When showing properties to customers looking to purchase a home in the Islamorada area, there is a 50% chance they will be purchasing a second home.  When you are looking in an area you have spent your vacations, you will spend time driving around and exploring the subdivisions.  Although this is done with your real estate professional;   buyer’s will also explore on their own.

I want to let you know of a great App for your phone – it is the Realtor.com app.  Realtor.com extracts information directly from our local real estate board office.  I have found this information to be very accurate and up-to-date (unlike Zillow and Trulia).  The Realtor.com app not only provides properties that are currently for sale, but it also provides properties that have sold.

You can instantly access Islamorada homes for sale, key largo homes for sales and all areas in the Florida Keys.

There is great mapping capabilities with – Area Highlighter, Area Scout, Nearby Homes for Sale, Foreclosures, and Recently Sold Properties.

Zoom in on the map to see recently sold properties around homes for sale

Multiple photos, open house information, pricing and new enhnanced properties details on nearly any home for sale – with most listings updated every 15 minutes

• Create private notes & ratings for homes you like then send them to your family, friends and REALTOR®

Although this is an amazing tool, please contact the real estate professional that you have been working with to set up any appointments for properties you would like to preview.  We live on small islands and word spreads when a customer is working with multiple buyers.

Islamorada, Florida Keys real estate for sale. This 2 bedroom/ 2 bath concrete home is located on Lower Matecumbe Key.  Every room has a view in this 1298 sf bay front home.  The home sits on a 10,000 sf lot and has a rare cut in boat basin with 2 docks.  The beach area has a walk in entry to the bay.  The roof top deck is a great place for star gazing.

Islamorada is moving forward on building affordable rental units for the work force.  This units are located on Upper Matecumbe Key, in the heart of Islamorada.  Upper Matecumbe Key is approximately 4 miles long and is the center of town.  Fantastic restaurants, shopping, grocery store, horse stables, public library, small public parks, marina’s are just a few of the businesses that occupy this island.

There are guidelines for potential renters.  Call the number on the flyer for more details.

If you are looking to purchase a home in Islamorada, now is the time to make that move.  Inventory for Islamorada homes is decreasing, and the number of Islamorada homes selling is increasing.  We are currently in a buyer’s market, but the wheels are in motion for that to turn around into a seller’s market.

Whether you are looking for an Islamorada home on the water, dry lot home, an Islamorada Condo, or vacant land.  My website is updated on a daily basis.  Create your portal account and save the properties that interest you by clicking on the smiley face.  This will make for easy tracking of those properties.

The Florida Keys are located just south of Miami.  Crossing over the Jewfish Creek Bridge gives you your first glimpse of the island chain.  Key Largo is the first island, then there is the Village of Islamorada which is made up of 4 islands – Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe and Lower Matecumbe.  Although the Keys are made up of small islands, the community is made up of large hearts.  The community is one that gets involved, whether it be a fundraiser, a fishing tournament, chilli cook off, nautical flea markets, seafood festivals, concerts, community theater, just to name a few – there is plenty to do.

Florida Keys living comes along with a relaxed lifestyle and there is no better place to do that than on the water.  This is a large boating community – it is all about getting out on our crystal clear blue waters.  Whether you are deep sea fishing or backcountry fishing, snorkeling or scuba diving (we do have the largest living coral reef in North America), sailing, kite boarding or windsurfing, or relaxing on a sandbar with friends.  I moved down here in 1996 (just came down to work for 1 winter – as the story often goes – came down on vacation and stayed for the duration).  Not knowing how to truly drive a boat, but that all changed when I moved here.  I received my captain’s license in 1997, learned the local waters and often waved good bye to my husband as I took off on the water with my girlfriends (he was heading to work). You might not be a boater now, but that will all change.
Statistical Facts about Key Largo

The population of Key Largo is approximately 11,336 (1990).
The approximate number of families is 7,594 (1990).

