By: Alyssa O'Keefe and Abigail Mago
With the colder weather moving in, a day at the beach may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, if you have been considering purchasing a beach house, the “off season” is one of the best times to do so! Here are five reasons why now is the best time to buy on Fire Island:
1. Time is On Your Side
Buying a beach house in the offseason gives you plenty of time to complete any home renovations or improvements ahead of the busy Summer season. With many Fire Island communities prohibiting construction work during the Summer months, you would have to do any renovations before the peak season starts in July. Buying before year’s end will give you enough time to do smaller scale projects like a kitchen or bathroom update, a new deck, or whatever finishing touches the property you select might need.
2. Decreased Competition from other Buyers
Given the current interest rate environment, many buyers have opted to wait on the sidelines before jumping in to making a purchase. This puts those who are ready to buy now in a favorable position, since there is a lower level of competition. If you are able to take advantage of this opportunity, you will have your pick of inventory. Which brings us to our next point…
3. Interest Rates Aren’t Permanent
It may seem counterintuitive to shop now while interest rates are at high levels relative to the last several years. However, if you do opt to take advantage of the lower levels of competition in the market, you can always refinance your mortgage down the line, when interest rates come down again. As the saying goes, “marry the property, date the rate”. Many lenders are even offering incentives allowing you to refinance your mortgage in the future at zero cost. We have been in an extreme sellers’ market for 3 years and we are finally finding a bit more equilibrium. Because Fire Island is such a unique place, with a limited supply of homes, we don’t tend to experience huge gluts of inventory like other markets do, so when the right property comes along, you don’t want to let the opportunity pass you by just because of a temporary condition like interest rates. Plus, as soon as interest rates do start trending downward again, all of those buyers that have been sitting on the sidelines are going to jump right back into the market, creating another frenzy that will likely cause prices to start climbing again.
4. Inventory is still low, but Improving
Whether you are looking for your first beach house, an upgrade, downsize, or rental investment property, there are homes available ranging from adorable “starter” beach bungalows under $1M to immaculate new construction homes priced at $4M and beyond. The Covid frenzy has eased so inventory levels, while still relatively low, are improving, giving buyers more options to choose from than we have seen over the last 3 years.
5. It’s a Great Investment… That you Can Actually Enjoy
While buying a beach house is a luxury, it can also be a great investment. Whether you choose to rent your property out for cash flow, or just hold on to it for appreciation, investing your money in real estate is a great way to build long term wealth. Historical price appreciation for homes on Fire Island has been extremely strong, and during inflationary periods, owning hard assets like real estate is the best way to defend against your money getting devalued by inflation. Best of all, you can enjoy the property and create lasting memories with your friends and family, while benefiting from that wise financial decision.
Whether you decide to buy now or later, we are always here to guide our clients through every step of the buying process. We recognize that it is our privilege to be of service to you. Contact us today to learn more about the current Fire Island real estate market or to schedule a showing at any Fire Island listing from Kismet to Davis Park.
Rental season is just around the corner! If you’re a homeowner who takes advantage of the lucrative rental market on Fire Island, we’ve put together a list of some tips to get your home rental ready for a successful summer.
- Cleaning: Give the whole space a deep clean before the rental season begins!
- Routine Maintenance of AC & Appliances: To avoid having to make maintenance calls while renters are at your home, it’s worth checking to make sure the AC’s work and if any air filters need to be replaced before your first rental checks in. This is also a good time to clean the grill and replace any grill brushes from last season.
- Check Kitchen Items: Since most people are renting for at least a week at a time, we can assume that they’ll be cooking a lot of their meals at the house as opposed to going out to eat every night. We recommend taking inventory every year of everything and making sure you have a full set of dishes, pots and pans, and utensils. These items will experience a lot of wear and tear since they will most likely be used the most in the house!
- Bike & Beach Items: Take inventory of bikes, beach chairs, and beach umbrellas and see if any need to be replaced and/or fixed and if you just feel you need more!
