I do understand the need for attorneys but not for every closing. Just closed on a beautiful home with buyers from out of state. It was cash. The Title Company, Best Title Solutions, Cape Coral, Fl. as usual did a fantastic job of making sure all the paperwork was in tact and that clear title was being awarded the buyer.

They commented that their last closing in their home state where lawyers must officiate and attend were hours long with negotiations still going on.  Seriously? I just don't know how anyone can actually plan a move and make it happen when attorneys make all the plans around their schedule.

I just think that closings should be about the buyer and the seller and all other services that they are paying for should be at their beck and call.

We here in SW Florida try to accomodate our customers and we try not involve attorneys to muck it up.

Congrats Cape Coral. We moved to Cape Coral in 1992 and the low crime rate was on the top of the list for good reasons to move to a community. The Cape has had some growing pains and continues that struggle but the bottom line is we live in Paradise. It’s nice to know the safety is still very good. While our friends and relatives from the NE have struggled with one of the coldest, snowiest winters ever we have enjoyed sunshine, blue sky and great weather. This spring the trees that flower have been dramatic, the boganvilla, royal Poinciana, orchid tree (it’s so cool to see these large trees covered with orchid flowers).

I have heard some silly voicemails, but this?  Come on! Sometimes we struggle for respect in our business. There are agents that bring it on themselves.

We took extensive licensing courses where we learned that this is a serious profession. I pride myself on a high level of professionalism. After all we are advising people on investing in their most valuable investment.  Since we are all mobile now, our answering machine or voicemail message should be professional and please identify yourself. 

When I call an agent, Please don’t just say Hello. Answer all your calls with your name.

I have been a “professional “ realtor for 30 years and I answer the phone,” Hi, This is Linda”. The person calling knows they have the right person if they are calling off an advertisement or from the web.  My voicemail says the same thing “This is Linda, Please leave your name, number and anything else I might need to have before I call you back. I will call you back as soon as possible.”

Another issue is the voicemail that doesn’t stop. Less is more.  No one wants to listen for 5 minutes to blah, blah, blah until you can leave a message. “Just saying”.

It comes down to thinking about what you as a consumer want and expect. If you want respect act accordingly.

I don't get it. I have a condo in Cape Coral that is going to the court house steps next week.  They are in a great area.The price is under $70k; only a couple of years old. They don't have defective drywall. The complex has a pool and the complex is located in a high end neighborhood.

Yet, even the two foreclosures haven't sold. This is my first short sale that I haven't been able to rescue and get to a successful closing. I don't even know what to say to my seller except I'm sorry, I really thought we could get this accomplished. I'm bummed like it's my fault. I know it isn't but I don't take failure very well. I'm just saying.

I had an eye opening 4th of July. One of my friends asked if I had seen the Forbes article on where the wealthy were moving? I said no. She said the rich are moving to Lee County and Collier county. WOW! I decided to do my own research and checked out how many over $1,000,000 homes have sold in the past 3 months. Are you ready? According to the state site there were 103 homes SOLD in Lee County. WOW again!   

It seems that the sales are spread evenly among Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Bonita.

 They are moving to be taxed less. We all know the story of New York taxes being outrageous. Also no income tax is a huge draw. Apparently the wealthy are heading to sunshine and palm trees.

We are finally warm but we seemed to skip past spring. We went from the longest, coldest  winter in many, many years to hot. Weird weather.  Just no easying into summer. It seems to be here. Ok, Let's go to the beach. Gators are on the move looking for love. The birds are on the move.

It was another success dispite the cold.  Sat. had few customers due to the cold and rain. Sunday brought everyone out.  It worked. Great day and I had my yearly Little Joe's Chees Steak. It is fabulous. Besides the food the idea is the art. As usual the artist had beautiful displays. It seemed there were buyers and fun was had by all.

We bundled up and were complaining like crazy, but we are in SW Florida and we are not supposed to have a freeze.  Then we had days of the same.  I've been here for 17 years and have never seen weather like this.  Well, the frost has done some heavey damage.  All the leaves fell off my boganvelia and even palm fronds are falling off.  The grass has turned brown all over town.  We are looking crispy.

The real estate market is still hot and moving very quickly. Dec. numbers were another huge number. These deals just keep coming and so do the buyers. Yeah.  There are suttle signs that the economy is recovering.  You can almost feel the energy.

The mortgage crisis is still a nightmare.  As a real estate agent for 29 years I try not to have surprises for my customers but, it seems that this market keeps them coming. My client was putting down $90,000 on a $134,000 home. Wouldn’t anyone think that was a slam dunk? Wrong: Turned down because the house to be purchased was a flip only purchased 93 days before contract.

Yes it appraised. The owner had purchased it on the court house steps, fixed it up and put it back on the market for market price.  But, because it was a “flip”, the new underwriting rules were not to approve any “flip”.  They consider a flip if owned for less than 6 months (Not FHA guidelines).

 The bank had no risk with that huge down payment but because of the “rule” they couldn’t sell the loan.  Therefore, the buyer was turned down the day before closing Dec. 30^th.  We scrambled and the buyer came up with cash to close on the 31^st.

I just received another call from a buyer prospect looking for the listing agent.  The OLD story of I will save money with the listing agent is really so laughable. 

 Buyers, PAY ATTENTION!  Many of the REO (Bank owned property ) listing agents don't work with buyers.  They don't have time.  They usually refer you to a buyer's agent. Some think a buyer can get a better price and the listing agent will take less commission.  Not in this market.  Brokers are not permitting this practice.  Commissions have nothing to do with the buyers. SW Florida's market is moving at lightening spead because of the foreclosures and short sale deals.

 These properties are selling quickly and if you don't have a buyer's agent working for you and looking to meet your wants and needs, you will be too late to the party every time. You really need someone who is paying attention, has many contacts and avenues to find you your best deal.  If you are shopping for a particular item, you don't just wait  for that item to go on sale at one store.  You look at all of the stores.  The best bet is to Google the price for that item.  Having a good buyer's agent is like having Google.  Now you will get the best deal.