Tee Off. This Independence Day

Come and see North Key Largo Real Estate at the Ocean Reef Club. Enjoy the fabulous family friendly festivities on offer.

To keep up with the Watsons follow their antics on Instagram and Facebook. Staying up to date with events on The Reef in these interesting times has never been easier with the Ocean Reef Press. Don't lose sight of home prices and new listings in this always interesting marketplace.

Watson Luxury Properties is based at Ocean Reef, right on the Golf Course! We are North Key Largo Real Estate's property experts who really 'Know The Reef.' 

We know Real Estate at the Ocean Reef Club as well as Ocean Reef Club Rental Properties. Specialists in a broad field for many decades, our family team can help you with your investment or home search. 

Perhaps you began your search in the nearby Key Largo Real Estate market but didn't find what you were seeking. Allow us to help you find your home in North Key Largo Real Estate's exceptional family-oriented environment.

Watson Luxury Properties at Ocean Reef Club - has been member owned and family operated since 1998

'Where Quality Service Is A Family Value'

The Watson family adheres to this adage, doggedly. We deliver client services with consistent levels of excellence. 

Ask us anything, with over 50 years of combined experience in North Key Largo's exclusive Ocean Reef Club Real Estate sales and rentals, we 'Know The Reef!' 

Our team is never happier than when we are out on property showings. Whether it is a water view, a slot for your boat or a peaceful golf course abode, we just know we have the perfect spot for you.  

The Reef's full service marina offers a perfect place to purchase a slip for your boat. It is a world class marina and boasts some of the world's most elegant and quietly famous, beautiful yachts.  

PERFECTLY APPOINTED MARINA SLIPS FOR EASE OF ACCESS

Our two championship golf courses offer open fairways and beautiful foliage - with some challenging greens.  What about a game of Golf this Independence Day weekend? Come see a little slice of heaven from your golf cart on our beautiful award-winning landscaped roads and pathways. This oasis never gets tiresome.  

MICHAEL WATSON - IN THE SPORTING FRAME OF MIND

IT'S NEVER 'JUST' A SHOWING

Because we are family operated we know a real estate showing is never 'just' a showing. 

Please join us for a true lifestyle experience, by way of a showing. If your search for Premium Key Largo Real Estate didn't satisfy your tastes, we are happy to offer Ocean Reef Club Real Estate listings to improve the day.

And if COVID travel is restrictive we offer the ever more popular, increasingly effective virtual 'in person' tours

FABULOUS FEATURE? WE THINK SO! For your piece of paradise think about this water front land. This one is on the market and waiting for you. What an open water view too! Start building  your dream home now in the friendly and safe confines of the Ocean Reef Club. We can't say enough good things about this view and the potential for your future enjoyment here.

CARD SOUND ROAD LAND - WATERFRONT


CARD SOUND ROAD DOCKAGE 

JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT OUT LOUD? COME & GOLF ON IT!

Of course our family team would love to meet you to discuss your options. Our slower pace can really do wonders for everyone's state of mind. in particular clearing ones own mind to ascertain what is truly going to make you and everyone you love and cherish, absolutely happy.

North Key Largo Real Estate as it is known to locals offers buyers premium listings wrapped in this special environment. Watson's team offer condominiums, and homes with or without yacht slips, as well as waterfront homes, wooded hammock homes and homes with that great Golf Course view. 

One feature many love about The Reef is 'safety.' The Reef is a well managed haven of elegance and a way of life that truly welcomes families within the community. 

You can find us at 9 Barracuda Lane, Key Largo or call us and we would be happy to meet you socially. Perhaps join us you over the Independence Day weekend. Chat with us during Tee time on the Golf course. Or with lines in the water, we love to spend time in and on the ocean.

JULY 4TH 'GET INTO GOLF' FROM YOUR GOLF COURSE ABODE

Enjoy Summer Golf - or just golfing in general - we've discovered that choosing to get your game right starts here. It really really does. Especially with the Big Cups Golf Tournament. A tradition not to be missed.

From Scott Kirkwood, Director of Golf, from the "Golden Tees""We have an exciting slate of summer tournaments this year, and the next one is coming up on Saturday, July 4. The annual Independence Day Big Cup Golf Tournament will be held on the Dolphin Course.

