Closing Problems - 08/31/07 09:38 PM
We've had cases lately where checks from the lender to the title company have bounced. In one case the lender's check arrived and was deposited four days before closing. It was a lender the title company dealt with frequently, so after 4 days the title company assumed the check was ok and closed. Subsequently the check bounced and the title company had to come up with $441,000. Not pretty.
Most title companies here will no longer take checks from lenders, but only wired funds. Many lenders have changed their procedures in the last couple weeks, and may not authorize the wire transfers … (12 comments)

Parkshore Plaza August 2007 sale - 08/31/07 03:18 PM
Parkshore Plaza luxury condominiums downtown St Petersburg Florida
Another tower unit sold this month - at 2,384 it's the smallest, with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and water view of the Vinoy Basin. It sold for $745,000 which is $312.50/sq ft. The same unit, one floor below, sold at the same price in July. One of the front units also sold in July for $1,500,000. At 3,100 sq ft that sold for $484/sq ft. The view makes the difference!
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 
… (0 comments)

The Naked Diet - Part VIII - 08/31/07 03:05 PM
Naked Diet - 8 months - August 2007
Amy (in red on right) has reached her goal of losing 108 pounds since we started in December. I'm at 65 pounds, with more to go. For anyone who hasn't been following, just search for "Naked Diet" and you can see the past posts and photos. We finally have had new individual and team photos taken, and as soon as we get them back I'll update my profile photo. Thanks for all of you who suggested (insisted on) it.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the … (12 comments)

Modern Day Abe Lincoln - 08/29/07 10:01 PM
We've been without power for about four hours - an unexpected squall came through. Both sides of our long street are without power, though across the canal the homes are unaffected. Most of that time I was out meeting an electrician to correct some problems on a house scheduled to close tomorrow morning. Just got back, 11 pm (great electrician to come out at 9 pm on short notice), and power is still out.
George is out cooking dinner on the gas grill - we have candles on the table and the counter, and my laptop is battery operated and doing fine. … (8 comments)

iPhone - 08/25/07 10:06 PM
iLike my iPhone! My last Treo just didn't make it for me - the buttons are too small, and though it's compatible with our MLS, it just didn't earn my affection
The iPhone, on the other hand, I enjoy just looking at it. My clients and people around me like it.
So it only works on AT&T and I've used Verizon, and my team is all "IN". I still like my iPhone.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.
… (13 comments)

The Measure of a Man - 08/25/07 10:03 PM
I just started reading "The Measure of a Man", an autobiography of Sidney Poitier. I picked this up at an airport bookstore in my travels this spring, and just started reading it.
The first chapters begin with his life on Cat Island in the Bahamas. What poetic prose! He begins by comparing being poor in the Bahamas, with beautiful beaches and colorful sunsets, with being poor in today's concrete jungles.
Usually I wait to talk about a book until I finish it, but this one, I'll recomment just from the beginnings.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf … (5 comments)

NO VACANCY - 08/25/07 09:44 PM
Or should we say, No More Listings!?
Servicing listings takes time and energy. Margaret Rome has for a long time had a waiting list for listings. Now we have a waiting list, too. There are only so many listings that you can properly service. One alternative is to add more staff - we don't want to do that. So, the only alternative is to have a waiting list - when one listing sells, then we can add another. 
For several months we've had criteria - a listing must be in a restricted geographic area, it must be priced right, and it must … (44 comments)

Supporters - 08/25/07 08:28 PM
None of us could be the successes we are without supporters. Sometimes that means that clients support us - and recommend us. Many times that means we have a spouse or significant other that supports us.
Do we have someone we can let off steam with? Is there someone we can talk to at the end of our day? Is there someone who takes care of the meals, the shopping, the laundry, the repairs on our home? Someone who listens to us? Someone who understands us?
Those of us who have a special someone are very lucky. We couldn't do what we do, … (2 comments)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING - 08/25/07 08:12 PM
You only have one chance to make a first impression. There is only one time when a listing is brand new and goes out to all those buyers who are looking and waiting. Photos coming later? Too bad - the buyers didn't find what they were looking for and deleted you. No visual tour? No web site? No photos? Ooops! The waiting buyers have deleted your listing. Far better to wait to enter the listing into the MLS until you've completed your research, prepared all the marketing, and everything is ready and available when you hit the MLS.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate … (4 comments)

