buying homes: Dunedin Causeway - Fishing, Boating, Sun Bathing, Walking - Florida - 05/30/12 01:19 PM
Dunedin Causeway - Fishing, Boating, Sun Bathing, Walking - Florida Style
The Dunedin Causeway connects the mainland out to Honeymoon Island State Park and is a local favorite to launch boats and kayaks, do some wade fishing, enjoy the sun with a good book or take a nice long walk along the water. With views like those available on the Dunedin Causeway, it is no wonder that locals flock to these shores.
Right now the Oleander bushes are in full bloom, making this fantastic area even more beautiful! A little bit of heaven for the photographer!
Dunedin Florida is a … (9 comments)
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buying homes: Homes With Repaired Sinkholes - Are They Safe? - 05/18/12 12:31 PM
Sinkholes are a rather common problem here in Florida. They are caused by water being pumped up from the aquifers. Some sections of certain counties are more prone than others but clients often find properties that once had sinkhole issues and ask if they are safe to purchase.
My recommendation is that the buyer get all information from the seller regarding the repaired sinkhole and that includes the engineering report. Sellers are required by law to provide this information in the seller's disclosure and if there has been repair work done, most sellers have the engineering report on file somewhere. I … (15 comments)
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buying homes: Will Prices Decline? Should I REALLY Purchase NOW????? - 10/18/11 07:40 AM
What if prices aren't at the bottom yet? Will prices decline? Should I REALLY purchase NOW?
Nobody has a crystal ball and can tell you for certain IF prices will get lower. What I can provide is exact data that you can use to compare the local market and make your own INFORMED decision!
Let us look at the data for Pinellas County Florida (that includes St Petersburg, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs and all the towns in between).
Here are the average sale prices for single family homes and in the second category for condos/townhomes/villas from 2004 thru and including … (53 comments)
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buying homes: Right Place At The Right Time - Thank Heaven - 07/04/11 03:02 PM
Yes, it was certainly a case of being at the right place at the right time yesterday! If things had not transpired as they did, the seller would have had some MAJOR repair costs! I was out showing home in Tarpon Springs Florida on Saturday with clients that had flown in for the weekend specifically to see their short list of homes. We made a day of it, viewing a dozen homes. Somewhere in the middle of that list we found THE home that they have made an offer on. A beautiful 4 bedroom 3 bath home with an enormous pool, … (15 comments)
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buying homes: Pinellas Realtor International Council - 06/20/11 08:04 PM
This morning I attended a meeting of the Pinellas Realtor International Council that was held at the local board of Realtors. Deborah Boza Valledor, a Miami based Realtor, was the guest speaker. Deborah calls herself an Island Girl, since her roots stem from the Florida Keys as well as from Cuba and other Caribbean Islands.
During this informative session I learned many interesting facts about the international market. For example, Florida leads in percentage of international sales over all other states in the country. These are the latest statistics out and cover March 2010 - March 2011. Florida has captured 31% … (2 comments)
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buying homes: Problem Solved............SUPER GIRL To The Rescue! - 06/14/11 10:19 AM
What is going to happen now? How do I get all of my belongings out of the home from this distance? Do I have to fly there for this? I really don't have the time right now!
Those are the questions and thoughts so many homeowners express when they are absentee homeowners heading toward the closing table. Who is going to get all of their 'stuff' out of the house? Where is it going to go? OMG, the homeowners go into panic mode,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or........................
Tada.........enter SUPER GIRL! Or their listing Realtor, which is the same as having Super Girl on their side! (That is what … (11 comments)
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buying homes: Too Many Contingencies Can Kill The Deal - 04/26/11 08:59 AM
Too many contingencies in an offer can really kill the deal! We got an offer on a listing of mine. It is a single family home in a great community and the buyers really are willing to negotiate - within reason! We got an offer over the weekend that had so many contingencies I knew it wasn't going anywhere even before I presented it.
First of all, the offer was 56k below the asking price but that is not the end of the world, we can go back and forth and attempt to negotiate the price. That is pretty much expected.
… (7 comments)
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buying homes: The Importance Of Home Inspections - 04/20/11 09:02 AM
Having a home inspection is something that you should consider a MUST! I cannot over emphasize the importance of having a home inspection! Even if you think you know the house well and can tackle any repairs on your own, you want to be sure you know WHAT you are getting!
The home inspector comes with tools that you do not normally have at your disposal. The inspector can check for mold that may be behind walls that you cannot possibly know about without having the proper equipment. There is an enormous list of things that could be wrong with the … (5 comments)
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buying homes: Help Buyers Narrow Down That LONG List Of Homes! - 04/12/11 09:03 AM
Help buyers narrow down that LONG list! With so many homes on the market and buyers wanting to see just about everything out there that meets their criteria, it is up to the Realtor to assist them in the process. There are a few basic things you need to do to get your buyer through this process.
First of all, never show them more than 6 or 7 listings in a day! It is just too overwhelming!
Second, when you give them their printout of what you are going to see also give them a pen! Instruct them to make notes … (5 comments)
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buying homes: Two Weeks Later My Offer Still Hasn't Been Presented? Are You Kidding??? - 04/08/11 02:46 PM
It has been one of those weeks! I had a client in from Rhode Island that made a cash offer on a short sale. We knew up front that this would take time before the bank responded, she expected that. What BOTH of us did NOT expect was a listing agent that is turning out to be impossible to work with!
