Better Lead Conversion in Leasing Property - 07/31/07 08:57 PM
Lead to Lease
Today everyone wants information immediately. The internet, newspaper, flyers and other advertising provide this type of initial information to perspective tenants but how do you take someone from looking at information to signing a lease.
The answer is a good system and immediate follow-up from a qualified professional.
You would be surprised how many companies rely on someone to leave a message and then follow-up with that "Lead" sometime later. Actually, only 29% of callers who get an answering device will leave a message.
A good receptionist, that can record initial information, is invaluable because they are talking to a real … (2 comments)

Tallahassee, Florida - Golden Eagle Plantation - 07/31/07 01:47 PM
Welcome to Golden Eagle Plantation
Golden Eagle Plantation is home to some of the finest golf course living in the Southeast. Situated in the Northeast part of Tallahassee, FL, Golden Eagle provides for luxurious private living with all the amenities of being "in town." I have selected a few snapshots of homes in Golden Eagle in order to provide a "feel" for its great atmosphere.
Golden Eagle County Club
Of course, no great golf course community is complete without a great golf course. The following is a summary from the Golden Eagle Country Club web site:
Golden Eagle's foremost attraction is its 18-hole golf course, … (8 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate Market Update - June 2007 - 07/30/07 06:12 PM
Tallahassee Real Estate Market Update - June 2007
The June figures are in, and they confirm what we already knew.... The Tallahassee Real Estate Market, while down from the boom markets, is alive and hanging in there. Where prices in most Florida Real Estate Markets have come down considerably, Average Sales Prices in the Tallahassee Real Estate Market are only slightly down. All of the enclosed charts and graphs were compiled by information provided by a third-party, Real Estate Sales Information company (Metro Market Trends).
The strongest performing sector is the Tallahassee Condominium Market, showing modest decreases in average sales prices and sporting … (0 comments)

The Real Estate Industry Gets with the Times (online)! - 07/30/07 06:46 AM
The Real Estate Industry Gets with the Times (online)!
Buying a house used to center around the Real Estate Section of the local newspaper. Or, it meant driving through your favorite neighborhoods on Sunday to look for Open Houses.  Well, the times have changed and many Newspaper and Real Estate Companies are paying the price.  The Real Estate Companies that thrive are the ones that will embrace the change.
In a recent article released nationally through the AP reported that three of the top newspaper publishers by circulation have posted large drops during the second quarter. Gannet Company reported a 9.9% drop, McClatchy … (7 comments)

Training Schedule at Century 21 First Realty - 07/30/07 06:38 AM
July/Aug 2007
Monday the 30th- How to Communicate With Your Sellers, with John E. Whetsel.  Between changes in the Market and changes in Technology, it can be easy to forget what motivates your Sellers! The simple truth is that they will do business with the associate and company that can relate to them. Come to this training to make sure that you can relate to your Sellers!
Tuesday the 31st- Financially Qualifying the Buyer, with Joe Manausa. How many Agents have heard mortgage representatives say, "Underwriting standards have become MUCH tougher!" Do you know if this is fact or fiction? Make sure you are giving your buyers and yourself, all … (2 comments)

Building Permits: When and How - 07/27/07 06:16 AM
Building Permits:  When and How
The popularity of the reality based TV show ‘Trading Spaces' spawned an abundance of reality based home improvement shows.  These shows depict the fun and rewarding work associated with re-crafting houses, either for personal living satisfaction or for investment ‘flips'.  What the shows don't show however, are the hours spent obtaining the required permitting for the job. 
The Leon County Growth Management Division provides extensive literature for permitting both online (http://www.talgov.com/growth/resperinfo.cfm) and at their offices (408 N. Adams St.).   They do a great job of helping determine whether a permit is needed, and once decided, how to … (0 comments)

