Questions Buyers and Sellers Actually Ask
Straight answers about buying and selling in Southwest Florida.
What this page is
These are the questions people actually ask me, answered the way I would answer them on the phone. No hedging, and nothing that needs re-checking in a year.
I am Kris Asquith, Broker Associate at Premiere Plus Realty. I have been licensed in Florida since March 2011 and I sell across nine Southwest Florida markets. If your question is not here, ask me directly or call (239) 300-1427. More about how I work is on the about page.
Questions about waterfront
Most of what goes wrong on a waterfront purchase here is decided before anyone looks at the house. Whether the water reaches open water without a fixed bridge, what your clearance is if it does not, the elevation, and the insurance that follows from it.
Those are all knowable before you make an offer, and they are what separates two homes that look identical online. There is more on the waterfront homes and Gulf access homes pages.
Questions about golf communities
The first question about any golf community is not the course. It is how the membership is structured, because that decides whether the club comes with the house, whether you can be turned down, and whether you can opt out later.
Bundled means the membership is attached to the property and every owner pays. Equity means the members own the club and you apply separately. Both exist across these markets, often within a few miles of each other.
Questions about selling, and about how I work
How a home is priced and positioned matters more than how it is listed. I price against what comparable homes in that specific community actually sold for rather than a city-wide average, then market it to the buyer who wants that particular property.
The buying process and the selling page walk through the stages. To start with a valuation, get in touch or call (239) 300-1427.
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas do you cover in Southwest Florida?
Nine markets: Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Marco Island, Sanibel and Captiva. I work all nine personally rather than handing you to someone in another city.
How long have you been selling real estate here?
I have been licensed in Florida since March 2011 and I sell full time. I have ranked in the top 1% of agents in Lee and Collier Counties every year since 2016, in a market of more than 21,000 agents. I am a Broker Associate at Premiere Plus Realty and I lead The Diamond Coastal Group.
What are your credentials?
Broker Associate at Premiere Plus Realty, and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist with Million Dollar GUILD recognition through the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing since 2012. I hold the Certified Negotiation Expert and Accredited Buyer's Representative designations. My team and I have more than 115 five-star reviews on Zillow and Google.
Do I work with you, or with someone on your team?
With me. I lead The Diamond Coastal Group and I am personally involved in your sale. On the days I genuinely cannot be in two places at once, someone from my team steps in rather than leaving you waiting, and they are people I trained myself. Either way the sale stays mine to answer for, and you never get a call center.
What should I check before buying a waterfront home here?
Whether the water actually reaches open water without a fixed bridge, and what your clearance is if it does not. That one fact separates two waterfront homes that look identical online. Then the elevation and an insurance quote for that exact address, and the condition of the seawall and dock.
Is everything marketed as Gulf access really Gulf access?
No, and it is the most common mix-up here. Plenty of communities market waterfront that is a lake, or a canal that does not reach open water without passing under a fixed bridge. In Estero, for example, Pelican Sound is the only community with genuine Gulf access by boat. Always ask what the water in front of a specific address connects to.
Why does flood elevation matter so much on Fort Myers Beach?
Because of FEMA's substantial improvement standard, often called the 50% rule. If the cost of repairing or improving a structure reaches half its market value, the whole building has to be brought up to current floodplain code, which in practice means elevating it. Ask for the elevation certificate and whether the property has already been through that determination.
What is the difference between bundled and equity golf?
In a bundled community the golf membership comes with the house: every owner is a member and every owner pays, whether they play or not. In an equity club the members own the club, you apply separately from buying the home, and there is usually a cap and a waiting list. They are different purchases, and buying one while wanting the other is the usual mistake.
Can I buy in a golf community without joining the club?
It depends on the structure, which is why that is the first question to ask. In a bundled community the answer is no, because the membership is attached to the property. In an equity or non-equity club it is a separate decision and plenty of residents never join.
Do you handle probate and trust sales?
Yes. Those need the timeline, the paperwork and the people involved all handled at once, and they move differently from an ordinary sale. Call and I will tell you what the process looks like for your situation before you commit to anything.
I am relocating from out of state. Can you help before I visit?
Yes, and that is a large part of what I do. I can tell you what a community is actually like, what the association covers, how the flood picture changes street by street, and which places are worth your limited time when you do fly down.
How do I find out what my home is worth?
Ask me for a valuation and I will price it against what comparable homes in your specific community actually sold for, rather than a city-wide average. Use the contact page or call (239) 300-1427.
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Ready to make your move with Kris Asquith at Premiere Plus Realty?