Sarasota Florida Real Estate

Sarasota Home Sales Continue To Improve

2012-01-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Sarasota - Bradenton home sales recorded a sharp increase in November. Single-family homes sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton market rose by 17% over November, 2010 and up another 2% from October. Including condominium sales, the overall market was up by 12.7% The median sale price increased from October to November by 11%.

Sarasota area prospective buyers are beginning to confront multiple offers competing with their own on the more attractive properties, something that hasn't happened for quite some time. Real estate investors are no longer making low-ball offers. Recently, they are finding that if they really want to make the purchase, they need to make offers at or real close to what the properties are actually worth.

In the "under $450,000" price range, there is only a 6.1 month supply of homes and condos on the market. Six months of inventory is the point at which buying and selling pressure are considered to be equal. If you add, the homes already under contract for sale, but not yet closed, the supply of homes and condos available drops to 4.6 months, which would qualify the local real estate market in the "under $450,000" range as a "seller's market" where prices begin to rise.

The higher end of the market is not experiencing the same rate of recovery, though inventories have dropped from about 675 properties for sale in the "over $1.0 million" price range a year ago to about 530 now. Some properties have been taken off the market, but others have sold.

Local Realtors note that, given the improving market condition, banks are increasing the pace at which they are putting distressed properties on the market as short sales but these are expected to be bought up reasonably quickly by the increasing number of prospective buyers during the snowbird months.

In a recent Today Show real estate report, Barbara Corcoran noted that Sarasota was one of the top recovering markets in the nation. Corcoran said Sarasota is a “beautiful beachfront community” that offers residents and visitors “a sophisticated, urban cultural experience” that is propelling sales and prices in 2011.

Overall, several positive forces finally seem to be coming together. The lower inventory of homes for sale is stabilizing, and even beginning to put upward pressureon, prices. Banks are moving more quickly to get their inventoried properties on the market rather than letting them go into foreclosure where the condition of the home frequently degrades quickly. People, in general are feeling more upbeat than at any time in the past three years according to the Consumer Confidence Index. And, there are more buyers in the Sarasota real estate market who are looking to buy a home or condo now at these historically low prices and interest rates.

If you are visiting our area now or planning to come to Sarasota in the near future, I encourage you to call me at 941-266-1799 today or E-Mail Me. I also invite you to visit my Sarasota real estate website to learn more about our area and the many attractive golf course, in-town, and waterfront communities in the Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida including Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island and our island keys, Longboat, Lido, Siesta and Casey Key.

Where People Are Hunting for Homes

2011-12-11T07:35:00.001-08:00

The Sarasota Bradenton Area is the # 1 Spot

Forbes Magazine recently reported that some of the Sunbelt cities hardest hit by the bursting of the housing bubble may be about to get a boost from the flock of snowbirds and retirees heading south for the winter beginning in the past month or two.

Nearly 90% of people who buy homes begin their searches on the Internet. Forbes recently reviewed a report issued by Trulia.com, an Internet search site frequently used by those searching for a new home. That report suggested, according to Jed Kolko, chief economist and head of analytics at Trulia, that “where people are searching for properties on the Internet is a strong indicator of which real estate markets are 'picking up strength' and where demand for homes is growing.”

On the approxoimately roughly 100 million home searches on Trulia.com between July 1st and the end of September, Trulia correlated the location of searchers and the locations where they were searching for homes. The report, which Trulia calls the "Metro Movers Report," is an index which suggests which real estate markets are likely to get a boost from people moving there.

All of the top 10 cities where real estate is “picking up strength” are in the Sun Belt, but Florida dominates the list with 5 metropolitan areas in the top 10.

The # 1 spot where real estate "is picking up strength" is the Sarasota - Bradenton - North Port area. The Sarasota – Bradenton area was followed in the top 10 by 4 other Florida cities including Fort Lauderdale - Pompano Beach at #4, Cape Coral-Fort Myers at #5, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton at #6, and Orlando - Kissimmee - Sanford at #10.

Another sign of the improving health of the Florida real estate market was reported by the Florida Association of Realtors. On both Florida coasts, existing home sales have picked up considerably this year. Even in the slow summer and early fall months, the Sarasota - Bradenton area saw a significant uptick in existing home sales.

The resurgence of interest in the Florida real estate market, and especially the Sarasota - Bradenton area is attributed to two main factors. The first is bargain-hunter investors buying up real estate properties at what are historically low prices.

The second source of interest is the huge numbers of Baby Boomers, moving into their retirement years, who have wanted for some time to buy a home or condo in a warmer climate but who were put off by the sky-high prices in recent years. These buyers, as they return for their winter stays in rental units, seem to understand that Sarasota area home and condo prices are about as low as they are likely to go.

With both home prices and interest rates at historic lows, waiting until the economy picks up further in 2012, may be too late to get the best property at the best price. So, if you are a real estate investor or a Baby Boomer and you've been "on the fence" about when would be the right time to buy, right now is that “right time.”

Id you are a golfer, you may want to review the many Sarasota area golf communities. If you are a boater or beach lover, check out my descriptions of the many wonderful Sarasota waterfront communities. Or, if you porefer the urban lifestyle, take a few minutes to review the most popular Downtown Sarasota Residences on my website. For immediate information, call me directly at 941-266-1799.

Introducing Harbour Towne Yacht Club Condos on Siesta Key

2011-11-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Originally this Siesta Key community was developed as a deep-water marina, but in 1982 it was converted to residential units to accommodate boat owners who need deep-water docking facilities. Today, Harbour Towne Yacht Club is a gated community of 50 upscale town home style condominiums, each with an attached garage.

Residents of this community also enjoy a community clubhouse, a heated swimming pool, spa and hot tub, a tennis court and a fishing pier. Owners may have one small pet. For those seeking an income property until they are ready to retire, these units may be rented for a minimum term of 1 month.

With a 25 foot-deep canal and docking and no bridge or other obstructions between your own dock and Sarasota Bay you have access to open waters in the Bay and from there to the Gulf of Mexico. Harbour Towne is ideal for power boat ans sailing enthusiasts seeking the secure, yet maintenance-free condominium lifestyle. Prices range from the $400's for 2 bedroom, 2 bath units up to the low $600's for larger units with up to 3 bedrooms and 3 baths.

Right across the street lie the delightfully crystalline quartz sands of famous Siesta Key Beach. Harbour Towne is also convenient to the eclectic shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities of Siesta Key Village and a short drive to all that downtown Sarasota has to offer with its wide array of upscale shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural venues.

I would be happy to introduce you to the delightful Sarasota waterfront lifestyle available to you on Siesta Key in general, and at Harbour Towne and other similar waterfront communities.

Providing you with accurate and comprehensive Siesta Key waterfront real estate information is my goal. I invite you to learn more about Siesta Key and other Sarasota waterfront communities. Request my free Sarasota Real Estate Information Package or call me directly at (941) 266-1799 for more immediate assistance.

Single Females Are Becoming a Major Force Among Home Buyers

2011-10-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently reported that single women are quickly becoming a significant percentage of the total number of home buyers in the U.S. real estate market. Last year 20% of all home buyers were single women.

According to the NAR, single women aren’t just purchasing more homes. They are growing savvier about the whole home buying process, being much more likely to ask piercing questions and demanding straight answers to their questions regarding prices, features, financing options, etc. And it is not just young single professional women who are buying homes, the range of single female buyers varies all the way from young singles to post-retirement women.

Due to the increasing number of single women buying homes, Sarasota area builders and real estate agents are both "stepping up their game" both in their advertising and other marketing media to appeal to this large new segment of Sarasota Florida area buyers. Builders across Sarasota and Manatee County are increasingly offering new homes with more extensive security features, low- or no-maintenance yards, gourmet kitchens, more spacious bathrooms, softer color schemes - all features that appeal much more to female than to male buyers.

“When a woman is shopping for a home with a man, she tends often to defer to the man's desire for a garage, a workshop, or a work-at-home office,” says Rich Stover, a noted Sarasota Florida real estate agent. He adds, "when a woman is buying a home for herself, she tends to be more interested in whether or not she may need to make major changes to the home to make it fit her own personal lifestyle, interesta and needs."

As the Sarasota Florida real estate market continues to struggle with few signs of improvement, it behooves everyone involved in the real estate business, including those trying to sell a home, to pay attention to trends like this and tailor their plans and actions appropriately.

For example, we all know how important "curb appeal" - the first view from the street - is in successfully marketing a home. If, for example, you were attempting to sell a home or condo in Sarasota or Bradenton Florida right now, it might be worth considering what interior changes might make the home more attractive to single female buyers - applying more neutral or warmer wall colors, removing mainly masculine decor items and making the kitchen and baths sparkle even more with spotless tile, flawless faucets and warm, coordinated colored towels on the rack. Little things like this can make a big difference in the "interior appeal" of a home to a single female buyer.

If you have a home or condo to sell in the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate market, I'd be happy to give you advice to help make your home more "female-friendly." Call me at your convenience 941-266-1799 or E-Mail Me.

Mortgages for Higher-Priced Homes At Risk

2011-09-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

It was reported this past week that beginning on October 1, 2011, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two home mortgage giants, have announced that they will reduce the size of the maximum mortgage they will buy from banks and other mortgage originators from 125% of the local median home price with a maximum of $729,750 back to the prior limit of 115% of the local median home price with a maximum of $625,000. The U.S. Treasury Department had recommended in February that Congress let the conforming loan limits reset as Fannie Mae had announced plans to do in November, 2010.

If this change takes place, the effect on buyers of higher-priced homes or homes in higher-prices communities will be felt in Florida and nationwide. According the the Federal Housing Finance Administration, 204 counties, or 6.5% of the 3,143 counties in the U.S., will see a decrease in their high-cost conforming loan limit. Those counties in Florida and other states contain 20.7 million owner occupied homes or 27% of the 75.3 million homes in the country.

In 2008, the limit on the size mortgage Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would guarantee or buy from banks and other mortgage originators had been $417,000 for single-family homes, except in what were deemed to be high cost markets, where the limit was 115% of the local median home price with a maximum of $625,000.

At that time, Congress increased the size of mortgages Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA could guarantee or buy from 115% of the local median home price limit up to $625,000 up to 125% of the local median home price with a new maximum of $729,750. This increase meant that families seeking to buy higher-priced homes could now qualify for the more lenient down payments and interest rates associated with so-called “conforming” mortgages.

In anticipation of this upcoming reduction, a number of the major banks, including Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo, have already stopped accepting applications for mortgages of more than the new limits.

Most banks and other mortgage originators do not want to keep home mortgages “on their own books.” They want to sell them to Fannie and Freddie. Under the new limits, home buyers of higher-priced homes who would have benefitted from these “conforming” mortgages will find that they will now be required to have cash on hand to cover down payments of 20% or more. Interest rates, now at or below 4.5% are expected to jump to 5.0% or more. While some home buyers will be able to meet the stiffer requirements, many will be forced to buy a smaller home or simply put off their plan to buy a home altogether. Overall, the drop in the maximum size for conforming mortgages will be one more unwelcome force tending to depress home prices, something the U.S. housing market certainly does not need at this point.

In a joint letter released last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association and more than a dozen other industry groups warned that failing to extend the limits, as currently planned, will further delay a recovery in the housing market. The letter said, in part, “With tight underwriting already constraining mortgage availability, lowering the loan limits will only further restrict liquidity… Extending the existing limits at levels appropriate for all parts of the country will provide homeowners and home buyers with safe, affordable financing and help stabilize local housing markets.”

A bipartisan group of 37 Congressional lawmakers sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee recommending an extension of the current conforming limits for two more years until october, 2013. The group, led by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D., N.Y.) and John Campbell (R., Calif.), urged the committee to attach such a provision to a temporary funding measure that would keep the government running when fiscal 2012 begins on Oct 1st.

If you are considering buying a home on which you would need a mortgage in excess of the basic $417,000 limit, you may want to contact your Congressman and Senators to support extending the current maximum limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming mortgages.

If you would like further information on homes and home mortgages in the Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida home market, I invite you to E-Mail Me or call me at 941-266-1799 at your convenience. You may also want to visit my Sarasota Florida real estate website.

Does Sarasota Florida Have a Place in Your Future ?

2011-08-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here’s an interesting statistic, I found just recently. There are 78 million baby boomers in the U.S., and professionals predict that one-sixth of them will spend at least part of their lives in Florida. That means that there are almost 13 million people who need to be considering where they would like to settle in the State of Florida in the next decade.

When those future residents look for the most attractive places to live in Florida, I’m betting the Sarasota – Bradenton – Lakewood Ranch area will be high on their list of “most attractive places.” Here’s why:

For starters, Americans Style Magazine ranked Sarasota 5th and Bradenton 10th on it’s list of the “Top 25 Small Cities.” Money Magazine listed Sarasota among the “Nation’s 15 Most Livable Communities” calling it a city with the charm of a smaller southern town with the conveniences of a big city. CNBC said Sarasota Florida is one of the “Most Popular Retirement Destinations.” And, AARP Magazine listed the Sarasota – Bradenton area as one of the four “Best Places To Reinvent Your Life.”

For golfers, the greater Sarasota Florida metropolitan area has over 80 golf courses ranging from public courses to semi-private and private courses which will challenge every level of play. Many of these golf courses lie within master-planned golf course communities like Lakewood Ranch. Residents of the Lakewood Ranch golf course community enjoy a casual, yet comfortable, lifestyle in a community of ten neighborhoods with homes and condos spanning a fairly wide range of sizes with prices ranging from the mid $200′s to over $2 million.

For lovers of the sun and surf, there are 35 miles of white sand beaches stretching from Anna Maria Island on the north to Venice and Northport on the south. The beach on Siesta Key was voted the “Top Beach in the U.S.” in 2011, with the softest, whitest quartz sand in the world. And for lovers, nowhere will you find more romantic sunsets than along the beaches for the Florida West Coast.

The area is known as “Florida’s Cultural Coast”; home to the renowned Ringling Art Museum, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Asolo Theater as well as many art galleries, jazz clubs and local theater groups like the Manatee Players in Bradenton and the Little Theater in Venice. Downtown Sarasota offers dozens of upscale shops and restaurants. And no one disputes the charm of the eclectic shops at famous St Armands Circle. For a less formal experience, Village of the Arts is a vibrant artist community in Bradenton.

Sailing enthusiasts, powerboat owners, scuba divers and fishermen spend relaxing times on the warm waters of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Some waterfront communities even offer deep water marinas, yacht clubs and fishing docks.

Sarasota and Manatee County schools serve over 80,000 students in both public and privates schools. Nearly 80% of Sarasota teachers have post-bachelor degree training. Two-thirds of our high school graduates go on to college; many at local colleges including University of South Florida – Sarasota, USF – New College, Ringling School of Art & Design, University of Sarasota, Eckerd College, and The State College of Florida – Manatee – Sarasota.

