USA Einreise Fragen und Ablauf

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com

Während des Fluges in die USA muß noch eine Zollerklärung ausgefüllt werden und diese muß bei der Einreise abgegeben werden. Nach der Landung kommen alle Passagiere zuerst in die Einreisehalle wo es viele Schalter gibt. Man sollte dort genügend Zeit einplanen da dies schon manchmal sehr lange dauern kann. Wenn man Glück hat dann ist man in wenigen Minuten durch und wenn man Pech hat dann wartet man schon einmal zwei Stunden. Das ist immer abhängig wieviele Passagiere gerade gelandet sind. Wenn man dann zum Einreisebeamten kommt dann gibt man diesem den Reisepass ab und dieser wird diesen einscannen und abgleichen. Danach macht er noch ein Foto und einen Fingerabdruck. Normalerweise stellt dieser dann ein paar Fragen wo man herkommt und was man in den USA machen möchte. In diesem Fall antwortet man das man in Florida Urlaub machen möchte. Es kann aber auch sein das dieser mehr Fragen stellt was man beruflich macht, wieviel Geld man dabei hat und welche Städte man in den USA besucht. Deshalb sollte man auch über Grundkenntnisse in Englisch verfügen damit man diesen versteht und die Fragen beantworten kann. Wenn dann alles klar ist dann bekommt man einen Stempel in den Reisepass wo man sehen kann wann man spätestens wieder aus der USA ausreisen muß. In der Regel sind das 90 Tage und wer längers bleiben möchte benötigt ein anderes Visum wo man sich an die Botschaft wenden muß.

The Cape Coral Real Estate Blog

The Cape Coral Real Estate Blog

Cape Coral Realtor Andrea Palmer shares current listings

Happy Holidays

Cape Harbour

Ganz im Süden von Cape Coral liegt der Cape Harbour mit einer wunderschönen Marina. Deshalb nennt sich die auch gerne Yachting Community. Man kann sich dort ein Apartment kaufen wenn man möchte und die Wintermonate erholsam darin verbringen. Das machen viele Touristen so und von Oktober bis Mai kommen diese aus dem kälteren Norden, Europe oder auch von Kanada in den sonnigen Süden. Aber auch für Touristen ist der Cape Harbour interessant und man braucht dort kein Apartment oder Immobilie zu kaufen um die Marina zu besuchen. Die Marina ist für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich und regelmäßig finden dort Veranstaltungen statt die man besuchen kann. Besonders an Feiertagen ist dort immer etwas geboten und am Wochenende gibt es immer Live Musik vor der Bar wo man den Abend in Florida verbringen kann.

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com

Cape Coral 1302 SE 40th Ter

There's No Place Like a Squeaky Clean Home for the Holidays!

