Dan Starowicz

and associates

239-603-6100

Toll Free 1-800-301-4341

International 00-1-239-603-6100

Skype: dan.starowicz

Sand Castle Realty Group, Inc.

4020 S. Del Prado Blvd.  B-2

Cape Coral, FL 33904

[ Additional locations ]

Dan@TopWaterfrontDeals.com

Dan Starowicz

and associates

239-603-6100

Toll Free 1-800-301-4341

International 00-1-239-603-6100

Skype: dan.starowicz

Sand Castle Realty Group, Inc.

4020 S. Del Prado Blvd.  B-2

Cape Coral, FL 33904

[ Additional locations ]

Dan@TopWaterfrontDeals.com

For Buyers:

I am always happy to work with serious buyers whether they happen to be first time homebuyers, those looking for a vacation home (2nd home) or seasoned investors.  Simply click on whichever topic best describes your situation:

• Local SW Florida buyers, including those looking for single family homes
• Northern U.S. buyers, including those looking for vacation villas
• Canadian buyers, including those looking for vacation villas
• British buyers, including those looking for holiday homes
• German buyers, including those looking for vacation villas
• European buyers, including those looking for vacation villas
• Foreign buyers, including those looking for vacation villas

Buyers may also want to check out my constantly updated foreclosure list here.  Also, these search pages will give you the best collection of search tools available in Southwest Florida, including the ability to search for Gulf access properties.  For advanced search options (ex: tax info, days on the market, etc) you may also wish to consider signing up for a free Listingbook account here.  For those of you looking at Cape Coral waterfront who aren’t entirely familiar with the area read this guide!  It is invaluable information that you need to know.

You can also contact me today at (239) 603-6100 or email Dan@TopWaterfrontDeals.com and let me know the details of what you are looking for. I’d be happy to hear from you!

Begin your search here

Local buyers have the benefit of being able to act quicker on the best deals.  You are encouraged to review the Southwest Florida Foreclosure List and to get a free Listingbook account.  Because you are likely already familiar with the area, the best deals should be more obvious to you, but when in doubt, call! If you’d like to be pre-qualified for financing so that you know what to expect for payments (and rates, down payment requirements, etc), please review the mortgage details page. 

Begin your search here

Many Northerners purchase in this area, either as second homes or for a future retirement properties.  Helping guide you through the intricacies of purchase Florida is a daily routine for me, so don’t be afraid to call 239-603-6100, even with what you might describe as basic questions.  I can advise on which locations will see the most future appreciation, which would have highest vacation rental appeal, how the tax system works, pros and cons of short sales and much more.

If you intend to rent the property out we can formulate a strategy that works for your situation-- taking into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees. Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Southwest Florida property taxes and insurance costs too.  And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, be sure to call 239-603-6100. It is the main focus of what I do!

1) You can access the constantly updated Southwest Florida foreclosure list here

2) Get a free Listingbook account, to stay fully aware of the best deals (& have advanced search tools).

The biggest obstacle when buying down here from up North is that you don’t want to purchase the property sight-unseen. However, we can write contracts contingent upon your personal inspection of the property, giving you ample time to come down (and not wasting your time on a trip if the seller isn’t agreeable to your offer).  Also, I can preview the property for you, report on the specifics, and send you unbiased photos that I take on my visit.  If I see something wrong you have my word that I’ll tell you very honestly and bluntly about it!  I realize that you need someone very honest and dependable to rely on when purchasing from some distance, and I’ll certainly make good on this promise.  It’s why I routinely sell millions of dollars of the best deals in this fashion.

Begin your search here

A very large percentage of my inquiries come from Canada.  Southwest Florida has been a very popular winter destination for decades to Canadians, but we have seen a hefty increase lately.  Our prices have dropped substantially, and the combination of this with many of our Northern neighbors planning their coming retirements (in many cases) makes this a unique opportunity.  If you need to rent the property out for a few years in advance, no problem.  We can formulate a strategy which takes into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees. Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Florida property taxes and insurance costs. And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, there is an entire section devoted strictly to them.

