Sarasota Florida Real Estate>>Florida Real Estate Specialist

606 Crane Prairie Way, Osprey, FL 34229

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:53:20 -0600

Perfectly on a park-view lot with a lake in-between.

606 Crane Prairie Way
Type: Willowbend
Location: 606 Crane Prairie Way, Osprey, FL 34229
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 full, 2 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $550,000

Come to Osprey, purchase this outstanding home and simplify your life! This beautiful Lee Wetherington built home is situated perfectly on a park-view lot with a lake in-between. Some outstanding features include an open, great room floor plan that exemplifies true Florida living. This well-planned home has high ceilings with tray details. The exquisite kitchen with wood cabinets and granite counters is perfect for entertaining and sliding glass doors take you outdoors to a beautiful screened lanai area with paver bricks. You can easily fit a pool in this area if you want, or just enjoy the nature parade from the park across the lake. It's amazing! 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Baths, 2 half baths, a Den and a Bonus Room. Lots of Storage and a beautiful, maintenance free community where you don't have to work, just play! This home looks like new and has been lovingly cared for. A whole house reserve osmosis water system and hurricane shutters are included in the purchase.

For a virtual tour visit: http://www.srqmediabank.com/gallery.php?gal_id=596

Visit www.SarasotaisConwayCountry.com for more information.

Search all Homes in the Greater Sarasota http://ar.searchforsarasotahomes.com

Contact Information:
Nicki Conway
RE/MAX Alliance Group

Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 888-716-4483
Fax: 941-870-4414
Email: nicki@NUMBER1EXPERT.com

KITCHEN

DINING ROOM

DEN /BONUS ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

Living RoomBedroom

Back Patio

Search all Homes in the Greater Sarasota area

http://ar.searchforsarasotahomes.com

466 Tomoka Dr., Englewood, Florida

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:23:23 -0500

Everything is new! Perfectly maintained!
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 466 Tomoka Dr., Englewood, FL 34223
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 bath
Price: $195,000
Why wait when you can have better than new? This gorgeous 2008 built home has all the upgrades. Formal Living/Dining room, split bedroom floor plan and gourmet kitchen with wood cabinets and granite counters. Crown molding in main areas. Extras include window coverings, built-in storage in garage and laundry that you won't find in new construction. 18 tile floors in all main areas. Impact glass and built to the most current hurricane codes. Historic Downtown Dearborn St. with outdoor cafes, nightlife, shops and studios is only 5 minutes away. Only 2 miles to the beach. 55+ community with great activity center, heated pool and shuffleboard and tennis courts. Planned activities and friendly folks! Come make new friends at Park Forest. If you love life, you'll love Park Forest. You'll be close to Venice, Port Charlotte and Sarasota FL!

Visit www.466TomokaDrive.com for Full details

Visit www.SarasotaisConwayCountry.com for more information.

Contact Information:
Nicki Conway
RE/MAX Alliance Group

Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 888-716-4483
Fax: 941-870-4414
Email: nicki@NUMBER1EXPERT.com

417 Golden Beach Blvd in Venice, FL - Location, location, location! Private deeded beach access for this great home!

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:18:29 -0500

Location, location, location!
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 417 Golden Beach Blvd., Venice, FL 34285
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $325,000
Description: Location, location, location. Only 3/10 of a mile to the private deeded beach access for Golden Beach, where you will dig your toes into the cool sand and enjoy your time in the Florida sun. This home is situated on a large, double lot, 17,229 sf. You can move right in to your 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with over 1600 sq ft of living space. This home has not been updated, but has been truly cared for. An thorough inspection has already been done and will be provided to you for your review. You can relax on your wonderful covered lanai and enjoy many peaceful hours watching the nature parade in your back yard. Inside, the hardwood floors are in excellent condition. Hurry to this home. It won’t stay long on the market as it is indeed priced to sell fast

Visit www.SarasotaisConwayCountry.com for more information.

Contact Information:
Nicki Conway
RE/MAX Alliance Group

Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 888-716-4483
Fax: 941-870-4414
Email: nicki@NUMBER1EXPERT.com

Fabulous upscale home! 3 bed 3.5 bath Willowbend

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:10:31 -0500

Upscale Home in Osprey
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 642 Crane Prairie Way, Osprey, FL 34229
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $565,000
Description: You'll lose your heart to this fabulous upscale home in Willowbend. This home is literally filled with fine quality upgrades and exquisite details from its welcoming 8' leaded glass doors to the formal living and dining area complete with built in buffet. Architectural details include columns, arches and detailed tray ceilings in all the major rooms. There is a luxurious master suite in the right wing of the home that includes a walk in closet with built in drawers and shelves, a soaking tub, walk in shower and dual sinks. A den is also in the right wing of this home and has gleaming wood floors, a beautiful wood work center built in, tray ceilings and decorator touches. The gourmet kitchenfeatures rich wood cabinets and granite counters and is combined with a cozy gathering room and separate breakfast nook. An additional two bedrooms and two full bathrooms occupy the left wing of this home. Upstairs, there's another 1/2 bath and a comfortable and versatile room. To top it all off, this home is situated beautifully on a private preserve lot. It's so enjoyable to relax on your pavered lanai and watch nature. This is your home. This is the one that will steal your heart.

An Investors Dream on Longboat Key Florida

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:06:51 -0500

Here's a fabulous opportunity to purchase an investment for now and the future! This old florida concrete block home is situated beautifully on a deep water canal front lot (almost 10,000 sq ft).

The owner has taken such good care of this home. It has a newer roof and some newer appliances, too. There are two very large bedrooms and two very large bathrooms, both with walk in showers. There's a one car garage and indoor laundry room, too.

One fascinating feature of this home is that the original owner was a fine art painter. In three areas of the home, she painted beautiful murals like this one.

Here's some photos of the interior of the home.

Now comes the BEST part. This home is valued BELOW the land value. That means that you can purchase this deep sailboat water lot with a home for $499,000. You can live in it. Or, you can use it as a rental. You can tear it down and build your ultimate dream home (the home next door sold for $1.5 million). Or, you can hang on to it for several years and watch your investment grow!

This home on Marbury street in Sleepy Lagoon is the absolute BEST deal on Longboat Key right now. Don't miss out on your chance to own a place on the beautiful Island of Longboat Key.

Learn all about Longboat Key.

ONLY $499,000 FOR DEEP SAILBOAT WATER!

Search all listings on Longboat Key: http://ar.SearchforSarasotaHomes.com

Outstanding Villa on Longboat Key

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:57:52 -0500

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

750 El Centro Drive, Longboat Key, FL

Lovely 55+ Community on Desirable Longboat Key Island!

2 Bdrm Condo

offered at $294,900

Year Built	1967
Sq Footage	1,632
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Covered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Charming free standing villa nestled within steps to the boat harbor at Spanish Main Yacht Club. Lovely 55+ community on desirable Longboat Key Island. Meticulously and lovingly maintained and updated. Brand new roof in 2007 and new A/C. Large, open living area with real wood burning fireplace and beautiful, bright sun room. Deeded beach access.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Living room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse

Swimming pool(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Properties

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 26, 2008, 3:24am PDT

387 Sunnyside Dr., Venice, FL

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:54:40 -0500

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

387 Sunnyside Drive, Venice, FL

Are you looking for a value? Here's one in beautiful Venice Florida!