The amount of land area in Key Largo is 24.121 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Key Largo is 14.4 sq. miles.
The population of Islamorada is approximately 6,184 (2011 estimate)
Land area in square miles – 6.43
Persons under 5 years – 4.0%  (2010 estimate)
Persons under 18 years – 16.7%  (2010 estimate)
Persons 65 years and over – 18%  (2010 estimate)
Female persons – 48.1%  (2010 estimate)
Living in same house 1 year and over – 85.1% (2007-2011)
Homeownership rate, 2007-2011 – 68.8%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2007-2011 – $426,600
Median household income, 2007-2011 – $51,798
Key Largo elevation is 8 feet above sea level.
Social Demographics
Economic Characteristics
Housing Characteristics
Demographic Characteristics
Data obtained from the US Census Bureau

Statistical Facts about Islamorada

The population of Islamorada is approximately 6,184 (2011 estimate)
Land area in square miles – 6.43
Persons under 5 years – 3.1%  (2010 estimate)
Persons under 18 years – 13.9%  (2010 estimate)
Persons 65 years and over – 22%  (2010 estimate)
Female persons – 48.2%  (2010 estimate)
Living in same house 1 year and over – 90.5% (2007-2011)
Homeownership rate, 2007-2011 – 76.6%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2007-2011 – $617,500
Median household income, 2007-2011 – $66,708
Islamorada elevation is 8 feet above sea level
Economics Characteristics
Social Characteristics
Housing Characteristics
Demographics Characteristics
Data obtained from the US Census Bureau

Uppers Keys Schools

Plantation Key School (public)- K-8
Key Largo School (public)- K-8
Coral Shores High School (public)- 9-12
Island Christian School (private) K-12
Treasure Village Montessori (public) K-8

Other useful information

Monroe County Tax Collector
Monroe County Property Appraiser – learn about the different exemptions for property taxes
Monroe County
Village of Islamorada
Utilities – Florida Keys Electric,  Florida Keys Aquaduct , ATT, Comcast
Insurance Companies – Regan Insurance, Johnson Insurance, Hampson Insurance,

Real Estate Information

There are a variety of housing options – direct ocean or bay front homes, canal front homes, dry lot homes, condominiums – majority of them are on the water and some have dockage – or you can build your home.  Many of the subdivisions have a homeowner’s park with a boat ramp.  This will give the dry lot home owners an easy way to launch their boat.  The homeowner’s parks have a fee of approximately $150/ year.  Most are not mandatory but if you want a key to use the ramp then you must pay! Enjoy browsing around on my website, I am here to help you locate your perfect piece of Paradise!!

The National Association of Realtors released this video in October 2012 to stop the rumors of the 3.8% real estate sales tax.   This tax was added, at the last minute, to the Health Care Reform Act.  This tax will not affect the majority of the population.  It could potentially affect those that sell a property and have a capital gain of over $500,000 (or $250,000 if single) and those individuals would need to have an adjusted gross income of over $200,000 or $250,000 for joint filers.  The price of the home is not a factor and the first $250,000 (if single) or $500,000 (if married) is not affected.

Linda Goold, NAR’s director of tax policy, explains this tax.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Islamorada or any where else in the Florida Keys – NOW is the time.  Our season is here and we are expecting another great first quarter for selling homes.

This is great news for homeowner’s who are facing foreclosure or trying to facilitate a short sale of their primary residence.  This allows homeowner’s to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence.  Homeowner’s will be able to avoid paying taxes on any debt still owned to the bank. Up to $2 million can be forgiven ($1 million if married filing separately).   Click here for more information from the IRS website

For the seller’s who would like to take advantage of this extension, you have until the end of 2013 to complete a short sale.  Now is the time to put your home on the market.  Although short sales have improved over the last five years; they still are time consuming.  It is best to start the process now and not wait until the last minute.  If any obstacles come up, time is needed to get them resolved.

Islamorada foreclosures are declining; beginning of 2012 the foreclosures made up about 8% of the Islamorada real estate market.  At the end of 2012, Islamorada foreclosures were down to 3%.  The banks are focusing on streamlining the short sale process.  The banks understand that completing these transactions will save them money.  Islamorada short sales are down about 2% from the beginning of 2012; they now make up about 12% of the Islamorada real estate market. ( These percentages are also for real estate Keys wide).

I have put together a great team and we have a great success rate for getting short sales to close.  Call me with any questions or concerns  you have.