Bradenton Real Estate Club

Bradenton Florida Homes Outpace The Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Existing home sales have fallen across the nations for six straight months. Yet, our Bradenton - Sarasota, FL sales are up again. In fact Bradenton - Sarasota was the fourth highest selling market in the whole state.

Locally home sales are up 4% over last year and the median price seems to be stabilizing.

What does this mean for those thinking of buying a home in Bradenton, FL? It means that you are beginning to have more competition. More buyers are active in the market today.

In talking with other Realtors in our Bradenton Real Estate market I am hearing virtually all of them say they are busier than ever. More buyers are looking and purchasing.

If you have ever wanted to own a vacation home in our area, now is certainly the time to buy. Prices are down and interest rates are attractive. If you have thought about moving here permanently, don't delay.

(Copyright © 2008 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved.)

Dan Forbes, PL is a licensed Broker-Associate and Certified Residential Specialist. He leads the Forbes Advantage Team at RE/MAX Gulfstream Alliance Group's Lakewood Ranch Office in Bradenton, Florida. He can be reached at 941-713-5760 or 800-756-3068. To learn more about buying a home or selling a home in the Bradenton - Sarasota Florida Real Estate market please visit Dan on the web at:
http://www.BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com/
http://www.BradentonRealEstateClub.com/
http://www.the-short-sale-expert.com/
My Blogs http://www.TheRealEstateZoo.com/

The Top Ten Places To Invest

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:08:00 +0000

The best place to get a bargain on a home is an area where there is healthy job growth and more houses available than people to buy them.

Forbes magazine went looking for markets where the damage from risky lending hasn�??t been as dramatic as in some parts of the country and where employment growth will burn off an over-abundance of inventory quickly.

Here are the magazine�??s 10 best cities for bargain house hunters.

1. Salt Lake City, Utah. Developers have gotten ahead of the demand, but the city is adding jobs more quickly than practically any place else in the country.

2. Raleigh, N.C. Another place where building got ahead of the curve, but the economy is expanding quickly.

3. Orlando, Fla. This part of the state had fewer speculators than Miami and Tampa, and it�??s adding jobs faster than those cities as well.

4. Charlotte, N.C. The financial industry is moving here, adding jobs, but the inventory of unsold homes is still significant.

5. Phoenix. This city had a high foreclosure rate, but the economy is growing and people are still moving here in large numbers.

6. Seattle. The city�??s port has profited from the weak dollar, but the housing price growth has slowed.

7. Las Vegas. This market was hit hard by foreclosures, but the growing economy makes the huge inventory less toxic than it is many places.

8. Jacksonville, Fla. The foreclosure rate is slower than the rest of the Florida cities, making the large inventory likely to improve.

9. Richmond, Va. There is only one foreclosure per 1,103 households here (compared to 1 in 33 in Detroit). Still, there are plenty of homes on the market.

10. Houston. Homes in Houston have long been a bargain. While there have been plenty of foreclosures, the population and the economy are expanding.

Dan Forbes, PL is a licensed Broker-Associate and Certified Residential Specialist. He leads the Forbes Advantage Team at RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty�??s Lakewood Ranch Office in Bradenton, Florida. To learn more about buying a home or selling a home in the Bradenton - Sarasota Florida Real Estate market please visit Dan on the web at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com ; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com ; and TheRealEstateZoo.com

Call Dan Forbes today: 941-713-5760 or toll free at 800-756-3068.

What Are The Most Affordable Areas In Which To Rent?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Foreclosures are driving rental rates down in many parts of the country, especially in the condo market. Some tenants are happy to find rents 30% lower than they were a couple of years ago.

An article on Realtor.org reports, "There are 760,000 vacant condos and homes for sale nationwide beyond what the market could normally carry, in addition to a surplus of 350,000 vacant rental properties, according to Ron Witten, a Dallas-based housing analyst."