3 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $165,000

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	1,403
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Run, don't walk to this wonderful value in Venice East. Here's an opportunity to own your own home in a terrific neighborhood. This home has a nice yard, plus newer appliances and windows. A whirlpool bath and granite counter tops in the master bathroom will feel so luxurious! All freshly painted and comes with hurricane shutters, too!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Living room

Dining room

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Alliance Group

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

1231 Chalet Ct., Ospry, FL

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:53:51 -0500

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

1231 Chalet Court, Osprey, FL

Maintenance Free Living in Osprey!

3 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $325,000

Year Built	2004
Sq Footage	1,838
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

If you ever wondered where Mr. & Mrs. Clean live, this is it! This beautiful and pristine villa has an open, great room floor plan and a wide open greenbelt view. It is located on one of the few cul-de-sacs in the Willowbend community. The floor plan includes a formal dining area combined with a great room. Many architectural details like crown molding, tray ceiling and arches plus decorator light fixtures provide a special touch. The galley kitchen has rich wood cabinets and corian counter tops. A special feature of this home is its tinted, thermal windows and sliding glass doors. Don't miss this special opportunity. Priced to sell fast.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Living room

Office/Den

Dining room

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Swimming pool(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Properties

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

750 El Centro Dr., Longboat Key, Florida

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:33:32 -0500

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

750 El Centro Drive, Longboat Key, FL

Lovely 55+ Community on Desirable Longboat Key Island!

2 Bdrm Condo

offered at $299,000

Year Built	1967
Sq Footage	1,632
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Covered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Living room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse

Swimming pool(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Properties

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Live a Carefree Lifestyle!

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:16:10 -0600

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

1314 Thornapple Drive, Osprey, FL

Exquisite Architectural Details!

2-3 Bdrm Single Family House

Offered at $425,000

Year Built	2003
Sq Footage	2,262 + 200 AC Hobby Room!
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This Lee Wetherington Topaz model is the only one built in the maintenance free community of Willowbend. Beautiful architectural details like columns and tray ceiling, built in shelves and niches make this home feel rich and luxurious. Although this home has a wonderful, open floor plan, it still exudes warmth and comfort. The home has a beautiful galley kitchen with cherry wood cabinets and corian counter tops. A separate breakfast nook has an aquarium glass window that overlooks the lanai and lake. You will love this house from the moment you step inside. The master suite has walk in closets, plus french doors leading to a separate sitting area. The master bathroom has a walk in shower for two, plus a vanity and dual sinks. A special bonus room through the garage was formerly used as a workroom. This 200 sq ft room is completely finished and has it's own air conditioning zone.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Living room

Office/Den

Dining room

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Swimming pool, fitness center, tot lot, social activities, sidewalks, 3.8 miles to the beach

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Properties

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 6, 2008, 5:03am PST

SOLD 1351 Thornapple, Osprey FL

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:12:25 -0600

Nicki Conway | RE/MAX Properties | 888-716-4483

1351 Thornapple, Osprey, FL

Only 4 miles to Nokomis Beach!

2 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $325,000

Year Built	2003
Sq Footage	1,853
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	6,600 sqft
HOA/Maint	$257 per month

DESCRIPTION

Lovely home located on a private lot. Lee Wetherington Cypress Model has an open flowing floor plan with architectural details like tray ceilings, arches, crown molding and niches. Beautiful galley kitchen with corian counter tops and wood cabinets and a separate breakfast area. You'll love this one, so be sure to put it on your tour! Only 3.8 Miles to Nokomis Beach!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Tile floor	Living room	Office/Den
Dining room	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nicki Conway

RE/MAX Properties

888-716-4483

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 29, 2008, 5:05pm PST

Sarasota Florida Real Estate FAQ's

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:50:54 -0600

Sarasota Real Estate FAQs

Fast Answers to Your Sarasota Real Estate Questions

Q. What's the weather like in Sarasota?

A. Delightful! The average year-round temperature is a pleasant 72 degrees--averaging 61.5 degrees in January and 80 degrees in August. The average annual rainfall in the greater Sarasota area is 60 inches.

Q. What's the Florida Homestead Exemption all About?

A. Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in the State of Florida and who resides on the property as of January 1 and makes it his/her permanent home is eligible for a $25,000 homestead exemption. The Florida homestead exemption places a 3% per year (or the cost of living index, whichever is less), cap on the amount of property tax the county appraiser can place on your property.

Q. When do you have to apply for the Florida Homestead Exemption?

A. If filing for the first time, the property must be yours as of January 1^st of the year you are filing. Then you have until March 1 of that same year to apply for the Florida Homestead exemption. You will need to bring a copy of your deed, a declaration of domicile or Voter's Registration and a Florida Driver's license.

Q. What is the difference between a Real Estate Agent and a Broker?

A: Most states require real estate sales professionals to be licensed by the state, so that they can control education and experience requirements and have a central authority to resolve consumer problems and that is true in the state of Florida.

The terminology used to identify real estate professionals varies a little from state to state. Brokers are generally required to have more education and experience than real estate salespersons or agents.

The person you normally deal with is a real estate agent or salesperson. The salesperson is licensed by the state, but must work for a broker. All listings are placed in the broker's name, not the salesperson's.

A broker can deal directly with home buyers and sellers, or can have a staff of salespersons or agents working for him or her.

Q. What is a Buyer's Agent and what does a Buyer's Agent do for a Buyer?

A: On most transactions, there is usually a listing agent and a selling agent. The selling agent is sometimes referred to in media as the buyer's agent, because he works on the buyer's behalf.

However...

There are some agents that market themselves as "buyer's agents," "exclusive buyer's agents," buyer's representatives," and so on. Mostly it is just marketing. At the same time, part of it is because they want to accentuate the reasons a buyer should not go directly to the listing agent when they purchase real estate. This has to do with agency.

See, if a buyer goes directly to the listing agent, they are dealing with an agent that has conflicting responsibilities. Their job is to get a good price for the seller and they may not zealously represent the interests of the buyer. Those who market themselves as "Buyer's Agents" indicate they are only working for the buyer in a real estate transaction.

The commission is still paid by the seller, no matter what they say in their marketing (with extremely rare exceptions). They either get paid directly by the seller or set up the transaction so that the seller provides a "credit" to the buyer for how much the real estate commission is -- then the buyer pays the commission.

Like a Realtor I once knew said, "No matter how it is set up, the buyer still walks away with the house and the seller still walks away with 94% of the purchase price."

Q. My home has been listed with a Realtor for over three months but it hasn't sold. What are my options?

A: All listing contracts have expiration dates. When is yours?

First of all, you need to request a face to face meeting with your Realtor. Ask him/her why he thinks it hasn't sold. If you are priced too high, then lowering the price might be the answer. Ask to see how your Realtor is marketing your listing. If he's not marketing heavily on the Internet, ask him if he will. Tell him you want a virtual tour, an enhanced listing on Realtor.com, a featured listing on his personal website, a listing in Craig's list, a listing on his Broker's website as well as Trulia.com and Yahoo.com.

If your agent is not willing to put in this kind of effort, then you should call his broker/manager and see if you can get another Agent within the brokerage. Or, simply ask your Realtor if he will cancel the listing. Often the Realtor will let you cancel easily, since he does not want to build ill will in the community.

Q. When buying a new home from a builder in Sarasota, what upgrades should we go for?

A: A lot depends on why you are buying the house. Are you buying it mostly as a home or mostly as an investment? There is a difference.

