john dietz's (thedietzteam) Blog

What a year he had!!!!!

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 04:22:08 -0700

On June 1, 2013, Richard Polllard joined the Dietz Team. At that time, he had been a real estate agent with another agency for approximately 2 years. When Richard joined our team, he had closed 5 transactions during his short real estate career. 5 transactions during a 2 year time period. Hmmmm. Based on an average sales price of $200,000.00 and a 3% commission, that comes out to about $30,000.00 in commission for 2 years, BEFORE any expenses or broker shares. And before you ask, yes, Richard was a full-time agent. By full time, I mean he was completely devoted to real estate. He did not have any other jobs, he was doing real estate a full 40-50 hours per week! Richard joined our team, on the very brink of giving up his dream of real estate. He saw successful agents out there, but was not able to get the coaching or training that he needed in order to be successful. He met the owner of the Dietz Team, John Dietz at a training class. Richard was very impressed with John's class and spoke with him after about his frustration with his lack of success. I am very excited to announce that this weekend, Richard just celebrated his one year anniversary with the Dietz team. In the one year that he has been here, Richard closed 20 transactions and over $4,200,000.00 in sales. As if that isn't impressive enough, Richard had $1,500,000.00 in sales in one month alone!!!! Richard contributes his success to a combination of things, but most importantly the coaching and training that he receives every day. A dedicated amount of lead generation time is standard every morning and nearly every weekend he has at least one, and many times more than one, open house at any of his different listings. The Dietz Team is a team of 7full time real estate agents, based out of Palm Harbor, FL. We sell an average of 12-15 listings each month, and closed 125 transactions in 2013. If you are interested in finding out what your property might be worth, OR if you are a local real estate agent interested in finding out how you can start closing over 20 transactions a month, please contact our office at 727-451-3530.

Tarpon Springs...."Where Culture and Fun Collide"

Fri, 09 May 2014 04:11:20 -0700

Tarpon Springs is a very unique town, located in northern Pinellas County, FL. It first attracted attention around 1876, as a place to build winter home. The town got it's name from the tarpon fish that were frequently seen jumping out of the water. The first greek immigrants arrived during the 1880's when they were hired as divers in the growing sponge harvesting industry. Tarpon Springs is a very popular stop for vacationers here on the Gulf coast of Florida. Shops along Dodecanese Avenue in downtown Tarpon Springs are such a unique sight. A perfect blend of both historic and modern features. Many authentic greek restaurants, shops and even an aquarium line this road that is reminisent of a seaside Greek village. In close proximity to Tarpon Springs, are also numerous parks and beaches that are famous for windsurfing, swimming and boating. Anclote Key is an island nearby that is a State Park Preserve complete with a lighthouse, nesting birds, tortoises and beautiful white beaches. Tarpon Springs also draws national attention for the yearly Epiphany Celebration. This event is held on January 6 and is the blessings of the water and the boats. The celebration also includes boys ages 16-18 that dive into Spring Bayou to retrieve a wooden cross. It is said that the boy who recovers it, will be blessed for the entire year. The event continues into the night with traditional greek music and food. Members from the greek community across the country visit Tarpon Springs to celebrate and participate in this celebration. Tarpon Springs has also gained national attention in the past few years for the Tarpon Springs High School. It is a public school, and part of the Pinellas County school district. The school is well known for it's greek heritage, football team, music conservatory along with the culinary department and the vetinary academy. The marching band was one of ten schools that walked in the 2013 Macy's day parade in NYC. In 2011, it was announced that Tarpon Spring's graduating class of 2011 was a record breaking 95%. That was the highest in the school's history and higher than all of the county, state and national averages. The school received an "A" grade by the State of Florida. Homes in Tarpon Springs can range from $100,000.00 to several million depending on size and of course location. If you are thinking of making Tarpon Springs your new home, the Dietz Team with Re/Max is at your service. We are selling an average of 15 homes per month and are Tarpon Springs experts. We live here, work here and we are proud to call Tarpon Springs, Florida our home! Contact us at 727-451-3530

New agent joins one of Pinellas County's top teams!

Tue, 29 Apr 2014 08:47:44 -0700

We would like to take this opportunity to share with all of you that Quyen Trujillo has joined the Dietz Team with Remax Realtec. Quyen joined our team at the beginning of April after being with another broker for about 2 years. We are beyond excited at the opportunity to be in business with Quyen. The energy and enthusiasm that radiates from her is contagious and you cannot help but smile and be positive in her presence! When I asked Quyen what appeals to her most about her career in real estate she responded by saying, "There are so many aspects that I find appealing. I get to help people every day in a very pivotal point in their lives. Moving is life changing and my clients choose me to help help them. I consider that to be such and honor!" This answer does not suprise me, since the sincerity and enthusiasm that she has really mirrors this answer. A very interesting thing about Quyen.... during the first 10 years of her marriage, her and her husband moved 8 times!!! (That is NOT a typo). The first 5 of those 10, she was either pregnant or had a few babies running around. (She is the mother of 4 boys!) Quyen believes that this experience helps her understand and appreciate the challenges of moving from a families' perspective. This situation also helps her be more sympathetic and helpful to her client's needs. I always enjoy finding out from our team members what they enjoy doing in their spare time. Quyen enjoys running, paddle boarding, kayaking and boating. She also enjoys sewing and her newest challenge with that is mastering the blind stitch. She also enjoys baking (I personally have enjoyed some of her goodies and I can say they are AWESOME!) and trying new recipes. In ten years from now, Quyen is hoping that her 4 boys still live close to her and that her "blissfully content chaotic life continues". Professionally, she sees herself still growing with the Dietz Team and consistently ranking #1 on our stats board. Quyen's answer to the following question moved me the most. I asked her "who is someone in your life that you really look up to, and why?" Quyens' answer: "My parents have always been a role model for me. They came to the states penniless, had no formal American education and they were filled with heartache from the past. With a strict work ethic and high morals, they were able to live a life that many envy. To me, they are the defenition of hard work and perserverance. They did it all without compromising their core beliefs. I want to be able to instill those values in my children." It seems that Quyen is destined for great things. Her parents have instilled a work ethic in her that not only drives her to work hard, but truly enjoy what she is doing. Although tiny in her frame, her heart is huge and her enthusiasm is enormous!!!! Keep an eye out on this one! She is a force to be reckoned with. If you would like to contact Quyen to have her help you sell your current home, or help you find your next dream home, feel free to contact her at 727 451-3530.