So, just where are the most affordable areas for condo rentals?

here are the 10 least-expensive rental markets with their average monthly rents, based on the prices in complexes with 40 units or more:

Wichita, Kan.: $470

Oklahoma City: $490

Tulsa, Okla: $520

Knoxville, Tenn.: $560

Dayton, Ohio: $570

Chattanooga, Tenn.: $580

Greenville, S.C.: $580

Lexington, Ky.: $600

Louisville, Ky.: $600

Little Rock, Ark.: $600

Overall, the U.S. average for rent is $975.

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call 941-713-5760 if you have any questions about our Bradenton Florida Real Estate market. Please visit BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com; TheRealEstateZoo.com; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com

Bradenton Florida New Home Builders Offering Discounts and Incentives

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:54:00 +0000

If you are in the market for a new home, now may just be the best time ever to buy. New home builders in our Bradenton, Florida real estate market area are offering everything from free 42-inch flat screen televisions to free car leases to free pools.

New homes can be found starting in the low $120,000's. Homes priced in the $2 million dollar range have been discounted $300,000 by one builder. If you have a home to sell, one builder will pay up to 6 months on your new home while you are selling the old one.

How can you find out about these incentives? Contact me of course!

(Copyright 2008 by Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved)

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call 941-713-5760 if you have any questions about our Bradenton Florida Real Estate market. Please visit BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com; TheRealEstateZoo.com; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com

Price Analysis for the Sarasota Bradenton Venice Metro Region

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:04:00 +0000

The National Association of Realtors has just released a 14 page Home Price Analysis for our metro area. You may request a copy from me.

Here is an excerpt:

"Despite some media reports of the worst housing market conditins since the early 1990's, or even since the Great Depression, the recent home price declines have been negligible at the local level.... The outlook is positive...A rise in home sales and a return to rising home prices are a definite possibility for 2008."

If you would like an email copy of the 14 page report just contact me through my website. Ask for the Home Price Analysis Report.

While you are here, look to the sidebar on the right and subscribe to this blog.

Thanks,

Dan Forbes

Bradenton Florida Short Sale Listings

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:52:00 +0000

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call if you have questions about our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326. Visit my web site and blogs BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com ; TheRealEstateZoo.com ; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com

Bradenton Florida Real Estate Market Conditions Report

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:37:00 +0000

PREMIER TEAM�??s
Market Conditions Report Summary
November 2007
(from our study of the Gulf Coast Regional Multiple Listing Service)

Statistics for Single Family Homes

Total Listings: 4354 - Up 2.7% over last year. DOWN 6.8% from last month
Total Solds: 161 - Down 11.55% year to year, and Up 25.7% from last month . 96.25+% of homes for sale DID NOT SELL in November.
Median Sales Price: $180,000 �?? Up 10.4% from a year ago. Down 24.2% from high of 2005
Absorption Rate: 27.0 months. This is how long it would take to sell all of today's listings at the rate homes are selling and if no other homes were listed. Last year: 23.4 months.
Average Days on Market: 106 �?? Up 15.2% over last year

Statistics for Condos

Total Condo Listings: 2002 �?? Up 3.2% over last year. Up 2.1% from last month
Total Solds: 57 �?? Up 35.7% year to year and Up 23.9% over last month.
Median Sales Price: $180,000 �?? Up 10.4% from a year ago. Down 24.2% from high of 2005
Absorption Rate: 35.1 months. Last year: 46.2 months.
Average Days on Market: 140 �?? Up 70.0% over last year

Finally, Things Are Looking Up!!!
The dark clouds may be parting in our Bradenton real estate market. There just may be more good news than bad news. We may have reached the tipping point.

Could 2008 begin the recovery in our market? It appears hopeful.

Inventory is going down. That is significant.
Sales are going up. Another signficant number.
Days on Market. Well, they increased, which is not good. Look for this to turn around as the market improves.

Here is the detailed Market Conditions Report:
Total%20Market%20Overview%20PDF

This Week's Club Meeting, Friday, Nov. 30th

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:14:00 +0000

Don't miss this week's meeting of the Bradenton Real Estate Club, Friday at 11:45 a.m. (see details below)

Rich Petitt (attorney) with Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves, P.A, is our speaker. Rich is going to continue his talk about "Overview of Real Estate Fraud in Florida".