For the most part, upgrades are high-profit items for builders. They aren't designed to enhance the value of the house, but make you happier with the house you do buy.

If you are looking at your home as an investment, then you spend only a minimal amount on upgrades. If you are looking at your purchase as a home, then you select upgrades that will enhance your quality of living.

One rule of thumb is to always upgrade the carpet and padding. Also solid surface counter tops as opposed to Formica counter tops are more attractive when selling the home. So, put your extra dollars into the Kitchen and the Master Bathroom and be sure you have some kind of space in the house for an office.

Q. I agreed to buy a house in Sarasota and now I've changed my mind. How do I cancel?

A: This may not be the answer you were expecting...

For the answer to this, you have to look at your contract. The contract is the legal agreement you have made with the seller. Most contracts have certain contingencies where a cancellation is acceptable. To cancel for reasons other than that, there are often consequences and such a decision should not be taken lightly.

Keep in mind that while you have been preparing to close the transaction, the seller has taken his home off the market and may have entered his own contract to purchase a home. This can create a chain of sales and purchases, all depending on you to fulfill your obligation. If you do not fulfill the contract, your decision may affect many more people than just one seller.

For the legal consequences of canceling a contract, you may have to consult an attorney.

Q. The buyer now wants out of the contract on my Sarasota home. The contract has been signed by both parties. What are my rights, and do I have to keep my home?

A: When people really want to break contracts, you can't generally force them to go through with the transaction. What you can do, if you can prove damages, is try to recover the damages in court or through arbitration. You need to have a good Realtor and Real Estate Attorney review your purchase and sale contract. Perhaps they can speak to the buyers and try to resolve their issues. If the buyer still wants out and they have put a good amount of money in escrow, you should be able to retain at least 50% of that escrow deposit. The other 50% is usually divided between the two real estate brokers involved in the transaction.

Q. When buying a home, must a leak that has not been fixed be disclosed to the buyer?

A: In the State of Florida, the seller has to disclose ALL known defects with the home he is selling, even if they are not visible. If he does not disclose the damage and you discover it after you move in, you can take him to court. If the listing Realtor was aware of the damage and did not disclose, you can file a complaint with the Florida Real Estate Commission. That Realtor will probably have her license revoked for that.

Q. Can you negotiate the price of a bank owned home or a "foreclosure"?

A: Everything in real estate is negotiable. However, banks are more sophisticated about pricing than they were years ago. So those "Get a great deal on a foreclosure!" days aren't what they used to be. One thing is for sure...banks aren't in the business of owning Real Estate, so they will sell it to you if it makes sense for them to do so.

Q. I'm selling my Sarasota home "by owner" and was approached by a Realtor who asked about "agent protection." What does this mean?

A: This refers to the agent wanting to protect their right to a commission should you elect to sell to their client. In our home selling library, we have an article on types of listings. One of those is a "one time show." This is something the Realtor will probably come in and get you to sign before bringing in their clients. It identifies the client, the commission, and prevents you and that buyer from negotiating directly at a later time, with the intent to cut the agent out of the deal and not pay a commission.

Q. On a For Sale by Owner (FSBO), what is my financial obligation when a buyer's agent brings a client?

A: When a buyer's agent has a client who makes an offer to buy your home, the offer will also ask you to cover the agent's commission - either directly or indirectly. Since the traditional arrangement usually includes two agents and the customary commission is approximately six percent of the sales price, the commission asked for in this transaction should be approximately half. There is only one agent involved.

On the one hand, you save money over traditional agent marketing. On the other hand, you don't make as much as if you sold the home at its full market value. Then, on the other hand again, sellers working with agents usually get a higher price for their home than seller who work by themselves. It is a difficult decision for you to make.

Anyway, the offer will ask you to either pay the commission directly to the agent's broker, or apply a "credit" to the buyer so that the buyer can pay the commission. Either way it comes out of the proceeds of your sale.

Q. How do I sell my house in Sarasota myself?

A: You want a quick answer? People write entire books on this topic and one of the better ones is "Sold by Owner," by Robert Irwin.

It's like golf - it sounds easy. You just whack the ball a bunch of times until it goes into the hole. You may land in a sand trap or go out of bounds, but if you keep whacking at it, the ball eventually goes in the hole.

Buying and selling real estate is the same way. If you are willing to do all the work, you can muddle through and get it done.

Q. What is a Lease Option?

A: This basically means you are leasing or renting a property with an option to buy it at a future date. The future price of the property should be fixed at the time the lease-option is signed.

Usually there is an up-front payment of some amount to purchase the option. The amount can vary. Sometimes the monthly payment is larger than normal and the excess is used to purchase the option. In some cases, the option money can be applied toward the down payment for the later purchase of the home.

You will see many listings in Sarasota that offer Lease-options as these are usually done during a slow real estate market. During a hot market, the seller can simply sell the home in the regular manner.

Q. What is a Short Sale?

A. A Short Sale means that the mortgage on a home is MORE than what the home is worth. In this instance, the offered price must be negotiated with the bank and it will go before a panel who will make the final decision. A short sale usually takes a bit longer to close because of the red tape involved.

Q. I've seen these "No Down Payment" plans on late night television and want to know if they are real or just a scam?

A: The guys in the infomercials make a lot of money, but not in real estate. They are in the business of selling books, plans, seminars, etc. It's easier selling you those crazy schemes than it is for them to actually do what they are advocating in their programs.

If it was so easy, they would be buying real estate that way, not putting out infomercials.

Consistently making money in real estate requires a lot of hard work and a lot of hours. It isn't a "get rich quick" scheme, though sometimes the market turns at just the right moment and you can get lucky enough to make a quick buck.

Sometimes you hear about the "late night gurus" being charged with fraud. Those telling their "success stories" are often just actors.

As far as "No Down Payment", check with your Realtor or a local Mortgage Professional. There are FHA programs available with little or no money down.

Q. Is there a percentage a seller will mark up the price of a home? For example, if the asking price if $120,000 is an initial offer of $95,000 too low?

A: Although you can always offer whatever you want, yes, $95,000 is generally too low too offer for a home priced at $114,000.

It's like buying a car. You want to dicker with the salesman a little, but there is more room to dicker on a more expensive car than if you were going in and buying the least expensive car.

Sellers usually mark up the price a little because they realize most buyers aren't going to make a full price offer (though in different markets you can get offers ABOVE the listing price). In your example above, you were offering almost 15% below the listing price. They don't mark it up that much, just a few percent.

Before you make an offer, get your Realtor to go over the comparable sales of other similar homes in the same neighborhood. That is the same data the seller looked at when he priced his house, too. Make certain allowance for whether houses are selling briskly or slowly, and make an offer based on that data.

Note: When you look at comparable sales, you don't know for sure if the seller paid closing costs for the buyer or provided some other financing incentive, so keep that in mind.

Q. If you make an offer on a house, and the owner comes back with a counter offer which you agree to, can the owner still change his mind and sell to someone else?

A: A seller is free to withdraw the counter-offer any time prior to your acceptance of it. The communication method for acceptance is usually described in the contract. If your acceptance was communicated to the seller in the method required by the contract (prior to the seller withdrawing the offer), the seller should honor the contract with you and not entertain other offers.

But people don't always do what they should.

The problem then becomes whether you try to enforce your contract or not, which requires legal advice and expenses. For that, you have to consult an attorney.