Even if you love a spotless house, there are much better ways to spend your time over the holiday season than cleaning. After all, there are gifts to be wrapped, wreaths to be made, and ornaments to be hung.With that in mind, there's no time like the present to make your space as sparkling and tidy as possible, especially if you're thinking of listing your home for sale come spring. Follow these easy cleaning tips to wipe the slate clean this winter -- you can think of it as the cold-weather version of spring cleaning.1. Purge closets.There's no better time to do a full closet clean-out. You'll not only free up space for guests to hang their coats but also make way for the gifts you'll receive.2. Flip cushions and mattresses.Lift the cushions of the sofa to vacuum up dust bunnies and crumbs that tend to congregate there, then flip them. Same goes for beds -- most experts recommend you turn and rotate mattresses every three to four months for the most even wear. While you're rotating, you might as well wash the bed skirts or at least do a thorough lint-roll.3. De-smudge walls and floors.Before you start hanging garlands and ornaments, get walls and floors as pristine as possible with eraser cleaning pads. These small, spongelike blocks of melamine foam truly work like magic to lift spots and smudges from walls, bathroom tiles, and floors.4. Scrub and sanitize appliances.Start with the fridge, microwave, and stove, which will all get a lot of use when prepping big holiday dinners. Empty out the fridge and wipe down the shelves, drawers, and bins with ingredients you already have on hand -- ideally, a mixture of warm water, a pinch of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap - then dry thoroughly. Also remove and wash the drip pan found at the bottom of most fridges, where mildew often collects.Use the same solution to wipe down the stove top and oven door, and remove, wash, and dry the burner pans while you're at it. To tackle the microwave, we like the lemon-and-steam method.5. Do a pantry audit.While you're in the kitchen, declutter your pantry. Throw out any expired spices, canned goods, and boxed foods. Apply the same rule you would to clothes in your closet: If you haven't touched it in ages, toss it or donate it to a food bank. When you're done, you'll also have a good list of what you need to restock.6. Clean furnaces and chimneys.If your furnace is coated in dust, vacuum and brush the burner and blower blades. During winter, you'll want to change the filter regularly. Most experts recommend doing so every four to six weeks to keep your home more energy efficient. A clean filter also keeps your indoor air cleaner and healthier. Likewise, a full sweep of chimneys and wood-burning fireplaces helps clear out soot and creosote, a residue that can build up and cause fires. In either case, if you feel unsure about DIY-ing, call in a pro.7. Wipe the windows.Before it gets frigid outside, give your windows a once-over with a solution of white vinegar and tap water. Pick a cloudy day so you'll be able to see streaks more clearly as you work. Clean them again toward the end of winter; if you have a fireplace, your windows will have accumulated a thin film of soot by then.8. Dust chandeliers, blinds, and ceiling fans.Carefully dust chandeliers (including light bulbs) and blinds with the same vinegar-water mixture. If you have ceiling fans, use a pillowcase to dust the blades: Just slip an old case over the fan blade and pull it toward you, so dust collects inside the case. No mess!9. Wash the teakettle.If you keep warm with daily cups of Earl Grey, give your kettle a deep cleaning. Boil equal parts white vinegar and water inside the kettle to remove mineral deposits, take it off the heat, and let it soak for several hours. Rinse the interior thoroughly, then wash it by hand.10. Add mats.Winterize the area around your entryway to keep mud or snow from getting tracked inside all season long. Put a rough coir or rubber mat just outside the door for wiping off boots, and an extra-absorbent mat (look for propylene versions) inside to rein in extra moisture. 

Filed under: Home Improvement, LifestyleOlesh/GettyBy Jill Russell

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com

Cape Coral Shopping

Von Cape Coral aus erreicht man in kürzester Zeit viele Shopping Malls und Outlets wo man sehr günstig einkaufen kann. Viele Touristen geraten dann oft in einen Kaufrausch da viele Waren viel billiger angeboten werden als in Deutschland. Hier kann man also ein Schnäppchen machen und es ist zu empfehlen mit wenig Gepäck in die USA zu fliegen. Sehr schnell kann man die Koffer füllen wenn man in den Outlets und Shopping Malls einkaufen geht. Allerdings sollte man schauen das man nicht über die Freigrenze kommt und wenn man mehr einkauft diese dann wieder nach Ankunft in Deutschland verzollen muß.

Das beste Outlet im Südwesten Floridas sind die Miromar Outlets die man auf jeden Fall besuchen sollte. Hier gibt es sehr viele bekannte Markenhersteller wo man sehr günstig einkaufen kann. Die Miromar Outlets sind sehr leicht zu finden da sich diese direkt am Interstate 75 befinden. Für den Besuch sollte man sehr viel Zeit einplanen da die Miromar Outlets sehr groß sind und man sonst nicht alles anschauen kann.

Over 140 Top Designer and Brand Name Outlets! Voted "Best Factory Outlet Shopping Center" and “Best Shopping Mall" in Southwest Florida 17 years in a row!

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com 

Suchen Sie einen Deutschen Makler?

Suchen Sie einen Deutschen Makler?

Besuchen/Visit My Website

Herzlich willkommen in Süd-West Florida Mit angenehm tiefen Preisen, die Träume wahr werden lassen!