If your youngsters, or grand children, enjoy educational experiences, they, and you, will enjoy the G.Wiz Science Museum, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton. Just up the road in Tampa, the world-renowned Florida Aquarium offers a truly unique experience. All offer informative displays and tours attractive to kids “of all ages.”

Sarasota, Bradenton and our Islandd Keys, Lognboat, Lido, Siesta and Casey Key offer the widest possible variety of residential living spaces from downtown high-rise condos, penthouses and townhomes to golf course communities and waterfront communities in price ranges to fit every desire you may have.

Whether you're a “snowbird,” a one-time visitor, a professional, or an employee being relocated to the fast-growing Florida West Coast, you should get to know the Sarasota - Bradenton - Lakewood Ranch area on Florida's Sun Coast. This may, in fact, be "the place you'll want to call home" right now or in the future.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate and Lifestyle Package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334 or E-Mail Me today.

So Many Things to See and Do in Sarasota

2011-07-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to see and do in the Sarasota Florida area that you can fill an entire year and never go to the same place or event twice. Yes, there are attractions that almost everyone has visited, but there are many more that only locals seem to know about. Yet, they are fun things to see and do by yourself or as a family regardless of your age or interests.

Sarasota and Manatee County together offer over 80 golf courses – one for everyone and every level of play. Some are private with luxurious country clubs, some are semi-private and many are public courses.

And, of course, there is Siesta Beach, named the #1 beach in the world in 2011 by Dr. Beach. Miles of fine white sand stretch along the Gulf of Mexico perfect for building sandcastles, taking a stroll or just soaking up the sun. But you may also want to try the more laid-back atmosphere at Crescent Beach or the shell-collecting on the coarser sand at Turtle Beach on Siesta's southern end.

The Ringling Museum of Art at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota anchors Sarasota’s art scene with a world-famous collection of paintings including Rubens canvasses, You can also tour Ca D’Zan, John Ringling's mansion built in the Venetian-Gothic architectural style. There’s also a collection of circus memorabilia housed in the Ringling Circus Museum.

And few miss St Armands Circle on Lido Key where you’ll experience the ambiance of exotic lands and far away places in a collection of eclectic shops and casual eating establishments. Fulfill your shopping passions with fashion elegance, fine collectibles, antiques, crystal, china and precious gems.

Then, there is the Jazz Club of Sarasota, the most active jazz club in the United Sates with over 80 concerts and lectures each year. Founded in 1980 by the late Hal Davis, the former publicist for Benny Goodman, the club has about 750 members and is growing. The Jazz Club sponsors, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, one of the major U.S. jazz festivals.

For another outing, visit the Mote Marine Lab where you and the kids can explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. You'll see sharks, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life.

But have you experienced the Children’s Garden and Art Center at 1670 10th Way, Sarasota. It is a truly enchanted place whimsically designed for kids. There is a pirate ship, secret garden, a maze, a tree fort and slide, fairy gardens, the three little pigs' house and a dress-up room. Kids of all ages love to follow the yellow brick road to a world of magic.

The Crowley Museum and Nature Center at 16405 Myakka Road, Sarasota is a 190-acre wildlife sanctuary with 5 native Florida habitats and historic 1800's pioneer buildings and a museum.

The Banyan Theater Company is an award-winning professional theater company which performs mainly during the summer months. Their three-play season begins in late June and ends in late August,

Only in Sarasota can you experience the "Greatest Little Show On Earth," at the PAL Sailor Circus, celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year with the country's longest running Youth Circus. At the shows each year in March and April, it's hard to realize that the 120 performers in this spectacular Circus Show are Sarasota's teenagers. They juggle, walk the high wire, do acrobatics, unicycle, flying trapeze and much more.

Or, the G.WIZ - The Science Museum at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota has as its mission to be the gateway to lifelong adventures in science by showing that the world around us is amazing, breathtaking and full of unanswered questions. GWIZ offers an interactive gallery, critter habitat and “Fab Lab” as well as on-going programming for residents, school groups, community groups and tourists. Children from 1 to 5 years old will love the chance to explore science in the Itsy Bitsy Scientists program

Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, just south of Sarasota offers tours of a 30-acre archaeological, historical and environmental museum located on Little Sarasota. Visitors experience "A Window into the Past," the only museum exhibition in the world built inside a prehistoric shell mound. The colorful gardens and the Butterfly Garden will delight your senses. Nature trails wander through native coastal habitats accentuated by a long boardwalk providing stunning views of Sarasota Bay.

This list could go on, but we think you get the point. There’s also fine dining and an eclectic mix of shopping venues. There are many, many things to see and do that make Sarasota Florida, the surrounding communities of Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Osprey and Venice and our Island Keys so attractive to buyers of homes and condominiums for either full-time or seasonal enjoyment, during a working career or in retirement.

If you have found this article interesting and would like more information on Sunny Sarasota Florida, please contact me either by E-Mail or by filling out the brief Request for Sarasota Information form on my website.

Siesta Key Beach Ranked the # 1 Beach in America

2011-06-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

That wide expanse of crystal, white quartz sand that is Siesta Beach just won the title of the "Nation's Top Beach.". The pure white quartz, pulverized to a fine powder, has an almost magical quality. There is no sand quite like it anywhere in the world. Even under the burning sub-tropical summer sun, it feels cool to the touch.

Steven Leatherman, director of the Florida International University Laboratory for Coastal Research, (and also affectionately known as Dr. Beach), compares all the best beaches in the United States every year and selects the top 10 beaches based upon 50 different criteria. Those criteria include the look and feel of the sand, quality of the water, facilities available among other factors.

San Diego's Coronado Beach was the # 2 runner-up. Number 3 was Kahanamoku Beach in Hawaii, while #4 was Main Beach in East Hampton, NY. Rounding out the top 5 was Cape Hatteras Beach in North Carolina.

Among other factors, Siesta Beach scored very high for its shallow, warm water and gentle currents while losing a few points due to the heavy vista of condominiums at both ends. No matter where you sit or stand, Siesta Beach is spectacular.

Siesta Key has received many honors in the past for it’s soft, powdery white sand beach including recognition as one of “America’s Best Beaches” and the “Third Best Walking Beach in the USA,” by USA Today International Edition and “The Best of the Best Sand,” by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

Praise for the pristine half-mile long Siesta Beach comes as no surprise to Rich Stover, a well-known Sarasota Real Estate expert and Buyer Representative. "Those who buy a home or condo on Siesta Key get both a casual lifestyle and an unbelivably beautiful beach on which to take liesurely strolls or watch evening sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico." "Yet," he says," they also have very easy access to all the amenities of that make downtown Sarasota Florida one of the Florida Sun Coast's most desirable communities."

Sarasota Home Sales in April Continue a Strong Trend Upward

2011-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

A total of 759 homes and condominiums were sold in the Sarasota real
estate market during April 2011, continuing a very strong spring surge. There were 533 single-family home sales and 228 condo sales. This recent sales rush has taken the market to it's highest levels since the fall of 2005 when sales started to decline with the nationwide housing bust.

While April, 2010 sales were at comparable levels, those sales were driven in large part by the federal home buyer tax credit program. Sarasota home sales this month are being driven by people making the decision that the Sarasota area is the “right place to buy a home,” and that “now is the right time to buy a Sarasota area home.”

Another impressive statistic is that the number of properties on the market at the end of April dropped to 5,258, continuing the downward trend from last month when there were 5,501 properties for sale on the market. Last year at this time, 6,160 properties, or a 8.6 month supply, were available. In January 2009, there were 25.3 months of
inventory for single family homes and 38.4 months of condo inventory. The drop to a 6.2 month supply of homes on the market, the lowest in 6 years, will likely begin to put upward pressure on prices as we move into the summer months.

Sarasota Association of Realtors President Michael Bruno said. “it’s especially encouraging to note that sale prices were also at their highest levels for both single-family homes and condos”. Median sales prices for Sarasota single family homes was $155,430 and for condos, the median sale price was $185,500. Distressed property sales represented only 36% of sales, down from 43% in March and 47% in February. “This downward trend in distressed sales indicates that the worst of the housing problem is most likely behind us" commented respected Sarasota real estate agent Rich Stover of RE/MAX Alliance Group.

The Sarasota real estate is clearly emerging as a market leader as the real estate industry recovers. It also indicates to prospective buyers that now may be the right time to spend a week here in Sarasota looking over the inventory of new and resale homes for sale. This is a very opportune time to consider investing in a second home or maybe even your primary home. I invite you to call me at 941-266-1799 for more information and to schedule a visit to our area to find your second home or maybe even your primary home here on the Sarasota Sun Coast of Florida.

Introducing Bent Tree - A Charming Sarasota Golf Course Community

2011-04-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Bent Tree is an charming master-planned golf course community located east of Interstate-75 in Sarasota, Florida.

The Bent Tree community has an idyllic setting. Every effort has been made to retain the natural beauty of wooded areas, sparkling lakes and streams found on the property where birds and wildlife abound. This relatively unspoiled terrain serves as the back drop for golf in a northern setting. The original community was developed primarily in the 1970's and 1980's. There are newer homes in the Woodlands section of Bent Tree that were built in the 1990's and 2000's. Prices of homes range from the low 200's to the mid $400,000's for the newer larger homes on oversized lots.

The Bent Tree County Club golf course is accented by tree lined fairwaysbounded by mature oak trees, expansive greens, and miles of lakes and streams. The Bent Tree Country Club course underwent major renovations during 2010. With the renovations now complete, Bent Tree is home to beautiful new champion bermuda greens, newly excavated and filled bunkers as well as remodelled fairways and tee boxes. Club membership is optional for residents of the community, but clubamenities include an updated clubhouse with casual and fine dining facilities, banquet facilities, tennis courts, a full-sized swimming pool and a children’s wading pool.

If you would like to know more about the Bent Tree golf course, or the other amenities of this golf community, I would be delighted to show you around Bent Tree and other Sarasota golf course communities in the Sarasota and Bradenton Florida real estate markets.

Providing you with Sarasota real estate information on homes and condos for sale in all price ranges is my primary goal. I invite you to learn more about Sarasota and the Sarasota real estate market. Request my free Sarasota Real Estate Package, or call me on my cellphone at (941) 724-3352 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334

Why People Love Bradenton Florida

2011-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

Located just north of Sarasota, the city of Bradenton is the county seat of Manatee County and a wonderful place to live, play golf, and explore the arts, historical attractions and have fun in the sun on the numerous beaches in the area.

But, let's be clear about this! Bradenton is "almost addicted" to golf and water sports. It has way more than its share of fine golf courses -- one perfect for whatever level of player you are. For relaxed living in a Bradenton golf course community, you cannot beat the cosmopolitan, yet still homey, city of Bradenton Florida.

Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, its gulf-front island neighbor across the causeway, offer every conceivable opportunity for boating, scuba diving, fishing and sailing.

You may also enjoy just kicking back for an evening of dining out or having a drink with friends in one of the many restaurants or pubs on downtown Bradenton's historic Old Main Street.

Historically, the area now called the City of Bradenton, covering roughly 14.4 square miles, was discovered in 1539 by Hernando DeSoto when he landed on Shaw's Point to begin his 4,000 mile trek in search of El Dorado, "The Lost City of Gold." Each Spring, the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society celebrates DeSoto’s landing with a month-long series of events including the SeaFood Festival, a homemade boat race at the Palma Sola Causeway beach, a fishing tournament, a musical and fashion show, a formal-dress ball, and parades.

Downtown Bradenton attractions include the South Florida Museum, McKechnie Field, the spring training home of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates, the Bishop Planetarium theater, home to one of the world's most advanced planetarium projectors. Bishop Planetarium includes an outdoor amphitheater, playground equipment, benches and gazebos and a granite-marble memorial to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. The city hosts family-fun attractions and events throughout the year including Winter Wonderland, Get Down Downtown, and other events on downtown’s beautiful, well-lit streets and Rossi Waterfront Park, the crown jewel of the city's park system.

Bradenton is also home to the "Village of the Arts," a growing neighborhood of renovated cottages just south of downtown that provides homes, studios and galleries for dozens of local artists and other small businesses, including three restaurants. The businesses all open their doors on the first Friday evening and following Saturday afternoon of the month during the ArtWalk.

Snooty, the oldest living manatee in the world born in captivity, lives in the Parker Aquarium, and the museum’s artifacts section takes visitors up close and personal with the creatures that once roamed the area and much more.

For a lifetime of relaxed living, come see how Bradenton Florida has become increasingly cosmopolitan in character while retaining its small-town charm.

Visit RealizeBradenton.com for an overview of the City's arts, culture and heritage. In a nutshell, the City of Bradenton is a wonderful, safe and growing place to live and visit.

If a new and rapidly growing master-planned community is your cup of tea, the gigantic Lakewood Ranch community is located right on the edge of the city of Bradenton, just northeasrt of the city of Sarasota.

If you would like to know more about Bradenton Florida and the many attractively priced homes and condos available in and around Bradenton, please contact me by phone at 941-266-1799 or E-Mail Me. To request more information on Bradenton, I invite you to request my free Bradenton FL Information Package.

Universal Design - Accessibility Combined with Aesthetics Appealing to Both Seniors & Young Families

2011-03-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

The term "Universal Design" refers to a wide range of architectural and construction ideas and products meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both the able-bodied and the physically disabled.

Universal design elements include such things as

No-step entry
One-story living. Everything is on one level, which is barrier-free
Wide doorways (32-36 inches wide) and hallways (36-42 inches wide)
Extra floor space
Pull handles instead of knobs on cabinetry
Under-cabinet lighting
Adjustable rods and pullout shelving in closets
Lever handles on doors instead of knobs
No-step showers and baths

The "universal design" concept evolved from earlier "barrier-free" concepts, the broader accessibility movement, and adaptive and assistive technology. Universal design seeks to blend aesthetics as well as functionality into products.

As life expectancy increases and modern medicine increases the survival rate of those with significant injuries, illnesses, and birth defects, there is a growing interest in universal design by many forward-thinking architects and builders. There are many industries in which universal design is having strong market penetration but there are many others in which it has not yet been adopted to any great extent. For example, while curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, essential for people in wheelchairs but also used by all, are a common example, the home building industry has just recently become interested in the concept.

More Sarasota Florida homes are now being built with "universal design" features that will help boomers stay in their homes as they age. Interestingly, these features no longer evoke images of a hospital or nursing home room so they are beginning to appeal to younger demographic groups as well as seniors and the disabled.

In addition to kitchen and bathroom cabinets with pull-out shelves, kitchen counters at several heights to accommodate different tasks and postures, and walk-in bathtubs, there are now color-contrast dishware with steep sides that assist those with visual or dexterity problems. There is also growing use of lever door handles in place of the standard doorknob making it much easier for people with disabilities (as well as moms carrying a baby or bags of groceries) to open a door.