Although you could probably technically enforce the contract, you have to reach a decision on whether it makes sense to expend the time and money to do so. Or does it make more sense to realize the seller is unethical and just move on to buy something different?

Q. Can you negotiate with a builder when making an offer on a new home?

A. Making an offer on new construction is not the same as making an offer on a resale. Most of the time, the margin for profit is so small on new construction that there is basically little or no negotiating. However, in the current market in Sarasota Florida (2007-08), builders are negotiating on inventory homes. Those are homes that are brand new and already built, but haven't been sold. Ask your Realtor to help you with this as they generally have a good knowledge of what upgrades are really worth.

Q. What should the property inspector be doing during the inspection of the house during my due diligence period?

A: The Inspector should be checking the following things:

Drainage
Foundation
Roof & Water Leaks
Paint
Plumbing
Wiring
Heating
Fireplace
Tile
Appliances
Pool and Equipment
Missing and Torn Screens
Windows and doors
Locks

Q. What can be claimed as a tax deduction in when you buy a home in Sarasota?

A: This is really a question you should ask a local CPA or whoever does your taxes. We encourage you to follow up with a professional tax advisor as we are not qualified or authorized to give advice in two areas - legal matters and tax matters.

Briefly put, providing you itemize deductions, own and occupy the home, you can deduct both property taxes paid on the home and interest paid on your mortgage. You can deduct the points and prepaid interest you make during the actual purchase, whether you pay them or the seller pays them on your behalf.

There are certain limits and restrictions which do not affect most people, but this is another reason you should contact a tax professional regarding your question.

Q. Is an attached garage usually considered in the square footage of a home in Sarasota?

A: Although a garage is attached to the home, it is not considered part of the home's square footage. That is because only livable space is considered in the square footage calculation.

Calculating the square footage of a home is not as easy as it sounds. Neither real estate agents nor homeowners should attempt the calculation (at least not if you want a reliable figure). Rarely are houses perfectly square, which is one reason for the difficulty. Appraisers map out the house on a piece of graph paper, calculate all the edges, come up with "mini-areas" for each rectangle - then add them all together.

Plus, there are other intricate rules. If there has been an addition to the house and the owner did not receive a building permit, then that section of the house may not be allowable as part of the square footage. The same with attic and basement conversions, lofts, and so on.

It is best to rely on a licensed appraiser to recalculate the square footage of a house.

When a home's square footage is advertised, the figure usually comes from previous sales, perhaps as far back as the builder, or it comes from the county tax records. Homeowners and real estate agents don't usually recalculate the square footage. Like we said, it is very difficult to calculate the square footage of a home.

Q. Where can I get information on the asking prices of properties that have sold during the last six months? I have found the information on the selling prices, but would like to compare them to the asking prices.

A: The only place I can think of where you can obtain that information is the Multiple Listing Service. For that, you need to be a member, but you could ask an agent to obtain the information for you. I cannot think of any reason why an agent would not be willing to give you that information, so just ask one.

There really is not a concrete value in knowing the asking prices. There are different strategies in developing an asking price, plus a lot of properties start out over-priced to begin with. Comparing properly priced houses to over-priced houses, then lumping them together in some sort of analysis would skew your figures.

I can see how you could intend to use such knowledge for the purposes of negotiation, but with an informed listing agent, it should be a fairly ineffective strategy.

For example, recently I saw a web site where the agent was hawking his ability as a listing agent. He said the average home in his area sold for 93% of asking price, but his average listing sold for 97% of asking price. The implication was that he got more money for his sellers.

The truth is probably just that he priced his homes correctly to begin with.

Q: How do I set the selling price for my home?

A: When selling your home, setting the right price is essential. Follow these steps to make sure you've set the best price for your home:

•· Review the current real estate market and price your home accordingly.

•· Take into consideration factors like square footage, number of rooms, and location.

•· Real estate prices are constantly on the move. It's critical that you base your home price on the most recent comparable sales in your vicinity.

•· Ask your Realtor for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)-a background report that helps you create a reasonable list price for your home.

Q: What are the two standard contingencies found in a purchase offer?

A: The two standard contingencies found in a purchase offer are:

1. Financing contingency: The home purchase is contingent upon whether or not the buyer can secure a loan from a lender.

2. Inspection contingency: A buyer has the right to have the property inspected for any problems that may have not been disclosed. If significant issues arise, the purchase offer could be revoked.

In either contingency, the outcomes may vary. A deposit can be forfeited if the buyers renege on a sale for reasons other than those contained within the contract agreement. If the seller does not fulfill his or her responsibilities (e.g., clear title not given, agreed-upon repairs not made, substantial changes to the property effected before closing), the purchase again, may be forfeited or other consequences may occur.

Q: What types of issues must a seller disclose when selling a home?

A: When selling your home, you (the seller) and your broker are responsible for disclosing any known issues that could materially affect the value of the property. More specifically, disclosure must include items which may not be obvious to the casual observer, such as a cracked foundation, of which you, as the homeowner, have knowledge.

When dealing with the sale of homes in Florida, the seller is required by law to provide a Seller's Property Disclosure Statement. This identifies the current condition and history of all physical aspects of the house.

Q: Is there a "best" time to sell my house in Sarasota Florida?

A: In a word, yes. The ultimate selling factors are, of course, supply and demand and general economic health. Another factor is the month in which you list your home, which can actually net you a higher selling price.

In Sarasota, the high selling season is January through March. This is the time when folks from "bad weather" areas are visiting Sarasota and are making purchases for vacation homes. It creates a domino effect, because as houses are selling, those sellers that were lucky enough to sell, are purchasing as well.

Q: How can I get my Sarasota house to sell faster?

A: There are numerous factors that go into the speed to which a house sells. Generally a house in Sarasota will sell quickly when it has been well-maintained and priced a bit below current market value. Also, if your home has been tastefully remodeled within the past ten years, you'll find it will not only sell more quickly, but will obtain a better price than similar homes that have not been updated. Another suggestion would be to have your home "staged", so that it looks warm and inviting to potential buyers. Remove all of your clutter and personal photos. Allow the buyer to imagine himself living in your home.

Q: How much home improvement is too much?

A: There is generally a cap to the amount of home improvement that should be done. In other words, there are high-return improvements that will generally recognize a higher sales price, such as kitchen, bathroom and mater suite remodels. But other less-obvious upgrades may not have such significant returns. It's not a good idea to start a major remodeling project just before putting your home up for sale. You probably won't recoup the money you spent remodeling. The best and least expensive things you can do to improve your home's appearance is to hire a professional painter and paint all the walls a neutral color. Paint the trim glossy with an off white. Then either replace all carpet and padding or have it cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner. Hire a maid service to come in and give the place a thorough cleaning. Improve your curb appeal with some flowers and bushes and you'll be surprised how many more showings you'll receive.

Q: What is the MLS?

A: MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. When a real estate agent is a member of the MLS, s/he has the ability to be part of any aspect of a home purchase or sale. In other words, even if a property is listed with Company A, it may be sold by an agent working at Company B.

If you, as the seller, list your property with a real estate agent who is a member of MLS, you'll give yourself the added benefit of having more agents aware of your listing and, ultimately, working for you. If you list with me, buyers will have access to the complete Sarasota Multiple Listing Service through my website. Just click on the button below:

Q: Should I use a real estate professional?