Waterfront Luxury Home Experts

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 01:42:58 -0700

4310 Seagull Dr. New Port Richey,FL. 34652 Brand new listing to the market in desirable Gulf Harbors - Sea Forest. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, this executive home boast 300 feet of Gulf views. One of the largest deep water canals in gulf Harbors allows for direct and unlimited Gulf access. 3,700 square feet of living area also makes this home one of the largest waterfront homes available in SW Pasco County. BedroomsMaster Bedroom (Approx.): 24x14 Beds: 4BathroomsMaster Bath Features: Dual Sinks, Tub With Separate Shower Stall Full Baths: 3Kitchen and DiningKitchen Features: Breakfast Bar Kitchen (Approx.): 16x10 Dining Room (Approx.): 14x12Other roomsAdditional Rooms: Bonus Room, Den/Library/Office, Foyer, Inside Utility, Loft Great Room (Approx.): 38x20 Living Room (Approx.): 18x20Interior FeaturesBlinds/Shades Cathedral/Vaulted Ceiling Ceiling Fan(s) Inside Utility Skylights Smoke Alarm(s) Walk In Closet Breakfast Room Separate Eating Space In Kitchen Formal Dining Room Separate Great Room Living/Dining Room Combo Volume CeilingsBuilding and ConstructionFloor Covering: Carpet, Ceramic Tile Roof: Shingle Foundation: Slab Stories: 3 Architectural Style: Key West House Style: Single Family Home / Key West Brick Siding Wood Frame StuccoExterior and Lot FeaturesLot Size SqFt: 7266 Total Acreage: Up To 10,889 Sq. Ft. Balcony/Sun Deck French Doors Irrigation System Gutters / Downspouts Patio/Porch/Deck Covered Patio/Porch/Deck Open Outdoor LightsHello, my name is John Dietz and I want to earn the opportunity to be your Realtor. The Dietz Team with Re/Max is a team of full time Real Estate professions serving Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. We are selling an average of 15 homes every month and we would love to work for you. Please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530 or visit us at www.dietzteam.com

Why Are You Calling Me

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 22:28:01 -0700

One of our goals for to 2014 was to grow our team and expand to locations outside our base market in Palm Harbor Florida. Part of our strategy has been to call Realtors in the areas we want to work and we have a very specific criteria for what we are looking for. In other words we are not just calling anyone. So, if you were to receive a call from The Dietz Team regarding the possibility of going into business together, how would you feel about that? Most of the people we call are at the very least polite and professional and we are in discussion with agents that are interested in joining our team. The part I don't get though is the few that get offended that we would call them with such an insulting question. Why is this? Why do you think they are so put off, so offended that we would be interested in working with them. Now mind you, this only happens in maybe one out of ten calls but it still baffles me that they would be so offended. I mean, we have done our homework and we are calling them for a very specific reason. Like I said earlier, we don't just call anyone. Here's my opinion for why a select few act as if we just asked them to come take out our garbage. EGO! I would love to give you a long worded explanation that would take up more space and earn more Active Rain points but that is really the only reasonable explanation I can give you. So, for the record, I receive calls, e-mails and letters from other brokers and I always listen. Why Not? I may learn something from them and isn't this a compliment? So, if you are a Realtor in the greater Tampa Bay Area, you may get a call from The Dietz Team regarding joining our team. Please don't be offended if we call you and don't be offended if we don't call you. We have very specific criteria for who and what we are looking for.

Tampa Bay Area Luxury Homes Sales

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 04:26:37 -0700

0636 Echo Lake Dr, Odessa, FL 33556 Sold By John Dietz With The Dietz Team At Re/Max This home recently went under contract with a April 30th closing date. The Dietz Team would like to congratulate our clients and thank them for their loyalty. The list price was $665,000 and we look forward to announcing the sale price once it closes. If you own a luxury home in the Tampa Bay area, we would love to help you next. Please contact John Dietz at 727-451-3530 If you’re looking for a gorgeous place to call your own in Odessa, Florida, look no further than 10636 Echo Lake Drive. The home is in the Echo Lake Estates subdivision which is gated and within 10 minutes of shopping, restaurants and entertainment. This spacious home on a large lot will have you singing the praises of Florida living.This home on Echo-Lake-Dr. is in incredible shape and looks like a model home. This executive home was built in 2007 and has 4,071 square feet of living space. Perched on a 1.99 acres (including the additional parcels), it has all the amenities you could ever want. With 4 bedroom and 3 baths, you’ll have enough space for your family and any guests who come to visit. The home is awash with high end finishes: arched walkways and windows, lofty 12 ft. high ceilings, crown molding, wainscoting, hard wood floors and travertine marble.It includes an office, a game room that holds a pool table with room to spare and a family room with entertainment galore for the family to use while you settle down to your work. Throw a movie in for the kids on the Runco Projection System which has an 8 foot wide screen. You can watch too while cooking dinner, since the family room is right off the remarkable kitchen. The gourmet kitchen lacks for nothing: Granite counter-tops, stunning cabinetry, and top of the line appliances made by Bosch and Viking, including a dishwasher, garbage disposal, convection microwave and Double convection oven.When it’s time to rest, the bedrooms will not disappoint. The master suite is huge and includes three walk-in closets and its own master bath. The master bath has a whirlpool tub and separate shower. The other three bedrooms are also spacious. Two other bathrooms are gorgeous and completely updated.Outdoor living all year round is what Odessa FL is all about, and this home doesn’t disappoint in its outdoor living space. The lanai features an outdoor kitchen with its own wood burning fireplace and Bose speaker surround sound. The jewel of the outdoor space is a custom 36 foot pool and 7 foot jetted Hot Tub Spa. The pool and spa have a Pebble-Tec surface, salt water system that is self-cleaning. Relax to the sound of the outdoor waterfalls. Once outside, the lot also has a golf chipping green with sand traps. True Florida living!Enjoy the best that Odessa FL has to offer.The Dietz Team is one of Tampa - Palm Harbor - Clearwater - SW Pasco's TOP Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530 or visit our website at www.dietzteam.com

Open House 3/8, Tarpon Springs Historic District

Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:56:27 -0800

Historic "Craftsmen Home" built in 1917 located in the Tarpon Springs Historic District approx. 1 mile to the world famous Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks & within a short walk to Craig Park & Spring Bayou, site of the annual Greek Orthodox Church Epiphany celebration featuring the Cross Dive. This meticulously maintained home is a wonderful combination of original brilliance & updated modern conveniences. Features 4 bedrooms with master suites on 1st & 2nd, large living room w/fireplace & original Heart of Pine hardwood floors, & wall to wall windows overlooking the bayou. Formal dining room, sunroom overlooking water & spacious family room w/ floor to ceiling windows overlooking brick paver walkways & tropical garden. Recently painted inside & out, floors have all be refinished or re-carpeted, new awnings, roof replaced in 2007, four air conditioning units are zoned, & newer double insulated windows in 1998. Original home was built in 1917 w/two additions in 1980's. Layout is perfect for a large extended family with second complete kitchen & living area, bedroom & bath. Perfect for in-law suite or rental apartment. Situated on .29 acre lot directly across the street from Whitcomb Bayou & Spring Bayou, large parking area for up to 4 cars, basement/storage area & within walking distance to downtown, public boat ramps, tennis courts, & Craig Park. Boaters--there is a public boat ramp with Gulf of Mexico access 1 block from property. Separate lot next door w/detached garage not included in sale but available. OPEN HOUSE THIS SATURDAY 3/8 12:00-2:00 Come by and See it in person!!!

