Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida, Real Estate

Foreclosure Tour Of Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:17:00 +0000

Florida Foreclosure Team Announces Season’s Big Event
Tours of bank-owned properties to begin May 3

SARASOTA, FL – The area’s first tour of bank-owned/foreclosure properties will be held Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The five-star tour is being presented by the Florida Foreclosure Team (The Team), composed of Marci Walker and Leslie Swart of Blue Skye Lending, Kathy Marlowe of Keller Williams Realty, Jane McDonald of Lakewood Ranch Insurance, and Mary Howard of Cornerstone Title – a creative force with more than 35 years of experience in lending, real estate, insurance and title services.
“This tour is designed for serious buyers who are excited about finding a great value and are capable of buying within the next six months,” said Swart, a managing partner of Blue Skye Lending. “This is an opportunity for them to leisurely tour properties, share the enthusiasm of other buyers and receive immediate answers from the experts.”
Guests on the tour will be chauffeured in an air-conditioned, executive bus to view selected foreclosure properties in Sarasota and Bradenton. The Team will provide detailed information about mortgage programs, homeowners’ insurance, real estate and title services. Complimentary note-taking supplies and snacks will be provided.
"This will be a great venue for buyers to receive professional advice and education,” said Howard, president of Cornerstone Title. “They will get a real hands-on experience of the market.”
“I’m ready to work with buyers at each property,” said Marlowe, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. “I’ll return to give private showings, and I’ll be there for the customer for the entire transaction.”
“This is a rare opportunity for buyers to get instant answers to real estate questions,” said McDonald, the insurance expert of The Team. “We are focused on introducing buyers to outstanding real estate opportunities and are excited to be hosting this ground-breaking event in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.”
To make a reservation for the tour, please contact Leslie Swart or Marci Walker at (941) 256-8425, or visit http://www.floridaforeclosurehotlist.com/

Ho home home, said Santa in Sarasota

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 02:59:00 +0000

Days before Christmas, the stores are bursting with merchandise, gifts are being considered, reservations are being made to travel and for eating out, plans are being made to celebrate, and the pace of anticipation grows as December 25 draws closer. Indeed, Santa will ask many of us whether we've been naughty or nice, and if we've been nice, what will Santa bring? And naughty? What will Santa tell you? Perhaps Santa will bring you, whether naughty or nice, a gift of a new home. I've been touch in Santa, who swore me to secrecy, on condition that the information I release will help someone. Santa, on his ride from Real Estate City (that's where the reindeers are stabled), told me that this was the perfect time for buyers who've been considering a home but who were uncertain about the market. He said that this was the time because of inventory, interest rates, incentives, and a brilliant Realtor, who'll be later identified. Mystery, mystery!!

On inventory, Santa (he really know his stuff) said that a buyer is perfectly placed to select a dream home from a market bulging from the seams with choices galore. What a wonderful gift! A new home, your piece of Florida real estate, and your American dream at Christmas. Could it be better than this!! Santa also said that interest rates were relatively low, and with so many incentives, it could not be better. "Incentives?", I asked. Santa discussed buydowns, credit at closing, gift certificates, international vacations, and leased vehicles. The buydown is a process that reduces the interest rate for X number of years to allow the buyer a lower interest rate on the note for X number of years. Credit at closing is a process whereby the buyer receives a credit for X number of dollars (usually quite a generous sum) at the closing table. This handsome sum, reduces the buyers note, making the cost of the home more affordable. Imagine at closing getting a gift certificate for thousands of dollars to get that special piece of furniture for your new home - ho, ho, ho!!

Or, how about a vacation in Paris? Or that new car you've always wanted, leased for X number of years? So, what is Santa saying? Santa is saying that this is the perfect time to invest in your new home, to get your slice of apple pie or the two or three bedroom Christmas cake. Santa will be arriving soon, but before he visits, he would love to know you followed his advice and I, as one of Santa's chosen helpers, would love to tell him that you did. This is the time to enjoy your two or three bedroom Christmas home, to decorate it, and to celebrate the season. Okay, mystery solved. The brilliant Realtor was me. Did you guess? Let the celebration begin. Merry Christmas from Santa and me. Buyers' special!! I can put dollars $$$ in your pocket at closing. Please call or email me for details.