A: Yes! A professional agent will secure the best price for your Sarasota home. Negotiating the complex workings of the market is incredibly involved. Having a professional's invaluable expertise will make every aspect of the transaction easier, from financing to the purchase contract.

Q: What should I do if my neighbor just sold their home for a lot more than I'm asking?

A: Don't panic! It's not uncommon for houses in the same neighborhood to sell at different prices. Location is just one of the components that factor into home pricing. Before raising your asking price, consider other factors, such as age, features, size, style, and any recent additions or remodels you may have made to your home. You'll quickly find that the difference in price is reasonable, given the differences you discover with your assessment. If there is no discernable difference between your home and your neighbor's, consult your real estate agent about considering an adjustment of your asking price.

Q: Is quality medical care available in the greater Sarasota area?

A: Yes. Sarasota is blessed with two fine hospitals, Sarasota Memorial Hospital which was ranked as one of the 50 best and Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota. In addition, there are plenty of walk-in clinics and alternative medicine available.

Q: What types of social activities are available in the Sarasota area?

A: Let me count the ways!

Golf: Sarasota has many beautiful golf courses to choose from including public, semi-private and private.

Tennis: If you love tennis, Sarasota has many tennis courts! There's a public court right at Siesta Beach! You'll find tennis courts as one of the amenities in many of Sarasota's fine communities.

Boating: Oh my! If boating is your passion, then Sarasota has many options for you. Even if you don't have a boat, you can rent one or join the Freedom Boat club. Some communities have boat dockage available, or you can purchase a boat storage facility, or rent one.

Senior Friendship Centers: There are several in the greater Sarasota area.

The arts: Sarasota is rich in cultural activities including museums, live theatre, symphony, ballet, opera.

State Parks: The greater Sarasota area has 2 state parks, The Oscar Scherer State Park and the Myakka River State Park. Both offer biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, birding and just wonderful enjoyment of our Florida natural environment.

Beaches: Sarasota has several public beach areas, including Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Shores, Nokomis Beach, Turtle Beach and many more.

Organized social events within communities: Each community is different and many offer social activities like wine tasting parties, luncheons, monthly social gatherings, etc. Be sure to ask your Realtor about the social activities within the community you're considering.

Q. What costs do I need to consider when purchasing a home in Sarasota?

A: 1. The purchase price of the home.

2. Property Taxes (Florida has a homestead exemption if you live here for 6 months and 1 day.) As a rule of thumb, property taxes will usually end up to be 1.25% to 1.50% of the purchase price.

3. Property Insurance including wind. (The price depends on several factors and I can hook you up with the best insurers for quotes.)

4. Utilities and Services 5. General Home Maintenance.

Q. Are there job opportunities for seniors in Sarasota?

A: Yes. Sarasota has a very low unemployment rate and there are plenty of jobs available. Many of my senior clients have found their "true calling" after they've relocated to Sarasota

Q. I don't want to, nor do I need to work during my retirement. However, I would like to volunteer my time.

A: Sarasota has many volunteer opportunities because of its rich cultural atmosphere. Volunteers are always needed at the hospitals, the Boys and Girls Club, the Resource for Women and many, many more.

Please feel free to ask me any Real Estate Question you might have and I'll include it in this blog if it's appropriate.

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Statistics-Nov 07

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:09:23 -0600

Sarasota Real Estate Statistics for November 2007

Price Range	Active Listings	Sold November	Current Pending
$50,000 to $250,000	1108	36	108
$251,000 to $350,000	951	27	64
$351,000 to $500,000	898	21	59
$501,000 to $750,000	706	22	43
$751,000 to $1,000,000	419	7	28
$1,001,000 to $2,000,000	518	7	20
$2,001,000 to $3,000,000	216	2	6
$3,001,000 to $10,000,000+	167	7	1
TOTALS	4983	129	329

It's always interesting to compare Sarasota's real estate stats from year to year and even month to month. In the month of November, of 2005, there were 840 active listings added to the market from the month before. The absorption rate jumped from 4.5 months in October of 2005 to 6.45 in November of 2005. At this point, we were still in a fairly "normal" market, but because Sarasota had been one of the hottest Real Estate markets in the US for about 3 years, real estate agents and economists were pretty much in denial, stating over and over that there was no such thing as a bursting bubble. A year later, in November of 2006, Sarasota had a 19-month supply and now in November of 2007, there is a 21 month supply of inventory. This is actually better than last month where there was a 30 month supply!

In Sarasota, we feel that the trend is changing. Buyers are jumping off the fence and they are buying homes at unheard of pricing. Our high season is upon us. We feel that we will have a strong International clientele this season with the Euro strong against the dollar.

The Condominium market in Sarasota Florida shows 3281 active listings and only 83 sold for the month of November 2007. The absorption rate for condominiums shows a 24 month supply.

**Sarasota** **Real Estate** Statistics for November 2006
Price Range	Active Listings	Sold Nov '06	Month's Supply
$50,000 to $250,000	772	80
$251,000 to $350,000	1285	53
$351,000 to $500,000	1507	54
$501,000 to $750,000	1155	25
$751,000 to $1,000,000	521	12
$1,001,000 to $2,000,000	557	9
$2,001,000 to $3,000,000	177	4
$3,001,000 to $10,000,000+	156	2
TOTALS	6130	239	19

**Sarasota** **Real Estate** Statistics for November 2005
Price Range	Active Listings	Sold Oct'05	Month's Supply
$50,000 to $250,000	211	41
$251,000 to $350,000	585	78
$351,000 to $500,000	863	74
$501,000 to $750,000	658	38
$751,000 to $1,000,000	396	26
$1,001,000 to $2,000,000	341	6
$2,001,000 to $3,000,000	145	1
$3,001,000 to $10,000,000+	172	0
TOTALS	3371	276	6.45

Enjoy the Koi at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota FL......

All About Osprey Florida

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:18:44 -0600

Osprey Florida is located just South of Sarasota on the Gulf Coast of Florida

The area is close to Little Sarasota Bay and is just a short ride to beautiful Nokomis Beach. Osprey is a lovely town and is an up and coming area of Sarasota. As you're driving South on US 41, you will immediately feel a sense of tranquility when you enter into Osprey from the hustle-bustle of Sarasota.

Pre History

Prehistoric people from as far back as 3000BC lived in the area of Osprey now known as Spanish Point. They lived along the shoreline and built villages there. They buried their dead in a burial mound along with things like shell necklaces and pottery. This gave us an insight into their lives and some of these items remain intact today.

You can't talk about the history of Osprey or of Sarasota without mentioning Mrs. Bertha Potter Palmer

Mrs. Palmer was a socialite from Chicago who discovered the area back in 1910 and with much foresight, she bought up thousands of acres of land in both Sarasota and in Osprey. She planned to use the land for cattle ranching, preservation, and of course, development.

The area in Osprey where she settled was called the Webb estate and included 350 acres. The pioneer buildings were preserved and were connected with the elaborate gardens. Mrs. Palmer was an avid gardener and delighted in experimenting with exotic plants. Her heirs generously donated 30 acres of land which is now known as Historic Spanish Point. Here's a map of Historic Spanish Point, which you will also find at their website.