Erfahrene Immobilienmaklerin Andrea Palmer von Mieten-Kaufen-Wohnen on FOX TV. Ich helfe Ihnen gerne mit dem Kauf oder Verkauf Ihrer Immobilie.

Ich lebe und arbeite seit über 14 Jahren in Cape Coral im Südwesten Floridas.  Ich bin mit meiner Region und den Gepflogenheiten des amerikanischen Immobilienmarktes bestens vertraut und weiß, wie ich meinen Kunden die passenden Objekte vermittel. Natürlich stehe ich als gebürtige Hessin auch deutschen Käufern gern mit Rat und Tat zur Seite.

Können Sie sich die beste Maklerin leisten?

Selbstverständlich, denn in Florida bezahlt der Käufer keine Maklerprovision!

Gönnen Sie sich einen Service, der seinesgleichen sucht!

Engagieren Sie nur jemanden mit Erfahrung, Integrität und Kompetenz!

Rufen Sie mich für ein unverbindliches Gespräch an!

Andrea Palmer a German speaking Realtor in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sanibel shares her luxury homes at www.andreapalmernow.com

Ihr Deutscher Makler fuer Luxus Haeuser!

Contact me for a Private Showing 239-333-5556

Whether you are searching for Cape Coral Homes, Fort Myers, Sanibel, I have them. They can be delivered directly to your in box every day and you control the criteria

http://luxuryhomes-swfl.com/Blog

Preapproved for a Loan? Don't Blow It With Holiday Shopping

After receiving the preapproval on your home loan -- the anxiously awaited first big step toward homeownership -- you likely breathed a sigh of relief that the official "proving yourself" part of the process was over.Not so fast, if you're searching for a home during the holidays.Before you get swept up in the tide of frantic holiday shopping, it's important to know that going overboard on gifts for friends and family can impact the total loan amount you're ultimately approved for, and it could even kill the approval entirely.Here are a few ways you can ensure you make it all the way from preapproval to purchase with no hiccups en route.1. Don't apply for new credit or rack up new debt.When you reach the cash register with your arms full of holiday gifts, it's easy to entertain the idea of opening a store credit card. Just fill out the application, add your John Hancock, and you could be walking away with a significant amount off your total purchase.However, opening this line of credit requires a hard credit inquiry -- one that could ding your credit in the process. In addition, you could impact your debt-to-income ratio or signal to the lender that you are a greater risk than they previously thought.Tammi Robson, a mortgage broker at Metro Lenders in Denver, tells her clients about the importance of being debt-free or keeping debt levels stable during the home-buying process. This means avoiding major purchases such as a car or that new dining-room set until the entire home-buying process is complete."Most lenders do 'debt monitoring' during the loan process, meaning they pull internal credit reports," Robson says. "If new debt shows up or credit scores go down, it will affect loan qualification."2. Don't move around large amounts of money.While constantly shuttling funds back and forth might be how you manage your money, it can create a huge headache for lenders, who must be able to track the movement of funds from account to account. If they cannot track the funds, the money movement could appear suspicious -- a red flag signaling undocumented funds or money troubles they hadn't seen before.In addition, if your family is all about doling out the cash for the holidays, you could be putting yourself in a precarious position. Lenders will also be scouring your accounts for any unusual deposits -- those that are 50 percent or more of your monthly income -- or any unusual cash withdrawals. These will need to be thoroughly explained to maintain your approved status.It's all about keeping the status quo between preapproval and closing -- something that can be more challenging during the holiday season.3. Don't ignore your bills.A recent study by Neighborworks determined that one in three American adults has no savings on hand. Pair this with an expected holiday spending rate of $805 per person, and it's no wonder bills become a heavy burden to bear come January.Unfortunately, even if your holiday spending gets out of hand, loan preapproval isn't a pass to be less diligent about maintaining a spot-free bill payment history. In fact, it's more important than ever to make sure all bills are paid on time and in full.Payment history makes up 30 percent of your credit score, and even one late payment can have devastating effects. How much exactly? According to Credit.com, if your payment is over 30 days late (the typical grace period given by lenders), it could lower your score anywhere from 60 to 110 points -- a substantial amount even if you're starting with a high score.If that late payment is on an existing mortgage, a lender could opt to deny your loan altogether. Even if it's not a complete denial, you'll need to explain in writing why the late payment occurred.Here's the bottom line.If you've been preapproved for a mortgage, you've successfully cleared one substantial hurdle -- a bank or lender has looked at your overall financial health and stamped you as a qualified candidate.But preapproval is not the same as approval, and now, as holiday sales are calling, it's important to keep the finish line in sight. After all, you wouldn't want a few financial missteps to make your dream of homeownership come to a crashing halt. Filed under: Buying, FinancingShutterstockBy Kayla Albert

