Sure, swim with the alligators as long as you know the risks... - 06/30/12 04:49 AM
 
There is a risk when going it alone.  This is true whether you are renovating your kitchen, selling your own house as a FSBO (for sale by owner), or managing your own rental property.
I had a landlord's previous tenant call me recently because their deposit had not been returned.  I explained that I was not the property manager and recommended they read the statutes. I then emailed the statutes to my "Do It Yourself" landlord who was going to immediately contact the tenant who moved out last month.
This served as a reminder to me that it is imperative … (34 comments)

Call a Local Realtor® - Not every "For Sale" sign is a “For Sale” sign - 06/28/12 05:50 AM
When shopping for a new home it is very common for folks to drive through neighborhoods looking for homes that are “for sale” that appeal to their taste. The problem with is not every one they see is "For Sale." For example, take the Indigo Crossing subdivision in Viera, Florida.  There are four homes with signs in front of them.  They are all under contract and, coincidentally, are short sales. Another good example is the Bayhill at Viera East development also in Viera.  As of today there are seven homes under contract and I am sure they all have a sign … (7 comments)

Selling Your Home - The Challenges of a Paranoid Seller - 06/21/12 07:30 AM
I affectionately call them paranoid sellers which may not be an accurate description at all.
Who are “they?”
They may be the sellers who will not allow an electronic lock box to be placed on their home.   They may be the sellers who must have their real estate agent be present to “bird dog” any prospective buyers who view their home. They may be the sellers who will not allow a sign to be placed out front because the neighbors may become nosy. I am not exactly sure who “they” are but one thing I do know is…
“They” are not … (19 comments)

Remember when the listings were all in binders? I don’t but… - 06/16/12 05:27 AM
This month’s ActiveRain challenge is a simple one for most of us…except for the youngest among us. You know, the one’s who have always had a remote control, cell phone and the Internet..
Which Mobile Device or Application Allows You to Remain on the Go?
Which one device improves my productivity, time management and client communication and frees me from the tether of “the office?”
To me the answer is not one single device but the synergistic effect of all taken together. You see it is not one of these but the ability to use any or all together that allows … (13 comments)

ActiveRain Contests…Why participate? - 06/13/12 02:03 PM
I think I have participated in maybe two or three contests on ActiveRain.  Not much participation considering I have been on here for over five years!
But I am beginning to maybe re-think my attitude toward the contests
Why?
I participated in the recent FAQ Break Into Summer Organized Contest.  Basically it involved writing ten posts answering frequently asked questions.  To me the ten posts here was like a ladder to be climbed.
Writing is difficult for me.
I am not a prolific writer.  Only ten of my previous 590 posts was featured. Yes, that is a humbling one per fifty … (9 comments)

Choosing Your Realtor® - Your local real estate expert? - 06/11/12 09:35 AM
Some time ago I read something that went like "an expert is a person with a briefcase 500 miles from home where no one knows them."
What is a real estate expert anyway?
In some cases I could pay a fee and become an expert in something.  For a fee I can also become certified in something. 
When it comes to real estate agents, I suggest that the expert is the one who, at a minimum,
has successful experience in your type of transaction (residential, short sale, foreclosure) that demonstrates competence, lives in the nearby area, participates in the local … (3 comments)

If I pay cash will the seller accept a lower offer? Does money talk? - 06/06/12 05:18 AM
Is Paying Cash an Advantage When Buying a Home?   The original title to this short post was going to be...  Sometimes cash will speak softly; sometimes cash will get attention.  To the seller - it is all cash, even with a mortgage. I sometimes hear things like I am paying cash and can close in a week.  But the reality is sometimes sellers can't move in a week.  Sometimes buyers can't get an inspection and a survey and title work done in a week. It sounds good but most often the "cash and can close in a week buyer" is … (13 comments)

Why didn’t you leave the door unlocked for me? - 06/05/12 11:34 AM
As I was leaving a showing this morning another real estate agent walked up as we were going out the front door.  He yelled up to me to leave it unlocked.
I responded with a simple “No, use your electronic lock box key to get the key yourself, please.”  His response was “Well, have it your way.”
Although it should not be necessary, here is my reasoning.
I owe it to the seller to leave their home as secure as possible when I leave.  I did not know this real estate agent so I was not giving access to anyone – … (13 comments)

Are Home Owner Associations Good or Bad? - 06/05/12 11:27 AM
Deed Restrictions, Homeowner Associations and the like... Help or Obstacle?  
  In the Viera and Suntree areas of Brevard County, Florida, you can not avoid them.  Both of these planned unit developnmets have master assocaitions as well as individual associations within each subdivision.  
In Viera and Suntree, as wella s many of the newer developemnts in Brevard County, there is no excaping the assocation.
 
