In past blogs, I have addressed many popular myths regarding short sales and foreclosures, representation, and more. The simple truth is that home buyers are not aware, for the most part, of the complexities inherent in every phase of the process - from searching to closing.

One issue I feel compelled to speak of regards employing more than one real estate agent when looking for a home. On the surface, it would seem that working with multiple agents might multiply your chances of finding the perfect place. But in reality, you might be inadvertently causing confusion that will cause hurt feelings at best - and lawsuits at worst. Sarasota Fl agents are required to have you sign a disclosure prior to showing you homes - read the disclosure to make sure you are not obligating yourself to several agents!

Now let me point one thing out - I do not expect anyone to work with me, or one of my agents, if we are not doing a good job for you. So this blog is not intended to imply that you should stick with a deadbeat, or someone who is not satisfactorily meeting your needs. It is to suggest, however, that once you find a good agent, that working exclusively with them secures the BEST chance of finding a great place.

A good buyers agent works very hard, and many long hours, to scout out great deals and possibilities for your purchase. They may go out ahead of your visit to preview properties and neighborhoods, take additional photos to send you, and research schools. There is alot of footwork, alot of gas, and many hours that go into making sure your outings are targeted and productive - we don't want to waste your time.

When beginning your search, feel free to look around and speak to multiple agents. Ask them about their thoughts on the market, ask them to compare two parts of town, ask them to tell you about the school system. Get them talking. Should an agent refuse to chat with you about the market, simply insisting you meet with them first, sign papers, etc, move on. Should an agent merely refer you to links or websites without sharing insight, move on. Why? Let's face it - we see more property than you, and we know alot about each neighborhood, subdivision, and all the surrounding amenities. If there is something wrong, or someplace better for you, we should be offering suggestions and advice. When you get ready to purchase, you'll want someone who will give you candid information, not just try to get you to sign.

If you are out of town, find a buyers agent that works well online prior to your visit. Although there is absolutely no replacement for actually being here, we can learn alot about your desired lifestyle over the phone and via email, and begin to formulate a plan of possible great locations for you. Simply finding listings online is often a blind process that leads to disappointment - a great house in a bad neighborhood is likely not what you want!

Finding a great agent may take some up front work, but once you do find him or her, stick with them! Like in any great relationship, the more we learn about you, the better your time will be spent. You won't see the same home a few times...or explain your specifications over and over..or waste time seeing homes that don't really match your needs.

Its all about relationship. Once you find a great agent, you should feel no need to work with anyone else. I invite you to call and talk to me at any time.

As a Sarasota Buyers Broker, dealing exclusively with buyers - many of them investors - I see great Sarasota deals every day.

My investors rely on me to find, research and recommend opportunities that will be profitable for them. And in a market like this, those opportunities are out there. Unlike many real estate professionals, however, I am very cautious in what I recommend - it has to be an undeniable deal. Still, we are finding them and I am confident when I make these recommendations that my clients will be making a good decision to purchase.  

Perhaps the greatest indication to my buyers that the market has reached a point that truly makes sense for Sarasota investors is this - I put my money where my mouth is.

After witnessing the real estate debacle of recent years, it was going to take a lot to get me to purchase investment property again. But recently, I did just that. A bank foreclosure offered a price that quite frankly, still stuns me, even after I acquired it. Since then, I have gone to contract on three additional properties.

I don't simply tell people it is a good time to pick up some of these properties - I practice what I preach.

But don't be fooled - not every slashed price is a good deal, and not every foreclosure is a steal. In fact, many are NOT. If you are in a position to make these types of purchases, I recommend working with a buyers broker who is also an investor - they will help you determine the deals from the duds.

Bill True, Broker, ABR/M, AHWD, CIPS, CRB, CRS, GRI, RSPS, SRES, TRC

While many people are drawn to Sarasota for its beaches, boating and fishing...just as many come for the golf. While its true that the die-hards play golf in any weather (I know - I've been to England!) - why suffer? Sarasota offers great golfing year round.

There are enough courses in Sarasota to keep any level of golfer busy. From public to semi-private to private - Sarasota has it all. Golfing all day still isn't enough for you? Sarasota real estate is repolete with options to live directly on the 7th tee - or whatever tee you like - to cheer on your fellow golfer even when you are done for the day.

  So trade in your gas guzzler for a golf cart and join us!