- Wagons: Note where the wagon can be picked up and where it should be left off when your renters’ stay is over. It may be a good idea to have renters take pictures of the bikes once they arrive and once they leave.
- Permits: Make sure rental permits and the BBQ permit are filed
- Touch ups & repairs: A fresh coat of paint goes a long way to brighten up your space! Make sure all door handles are working, windows and doors are opening and closing properly, etc.
- Linen Inventory & Replacement: Good quality sheets and towels are important to renters. Since these items tend to get worn out the quickest, it’s a good idea to inspect them and see what needs to be replaced.
- Pool Maintenance: If your home has a pool, have it cleaned and make sure the filtration is working properly and the shock treatments are done.
- Welcome Packet: Putting a packet together for your renters with information like the bike lock codes, wifi, how to access the TV channels/streaming, etc. can go a long way. A list of the local shops, restaurants, and bars are always appreciated by the renters too as they love recommendations of the locals’ favorites.
These are just some punch list items to get you started before summer officially begins. We wish everyone a successful summer rental season!
The flowers are blooming, the chill is finally leaving the air and the sun is setting after 6 PM. The first signs of Spring are officially here! With warmer temperatures around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning the opening of your Fire Island home for the season.
One of the first steps to take in opening your home is scheduling with your plumber for your water to be turned back on. Once we have moved past freezing temperatures, it’s safe to turn the water back on in your home. Keep an eye on the forecast when planning your water turn-on.
Note: In Seaview, the water will be turned on by the Seaview Association no later than April 15th.
With the warmer weather on the way, landscaping may also come to mind. Spring is the perfect time to schedule a yard clean up. If you are planning to incorporate some new landscaping or hardscaping this year, now is the time to start planning those improvements before Summer gets in full swing and it becomes too hot to plant.
Whether you are renting out your home or using it for your own enjoyment, it's important to make any necessary repairs before the summer season comes around! Beyond any needed repairs, sprucing up your house with a fresh coat of paint on your walls and power washing the exterior can make a big difference in its appearance. If you have stored your bedding, linens and towels for the winter, now is a good time to take inventory to ensure you are well equipped for the season ahead.
Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to check on the condition of your bikes, wagons and beach chairs now, so that you have ample time to repair or replace any of these beach life necessities well before the prime summer season! Given Covid’s disruption of many supply chains, it can take longer for goods to be delivered so make sure to plan ahead for your needs.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on our favorite island soon!
Below is a list of vendors who can assist in the opening of your home:
Plumbers:
LOVE the Plumber - (631) 583-5612
Fire Island Plumbing Co. - (631) 583-6500
Remy’s Lighthouse - (631) 583-5411
Landscapers:
Fire Island Landscaping - (631) 383-8395
Island Nursery & Landscaping - (917) 575-5251
Fazio Landscaping - (516) 510-0807
Propane:
Beach Propane - (631) 583-6500
LOVE the Plumber - (631) 583-5612
Ocean Beach Hardware - (631) 583-5826
Cleaners:
Sunshine Cleaning - (631) 767-4386
Martha Vega - (718) 908-1091
Fairy House Mother – Fire Island Home Concierge Service
Phone: 917-968-1007
Email: Sabrina@fairyhousemother.com
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to be of service to you!
It’s no secret that things do slow down a bit during the winter months when it comes to real estate on Fire Island. However, if you're a buyer, that’s not a bad thing. While you may have to break out your ski gear to make sure you're adequately bundled up for your house tours, here are some reasons why it's worth it to trek out to Fire Island to snap up your dream beach house this winter:
- Less Competition
During the holiday season, and throughout the winter months, most people just don't have summer on their minds yet, so that makes for fewer other buyers to compete with. Once spring hits and temperatures start to rise, our office is flooded with calls, so why not get a head start? Since there is less buyer activity in the dead of Winter if you choose to look now, you'll have less competition from other buyers, and the seller may be more receptive to your offer at that time.