Follow this link to see all of our upcoming events:
http://www.bradentonrealestateclub.com/Events.htm

This week's article of interest from my blog www.TheRealEstateZOO.com is
Reports About Florida�??s Real Estate Death (Like Mark Twain�??s) Were Greatly Exaggerated (Click it)

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BRADENTON REAL ESTATE CLUB

WHEN: Every Friday Arrive: 11:45 - 12:15 Networking, Order and enjoy lunch ($13.00 includes lunch, drink, and tip). Meeting: 12:15 - 1:15 Discussion/Presentation

WHERE: Stoneybrook Clubhouse in Heritage Harbour, 7515 Grand Harbour Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34212.(I-75Exit 220, go one mile East on State Road 64 to entrance).

WHAT: This is a round-table luncheon and discussion of real estate topics and trends open to investors, landlords, owners, renters, buyers, and sellers. We help investors by focusing on Information, Motivation, Education, Training, and Networking.

INFO: For information call Dan Forbes at 941-746-0505 or visit our web site at http://www.BradentonRealEstateClub.com

I hope to see you there!

Dan

Happy Thanksgiving From the Bradenton Real Estate Club

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:34:00 +0000

We want to wish all of our Bradenton Real Estate Club Members a Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us here at Premier Team appreciate you and are thankful to know you. Remember there is no meeting this week.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!

-Dan Forbes, Marie Avery, and Lee Forbes

Deadly Mistakes Made By Real Estate Investors

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:56:00 +0000

Our guest speaker at the Bradenton Real Estate Club today was Jim Willig of Sire Properties. Jim is also President of the Sarasota Real Estate Investors Associations.

He spoke about Robert Lawry�??s article, �??13 Deadly Mistakes Beginning Real Estate Investors Make.�??

From lack of action, to fear of failure, to abusing weasel clauses, the article covered many of the mistakes made by new and even seasoned investors. If you would like a copy of the article by email just send me a request. Contact Me

Yes, Florida's Population Is Still Growing

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:27:00 +0000

It seems to me that I've heard stories about how more people are moving out of Florida than moving into Florida. Well, that 's just not so.

�??There have been a number of news articles lately focusing on the idea that population growth has fallen off the table top in Florida and practically come to a standstill, and that simply isn�??t true,�?? says Stan Smith, director of the UF�??s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, who led the research. �??Florida has a strong economy and adds jobs every year. That is a major factor in last year still being a big year for population growth, even though it was less than in the previous three years.�?? (read more....)

What we need is for the media to report the facts and not exaggerated stories of how horrible the housing market is in Florida.

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call with questions about our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326. Visit BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com and my primary blog The Real Estate ZOO.

Buy, Fix-up, and Flip

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:56:00 +0000

At today's Bradenton Real Estate Club meeting we talked about "Analyzing the Deal." We talked about the various strategies that real estate investors use and zeroed in on the Fixer-Upper.

We talked about how to determine what your purchase price must be in order to make the profit you desire.

Here's a copy of the Buy, Fix-Up, and Sell Worksheet.

Buy And Sell Worksheet

Copyright © 2007 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved.)

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, a call if you have questions about or our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326. Visit my web site BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com

Florida Lawmakers Down to Deadline on Property Tax Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:57:00 +0000

Real Estate investors are not happy with the ineffectiveness of our Florida Lawmakers to come up with some sort of property tax relief.

I received this email message from the Florida Association of Realtors moments ago.

"At mid-afternoon, the Florida House was still deliberating over a leaner property tax reform package passed out today by the Senate. The proposal would increase the homestead exemption for properties worth at least $75,000 �?? except for school taxes; would provide a 10 percent cap for non-homestead properties, except for school taxes; and includes a ''portability'' provision allowing homesteaders to take at least part of the benefits they get from the existing Save Our Homes assessment cap with them they move. Lawmakers have until 11:59 p.m. to pass some sort of property tax relief measure if it�??s to go before voters on the Jan. 29 ballot."

Homesteaded property enjoys a 3% cap on tax increases annually. Investment property has had NO cap whatsoever. Investors feel that the 10% cap is too little.