The noble among us

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:40:00 +0000

We've all recently read, heard, or were told about the present downturn in the real estate market and its impact on prices, sales, days on the market, listings, all discussed in the Bad Times dictionary of real estate. All of this happens to be true, and I continue to hope that this is all a bad dream and tomorrow will be swinging. But as with most dreams, they are a part of our optimism, the look-on-the-bright-side perspective that rarely materialize. Nevertheless, I continue to dream. Also dreaming are those folks who bought their homes in 2005, with a plan to turn them around for a handsome profit they would use to pay for their childrens' education, to update an assisted living apartment for an elderly parent, to create a charity in memory of a loved one, or to do something that was beyond mere profit. These are the people for whom the dream failed to deliver, not because of what did, but because of economic circumstances beyond their control. It all began with good intentions, the instinct as a parent, a relative, or simply a person who cared to share their lives with others. It was visualized as the opportunity of a lifetime to make a difference - an exploding market with unlimited growth, dollars were as plentiful as grains of sand - only more valuable, and the only thing that had to be done was to put it on the market, experience the anticipation of payday, and wait for the offers to roll in. But it was for a good cause, and payday would be the device to a noble ideal. Times have changed and those generous people are now in the same category as the rest of us - the optimists, asking the question that economists have answered with consistent uncertainty ...at least eighteen months, at least two years...and so on. As with many economic considerations, the turnaround of the market is a huge guess. But stay with me, my friends; we enjoyed it in good times, your nobility is your character and, this, too, shall pass.

Today's brokers' open house

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:44:00 +0000

What a day!! Apart from the interest expressed by a potential client that inspires a Realtor to view a specific listing, to give it more than a passing glance, to look at its room dimensions, to examine its amenities, to question the subdivision's deed restrictions, do you ever wonder how this may be achieved? This is commonly achieved through a Brokers' Open House. What is this, you ask. A brokers' open house is an organized tour of several homes planned by realtors and attended by realtors to familiarize themselves with many listings. This is sometimes limited to specific areas or, at least, limited to specific homes that each participating Realtor designates to be included in the open house. This was my day: driving from each home, talking to realtors, getting exact information about surveys, appraisals, days on the market, recent updates, owner's flexibility to sell, deed restrictions, history, age of the house, and so on. This was my moment, devoted to developing a better picture of homes in the Palm Aire subdivision, and serving my clients by familiarizing myself with their competition. By doing this, I'm better able to advise my clients of changes of competitive issues (price, dimensions, and so on)and properly prepare them with up-to-date information to make informed decisions.
This is critical information that could affect days on the market, proper preparation for sale, and the ultimate value of the house. Additionally, I learn more than is available on an MLS sheet, because, often, bits and pieces of information are not entered but revealed in conversation with other real estate professionals. Further, the tour also provided opportunities to meet other Realtors and to share their experiences. Following the tour, I looked at all my listings and corrected different bits of information that was relative to what I learned today. I communicated some of the information to clients who would benefit from it and added notes to the appropriate listings. This exercise was worth every cent because of what I gained from it. Perhaps the important aspect of this, or any brokers' open house, is the information gained from developing personal relationships with other professionals and learning from them. As important as that is, nothing reaches the level of importance than the valuable information I share with my clients following these events to help them make sound decisions. It was a day of learning, of becoming a better Realtor, and acquiring additional data that better prepares me to serve my clients with the highest level of service they deserve. What a day!!