- Motivated Sellers
Many sellers tend to be more motivated during the Winter months than they are during the Spring and Summer. During the off season, they're not getting use out of their property, but still have to pay the carrying costs on the home, which may make it a little easier for them to part with. Also, if the property is rented out during the Summer, the seller may view that income as a long way away, whereas once Spring rolls around, they are likely less motivated to sell right before rental season.
- Low Interest Rates
Interest rates are still close to historic lows. The longer you wait, the greater the chances that rates will rise. These low rates may very well last through the Spring, but you just never know.
If you're among the savvy buyers looking capitalize on the advantages of shopping now, we're happy to help- we show by appointment 7 days a week, 12 months a year. Just remember to bundle up!
Dreaming of customizing your perfect beach house? 692 Ocean Breeze Walk gives you that opportunity! There are endless possibilities at this family home in Ocean Beach. This spacious home, currently listed for $775,000, is an excellent example of a home that you can make your own. Ideally located, 692 Ocean Breeze is just 4 houses from the beach! The home is elevated with an upgraded foundation. Situated on a 50’ x 84’ lot, 692 Ocean Breeze Walk is the perfect opportunity to turn your dreams into reality.
With a large open living and dining area and a fully enclosed porch, 692 Ocean Breeze offer a lot of space to work with. We reimagined the first floor of this home, eliminating the storage room at the rear of the house to create a fabulous chef’s kitchen with large glass sliding doors to the deck. In our proposed floor plan, we demolished the wall where the current stove is to create ample storage space and a large island. By removing the walls to the kitchen to the left of the dining room, this offers a completely open first floor layout and great indoor/outdoor flow, making entertaining a breeze. By adding large glass sliding doors to the deck, the massive great room is flooded with light and seamless indoor/outdoor flow is acheived. You can see an illustration of this renovation idea below in the proposed 1st Floor Plan.
With 5 bedrooms, the second level of the home already offers plenty of bedroom space for your family and guests. The oversized bedroom occupying the entire front of the house presents the perfect opportunity to create a luxurious master suite, complete with a walk-in closet and a private en-suite bathroom. The proposed floor plans below illustrates how you could lay out a new master suite in the space, with just minor modifications to the existing space plan.
These are just a few ideas of how to maximize the features of this ideally located home. One of the best reasons to renovate a home is to get the opportunity to customize it to your exact needs, specifications, and tastes. It is also a great opportunity to build equity in a property, as well planned improvements can increase the property's value in excess of their cost.
This home is exclusively listed by Abigail Mago. For more, click here.
Many people are under the misconception that mortgage financing is not available on Fire Island but that is not the case. Mortgage financing, both for second homes and investment properties on Fire Island, is available through a wide variety of lenders. Though not all banks will lend on the island, most will. No need to stockpile the entire purchase price in cash if you don’t want to.
It is important to know that there is a difference between rental homes and vacation properties and that they are financed differently. You would want to buy your beach home as a vacation home if you are able to purchase your home without needing the property to generate any income. Qualifying for a mortgage is more attainable and straightforward when rental income is off the table and you'll get a better mortgage interest in this case as well.
With Fire Island's robust rental market, buyers take advantage of the opportunity to earn additional income and will finance their home as an investment property. In this case, you'll need to provide an appraisal and comparable rental schedule to your lender, showing the property's potential income.
We've compiled a list of lenders we've worked with who will provide a mortgage to your second home/investment property.
- Darren Stuart, Vice President GuardHill Financial Corp.
NMLS# 463667
140 East 45th Street, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10017
NMLS#1609
Office:(212) 688.9500 x312
Direct:(646) 519.7682
Mobile:(212) 686.2145
E-Fax:(212) 937-3737
dstuart@guardhill.com
www.guardhill.com
- David Schindel, Silver Fin Capital LLC.
185 Great Neck Road, Suite 304
Great Neck, NY 11021
Direct: (516)203.4565
Fax: (516)323.7776
Mobile:(917)656.5172
Registered Mortgage Broker – NYS Banking Dept.
Licensed Mortgage Broker - CT, FL, NJ
NMLS ID: 149186
http://www.silverfincapital.com/david-schindel.html