Good News for Tallahassee MultiFamily? - 07/26/07 09:15 AM
Good news may be around the corner for multifamily real estate investors who have seen their rate of return shrink by the one-two punch of property taxes and insurance costs.  Insurance companies have become increasingly reluctant to continue underwriting a large number of Florida policies or at a minimum drop various types of coverage. Citizens insurance company, the State run last resort provider is not a cheap alternative although it does provide coverage where others won't. As a result, many apartment owners have been forced to carry multiple policies to cover various risks at an ever increasing cost. Other investors, depending … (0 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate - Impacted by Student Housing - 07/26/07 08:19 AM
I was sent the following report by a Commercial Realtor in our office, Erik Snyder, who emphasized the importance of student housing in our local market (Tallahassee, Florida). I found it to be not only interesting, but also uplifting as we fight through this corrective market.
Student Housing Multifamily Apartment Property Niche
The need for privately owned near campus student housing will be greatly impacted due to three major factors: 1) The Echo Boom generation is reaching college age boosting the number of people turning 18 over the next decade to 75 million; 2) an increasing percentage of high school graduates are enrolling … (2 comments)

Loyalty: The Ultimate Reward of Quality Customer Service - 07/24/07 08:41 PM
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How to Choose a Property Management Company - 07/24/07 12:39 PM
As you accumulate investment property you also accumulate more work for yourself. There comes a point when you decide to pass the reins to a property management company.
This can be one of the most important and challenging decisions you make because the way your property is managed today will determine its value tomorrow.
So how do you go about selecting a property management company? What criteria should you use? Below are a few tips that will ensure you are making an informed decision and you are placing your property in the hands of someone who will "Look after your property as … (4 comments)

Bank or Mortgage Company - Which provides the better Mortgage? - 07/24/07 05:58 AM
So we've established that one of the key aspects of purchasing a home is securing your financing before you begin your home search right?  That being said I am going to dedicate several future entries to the topic of financing and really dig deep into the mortgage process.
I would like to start this discussion by examining general types of lenders.  So let's take a moment and discuss the following very important questions: Should I get my mortgage through my bank or seek the services of a mortgage company?  What's the difference anyway?
Simply answered...it doesn't really matter who you get you mortgage … (2 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate - Inclusionary Housing - 07/24/07 05:55 AM
Inclusionary Housing
In Tallahassee, like many cities around the country, affordable housing is becoming more and more unattainable for the lower classes.  Incentives to build cheaper housing have come and gone with some positives, but none successful enough to eliminate the need for further City and State level intervention.  The latest attempt by the City's planners to mitigate the growing housing prices is an ordinance called inclusionary zoning.   The basic premise of inclusionary zoning allows the development of affordable housing to be included in ongoing developments of all types.  The ordinance sets mandatory conditions for the inclusion of below market housing … (0 comments)

Leveraging Your Money - 07/24/07 05:52 AM
Leveraging Your Money
One of the greatest financial aspects of buying a home is the ability to leverage your money. Simply put, leverage allows you to use a small down payment and financing to purchase a larger investment. For example, if you bought a $125,000 home with 10 percent down, you leveraged the $12,500 down payment to purchase an asset worth 10 times that amount!
AppreciationThe benefits of leverage really become apparent with appreciation, or the rise in value of a property. Using the above example, say you were to live in the house for 5 years, and during that time property values … (0 comments)

Training at Century 21 First Realty - 07/24/07 05:51 AM
This week's advanced training schedule is set:
Monday the 23rd- Internet Presence as it Relates to the Seller, Dave Peeples.  Why is internet marketing important to your seller's? Do you know how to win listings at the right price because of our internet exposure and lead capture? Come to this training to increase your SALEABLE listing inventory!
Tuesday the 24th- Pricing the Property, Joe Manausa. How often do you "practice" your presenations? Are you "practicing" in front of your customers. Come to this training and make your mistakes in front of your peers, where the practice is FREE!
Wednesday the 25th- Caravan to … (0 comments)

When Should You Pay Points on a Loan in Tallahassee, Florida? - 07/24/07 05:42 AM
When it comes to comparing interest rates for a mortgage loan, homebuyers often have the option of choosing a loan with a lower interest rate by paying points. Simply put, a point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. For example, with a $100,000 loan, one point equals $1,000. Points are usually paid out-of-pocket by the buyer at closing.
Paying points may seem attractive, because a lower interest rate means smaller monthly payments. But is paying points always a good idea? The answer generally depends on how long you plan to stay in the house. Let's look at an example:
Bob … (2 comments)

