Buyers Guide 2024-25

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Angela.Steffan@Sothebysrealty.com

com

The Steffan-Sieglaff Team offers 50 years of combined real estate experience in Boca Grande, local knowledge, and year-round availability to assist you with all your real estate needs

Angela Steffan moved to Boca Grande in 2009 when her husband, Dr. Michael Steffan, accepted the position as Medical Director of the Boca Grande Health Clinic Angela is the President of the Boca Grande Preschool Board, is active at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, has served on the board of the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, and is the past President of the Boca Grande Women?s Club Her real estate career started in Memphis, Tennessee After her move to Boca Grande she partnered with Peter Sieglaff in 2013 at Gulf to Bay Sotheby?s and they established The Steffan-Sieglaff Team. A degree in Chemical Engineering from Christian Brothers University in Memphis and her seven years with IBM as a systems engineer laid the groundwork for her hard working ?can-do? approach to real estate A lifetime of community service and dedication to supporting family has molded her into the conscientious real estate advisor that will guide you through your important life style/ home buying or selling decisions She and her husband Michael have four children ages 31-41 working in Denver, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Angela is a member of the Gasparilla Inn Beach and Golf Club and the Boca Bay Pass Club and she enjoys fishing, golf, boating, paddle boarding and cooking.

Zeke grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and was educated at the Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire and graduated with a BA in history from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Annual vacations to Boca Grande began at the age of two During a visit in 1992 to Boca Grande he caught his first saltwater fish on a fly on his first cast,a 125 pound Tarpon Shortly thereafter Zeke

got his real estate license as well as captain?s license and helped his father Peter open a real estateoffice on the Island.In 1997,Zeke and his wife Tory founded Boca Grande Outfitters and grew the business into an island institution Between his guiding and owning multiple retail stores, Zeke put his young real estate career on hold His son and daughter were born and raised on Boca Grande Zeke and Tory have spent time on various boards, including the Boca Grande Child Care Center and the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce Zeke and Tory left the Island in 2007 to pursue a larger retail opportunity on Philadelphia?s Main Line, creating ?Out There Outfitters? After a successful 10 year run, Zeke and Tory sold the business and followed their hearts back to where it all began. Zeke returned to Island real estate and joined the Steffan-Sieglaff Team in 2018. Zeke remains an avid fly fisherman and is amember of the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club.

Gulf to Bay Sotheby?s International Realty is the Luxury property Island sales leader with $151million in 2022, and $206 million year to date in 2023. The Steffan-Sieglaff Team had combined sales of $50 million in 2022, and over $102 million in 2023. We look forward to introducing you to our charming Island community and working with you to buy or sell a homein Boca Grande

336 Park Avenue,Box 812

Boca Grande FL33921

SteffanSieglaffTeam com

YourTrustedRealEstateAdvisor

Investing in a home is often one of the most significant financial decisions you?ll make, and it will have a meaningful impact for years to come Enlisting the services of a skilled real estate advisor can transform your journey,serving as your adept navigator through the complexities of negotiations,extensive documents,and potential pitfalls.By leveraging our expertise,you gain a strategic edge in your home search,tapping into valuable local resources Beyond transactions,the seasoned perspective of an agent becomes a stabilizing force,offering indispensable support during what might otherwise be a challenging process.

LocalExpertisewithGlobalReach

Sotheby?s International Realty is the only truly global luxury real estate company with 26,500 advisors working in more than 1,100 local offices across 81countries and territories. Our unparalleled network works together to meet your needs and expectations

10EssentialAdvantagesof BuyerRepresentation

As your buyer's agent, I have insider expertise and experience to help you successfully and seamlessly navigate your next real estate transaction Here are 10 advantages of working with a Gulf to Bay Sotheby's International Realty real estate advisor to purchase your next home:

1

DEEP KNOWLEDGE & ACCESS

My expertise provides you with comprehensive insights into the local market, including pricing trends, desirable neighborhoods, and buyer and seller preferences. This empowers you to make informed decisions and ensures you have priority access to all available listings

NEGOTIATION & CONFIDENTIALITY

As an experienced agent, I have refined my negotiation skills through numerous transactions I will craft a purchase strategy and evaluate and negotiate the offer on your behalf to help you avoid overpaying and obtaining the best possible terms

VAST NETWORK

I have access to a global network of industry professionals, including inspectors, mortgage brokers, and other real estate advisors, to expedite processes and unearth opportunities, ensuring a seamless experience for you

TRUSTED COUNSEL

Buying a home can be emotionally charged I serve as a confidential advisor and fiduciary, ensuring that emotions don't cloud judgment or derail a transaction

FUTURE GUIDANCE

Even after a transaction is complete, you can consider me a trusted resource who is always available to offer advice on home improvements, market trends, and more

4

CONTRACT NAVIGATION

I am well-versed in the complexities surrounding the legal paperwork involved in real estate transactions and can help you navigate disclosures and reports, helping you avoid mistakes

5

PROBLEM SOLVING

I have a proven track record of overcoming hurdles and am equipped to tackle any obstacles that may arise, ensuring a smooth and successful outcome.

6 TIME SAVING I handle all the behind-the-scenes work, from property research to paperwork, streamlining the process and saving you valuable time

9

RISK MITIGATION

Mistakes in real estate can be costly With my experience, I can help you make the right investment

10

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The real estate market and its regulations are continually evolving Both Sotheby's International Realty and I are committed to continuous education and learning, ensuring we provide you with informed and experienced service that stays ahead of the curve

TheJourneyof PurchasingaHome

Initial Consultation

Getting to know you and your goals

Property Search

Finding the perfect fit

Pre-Approval or Proof of Funds

Defining budget and price range

Offer Submission

Understanding market conditions

Negotiation

Delivering the best price and terms for your purchase

Home Inspection

Examining the condition of the home

MutualAgreement

Our decisiontoworktogether willbeformalizedinanagreement

Having a writ t en Represent at ion Agreement is a real est at e requirement and allows me t o:

- Commit my time,expertise,resources,support staff,and experience to find exactly what you are looking for.