The Oscar Scherer State Park is one of my favorite places. My husband Jack and I spend most Saturday mornings riding our bikes along the many trails in the park. If you like to camp, there are numerous camp sites within the park and plenty of picnic areas located throughout the park. Each little camp area is equipped with a picnic table, too. Entering the park is like taking a peak at old Florida. Scrub areas, creeks, alligators, Eagles, Osprey, and our Florida Scrub Jay are all part of your experience in the Park.

The Oscar Scherer State Park also has it's own beachfront lake called Osprey Lake and there are plenty of canoes to rent where you can paddle along the North Creek and really get in tune with nature.

There are several residential communities in Osprey. Osprey is considered a wealthy area with the highest per capita income in the Sarasota area! That's due to the type of communities that have been developed there.

Here are a few of the fine communities you'll find in Osprey Florida:

The Oaks

The Oaks is a lovely community of Luxury Homes located right at the entrance to Osprey from Sarasota. The community has three main sections: Oaks Bayside, The Preserve, and Oaks Clubside

The Oaks Club offers its residents many fine amenities including 36-hole golf course which has been recently renovated.

For tennis lovers, the Club offers 12 Har-tru courts. They have many planned activities like team tennis, group tennis and tennis camps or even individual tennis lessons. The Oaks Club also offers its members a junior size olympic pool and a tot lot for the kids.

The Club offers a Social and Dining experience second to none. There are two dining rooms for your enjoyment and plenty of planned social activities where you can make new friends and have a few laughs. All in all, The Oaks is a fabulous luxury community.

Southbay Yacht & Racquet Club

The community of Southbay is an established community located on the West side of US 41 and directly on little Sarasota Bay. Some of the homes in this community have expansive bay views and those homes are selling for $1.8 million and up. Most of the homes in the community are NOT on the bay but enjoy the use of the beautiful Marina facilities where you can keep up to a 50' yacht for a very small sum of money IF you live in the community. There is also a beautiful clubhouse for social events as well as a heated community pool. Home prices range from $450,000 to $900,000, depending on the location of the home within the community of Southbay. Many of these home were built in the 70's and 80's and need major renovation, however, the community with it's 5 miles of walking trails and 350 homes is well worth the trouble. Many homes have already been renovated and the trend will continue. Here's a tour of the Southbay Community.

Willowbend

The community of Willowbend is located across US 41 from Southbay, so it's on the East side of US 41. It's a newer community of homes built from 2002 to 2005. The community was developed by Lee Wetherington Homes and is the first community to enforce the Florida Yards Program.

Willowbend is a maintenance free community which means that the association fee includes yard maintenance as well as outdoor pest control, lawn sprinklers and water, high speed Internet (Verizon FIOS) and comcast cable TV. The fee also includes maintenance of the common areas and use of the Community Center Facilities, Community Swimming Pool and Fitness Center and the Tot Lot and Basketball Court. Home prices in Willowbend range from $350,000 to $700,000. Many of the larger homes have a wonderful view of the Oscar Scherer State Park from their back yards. Willowbend is an active community with many planned social activities. The Association Fee for the smaller club homes is $240 per month and for the larger homes it is $260 per month. Here's a tour of the Willowbend Community.

There are other fine communities located in Osprey, like Rivendell and Park Trace. Both of these are newer communities with lovely homes ranging in price from $350,000 to $900,000, depending on size and location within the community. There are also homes built directly on the Sarasota Bay with enormous bay views.

A big draw to living in the Osprey area is Pineview School for the gifted. The school is part of the Sarasota County Public School System, but has stringent requirements for entry. There have been some fabulous and talented kids graduating from this fantastic school.

Casey Key

The drive down Casey Key in Osprey Florida is one of my favorite rides. Beautiful Mansions line the streets and on Casey Key, you have the sparkling Sarasota Bay on one side and the turquois waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the other. What a lovely, pleasant ride you'll have.

New Communities

The new Bay Street Village is just starting to develop in Osprey. This beautiful new community will encompass 40 acres East of US 41 and will include about 500 townhomes, condos and lofts as well as fine retail shops and five restaurants. There will be a new library on the site and the entire concept is a live-work community. If you'd like to know more about Bay Street Village, be sure to contact me at 941-315-3331.

In Conclusion

Osprey is an up and coming area. There will be a new Baypoint Park located adjacent to Historic Spanish Point and across the street from the Bay Street Village. This will be a beautiful park where folks can enjoy sunsets on the bay, launch a canoe or kayak and enjoy nature.

The location of Osprey is very desirable due to it's close proximity to the Sarasota Bay, Siesta Key Beach, Nokomis Beach, Boating, Golfing, Fishing, Camping, Shopping, and all that both Sarasota and Venice have to offer.

Here are some more photos of this lovely little Florida town.

I hope you enjoyed your scroll through Osprey!

A Scroll Through Sarasota's Baypoint Park

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:07:51 -0600

A Scroll Through Sarasota's Baypoint Park

If you're driving along US 41 and heading for downtown Sarasota or planning a stop at St. Armand's Circle to do a little shopping before you go to the beach on Longboat Key, you're going to drive right by Sarasota's beautiful Baypoint Park, where you can take a stroll, watch the boats, play by the fountain, or have a cool one at "Cocktails in Paradise". Sarasota has always been a Mecca for the arts and the current display at Baypoint Park makes a wonderful statement about the city's love for the arts.

So, come take a scroll with me down the path along Sarasota Bay and let's look at some beautiful art...

Star Pointer

This one's called "Comprehension"

A Man looking at "The Man"!

The Bench

Ominous Icon

Asphalt Art

Pudding

The building in the background is the Ritz Carlton

Tequesta 1

The Music Box

Pamplooa

Scenery along the Path

Autumn Rhythm

Crossroads

Enjoy the View along the Path

La Divine Proportion

Wave 2 Me

Zephyrus

Serenissima Moonstruck

Celebrationes

Happy Birthday Andy

(In celebration of Andy Worhol)

There's nothing more beautiful than Sarasota Bay. The bridge is called "The Ringling Causeway"

Pulse

"Pulse" is one of my favorites. I love how the shiny stainless steel reflects the images in the bay.

Wedge

Sorcerer's Gate

I hope you enjoyed this little scroll with me along Sarasota's Bay. Please come back again to enjoy our beautiful city.

Longboat Key Florida...Your Paradise Awaits!

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:07:25 -0600

As I write this blog post, I'm thinking back to a few days ago when I was literally showing condos in Paradise. Longboat Key, Florida is one of my favorite communities in Sarasota Florida and one of my favorite places on earth.

Longboat Key is a 9-mile barrier island just north of Sarasota Florida. It's flanked by the Gulf of Mexico on the West Side and Sarasota Bay on the East side. Here's a map

Starting at the South end of the Key, you have the Longboat Key Resort. Behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club, you'll find a variety of condominiums as well as ultra luxury single family homes that line the Gulf of Mexico.

Some of the amenities in having a membership at the Longboat Key Club are

45 Holes of Championship Golf
Two Driving Ranges with Complimentary Range Balls
38 Har-Tru Tennis Courts
Four restaurants from Casual to Elegant
Private pristine beach and pool with complimentary cabanas, umbrellas and towels provided by the beach service staff
Fitness Center and Spa use included in each level of Membership
- Open 7 days
- Weight Training
- Expanded fitness programs
- Personal trainers for individual training program
- Licensed massage therapists

Also on the South end of Longboat Key and East of Gulf of Mexico Drive, is Country Club Shores. This community was built in the 70's and in the old Florida Ranch style. Most of the homes are located on man made canals that lead directly to Sarasota Bay. Many of the older homes are being renovated or completely knocked down and brand new homes built. Many of the newer homes in this neighborhood and especially those directly on the Bay are worth millions. Homes in this neighborhood range in price from $600,000 to $7,000,000.