Keys to Tenant Screening - 07/17/07 06:23 AM
Any tenant is better than no tenant, right? On the contrary, the time spent properly screening your tenants will pay dividends in the future.
It has been said that the majority of your rental problems can be taken care of in your screening process.
Below I have outlined a few of the areas that we use to properly qualify and screen tenants.
•·      Develop your own selection criteria as it proves very useful in avoiding differential treatment of applicants and it will shield you in the event of a fair housing complaint. These criteria must be applied to everyone because once exceptions … (4 comments)

Give a Little; Have Some Fun! - 07/17/07 06:12 AM
It's that time of year again. Big Bend Hospice is having its annual Golf Tournament to raise money for this wonderful organization. Our tournament is the largest fundraiser for Big Bend Hospice each year. This year's tournament is on September 10th at Golden Eagle Country Club. Teams and sponsors are still needed!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Tallahassee Florida Real Estate Market Report - Lot Sales - 07/17/07 06:08 AM
Lot sales in Tallahassee continue to Amaze me. Having tracked the trends in the real estate market in Leon County since the early 90's, the one market trend that seems to stand-out more than anything else is the "affordability" (or lack thereof) of build-able home sites in our county. The average lot price, over the past 12 months, is $89,000. Considering the the average home price in 1999 was $98,000, it amazes me that we are approaching that level for 'lot only.'
This graph shows both the price trend as well as the average number selling each month for residential lots … (2 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate Market Update - June 2007 - 07/17/07 06:07 AM
As with the entire US real estate market, the Tallahassee market is also experiencing a slowdown. Sales of residential units (Single Family Homes, Condominiums, and Townhouses) are down 26% for the period of January through May, compared to 2006. While this at first appears to be a very large correction, some positive signs exist. First and foremost, 2007 still stands as the sixth best year on record, surpassed only by the "boom" years of 2002-2006. By "clicking" on the graphic, you can see total sales through the month of May from 1996 to present.
Another positive note is the strength of … (2 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate Market Stronger than Florida as a Whole - 07/17/07 06:04 AM
May results of Realtor Sales show that while the Tallahassee Market is down, it is performing stronger than most of the Florida Markets. While most markets are down strong, their median sales price has dropped as well. But that is not the case in Tallahassee, where the median price actually rose 1%.
Florida
Sales Report - May 2007Single-Family, Existing Homes
•1.    *Data is only from the Marco Island Association of Realtors; data from the Naples Area Board of Realtors and Association of Real Estate Professionals is not included.
•2.    Data from the Hernando County Association of Realtors now included in the … (0 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate - Subdivision Turnover Report - 07/17/07 06:02 AM
The following table shows the most active subdivisions in Tallahassee with information regarding inventory, 12 months sales, and inventory in terms of "months of supply."
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Tallahassee Commercial Leasing - 07/17/07 06:00 AM
Earlier I spoke of building wealth by purchasing rather than renting.  Even if you don't take my advice or find yourself in a financial/life situation where you just can't "pull the trigger" on a property purchase it is important to fully understand the leasing process.  To ensure you are not disadvantaged by a landlord's (Lessor) "standard form" which most likely does not look out for your (Lessee) interests, l always recommend attorney review of the contract - yes a lease is a contract that is binding.
To back up a little, let's first describe the basic lease forms.  Leases for both commercial … (0 comments)

Listening Skills - 07/17/07 05:58 AM
We do a lot of training at my company compared to most small businesses. Often times, training is focused around our primary function ..... selling! I believe the greatest attribute of superior sales-people is top-notch listening skills. The following notes are the foundation upon which we base our Listening Skills Training.
ONE KEY TO HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE IS ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THE CUSTOMER
Customers have a variety of channels through which they can conduct business, including e-mail Web sites and call centers, in addition to traditional face-to-face contact.  Keeping customers happy no matter how they choose to interact with your company all … (2 comments)

Investment Tax Deductions - 07/17/07 05:53 AM
Are you one of the many investors who fail to take advantage of all the tax deductions associated with your rental property?
Every year millions of real estate investors pay more taxes on their rental income than they have to. Often, these overlooked benefits make the difference between losing money and earning a profit on your rental property.
Rental real estate provides more tax benefits than almost any other investment. But tax benefits are worthless if you do not take advantage of them.
Let's take a look at a list of deductions that you can start using now to save you and even make … (3 comments)