It is getting ridiculous to watch our Florida legislators bicker about providing tax relief to Florida homeowners. People are mad as H _ _ _ and a tax revolt is eminent.

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Please contact me, Dan Forbes, a call if you have questions about or our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326. Visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com and my blog The Real Estate ZOO.

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:17:00 +0000

Rates on 30-year mortgages this week fell to 6.33 percent, the lowest level in six weeks as financial markets grew more hopeful that the Federal Reserve will boost the sluggish economy by cutting interest rates further, according to Freddie Mac�??s weekly nationwide survey.

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We reviewed the Emotional Cycles of the Real Estate Market at today's meeting of the Bradenton Real Estate Club. Everyone seemed to agree that we are just past "Frightened." We are at or very near the bottom of this cycle in our Bradenton - Sarasota Real Estate Market.

Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton real estate market. You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326. Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com and my blog at The Real Estate ZOO.

This Week's Bradenton Real Estate Club Meeting - Friday, 11/19

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:41:00 +0000

Don't miss this week's meeting of the Bradenton Real Estate Club, Friday at 11:45 a.m. (see details below)

Jim Willig of Sire Properties and President of the Sarasota Real Estate Investors Association, is our speaker. Jim is going to talk about

"13 Deadly Mistakes Made by New Investors".

Follow this link to see all of our upcoming events:
http://www.bradentonrealestateclub.com/Events.htm

=========================

BRADENTON REAL ESTATE CLUB

WHEN: Every Friday Arrive: 11:45 - 12:15 Networking, Order and enjoy lunch ($13.00 includes lunch, drink, and tip). Meeting: 12:15 - 1:15 Discussion/Presentation

WHERE: Stoneybrook Clubhouse in Heritage Harbour, 7515 Grand Harbour Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34212.(I-75Exit 220, go one mile East on State Road 64 to entrance).

WHAT: This is a round-table luncheon and discussion of real estate topics and trends open to investors, landlords, owners, renters, buyers, and sellers. We help investors by focusing on Information, Motivation, Education, Training, and Networking.

INFO: For information call Dan Forbes at 941-746-0505 or visit our web site at http://www.bradentonrealestateclub.com/

I hope to see you there!

Dan

P.S. Please visit my Blog at http://therealestatezoo.com/

Bradenton Real Estate Decline Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:49:00 +0000

Bradenton's median sale price of homes sold in September 2007 is 32% below the high of 2005. Sales are down 42.4% from a year ago.

Our Bradenton - Sarasota, Florida real estate market continues to reflect a strong Buyer�??s Market with a total 36.8 month absorption rate. This is how long it would take to sell all the homes currently on the market at the rate they are selling today.

The chart above shows the absorption rate by price range. There were no homes sold above $2 million for the month of September.

The Total Market Overview Report below shows by price range:

Current number of active listings
Number of expired listings for the month
Total Number of Pending Listings
Number of closed sales for the month
Absorption Rate
Average List Price and Average Sale Price
Average Days on Market
Market Trend: Improving or Not
Compared to 6 months ago
Compared to 1 year ago

Residential Total Market Overview (Click Below)

Sep%2007%20Residential%20Total%20Market%20Overview.pdf

Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton real estate market. You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326.

Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com and my blog at The Real Estate ZOO.

10 Short Sale Questions Answered by a Loss Mitigagor

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:32:00 +0000

Our Bradenton, Florida real estate market has seen a rise in foreclosures and short sales. A short sale occurs when a lender is willing to accept less than the loan balance in order to avoide taking the home back in foreclosure.

Many investors work the pre-foreclosure market and have an interest in buying property by means of a short sale.

A few days ago I sat in on a conference call with a bank Loss Mitigator who answered questions about SHORT SALES. He has worked 11 years in the Loss Mitigation Department for a major lender. The call was an opportunity for a group of investors to ask questions. Here�??s the questions and answers:

1. Why might you ignore a Short Sale Package that you received? Answer: Incomplete packages are set aside. For example if someone doesn�??t include a HUD-1 Settlement Statement that package is set aside. The Borrower must supply financial information, tax returns, hardship letter and more. (If you have questions about what documentation is required, please contact me.)

