't going to be easy. The only people who think that finding, buying, fixing and selling a home is an easy task are those who have never done it. Those with any experience (even if only once) will tell you that it rarely is as simple as it appears. In general, it is best to assume that repairs will cost twice what you estimated, take double the amount of time and,when finished, the house will be worth less than expected. If you keep that in the forefront of your thinking, the chances of being burned are much less.

Foreclosure sales are often good sources for fixer-upper properties.

Start Out Small

Some of the worst examples of mistakes made by buyers of fixer-uppers are first-time buyers who bite off way more than they can chew. Examples of this are houses that have structural problems or will take an exceptionally long time to repair, or are located somewhere other than a desirable neighborhood. These can be a horrible drain on finances, time and peace of mind.

A much better strategy for the inexperienced is to purchase a home in a desirable neighborhood that is in need of cosmetic attention--new paint, carpeting, appliances, landscaping and the like. These repairs can either be handled by the homeowner or are easily contracted out, saving time, effort and money. Yes, money can be made on homes needing major renovations, even if they are in less popular neighborhoods, but these are jobs for professionals, not homeowners (and definitely not for first-time homeowners!)

Avoid Surprises

The most expensive situations are often those that are the least expected--those nasty little (and often big) surprises that jump out at you. You can avoid many of these surprises, though, with a couple of easy steps taken BEFORE final commitment to a property.

1) Have the property thoroughly inspected. Have the inspector detail all obvious (as well as potential) defects in the property. NOTE: The seller may say "we are selling the house as-is, so NO inspections." Avoid this property like the plague.

2) Run the numbers. You must know the market values for houses in the neighborhood in which you are interested that need no repairs. Running the numbers means working them backwards to see how much equity or profit may be available (or even IF there will be any) in the deal. You will need to begin by computing the realistic value of the home when all repairs are made. From that point, you will need to subtract any selling expenses you will incur (commissions and the like) as well as the full cost of repairs and, most importantly, the amount of desired profit or equity.
Example:

$600,000: Expected Sale Price, Repaired
-40,000: Selling Expenses
-25,500: Repair Expenses
-50,000: Desired Profit/Equity
$485,000: Maximum Property Purchase Price

Don't be deluded into thinking that you'll be able to sell for more than the market value or do the repairs for less than the estimates. If the numbers don't fit--with a good amount of "wiggle room" for more expense or handling costs or if the property does not sell quickly--don't waste your time or your money!

Summing Up

When considering a fixer-upper, whether for resale or to live in with increased equity, go into the process fully prepared so you will avoid many surprises. For your first project, only consider structurally sound homes in good neighborhoods requiring cosmetic repairs only. Have any property you are considering fully inspected and then get firm estimates for all needed repairs. Most importantly, "run the numbers" to be certain that the potential for gain is truly there. If you are satisfied on all counts, you may very well be able to be successful with your fixer-upper project “Remember not making a decision is still a decision!

 

Using a home as a rental

Renting your home out as a seasonal(vacation rental)or long term.
Long term renters are easy to find as there is a shortage of homes for rent. So, if you want to buy something for retirement or a vacation home and rent it out to help your payments-this is typically the easiest way. (Long term rentals are considered to be anything over 6 months, as the tenants don't pay the 11.5% Florida tax.)
• Generally long term rentals should be unfurnished.
• Initially we do a credit check before submitting a lease to you, then with your approval of the lease, we collect the first and last months rent plus a security deposit which is typically a months rental amount. We are very proactive in this area and I assure you the home is handled professionally.
• As to utilities- The tenants take the lease to the water, electric, phone and cable people and have the utilities put in their name and of course they pay their own deposits. Garbage down here is included in your tax bill-so there is no garbage bill.
• Seasonal rentals. Currently we can only rent monthly or 28 days, meaning the owner can only rent the home out 12 times per year. This means about 5 months of income-Jan-Feb-Mar and July-August. There are some April and June monthlies.
• As to finding people to rent for the rest of the time! We deal a lot with Navy transfers÷they generally need something for 2-3 months while they sell their home and buy another. So if it is the off season, our rental department will try to fill your home up this way. Another way to fill in the gaps is to Companies that come down here. Most of the major government and private building projects are done by outside firms. Their management people will generally want a nicer situation so they will generally rent homes at better than average rates.
• As to what is the best rental situation , that is size, which areas, views, pools, how water and boating accessibility affects rental amounts and the typical rental amounts for both long and short term, plus the fees involved, please contact me.

As to extra costs and what is necessary to have a Home as a Rental.
• When you rent your home out you need to license it through the County. This costs $25.00 and we handle the paperwork for you. The County and the Tax people want the home licensed so they know where there may be tax dollars coming in. When your home is used as a rental, in effect you are operating the same as a hotel or motel and so come under their safety guidelines.
• Every bedroom and the main living area must have a hardwired smoke detector and there must also be an escape light. This light comes on in case of a power outage-this also must be hardwired. (About $350.00 installed smoke detectors and escape light for a 2/2.)
• There also needs to be a professional quality refillable fire extinguisher that is approved by the fire department (about $55.00). This would be the same as you'd find in a restaurant or hotel room. There needs to be a dead bolt on the door that works from the inside and is a different key than the main door. All of these issues help protect your liability in cases of fire/break in.
• When the home complies with all of the above and we have the signed contract, then it can go into the rental pool.

