What Is a CDD?

What Is a CDD? A Florida Homebuyer's Guide to Community Development Districts By Scott Swonger, HomeSmart Realtor If you're shopping for a home in Florida — especially in a newer master-planned community like the ones here around Venice and Wellen Park — sooner or later you're going to run into thre

This Weekend in Wellen Park — Plus Why Everyone's Moving Here By Scott Swonger, HomeSmart Realtor

This Weekend in Wellen Park — Plus Why Everyone's Moving Here By Scott Swonger, HomeSmart Realtor I've called Wellen Park home since 2017, back when much of what you see today was still taking shape. I've watched this community grow from a promising new development into one of the most talked-about

Sell for More Without Spending a Fortune: My 5 Favorite Low-Cost Fixes Before You List

By Scott Swonger, HomeSmart Realtor   After years of walking sellers through the process of listing their homes, I've learned one thing that surprises almost everyone: you don't need a big renovation budget to sell for top dollar. Some of the biggest returns I've ever seen came from changes that cos

Gran Paradiso: A Tuscan-Inspired Community with a True Florida Story

Gran Paradiso: A Tuscan-Inspired Community with a True Florida Story By Scott Swonger Drive south out of Venice on Tamiami Trail and, about three miles down the road, you'll pass an entrance that's hard to miss: grand columns, fountains, and lush landscaping announcing Gran Paradiso. The name means