Perhaps the most interesting facet of the "universal design" concept is how quickly young families are beginning to ask for such "ease-of-use" features in the homes they are considering building or buying.

For those interested in pursuing this further, there is a Universal Design video available for purchase that provides a lot of information about building and remodeling with universal design concepts.

As a Sarasota real estate agent, I have experience showing and selling homes which incorporate universal design concepts.

I would be delighted to help those who may be considering buying a home in the Sarasota - Bradenton area identify builders employing "universal design" concepts in their new homes. I invite you to E-Mail Me or call me at 941-266-1799.

Sarasota - A Golf Town, Yes, But Also So Much More

2011-02-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Sarasota is definitely a "Florida golf town." No doubt about that. If you are looking for a golf course community, Sarasota Florida is certainly one of the right places to look. Here you will find dozens of golf course communities and more than 80 public and private golf courses all of which are consistently maintained for your maximum enjoyment of the game.

Whether you enjoy golf as a competitive sport or you're just looking for a "home course" for your game during snowbird months, Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida will surely meet your needs and desires. There are golf course communities like those on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island where you can play golf practically in your front yard while your yacht rests on its mooring in your backyard. There are golf courses for every level of play and golf course communities with amenities from the relatively simple to the most elegant. Golf communities like The Oaks, University Park, Founders Club, Lakewood Ranch and The Venetian Golf and River Club, among others, offer their residents outstanding amenities featuring professionally designed golf courses, resort swimming pools and Har-Tru tennis facilities. Many of these clubs also have fitness centers and fine dining.

Those who would tell you that Sarasota doesn’t rank with Orlando or Miami as a golf destination miss the point. Sarasota offers something that those cities cannot, a fuller and richer, yet still casual, total lifestyle. With some of the whitest, softest beaches in the world, an eclectic mix of casual and fine dining and renowned international shopping at places like St Armands Circle, Sarasota is truly unique. Sarasota is also "Florida's Cultural Coast," home to the Florida West Coast Symphony, the Sarasota Ballet, the Asolo Theater for the Performing Arts and the Ringling Museum. Sarasota’s island keys, Longboat Lido, Siesta, and Casey Key and Sarasota marinas offer boating, sailing and fishing facilities to match every desire from simple slips to deep water mooring. Sarasota area health care facilities, including the Sarasota Memorial, the second largest acute care hospital in the state of Florida, are top rated. And, there is so much going on in Sarasota to keep retirees and residents of all ages engaged, active and happy that one local organization touts the area as a "Silicon Valley for the Aging."

Sarasota Florida has been described as a mid-sized city with a big-city lifestyle. Forbes Magazine said Sarasota is one of the best places for business and careers. Money Magazine says Sarasota is the nation's best small city and one of the cities with the best health care. CNBC named Sarasota as “a best place to retire” and Portfolio.com named Sarasota the best place or retirees. Regardless of your age, the Sarasota metropolitan area stands alone as the perfect place for you to own a first or second home.

And right now, Sarasota offers another attractive attribute for those considering moving to Florida. Sarasota real estate prices are lower now than they have been in decades. If you are in the market for an upscale home or condo on a golf course, on the waterfront, or downtown at the hub of arts and cultural action, Sarasota offers you a truly unique opportunity. You can buy that first or second home of your dreams right now at a price you’re not likely to see again for a long time.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate Package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Visitng Sarasota for the Winter? Don't Miss the Ringling Museum

2011-01-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

If you are coming to Sarasota for the winter months and maybe even considering buyuing a home or condo here, you owe it to yourself to become more familiar with some of the treasures Sarasota has to offer. One of them is the Ringling Museum and the Cà d’Zan Mansion.

John Ringling, one of the five original circus kings of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, had become quite wealthy and so in 1911, John and his wife, Mable purchased 20 acres of waterfront property in Sarasota with the intention of spending winters here. Their first project was building the splendid Venetian Gothic mansion, Cà d’Zan between 1924 and 1926 for the then staggering sum of $1.5 million. The style of the house reflected Mable’s taste and passion for opulence.

Like many of America’s wealthiest individuals of the time, John and Mabel gradually acquired a significant art collection and rare antiquities. John had a 21 gallery palace bult to store and display his treasures on his property.

At his death in 1936, John Ringling bequeathed the art collection and mansion to the State of Florida. For ten years after John’s death, while the Ringling Museum was opened ocasionally, it was not professionally maintained. The Cà d’Zan mansion remained a private home while the State of Florida fought with creditors over the fate of the estate.

By the late 1990s, as a ressult of deferred maintenance, the Cà d’Zan mansion was falling apart, the roof of the Museum of Art leaked, and the historic Asolo Theater built on the property in 1957 had been condemned. The future of the Ringling Estate was uncertain at best.

In 2000, the property was transferred from the State to Florida State University. In 2002, the state provided $42.9 million to begin restoration. With another $55 million in privately donated funds, FSU began the transformation of the property from a delapitated series of buildings to the outstanding museum site it is today.

Today, the Ringling estate is one of the largest museum complexes in the nation. The Florentine style of the Ringling Museum emulates the Uffizi Gallery housing the Ringlings’ collection of European paintings, architectural details and fine art objects accumulated as they traveled throughout Europe seeking new circus acts. The museum, in addition to the oustanding fine art collection inside, features a courtyard filled with bronze replicas of Greek and Roman sculpture, including a bronze cast of Michelangelo’s David.

While you are in Sarasota for the Winter, I invite you to tour the Ringling Museum as well as the many other cultural attractions of our fair city.

While you are here, I’d be delighted to meet you at your convenience and explain all the benefits of buying a second or year-round home or condominum here in the Sarasota Florida area. For more information on Sarasota, visit my Sarasota Florida real estate website where you'll find all sorts of information on Sarasota and the delightfully sunny lifestyle available to you here. For more immediate service, feel free to call me directly at 941-266-1799.

Helpful Snowbird Guides Available

2011-01-08T04:30:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when our friends from up North start coming to Florida to enjoy our fair weather and our casual sun-soaked lifestyle. Every year, more than a million Canadians and U.S. citizens from our more northern states migrate to Florida. Some are seasonal visitors while others consider becoming permanent citizens of Florida.

Some of these "snowbirds," as we like to call them, consider buying a home or condo here in Florida. Some of these "Snowbirds" also seriously consider taking the additional step of becoming residents of the state of Florida.

In both cases, these folks often wish they had good sources of information to help them make a good decision about either buying a home or condo here in Florida or even becoming Florida residents. In both cases, there is much to learn before "taking the plunge."

There are two paperback books currently available for purchase that we think can be very helpful to those considering purchasing real estate in Florida and/or becoming residents of the state of Florida. We would like to point them out to our readers:

•"The Canadian Snowbird Guide" by Douglas Gray
•"The Official Snowbird's Guide to Becoming a Florida Resident" by Dean Hanewinckel, Attorney

Each of these books can be purchased from Amazon.com so we have included below direct links to the Amazon.com pages on which they are advertised.

For those of you with an E-Reader device such as an IPad or Kindle, it is noteworthy that these two paperbacks are also available to be downloaded to your E-Reader.

These two books are also available from other Internet sites such as buy.com and books.Google.com and from from many local bookstores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble. We encourage you to consider taking at look at these books either before you come to Florida this year, or, if you are already here in Florida, at one of our local bookstores.

For a permanent home, vacation getaway or an investment property, the Sarasota real estate market, with its recent price correction, is hard to beat. I invite you to request my free Sarasota Real Estate Information Package or, for immediate assistance, I invite you to call me directly on my cell phone at 941-266-1799 for more immediate service.

Sarasota Florida - Right Time & Place for 1st Time Home Buyers

2010-12-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

If you are a first-time home buyer in the Sarasota, Bradenton or Lakewood Ranch area of Florida, this is a great time and a great real estate market for you because:

You don't have a home you need to sell first, perhaps at a loss, and that makes you an attractive client to a Realtor and an very attractive buyer to a home seller
Mortgage interest rates are as about low as they have ever been and it is highly unlikely they'll go any lower in the future, and
Sarasota area homes are now more affordable than they have been in a decade.

However, buying a home is a fairly complex process. Doing it successfully takes planning and effort. The process, however, is much less stressful if you take advantage of the knowledge and guidance of a professional Realtor.

Here is a 10-step process that will assure you accomplish your goal of buying as your first home, a property that optimally meets your needs and wishes at the best possible price without unnecessary stress.

Buy a Notebook and get organized. Use this notebook exclusively for planning your first home purchase. First, summarize in writing the type of home and type of neighborhood you would like to find. Do you prefer a ranch-style home, or a bi-level, tri-level, or two-story home. How about a duplex where you can rent the other half. Or would you be more comfortable in a condominium ? Do you want a small lot to maintain, no exterior maintenance at all, or a large lot of land; in or close to the center city or in a more rural area? Now, write down those things you REALLY NEED TO HAVE in the home for it to meet your needs for the next 7 - 10 years. Also list five or more things you’d REALLY LIKE TO HAVE.

Use this notebook with its Needs and Wants Lists as a guide to judge every home you visit whether it’s a model home, an open house or part of a tour a Realtor has arranged for you. Use it also to make notes of home features you see that you particularly like or dislike.

Understand how much home you can afford. Make a budget to pinpoint how much you believe you are willing and able to pay for your new home given your other financial obligations. As a “rule of thumb,” keeping your monthly total housing cost to 25% to 35% of your gross monthly income is a good place to start.

Meet with more than one mortgage lender. You need to know how your credit rating will affect the interest rate you can achieve. You may find that you need to pay off some outstanding debts before getting serious about house huntin. Collect all the information you can from each lender. Then, compare their interest rates, closing costs and all other terms of the loans they propose. Learn how much down payment will be required and the maximum amount each would lender would loan you based upon your income, credit rating and other current obligations. Ask each lender for at least a pre-qualification statement.

When you are reasonably certain sure which lender you would prefer, ask for a pre-approval letter which you can attach to any offer you might make. Having a pre-approval letter already in place is a powerful price negotiating tool when you're ready to make an offer.

Introduce yourself to an experienced, full-time Realtor with whom you feel comfortable. Ask him or her to act on your behalf as your "Buyer's Agent." Only when acting as your Buyer's Agent is a Realtor required to work for your benefit and yours alone. The Realtor whose name is on a for sale sign, at an open house or a sales representative at a model home is NOT looking out for your best interests. They are working for and looking out for the Seller, not you.

Your Buyer's Agent Realtor will help you further understand your housing options and after reviewing your Needs and Wants List" explain how your list can best be fulfilled given the real estate market of homes for sale in your preferred neighborhoods. He or she will then research the best home values and neighborhoods that meet your criteria and provide you with a list of the homes currently for sale that best fit your criteria.

With or without your Realtor, visit those neighborhoods that fall within your price range and identify the two or three neighborhoods you would most like to live in. This step will save both you and your Realtor a lot of wasted time. It may also help you to further refine your Needs and Wants Lists. After this step, you may want to sit with your Realtor again and adjust your Needs and Wants Lists and make changes to your priorities of needs versus wants, if necessary. Remember that your Lists are only as useful as you kept them in touch with the realities of your situation. It is natural to have started out with higher expectations than reality will allow, so do not be embarrassed or concerned if your Lists change somewhat at this point.

If you want to include "Short Sale" and "Foreclosure" homes in your search, be sure you fully understand how these procedures work (or in many cases, don't) and the amount of time those processes can take. Your Realtor can explain the process by which these types of transactions occur and clarify for you the pros and cons of both of these home buying processes versus a normal purchase transaction.

Now get out there and get going. The most desirable homes at the most attractive prices don't sit on the market for long, even in today's marketplace.

There are wonderful homes for sale in the Sarasota and bradenton areas of Florida at very attractive prices, but you need to be ready to act when you find the one you want. Your Needs and Wants Lists, that you've hopefully kept up to date, will help you know when "this is the home for us."

Work with your Buyer's Agent Realtor to decide upon your offer price. Your Realtor will help you by analyzing comparable properties in comparable neighborhoods to decide on an appropriate offering price. If you were able to secure a pre-approval letter from a lender, make sure it is still in effect, and attach it to your offer.

Work through the multi-step contract-to-closing process. This process will include a home inspection, finalizing you mortgage application, and several other steps all of which your Buyer's Agent Realtor and your lender will help you with.

Eventually, at the closing, you will sign more papers than you'd ever imagined possible. But then, you will be ready to move into your first home. Congratulations are definitely in order !!

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ?
I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate and Lifestyle Package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Sarasota Florida - The Perfect Setting for Senior Living

2010-11-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

Within a few years, there will be more people over age 50 than under 15 in all of the developed countries. Many mid-size cities in the United States have noticed that they have an aging population which requires more and more services. At the same time this trend is occurring, the younger residents of these communities, who are needed to provide the tax base to support those needs, are moving away.

A few communities are taking a unique approach to this issue, treating it as an opportunity rather than as a problem. Reviewing the approaches being taken by two U.S. mid-sized cities will illustrate the point.

Rochester, New York has spent millions trying to attract young people to "live in the city." Monroe County is home to nine colleges and universities, including the University of Rochester with its Eastman School of Music and School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Rochester Institute of Technology, a well-known science and engineering university, as well as Nazareth College and St John Fisher two very successful liberal arts colleges. These colleges graduate thousands of young professionals every year. Rochester has given tax incentives to developers to restore vacant downtown factories and office buildings into upscale lofts and professional offices.

The city maintains a constant flow of social and cultural events including an internationally-recognized jazz festival. They've encouraged the opening of trendy cafes, shops and upscale and boutique restaurants. The city is even tearing down the first enclosed mall in the United States to make room for more modern office space attempting, with little success, to attract small and mid-size companies to move into the center city bringing young professionals with them.

It hasn't worked. Young people and young families are leaving New York's upstate cities like Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo in droves, attracted to bigger cities in warmer climates where there are more high-tech jobs, lower taxes, and a much more vibrant social life than Rochester can hope to provide.

By contrast, Sarasota Florida, where the residents of 1 of every 2 homes is at least 60 years old, an entirely different approach is being taken. Sarasota has opted to focus its civic strategy by placing its aging population at the center of its strategy, rather than treating them as a problem. Sarasota focuses its initiatives and investments on providing the products and services needed and wanted by senior citizens.

A rapidly expanding field in Sarasota is health care, the kind older people need and want. Sarasota Memorial Hospital is the second largest hospital in Florida. Some 1,300 doctors are employed in the Sarasota - Bradenton area. The Tamiami Trail (US Rte 41) and other major Sarasota roadways are lined with pharmacies, clinics and other health-care related practices of all kinds, along with sites where seniors can learn about everything from computers to organic gardening -- all things seniors willingly spend their money on.