2. How many Short Sale files are you working on? Answer: I am currently working on 400 files. Of those, I would say only about 100 files are workable. This is why it�??s important to submit a complete packages and to know what you are doing.

3. Does it matter if the Buyer in a Short Sale deal is an LLC or an individual? Do you look at them differently? Answer: It doesn�??t matter. We want to know that the buyer is qualified. We look at the market value of the property, the loss we are going to take, and what�??s owed on the loan.

4. Does the type of hardship the Borrower is facing make a difference? Answer: Not really. It�??s a financial decision to the bank. However, it doesn�??t look good for the bank if we foreclose on a sick, elderly couple. Of course, we do want the Borrower to prove hardship, but the type of hardship doesn�??t matter.

5. How long does it take for you to conduct the Broker Price Opinion? Answer: We try to have the BPO completed within 10 days of ordering it. Right now we are backlogged and it is taking quite a while to get the order out. The first step is to receive a complete short sale package. We don�??t order the BPO until then. Once the BPO is completed it is then reviewed and approved by our valuation department.

6. Do you simply reject low offers? Answer: Not really. We do have certain targets we are trying to reach. (I�??ve heard around 83% of the BPO.) We also have a certain dollar amount of loss we might accept. (I�??ve heard around $75,000.) Sometimes it�??s a matter of pointing out repair issues. Tell me why the offer is low and why it should be considered.

7. If the foreclosure sale date is at hand, will you postpone it? Answer: If it looks like we are close to accomplishing a short sale, we might postpone the foreclosure sale. We need a good reason to do that.

8. Do you ever change the BPO once received? Answer: No. Once the BPO has been received and approved by our valuation department we will not change it. Why would we? The value is what it is.

9. Do you require a home to be listed before accepting a short sale? Answer: No the home doesn�??t have to be listed. We will talk directly with the buyer/investor. We don�??t usually talk with the borrower.

10. Will you disclose the BPO results? Answer: No, we don�??t disclose the BPO. However, we will talk in ranges of price when negotiating. Our job is to get as close to the BPO as possible.

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Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton real estate market. You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326. Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com and my blog at The Real Estate ZOO. To be notified of new posts please subscribe.

What does the Feds rate cut mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:31:00 +0000

On Tuesday the Feds lowered the Federal Funds rate by half a point. What does it mean?

For Consumers: (who are not buying or selling right now.)

Now may be a good time to refinance.

ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) rates may become somewhat lower.

Home equity credit lines will drop a half point at beginning of next month.

For Buyers:

Now is an excellent time to buy.

There are deals to be had.

Interest rates are good (but don�??t expect them to drop significantly overnight because of the Fed Cut - though some loan products did drop a 1/4 point Tuesday.)

For Sellers:

The market for Sellers is not out of the woods yet.

Real estate prices continue their gradual decline.

Inventory remains a concern (it could take more than 2 years to sell what�??s on the market now).

Sell now and take advantage of being a Buyer on what you buy next.

Holding out for a price that doesn�??t exist will cost you more in the long run.

Pre-Foreclosure Short Sale Investors Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:22:00 +0000

Pre-Foreclosure Short Sale Investor Workshop
Thursday, Sept. 20th, 7:00 p.m.

Short Sale Secrets Revealed
This 90 minute workshop is led by a panel of experts who will share their knowledge and help you learn how to explode your income during the next 12 months.

What you will learn:

Why Investors should be excited about short sales.
How to find motivated sellers.
What to say to sellers.
How to evaluate the deal
What�??s in a short sale package
What to say to the bank to get them to agree to short the loan
How to get the appraiser on your side
How to find buyers and sell your home fast
How to do a simultaneous closing
Real deals right here in the Manatee �?? Sarasota area

When: Thursday, September 20th, 7:00- 8:30 pm (Refreshments & networking at 6:30pm)

Where: Tidewater Preserve Welcome Center 4700 Tidewater Preserve Boulevard (Near SR 64 and I-75)

Directions:From I-75 take Exit #220 West . Go West on SR 64 approximately 2.25 miles to 48th Street Court, make a right turn (heading North). Turn left before the Tidewater Gate House to the Welcome Center.