Here’s a couple things to note about buying in the USA:

• Buying in the U.S. is a fairly simple process. Plenty of property here is owned internationally.
• We have an international airport in Ft Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport).  It is among the easiest and quickest in and out the door airports out there, so it’s a great asset to the region.  The number of flights offered to Canada increases dramatically in the cooler months of the year.  Also, Tampa International is about 2 hours away, so is Ft Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are just a little further, respectively. Rental cars are available at all of them (try to get one with a GPS system if you will be visiting Cape Coral!  The canal system makes for a complex road pattern)
• Financing is available from U.S. banks, typically up to 65 or 70% of the purchase price. These are referred to as Foreign National loans.  So expect to need 30-35% down payments on US purchases.
• You may also consider tapping equity in your Canadian property and buying this US home in cash.
• U.S. mortgages are typically 30 year terms.  15 year are available too.
• Rates will be a bit higher for foreigners (foreign nationals).
• We have a local RBC branch in South Fort Myers, out towards the beaches.
• Title insurance is very important. It protects your exclusive ownership rights to the property. I will make sure that this is all handled properly.
• An appraisal conducted on the property can assist you in verifying the value of the property.
• A survey can be completed to show where the exact boundaries of the land are.
• As long as the contract is properly written, you will have, for example, 10 days or so after the offer is executed to conduct any home inspections you wish. This can include a comprehensive overall inspection, a pool inspection, termite, air conditioning, etc.
• When making an offer on a property an escrow deposit (earnest money deposit) is required, to demonstrate that you have legitimate intent to buy. Amounts are typically $1000-$5000 dollars US on transaction to, say, $200,000. A bit more as you get into pricier properties. This deposit is refundable in the event the home does not pass inspections in the allotted time frame.
• Closings here are more commonly handled by title companies than by lawyers, though you can certainly hire an attorney if you wish to do so (you will want to use a Florida attorney as opposed to one back up North as they won’t be familiar with the state and U.S. laws).
• Property taxes are paid yearly here. Paying them in November each year will get you a discount. I go over the tax system in great depth with all of my clients.
• U.S. Federal government taxes will likely apply on the sale of a property here in the U.S. (when there’s a gain).  The State of Florida has no additional income tax.
• Homeowners insurance includes hurricane coverage.  Deductibles apply (and vary) but I have trusted contacts and can oversee and explain every step of the process to make sure it is all handled properly. In general, buyers are typically surprised by the lower than expected insurance costs here versus other parts of Florida.
• Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas, in other areas it’s not (but is still available).  I will guide my clients through the details.
• It is customary for appliances to be included with the sale of property here.
• Cement block construction (CBS) has higher desirability here than frame construction and is cheaper to insure.
• In general, the newer the home, the cheaper it is to insure.
• Metal roofs are the strongest, but expensive (and only a small % of homes have them)
• The islands are notably more expensive than the mainland areas of the city.  No surprise, right!
• If you are buying a condo note: 1) some will have age restrictions (ex: 55+), 2) some won’t allow pets (or have size restrictions) 3) condo fees vary greatly (though they do include some insurance coverage) 4) the minimum # of days for rentals will vary from one place to another.
• The time frame for a purchase to close is typically about 30 days if financing is involved, perhaps a little less if you are a cash buyer.  Documents can be mailed to you-- it doesn’t have to occur in person.

Begin your search here

British buyers are a strong presence in our local market.  Southwest Florida has been a very popular vacation villa location for the British for some time, but even more so lately. If you need to rent the property out for a few years in advance, no problem.   We can formulate a strategy which takes into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees.  Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Florida property taxes and insurance costs.  And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, that is my main focus!