Handicapping the next $100 Million sale - 08/24/07 06:22 PM
Today's Wall St Journal had an interesting article on some US contenders for the next residential property to sell over $100 Million - they sent two reporters off to give the odds of each contender making it. Odds ranged from 60% chance to less than 1% chance. There are photos of the properties online with the article. The reporters spoke with agents, appraisers and others in each area, used at least four brokers to come up with their odds, and here are their handicaps - the odds of each setting a new record, surpassing the recent $103,000,000 sale. All of these … (9 comments)

Overpriced by $100 Million - 08/24/07 06:09 PM
What's that? We have a few examples locally of homes selling for 33% less than the asking price -
one that started at $1,500,000 then went to $1,350,000 and sold for $900,000 ...
another that was listed at $1,250,000 and sold for $850,000 ...
while others sell at 98% or even 100% of asking price. It's all in how well the property is priced.
The Wall St Journal had an article today on the handful of most expensive homes being marketed in the US. One of them in Los Angeles, the Hearst estate, is offered at $165,000,000.  WSJ reported that "Los Angeles brokers are unanimous … (9 comments)

Signature Place St Petersburg Florida construction update 8/24/07 - 08/24/07 05:58 PM

 
Signature Place condominiums moves forward every week. It's one thing to hear that a building has 34 floors, and it's another when you see it in relation to the buildings around it. Construction is now up to Floor 15 - not yet half way. The sail shape of the building is evident. Check out the finished product at the Signature Place website. After you see the renderings, click on the floor you like and see the floor plans for that floor. 
You can still get a 1 bedroom unit in one of the lower "loft" buildings for under $400,000 - you don't … (0 comments)

Repeating Themes - 08/24/07 05:48 PM
Look at the theme repetitions
The curve goes from the wall to cabinets
This is a very harmonious as well as inviting and spectacular kitchen. The curves are comfortable - and good feng shui. Look at the repetitions: the circle of the island, the circle in the ceiling, and repeated again in the design in the center of the square windows, and the shape of the light globes over the island. Two shades of granite cover varying curved surfaces.  And look at the curve as the tumbled marble starts up the wall - the same line is continued on the face of … (3 comments)

Where to Expand? - 08/24/07 05:40 PM
Just Go Sideways
Sometimes you don't want to build up, and sometimes you're prevented from doing that by the 50% rule (unless the floor level is at today's required elevation, you can't built up more than 50% of the value of the house without the land - so logically, you couldn't add a full floor above what you have!) so sometimes you're able to buy the house next door, tear it down, and then add on to the side of your house - at today's elevation, of course. More often we see two adjacent homes torn down and a new one built … (2 comments)

Sign-In Sheets - 08/21/07 06:04 PM
You should be reviewing every aspect of your marketing. What used to work, but doesn't work any more? What used to not work, but might work now?
Historically, we've always had a Sign-In sheet for  agents showing a property. That was fine in a hot sellers' market. Now we're in a buyers' market. I think leaving a sign-in sheet that shows how many showings, and how recently, is giving the buyer an advantage in preparing his offer.
We're able to tell, through our electronic lockboxes, who has showed a property, when they've showed it, and their contact information. We can access this from … (41 comments)

Naked Conversations - 08/18/07 09:43 PM
"Naked Conversations" by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel is a very interesting book on blogging.
It's not a how-to book, at least not in the sense of giving you instructions 1-2-3 or a-b-c. He does talk about the significance of blogging, what it can do, what it reflects on the bloggers and their companies.
Some have been wonderfully good - others have been nefariously bad. Some of the book talks about corporate differences - Microsoft vs Google, for example.
Much of the book, though, is about how blogging brings connections, keeps you in touch with the world, evokes passion. Scoble even brings in … (13 comments)

Broadwater homes Pinellas County Florida Market Update August 15, 2007 - 08/18/07 09:29 PM
Broadwater is a wonderful neighborhood of mostly waterfront homes on canals leading to Boca Ciega Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. There's only one bridge between Broadwater and the Gulf of Mexico, and it's a drawbridge. Most of the homes were built in the 70s, though there were a few built in the 80s and 90s, and some are still being built on lots where the owners have torn down the original homes.
There are currently 16 waterfront homes availavle from $575,000 to $1,895,000 and 6 nonwaterfront homes from $324,900 to $699,000.  So far this year there have been 12 waterfront home sales … (0 comments)

Creative Ceiling - 08/18/07 09:14 PM

 
 