- Make my best effort to find you the home to meet your needs

- Search for off-market homes or pocket listings.

- It also covers listings that are below our company's minimum fee for representation

- It clarifies and expedites the offer process,removing the level of brokerage compensation as an impediment

It should be noted that commissions are not set by law and are negotiable.Each broker is entitled to set their fee schedule for services performed.

Seller Paid Commissions

- Sellers complete a Listing Agreement that covers,among other things,the commission paid to the Listing Agent selling their home and most frequently includes a provision where the Seller can offer to pay the Buyer's Agent a commission

- Buyers can also request that Sellers make up any difference in Broker Commission for the buy side as part of the offer to purchase which allows the commission to be incorporated into the final sale price.

WhentoBuy?

ReasonstoBuyNow

Determining if the time is right to buy a home is your first step in the home-buying process.Here are some reasons to consider buying now rather than waiting for a future date

Tax Savings & Equit y Building

The sooner you buy,the sooner you can start building equity in what is likely to be your greatest asset,and the sooner you can take advantage of the tax benefits of owning a home.Talk to your CPA or tax professional to understand your particular situation.

It 's t he Right Time in Your Life

Sometimes it's just the right stage of life to make a move: you want social and educational continuity for your children; your financial circumstances have changed; you are empty nesters or retirees and are looking for more freedom,or maybe you have changed jobs

Generally Raising Home Values

Market timing is a risky practice and an approach we don't recommend for the purchase of your primary residence.Over the long term,however,home values tend to rise.Just like the stock market,if you get in sooner rather than later,and hold on to your investment,it is likely to appreciate.

Lock in Int erest Rat es

If you are financing your home purchase,locking in an interest rate now will give you more predictability for your household budget,and will be a long-term benefit if interest rates rise

Financing WorkingWithaLender

Working Wit h a Lender Will Help You:

- Determinethe pricerange that you can afford.

- Understand thedifferent types of loans availableand thetypes of programs you may qualify for (Particularly if you are afirst-time home buyer)

- Estimatethe down payment and closing costs on ahouse you are interested in

- Determinewhat your monthly housing payment will be.

- Get pre-approved so that your offer is moreattractiveto sellers.

Obt aining a Loan:

The Application All pertinent documentation is obtained,fees and down payments arediscussed, and theborrower will receivea Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a Truth-In-Lending disclosure statement (TIL) itemizing therates and associated costs for theloan.

Loan Submission. Onceall the necessary documentation is in,your completed file is submitted to a lender for approval.

Loan Approval. Loan approval,or underwriting,requires that all documents have been submitted and generally takes 24 to 72 hours.All parties are notified of theapproval and any loan conditions that must besatisfied beforethe loan can close

Closing. Onceall parties havesigned theloan documents,they are returned to the lender.If all the forms havebeen properly executed,the lender sends the loan funds by wiretransfer At this point, theborrower finishes the loan process and buys thehouse

ProtectingYour Investment

Insurevalueandsafeguardagainst potentialrisks.

Buying ahomein a coastal area or aplacethat has unique deed restrictions can present new challenges that an agent can help you navigate.Below is a sample of someitems that we can help you navigateand fully understand beforeyou commit to your purchase.

- Fire and Hazard Insurance

- Wind Insurance

- Flood Insurance

- Coast al Const ruct ion Cont rol Line (CCCL)

- 50 % Rule

- FEMA Flood Guidelines

- Hist oric Preservat ion Guidelines

- Homest ead Exempt ion Rules

- FIRPTA - IRS Code

- Environment al Issues

- Dock / Boat ing Accessabilit y

Pre-ClosingBuyer Checklist

UnderstandingtheFinalPhase

- You havea right to do a "walk-through" on the property beforeclosing Pleasemake advancearrangements.

- Prior to closing,we will both receive a copy of your Settlement Statement,which your Sales Associatecan review with you This will indicatetheamount you will need to bring to closing

- Bring certified funds to closing,in the form of wired funds or acashier's check,made payableto thetitle company.Usually,we will havethecorrect figure theday beforeclosing from thetitle company.Always work directly with thetitle company's known contact information to avoid wire fraud

- If jointly purchasing and oneof you will not beat closing,we will need a power of attorney form signed You may grant anyoneyou designate power of attorney to act as your agent at closing.If neither of you will beat theclosing,you may beable to sign the closing documents in advanceor arrangements can bemadefor a notary to cometo you.

- Pleasebring your driver's license to closing for identification,as you will besigning legal documents

- FinalizeHomeowners Insurance You will need a certificate of your paid insurance premium at closing.Check with your lender to seeif you arehaving your insurance included in your mortgage payment.

- Pleaseallow approximately onehour for closing.

- Notify applicablecompanies of your new address for accounts to beset up/ transferred accordingly and to assurecontinued service

LuxuryRentals

Gulf to Bay Sotheby?s International Realty has been managing vacation rentals on the island since the 1980?s.As Gasparilla Island?s leading local brokerage, we have deep roots in our community and regularly work with homeowners who are looking to share their love of the island with others.We enjoy connecting seasonal and vacation renters with their ideal home to rest,relax and unwind.

Our attention to providing exceptional customer service is unwavering and we look forward to helping you settle in and get busy making memories!

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