Please visit my website for more Real Estate info

This Cape Coral Showstopper - Direct Gulf Access

An exceptional design collaboration of modern contemporary style and Eur...

Simple Steps to Increase your ROI

Simple Steps to Increase your ROI

Real Estate FOR SALE - , Cape Coral, FL 33914 - MLS® #2150399

Real Estate FOR SALE - , Cape Coral, FL 33914 - MLS® #2150399

Study: Most buyers fail to shop for a mortgage

 

NEW YORK – Oct. 14, 2015 – Nearly 80 percent of Americans consider themselves bargain hunters, and the majority says they search prices online before making a purchase. However, when consumers are asked how often they search for better prices on big-ticket items, like a mortgage, most fail to shop around, according to a new LendingTree survey of more than 1,000 American customers.

Less than one-third (30 percent) of consumers say they always shop around for the best rates on major financial loans, such as a mortgage or auto loan. About 18 percent say they never looked for better rates or prices on loans.

"It's an interesting phenomenon," says Andrea Woroch, LendingTree's consumer savings expert. "Consumers are generally very savvy with their shopping behavior when it comes to day-to-day purchases and material goods. But, once it comes to a major financial investment, we see a collapse of the normally rational pattern of behavior and mentality for saving.

"Consumers sometimes may be too focused on price and fail to consider the lifetime cost of interest, which is really where banks and lenders make their money," Woroch adds. "Over a five-year auto loan, or thirty-year mortgage, a one percent difference between interest rates can easily translate into thousands of dollars."

The survey found more than 80 percent of consumers say they would drive out of their way to save 10 cents per gallon on gas. However, only 17 percent of car owners negotiated the interest rate when financing their new car.

"There could be a number of causes for this irrational behavior, and it may vary among types of consumers," Woroch says. "One is simply that many Americans don't understand the long-term costs associated with compounding interest and the time-value of money. Another possibility is that consumers are uneducated about loan shopping and the importance of comparing interest rates before financing a purchase."

Woroch says it's "easy to become emotionally involved with the purchase itself or to find the loan process so frustrating that you would rather finalize the purchase instead of shopping around."

Source: LendingTree

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com 

This 3/2 plus den New Construction Direct Gulf Access Showstopper will b...

Real Estate FOR SALE - , Cape Coral, FL 33914 - MLS® #2150399

Real Estate FOR SALE - , Cape Coral, FL 33914 - MLS® #2150399

How to Lose the Bidding War But Still Get the House

Here are seven reasons why your initial unaccepted offer may eventually close the deal.

1. A backup offer is a secret weapon.

You made your best offer, but it wasn't strong enough to secure the home -- maybe your competition offered more money, or their terms were slightly better. All is not lost. Ask the seller to accept your offer as a backup offer. There is no cost to you, yet you are in line to get the property if the deal goes sour.

2. It's all so close, they can taste it.

Once a seller has an offer and it's progressing, they are already psychologically moving from their home. They're picturing closing day and the moving trucks in the driveway. If the deal abruptly comes to a screeching halt, the seller is much more willing to move forward with a backup offer just to keep that momentum going.