Pricing your home

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:31:00 +0000

After a recent conversation with a homeowner, I decided to search the Internet for information on pricing a home to sell it, rather than have it sit as a monument to optimism and hope. I jumped on my trusty laptop, typed in the keywords 'pricing a home' and what I found was a treasure of information with a common theme - the home must be priced right if its going to sell. Here's some of what I found:

"There is a fair amount of research that indicates pricing a home at its market value from the start will generally result in getting an amount closer to the asking price." "Getting the highest price for a home is best achieved by maximizing the number of potential buyers who see the home and that can be accomplished by avoiding overpricing." (Julie Jalone, www.jalone.com)

"The price needs to be 1) realistic enough to encourage a purchase agreement from a buyer, and 2)in the range of comparable home sales and current competing listings. Setting too high a price could delay a sale." (www.relo.com)

"Determining price is the most critical step in preparing your home for sale, so you can get the highest return in the least amount of time." (www.onlinehomesnw.com)

"Pricing your home at a realistic level from the start may be the most important factor in the quick sale of your home." www.united.arkcityks.com)

"Along with location and condition, the pricing of a house is a major component of the reasons why a house will--or will not--sell quickly." (www.ourfamilyplace.com)

"Remember, price is 90 percent of any marketing plan and the faster you achieve market value, the faster everybody's needs are met." "All we know, the correct price is the fastest road to the achievement of most goals that have to do with a sale." (Walter Sanford, Broker Agent Magazine, September 2006, Sarasota, FL.)

"Be reasonable about the price you set. You will always be better off setting a fair market value price than setting your price high expecting that someone will come along and be willing to pay it. If your home stays on the market too long because it is overpriced potential buyers may think there is something wrong with it and you end up selling it for less than what you could have gotten if you had started out with a realistic asking price." (10 Steps to Selling, #2 Pricing Strategy. www.vegashomehelper.com)

Of course I tell my clients that price is important, but often, I believe this advice is seen as motivated by self-interest. It's my contractual duty to sell my clients' homes as quickly as possible at the best possible price, and I, with the assistance of my client, can best achieve this if the house is market-value priced. I believe it is well understood that in addition to price, condition, location, and so on must also be considered - those will be covered later. My report tonight was to demonstrate that pricing is the most critical aspect of selling a home as quickly as possible. I hope that by my research, I've shown that my advice is not self-centered, but market-centered.

Skills of a Realtor

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:18:00 +0000

How often is it said that ...the realtor should have known... or, the realtor did not do what was expected? Well, I couldn't tell you with statistical certainty how often those, or statements like them are made, but I've heard them, I've read about them, and there are frequent anecdotes about them from my colleagues. After hearing these statements, I looked at several cases where the realtor was blamed and found all without merit, except one that was questionable. Maybe the realtor's statistical skills were not as sharp as they should have been, but what about other skills?
My findings suggest that although the realtor is often not at fault, realtors need specific skills to appropriately handle clients' issues. First among these skills is diplomacy. It is vital to the entire transaction, from the listing contract to closing, and beyond. How do I convince a potential client that given today buyer's market a home must be correctly priced? Or, how about making memorabilia disappear? Both are achieved with tact, diplomacy, and understanding of the client's position. It is often not easy to convey the importance of pricing, but because a client may not understand the process, or may be affected by responsibilities linked to the successful sale of the home, it is, perhaps, understandable, that this initial hurdle could be somewhat problematic. That small problem resolved, I now have to put on my investigative hat. What facts about the home, the neighborhood, the market, sales trends in the area, and so on, are going to affect the sale? I search for recent sales, pending sales, comparable listings, national and local economic trends, days on the market, mortgage rates, surveys, home warranties, and the list goes on. In addition to my investigative skills, I now add my mathematical skills to compare mortgage rates, cost of bridge loans, cost of insurance and taxes, and other financial perspectives. Or, how about my statistical skills? In comparing several listings, I often look at price, square footage, days on the market, updates to the home, views, type of construction, and so on. I assign numerical scores, complete a statistical analysis, and produce reasoned answers. Listening and speaking skills, computer and organizational skills, reading and learning skills, business management skills, and the skill needed to produce this blog - writing. A realtor's skills are the bread and butter of the trade, the keys to a client's troublefree real estate experience. Don't blame me, blame my skills.