We submitted a written offer TWO WEEKS AGO! My client has since returned home and is awaiting confirmation that the seller has accepted the offer and it has been sent on to the bank. Unfortunately I can't give her that … (14 comments)
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buying homes: Why Work With A Realtor When Purchasing Property? - 04/05/11 06:52 PM
Why should you work with a Realtor when purchasing property? Are you one of those people that think they can do this on their own? Did you know that it is the seller that pays all Realtor commissions? Did you know that not all real estate agents are Realtors? Did you know that all Realtors are regulated by a Code of Ethics and the National Association of Realtors?
If you need to have a tooth extracted do you do it yourself? How about if you need to set a broken bone? Are you going to wing it? Purchasing a home is … (4 comments)
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buying homes: I Am A Local Real Estate Expert - Zillow Is Not - 07/31/10 03:27 PM
So glad to hear that I am not the only one that does not understand why people use Zillow - a program with old information and no local knowledge!
Via Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist):
I Am A Local Real Estate Expert - Zillow is Not Whether you are thinking of buying a home or possibly selling your home you more than likely have stumbled upon Zillow and thought you hit the mother-load of real estate information! It's a fancy site … (4 comments)
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buying homes: Built In 1948 And NOTHING Done Since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 07/12/10 04:38 PM
While out showing homes today I can across a home that was built in 1948 and from the condition it is in, I would say NOTHING has been done since it was originally built!!!! I have not seen a kitchen that looked like this in many years!
I actually had to kick the bottom of the front door to get it open since the wood floor in front of the door had awollen up so that I could not get in!!!!
I was checking this out for an out of state client, together with her nephew. After I spoke … (77 comments)
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buying homes: Melting Out Showing Homes - 07/12/10 04:29 PM
I was out showing homes all morning and was absolutely MELTING in the heat!!! It is that time of year, humid everywhere, from Maine all the way down to Florida, summer is here!!! At least after a day of showing homes I can change and hop into the Gulf of Mexico for a swim to cool off!
Those are the advantages of living here in the Sunshine State!!! Blue skies and fantastic beaches!!!
… (0 comments)
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buying homes: What Makes A Good Buyer's Agent?? - 06/28/10 05:10 PM
How many times have you been asked about the tasks of a buyer's agent by a client? What has your response been? What ARE the qualities of a good buyer's agent?
Naturally, it is the responsibility of the buyer's agent to find properties that meet the clients needs and requirements which include location, price and specifics such as size and extras the home must have.
It is also the job of the buyer's agent to direct the client in the right direction with regard to getting prequalified. Knowing loan officers with proven track records is vital! You want to be working … (71 comments)
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buying homes: Florida Home Sales Increased Again In May - 06/22/10 03:41 PM
According to the latest reports out, Florida existing home sales increased again in May by 18%!! That is, naturally, wonderful news to report! May was also the third month in a row that the median single family home sale price rose!
This brings me back to my mantra of 'Don't wait until the ship has sailed to get on board!' With the increased market activity and decreased number of short sales and bank owned in our local area, those that don't get into action now will be crying the blues later!!!
Condo sales increased by a whopping 40% in May over … (0 comments)
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buying homes: Florida Swampland For Sale......Not My Grandmother's Florida............. - 06/15/10 02:42 PM
I have lived in the Sunshine State since 1954 and remember stories from my maternal grandmother of the price of land in Florida when she was here during World War II. My Uncle Steve was in flight school over in Avon Park back then and Grandma Tomecko came down for his graduation ceremony.
She used to tell me about my uncle telling her to purchase some land down here as it was dirt cheap! Her comment back then was "What, purchase that swampland that nobody wants?". As she figured it, Florida was fit for gators and mosquitoes but not much … (6 comments)
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buying homes: Negotiating - That Is What We As Realtors Do! - 05/18/10 10:52 AM
Negotiating is such an important part of our job as realtors! Right now I am in the middle of another round of negotiating..............a preforeclosure on the beaches. The bank is going to be taking quite a hit on this one but they want to move it soon. Water view (both Gulf of Mexico and intercoastal) in a great condo on Island Estates.
Remember that when you choose a realtor to work with you want someone with a proven track record in negotiating! That is something you can only learn with time and experience!!! I would love to assist you purchase … (7 comments)
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buying homes: Don't Wait Until The Property You Wanted Has A Contract! - 05/11/10 08:40 AM
Don't wait until the property you wanted to purchase already has a contract on it!!! I have seen this happen to many times during the last few months! People seem to think that the market is still standing still and that owners will accept anything just to sell the place. NOT SO!!! The market has picked up dramatically since the first of the year and things are moving!
Owners expect a reasonable offer but they are willing to negotiate. However, when the offer comes in 60-70k below asking price on a 300k property, the owner is often too insulted to negotiate. … (10 comments)
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buying homes: Common Misconceptions Among Buyers - 04/07/10 02:34 PM
Here is another great post from one of our Florida realtors worth re-blogging! Read on and (perhaps) learn a little:
Via Colleen McConnell, Tallahassee Realtor (Advanced Realty Group):
Misconception: If you pay list price, you're paying too much.
If you don't know what the current market value is for homes in the area and whether the market is appreciating or depreciating, you don't know what a fair price is and you're likely to miss out on a great deal by trying to low ball a house that's already priced well.
If the house meets your goals, is within your budget, and is … (0 comments)
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