Hosted by: Dan Forbes & Marie Avery, Premier Team Inc., REALTORS and the Bradenton Real Estate Club

Cost: $10.00 if paid in advance; $20.00 at the door. Seating is limited, register today!

Note: Active real estate agents must call before registering

ONLINE REGISTRATION: http://www.bradentonrealestateclub.com/seminar.htm

Dan Forbes & Marie Avery CRS, GRI, e-Pro, WCR, CIPS

Premier Team Inc., Realtors

Office 941-746-0505

Toll Free 877-646-8326

3850 State Road 64 E.Bradenton, Florida 34208

www.BradentonRealEstate.com

We Just Got FIRED

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:53:00 +0000

Procter and Gamble just fired us. They gave us the right to sell Crest for $35.00 a tube for the last six months and we didn�??t get one offer. The market is bad, we knew that, but we advertised the hell out of it. They said we�??re through, and now they�??re going to give this opportunity to someone else (oh darn!).

�??But we do advertising better than anybody�??, we told them. �??You didn�??t produce�??, Procter growled as Gamble snarled through grimaced, Crest -streaked pearly whites, �??You didn�??t advertise it Right!�?? (They are such a lovely couple.)

We can�??t, for the life of us, figure out why it didn�??t sell. Lets see how we advertised it, and maybe you can tell us where we screwed up.

Internet:

80% of all people with a toothbrush look here first. So this is where we targeted our advertising first.
We hit all of the usual and customary sites, including Who�??s Who in Luxury Toothpaste and Luxe Dental Portfolio.
We even put it on Craig�??s List.
A also did a custom Website with a virtual tour of a good mouth brushing and a Dental Tips Blog.

The Dental Registry (DLS):
We�??re all over it, and Dental.com (DAR) too.

Television:

We did co-branded television and print campaigns. They were saturative, and based on focus group findings of what people most expect in their high-end toothpaste.

Campaign spokesanimal was Bugs Bunny.

Footage of Bugs had starlight filters on his two front teeth, which sparkled a plenty from every angle.

Featured celebrity endorsements from Mr Ed, Francis the Talking Mule, Bucky Beaver and a cable television special targeted to the youth demographic of Butthead getting his braces off. (Like Butthead, we still couldn�??t score.)

Magazines:

Coordinated print campaign that ran concordant to television spots.

Bugs was featured first, with teeth prominent in all print ads. (Starlights added graphically to teeth.)

Included Scratch and Sniff Pages in Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan and other high profile publications.

Newspapers:
National PR campaign to generate news, plus �??Name That Rabbit�?? contest in local newspapers.Direct Mail:Postcard campaign to everyone in our data base who has a mouth.

Grocery Stores:
Point of Purchase Displays.
End Aisle Free Brushing stations w/ teaser samples.

Whew:
We were exhausted when it was all over. No stone was unturned in our effort, yet no sales.

What Did We Do Wrong?
That is the question. And we have no idea.

With everything we did, why could we not sell Crest for $35.00 a tube?

What can we do to stop Procter and Gamble from giving someone else this opportunity?

What does selling Crest for $35.00 a tube have to do with selling a house?

================

Copy of a Blog post by Gary Bolen

Property Tax Reform Falls Short

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:21:00 +0000

Today's Bradenton Herald carries an article about the so-called property tax reform bill. You can read it by clicking here.

Also read the comments to the article to which I added my own thoughts.Landlords need relief.

=======================
I'm Dan Forbes and I want to be your Realtor and resource for all your Bradenton Real Estate needs.

Hire Your Children and Save On Your Taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:46:00 +0000

If you have a child between the ages of 7 and 17, you have a great write off potential for your taxes. You can employ your children in your business and deduct the wages you pay. Here�??s how it works:

If your child is 7, you pay him/her to address and stamp envelopes, make copies, etc. If your child is 17, you might have him/her field incoming calls, pull comps off of SDAT web sits, etc. If you pay your child $5,350 a year, the wage is deductible as business expense. Assuming you are in the 35% tax bracket (gross income $100,000), you would have saved $1,872.50 in taxes!

