President OBAMA, We've been kicked out of our homes, can we live with you? - 05/28/09 10:09 PM
President OBAMA, We've been kicked out of our homes, can we live with you?
You have plenty of room, right?  You are the one responsible to fix the housing debacle.  You hand out money in the fall...they file bankruptcy anyway.  Don't you realize the disaster that you are creating for our children by handing out all this money?  It's not going to the right people.
IF, YOU DID MAKE A CHANGE, and get NEW people on your advisory team that WERE NOT, the same team that has been there forever, maybe the new blood would explain to you that, "Your word change, … (6 comments)

Do you prefer succinct blogs...or can you read all the paragraphs? - 05/27/09 10:48 PM
Do you prefer succinct blogs...or can you read all the paragraphs?
I for one, love the interaction of blogs.  However, with all the knowledge afforded here...when I see a blog that looks like a thesis...I keep going.  That's me...
Unless it is a tutorial, and it is something that I REALLY NEED TO READ OR TO BOOKMARK...anything over 150 words or so...is more than I do.  WHY?  Because I only have so much time to read what is written on AR.  I love this site, so I would prefer a short succinct, to the point blog.
I love AR and the points that … (14 comments)

A RE agents survival is a short sale in disguise.... - 05/27/09 09:39 PM
A RE agents survival is a short sale in disguise....
WHY?  READ ON.
It amazes me how many of the "seasoned agents" who go with the flow, who are astute enough, who realized the market was changing, and who adapted to this when it began...are still doing quite well.
That being said, learning to list, to process, to work with the banks, are the agents that are still doing well in this ever changing real estate market.
You hear that it's much more work than a conventional deal where there is not a short sale, however, with their longevity as real … (8 comments)

Slap me silly, or "What part of AS-IS for a short sale, foreclosure, REO don't you understand? - 05/26/09 03:50 AM
Slap me silly, or "What part of AS-IS for a short sale, foreclosure, REO don't you understand?
Contract 101...or 102, or 100 I don't know what to do???
What contract do you use when you are dealing with a short sale, a foreclosure or and REO (bank owned property)?
What addendums do you need?
Do you know?
Here's my training:
1.  If you have an offer on a short sale, a foreclosure, or a bank owned property...you need to use an ASIS contract...really is anyone going to make any improvements?
2.  How old is the home you are buying?  Do you … (51 comments)

Are you missing the bottom? - 05/25/09 11:15 PM
Are you missing the bottom?
If you want to buy in south Florida...you may want to call me soon...
Prices are holding and since March they have gone up by 6%  according to Trulia.com.
The general public needs to stop listening to TV stations who are reporting information that they think is correct.  After all, how many of these individuals have Real Estate licenses and really have an idea of the market trends.
Probably none.  If you do...please post.
At least in south Florida, east of Federal Highway (US 1), prices are holding their own...prices on the beach are stable.  Direct … (10 comments)

Amazing Buy Owner! Don't people realize they pay more up front fee's than they would a standard commission with a real agent? - 05/24/09 10:29 PM
Amazing Buy Owner!  Don't people realize they pay more up front fee's than they would a standard commission with a real agent?
It amazes me that the Buy Owner advertisements on TV present themselves as a better site for seller's than a real estate agents offerings.
Buy Owner charges fee's based on what the individual sellers choose.  In the long run...I have found that seller's pay more for options they are afforded than they would pay if the used a REALTOR(r) and were charged a standard fee for a listing...which is usually 6% - 3% for each side.
The sad part … (8 comments)

Memorial Day! Please remember our troops! - 05/23/09 10:35 PM
Memorial Day!  Please remember our troops!
On this Memorial Day weekend, I remember my Grandfather, he had a purple heart from the Korean war...
I have a friend who has two purple hearts from the Vietnam war, is totally disabled...can't hold a job.
I see "Vietnam vets", and "agent Orange vets" walking the highways in Broward County, Florida begging for money (not sure if they had an honorable discharge or not)...
The MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BLOG IS:  REMEMBER OUR TROOPS, THOSE WHO ARE STILL SERVING THE USA, with family here who miss them...
Say a prayer for them and remember all … (6 comments)

A walk through the day of a REALTOR(R)...this is true. - 05/23/09 10:05 PM
A walk through the day of a REALTOR(R)...this is true.
8:00 am... Another sales associate is calling me back with showing instructions (I called yesterday at 10 am.)  They are apparently early risers as I usually don't hear from anyone before 9 am...but wait...
It's 8:20 am,  so sorry I didn't get back to you on XYZ property yesterday, I was too busy to answer my phone...uh!  It's a $3M property...how many calls are you really getting on this?  OK... I'm calling you back by 9:00 am, however, your phone is busy...
OK...take a chance and jump in the shower...have showings … (13 comments)

It's a felony to sell property if you are not a licensed agent, at least in Florida...or if not a reciprocal state. - 05/21/09 09:02 PM
It's a felony to sell property if you are not a licensed agent, at least in Florida...or if not a reciprocal state.
So many times I have pulled up a listing from a non-Florida agent representing a bank as a listing agent.
Do you agents know that you cannot list, market, or sell a property in a state that you are not licensed in (unless you are in a reciprocal state), or you could be charged with a felony?
Selling real estate in a state that you are not licensed in is against the law.  In Florida, it is a 3rd … (15 comments)