'You can make your own tee-time on ForeTees and the format will be individual stroke play. The catch is, the holes will be much larger than normal, more than twice the size! See how low you can go with our always popular Fourth of July tradition,' says Kirkwood.

If you are in love with the idea of Golf but cant imagine yourself out there, for love nor money, with no clue what to do. Or have played before but know you can do better, consider a training session with Derek Swoboda, who talks about Bioswing Dynamics and the Blueprint For Your Golf Swing. He is going to measure your Shoulder Plane, Torso Plane and Hip Plane and then you'll get to see how good you can really be.

FIREWORKS, GOLFING, FISHING, SHOPPING & 'JUMANJI' 

North Key Largo is our Ocean Reef Club home and here at Watson we are so excited for the upcoming Independence Day 2020 events, primary amongst them would be the fireworks on Buccaneer Island from 9pm to 930pm. If you aren’t scheduling something from the list golf, fishing, shopping, drive in movie, this year it's Robin William's in  'Jumanji' it's not too late to register for Independence Day 2020 Ocean Reef activities. 

Or simply arrive and enjoy. And what fabulous choices. Whether it's a new home or a fun Independence Day weekend with family and the possibility of a prime piece of Ocean Reef Club Real Estate. We hope you enjoy the decades of expertise presented to you by the member owned, family operated Watson Luxury Properties team. And we can't wait to meet you. We are here and loving the life, ready to share that enthusiasm with you.

Cheers!

#golfclubabode #boatlsip #yachtmarina #worldclassyachts #internationalairport #waterview #OceanReefRealEsatet #OceanReefRentalProperties #KeyLargoRealEstate #watsonorc #realestate #luxurycondo #luxurylife #oceanreefclub #keylargorealestate #floridakeysrealestate #watsonluxuryproperties #marketing #realestatemarketing #newlisting #northkeylargorealestate #watsonluxuryproperties

Dear Fellow Members,

This is a general update on a number of Club related matters.


CURRENT FINANCIAL CONDITION

Your Board and Club Management continue to take a variety of fiscal measures to minimize the economic impact on the Club. Everyone should rest easy for the moment regarding the financial impact to our Club. While we will suffer significant cash losses for the foreseeable future, we are in a very strong financial condition. We have over $60 million of cash in the bank and no debt borrowings. As a result, we do not envision any special charges or assessments related to the Coronavirus. (We will however, have our normal annual repair and maintenance charge which will be reflected in your April statement.) We will discuss in detail, the economic impact on the Club’s finances and the likely short term and long term consequences caused by the virus during our Annual Meeting.

During the Annual Meeting, we will also provide the Membership with a detailed update on our major Capital Projects (Associate Parking Garage, Ocean Room building renovation, Golf Clubhouse renovation, Lagoon upgrades) and any impact on anticipated completion timing based on the Coronavirus situation.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE CLUB

Last week, there were an estimated 1,550 Members at the Club. More than 93% were Equity Members and their families. The remaining people were comprised of Social Members that also work daily in the community at our Medical Center, Banks and Real Estate offices as an example, along with a few Social Members who were already staying over in long-term rentals or as Designated Users of Equity. As you know, The Inn, Vacation Rental and Marina Rental program has been closed since March 22nd, per the Monroe County Emergency Management directive. The current Member population is less than 50% of the historical count during this same period over the past couple of years.

Thinking about putting your house on the market in March? There are many factors to consider when trying to time the market, but seasonal trends are certainly worth noting. Here are five tips for selling your home in March for a great deal — and fast.

1. Keep Your Area’s Weather Patterns In Mind

2. Use Seasonal Perks to Your Advantage

3. Consider the Competition

4. Vamp Up Your Property’s Curb Appeal

5. Consult with a Local Real Estate Agent

For the whole article, click here!

FEMA recently released the draft flood maps that have moved many property owners to a higher risk flood zone than what they were previously mapped in.  In Key West alone, over 2,000 properties may be moved from the X zone where flood insurance is not required by lenders into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) where insurance will be required.