Here’s a couple things to note about buying in the USA:

• If you use Skype, you can easily reach me at dan.starowicz
• Time conversion: You can typically reach me in the office from 2:30pm to 10:30pm, London time, Monday through Friday.
• Buying in the U.S. is a fairly simple process. Plenty of property here is owned internationally.
• We have an international airport in Ft Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport).  It is among the easiest and quickest in and out the door airports out there, so it’s a great asset to the region.  The number of flights offered to Canada increases dramatically in the cooler months of the year. Also, Tampa International is about 2 hours away, so is Ft Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are just a little further, respectively. Rental cars are available at all of them (try to get one with a GPS system if you will be visiting Cape Coral! The canal system makes for a complex road pattern)
• Financing is available from U.S. banks, typically up to 65 or 70% of the purchase price. These are referred to as Foreign National loans.  So expect to need 30-35% down payments on US purchases.
• You may also consider tapping equity in your current property and buying this US home in cash.
• U.S. mortgages are typically 30 year terms.  15 year are available too.
• Rates will be a bit higher for foreigners (foreign nationals).
• Title insurance is very important. It protects your exclusive ownership rights to the property. I will make sure that this is all handled properly.
• An appraisal conducted on the property can assist you in verifying the value of the property.
• A survey can be completed to show where the exact boundaries of the land are.
• As long as the contract is properly written, you will have 10 days or so after the offer is executed to conduct any home inspections you wish. This can include a comprehensive overall inspection, a pool inspection, termite, air conditioning, etc.
• When making an offer on a property an escrow deposit (earnest money deposit) is required, to demonstrate that you have legitimate intent to buy. Amounts are typically $1000-$5000 dollars US on transaction to, say, $200,000.  A bit more as you get into pricier properties.  This deposit is refundable in the event the home does not pass inspections in the allotted time frame.
• Closings here are more commonly handled by title companies than by lawyers, though you can certainly hire an attorney if you wish to do so (you will want to use a Florida attorney as opposed to one back up North as they won’t be familiar with the state and U.S. laws).
• Property taxes are paid yearly here. Paying them in November each year will get you a discount. I go over the tax system in great depth with all of my clients.
• U.S. Federal government taxes will likely apply on the sale of a property here in the U.S. (when there’s a gain).  The State of Florida has no additional income tax.
• Homeowners insurance includes hurricane coverage.  Deductibles apply (and vary) but I have trusted contacts and can oversee and explain every step of the process to make sure it is all handled properly. In general, buyers are typically surprised by the lower than expected insurance costs here versus other parts of Florida.
• Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas, in other areas it’s not (but is still available).  I will guide my clients through the details.
• It is customary for appliances to be included with the sale of property here.
• Cement block construction (CBS) has higher desirability here than frame construction and is cheaper to insure.
• In general, the newer the home, the cheaper it is to insure.
• Metal roofs are the strongest, but expensive (and only a small % of homes have them)
• The islands are notably more expensive than the mainland areas of the city.  No surprise, right!
• If you are buying a condo note: 1) some will have age restrictions (ex: 55+), 2) some won’t allow pets (or have size restrictions) 3) condo fees vary greatly (though they do include some insurance coverage) 4) the minimum # of days for rentals will vary from one place to another.
• The time frame for a purchase to close is typically about 30 days if financing is involved, perhaps a little less if you are a cash buyer.  Documents can be mailed to you-- it doesn’t have to occur in person.

Begin your search here

European buyers are a strong presence in our local market. Southwest Florida has been a very popular vacationing spot for Europeans for some time, but even more so lately.  If you need to rent the property out for a few years in advance, no problem.   We can formulate a strategy which takes into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees. Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Florida property taxes and insurance costs. And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, there is an entire section devoted strictly to them.