Views of the neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:01:00 +0000

Do you sometimes wish you could go on vacation and not leave home? Or, how about enjoying your home as a vacation get-away without spending thousands of dollars for a trip to a foreign land. Maybe, I have the answer or, at least, partially. I've been looking around the neighborhood and have found that the variety of life (not only wild-life) in the Sarasota/Bradenton area is exactly the features we try to find when we leave home for our well-needed vacations. The folks from the midwest and northeast do the same as we do. They get away because of climate, damp surroundings, dreary days, and plain lack of color to their lives, but there are many differences between us and them. They have to travel far to experience glowing sunshine - we have it; to appreciate nature's golden glow of a sunset's brilliance, they dream of it - we have it every day; to experience clean, clear, free, beaches is a luxury for them - for us, it's our everyday pleasure. We have unparalleled tropical scenery and we don't have to go to the Caribbean; want to talk about fruits - how about mangoes, coconuts, bananas, oranges, grapefruit - right here in our
backyards. We don't have to leave home to enjoy the lush vegetation of paradise; it's right here. Our population is a mix of Asians, Eastern Europeans, British, West Indians, Mexicans and South Americans, some of them having been here so long, they are part of the local landscape. So, why leave? Engage some of these folks and experience their culture. Enjoy Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, or how about Gustav Holtz's The Planets - we have the arts. Enjoy talking about the big one that got away - we are fishing-friendly. Tickle your palate with gourmet foods or experience the flavor of Cuban or Polish cuisine - it's there. It's all right here in our backyards, yet we spend thousands of dollars a year driving, flying and cruising to foreign destinations. The beauty of this land is a magnet for Americans and the international community; they visit, they stay, they buy homes (can't get away from the realtor) and live their tropical experiences, a few miles from Jamaica, but nearly duplicated in our Sarasota/Bradenton by-the-sea. We really have an abundance of natural gifts that many communities travel far to find. Music? Try your local bookstore. Put it all together and ask yourself the question, why leave home? That's my view of the neighborhood.

What makes my clients happy

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:24:00 +0000

As a Realtor, I need customers (clients) in order to make a living, just as any business needs customers in order to pay its bills and continue operation. Customer service is a critical aspect of business and millions of dollars are spent trying to find the right mix of factors that inspire satisfaction from a customer and to create a sense of desire to return to that business. Surveys are done on line, by direct mail, telephone, or by canvassers who simply stop you to ask a few questions about a product or service. Poor customer service usually result in a dissatisfied customer, who will not return to that business. Sometimes, the issue between the customer and the business is resolved but during the process the relationship becomes adversarial and sours to the point of customer distaste for the business. When this happens the customer is aggrieved, the business loses a customer, and the customer's confidence in business relationships erodes. This is not an abstraction, but a reality that I experience every day in my business. So, I ask myself the question, 'What makes my customers happy?' It'll be said that given the diversity of personalities with which I do business, it's difficult to find the key to a happy client, but I know it exists. Clients have different needs and although it's difficult to meet all their needs, I do my best. I believe that clients want the truth, yes, the truth. Some clients initially question the truth of the value of their homes and resist the signs of a comparative analysis, but if you are unwaveringly ethical, that client will eventually respect your honesty. They sometimes do not understand the real estate field as I do, and, therefore, may have unrealistic expectations. Some have personal memorabilia in several rooms, a reality that may not assist in an attractive showing of the home, but they resist alternatives to maintain this stuff. On both occasions - the unrealistic pricing and display of an abundance of memorabilia are often factors, individually or combined, that explains why a home stays on the market for an extended period with no showings, few showings, several showings and no offers, and so on. Of course, there are other clients who enjoy my melodious lilt and love to hear from me, others desire more print advertising, more open houses, sometimes unrealistic offers, unusual requests following home inspections, and so on. While no expectation or request is common, I'm flexible and understanding while I explain the realities. Certainly, it is difficult to ensure 100% happiness on all occasions but as long as I remain honest, open, trustworthy, committed, and professional and provide my clients with first class service that should solve 99% of the issues that my customers present. Customer satisfaction is an objective that I work hard to achieve; it's important to my customers and it's my 'bread and butter.' So, what makes my clients happy? I'll continue searching for that answer.