Gulf Gate - Public golf course; neighborhood offers great homes from the high !00's to the $300s. Trred sidewalks, proximity to shopping and dining, and less than 2 miles to the beach - make Gulf Gate a popular destination. Current listings:

Meadows - One of Sarasota's most established master planned communities, with three golf courses and condos from under $100K!. With estate homes into the millions, Meadows offers something for everyone. Mature trees, rolling courses throughout the community and a quaint "town square" make the Meadows a perennial favorite. Current Listings

Stoneybrook on Palmer Ranch - a beautiful community offering winding streets, updated villas and homes from the $250s and fantastic golf - Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club is one of the most affordable golf memebership communities in town. Add to that its amazing location, and you've got a winner. Current Listings

TPC Prestancia - Play where the pros play! This upscale and absolutely gorgeous community will wow you at everyturn, and the golf course is one of the best in town. With nature- preserve like settings everywhere you look, Prestancia truly represents the good life. TPC Prestancia is a private course, but extends golf privileges to the Country Club of Sarasota, right next door. Current Listings
Country Club of Sarasota Listings

University Park Country Club  - Beauty, natures and stunning homes - rated consistently not only as one of Sarasota's top course - but one of the top on Southwest Florida. An active community with hundreds of social clubs make this the place to be when you've made it! Current Listings

This is just a sampling - there are so many more!

Here is a sample listing of golf courses in Sarasota:

Public:

Bobby Jones Golf Club - (941) 365-4653
Foxfire Golf Club - (941) 923 - 3479
Gulf Gate Executive Golf - (941) 921-5515
Village Green Golf Club - (941) 922-9500

Semi-Private:

Heritage Oaks - (941) 921-3201
Oak Ford Golf Club - (941) 355-8867
Rolling Green Golf Club - (941) 355-6620
Serenoa Golf Club - (941) 925-2755 
Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club - (941) 966-1800
Tatum Ridge Golf Links- (941) 378-4211

Private Golf Courses:

Bent Tree Country Club: (941) 371-5854
Founders Club - (941) 371-9720
Gator Creek Golf Club - (941) 924-1111
Laurel Oak Country Club - (941) 378-3399
Meadows Country Club - (941) 371-6000
Misty Creek Country Club- (941) 921-5258
Palm Aire Country Club - (941) 355-9733
TPC Prestancia - (941) 922-2800
University Park Country Club - (941) 359-2995

Whether you want to pay as you play, or have complete golf and social memberships - there is a course, and a community for you. Contact True Real Estate, Sarasota's Exclusive Buyer Agents and Buyer Broker Agency to help you find the right lifestyle for you.

Well here we are - it's "season" in Sarasota.

In Sarasota, a great percentage of our population is part time - snowbirds and seasonal residents. From Thanksgiving to Easter, there is also a huge influx of vacationing folks. Sarasota is a different place during season.

While full time residents may grumble about the increased traffic, and not being able to get a table at their favorite restaurants...many businesses rely on this time of the year for their entire year's survival. And traditionally, real estate sales rise as northerners flee from the snow and can't fathom going back home without an escape plan...or those on vacation fall in love with this amazing place and decide to buy a home of their own.

This year promises to be nothing if not unique. Prices are low and inventory is high - the classic buyers market. But worries about global stock markets and the economy in general may have adverse effects. At least, thankfully, the election is over and folks have settled down a bit about that...

Real estate has always provided a return over the long term. It is hard to find a truly wealthy family that doesnt have extensive real estate holdings. It is the tried and true investment - over the long term. Panic over a few bad years by the general population means one thing to savvy investors. GREAT DEALS.

Although I may not be able to get a table at Roy's very easily, I look forward to season. I think people are ready for some deals on sunshine - and bayfront condos.  

Often a client will ask if the fact that a home is being sold "as-is" should be a red flag. Is the seller trying to hide something?

That may be the case, although I tend to doubt it. A more likely scenario is simply that the Seller doesn't want a prospective buyer nickel and diming them down off an agreed upon sales price for minor issues. They don't want to have to worry about handling these repairs, if found. Very often, there is nothing wrong with the home at all.

Buyers should see the "as-is" clause as an advantage for them. As a matter of fact, even when a home isn't listed "as-is", I recommend to my buyers that we write the contract that way. The reason is this - by writing the contract as-is with right to inspect, we reserve the right to inspect the home and back out of the contract if any issue is found. We retain our deposit and walk away clean; or we can use the findings as a negotiating tool. Not for nickel and dime items, but for any substantial repairs. Regardless, we don't have to purchase a home with a defect.

Please know that not all "as-is" purchase contracts protect you to this extent, so please make sure your buyer agent knows how to write the contract to your benefit. 

Ultimately , as-is deals are good for both parties - the Sellers do not have to worry about giving up more money for repairs, and the Buyer is protected if anything is found wrong.

True Real Estate - Sarasota's Exclusive Buyer Agents

The newest hot spot in Sarasota Real Estate seems to be downtown, especially on the Bay. With the recent pricing downturn, luxury "see for miles and miles" condos are drawing the attention of bargain hunters.

 Living on the Sarasota bayfront has many perks.

1) There are the water views. Absolutely outstanding - and since all these condos face due west, the sunsets are hard to describe. The higher up in the building you go, the better it gets - you can see Sarasota Bay...all the Keys...and beyond out into the Gulf of Mexico.

2) The beach is close enough. Let's face it, only the diehards are on the beach every day - living on the Bayfront, you can take a long walk (or a short bike- ride) across the John Ringling Bridge to Lido Key beaches. Expansive and beautiful, they rival any other US beach. And you can be there in less than 5 minutes. (ok, thats by car...but who wants to rush such a scenic route, anyway?)

