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Louise Bolger

Louise Bolger

August 17, 2017
Louise Bolger is The Sun’s Real Estate columnist.
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November 5, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Are condos the future of housing?

In case you haven’t noticed, interest rates are low, real low. Most rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are hovering around 4% based on credit scores and income to loan ratios. In spite of this…
October 29, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

The ghosts of real estate

I never really believed in ghosts and evil spirits. It was always fun to talk about other people’s experiences at parties but since I never had any first-hand knowledge it was just that, fun until it…
October 22, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

You found the perfect house; now what?

You may think it’s finally over – you found your dream home, your forever home or your long-dreamed-of beach house. But guess what, unless you have lots of cash in your checking account, you will hav…
October 15, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Is homeownership threatened?

For most Americans, their biggest source of wealth is the equity in their homes. But what if you never own a home? What if being a renter is your fate? How does that impact your future wealth and sta…
October 8, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Real estate market disruption

Is there an algorithm in your future? If you’re planning on buying or selling a house, get ready for the future of real estate. In a world where technology has remade everything from your morning…
October 1, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Fee-fi-fo-fum, do I smell a recovery?

Recovery, what recovery? That’s a word we left in our rearview mirror a long time ago. It’s true in Florida generally, and Anna Maria Island specifically has recovered nicely since the financial down…
September 24, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Order out of chaos

Writing has been compared to bringing order out of chaos, something I try to do weekly on this page, and one of the most chaotic aspects of real estate is the mortgage process, which may be getting e…
September 17, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Luxury ain’t what it used to be

Did you ever feel sorry for the really wealthy real estate owners? Well, we’re at a point in time when there might be just cause for feeling sorry for them because like all sellers, when your market…
September 10, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

The fun and not-so-fun of selling a home

Last week we talked about the fun and not-so-much fun of buying a home. This week we’ll talk a little about selling your home, choosing the perfect realtor and not necessarily one you’re related to…
September 2, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

The fun and not-so-fun of buying a home

Labor Day has just passed and in some parts of the country, that signals the end of summer – but not in Florida. We still have plenty of hot weather and hurricane threats, think Irma, but September d…
August 27, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

The challenges of inheriting a house

No one wants to see a loved one pass away, but it’s inevitable that we all will have that experience and along with the grief comes the distribution of personal items and property. As emotional as si…
August 20, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Uncovering a home’s defects

The definition of “disclose” is to uncover or reveal. When it comes to uncovering problems in a property you’re interested in purchasing, the pathway is cluttered with rules that are frequently uncle…
August 13, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

How to determine the truth about home flooding

Home inspections and seller property disclosures are an intricate part of home buying. You would think a seller’s disclosure is pretty clear cut, but it’s far from that, especially when it comes to f…
August 6, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

It’s all about the kitchen

You may not want to do a kitchen renovation in August, but August is the perfect time to start planning one. Sitting on the patio with your iPad or on the beach with a home decorating magazine is an…
July 30, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Calming waters

It’s the end of July, and most of the country is hot, really hot. But if you live near the water as we do, it doesn’t seem so bad. Imagine living in a landlocked state and it’s 95 degrees day after d…