Here’s a couple things to note about buying in the USA:

• If you use Skype, you can easily reach me at dan.starowicz
• Time conversion: You can typically reach me in the office, Monday through Friday: from 3:30pm to 11:30pm, European Time. (2:30pm to 10:30pm, London time)
• Buying in the U.S. is a fairly simple process. Plenty of property here is owned internationally.
• We have an international airport in Ft Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport).  It is among the easiest and quickest in and out the door airports out there, so it’s a great asset to the region.  The number of flights offered to Canada increases dramatically in the cooler months of the year.  Also, Tampa International is about 2 hours away, so is Ft Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are just a little further, respectively. Rental cars are available at all of them (try to get one with a GPS system if you will be visiting Cape Coral!  The canal system makes for a complex road pattern)
• Financing is available from U.S. banks, typically up to 65 or 70% of the purchase price. These are referred to as Foreign National loans.  So expect to need 30-35% down payments on US purchases.
• You may also consider tapping equity in your current property and buying this US home in cash.
• U.S. mortgages are typically 30 year terms.  15 year are available too.
• Rates will be a bit higher for foreigners (foreign nationals).
• Title insurance is very important. It protects your exclusive ownership rights to the property. I will make sure that this is all handled properly.
• An appraisal conducted on the property can assist you in verifying the value of the property.
• A survey can be completed to show where the exact boundaries of the land are.
• As long as the contract is properly written, you will have 10 days or so after the offer is executed to conduct any home inspections you wish. This can include a comprehensive overall inspection, a pool inspection, termite, air conditioning, etc.
• When making an offer on a property an escrow deposit (earnest money deposit) is required, to demonstrate that you have legitimate intent to buy. Amounts are typically $1000-$5000 dollars US on transaction to, say, $200,000.  A bit more as you get into pricier properties.  This deposit is refundable in the event the home does not pass inspections in the allotted time frame.
• Closings here are more commonly handled by title companies than by lawyers, though you can certainly hire an attorney if you wish to do so (you will want to use a Florida attorney as opposed to one back up North as they won’t be familiar with the state and U.S. laws).
• Property taxes are paid yearly here. Paying them in November each year will get you a discount. I go over the tax system in great depth with all of my clients.
• U.S. Federal government taxes will likely apply on the sale of a property here in the U.S. (when there’s a gain).  The State of Florida has no additional income tax.
• Homeowners insurance includes hurricane coverage.  Deductibles apply (and vary) but I have trusted contacts and can oversee and explain every step of the process to make sure it is all handled properly. In general, buyers are typically surprised by the lower than expected insurance costs here versus other parts of Florida.
• Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas, in other areas it’s not (but is still available).  I will guide my clients through the details.
• It is customary for appliances to be included with the sale of property here.
• Cement block construction (CBS) has higher desirability here than frame construction and is cheaper to insure.
• In general, the newer the home, the cheaper it is to insure.
• Metal roofs are the strongest, but expensive (and only a small % of homes have them)
• The islands are notably more expensive than the mainland areas of the city.  No surprise, right!
• If you are buying a condo note: 1) some will have age restrictions (ex: 55+), 2) some won’t allow pets (or have size restrictions) 3) condo fees vary greatly (though they do include some insurance coverage) 4) the minimum # of days for rentals will vary from one place to another.
• The time frame for a purchase to close is typically about 30 days if financing is involved, perhaps a little less if you are a cash buyer.  Documents can be mailed to you-- it doesn’t have to occur in person.

Begin your search here

German buyers are a strong presence in our local market, and are one of the main groups of overseas buyers that we routinely see business from. Germans owners possess many of the premium vacation villas found in select areas, especially when it comes to superior Gulf access homes.  If you are in Germany reading this and have not been to our area before, you may be a bit surprised just how much of a German influence can be found here.  German is routinely heard being spoken throughout the area, especially towards the island & beaches. Even signs in select locations may be written both in German and in English and our local version of Oktoberfest is a popular event. You will find that our International airport, RSW, (Southwest Florida International Airport) offers direct flights between Fort Myers and Dusseldorf.  

When considering buying in the U.S: If you need to rent the property out for a few years in advance, no problem.   We can formulate a strategy which takes into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees.  Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Florida property taxes and insurance costs. And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, there is an entire section devoted strictly to them.