Fortunately for these property owners there is the "Grandfathering Rule" option. According to FEMA's website, when flood map changes occur, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides a lower-cost flood insurance rating option known as “grandfathering.” It is available for property owners who:

• Already have flood insurance policies in effect when the new flood maps become effective and then maintain continuous coverage; or
• Have built in compliance with the FIRM in effect at the time of construction.

Their website also says that timing is important because owners of most pre-FIRM buildings (built before the first flood map became effective) have only one chance to grandfather and lock in existing zone fore future rating. To read more about the Grandfathering Rule click here. 

To view the flood maps for your location, click here. 

Known for its great food, great service, and great location (who doesn’t love Buccaneer Island) the members of the Ocean Reef Club lost their favorite restaurant for a whopping 505 days after Hurricane Irma! (But who’s counting?) With a storm surge that engulfed the restaurant resulting in a total loss, post-hurricane recovery and rebuild included a complete gut and remodel of the beloved eating place.

  

Now, 505 days after Irma (again, who’s counting?), agents from our office were excited to attend the long awaited Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the NEW Islander Restaurant of the Ocean Reef Club.

It was a beautiful happening where many gave words of gratitude including our Club Chair, Teresa Holmes, our new Club President, Serge Rivera, Member and PAC Chairman, Alan Goldstein, Monroe County Mayor, Sylvia Murphy, and Senior Vice President of Food, Beverage & Lodging Operations, Giovanni Melis.

Our favorite moment of the ribbon cutting, besides the actual cutting of the “ribbon” (a fishing net was used in theme), was when Giovanni ended his words with “Congratulations to you! This is YOUR restaurant!” The gathered crowed roared in applause and raised their champagne in a moment most won’t forget.

Now why do we think you should head over their now? Well:

1. You can’t beat the smell of a brand new restaurant.
And the décor? Breathtaking. The interior design of the restaurant seamlessly incorporates the relaxed feel of the islands with modern luxury. You'll want to get in there and sit in the cozy entrance lounge, just next to the new bar, and enjoy your favorite adult libation

2. The Sushi Bar.
Seriously. There is a sushi bar with the kindest sushi chefs in the biz behind the glass. When you sit at the bar, you may also enjoy the overhead mirror that allows you to view the entire sushi making process in real time.

3. This is YOUR restaurant.
To the members of the Ocean Reef Club: This is your club. Your support and love of this club is everything. Without you, none of this would exist. So get out there and enjoy YOUR restaurant.

    

We’re here to tell you that NEW is the new market trend! Nationwide, eager buyers are looking for newly built homes, says Dave Ramsey; recent real estate news suggests that the slow rate of new construction is contributing to the rising prices over the last few years. In fact, new home construction is projected to increase by 8% in 2019!

While the Ocean Reef real estate market typically sets its own trends, we seem to be following suit with the new construction bandwagon. New construction and recent renovations seem to be sold before the listing hits our MLS.

Take these recent pending beauties as examples: (Two of them didn’t even last a month!)

 
(Above: 17 Country Club and 23 Dilly Tree)

 
(Above: 7 South Harbor Drive and 50B Fairway Lakes)

As you know, hind sight is often 20-20 in real estate; especially at Ocean Reef. Buyers who are “new construction” homeowners are scoring the most desirable homes by acting quickly. 

Our recommendation is to act fast with an agent you trust; don’t suffer from “I'm Not the Buyer Remorse.” 

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/real-estate-trends

https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/what-to-expect-from-the-housing-market

Florida is known for sunshine, blue skies, and hot wives (referencing those funny air conditioning billboards- you know what I’m talking about). Us Floridians are used to 365 days of 80-degree weather with temps only fluctuating about 10 degrees depending on the time of day. However, this “winter” has been a wacky one with “cool fronts” coming through just about weekly! These cooler temps have us thinking about fireplaces, cozy sweaters, space heaters (Thank you 19^th Hole!).

If you have a fireplace in Florida, I’m sure you’ve actually felt compelled to use it this year so we are here to give you answers to your top 5 fireplace questions; from how do they work, to whether or not they are safe and how often you should clean them. Here Zillow does a beautiful job of breaking it all down. We also found this article for you with tips to help achieve maximum coziness in your home; who would have thought perfecting your hot toddy game was one of them!