We have the best beaches right here in out little town of 37,000 folks!! Yes that's right Dunedin, Florida was voted as having the number one beach by Dr. Beach this year.  The Dunedin causeway is a beautiful road that leads to Honeymoon State Park, where honeymooners actually stayed back in the 50's earning it's present day name.  Just off the coast of Honeymoon is our lovely Caladesi Island which is a pristine beach of white sand.  We are lucky to live in such a lovely area that offers so much.  That's just another reason why I live here and work here, Celtic Realty, 1130 Pinehurst Rd., Dunedin, Florida.

There's a garden in Dunedin, Florida in Hammock Park, just off of Bayshore Blvd.  It is located right next to St. Andrew's Historical Chapel.  If you visit Dunedin, make sure you check it out.  It is a perfect place for a bit of meditation, a quiet moment or a pictures.  i took these pictures yesterday and even though it was a very warm summer's day, it was a delightful experience.

Dunedin, Florida could actually be called "Funedin"....Kids were having good old fashioned fun today at the water park.  It was good to see lots of families in the park enjoying the day, picnicking, swimming at the local pool and enjoying the children's water park.  The water park is fairly new and as you can see ...lots of fun.

Even though it was about 90 degrees today, still plenty of kids skating to the park, skating at the park and skating home....it was hot and they were soaked but sure having fun...the recreation center was also full inside with kids watching videos, playing games and enjoying the rec center freely.

What helps to make Dunedin "delightful" is the uniqueness of the town as well as it's residents.  Dunedin has several talented resident artists.  When Dunedin hosts an art and craft event, people from surrounding communities as far away as Sarasota, come here to enjoy them.   Dunedin also offers a variety of art galleries and an art museum in town to enjoy.  Dunedin recently added an "artists'" walk on Broadway that allows visitors to watch artists and craftsmen at work.   If you take a walk about downtown you may notice several wall murals as well.  And of course, make sure you check out the painted oranges on the front of many of our local businesses.  I am proud to announce that the building where Celtic Realty is located, 1130 Pinehurst Rd., Dunedin, FL just recently became the recipient of a new orange.  We are proud and "delighted" to have it grace our building!

With all of the short sale deals I have been involved with lately,  I have come to the conclusion that these tough times economically are causing otherwise decent folks behaving badly,  includingnearly all the parties to a transaction.  Seems everyone's emotional temperature is on the rise.  Seems everyone is ready to explode rather than trying to work together.  Not only are the buyers and sellers at it, but the agents for both sides, the title company as well as the short sale lenders and the buyer's lender all behaving badly.

  I think it's time for us  to take a step back.  We all make mistakes.  No one is perfect and some of these short sales just do not go as smoothly as we would like.  There are lots of surprises.  Buyers need to understand that often, they are getting a good deal but some of the circumstances may not be ideal.  Sellers need to cooperate with their lenders as well as their agents and respond quickly to requests for documentation etc.   The agents need to work together and not play the blame game.

Yesterday, for the first time in my career, I was reduced to tears.  I almost wanted to quit and just leave it all behind.  I was truly overwhelmed.  I longed for the old days when sales were "normal".    It was truly a "lousy" day.  One buyer could not be found after making an offer on a short sale and waiting it out months;  another buyer was hacked off at one of my sellers for not making all of his mortgage and maintenance  payments; needless to say,  I was in the middle of it all.  Followed by  Lots crazy emails and nasty messages.

Why not extend a little patience or a supportive word to another, even when you don't feel like it? even when you feel like the person you are dealing with is an idiot?  Why not  just  be kind?  Wouldn't the world be a better place and maybe, just maybe someone will do the same for you when you are having a really bad day.

About eight months ago I began working with a customer to find a property.  The customer signed a buyer's broker agreement with me.  We looked at a number of properties but she couldn't find just what she was looking for.  I had her pre-qualified by a local who I had done business with in the past.

Long story short, she goes out riding around in her car and finds a house.  She takes the info sheet. The house is listed with another realtor (who also does business with the same local mortgage guy and has his name on the back of realtor's info sheet).  Turns out she likes the house and makes an offer with the listing agent.  She calls the mortgage guy and asks about me.  He tells her he hasn't talked with me in a while (true).   The deal closes.  No one tells me anything.  Turns out the mortgage guy is a "friend and business partner" of the realtor; together they own a title company.

The customer said she didn't realize what she had done.  The morgage guy took no responsibility, even though I had told him I had a buyer's agreement with the customer.

The buyer's agreement is valid and I'm told by an attorney I should sue the customer.

I am not a happy camper.

I am writing this for help in locating a rental in Washington DC.  This will be an annual rental, preferably two bedrooms.  If there are any realtors who can assist it would be appreciated.  My daughter is relocating and she called a random agent and the agent never called her back.  I know we don't make any money on rentals, but if all goes well with her new job in DC, she may become a buyer.  Any help would be appreciated.  She plans to be there by Feb. 15, 2010 and has a dog.  We are aware that it is expensive and she will be working at the VA.  Thanks a bunch all you Active Rainers in DC.

Patricia

I am writing this for help in locating a rental in Washington DC.  This will be an annual rental, preferably two bedrooms.  If there are any realtors who can assist it would be appreciated.  My daughter is relocating and she called a random agent and the agent never called her back.  I know we don't make any money on rentals, but if all goes well with her new job in DC, she may become a buyer.  Any help would be appreciated.  She plans to be there by Feb. 15, 2010 and has a dog.  We are aware that it is expensive and she will be working at the VA.  Thanks a bunch all you Active Rainers in DC.

I hate REOs and bank owned properties because the seller has no information on the properties and if the agents do, some of them are not telling it all.  I had an out of state customer look at a Fannie Mae property this week and liked it well enough to make an offer.  We talked about what changes he would make in the house to make it just right for him and what a beautiful location that house had.  He had some additional questions that only the City could provide so I gave him directions and he went downtown to get some answers. (and of course I offered to do the research for him).   While there, he stumbled into the Engineering Department and asked some additional questions about the property.  Lo and Behold!  The property had permits pulled at least three times for sinkhole issues....wow.  Since the Listing Agent is a local gal, I would think she would have had some idea about that house that was not shared on the MLS listing because Yep....you heard it right...the seller never occupied the property and therefore doesn't have to any to make disclosures. I advised the Listing Agent via email and left voice mail messages, but the MLS hasn't had an noticeable changes made to it as of yet.  If that were my listing, I would let everybody know about the issue with the house.  I think that's the right thing to do whether the seller occupied the property or not.  Buyer Beware.

So yesterday was a lousy day and I had a place to vent on the Rain.  It was the place to whine and let out all of my frustrations with realtors and the real estate business in general.  I got a few comments and some very encouraging words....and I thought I'm glad I have the Rain. 

Today, is another story.  Today I am bragging about my new designation of Certified International Property Specialist, which was approved as of today.  Now, this isn't something I can share with just anyone.  I'm bursting at the seams to share this with someone who can appreciate what that means and not give me that "deer in the headlights" look and say "huh?"....the Rain is the place to do just that too.  So I am glad to have a place to share my news and know in my heart that you appreciate it!  Again, Thanks to the rain.