Here’s a couple things to note about buying in the USA:

• If you use Skype, you can easily reach me at dan.starowicz
• Time conversion: You can typically reach me in the office, Monday through Friday: from 3:30pm to 11:30pm, German Time.
• Buying in the U.S. is a fairly simple process. Plenty of property here is owned internationally.
• We have an international airport in Ft Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport).  It is among the easiest and quickest in and out the door airports out there, so it’s a great asset to the region.  The number of flights offered to Canada increases dramatically in the cooler months of the year.  Also, Tampa International is about 2 hours away, so is Ft Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are just a little further, respectively. Rental cars are available at all of them (try to get one with a GPS system if you will be visiting Cape Coral!  The canal system makes for a complex road pattern)
• Financing is available from U.S. banks, typically up to 65 or 70% of the purchase price. These are referred to as Foreign National loans.  So expect to need 30-35% down payments on US purchases.
• You may also consider tapping equity in your current property and buying this US home in cash.
• U.S. mortgages are typically 30 year terms.  15 year are available too.
• Rates will be a bit higher for foreigners (foreign nationals).
• Title insurance is very important. It protects your exclusive ownership rights to the property. I will make sure that this is all handled properly.
• An appraisal conducted on the property can assist you in verifying the value of the property.
• A survey can be completed to show where the exact boundaries of the land are.
• As long as the contract is properly written, you will have 10 days or so after the offer is executed to conduct any home inspections you wish. This can include a comprehensive overall inspection, a pool inspection, termite, air conditioning, etc.
• When making an offer on a property an escrow deposit (earnest money deposit) is required, to demonstrate that you have legitimate intent to buy. Amounts are typically $1000-$5000 dollars US on transaction to, say, $200,000.  A bit more as you get into pricier properties.  This deposit is refundable in the event the home does not pass inspections in the allotted time frame.
• Closings here are more commonly handled by title companies than by lawyers, though you can certainly hire an attorney if you wish to do so (you will want to use a Florida attorney as opposed to one back up North as they won’t be familiar with the state and U.S. laws).
• Property taxes are paid yearly here. Paying them in November each year will get you a discount. I go over the tax system in great depth with all of my clients.
• U.S. Federal government taxes will likely apply on the sale of a property here in the U.S. (when there’s a gain).  The State of Florida has no additional income tax.
• Homeowners insurance includes hurricane coverage.  Deductibles apply (and vary) but I have trusted contacts and can oversee and explain every step of the process to make sure it is all handled properly. In general, buyers are typically surprised by the lower than expected insurance costs here versus other parts of Florida.
• Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas, in other areas it’s not (but is still available).  I will guide my clients through the details.
• It is customary for appliances to be included with the sale of property here.
• Cement block construction (CBS) has higher desirability here than frame construction and is cheaper to insure.
• In general, the newer the home, the cheaper it is to insure.
• Metal roofs are the strongest, but expensive (and only a small % of homes have them)
• The islands are notably more expensive than the mainland areas of the city.  No surprise, right!
• If you are buying a condo note: 1) some will have age restrictions (ex: 55+), 2) some won’t allow pets (or have size restrictions) 3) condo fees vary greatly (though they do include some insurance coverage) 4) the minimum # of days for rentals will vary from one place to another.
• The time frame for a purchase to close is typically about 30 days if financing is involved, perhaps a little less if you are a cash buyer.  Documents can be mailed to you-- it doesn’t have to occur in person.

Begin your search here

Foreign Buyers.

Southwest Florida is a welcoming destination for visitors from across the world. Also, a fair percentage of our real estate is purchased as second (vacation) homes or as investment properties by overseas buyers.  I am well accustom to handling clientele from around the world, so by all means I welcome your inquiry. (If you are curious to know where my inquiries and clients come from, the list includes: Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, China, India, Australia, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, England, Canada, The Caribbean, Mexico, Ukraine, Sierra Leone, Poland, Belgium, Israel, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and more.)

