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No, They Are Not You…

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

My clients bought a condo unit in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores for a very good price. They still have money and are thinking of investing, but are very particular about the buildings. It has to be a nice one, and nice one by their standards.

When in 2 months the listing agent called me about the short sale he had there and said that the bank agreed to a very significantly reduced priced (by $100K), I sent my clients an e-mail suggesting that they buy this unit, and then resell for a nice profit.

They ask questions. They need to know what it was initially purchased for, what they were selling for, and so on and so forth. However, the most important fact that this is the second lowest price in this building ever eludes them. That it was bought for $693,550 and is now for sale for $345,000 does not mean much. They are still concerned. Looks like $0.50 on a dollar is not a good deal…

The fact that this is the largest floor plan also does not impress either.

No, they are not youThey are coming to Daytona and would like to see it. I am not sure that it will be by the time they come, but my sense of urgency is just my sense of urgency…

They come, spent some time in the unit. Leave. Next day they ask to go back again. I arrange with the owner, who still lives there, and they come and spend a lot of time there. They walk every corner…

They do not quite like this… and then this… and then this… and finally I am confused.

Do they plan to move here?

- No.

Then what is this all about? They are not going to live there a single day, a single hour, but they are choosing it specifically to their taste…

And because it is not all up to their taste, they feel that it would take about $20K for a great new luxury condo in absolutely great condition. Which they plan to rent for a year before selling. Makes no sense to me…

I am trying to tell them that if they buy it for $345K, which is approved by the short sale lender, I will sell it for them for at least $200K more. And I can see that they do not believe me.

While they are still thinking, the unit goes under contract and closes for $346K – the second lowest price in Bella Vista…

And a week later a unit on the same line pops up on the market for $649,000. Now they start regreting that they did not buy the unit. $649K impresses me. And in 3 weeks it goes under contract. Now, that it is off the MLS, I would have put the unit that my client missed, for $599K and I bet it could go for $550K. So, $345K vs. $550K. I think this was an excellent investment.

How can I stress that if you are buying a property for investment, it doesn’t really matter what you like.

- But who's gonna buy it?

- Somebody not you.

image of Jon Zolsky, FunCoast Realty

 

Follow this link for the availability and prices of condos in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores

Photo by The Integer Club via Flickr.com

 

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Gail - experienced investors know what they want and learn to delegate. Amateurs like to play the boss and overkill the deals.

thank you

May 26, 2012 03:29 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Sandy - actually they were in real estate for a long time, but not in Florida. The Husband could not believe me as he read an article... you know the story

May 26, 2012 03:30 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Dave - excellent comment. People often make it more complicated than it should be.

May 26, 2012 03:31 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Kathy - isn't it a simple matter? Surprisingly some people don't see it

May 26, 2012 03:37 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jon, Congrats on your Featured Post, just wanted to drop by and wish you a wonderful holiday!

May 26, 2012 04:39 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Jon, these are the folks that just won't believe this deal is as good as you say.  Later they will regret it, but still won't believe the deal the next time it comes up either.

May 26, 2012 09:15 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Gabe - this is the exact description of these folks. Every time they would believe the newspaper or anything, but not me.

May 26, 2012 11:13 PM
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

We can only help those who are willing to be helped. This is another example.

May 27, 2012 11:13 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

J. Philip - you might be right. They bought a unit from me, and their being so particular was understandable when they were buying for their own use, but the same approach when you are buying a unit for resale, it is not a good idea.

May 27, 2012 12:19 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Judy - agree, we all have seen it.

May 27, 2012 12:22 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Lenn - in this situation it was a clear case of what is called "overimprovement" as it was a new gorgeous unit, and refinishing a rental unit because of your personal tastes, when you are not going to be there makes no sense at all. Which was clearly demonstrated here.

May 27, 2012 12:26 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Eric - true. But they got lost in the shuffle

May 27, 2012 12:27 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Debe - oh, geez... How many times I had this. People are looking at the Seller's wallet and are making their decision on fairness, not the market.

May 27, 2012 12:29 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Endre - thank you so much. Likewaise

May 27, 2012 12:30 PM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

Too bad you didn't buy it and resell it yourself. The profit should go to someone who understands investing. 

May 27, 2014 12:22 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Dana - true, but this is always a catch for us. We are in this business, and use the money, and usually do not have that much free cash :)

May 27, 2014 06:51 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Jon... this is so true... I've often had to remind investment buyers that they aren't going to be living in a property so they need to look at it with different eyes. It's the coulda, shoulda issue for your clients now. Hopefully, next go-around they'll listen to you.

May 28, 2014 11:02 PM
Brian Olsen
Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn & Dunthorpe Neighborhoods, Waterfront, Luxury & Floating Homes - Lake Oswego, OR
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Group | Keller Williams

Thank you Jon for the great BLOG. We think that you are right again and sound investments are always wise to pursue. Keep on blogging. Thanks again.

May 29, 2014 12:48 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Nina - the funny part here was that before retiring, they were in development, and real estate sales. She is an excellent decorator, but she for some reason tends to think that if this is not perfect to her taste, it would fail.

May 29, 2014 02:55 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Thank you, Brian. you flatter me. :)

May 29, 2014 02:56 AM