If making $5,350 or less in 2007, they won�??t owe any taxes. When filing your child's tax return, it shows $5,350 of income, minus the standard deduction of $5,350, which leaves $0 taxable income.

If you pay them out of a sole proprietorship, partnership, or most LLC�??s, they will owe no FICA. If you pay them out of a corporation or an LLC that has elected to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes, then your child will owe FICA.

Does this mean that you give your child $5,350 to �??Go have fun.�?? Absolutely not! You decide how that money will be spent. One great way to spend that money is to put up to $4,000 of it into a Roth IRA and start you child�??s retirement savings. Or puchase school supplies. You could also put the money into your child�??s college fund. There are several tax advantageous plans for that as well.

However unlikely, you do need to make sure that your child does not get paid more that 50% of there total expenses (food, shelter, clothing etc.) If they do, you can�??t claim them as a dependant and you lose that exemption and the $1,000 child tax credit.

In terms of paper work, treat your child as your other employee. Keep track of their time and activities to prove their work and they did work within their ability. You need to file quarterly 941 reports to the Federal Government and MW-506 forms to the state of Maryland. Other states have different requirements. Also you need to issue W-2�??s. I can help setting up the paper work if you are interested.

(Source: Stephanie Shapiro has been doing accounting and bookkeeping for several mid-size property management companies in Baltimore, MD. )

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I'm Dan Forbes and I want to be your Realtor and resource for all your Bradenton real estate needs.

Highest-appreciating and Most-depreciating areas

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:08:00 +0000

The value of midsize and large homes declined more in the last year than the value of small single-family residences, according to a second-quarter analysis by real estate Web site Zillow.com.

The value of single-family homes smaller than 1,200 square feet fell by just 1 percent, according to Zillow�??s report. Meanwhile, values of midsize homes between 1,200 and 1,900 square feet fell an average of 3.1 percent, and homes larger than 1,900 square feet declined 2.8 percent.

Zillow.com also offers a comparison of 66 metropolitan statistical areas on Zillow.com.
These findings are culled from that analysis:

The highest-appreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):
�?� Grand Junction, Colo. (18.6 percent)
�?� Corvallis, Ore. (11.2 percent)
�?� Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC (9.0 percent)
�?� Eugene-Springfield, Ore. (6.9 percent)�?� Spokane, Wash. (6.1 percent)
�?� Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. (5.3 percent)

Most-depreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):
�?� Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla. (-16.4 percent)
�?� Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla. (-14.3 percent)
�?� Stockton-Lodi, Calif. (-13.5 percent)
�?� Charleston-North Charleston, SC (-12.8 percent)
�?� Daytona Beach, Fla. (-12.5 percent)�?� Modesto, Calif. (-12.4 percent)

Most expensive metropolitan areas:
�?� San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. ($685,653)
�?� Honolulu, Hawaii ($632,270)
�?� San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, Calif. ($537,722)
�?� Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif. ($525,175)
�?� San Diego, Calif. ($505,334)
�?� New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island ($445,435)

Least expensive metropolitan areas:
�?� Jackson, Tenn. ($91,563)
�?� Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC ($101,178)
�?� Tulsa, Okla. ($102,876)
�?� Dayton-Springfield, Ohio ($108,121)
�?� Rockford, Ill. ($116,475)
�?� Columbia, SC ($116,865)

Source: Zillow

Floridians Expect Home Values to Rise

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:48:00 +0000

Floridians are optimistic about housing prices despite the gloom pervading much of the real estate industry, a new University of Florida survey finds.

Only 5 percent of 287 Florida homeowners said they think their house values will fall during the next five years, according to the survey, which was conducted in July by UF�??s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

Eighty-two percent expected the value of their houses to rise, and 13 percent said they would remain the same. The median respondent expected a gain of 18 percent, or a little more than 3 percent a year.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Bradenton, Florida Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Forbes) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:52:00 +0000

When is the best time to buy real estate? When it is a buyer�??s market, right? So, what are you waiting for? Our Bradenton real estate market is a ripe opportunity for investing in real estate or buying your dream home.