Top 10 Real Estate Team Launches A Record Breaking Challenge

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 03:56:06 -0800

The Dietz Team With Re/Max Is Set To Take Over The Palm Harbor Florida Real Estate Market I like challenges especially super big challenges or as my friend and coach Brian Buffini would say "Super Big Harry Audacious Goals." So here's the deal, The Dietz Team has grown from annual sales of 102 homes sold and $15,000,000 in 2012 to 127 homes sold and $27,000,000 in 2013. Not bad but not good enough if we are going to live our vision; The Dietz Team vision is to be the number one choice for buyers, sellers, and Realtor's in the Tampa Bay area. We will get there by focusing on providing the best customer service available in our market keeping in mind that we are just "People Helping People." At our core, we are a customer service based business that is built on relationships! OK, if we are truly going to live our vision then we have to go from 127 homes sold is 2013 to 240 homes sold and $70,000,000 in total sales in 2014. Now, since hope is not a plan, we have to change our approach drastically in order to live our vision. Since Real Estate is a "Listings Driven Business," the quickest way for us to ramp this up is to go from our average number of new listings of 12 per month to a new normal of 30 listings per month thus the creation of the 90 listings in 90 days challenge. Want a visual? OK, I am not an artist but here is my vision of how we get to 90 listings in 90 days. No art critics please. :) I realize this picture looks silly but every word has meaning, I promise. In a nutshell, here goes; through massive effort, we will create momentum like a 100 ton train traveling at 55 MPH blasting through any challenge we face along the way. We will work with urgency, enthusiasm, energy, and focus as we attack the eight sources of new listing leads daily. We will come together as a team instead of working as individuals and we will focus on the activities EVERY DAY for 90 days. There will be NO REALTOR in our market that works harder and more focused than we will during this 90 day challenge. So, if you are selling your home by owner or if you have a listing that expired or if you are one of our LOVED past clients, friends and family, please forgive us if we call you often asking for the opportunity to earn the right to work with you and your referrals. After all, we MUST hit this challenge and we need your help! Thank You!The Dietz Team is one of Tampa - Palm Harbor - Clearwater - SW Pasco's TOP Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530 or visit our website at www.dietzteam.com

For Sale By Owner

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 02:59:38 -0800

Selling My Palm Harbor - Clearwater Home For Sale By Owner If you are considering selling FSBO (for sale by owner) there is a lot to consider. What you should be considering is the amount of work and heartache for a whole lot less money. Do you know how to do things like find a qualified buyer? Show your home to its best advantage? Help get buyer financing through? Is all activity good and are all showings equal?Selling your home by owner is hard work. You take your time to fix things up, find the best price and all the buyers who come to look underbid your price substantially. Not to mention finding the time to schlep them through the house over and over. Why aren't they taking you seriously? Maybe because by not using a professional to sell your home you appear less serious about selling and maybe it's just a simple fact of that by selling your home by owner, the buyers you are attracting are bargain shoppers who can;'t afford your home.The first problem is did you price your home right? Your attachment to it means you aren't being unbiased. Knowing what you “have to get” for a price makes no difference in its market value. Do you know what comparable homes have sold for? Are you sure that they have the same amenities as your home and in the same shape?Buyers have different expectations of those selling FSBO when it comes to the price for your home. You want market price, they want a bargain. After all, without a professional in the mix, you aren't paying a commission so you can take the lower price, right? Of course not, but that is what they think. Their expectation is like they are buying a home at a garage sale: “not paying retail, new or not.” It doesn't matter to them that you expect to get what your home is actually worth.And what about those buyers? Beyond their low expectations, are they qualified to even buy your home? Can they get a mortgage? Have they gone the extra step of getting pre-approved? Without answers to these questions, why are you wasting your time showing your home to them in the first place?So you are investing your effort to sell your home to possibly unqualified buyers who are insulting you with low ball offers. Why are you selling by owner again? Here's what a few Zillow reviews from former For Sale By Owners had to say about working with The Dietz Team; We tried to sell my house on For Sale by Owner for one month. We were attracting the wrong buyers. It was either realtors trying list my house or investors that wanted to "low ball' us. It was a very anxious time. We met with John Dietz on Monday, April 1. Our house was on MLS the next day. We had ten showings within the next 48 hours and an offer above the listed price by the end of the day Thursday, April 4. The Dietz team took over. All the details were handled and the anxious times were now over. We closed on Thursday, May 2. The process was extremely smooth and went off without any setbacks. We are very glad we met John Dietz...what a great professional!Scott Weeden My experience with John Dietz was incredible. I tried to sell my house by owner and accepted a 227,000 offer which fell through. I had spent much time with buyers that ended up not being not qualified. I contacted John due to a visit he proactively made during my buy owner experience. The first day I listed with John and the Dietz team, we had several offers, all over asking price. My home sold for 243,000 the first day. John educated me on the benefits of listing with a professional team and then demonstrated with amazing results. I will use John and the Dietz team for all future real estate needs and will highly recommend him to any person I am in contact with. I am still amazed!The Dietz Team is one of Trinity's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530 or visit our website at www.dietzteam.com

7106 Fallbrook Court

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 02:12:24 -0800

4 Bedroom 2 Bath Pool Home Desirable Trinity Area Priced To Sell At $250,000 Mint condition 3 bedroom plus office or fourth bedroom pool home on corner 1/4 acre lot in the desirable Wyndtree subdivision of Trinity. Office has a closet and can be used as a 4th bedroom. Beautiful private tropical setting with conservation views. Over-sized screened lanai with custom built pool plus 60 jet 5 person above ground spa. Large open kitchen with newer appliances, newer wood laminate and ceramic tile through out. Wood burning fireplace. 10-12 foot high ceilings. Close to Trinity schools and great shopping,The Dietz Team is one of Trinity's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530 or visit our website at www.dietzteam.com