Real estate busy

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:59:00 +0000

For the past week, I've been doing all kinds of things for my clients. Because it is my duty as their realtor to meet their needs, I've made phone calls to lenders, learned more about various types of loans, I now have a better understanding of the systems that dictate the need for and the cost of flood insurance, I've talked with insurance agents, roofing contractors, landscape contractors, and even contractors for the installation of hurricane shutters and learning about auctions. The quality of caring from a full-service realtor is that capacity that extends long after the sale of that home. It is a professional concern, one that is compelled to find solutions, to resolve issues that are unexpected and sometimes new to me, and to experience the satisfaction with my client (my customer) of satisfactory resolutions. Yes, there are 'thank you's' and promises for invitations to barbecues, but most pleasing of all is that client who appreciates my efforts and sometimes our joint efforts, and writes to say thanks. It is a recognition of success and, sometimes, determination, and they're assured they made the perfect choice in selecting me to represent them. Yes, I know I do a good job (pride-inspired duty), I know that I work hard for my clients (as I should) and, yes, I don't stop until my clients are satisfied. And you know what seals this relationship, it is that moment a client takes to send that written 'thank you.' This level of exchange between a realtor and a client is the measure of satisfaction for the realtor and the client and it should be standard excellence. This can-do realtor aims to exceed a client's expectation by developing vital skills to reduce the stress of buying a home and enjoying it. Oh, by the way, I'm still waiting for my first invitation to the barbecue.

Let's get on with it

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:45:00 +0000

By now we should all know of the slow down in the market, expanding inventories, price reductions, finicky buyers, dip in mortgage rates, expired listings, the buyers market, questionable appraisals, and so much more that pertains to the present housing market. And, you know, realtors, sellers, mortgage companies, title companies, appraisers, surveyors, home inspectors, painters, and small home repairs businesses are all affected by the tightening of the market, we are all in it. Now, we all have to be more creative about the way we do business, maintain those relationships that have served us well, and cultivate new ones. This is not the time withdraw or isolate ourselves, not the time to reduce advertising, neither is it the time to shrink from getting your brand into the public domain; it's a time for action. Take a past client to lunch, offer a kind word to a less experienced agent, and talk with other agents and friends from supporting businesses. Agents, get together and talk about working with the present market conditions, be inspired, and 'take care of business.' Me, I'm looking out for my clients, doing the necessary research to keep them informed, being attentive to market trends to help them make the right decisions, and staying in touch with the people who are vital to my business. Let me introduce three of these genuine people: LuAnne Kirschner, Kelly Boone, and Lacey Lewis, all of Alday-Donalson Title. These ladies have been nothing short of phenomenal with their expertise, 110% customer service, and their sincere desire to help. I'm proud to know such fine people and to be associated with their title company. Remember, what I said about relationships - they are important not only when times are good, but more so, when times are not so good.
Let's prepare for a return of the good times; let's get on with it.

Mortgage programs

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:27:00 +0000

This afternoon we'll look at the 2-1 (two one) Buydown mortgage program and the Bridge loan, two creative options to assist you in getting the funds needed to purchase your home and probably save while doing it.
Here's how the The 2-1 Buydown program works:

Today's 30-Year Fixed Rate = 7 percent
Rate for 1st year - 5 percent
Rate for 2nd year - 6 percent
Rate for 3rd year - 7 percent

For the 3/2/1 Buydown:
Rate for 1st year - 4 percent
Rate for 2nd year - 5 percent
Rate for 3rd year - 6 percent
Rate for year 4 through 30 - 7 percent

With fewer buyers (than the last two years) and an expanding single family home inventory, this program allows a seller to offer a concession of 3% of the sale price of the home to a buyer to assist the buyer to 'buy down' the mortgage rate and save money while doing so. This will be an attractive offer many buyers will not refuse. In addition to the buy-down that reduces the buyer's payments in the first three years of the loan, that 3% may also be the qualifying factor that now places the buyer within range for the lender's approval. If you need additional information please contact Jonathan at jonathan.santiago@americanhm.com