Tallahassee Business Brokerage - 07/17/07 05:50 AM
Business Brokerage
As a full-service real estate brokerage, we are often approached by people in the community who are actively seeking a business to buy. The first thing that we do is counsel these people about the effort it takes to run a business. Not all people are wired right to own and operate a business. The skills and personality traits that are required to make a business successful are not necessarily the same as those needed for somebody to be an excellent employee for someone else. A business requires a person who has a vision and drive, and is completely devoted … (2 comments)

Tenant Retention through Quality Maintenance - 07/17/07 05:47 AM
"Residents decide to renew their lease the day they move into their rental property."
In keeping with today's society, renters are much more educated in their buying decisions than their counterparts a few years ago. Along with this buyer's awareness is the requirement for quality service. While a property's image and location are keys to attracting tenants, the quality service and responsiveness of its management are essential when it comes to retaining residents.  As such, renewals are the most rewarding type of leasing activity for property managers because they reflect tenant satisfaction.  If you would survey your residents and prospective residents, you … (3 comments)

Managing the Customer Experience - 07/17/07 05:45 AM
When I buy a cup of coffee on my way to work each morning I have a certain level of expectation for the service I'm going to receive and the quality of the product I'm about to purchase.  I'd say that's true just about any time I intend to spend my money whether it be on a cup of coffee, a computer, a car, or more so...a home.
So the question is...What is being done to ensure that I receive the absolute best possible customer experience today so tomorrow morning I stop at the same place for coffee? 
The concept is referred … (2 comments)

Sellers' Motivation - 07/17/07 05:43 AM
There are over 3200 residential listings in the Leon County, FL market. This number is quite a bit higher than we are used to, and more than double the number we have seen during the past few years Seller-Market run.
A survey among Realtors who currently have residential listings in the Tallahassee Market was conducted by Don Pickett, Chairman of the Market Trends and Research Committee of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors. I believe this survey has found a strong factor in the increased number of listings on the market. The survey is below:
SELLERS MOTIVATION FOR SELLING
SURVEY
JULY 2007
This survey's questions were authored … (0 comments)

New Construction Slowing in Leon County, FL - 07/17/07 05:41 AM
With inventories at very high levels, the banks and the builders are taking notice. New permit applications in Leon County have dropped to levels not seen in over 15 years. New Home Sales are lower than they have been since 2002.
 
By keeping an eye on new permits and sales, we get a glimpse of how new construction is affecting inventory in the Leon County Market. The next chart shows that sales are leading permits, thus reducing inventory. The "Average Ratio Line" represents the average ratio between sales and permits of new construction during the entire time measured (January 1997 to … (0 comments)

Tallahassee Real Estate and Surrounding Markets - 07/17/07 05:39 AM
Here is some information regarding the Tallahassee (and surrounding counties) Market. Overall, this part of Florida is doing much better than the rest of the state, except for the beach market in Franklin County.
Again, we need to thank Don Pickett, Chairman of the Market Trends Research Committee of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors for this data.
APPRECIATION 2007 HALF YEAR
RESALE DETACHED HOME
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The Evolution of Real Estate Internet Marketing - 07/17/07 05:37 AM
It is no surprise to the Real Estate Community that the Internet has changed the way that the industry conducts business. The major impact that the Internet has had on the Real Estate Industry is the easy-access to information.  The internet gives access to potential home buyers of information that previously only gained through personally viewing a property. It is entirely possible for an internet house shopper to get a real "feel" for the looks and size of a property by viewing photos and virtual tours of the property on-line.  At Century 21 First Realty, we've actually sold homes to out-of-state … (2 comments)

Please see my Real Estate Blog at http://www.realestateblogtallahassee.com - 07/14/07 09:54 AM
Please see my Real Estate Blog at http://www.realestateblogtallahassee.com
This is my first attempt at "blogging" and I appreciate any feedback and comments that you can provide. The blog will focus mostly on the Tallahassee Real Estate market and real estate brokerage concerns in general. Additionally, I will periodically post market statistics for the Tallahassee Real Estate Market (and surrounding counties). Thank you in advance for your comments and feedback.
Joe
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Joe Manausa - Tallahassee Real Estate

Tallahassee, FL

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Century 21 Manausa and Associates

Address: 1140 Capital Circle SE #12A, Tallahassee, FL, 32301

Office Phone: (850) 386-2001

Cell Phone: (850) 508-1544

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