Private World on the Waterfront
 
Many of our homes here in St. Petersburg were built in the 70s, and there really isn't much you can do with the 8 ft ceilings - economically, that is.
The owner of this home is an architect, and he's done a wonderful blending of contemporary and Oriental, with a warm, serene, inviting feel.
His ceiling treatment in this second bath is typical of his creativity. It's certainly not Grandma's bathroom. 
For more examples of his creativity, check out our Visual Tour or look at the one the owner/architect created himself. 
 Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, … (10 comments)

Ooze and Schmooze - 08/18/07 08:58 PM
A new restaurant is coming to 400 Beach Drive, the newest luxury condo on Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg - which should be closing on the condo units above between December 2007 and February 2008.
Chef Robert Irvine is a popular British chef who has cooked for queens and presidents, worked on cruise lines and in the casino industry. He has the popular "Dinner Impossible" show on the Food Network. He has his own company now, The Irving Group.
He'll be an interesting addition to the downtown restaurant scene in St. Petersburg. His new location is within a block or two of … (1 comments)

Laurie Manny Challenge - 3 Posts I think you should read - 08/17/07 08:16 PM
1)  You should check out this blogsite
 http://www.dailyblogtips.com/ to get lots of tips every day for making your blogs better. When we look at the postings of Chris Elizabeth Griffith and Laurie Manny, we see great examples of them linking to their other posts. How do they do it? Check out this blogpost to find out:
  http://www.dailyblogtips.com/review-what-youve-written-regularly/This blog is edited by Daniel Scocco, born in Brazil, educated in Italy, and man of the world. It would also be good to read about the blog.
* * * * *  * * * * * * *  * * * * *   * … (13 comments)

Marina progress at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St Petersburg - 08/17/07 06:39 PM
Enough of the marina has been completed that the last two weekends had boat shows at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg. The sound of pile drivers still echoes in the quiet morning air and the outlines of the docks are evident. Residents of the Vinoy Place condominiums are waiting for this to be done so that the ones who are Vinoy Cloub members can bring back their yachts to docks in front of their condos. Others are waiting for the visiting docks to be finished so they can boat over for lunch, dinner, or a weekend stay at … (2 comments)

Grand Bohemian Hotel & Condos Closes on the Land - St Petersburg Florida - 08/17/07 06:34 PM
On August 15th the Kessler Group wired $1,500,000 to the City of St. Petersburg and closed on the purchase of land on the northeast corner of 1st Ave N and 2nd St N, where they will be building the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Residences, a luxury magnet in downtown St.Petersburg. The 52 condos will start on the 21st floor and will share the hotel's amenities.  By 2009 you could be having room service deliver your morning Eggs Benedict, then have the masseuse arrive for your morning massage - take a dip in the pool, do some shopping nearby, and have the … (0 comments)

Are you a Hurricane Host or a Hurricane Guest? - 08/13/07 06:20 PM
If you have to evacuate your home when a hurricane's coming because you're in an evacuation zone, let me tell you: 
Public shelters are the pits (but better than nothing/nowhere)You may not get to the nearest "safe" city because roads are crowded and/or floodedYou had better get out, because you may not be able to laterFill your cars with gas because you may not be able to get any later. There's comfort - and sometimes fun - in numbers. In your circle of friends or relatives, who lives on high ground,l in a non-evacuation zone? Sure would be nice if they offer … (8 comments)

New to Florida? What are your hurricane plans? - 08/13/07 06:11 PM
When the first hurricane of the season is heading for Tampa Bay, we call all of our clients who are new to Florida to ask them some questions.
What are your hurricane plans?Where will you evacuate and when?It doesn't need to be out of the area, just to higher groundDo you have supplies on hand?Where will you take your pets?Do you have copies of your insurance policies, inventory, etc.?Do your neighbors and relatives know where and how to contact you?Remember that these people often don't know what to do, despite the many articles that your newspaper may have published. We've walked our … (6 comments)

Trying Paint Colors by Computer - 08/11/07 06:41 PM
Help, please  -  I just downloaded a paint program from Benjamin Moore. I was looking for something where I could put in photos of the exterior or interiors of a house and try different paint colors. It works very well on their rooms, but when I upload my rooms, I have to outline each section and it takes a far steadier hand than mine.
When you list a home with an ugly exterior color, for example, and the seller won't change the paint - it's nice to be able to show clients what it would look like in other colors. 
Some years … (8 comments)