Widening The Funnel

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 22:12:07 -0800

I received a call from a Realtor in San Diego yesterday who had just finished watching one of my training video's on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/user/DietzTeam This happens a couple times a week, no big deal but he wanted to know what almost every other caller wants to know when they call me; why is my approach so different than what all of the big names in Real Estate Coaching are teaching and is it really working? More on this is just a little bit but the conversation made me think of a recent meeting I had with my team titled "Widening The Funnel." The purpose of this meeting was discuss where does business come from and what can we do as members of a team or as individual agents to increase our business. I think most Realtor's join a team expecting to be fed a steady stream of leads and although this is part of the picture if this is our focus, we are missing the bigger picture. Here, lets break down the sources of where business comes from: 1. Prospecting For Sale By Owners and Expired Listing 2. Past Client repeat business and referrals. 3. Sphere referrals. 4. Internet Marketing 5. Mail campaigns like just sold post cards and just listed post cards 6. Print advertising like magazines and Newspapers 7. Farming 8. Open Houses 9. Walking Neighborhoods 10. Circle Prospecting Now, which one of the sources above do most Realtor's focus on? The answer in most cases is anything that makes the phone ring and takes the least effort. OK, how many of you reading this did I just offend? Sorry, not really by the way and it's true. In eleven years of selling an average of more than 100 homes per year my top sources for business are prospecting, and referrals and what's really cool about this is it cost $0 to do this. It does take consistent, disciplined dedication to the activities though. Please pay really close attention to this because it is the key to this blog so i will say it again, "IT TAKES CONSISTENT, DISCIPLINED DEDICATION TO THE ACTIVITIES." If you are smart, you are asking what does that mean so here is the answer step by step. 1. I make 40 to 60 outgoing calls every day to for sale by owners, expired listings, past clients and my sphere. This includes follow up calls which NEVER stop! 2. I schedule an average of 15 to 20 face to face appointments per week. Now, here is one of the keys to how this works and if you coach with Mike Ferry, you might want to stop reading right now. The purpose of the phone call is to schedule a face to face appointment with NO JUDGMENT! In other words, I don't care if they are thinking of listing, I don't care if they tell me they will NEVER LIST or they are only paying 1%, I'm going because "on the phone I am just another pushy Realtor, but face to face they are going to like me." 3. I go on an average of 15 to 20 face to face appointments per week. The purpose of the face to face appointment is to build a foundation to follow up from. 4. I write an average 25 personal notes per week. 5. I still do Open Houses. I know, shocker. How many owners of Mega Teams do you know that still do open houses? By the way, the reason I do this is to create opportunity for the agents on my team. it's not for me because in 11 years, I have never worked with a buyer. 6. I follow up on every face to face appointment an average of once per week until they hire me or sell their home with no exception. So when a seller tells me they will NEVER LIST their home and if they do, they will hire their friend, my answer is always "that's great and I will call you again next week." I reject rejection and I don't hear no! 7. I follow up with all of my best past clients (advocates) to stay in touch, build the relationship and ask for referrals. OK, so there you have my basic model in seven easy track-able activities and by the way this is generating an average of 12 to 15 new listings every month and we closed 127 sales last year. This doesn't mean that all of our business comes from prospecting and referrals because it doesn't. Remember, the title of this blog was "Widening The Funnel." Of the above 10 sources of new business, we are focused on all 10. My point is simply that most individual agents and members of a team have a tendency to focus on advertising, print marketing, internet lead generation and anything that "MAKES THE PHONE RING" and they forget that the best source of business requires that they pick up the phone, walk neighborhoods, and sit in open houses. The best reason to join a team is for training, administrative support and coaching, it's not to be fed leads. Before I owned The Dietz Team, I worked as a listing specialist for a team and the number one reason I joined that team was to learn how to run a successful Real Estate Team and to be a successful Real Estate agent. The thought of someone feeding me leads never even entered my mind. OK, so back to the call I received from that agent in San Diego; this particular agent I learned has been a Realtor for much longer than I have and he has coached with some pretty well known Real Estate coaches. After we spent almost an hour on the phone, he closed with he wanted to hire me and travel to Florida to spend a day with me. This is of course very humbling because I don't feel like I do anything special. Just very basic sales skills and treating people like people, not a transaction. One last point, as a business owner, team leader, and rain maker, it's always a little surprising to me that the people who see the value are not always the people in the room. Interesting!

Who Bought a Home Last Year????

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 04:27:33 -0800

I found a very interesting article in this past Sunday's newspaper. A "recap" if you will of the 2013 year in real estate. Some of the information was very "predictable", but there were a few suprises. For example, the article states that a lot more single women purchased homes in 2013 than single men. In Florida, 19% of homebuyers were single woman, compared to 6% being single men. Many people who purchased homes in 2013 also purchased with the intention of moving in the home with extended family (parents or grown children). The typical home purchased in 2013 in Florida was approximately 1,900 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and the average age for being built was 1996. This statistic was some somewhat suprising since Florida has many older homes. The typical Florida buyer last year was a married couple in their mid 50's, who earned a median household income of $82,100.00, who had been in their previous home for 9 years. Most people started their home search on the internet, and spent 10 weeks looking for a home and visited 10 homes prior to writing an offer. One of the most suprising parts of the article, was the response to the question, "What was the most difficult part of the home-buying process?" 46% of the people surveyed responded with... getting the mortgage, where as only 8% said was savng for the down payment. 21% of the people thought that the amount of paperwork needed was the most difficult. (Paperwork including, listing, contract addendums and closing paperwork). For Florida sellers, there was some interesting statistics. 10% of those surveyed had their home on the market for more than a year. 10% also lowered their asking price for or MORE times!!!! The typical equity check to the seller was $25,000.00. For buyers, 27% purchased their first home and 31% of the buyers had a household income of less than $55,000.00. The real estate market fluctuates from year to year and sometimes from month to month. Having an experienced agent to help guide you through all the steps whether you are selling or buying is invaluable. Can you sell your home on your own? Certainly. However, homes that are marketed by a real estate agent tend to sell much quicker and for a higher price than those being sold by owner. Can you purchase a home on your own? Of course you can! Having an agent to help guide you through the contract process and the inspections and the closing can be invaluable. That agent has YOUR best interest in mind. Here at the Dietz Team in Palm Harbor, we have a team of experienced listing agents and buyer's agents. Please call our office at 727-451-3530 and speak to one of our staff. We would be honored to help you buy or sell your next home. My name is John Dietz. I own The Dietz Team at Re/Max in Palm Harbor Florida and I want to earn the opportunity to be your Realtor. Please call me at 727-451-3530 and ask about out Guaranteed Listing program, our No Hassle Listing, or Our Guaranteed Buyer Program. We want to work for you!

Clearwater Beach Waterfront Luxury Home Sells In Less Than 30 Days

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:24:31 -0800

Listed For Six Months With No Results / Listed and Sold By The Dietz Team In Less Than 30 DaysThis 3 bedroom 2 baths, 1804 square feet on a 6,490 square foot waterfront Lot With Direct Gulf Access was listed at $550,000 in January and sold in less than 30 days. We always tell our clients that the three factors that determine if a home sells or not are Price, Presentation, and Marketing. However, sometimes it just comes down to hard work. In the short time we had this property listed, we held four open houses, accompanied every showing and gave personal tours to more than 50 buyers including open houses and posted an average of 20 advertisements to the internet every day. We also made more than 600 phone calls looking for a buyer for this property.So, if you have a Clearwater Beach waterfront home you want to sell and you are looking for a Realtor with a plan that includes more than "put your home in the MLS, place a sign in the yard, and then pray someone else sells it," call The Dietz Team and we would be honored to interview for the opportunity to be your Realtor and I promise, no one will work harder than we will. Dreaming of Gulf Front Living In Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida? This completely renovated waterfront home which includes a new 2012 dock on deep water will accommodate very large boats with unlimited deep water Gulf Of Mexico Access. Step through the front door into open concept living area with porcelain tile flooring. The new contemporary kitchen includes solid surface counters, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar with sparkling overhead lights. Open great room floor plan includes raised ceilings, almost 600 square feet of living and entertaining space flowing to a 16 foot opening to the waterfront covered deck. My name is John Dietz. I own The Dietz Team at Re/Max in Palm Harbor Florida and I want to earn the opportunity to be your Realtor. Please call me at 727-451-3530 and ask about out Guaranteed Listing program, our No Hassle Listing, or Our Guaranteed Buyer Program. We want to work for you!