As I sat down to write this article I thought I�??d write about the Top Ten Reasons to Buy Bradenton Real Estate. These thoughts are coming to me as I type:

1. Bradenton has a wonderful, desirable location. Bradenton is located in Manatee County which is between Sarasota and Tampa on Florida�??s West coast. The largest city in the county is Bradenton, but the name Bradenton is used for most of the unincorporated area of the county as well. Other cites include Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Anna Maria. Bradenton offers easy access to all of central Florida, including Orlando.

The Manatee River runs through the county and provides easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Boating, fishing, and water sports are great area attractions. Or maybe, you�??d prefer relaxing on some of the best beaches in Florida.

2. Bradenton has a huge supply of inventory, but it seems to have topped out. Excess inventory is what drives prices down, but just as importantly, it gives you plenty of choices. Just two years ago if you could find five homes in your price range, you were lucky. Now you can select from among hundreds of homes. Better selection equals a better purchase.

Now that our inventory is beginning to shrink, it may signal that the bottom has already occurred. Buy now before the seller�??s market returns.

3. Bradenton prices are down. Our residential prices are down over 20 percent from the high of 2005. This is unprecedented and represents a great buying opportunity. If you were to tell someone that you could buy real estate at a 20 percent discount, they would call you a genius. Opportunities like this don�??t last long.

4. Interest rates are still near historical lows. Ask anyone in the business where interest rates are going to go over the next few years. Everyone believes that rates will go up. For every increase in interest rate, thousands of buyers are shut out of the market. Your dollars will go farther today than they will a year from now. Taking advantage of today�??s rates is like buying your house at a discount. Financing guidelines are tightening on a daily basis. This is a sure sign that rate hikes are coming.

5. In Bradenton it is still possible to buy with little to zero down. 100% financing has all but disappeared. However, it is still available for many. Then there are other options like 97% percent, or 95% financing. On top of that, today�??s sellers are willing to pay some or all of the buyer�??s closing costs. We have seen many buyers get into the home of their dreams with virtually no money out of pocket.

6. The baby boomers are coming to Bradenton. A few short years ago Money magazine named Bradenton, Florida as one of the top five places to retire. Well, it�??s an even better area today than it was five years ago. Our proximity to the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico is quite attractive, since we are a coastal county. We are also located near two major airports (Tampa and Sarasota). The Interstate highway system provides great access to Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties. As long as it keeps snowing up North the baby boomers will keep coming here. Our area is just a fantastic place to live, work, and play.

7. Bradenton sellers are motivated to sell. Some homes have been on the market for over a year. They have reduced their price again, again, and again. Some are desperate and most are quite motivated. Having practiced real estate for thirteen years in Bradenton, I have never seen sellers so motivated. Now is the time to get a great deal!

8. Bradenton�??s foreclosures and short sale market is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since many speculators overextended themselves in 2005 our foreclosure and short sale rate has skyrocketed. If you are an investor, this represents a tremendous buying opportunity. Your strategy should be to buy at a discount, hold for a few years, and then sell for a big profit. Put a tenant in the property and allow them to pay down your mortgage for an even greater profit. If you are buying a home to live in, the advantage is even greater.

9. New home builders in Bradenton are offering unprecedented incentives. Buy a new home, get a free pool. Need help with financing? No problem. One builder is offering to hold a 15 %t second mortgage for five years, no interest, no payments. Others are offering $10,000 or more towards closing costs. All of this is on top of the $50,000 to $100,000 price reductions. Your Realtor will know where the best deals are.

10. The Bradenton real estate market is poised for a quick rebound. It is predicted that our market will experience what�??s called a �??V�?? recovery. It was quick to go down and it will be quick to recover. If you are the type of buyer waiting to find the bottom you have probably already missed it. Even if you believe the bottom is still to come, buying today locks in your discount during a historical opportunity. Waiting now may only mean paying more in the future.

Well, there you have it. Here are my thoughts on the Top Ten Reasons to Buy Bradenton Real Estate. Actually, it was quite easy to come up with these ten reasons. There are probably ten more I could have written about.