Signature Place St Petersburg Florida construction update - 08/11/07 04:27 PM

 
Signature Place condominiums in downtown St. Petersburg Florida are well underway with their construction. From this angle you see the long face of the building, which will be covered with glass. All of these units have a view of Tampa Bay waterfront - and most have a ringside seat for spring training for baseball at Progress Energy Field - or Al Lang Field, as we oldtimers know it.
Signature Place has taken photos each month of construction progress and posted them on their website. That's a great way for their out of town buyers to watch the progress.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent … (2 comments)

Don't Just Clip - Laminate - 08/11/07 04:14 PM

 
A good way to stay in touch with your clients and your sphere is to clip newspaper articles about them, their alma mater, or things you know will interest them. Clip it out and send it to them with a note.
Might they get the same photo or article from others? Yes, of course. So think about laminating the article - perhaps even laminating your business card on the back.
Which one do you think they'll keep?
You can also do this for someone you haven't met, but would like to.
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches … (10 comments)

New downtown condo living in St Petersburg and Tampa Florida - 08/11/07 03:53 PM
This morning B.C. Manion wrote an article in the Tampa Tribune regarding condo living in downtown St Petersburg and Tampa, Florida.  Manion chose Parkshore Plaza as St Petersburg's au courant residence and SkyPoint as Tampa's newest addition. There are descriptions and photos of these examples of exciting downtown living. Manion pointed out that SkyPoint has HART's In-Town Trolley passing by but didn't mention that Parkshore Plaza has The Looper Trolley going by.
Even before gas prices started rising we were seeing people move from the suburbs downtown. Not only have they saved commuting time and energy, but there's so much activity around … (2 comments)

Parkshore Plaxa luxury condominiums St Petersburg, Sales Update 8-11-07 - 08/11/07 03:35 PM
The sale of a tower unit in Parkshore Plaza, a luxury condominium in downtown St Petersburg, it still news, as condos there have languished on the market, typical of all Pinellas County, and most of Florida. In July Unit #1903 sold for $1,500,000. Unit #601 recently sold for $745,000.
All of the condominium units in Parkshore Plaza face the water - Units 02 and 03 face directly east toward Tampa Bay, and Units 01 and 04 have the narrow end of their balcony facing east and the wide side facing either north (Unit 01) or south (Unit 02). Two sales are certainly … (0 comments)

When do I have to be out? - 08/10/07 07:00 PM
When taking a listing today, one of the owners asked me, "How long do we have after closing to move out?" Answer - at closing you turn over the keys to an empty house.  "What if something happens and it doesn't close?"
It's important to know the customs in different states or areas - whether you're talking with a lender or a buyer or seller.
Here in St Petersburg Florida, closing is closing is closing - the loan is funded prior to or at closing; the keys to an empty house are turned over to the buyers who have paid in full. … (15 comments)

Stage it Forward, Stage it Backward - but Stage It! - 08/09/07 08:03 PM
For many months there have been 10-20 new luxury condos listed in Parkshore Plaza in downtown St Petersburg Florida. Some of the lower - and less expensive - city homes have sold, but nothing was selling in the tower. Finally, one has sold and another is under contract. What broke the Mexican standoff between sellers and buyers? Staging. The owners staged their vacant condo (which looked monotonously like the many other condos) and voila, a contract and sale. They moved the staging to their other available unit, and voila, it's under contract as well.
We have one of our vacant homes being … (14 comments)

St Pete is the place to reinvent yourself ... says Kiplinger - 08/09/07 07:56 PM
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine recently rated the top 25 cities in the US for different stages of your life. If retirement DOES NOT mean white belts and Canasta, then St Pete or Tampa Bay, Florida is #1. Criteria for all their cities centered around a strong Creative Class, but specifics for retirees were also vibrant culture and educational opportunities, low crime rate and great health facilities. I think we also qualify (though they didn't choose us in both categories) for #1 as Empty Nesters city, which adds to the Creative Class  performing arts, golf courses and marinas. We have all those. … (2 comments)

Agent to Agent Kudos - 08/05/07 11:18 AM
Bonnie Erickson blogged this morning about public congratulations from another agent. That led me to thinking about taking it a step further,
When you've had a wonderful experience with another agent, why not write to them on your letterhead, thanking them and describing what they did or how they did it? Not only would that agent be appreciative, but the agent could put the letter in their pre-listing presentation as a example of cooperation with other agents. You might even get a similar letter back.
You could even write another agent a letter about a particular marketing tool they use effectively, etc. Let's … (13 comments)