Foreclosure vs. REO...do you know there is a difference? - 05/16/09 09:10 PM
Foreclosure vs. REO...do you know there is a difference?
In Florida, a foreclosure requires a judicial process. Usually a foreclosure results from the failure of a mortgagor to pay their monthly payments (default on the loan), typically 3 months in default.  The failure of a mortgagor to default on any of the requirements of the loan can also result in foreclosure, for example; the failure of the mortgagor to pay their property taxes. 
If their is a default on the loan, the mortgagee has two options.  One is to initiate a suit on the promissory note.  2. Is to initiate the foreclosure … (11 comments)

Everyone is looking for a "deal" in South Florida...well....here's the news. - 05/14/09 10:19 PM
Everyone is looking for a "deal" in South Florida...well....here's the news.
According to Trulia.com, Broward county real estate has gone up 6% since last month.
We have sold many of the foreclosures and REO's here, only to get info from our broker today to expect the banks to release yet another  batch that the banks were holding onto, waiting for the governments decision on how to allocate more money to banks.
Most people who are looking to buy in south Florida expect to get a "direct ocean" view for pennies on the dollar.  That is not the situation here east of … (4 comments)

Great police/funeral director advice. Security issues, safety...look at my mother's door... - 05/06/09 09:48 PM
Great police/funeral director advice...look at my mother's door...
When my father passed March 21, 2009, the police (who are friends with our family) and the funeral director (who also had been friends for years) suggested we have someone stay at our home during the wake.  After all, they lived in the same home since 1955.  It's been updated and is a beautiful home.
While all the neighbors were friends and were at the church to celebrate my dad's life...what to do?  Who do you ask not to show up?  Who could stay at the house while we (and the neighborhood) were … (11 comments)

Price it to sell, should we indulge an appraiser's opinion? - 05/04/09 10:46 PM
Price it to sell, should we indulge an appraiser's opinion?
Real Estate agents are not real estate appraisers and we all know this.  We do CMA's and check and see what other properties have been listed at, and been sold at in order to make an educated decision as to how to suggest a listing price for our customers. (This does not include properties in short sale status, foreclosures, and REO's).
An appraisal must professionally and competently comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).  Should real estate sales associates employ these people when deriving or suggesting a listing … (6 comments)

Why it's important to take that Post-Licensing Education class soon after you pass your state license exam. The 10 top reasons! - 05/04/09 09:18 PM
Why it's important to take that Post-Licensing Education class soon after you pass your state license exam.
Ah, you just passed your state exam...now you have to find a brokerage - hopefully with more training and a mentor to help you with the plethora of questions you have.  You are not sure of how to complete the contracts, you're not sure how to deal with a title company, you might even want to know how to seal the deal.
The post-licensing education for real estate sales associates is an excellent way to learn how to:
 1. Understand legal issues and risk … (7 comments)

Real Estate has finally stabilized in the south east Florida market. - 05/04/09 08:44 PM
Real Estate has finally stabilized in the south east Florida market.
In south Florida, the medium priced homes/condos seem to have stabilized.  Home/condo prices under $1M seem to be stabilized.  Home sales for instance are holding their own.  I just executed a contract that was within 8% if asking price.  Another agent in my office was holding steady at the asking price, and the seller's got it...it was close to a $1M dollar deal.
Warren Buffett suggested the same today according to a report on Yahoo.
So, it is the time to buy.  There are some lender's out there that are willing to loan … (6 comments)

I'm for CHANGE! I'm a REALTOR(R), and I'm running a campaign for change. - 05/02/09 11:34 PM
I'm for CHANGE!  I'm a REALTOR(R), and I'm running a campaign for change.
I'm promissing everything you want to hear, whether you are smart enough, old enough, intelligent enough to understand my policy...I'm going to make a change.
I will make your life better!  I will find you affordable housing.  I will not put you out in the streets.
I will not make you live with your parents, your brother, your sister, their children and families.  I don't want you to have 3 families in 3 bedrooms.
I want you to keep your home.  I want the banks to work with … (2 comments)

Don't attack me with your loan program...attack the buyers! - 05/02/09 09:08 PM
Don't attack me with your loan program...attack the buyers!
Why are you calling me, the REALTOR(R) with your great loans?  You can get me a great FHA with a measly credit score of 530...that's great for you...advertise that in the paper or somewhere, however, I don't refer customer's to anyone...I merely suggest they get a few different mortgage opinions.
After all isn't red-lining illegal?
I don't want to be involved in any way shape or form on the mortgage side of real estate...It's not my job, it's not my forte...the only thing I want from my customer is a great pre-approval letter.
… (16 comments)

I tickled the ivories at an open house...what a response... - 05/02/09 08:31 PM
I tickled the ivories at an open house...what a response...
With the permission of my seller's I had a great open house yesterday.  I'm an accomplished pianist and they had a baby grand.  While I was waiting for customer's to show up at the open house, I had the windows and door's open as it was a wonderful day in Florida.
What a better way to draw people into a home than to hear piano music outside... I lured them in.
While I wanted to stop tickling the ivories when customer's came in - instead, they stood around the piano and … (18 comments)

 
Karen_pic_2010 Rainmaker_large

Karen Monsour,REALTOR®, SSRS - SELLS FL WATER FRONT, SHORT SALE EXPERT!

Fort Lauderdale, FL

More about me…

Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach

Address: 4757 N. Ocean Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL , 33308

Office Phone: (954) 781-9393

Cell Phone: (954) 464-4194

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Common issues with real estate. It is, what it is! Let's address the everyday issues! From, the positive agent in South Florida!

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