SPECIFICS OF THE AGREEMENT
1 Coldwell Banker agrees to manage the home for a period of one year with the contract automatically renewing unless either side gives 90 day notice.
2 Our fee for vacation rentals is 20%---what is really important here are the following points.
• There are no hidden fees-such as credit card charges etc.
• We typically send you the money within 2 weeks of receiving it÷we do NOT hold it until the first of each month or split it out each month. We always collect cashiers checks from the renters so when the money is received, it is quickly processed through our main office and sent to you.
• There are no charges for going up on our Web sites÷5 in all.
• There are no charges for the pictures that are taken.
• There are no charges for any specific flyers, brochures or ads that we run on our rental properties.
• Please go to www.rentalsfloridakeys.com
• We actively and aggressively manage your home. Meaning we get the best customers (qualified) We play by the 2 people per bedroom limit, and we work to keep it filled other than your personal usage
• All of the computers in the 5 Coldwell Banker Schmitt offices throughout the Keys are linked. If a customer inquires about a home, it will show up on the rental agents computers.
• We have Handymen, Electrical, Plumbing, Landscaping, Pest control and appliance people that respond when there is an emergency.

BOOKING THE HOME FOR THE OWNER.
This is very simple. You would call the rental manager and have him block out the home when you want to use it. We don't charge a fee for any of that. Generally you would have us arrange for the home to be cleaned after you leave.FLORIDA BED TAX Florida charges a 11.5% tax on all hotel, motel, home rentals. We collect the money from the tenant and disperse it to the tax agency.CLEANING SERVICE The tenants pay this fee which varies based on the size of the home. On average a 2/2 is $100 and a 3/2 is $125.00.PETS AND SMOKING If the home is no smoking, that is put in the rental file and the tenants are informed before they book the home. If the home allows pets, we collect a pet deposit which is added to the standard security deposit of $500.

How are emergency repairs handled?
• We have handymen available that can take care of small emergencies or updates, as the owner requires. Since our company manages over 300 rentals, we also have a good working relationship with Plumbing, Electrical, Appliance and Carpet, Tile people.What about Hurricane preparation?
• In the event of an impending Hurricane, the handyman or someone else can be hired to put up the storm shutters, bring in the lawn and patio furniture, etc for a fee-as we have too many homes for us to do them individually. This agreement should be set up in advance by the homeowner and the handyman. We will help you find someone to do this.What makes a good Vacation Rental
• A clean, well-maintained home on a canal or open water.
• Typically one of the bedrooms should have a set of twin beds if the renters are bringing children.
• Good linens and towels and a backup set. This is especially important for monthly renters.
• The washer, dryer and refrigerator should be newer if possible.
• A good Television hooked up to cable (about $35.00 per month) and a CD or tape stereo system.
• The kitchen must be completely outfitted. A microwave is also very important for renters.
• Patio and/or Lawn-Deck furniture. If there is an upper deck, a table and chairs plus loungers.
• On the water side, below a set of loungers and chairs.We get a lot of repeat renters÷if the renters have a good experience, they will come back. We see this especially with people that book two to three months a year.

Where do we get the renters
Most of our renters come through the Internet and one of 3 sites.
www.floridakeysrealestate.com www.rentalsfloridakeys.com www.fkren.com
• All of our sites are linked to Key West or www.flakeys.com which averages over 500,000 views per month. Basically if anyone looks at Key West they find our sites.
• The balance come through National Advertising placed in magazines such as Island Living, Florida Sportsmen, Salt Water fishing and Dive magazines as well as regional publications and our own buyers guide.
• Also all of our computers are networked meaning if someone is looking for a specific situation such as open water it will show up on the computer immediately as to area, availability and price plus all other details.

Who handles the renters?
• All of our offices have a dedicated rental manager whose job is to rent the homes.  In conclusion, there is a lot to discuss on rentals and this is used to just get you information regarding the main issues.

BUYING RENTAL UNITS-DUPLEX-OR MORE UNITS
• There are Duplexes throughout the lower Keys and a few 3-4 unit complexes. The 3 to 4 units are generally in Key West or Marathon.In looking at the return, generally it runs around 10% in the Keys÷this includes the large guesthouses. When a return of 14% or more comes up they generally go very quickly.
DUPLEXOn the water generally start at $600,000. Nicer ones (maintained-updated appliances-tile) go for $775,000 and up. A dry lot duplex can start at about $550,000. These generally have the best return percentage.3 TO 4 UNITSGenerally in Key West or Marathon.
• In Key West, these can be good, especially if it's located in Old Town and one or more of the units has a transient license, meaning it can legally rent weekly.
• These type of situations run from about $850,000 and up. In Marathon from about $750,000 and up.

MOTELS-MULTIPLE UNITS
• These are generally found in upper keys, Marathon and of course Key West. The more affordable ones ( one to two Million dollars) are generally from Marathon north to Key Largo. See Commercial section of my site. If there is a specific situation you want please let me know.