3. Your chances improve after the inspection.

I have been successful in backup situations where an inspection has uncovered more issues than the first buyer wants to deal with and the buyer walks away from the house. The good news for you is that those issues won't go away. The seller may realize he or she can no longer play hardball and be more willing to accept your offer, rather than lose the deal a second time.

4. We're in an era of tougher loan qualifications.

As loan qualifications become tighter and more scrutinized, some home buyers may not qualify and will have to back out of the deal. In this situation, you have the advantage of jumping in to save the day.

5. Set a 30-day time limit.

The longer the current transaction takes, the greater the chance the two parties are struggling to come to an agreement. Set an expiration date of 30 days for your backup offer. If the two parties are unable to close the deal, it may force the seller to settle for the next best thing before it's too late.

6. Get first right of refusal.

Ask for a first-right-of-refusal clause in your backup offer. In this case, you're not bound to purchase the property, but you're first in line if the other deal falls through.

7. Get the terms of the backup in writing.

Once the seller agrees to accept your offer as backup, get a fully executed detailed agreement, in writing. Be sure they are obligated to sell to you within a certain period at the agreed-upon terms if the property becomes available.

Here's one more bonus for the backup buyer.

Legally, the sellers have to disclose any problems the first-position buyers uncovered, even ones that made them bolt. As a result, you'll know the property's flaws in advance, saving you time and money on your own inspections.

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com 

This 3/2 plus den brand New Construction Direct Gulf Access Showstopper ...

Smelly cat? Pets need not complicate home sales

Pets are a loved staple of American home life, and 68 percent of U.S. households have at least one pet. But when it's time to sell the family home, pets can complicate the process.

"My main concern with pets is their effect on a home's cleanliness and its smell," says Mark Santoy. "If a home is nicely cleaned and free of pet odors, the presence of pets is rarely an issue. However, if there is pet hair everywhere, strong pet odor in the house or pet waste around the yard, it can increase the time needed to sell the property and reduce its value."

Animal allergies are a common concern, and buyers who have them can be easily turned off if a house has pets. While some buyers may ask upfront not to view homes with pets, the often doesn't come up until after they're inside a listing.

Preparing a pet home for sale

• Clean the entire house, especially rugs or carpeting, before putting the home on the market. It may mean calling in professionals – and don't forget air vents.
• Once the house is clean, keep it that way.
• Pet owners often don't notice the odors caused by animals, so ask a Realtor or friend if they can smell anything.
• If animals have urinated in the house, replace the affected carpeting or flooring, and eliminate the odor at its source.
• Ideally, pets should be removed from the home while the house is on the market. If impractical, take pets out during showings or keep them confined in a small room or crate.
• Safety is the major reason to remove pets from the home during showings, "Pet owners usually think their animals are harmless, but accidents do happen, and both homeowners and brokers could have legal liability."

Pets can also be a distraction. Some people are phobic about animals. Others adore them. Either group can have a hard time ignoring a pet wandering around a home, and 15 minutes playing with a cat takes time away from viewing the home.

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com 

© 2015 Florida Realtors®

Chinese-American Buyers Cite Feng Shui as Key

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

The ancient design philosophy, feng shui, still proves to be a powerful influence to Chinese-American home buyers, finds a new survey of 500 Chinese-Americans by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and the Asian Real Estate Association of America.

Seventy-six percent of Chinese-Americans surveyed said they were familiar with the principles of feng shui, which guides spatial arrangement and building design to increase the flow of energy in a home. Over half of those who said they were familiar with feng shui follow the practice in their daily lives, according to the survey.

Feng shui can prompt a big majority of Chinese-Americans to buy too. Overall, 86 percent of respondents said feng shui will play a role in a future home-buying decision, and 79 percent said they are willing to pay more for a home that has feng shui principles. Respondents reported a willingness to pay 16 percent more for a home that uses feng shui.

