Watson Outlook Newsletter

  Over the last 10 years, more than $2 billion of funds from affordable housing trust funds have been spent on projects completely unrelated to affordable housing rather than the projects they should be funding, like first-time homebuyer programs and other initiatives.   In an effort to create more accountability, Floridians have proposed a constitutional amendment that would place affordable housing funds into a lock box and preserve them for housing projects and nothing else.  The amendment would guarantee that the portion of taxes charged on deeds and mortgages will be put towards a range of housing projects, including first-time homebuyer programs, senior housing, and more.  First, however, the amendment must be added to the ballot. Many of Watson’s own agents have already signed and submitted a petition to push the amendment through, but more help is needed.  If you’d like to join the fight for affordable housing funds, head here: https://housingfunds4housing.org/ . You’ll find in

Plenty of real estate companies can help you buy or sell your home. But only one can deliver you a truly hassle-free buying or selling experience with comprehensive market knowledge and a thorough dedication to your needs.  Plenty of real estate companies can help you find a loan officer, or a title company, or even a contractor for repairs. Only one has all those services – and so many more – in-house, giving you quick access to proven solutions for all your real estate needs.  And plenty of real estate companies can claim longevity and experience, but only one has been in your neighborhood for more than 50 years.  Watson Realty Corp. has stood the test of time for these reasons, but that’s only the beginning. We work to understand the person behind the transaction. We recognize your needs are rarely as simple as buying or selling a house, and we go the extra mile to ensure we find satisfying and proven solutions to your needs.  So when you need a real estate company you can trust, th

With the start of the school year upon most of us, now’s a great time to talk home organization! Kids resuming their studies often results in a flurry of backpacks, textbooks, and various other school supplies that can quickly leave your home in a stressful state of disarray. Here are some airtight organization tactics you can use to corral the back-to-school chaos. Create a Front-Door Storage Space Give your kids a dedicated storage space where they can drop their bookbags and other essentials as soon as they come in the door. Hang a few wall hooks or utilize existing closet space near the front door to prevent a mess of items being left in the entryway. Build a Homework Station Tired of papers and pencils taking over your kitchen table each night? Build your kids a dedicated homework station! Give them a dedicated desk with organized supplies – understand their needs and then stage the space around them. Prepare Your Laundry Room Kids and dirty clothes go together like macaroni and c

Owning a home is one of the greatest milestones you can accomplish. It also comes with a bevy of expenses, many of them unexpected. So how do you prepare for unexpected expenses – everything from leaky pipes to major issues like needing a new roof – when they are, by their very nature, unpredictable? Well, there are a few ways.  The 1% Rule Each year, take 1% of your home’s purchase price and set it aside as a baseline fund. This is a great starting point for your unexpected expenses budget. Add to it when you can to keep the fund plump enough for the next major or minor repair.  Homeowner’s Insurance This is one you should likely already have as it’s essential, and if you don’t, secure a policy as soon as you can. Most standard policies will protect your home from fire, hail, wind, and lightning damage, while additions like flooding coverage are recommended if you’re in a risk area.  Keep Up with Maintenance The thing with many unexpected expenses is, if you could go back in time, you