These senior-oriented businesses attract young professionals coming into town to meet the needs and wishes of the affluent seniors attracted by the sunny, warm climate. And those young people are what every city is seeking to balance out its population. Its a different path to the same goal ... surviving, and in fact, flourishing, inspite ofthe aging of the population.

Sarasota is constantly supporting and expanding civic activities, functions and organizations that give seniors something to become involved in. In addition to being the home of over 80 golf courses, some among the best in the country, the Sarasota area is awash in not-for-profit organizations where seniors and retirees can stay active and involved in their community. The 66-acre Ringling Museum complex, which includes an art museum, a circus museum, and the restored Ringling's family home, the Cà d'Zan Mansion, keeps over 700 older volunteers occupied and happy. And there are many more organizations like the Ringling. Sarasota even has a website to recruit volunteers for its many organizations and activities.

There is so much going on in Sarasota to keep older people engaged, active and healthy that one local organization touts the region as a "Silicon Valley for the Aging."

What does this mean to you if you are one of the many people looking for a warmer, friendly and inviting place to spend your retirement years? It means the Sarasota Florida area should be on your list of places to see before making a choice. Before you come to town, call ahead and plan to visit a professional Sarasota real estate agent like me. I would be happy to show you around Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and our Island Keys including Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lido Key.

Come experience our "Sunny Sarasota Lifestyle." Get started by visiting my Sarasota real estate website. Or, for more immediate assistance, call me today on my direct line at 941-266-1799. I look forward to be of assistance to you.

Lakewood Ranch About to Stage a Come-Back

2010-10-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community on Florida's Gulf Coast developed on the border between Sarasota and Bradenton close to I-75. The community consists of seven villages, from maintenance-free condos and town homes and single family homes to elegant custom estates.

Lakewood Ranch is the largest green-certified community in America. Every new village is built "green," incorporating building products that result in a healthier, more energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible home.

The community offer everything a family could want including gourmet and family-friendly restaurants, A-rated schools, unique shops and boutiques, business parks, a hospital and medical center, three golf courses, an athletic center and polo and cricket clubs. There are over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves shared with native wildlife.

Before the housing bust, Lakewood Ranch had been one of the fastest growing areas on the Florida Gulf Coast. But that all changed for a while. New home building had slowed to a crawl since the housing bubble burst. As recently as last October there was a nearly 31 month supply of unsold homes in Lakewood Ranch. If things hadn't turned around, it would have taken more than 2 1/2 years to just sell all of those homes assuming that no additional homes were listed for sale during that period.

Things have changed again - but this time dramatically for the better. Increased home sales in Lakewood Ranch have dramatically reduced the inventory of unsold homes. With their inventories depleted, builders are now flocking back to the area. By mid-year, 2010, existing inventories of unsold homes had fallen to just over a six month supply, which is considered a sign that supply and demand are back in balance.

Rich Stover, a well-known Sarasota real estate agent said recently, "what this means to you as a prospective home buyer is that the long painful period of price drops is about over and if you want a home in Lakewood Ranch, now is the time to come see one of our builders and get that dream home of yours under construction while these low prices are still around." His thoughts were seconded by another Sarasota waterfront properties Realtor who felt that while waterfront homes prices are still in the doldrums, Lakewood Ranch seems to have come alive again.

Sarasota Florida Home Prices - A Golden Opportunity

2010-09-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

The recent real estate nightmare presents an opportunity for those ready to take advantage of it. Home prices in 20 major cities dropped 33% from mid-2006 to the early-2009. Some real estate markets suffered even worse price drops. And now, 30-year fixed mortgage rates have fallen to an average of 4.35%, the lowest level in nearly 40 years.

"Right now, housing is about as affordable as it has been since at least the 1970s," said Patrick Newport, a IHS Global Insight economist. Sarasota Florida is one of the best places to find an affordable home in a very desirable locale right now.

Although home prices in Sarasota soared during the boom, the subsequent crash hit the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate market as hard as anywhere in Florida. Median home prices fell from $311,000 in 2007 to $185,000 by June, 2010.

"The steep drop in home prices has made Sarasota an extremely attractive place to buy a home at these price levels," says Judie Berger, a well-known Sarasota real estate agent. "Sarasota, being a smaller town, is a much more pleasant place to live than Florida's major metropolitan areas like Tampa, Orlando or Miami/Fort Lauderdale." she says.

Sarasota may actually be the premier "golf town" in Florida, but for those with other interests or desires, the Sarasota- Bradenton - Venice corridor offers the finest, softest beach in the country on Siesta key plus eight other great beaches, an eclectic variety of shopping and dining venues, as well as year-round boating, sailing and fishing and a year-round average temperature of 73 degrees. No wonder Sarasota Florida was rated among the nation's "15 most livable communities" by Money Magazine.

Jack McCabe of McCabe Research & Consulting says "It's a great market. I really expect in the next 20 years it is going to be one of the most desirable ( real estate ) markets in Florida for baby boomers to retire."

Learn more about the Sarasota and Manatee County real estate market. Request my free Sarasota Real Estate information package by visitng my Sarasota real estate webiste for more information.

Some Sarasota Tax Credit Program Home Buyers Get a Break

2010-07-04T11:07:00.001-07:00

Sarasota – Bradenton Florida area home buyers who already had home purchases under contract as of April 30, 2010 and who otherwise qualified for the first-time or “move-up” home buyer tax credit, but had not yet closed due to the huge backlog of mortgage applications, have been given a break.

Thanks to an amendment to the home buyer tax credit program, these home buyers will now have until September 30, 2010 to close on their home purchases. Under normal circumstances, these buyers would have closed on their purchases by the original deadline date of June 30th, but because of the huge number of mortgage applications filed, a huge backlog of in-process applications built up. This amendment gives them until September 30, 2010 to close on their home purchase and still qualify for the tax credit.

The “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010,” which also extended unemployment insurance benefits includes this time extension. Senate majority Leader Harry Reid had said this extension will allow lenders to clear nearly 180,000 home buyer mortgage applications across the country. President Obama signed the legislation into law this past week.

National Association of Realtors President Vicki Golder said recently, “Since these applications were already in the pipe-line and included in the program’s cost, this extension of the closing deadline will not incur any further government costs.”

One well-known Sarasota real estate agent welcomed this extension as a way to help many first-time and move-up home buyers complete their home purchases.

Even though for most prospective buyers the tax credit program has expired, there are still fantastic home and condo bargains available in the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate market. Visit any of several Sarasota real estate websites including Rich Stover's Sarasota real estate website to learn the many reasons why people choose to live in the “Florida Sun Coast Paradise” that is Sarasota - Bradenton and the surrounding communities and Island Keys.

Sarasota Builders Display Confidence in Housing Recovery

2010-06-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Developers and home builders all across Sarasota and Manatee County are showing signs of life believing that the worst of the real estate slump is behind them and better times are ahead. This upturn in activity reflects growing optimism among developers and landowners. Developers are beginning to move ahead with already approved projects that had been halted earlier.

A Manatee County planning manager recently expressed the opinion that home builders and developers want to get their land entitled now so as the market returns they can start building without delay. Last week, Manatee County commissioners approved preliminary site plans for two new projects proposing to build over 2,400 homes. The county’s planning commission is about to consider a 562 home subdivision on Moccasin Wallow Road, as well as allowing residential development on several parcels now zoned for agriculture use only.

While some developers just want to get their entitlements in place before the November, 2010 vote on Florida Constitutional Amendment 4 which would require voter approval of local land use changes, other builders and developers are more aggressively moving ahead. Most activity right now is focused on already-approved projects that had been halted or delayed by the housing slowdown.

Taylor Woodrow, for example, plans to start the first phase of its Artisan Lakes project, which its website says will include about 1,850 homes, by constructing model homes later this year.

Recognizing the improving market, the Longboat Key Club has a request before the Longboat Key Town Commission to redesign its golf course and build two new condo mid-rises along with other changes and expansions.

In May, the developers of Lakewood Ranch, received approval from the Sarasota County Commission to move forward with a 5,100-unit, mixed-use village development on about 5,500 acres to be known as known as the Villages of Lakewood Ranch South.

Builders are tailoring their new communities and home floorplans to the realities of the market. Lee Wetherington Homes, for example has three new floorplan models for 2010. “We were very careful when we created these models.” Wetherington said. “They are essentially templates for three basic homes, beginning at 1,988 square feet. That’s just the right size for some of our homebuyers. For those who need more space, we can easily extend these plans without having to go back to the drawing board.”

Developers and home builders use sophisticated processes to forecast housing demand. Their recent actions support the notion, backed by recent increases of existing home sales and pending sales, that the Sarasota and Manatee County real estate markets are rebounding and looking forward to much brighter tomorrows.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate and Lifestyle Package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Intro to Sarasota Florida Waterfront Communities

2010-05-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Powdery white sand beaches, world-class shopping, fine waterfront dining and a constant flow of boating, sailing and fishing events coupled with natural beauty and year-round great weather rank Sarasota Florida waterfront communities among the nation's 15 most livable communities.

Sarasota Florida, long known world for its award-winning beaches and crystal-clear gulf waters, also offers a constant flow of boating, fishing, scuba diving and sailing activities. The barrier islands of Bird Key, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Casey Key are not only pristine areas, each with it's own unique attributes, they are also home to some of the most luxurious waterfront homes. Downtown Sarasota, itself, is also home to every imaginable housing style from modest townhomes and condos to elegant waterfront homes and estates.

The weather in Sarasota is perfect for the outdoor lifestyle enjoyed in our waterfront communities. The average year-round temperature is 71 degree.

AARP Magazine identified the Sarasota Florida area, known as "Florida's Sun Coast," as #4 on its list of "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life.” Barbara Corcoran, a noted real estate expert, ranked Sarasota as the "Best Place to Buy a Home Right Now" on a recent Today Show video. The Natural Resources Defense Council placed Sarasota Florida at No. 4 on its list of Small “Smarter Cities” in recognition of the quality of its air and water as well as its environmental standards and programs like green building, green space and recycling. Money Magazine called Sarasota the "Ultimate Beach Town" with its 35 miles of sugary-soft pure white beaches, more than 200 sunny days a year and an average year-round temperature of 71°F.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and gorgeous sunsets over the Gulf and Sarasota Bay just add to the appeal that Sarasota Florida waterfront communities offer.

The Arts and Cultural Center of Southwestern Florida, Sarasota provides undeniably the widest variety of arts and cultural venues including our own opera, ballet and symphony orchestra as well as the famous Ringling Museum or Art and many other exceptional cultural settings.

For the business owner or entrepreneur, Sarasota and Sarasota County offer a business climate that is as warm and friendly as our weather. From relocation and expansion assistance to workforce development and financial incentives, Sarasota County has earned rave reviews from the business community for fostering strategic alliances between the public and private sectors. According to the Chamber of Commerce, a record number of companies have recently relocated or expanded in Sarasota County, adding hundreds of jobs and millions in capital investment to the local economy.

Some waterfront communities such as the SouthBay Yacht & Racquet Club community in Osprey are centered around deep water marinas. For those who enjoy both water sports and golf, there are even Sarasota waterfront communities which offer both including Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island with the Key Royale Golf Club, Longboat Key with its Longboat Key Club courses and Whitfield Estates which surrounds the Sara Bay golf course.

The Sarasota Waterfront is comprised of Sarasota and Manatee Counties embracing the communities of Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, which includes Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to the north, Sarasota and its distinctive barrier island keys, and the communities of Osprey and Venice to the south. The new planned community of Lakewood Ranch, while not directly on the waterfront is only a 15 minute drive to the area's beaches, marinas and waterfront parks.

With all the charm of a southern town with the conveniences of a big city, the Sarasota waterfront communities offer every conceivable lifestyle option you could imagine or desire.

I invite you to peruse my pictorial tour of many of the nicest Sarasota - Bradenton waterfront communities on my website.

Come experience our Sunny Sarasota Florida paradise. Find your perfect new home among the Sarasota real estate offerings available here every day.

If you woulld like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota, I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Real Estate Package. Or, call me directly at (941) 266-1799. Then, take advantage of my experience and expertise on Sarasota Florida beachfront real estate to find your perfect seasonal or year-round dream home.

Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Program Expires April 30th

2010-04-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Get Moving Before It's Too Late

The first-time homebuyer tax credit, which had been extended and expanded last Fall to include existing homeowners expires on April 30, 2010.

If you've been considering buying a home or condo in the Sarasota real estate market in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, on Siesta or Lognboat Key or in Osprey or Venice Florida, you need to contact a competent Realtor® TODAY and get a home purchase contract finalized on or before April 30th or you're going to miss out on the opportunity to capture up to am $8,000 income tax credit if you're a first-time buyer or up to $6,500 if you're currently a homeowner.

And don't forget that, in addition to the requirement to have a home purchase under contract (that means signed by both the buyer and the seller) by April 30, you must also close on the sale on or before June 30, 2010.

Who qualifies as a "first time buyer" for as the $8,000 credit?
The law defines a “first-time home buyer” as one who has not owned a principal residence during the 3-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the home ownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.

If, for example, you have not owned a home in the past 3 years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the tax credit. However, there are exceptions. As an example, there is a possibility for unmarried joint purchasers to allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as if a parent jointly purchases a home with child. There are also rules about ownership of vacation or rental properties not used as a principal residence.

How is the amount of the first-time buyer tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000 but there are income limits.

So, you need to speak with a competent Sarasota Realtor to see if you do qualify.

Who qualifies as a existing homeowner for the $6,500 credit?
The law defines a tax credit-qualified existing or "move-up" home buyer as a person who has owned and resided in the same home for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date of the new home. For married taxpayers, the law tests the home ownership history of both the home buyer and his or her spouse. That is, both spouses must qualify as long-time residents, with at least five years of principal residency for each. They do not, however, have to purchase a home that is more expensive than their previous home to qualify for the tax credit.

How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10% of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500. Purchases of homes priced above $800,000 are not eligible for the tax credit. And, yes, there are income limitations. If your income is above the limit, you may still qualify for a partial credit.

So, yes, you do need to speak with a competent Sarasota Realtor like Rich Stover to see if you truly qualify.

If you are still confused about whether you are eligible for either of these two home buyer tax credits, contact a competent Sarasota Realtor immediately. A Sarasota Realtor experienced in dealing with these types of situations, like Rich Stover can tell you after just a brief conversation whether or not you qualify.

But time is short, friends, so its definitely "Time to Get Moving.

Would you just like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Package. For more immediate assitance, call me directly at (941) 266-1799.

Introducing the Sarasota Florida Waterfront

2010-03-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Baltimore Orioles Unveil Renovations Planned for Ed Smith Stadium

2010-01-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

As part of the $31 million deal to get the Baltimore Orioles to relocate their Spring Training to Sarasota, a commitment was made to renovate Ed Smith Stadium to modernize and expand it. The Orioles signed a 30-year lease for Ed Smith Stadium after spending 14 years in Fort Lauderdale.