Building a home in the keys

Buying a lot and building your dream home may be the way to go. The cost of building will vary widely from $50.00 per square to $300.00 and up.
Basically lots in Florida as far as price goes will run as follows.
Most expensive
• Open-water—Atlantic or Gulf
• Open-water Inter-Coastal  or other Rivers-Lakes
• Canal Homes with Open water views (Bay or Atlantic-Gulf)
• Canal homes-Boatable and quick access to open-water
• Dry Lots—price varies widely, based on the community and area.

*As to canal lots and how boating ability affects prices.
If the depth of the canal and the width allows for a 50ft boat or sailboat-it will be more expensive than a lot on a canal that is shallow and usually not as wide. The bigger the boat, the more room needed to turn around.

*Access to open water is another factor that influences prices.

If you’re only minutes (half hour) to good fishing-diving, expect to pay more.
Also homes on shorter canals will generally have better water quality. In the Keys we call these swimming canals. The tides flush them out easier and the water is clear.

For prices on the individual keys please contact me. The prices will vary depending on depth of boating etc—see information below.

Permit prices and restrictions will vary in each community. Generally the more environmentally sensitive the area is, the more restrictions there are in getting a permit. (Since the water is one of the main reason people want to be here, the state and the communities want to keep it that way.

Important:

Regarding pricing. The closer to the water and the deeper the boating,(boat draft-a 50 foot requires deeper water and wider canals than a flats boat) the higher the prices.

Another thing to do is find out what flood zone the property is in per FEMA maps and then talk to a local insurer on how that will affect your rates. Do this ahead of time.

#In all cases if you find a lot that you like, my suggestion is that you ask for a letter of build ability from the local zoning commission as a clause in your sales contract. Always-always, talk with the county yourself to get the update on the laws.

So, yes, you can build here and it’s done all the time, but make sure you ask all the necessary questions and if you can, get it in writing.

See the Biz directory for builders if that’s the way you want to go. If you want a new home contact a residential agent.

REGARDING BUILDING

Ask the REALTOR that you pick, to help find you a good builder that will respond quickly. Another consideration is to buy a lot and build later (be careful here as building codes and laws can change due to density controls.) I would first see how long it takes to get a building permit and then if you get one how long you can wait. In the Keys when you get a permit there is a limit of a couple years during which time you have to at least start the process (bring electric to the site-do a septic check etc.)

Since all this varies widely make sure you get all the answers, Probably best to go the the permit department yourself and have a discussion.

Monroe County permits

You will probably need a building permit if you are:
• Building a new building or Adding to an existing building
• Renovating an existing building
• Demolishing an existing building
• Constructing a prefabricated structure
• Moving or installing a mobile home
• Installing/Modifying other miscelaneous structures
• including fences, pools, decks, fireplaces, etc.

You probably also need a permit if you are working on your structure's:
• Electrical System
• Plumbing System
•  Heating or Air Conditioning
•  Ventilation Systems

State and or Municipal Licenses required
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Asbestos Abatement
• Roofing

Building Departments
• MIDDLE KEYS OFFICE
• 2798 Overseas Highway
• Suite 300
• Marathon, FL 33050
• 305289-2501
• fax: 305 289-2515
•  
• UPPER KEYS OFFICE:
• 88800 Overseas Highway
• Tavernier, FL 33070
• 305852-7100
• fax: 305 852-7103
•  
• LOWER KEYS OFFICE:
• Juvenile Justice Building
• Room 2030
• 5503 College Rd.
• Key West, FL 33040
• 305295-3990
• fax305 295-3994
http://www.co.monroe.fl.us/pages/gmd/bld.htmhttp://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/Pages/MonroeCoFL_Growth/MonroeCoFL_BuildingDept/index

Florida Building Codes

The purpose of the Building Code is to protect the safety, health, and general welfare of the citizens through structural strength, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, and safety to life from hazards attributed to the built environment. This is accomplished through the implementation of building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes along with various state and local codes and standards.

Information on Complaints Against Contractors:
Don't get nailed! Many citizens in Florida have fallen victim to dishonest, unlicensed or improperly licensed contractors. Florida Statute 489 requires all construction contractors to hold a valid contractor's license prior to engaging in contracting. Always require that a contractor show you a valid contracting license before you sign a contract. Some indications that a contractor may be unlicensed are: the contractor requests a large deposit or all of the money up front before any work has commenced, the contractor asks you to pull a "homeowner permit", the contractor pressures you to sign a contract "today or I can't give you this special price." To verify licensure of a contractor, you may call the State of Florida Dep't of Professional Regulation at 941 338-2373 or search their contractor licensing database. The City requires proof of licensure from contractors who pull permits for properties located in the City, so be sure to require that the contractor pull the permit in his name, not your name.

So always play it safe and do it right. This will certainly help you in the Insurance area also---The extra structural costs for doing it better really pay off if a Storm hits and or you decide to sell.

#The information above is based on my experience in the Florida keys, which is highly regulated due to environmental concerns. With regard to making any decisions, be sure to check with local and state permit and zoning authorities and/or a Real Estate attorney.