North Pinellas County Florida Realtor Report For 2013

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 02:45:45 -0800

As a Palm Harbor - Clearwater home owner I am sure you receive post cards, mail campaigns and general marketing from numerous Real Estate Companies ALL CLAIMING to be number one in their market. It's actually funny sometimes. I mean, how can everyone be number one? Another one of my favorites is when a agent claims to be in the top 5%. Sounds impressive, right? Well, when you consider we have roughly 5,000 Realtor's in our market, this claim simply means they are in the top 250. OK, as I am making friends here, I will stop with my commentary and just quote the factual statistical data for 2013 as reported from PROTECH. · The average Realtor sells 5 homes a year and 80% of the Realtor's in our market are part time agents. The Dietz Team sold 125 homes in 2013 with total sales of $26,000,000. · The Dietz Team finished number 8 out of 5,000 agents in our market. · The Dietz Team sold 125 homes in 2013 with a goal of 180 homes sold in 2014. · Re/Max Realtec is the number one Real Estate office (Based on homes sold per agent) in our market with 2,495 total homes sold in 2013 for an average of 22 homes sold per agent. By comparison, the remaining top 5 offices sold: Keller Williams St Pete— 1,362 homes sold for an average of 8.4 homes sold per agent Re/Max Metro St Pete -- 1,113 homes sold for an average of 15.4 homes sold per agent Smith and Associate -- 666 homes sold for an average of 9.6 homes sold per agent Coldwell Banker Tampa Road—760 homes sold for an average of 13 homes sold per agent · Re/Max Realtec is the number one Re/Max office in the state of Florida · Re/Max Realtec has the most agents in the top 25 with 6. The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 125 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.

You Don't Need A Realtor To Sell Your Home!

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 02:41:27 -0800

Did you know that you can pay to have your home placed in the MLS? This way, you can pay a buyers agent to bring you a buyer and sell your home. So, what's the point? Real simple, you can possibly save money and put more money in your pocket by selling your home with a flat rate service provider. This can happen in one of two ways; 1. You pay a Realtor to load your home into the MLS as a For Sale By Owner. This will cost you somewhere between $100 and $2,000 depending on who you hire and what marketing services they provide. 2. The other way this works, and we will see more Realtor's providing this service as the market becomes more of a seller's market, is you can hire a Realtor at a flat rate to represent you. For example, if you are selling a $300,000 home and the listing agents you are interviewing are quoting 3% as their fee, your cost to have someone represent you would be $9,000. By contrast, a flat fee "limited service" provider may only cost you $3,000. OK, that's simple, hiring a flat fee service provider or selling by owner makes sense, right? NOT SO FAST! First, lets consider just a few facts. 1. Only 25% of home owners successfully sell their home by owner. The other 75% end up hiring a professional Realtor or they don't sell their home. 2. The average home that does sell by owner is selling right now in an average of 120 days on the market compared to 60 days for homes listed with a professional in a sellers market. 3. The average for sale by owner that sells is selling for 85% of the asking price compared to 95% of the asking price for homes being sold by professional Real Estate agents. 4. Flat fee agents are going to put your home in the MLS, put a sign in your yard and that is the extent of the service and production you will receive in most of these cases. You've heard the saying 'you get what you pay for." Well, the same is true in Real Estate. 5. When you hire a Realtor to sell your home and represent you, you are hiring them to spend time and money on marketing your home. You are hiring them to call you with feedback from showing and suggestions. And finally, you are hiring them to negotiate on your behalf when you receive offers. Lets be honest. Most home owners reading this right now are thinking, no problem, all Realtor's do the same thing anyways. Why should I pay top dollar when I can hire a discount agent. The answer is very simple and direct. Not all Realtor's are created equal! If they were, they would all be selling the same number of homes and getting the same results. The average Realtor in Palm Harbor is selling 5 homes a year and their list price to sell price ratio is 90%. I sold 127 homes in 2013 at an average of 97% of the list price. If you needed heart surgery, would you hire a discount surgeon or worse yet, would you operate on yourself? When selecting a college for your child to attend, are you making the decision based on the lowest priced school? Then, why would you give one of your most important financial investments to a discount "limited service" provider? The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 5 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.

Good News - You've Been Rejected

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:43:16 -0800

When I was young, I had my share of challenges. This is before the days when our Schools had all of the abbreviations like ADHD, ADD, ESE and so on. Back in the day, the school would just sit a troubled child down with their parents and suggest they put the child on drugs or maybe send them to a special school because the child didn't belong in a School with "normal children." As time went on and frustration grew both at school and at home I became very angry and acted out and acted out until I spent more time in the principals office than I did in the classroom. I am sharing my soul with you and being very transparent for a reason and if you will hang in there with me till the end, you will see why. OK, back to my story. Rock bottom happen for me in the 8th grade as I had just been kicked out of my second school. This was more than 30 years ago and I still remember the principals words to my parents, "your son doesn't belong here, he doesn't fit in with the normal children and he will never amount to anything." It's like a light finally went on in my brain after several years of failure and rejection I decided to prove everyone wrong. Fast forward several years and I went on to graduate High School and College with honors and have enjoyed massive success in my professional life. I now own a very successful business with annual sales exceeding $25,000,000, am in the top 5 out of several thousand in my market in Real Estate sales and am a motivational speaker - coach and trainer. I would like somehow to find that 8th grade principal that said "I didn't belong and I would never amount to anything." I would like to invite him to dinner and thank him for providing me with the motivation that has carried me for more than thirty years. Recently, I watched a young man as he applied to a local Catholic High School and was rejected because "he didn't fit their academic requirements. They said " they had to make a calculated decision based on the classes he had taken and the possibility he would meet their graduation requirements." When we make calcuated decisions based on statistical data, we get predictable, often mediocer results. When we take risk and make decisions based on human charicteristics, sometimes miracles happen. Would Christopher Columbus have sailed in search of a new World based on prdictable statistical data? Actually, everyone thought he was crazy and that his journey would end in death. it's a good thing for all of us that this local Catholic High School didn't get to make the decision for Columbus. They would have rejected him based on his chances of success. What would happen if we made all of our decisions based on our chances of success? The answer to that question is simple; NOTHING!!!! So, on behalf of this young man who has been rejected I would personally like to thank this Catholic High School for planting the seeds of passion within him that will lead to massive success. The road to success is paved with hard work, dedication, passion, failure and rejecton. Columbus was rejected by every leader he went to and asked for a saiiling fleet for his mission of a search for a new world. What if he would have given up after the first rejection, the second or the third. He didn't give up and I am glad he didn't and to that 8th grade principal I would like to say thank you, you inspired me to prove you wrong. Wherever you are, I tunred out Ok but I still don't fit in with "the normal people."