This past week, Sarasota County and the Baltimore Orioles publicly presented drawings of the planned renovations. Ed Smith Stadium first opened in 1989 as the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox. Baseball Spring Training has been a Sarasota tradition since 1924 when the New York Giants were the first team to train here in the old Payne Park.

The goal of the renovation is to add more seating, provide more shade and update the general "feel" of the place according to Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt one of the architects working on the renovation.

A new two-story facade will features three arches with an inviting view through the entrance arches of the ball field. Today, when people walk through the entrance, they are looking at a solid wall -- not the most inviting view.

For baseball fans throughout Sarasota and Manatee County who want to be at the first official Baltimore Orioles game in the stadium, the team will open the 2010 Grapefruit League schedule against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 3rd at 1:05 p.m.

For those who enjoy viewing the free team practices, the O's minor league pitchers hold their first workout at the stadium next week on March 2nd. The first minor league full squad workout will take place on March 6th. Minor league games begin March 17th. Full-team workouts begin Feb. 23.

Team practices are open to the public, free of charge. Once baseball games begin, practices are closed and a game ticket is required for admission. Individual tickets for all 16 Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at Orioles.com or by calling the O's Spring Training line at (941) 954-4101 to request an order form that may be faxed or mailed back to the stadium. Phone orders are not accepted

The presence of the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training baseball in Sarasota along with the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training is nearby Bradenton, plus so many other golfing, fishing and boating venues and events provides just one more reason why Sarasota Florida is the very best place to buy your next home or condominium.

Come to Sarasota - Things are Looking Up

2010-01-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

And It's Warm and Sunny Here
At the close of 2009, home and condominium sales in the metropolitan Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area were better than they have been for a long time, up by 86% over November,2008.

There is little doubt that, to some extent, the numbers were bouyed by the Federal first-time buyer tax credit program. But, in the Sarasota market, that influence was minimal. The big factors, I believe, were that prices are down substantially from their highs, interest rates are at historically low levels and, frankly, consumer confidence has begun to pick up, if ever so slightly.

The expansion of the tax credit program through April 30, 2010 including a $6,500 tax credit for people who already own a home will continue the positive direction in Sarasota area home sales. Some local families may be wanting to move up to a bigger home. Ihe snowbirds may be looking at now as the right time to move to our warmer climate, especially those retired or about to retire. Many of them until now have only been able to dream about moving to our fair city because the sky high prices in the past put our homes out of reach,-- but not anymore.

Some snowbirds are already here and more are on the way. And, many of them are coming from places where it has been bitterly cold in recent weeks. They come for the warmth and the sun every winter, but now we have a chance to show off our Florida Sun Coast as not just a winter get-away, but as a great place to live - permanently

The improving consumer confidence, the low mortgage rates, the dramatically lower home prices, and the tax credit program are all reasons for optimism.

If you live up North now, there is just so much to draw you to the Sarasota Florida area including Lakewood Ranch and our Island Keys, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Longboat Key.

Whether you're dream is a waterfront home, a golf course home or an urban living space right in the middle of everything downtown, you'll find it here this winter at dramatically reduced prices -- prices that will likely begin to go back up as the economy improves in 2010.

I invite you to visit my Sarasota Florida website to learn more about the many attractive attributes of Florida's Sun Coast.

If you are interested in pursuing your potential of getting up to a $6,500 tax credit even if you already own a home, I'd be delighted if you would E-Mail Me or call me on my cellphone at 941-266-1799. There has probably never been a better time to buy a home or condominium here in the Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area.

Bradenton Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade Coming Soon

2009-12-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

Looking for something fun for the family to do during this festive time of the year ? Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice all offer many family-fun events. One of them occurring this coming weekend is the Bradenton Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade. Come see, or, if you have a boat, take part in the Annual Bradenton Yacht Club Holiday Boat parade.

Sarasota and Venice host equally spectacular holiday boat parades this time of year.

The Bradenton Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade takes place in Palmetto on the Manatee River. There's no fee to enter and it is open to all boat owners; power boats, sailboats and every sort of watercraft. To join in with your own boat, you need to attend the mandatory captain's meeting on the previous Monday and then decorate your boat and show up on December 12th.

This year's chairperson for the yacht club event mentioned some of the many awards available at this year's event. For those entering for the first time and hoping to win one of the awards, she noted that there are, of course, the typical judging categories for things like boat size, best corporate entry and best theme boat. But, she also mentioned that there are usually also "surprise awards" that may be given for things like the liveliest crew or other attributes that strike the judges fancy at the time.

There will be several locations for spectator viewing at the yacht club as well as along the river. The parade will end at the Bradenton Yacht Club where the decorated boats will be on display for judging and participating boat captains and their crews will enjoy a VIP celebration among all the hoopla and family-fun activities including music by Backyard Bone and a visit by Santa.

Holiday boat parades, like so many other events that occur during all seasons of the year, are examples of why the Sarasota Sun Coast is such a wonderful place to live. Other delightful events this time of year include the Selby Gardens "Lights in Bloom," a spectacular display of colorful lights and a wide range of entertainment, the annual Pineapple Drop at Midnight on New Years’ Eve in downtown Sarasota, The PAL Sailor's Circus and the Siesta Key Beach Snowbirds Fine Arts & Crafts and St. Armands Winter Art festivals in early January.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate and lifestyle package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Sarasota home sales soar in September,2009

2009-10-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Sarasota home sales skyrocketed in September. The median price was held down by bank-owned and short sales.

Real estate "guru", Barbara Corcoran, proclaimed Sarasota to be the #1 city in the country which to buy a home right now during her appearance on the October 6th Today Show. She cited the dramatically lower property prices that have resulted from lots of foreclosures and short sales in the area in recent months. She also noted, however, that prices have just now begun to swing back up. She also praised the unique sports, arts and cultural appeal of the Sarasota - Bradenton area as well as the excellent health care and school facilities available in Sarasota and Manatee County.

Home and condo sales soared by 35% in September 2009, compared to the same month last year, and nearly 10% over August of this year.

If you have been considering buying that seasonal golf course community or waterfront home for now, planning to move to Sarasota permanently when you retire, now is the time to get down here and see bargain prices that haven't been seen in the past several years.

Sarasota Real Estate is Picking Up At Last

2009-10-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

DON'T BE LEFT OUT
The latest home sale figures for the Sarasota real estate market published by the Sarasota Association of Realtors point to a slow-but-sure improvement driven, in part by first-time buyer tax credits, but also by substantially lower prices.

Combined home and condo sales totaled nearly 500 units again in August compared to only 329 sold in August, 2008. While sales were down from July's total of 595, this was an expected drop since Summer is traditionally the slowest period for home sales in the Sarasota - Bradenton area. Inventories of unsold homes are at the lowest level in more than 5 years. Pending sales, those homes and condos under contract, but not yet closed, in August were 820, up 50% from the 541 pending sales in August of 2008.

The median single family home price in August for a was $155,000, very close to the figures in January through May showing that prices are stabilizing. The median sale price for condominiums was $285,000 up substantially from the $212,000 in July also showing not just a stabilization, and maybe even the start of a recovery.

These latest Sarasota home sales statistics continue to give evidence of a real estate market in the early stages of a recovery and point to a stabilization of home prices. "With high levels of foreclosures and short sales still remaining in the local market, we can reasonably expect sales statistics to be skewed" says Bill Geller, President of the Sarasota Association of Realtors. "However," he says, "we may be seeing a turning point in recent months as the numbers seem to have bottomed out ... People who live here and those who visit know there is no place like Sarasota..."

If you have dreams of moving to Sarasota, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key or Lakewood Ranch in a waterfront or golf course community, or just owning a second home here, this is a great time to get involved with a knowledgeable Realtor before prices that have now stabilized start to move up again.

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Extend it - Yes or No

2009-09-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

Capitol Hill may be vacant right now as Senators and Congressmen are home listening to their constituents, but real estate and home builder lobbying groups are actively working on a campaign to extend the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit currently scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009.

As you may know, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus package) authorized a tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009. The program has been quite successful in reducing the inventory of unsold homes while helping many afford to buy a first home.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are both hoping to persuade Congress to pass legislation to extend the tax credit as soon as possible after Congress returns to Washington next week. The two associations are contacting members of Congress even while they are in their home districts during their congressional recess. One of the things they are pushing for, in addition to an extension of the first-time home buyer credit, is to expand the program to cover all home buyers through the end of 2010.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently indicated that he believes “it's something we can get done.” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Democrat Chris Dodd and Republican Johnny Isakson are sponsoring a bill that would extend the credit through 2010 and expand it to a $15,000 maximum. In the House, two bills have been introduced to extend and expand the credit for either 6 or 12 months. Both the NAR and the NAHB organizations are strongly supporting these initiatives.

With this impetus, it seems likely that in one form or another, the tax credit will be extended into next year, but...

As we've come to understand, there is no such thing as a "sure thing" in Washington. NAR spokesman Walter Molony recently justified his organization’s support for the tax credit saying that it is reducing the inventory of unsold homes and stabilizing pricing, benefiting the economy since in his judgment house prices “overshot to the downside.” But, the NAR also estimates that 1.8 million to 2.0 million first-time buyers will take advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit before the current version expires. the program, as it now exists is expected to cost about $15.20 billion.

Viewed another way, NAR's own estimate is that only 350,000 of the homes sold under the program would not have been sold without the tax credit. If you now divide the $15.2 billion the program cost by only those 350,000 homes that might not have sold without it and you get a whopping $43,000 per additional home sold. And the numbers will only get worse if the program is extended and expanded to cover all home buyers.

These alternate views of the program could lead fiscal conservatives in both the Democratic and Republican parties to complain that any extension will only add to the ballooning national debt. Legislation that looks, at any given moment, as if it will clearly be enacted can be delayed, watered down, or frustrated in the House and filibustered in the Senate.

So, if you are in the market for a home, and particularly if you haven't owned a home in the past three years, so you qualify for the current $8,000 tax credit, you should be working with a Realtor right now to buy the home you've been wanting so you can close on it before the current program expires on November 20, 2009. If you aren't already involved, contact the Realtor sponsoring this website right away and get started toward owning your piece of our Sunny Southwest Florida paradise.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate information package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Coming to Sarasota

2009-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Sarasota County Commissioners and the Baltimore Orioles have reached a tentative agreement for the team to do spring training at Ed Smith Stadium for the next 30 years. After almost 60 years of preseason baseball in the Miami - Fort Lauderdale area, the Orioles will be in Sarasota beginning in the Spring of 2010.

The $31.2 million deal will be funded with local tourism tax revenue and more than $7 million in state money. The agreement calls for the Orioles to pay all operating and maintenance costs at Ed Smith for the term of the lease.

The deal also includes:

A proposed Orioles and Cal Ripken Baseball youth academy at Twin Lakes Park.
And promotion of Sarasota County in the Baltimore Washington metro area.

I invite you to learn more about the many attractions of Sarasota and Bradenton Florida. Visit my Sarasota real estate website for more information on the many advantages of living in or retiring to our Sunny Sarasota lifestyle. For more immediate service, call me directly on my cell phone at 941-266-1799 or at my REMAX Office toll-free at 800-966-2334.

Jacaranda West Golf Course Community

2009-08-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

One of Venice Florida's Premier Golf Course Communities

With 2 challenging 18-hole courses, the Country Club at Jacaranda West is recognized as a premier golf and tennis community with an impressive clubhouse and a pleasant mix of younger families and active golf-loving retirees.

The Country Club at Jacaranda West is a private club with many social activities and a full restaurant. It is one of the rare Florida courses that allows golfers to walk our beautifully maintained course or use a golf cart if they prefer.

Jacaranda West was developed in the 1960’s and early 1970’s by renowned architects in the area who created single-family homes in a truly relaxing neighborhood setting. There are also maintenance-free condos and villas. Residents have delightful golf course views, easy access to downtown Venice and proximity to all Sarasota arts and cultural venues.

If you would like to know more about golf course living in the Jacaranda West golf course community or about other Venice and Sarasota Florida area golf course communities, I'd be happy to introduce you to this lovely golf community and the many other similar Sarasota real estate offerings in all areas and price ranges.

Providing you with Sarasota real estate information on homes and condos for sale in all price ranges is my primary goal. I invite you to learn more about Sarasota and the Sarasota real estate market.

Tour of Sarasota Florida Golf Course Communities

2009-07-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sarasota Florida may be the premier "golf town" in all of Florida. If you are searching for a golf course community in which to buy your seasponal get-away spot or your retirement home, the Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice florida area is the right place to look. I've put together on my website a list of over 20 of the most desirable Sarasota Florida golf course communities including those in surrounding towns for your to review. I invite you take a few minutes right now to browse through the many golf course communities in the Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area of Florida.

Whether you enjoy enjoy the recreational and social amenities of a country club lifestyle or you're just looking for a new "home course," one of the fine golf course communities in Sarasota and Manatee County will surely fit both your needs and desires. The sarasota area will also prove to be a delightful place for any non-golfer members of your family.

Providing you with information on Sarasota area golf course community homes and condos for sale in all price ranges would be my pleasure. Prices are very attractive right now and they are likely to start increasing in the near term as the current economic recession begins to recover.

Providing you with Sarasota Florida real estate information on golf course homes and condos in all price ranges is my goal. I invite you to learn more about the Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Osprey and Venice golf course communities. Request my free Sarasota Florida Real Estate information package or call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my REMAX Office at (800) 966-2334

Controlling the Cost of Heating & Cooling Your Florida Home

2009-06-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

As we enter the warmer part of the year here in Florida, it is useful to remember that as much as 50% or more of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. If you are trying to save money or you're trying to embrace a "greener", or more eco-friendly lifestyle, do you know enough about the nature of heat transfer to make the right decisions? Let's review the basics of how "heat" works.

Heating and cooling your home are both instances of "heat transfer." First, let's dispense with the notion that heat always rises. That is true in only one form of heat transfer. In general, heat energy flows in all directions equally. There are three different ways in which heat is transferred; conduction, convection and radiation.

Conduction is the form of heat transfer through a material, for example, the walls of your home. For any given amount of in-wall insulation, measured in its R-value, conduction is what accounts for the heat loss (or for cooling, heat-build-up) through the walls and roof.

Convection heat transfer occurs when heat travels in a moving fluid or gas, for example the heat energy that moves along with the passage of air. The "wind chill" you hear about in weather reports is a measure of how much heat energy is transferred by convection when you're outside due to the effect of wind.

The third form of heat transfer is radiation. Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through empty space, or the way the sun warms the Earth. Radiant heating is not affected by being in contact with a solid material the way conduction loss does, or by moving along in a fluid or gas the way convection does. Radiant heat transfer is what warms your home when the sun is out.

You can use your knowledge of these 3 forms of heat transfer to make your home building or remodeling project more energy efficient.

