Laura's Blog

A Rough Home Inspection

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:10:24 -0600

Today, I was at a buyer/client's home inspection. The Buyer was unable to be there and due to time constraints, we had to do it today. So there I was, for 4 hours, with a great home inspector, painfully acknowledging all the red flags, mold, water leakage, etc. I knew it wasn't going to be a smooth inspection by any stretch, but I didn't expect it to be as bleak as it was. This was a bank-owned property, vacant for some time, in a questionable neighborhood.........

Ah, the buyer loved the house, but thankfully wasn't so emotionally tied to it that she couldn't walk away from what would be a problematical money pit. I'm glad she made that decision, not that it was that difficult. To top it all, the additions were obviously not with permits. So, we are off to find the property that is right for her. And I am certain it will be either a short sale or a foreclosure, but not all distressed properties are disasters, so I am hopeful that we will soon be under contract again!

She is a delight to work with, so that also makes deja vu a bit easier!

New Beginnings For a New Year

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:17:07 -0600

I have been promising myself that I would start a blog this year. So here I am, starting. What to write about that hasn't already been done? So many posts I read are quite interesting, and worth taking the time to read. I especially like Ken Montville's posts and Katerina Gasset had one recently about working 24/7 or, NOT working 24/7, which I thought was a good reminder for us all.

Here in South Florida, more precisely, in Wellington, near West Palm Beach, aside from the fact that the weather is GORGEOUS (what more could you want?), business is comprised primarily of short sales and foreclosures. No surprise. I just closed a short sale in about 45 days, which is very good I think. Others are in the hopper, but are taking longer for various reasons. So often, the short sale bank is the holdup, so if there is a good reliable lender and a skilled listing agent on the other side, the sales can happen!

Sellers who purchased early on who need to sell are in good shape to do so if they are not greedy and stage the home and price it properly. That means, if there are a lot of foreclosures and short sales nearby, try to price it in the same vicinity even though that is a "regular transaction". Buyers would love to jump on a non-short sale property priced like one! Forget the hassle of waiting for unspecified lengths of time!

The buyers are beginning to get off the fence and there is lots of opportunity out there for those of us willing to put in the sweat equity. No one ever said it would be easy. But if practicing real estate (and finally getting it right!) is your passion, this is a great time to be in business.

7462 SALLY LYN LN, LAKE WORTH, FL 33467

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:06:14 -0600

THIS ANNUAL RENTAL IS BIG ON SPACE AND SMALL ON $$$$. Only $1950/mo gets a 5 bedroom, 3 full bath, 2-car garage home. New kitchen appliances, lots of grand windows and light-filled rooms. Includes washer/dryer. Nearly 3000 s.f. of space in Smith Farm, a gated community with amenities galore! Close to the Turnpike off Hagen Ranch and Hypoluxo, this home is waiting for the right family to occupy it. No pets please!

Great Rental in Lake Worth Florida

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:36:26 -0600

This 5 b/r, 3 ba single family home in the wonderful gated community of Smith Farm is available now, for only $1950 per month. Looking for 1 year rental. This is a 2 story home, with a bedroom and full bath on the main level, 2 car garage.

6621 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33412

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:23:27 -0600

Charming single family home in the Acreage. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, screened front porch, great pool and hot tub. 1.25 acres. In good condition. This is a possible short sale. $249,000. R2840744.

Wellington FL Real Estate these days

Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:21:43 -0500

As in many areas of the country, real estate in Wellington and the surrounding areas has taken a tumble. How far down it will go remains to be seen. I hope we have been through the worst of it. But the inventory continues to stagnate and sellers are either dropping prices just have the property seen or are being stubborn and leaving the price too high for anyone to accept. The good thing about this market is that it allows an agent to have time off for travel, study, or whatever. I choose to be more involved in my Rotary Club and other volunteer activities. While I am told this is a "normal market" (I came in just as the boom upswing began), and while I don't miss those agonizing days of multiple over the top offers, I would really like for the market to recover a bit so that all of us can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

PRICE REDUCED. POSSIBLE SHORT SALE. ALL OFFERS CONSIDERED AND ARE SUBJECT TO LENDER APPROVAL. The following property is currently for sale at $249,000: 6621 Royal Palm Beach Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33412. This is a charming 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, on 1.25 acres, with a screened front porch, a fireplace, and a huge patio and 20x 40 pool, AND a hot tub!