When considering buying in the U.S: If you need to rent the property out for a few years in advance, no problem.   We can formulate a strategy which takes into account mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management fees.  Feel free to review the resource pages on this website to better understand Florida property taxes and insurance costs. And if it’s waterfront properties you are after, there is an entire section devoted strictly to them.

Here’s a couple things to note about buying in the USA:

• If you use Skype, you can easily reach me at dan.starowicz
• Time conversion: You can typically reach me in the office, Monday through Friday: from 9:30am to 5:30pm, local time.  FYI: Florida time is the same as New York.
• Buying in the U.S. is a fairly simple process. Plenty of property here is owned internationally.
• We have an international airport in Ft Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport).  It is among the easiest and quickest in and out the door airports out there, so it’s a great asset to the region.  The number of flights offered to Canada increases dramatically in the cooler months of the year.  Also, Tampa International is about 2 hours away, so is Ft Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are just a little further, respectively. Rental cars are available at all of them (try to get one with a GPS system if you will be visiting Cape Coral!  The canal system makes for a complex road pattern)
• Financing is available from U.S. banks, typically up to 65 or 70% of the purchase price. These are referred to as Foreign National loans.  So expect to need 30-35% down payments on US purchases.
• You may also consider tapping equity in your current property and buying this US home in cash.
• U.S. mortgages are typically 30 year terms.  15 year are available too.
• Rates will be a bit higher for foreigners (foreign nationals).
• Title insurance is very important. It protects your exclusive ownership rights to the property. I will make sure that this is all handled properly.
• An appraisal conducted on the property can assist you in verifying the value of the property.
• A survey can be completed to show where the exact boundaries of the land are.
• As long as the contract is properly written, you will have 10 days or so after the offer is executed to conduct any home inspections you wish. This can include a comprehensive overall inspection, a pool inspection, termite, air conditioning, etc.
• When making an offer on a property an escrow deposit (earnest money deposit) is required, to demonstrate that you have legitimate intent to buy. Amounts are typically $1000-$5000 dollars US on transaction to, say, $200,000.  A bit more as you get into pricier properties.  This deposit is refundable in the event the home does not pass inspections in the allotted time frame.
• Closings here are more commonly handled by title companies than by lawyers, though you can certainly hire an attorney if you wish to do so (you will want to use a Florida attorney as opposed to one back up North as they won’t be familiar with the state and U.S. laws).
• Property taxes are paid yearly here. Paying them in November each year will get you a discount. I go over the tax system in great depth with all of my clients.
• U.S. Federal government taxes will likely apply on the sale of a property here in the U.S. (when there’s a gain).  The State of Florida has no additional income tax.
• Homeowners insurance includes hurricane coverage.  Deductibles apply (and vary) but I have trusted contacts and can oversee and explain every step of the process to make sure it is all handled properly. In general, buyers are typically surprised by the lower than expected insurance costs here versus other parts of Florida.
• Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas, in other areas it’s not (but is still available).  I will guide my clients through the details.
• It is customary for appliances to be included with the sale of property here.
• Cement block construction (CBS) has higher desirability here than frame construction and is cheaper to insure.
• In general, the newer the home, the cheaper it is to insure.
• Metal roofs are the strongest, but expensive (and only a small % of homes have them)
• The islands are notably more expensive than the mainland areas of the city.  No surprise, right!
• If you are buying a condo note: 1) some will have age restrictions (ex: 55+), 2) some won’t allow pets (or have size restrictions) 3) condo fees vary greatly (though they do include some insurance coverage) 4) the minimum # of days for rentals will vary from one place to another.
• The time frame for a purchase to close is typically about 30 days if financing is involved, perhaps a little less if you are a cash buyer.  Documents can be mailed to you-- it doesn’t have to occur in person.

Begin your search here