Mid Key, you'll find mid-rise condos on both sides of Gulf of Mexico Drive and the farther north you go, the lower they get. There are some new condo developments rising mid-key and they are all luxury condos starting at $3 Million. Positano on the Gulf is one such condo.

And Wicker Beach is another

Longboat Key North End

Restrictions for how high a building can go, are in place and therefore, the North End of Longboat Key remains as charming as it was many many years ago. Here you'll find the historic Longboat Key Village. One of my favorite places in this part of Longboat Key is the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. They offer classes for young and old alike and always have a nice gallery of art to view or to buy.

For places to eat, you just can't beat Longboat Key. Here are a few of my favorites:

Euphemia Haye This is classic food in a casual atmosphere. You've gotta try it! You'll have to eat dessert upstairs. They won't serve it to you downstairs! Yummm!

Harry's Continental Kitchen Wonderful gourmet food in a nice, casual old Florida setting. They have a stand up bar and across the street is Harry's deli.

The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill I love this place for its expansive Bay view. It's a casual restaurant where you'll get fresh fish and great hamburgers. You can eat inside or out. It's called the Dry Dock because that's exactly what it is. You can dry dock your boat here! It's fun to watch them pull the boats off the racks!

If you like nature, then head over to the Joan Durante Community Park. You'll find paths for walking and ponds for reflecting. A quiet place where you can become one with nature.

If you love to shop, then you can head to nearby St. Armands Circle where you'll find many fine boutiques, salons, day spas, gift shops and restaurants. Have an ice cream at Kilwins or head to Tommy Bahamas for a cool mojito!

There's also some shopping on Longboat Key. There's a great gourmet market if you want to eat in.

And at Avenue of the Flowers, there's plenty of shopping!

Then, there's boating. If you love to boat, or just watch the boats, Longboat Key is the perfect setting.

So, relax and enjoy your home on Longboat Key, or just settle in for a nice long vacation!

White, Sandy Beaches, sunny skies and that warm Gulf of Mexico breeze makes Longboat Key and unforgettable place in Paradise.

I, Your Realtor....

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:54:53 -0500

As Realtors, we are often pushed and pulled in many directions from day to day. It's a wonder we maintain our sanity. Listings agents, in particular have had to endure many a whiny seller in today's market.

I ran across this Cathy cartoon while I was tidying up my office the other day and thought I'd share it with you.

My version: If I show your house, but don't sell it, it's because I, Your Realtor, did not explain every feature.

What's YOUR version?!

Jersey Boys...good for business!

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:19:09 -0500

Recently, I attended the grand opening of the Jersey Boys road show in Chicago. Here's a photo of me and the real Franki Valli. The blonde is my brother's girlfriend, Terri.

The performance was outstanding and we had a ball! But here I am again, travelling around and having a good time, while knowing that when I get home, my real estate business will be thriving.

I've learned through my travels over the summer that my business doesn't have to get in the way of my life. We're all only given ONE life to live and living it is what I'm doing. I LOVE my Real Estate business and I love working with people and finding them homes and selling their homes, but I will not let my business run my life.

Back to Jersey Boys. The roadshow is coming to Tampa soon and so I arranged to buy 120 tickets, of which I've sold every one. Who did I sell to? People in my farm, potential buyers and sellers, past clients. Now that I have all the tickets, I'm going to invite everyone to my home for cocktails and food and to pick up their tickets. So, there are 120 tickets, all with my name on them and 120 people who are going get to see Jersey Boys because of me and who I KNOW will have a fabulous evening and who will all think of me whenever they hear "Sherri". What else? They will talk about it to their friends and my name will get around and my business will grow because of it. This is Real Estate Marketing 101. It's called "creating a buzz".

Here's me with Bob Gaudio and my brother's girlfriend, Terri. I got that poster signed by everyone who attended the afterparty and who had anything to do with the production of the musical.

So, think about what you love to do and try to figure out a way to weave that into your business and make what you love to do work for you.

Can Peacock Poop Kill A Real Estate Deal?!

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:15:17 -0500

A Peacock Kills the Deal...

As I was unlocking the door (2nd showing) to this beautiful home on the north tip of our glorious Longboat Key, the buyer, who had taken a stroll out back, came running around the front and said, "Nicki, don't bother with turning on the lights..." and as he was saying it, I opened the front door and there they were, female Peacocks sitting on, pooping on and dropping their feathers on, the beautiful architectural balcony of the $1.2 Million Dollar home.

..."that killed it for me,"he said.

He said when he went out back, they were sitting on the steps and walking all over the yard. I looked out. There were about 10 of them. None of them beautiful, as the females are not beautiful. We had a good laugh, but I explained that if he put a caged pool in or even a caged lanai, it would take care of the problem.

He said since it was a second home for awhile and he would only come a few times a year, he didn't want to worry about a balcony full of Peacock poop and feathers. When we got in the car, he said, "You know, I heard they are good to eat!"

Oh well. We found a better place for him, so the Peacocks killed THAT Real Estate deal, but not MY real estate deal!

Peacocks have been roaming the streets in the historic part of Longboat Key for many years. Folks have come to love the creatures but many feel they are a nuisance. Most buyers that I take to Longboat Key, and who spot a Peacock think it's charming that they roam freely in the streets. They seem to be contained in the north historic part of Longboat Key, where the art center is located.

It's okay with me.....gave me something to write about! By the way, this home is absolutely stunning inside.

Hot List Event...Not So Hot

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:29:34 -0500

Last night we decided to go to the SRQ Magazine's Annual Hot List event. It's always big news in the area. You'd think with a name like "Hot List", Sarasota folks would come dressed in the latest and greatest and would want to be seen in their best attire. I'm not a fashion critic, but last night I saw the worst fashions I've ever seen at any event.

For example, about 7 women wore Scarf dresses. These are basically, well, big scarves that are sewn together, have straps that either go around the neck or over the shoulders. The bottom of the dress goes to the floor in a point at the front of the dress and hardly covers the butt at the back. Ladies, these dresses are UGLY. These dresses are not fashionable and I wouldn't wear one to a costume party for halloween. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

There were several ladies (and men) with torn jeans. I saw a lot of hooker outfits. One especially on a 50 year old woman that looked like it came from Fredericks of Hollywood.

The entertainment was pathetic. A comedienne was introduced as one who had done stand up on an HBO program. This woman was about 65 years old and came on stage with cards from which she READ her jokes. I have never seen a comedian read jokes.

The fun I had last night was people watching. Come on SRQ magazine, I know you can do better than that.

What Does "Jersey Boys" Got to Do With Real Estate?

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:29:34 -0500

I'm involved with the Broadway Musical hit "Jersey Boys" because my son is one of the producers. He has a Tony Award sitting on a high shelf in his brand new home in La Jolla CA which has 180 degree view of the ocean

Ralph and Gail in their new home in La Jolla CA

I'm not writing this to brag. This is a good story and all of us Realtors can learn a thing or two from this young man. I know I have.

In High School, Ralph wrote an essay on what "Success" means. His theory was that success is not measured by how much money you make or how many material things you have. True success is knowing that you've done everything possible in your life to be successfully happy. Pretty profound for a 17 year old boy.