Indeed, 81 percent of Chinese-Americans surveyed who are also home owners said that feng shui factored into their most recent home purchase. What's more, 36 percent said they would avoid a real estate agent who was not familiar with the feng shui principles.

"It's critical for real estate professionals to understand all consumer drivers within the home search," says Sherry Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. "For this population, feng shui applications are as essential as other traditional characteristics of a home. Understanding these considerations is part of being a sophisticated service provider as well as an invaluable resource for our clients during the home buying and selling processes."

Chinese-Americans surveyed said the biggest design deal-breakers that went against feng shui principles are: the home being located at the end of a dead end street (31 percent); the home's back stairs directly facing the front door (29 percent); the home having a sloped backyard (29 percent); and the home's front and back doors being aligned with each other (24 percent).

"As the Asian American community's influence in the real estate market continues to grow, feng shui principles are gaining much needed attention and have already influenced real estate developers and interior designers alike," says Carmen Chong, 2015 AREAA national chairwoman.

                                                 www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com

3 Ways to Write a Tempting Offer When Buying a Home

010201

By Erika Napoletano

You've found it: the house of your dreams. In fact, you went home last night and played a little game of Where Does the Sofa Go? But before you can say "home sweet home," there's an offer to be made -- and it has to be accepted before you can move that sofa into the living room.

While these three tips don't guarantee your offer will be chosen, they will help you be competitive so you're one step closer to landing your dream home.

1. Carefully consider your approach.

If you think your dream home's listing price is just a place to begin negotiations, think again. First, have a conversation with your real estate agent. Look for similar homes and recent sales in the area.

You can do a little sleuthing on your own by searching Trulia for sold homes -- just be sure to choose a time frame in the past three months for the most accurate results. Comparables will give you a better idea of the seller's asking price in relation to similar properties and help you shape your offer based on property-specific amenities and location.

Next, you should decide how you'll pay for your purchase: cash or financing. Cash offers can sometimes command a lower selling price since there aren't mortgage details to sort through and the closing should go faster. If you're using financing but can offer a quick close (less than 30 days), take that into consideration in your offer price -- your real estate agent may be able to leverage a quick close to sweeten the deal.

If you're thinking of submitting a lowball offer, have a candid conversation with your real estate agent. Agents know the market well and might even know a thing or two about the listing agent through previous sales. There are certain times when a lowball offer might start a favorable negotiation process, but there are many others when it can derail the reality of landing your dream home. If you decide to submit an offer substantially below the listing price, be prepared for a negotiation process -- or a flat-out "no."

When you're ready to make your offer, back it up with everything the seller needs to know. You want them to believe that your offer is the one offer they should look at twice. Be sure to include completed offer paperwork, signatures where they belong, and make sure you're asking for seller concessions that make sense for the market.

2. Weigh the pros and cons of your requests for repairs.

Maybe you're looking to have some of your closing costs covered. Perhaps you just want the old, worn-out carpeting replaced. Asking for seller concessions is a normal part of the offer process, but you need to know what you can reasonably expect.

If you're in a competitive bidding situation, odds are that the seller is going to choose the offer requiring the least amount of work on their part. Work with your real estate professional to make a list of "musts" and "would like" items for the sellers to tackle. You can put these concessions side by side with your offer price and see what makes for the most compelling deal.

Bottom line? If you're entering into a negotiation and something's got to give, your requested concessions are probably the first place to consider revising to stay competitive.

3. Don't be swayed by emotions

One step it's important not to forget in the offer process is setting a maximum price. If you're financing, you will have a purchase ceiling from your mortgage lender, but when the perfect home comes along, it's easy for heartstrings to overrule good financial sense.

How much can you comfortably carry as a mortgage payment each month? (Use a mortgage calculator to get a rough idea.) How much is that home really worth? How long do you plan on staying in the home, and does that justify a higher-than-asking price?

And remember, the tips we're including here are for traditional sales, not short sales or purchases of bank-owned properties. Those types of transactions have nuances all their own.

www.LuxuryHomes-SWFL.com