You can reduce the amount of heat build-up (or conversely, cooling loss) due to conduction through your walls by increasing the R-value of the insulation in the walls by adding more. Installing double-pane windows and sliding glass doors, if your home wasn't built with them originally, will reduce conductive loss of those items. The gases between the two panes of glass along with films and coatings (e.g.; "low-E") can increase the insulating value of doors and windows from R-2 to R-6 or more.

Caulking or using foam insulation material to seal crevices or openings around doors, windows and electrical outlets will reduce convection heating or cooling loss caused by air infiltration.

Fireplaces are a big source of convective heat transfer as air continuously flows up the chimney if the flue damper isn't air-tight. If you have a fireplace, put air-tight glass doors in front of it and keep the flue damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. But, beware, don't forget to open that damper before your start the fireplace. Just remember to close it again when the fireplace has cooled back down.

Many sources of heat build-up (or cooling loss) are affected by more than one form of heat transfer. Since windows and sliding glass doors suffer from both conductive and convective heat transfer, consider using high energy-efficiency Energy Star doors and windows for any building or remodeling project. As another example, while radiant heat transfer is why a home with a roof exposed to the sun gets warmer, you can use convection to your advantage to alleviate part of the problem. Installing a heat-activated fan system in your attic will use convection to blow the heated air in your attic out through vents preventing it from transferring its heat energy, through conduction and convection, into your living space below.

If your home is in a particularly sunny location, you might consider planting deciduous trees, such as river birch, on the south side of the home for shade from the sun in the summer. You can avoid radiant heat build-up from the sun by closing drapes and blinds on the southern side of your home in the summer, yet take advantage of the sun's radiant heat transfer by keeping the drapes and blinds open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and warm your home during cooler months. And those leafy trees you planted will allow the sunlight through to warm your home in the winter months when their foliage is much less dense.

If it's time to replace your heat pump or an appliance, look for Energy Star-rated appliances. Energy Star-rated appliances like clothes washers, dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers not only use less electricity; they also transfer less heat into your home through all three forms of heat transfer, conduction, convection and radiation.

Pay attention to smaller changes that offer big savings, many of which are more efficient because of their lower heat transfers. Use energy-saving compact fluorescent lamp bulbs. Turn off all lights when not in use; lights generate radiant heat. Keep shrubs and other obstructions from blocking free air flow around your external heat pump unit which relies upon convection to dissipate its heat build-up. And, change your furnace filter every 3 months. A dirty filter slows down air movement reducing the effectiveness of the convection heat transfer your air conditioning system relies upon.

Understanding the different kinds of heat transfer and how to use that knowledge to reduce your home's energy consumption can save you a serious amount of money as well as make your home more comfortable to live in.

Come experience our Sunny Sarasota Florida paradise. Find your perfect new home among the Sarasota real estate offerings available here every day.

Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market and the energy-efficent homes now being built here. I'd be happy to send you my free Sarasota Real Estate buyer information package. Or, if you prefer, call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334.

Consumer Confidence is Up - Home & Condo Bargains in Sarasota Florida

2009-05-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

U.S. consumer confidence soared in May to its highest level in eight months, suggesting underlying improvement in the economy after a grim first quarter that witnessed a record plunge in home prices.

The Conference Board, an industry group, said on Tuesday, May 26th, that its index of consumer attitudes jumped to 54.9 in May from a revised 40.8 in April, well above forecasts centered around 42.0. That was the biggest one-month jump since April 2003 when many Americans believed the war in Iraq was coming to a rapid conclusion.

The consumer confidence data was in line with other evidence suggesting that, while the economy continues to contract in this quarter, the pace of deterioration has substantially slowed. "That moderation in the rate of decline in economic activity is raising hopes that an actual improvement will take hold in coming months" said Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wachovia.

According to a recent Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller index, during the first quarter of 2009 alone, U.S. home prices fell by 19.1%, the most in the 21-year history of the survey. Given the improvement in consumer confidence combined with the dramatic reduction in home prices that has occurred in the past year, it is no surprise that in the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate market, home and condominium sales have come back to life.

"We believe the current climate of historically low interest rates, major incentives for first-time home buyers, and the many other government programs designed to stabilize the economy and the housing industry are all having a very positive impact," said 2009 SAR President Bill Geller. "Every downturn is followed by an upturn - we know this to be true historically. We've been through a difficult time in the Sarasota real estate industry, and ... we are seeing now the beginnings of a new, dynamic era"

Home prices in Southwest Florida have not been this low in years and mortgage rates are still at all-time lows. The Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice Florida real estate market is literally bursting with properties for sale at the most attractive prices in years. With short sales and foreclosures as well as builders still trying to sell their excess inventories and the normal amount of families down-sizing, up-sizing and upgrading, there is a home, condominium or villa in the greater Sarasota market priced very attractively in every price range for every family.

Whether you are looking for a golf course community, a waterfront location, or a supremely comfortable neighborhood, the Sarasota - Bradenton Florida real estate market has something that is perfect for you.

It won't be long before Sarasota real estate property prices start climbing again. so don't miss this opportunity. Visit my Sarasota real estate website to learn more about Sarasota Florida or call me today at 941-266-1799 to learn just how attractive home prices in the Sarasota Florida real estate market really are.

Sarasota Home Sales Rise Dramatically in March 2009

2009-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Sarasota Association of Realtors recently issued a news release on home sales for the month of March, 2009.

The Sarasota real estate market saw sales rise to the highest level of the year in March 2009, besting the previous month by 33 percent.

In addition, the median sales price for single family homes rose after steadily declining since late last year, indicating a potential sign of the bottoming of the local market.

The overall sales level of 481 was the highest since June 2008, Of those sales, 353 were single family homes while 128 were condominiums.

The good news also extended to pending sales, which once again rose in March 2009 to 817. The last time pending sales climbed over 800 was in March 2006, when pending sales also were reported at 817. The total of 817 was 21 percent higher than the 679 pending sales reported in March 2008.

According to the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, 645 single family homes and 175 condominiums went under contract in March 2009. Pending sales have now exceeded the 500 level for the 15 consecutive months. The SAR report reflects a steady, strong pattern, and indicates that prospective home buyers are more active in the Sarasota market even in the face of difficult economic times.

"The recently enacted first-time homebuyers' tax credit of up to $8,000 will likely continue to boost sales this year," Bill Geller, president of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, said. Those who meet eligibility requirements and purchase a home this year prior to Dec. 1 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, and unlike the 2008 tax credit, this one does not have to be repaid.

Another important market tracker, the absorption rate of properties on the market, continues to track lower than last year at this time for both single family homes and condominiums, as hones for sale inventories have declined."

It won't be long before Sarasota real estate property prices start climbing again. Don't miss this opportunity. Call me at 941-266-1799 to learn more about how attractive the Sarasota Florida real estate market and the area itself really are.

Welcome to Palm Bay Club on Siesta Key

2009-03-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Palm Bay Club on Siesta Key is one of the most sought after Sarasota area condo complexes. Built in 1970 and located at a wonderful part of the beach, these condo units in the tower, which are directly on the beach, have breathtaking views of the turquoise water and white sands.

There are also less-expensive low-rise units on the gulf side and bay side that are just a comfortablly short stroll to the beach. Palm Bay Club also includes an olympic size pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse

Condos at Palm Bay Club make attractive investments because this is one of the few beachfront complexes that allow short term rentals.

If you would like to know more about Palm Bay Club, Siesta Key real estate opportunities, or about the delightful Siesta Key beach, just request my free Sarasota Florida real estate informtion package or call me.

Come experience Sarasota Florida and the Palm Bay community on Siesta Key. You'll be really glad you did.

Providing you with Sarasota Florida real estate information on waterfront and beach homes and condos in all price ranges is my goal. I invite you to learn more about the Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Longboat Key waterfront communities. I invite you to visit my Sarasota real estate website. Request my free Sarasota Real Estate Package or just call me directly at (941) 266-1799. You may also call me toll-free at my RE/MAX Alliance Group office at (800) 966-2334

Is it Time for "Real People" to Start Looking at Homes

2009-02-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

A recent local newspaper article stated something that applies pretty generally to all of the Southwest Florida "Sun Coast".

At last, "real people" are starting to buy homes again. Realtors from Marco Island to Tampa Bay are beginning to see more prospective buyers who are looking for "homes of their own." Previously, Realtors have been seeing mostly bottom-feeders looking to "steal a home" in a short sale or foreclosure and speculators still trying to make money by "flipping" a home as an investment option.

Why is this happening? In large part, this trend is occurring because the price of homes and condos have come down far enough that the average family can actually afford to buy a home again. Previously, in many Florida communities, home prices had become so high that the average family could not afford to buy one based upon their family income and other non-housing expenses to which they were already committed.

Across the U.S., in the 4th quarter of 2008 about 41% of all real estate transactions were either foreclosures or short sales. That helped to reduce the number of such properties on the market dragging prices down. New home construction fell again in January, 2009. Currently new construction home sales are essentially limited to distress sales of homebuilders’ existing model home inventories plus a few custom homes. While this may seem like negative news, the dramatic reduction in the number of new homes being built also helps work off the high volume of homes currently on the market.

Meanwhile, in January, 2009, in Lee and Collier Counties existing home sales increased by 155% pending sales in the Sarasota Florda real estate market rose to 683both positive signs that "real people" are back in th markt looking for homes.

In Lee and Collier County Florida, the current inventory of existing homes on the market is now down to a 4.2 month supply, a big drop from the 21.5 months supply on the market a year ago. The number of homes for sale in Sarasota has dropped to just over 4,400 in January, 2009 from numbers far higher than that last year.

So, what should you do about this if you are considering buying a home ? You need to stop "dreaming" of a home of your own and get started taking the steps to actually "owning a home of your own" in Florida's Sun Coast. The best way to get started may be to contct Rich Stover, a Sarasot real estate expert, at 941-266-1799 or e-mail him at rstover9@comcast.net

Sarasota Real Estate Website Adds Waterfront Community Info

2009-01-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

We have just updated our Sarasota Florida real estate website with new sections describing many of the most attractive Sarasota Waterfront Communities and Neighborhoods from Anna Maria Island off the city of Bradenton to the quaint waterfront, village and golf course community of Venice.

You may want to visit my website today and review all the new information that I've included to asssit you in finding the perfect home or condominium for you and your family in the Southwestern Florida paradise that is the Sarasota metropolitan area including Bradenton and our beautiful Island Keys.

We've also included a whole new section on Downtown Sarasota Residences for those who may prefer a more urban, "downtown-where-the-action-is" lifestyle.

For more immediate assistance, please call me on my cellphone at 941-228-2321 or email me at RStover9@comcast.net. I'd be delighted to be of assistance to you.

Sarasota Waterfront and Downtown Communities

2009-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

I have just added two new sections to my Sarasota Florida real estate website that you may wish to revew.

First, we have added a whole new section on some of the most popular Sarasota Waterfront communities and neighborhoods.

I have also substantially expanded the Sarasota Downtown Residences section providing even more information on all the wonderful living spaces, from condos and townhomes to traditional neighborhoods, available in downtown Sarasota.

These two new sections, in addition to our already large section on Sarasota golf course communities provide you with an extensive overview of the wide variety of communites and neighborhoods in the Sarasota and Manatee county real estate market in which you are sure to find exactly the right living space and lifestyle of your dreams.

Feel free to use the information request forms on my website, but for more immediate service, you may wish to call me on my direct line at 941-266-1799. I'd would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Going "Green" in Your Sarasota Home or Condo

2009-01-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

I would like to invite you to read an article about building or remodeling a home in a more sustainable, energy efficient and "eco-friendly" way. Improving your home or condominium in this manner will not only benefit you immediately, it wll also increase its value when and if you decide to sell it.

This informative article is on my website as Going "Green" in your Home.

Our RE/MAX Alliance Group office, one of the largest real estate brokerages in Florida, with offices in the Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice Florida, is one of the first real estate companies in the country to demonstrate a commitment to green business practices and promoting green home ownership in Southwest Florida.

I know a bit about sustainability and energy efficiency and I'd be happy to pass that informaztion long to you as you search for a more energy-efficient or eco-friendly home in Sarasota Florida.

Interested ? I would be delighted to help you find the best home for you at the right price whether you are looking for a "green" home or a more traditional offering. My Sarasota Florida real estate website cotains information on all types of living spaces from golf course communities, to waterfront homes and urban living spaces and condos in downtown Sarasota. To learn more about Sarasota and the services I offer visit my website. For more immediate service, call me on my direct line at 941-266-1799.

Drastically Reduced Home for Sale in Sarasota Florida

2008-12-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce you to one of the most unique homes in the city of Sarasota Florida's oldest residential and historic neighborhood, McClellan Park. Surrounded by lush oak trees in a picture postcard setting, the price of this delightful home has been drastically reduced for a quick sale.

You can view a slide show of the features of this adorable home at Sarasota Home For Sale - Drastically Reduced Price.

If you are a Realtor interested in showing this home, or if you are a person considering investing in a truly unique home in Sarasota, Florida and would like to tour this home yourself, you can contact me directly on my cellphone at 941-266-1799 or E-Mail Me today.

Sarasota may become the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Center

2008-12-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Recently there has been a flurry of activity among both Sarasota County and City of Sarasota officials and the Baltimore Orioles baseball team management regarding proposals to move the Oriles Spring Training facilities to Sarasota.

You can read an interesting article on this rapidly developing story on my website at
Baltimore Orioles May Be Coming To Sarasota.

Sarasota continues to be an attractive place with an ever growing list of amenities in addition to its fine weather and confortable lifestyle.

If you are ready to learn why, if you are going to invest in Florida real estate, Sarasota Florida is the right place to do it, contact me by E-Mail or complete my Sarasota Information Request Form. In a hurry ? Then call me directly at 941-266-1799.

Why the Sarasota Real Estate Market is About to Recover

2008-12-11T11:11:00.001-08:00

I read a very intriguing article this morning which was written by James A. Crumbaugh III, CEO of Allison James Estates & Homes. I am copying the content of that article here because I believe Mr Crumbaugh is absolutely right in his understanding of WHY the Sarasota real estate market is poised to have a much better year in 2009 than 2008 has been.
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RISMEDIA, Dec. 10, 2008- I’m always accused of being overly optimistic about the real estate market. You have to understand that after 35 + years in the business, everything is just a cycle to me and when we go through a cycle like we’ve been going through, then my thoughts become “How long will the cycle last?”

You may have read my previous article titled The Perfect Storm, where I discussed the reasons that I thought this real estate market was poised to turn around. We are seeing the market improve almost on a daily basis recently. Is it the facts that I stated in my article that is causing the turn around? Absolutely that’s part of the turnaround.

However, there is another dynamic at work here. I’ll call it the "Obama Effect." I’m a Republican and I voted for John McCain, but I’m sensing an optimism starting to build in this country. I will give President Elect Obama credit where credit is due, and I will be the first to admit that at this point he is being very proactive at turning around the financial crisis in this country.