The second program is the Bridge Loan. A representative from whom my information was obtained advised that this program made contingency contracts a thing of the past. Here's how it works: You've found your dream home but because yours is on the market, you make an offer contingent on your home being sold. The bridge loan program creates a bridge to your new home by eliminating the contingency and allowing you to begin enjoying your new home while the other home waits to be sold. Also, the bridge loan is not counted against the buyer, only the loan to purchase the new home would be. Further, for this program, there are no out-of-pocket expenses for six months. Of course, there are variations to this and for that, please contact Brandon at brandon.whitt@suntrust.com We'll talk again soon.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:11:00 +0000

What is my plan today to get my home sold? Where can I find optimism and good fortune? As I have my first cup of coffee and a cookie this morning, those thoughts and many others like them are circulating in my mind. I reflect on a cool, meandering Sarasota stream that starts at points unknown but makes it way to my reality with a fresh perspective on one of nature's golden creations - a stream of beauty and soothing coolness. My reality also includes the days of higher-than-average home price increases, short selling periods, multiple buyers, competitive bidding, and large smiles to the bank - those days are behind me. My July issue of Sarasota Realtor Magazine tells that today's reality(realty) is a little different from 2005. Regarding units sold, they tell me that the average home sale prices for May 2005 and May 2006, were $489,384 and $535,555, respectively, a 9% increase. For the same periods, average days on the market rose from 95 to 114. In May 2005, 683 homes were sold in Sarasota, versus 482 in 2006. In my seller's mind I have to adjust my plans to accomodate a more leisurely wait to attract those finicky buyers. Contrary to what I initially imagined, I'm now prepared to examine every offer. There'll probably be further price reductions and a few raised eyebrows (mine), but as I reflect on the calming effects of a sun lit stream, I can wait, I can be optimistic, and I will not be denied the simple pleasure of nature's gift. Oh, the mind of a seller.

Today in Sarasota - continued

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:52:00 +0000

Hello to my readers. We are connected through the Internet, that spirit of appreciation for a beautiful landscape, artistic excellence, sunshine, and a rainy Thursday afternoon. No sunshine but we know that as soon as the cooling rain passes, we'll, again, enjoy the wonderful energy of the sun. It's this heavenly reassurance that keeps them coming to Sarasota. In recent years investors embarked on a buying spree that created an artificial demand for homes in our area. Homeowners, too, enjoyed the ride and all lived happily after until today. Sales data reported by the Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) indicates that in May 2005, residential sales totaled 683, while in May 2006, it was 482, about a 29% decrease. SAR also reported that days on the market had risen from 97 to 124. Many publications reported that our housing market was grossly inflated and, today, as the market cools and prices begin to assume more realistic levels, there are fewer buyers, which affects days on the market and sale prices. Also affecting the Sarasota market (as other markets) is rising interest rates and consumer fears about the economy. Double digit home price gains from 2005 have given way to a generally less-than- optimistic outlook, but the fact is that houses are being sold and thousands of new residents move to Sarasota annually. Of course, one could buy in North Carolina but it's not Sarasota. It's still one of the best places to live, so, my advice to a potential homebuyer would be to buy now, rather than later. Interest rates are really not that bad (in relative terms) and buyers have the widest choices in ten years; there will never be a perfect time and there is only one Sarasota.

Today in Sarasota

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:17:00 +0000

Another day in sunny Sarasota to enjoy nature's gifts of gators, colorful birds, clean waters, mature trees that extends their branches and provide shade from an energetic sun, lush, green vegetation, and Stella, my neighbor's dog. She is a happy little thing that seems to live only to enjoy her daily walks, afternoon siestas, and evening strolls. Yes, if Stella could talk, she, too, would speak of the Florida lifestyle that is not the secret it once was. Twelve years ago, I moved to our sunshine state, and in those short years, I've witnessed an expansion in population and the housing market, and despite present market trends, Florida's population continues to grow. The U.S Census estimated that between 2000-2005, Florida's population grew by 11.3%, and Sarasota's grew by 12.4%, to 366,256. Between 1990-2000, Sarasota's population grew by 17.3 to 325,957. The secret is out. Sarasota is the place to be. The pleasures of sunshine, water, and greenery at its greenest, calls, and they come. Of course, our newcomers, whether buying a second home, or first time homebuyers need homes and realtors are there to help. The housing market? What about it? Yes, inventories are high, but this too shall pass. I welcome them to 'my state,' and would tell them that the market expects every home buyer to do their duty. Talk to a realtor, get the facts from a professional, and buy with confidence. And at no extra cost, I could arrange a meeting with Stella.