Some buyers want rules to make sure things stay pretty much the way the neighborhood looks today. Some want the freedom to do as they please.   There is no shortage of rules in these … (4 comments)

How Long Should a Seller Wait for Closing? - 06/04/12 04:27 AM
Home Seller Tips: How Long Should a Seller Wait for Closing? I spoke with a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) seller recently who said she has a second viewing of her home scheduled for today.  She also said the prospects she will need three months to close once they have an agreement. 
She appeared OK with waiting although I find most sellers want to close as soon as possible.
The real question here should be how soon can or should I close? In her particular case it was a workable solution for her as well as the buyers as everyone … (35 comments)

Why is my home not selling? - 06/03/12 04:53 AM
Why do some homes sell quickly and others just linger forever?  Many times barriers to selling are thrown up early in the process such as…
MLS-entry only listings.  These are a hassle.  Call the out of town owner, negotiate with the owner, etc.  This is a hurdle that the listing agent could make a bit easier by attaching the property disclosures, etc. to the MLS entry. Folks, it ain’t going to easily sell. Price.  I have seen some that were built in 2006 and are now listed at almost exactly the same purchase price.  Folks, it ain’t going to sell! Price.  … (14 comments)

Will I have look at a lot of homes before I find "the one?" - 06/03/12 04:46 AM
How many homes must one look at before deciding this is the one?  Although the inventory of home for sale in Brevard County, Florida is down, there are still plenty of them to look at out there.  Today there are 850 active listings for 3 bedroom 2 bath single family homes for sale in Brevard County! The answer is - It all depends on things like...
Whether you have identified the real target area (if not the neighborhood at least a general area).  Whether you have identified the real budget - not some pre-approved up to maximum amount but what you … (49 comments)

How do I choose my Real Estate Agent? - 06/02/12 04:43 AM
Choosing a real estate agent to sell your Brevard County, Florida Home–It is not all about their  personality either.... When you prepare to put your home on the market one of the first steps is to decide who will assist you in the process…choosing your real estate agent. The major element of hiring a real estate agent should be the interview. Knowing the right questions to ask is critical.  I know many of the questions I will be asked and I better be prepared to answer them.
As a real estate agent in Brevard County Florida, I better know your neighborhood … (4 comments)

What questions will my real estate agent ask me when I interview them? - 06/01/12 07:14 AM
When interviewing a real estate agent to sell your home you should expect to receive a lot of background questions from the real estate agent.  If you don't get any questions about your home and your desires, you may have the wrong agent!
Most of these questions are targeted toward finding out about your property and may include general information like...
Reason for selling. How long lived in your home,  Whether leaving the area or buying a new home,  Your time line,  Your experience/familiarity with the real estate sales process,  Any improvements made to your home,  Your favorite things about your … (64 comments)

If I have the best price, will I always get the house? - 06/01/12 07:09 AM
Sometimes the offer is more than the offer price… I have read several articles recently about real estate multiple offer situations.  I am sure sellers are hoping this signals a shifting real estate market in Brevard County, Florida. A multiple offer situation is usually brought about when a very attractive listing hits the market and buyers recognize the value or it may just be luck like when a reasonably priced property gets the attention of more than one serious buyer. Either way several offers may arrive simultaneously! And the winner will be the one with the highest price, right?  Wrong! Prospective … (2 comments)

What will happen with the lot next door? - 06/01/12 07:08 AM
FAQ: What will happen with the lot next door?  Buyers who are considering the purchase of a home or condo with a vacant lot(s) next door or even a wooded area behind them must be careful when evaluating the property for purchase. These are only words of caution....not legal advice. Yesterday while showing an oceanfront condo in Indialantic, Florida I was asked about the vacant lot next door and what could happen with it.  The condo had some great south and east views from the balcony but if another condo was built the view could vanish. My answer was one I … (4 comments)

What is the difference between a townhouse and a condo? Why are the condo fees so much higher than a townhouse community fee? - 06/01/12 07:08 AM
What is the difference between a townhouse and a condo? Why are the condo fees so much higher than a townhouse community fee? Many home buyers confuse condos and townhomes although these are these two distinctly different forms of residential properties.  From the outside many of these are indistinguishable.   
But the differences can be significant.
In a condo you own no land individually.  You own your unit from the interior walls. You own an interest in all the common area and property.
The condominium association usually provides a master insurance policy and the owner individually insures their personal belongings, interior … (0 comments)

Selling your Brevard County, Florida home – Are you really motivated? - 06/01/12 06:23 AM
Selling your Brevard County, Florida home – Are you really motivated?   I see a lot of comments in real estate listings that refer to a seller's motivation.  But the word "motivated" is such an ambiguous term I wonder if it really says anything to a prospective home buyer. Motivation means the general desire or willingness of someone to do something...in this case sell your home.
How does one measure the level of desire when selling a home or condo? First of all, the logical answer - price.  I am not speaking of an under market, give away price but rather … (2 comments)

 
P3 Rainmaker_large

Gary L Waters PLLC- Broker Associate Realtor® Melbourne Viera Rockledge FL

Viera, FL

More about me…

Serving Brevard Realty, Merritt Island

Address: Rockledge,Viera,Suntree,Merritt Island,Heritage Isle, Port St. John,Satellite Beach,Cocoa Beach, Rockledge, FL, 32955

Office Phone: (321) 576-0037

Cell Phone: (321) 693-3850

Email Me



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find FL real estate agents and Viera real estate on ActiveRain.