As the optimism improves, and I think it will, from here to the inauguration, and for the honeymoon period following the inauguration, we will continue to see an improvement in the optimism in this country.

With the automotive bailout, real estate is bound to improve in the Michigan area and probably the entire rust belt, therefore improving Florida real estate. The retirees will be able to sell their homes in Michigan and retire to Florida or other states popular among retirees.

The public works project will put hundreds of thousands of workers back to work and at good wages. I still believe we have a pent up demand for the last three years of buyers wanting to buy. Once these buyers are employed again and flush with income, the market will start to improve.

Then you have very low fuel prices that allow the consumer more discretionary income to spend.

Then we have the potential for 4 ½ % mortgage rates.

When you start to take a hard look at where we are poised as an industry, no matter how pessimistic you are, you have got to believe we are in for a return of a good real estate market if not an excellent real estate market.

The stars are lining up:

- An improved automotive market
- Low fuel prices
- Workers going back to work
- Good wages
- Low real estate prices
- Low mortgage rates

I’m becoming more optimistic just writing this article. I don’t believe you can argue the facts as I just them pointed out. Things are looking up for the Florida real estate industry........

James A. Crumbaugh III is CEO of Allison James Estates & Homes.
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If you are a retiree, a real estate investor, or a broker or realtor, better times are coming in 2009 because the bear maket in housing is headed for a turn-around and it will turn around early in 2009.

If you are ready to learn why, if you are going to invest in Florida real estate, Sarasota Florida is the right place to do it, contact me by E-Mail or complete my Sarasota Information Request Form. In a hurry ? Then call me directly at 941-266-1799.

Sarasota Home Sales Are Picking Up

2008-12-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Buying a South Florida home seems to be suddenly back in vogue again as home prices continue to fall to levels not seen in a long time.

First-time buyers are finally being able to afford a home of their own. Retirees with cash are also getting into the game, pulling their money out of the stock market and investing in South Florida real estate at prices they thought they might never see again. With mortgage rates at historic lows, even traditional real estate investors are returning to the market. No, they re not "flipping properties" this time. These investors plan to either live the home themselves or rent them until the Florida real estate market recovers from its disasterous recent past.

Pending home sales in Sarasota remained above 500 for the third month in a row. 306 single fmily homes sold in October 2008 versus only 264 in October of 2007. Single fmily homes sold for an average of $257,000 according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors. Pre-foreclosure sales go for even less as Florida job losses and falling home and condo prices sent another 90,000 homes into foreclosure across the state in the past quarter. There wwas just over an 18 month of supply of homes on the market in October 2008 versus almost 32 motnhs worth of supply in October of 2007.

On the dowside, however,with the U.S. economy as a whole slumping badly and the huge supply of existing and pre-foreclosure short sale and bank-owned homes and condos already on the, prices may stay low and not begin to recover until well into 2009 or even later.

If you have been thinking about buying South Florida real estate, this is a great time to get serious about it. In the Sarasota market, for example, you may want to contact Rich Stover, Sarasota FL real estate agent or Andre Huffine, Bradenton realtor, For golf course homes, you may want to visit the website of Connie Belmont Sarasota golf course homes expert. For waterfront homes, Judie Berger is your Siesta Key real estate specialist.

What Effect will Obama's Election Have on Sarasota Real Estate

2008-11-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

The election of Senator Barack Obama as president of the United States in concert with gains by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate leds one to ponder, "How will the policies of the Obama administration affect the real estate and housing industry, especially here in Florida ?"

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) President, Charles McMillan, “Realtors® are excited by this historic election and ready to work with our new president and Congress on issues that are at the heart of the American dream - 'home ownership.'”

Availability of affordable mortgage financing and small business health insurance coverage are at the top of NAR's and Florida Realtor's priorities. Importantly, those two issues are also priorities of both of the major parties.

REFORM OF FANNIE MAE & FREDDIE MAC
NAR analysts expect the Obama Administration and the new Congress to focus first and foremost on regulatory reform of the country’s financial services industry. Lawmakers will be looking at what went wrong and what needs to change to ensure proper regulation of mortgage and other asset-backed securities.

A large part of this review will focus on potential changes to the secondary mortgage market companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are currently under government conservatorship. Among the options: folding them completely into the federal government, making them 100% private, or keeping them as the public-private hybrids they currently are.

ANOTHER STIMULUS PACKAGE
The Obama administration and Congress can also be expected to push through another economic stimulus package, particularly if the outgoing 110th Congress balks at passing one. Hopefully this will be a stimulus package aimed more at stimulating jobs and therefore the ability of the public to consider buying a home, than the original package. NAR and the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR)are also pushing Congress to make the conforming high-cost loan limit of $729,750 permanent and to eliminate the repayment requirement in the currrent first-time homebuyer tax credit, both of which would help to stimulate the housing market.

FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE & AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE FINANCING
NAR also expects the Obama administration and Congress to assure that Wall Street banks that are being "rescued" use some of that $700 billion to slow down the rate of home foreclosures and make home mortgage financing more available at reasonable rates. Many Florida communities are witnessing painful downward pricing pressure on homes for sale inventories due to the huge overhang of housing units in foreclosure.

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
Looking ahead, Congress, with leadership from the new President, is expected to also take on comprehensive health insurance reform, an issue that impacts real estate professions as well as all small businesses. Making small business health insurance more affordable would be a great benefit to Realtors as well as to the millions of other small businesses in the U.S.

While in the short-term, everything is focused on turning the U.S. and global economies around, looking forward to the new Obama administration, there seem to be as many opportunities as challenges. The nomination by President Obama of Tim Geithner to head the Treasury Department is a good omen. He is a talented and experienced expert on the U.S. and global financial world.

Because many of the issues facing the real estate industry are supported by both the Democratic and Repulican parties, it seems as though we have a good chance for improvement in the real estate market. And, it is certianly true that the real estate industry, especially here in Sarasotam Florida, can use all the help it can get and the sooner the better.

If you have questions now or in the future about buying or selling a home or condo in the Sarasota Bradenton or Venice area, feel free to call upon Rich Stover, Sarasota Realtor, an honest, experienced real estate professional.

Process for Filing an Appeal of Property Valuation

2008-10-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

There is a formal process by which Sarasota County property owners can petition to have the assessment of their property reconsidered. All such petitions must be submitted to the County Clerk's office which passes them on to the "Value Adjustment Board" (VAB). The VAB consists of two members of the Board of County Commissioners, one member of the County School Board, and two Citizen Members. The VAB appoints Special Magistrates who are empowered to conduct hearings on any petitions filed.

Petitions to the Value Adjustment Board are to be used only if you disagree with the value that has been placed on your property. If you are objecting to the amount of your taxes only and are satisfied with the value, then you should take your complaint to the specific Taxing Authority involved, not to the VAB. The VAB cannot consider the amount of taxes you pay or your ability to pay them, nor the change from the previous year's assessment.

Florida law requires that all taxpayer petitions filed with the Clerk appealing the value placed on the property by the Property Appraiser must be sworn to by the Petitioner (if using form DR486), submitted in duplicate, and accompanied by the appropriate filing fee.

A petition filed concerning valuation issues may be filed at any time during the taxable year, on or before the 25th day following the mailing of the assessment (TRIM) notice by the Property Appraiser's Office.

Petition filed regarding denial of an exemption, an agricultural or high water recharge, classification application, an application as to historic property used for commercial or certain non-profit purposes, or a deferral must be filed any time during the taxable year on or before the 30th day following the mailing of notice by the Property Appraiser making such determination.

Petitions which have not been properly notarized (if using form DR486) or are not accompanied by the proper fee at the time of filing, will be deemed invalid and be rejected under Florida Statutes Section 194.013(3) and returned to the petitioner with appropriate filing instructions.

The return of a petition improperly filed does not grant a waiver nor extend the filing deadline for the petition. Petitions filed after the deadline will only be considered if good cause can be shown for the late filing.

More information on how to file and the steps involved in such a filing are available at Taxpayer Guide to VAB Petitions Or you may write to the
Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board, 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida 34236 or call the office at 941-861-5279.

International Clients Are Buying Florida Real Estate

2008-09-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

While several factors have contributed to the decline in Florida home sales in the past year, an increase in foreign home buyers has helped to decrease the amount of damage. according to a just-released paper from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the 2008 “Profile of International Home Buying in Florida.”

Foreign buyers recognize U.S. real estate as a desirable, profitable and secure investment. Also, the weak U.S. dollar has made U.S., and particularly Florida, real estate investments even more attractive.

The National Association of Realtors, in cooperation with the Florida Association of Realtors, conducted a survey in August, 2008 of Florida Realtors asking about their experiences in working with international clients. The survey included over 4,800 responses from Realtors who completed over 4,000 sales transactions involving
a foreign buyer during the previous twelve months.

More than half of the Realtors reported that they had worked with at least one international client in the past 12 months. The typical Realtor in this group worked with three international clients, and about one in five worked with six or more international clients in the past year. More than one quarter of the Realtors had one property sale to an international client while 15% reported two transactions within the past 12 months. Nearly one in five Florida Realtors completed at least three home sales transactions with international buyers.

Slghtly more than 10% of Florida Realtors reported that international clients made up 50% percent or more of their business duing the year while half indicated that international clients accounted for roughly 25% of their business. One-third of Florida Realtor respondents also noted an increasing share of their business coming from international buyers over the past two years.

Although international buyers of Florida homes and condominiums come from all over the world, buyers from a few regions and countries showed a high demand for Florida properties. Canadian buyers account for more than 25% of recent sales to foreign buyers. United Kingdom buyers accounted for 21% while the rest of Western Europe accounted for an additional 25%. Latin American buyers accounted for another 17% of recent real estate sales to international clients.

While the Miami - Fort Lauderdale area was the most popular area for homes purchased by foreign buyers with 21% of such buyers while 11$ purchased real estate in the Orlando area. Sarasota - Bradenton, Tampa Bay and Fort Myers - Naples rounded out the top six areas.

In summary, Florida real estate and, in particular Southwestern Florida areas of Sarasota - Bradenton and Fort Myers - Naples, are benefitting from an influx
of international buyers. This bodes well for future Florida real estate activity. It suggests that even as U.S. buyers are still uncertain whether or not it is time to step up to the plate and buy a home or condomium in Florida, international clients are showing more confidence in an early Florida real estate market recovery. It further suggests that those who delay buying their dream home in Florida soon may find that they have to pay considerably more for the same property in just a few months.

This information excerpted in part from a National Association of Realtors Report

© 2008 Florida Association of Realtors ®

Come Visit Paradise

2008-08-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

It seems as though Sarasota Florida was just made to be enjoyed under the warmth of our abundant sunshine. Sarasota boasts great weather year round.

If you've been considering moving to a warmer climate, why not give yourself and your family a vacation trip to sample our clear blue skies and warm, white sandy beaches. After a just few hours here, you'll know why Sarasota is the choice of so many as either a place to raise a family, pursue your career, or as a retirement locale. It is both.

Once known primarily only as a vacation and retirement destination, today Sarasota is home to diversity. The quality of the sand on our beaches is nothing short of legendary. The weather is unbeatable. Long-time residents swear that Sarasota County has its own "micro-climate." When rain is falling up in Tampa, only 60 miles north, or down South in Fort Myers, the skies seem to always remain fair over Sarasota. Add in the warm and inviting waters of the Gulf of Mexico and gorgeous sunsets, and it's easy to see why Sarasota Florida holds such appeal to so many.

Sarasota Florida has the charm of a southern town with the conveniences of a big city. Downtown Sarasota offers quiet treed streets with sidewalks. Siesta Key captivates you with its powdery white beaches, artist colonies, eclectic shops and boutiques. Longboat Key offers a more private and opulent, yet still casual lifestyle. Bird Key, Casey Key and Lido Key each have their own charm.

Sarasota ranks among the nation's 15 "most livable communities" according to a recent Money Magazine feature article. Sarasota, together with its neighbors Manatee County and Charlotte County, makes up the 7th largest market in Florida. It is also Florida's 3rd-fastest growing major market. With a population of over 600,000, the Sarasota/Manatee/Charlotte area is one of the most affluent areas in Florida. For the past 5 years, the area has grown 4 times faster than the national average.

There are great activities that you can enjoy under Sarasota's warm and sunny weather. We have every imaginable recreation and sport venue as well as abundant cultural amenities. For golf enthusiasts, The Sarasota area offers over 80 golf courses from fairly easy courses to some of the nation's most challenging courses.

Why haven't you come to sample the sunny paradise that is Sarasot Florida.

2008-07-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

The following article was provided by and is copyrighted by the Sarasota Association of Realtors®.

View this Sarasota Real Estate News article presented by the Sarasota Association of Realtors®.

Then, you may want to visit my Sarasota Real Estate website for more information on Sarasota and Bradenton Florida area homes for sale in golf course communities, on the Sarasota waterfront or in Downtown Sarasota.

Should You Buy Now or Wait - 5 Reasons

2008-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

5 REASONS TO BUY NOW

1. Prices in neighborhoods you like are currently relatively stable -- either holding steady or increasing slightly, or, -- the pace of decreases in prices have slowed down dramatically meaning that the major declines are over. If you are ready to move, the small penalty you may pay for missing the absolute bottom of the market may not mean much.

2. You plan to stay in the home for five years or more.
If you stay that long before selling, economists say you will probably have gotten beyond any downturn and come out ahead on price.

3. Your rent is relatively close to what your mortgage payment would be. If you can qualify for a mortgage, you will build equity in your home and you will be able to deduct the mortgage-interest and property taxes on your federal income taxes.

4. You've found the right house in the right area. The schools are great. You love the area and know it would be hard to find another house like the one you have your eye on. In a better housing market, you might have much more competition for that house and possibly end up paying more for it.

5. You've built equity in your current home and are moving to a place where homes prices are lower. In the market you’re moving into your money will go a lot further.

5 REASONS TO WAIT BEFORE BUYING

1. If you have lived in your current home for less than 2 years, there is a good chance that you haven't accumulated any real equity in your home. In fact, you may have negative equity, (you owe more on your mortage than the home is now worth) if you live in areas like California, Florida, Arizona or Nevada.

2. Your job isn't secure. If your company isn't doing well and it looks like you may get laid off or lose your job altogether, it's probably better to stay where you are until the business climate improves. If you lose your job and have to move some distance, it'll be much harder to come out ahead selling a home you just bought.

3. You don't plan to stay in your next house for at least 5 years. While it's not important to buy at the exact bottom point of the home price curve, it is important that you stay long enough to ride out the housing cycle. Prices will certainly recover but it may take a few years.

4. You don't have good a credit rating or a sufficient down payment. Because of the sub-prime mortgage mess, lenders are much more careful today about who they'll give a mortgage to. Speak with a a number of lenders about the different programs they have that might work in your situation, but don't be surprised if you are just turned down completely.