When Ralph graduated from the University of California at San Diego, he didn't waste any time figuring out what he wanted to do career-wise. He got a job with Prudential Securites as a stockbroker. It wasn't too many years after that, that Ralph was able to buy his mentor's book. This was a substantial book of business. Ralph is now very successfully happy and as a Senior Partner is in the top 1% of Financial Managers at Wachovia Securities.

Ralph Bryan got to where he is today because he decided early on that he wanted to make a difference in his community of La Jolla. His wife, too (she now sits on the Board for a major photography museum). They both love the arts and especially theatre, so Ralph started volunteering his services at the La Jolla Playhouse. He soon became the person in charge of getting the donors to donate. Those of you who know La Jolla, know that it is a town of very rich people. Ralph rubbed elbows with the best of them. About 4 years ago, he was voted President of the La Jolla Playhouse (the youngest board president ever). The venue is where many of the Broadway hits begin. He brought Jersey Boys to the Playhouse. It was an instant hit. Because he is in the business of managing people's money, Ralph was able to put together a group of investors to produce the musical.

This photo is at a Franki Valli fan club party the day before the Broadway Opening of the Jersey Boys. From left to right, Jack Conway, Nicki Conway, Bob Gaudio, his wife, Ralph Bryan

Nicki Conway and Bebe Newarth at the Jersey Boys Broadway Opening

Pauly from The Sopranos and Nicki Conway at the Jersey Boys Broadway Grand Opening

Nicki Conway, Ralph Bryan, Franki Valli and Frank at the Franki Valli Fan Club Pary before the Jersey Boys opening on Broadway

So on with the story. This whole Jersey Boys adventure has been a lot of fun, but I guess the real moral of this story is this: Follow your passion, do some good in your community and connect with like-minded people. Your real estate business will soar.

As a Realtor, I've used this Jersey Boys connection to make new connections in my business. I've put information about the Jersey Boys in my newsletters to my farm, and now the roadshow (of which I'm an investor) is coming to Tampa. So, I've offered to put a group together (past clients, potential clients) and get them tickets to the show (they pay!). I have 75 people so far who want to go and the show's not until March 1. I'm going to have a pre-party in my hotel room and all of these people are invited. There'll be food and a door prize or two...a t-shirt or CD. It will be fun evening and guess what? Everyone will talk about it to everyone they meet. This is called creating a Buzz in marketing lingo.

The Jersey Boys Blog is a fun place to go and learn all about the show. I hope you enjoyed this post and have learned a little something that you can use in your Real Estate Business.

And...go see Jersey Boys! It's fantastic!

No Closing and Buyers are In

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:34:11 -0500

Okay, it happened. In a previous post, I asked for help in convincing a seller NOT to allow the buyer in before closing on her Sarasota Florida home and I want to thank you all for your comments.

Do you think the Seller listened? Instead, she not only let them in her garage, but allowed them to put their things inside the house. I documented everything and sent her in writing my stance on the matter.

Here's what happened. Day of closing, the buyer walked. Since all contingencies were met including a loan commitment, he released the $30,000 escrow deposit and requested that the entire amount be paid directly to the Seller. I agreed, even though there was a 50/50 split in the listing agreement. We renegotiated the agreement so that the Seller extended her listing with me for an additional 6 months. The reason the buyer walked, was that the buyer for HIS house walked. BIG MESS. So now the guy is out $30,000.

The Seller, although happy with the $30,000 is extremely agitated over this whole thing. Oh yeah, I even saved her $5000 on her property insurance by recommended a different insurer. Why so agitated?

It took 4 days for the buyer to get his stuff out of her house because he did it all himself without the help of a professional mover and used a van. The seller was calling me in tears because the buyer was bumping furniture up against walls and scraping her tile floors. I reminded her kindly that it was none of my doing and I vehemently opposed allowing the buyer into the house.

Here's the kicker. This Seller claims that she was a Realtor for 25 years. She was a Realtor for 25 years and never, never had anything like this ever happen to her before. She, the Seller was a Realtor for 25 years, sold many houses and never had one closing not go through. She, The Realtor for 25 years was so upset that she, the Realtor would not allow the sign to go back up in her yard. The Realtor (of 25 years) would not allow a lock box to go on the property.

I, her Realtor, advised her to take a few days and really think about what she just said. I, her Realtor will call her next week. Right now, it's Friday afternoon and I don't want to hear any more about a deal that went sour for which I had absolutely no control.

A big Margarita sounds really good right now. Have one on me, will ya?

Help me! I Have a Seller Who Insists on Letting the Buyer In...

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:54:54 -0500

...Before the closing. Finally, after four months of heavily marketing the home at 718 Shadow Bay Way, in Sarasota Florida. I have a great contract to purchase this beautiful piece of Real Estate! However, the buyer somehow got in touch (by phone) with the seller and asked her if he could move stuff into the garage BEFORE the closing. She told him YES. Then she asked me if it was okay. I told her NO WAY and immediately contacted the agent for the buyer. I told him to PLEASE sit down with his buyer and explain that in no way, should he be contacted the seller directly.

The buyer's agent said he would do that and that these folks haven't bought a home in many, many years and just didn't know how things worked.

Then today, my associate, Joe was driving by the house and discovered THE BUYER, putting stuff into the garage. He stopped to ask him how he got in and the buyer said that the seller gave him the code to the garage keypad.

I have contacted the seller to tell her to change the code, but she says now it's too late and she doesn't want to make waves. I told her the waves would start if something happens at the closing and those people have to get their stuff out. I told her that there is a liability issue and that's she's responsible if anything happens to them while they are on her property.

I contacted the buyer's agent and told him the same thing. I'm asking for your help...your horror stories that you can share with me so that I can forward them to my seller. The closing is on August 20.

Thanks for your help

Osprey Florida...What's that?

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:55:31 -0500

I've been on vacation now for two weeks, but took some time the other day to write in my other blog about the community of Osprey, which is in South Sarasota Florida. I live in the town and therefore have a lot of listings in the area.

Just a short re-cap: Osprey is only 3.8 Miles to Nokomis Beach and about 10 miles to our beautiful Siesta Key Beach. Osprey is an up and coming community because of its close-in location between the towns of Sarasota and Venice.

I hope you'll visit my other blog site and learn about the town of Osprey, FL.

Sarasota Real Estate Statistics--June

Sarasota Florida Real Estate Nicki Conway (RE/MAX Alliance Group) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:37:01 -0500

Here's something pretty to look at while you read the Real Estate Statistics for June in Sarasota Florida.

Sarasota Single Family Residential

Active Listings as of June 30: 4866 Active Listings as of May 31: 5027
Sold Listings as of June 30: 240 Sold Listings as of May 31: 203

Sarasota Condominiums

Active Listings as of June 30: 3512 Active Listings as of May 31: 3703
Sold Listings as of June 30: 114 Sold Listings as of May 31: 130

Most of the Real Buyers in Sarasota are turning up in the price range of $250,000 to $500,000. In that range there were a total of 153 sales in June. In the $500,000 to $1,000,000 range, there were 54 sales.

In the Luxury market, there were 25 sales in the $1,000,000 to $3,500,000 range and 6 sales in the $3,500,000 to $10,000,000 range. Sarasota's Luxury Real Estate market is doing well.

And, off into the sunset, we go!