Another Palm Harbor Waterfront Luxury Home Sold By The Dietz Team

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 03:28:59 -0800

The Dietz Team With Re/Max - Leading The Market In Waterfront Luxury Home Sales www.dietzteam.com Listed in December for $550,000 in a market where only two homes have sold for more than $500,000 in the last six months, This waterfront beauty with direct Gulf access just went under contract in less than 60 days. We always tell our customers that the three factors that determine if a home will sell or not is price, presentation and marketing.Price - Price as close to the price you believe a home will sell as possible. Presentation - Buyers are looking for mint condition move in ready Marketing - The Dietz Team spends 4 hours EVERY DAY and several thousand dollars a month on marketing. I don't want to make this sound simple because it is not. It takes persistent hard work to sell high priced luxury homes in a buyers market (9 month supply) but the formula is simple. Price your home at "THE RIGHT PRICE," Stage it like a model home and find "THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT" like The Dietz Team that will market your home effectively and you can sell your home in any market. This waterfront home in West Pasco County on deep water with direct Gulf access offers a unique opportunity. Please stay with me for a minute and allow me to draw this pictures for you. Have you ever wanted to live on The Gulf Of Mexico with amazing Gulf-Ocean views and beautiful Florida sunsets 365 days a year. Have you ever dreamed of owning a vacation rental with $2,000 per week income potential. The Dietz Team located in Palm Harbor-Clearwater Florida has your opportunity to do both. One of our newest listings on Sanddollar Ct in New Port Richey offers 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, 4,008 sq. ft. waterfront home with easy and quick access to the Gulf of Mexico. This Key West style home has 3 bedrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors plus a 2 bedroom 2 bath in-law suite or guest quarters complete with a 2nd guest kitchen and second family room on the first floor. Three story home with 3 separate AC zones. Soaring 2-story Great Room with large sky lights. There are balconies on 2nd and 3rd floors overlooking the Gulf of Mexico plus a 2nd floor balcony in the front of the home off the kitchen. Metal roof, aluminum siding, exterior electric hurricane shutters and indoor plantation shutters. The gourmet kitchen is completely updated with real wood cabinetry, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. An inviting in ground pool has a spillover spa and paver lanai. The over-sized two-car garage has a separate workshop within. Dock with 10,000 lb. boat lift on deep-water canal will accommodate large boats. You are just five minutes to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, and 20 minutes to world famous fishing on the Anclote River and historic Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida. This LIKE NEW home has been updated through out. Mint, move in ready Model Condition. So, here is how this works. Contact John Dietz at www.dietzteam.com and he will show you how you can make this property your home. You can live in luxury 12 months a year or reside in this Ocean Front executive home part time and rent it out as a vacation rental part time for as much as $2,000 per week. Because of the size of this home, 5 bedrooms, 4008 Square Feet and two complete kitchens, this home is set up perfect for a large extended family get-away or a corporate celebration. The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 5 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.

Palm Harbor Home Owners Are Jumping For Joy Over The Housing Market

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:27:05 -0800

Palm Harbor Home Owners Are Jumping For Joy Over The Housing Market Not really but I figured I would use the same method our media does to get your attention. As a local Real Estate expert here in Palm Harbor Florida, the most conversation I have today is on "the improved Real Estate Market." And, even though it is true the market here in Palm Harbor is much improved, the real answer is a little bit more complicated. The truth is we have at least three markets here in Palm Harbor and the state of the market depends on which market we are talking about:The Single Family home market for homes priced between $150,000 and $300,000 is setting 7 year record gains. From 2006 through 2012, inventory rose to as high as 18 months and market values decreased by an average of 10% a year or up to 60% over that six year stretch. It appears we hit the bottom (for now) in this market in early 2012 and have been on the climb up since until today inventory for single family homes in Palm Harbor priced between $150,000 and $300,000 is less than 60 days. As inventory goes down, buyers make offers quicker and drive prices up in an effort to outbid the competition. Real simple but this is how market values increase. 2012 - January 2014 - Inventory down to less than 60 days and values up by an average of 12% 2. The Single Family home market for homes priced $500,000 up is not on the same path even though it has been on the same journey. In other words, inventory in this market also increased starting in 2006 to as high as three years and market values went on a dive to as much as 50% over the next six yes. One of the factors in this market that is interesting is even though inventory was higher the market values did not go down as quick and by as much in all areas of Palm Harbor. For example, waterfront homes with Gulf access did decrease in value but necessarily at the same rate. Also, even though inventory in the $150,000 to $300,000 prince range dove to seven year record lows, the inventory for homes priced above $500,000 in most areas of Palm Harbor is still greater than six months. This means these homes are still in a buyers market and values are either still on the decline or at best holding steady. I recently had a listing priced at $550,000 receive a very good offer and the sellers response was to reject the offer because the media says "The market is improving at record levels." I explained to this seller that where they live there have been three homes sell over $500,000 in the last six months and there are currently six for sale priced above $500,000. This is a one year supply and NOT an improving market. Therefore, it would have been a huge mistake to reject this offer. Fortunately (for them) they listened to me, not the media and we sold their home. 3. The condo villa and Town-home market is a entirely different story. These properties priced between $100,000 and $200,000 seem to be on the mend but not at the same pace as single family homes in the same price range. The determining factors looks to be if the property has a garage or is on the water or on a golf course. Inventory for condos in Palm harbor priced below $200,000 with a garage or short in supply and high in demand. We recently listed and sold a condo in East lake Woodlands priced at $200,000 that was on the market last year at $175,000 and didn't sell. In the end, whether you are in a sellers market with improving values or not comes down to supply and demand for homes like yours in location and price. If the inventory in below three months, then values are on the rise. Pretty basic and simple but it can also be confusing. The solution is simple, look to the experts in your market that are selling the most homes. The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 5 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.

Tarpon Springs Waterfront Homes For Sale

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 05:06:46 -0800

Tarpon Springs Home Overlooking Beautiful Whitcomb Bayou Offered By The Dietz Team With Re/Max Picture perfect water views facing northwest for amazing sunsets over large, open Whitcomb Bayou. Spacious 3 bedroom home on large, 1/3 of an acre corner lot with room to build 4,000 sq. ft. home and plenty of room to add a pool in this upscale neighborhood featuring homes from $500,000 to $1, 500,000. Newer tile roof in 2000, AC new in 2008. Community Boat Ramp and Craig Park just around the corner. Located in the Tarpon Springs Historic District approximately one mile to the World Famous Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks and within a short walk to Craig Park and Spring Bayou, site of the annual Greek Orthodox Church Epiphany celebration featuring the Cross Dive. What will you find in Tarpon Springs? The Sponge Docks, Greek Restaurants, Bakeries,Attractions, Natural Sponges, Sponge Diving, Tours, Sightseeing Cruises, Unique Greek and Florida Souvenirs, lots of Shopping,Sightseeing and Live Entertainment. For more information on 803 Whitcomb Blvd or if you have any questions regarding the Real Estate Market in Tarpon Springs, Florida, call John Dietz with The Dietz Team at Re/Max at 727-451-3530 or visit our web site at:

How To Sell Your Tampa Bay Area Home

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 23:24:46 -0800

Selling Real Estate For Dummies Do you remember the "For Dummies" book series? I don't know if they are still writing these as I'm sure just about every subject including selling Real Estate has been covered. Well, here is my very simple "how to" for home owners on "how to sell your home." 1. Research Top Real Estate Agents in your market and interview at least two of the top agents. Selling your home is one of the most important financial transactions you will ever be involved in during your life. Let me ask you a question, if you needed major surgery, would you hire a surgeon because they were a friend, neighbor or family member? Of course not, well why would you hire just anyone to sell your families home? When looking for the top Real Estate agents in your market, look for agents that have sold the most homes in the last year, not agents with the most recognizable name, most bus benches and billboards or agents that have been selling Real Estate the longest. How long someone has been a Realtor means absolutely NOTHING if they are not one of the top agents in your market. Here, let's be a little bit more direct, would you rather hire an agent with 30 years of experience that sold 5 homes in the last 12 months or would you rather hire an agent with 5 years of experience that sold 30 homes last year? 2. Price your home To Sell not For Sale. What the heck does that mean? Real simple, Market value is determined by the location of your home, the size, condition and amenities, not how much you paid for it, how much you have into it or how much you need. If you were a buyer and the seller said "I paid $200,000 for my home and I have another $50,000 in improvements so therefore I want $250,000" but based on current market conditions, the home is worth $200,000, would you pay $250,000? Of course not so why would anyone else? So here is the formula to guaranteed success:Research comparable homes in your neighborhood that have sold in the last six months. Look for homes that are within 10% of your square footage. Look for homes that are similar in location. In other words, if your home backs to another home or it backs to conservation look for homes that are similar. Water Frontage, Conservation and Golf Course Frontage all add value and busy streets, power lines or smaller lots all take value away. Base your price on the most recent home sales, not on the homes that are for sell. In a sellers market, the last home sold is the new floor and in a buyers market, the last home sold is the new ceiling. In other words, if you are in a sellers market and the last comparable home to your home sold for $200,000, your home should sell for slightly more than $200,000. Be careful to not make the price per square foot mistake. Call me or e-mail me and I will explain this. It's too complicated to cover in this context. Do not price for negotiation, price to sell. In other words, if your home is worth $220,000, price it at $225,000. One of the biggest mistakes home owners and Realtor's make is to take that same property and price it at $250,000 thinking "they can always make an offer or we can always come down." Not always true. If a buyer doesn't see your home, they can't make an offer and buyers usually make offers on the homes they believe are already priced correctly. Yes, you have a beautiful home but you do not have the only beautiful home for sale right now. Sorry, but that's the truth.3. Don't try to time the market. One of the most common questions I get is "when is the best time to put my home on the market?" The answer is always, right now. Regardless of the time of year there are always going to be buyers looking for a home just like yours and you can't sell your home if it's not for sale. Simple right. yes but remember this is "Selling Real Estate For Dummies." I met with a home owner in May who had a home in a neighborhood that attracted buyers from up north (snow birds) and her home had just come off the market without selling. She had decided she was going to wait until November when the Snow Birds returned to put her home on the market. I explained to her that her home didn't sell because her previous agent had overpriced it and that if we made a slight price adjustment, she would sell her home and that she should not wait. She hired me and we sold her home at the full asking price in less than 30 days. So there you have it, my three step process for selling your home. Now, if you are asking yourself what about marketing, what about open houses, what about broker opens, remember if you follow step number one, you do not need to worry about those questions. If you hire one of the top producing agents in your market, chances are they have a massive marketing plan that covers those issues. However, please ask each of the Realtor's you meet with what their plan is for selling your home. Also, ask them to provide you with a list of homes they sold (not their office) in the last 12 months.The Dietz Team finished 2013 ranked in the top 5 Realtor's in our market with 127 homes sold. My name is John Dietz and I want to apply for the opportunity to be your Realtor. If you are thinking of selling your home or if you are in the market for a new home please call me at 727-451-3530 or send me an e-mail at john@dietzteam.com Thank You and Make It A Great Day! John Dietz

I Want To Buy A Home Being Sold By Owner

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:34:05 -0800

Palm Harbor Florida Homes Being Sold "For Sale By Owner" Selling for sale by owner (FSBO) in a seller’s market is a popular idea. Buying a FSBO can be a challenge. When you are seriously looking at a home that is for sale by owner there are three things that you, as the buyer, should be aware of and looking for: pricing, motivation and disclosures and inspections.Pricing: A FSBO must be a good deal, right? After all, the seller isn't paying any real estate commissions, so their price MUST be lower. Well, not always. Why? Because with a FSBO there is no Realtor involved helping the seller do things like price the home correctly or make sure it’s in tip top shape. But that “great deal” isn't always true. The average FSBO bases their listing price on two things: what other homes for sale in the area are asking and what they need to sell it for. The sales price isn't based on two other things: what actual sales in the area were, and what the home is really worth. So it may not be such a “deal” after all. Motivation: When you are looking at a home for sale by owner you need to ask yourself why are they selling by owner vs. using a Realtor. Probably to save the commission. It’s important because it means that they have very little wiggle room between their asking price and what they owe on their mortgage. You should ask a FSBO seller “If I bought your home today, where are you moving?” and then carefully listen to their answer. It can clue you into their motivation.Seller’s disclosures and inspections: Seller’s are required by law to provide buyers with disclosures. Unfortunately, most FSBO’s don’t know that seller’s disclosures are necessary when selling a home. Make sure to ask them for copies. This is the best reason to have you own Realtor helping you. They know what is necessary and can get you what you need. Inspections are an important part of making sure you get a sound home. Most contracts provide 10-15 days to have inspections done. Make sure inspections and inspection periods are clearly spelled out in any contract you sign. Your best bet is to make sure you have a Realtor represent your interests. You can, and should have one and it’s perfectly OK even in a FSBO situation. Besides, it's doesn't cost anything to hire a buyers agent and in most cases, you are going to get a better deal working with a buyers agent than you will representing yourself and dealing directly with the owner. The Dietz Team finished 2013 ranked in the top 5 Realtor's in our market with 127 homes sold. If you are thinking of selling your home or if you are in the market to buy a new home, please contact John Dietz at www.dietzteam.com or call 727-451-3530.