Bayfront Towers Condominiums St Petersburg, Market Update through July 2007 - 08/04/07 08:04 PM
Bayfront Towers, in a prime downtown St Petersburg location, was one of the first condo towers, and one of the first mixed use developments, with offices, a restaurant and beauty salon on the lower floors and condos above. It was built in 1975, has 255 units and 29 floors. Residents love having a valet to park their car. The common areas are on the top two floors, providing magnificent views from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. 
The units range from 1 bedroom to 4 bedrooms, and some of the residents have combined two units into one large one. There … (2 comments)

Vinoy Place luxury condominiums St Petersburg Florida Market Update through July 2007 - 08/04/07 07:51 PM
Vinoy Place is a luxury condominium development in downtown St. Petersburg, adjacent to the historic Renaissance Vinoy Hotel & Resort. There are a total of 102 units, in 4 residential towers, with townhomes surrounding them on 2 sides. The first two buildings were finished in 2001, the remaining two in 2002.
There are currently 6 condominiums available for sale, ranging from $785,000 for a lower, 1,779 sq ft unit, to $2,799,000 for a 4,326 sq ft townhouse. Tower units range from $900,000 to $2,395,000.
So far in 2007 there have been 5 sales, ranging from $760,000 to $1,825,000
One condominiums is offered for rent, … (0 comments)

Parkshore Plaxa luxury condominiums St Petersburg, Market Update through July 2007 - 08/04/07 07:30 PM
Parkshore Plaza, a luxury condominium on Beach Drive in St Petersburg, was developed and built by Opus, and residents first started moving in during August 2006. There are currently 11 condominiums for sale: one is a 1,422 sq ft townhouse for $579,000. The other ten are in the tower and range from $1,090,000 to $3,500,000.
There have been 5 closed sales this year. Two were city homes at $539,000 and $639,900. Three were in the tower, ranging from $745,000 to $2,376,000. 
Currently 3 condos are being offered for rent annually, a city home at $2,950/month and two in the tower at $4,000/mo and … (0 comments)

The Cloisters on Beach Drive, St Petersburg, Florida, Market Update through July 2007 - 08/04/07 07:17 PM
There are currently three condos on the market in The Cloisters, ranging from $749,500 to $795,000. There have been two sales in 2007, one for $650,000 and the other for $660,240. There were no sales in 2006 and 3 in 2005, ranging from $725,000 tp $2,150,000.
One unit is currently available as an annual rental for $3,500 per month.
The Cloisters was built in 1999 and has 32 condominium residences and 2 retail parcels. Market Express occupied the corner, offering coffee, wine, snacks, and some basic groceries. There is also a jeweler and a real estate office. The Cloisters Condo location on Beach … (0 comments)

Florencia luxury condos in downtown St Petersburg - update through July 2007 - 08/04/07 05:54 PM
8/4/07   Market report for The Florencia luxury condos, St Petersburg, Florida   Last month there were three units for sale in the Florencia, a JMC built luxury condo. Now there's just one - no, unfortunately it's not because the other two went to contract. One expired and one was withdrawn. Now there's just one available, at $1,100,000, and the owners are firm on the price.
75% of the residents are the original owners from 2000. Seldom do more than two units change hands in a year. The minimum rental period is one year and owners are allowed to have two pets.
Sharon Simms, … (5 comments)

Inman Connect - 08/03/07 09:16 PM
What brought me to San Francisco?  Inman? No. Blogging Conference? Maybe. Most of all, it was to meet ActiveRain people that I've met over the last year - on line, on the phone, in person. They all matter. I wanted to meet Brian Brady and Roberta Murphy, Laurie Manny and Paul Chaney, Jim Cronin and Ardell. Yes, the panels were interesting, but especially when I "knew" the panelists. For me, it was the first Active Rain conference, and surely Matt and Caleb and Jonathan were part of that as well. Yes, it was well worth the trip across the country.
Sharon Simms, … (7 comments)

Carriage Rides - 08/03/07 08:58 PM
One of the ways I enjoy seeing other cities is to take a horse and carriage ride. Whether it's Seville, Spain or St. Augustine, Florida, I enjoy this way of seeing an old city. There's something soothing about the clip clop of the horses hooves against the cobblestones or pavement. It's a slow pace where you can look all around, and not worry about the driving or finding a parking space. It's the coziness of a cabin, or the sound of the waves in the background. It's not caring whether it's day or night, and rising with the sun. It's being … (4 comments)

 
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Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Saint Petersburg, FL

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ALVA International, Inc.

Address: 238 Beach Drive NE, St Petersburg, FL, 33701

Office Phone: (727) 898-2582

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