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Louise Bolger

Louise Bolger

August 17, 2017
Louise Bolger is The Sun’s Real Estate columnist.
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April 30, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Floods, saltwater and freshwater

The poet W. H. Auden said, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” Surely, he meant both freshwater and the ocean water since both feed the body and soul, but both can have their…
April 23, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Taxes come and gone

April 15th has finally passed. Every year we hold our breath until this day is in our rearview mirror, especially this year. Let’s see how some of the changes impacted property owners and take a glan…
April 16, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Real estate process speeding up

For me, a good recipe has three main components – less than five ingredients, less than 30 minutes and less than two pots. A good real estate transaction is not so different than a good recipe; the o…
April 9, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Traffic, real estate sales up

If you want to know why you’re starting to analyze traffic patterns so you can plan your trips to the supermarket, doctor’s office and Trader Joe’s, here’s the reason. During 2018, Sarasota and Manat…
April 2, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Should you digitally – or actually – renovate?

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when they are faced with the dreaded renovation question. Frequently this question comes about when you’re thinking of putting your home up for sale. Ther…
March 26, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Technology can’t replace real estate brokers

Technology has done as much to change the real estate industry as Henry Ford did to change the production of automobiles. However, where Henry Ford brought the cost of cars way down with his technolo…
March 19, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Good news and good news

It’s been a while since we had positive news about how the national real estate market was trending. The little black cloud hanging over the head of the market has included a shortage of inventory, f…
March 12, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Are you smarter than a hedge fund manager?

The most expensive home in U.S. history was just sold. It’s a four-story condo on Central Park South in New York City dubbed “billionaire’s bunker” and closing for $238 million. The buyer is a hedge…
March 5, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

House hunting – the fun and not so fun

I love technology and, although I may not be as well-versed as a 12-year-old, I do feel that for my generation I’m pretty competent. One of the best parts of the high-tech world we’re living in is th…
February 26, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Florida’s new foreign buyers

I was born in New York state and up until 20 years ago when I moved to Florida, lived my entire life in the New York City and surrounding suburban area. There have been innumerable times during those…
February 19, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

A home’s equity is sometimes subjective

Are you familiar with the expression, “The happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it”? It’s not unlike homeownership. The happiest day is the day you w…
February 12, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Why is the housing market declining?

It’s a curious situation the national economy is in right now. In spite of the stock market having a fit in December, not only did it make a strong comeback, but the employment statistics have remain…
February 5, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Selling your home – it should show like a model

Every year around this time I try and remind homeowners what potential buyers are looking for. Even though our market remains brisk, we are on the brink of the busy selling season, which will get in…
January 29, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Sunshine State population growth

There’s a reason that Florida is called the Sunshine State and it has nothing to do with sunshine. What it does have to do with is people – people from other states – and here’s why. According…
January 22, 2019
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

2019 tax nightmare

The Christmas tree is put away, the leftover food and holiday cookies are hopefully gone, and the gifts have been returned to the mall – so what’s next? The day has arrived, the day that some America…