Overcoming Adversity

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:56:48 -0800

Andy Andrews, author of The Travelers Gift says "Adversity is Preparation For Greatness." I don't know everything, but I do know this, someone reading this blog, right now is going through one of the worse times of their life. We are all either in adversity, heading towards adversity or coming out of adversity. It's part of being human. Welcome to life! Charles Swindoll said "life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react to it." I agree with this but just to go down a bunny trail here for a quick moment and to appeal to your human side, I would ask you to remember that this may not be true for children who are in abusive situations or children that are discriminated against and are stuck. What's my point? Let's just say I understand abuse, neglect, poverty and disability and I also know that I did not reach a point in my life until I was in my 20's that I realized my history did not define my destination and that the choice was mine. Is this always true, does this mean that we are just stuck and we do not have the power to overcome adversity until we become adults? Absolutely Not! History is full of stories of children that have overcome unimaginable adversity. Anne Frank, a teen girl transformed the pain of her secret world into a memoir that would touch millions. Unfortunately though, for every Anne Frank there are thousands of children stuck in abusive, neglectful or discriminating situations. Before I move on, my only point here is we should not just accept this as a fact of life. If we have the opportunity to reach out and help, we should. OK, moving on, so life is hard, it's not fair and sometimes, pardon my language, it just sucks. What we do with failure and adversity molds our future and who we become. History is full of stories of the timid and the bold but it is the bold that we remember. Want proof, name the 16th President of The United States. My guess is almost everyone reading this knew the answer was Abraham Lincoln. Now name the last ten Presidents of The United States. My guess is most of you got about half of them correct. Study Lincoln's life. It was filled with adversity and failure. As a matter of fact, just about the only thing he succeeded at was being elected the 16th President of our country and because of that, history changed. Just imagine if he would have given up. Would we even be The United States today. Most historians will tell you no. We wouldn't even be Northern States and The Southern States but The US as you know it today would be a collection of approximately four countries. Now, if this is true, what would have happened when Hitler marched across Europe? What would have happened if The United States was not there to join the fight? It's just a question but my guess is Hitler might have succeeded. Then what? In closing, the message I am trying to drive home here is, one man changed history because he overcame adversity or maybe he changed history because of adversity. Adversity prepares us for greatness. What can you do today by overcoming adversity? Maybe change the life of just one child suffering with no way out. Maybe?

Palm Harbor - Barrington Oaks West Florida Real Estate Market Review For 2013

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 04:43:44 -0800

As one of the leading local experts on the Real Estate Market in Palm Harbor, The Dietz Team with Re/Max is running a quick report on the top neighborhoods in Palm Harbor Florida. Barrington Oaks West is located off Tampa Road approximately a half mile west of US Highway 19 in Palm Harbor. This popular Pinellas County neighborhood is part of an A+ School District. Families with young children will have the convenience of Palm Harbor Middle within walking distance to their home and Palm Harbor University High School just a mile north. Barrington Oaks homes are very spacious, ranging in size from 2,500 square feet to over 5,000 square feet and every home is situated on an oversize lot of at least a quarter acre. Barrington Oaks is a quaint neighborhood with very little turn over. There were only four homes sold in 2013 ranging from a low of $350,000 to a high of $490,000. The average price per square foot for the homes sold was $133 a square foot with a high of $150. 4 Homes Sold Low $350,000 High $490,000 Average $413,569 Average Price Per Square Foot $133 The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.

Sell your Palm Harbor Clearwater Home, with the market not your heart

Sun, 19 Jan 2014 22:52:23 -0800

It's what the market dictates, not your heart or your wallet..... Unfortunately for the past week, I have been really sick with the flu and pneumonia, so of course I spent a lot of time in bed. I have always been a huge fan of HGTV, but with so many other things going on in my life, I haven't really watched it in quite some time. As a brief background, I will let you know that I joined the Dietz Team, one of the top ten ranked real estate teams in Pinellas County, Florida in July of this year, as their closing coordinator. Prior to that, my background was title insurance for basically the past 15 years or so. It's important for you to know that, as I am not writing this blog as a realtor, but have so much more about real estate in the past six months, that watching my HGTV put a whole new perspective on things! One of the biggest "aha" realizations that I got was now watching and realizing how many people on these shows are adamant that they "MUST GET X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SELL THE HOME." When asked by the host, as to "why?" the response overwhelmingly seemed to be along the lines of "when I payoff what I owe to the bank, the real estate commission, the closing costs, the taxes, etc... I still NEED X amount of proceeds over and above that for my new home". I was watching a particular show in which the seller's of a condo in Miami, were adamant about listing for $100,000.00 over what the market value was. They hired an agent who explained what the ramifications could be by doing that. (Little/no showings, no offers and even that by doing all the marketing in the world, there was little IF ANY chance someone would pay that much over the value of the property.) The homeowner was insistent because he had "thrown his heart and soul" into remodeling the unit, yet had done so many high end upgrades that he could not get the return he invested. He fired the real estate agent after 3 weeks, because there were no showings. He did more research on top agents in the area, and hired another one, whom he thought would be the perfect fit and "get the job done". Interesting, on the interview with this agent, she gave him the same advice... the price he was asking was too far above market value, and perhaps he should consider either a short sale, bringing the cash to the closing table or renting the property. None were an option for him, so again the property was listed $100,000.00 over market value. Not suprisingly, about 3 weeks in, there had been 1 showing and the couple that looked, left feedback that it was way overpriced and they ended up writin a contract on another unit that was listed for $125,000 less than his. As he was getting ready to fire agent number 2, she came to him with an opportunity to rent out the property. She explained, that at least he would get a portion of the mortgage covered (him and his wife were now leaving in North Florida and paying 2 mortgages). They could do a year lease, and perhaps then the market would be changed and they could re-explore the option of selling at that time. They looked at what units in that area were renting for and not suprisingly, decided that if he were going to rent, he would need about $750.00 a month more than what the other units were being rented for. This of course, is what he would need in order to "break even" on the mortgage payment. Again, he was going against the market and with his heart or his wallet, and wanting something unrealistic. By the end of the show, his agent was able to get the unit rented for about $400.00 a month more than the other units. The renter was willing to pay more for all of the high end details in the unit. The wife of the owner had to convince the husband that in the end having to pay $350.00 a month towards the mortgage was way better than having to cover the entire thing. So I guess, in the end, the moral of the story was one that I see and hear more and more often from the agents I work with. Homeowner's often have an emotional connection to their home... which is totally understandable. It may have been the home in which their kids were born and raised, or their first home as a married couple. However, in the end, the buyer is not interested in the emotional attachment the seller's have to the home. They are interested in what the fair market value is and getting a great deal. If you are interested in finding out the fair market value of your home, please call our office in Palm Harbor, Florida at 7247-451-3530 and we will gladly come meet with you.

Eniswood Homes Sold In 2013

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 22:54:39 -0800

Palm Harbor - Clearwater Florida Real Estate Market Review For 2013 As one of the leading local experts on the Real Estate Market in Palm Harbor, The Dietz Team with Re/Max is running a quick report on the top neighborhoods in Palm Harbor Florida. The Eniswood neighborhood in Palm Harbor, FL is comprised of 179 households ranging in current market value from $200,000 to $500,000. There were 10 homes sold in Eniswood in 2013 ranging from a low of $182,500 to a high of $425,000. The average price per square foot of the homes sold was $118 a square foot with a high of $133 a square foot. 10 Homes Sold Low $182,500 High $425,000 Average $282,490 Average Price Per Square Foot $118 The Dietz Team is one of Palm Harbor's top Real Estate teams ranking in the top 10 for all Realtor's in North Pinellas County with 127 homes sold in 2013. If you are thinking of selling or if you are just interested in an updated market analysis, please call John Dietz at 727-451-3530.