3) The Bayfront is outside your front door - Marina Jacks, Bayfront park, O'Leary's tiki bar, the Marina, outdoor art exhibits and festivals are a short walk out the front of your building.

4) Main Street is out your back door! Sarasota's diverse cultural experience, from live theater, art galleries, casual to fine dining, bookstores, libraries and boutique shopping is all within walking distance. Who says you have to let your brain rest when you live at the beach? Sarasota offers the best of all worlds.

5) VALUE. There will always be people who want stunning views, beach access and cultural venues within 5 minutes. Sarasota's bayfront condos have it all. And at these prices, how can you resist?  

True Real Estate, Sarasota's exclusive buyer agents, track the trends and keep buyers informed of where the value is...where the deals are...and what Sarasota real estate is their best investment. Sarasota's Buyers Broker - William True 

Most of us start our real estate search with a price range. It only makes sense, of course. But once you have targeted a few Sarasota area homes of interest, the question becomes

 "What can I get it for?"

The list price is often the Seller's view of what their home is worth, or what they think they want to walk away with. A good starting point, but certainly not the end of the story.

If you have saved several homes of interest and wish to compare them more in depth, let us know. We will be happy to look deeper, find out the true comparable sales, the market value, the Seller's equity - we will find out what the home is really worth in today's market.

Information is power - and we provide buyers with power everyday!

USEFUL REAL ESTATE SEARCH TIP:  If your favorite Sarasota listing has disappeared, it may have sold. But it may also have expired, been re-listed under a different number, or changed status. Ask us to find out for you - don't give up on what might be YOUR dream home!

As a buyer brokerage, our buyer agents do not tell people what to offer on their desired home. But we do offer as much guidance and information as we can, in order to make sure the buyer of a Sarasota home never pays too much.

A fallicy when writing an offer is that there is a set amount we can "lop off" the list price. As a matter of fact, we try to not consider the list price when looking at what is a fair offer. More important indicators include:

1) Latest assessed value - while this is a good guideline, it shouldnt be used by itself, and if the assessment is 11 months old, you may want to consider what the market has done in the past year.

2) Latest comparable sales - This is probably the most valuable resource when determining the current market value of a property. But coming up with the likely value based on comps is not the end of the story. We then consider...

3) What the seller paid for the home/current mortgage - If the seller has alot of equity, our offer may be different than if the seller has a large mortgage to pay off. Their financial needs and obligations can greatly affect their mindset when considering an offer.

One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes, a home is already priced very well. If the home is priced below market, we may consider a full price offer to seal the deal, before someone else runs away with it. Even in a buyers market as currently exists in Sarasota, the well priced homes can move quickly. Therefore we can never just assume that we can get alot off list price.

A Sarasota buyer agent can greatly assist when you are determining the real value of a home of interest.

In Sarasota, we have the unique opportunity to work with buyers from all over the world. This is a destination for investors, snowbirds, and vacation home buyers.

As many people are searching Sarasota properties from afar, having a local buyer brokerage assisting them is of great importance. Even those who have been here before, or think they "know" Sarasota can benefit from the knowledge and up-to-the-minute market information. For instance:

* Buyers searching the MLS in a certain neighborhood will find some beautiful homes, only a few years old. What they DON'T know, is that the developer of the property still has brand new homes, never lived in - and they are selling for the same as, or less than the resales!

* Buyers looking for a beach lifestyle find a great property with expansive beach views across the street. But the possibility that a major hotel chain may build their property right in front of this unit - effectively blocking all views from the unit for sale should it be approved - is not an evident fact.

* Buyers looking for water views often start and end their search on the beach. Many of our buyers have found that bay front condos are generally lower priced and offer huge water views and nightly sunsets.

* A buyer sees a home on a street they love, and its the lowest price home on the street! Thinking they are getting a deal, they contact the listing agent and prepare to make an offer on a home that, unfortunately, is not worth the money based on comparable sales.  But there is no one to tell them that...

Enhance your Sarasota search by talking to a Sarasota buyer agent throughout the process. We can provide great insight, recommendations and neighborhood knowledge to assist you in finding a great place in paradise!

In a recent study, Florida was named the # 2 place in the country to bring your business.

Based on factors including taxes, utility rates and economic incentives, big companies will be well served to move their companies here to Florida. Florida also scored high for employment growth, low corporate income tax rates, and the absence of personal income tax, making the state very attractive from a business perspective.

Add to that the natural beauty of our beaches, year round sunshine and proximity to so many great family destinations, and Florida is a great place to relocate.

Sarasota is a logical place to come, being situated an hour from Tampa,a growing area of commerce. Nearby Bradenton is home to several major corporations. These towns are an easy commute from Sarasota, which arguably is one of the most beautiful gulf-front small towns, with fantastic amenities - a great place to call home.

The study was conducted by Chicago-based Pollina Corporate Real Estate, which specializes in corporate relocation.