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Louise Bolger

Louise Bolger

August 17, 2017
Louise Bolger is The Sun’s Real Estate columnist.
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February 28, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Real estate market warming up

It’s winter in Florida and it can be a little chilly in the morning, but, if you pay close attention, you may feel a slight warming breeze. However, the breeze I’m talking about is not in t…
February 20, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

When the numbers are too high to count

Several years ago, I started writing a monthly column analyzing the over $1 million properties on the Island and in Cortez. Then, because of the volume of properties, I amended that to do the analysi…
February 16, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

A question of affordability

Buying a house during the past almost three years can be compared to a rollercoaster ride. You go up and you go down, you scream and you hold your breath waiting for the next hairpin turn. But maybe…
February 7, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Do you really want to be a landlord?

It’s not uncommon for people to look at the job of a real estate agent and say, “Wow, that looks easy. Work part-time, pick your hours, work from home and make a lot of money.” Well, those of…
January 23, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

An island in the sun

I clearly remember traveling to the Caribbean islands when I was still living in the cold northeast and wondering what it would be like to live and work in such a beautiful place. Do high hee…
January 17, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Back to the real world – part two

Last week we talked about the real-world problem of Florida homeowner’s insurance. As pointed out, new legislation that attempts to eliminate assignment of claims and thus protect against fri…
January 10, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Back to the real world

We’re well into January, so it’s time to get back to the real world and one of the real world’s less exciting topics is homeowner’s insurance. Most of us want to go kicking and screaming away…
January 4, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Fear is in the air

Welcome to a new real estate year. Unfortunately, the new year looks a lot like the old year. With interest rates and inventory levels fluctuating, a general feeling of confusion is spreading amon…
December 28, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Building for rent, not sale

The American dream of single-family home ownership, according to certain builders and financial wizards who are paid to know these things, is on the decline. Well, maybe not a decline but certainly a…
December 20, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Do you need a mortgage button?

The tradition of a mortgage button is a little scrimshaw button mounted atop a stairway’s newel post, as a symbol the mortgage was paid off. This is something I saw for the first time on Nant…
December 12, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

How big is too big?

Sometimes what seems like a great idea may not be in the long run. Kind of like that Jaguar you had to have when you were 18; it looked pretty, but it was always in the expensive foreign car…
December 6, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Family, finance and Pearl Harbor

Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day, memorializing the attack on our Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. I’m sure there are many people who still live on Anna Maria Island who will either r…
November 30, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Are there any houses without flaws?

“A mark, fault or other imperfection that mars a substance or object.” That, my friends, is the definition of a flaw. If you think you can find a house that doesn’t fit this description, you’…
November 24, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Let’s talk turkey

So, after the turkey is consumed, the pies are half gone and the dishwasher is running its first load, it’s time to talk turkey. And what’s everyone’s favorite dinner conversation – real esta…
November 14, 2022
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Zoom towns

They call them “Zoom towns” because so many of the new residents are working remotely and have given up their city and suburban lifestyles for a more relaxed environment in smaller communities. It’s…