Shopping For A Condo?

Shopping for a Condo? Ask These 4 Questions before You Buy

Condominium homes have always been, and will likely always be, an efficient and economical route to becoming a first-time homeowner. They can offer the comfort, prestige, and even luxury appointments that apartment living may lack, often at a cost that is not much different than rent. With the current first-time home buyer tax credit and the deadline for the move-up tax credit fast approaching, I advise you move fast on any condo purchase you may be considering.

With our experience , we are well aware that not all condominiums are the same, however, so make sure you ask the following four questions before you buy:

What will you own? All Orange County homes for sale as well as condos are different so read the bylaws and be sure you understand what you will be responsible for and what belongs to the condo association. Will you own the boat dock at the back of your unit? Can you elect to build a spa on your patio? Generally, unit owners own and are responsible for the interior of their condos, while costs for outside maintenance including common areas and sewer lines are the association’s responsibility.

Who lives there? Are the majority of residents owners or renters? Owners generally take more interest in proper maintenance and are more willing than renters to serve on the association board and enforce complex rules and regulations–including the regular collection of homeowner dues.

How effective is the homeowner’s association? Do they have legal counsel, reasonable funds and a capable, caring volunteer board? One way to judge is to check with residents about restrictions, oversight and timeliness of repairs and upgrades. Another is to take a hard look at the grounds and be wary of signs of neglect.

What about special assessments? The association should have the power to special assess for needed, one-time large expenditures. Otherwise, things that need to be done may never get done at all, leaving the complex vulnerable to disrepair and lowered property values.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to become a homeowner or to downsize by buying a condo (remember, the move-up tax credit does not require you to move to a larger or more expensive home). Please e-mail me for more tips on buying a condo and forward this information to any family and friends who may be in the market as well. Please visit our website at www.steveandmicah.com or reach us by email at micahstovall@gmail.com or steve@stevestovall.com

Team Stovall Receives Top Honors

Team Stovall, with Star Real Estate, Fountain Valley, CA, Named a Member of Top 5 in Real Estate Network®

Local Realtors Earn Most Prestigious of all Industry Achievements

Reaching the pinnacle of their profession nationally, Steve and Micah Stovall, of Team Stovall, with Star Real Estate, were accepted as Members of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, the most prestigious of all industry achievements.

More than just a sales-driven recognition, the Top 5 in Real Estate Network® meets a need that heretofore has never been addressed – helping consumers identify the most professional real estate agents in North America. To qualify, each member must first meet a stringent set of criteria, based upon performance, as well as educational and professional skills and service to the consumer.

Members of the Network are carefully selected and managed by RISMedia, which has provided the real estate industry with objective, unbiased news for nearly 30 years. As a Member of the Top 5 Network, Team Stovall is among the first real estate agents to be accepted into this elite organization.

Allan Dalton, the president and co-founder of RISMedia’s Top 5 Network congratulated Team Stovall for earning this top status within the industry. “Steve and Micah have reached the very highest level of North America’s residential real estate industry. Not only are their professional accomplishments extraordinary, they have long been a true champion for home buyers and sellers in their area. It is a pleasure to welcome Steve and Micah into this elite group of industry leaders.”

According to John Featherston, RISMedia's CEO & publisher and co-founder of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network, the significance of Top 5 is that consumers deserve full transparency regarding all matters related to the real estate transaction, which often begins with the need to select a highly competent, experienced and results-oriented real estate professional. Top 5 in Real Estate has been established to both empower consumers with leading real estate content through Top 5 members, as well as to ensure that consumers are made fully aware that there is a material difference between average and exceptional real estate professionals.

Providing excellent real estate service since 1976, Team Stovall strives to stay on the cutting edge of marketing and technology. A top producing real estate team, Steve and Micah Stovall are consistent, top producing agents ranking in Star Real Estate’s Top 1% ‘Presidents Club’ year after year. Team Stovall has also ranked within the top agents in the Orange County Association of Realtors over three decades. In addition, Team Stovall employs a Professional Interior Designer to insure staging and merchandising excellence for each and every home seller they serve. With over 1,600 successfully closed transactions, Team Stovall brings the negotiating and marketing skills needed to help you fulfill your real estate goals. Always willing to go the extra mile for their clients, you can reach Steve Stovall at Steve@SteveStovall.com or Micah Stovall at MicahStovall@gmail.com.

For more information on RISMedia’s Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, please visit www.top5inrealestate.com or contact Member Relations at 203-853-2167 ext. 139.

RISMedia’s Top 5 in Real Estate Network® is a membership network of leading real estate professionals providing leading real estate information to consumers. To qualify for membership in the Top 5 in Real Estate Network, agents must meet specific criteria in five key categories: experience; results; education; information technology; and commitment to community. RISMedia, the leader in real estate information systems, has been providing the industry with news, trends and business development strategies for nearly 30 years through its flagship publication, Real Estate magazine, its leading website, RISMedia.com, and its renowned networking and educational events.