5. You have an existing home to sell in a neighborhood where prices are still falling or where the many homes are either in foreclosure or already bank-owned. In a neighborhood with many "distress sales" going on, the people that look at your home may be just "bottom-feeders" looking to buy a home well below its real market value were the market in a normal situation. In that kind of situation, you will probably be better off waiting for the local housing market situation to improve.

Sarasota and Bradenton Home Sales Are Recovering At Last

2008-05-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

According to information in a recent Sarasota Herald Tribune article, although local home and condo inventory remains stubbornly near record levels, the Sarasota and Bradenton real estate market turned in Florida's best results for April,2008. Existing home sales were up 16% compared to April of last year. April home sales, as registered in the Sarasota MLS were 567 units, the highest level in ten months, and about 72% above the home sales in January, 2008.

The Sarasota Bradenton real estate market was the only market in Florida to show positive sales growth in April. Home sales in this market have increased month-over-month every month for the past four months.

Meanwhile, the median sales price for Sarasota and Bradenton homes dropped by only 2%, which real estate professional observers interpreted as a sign that the prolonged price-erosion caused by the market's nosedive in 2007 may finally be leveling off.

For more information on Sarasota or Bradenton home or condos for sale at attractive prices, call me on my direct line at 941-266-1799 or visit my Sarasota Real Estate website.

Real Estate Recovery Beginning in Sarasota Florida

2008-05-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

The Sarasota Multiple Listing Service (MLS) records indicated that there are currently 846 single-family homes under contract and waiting to close as well as
362 condominiums under contract, waiting to close.

Last month was the first time in a long time that there were more than 500 Sarasota real estate sales pending so the Sarasota real estate market is finally beginning to show signs of a recovery. This month, with over 1,200 properties awaiting closing, is definitely a positive sign of a recovery underway.

If you've been considering investing in a home or condo in the greater Sarasota or Bradenton area, this may be the rght time to contact a competent and experienced Sarasota Realtor like Rich Stover. You can reach Rich directly on his cell phone at 941-266-1799 or toll-free at his office at 800-966-2334.

You may also wish to visit his Sarasota Real Estate website for more information on the many Downtown Sarasota Luxury Condos developments or the several Sarasota waterfront communities or Sarasota golf course communities with home and condo offerings in all price ranges available for purchase at very attractive prices right now.

Take a Look at Lakewood Ranch

2008-05-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Located on the Sarasota/Manatee County line on Florida's west coast, Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre, master-planned community providing unlimited golf as well as a wonderful place to enjoy life regardless of your age.

The Lakewood Ranch community includes five "villages" for family living, all convenient to nearby education, business, retail and medical services in both Sarasota and Bradenton.

Lakewood Ranch is one of those rare places that provide all of the elements of a wonderful lifestyle; beautiful homes, condos, shops, and the opportunity to play golf and have fun with neighbors and friends 12 months a year.

Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is a private membership club where you and your family can relax, meet new people, enjoy recreational facilities and participate in a variety activities.

The County Club consists of:
- 36 holes of championship Palmer-designed golf
- Complete practice facility including driving range
- Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary
- An elegant 45,000 sq. ft. Italian Villa clubhouse.

There is a new-construction or resale home or condo in Lakewood Ranch that's just right for you. Let me help you get the very best deal on a home in this outstanding community. You pay no more for the peace-of-mind of being represented by a professional Realtor who is looking out for you, not the seller or the builder.

Feel free to check out my featured homes or
Search the Sarasota MLS on my website at any time.

Should You Sell Your Sarasota Florida Home Right Now

2008-05-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

It might seem crazy at first, but right now might be the best time to sell your home in Sarasota Florida.

Every home and condominium has things about it that you, as the owner, wish you could change. You may or may not have recognized these issues when you bought the property but you cannot fix these problems now for various reasons. Perhaps the cost would drive your investment in the home beyond what the neighborhood will support. Maybe your home or condo cannot be changed to suit your wishes because of its physical structure, association rules, it's location, or even changes in your own personal circumstances. Maybe it was near a great school when you bought the home, but now the kids are gone and that nearby school is just a source of noise and traffic. Realtors call these home problems with homes, it's "unchangeables."

But why is right now a good time to sell a home when prices have dropped as much as 20%? Here's why. While the price you'll get for your current home may be down, so is the price of a home that doesn't have the same drawbacks, or "unchangeables." With recent steep declines in Sarasota area home and condo prices and with interest rates historically low, NOW may be exactly the right time to step up to the home that maybe you originally wanted but couldn't afford.

Let's take an example. Suppose you bought your home 3 to 5 years ago for $300,000, but it has now lost 20%. It it would sell for closer to $240.000. But, the home you originally wanted that sold then for $425,000 is now down by that same 20% to $340,000, a drop of $85,000, almost one and a half times the reduction the price on your current home has seen.

And with so many homes currently on the market, if the seller of that home really needs to sell, it is possible, maybe even probable, that, with the help of an aggressive Realtor, you can negotiate that price down even lower than $340,00. Chances are good that if you could afford your $300,000 home 3 to 5 years ago, you can probably afford the home you always wanted now that Sarasota real estae prices are so depressed.

As a bonus, when home prices start to rebound, you'll not only have the nicer home, but that new home's price will rise even faster than your old one with those troublesome "unchangeables."

For help in finding the right Sarasota Florida home for your family, visit my Sarasota Florida Real Estate website. For more immediate help, call my cell phone at 941-266-1799, or toll-free at my RE/MAX office at 800-966-5454. If you prefer, you may also E-Mail Me for more info on Sarasota real estate prices and bargains. I'd be delighted to be of service.

Sarasota Florida Budget Cuts Announced

2008-04-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sarasota Florida city manager Robert Bartolotta said last week that $8 million is being cut from the city's projected $10.2 million deficit as he announced elimination of 89 jobs, with the Sarasota Police Department bearing one-third of the staffing cuts.

27 Sarasota city positions were cut while another 62 open city positions were eliminated. "The police force reductions, however, did not include "street level" officers and will not affect resident safety," Bartolotta said. Police Chief Peter Abbott said his focus will be on keeping the same number of officers out patrolling the streets.

Read the full article on my website.Then call me on my direct line (941) 266-1799, or toll-free at my office at (800) 966-2334 for more information on great bargains available now on homes and condos for sale on the Sarasota Florida real estate market.

RE/MAX Merger Creates RE/MAX Alliance Group

2008-03-02T15:39:00.002-08:00

Read about the merger which has created the largest RE/MAX office in the State of Florida at
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS156121+29-Jan-2008+MW20080129.

If you need assistance or just information about buying or selling Sarasota Real Estate . You may also call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or email me at rstover9@comcast.net

Gov Crist Addresses Florida Realtors on Property Tax Amendment

2008-01-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

With “Vote Yes On 1” signs raised high, Florida Realtors greeted Governor Charlie Crist this morning with a standing ovation, thanking Crist for his efforts to cut property taxes. The governor addressed Realtors attending the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) Mid-Winter Business Meetings in Orlando.

“When was the last time you could go to the ballot box and pass yourself a tax cut?," he asked. "Tell everyone you see to vote for Amendment 1. It’s critical to Florida’s economy,” he added

Read the Full Story on the Florida Association of Realtors' website. Then please call upon me for assistance in buying or selling Sarasota Real Estate . You may also call me directly at (941) 266-1799 or email me at rstover9@comcast.net

This story, copyrighted by the Florida Association of Realtors, is presented
here for your information only

Sarasota Florda Home Prices Still Dropping. Is 2008 Your Year to Buy

2008-01-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

If you were smart enough not to buy a home or condo in Sarasota Florida during 2007, will 2008 be the year to make the move?

The primary cause of the price downturn is the enormous inventory of homes for sale right now. There is nearly a year's supply of homes for sale on the market. Based on recent data, at the height of the Sarasota real estate market in 2005, there were about 1,600 homes and 1,150 condos for sale at prices that were admittedly atmospheric. Fast forward to today and you'll find over 8,000 homes and more than 4,700 condos on the market -- and they are not selling. The Sarasota Board of Realtors predicts that real estate prices will fall a bit more in 2008, but that 2008 may be the right year to make your move....... Read the full article Call me at (941) 266-1799 or email me at rstover9@comcast.net

Before you buy that Foreclosure Condo

2007-11-23T15:51:00.000-08:00

Before you buy that Foreclosure Condo in Sarasota Florida, you need to know what else is involved other than the price. You can learn the basic information you need to gather before you go further than just learning about the availability and price of the unit on my website. Read the full article then call me at (941) 266-1799 or email me at rstover9@comcast.net

Legislature Passes Proposed Constitutional Amendment Cutting Property Taxes

2007-11-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Responding to skyrocketing coastal property values and taxes, Florida lawmakers on Monday passed a proposed constitutional amendment that backers say would cut local property taxes by $12.5 billion over the next five years.

Summary of the Plan:
- Provides statewide portability up to $500,000 in value for homesteaded Floridians, including school taxes retroactive to January 1, 2007.
- Creates a $25,000 tangible personal property tax exemption for businesses.
- Creates an assessment cap of 10% for all non-homestead property, but the cap will sunset in 10 years and must be placed on the ballot for reauthorization. This provision does not include school taxes.
- In addition to the current $25,000 homestead exemption, the portion between $50,000-75,000 would be exempt from property taxes-though the school board portion would still be taxed. The average savings for this component is $240 a year.

Read the full article on my website . For additional information call me, Rich Stover at (941) 266-1799

Where are Expected Property Insurance Savings

2007-10-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

According to an article in the WCTV Tallahassee Headlines, only about half of the insurance companies doing business in Florida have complied with a new rate filing law. Insurers are supposed to pass property insurance savings on to consumers from the state's assumption of $15 billion in risk. So far, the results are mixed.

“We’ve seen some increases and we’ve seen some decreases ... on their original filings from March,” said an Office of Insurance Regulation spokesman.

The most upsetting has been the request by Allstate for an average 42% hike with another 28% hike for a subsidiary. These filings come at the same time the state has issued subpoenas to insurance companies to find out why rates have not decreased as expected.

To read the full report, go to Rich Stover's Sarasota Real Estate website.

Florida foreclosures impacting home sales negatively

2007-09-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

September is the month when we usually enter a seasonally slow real estate market and it normally continues until about January of next year., August numbers show that foreclosure activity rose by 77% over the month of July. We expect continued record increases in the foreclosure rate in October. In total almost 34,000 foreclosures were filed in Florida, or one in every 243 households filed for foreclosure.
While some so-called experts predict that the Florida real estate market will recover by the end of 2008, each new monthly report shows we are not on the path to recovery.. certainly at least not yet. Reports also show that, based upon the number of home buyers that took out adjustable interest rate loans back in 2004 to 2006, many of whom are bow nowing into foreclosure, more and more home buyers will face financial difficulty and be forced into foreclosure.
I believe this adjustable rate mortgage crisis will keeping forcing homes into foreclosure for many many months to come, maybe even for a few years. We could be looking at as much as four more years of declining Sarasota home prices, not just one year.
Buyers can get it great deal on a house right now but for sellers who bought in 2004 to 2006, a big loss is inevitable if they need to sell anytime soon. If you find yourself wanting to buy or sell Sarasota real estate call upon me. I'd be happy to help.

Come Visit Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota Florida

2007-09-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Located on the Sarasota/Manatee county line on Florida's west coast, Lakewood Ranch provides all of the elements for a wonderful life whether you're a young couple or retirees looking for that perfect retirement locale: beautiful homes, shops filled with all one needs and wants, job opportunities, and places to play golf or other sports with good neighbors and friends.

Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre, master-planned community with a long history of agriculture and careful nuturing of the land. Lakewood Ranch includes five "villages" for family living, all convenient to by the nearby education, businesses, arts and medical services of Bradenton and Sarasota Florida.

To learn more about Lakewood Ranch, visit my Lakewood Ranch information page. Then call on me to find your perfect new home in the sun.

Sarasota Home Sales on the Rebound

2007-09-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Sarasota real estate market continued to be strong in July compared to the rest of the state of Florida. Sarasota condo and single family home sales both improved over the same period last year. Conversely, the overall Florida real estate market saw a year-to-year sales decline of 24% . The strength of sales in the Sarasota real estate market reflects the attractiveness of Sarasota with its casual, yet culturally rich lifestyle.

The Sarasota Association of Realtors reported July condominium sales of 159 (up 12%) compared with 141 sales in the same month in 2006. The median sales price was up nearly 15% from $269,990 in 2006 to $310,000 in July 2007.

Sarasota area single family home sales increased by 5% from 351 in July 2006 to 369 in July of 2007. The median sales price of single family homes, however, was down 14.5%.

For assistance in buying your dream home here in Sarasota, call upon Rich Stover of RE/MAX Properties.

Sarasota Landlords Start "Recall" Action

2007-09-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sarasota landlords, incensed by the way Sarasota City Hall circumvented the initiative of the Florida State Legislature to hold down property taxes, has started a petition drive to "recall" the members of the Sarasota Commission.

On June 14, the Florida legislature passed a two-phased property tax reform bill. The first phase requires taxing districts to roll back millage rates to 2006-2007 levels. The second phase addresses a new "Super Homestead Exemption" if approved by Florida voters in January, 2008. .

The changes to Florida property tax law included an "override button" allowing local community commissioners to "override" the new property tax rollback and caps provisions. The Sarasota commissioners voted unanimously in July to enact that override provision and that is what has Sarasota non-homesteaded real estate property owners so upset.

The biggest impact of the Sarasota area landlords' action may be that it crystalizes what many Florida non-homesteaded property owners have felt for some time. While all agree that something must be done to hold down property taxes, it won't be easy and its effects will be felt unevenly.

Read the full article on Rich Stover's Sarasota Real Estate News page.

Sarasota Luxury Homes May Soon Become Bargains

2007-09-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

The subprime mortgage crisis is beginning to have a effect on an unexpected sector of the real estate market - luxury homes and condominiums.

To some extent, the drop in high-priced home sales can be traced to the trouble in the sub-prime mortgage sector, but it also due to the fact that fewer investors are willing to buy packages of jumbo mortgages. In the past, banks catering to the high-end real estate market were able to limit their exposure to defaults by packaging up lots of "jumbo" mortgage loans above the limit set by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae into portfolios and selling them to investors. Such investors are now hard to find.

Eventually, luxury home and condos owners who need or just want to sell their luxury real estate will have to start reducing their asking prices substantially if they want to see a "SOLD" sign in their future. As a result, those with cash on hand may soon be able to purchase a Sarasota area luxury home or condo at a really attractive price.

To read the full article, visit Rich Stover's Sarasota Real Estate News webpage.

If you are interested in owning a Sarasota Florida luxury home or condo, contact me today. Let's start working together to get you the property you want at the right price.