May 2008 
There are 13 blog entries for May 2008.
6 Tips to Pricing Your Home
Saturday, May 31st, 2008 at 6:46am. 4158 Views, 1 Comments.
The single most important factor in selling a home is your asking price. In a declining market the asking price becomes even more crucial. Buyers are very apprehensive right now and generally won't overpay for a property (although I have seen some exceptions to this).
Sellers have the most leverage in a transaction when the property has not been on the market a long time. One question that every buyer asks is "How long has it been on the market?" Interested buyers adjust their offer price based on the length of time the property has been for sale. Price your property right from day one. This can be difficult when the market is moving quickly to the up or down side or if no similar homes have sold recently.
Supply and Demand
Home prices…
Just Sold in Laurel Park
Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 6:01am. 354 Views, 0 Comments.
This fantastic home in downtown Sarasota closed recently. It was located in historic Laurel Park which provides convenient access to everything downtown has to offer as well as a quick drive to the area beaches. From this location you could easily walk to Selby Gardens, Marina Jacks, Bay Front Park and Main street. This home was sold in the April auction for a final sales price of $1,018,600.
Please call me at 941-812-6272 if I can help you buy or sell Sarasota real estate.
Sarasota Home Sales Up
Sunday, May 25th, 2008 at 7:52am. 256 Views, 0 Comments.
Here is an interesting article about home sales in Sarasota, Florida. Below are a few of the highlights:
Bargain hunters moved into Southwest Florida during April, pushing homes sales up 5 percent in the Sarasota-Bradenton market and 6 percent in Charlotte County-North Port.
Even more promising, the rising sales were accompanied by rising prices. Though prices continue to be lower than a year ago, the median Sarasota-Bradenton price was 12 percent higher in April than it was in March.
Realtors have been saying for several months that sales were perking up in Southwest Florida. The numbers reported Friday by the Florida Association of Realtors -- a lagging indicator because the deals were likely struck two or three months ago -- confirm what they…
Shayla Twit - Joining SKY Sotheby's International Realty
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 5:27pm. 275 Views, 0 Comments.
Veteran Realtor, Shayla Twit has decided to join me over at SKY Sotheby's International Realty. She is an excellent agent and I look forward to working with her.
Shayla's Bio:
Experienced. Knowledgeable. Energetic.
Shayla has been selling residential real estate in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 2001. She started her career at RE/MAX Properties where she consistently won awards for top production. In 2008, Shayla joined SKY Sotheby’s International Realty to partner with Marc Rasmussen.
Working mostly by referral, Shayla offers professional representation through the entire buying and selling process. She continually adjusts to today’s market to provide superior advice and customer service. Her services do not end at the closing table…
Sarasota MLS search
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 7:51am. 262 Views, 0 Comments.
Want to find out what is for sale in a specific Sarasota condo or neighborhood? Now you can. I changed my Sarasota MLS search to allow you to query specific neighborhoods or condo buildings.
For example, let's say you want to find out what is for sale in the Beau Ciel condo building. Go to the "Search Listings" tab up top then click on the "By Condo" tab and scroll down to "Beau Ciel". Hit the "Start Search" button and presto. You are taken to a page that contains all of the condos for sale in Beau Ciel.
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You can do the same search for a subdivision as well. Let us know if we can help you find your next Sarasota home or condo - 941-812-6272.
Housing Market Has Bottomed?
Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 5:26pm. 312 Views, 2 Comments.
Noted real estate expert, Professor Karl E. Case, created the chart above showing the housing starts and recessions since 1972. Notice how every time the housing starts dip below the 1 million mark the real estate market turns around and the recession end. In March of 2008 housing starts dropped below 1 million.
Case believes the market is near or at the bottom. "It's bottom-fishing time, I think," says Mr. Case. "There's got to be bargains in Florida, Arizona and Nevada."
Sarasota real estate
5 tips to find the right downtown Sarasota condo
Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 1:45pm. 306 Views, 1 Comments.
1. Hire a good Realtor.
I know, it sounds a little self serving but this is a good tip. Whether, you use me or not make sure you find a good Sarasota realtor. A good agent can make a huge difference and save you plenty of time. Don't hire an agent that needs to learn all of the buildings. Find one that knows the pros and cons of each condo building.
2. Decide if you want old or new construction.
If you don't care go on to #3. Whether, you want old or new there are plenty of options to choose from. Do you dislike lower ceilings? If so, focus only on the newer buildings. In the 2003 to 2005 several condo buildings broke ground and were finished in 2006 and 2007. Some of the newer buildings include: Alinari, Broadway Promenade, 1350 Main, Plaza at…
The Housing Crisis Is Over
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 at 7:00pm. 373 Views, 2 Comments.
Below is an interesting article from The Wall Street Journal yesterday about the housing crisis. You can read it here. Read it and let me know what you think. He makes some very valid points. I would not say the mess is completely over but I don't see it getting much worse.
By CYRIL MOULLE-BERTEAUX
May 6, 2008; Page A23
The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now.
How can this be? For starters, a bottom does not mean that prices are about to return to the heady days of 2005. That probably won't happen for another 15 years. It just…
Plaza at Five Points
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 6:58pm. 216 Views, 0 Comments.
Above are photos from one of the penthouses in The Plaza at Five Points. This unit is located in the heart of downtown Sarasota with amazing views over the city to Siesta Key, The Ringling Bridge and Longboat Key from every room. This corner, west facing penthouse is beautifully decorated with an expansive master suite, study, huge master bath, gourmet kitchen with top of-the-line appliances and cabinetry, double sided gas fireplace and three outside terraces. Amenities include: valet services, concierge, club room w/ fireplace & kitchen, garden terrace on 10th floor, pool & spa w/ sundeck, fitness & library.
Asking price is $3,450,000. Please call me at 941-812-6272 if you would like to view this wonderful penthouse.
St. Armands Circle home under contract
Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 12:49pm. 306 Views, 0 Comments.
This lovely modern home on St. Armands Circle is now under contract. It is listed for $1,699,500. The great thing about this home is the location. You can easily walk to the beach or all of the amenities of St. Armands Circle. If you go to the 3rd floor living area or 4th floor deck you have wonderful views of the Sarasota bay. If you are looking to purchase a home please call me at 941-812-6272.