Real estate today in Sarasota

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:47:00 +0000

I recognize that I'm not degreed in English, or qualified to discuss the structural strengths and weaknesses of our language, and neither do I have the United Nations seal of approval for my negotiating skills, but I've been speaking this language for years. Is it structurally perfect? No. Is it my Rhode Island accent? Maybe. Whatever it is, I would like to know what I have to say, do, or show my friends that price is the key, and even then, with housing inventories so high, price is the solution, as long as all the other standards are met. I tell them that their homes have to be priced right, I show them statistics, and I call on heavenly help, but it doesn't work. Is it that they don't understand, or is it that wonderful quality of hope? Who knows the answer!! I continue trying to impress on my friends the importance of price in today's market and work enthusiastically with them to conquer their pain and appreciate present market conditions. It's tough for sellers, as well as realtors, and as the market continue to adjust, there'll be more tears. I grieve with you my friends. We are in this together, let's work together to make the best of a bad situation. I wish I could do more, but like you, I can do so much. Be brave, the price must be right. We'll talk again later.

Welcome to My Sarasota & Bradenton Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Marlowe) — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 03:35:00 +0000

Monday, May 22, 2006, 1:44 pm
By Harold Bubil
Mitigation information
My Saturday newspaper column on hurricane mitigation hit a hot button with readers. They want to know more information about the state's just-passed program, which offers matching funds for homeowners who retrofit their homes with shutters or other hurricane-resistant materials.The program is still being set up by the Florida Department of Financial Services; specific information is expected to be released within 60 days. I will keep my readers informed when that happens.For information, call the department's consumer hotline at 800-342-2762.Or go online at https://apps.fldfs.com/windmitigation, or www.FloridaCommunityDevelopment.org.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 1:43 pm
How hot was 2005?
It was a record year for commercial and multifamily development, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.The MBA reported $345 billion in commercial/multifamily closed loans during 2005, after surveying 125 top commercial/multifamily finance firms. It compiled origination volumes across different roles, investor types, property types and finance structures.The $345 billion in closed loans represents a 49.9 percent increase over 2004, with most of the volume coming from the multifamily (condo) sector.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006, 5:37 pm
Governor signs mitigation legislation
Gov. Bush signed an insurance bill today that, among other things, puts $250 million into a program that will give grants to help residents hurricane-proof their homes.It offers matching funds to homeowners who retrofit by installing shutters, firming up their garage doors, and, up on the roof, nailing decking, screwing down tiles and bracing gable ends.Some homeowners could qualify for a $10,000 grant for retrofitting expenses, while others will be given $1 for every $1 spent on shutters, roofing upgrades and other retrofitting procedures, up to a limit of $5,000, says Leslie Chapman-Henderson of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). Henderson was one of the key players in getting the program through the Florida Legislature."A commission will be formed to establish a point value on homes for hurricane-resistance, from 1 to 100," said Chapman-Henderson, that will affect the insurance premiums on houses. She said the goal is for 10,000 Florida houses to be retrofit each year. That could lower the expected hurricane-related losses by $1.6 billion per year, she added.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006, 12:47 pm
Builder confidence down; so are housing starts
Housing starts dropped 7.4 percent in April, according to statistics just released by the Commerce Department. For the first four months of the year, residential construction fell 0.8 percent from the same time period a year ago.Single-family starts were down 5.6 percent in April from the same month a year ago, while multi-family starts (including condominiums) were off 15 percent.No wonder, then, that builder confidence is down, according to the National Association of Home Builders, to its lowest level since mid-1995.The NAHB's chief economist, David Seiders, said higher mortgage rates, the increasing problem of affordability, and a pull-back by investors/speculators from the marketplace are prompting home builders to lower their expectations for the new-home market. Seiders expects new home sales in 2006 to decline by 12 percent from the record set last year.