Selling Real Estate without the support of a professional may not be to your best interest. It may take longer to sell, there could be costly legal repercussions and ultimately not offer you the return on your investment that you desire. Protégé Real Estate Investments, Inc. recognizes these challenges. Our years of experience, innovative marketing campaigns and profound knowledge of the area, allow us to effectively market your property to millions of active buyers and agents locally and abroad. We invite you to work with a team that is committed to you and all your real estate needs.

Amendment 10
Understanding Amendment 10 will help you avoid being surprised by higher real estate taxes. Amendment 10 was born in 1992 when voters amended the Florida Constitution so that the Assessed Value of properties with Homestead Exemption (HEX) are capped at 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. The key to understanding Amendment 10 is the chain of events triggered by the title change of a home with HEX – such as when a home sells. First, the cap is removed from the Assessed Value. As a result, the Assessed Value (see 5 below) may increase. If the Assessed Value rises, then so does the Taxable Value (see 6 below). And when the Taxable Value increases, the taxes of your home may jump.
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Common Real Estate Tax Mistakes
1. A seller must buy another home within eighteen months years of the sale to avoid paying taxes on profits from the sale of a principal residence.
False. Before the passage of tax reform in 1997, homeowners had to reinvest the gains from the sale of their principal residence within 18 months to delay tax liability. Today, homeowners don't have to reinvest in real estate to avoid tax on capital gains; they may use the proceeds in any way they choose.
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12 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your REALTOR
Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.
1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS®, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
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8 Quick Fixes to Increase Value
To attract buyers, sellers must up the ante to convince them that their property offers what many want most — top value for dollar expended. Here are eight fast fixes:
1. Buff up curb appeal. You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside. Be objective. View listings from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paint, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number, and even how window treatments look from the outside.
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Tips to Selling Your Home
If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. Keep in mind the following considerations to help the whole process go more smoothly.
Time Becomes Money
Place your home on the market as far in advance as possible of purchasing a new one. If you find a new home first and then try to sell your present home, you may wind up with two mortgages. If this does happen, ask your real estate agent or banker about a bridge loan to help you make the double payments...
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Understand Agency Relationships
It’s important to understand what legal responsibilities your real estate salesperson has to you and to other parties in the transaction. Ask what type of agency relationship your agent has with you:
Seller's representative (also known as a listing agent or seller's agent) A seller's agent is hired by and represents the seller. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller. The agency relationship usually is created by a listing contract.
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What Can You Deduct When You Own a Home?
For tax purposes, deductions for residential real estate held for personal use generally fall into two main categories:
• costs that can be deducted as expenses from a buyer’s or seller’s personal income on a tax return
• costs that can be used to alter the basis of the home, with the idea of lowering the capital gains
Note that a second, or vacation, home generally qualifies for all of the same deductions as a principal residence provided that it isn't rented for a significant portion of the year.
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Why Use a REALTOR
The selling process generally begins with a determination of a reasonable asking price. Your real estate agent or REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.
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